Angry words and confusion will only get a person so far. Hidden once more behind the shutters of the house on Rushbrook Street, Tobias Acton was presented with a unique problem - an unconscious fledgling, newly turned and unfed, and that fledgling's human wife, furious and frightened, in the same house. He was forced to abandon Nick, locking the younger vampire securely in the cellar before turning his attention to Willow. Her wounds were seen to, and over the course of that gentle care, he explained as best he could what had happened and what had become of her husband. When, at last, she was exhausted from tears and confusion, he persuaded her to sleep, leaving her to settle into the room he had set aside for her and her husband earlier that day. He left the house once only, to procure something his other guest would need upon waking, and entered the cellar, taking up vigil over his unconscious companion. He was patient. He could wait.
Time was meaningless to the fledgling vampire that Detective Nick Gregory had become. How long he'd been unconscious, he didn't know or care. Minutes, hours, days, even years. Time was important to humans who measured the precious, short years of their lives, but to one who had essentially become immortal, time did not matter. Of course, Nick did not yet know this, but Tobias did. It made one patient and impatient all at the same time. Only that same time would tell whether Nick Gregory would learn how to control his bloodlust and be able to live as normal a life as possible, like Tobias, or let the bloodlust consume him and become a monster, like the vampire who'd made him.
As it happened, it was only a few hours before the fledgling started to stir, consciousness slowly returning. Yellow eyes snapped open once again, snarling at the sight of the other vampire before him. Even in this state of madness, the newly-made vampire recognized one who was far older and stronger and capable of destroying him with very little effort.
Tobias looked up from his perusing of the newspaper, apparently very at home in his chosen seat beneath a lamp. He met the fledgling's eyes, infusing just enough power into his gaze to keep any accidents from happening. "Welcome back," he greeted the other, calm and in control, noting all the signs of a being very close to the edge with his need for blood. He nodded toward a corner of the cellar, where he had tethered two goats. "Do eat up, there's a good boy."
Thankfully, Tobias was a powerful enough vampire that he could hold Nick in his thrall at least enough that the other vampire didn't attack him or try to escape, as futile as the effort might have been. The blood madness had descended, burning in Nick's brain, eradicating all common sense and control. He was like a starving animal, wild with pain craving the only thing that would give him any kind of comfort - blood. His yellow-eyed gaze strayed to the goats, and he wasted no time descending on them with a violent hunger that would put him to shame if he knew what he was doing. Out of his mind with the need for blood, he tore into the first goat, devouring the poor helpless animal's blood with a voracious appetite that was not readily satisfied.
There was no judgement from the elder vampire who watched him, understanding the need for blood, remembering his own first feed. His first and only kill had been on that night, and he was determined that Nick should not have to suffer the guilt of having taken a human life on top of the disgust at having become what he was. Tobias simply sat quietly, watching the new vampire feed, and hoping like hell that it would be enough to sate the need.
It took another two hours before the fledgling's hunger was satisfied, gorged with blood, the pair of goats lifeless and drained of blood, not one drop wasted. The change in the new vampire was not immediate, but after a little while, the fever that had been raging inside him seemed to subside, and the man that was at the heart of the beast slowly emerged. The first thing Nick did when conscious and coherent thought returned was back away from the bodies of the dead goats, shaking his head in denial of what he already knew must have happened, of what he'd become. "No," he muttered low, his voice sounding different to his own ears, though it was only his hearing that had changed, not his voice.
"Yes." Tobias spoke quietly, aware that it took time to grow accustomed to the change in hearing, rising to his feet as this first sign of Nick's true self made itself known. "I am so sorry. I was too late." Deep regret colored his voice and expression as he spoke. "Too late to prevent Josef from exacting revenge, but Willow is alive. She is asleep, upstairs."
Nick's face brightened at the mention of Willow, flooded with relief at the knowledge that she was alive and safe and resting. The rest didn't matter so long as she was safe. He'd have sacrificed his life a dozen times over just to keep her safe, if not happy. Happiness was another matter all together, especially now. He swallowed hard, more from reflex than need, his throat tightening. Could vampires cry real tears? It seemed he was about to find out. "Alive, she's alive. Thank God," he muttered, barely a whisper, though to his ears, it sounded like he'd almost shouted.
"Yes, my boy, she is alive," Tobias repeated it for him in that same carefully quiet tone, smiling a little to see that the man's heart had stayed true through it all. "I have explained to her as best I could, and seen to her injuries. I do not think she will sleep soundly, but she will sleep, and that is the best medicine for her at this time."
Nick looked down at himself, at the torn bloody clothes, at his blood-stained hands, the faintly metallic taste of blood in his mouth. Blood, blood, and more blood. Though it was what kept him alive, the thought of it almost made him violently ill, his human morality clashing with the simple will and need to survive. He had become a monster, but Willow was alive and well and safe. He couldn't remember the last time he'd shed tears for anyone or anything, but he found himself struggling for control, relief that Willow was safe countered by the horror at what he'd become. He turned away so the vampire could not see his face, though he might guess what Nick was feeling, having experienced it once himself, albeit two centuries in the past.
"Thank you," Nick muttered, his voice ragged with emotion, not because he had been saved, but for Willow's sake.
There was no need for thanks, but Tobias did not want to add insult to injury by denying the man the chance to express himself. "There is a sink over by that far wall," he offered softly. "A wash in hot water and some fresh clothes will help a little. Give yourself a moment in stillness, and you will be able to hear her heartbeat, strong and steady."
Time was meaningless to the fledgling vampire that Detective Nick Gregory had become. How long he'd been unconscious, he didn't know or care. Minutes, hours, days, even years. Time was important to humans who measured the precious, short years of their lives, but to one who had essentially become immortal, time did not matter. Of course, Nick did not yet know this, but Tobias did. It made one patient and impatient all at the same time. Only that same time would tell whether Nick Gregory would learn how to control his bloodlust and be able to live as normal a life as possible, like Tobias, or let the bloodlust consume him and become a monster, like the vampire who'd made him.
As it happened, it was only a few hours before the fledgling started to stir, consciousness slowly returning. Yellow eyes snapped open once again, snarling at the sight of the other vampire before him. Even in this state of madness, the newly-made vampire recognized one who was far older and stronger and capable of destroying him with very little effort.
Tobias looked up from his perusing of the newspaper, apparently very at home in his chosen seat beneath a lamp. He met the fledgling's eyes, infusing just enough power into his gaze to keep any accidents from happening. "Welcome back," he greeted the other, calm and in control, noting all the signs of a being very close to the edge with his need for blood. He nodded toward a corner of the cellar, where he had tethered two goats. "Do eat up, there's a good boy."
Thankfully, Tobias was a powerful enough vampire that he could hold Nick in his thrall at least enough that the other vampire didn't attack him or try to escape, as futile as the effort might have been. The blood madness had descended, burning in Nick's brain, eradicating all common sense and control. He was like a starving animal, wild with pain craving the only thing that would give him any kind of comfort - blood. His yellow-eyed gaze strayed to the goats, and he wasted no time descending on them with a violent hunger that would put him to shame if he knew what he was doing. Out of his mind with the need for blood, he tore into the first goat, devouring the poor helpless animal's blood with a voracious appetite that was not readily satisfied.
There was no judgement from the elder vampire who watched him, understanding the need for blood, remembering his own first feed. His first and only kill had been on that night, and he was determined that Nick should not have to suffer the guilt of having taken a human life on top of the disgust at having become what he was. Tobias simply sat quietly, watching the new vampire feed, and hoping like hell that it would be enough to sate the need.
It took another two hours before the fledgling's hunger was satisfied, gorged with blood, the pair of goats lifeless and drained of blood, not one drop wasted. The change in the new vampire was not immediate, but after a little while, the fever that had been raging inside him seemed to subside, and the man that was at the heart of the beast slowly emerged. The first thing Nick did when conscious and coherent thought returned was back away from the bodies of the dead goats, shaking his head in denial of what he already knew must have happened, of what he'd become. "No," he muttered low, his voice sounding different to his own ears, though it was only his hearing that had changed, not his voice.
"Yes." Tobias spoke quietly, aware that it took time to grow accustomed to the change in hearing, rising to his feet as this first sign of Nick's true self made itself known. "I am so sorry. I was too late." Deep regret colored his voice and expression as he spoke. "Too late to prevent Josef from exacting revenge, but Willow is alive. She is asleep, upstairs."
Nick's face brightened at the mention of Willow, flooded with relief at the knowledge that she was alive and safe and resting. The rest didn't matter so long as she was safe. He'd have sacrificed his life a dozen times over just to keep her safe, if not happy. Happiness was another matter all together, especially now. He swallowed hard, more from reflex than need, his throat tightening. Could vampires cry real tears? It seemed he was about to find out. "Alive, she's alive. Thank God," he muttered, barely a whisper, though to his ears, it sounded like he'd almost shouted.
"Yes, my boy, she is alive," Tobias repeated it for him in that same carefully quiet tone, smiling a little to see that the man's heart had stayed true through it all. "I have explained to her as best I could, and seen to her injuries. I do not think she will sleep soundly, but she will sleep, and that is the best medicine for her at this time."
Nick looked down at himself, at the torn bloody clothes, at his blood-stained hands, the faintly metallic taste of blood in his mouth. Blood, blood, and more blood. Though it was what kept him alive, the thought of it almost made him violently ill, his human morality clashing with the simple will and need to survive. He had become a monster, but Willow was alive and well and safe. He couldn't remember the last time he'd shed tears for anyone or anything, but he found himself struggling for control, relief that Willow was safe countered by the horror at what he'd become. He turned away so the vampire could not see his face, though he might guess what Nick was feeling, having experienced it once himself, albeit two centuries in the past.
"Thank you," Nick muttered, his voice ragged with emotion, not because he had been saved, but for Willow's sake.
There was no need for thanks, but Tobias did not want to add insult to injury by denying the man the chance to express himself. "There is a sink over by that far wall," he offered softly. "A wash in hot water and some fresh clothes will help a little. Give yourself a moment in stillness, and you will be able to hear her heartbeat, strong and steady."