Chapter Text
You’re a Vampire now. Drink blood to survive, avoid the Sun, and you will live long.
The air was chilly and you were surprised you could really feel it anymore, having been sat outside for hours in the dark alley behind a closed business. You wore a thin long-sleeved shirt and skinny jeans, both black, and worn and holey sneakers with stripped socks. You wish you had on a coat but you were only out to grab some milk for breakfast the next day and it should have only been 10 minutes.
Your sharp eyes did not last long so all you could see was mostly darkness and a dim light from a backdoor on the building across from you. Your fangs, soft on your bottom lip, sensitive and almost plastic like in how they bent, fragile and new and throbbing in time with your pulse. The nerve endings all over your body felt like you were burning.
The worst of it was you were starving. Your throat was dry as a bone. You were hungry for blood, weak to the thirst. Weak in general and unable to move anymore.
That first night, crawling around and begging for a rat or bird or something to move near you to bite into and drain. The smell of nearby people, the smell of salty delicious blood, had your teeth aching, stomach gurgling.
You’re a Vampire now.
It was insane. Unbelievable that they existed at all. But after a week of slowly dying, hiding from the Sun—that one little ray hit your finger tip and it sizzled, so you strayed from the light—and realizing you were thirsty for blood but didn’t have the guts to hunt a person like a predator, there really was nothing totally insane to you anymore.
Once, just once blood touched your lips, and that blood had belonged to the Vampire who made you into the creature you were. For the brief moment he was in your presence, he called himself your ‘Sire’, the creator of the new Vampiric you. Just that one time when you were reborn after your Sire killed you to feed into his own hunger and re-make you.
He came from thin air, it seemed at the time. Hiding in the shadows, lurking, and then he grabbed you. You barely had a chance to scream before his hand covered your mouth and his fangs sunk into your neck. He took far too much, and you were on the verge of fainting and dying. Then he fed you his own blood and waited, and it felt like eternity later but was only minutes for the change to circulate your bloodstream like a fast-spreading disease. Becoming a vampire was a curse.
Then he left you for dead after going through all the effort to remake you. Still, that abandonment was nothing new, he did just as everyone else did to you in your lifetime.
Your mother left when she could not afford to take care of more than one person. She came first, you remember her saying several times to you before she sent you off to a foster home. Your father, gone after you were born, or maybe before, your mother was never too sure herself since she was high all the time. Friends were nonexistent because you had run away from all the Foster homes so many times, and the kids didn’t show too much kindness to runaways. They stuck to their own clicks.
Once you were 18, you ran for the last time. Got yourself a tiny shithole apartment and terrible job. And they stopped looking for you because Adults didn’t get homes at the Orphanages.
As you sat hunched over behind a dumpster, recalling your shit life, feeling the ground cool on your butt, there was a sound of voices. Deep baritone voices, and they were inching closer. With them also came the smell of blood, extremely potent in the cool night air. It was different, better blood, you surmised, than what had come across your sensitive nose so far.
But you were too weak, too fragile, too afraid, and couldn’t do much to hunt if you wanted to. That was what you were in your final moments. Weak.
“Is that... a vampire sitting over there?”
You tensed. They couldn’t see your face, but knew what you were?
“Yes, my lord, it is. She does not seem to be doing too well.”
Several clicked footsteps sounded on the brick pavement. “She’s starving , Barbatos. She’ll die once the Sun rises in two hours. What do I do?” He sounded desperate and, shockingly, concerned.
“What do you want to do, young master?”
A pause, and you held your breath, curling a hand to the wet fabric of your pants, still not totally able to feel it or really grip the stinky clothing. The rain had come earlier and it now smelled like damp trash. Banana peels and rotten. Was that you? Were you starting to smell of death?
“I want to help her.”
“Then we will.”
A large shadow stood before you, tall and slim. You hissed weakly when hands reached down towards you into the small space you found. They didn’t stop at your noise and one hand rested on top your head, warm and lightly petting. Being touched was strange, but welcomed.
The shadow spoke. “You have a choice to make. Die here when the Sun comes up, or come with us. We can get you warm and fed. What do you want to do?” The voice was direct, soft and sure.
You hesitated at the choices. They could do so much to you. They could rape you, take their time hurting you. The possibilities endlessly running in your mind as you considered.
But something inside of you was saying you could trust him, trust in them, to help you. The hunger wasn’t the only thing speaking loudly to you in your head, thrumming in your belly. There was something subconsciously telling you to go with them, an instinctual pull. And they offered warmth, and food. That was all you wanted or needed. A possibility of surviving.
“Please,” you croaked out from your curled up spot on the ground, “Help me.”
The hand went to cup your dirty cheek, and gently lift your head up. The lights in the alley were not bright, but you saw slate green eyes, and behind him two golden eyes. They gleamed like jewels and spoke of something less than human, just like you. Normal eyes did not gleam in the dark like fireflies.
The green-eyed man smiled. “We’ll take good care of you, fledgling.”
He then turned his head and said something to the other quickly and softly. They switched places seamlessly, and the golden-eyed man was larger, broader, and without warning you were picked up into his arms. You tried to clutch something, his shirt, arm, shoulders, anything at all. But you were too weak, and even your head fell back like a newborn baby. Tears sprung to your eyes at the blatant weakness.
“Hush now, little one, it’s okay. I have you so don’t worry,” his deep voice whispered, and his hand went to cradle your head to his heated neck. The smell of blood was stronger so close but you could barely open your mouth. “Barbatos, let’s go home.”
“Right away, young master.”
_+_
You were lain down on a soft bed, a pillow fluffed up under your head. It was warm and soft and everything you never had. The room was something made for royalty. Your eyes gazed at the canopy bed above you, tracing the lines, the hunger strong but you were so tired. Close to death.
Your memory was fuzzy, but you did have a flash of a bright light and tugging in your navel before being placed in the bedroom. Where were you? How did you get inside so fast?
“She needs to feed.”
“How long has it been, I wonder?”
“Let’s see if she can respond again, young master. Little vampire, what's your name? How long has it been since you’ve last fed?”
Your throat was so dry. You swallowed hard, teeth pulsing. You barely got your name out, and then said, “Only... once...” you turned your head to face them, both bathed in brighter lights. You wanted to see them clearly.
They were gorgeous men, with lovely eyes and dressed nicely. The golden-eyed man had a strong built body, and a soft smile. He wore a black suit with a red tie and red cloak that matched his red hair and nice dress shoes. The green-eyed man wore what looked like a kimono. It was just as beautiful as he was, blue and black and pretty. His hair had a streak of turquoise in his dark green hair. He was skinny, but stood straight and held a strong presence. The red-head was clearly in charge, however, and you heard the green-eyed man call him Master.
“You need blood,” the golden-eyed man said with a frown. He stepped closer and you tensed up in a knee-jerk reaction.
He paused. His frown went into a small smile, and he held out his hands palms up like you were a scared animal—you sort of were. “We won’t hurt you, little vampire. I promise you. It might make you feel more comfortable if I make some introductions first.” He gestured to himself. “My name is Diavolo, and this,” he pointed at the other man, “is my butler and oldest friend, Barbatos. This is my home we’re in, and one of my spare bedrooms I want you to rest in for a while. Before I go into any other details, we need to get you some blood. And I willingly give my own to you.”
Your eyes watered. You hadn’t cried in days. “B-but... why?”
Diavolo stepped closer until he was right beside your head, you tilted up to see him clearer best you could, it seemed that being somewhere warmer gave you a little bit of strength back.
“Because you need it,” was all he said. “Now let’s get you more comfortable.” He turned to Barbatos for a second before looking back at you. “Will you allow Barbatos to help?”
You cleared your throat. “Y-yes...”
With both their help you sat up straight on some fluffy pillows, and Diavolo sat beside you with one knee curled up on the bed, his other leg long. He was very tall. “You don’t have the strength to pierce skin yet, your fangs are still new and don’t have the density, so I'll be assisting you with that. Come here and place your head on my shoulder, you can take from my neck.”
You licked your chapped lips and did so, leaning down and slightly bent over him. You were so hungry that you would do whatever he asked as long as he gave you what he promised.
Diavolo moved to face you more to help your position, turned slightly at the waist. Immediately as you set your cheek to rest on his chest, your mouth was watering being so close to the smell of blood. You could almost sense the blood pumping through his veins, and you could hear his heart beat.
“Go ahead, fledgling, take what you need,” he said, and sliced through his skin with his finger nail—or rather, his claw?
It didn’t matter really. You latched onto his skin, feeling the warmth of it, and blood began rushing into your mouth quick. Your entire body was coming alive within seconds. You swallowed gulps of his thick blood, felt it overflowing around your lips and slopping all over your face and neck. You were a woman starved after all.
He tasted warm and spicy and salty. Powerful, too, and you felt like you were quickly becoming stronger. A times it felt like you were being shocked as if his blood held little specks of lightning. Your tongue lapped at the slit of his self-inflicted wound, fangs pressed around and grated it. Diavolo barely moved even though his skin was ripped open, leaking blood like a river, pouring into your opened mouth. Nothing ever tasted so damn good.
“She’s so messy,” Barbatos commented.
“Well, seeing as she’s only fed once before it’s understandable.”
“I suppose we’ll have to train her on the correct way to feed once her fangs mature.”
“We will. She’ll be teething also.” Diavolo sounded giddy, and his deep voice rumbled through your body.
“That will surely be exciting,” Barbatos said dryly.
“I’m sure that she’ll be adorable. Oh! We can get her teething rings, like human babies have!”
“Young master...”
“Oh hush, Barbatos, you know she’s going to be biting everything in sight.”
“That’s true,” he agreed.
You moaned and clutched Diavolo’s arm with one hand, the other on his chest curled up in the fabric of his shirt. For some reason you didn’t like them talking about you as if you were not right there.
He hushed you and stroked hair from your cheek, then held you closer with his arm around your upper body as he brushed your dirty locks with his fingers. “You’re doing so well,” he cooed. “Keep drinking until your full, little one.”
“Mm, yes, you’re doing a very good job,” Barbatos praised alongside him.
That made your head spin, and you let out a sound that vibrated around Diavolo’s wet skin, and he exhaled deeply. You went on sucking at his wound, filling your throat and mouth and stomach perfectly. Your head spun like you were drunk on his blood.
“Your clothes are ruined, unfortunately, my lord. And we can give her a bath once she’s rested and some new clothes are on the way from Akuzon.”
Diavolo hummed. “Yes, good idea. She’s still cold but I can feel her energy coming back, and her skin is warming little by little. She’s almost done, her feeding is slowing.”
“Are you doing all right, Young Master? You aren’t light-headed?”
“I’m fine. I’ll have a blood replenishing potion later.”
You pressed yourself closer to Diavolo, eyes shut, focusing on the taste and feeling of becoming full and warm, and that was quickly approaching, belly aching not with starvation but fullness. But your hair was draping over your shoulders, and almost got in the way if not for a quick hand pulling the strands back behind your head.
“There, now, you’re almost finished, hm?” Diavolo cooed.
He was right, and your belly was aching in a wonderful and warm way you hadn’t felt in weeks, even before becoming a Vampire. You pulled back and lapped at the blood dripping over your fangs, wincing when they throbbed at the gums. You did not want to waste any, even though you felt some dried blood on your face and neck you must’ve let dribble out in your hunger.
“Are you feeling better, fledgling?” Diavolo asked. He pressed his hand to his neck, and you barely noticed the blood had stopped flowing.
“Mmmhmmm,” you happily hummed, and pressed your cheek to his chest, eyes closed. He was warm and you didn’t want to be cold anymore. The blood almost dragged you down, like after eating a meal and taking a nap. Yes, you wanted exactly that.
They both chuckled.
“She’s tired. Why don’t I take her to clean her face, and you can make the bed?”
“Yes, my lord. I’ve left some towels sitting out by the sink.”
“Thank you, Barbatos.” Diavolo patted your upper back. “Time to get cleaned up before bed.”
You groaned, nuzzled his pectorals and sighed. He was pretty much hugging you, and you had not been hugged in years. “Nooo... don’t wana mooove...”
Diavolo laughed, the sound so full of joy it made your own mouth turn up at the corners briefly before you yawned. “None of that now, let’s go. I’m doing all the work so just relax, little one, and we’ll let you sleep as long as you need in the nice warm bed.”
Your head was spinning a little, and you blinked at him, “Warm... bed? Promise ‘s warm?”
“Yes, we promise you. Come now,” he said almost fondly, and pulled you carefully into his arms again, hoisted up to his chest. He was so big and you felt smaller than you ever had. The fuzzy feeling grew stronger and you sighed happily, allowing your limbs to sway as he took you to an en-suite.
The downside was that the bathroom was bright and you hated it. He set you on a cushioned bench by a footed bathtub, and you actually had the strength to sit up. But you kept your eyes closed to avoid the lights because they hurt your eyes.
He made a noise of sympathy. “I know it’s bright. We’ll change that so you’re more comfortable here soon, baby.”
You didn’t know what that meant. But you let a grunt out in confirmation, and sort of felt flushed at being called ‘baby’.
There was the sound of running water and then footsteps. His scent was in front of you, spice like clove and cinnamon, the heat of his body like sitting in front of a dim fireplace. Smelling him so strongly was an effect of the blood, no doubt.
“Lift your head, please,” he murmured, and touched the side of your neck that didn’t feel like it had dried blood on it. “The cloth is warm but tell me if it’s too hot or too cold, all right?”
“Okay,” you whispered.
“Good. Here we go.”
It was nice to be treated so carefully. Given warm blood and warm towels to clean you. Having large hands cup your cheek and do the hard work of gently brushing away the stains.
While he cleaned you up, you pondered what happened the last hour or so. You should be disgusted, really, that you just drank probably 3 liters of blood from a stranger that took you to his house through what was a magical portal. But the calmness in your mind, the ache was gone from your body, and the blood you downed gave you the incredible power to heal, and the fact that they both were kind enough to let you take blood and wash your face and give you a warm bed for the night... all of it was evidence that you could be happy with what you were, with being here.
“I can trust you?” you asked, blinking up at him to stare into his captivating eyes.
Diavolo paused his caress of the wet cloth on your face. Then he smiled. “You can trust us, baby. I’ll take good care of you for as long as you’ll let me.”
You smiled, dopily, and closed your eyes, leaning to his palm on your skin. Being looked after for once in your life sounded perfect. “’kay.”
He huffed a laugh, lightly dabbed your lower lip, straying away from your delicate new teeth. “What a silly adorable vampire you are, hm?”
Maybe you were. Maybe, you didn’t have to worry so much. He would take care of you? Okay then. That was it. You would let them if that’s what they wanted, your brain decided. This was too comforting not to allow it. You would not shy away from warmth, softness, and kindness if it was willingly given to you.
Once your face and neck were cleaned, Diavolo lifted you up again and you went back into bed, but the covers and blankets were moved aside and Barbatos fixed the corner of one blanket with his hands as Diavolo lay you on the sheets. They took off your dirty socks and shoes, and turned away when you took of the rest of your clothing, and you slipped on the soft a silk gown Barbatos set down on the mattress. Once you gave the okay, Barbatos took your old clothes and you assumed he put them in the trash.
Diavolo covered you back up and tucked the sides in around your body, something not even your mother did when you were little. That had you sniffling a bit, holding back stray tears. You brought your fist to your mouth, biting down on the soft spot between thumb and forefinger, self-soothing and calming the throb that came back to your teeth.
“Now don’t do that,” Barbatos said quickly as he came back. “You’ll nick your skin even with your baby fangs.”
In rebuttal, you bit harder, mostly because it felt good. He tutted and step in front of Diavolo, who moved aside with a small grin. Barbatos’ green eyes were stern and a little scary, and he was unmoving, so you pulled your fist away and pouted.
He raised one brow at that. “You should know that I've dealt with this one’s pouting for centuries and it still does not faze me.” He briefly glanced at the other man in the room.
Diavolo shrugged. “It’s true, little one.”
“Centuries?” you asked, curling your fists to the top of the thick comforter. “How old are you?”
“Barbatos will never tell me.” Diavolo stood beside him. “But that doesn’t matter right now. Do you feel stronger than earlier?”
You nodded. “I do.” Your face felt warm, and you realized you were blushing. “Th-thank you... for letting me... um, you know...”
The red-head grinned. He reached out his hand to gently pat his larger one on top of yours, twice. “It’s my pleasure. I want you to know that you are safe here with us. Now, it’s time for newly turned vampires to sleep. Rest up and we will see you tomorrow.”
Barbatos smiled, it wasn’t as boisterous as Diavolo's but still you were happy to see it. “Sleep for however long you need. If you wake and we’re not here, call for either of us and we will come to you.”
You nodded again. “Thank you.”
“I'm happy that we found you. Just close your eyes, little one. Your belly is full and you don’t need to fear being hungry again.”
You nestled deeper into the sheets and did just as Diavolo said.