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The wind burned his skin, the moon threatening to swallow him whole. The blood moon had passed, but that only fueled his fury; he didn’t need any help the moon could give, he didn’t need it then, and he certainly didn’t need it now.
He was done playing games. DONE. Vampires and humans were fated by the stars to be enemies; it didn’t matter how much the others tried to mess around with politics. They were vampires, for gods' sake?! If the human race treated him like a monster, then he would become one.
Shelby and Pyro… Owen really thought they would see the errors of their ways, but no, they still wanted to be friends with the humans. Owen scoffed, venom leaking into his voice. Shelby and Pyro betrayed the family they made just for the myth of a cure?! A cure didn’t exist, and if it somehow did, then Owen would make sure it didn’t.
There was no making peace with the humans, there was no marriage alliance stopping war, there was nothing stopping him from burning Oakhurst to the ground—he’d done it once, he’d do it again. Louis was right, vampires couldn’t work together… and just when Owen thought he’d found a family.
It was either them or him. Owen would always choose himself.
He’d make them all bleed, his own kin or the ones he despised the most; it didn’t matter, they all deserved to feel the pain Owen felt. IT WASN’T FAIR! How come the humans saw the vampires as monsters except when it came to Shelby, Pyro, Cleo, and Apo?! Hypocrites. Hypocrites, they all were! Avid had literally begged Shelby for the gift of vampirism after preaching against it for weeks. Suddenly, it didn’t matter who became a vampire as long as it wasn’t Owen- Or Scott…
Scott was still hated by Oakhurst—he was the one who the humans thought they needed to destroy. If Scott died, then everyone could be free; they would be cured. But Owen didn’t want that.
Either he’d be the only vampire left and utterly an outcast again, or he’d be cleansed of the ‘curse’. Vampirism was a gift, though, not something that needed to be cured. He had willingly accepted this life, ready to live it with the one he loved most. Only for Louis to be thrown on top of the pyre three days later when Owen woke up. They killed the one person who showed kindness towards him; they killed the person he loved.
Owen would make them bleed.
The flapping of wings brought Owen out of his thoughts, his gaze instinctively darting around and expecting to find white hair and red eyes. This was the first time in his- undead(?) life he'd been around other vampires, and yet, the gust of air that thin membranes could send was almost familiar to him by now.
Just as theorized, Scott materialized out of nowhere and let go of the concentration of his bat form. Scott glanced at Owen, a curious look in his crimson eyes. “What are you doing out here, Owen?” He asked, leaning up against a nearby tree to talk.
Owen turned away from the elder vampire and barely kept his simmering anger under wraps. “Gathering materials to make them pay.” Owen simply replied, tension wrapped around his figure. There was no point in keeping this a secret from Scott; if the other vampire didn’t agree with Owen, then that wouldn’t be enough to stop him.
Scott raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint swirling behind his pupils. “Make who pay? I’ve always liked some drama…” He teased, admiring his sharp claws. Owen cautiously faced Scott, a flicker of hope lighting up like a firefly at night. Maybe he could still have a friend…
“Humanity, Oakhurst- I don’t know. I want them to bleed, I want them to feel what I felt. I want them to be completely alone and begging for a sense of community.” Owen took a deep breath, resentment building inside of him. Scott gazed at him, gesturing for him to go on, and for some reason, Owen wanted to. Scott was the only one he could still trust; everyone else betrayed him and left him with nobody again except for the one Owen thought he would hate the most…
Goldsmiths—so many legends surrounded that name, whether they were cursed or not. Elder vampires were known to be cold and selfish, but Scott was the one who hadn’t backstabbed Owen, the one who hadn’t ostracized him, the one who made Owen feel the smallest sense of belonging. Scott didn’t shut him down—Scott wanted to hear what he had to say.
The floodgates opened. “It’s not fair! They should be outcasts! BUT NO! Instead, they’re accepted back with open arms?!” Owen screeched, burning lava flooding his veins. No one understood, no one truly knew how Owen felt. “Avid threw out anyone who dared to be suspicious and then burned Shelby’s house down when he found out she was a vampire, only for him to keep living in Oakhurst?! And everyone still wants to be friends with him?!” It wasn’t fair. IT WASN’T FAIR.
“WHAT HAVE I EVEN DONE?! I’ve not turned a single fucking person here and yet I’m still the one they all blame!” Owen screamed, tearing apart an unfortunate sheep in his path; the blood didn’t settle his thoughts, though, the copper smell did nothing to satiate him. Only blood of those most hated would do. A hot, angry tear ran down Owen’s face, and he quickly wiped it away—he couldn’t show any weakness.
“They’re hypocrites.” Came the gentle voice of Scott, his eyes surprisingly soft. Owen spun around, blood staining his hands, his gaze darted around Scott, searching for something. Scott seemed almost… sympathetic towards Owen, like he truly felt bad for the vampire and wanted to help.
Scott noticed the questioning look Owen gave him and elaborated. “You’re the only one who hasn’t lied to me, Owen. I know how terrible humans can be, and frankly, my trust has wavered after the two fledglings deliberately lied to me. We’ve both massacred Oakhurst before, I don’t care either way what happens,” He explained, stalking closer to the younger.
Was Scott actually agreeing with him? Did Scott imply that he was on Owen’s side in this war? A smirk slowly grew across Owen’s face, his hope glowing brighter. Maybe his family wasn’t all gone…
“You’re either with me or against me, Scott Goldsmith. What’s your choice?” Owen firmly declared, looking straight into the other vampire's blood-red eyes. It was stupid to trust in Scott, it was stupid to want Scott’s help, it was stupid to want his new family still… but Owen was nothing if not devoted to a cause.
Scott smiled, his slicing teeth peeking through his lips. “I’m with you, Owen.”
A strange euphoria filled Owen, a thousand different emotions he couldn’t explain running through him because of that single confirmation. Huh, guess you really shouldn’t give up hope, even if it’s the last person you would expect. Vampires couldn’t work together, that’s all he’s ever seen and been taught, but maybe someway, somehow, Owen and Scott could break that chain.
He wouldn’t be alone again. He had someone who was family to him. Owen was going to be content in the quiet again, as long as he had Scott.