Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Why are you so scared? We’ve done this our whole lives.” Vi said, her hand clasped around a man’s throat, forcing him against the brick wall.

The man, one Richard Smith, had fangs like a viper, protruding from his mouth. He snarled at Vi, threatening to rip her flesh off with his teeth. His hands were clasped desperately around her wrist, trying to tear free. His claws dug into her flesh, soaking in the spilling blood.

She grunted, her offhand held a wooden stake, she pressed the point to his chest, and sank it deep, piercing his heart. The vampire struggled, a horrible scream escaped him, before his body fell slack. Vi dropped him, letting his body hit the ground without care.

Jinx was standing over a writhing child, boot pressing into neck. They were no older than fourteen years, or so they appeared. In truth only they now knew their true age.

“That’s not a kid, it’s a monster, older than the two of us combined, no doubt.” Vi said.

The vampire’s limbs were incapacitated, or at the very least immobile in their current state. They tried to reach for the boot, but fumbled. Vi approached behind Jinx, raising her brother’s arm, helping him aim his crossbow at the beast's heart. “Do it,” she whispered behind his ear, “or I’ll do it for you.”

Jinx trembled, his arm unsteady. Even with the assistance of his sister he couldn’t keep his aim true. He turned his head away, and allowed his arm to fall to his hip. “I can’t.” He said, “you do it.”

Vi let out a disappointed sigh, and dropped to one knee, dropping her leg down violently into the vampires gut. She held her stake tight in her hands, above her head, then plunged it in one clean motion into the pseudo-child’s heart.

It squealed miserably, and hissed catlike. It jerked its head away from its body, as if trying to decapitate itself with the inertia. Its movements continued on like this, before they grew labored, and before long died entirely. Vi stood once she was sure the beast was dead.

“What the fuck was that, Jinx?” She yelled, pushing his back. “I mean really, how many blood beasts have you killed, and you hesitate just because of when it was turned? Thank god for us that it was weak, or it would’ve killed us both the moment you hesitated.” Her chest rose and fell, her lungs filling with heavy breaths.

“I know! Okay? I know. Just leave it, Vi.” He holstered his crossbow, and hugged himself awkwardly.

Vi would decidedly not leave it. “No, no I’m tired of this. This is the third time, last time almost fucking got you killed. What would Vander say? If you died on my watch? I’d be lucky if all he did was stake me.”

Jinx stomped his foot, “I said leave it, Vi! It’s done, let’s just go home.”

This time Vi really did let Jinx off the hook, only, she decided, this would the last time.

——

Vi knocked on the door to Vander’s office. She heard his voice through the door, calling for them to come in.

The interior was thoroughly decorated, hardly a wall or surface was unoccupied. Lining the walls behind his desk was dark, wooden display cabinets, greying from years of sun damage and decay. Skulls of all sorts littered the shelves, ranging from a small cat to human, with and without the fangs. Jars of mysterious liquid held even more mysterious clumps of flesh and organ inside. Trinkets and rewards scattered haphazardly where space was need.

On either side of the door were bookshelves, and where there was not furniture, there were paintings, and maps. Reference guide to all sorts of supernatural beasts.

He gestured for them to come sit, and so they did, each in their own leather chair across from him. “How did it go?” His voice was rough, and his attention was focused not on them, but on a letter he was writing.

“This one hesitated. Again. Could have gotten us both killed.” Said Vi, holding tightly onto the grudge.

Jinx shook his head. “It wasn’t like that, you’ve got to understand. They were just a child.”

Vi went to speak, but put his hand up before either of the siblings could get a word out. “I’ll not hear another word. Every time I send you both out on hunts together, there is some problem.” His attention was now, regrettably, on them.

“But sir-” Vi started, but Vander cut her off.

“No, no. You aren’t permitted to speak, Violet.”

She immediately closed her lips, a seething anger overtook her expression.

“And you, Powder.” Vander turned to Jinx, his eyes narrowing. Jinx physically recoiled and shrunk after hearing the name they’ve long since shed. “You are far too empathetic. Detach yourself. They are lesser beasts, less than even the pigs and cattle we eat.” He stared at them both, his features were rough from a life on the hunt.

Still, at the sight of the two of them, simmering in rage and sorrow, his features softened. “Ah, but I’m proud of you both either way.” He stood, and with slow, heavy steps rounded the desk, and brought himself behind the sulking siblings. He rested his weighty hands on each of their respective shoulders. “You’ve done good, you’ve come back alive with more kills under your belt. It takes years of practice, don’t beat yourself up over it.” He smiled, then, warm and gentle.

“You’re dismissed, should there be nothing else you girls have to say?”

Vi shook her head, instead looking sympathetically at her brother, reading his expression. Jinx, for a moment, seemed as if he might speak, then thought better of it.

They left, Vander shutting the door behind them, and they made their way down the hall of their home. “I’m sorry,” Vi said.

“For what?” Jinx asked.

Vi could see that her brother was trapped in his own brain, replaying the scene on loop. “For everything. I’m sorry for snapping at you, and I’m sorry for not standing up for you in there.”

“I don’t need you to be my bodyguard. Nothing’s the matter.”

“But, what he said, I know how it hurts you.”

Jinx stopped, exhaling a frustrated breath. “You know nothing. I can handle myself.”

His sister shook her head, meeting his gaze “All I’m saying is-”

“Are you listening? I. Don’t. Care.” He enunciated each word more harsh than the last. “I don’t! And you don’t, and he doesn’t. If either of you did, then something would change. If I cared, then I’d change it. But I don’t.” Perhaps the most obvious lie he could have told, since tears were welling in his eyes. He turned away, and hurried down the hall to his room. Vi heard the slamming of the door.

She stood there, alone in the decrepit halls. Entirely unsure of how everything in her life was so royally fucked up.

Chapter Text

Vi ate another dinner alone in the dining room. This wasn’t something she was entirely unused to, her family haven’t had a dinner together since she was far younger and the world simpler. Nonetheless she still always sat alone, with an open invitation for someone to join her. From time to time her brother would, but seldom would she see Vander eat outside his office.

Tonight would appear to be a lonely one, and Vi wasn’t one to sit around the house and do nothing. Not when she could be training, not when she could be hunting.

She cleaned up after herself, and made her way to her room.

It was a mess, and nearly barren, barring the weapons that hung from the wall. She stared at them, contemplating her next move.

She relented, and grabbed her black cloak, tying it around her neck. Under the long, tattered robe, was a white poet blouse, and black peg-top trousers. An ornate wooden rosary clung to her neck, tucked neatly into her top. She checked herself out briefly in the mirror. She was nothing if not vain. She took pride in hunting in style. She felt it imperative that an impression was made on her prey. Vander was a great mentor in this regard, he had a mythology behind him. Men respected him, and vampires treated him as their one, true natural predator. Vi strived to not only emulate that level of infamy, she wanted to exceed it tenfold.

She hadn’t yet figured out the how. It was a new age, and folk were leaving her ilk behind. Her family was no longer considered essential to public safety. She’d heard vampire hunters referred to as mad and misguided. At worst they had been accused of the murders she had worked so hard to put an end to. Rumors that her kin would stage murders to appear as vampire attacks were abundant.

These were ridiculous accusations, of course. But popular nonetheless, and put a severe damper on her career path.

She looked out the window, the moon hung high in the sky, obscured by clouds of everpresent smog. She recalled her childhood, when seeing a dark smoke in the sky was indicative of a fire, when industry did not yet persist throughout all aspects of life. The air was cleaner, then, the world was safe.

She pushed these thoughts from her mind. Nostalgia was nothing but a distraction from the present, and the present called for a hunt. She holstered a wooden stake, her crossbow, and sheathed her silver knife. She was ready to head out.

She crept through the halls, passing Jinx’s room. She knocked lightly on his door. Vander could not find out what she was planning, to say he was disapproving of spontaneous hunts was an understatement. But Vi could not simply wait around to be told what to do. She was no longer a child, she needed to take action.

“Jinx, you in there?” She whispered, face pressed to the door. She thought she heard a groan, but could not be sure. “I’m going out.” She said, after waiting a few moments. She hurried out the house immediately after, and into the streets of London.

—-

There had, according to her own private research, been a surge of disappearances as of late. More concerning, there had been a severe lack of bodies found. Typically she found this had a direct causal relation to the rise in Vampire attacks. It made sense in her mind, more recruits, more feeding needed to occur.

More beasts to hunt.

Her last job had been hunting a father and child, owner and heir to a collection of local steel plants. She’d research into their professional and political ties and found a litany of connections to the aristocracy. Vampires are horribly independent creatures, but more so they’re obsessed with cultivating an image of grandeur. They love to flaunt, and therefore often their social circles contain more of their kin.

Richard Smith had ties to all corners of the globe, though only a handful of them were here in London. Most notably was one Caitlyn Kiramman. She was daughter to a noble family, one which was effectively in complete control of Scotland Yard.

Unfortunately for Vi, she could not simply wander into their manor and make a show of it. She’d die within the first fifty meters of the front gate. Though she was not as infamous as Vander, she still had a reputation via proximity as his pupil.

This isn’t to say Vi had no plan, no, she had a target for tonight. A link between Richard and Caitlyn, and that was an officer by the name of Maddie Nolen.

She supposedly was providing security for Richard, which included covering up any feedings he and his child embarked on. More interestingly, she was, quite literally, in bed with Kiramman.

A thrall, then. A servant bound to the masters will. Until, of course, that connection is forcibly severed.

Maddie lived not too far a distance from Vi’s own residence, in fact. She lived on the other side of Whitechapel, a fact that made the fact she had not yet caught and killed Caitlyn even more frustrating.

Maddie lived in one of the few independent homes in the area, a certifiable luxury compared to the crowded tenements. It appeared becoming a servant for the Devil had its upsides. God was not so generous with his own disciples.

Vi scouted the perimeter of the building a handful of times, searching for the best possible point to enter. All the lights were off, except the upstairs bedroom. There was no noise coming from the home at all. She had concluded that the simplest option was the most advantageous in this case.

She picked the lock to the back door, a skill she never honed beyond fucking with it until worked.

The door, without even a turn of the knob, suddenly creaked open, inviting her into the kitchen. This, naturally, unsettled the hunter. She may not be proficient in picking locks, but she was damn sure she hadn’t done that.

“Faulty installation,” she told herself, not caring if it was true or not.

She crept inside, keeping her head low and her steps light. It was dark as all hell, and she could barely see.

She paused, footsteps were scattering on the floor above her. It sounded like two, maybe three people.

‘Just my goddamn luck,’ Vi thought. How might she go about this?

Before she had time to plan a course of action, a blade found her neck, pressing just enough to threaten drawing blood. Another hand caught her arm, and forced it behind her back, restraining her. Vi froze, her free hand gripping her crossbow.

She wasn’t sure where she went wrong, she heard footsteps upstairs, she heard no movement in the kitchen. Had they been expecting her?

“Where’s the other one?” A woman’s voice asked. “We know he’s here.”

We? So there were multiple.

“Who are you?” Vi’s growled, struggling against the restraint, careful not to slit her own throat.

“Where is Jinx?” She asked, pulling her arm further back, in a way it should not bend.

“Not here, I came alone.”

“Bullshit!”

“It’s true!” Vi spat.

From the corner of her eye, she saw another figure enter, this one’s face she could make out just fine. A tall, thin woman with long midnight blue hair. She clapped her gloves hand mockingly.

“Vi, Vi.” Said the woman, sing-song. “What a pleasure to make your acquaintance. So soon, might I add?”

“Caitlyn.” Sneered Vi. That means the one behind her must be Maddie. She didn’t sense anyone else.

“Let her go.” Caitlyn commanded, and Maddie did without hesitation, throwing Vi to the ground.

She picked herself up fast, drawing her crossbow and aiming it straight at the vampire. Her other arm stinged with pain, but she drew her silver blade nonetheless, and held it unsteadily pointed at Maddie. Maddie held her dagger pointed at Vi in turn.

“Uh-Uh,” Caitlyn said, as if disciplining a child. “I simply wish to speak to you. We’re all civilized beings, are we not?”

“Like hell I’ll talk to you.” Said Vi.

“But you must, it’s about your family.”

This caused something to break in Vi, and she let loose a bolt, hurtling towards Caitlyn’s heart.

It missed, embedding into the wall directly behind where Caitlyn once stood. She disappeared, vanished in a flash, Vi spun around, searching, and her eyes fell on Maddie. Or, more accurately, Caitlyn standing now directly behind her thrall. Maddie did not move, though her arm that wielded her blade now seemed unsure. It trembled, as if too heavy for her to hold straight.

Caitlyn’s hand fell onto Maddie’s shoulder.

“Kill Vander.” Caitlyn said, as if nothing happened at all. “Do this, and your every wish will come true. You’ll no longer know poverty, or desire, for that matter, for you’ll have all you’d ever need.”

Vi was stuck. She could not kill the thrall to get to Kiramman. Not just because the demon was too fast for her, but she could not bring herself to kill humans. It was an oath Vander never took, and where she would excel beyond him.

“Why?” Vi asked, biding time.

“Him and I have a score that needs settling.” She said, “All the better if it’s a betrayal from his favorite little pet.”

“Up yours, bitch.” Vi said simply.

Caitlyn, strangely, seemed to consider this. “Perhaps your sibling would better listen to reason.”

“You stay away from him!” Vi yelled, immediate rage filling her blood.

“I’ll do what I please, Hunter. I think I’ll pay him a visit now, in fact.”

Vi had, at this point, lost the capacity for words, and fully charged headlong towards the two. Maddie widened her stance, holding her blade close to her chest, ready to strike.

Before Vi had the opportunity to close the distance, however, Caitlyn charged in turn, at an unholy speed. The vampire's hand slammed against Vi’s face, and slammed her headfirst into the tiled floor.

The world went black for Vi, and she didn’t come to until she felt a weight drop upon her gut. Her eyes struggled to open, and through blurred vision she could make out the image of Maddie, atop of her, dagger held high overhead.

Urgency soared through Vi, and she threw her weight to the side, knocking Maddie off kilter. Maddie stumbled, and then oriented herself once more, and drove her blade down towards Vi’s skull.

Vi threw her hands up, one grabbing Maddie’s wrist, the other her forearm. She pushed against the weight of the other woman, forcing the weapon away from her face.

Maddie had a horrible smirk across her face, and she let the blade rise slowly above Vi’s head.

Vi felt a sudden panic, when Maddie let the knife slip from her palms, and plunged towards the hunter's face.

Vi turned her head, the edge of the blade only finding her cheek, slicing a piece of flesh apart.

An opportunity presented itself, and the vampire’s thrall was now vulnerable. Her idiotic master plan of letting gravity do the work now properly foiled.

The adrenaline pumped through Vi, as she grabbed her opponent’s neck, and squeezed hard. The woman struggled for air, clawing at the sleeves of Vi’s blouse.

Both of their strength diminishing, Vi made one last move to once more throw her whole body weight to one side, and shoving Maddie down into the ground.

Vi climbed atop her, her grip fierce, and she gave the other woman not an inch. She waited until Maddie’s movements slowed, but didn’t stop. Then she loosened her hold on her throat.

Maddie lay, gasping for air. Moments passed and Vi just stared at the poor soul in front of her, so lost is she that she’d throw herself away for a Devil spawn.

Altogether at once Maddie sat up, and slammed her fist into Vi’s chest, an act of futility. Vi, instinctively, cocked her arm back, and punched the girl with whatever strength she could find, knocking her unconscious.

Vi breathed hard, her body was tired and weak and she could barely bring herself to stand. She stood for a long moment, gathering her resolve. Before she remembered, Caitlyn was missing.

‘Fuck,’ She thought.

Jinx.

Chapter Text

Jinx had spent most of this night much like he did many other nights, curled up in a ball and crying.

His hair was shorter once more, the length that used to be there now was all over the floor and his vanity, next to the scissors.

He’d heard Vi knock earlier, he didn’t fully register what it was she said, though. Probably just going to train, she liked to invite him along. He rarely accepted.

He couldn’t make up his mind about her. She was, on one hand, the only person in the world who respected him for who he was, no strings attached. On the other she could be a ruthless killer, her morals seemed scattered and inconsistent, and she could be kind of a dick.

He wanted to impress her, to make her proud. He wanted to be the hunter she was, he wanted to draw not the ire of their mentor, but the praise. He was envious and wanting all at once and he had no recourse to sort through these feelings. So, he laid in bed, sulking.

It had been a couple of hours since the knock came at his door. The sun would be rising soon, and he wouldn’t have slept.

Just then, he heard a tapping, not from his door, but his window. Outside was a woman, he couldn’t quite discern who she was. He opened his window, “Hello?” He whisper-yelled to her, trying not to wake Vander. “Are you okay?”

“I’m-“ she let out a labored breath, “I’m hurt, can I come in? There’s a man…” She looked behind her, searching as if something was stalking her.

Jinx hesitated, every instinct as a hunter told him to turn her away, that this was a trap. But he knew the harm that might befall her if he was wrong, if his paranoia got to him. He knew Vi would slam the window without a second thought, but Jinx couldn’t do that.

“Yeah- yes.” He said, “you can come in, let me go unlock-”

She appeared before him, crawling through the second story window. He fell back onto the ground in shock, crawling over to his vanity where he left his wooden stake.

He barely made it a foot before the vampire pressed her heel to his chest, forcing him onto his back. He let out a pained grunt.

She leaned down, putting her hands on her knee, exasperating the pressure against him. “I’m not here to hurt you.” She said, a devious glimmer in her eye.

“I’m sorry we had to get off on the wrong…foot.” She laughed at her own joke, Jinx did not seem responsive to it.

“But you see I have a deal to strike, and I can’t let you going and staking me before you’ve even heard the terms.” She removed her heel, planting it down beside him. She held out a hand towards him, beckoning him to his feet.

He took it cautiously, letting her aid him to his feet, but immediately putting some distance.

“We must be silent, Vander’s here.” He said. The threat of Vander might keep him safe, but simultaneously he did not want Vander or Vi to find out he let a blood beast into their home.

“Of course.” She waved her hand dismissively. “That’s actually what I’m here to discuss— Vander.” The name was like poison on her tongue. “You’re the man of the house, aren’t you, Jinx?”

To this he perked up, straightening his posture. “Well- I suppose in some sense.” He said, unsure of what he even really meant by that.

“Good,” she took a step closer to him, and then another, “What I offer you is something no one else can. I offer you a way out of this poverty, out of this life. I extend to you the opportunity to become one of the most powerful men In the world, one of the most respected.”

Jinx was listening, intently.

“Anything you desire is yours, should you want it.”

“Anything?”

Caitlyn gave an assuring nod, mouthing the words ‘Anything.’

She closed the distance between the two of them with a final, sure step, her heel clicking triumphantly against the floorboards. She ran a finger slowly up his forearm, watching herself trail along his skin.

He felt his heart race, and he stood, frozen, watching her. Her touch rose up his arm, across his collarbone, and raised his chin to meet her gaze. He could feel his face heating up, he could feel how vulnerable he was, how much stronger than him she was.

“Kill Vander, that’s all I ask of you. I don’t care how. I just want him dead.”

Jinx shook his head, pushing her away. “No, no I can’t- I won’t do that.” He said, defensively.

Caitlyn did not seem deterred. “Is it really such a problem? What does he do for you?” She pressed. “Does he respect you, truly respect you? What has he left to offer that I cannot.”

Jinx hesitated at this. He couldn’t quite place it, whatever tied him to Vander so much. He always just assumed it was innate family loyalty, blood was thicker than water and all.

But it was more than that, there had been a respect given to Jinx, it was just misplaced. There was a history besides. He took them in after the death of the siblings' parents. He gave them guidance, and trust.

He turned to Caitlyn, “I’ll do it.”

She seemed, to his surprise, shocked that he agreed to it.

“On the condition that Vi is not to be harmed.” He said, pushing his luck.

“Once your end of the bargain is fulfilled, I shall do all in my power to see that no one in my circle kills her. That is, unless it is self-defense.” Caitlyn said.

Jinx supposed he would have to agree to that, it might buy her some time. “Fine.”

“Good, I knew you would see reason.” Caitlyn said, grinning, her fangs were pristinely white that they reflected the candlelight. Her fangs were long, and some of the most pointed he’d ever seen.

“One last request?” Jinx asked.

“Yes?”

In an instant, he grabbed her forearm and pulled her close, pressing his lips against hers in a rough kiss. His other hand found the middle of her back, and held her tight.

She seemed unsettled at the speed at which he was able to grab her. She hadn’t been expecting it, a flash of panic hit her face, immediately dissolving with the kiss. She returned it in kind, her hands grabbing his waist, claws digging in.

After a moment he pressed his hand to her chest, and pushed her playfully onto his bed, and he followed immediately by crawling on top of her, that same hand finding her neck.

“My- are you quite sure?” She asked, still suspicious of him.

“Shut it.” He responded, lightly slapping her cheek, testing the waters.

Her fangs pressed against her lip, biting.

Straddling her, he bent down, kissing her again, tongue pressing into her mouth.

His hand stayed tight around her neck, her skin only marginally paler than his, which shouldn’t have been a surprise, he saw about as much daylight as the average vampire.

His other hand slid down her abdomen, and slipped into her pants, and between her thighs, rubbing his two longest fingers against her, growing continuously wetter.

She moaned into his mouth, her body arching at the sensation.

She broke the kiss, and removed her top, followed by her bra. Her skin was clean of scars and marks, as if she’d never experienced even a single blemish.

Jinx followed suit, removing his shirt, revealing the bandages underneath, binding his chest. Caitlyn’s hands hurried to pull them off, but he caught her, shaking his head.

No words were exchanged, but she understood.

He leaned down, and kiss her neck, leaving little bites as he made his way down to her breasts, then her stomach.

He pulled off her pants and underwear in one clean motion, and tossed them to the side. He grabbed both of her thighs and propped them up against his shoulders, burying his head into her.

His tongue flicked against her, and she covered her mouth to muffle the sounds that escaped. She pulled whatever hair she could find, and when that wasn’t enough forced his head to stay.

He squeezed at her thighs, pulling one to the side to free an arm. He began fingering her, pushing his middle and ring finger inside of her. He started slow, and gentle, and continued to keep pace with his tongue.

“Fuck-” She moaned out, pushing his head down harder.

He kept at this, feeling her writhe in pleasure against him. His chin was dripping wet, from his own saliva and from her.

She became silent, little whimpers escaping her lips as she desperately tried to push the noises down. Her thighs once more squeezed around his skull.

Her body trembled as she came, her back arching up and down, trying to contain the sensation. Slowly her legs fell, freeing him. He sat up on his knees, forcing a smile at her.

She sat up and kissed him hard. He pushed her away again, and whispered. “We’re not done.”

She quirked an eyebrow as he stood from the bed. “Bend over,” he said, “I need to go grab something.”

She realized his intent now, and was not in a mood to complain. She bent over his bed, propping herself up to him. He gave her ass a playful, gentle tap, before turning to his vanity.

He made a show of opening and closing drawers, saying to himself, “where is it?” Over and over again.

She waited ever so patiently for him, her eyes closed, she laid on her belly, relaxing her body.

“Got it!” He said, carefully picking up his wooden stake.

“Mm, good.” She said.

He walked over to her, “just relax.” He said, distant.

He gripped the stake tight, lined it up with his best estimation of where her heart was, and-

“Jinx!” Her sister yelled running up the stairs, boots landing heavy against wood.

Caitlyn turned to Jinx, and saw the stake raised above her. “You snake!” She hissed. She slapped the stake, sending it flying against the wall. Vi was getting closer.

Caitlyn laughed to herself, grabbing his jaw and pulling it towards her. She kissed him hard.

The door flung open, and Vi stood at the doorway, catching her breath, her jaw dropping at the sight.

“Jinx?” She asked, her voice breaking.

Caitlyn tossed him to the side like a rag, he stumbled to gather his balance.

Caitlyn was in bed one moment, and the next was standing in front of the window, clothes gathered in her arm. “Oh, and Jinx? Don’t forget about our deal.”

Vi aimed her crossbow, and fired a bolt at the woman, who once again disappeared before it could strike true.

Vi turned to Jinx then. “Deal? What deal?” She demanded, “Jinx, what the fuck did you do?”

Jinx stood there, shaking his head, watching the window.

“I tried to kill her.” He said, Vander appeared then beside Vi, peaking into the room.

“What’s going on, Vi, what’s wrong?” Vander asked, grabbing her shoulder.

Vi didn’t answer, she narrowed her eyes, glaring at her brother. “You fucked her, didn’t you? Was it worth it?” She shook Vander’s hand off and stomped towards him, shoving her brother. “You sacrificed everything for what? For her? What did she promise you?” The accusations came flying then.

“I tried to kill her!” Jinx screamed, defensively. “I tried to fucking kill her, before you had to make your presence known to the whole goddamn world!”

“Kill her? You were tonguing her throat when I came in! What— were you trying to suffocate her?”

“I had a plan!”

“A plan to kill Vander? A plan to ruin this life we have? You really are a fucking Jinx.” She pushed him again. “If I find,” she said, her words weighty “that you’re still here by morning. I’ll kill you myself.”

“Vi— listen, it’s not what it seems!”

But she was already out the door, and making her way down the stairs. Vander watched her go, and turned to Jinx.

Jinx wanted him to say something, anything, it didn’t matter how harsh. But all he did was shake his head, and walk away.

That was perhaps the most hurtful thing he could’ve done.

Chapter Text

“Violet, calm down.” Vander said, leaning back against the dining room table. “You heard your sister, you should trust her.”

“How can you even say that? You saw him in bed with a vampire. Not just any vampire— Caitlyn-fucking-Kiramman, for Christ’s sake.” Vi crossed her arms, dropping herself into a chair.

“You don’t know the circumstances that led up to this.” He was about to continue, before he was interrupted with a harsh laugh.

“Oh, but I do! That deal? Caitlyn offered the same thing to me. An opportunity, for ‘all that I could ever want’” She used melodramatic air-quotes, rocking her head with each word. “In exchange for killing you. You want to know what I did? I didn’t fuck her, I tried to kill her.”

Vi’s anger blinded her to the fact she had just admitted to disobeying Vander’s wishes. A mistake she realized once she saw the disappointed frown on his face.

“You went out alone?” He asked simply.

“Well- I-”

“No, Vi. That’s enough,” he stood, “you’re not prepared to hunt solo. This is what happens, you expose danger not just to yourself, but your sister.”

“He’s not my sister.” Vi said.

Vander shook his head. “You keep saying that, ‘He,’ ‘Brother,’ but she’s none of those things! Look at her, don’t be ridiculous. Powder’s a woman.”

Vi was thoroughly distracted from the previous topic now. She always had trouble staying on track. ”It’s a waste of time to talk to either of you.” She turned her eyes away from him, crossing her arms tighter.

Vander stood, shaking his head. “You girls need to stick together. You’re family, you’re all each other has.”

Vi looked back up at him, “We have you.”

“Look at me, I’m old, I won’t be around for long even if a vampire doesn’t kill me in my sleep.”

Vi thought about it. Maybe she was being too harsh on her brother. Maybe that was what drove him to such a betrayal. She had to find forgiveness, especially for family. It was what she was always taught to do.

“Fine, I’ll talk to him.” She said finally.

“Good, I’ll be in my office. Tell her to come see me once you’re both done.” He said, leaving her alone in the dining room.

For a long moment Vi sat there in silence, simmering. She knew she should talk to Jinx, that she should make things better again. But she couldn’t bring herself to find her goodwill just yet.

Many minutes of sulking later, she pushed herself out of the seat, and began up the stairs. She knocked on her brother's door.

“Jinx, you in there? Look, I’m sorry for what I said. Just open up, let’s talk.” She waited, tapping her foot impatiently. “Come on man, open up.” She knocked again, and no response.

She grew immediately tired of waiting, “I’m coming in,” she said, with just about no warning at all.

Her eyes fell on the empty room, no sign of her brother. His gear was missing, his closet was in ruins and emptied.

“Fuck, fucking hell.”

His window was wide open, he must’ve escaped through it.

Part of their training involved learning how to track down vampires. Everything left a trail, and the only difference between human tracks and blood-beasts was that the beasts left less marks in their wake.

Humans were comically simple to track, a fact she knew Jinx was well aware of, which meant he’d probably be extra cautious, leaving false clues to confuse her.

Unfortunately for Jinx, no one knew him better than her, and she would find him. She had to.

——

Dawn had come, and thin rays of sunshine pierced through the smog blanketing the sky.

Vi had spent the night slowly letting Jinx slip further through her fingers. She called for him periodically, when she thought he might be close.

If he ever heard her, he gave no sign. She tracked him across London overnight, he seemed intent on wasting her time, going in circles around buildings, disappearing into dead ends. It was clear he did not want to be found.

The trail went cold once the streets turned lively, covering up any trace of her brother through carriages trafficked in the street and the bustling of men starting their day.

She desperately tried to keep hold on the trail, but it was lost before the morning sun fully rose.

She wandered the streets of London aimlessly, searching for her brother.

Chapter Text

Nearly two weeks had passed since Jinx left his old family behind, and he found life on the streets enlightening.

His life was no doubt less comfortable than it was before his departure, and he found himself longing for the things he thought innate, privileges he didn’t even realize he possessed.

He had to struggle to find steady sleeping arrangements, to gather enough coin to ensure he ate that night.

The men he found himself associated with were no kinder. He missed the inherent respect his sister gave him, even if at times it had not been enough.

It was incredibly isolating, something that Jinx learned to enjoy.

It gave him time to tinker with his weapons, he found his crossbow’s greatest weakness was the time it took to reload. He knew this pitfall came to gunpowder weapons too, which is why Vander had always opted not to use them. Their only advantage, he’d say, was the power and speed behind the projectile. A factor which mattered not when it came to skilled marksmanship.

Jinx, for his part, was sure there was more to it than that. But he never questioned his mentor. Not directly, at any rate.

He still practiced exclusively with a crossbow as his ranged weapon, but was always making modifications. Vi had praised his work, even if she never used it for herself. His newest creation since he left had been turning his crossbow into a functional repeater. He messed with the specifics for days, before finding a way to incorporate the repeater into something detachable, making for easy concealment.

His time on the streets, inventions aside, has been relatively dull. He’s had only two kills, one a landlord who preyed on his tenants when they posed an issue, and another a Dutchman, who sold foreign goods he stole from his voyages across the globe.

Neither had been particularly thrilling, in fact they felt almost like a secondary chore that he needed completing before he could focus on more important matters.

Matters such as his lodgings, which he had since found a semi-consistent place to sleep.

It was the top floor of a now abandoned factory. Construction had started some years ago, but stopped once the company went bankrupt, nothing had been done with the thing since.

It was here where he found what would come to be his new family.

It happened as he slept, a foot nudging his arm. He knew before he even opened his eyes that there was a weapon pointing at him. He also knew this person wasn’t a killer, otherwise he’d already been dead.

Weighing his options, he opened his eyes.

A shining, silver sword pointed down at his chest, held confidently by its wielder, who was clad in thick robes, which wrapped around their whole body, save their eyes. He saw white paint in the middle of their face, but couldn’t make out what it was as it disappeared behind the mask of cloth.

Jinx slowly raised his arms above his head, nodding. “I’ll leave, no need to get violent.”

“I know you.” Said the pile of robes with eyes. It had a man’s voice.

Jinx was now sitting upright, making a real effort to move as sluggishly as possible “That’s a good thing, I hope?” He asked

“Could be. I’m not sure yet. Where’s the other one, why are you alone?” The other questioned.

“My sister is not my babysitter, I’m alone because I want to be. Do I need more of a reason?” He was on his feet now.

“Yes, smile.” He demanded.

Oh, so that’s what it was. “Look man, I’m not a fucking vampire, okay?”

Suddenly the blade was thrust forward, poking against his chest. “Teeth, show them.” A warning, and likely the only one.

Jinx rolled his eyes, and gave a dramatically sarcastic smile, revealing that, no, he was not a vampire.

Immediately the other man sheathed his sword, and fell to a knee, grabbing Jinx’s hand in both of his own. “My greatest apologies, it’s just a precaution. You understand, I hope.”

The man pressed his forehead against Jinx’s knuckles, and looked back up at him.

Jinx was utterly dumbfounded at this development. His hands were cupped in this stranger's gloves, he’d never been treated in such a way. It felt almost sinful he allowed it to continue for so long.

“Who are you?” Jinx asked.

The man immediately shot up, tugging the robes off his face, letting them fall to his shoulders. Jinx was right, there was face paint, though it was odd. It was in the shape of an hourglass, spanning from just above his brow ridge, and ending at the base of his nose. Jinx could swear he’s seen it before.

The sides of his head were buzzed, and his hair was in locks, pulled into a knot at the back of his skull.

“Names Ekko.” He extended a gloved hand, Jinx shook it.

“Jinx,” he replied.

“Jinx? Oh- I thought your name was-”

“It’s Jinx now, I’m a new man.” He said, trying to subtly make his point.

Ekko seemed unsure for a brief second, but immediately replaced with an understanding nod.

“Listen, this is sudden and probably unprofessional. But I’m part of an organization- I, well, we are vampire hunters, like you.”

That’s where Jinx had seen that symbol before. It was printed on flyers hung across London, usually surrounded by phrases like ‘You have nothing to lose but your chains,’ and ‘Join the fight against capitalism!’

Jinx scoffed, then, turning away. He heard plenty of what they were about from eavesdropping on the streets. Idealists with dreams of utopia.

“You’re not vampire hunters. You’re at best another group seeking political power.” He said, “I’ve seen your flyers, I’ve heard of you. I’m not interested.” He started gathering his items into his bags.

“Wait, wait! Hear me out, at least. I checked you, didn’t I? Why would I do that if I’m not a hunter?” He pressed.

Jinx shrugged, “So you know of their existence. Am I supposed to be impressed?”

“Listen, we both know that vampires are rarely the, what do they call it? The dregs of society. They’re always business owners, merchants, effectively royalty.”

Jinx looked at him, “Your point?”

“My point is,” he continued, “that my organization seeks to bring down these power structures. There is no doing that without eliminating the vampiric threat. They are two goals with the same end.” He said.

He supposed that was true. Surely if all the vampires died tomorrow, there would be great political change, a change in favor of what Ekko desired.

“What’s in it for me?” Jinx inquired.

“A bed- an actual bed, and a room. We have a hideout, got a chef too. You’ll like him, I think.” Ekko seemed anxious, if he was their spokesperson, it’s no wonder their party had no traction.

Jinx shrugged, that all sounded too irresistible. He wanted his old comforts back. Even just some semblance of temporary stability was better than this. “Sure, I’ll join you.” He said, “let me just grab my things.”

Chapter Text

Steel clashed, the deafening sound reverberated off the metal sheeting lining the walls. Vi was losing, and would soon die if this did not change.

She had been chased through the streets of Whitechapel after being found at the scene of a crime, caused by a vampire. Naturally, Scotland Yard did not believe her story of just happening upon the mutilated corpse of a sex worker.

This had been the third in a series of gruesome murders. Vi was investigating independently, it had been of great interest to her the last few weeks. Not solely due to the proximity.

She slashed the knee of one officer, and threw down a firework of smoke. It exploded upon impact with the ground, creating a flashing light, then engulfing the alleyway in a thick grey. Vi turned heel and ran in a maze of directions, turning down whatever street crossed her path, not thinking of the direction. Her only goal now was to lose her tail, until then she just kept her feet moving.

The herd of officers began scattering like roaches through Whitechapel, infesting every open space. She heard the shouting of commands echoing, citizens yelling at the Yard to leave, to keep it down, let them sleep.

Vi listened intently for where the police could be. The footsteps grew louder, faster. The noise surrounded her, she could hear the clattering of chains— handcuffs? The air felt heavy, making it hard to breathe. The stomping came from the next street over at first, then from her own street. She spun, searching for the guards, but she saw none of them. In the distance she thought she heard the beginnings of a scream, cut short.

The steps came from above her, on the rooftops, had they already made their way up there? She begun the chase once more, sprinting down empty streets.

The noises kept pace with her, exceeded her. Had they gotten more guards, if so where were they? Why were they hiding from her?

All these questions were answered without any need for exchanging words. A chain flew out from an alley, wrapping itself around Vi’s leg. The force of it stung as it slammed into her knee, sending her stumbling. It was pulled taut, and caught itself at her ankle. The force behind it was intense, pulling her down into the darkness, leaving no room for her to struggle.

Hands covered her mouth, her arms were restrained behind her back with another chain. For a brief moment she thought it might be Maddie, but that was quickly discarded when she heard the voice.

Lips came just beside her ear, whispering, “It’ll be okay.”

A bag went over her head, and something hard struck her in the nose.

——

Vi threw the newspaper on her mentor’s desk, a photo of three masked figures, standing tall, drawn onto the cover. It was impossible to make out who they were, though, faces obscured in black. The header read, “Political Vigilantes Hunting Aristocracy, Claims Vampirism.”

Vander looked up at her, eyebrow raised. “What’s this?”

“The description of the Three Musketeers here is vague. But it’s Jinx, I know it is. Read it.” She pushed the paper closer. “I know it’s him. I’m going to find him.”

Vander shook his head for a moment, letting out a deep breath. “Your sibling has grown, Vi. The bird has left the nest, despite the circumstances, you have to let her go.”

Vi leaned forward against his desk. It wasn’t as organized as it usually had been. Writing utensils were scattered, tossed aside without care, papers piled up in failing stacks. He had not taken the loss too well himself.

“Vander, I have to do this. I have to get my brother back.”

“Powder…” he said, leveling his voice, “has made her decision of her own free will.”

“My brother.” She said, allowing it to hang in the air. “Jinx was forced out of this house, and I take responsibility for my actions. But you, Vander, you refuse to see the truth. You’re a mess. This house is a mess, and it’ll remain as such until you accept him back into this home as your son. As Jinx.” She huffed. “I was beginning to think maybe it was my fault he was gone. That I was too harsh. But he’s heard much worse from me, but he knew I always respected him, always loved him. That’s all he ever wanted from you.”

To this, Vander had nothing at all to say. Vi turned away, slamming the door shut on her way out.

In the silence of his office, he stared at the newspaper.

——

Vi hadn’t kept track of how long it’d been since her last interaction with her brother. He first made the newspaper four days ago, when she scolded her mentor. They had not talked since.

Vi was trying to recall everything that led up to this moment, what series of events strung her along to get chained up to a wooden chair, black bag over her face, head throbbing from a remembered strike.

Whispers came from the room, though she couldn’t make out the contents. It sounded conspiratorial, two parties disagreeing on the course of action. She could hear their voices start to rise, before catching themselves, lowering their volume once more.

So all she had to do was make some noise. Which might’ve been easy, if she could gather her senses. The world, miraculously, dizzied her. A miracle due to the intense deprivation she had of said world. A deprivation which was about to be, to her slight dismay, entirely undone.

A hand pulled off the bag with an all too aggressive tug. Without hesitation an intense flame came to her face, its heat stung her.

“Vi, Vi…” sung the man. “We’re going to have quite the payment after we dispose of you. Do you know that?”

Vi twisted her shoulder, tugging her arms against the chair. “Who are you?” She hissed.

A laugh, and then a slap across her face. “That’s for you to never find out.”

The man, a vampire she presumed due to the fact that they were the only party that wanted her dead more than the police; and this was clearly not a station.

The presumed vampire monologued, “Vi…Violet, is it? Your sibling, sister-brother, has been quite a hassle as of late. You’re here to act as bait. If not for the freak, then for daddy Vander. He ought to come running when he gets wind. We’ll sell all three of you off, if we’re to be so lucky. But even just two of you would be enough to set us up for life.”

Vi scoffed, “really think I’m worth so much?”

“No, not alone. But as I said, you and your freak of a sibling approximate one Vander. He—well. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you what he’s worth.”

This much was true, not only because she was very well aware of how desperately the beasts wanted Vander, but also because this vampires nasally voice was beginning to grain on her senses. She longed for deafness.

He, regretfully, felt it imperative to keep speaking, “We sent your location to them. Don’t give me that look, of course we know where your sibling is.”

Vi rolled her eyes, leaning back into the chair until she found a position that resembled comfortable. She watched another Vampire come in.

“Someone’s here,” he said from the doorway, he sounded as though there was a gun at his back. The monologuing vampire turned to him and said, “Who, Vander?”

“No, she’s kin.” The man’s voice shuddered, he was visibly shaking.

“Let me go talk to her then.” Said the captor.

A woman’s voice echoed around the damp room, she was shadowed in the far corner. Vi knew that voice.

“You have something I want.” Said Caitlyn, stepping into the light. “That girl there. Give her to me, and you may all live yet.”

“Like hell I’m giving her to you, after all the effort I went through murdering those young girls, playing the waiting game. You’re not going to just take my prize away from me.”

Caitlyn clicked her tongue. “Good.” Vi could almost hear the smile creeping across her face.

The distressed beast died first. Kiramman crossed the room in a flash, meeting the servile vampire where he stood. He went to strike her, it was a poor attempt, as she simply grabbed his wrist and twisted it. A bone audibly snapped, and splintered out of the skin. Caitlyn’s arm reeled back, before puncturing straight through his heart. When she withdrew, it came out slicked in blood. The presumed mastermind behind Vi’s kidnapping had a stroke of genius, or cowardice, and recognized he would not win this fight. He escaped through the door while Caitlyn was preoccupied.

Caitlyn made as though she was about to chase him, but turned her eyes on the hunter that sat bound to the chair.

Vi struggled, rocking back and forth, eventually throwing herself backwards, the chair fell to the ground, splitting in two upon crashing. Before Vi could take advantage of this small victory, Caitlyn was above her, staring down at her.

“Don’t fret, hunter.” She said, pressing the talon that is her thumbnail to her top lip, slitting it opens. Crimson coated her like lipstick, and she leaned down, her mouth lowering to Vi’s own.

The bound woman turned her head away, the muscles in her neck straining with the viciousness of the whiplash. Caitlyn tsk’d, grabbing the woman’s jaw. Her fingers pressed hard against Vi’s cheeks, forcing her face back. She pressed her lips against the others, holding it until the blood was smothered thoroughly across both their mouths.

Vi blinked at Caitlyn, confusion at first, then a writhing frustration. “Let me out of these chains and I’ll kick your ass myself, Kiramman.” She spat.

Caitlyn shook her head. “You’ll do no such thing. Your brother is on his way, as is your mentor. Spend too much time playing, and they’ll surely be dead.”

Vi huffed, but knew she couldn’t kill Caitlyn in a straight fight anyway, not in these circumstances. Besides, she wasn’t going to provoke a beast who had clearly allowed her to live when she didn’t have to.

Caitlyn, once she saw Vi was sufficiently dulled in her bloodlust, undid her chains, and Vi took no time at all to be on her feet and running to the door. Caitlyn called after her “Your shits down the hall to the right.”

Vi was already gone, but she paid enough attention to her savior to gather her gear from the storage room. She haphazardly strapped on her belt and loaded her crossbow.

She heard yelling from the floor below her, which was curious, a moment ago it was near silent.

A voice called through the distance, “Violet! Say something!”

Vander.

He was here, then, no doubt in the midst of a trap. Still, he had really come for her. She hadn’t expected it at all, nor did she expect what he’d say next.

“Jinx! Inside, there’s a back entrance—Go!” His voice eclipsed everything else. Vi was running to it, a light guiding her through the darkness.

Her brother too, though she could not hear him she knew his movements better than his own. She knew where to meet him, after she reconnected with Vander. Maybe God had blessed her, she thought, perhaps this was an opportunity for a new beginning. For the family to once more be together. She longed for the days of sharing a dinner with her brother, knowing her mentor was just a knock away. She wanted nothing more than to teach him— train with him again.

She called out to them. At least, she tried, her voice caught in her throat. Nothing came out. A ringing grew louder in her head, parallel to the pain numbing her skull. She dropped to her knees, hands clasped desperately around her ears, trying to block the sound.

It only got exponentially louder, until it was an all encompassing white, blinding her eyes to the high pitched ringing, she could think of nothing, could not feel the nerves in her fingers.

Just as it became entirely too unbearable, it stopped.

Footsteps hurried down the hallway, a vampire. She couldn’t quite understand how she knew it was coming, or that it was a vampire. She raised her crossbow all the same, and fired blindly into the darkness of the hall.

She heard it strike true, followed by the hissing of the beast.

Something was wrong.

She felt the blood in her veins, really felt it. She could hear the beating of a heart, and the non-beating of vampire hearts, which only served to confuse her more.

She could feel two living souls except herself, and around a dozen or so of the dead.

It was hard to think, but she was never quite proficient at that anyway. She forced herself to rise once more, and find Vander.

She made it free of the house after a brief mishap of falling down the stairs and stumbling to the door. Something she immediately chose to forget happened. Her brother was still around back, no doubt fighting off the four undead hearts she could hear not-pumping. Which, how she heard something not functioning, she did not care to investigate.

Her mind ached again, her sight blurred. It took her a beat to steady her vision, and take in the sight in front of her.

The front of the house was a veritable party of ashen remains, scurrying vampires, and a bloodied hulking man tearing through the hoard with a determination that even unsettled Vi.

The look on Vander’s face was a horrific glee when he got his hands around a vampire’s throat, pinning it to the ground. The surrounding hoard seemed to be mesmerized by the sight.

The vampire he had in his grasp was a truly remarkable specimen, it matched Vander in size, only bigger in its height. All the more impressive that Vander was able to restrain something of this might. Not only that, he was damn near about to kill it.

Vi oriented herself, and withdrew her crossbow, aiming it at the substantial vampire. She yelled to Vander, “Move! Get out of the way!” He looked towards her, standing, letting the grip off the beast. His eyes hung on her, as if examining her.

The vampire on the ground stood. Its face was ghastly, a melting mass of flesh, hardly discernible. Its skin so grey and rotted she could hardly believe the thing was able to stand.

It reached out to her, taking slow steps. She thought she heard it talk, but there was nowhere for it to speak from, no eyes for it to see, the eroded lump of meat where its nose used to be had no nostrils to smell from. It was utterly inhuman. Vi loathed it.

It played weak, trying to gain sympathy. A trick her brother might be empathetic enough to fall for, but nonetheless a trick Vander had told her to consider as a direct insult upon her skills as a hunter.

She let loose the bolt, it pierced through the beast's heart. It stood, struggling to comprehend what had happened. It reached, holding the bolt in its chest. It slumped forward, onto its knees, its grey face never moving away from staring at her. It died before her, falling hard onto the road.

All the vampires watched her, mouths shut tight, and looked over to Vander.

Vander said not a word, instead, took slow steps to Vi. Reaching out its hand, inviting her. The vampires appeared to be too afraid of him, of what he could do. Now they too were afraid of her, they dared not approach.

Vi reached out in kind to Vander, opening her arms to hug him, to rejoice that he was okay.

A squelching sound, then a horribly joyful laugh. Vander went still.

Another squelch, and his body stuffed back, as another grunt came. A third immediately after, followed by a stake impaling fully threw him. It twisted, and was pulled out.

Vi’s face contorted in horror as she watched Vander slump to the ground unceremoniously.

“You bastards!” Yelled Jinx, standing in front of her, bloody wooden stake in hand. “You’re all going to die.”

He did not even take a moment to meet his sister's gaze, before he started slaughtering the blood-beasts. They swarmed at him, and he spun, shooting his repeater into every undead that came his way.

Another hunter appeared, covered in thick robes. They wielded a sword of silver, that sliced cleanly through Vampires.

A third, who was clearly a woman, only her face was masked. She had a metal prosthetic arm, steam pumping out of it. Her other hand held an old dagger, made of a dark, strange metal. She was as ruthless as Jinx, though clearly had years more of experience.

The hoard's numbers were thinned without the help of Vi, who sat besides Vander, holding her hands over the hole in his chest, praying to God to bring him back.

Next thing Vi knew she was being tackled by Jinx. A loving embrace, a gesture she hadn’t expected. One she entirely rejected.

Jinx sang “Good God, Vi! Good God, you’re alive.” He buried his head in her shoulder.

Vi was not so quick to join the reunion, shoving him off, crawling backwards, away. “You- you killed him. You monster, you devil. You killed Vander.” Her voice shuddered and her mind ached once more. She could not make out the expression on Jinx’s face, just that his head was shaking. He said something she did not hear.

She yelled thoughtlessly, throwing herself at Jinx, who guarded his face.

Vi was caught by the hunter with the prosthetic arm, and shoved away, a dagger extended towards her. Vi knew it was a warning.

She cared not. She withdrew her own dagger, and made to charge.

She was caught before she could, “not now.” Said Caitlyn, who wrapped her arm around Vi’s waist. “She’ll live another day. As I said, no harm should befall your sister, Jinx.”

Caitlyn held tight around Vi, who screamed for freedom. They fled into the night, out the back of the building. She flew atop rooftops, her feet barely touching the ground before pushing her forward several meters. The unnatural speed made Vi uneasy, tapping Caitlyn to stop.

The vampire dropped her once they were sufficiently far from the hunters. Vi vomited, falling to her hands and knees. Tears filled her eyes.

“He’s- he’s dead.” She said, barely holding back gagging on the stomach acid in her throat. She vomited again.

“He killed him- Vander, he’s dead.”

Caitlyn got on one knee, and rubbed Vi’s back in consolation.