Chapter Text
Legundo wondered if peace was ever truly a possibility in Oakhurst. Or if war was always going to come to the town. Maybe Owen was right, the town was just cursed.
It was difficult to say when things went wrong. Maybe it was when Martyn killed Pyro. Maybe it was when Scott and Shelby killed Sausage in retaliation. No turning, no feeding, just cold, dead silence. Maybe it was when Shelby coldly delivered the news that Apo had been discovered and had been convinced to turn to their side. Maybe it was when Avid was revealed to be a vampire hiding as a human, when Avid killed Cleo before running off to join the coven. Maybe it was when Pearl, in her rage and despair, left Oakhurst to hunt Avid down, when she never returned, Martyn and Ren believed she had died too.
By that point, the remaining humans were Abolish, Martyn, and Ren. And by that point, Martyn was done waiting on a cure. “The only good vampire is a dead vampire.” He claimed, sharpening his stakes as Ren stayed silent. As they made their plans to take their bottles of holy water and their stakes to the coven castle, ready to storm it and kill all who lived there. Drift went to Legundo, terrified and shaking. Wondering if the two would kill her as well, despite being on their side.
“I’m leaving, Doc, you can’t stop me.” Drift told him, lifting her bag full of the last of her things over her shoulder. Her eyes were still their usual colour, forcing herself to stay weak and hungry, despite his best efforts. “I can’t trust them, and while I don’t think Abolish will do anything, I don’t think he’ll protect me either.” She sighed, despite not needing to breathe. “I know you’re not actually a vampire, but I also don’t think Martyn or Ren will care. I wouldn’t stay any longer in this town.”
“Drift…” Legundo was quiet for a moment before he sighed. “You think the coven will accept you?”
“I have to try.” Drift chewed her bottom lip, her fangs pressing against it before she gave him a weak smile. “You said it yourself, Shelby’s still Shelby. Pyro was still Pyro…nothing about us changes after we’re turned. We just…experience our emotions more strongly.” Drift paused for a moment, “If Shelby is still herself…she’ll accept me, she’ll let me in, and I’ll figure out what I’m going to do afterwards.” Legundo couldn’t argue with that logic. “You should come with me, Doc.” Drift offerened, a hopeful look in her eyes. “You…I’m sure there’s a few who’d let you stay human. Shelby wouldn’t want to turn you unless you asked.”
Legundo’s thoughts drifted to Owen, the lumberjack vampire who had been the most angry at the humans. But ever since his declaration of war, Legundo saw shocking little of the man. Would…would he protect him from the other vampires? Would he turn Legundo, even though he stated otherwise? Legundo didn’t know anymore. Hell, he didn’t even know if he didn’t want to be a vampire anymore. There were plenty of benefits, sure, but the hunger? Legundo couldn’t go through that, not again. “I…I’m not–” Legundo sighed, wanting to pinch the bridge of his nose in frustration, but withheld. “I’m sorry, Drift. But I can’t. I’m still trying to find the cure, I…I can fix this. I’m sure of it.”
“And I don’t doubt that,” Drift promised, “I just don’t think you can figure it out here.” She squeezed Legundo’s arm gently. “Just…think about it? Because I don’t think you’ll be safe here for much longer.” That, Legundo didn’t doubt. However, before he could voice his suspicions, a knock startled them both. Drift froze, her eyes wide with terror as the doctor muttered a curse.
“You can turn into a bat, yes?” Drift nodded, “Good, do it, hide!” He urged the young woman before she did as she was told. The cloud of bats was a little distressing, but Legundo simply took a deep breath before moving to his door. Opening it revealed the last human who wasn’t ranting about wanting to kill the vampires, Abolish. “Abolish, how can I help you?”
The young man glanced around, his eyes fell on the bats that were still flying around Legundo’s clinic, but he didn’t comment on it. His shoulders were tense as he tugged on his gloves. “Doctor, may I have a word with you? Inside?” Legundo was quiet for a moment, maybe if he opened the door long enough, Drift could sneak out? Would that be safe?
Legundo took a deep breath before pulling the door a bit wider. “Come in, Abolish, please excuse the bats. I’ve…I suppose I’ve been experiencing a little bat problem as of recent.”
“Oh…have you been practising?” Legundo’s mouth opened slightly, wondering what that meant before he realised what Abolish was implying. He nodded, keeping his door open to help usher the last of the bats out. He could only hope that Drift was among them and that she was safely on her way to the castle now. He closed the door, turning to face the young man. Abolish looked tired, with dark bags under his eyes, paler skin, and a tightness to his shoulders that Legundo had started to see in Martyn and Ren too. “I…” Abolish was quiet for a moment before he sighed, “Can I tell you something in confidence, Doctor?”
“Of course, what is it?”
Abolish hesitated for a moment, before pulling out a cream coloured envelope. The red wax seal had been broken, but Legundo could not mistake the black rose drawn on its front. “It’s from Pyro,” Abolish whispered, so soft Legundo almost missed it. And then wondered if he had imagined what Abolish had said.
“Pyro? But–”
“I-I know, but…I…” Abolish took a deep breath, hands shaking slightly as he tucked the envelope away. “It was sent to me two weeks ago. Just before…” Oh. Oh. “I…I never had the courage to read it, but…after what Martyn and Ren have been saying…I thought I’d finally read it. And I…” Abolish stopped, taking a shaky breath as he bowed his head. “I…I don’t know if vampires can cheat death, but…I can’t…I can’t stay here. Not after what I’ve read. I…I’m leaving. Tonight. I don’t care if Martyn or Ren try to stop me, I’m leaving and I’m…I’m going to the castle.”
“Abolish, you’re human still.” Legundo warned, his curiosity was peaked by the letter Pyro had left Abolish, but he wouldn’t pry. It wasn’t right to the dead, or to Abolish. But still, he needed Abolish to know of the dangers. “If you go, the coven could hurt you.”
“I know, I know.” Abolish shook his head, “I’m not going defenseless. I…I’ve got my shield, my armour, and my sword. I-I even have my lantern, so I’m not just going without anything. I just…I need to know if this is all just some cruel trick. Maybe…maybe they’re still here, maybe he’s not dead. Maybe I…” Abolish hunched his shoulders, looking smaller than Legundo had ever seen him. “I have to try.”
Legundo frowned, but then he sighed. “Do you have everything ready?” Abolish stared at Legundo with wide eyes for a moment before he nodded. “Alright, I know better than to try and change your mind. I…I won’t stop you, but I won’t let you do this recklessly either. Let me distract Martyn and Ren, I…I want to try and see if I can walk them back from this edge they’re both on. I still believe there’s a cure, perhaps not for vampirism, but for the hunger and the bloodlust.”
“What if they kill you?” Abolish asked, his voice soft as he stared at the doctor. “What if they don’t believe in your hope and they kill you for it?”
Legundo gave the young man a tired smile as he placed a hand on his shoulder. Squeezing it tightly before stepping towards the door. “Then I’ve died protecting as many as I could,” he opened the door, taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart. “Wait a few minutes before you leave. If I can, I’ll find you at the castle. If not…then I hope you find whatever you were looking for.” With that goodbye, Legundo stepped out of his clinic and made his way to the tavern.
It was cold as he walked through the now empty streets. It was funny to think that not even a few weeks ago, there had been people, had been noise, had been life. Now all that was left was just silence, it reminded the doctor too much of the hours spent in the trenches. Just…waiting. For something, anything to happen. Legundo pushed his memories of the war aside, he was standing in front of the tavern now. The only two others in this town inside, plotting to do even more harm.
“We have to strike fast and hard.” Martyn was saying when Legundo pushed open the doors. The two were too deep into their scheming to even notice him. “We block the doors before we set the fire, we’ll get them while they’re panicked. The holy water stops them long enough for us to–”
“I don’t think this is wise.” Legundo said, calm even when Martyn and Ren jolted to their feet. Drawing their stakes and swords as they stared fearfully at him. Legundo continued, not caring about the threat. “The coven won’t go well for you. Let me remind you that this conflict started because you decided to kill Pyro, Martyn.”
Martyn jutted out his chin in defiance as he narrowed his eyes. “Pyro was lost to us, it was the only thing I could’ve done. And they attacked us first!” Martyn grabbed his lantern, striding over to Legundo. “YOu might still be sane now, but how long until that bloodlust sets in? How long until you lose yourself to the hunger?”
Legundo’s jaw tightened, “I’m fixing it, I told you that.”
“And yet you have nothing to show!”
“And you’ve decided to lose yourself to your fear and paranoia!” Legundo shot back, glaring at the two. “Time and time again, you both have chosen violence, harm, and fear! You’ve attacked instead of asked questions, you assume the worst and blame when we could simply just talk.”
“Oh, like they’re all so innocent!”
“You’re right, they’re not,” Legundo crossed his arms, “but wrongs cannot be corrected by more wrongs! Harm cannot be undone by harm! Hatred and hurt will only cause more of the same!”
Martyn’s jaw tensed as he scowled, “You’re a doctor, this is a plague. We’re dealing with it because you’re too cowardly to do it yourself.”
“A plague can be treated, I’ve been trying to find away to save them!”
“You can’t save what’s already rotted away!” Martyn yelled, narrowing his eyes as if trying to calculate whether eh could take Legundo in a fight or not. After all, he was just an old doctor. “And if I have to sacrifice myself to put what should’ve stayed in the ground back, then I will.” He puffed out his chest, full of self assurance and confidence. “It’s a small price to pay for peace.”
Legundo let out a sharp laugh, bitter and bordering on hysterical. Oh, how many times had he heard a commanding officer or an official say that exact phrase? How many used that very line while his own hands were stained red? When the dirt turned to mud from the blood that soaked it? Where they placed lives on a scale and measured it against meager feet of land. They called death worthy sacrifices because they didn’t see the cost. They didn’t fight and kill, they only saw the numbers and politics. Now Martyn was claiming the same thing. Placing lives on a scale and trying to justify it with holy words and fear. “So you’ll sacrifice Drift, Abolish, and Ren too? You’ll sacrifice Apo, Shelby, and Avid?”
“Shelby’s gone! She left us to join these undead monsters in their evil damned castle! Apo turned her back on us, she was probably lying to our faces when we kicked her out the first time! And Avid stabbed Cleo with a stake before fleed like the coward he is. If Abolish isn’t here, then that just means Drift probably sank her claws into him, and he’s damned too.”
Legundo regarded Martyn with a cold eye, wondering where things went wrong. In Oakhurst. In his own decisions. “What would Cleo say if they saw you like this?”
“Don’t talk about her!” Martyn screamed, swinging his sword at Legundo in an instant. It was wild enough that Legundo was able to step back, but it still startled him. He stepped back as Martyn stalked forward. Shoulders tense as he glared at the doctor. “Cleo’s gone, they took her and murdered them! The only way she’ll ever rest now is if I kill every single damn vampire here!” Martyn lunged forward, another reckless swing aimed for Legundo’s chest. Legundo shifted to the left as Martyn charged past him. The doctor kicked at his leg, jabbing into his side as he stumbled.
Legundo stared at the man as he sprawled out onto the ground. “KIlling them won’t bring them back! She may be gone, Martyn, but they won’t want this from you.”
“Shut up! You don’t know what she’d want!” Martyn’s eyes were full of unshed tears as he scrambled to his feet. Dragging his sword on the ground before lifting it up. He swung his lantern wildly at Legundo, the flames encircled them, smoke rising high and filling Legundo’s lungs. The heat was harsh, prickling on his skin as he raised his arms to shield himself. Martyn threw himself at Legundo, tackling him to the ground. Legundo gritted his teeth as he grabbed Martyn’s wrists, halting the silver sword that tried to bury itself in his chest. Martyn over him, glaring at him with such hatred. “I’ll kill them! I’ll kill you! I’ll find that fucking traitor Avid and burn him at the stake!”
Legundo wasn’t a weak man, not by any means. But he was tired. Countless sleepless nights spent searching for a cure for either vampirism or to curb the bloodlust and hunger had left him exhausted. It was all starting to take its told on the doctor, and thus, he was struggling. A pinprick of red bloomed from under his robes as he spoke. “So when they kill and murder, it’s wrong. But when you do, it’s right?” He strained against the sword as he stared at Martyn. “How is that fair?!”
“You weren’t there, Doc. Owen claimed to have killed thousands of us!”
“So have I!” Legundo’s anger gave him the push he needed to throw Martyn off of him. The two were still trapped in the circle of flames, but at least he was out of immediate danger. “I’ve killed! My hands are no more red than his! Why do I receive mercy, but not him?! How many zeros should we add to our kill counts before it doesn’t matter?!”
“That’s war, Doctor.” Martyn scoffed, bringing his sword up again. Legundo’s trusty knife never felt heavier than now. He watched Martyn spread his arms in grandeur. “War isn’t meant to be the standard, you know that it’s different.”
“Different how?” Legundo challenged, “I killedbecause I was ordered to. A man above me looked at the lives in front of him and decided to only save a handful. Now you plan to slaughter an entire group of people and you dare to call it holy.”
Martyn’s grin was wicked, wild, and unhinged as he chuckled darkly. “Those things aren’t people, just corpses masquerading as something they’re not.”
That? That made Legundo see red.
He lunged, closing the gap between him and Martyn with such speed that Martyn couldn’t have countered him. He struck once, then twice. Martyn’s cheek was split open by his first punch, the second strike echoed with a horrid crack as Martyn’s nose broke under his fist. The first strike had Martyn staggering back. The second had him dropping his sword to cup his nose. Blood soaked his poet shirt as Legundo slammed his foot into Martyn’s chest. “Then what am I, Martyn?!” He demanded, kicking Martyn’s sword aside as the man stumbled over and fell on his ass. “Do I not belong in the same camp as those you’ve thrown the vampires in?!”
“You might.” Martyn gasped, pushing himself off the ground. Standing on unsteady feet as he tried to wipe away the blood that was gushing fron his nose. “Your mind is already under their control. You’re already lost to us.”
“Is it?” Legundo wanted to laugh. “How sure are you of that?” Legundo side-stepped the sloppy punch Martyn threw. “You’d rather burn every last one of the vampires–our friends! And all for what?! You give them the same respect you’d give your sermons. Not a trial, therefore no mercy.”
Martyn’s smile had not changed, if anything, it was bloodier. “Mercy belongs to the living.”
Protect the body. Lose the leg. Protect the people. Lose the town. “Perhaps I should show you what mercy looks like to the dead.” He drew his knife, the one that already had seen far to much blood.
Martyn didn’t look shocked. His jaw simply tensed as he shifted his weight. “So that’s it then?” Legundo didn’t respond. He knew when men like Martyne made a decision, they didn’t change their minds. Not until death was staring them in the face. Not until it was too late. Martyn’s face darkened before he dashed forward, aiming to grab his sword. The doctor was faster, moving to stand in Martyn’s path. Planting his feet after widening his stance. Martyn’s weight slammed into his chest. But he didn’t falter. Instead, he used Martyn’s weight and momentum to flip him onto his back. As Martyn scrambled to sit up. Legundo used his knife to pin his shirt to the dirt. Then struck him across the face again. \
Thunder rumbled above them, signalling rain as pain exploded across Legundo’s skin from Martyn’s thrashing and flailing. Trying to throw him off. Rain poured down, turning dirt to mud as Legundo threw punch after punch. As Martyn realised overpowering the doctor wasn’t an option, he tried another route. “You’re going to kill me for trying to save you? Is that it, Doctor?”
To the Doctor’s credit, he only wavered briefly. Then his expression hardened as he shook his head. “I’m killing you for trying to destroy those who didn’t ask for this hate. I’m killing you for attempting to start a war that will never end if you do. I’m killing you for trying to hurt him,” His tone was even, cold, but raw with the truth. Narrowing his eyes when Martyn’s widened and then he laughed bitterly.
“Him?! Are you mad?! Do you think you’ll be spared because he smiled at you? He’s a monster, he’s killed nearly three thousand people. There’s no going back from that. We will drain you dry and leave nothing left.”
“Then so be it,” Legundo declared as Martyn scowled, “who are we to decide what is or isn’t a monster? Who are we to decide who lives or die?” Legundo had already broken his oath to do no harm. He was already willing to spill blood, but he didn’t care. Not anymore. He was saying he was doing this to protect the others, but he couldn’t lie to himself. He was doing this for him. For Owen. Because despite everything, he still believed that Owen could be redeemed. He could still live his life. He could still be good.
For him, Legundo would break any oath.
Legundo grabbed the knife he used to pin Martyn to the dirt. His eyes narrowed in on the familiar vein that would be fatal if cut. He knew how to make it quick and painless, he wouldn’t make Martyn suffer. He moved to cut Martyn’s life short, only to freeze as something sharp pierced his chest. Legundo watched Martyn’s eyes grow wide as iron coated his own tongue. It hurt to breathe, the pain was all encompassing, and Legundo was abruptly reminded that Martyn hadn’t been alone.
Ren. How had he forgotten about Ren? “I’m sorry, Doctor.” The man’s thick accept was difficult to understand with the ringing in his ears. “Yer sacrifice won’t be in vain, ye may rest now. We shall root out this evil in yer name.” Ren ripped the sword out from his back, sending his rapidly cooling body toppling forward. Martyn caught him, his hands unfairly gentle as he laid him on his back in the mud and rain.
“Sorry it had to end like this, Doc.” Martyn’s apology was half-hearted as he stood, taking his sword back from Ren. “Come on, lets get the flint and steel, we’ve got a castle to burn down.” Then he was gone, taking Ren with him, leaving Legundo to bleed out slowly. Knowing that he was going to die.
Time slowed to a crawl as Legundo tried to take stock of what he could do. Even though he knew, he knew there was nothing to be done. The wound was too deep, too fatal. The doctor had seen too many similar wounds to know that there was no recovering from this. There was nothing that could be done other than to wait for death. The cold rain falling on his face as he sucked in a ragged and bloody gasp. Either he’d bleed out, or the blood in his lungs would kill him. All he could do was wait.
The cold seeped into his bones, the darkness started to creep in from the corners of his vision, and yet despite that. Despite knowing death was coming for him, Legundo wasn’t afraid. In war, he had spent his days neck deep in death. Had spent his days dealing it, fighting it, and saving people from it. He didn’t fear death, just hated he couldn’t do more.
His regrets still plagued him. The pain he caused, the lives he failed to save, and the heavy weight of what he had to do to survive, it all weight heavily on him. Even now. He hated that he hadn’t been able to attone for his many mistakes. Unable to make up for all those he failed. But above all, he wanted to see him–see Owen–just once more. He wanted to tell him that he tried. That he was sorry he wasn’t going to be around any longer. That he still believed Owen could be a good man and hoped he’d prove him right.
To be completely honest, Legundo wasn’t sure what they were. Friends maybe? Allies? Maybe they were something else. Maybe they were just two hurt souls finding company in one another. Either way, Legundo knew he cared for him. Owen carried such a sorrow that Legundo only saw on the most traumatised of soldiers. Holding a guilt that mirrored his own.
“Legundo!” A cry. A scream. It belonged to a man who had been broken by life before, and now was seeing it break before him again. Legundo forced his eyes open–when had he closed them? He forced his eyes open and was greeted with the prettiest sight. Owen. His silver hair was matted against his tanned skin, but Legundo didn’t care. He still looked beautiful. Dark red eyes widened upon seeing his eyes open. Clawed hands trembled as they brushed against his cheek, brushing away rain and blood as his breath hitched. He didn’t realise vampires still breathed, no matter how involuntary it might be. “No, no, no. Not you too. Don’t leave me, I-I…Please…Legs. I can’t do this again.” Owen pleaded, his tone sharp, bordering hysteric as he carefully dragged Legundo’s body into his lap. “Legs, please. I…I know you said you didn’t want this gift. But please! I-I can’t lose you too. You…you can hate me, you can be angry. I don’t care, that means you’ll still live. A-and if your supposed cure requires my death…then I’ll accept it. You can even sink the stake into my heart, okay? Just…please don’t leave me alone. I don’t want to be alone. I can’t be alone.”
It was unfair how ethereal Owen looked in the rain. How his tears mixed with the rain and rolled down his cheeks like crystals. How his silver curls pooled around Legundo’s shoulders, catching the light of the red moon in such a way that the rain shone like blood red rubies in his hair. Despite that, Legundo tried to speak. Tried to fight Owen as the vampire opened his mouth, exposing his fangs. “O-Owen…” Legundo wheezed out, a shaking and weak hand pressed against Owen’s chest, right over his unbeaten heart. “D…don’t…”
“I’m sorry, but I won’t lose you too.” Owen whispered, angling Legundo’s neck to expose it to his mouth. “I’ll be gentle. I’ll make it quick, you won’t suffer. I promise. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Forgive me. Forgive me.” Owen’s breath was shaky as it fanned across his neck. Then Owen’s fangs were piercing his skin once again. The pain was nothing compared to the pain of the stab wound, but the panic that bloomed in his chest made his heart race.
At least it did before the venom worked through Legundo’s body and he felt limp. Owen drank greedily, the darkness rushed to consume the doctor. Then Owen pulled off his neck, panting against it like he had just ran a marathon. “O…Owen…” Legundo wanted to be angry, but all he felt was exhaustion. His eyelids were heavy and the venom in his veins made it hard to think.
“I’ve got you, Doc. It’s okay, I fixed it. I fixed it, you’ll be okay. Just go to sleep. You need to rest.” Owen’s voice was syrupy sweet in his ears, he felt Owen’s hands pull him close, rocking his limp body back and forth as he inhaled shakily. “I’ve got you. I won’t let you fall. I’ll catch you when you wake.”
“I’ll never let you go again.”