Archive of Our Own ^beta

Cleo fidgeted anxiously with the hem of their dress, shifting her weight from foot to foot. Hunger roared inside them, distracting as she tried to focus on what Martyn was saying. Pearl puttered about the house behind her, putting this and that away.

“...to practice with our abilities,” Martyn said. “I’d like to see how far out I can send the flour.”

“Yes, practicing would be a good idea,” Cleo heard themself saying, but they were distracted by the blood coursing through veins. Hungry. She was so hungry. Cleo clenched her hands into fists, rocking gently back and forth to stay where they were. Fuck, she needed to get out of here.

“Here goes, then.” Martyn closed his eyes for a moment then exploded with bright sparkles, sending them out to every corner of the house. He smiled satisfactorily, moving between them. Pearl frowned at them, continuing her cleaning.

Cleo froze as if gripped by a cold force, heart pounding in their chest. She strained against it but couldn’t- couldn’t move-

Fuck. 

Fuck fuck fuck-

She tried to breathe steadily, to not give away the terrifying panic pounding in their chest. They couldn’t move-

Fuck, Martyn was staring at her strangely. “Cleo?”

She looked into his eyes, seeing the realization in them. Fuck.

“Move, Cleo.” Martyn’s voice shook. “Please.”

“I-” Cleo swallowed harshly. “I can’t.”

The sound of Pearl cleaning cut off. Cleo couldn’t bear to look at her so they kept watching Martyn, wary, desperate. He stared back, silent, expression unreadable She strained against the invisible force again. Let me out let me out let me out-

They had to- had to get out of here, had to run, had to find Scott or Owen or Shelby-

Cleo’s legs gave out as Martyn’s power expired, sending them collapsing to the floor. Her body was shaking too much to get up. Run, run, run-

“I’m- I’m so s-sorry,” They choked out, head hung low, fingers curled into her palms. Even now the hunger raged, agony eating her from the inside. Outside their house- Pearl’s house- the sound of people chatting filtered through the night, but inside it was silent. “I’m s-so s-s-sorry.”

Finally there was movement inside the house as Pearl slowly crossed the room towards her. Cleo flinched, expecting yelling or blows, but Pearl just knelt beside them and pulled them into her arms.

She stiffened. Why would Pearl touch her? Why would she come so close to a- a vampire? Didn’t she know how dangerous Cleo was? Couldn’t she see the horrible bloodlust in their eyes?

But Pearl held her gently.

Cleo let out a shuddering breath. “I’m s-sorry,” They whispered.

“It’s okay. I’ll protect you,” Pearl promised, and Cleo nearly cried. A human vowing to protect a vampire? It was foolish, it was dangerous, it was- wonderful.

“When? Who?” Martyn finally spoke, voice hard. 

Cleo flinched again despite herself, pressing deeper into Pearl’s safe arms that she didn’t deserve. “Pyro,” They said quietly. “At the castle when we ambushed them.”

Martyn nodded. “It’s my fault.”

“No!” Cleo scrambled to say. “No- no, it was my fault, I should have run-”

Pearl took Cleo’s face in her hands. “Absoluty not, not your fault. Okay? You didn’t want this.”

Cleo shook her head desperately. “N-no, I’m not- I d-don’t- please, I’ll- I’ll be good, I p-promise.”

“I know.” Pearl used her thumbs to gently swipe tears from Cleo’s face. “What can I do? What do you need?

They trembled, gasping for breath. It was too much. It was all too much.

“I’m so hungry,” Cleo sobbed, pulling away from Pearl to squeeze her arms tightly around her head.

Pearl took their hands to stop her from scratching at their neck. “O-okay, um, what… you need blood? Can you drink from a human without turning them?”

Repulsion rose in Cleo at the- the mere thought of possibly turning Pearl. “Animal bl-blood works. I- I’m sorry…”

Martyn stood and left without a word, the door slamming closed behind him, and Cleo panicked for a few seconds before he quickly returned carrying a large chicken. She instinctively took the animal when he handed it to them, almost nauseous with the effort of holding back.

“It’s for you,” Martyn said. “Eat it.”

Cleo was shaking so hard they couldn’t physically stop herself anymore so she gave herself into instinct, driving their fangs deep into the chicken’s neck, hot blood soothing her cracked throat. They efficiently and ruthlessly drained every drop of blood from the animal, leaving only feathers and cracked bones.

She panted, breathless and still hungry but satiated for the moment.

Pearl shifted to kneel in front of Cleo and they shied away, suddenly afraid of how frightening she must have looked, but there was only care in Pearl’s eyes as she wiped away a drip of blood from their lips.