Archive of Our Own ^beta

After all the betrayals that day, Scott needed to consolidate his bonds with his coven properly. He knew he was at the top of the humans’ kill list, so he needed to make sure he wouldn’t be on the vampires’ one as well.

He made his first move while Pyro, Apo, and Shelby were busy talking about Truffle (the pet pig of the first two), and whether to relocate him to the castle or leave him where he was. While he didn’t trust their new recruit one bit, that conversation seemed harmless enough. Besides, vampires grew stronger with age. His hearing was sharper than theirs. He could still monitor them, even if he moved somewhere more private to chat with Owen.

Mind made, he approached his broody lumberjack. “A word, if you please”. It wasn’t a real request, and all of his fledgling knew an order when they heard it by then. Unfortunately, he couldn’t drop the faux friendliness yet, unless he wanted a brand new revolution on his hands while he was still far from being back at the peak of his power.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed the way Pyro glanced over, terrified. Probably trying to assess whether they were in trouble once more or not (they were, but they weren’t Scott’s highest priority at the moment). Shelby looked at them too, concern for Owen clear on her face. She didn’t dare speak up. She didn’t dare try to stop him. While she had yet to face his wrath, she knew that he was inevitable. Unlike their newest family member, who mostly seemed confused by everyone’s sudden distress.

Owen, ever the stoic character, just nodded and pushed himself up, ready to follow Scott wherever he led him.

They didn’t go far. Just out of view and hearing range for the younger ones.

Once they stopped, Scott noticed that Owen’s scowl was more prominent than ever. Truly a feat for the lumberjack who hardly ever smiled. He had never been the best at handling foul moods. His first instinct upon seeing someone upset had always been to tease them and make the situation worse. But, now that he was no longer firmly at the top of the food chain, he had to brush up on those skills he’d once discarded, like empathy and tact. It was tedious and annoying, but hopefully it would be well worth it in the long run.

“Something’s been weighing on you. And I’ve had enough of fledglings holding secrets from me for today, so out with it” he tried to keep his tone lighthearted, even if he doubted he’d been able to keep all of his irritation out of his voice. However, his nonchalance only seemed to grate on Owen’s nerves.

Their dear lumberjack was the type to crave kindness and reject it every time he received any with the same ardent passion. In his hundreds of years of life, Scott had met many like him. Miserable souls who refused to find a place to belong. Those who thrived only when suffering were some of his favorite pawns. Once one learned how to twist them, they’d become loyal to a fault.

It took Owen no time to confirm Scott’s reading of him. He scoffed and rolled his eyes, as if he could drown his jealousy in anger. “I’m not one of your fledglings” he spat out that last word with enough disdain to make one think that it had killed his grandma or something. “I’m not a member of your coven at all. That’s been made abundantly clear” he added soon after, quieter, unable to hide his hurt any longer.

Scott gave him a practiced frown; concern was etched into every facet of his expression, but it wasn’t genuine. He’d never been the caring type. Even less so back when he used to be human. But Owen was too useful to let him slip from his grasp quite yet. “Who’s given you that impression?”. The lumberjack avoided his eyes. Even when consumed by his ire, he was still trying to protect those below him. It had to have been either Pyro or Shelby then. It could have been the Doctor, too. Scott was well aware of his disdain for him, but he doubted a man so compassionate would tease a tortured soul with his insecurities for no reason. Gently, Scott brought a hand to Owen’s cheek. His touch was light as a feather, but the lumberjack, starved for love as he was, melted into it without noticing. “Owen, my darling, I can assure you I consider you a member of my coven. You’re my most trustworthy companion. The only one who has yet to betray me. Don’t let someone’s ignorant words make you doubt that”.

He could pinpoint the moment Owen’s resolve cracked. Anger faded easily and was quickly replaced by a confused sense of wonder. He’d spoken before about his previous lover, the one the humans had taken from him. He’d mentioned how the older vampire had been the only one not to flinch when touching him, not to look upon him with disgust. The only one to treat him as human.

It was hard for Scott to see anyone as an equal (because nobody was as great as him, objectively), but that came in handy for him at that moment. He didn’t recoil from Owen’s scarred skin. To him, what others looked like had never mattered much. At the end of the day, they were all either pawns or cattle. Some could be useful bed warmers, but that was as high as he was willing to raise them.

Owen didn’t know any of that, so he must have equated his gentle touch with kindness. What a foolish boy that he was…

“Pyro and Apo… they both see me as an outsider” the poor lumberjack finally confessed. His desire to protect those he saw as weaker from Scott’s wrath had so easily come apart under his careful ministrations. It had been a while since he’d had to tug at people’s heartstrings so directly, so he was happy to find himself not rusty at all. “To them and the humans… everyone’s an exception but me”.

Scott nodded along, in part to validate his fears, and in part to show that he was listening. “Life can be cruel to those of us who are greater than it. And that’s one more reason for us to stand together. With me by your side, you won’t have to concern yourself with their mean-spirited exclusions”. He could see how captivated Owen was with his every word. A place to belong was what he’d craved all along. He didn’t put any work into finding one for himself, and he kept sabotaging every offer he received in an effort to remain unaware of them all. But having that craving of his addressed so directly made it impossible for him to ignore the allure of the proposal. He fell for it, hook, line, and sinker. “That said, worry not. I will have a talk with Pyro and Apo. I’m not happy with their behavior either”.

Owen snorted. “Seriously? Because Pyro seemed convinced that you had forgiven their indiscretions…”.

“Pyro has a tendency to overestimate his reparatory actions. He’s lucky my clemency knows no bounds”. At most, he was lucky that Scott wasn’t in a position to lose allies yet. He’d learn his place, however. Everyone did, eventually. And a lesson in manners for his first fledgling was long overdue.

Unsurprisingly, Owen failed to read between the lines of what he’d just said, and simply accepted his words as if they were gospel. He couldn’t expect anything different from someone who’d lived as an outcast for his whole life. Nor did he care to correct his assumptions. As long as he trusted Scott unquestioningly and saw him as a source of comfort, he wouldn’t betray him.

He didn’t care as much if the lumberjack eventually ended up going after the other members of their brood. As long as no stake was turned on him, he’d gotten what he wanted.

-

Thanks to his conversation with Owen, Scott decided to make Pyro his next target.

He led the lumberjack back to the table and amused himself for a moment with all the surprised glances Owen’s new, relaxed disposition earned him. Apo was still wary of him; she eyed both of them with equal amounts of suspicion and confusion. And Scott made sure to reward her with a sharp grin, all fangs, that promised her a turn soon enough. He had to consolidate the fledglings he actually had first, but he had no intention of leaving her presence there unaddressed. Not when he still didn’t trust her one bit.

Once he grew bored of everyone’s surprise, he stalked forward and draped himself around Pyro’s shoulders. His mouth was flush with the young fledgling’s ear; he could feel the rising heat of their flesh on his lips. They were so easily flustered, and Scott would have been lying if he said he didn’t find that adorable. He managed to elicit a delightful little squeak from them when his fangs grazed the inner shell of their ear.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed the way Shelby furiously scribbled in the leather bound tome they always carried with them. He was rather curious about the contents of it. He had a feeling he’d be featured in them quite prominently, despite the fact that they’d assured him that their beloved ‘fanfiction’ never contained gossip about real people. They were nowhere near as subtle as they thought they were.

Apo’s reaction was in stark contrast to Shelby’s. They looked away, perturbed and embarrassed by what they’d just witnessed. They were more similar to Owen in that regard. Always annoyed by his most ostentatious displays of affection, either due to some deep-seated jealousy or lack of habit. The lumberjack, by then, had resigned himself to getting over it with a simple eye roll. He wondered how long it would take for their little soldier to do the same…

“Come with me” he whispered sensually, before lifting himself away from Pyro and walking down into the crypt that had housed his slumbering body for centuries.

He didn’t have to wait even a second before hurried steps fell in line behind him, clumsy and way too eager, just as the scholar always was. He was like a very excitable puppy. It had surprised him to hear some of the humans describe him as irredeemable and on par with him or Owen, because, to him, the younger had never registered as a threat at all. He was cute, but they were just blind to his charm.

Scott stopped once they reached his tomb. He glanced at it in utter disinterest before leaning against the cold stone it was made of to give an even stronger air of nonchalance and turning to face Pyro. His fledgling was fidgeting anxiously with their hands. Their eyes were fixed on the floor, their cheeks still displayed that beautiful dusting of red he always managed to bring forth with such ease. They couldn’t tell whether they were about to get scolded or rewarded; that much was obvious. That kind of trepidation suited them.

Scott opened his arms, silently beckoning Pyro forward. The scholar sank into his embrace without a second thought. His shoulders were shaking, wrecked by inaudible sobs. Despite the two of them being around the same height, the young fledgling looked so small, all curled up against him.

They stayed like that for a while. Eventually, however, Pyro raised his head, his pretty ruby red eyes met Scott’s own. They were as puffy as his cheeks; the plentiful blood still in his system had allowed him to cry, it seemed. “Sire… am I forgiven?” he asked, weakly, hesitantly, fearful. His anxiety smelled delicious.

It would have been no fun to reassure them yet, so Scott only let out a noncommittal hum before bending down and sinking his fangs into their neck. When they let out a pained gasp, he readjusted his hold so it would be more comfortable for them. It paid off, and soon they were instead sighing in contentment. It wasn’t odd for elder vampires to drink from their brood. Back when Scott had been younger and still settling into the lifestyle, he’d seen it used plenty as a form of punishment. No one had mentioned to him that it could just as well be a reward. Maybe he’d been the one to discover that. Regardless, he enjoyed leaving his intentions unstated. There was nothing as exhilarating as a fledgling left in a limbo of insecurity.

He slipped his fangs out of Pyro’s flesh with a wet pop. His fledgling’s knees were wobbly, so the previously willing embrace quickly became a matter of necessity. “Has anyone ever made you feel pleasure like this before?” he asked conversationally. Completely ignoring the scholar’s question that still hung heavy in the air.

Pyro looked up at him with bleary eyes. It took a couple of moments for Scott’s words to properly sink in for them, but when they did, their blush was reinvigorated. “I- not- not really” they stammered. “I’m- I’m sorry, Sire. I- I didn’t mean to be such a mess”. Their habit of apologizing over the most minor of infractions was one he intended to encourage. It was best for them if their ego didn’t grow.

Tenderly, he stamped a chaste kiss on their forehead. “Adorable” he praised. He wasn’t there to indulge his lust that day, unfortunately. So, instead of dragging them both deeper into the depths of desire, he lowered Pyro to the ground and took a step away from him. He ignored his pitiful, needy whine and fixed him with a serious glare. “I do find it quite curious that you’d be so vulnerable around me, only to then turn around and back-stab me the whole day…” his tone was sharp and icy. A slap made all the more painful by the warmth that had been there not a moment earlier.

His fledgling curled up on themselves, shoulders hunched up protectively, fear and confusion palpable in the air. “I’m sorry, Sire” they repeated. “I was weak. And- and I couldn’t stand the idea of Owen denying me and Shelby a cure without even asking you! And I just… I- I made a mistake. I don’t want to leave your side, Sire. I promise you, I’m loyal. Always”.

It was hard for him to suppress the small smirk that threatened to twist his lips, but he managed. He bent forward, lifting Pyro’s face with one sharp claw under his chin (he noticed early on that the scholar tended to confuse pain and pleasure a great deal, and keeping him on the edge between the two was a skill he was quickly mastering), and soaking in the needy gasp he let out. “I hope for your own good that you’re being honest with me right now. After all, I know what you need better than you. Better than anyone”. He was immensely amused by the small nod his words were met with. Truly, getting into people’s heads was far too easy. “Do you know why that is?”.

Pyro shook their head as little as they could to get through their wordless answer. Anything to avoid breaking the one point of contact between them.

“Because you’re my favorite. You’re my right-hand man. You’re the one who’s done the most for me. It’s only natural I’d want to repay that loyalty in kind, isn’t it?”. It wasn’t a complete lie either. As long as it benefited him, he was more than willing to reward his pawns handsomely. Especially the ones who made it as fun as Pyro did. The younger was Scott’s type through and through. Pretty and smitten, just like he wanted them.

Scott noticed the way Pyro perked up, especially hearing all that he’d done be acknowledged. So maybe that was what had led him astray. He knew that the scholar was still seeking the validation of his family, even after they’d cast him out like trash. However, he hadn’t realized that his fledgling only wasn’t content with what he’d given him because it hadn’t been enough.

They were young and lost. He’d met plenty of people like that, too. Directionless, eager to please, lacking in anything that could have made them exceptional. Those kinds of pawns were always needy. They needed constant work at the start, but they always rewarded him with the best results. They were the ones who usually ended up worshiping him like a god.

So, with that in mind, Scott gave Pyro one final push. “Will you stay and protect me? Be the reliable confidant I need you to be?” his voice reeked of vulnerability. To act like that almost sickened him. Unfortunately, it was all part of his act. He couldn't slack off for something as silly as his own comfort.

And, thankfully, it worked. Pyro nodded eagerly, their eyes glittered with awe and joy, their cheeks were once more flushed, this time with pride instead of embarrassment. It was perfect. Finally, he’d managed to put a leash around them that the humans wouldn’t be willing to remove, because they believed that what the scholar wanted was a choice, when all they ever craved was to be seen.

He rewarded his dear fledgling by picking him up and cradling him against his chest, before tucking him into the bed they all shared down there. He’d kept Pyro awake long enough. Being fed from was always draining, no matter how pleasurable the vampire managed to make it. After his desperate display, he’d earned himself a break.

-

That time, Scott returned to the meeting room alone.

Owen arched an eyebrow at him. The slight smug grin curving the lumberjack’s lips let him know that he thought Pyro had been thoroughly disciplined. And who was he to deny that convenient assumption?

After giving him a small nod, he turned his attention toward the two fledglings he’d yet to consolidate his bond with. Shelby was still busy working on her manuscript. Her ears had twitched when he’d stepped into the room, but she hadn’t acknowledged his presence, probably too taken by her work to do so. Apo, meanwhile, was back to glaring daggers at him. Her gaze was even more intense now than before. Was there no limit to the resentment their little soldier could feel? If they weren’t vampires, he would have been worrying about that scowl becoming a permanent fixture on her face…

Without a doubt, Apo was the more pressing issue. Despite their promise not to hold grudges, their hostility was still palpable. It irritated Scott to no end. Entitled peasants who thought they had a right to judge his actions were his least favorite kind of people. It was why he’d despised Avid so ardently until a couple of days before (now the ex-hunter had a change of heart, it seemed, and had nothing but praises and flattery for him. His mercy was not so easily bought, but he would have been lying if he said that he wasn’t a little bit into it). They believed themselves superior because of their steely morals… except their convictions were never as strong as they thought. They were hypocrites, and not even the fun kind, like Owen.

Still, he knew that if he went after Apo right and then and there, the little soldier wouldn’t be making it out of their encounter alive. And there was nothing that could calm his nerves as much as hanging out with Shelby for a while. They truly were like an excitable hamster. Their company was fun. He hadn’t lied when he’d said that they were the first human in centuries he’d had a desire to spend eternity with.

So, ignoring the soldier’s glare, he grabbed himself a chair and gracefully sat himself down next to Shelby, one elbow on the table so he could lean his face against his hand and appear more nonchalant. “What are you writing? You look like you’re having fun”.

Shelby flinched slightly in surprise; no fear accompanied that instinctual response, however. Instead, she swiveled around and happily showed off the cover of her novel. Etched into the leather cover were the words: ‘WIP My Roommate’s A Vampire’. “I wasn’t planning on showing you guys…” she admitted. “But you did say no more secrets, so, yeah”.

That was about on par with what he’d been expecting.

Their earnest confession, while somewhat expected, still managed to rip a chuckle out of Scott. “See, this is why you’re so fun to me”. For once, he didn't need to put on a mask. He didn't need to play along with a role that he picked for himself. He could just be honest. Because even after Shelby attempted to lie to him and even after they turned the one person he didn’t want to turn, they were still so easy to like.

Like a pet. He couldn’t stay mad at her forever just because she tore apart his favorite pair of slippers.

Shelby’s eyes went wide. “You mean that?!” they asked, full of hope. “Because… I’ve been told that you… that you only see me as food”. It was that simple with them. No prodding required. No need for sweet temptations aimed at mollifying them. They wore their heart on their sleeves. Vulnerability was a sturdier shield for them than their fangs and claws.

People like Shelby were hard to come by.

Kindness was one of those virtues humans often bragged about, but rarely understood. It was why it was so easy for him to portray himself as magnanimous. He didn’t even have to be nice to people; he just needed them to believe he was giving them something out of the goodness of his cold, unbeating heart. Many didn’t understand that the real deal needed perseverance. It needed consistency. An unwavering will to always show compassion and never cause harm, if at all possible to avoid it.

Even more so than the Doctor (who was putting up a valiant effort but still showed his biases in his treatment of Scott), Shelby was a brilliant example of a truly kind soul. Compassionate, earnest, and tenacious. She had all the qualities she needed to stand up again after every injustice. It kind of made him want to see how far he could push her before she finally truly snapped (turning Avid hadn’t made her into a monster as he’d hoped, not when it had been fully consensual, but there was still time).

He couldn’t push them too much quite yet, not while he still needed them, but eventually, he would enjoy corrupting someone so pure.

“Have I fed from you ever since you’ve been turned?” he asked, pretending to be utterly dumbfounded by that claim. Truly, he probably would have, had Shelby been more of his type. But they just so happened not to entice him at all physically.

Shelby gasped. “Wait, you can do that?!”.

Apo groaned. “Don’t fall for it, Shelby. He’s full of it-” they tried to protest, only to fall silent once more when Scott fixed them with a pointed glare and flashed his fangs at them once more. They may have had a fiery temper and a lot of spite to vent out, but they at least possessed some common sense.

“I can as long as you have blood in your system” he confirmed with a small shrug. “Back in the days, an elder vampire drinking from fledglings was an extremely common practice. That way, only the ones that were considered the most expendable members of the brood had to go out and risk their lives for the common good. But, and correct me if I’m wrong here, I’ve put myself on the line plenty for the rest of you…”. And, truthfully, he had. Scott had gone out when he was at his weakest, back when the humans had taken all the beacons to give the others a fighting chance. He was the one who put a roof over their head. He had built a chicken farm for them, knowing that it was the most renewable form of meat they could find. A lot could be said about him, but he hadn’t slacked off.

He wasn’t sure why he’d been putting so much effort into it all. It wasn’t how he was used to operating. But, then again, he was also surrounded by very inexperienced vampires and did feel a small level of responsibility for their well-being, even if he struggled to admit it even to himself.

Things used to be so much simpler back when he could lounge in his castle the whole day and wait to be fed and pampered…

“You have done a lot for us…” Shelby admitted. “I’m sorry for doubting you. I- I just- you know I wasn’t turned willingly-”. That comment earned them a concerned glance from Apo, but they didn’t notice it. They were focused solely on Scott, as they should have been. As everyone should have been. “And… I don’t know. I guess I wanted Avid to get to choose how his turning went completely. How it happened and- and who got to know about it. I didn’t mean to lie to you guys about it… but I also didn’t want to break my promise to him…”.

Scott interrupted her rambling by affectionately ruffling her hair. “As long as you know not to do it again. I told you, you’re the only human I’ve wanted to turn in centuries. Don’t make me regret saying that”.

Shelby nodded quickly, clearly relieved to have so easily earned his forgiveness.

Honestly, her infraction was a minor one, all things considered, so he didn’t feel the need to drag her punishment on too long. Especially not when he still had Apo to deal with.

-

To deal with Apo, he waited until after Owen and Shelby had filed out of the meeting room (the former to hunt some cattle and the latter to check on Pyro). She’d tried to leave as well, but Scott had swiftly grabbed her wrist and held her in place. A simple glare had been enough to get her to stop struggling as well. For as tough as she liked to think she was, she was quite easily intimidated. Maybe it was connected in some way to her fear of blood…

Once his fledglings had left, the little soldier snarled at him and ripped their wrist out of his grip. “What do you want?!” they hissed. “Your bullshit woe is me is not gonna work with me. I know what you are. I know you cannot be trusted”. They crossed their arms at the end of their speech. Their body language was more guarded than he was used to from newly turned vampires. Usually, fledglings were clingy and needy. Not always toward their sire, admittedly, but they did need at least someone to anchor themselves to. Otherwise, they ran the risk of losing their minds and going feral, and that was never a nice view.

It was possible that Apo had bonded herself to the villagers instead. He’d seen her often hanging out with Sausage, Ren, and Martyn, especially. But if they’d truly kicked her out, that bond should have been broken. And she should have been left vulnerable. The fact that she still kept up the same amount of hostility as before was all the proof Scott needed to know that she’d been lying to them, just as he’d suspected from the start. The humans must have wanted a mole on the inside. And he was gonna make sure they wouldn’t get one.

“I should kill you” he uttered flatly. It wasn’t a question or a threat, just a fact. That would have been the easiest way to deal with Apo. But if there was one thing Scott was known for, it was the fact that he liked playing games. He liked a good challenge. And, while he did take pleasure from seeing the horror on the little soldier’s face, following through with what he’d said would have been boring. So, with a theatrical sigh, he twisted his mouth into a pleasant smile and infused his voice with emotions once more. “I’m kidding! Just because you’re a mole, doesn’t mean I’m gonna be so barbaric!”.

They didn’t buy his faux friendliness. They took a step back, claws drawn as if those pitiful little things could do anything to him as he was at that moment. “How… how did you know…?” they mumbled.

“You’re not that good of an actress” Scott answered honestly. She shouldn’t even have attempted to infiltrate their ranks when she knew so little about vampires still. Sure, she’d been one for a few weeks already, but she’d spent most of that time fighting it and in denial. How she genuinely thought she could be passable was beyond him. “Besides, you lot keep trying to lure Shelby and Pyro back. If they’re so open toward those two, who already have a kill count, why would they push you out? It doesn’t serve them. Keeping you all as their attack dogs is far more convenient! You can be starving and in pain, and they can reap all the benefits!”. In their place, he would have done the same. He was doing the same currently.

And, sure, the humans could fool themselves into thinking that they were close to discovering the cure. They could tell themselves that it was fine if they used their fellow townsfolk as weapons, if they treated them worse than cattle, after all, they would be coming back to their side soon! But they were lying to themselves. They were avoiding that nagging voice at the back of their minds that kept on wondering who the real monsters were there.

Scott knew he was one. He’d always known.

As a human, he’d been no more merciful. If anything, his cruelty had been more concentrated. He’d been aware of the fact that he had a limited time on Earth, and wanted to have as much fun with it as he could. Vampirism had stretched things out. It had dulled some of his edges. But it had not bettered him. There was no cure for being a dick, as far as he was aware.

So, when he saw himself in the terrified mob that wanted to hunt him down and throw him on a pyre, that wasn’t a compliment.

Apo frowned. “That’s not what they’re doing” they protested weakly. They didn’t have any arguments to sustain their point. They didn’t even attempt to properly debate Scott. It was, overall, kind of a pitiful attempt.

“Oh, I’m sure” Scott condescendingly conceded. “I’m sure there was no fear in their eyes when you revealed your new nature” Apo flinched, hearing that. He’d hit the bullseye without even trying. He was shooting in the dark, and yet humans were so predictable that they made it hard for him to miss. “I’m sure they didn’t hold their silver swords against your throat. I’m sure they gave you as much consideration as Shelby gave Avid with his turning. The people who attack us whenever they merely see us nearby definitely don’t fear your bite and don’t keep you around for your bark”. It was understandable for the humans to fear them. Vampires were their natural predator. They were faster, stronger, more agile, and all around more powerful than them. And, truth be told, Scott didn’t resent their fear; he reveled in it. But he also knew that the other members of his brood didn’t share that peculiar taste of his.

Most vampires didn’t. It was why most of them hadn’t lived as long as him. They always grew bitter and resentful somewhere down the line and stopped wanting to live for themselves. Either that, or they buried themselves so far in their denial that it got them killed.

Not him, though; he was always having a blast.

Other people really should have considered trying to be a bit more like him. It would have done them some good.

“Maybe they’re right to be afraid of me… maybe I am a monster. Maybe we’re all monsters” Apo tried to argue. “I was turned for less than a day when I tried to eat Truffle”. He knew that her pet was very important to her, but that had been such a ridiculous sentence that it almost made him crack. He managed to hold it together by forcing himself to replace her pet pig with Shelby in his mind, and even that barely worked. “I may not have a kill count, but that doesn’t make me harmless”.

“You know… You wouldn’t have had that urge if you’d stuck with me from the start” Scott pointed out. He elaborated further when Apo gave him a confused look: “Fledglings have a tendency to go feral when they don’t have someone to emotionally anchor themselves to. Being turned strengthens everything you feel, after all. It can easily become overwhelming”. Seriously, was everyone’s general understanding of vampires that poor that they didn’t even know something so basic? Back in his days, people used to be more informed. Probably because they were ruled by him, and they kinda needed that knowledge for their direct survival, but still! “You’re not a monster, Apo. You’re just ignorant, and you trusted the wrong people”.

Apo scoffed. “And who’s the right one? You?”.

Scott shrugged. “I could be. I don’t have to be your enemy. I could use someone like you in my ranks”.

“So you want to use me as a weapon as well? How’s that any better than them?” they challenged.

He fixed them with an unimpressed look. “You would make for a piss poor weapon” he stated flatly. It made them recoil in surprise. With their past in the military, they probably had been told that they were a valuable tactician. That they could serve the little militia the humans had formed just fine. But, as a vampire, they were one of the weakest. Cleo’s form was even less evolved, but at least they knew their way around a sword, and they didn’t freak out at the sight of blood. Apo was… tragically under-equipped. “But you’re an architect, aren’t you? And we certainly could use some help rebuilding the castle”.

“Oh…”. Apo looked around, as if only then realizing that the room they were in was the only mostly completed one. It at least had a roof. “You… aren’t gonna try to make me kill people?”.

“Why would I want you to steal a perfectly good meal from me?” he questioned back. Apo’s disgusted expression made him laugh. That time, he couldn’t contain it. He didn’t like stubborn idiots with a vengeance against him, but sometimes they could be funny, too. When he finally calmed down, he gave her his final pitch: “Listen, I don’t mind if you keep up your duties as a mole and all of your morals. But, for as long as you’re under my roof, I expect honesty from you. That is all I will demand. If you decide to put your architectural skills to good use, then that’s welcome as well. But the only thing I will not budge on is that you need to be open with me. If you do so, you’ll earn your spot as a valued member of this coven. And as a valued confidant of mine. I could always use someone I can truly trust”.

Much like Owen, Apo wanted to fit in more than anything else. They wanted to protect those they held dear, but who that was could change. All they needed was a little push. A reminder of the mistreatment they’d endured, and a promise of order and independence. And, much like he had with the lumberjack before them, he could see the moment their resolve cracked. Right as he’d mentioned that they could earn his full trust going forward, they were sold. Whether that was because the humans had broken theirs or vice versa, and they were seeking redemption, he didn’t know. But it worked in his favor, so he didn’t care either.

All of his fledglings had been secured, not to the coven, but to him.

If the humans came for him now, he was prepared.