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A Friend In Need (Vahn Seele x WickedWonderland)

Vahn Seele

Vahn Seele

Star
Joined
Apr 3, 2020
Location
Oklahoma
Sitting in his car with the radio buzzing its static, Corwyn tapped his finger against the screen of his phone as it rang. "Hey! You coming? We just raided this vampire nest over on 44th and Magnolia. You should've seen the way the silver oxide melted their faces off! Seriously, you made the stuff and you aren't even part of the show." Mark was always a zealot when it came to the hunter life. Corwyn had always been more of the inventor, coming up with unique weaponry that they could use against the vampires that haunted their city. As of late, vampires were all they'd seen. It seemed that, in their migration, the city of Holden had become a destination stop for a lot of the supernaturals in the region. Corwyn wouldn't complain, as it kept him employed. It wasn't great pay, often only finding money in the assets they could take from the vampires that they killed, but it was pay, nonetheless.

"I don't need to see what it does to know it was effective. Just make sure none of them got loose. We tracked at least thirteen of the bastards to that den. If you let one of them go, they'll know your faces and track your blood. The last thing you want is a vampire with a vendetta making a deal with a werewolf." Corwyn said, chuckling a little to himself. The faint glow of the white cell phone screen made his hair show to be a dark blue. While it wasn't necessary for him to dye it, given that a vampire could trace his blood from smell, Corwyn always liked to change it up a bit now and then. His natural hair color was a light blonde, a color he did not approve of for his hunter appearance. His face was thin, skin a pale white from all of the late nights he had adopted as a hunter of evil in the night.

"Whatever you say, Cor. Just make sure you get back to your apartment safe. Cops are going to be all over the streets when the sun hits the pavement. We made too much noise, unfortunately, and were only able to get away with a few things to make the kill worth our time. Looks like they had a few debit cards we could drain, likely stolen from some of their victims." Ah, yes, the digital age. They'd have to burn those cards fast and in a discreet location. Either that, or sell the cards online. No one paid much for card numbers, but it would prove the safest way to sell them.

Something in the back of Corwyn's mind told him to get out of the car, now. He couldn't place it, but he had never been one to doubt his instincts in the past. "Gotta go. Red and blues heading your way was the last message I got on the radio." He said, hanging up the phone and shoving it into his pocket. Stepping out of the beat up black Honda Civic, Corwyn shut the driver door with an echo along the quiet buildings. He had chosen a spot to park that was nestled along some quiet apartment buildings. He was at least ten blocks away from where they had been, putting the chance of him finding a wounded vampire very low on the probabilities of what he was feeling. While his skin lacked a healthy pigment, keeping a more pale complexion, his arms held the tension of muscle from his wrist to his elbow. He wore a black t-shirt with no logo on it, his boots sending out echoes as he walked away, handgun raised and loaded with a clip of silver bullets.

"Come on out, whatever you are..." Corwyn muttered to himself, moving into the alleyway. Though not visible, his brown eyes were locked on the shadows around him, looking for anything that would look to be out of the ordinary.
 
The shadows that were usually so easy for her to pass through were now a tangled mess of paths that she could not make heads or tails of. And when they were mixed with the bright lights of passing cars the rainbow of colors they caused when they hit her retinas just right nearly sent her to her knees as her head throbbed painfully. Only by sheer force of will alone was she able to remain on her legs, whose muscles were screaming at her to stop. If she just stopped for a moment to regain her bearings that would not be so bad, right? She would be lying if the thought was not a tempting one and for a singular moment, her body swaying as a wave of exhaustion washed over her like a heavy blanket that wanted to welcome her into the waiting darkness with open arms. It would just be for a moment...

No!

Violet eyes snapped open, pale pink lips pulling back over her teeth in a primal display of anger that was directed at no one except for herself. Stopping was not an option that she could afford and she knew that, but even as she scolded herself the young woman knew that she was fighting a losing battle. One glance down at the hand pressed tightly against the deep wound on her left side in a feeble attempt to stop the blood that was spilling down through the cracks in her fingers was proof enough that her fate was sealed. Still, something kept pulling her forward, that stubborn voice in the back of her mind refusing to let her give in. It was that same voice that had guided her through all the hard points in her life and only now, as her feet finally refused to carry her forward anymore and caused her to slump against the side of an apartment building, did she actually doubt that it would actually help her.

“You can’t keep being so hard on yourself, Isadora.”

The echo of a familiar voice rang through her mind as rump hit the damp pavement, though it hardly sounded like an echo in that moment. It almost felt like her old friend, the only person to ever earn that label in both her old life and her new one, was standing in front of her. Dimly could she make out his familiar scent, drawing a pathetic sounding whimper from her lips as her world began to spend. Weakly her hands lifted, reaching out for the shadow of him even though she knew, deep down, that he wasn’t really there. He hadn’t been there for years now, not since she had turned her back on the mortal life in favor of living forever.

“Was it worth it?”

Again, his voice called to her, tone sharp and bitter as her hands fell back at her sides. A wince passed through her, tears welling within her amethyst colored eyes as the guilt from her past came to haunt her in her final moments.

“You don’t get to cry, Isadora, not when-”

“Shut the fuck up, Cor!” Her throat burned, a result of the holy water that had been shoved into her mouth hours ago, as she shouted the words at the shadow. As soon as the words were out though she regretted it, for the shadow of her friend faded and the pain of his absence hit her harder than she cared to admit. “No, no, no!” She cried desperately, managing somehow to pull herself onto her hands and knees as tears spilled down her cheeks.

“C-Cor, please!” Isadora’s voice, once a proud and mighty thing, now sounded helpless and full of longing as she crawled along the dark alley of the apartments, making an absolute mess of the fishnet stockings on her legs and the boots that came to her knees. Once she had been a creature to be feared, the sight of her fangs causing many a mortal to scream in fear, but not now. Now she was on the cusp of death, brought down to her lowest point at the hands of hunters and begging to the shadow of a friend that had once meant the world to her.

“Cor!” His name was a sob upon her lips as her body finally lost all the strength she had mustered to pull herself forward. As blood poured freely from the wound on her side, no longer hindered by her hand, Isadora finally accepted the hand fate had deemed her worthy of her. Killers could only live for so long after all. Curling up on her side, a few strands of her deep red hair fell in front of her eyes as her world began to spin. In the distance she swore that she could hear that familiar voice, haunting her a final time as the last of her strength faded from her.

“Corwyn....” She breathed, voice barely above a whisper as her eyes fluttered closed.​
 
The alleyways that littered the area behind the conjoined apartments was much like the project of several architects: organization had been thrown out the window in favor of making the old fit with the new. This left many small spots where there was almost a confusion of where he was in relation to his car as he moved around corners. As he moved about, there was a faint sound, almost like someone dragging themselves across pavement. Actually, was it was exactly like that. As a hunter, it was a sound that rang familiar to either a wounded creature or something that liked to go slithering in the shadows, waiting on prey. With dawn approaching within a few hours, whatever it was would likely be handled by the sun.

Still, that nagging sense that he needed to continue, to go on pushing the envelope further. Whatever was there in the alleys with him had to be dealt with. It wasn't until he heard shouting that it began to ring out what he might have found. It spoke in a human language, something that did little to help him distinguish what it was that he was looking for. What it called out, though, was what sent a chill up his spine.

It knew him.

Whatever the thing was, it was now shouting, no, begging for him. The more he could hear the words, the faster his boots began to move through the maze of alleys. Soon enough, as he heard his name spoken aloud, the pieces of the puzzle began to make sense. It wasn't that it knew his name that bothered him. There was something more than that. It knew the nickname he used to go by. It had been years since anyone had ever called him by the name "Cor".

Rounding the last corner, Corwyn was met with the sight of a mangled vampire female. With his gun raised, Corwyn moved close and careful up to her side, looking her over. Bringing the gun back to his holster, there was a soft click of the safety as he knelt down beside her, shining a light over her features. There she was. Isa had been missing for years. He hadn't seen her since high school, and he had always thought it was the vampires that had taken her. People had laughed and joked, not believing something so impossible. His evidence had been as real to him as proving that the universe was not geocentric, but it was not to be. A few hunters had found him ranting sometime after graduation, on a forum no less, and offered to teach him.

Looking her over, Corwyn knew what he should do. His training told him to put a bullet in her head and her heart. She wasn't Isa anymore. Even as the training tried to kick in, his heart let out a hard pang that threatened to have him retching on himself.

"I'm here, isa..." He said. Knowing it was best not to let her feed directly, as a vampire in this state was likely to kill him in the process, Corwyn took out a small knife and made a small slash against his wrist. Blood bubbled to the surface as he held his wrist over her mouth, the cut aimed so that blood would dribble freely into her mouth. If he could give her enough to walk, he could get her back to his apartment. She'd be safe there. He just needed her wounds to seal, to stop the bleeding for now.
 
Years ago, what felt like a lifetime ago now, Isadora had been a mortal with all the joys and wonders of the world at her fingertips. Though her family had not had the most money to send her to the finest college she had worked hard throughout school and her efforts had paid off in the end with a full ride to a college that may not have been the fanciest, but that did not matter to her. She had just been happy for the opportunity and she had exited her high school years with a bright smile on her heart shaped face, violet eyes bright with all the wonder and hope so many children had at that point in their lives. The only thing that had brought a frown to her lips was the fact that this path in her life pulled her away from her closest friend. She remembered clinging to him the night before she was due to head off to college, begging him to keep in touch with her.

“What good am I without you in my life, Cor?”

What good indeed? For it was not long after their parting that her life had changed completely and though she could no longer recall the reason she had made the choice, Isadora bid her mortal shell behind. Maybe it was the promise for eternal youth. Maybe it was the prospect of having the strength and power to take whatever she wanted without having to fight for it as she had always done. Or maybe it was because she had never really been given a choice and had been changed against her will. Whatever the reason might have been she had blocked it out long ago, choosing to completely embrace her new life without looking back.

It was better that way, at least that was what her fellow creatures of the night had told her. Still, there had always been a part of her that longed for the comfort of her old friend. Sometimes she wondered where life had taken him and more than once she had thought about trying to reach out to him, but in the end she had always thought better of it. Would he hate what she had become? She could not say for certain, but she had a sinking feel that he might.

“Corwyn...” Again his name spilled over her petal pink lips, carried out on a whimper that sounded like it ought to come from a wounded animal. Blood covered fingers twitched, wanting to reach for his shadow once more but lacking the strength to do so.

What she wouldn’t give to see him one more time...

“I’m here, Isa...”

The sound of his voice, taunting her in the last moments of her pathetic existence, drew a weak laugh from the crumpled form of Isadora. Of course he would tell her that he was there instead of taking of the opportunity to scold her for all the mistakes she had made. Of course. She was seconds from brushing the words aside, just managing to push herself onto her back, when she felt something hit her lips. Instinctively her tongue peaked out to collect the bit of moisture, not expecting it to be anything that would help her in her time of need, but as the familiar copper tang exploded across her taste buds and slid down her waiting throat a shudder passed through. Instantly she was chasing after the bead, finding the strength to push herself up to the source. Something kept her fangs from sinking into the offered flesh, despite her instincts screaming at her to sink her fangs in deep and draw out every last drop of blood.

As her lips brushed against the wound, tongue brushing over the wound to lap up every last bit of blood, there came a sense of familiarity that filled her senses. Even though part of her told her to ignore the sensation and just focus on healing she couldn’t resist the siren call. Slowly her eyes opened and as soon as her violet orbs met the familiar brown white hot horror shot through her, causing Isadora to rip herself away from the blood that still called to her baser instincts.

“No, no, no, no.....” Weakly she muttered the simple words as she dragged herself as far away from her former friend as she could, trying to block out the sweet scent of his blood. She would have run from him then, but she was still too weak for such a movement. The wound on her side had only just started to close and it would take a moment for her to stand, but she did not care about that as she curled away from him as surely as if he had burned her.

“You....You’re not real....you can’t be real!” You can’t see me like this! She finished silently as tears spilled down pale cheeks that were dusted with freckles.​
 
Corwyn watched as life would slowly begin to return to the cold features of the vampire that had been his friend. No, that was the wrong way to phrase it. She still was his friend. Is! Damnit, there was a lot going through his mind at that moment. Memories welled up at the recollection of the last time that he had seen her. They'd exchanged emails, text messages, tried to keep in touch. When everything had gone silent, Corwyn had gone to the school to investigate what had happened to her. Looking through the records, all they could tell him was that she had withdrawn, which was something they were legally not allowed to disclose. He'd had to pose as her brother, worried sick for a sister he hadn't seen in months, just to get the information he had managed to wring from the clerk.

As her tongue would catch the blood, life would slowly flow back into her, bringing her lips up to suckle from the wound that he'd made on himself. His instincts told him to push her back, to press his arm against her throat and force her to drink from where she lay. Corwyn couldn't bring himself to do it, though. He'd never had a vampire feed from him before, and though her teeth never pierced his skin, Corwyn could understand the appeal of a vampire's feeding. Even without her saliva piercing his skin, euphoria surged through him, clouding his mind and making him pliant to her need to recover.

Thankfully, the wound was slowly beginning to clot, so there wasn't much more she would be able to take. This was also made more evident as she drew herself away, clamoring and shouting "no" repeatedly. There was something of defeat in her voice, especially at the proclamation that he wasn't real. He wanted to scoff at her, to tell her that he was, indeed, as real as life. Moving closer to her, Corwyn kept his voice low and even.

"Isa, I thought you were dead." Corwyn said, his voice trying to soften a bit as he spoke to her. "I went to the college, looking for you. When your messages stopped, I was worried. The last few years have been hell trying to adjust to not having my friend around." Though his words sounded weak, they carried a resolve in them. Corwyn wasn't trying to guilt her, to make her come with him, but he would never forgive himself if she were to be turned to dust by the sun, truly losing his friend, his reason for hunting the things that went bump in the night.

"Whether you made the choice to turn or not, the sun is coming up in less than a few hours. If you don't have somewhere to stay, you're better off coming to stay in my apartment. I can give you enough blood to mend that wound, and, if you really want to leave, you're free to leave at dusk." Corwyn said, a more naive side to him, a younger version of himself showing in that moment. Much like the trust falls that they had practiced back in school, Corwyn trusted Isadora. Vampire, werewolf, succubus, it wouldn't matter. She was always going to be Isadora to him.
 
Drink from him. Feed, feed and heal! The voice of her instinct was all but screaming at her, demanding that she go back and finish feasting upon what he had been so gracious to offer, but she could not do it. No matter how much the thought appealed to a part of her, the part that had fully adjusted to her new life and cast out the last bit of her mortality, she could not bring the part of her that still clung to his friendship and the life she left behind to go through with it. It might very well result in her death, but she could not do that to him. So with a great deal of effort she pulled away from him, though it was not all that hard given how terrified she was at him discovering the truth behind her disappearance. Even though she had wanted to reach out to him years ago, to reassure him that she was fine and he should just let her go, she had never been able to bring herself to do it.

She thought that he would just move on, to accept that she had died as so many others had, but she should have known better. Corwyn had never given up on her and as he drew closer, confessing that it had been hell for him since she left, the guilt that consumed her was almost too much to bear. Unable to meet his gaze, too ashamed of causing him so much pain, Isadora tried to draw back. Of course she could only go so far, finding herself pressed back tight against the apartment building. If she had been stronger she would have run from him, but at that moment pressing away was as good as she could manage.

"You should have just let me go, Cor." It would have been easier on him than finding her like this; a monster that was no longer the friend that she had known. As much as she wanted to scold him further, chastise him for never giving up on her, Isadora could not do it. In the end her loneliness that had been consuming her for so long was just too much for her to ignore. She wanted him to stay by her side and cling to him, never wanting them to be apart again, it was not wise. "I never wanted to hurt you, but I...."

I couldn't let you see what I had become.

For a time silence stretched out between them and she could feel the effect of his blood taking effect, giving her the strength to stand. She could feel the sun starting to rise, could smell the change in the cool air of the evening, putting a limit on the time they had together. Yet even as the clock began to count down she had no place to go, the only safe haven she had destroyed by the hunters that had wiped out the rest of her clan. But as when they were both still human and thick as thieves, Corwyn came through with a solution. "I can't do that, Cor. I want to, but...I can't." Denying him was as good as signing her own death certificate, but she could not have him care for her as if she was just a sick mortal and not a monster that could kill him in an instant if she lost control.
 
There were a lot of emotions in that moment that Corwyn couldn't sort out. He wanted to pull Isadora into his arms and hug her. He needed to put an end to her life, because his training told him that was the best thing to do. If she was part of the small nest that his hunter group had taken out, there was a chance they'd realize she had escaped. The longer he debated on this, given the time to do so as Isa backed herself away and flattening to try and draw herself as far away from him as possible, the less time that they had to get Isadora to safety.

Her admissions of what she had wanted for him, for him to move on, were not going to ever be possible. Growing up with Isadora, Corwyn had been able to keep his sanity in a rough situation. While he didn't have the worst home growing up, it wasn't the best either. There were nights that he had run to Isadora's house to hide from his drunk father. Growing up, Corwyn had been of a weaker constitution, unable to handle the stress and potential that his father might direct his drunken anger at him. Isadora had been his support for years, and he would've done anything to have gone with her to that college.

Since then, Corwyn had developed to be a bit more self-sufficient. While he wasn't strong enough to do any of the direct fighting, his strength came from what he could do with his inventions and his ability to plan. Her presence was trying to call him back to the weakness he once had, remembering who he had been.

Biting his lip, Corwyn looked up to the sky and then back to her. He couldn't be the weak person he once was. She needed him to help her, or she would be truly gone forever. Stepping forward, Corwyn closed the distance with a strained determination. "You don't get to make that choice, not when the sun is about to come up. I lost you once, and I'm not going to lose you forever." He said, holding out his hand to her. "Please. The thought of you being a pile of ash in alley is not something I could live with." Corwyn confessed.

"If you want to leave, you can do it once it is dark out again. Okay?" At this point, Corwyn was almost begging her to come with him. It was evident in his voice, though it was an even tone, that he couldn't accept anything other than a "yes" from her at that moment. The question was, did he have the strength to force her into his car? Maybe, as the years had forced him to get stronger.
 
You don't get to make that choice.

Words that she had heard many times throughout her life. From her parents when she expressed a desire to do something that did not fit into their perfect vision for their only daughter. From the teachers and staff, who tried to tell her that her dreams were far too lofty. From so many people throughout the short expanse of her mortal life, but never had she heard them come from Corwyn's lips. He had always been the one to encourage her, giving her strength as she gave to him in turn. They had boosted each up when no one else would, but now the tables had turned. Where he would have let her put up a distance between them if she truly felt it was the right thing, now he refused to back down. And, honestly, it left the normally fiery Isadora at a loss for how to respond. As his hand stretched out towards her, offering her the chance to come with him willingly, lips pressed into a thin line.

The urge to rebuke him and tell him that he was in no position to give her commands was almost too strong for her to ignore as gem colored eyes narrowed, but something in his tone stayed her tongue. Beneath the hard tone there was an edge that she was unfamiliar with, at least from him. Was he begging her? In all the years she had known him Corwyn had never pleaded with her to do anything, even if she could tell that he wanted to. It was only her that did the begging, asking him to stay just a little longer or to join her in doing something that he would normally would have no interest in doing. Despite all her bravado and flare, without him she was nothing but a meek flower that would have wilted under life's pressures. It certainly explained how she ended up as she was now...

"We both know you won't let me go once the sun goes down." It might have sounded like a biting remark to anyone else, but he would hear the edge of amusement hidden behind the words. After all he had been the one to chase after her and never give up the hope that she was still out there somewhere when most, including her own family, had long ago given up on the hope. Corwyn, her sweetest and dearest friend, was just that loyal and for the first time Isadora did not know how to handle it. Where it once left her with a warmth she could not quite describe or dared to put a name to, now it left her feeling hollow and cold; a reminder of what she could have had if only things had gone different.

"You've changed, Cor." Isadora's voice was soft, barely above a whisper as her hand finally reached out to wrap around his offered one. Though she did not exactly need his help to get to her feet anymore, the blood he had been kind enough to provide her giving her enough strength for the simple movement, but she could not deny the part of her that longed to feel his touch. Still, as soon as she was back on her feet Isadora was quick to draw back from him, slipping her hand back to busy herself with dusting off her clothes. Not that it did much good, she grumbled mentally, the attack from the hunters had ruined what had once been her favorite outfit. With a short, black skirt that showed off more of her thighs than she had ever dared when she was a mortal and a dark red top that hugged her every curve beneath a dark denim jacket, Isadora looked like she belonged perfectly with those that favored the night.
 
Isadora's words were laced with a hint of what most might have thought hate. The words, themselves, threatened that he wouldn't be capable of letting her go. There was part of him that felt that she was right. This was a measure to get her to safety, to get her to his home where they could talk without the fear of the sun coming up to remove her from the planet. Whether she stayed or not, that would come up to what happened in their conversations. Though she was no longer mortal, Isadora was still there. She had been buried beneath layers of darkness, either deluded or drawn in by force to a life that she didn't fully understand. That was Corwyn's opinion, at least. There would be time to learn of what had transpired, of where they could or would go from here.

"I'd say the same of you, Isa. Deep down, though, I still see my friend." He said, turning to look down one of the alleyways that led out to the street. "We can talk more about it once we are at my apartment. The longer we talk, the less time we have to get you inside."

With that, Corwyn turned his shoulders to guide them both down the alley toward the street. His steps were fast, glancing to the sky and then his phone to get an estimate on the time. They'd have time to get there, but it wasn't much. The sun would be peeking out over the horizon ad spreading over the city within a half hour. Walking up to the side of the black Civic, Corwyn unlocked the doors, drawing the door to the backseat open. "There's a blackout blanket under the passenger seat. If it gets to where the sun is coming up, wrap yourself in it. It isn't a perfect solution, but it is better than letting you get turned to ash." Corwyn said.

Not waiting for her to get into the car, Corwyn opened the driver door and dropped into the seat, his heart thudding in his ears. The adrenaline that was rushing through his system had his senses running on high. With a pathetic sounding crank of the motor, the Civic would come to life with a slight sputter. His car was normally reliable, but something about today had Corwyn on edge that there would be something to get in the way, preventing him from getting Isa out of the coming sun.
 
Coaxed for the moment Isadora followed after her friend, making a note of the change in his appearance. There was a different air about him, but part of her was quick to chalk it up to having spent so many years apart. Even if they both remained mortal there was no way that they would be the same people they were in high school. There would be echoes of their past selves in their appearance and actions, but that was all that they would be. It left her wondering just how much he had changed. What type of job did he have? Had he finally gotten a pet after years of his father telling him that he couldn't? Had he finally found someone worthy of him and settled down? There were so many questions that she had, but she dared not put a voice to a single one. Asking such things would bring them closer, mending the wound that she had caused by vanishing, and that was something that neither of them could afford.

As they approached his car the feeling the slow raise of the sun and the threat that it posed had her insides buzzing, screaming at her to just abandon him in favor of finding some place to hide. Though it was hard, near impossible even, Isadora stamped down on the instinct as she wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to calm her nerves. This was the closest she had ever pushed being out so close to the sunrise since her turn, not even in her earliest moments had she dared to take the risk. Many did, finding a certain thrill in pushing the limits, but she had always thought them foolish and now she just thought them down right insane. How could there be any fun to be had in putting oneself in danger? Madness.

"Should I even ask why you have such a thing?" Despite her growing panic Isadora kept her tone even and calm as she sat down in the passenger's seat, wincing a bit as the movement aggravated the still healing wound on her side. Even though the sun was still a ways off from rising she wrapped herself up in the blanket all the same, allowing only her head to peak out to make for easier communication. It made for truly an adorable sight, making her look like a child that was hiding from the demons in their closet and not the killer that she was. If it amused her she made no sign of it, her attention completely drawn to Corwyn as he tried to start his car. The thing made a truly pathetic sound, sputtering helplessly as it's owner tried to bring it to life. She could taste his adrenaline and worry on her tongue, something that normally would not have bothered her, but normally she felt such emotions coming from her victims and not someone who was trying his hardest to save her.

With a faint smile she reached out from beneath the cover of the blanket, breaking her own rule of keeping distance between them as her fingers curled around his wrist. "It's okay, Cor." Though she was terrified, knowing if they didn't get moving soon all that would be in his seat was a lovely pile of ash, she tried to keep her calm for his sake. "Maybe it's a sign that we were only meant to meet again for a moment."
 
With the car finally showing signs of life, Corwyn moved his hand to put the car into gear. Before his fingers could catch the gearshift, the familiar grip of her cold fingers found his wrist again. There was a faint burning along the underside of his wrist, the clotted wound of his slit wrist chilled by the touch of her fingers. Turning to look at her, Corwyn gave her a hesitant smile. That wasn't going to happen. He'd make sure that she was inside and safe. "We'll make it there." He said, more for her benefit than his own.

With the car pulling away from the sidewalk, Corwyn took advantage of the slumbering streets, finding that there was no one on some of the roads he took to get home. Keeping his focus on the road, Corwyn accelerated through a few turns and did his best to keep the car moving as fast as he could. This did involve a little speeding on a few quiet spots, but Corwyn was still very much aware of needing to be careful. Getting pulled over by a cop at this point was a death sentence for her.

"I can explain the blanket later. I might owe you an explanation, if what I think is true." Corwyn said, the adrenaline edging off as he rounded another corner. Holden was a large city, with a lot to offer mortals and supernaturals. There were underground crime networks for those that needed to fence wares or acquire goods that were "legal" in their own creative ways. For Corwyn, Holden was nothing more than the city he landed in after his hunter group decided to pick a home. The region was largely undefended, with hunters from other regions deeming the city too hard to fight. Whether it was the fear of being found out, or being overrun by supernatural creatures, most hunters found that a presence in Holden wasn't necessary.

Some of the anxiety on Corwyn's mind would ease as he saw the familiar sight of his apartment complex, the sun having not risen yet. It would be a close call, maybe by a few minutes, but his apartment was close enough that he could relax a little bit as he pulled into the parking. It was a simple two-story building, with a breeze way and metal staircase that went up between both sides of the building. It was older, aged red brick faded in some spots more than others. His apartment was 208B, an apartment that had no exterior windows. The name Glendale Apartments was spelled out in large letters above the middle of the breezeway, the around around it somewhat graffiti'd and trashy in appearance. "Don't say your good-byes yet. We're here." He said, holding onto his adrenaline that was keeping him moving as he cut the engine, climbing out of the car.
 
A thrum of excitement rolled through her, bringing a certain brightness to her eyes, as the car sputtered to life. Though she had been at peace with meeting her end as long as she was not greeting it alone Isadora was just as pleased to avoid it. The hand around his wrist, something that she had only meant to last for a moment, did not draw back as Corwyn sped down the streets. His warmth brought her a comfort that she was not aware that she had been longing for, though she was quick to chalk it up to a worry that they still might not make it to the safety of his apartment. She did not want to admit, was not yet prepared for such a confession even to herself, that she had missed being so close to him. His company was the only one that had ever brought her a true sense of comfort, but when so much had changed between them it was impossible for them to go back to that dynamic. Wasn't it?

Drawing the blanket over her face as the sky began to brighten with a burst of pink and the birds began to stir from the slumber to sing their greeting to the world, only Isadora's hand remained out the soft cocoon she formed around herself. Her body was practically shaking as panic gave way to fear, leaving a metallic taste on the back of her tongue that only made the dire situation all the more unpleasant. If she ever made it through this she made the silent promise that she was going to see every last hunter purged from the earth. Whether they were behind her plight or not it did not matter, none of them was innocent. For too long they had been murdering her kind, even those that posed no threat to humans, without stopping to question if what they were doing was right. Why should she not return the favor?

Lost in her thoughts Isadora barely noticed that they had stopped until she felt the car's steady purr fade and Corwyn's wrist slip from her grasp. For a moment, brief though it was, panic shot through her and she nearly peered out from the blanket's safety when he spoke. 'We're here.' The relief that hit her was unlike any that she had ever felt before, but she refused to allow herself to bask in it for long. Without a moment to spare she was out of the car, making for an amusing sight as she darted across the parking lot with the blanket wrapped tightly around her. Luckily no one was around to see her in such a humiliating situation and even if they had been she did not care, her sole focus was finding safety.

Just as the sun's first rays brushed over the buildings of Holden, chasing away the darkness of the night with a warm touch, Isadora all but threw herself into the waiting safety of her friend's apartment. A hiss of displeasure dancing across her lips as the blanket began to smoke, though she made no move to toss it aside. There was a comfort that came in being bundled up and she was not ready to leave it as she glanced back at Corwyn, finally taking note of the blue tint of his hair. "Blue?" Her tone was light, filled with mirth as she tried to fight back the urge to laugh. "I thought you hated blue, Cor."
 
When the apartment door came closed, the outside world would fall away. The tension of the situation would wash away, giving Corwyn a moment to breathe as he stepped into the apartment and flicked on a dim light in the kitchen. The apartment was simple in design. The living room was a mixture of carpet and tile, with half of it being designated to the kitchen and dining area. The state of the apartment was somewhat clean, with the kitchen table functioning as a makeshift computer desk and eating area. There were dirty dishes in the sink and a pizza box on the counter that was, thankfully, less than a day old. The living room portion had a small black stand with a large TV on it. There were game systems hooked to it, mostly the older ones that he hadn't had the heart to throw out, with a couch that was large enough to seat three people comfortably.

Beyond that, there was a bathroom next to what was assumed to be a bedroom door, both of which were closed at the moment. At the comment to the color of his hair, Corwyn rolled his eyes. "When you have blonde hair, no one takes you seriously in my line of work. Blue sticks in my hair better, and natural colors are boring." Corwyn said, stepping over to the computer and tapping a few keys. With a low hum, the computer fans would kick up before going silent, the lights along his computer case going out as his computer went to sleep.

Moving back into the living room, Corwyn fell over on the couch, burying his face into a pillow and letting all the adrenaline start to fall out of him. It had been far too close for his liking, but he had managed to save Isadora. Now that the threat of immediate danger was out of the equation, what was he supposed to do now? Normally, he'd be curling up and getting ready for bed at that moment, turning on his TV to let some show play that he'd watched at least a dozen times from start to finish.

"Just a reminder, I still don't like smokers." He said, pulling his face out of the pillow to glance over at her. It was meant as a joke, but it was a real thing they had talked about a long time ago. There had been a girl who was obsessed with him. She'd looked pretty enough, shared a lot of the same interests, but she smoked. His father smoked, too, and that had translated to smokers were all unworthy of his affection. While it wasn't 100% true, as not all smokers were truly evil, Corwyn had always made the joke "if only she didn't smoke" to try and get a laugh out of her.
 
The change in his tone, like that of a man that was years older than him, was one that Isadora fought hard to not let effect her. Gone was the joy of finding a friend that he had thought for years was lost to him and in its place....Well, she did not want to focus on that. She had never wanted to be a burden to anyone, so instead of focusing on it she forced her attention on something simpler. Like the state of his apartment, which was a humble thing that hardly looked lived in despite the signs that said otherwise. Most would not see the signs, the faint dip in the sofa that showed he slept there more often than his bed or how there were no signs of any dishes to be found, but it was part of her lifestyle now to notice such details. It left her wondering what kept him so busy, for she had never known Corwyn to be the social sort. But times changed people didn't they?

"Then I supposed my red hair must be an absolute bore for your delicate senses." Came Isadora's dry reply as she finally let the blanket slip down to rest limply upon her shoulders, watching out of the corner of her eyes as he collapsed against the massive couch. At once she felt uncomfortable, as though she did not belong there, and as the feeling bloomed within her she cast a glance towards the door. Though it was tightly closed and the apartment itself had no windows she could see the bright light of the sun peaking through the cracks, reminding her of the fate that would greet her if she decided that she could not handle the discomfort.

Shoulders slumping in defeat she considered slumping against the wall, allowing herself a moment to finally relax, when his words reached her ears. Just a reminder, I still don't like smokers. Though he had meant it to be a joke, she bristled all the same and pegged him with a glare all the same. "You're hilarious," She sniffed, barely containing the pout that tugged at her lips as she folded her arms across her chest. "When are you taking your comedy act on tour?"

Feeling awkward just standing in the middle of his living room she made her way towards the computer he had just put into an electronic slumber, fingers brushing over the keyboard with a curious hum. What secrets did he keep in there? She wondered, tempted to take a peak when sleep finally claimed him. It would be so much simpler than actually asking him and it came with with far less risk of getting close to him, but for the moment she settled for claiming the chair perched beside it.
 
Corwyn let out a little chuckle as he pressed his palms against the couch, pushing himself up into a seated position. Looking over to Isadora, Corwayn gave a faint shrug. "We're still in the planning stages. My manager said that I'll need to find someone who would be good at opening for me. All the shows are going to be nights, though, so I'm having trouble getting a good partner. Know anyone that enjoys the night life?" Corwyn asked, doubling down on his horrible sense of humor. While that line had been funnier in his head, it was much longer and he knew it was going to be a bad one about halfway through. Unlike a good professional, though, he couldn't stop halfway through.

With the shambling act of comedy out of him, Corwyn watched Isa take a seat at the table, catching the way she looked at his keyboard. Corwyn had always been an electronics enthusiast. When his work as a hunter required him to put together a computer, since he couldn't afford to buy one outright, he spent at least a year gathering quality parts. "So, my offer still stands. I'll give you enough blood to heal that wound at your side, as well as get you on your way once the night comes." He said, leaving nothing attached to the comment. There was a part of him that wanted to beg her not to leave, that her being there meant a lot to him, but he was too stubborn to let it out.

"Also, before we go further, I wanted to tell you what I do for a living." Corwyn said, biting his lip as he looked toward the door and then at her. He could tell her what he was, but there was no guarantee how she would react. On the other hand, if he lied about it, she'd learn about it eventually. Whether he meant to or not, his posture showed the unease at what he had to admit to her. Confessing that you were a hunter to a human rarely ever happened. Few believed in what he did, even if he were being honest. She'd know, though, that he wasn't delusional.

"After you vanished, and I picked up trails of what I could only think were vampires, I found a group of hunters who took me in." Corwyn said, feeling like he had been holding his breath prior to the admission. "I've been a hunter for a few years now, working on plans and tinkering with new types of weapons." The last part wasn't so much to make him look less guilty, but more for informational purposes. She'd hardly believe he was a fighter, even if he had started to get a bit of muscle on his arms from his craft.
 
"I might know someone," The faintest of smiles tugged at the corner of her plush lips as they played, soothing away the unease that had started to settle upon her. For a moment it almost seemed like things were falling back to how they used to be when he would come over to her house, looking for a bit of escape from his father as he sprawled out on her bed. She could still remember the few times she had woken up to him tapping on her bedroom window, having scaled the large oak tree to avoid the shame of knocking on her front door and explaining the situation to her parents. More than that she could still feel the warmth of his hand in her own, their fingers laced together, as they fell asleep side beside. She had not even realized how much she had missed those little moments until she sat in his apartment, knees tucked up beneath her chin as she curled up in the chair by his computer. "But she only works with talent."

Even as she chuckled, Isadora could feel there was an instant shift in the environment and as Corwyn pushed himself up she knew it was back to business. Gone was the kindness as he repeated his offer and skillfully she hid the wince that passed through her at the mention of being sent on her way the following evening behind a shift in her position. No longer did she seemed relaxed, boot clad feet pressed firmly against the ground as her back straightened. Though she would be lying if she said that she was not disappointed that he did not ask her to stay longer, part of her was glad. It was better in the long run that they keep their distance. They lived in different worlds now and he had no place in hers, even if it did feel like taking a stake to the heart to admit it.

In response she could only muster a nod, not trusting herself to say anything beyond that lest she end up begging him to stay. Thankfully he kept talking, wanting to confess about the truth of what he did for a living. Curiously she watched as he bit his lip and glanced towards the door, an excuse to look at anything put her as a sense of anxiety poured off him in waves. An unease settled over her then, twisting in the pit of her stomach like a knot, and she had a sinking feeling that whatever he was about to tell her was not anything good. She held out hope that she was just reading too much into the situation, for there was no way that whatever he did could be that bad.

....Right?

I've been a hunter for a few years now.

Everything he might have said after that was lost to Isadora as the world around her fell silent, all noise falling away into nothing as the weight of what he said hit her. I've been a hunter for a few years now. Over and over the words played through her mind and if her heart could still beat it would have been hammering against her chest. A hunter? Corwyn? No! She did not want to believe it. He could not be one of those that so mercilessly killed her kind. In desperation she glanced towards him, violet eyes pleading with him to be lying to her, but what she found was only a truth that made her blood run cold. Lips pulling back over her teeth, baring her fangs at him, she sent the chair crashing to the floor as she got to her feet.

"Murderer!" She spat, letting all her hurt and anger from the night fall onto his shoulders. He might have been the one to save her, but he was no better than those that had murdered her clan so ruthlessly and nearly killed her. "You can keep your fucking blood and your help." Though she made no move to attack him, unable to bring herself to do that even if she hated who he was, Isadora refused to stay in his company a moment longer. Wrapping herself up in the thick blanket once more she stormed towards the door, deciding that it was better to risk turning to ash than linger with someone who might kill her all the same.
 
The crash of the chair immediately put Corwyn on the defensive, shaking off any bit of sleep that had been trying to tug him down on the couch and wrap him in a cocoon of bliss. What he saw was pure anger, hate dripping from her visage as she looked at him. She called him what he was, at least to her kind. Murderer. It was a fair statement, but it wasn't right to call him that. He wasn't the one who was taking human life. He wasn't manipulating and drawing humans into a den of death, promising them nothing more than the bliss of a night that would end with exsanguination.

"I'm a murderer? When was the last time you had someone eager to give up their blood, knowing they'd meet the end of their life, Isa?" Corwyn asked, moving to stand in front of the door. Even as he knew she'd hate him for what he was, Corwyn didn't stop himself from saying what was on his mind. "If you want to brave it out in the sun, turning into a pile of ash, you're going to have to prove you aren't just as much of a monster as I am." Corwyn said, staring into her eyes as he said it. "Because, as much as this 'murderer' was taught to kill vampires, I brought you to my home." His tone tried to soften, but Corwyn was still tense, waiting for Isadora to strike him. Even at partial strength, she'd probably have enough power to knock him aside with little to no effort. He was unarmed, and Corwyn wouldn't fight back. He couldn't.

"I won't apologize for the things I've done, just as much as I doubt you will. If you're going to leave, do me the favor of putting me down so I don't have to see what happens to my friend when the sun gets a hold of her." With that, Corwyn fell silent. Just as he had said, he remained still in front of the door. While the blanket could block the sun directly, it wouldn't last forever. Something about the day had an effect on vampires that, while the touch of direct sunlight was lethal, the exposure to walking among the light in a shroud of any kind led to the same effect. Corwyn had witnessed it a few times, with a vampire or two trying to run from a day raid under a blanket and drying out in a matter of minutes. It almost would've been better if the sun had done the creature in, as it would've been faster and less painful by contrast.
 
Ever the stubborn one Isadora was not shocked as Corwyn stepped in front of her, blocking her exit with not only his body but sharp words that countered her own. It would have been so easy for her, even weakened as she was, to toss him aside as though he was little more than a fly. The fact that he even tried to stop her, acting as though he posed a real threat, was laughable, but even as her hands curled into tight fists at her sides she could not bring herself to hurt him. In the end, no matter where their lives had taken them, he was still the only friend she had ever had. He still meant the world to her. However, he did not make it easy, tossing around accusations that he knew nothing about as if he had been with her from the moment that she had been turned. The nerve!

"Do not act all high and mighty with me, Corwyn!" Though she would never hurt him, could not bring herself to do it no matter how angry she got, it did not stop Isadora from stepping forward and jabbing a finger in the middle of his chest as she glared up at him. He may have been taller than her, near towering over her, she acted as though they were on the same level. "You have no idea whose life I take or how I take it, you do not know me anymore." True as it might have been she knew that it was stepping over the line, all but rubbing his face in the fact that she was no longer the person he once knew. She wanted to take it back as soon as she said it, the regret of it twisting at her insides, but there was no going back; all she could do was move forward. Forward and straight into the shock of him proclaiming that she would have to kill him if she was so dead set on leaving.

Only then, as he fell silent and her eyes widen as the flames of her anger died down into a dull smolder, did Isadora strike him. It happened so quick that she, herself, had not even realized she had moved until she felt the sting against her palm and saw the red mark on his cheek. If she was shocked by the action she did not let it show, jumping straight into a reprimand that was carried on a low snarl. "Don't you ever," Her voice was low, trembling under the weight of her growing frustration, "Say something so stupid again! You know that I could never kill you, Corwyn. No matter what you think of my kind, surely you know that much." Not that it mattered that much what he thought of her, once she left his apartment in the evening he would go back to trying to kill her.
 
Corwyn was willing to admit that he had taken the lives of several vampires. While he preferred to stay behind the front lines, preparing them for the best possible chance at victory, Corwyn had served his time invading nests and removing supernatural elements that were preying on the weak. When it came to some vampires, there had been a few that had found their little road show to be a hilarious attraction. You miserable livestock have the nerve to raise silver against us? We were feasting on your kind before you great-grandparents were even born. There had been a certain smugness to the way it was said that had fueled Corwyn's devotion to the cause.

Hearing Isadora claim her rights, proclaiming her willingness to commit acts to sustain herself in a vague sense, Corwyn felt that hit him harder than the sights he had seen in the last few y years. There were dens of vampires that had women chained up and marked with numbers, denoting when they had last been fed on. They were strapped to medical beds, with IV's hung up. Only the bare minimum was afforded to them. If they were only malnourished, that might have been enough. They were no longer people, though, their souls ripped from their bodies as they had been used, for pleasure and blood, to the point that they begged for death. There was nothing left for them to go back to, because they couldn't even remember who they once were.

As the memory flashed through his mind, Corwyn could see Isadora's face on the vampire that he had helped to take down that had been keeping the women hostage. There was no humanity left in them. That image made his stomach turn, and he could feel that he was on the verge of going into an episode of hyperventilating.

Thankfully, the slap against his face had pulled him from his thoughts, the anger in her voice, the conviction in her words reminding him that she wasn't gone. Corwyn didn't look back at her as he let the red mark of her hand show on his face. Even though he was at least six foot tall, he felt like an ant compared to her in that moment.

"Why? What makes me different than a guy at the club? A woman getting in a taxi?" He said, his eyes turning to look at her. There was a trace of a tear in his eye, but it was probably just the sharpness of the slap that he'd felt. "We're all just livestock, right?" It was obvious these were not his words, the haunting vision of trauma showing in his face as he looked at her. "If I let you leave, I'll either watch you burn up in the sun or see you lose what bit of Isa is left." Corwyn said.
 
There was a conflict in him, one that she could not see or find a reason for, but she could feel the weight of it hanging in the air around them all the same. His normal bright, brown eyes had gone dim and lifeless as he stared far off at ghosts that only he could see. He may have been there physically, all six feet of him blocking her path, but mentally Corwyn was somewhere that she could not reach. Once she might have hugged him , pulled him tight against her to let him know that she was there and always would be, until he came back to his senses, but that time was over. Now there were nothing so soft between them, only the sharp crack of her palm against his cheek as her emotions got the better of her. Being reduced to such a state brought her no joy, but such was the power he had always over her; the ability to control her emotions where no one else could.

"I could ask you the same!" Isadora fired back, dancing carefully around the question she was not ready to answer. What did make him stand out above all the other mortals that had crossed her path? Deep down she knew the answer, they both did, but neither of them were brave enough to face it. All she could offer to him was a fury that rivaled his own, keeping them close together even though the smarter choice would be to back away.

"I'm just another killer, right, Cor?" Tears welled with in her eyes as the words danced across her tongue, carried on a tone that was like she was spitting out venom. Even though she saw no shame in what she had become, would never feel that way, she hated the way it warped his opinion of her. "Just another mindless freak for you to splash holy water on." She could still feel the tight grip his fellow hunters had placed upon her face as they held her mouth open, cackling at the sound of her choked screams as the blessed liquid was poured down her throat. In the distance she could still hear the screams of her clan, the ones that had become something of a family to her when she could no longer turn to her mortal one. Even when she could remember little else about that night, the sound of their screams and the pain she had suffered would always haunt Isadora.

"What makes me so special to you, Corwyn? If what I am bothers you so much, why didn't you just kill me back in that alley?" Honestly, she did not want to know the answer, not really, but now that the cork had been removed there was no holding back.
 
There were a lot of emotions being thrown around. Quite a few of them were focused on the labels that had been created on both sides. In the end, the both of them had blood on their hands. The difference was, who was on the right moral ground? Did the moral ground really matter? From Corwyn's perspective, anything she had done prior to them reuniting was the past. So long as she could keep some semblance of who she used to be, the foundation of his sanity in his formative years, did it matter if she were a vampire?

"Those other vampires weren't my best friend." He said, breaking the silence that lasted after her last question. "And, just so it's clear, I never called you a mindless freak or a killer." The statement didn't make the situation any less tense for him, but Corwyn felt like it needed to be said. "We both have blood on our hands. We've done what we need to to survive." As he said the words, something clicked in his mind. Holy water? They hadn't used that stuff in a while, last Corwyn had heard. It was the reason he was making the silver oxide spray. It was more efficient, as well as cheaper to come by than the holy water that they had to get from the church. Unless they were dealing with stronger vampires, or creatures that were weaker to it, Corwyn had been discouraging its use.

Reaching out his hand, Corwyn grabbed Isadora's, looking from it to her eyes. He wanted to say her name, to try and draw something of a semblance of normal from their exchange. With the other thoughts pushed aside, his mind focused on her last question. Why had he saved her in that alley? Why had he spared her, while the rest of his group slaughtered what he assumed were the rest of her people.

With her hand in one of his, Corwyn wrapped his other arm around her shoulder, pulling her against his chest in a tight hug. As he was taller, he had to lean down a little so that he could rest his chin against her shoulder, his warm cheek pressing against hers. "No matter what, a friend doesn't leave another friend behind. No matter what." Corwyn said, smiling as he tried to hold her in the hug. He wasn't sure if Isa would kick or punch him, bite him, drain him. It really was her call on what she did. Whatever happened, Corwyn trusted isadora. No matter how illogical it was, finding her again was worth losing his life, but he would've gambled that she'd never take it from him, even if she hadn't previously spoken against him for saying such things.
 
Those other vampires weren't my best friend.

If she was one of the crueler among her kind, the ones that had so completely forgone their morality that there was not a single shred of humanity to be found within them, Isadora would have rebuffed those words and tossed them back in his face. But she wasn't cruel, no matter how much she had tried to convince herself otherwise. She was soft and weak in the face of such kindness, all the wind in her proverbial sails faltering until there was nothing left. It might have been for the best to keep the walls up between them because there were just so many differences that would make rekindling their friendship near impossible, but how could she keep resisting him? He had been the only person in the world that she had allowed herself to grow close to, too focused on working towards a better future to allow herself the chance to slow down long enough to form a lasting bond with anyone else. Sure, there those that she had formed acquaintanceships with, but none of them were Corwyn.

The silence stretched between them, both of them just taking in the intensity of the moment and the heated words they had tossed at one another, but even in the silence remained. It was so thick that she could almost feel it, making her skin tingle with an urge to do something, anything, to bring it to an end. However, she did not trust herself to speak, too scared that she might say something that would finally push him over the edge. To what she could not say for certain, would he kill her if she pushed him too far? She would like to think not, but it was hard to tell how a hunter might respond to a being like herself.

So many things she prepared herself for, but as Corwyn reached out and claimed her hand with one his own, his touch was not one of them. Caught off guard by the action Isadora could only blink owlishly as he pulled her against him in a tight hug. Only then, as his warmth enveloped her as the blackout blanket had just moments before, did she notice just how much taller he was than her. The top of her head just barely touched his chin as the arms around her tightened, clinging to her as though he was afraid she would slip away if he dared to loosen his hold even slightly. His scent washed over her, soothing away her initial shock and reminding her of the comfort that it had provided her all those years ago. It seemed like a lifetime ago that he had held her like that, not since the night before she left for college where she had spent hours begging him to keep in touch. Don't forget about me, Cor, you can't forget about me! Promise me!

Slowly, taking care to not hurt him, she wrapped around his waist as tears welled within her eyes. It was hard to not breakdown against him then, to just allow herself to feel all the emotions vying for her attention, but somehow she managed. Though being so close to him and the blood pumping through his veins called to her, she fought against the instinct and just allowed herself to hold him. "I missed you so much, Cor, more than you could possibly know."
 
Corwyn wasn't sure that he had ever felt such a strange embrace before. Where he expected a warmth, there was almost a vacuum of cold that pulled against him through his clothes. TO his own surprise, the cold wasn't unwelcome. Corwyn had always had a preference for colder rooms, finding hot summer days to be the bane of his existence. The longer he held the embrace, the more he found a comfort in it. When he heard her speak up, following her arms that wrapped around his waist, Corwyn smiled.

"I might have an idea of how much." He said, not trying to make a competition of it. After what felt like an eternity, Corwyn drew back from her arms, looking to meet her eyes. "I think we're both in bad shape. I'm tired from being up all night, and you're up past your bedtime." Corwyn joked, remembering a few nights that the two had stayed up far later than they should have. Some new game had come out, and Corwyn had gotten a copy of it at a midnight release. As he didn't trust leaving his game console at his house, Corwyn had left it with her so that he could play it over with her. They were usually single player games, but that never stopped him from offering to split the game time with her, if she seemed into it.

"Where do we go from here, Isa?" Corwyn asked, reaching up a hand to brush a tear from her cheek with his finger. Her red hair made the pale skin beneath it look more alive. Vampires had always been depicted with black hair, or some neutral shade. Red hair seemed to make a bit of life shine through, like a flickering candle cast through half-drawn shades. The question he asked ran through his mind a few times. Could they part ways now? It didn't seem like either of them was doing okay on their own. He'd gotten into a group of hunters that, without making him aware of it, were using their own methods to take down vampires. He'd have to talk to them to see how things went, as well as learn what he could about what had been taken from the nest.

The longer they stood there, the later it would get. They'd both need to sleep at some point. Corwyn didn't know if he should offer to sleep in a separate room, to give her her space, or offer the opposite. It had been a few days since he had bothered to sleep in the bedroom, the couch being his haven of comfort in the storm that his life as a hunter brought. It was likely still a mess from the last time he had left it unmade. He wasn't a total slob, but it was obvious that he lived alone.
 
As long as he allowed it Isadora basked in the comfort that Corwyn offered to her, only just holding herself from fully clinging to him. In that moment all the loneliness she felt throughout the years and had avoided acknowledging came crashing down on her, nearly bringing her to her knees under the force of it. Only his presence kept her steady, grounding her as it always had. How had she managed without him by how side? More than that, though, how had she been able to abandon him? They were questions that she did not have the answer to or, and this was most likely the case, she did not want to admit the answer even to herself. To do so would be too painful and as she pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind she tipped her head, pressing her nose against his shoulder to take in a deep pull of his scent.

Lips tipping into a contented smile, she was close to dozing off when his the timbre of his voice brushed along her ears. Past my bedtime? Instead of being put off the comment it drew a chuckle from the back of her throat, a sound that was so full of the exhaustion she was trying to hide for him. "And how do you know when my bedtime is, daddy Corwyn?" Though it was a tease and there was nothing more behind the words they still brought a faint blush to her cheeks. She would be lying if she said her friend was not handsome, she had always found him easy on the eyes, but that was not the nature of their relationship. More than once she had talked herself out of such feelings when they were younger, forcing herself to focus solely on he feeling of his hand curled around her own as they slept side by side or the sound of his laughter as they played one of his newest video games. The fear of ruining everything they shared was a risk she had been unable to take, so had stuffed the feelings down and forgot about them. Or at least she tried to.

Like all good things coming to an end so, too, did their hug, but as he drew back she kept a hold of one of his hands. The blue tint he had added to his hair added an allure to him, even though she had teased him for it. It made him somehow more handsome, suiting his complexion that had become pale from years of avoiding the sun's warmth, and even though she had teased him for the choice she thought it suited him. Part of her was tempted to run her fingers through it, wondering if it was still as soft as it had been years ago, but she stamped down on the urge as his fingers brushed a tear from her cheek, the shock of his touch bringing her back into reality.

"I don't know, Cor," Even if it was the truth Isadora could not understand why admitting it bothered her as much as it did, causing her lips to tip downward at the corners. "But I....Would you sleep beside me? You know, like we used to?" Such an innocent request, but it still made her pale cheeks burn a bright shade of red all the same.
 
The title that she had given him, even if it had been a jest, made Corwyn give a faint grimace. Yeah, the term "daddy" had never felt right. Though, perhaps he had it coming with his comment toward her bedtime. Can't blame the bees if you stir the nest. You can blame hornets, though. Those bastards were always looking for a reason to sting something, in Corwyn's opinion.

With the polite request for him to sleep beside her, trying to bring them back to what they used to be, Corwyn didn't bother to pause in his answer. "I'd like that." Corwyn said, smiling at her as he looked toward the bedroom door. His bed was a full size, large enough to be able to hold the both of them. Somehow, though, the request held something deeper, something hidden in its wake. This wasn't two teenagers dancing around feelings, offering each other comfort and shelter. While it had been pure and innocent before, there was a deeper spark. Whether it had always been there or not, hidden away in the trauma of childhood, Isadora meant something to him. It was the thing he was refusing to acknowledge for why he had saved her. He loved her.

Having no experience with the stuff, Corwyn was quick to shove the feelings aside, no matter how hard it was to do it. "Don't mind the mess. I've been expecting the housekeeper to come by, but they keep dodging my phone calls." He said, grinning as he stepped toward the bedroom door. Even as he walked, he kept his hand in Isadora's, guiding her to the bedroom and opening the door. Inside, the room was almost pitch black,s ave for the light that streamed in from the refractions in the living room. The floor was mostly clean, with a few shirts and pants scattered about. The bed was half-made, the bed having a black comforter and large pillows of matching color.

Moving over to the bed, Corwyn released Isadora's hand as he leaned down to pull his boots off, letting out a groan at the freedom from the confining black combat boots. He'd worn them so often now, they almost seemed to be shaping his feet. "You prefer the inside or the outside?" Corwyn asked, one side of the bed was butted up against the wall, whiel the other was closer to the door. Growing up, he had always taken the outside, preferring that he be near it in case he needed to get up without disturbing her.
 
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