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Noelle is running through the woods desperately trying to escape.
She hadn't thought they were real, she had thought they were nothing but an old wives tale.
And now here she is, running lost through a forest in the dead of night, one of these mythical beings of old chasing her down and hunting her like it's prey.
Her dress gets caught on a stray branch and the fabric tears from the force at which she runs, unfortunately the action in turn causes her to stumble and trip over her feet, sending her spiraling towards the ground.
The creature is on her in seconds, bounding over a large stone at which it perches to glare menacingly down at her.
A vampire.
A creature of old.
He appears young but Noelle has no idea if that is merely an illusion that comes with immortality. His head is crowned with messy ash blonde hair but that is where his human characteristics end.
Upon his back are two large bat wings, a matching tail to boot waving behind him, his hands are clawed, his ears pointed and his teeth sharp, but most telling of all are his eyes.
Her grandmother once told her if she ever was unsure if someone was a human or vampire to check the eyes not the teeth.
For vampiric eyes glow like hot ambers and were that of a predator rather then a man.
And what stares down at her is most definitely a predator.
She closes her eyes and awaits her fate.
She has no doubt in her mind that this creature intends to make her his next meal, and unfortunately there's nothing she can do to stop him from taking her.
"What are you doing here human?"
She hadn't expected it to speak to her.
Or for it to sound so human.
She lowers her hands that she had raised in what should have been a vain attempt to protect herself and looks at him in confusion and fear.
"W-what?"
"You're far too close to our colony," the creature slips off the rock, movements smooth and almost reptilian like, "it's unsafe for both of us if you hang around here."
"You-you're going to let me go?" She stutters out in stunned disbelief.
The boy wrinkles his nose, "I have no interest in keeping you here."
"You're not going to eat me?"
"You wouldn't be very filling."
Noelle blinks at him, the confusion is still thick, she had expected to be mauled by this thing by now…not have a conversation with it.
"Why were you chasing me then?" Noelle tries to slow the rapid beating of her heart.
"Because you saw me and I had to be sure you wouldn't tell any other humans where our colony is."
"You chased me down just to ask me to leave you alone?"
"Don't get smart with me," he curls up his lips revealing sharp fangs, "your lucky it was me who you saw, the others wouldn't have been so kind to you," he looks away from her, "I have no desire to kill you but at the same time I couldn't just let you go without being sure you wouldn't endanger my family."
"That's all you want…to be left alone?"
The boy looks at her with a bored expression.
"Yes."
"I-I…very well then I shall leave you in peace."
The vampire nods his head, turning his back to her and wings adjusting as if he's about to take flight.
"Then be on your way, human."
"Wait!" She calls with an outstretched hand, relieved to see him still and look back at her.
"I-I don't know where I am, I don't know how to get out of this forest."
The boy blinks at her.
"Just go back the way you came."
"I don't know where that is anymore!" She stresses, "you chased me far off the trail I was following!"
He looks at her with that same bored expression for a moment before sighing and dropping his wings.
"Very well, I shall guide you out," he flutters his wings to jump beside her, "it is my fault you're lost after all so I should right this wrong."
Noelle can only nod her head mutely, the only noise that escapes her is a small and nervous squeak.
He raises an eyebrow at the girl before shaking his head.
He doesn't say anything else to her, he just begins walking.
This boy makes walking in the dark look easy, he doesn't trip over loose roots or smack into thin tree branches, he moves effortlessly.
At first she assumed that those burning eyes of his were equipped with night vision.
But the quiet of the night, and the silent tension between the two allows for her to hear and barely audible clicking noises.
"You're using echolocation."
He stills and looks at her.
"Like a bat."
He blinks slowly at her.
"Sorry," she rubs awkwardly at her shoulder, "I just noticed the sound and…"
"You're very observant," in the moonlight she can barely make out the smile on his face, "we can't see very well so it's needed for us in order to get around without bumping into things constantly."
His tone is more light hearted then it was before, he almost sounds happy to be talking with her.
"I never really thought about it before," she might as well continue, she hopes the small talk eases some of the tension and fear, "but why exactly do you all have such bat-like traits? You aren't actually related to them are you?"
The boy looks up the sky, "my father says it's because the first vampire was born when a human and bat died side by side and as they were crossing over their spirits intertwined into one being," he explains, "and when they were reborn they came back as both a bat and a human- a vampire."
"I've never heard that story before," Noelle starts carefully, "my Grandmother told me that the first vampire was born when a bat flew over an unburied corpse," she rubs at her neck, "I was never sure how that turned them into a vampire though."
"Humans make up all sorts of stories, but even we don't know-" the boy is cut off when he smacks into a tree.
…
"Ow." he rubs his face.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine I just got distracted and forgot to look where I was going."
Noelle tilts her head, "oh right…you stopped making those noises."
"I've never been good at multitasking," he shakes his head, "anyways…what's a human like you doing all the way out here…and in the middle of the night at that?"
Noelle feels her face heat up and she tears her gaze away from him.
"That's none of your business."
"Isn't though?" This time the boy is careful to make those small clicking noises between his sentences, "after all something brought you out here…and it could bring other humans out here too."
It's silent a moment aside from his clicking.
Noelle doesn't necessarily want to answer but when the vampire casts her a curious glance she can't help but sigh in defeat.
"I was looking for something.
…
"Okay…what were you looking for?"
"If you must know," she crosses her arms, "I was looking for my Mother's sword."
The vampire looks at her with an expression she cannot read.
"My Mother was a knight," she goes on, "before she gave birth to me one of the final battles she fought was in this forest…she lost her sword in it and I thought maybe…I could find it."
"Your Lady Acier's daughter!"
Noelle stills in complete shock and looks at the boy in awe.
"You knew my mother?"
"Me? No but I've heard stories of her," as he speaks his eyes light up in excitement, "my father says she fought alongside our colony to drive off a demon who was trying to take over our woods! They all say she was amazing!"
"My Mother…fought with vampires?"
The boy nods his head rapidly.
"Yeah, and afterwards my colony helped nurse Lady Acier's wounds! She was the first and only human we ever allowed into our hollow!"
Noelle steps towards him with an eager glint in her eyes.
"Do you know where her sword is?!"
"Is it one crafted from silver? If so then it was gifted to our chieftain by the Lady…he has it on display in his den!"
"Do you…" she starts nervously, "think they would return it to me?"
The boy thinks for a moment.
"Well it was a gift, she gave it to us as a sign of respect and as a promise that she would not reveal our home to outsiders…but since you are Lady Acier's daughter…they might give it back."
"Can you take me there?!"
"Wha- you just ran from one vampire and now you want to go into the heart of our colony!?"
"That was before I knew you were allies with my Mother," Noelle pleads, "please I must get that sword!"
The boy looks hesitant, biting at his lip nervously.
"I-I don't know…my father would be very angry if I brought a human into our hollow."
"They made an exception before, didn't they? Wouldn't they do it again?"
"Well…" he looks down, "maybe it would be best for you to return home for now and come back with Lady Acier…that way they'll know you aren't lying when you say you're her kin."
Noelle feels her heart sink.
"I can't do that."
"Why not?"
"Because my Mother died," she glares at the ground and feels hot tears spring to her eyes, "giving birth to me."
"Oh," the boy says in a small voice, "I'm so very sorry."
She quickly wipes the tears from her eyes.
"It's fine…just take me to the sword…please."
The boy nods his head slowly.
"Follow me," he turns around, "I'll do my best to make sure everyone knows that your-" he promptly walks into another tree.
…
"You really can't see that well can you?"
"No I cannot."
…
"What's your name anyways?"
He looks back at her and grins his teeth, pearly white fangs gleaming in the night.
"My name is Asta…and you are?"
"Noelle…Noelle Silva."
"It's nice to meet you Lady Noelle," Asta says, "sorry for chasing you before."
"It's fine I suppose…it worked out after all."
He hums, "I have just one more question."
"And that is?"
"I get you were looking for the sword but…why come here at night? Wouldn't it be easier and safer to search in the daylight?"
"Oh…" Noelle looks away, "well…I'm technically not supposed to leave the palace…night is really the only opportunity I had to sneak out."
Asta's eyes light up in realization.
"You must live in that big palace on the outskirts of the forest then!"
"I do," she nods her head, "I've lived there my whole life…though I never knew there was a vampire colony in these woods."
"That's good," Asta smiles, "we don't want to be known by humans."
Noelle raises an eyebrow.
"If you don't want to be around humans then how do you survive?"
Asta looks at her confused, "what do you mean?"
"You all drink blood to survive right? The stories of old always stated that it was human blood you needed."
…
Asta starts to laugh.
It's a small snicker at first before erupting into a loud and boisterous sound.
"That's not true at all!"
Now it's Noelle who feels confused, looking at her new acquaintances in curiosity.
"We fed on magic not blood," Asta explains with an amused smile, "but I guess I can't fault you for thinking that, mana moves through blood streams after all so in order to get to it guess we do consume blood," he thinks for a moment, "it certainly doesn't have to be human though."
"It doesn't?"
"Nope! That's why we call this forest home, there's plenty of magical beasts for us to feast on and plants that produce fruit with mana embedded into their flesh," Asta chuckles again, "it's why Lady Acier let us stay, so we could protect her family's castle from magic beasts and control their population."
Noelle looks at him in wonderment, "I had no idea…I wonder what else we've gotten wrong…"
"I suppose it's not your fault, we do like to stay hidden away so I guess humans have never had a good chance to study us."
"Is that why you said I wouldn't be filling before?"
Asta laughs again, "well yeah you're not a mage- I mean I can sense some mana within you but certainly not enough for me to risk attacking a human over…not that I would do that if you were a mage, only a real brute would murder a human in cold blood like that."
"You're making me feel a little silly for being so afraid of you before."
"Don't be, vampires can still be-"
"Asta!?"
Both parties are still at the sound of a booming voice echoing across the sky, coming from deeper within the forest.
"Oh no," Asta's eyes widened with panic, "that's my chieftain, you better hide before he sees you! Once I explain then you can come out okay?"
"Wha-what?!" Noelle squeaks in alarm as Asta quickly begins to shove her towards a nearby fallen log.
"Vampires can still be dangerous," he finishes, "I don't know how they'll take a human being so deep in our territory so until I explain everything, stay here."
"Hey wait!" She cries in a strained whisper as Asta bounds away from her.
"Asta?!" That same voice from before calls again, this time sounding far closer.
There's the snapping of twigs and Noelle can hear heavy footsteps getting closer.
Nervously she peeks out from around the log she crouches behind to try and get a better look.
This vampire is much bigger.
He is tall with a muscular build, practically towering over Asta. His wings are much larger but still bat-like in characteristics and while his tail is longer it looks nearly identical to Asta's. His hair is dark, it almost appears black in this lighting but if she were to guess in the sunlight it appears as more of a dark brown, his face is stubbled, fangs poking out from his lips and those telltale amber eyes burn bright in the night.
He's looking Asta up and down.
"Asta!?" The large vampire, Asta's chieftain, asks in what sounds like worry, "what are you doing so far from the colony?!"
"I was-"
"Never mind that, are you hurt?!" The elder vampire begins to look him over, grabbing him by the shoulders and searching for any signs of injury, "Finral caught the scent of human and when we couldn't find you-"
"I'm okay Father."
Father?!
Asta had neglected to mention that his Father and the chief were one and the same!
"I can smell human on you," the boy's father growls, "what happened?! Are you sure you aren't hurt?!"
"I'm okay I swear!"
"Were you spotted?"
…
"Asta," the man's voice becomes stern, "were you spotted?"
"Y-yes sir."
"You were spotted and you didn't return to the hollow?! What if it had been a hunter?! I've told you a thousand times not to stray far from home! You could have been killed!"
"It wasn't-!"
"We have to report this, I have to send out scouts, Asta you should have come home immediately, a human seeing you puts all of us in danger!"
The man's tone shifts from worry to anger causing Asta to shrink in on himself.
"You don't have to worry it wasn't a hunter I promise!"
"Asta-"
"She's really nice and she's-"
"You spoke to it?!"
"Well…yeah but-"
"You are in so much trouble young pup, when we get back-"
"The human is Lady Acier's daughter!"
That gets the boy's father to still and look at him with an expression that Noelle isn't quite able to read.
"...What?"
"Her name is Noelle and she's Lady Acier's daughter," Asta explains, talking at a mile a minute, "and she came out here to try and find her Mother's sword-"
"Asta you don't know this human, they could have been lying to you."
"She's not-"
"Back to the colony, now."
"But Father-"
"Now!"
Asta cowers, wings hunching over his shoulder as he looks up at the man in what looks like fear.
Noelle doesn't know why she does it…but she feels the need to defend her…friend?
"He's not lying."
She raises to her feet, revealing herself from out behind the log.
The elder vampire's eyes widen and he quickly bears his teeth and lets out a guttural hissing noise.
He unfurls his wings and uses one to shield Asta protectively.
"My name is Noelle Silva and I am the youngest daughter of Acier Silva."
Her heart is beating rapidly in her chest.
This man could kill her, he would kill her if he senses she's a threat to his child or the rest of his people.
She has to make this count.
"I came here-"
"Lady Acier swore she'd keep this place hidden even from her children," the man snarls, "you mean to tell me she broke that pact?"
Noelle feels fear sprawl out in her belly but she forces herself to swallow it and remain calm.
"No..my Mother passed away giving birth to me…she did not say a word of this place."
That manages to make the man stop snarling at her.
His expression drops and his wing lowers just enough for Noelle to spot Asta peeking out from over it.
"It's true, she didn't even know vampires were here until she saw me!"
"I didn't even know vampires were real until I saw Asta."
The man is looking at her sadly.
"Lady Acier has…passed?"
Noelle bites at her lip and nods her head slowly.
The man lowers his wings completely and his expression turns to something more akin to pity.
"Noelle came here because she was told her Mother lost her sword in the great battle," Asta explains for her, "she was hoping to find it to have a piece of her with her…she didn't know it was gifted to us."
…
"I see." The man's tone is low and somber.
Noelle watches the elder vampire with baited breath, awaiting his next move.
"I am…very sorry for your loss, young one."
"You…you believe me then?"
…
"You stand before a vampire proud and confident, unyielding and yet not raising a blade towards us," he smiles softly, a small chuckle escaping his lips, "only the kin of Lady Acier would be bold enough to do such."
Asta latches onto his father's back and proceeds to scale him until he peeks his head over the larger man's shoulder.
"Does that mean we can give the sword back to her Father?"
The elder scowls for a moment.
"That blade holds great significance to our colony…if I were to simply just give it away-"
"I understand." Noelle tells him.
And she says so in sincerity.
When she had first set out to find her Mother's blade she had done so under the impression that it had been lost to the elements.
To hear that in reality the sword was gifted to allies of her mother, companions who fought alongside her, and has been maintained and respected for years…that brings her enough peace.
"Are you sure?" Asta frowns at her, "earlier it sounded like it was really important to you to get it back?"
"Yes well, that was then and this is now…if my Mother gifted it to your people then it's only right that you keep it."
Asta grins brightly at his father.
"See I told you she was the Lady's daughter!"
The elder vampire is watching her with a thoughtful frown.
"Indeed."
"If…if it's not too much trouble…would it be alright if I at least…see the sword?"
The man sighs, "in order to do so we'd have to bring you into our hollow…"
"If you would permit it then…then I'd be more than willing to venture into your colony."
She makes herself speak with confidence, and doesn't allow her voice to waver.
"Come on Father," Asta playfully bonks his head against his father's cheek, "please?"
The man sighs in defeat.
"Very well."
"Yes!" Asta cheers, wings flapping as he launches off his father's shoulder, "this is so exciting Noelle! You'll be the second human ever to enter our hollow!"
For some reason that thought isn't the most comforting.
"I'll go on ahead…" the elder explains, "I'll explain what's happened to the Colony…I'll make it clear exactly who Noelle is," the boy's father turns his head to look at his son sternly, "I trust you'll be able to guide her back without me…and to do so safely."
"Yes Father!"
The man nods at him.
"Good."
There's the powerful beat of his wings.
And then the man is gone.
Noelle stares at the night sky in wonderment, barely being able to make out the vampire's silhouette as he glides across the night sky.
"That was your Father?!"
Asta nods.
"You didn't say he was the chief?!"
Asta grins sheepishly at her.
"Sorry, I didn't really think about it before," Asta takes her hand making her yelp in surprise as he begins to tug her along, "his name is Yami, he's been the chief of our colony before I was even born…he fought alongside your Mother in the great battle."
Noelle looks down at the earth, taking comfort in the silent clicking noises Asta makes.
"He looked sad to hear of her passing."
Asta nods his head, "my Father had a great respect for the Lady…he saw her as a true warrior."
Noelle finds herself squeezing his hand.
No matter how many stories Noelle hears of her mother it never feels like enough…she would do anything to just meet her even for a moment.
Asta squeezes her hand back.
"Don't worry we'll be there soon."
xXx
The vampires hollow is nothing like Noelle has ever seen before.
It's a village built into trunks of thick and towering trees. Homes and buildings carved into the flesh of oak and harboring many amber eyes that pier out at her through the darkness.
The village is eerily silent but it is not empty.
There's more vampires here then Noelle had thought there would be and they all watch her with curiosity.
Their gaze doesn't feel threatening but it does make her feel a tad insecure and maybe even embarrassed.
"What did you bring home now Asta?"
A new voice mutters and breaks the silence.
Noelle looks up and finds another boy staring down at them from a tree branch above.
He's taller than Asta but doesn't appear to be any older.
He's not as well muscled as Asta, frame more thin and lean, looking more built for flight where Asta looked built for combat. His hair is dark as night, his wings match Asta's perfectly but his tail is much longer, swaying side to side in what Noelle hopes is nothing more than curiosity.
"Yuno!" Asta greets the boy excitedly.
He turns to face Noelle once more with a bright grin on his face.
"Noelle, this is my little brother Yuno!" He looks back at the other vampire, "and Yuno this is Noelle, she's Lady Acier's daughter."
"You're only five minutes older," the learner brother explains as he wraps his tail around the branch at which he sits, "it doesn't count."
Noelle squeaks in alarm as Yuno leans back and falls off the branch, only to watch and marvel at the way his tail keeps him suspended, leaving the boy watching them with a bored expression as he hangs upside down.
"It still counts!" Asta kicks his foot into the ground.
"Well it shouldn't," Yuno's eyes wander over to Noelle, "only you would bring a human home and be proud about it."
"She's the Lady's daughter!" Asta reminds, "and she's only here to see her Mother's sword!"
"Whatever," Yuno stretches his wings out, "as long as she's out of here before sunrise…I don't want to sleep with a stranger in our den."
So they are nocturnal, she had figured as much but she hadn't bothered to ask.
"Noelle."
The girl looks to the side to find Yami calling to her.
He stands in the entrance way of one the tree hollows, watching her with that same sad look in his eyes.
"Come this way."
Before she can reply, or bid Yuno farewell, Asta tugs her hand and leads her towards the largest oak tree in the hollow.
"This is my family's den," he tells her as he leads her side, "the sword is just up ahead."
Asta is excited and he has a wide grin on his face as he continues to pull her along.
In his haste he's forgotten to make those clicking noises and promptly trips over what looks like some kind of table molded out of a living root of the tree they are in.
Luckily for him, he's caught in the arms of another vampire.
This one is tall and lean like Yuno, only instead of having messy, short black hair like the boy, this one has long and silky looking black hair.
"Ah," Asta pipes in embarrassment and quickly pushes himself out of his savior's arms, "sorry Mama."
"Use your echolocation Asta," her friend had referred to this vampire as his mother which confuses Noelle because he's definitely not a female, "you can't see as well as the others you need to be more careful."
"I know Mama."
"Mama?"
The question escapes her before she can even stop it.
The newcomer looks at Noelle before his expression lights up realization and he chuckles a small laugh.
"Yami got them calling me that when they were young," he explains, "and I'm afraid they haven't quite grown out of it."
"It's what you get for being a mother hen," Yami makes himself known, coming to join them, "You're more of a mother to them than a father, always have been."
The man gives a very strained smile, "so I've heard."
Asta's uh mother? Clears his throat and addresses Noelle properly.
"It's nice to meet you Lady Noelle, my name is Nacht. I am Asta and Yuno's adoptive father-" okay so it is father "and I also fought alongside your mother as well."
Nacht's smile falls and he looks at her sadly.
"I'm truly sorry to hear of her passing."
Noelle feels her throat constrict and she finds herself struggling to speak.
She knows they're just being nice but she is oh so tired of hearing that sentence.
"Thank you." She nods her head respectfully.
"Come now," Nacht beckons her with a wave of his tail, "allow us to show you the sword."
Noelle follows them in silence, ignoring how Asta falls back beside her and takes her hand again.
The sword is on display, hung up on the wall of the oak home and surrounded by decorative greenery. It's been well cared for, cleaned and polished and shining as if it were brand new.
Noelle looks up at the sword.
Her reflection looks back at her and for a brief moment…she she's a flicker of her mother's visage in her own eyes.
Her throat feels tight once more but this is different.
Her eyes water as she takes a step forward and reaches up towards the blade.
The weapon is too far up the wall she can't reach it-
She yelps in surprise when she's suddenly hoisted up onto a pair of shoulders, looking down stunned to find Asta smiling up at her.
Noelle smiles fondly back in return and reaches her hand up once more.
As she touches the cool surface of the blade she feels her heart become warm.
A few stray tears escape her and her voice is thick with emotion.
"Thank you."
xXx
"This path will take you back to the castle," Nacht tells her softly, "if you hurry you may be able to make it back before dawn."
"Right!" Noelle smiles, "thank you again…for everything."
She turns her gaze to Asta who's fiddling with his hands.
"It was really nice to meet you."
He smiles softly but doesn't meet her eyes "it was nice to meet you too…sorry for chasing you again."
Noelle laughs, "well since you brought me to the sword I suppose you are forgiven."
That gets him to laugh as well and he looks up at her at last.
"Will I ever see you again?"
He asks her in such a small and sad voice that it makes her heart constrict.
In response Noelle sends a curious and maybe pleading gaze towards the boy's parents.
Yami and Nacht share a look.
And then Yami sighs.
"I suppose…if you found yourself back in our woods you'd be welcome to visit our colony."
Asta snaps around quickly to look at his father with a brilliant grin on his face.
"You mean it Father?" He asks hopefully.
"So long as Lady Noelle keeps it secret then…no harm done."
"Well Noelle?" Asta's tail wags behind him "will you visit me again?"
Her answer is immediate.
"Of course I will."