I know it's been a long time since an update, and I can't promise that more are coming. 2023 was a hell of a year. That said, this has been sitting in my drive for a long time and it was high time I gave my dear readers at least a little something. It's a bit of a different flavor from the vampire fun we've been having.
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The warlock arrived at precisely midnight.
Eve had hardly had a chance to enjoy a hot cup of tea in Ramsey's chambers. The professor had led her and Luke into her small living room containing two sofas and a multitude of bookshelves crammed into every other space. They waited anxiously while Ramsey hurried away to summon the warlock.
Luke and Eve hadn't exchanged many words, other than to say "I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Eve had said, clutching his hand.
Then, she watched the clock spin, waiting. Luke couldn't sit still - he was constantly shifting and rearranging himself. She couldn't imagine the turmoil he must be feeling. After about half an hour, he left to get some air.
The clock struck midnight when Ramsey knocked and reentered her chambers, a tall man in tow. The stranger smiled when he saw Eve and gave a small bow. She stood from the sofa, unsure how to greet him.
"Eve, this is Theodore," Ramsey introduced him.
"You can call me Theo," he said. He had a hint of an accent she couldn't place.
Eve assessed him quickly. He had a boyish charm. His auburn hair was messy and his eyes were playful, his outfit looked both formal and tousled at the same time. But there was no mistaking that he was not a young man; in the same way she knew Ari was centuries old, she could sense something ancient about him - and something intentional about the way he was put together.
He wasn't exactly what she'd had in mind.
"Will you be needing any equipment? Potions? I've cleared one of the training rooms upstairs, for you two to talk," said Ramsey, looking uneasy.
"That won't be necessary, all we need is a private space." Theo turned slightly towards Eve, blocking Ramsey's view. He smiled. "I can't wait to talk," he said, winking.
Eve raised an eyebrow at him. "This way," she said, inclining her head for him to follow. For a brief second, she locked eyes with Ramsey. The professor gave her a sharp nod, the briefest hint of concern leaking from behind her impassive expression.
They made their way to the training room in silence, Eve walking just ahead of Theo. She hoped Luke wouldn't come looking for them; she wasn't sure she wanted to see him. When they reached the training room, Theo shut the door behind him and locked it. Ignoring the desk and chairs set aside for them in the corner, he sat in the center of the floor, on one of the training mats, and crossed his legs. He motioned for Eve to join him.
Eve was starting to have doubts about this plan. She hesitantly dropped down onto her knees opposite him and waited for him to begin. After a moment, he stretched out an inviting hand to Eve and she took it.
It was like opening her eyes to another layer of the world that peeled away from her own. She could feel him, his presence in the room. She sensed magic radiating off him in waves. There was a sudden surge of heat where their hands met. She gasped and pulled away from the flames that had appeared in his hand. The fire burned a bright orange and after a moment, she saw that it licked at his palm harmlessly. He looked amused.
She tentatively reached back towards him, her fingers grazing the surface of the flames. She was surprised to find they were pleasantly warm.
He extinguished the fire and where there had been flames a moment before was a ball of swirling water. It, too, soon disappeared. As she watched, his fingers changed shape and morphed into long black claws. Her heart skipped a beat and she jerked back. Her hand nearly went for one of the knives tucked into the waistband of her shorts, but she restrained herself.
The claws receded back into his fingers, becoming normal again.
When she stared at him, Theo explained, "Most warlocks transform into an animal familiar."
"Nice magic show," Eve said, trying to quell her hammering heart. "What's your animal?"
"A capybara."
Eve couldn't help the giggle that escaped her, "What?!"
Theo's mischievous glimmer was back, "I don't have one. I can change parts of my body but I can't transform."
"How does that work?" Eve asked. She felt more at ease with him already.
"I'm a natural-born warlock. You know what those are?"
"I thought they were a myth."
"We exist. I was born a warlock. I don't have an animal form because my human body is the form I've had my whole life."
Eve nodded. They sat in expectant silence.
"So, I hear you have a vampire problem."
"I do," Eve said after a moment. "His name is Ari. I was sent on a mission to kill him and take control of a local coven that's gotten out of control. It didn't go well."
"And now you want protection from him."
"I've been training since I was eight years old," She searched his gaze with hers, imploring him to understand that she wasn't just a terrible vampire hunter, "And I've never met a vampire with his abilities, not even a higher vampire. The way he's able to... to be inside my mind completely. I've never experienced it before. And it terrifies me."
"That sounds like Persuasion, but I've never heard of a vampire capable of that."
"It's so much more than that... it's invasive, and powerful."
Theo looked thoughtful for a moment, "Like this?"
She looked into his eyes. "Like what-" Eve started, but she didn't finish her sentence. It felt like a huge fist had reached into her skull and seized her thoughts as though they were a physical object, squeezing them into pulp and juice. She shrieked and fell onto her side, clutching the sides of her head. Her brain felt like it was melting into the floor. But as quickly as the pain had started, it stopped. She lay flat on the floor, breathing hard.
It took her a moment to sit up, but when she did she found him sitting impassively, looking exactly as he had a moment ago.
"You're going to need powerful wards for a vampire like Ari," he continued as if nothing had happened.
After a few moments of staring at him, Eve shook her head and responded slowly, "Just tell me what to do and I'll do it. How does it work?"
"I'll start by taking some of your blood."
"Then?"
"Then I'll use a spell. A tattoo is the most common way to apply wards, but we'll have to do it the old-fashioned way. Wards are not an ordinary spell. They will need a permanent place on your body, a physical reminder of their existence. You will have them forever, even beyond death."
"How long will it take?"
"It's quick. But Eve, it will be incredibly painful. I'll be carving the runes directly into your skin, do you understand?"
Eve considered this. She wasn't a stranger to pain. She was routinely stabbed with blunt practice stakes and thrown across the room during training sessions at the academy. She'd lost everyone and everything she cared about not once, but twice. She'd nearly had all the blood drained from her body; she wasn't sure anything could be more painful than that.
She gave him a nod. Theo smiled and pulled a small intricately carved knife out of his pocket. "Let's start with the blood, and go from there." He carefully rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, undoing the first couple buttons on his vest. He looked peaceful and calm, not like a man about to begin a dangerous warding spell.
He took her hand in his and rubbed his thumb across her palm. Then with a quick motion, he sliced a thin line into the skin, letting the blood well up and collecting it into a small vial. He rubbed his thumb over the wound again and Eve watched in amazement as it healed. Where she expected raw jagged skin, her palm was smooth and unblemished.
"That's incredible," she said.
"Now," Theo said in a low voice, "Close your eyes."
Eve closed her eyes. Theo leaned in close and Eve felt his breath tickle her neck.
"Think of Ari now," he said, "Think of his presence, his voice."
"I'm thinking about it," Eve murmured. She didn't want to think about it.
"Good," Theo said, "Now, think of him touching you."
Eve felt a shiver go down her spine. She tried to picture Ari's hands running over her skin. The shadow of power around him that made her limbs feel like lead.
She felt something cold and wet on her wrist, and when she opened her eyes, she saw that Theo was tracing a pattern on her wrist with bloodied fingers. The lines he drew began to glow and burn. Eve gasped and tried to pull away. Theo tightened his grip on her wrist.
"Stay still," he said, drawing another line.
"I'm trying," she said, but she couldn't help her squirming.
His grasp was like iron and her struggles were fruitless as he continued his work. He traced the fingers of his other hand up her wrist and onto her arm, following her veins like a roadmap. It felt like razors cutting into her blood vessels.
"Fuck," Eve said, her eyes stinging with tears.
Theo looked up at her and his face softened. "You're doing well, Eve. You need to keep thinking about him."
Eve examined Theo, his light sage-colored eyes and expressive face. She found herself getting lost in his features. She tried to shake herself out of it. He may be attractive, but he was unpredictable.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she tried to focus. In her mind's eye she saw Ari's eyes, dark and calculating. The way he moved with intention and inhuman balance. She could still feel his fingers tracing patterns on her skin.
It was a struggle to keep her thoughts from drifting to Luke and what had transpired only a couple of hours ago. She could still feel the bruising grip of his hands and the painful fullness as he'd thrust inside her. She remembered his scent - the way his familiar warmth had been replaced with cold, brutal energy. She had always felt so safe and at home with him, and Ari had taken that and used it against her.
The burning sensation grew stronger and she let out a sob.
Theo glanced at her. "Maybe this will help."
It felt like an electric shock, shooting through her whole body and converging straight between her legs. She felt an intense need to be fucked and filled completely, her panties wet with the thought of it. Her muscles tensed and her nerve endings were on fire, but they released as she came suddenly. Eve doubled over like she'd been punched, a pitiful squeak of pleasure escaping her.
She could barely comprehend what just happened.
"What the fuck?!"
"I can do more than just shapeshift," he smirked, "You were in pain."
"I don't-" Eve tried, "Why would you do that?"
"I need you to focus, Eve."
"I'm trying," she ground out.
"Try harder. Think about how much you want him to touch you. Think about how much you hate that you love it."
"Excuse me?"
