for Reid

[sidestepdestiny]

I'm tired. I'm tired of being here. I'm tired of everything being out of my control, of my leg, of living with Snow, of feeling things. I'm tired of having to hunt in this damned forest.

I do the perfunctory checking my surroundings to make sure no one's around. I've seen houses nearby, and while I don't think game hunters or hikers frequent the woods at night, you never know. Normals are always doing stupid things. I don't need to light a fire or carry a torch to see my way, I can see in the dark just fine. And anyway, it's dusk, not nighttime. Not yet.

I sit down at the base of a tree, gingerly settling my leg, and wait. Hunting spells only work close range, so I have to wait until I can see an animal before luring it over. Squirrels are the easiest, but I've been trying to mix it up so I don't eat all of Darrow's squirrel population.

Sometimes, there are areas of the forest where I swear all I have to do is think of an animal to make it appear.

This doesn't seem to be that place, as I wait for what feels like forever before a raccoon finally scampers up a nearby tree. I cast Animal crossing!, and watch the raccoon waddle its way over to me. (I came up with this spell.) (I couldn't even get a grade for it in Elocution because how was I to explain I created a spell to lure small animals?) I look into its beady eyes and cast a stunning spell, then a cleaning spell, and finally let my fangs out to have a good, long drink. It's all routine after thirteen years of surviving on animal blood. When I'm done, I stand and look for a place to throw the remains.

Comments

[youfeelluckypunk]

Reid's supposed to have the night off.

It's not as if the call from the station had interrupted anything in particular, not really. He and Luke had just finished eating, at least, and the plan had been to settle down on the couch for an evening of catching up on all the episodes of Space Hospital they've missed. Being called into work isn't exactly something Reid isn't used to but things have been suspiciously quiet lately, so he's gotten a bit spoiled when it comes to getting free time and actually keeping it.

They're short tonight, the Chief had told him, and why they hadn't just asked him to come in earlier because of that, Reid can't say; but a few complaints had come in about a couple being intimate somewhere in Petros Park and seeing as he now lives right across the street...

Reid had agreed to take care of it, of course, and he'd denied a half-hearted offer of backup if it were to eventually become available, kissed his boyfriend goodbye with the promise of being back soon, and left. It's getting colder out now that winter's on its way and even with the coat Luke had draped over his shoulders before he'd left, he shivers. The days are getting shorter, the sun's already setting, and Reid really hopes he finds this couple quickly because he's not keen on being alone out here with the vampires still at large. The apartment is close enough that his boyfriend will be able to sense whether he's in any real danger, so Reid isn't worried about that so much as he is about everyone else.

His mind wanders to the details of the murders that have been piling up, this case that's become unbearably difficult to close because tracking a group of vampires in a city full of vampires is even more difficult than it sounds; but he's not so lost in thought that he doesn't hear the sound of something bristling in the bushes just beyond the edge of the park that's lined with trees. Reid freezes when he hears leaves crunching beneath feet, and he has his hand resting on the gun in his holster in case this ends up turning ugly, but he strains his neck in an attempt to get a better look at the person approaching.

"Darrow PD," he calls out, "everything okay here?"

[sidestepdestiny]

I've fucked up royally this time, haven't I?

When I turn around at the sound of someone's voice (Darrow PD? What the fuck is that?) I'm looking right at a Normal. I don't know how well he can see me, but if he can I can just imagine the picture I make; I'm holding a drained raccoon in one hand and my fangs are still out. I quickly close my mouth to hide them, but I know even when I do that they fill up my mouth, bulging.

I can't believe I didn't hear him coming, didn't smell him. I know I've been off my game, but this is pathetic.

"Well, this is awkward," I say once my fangs have retracted.

[youfeelluckypunk]

Awkward is a word for it.

He's come across a scene similar to this before, except that time, Spike had been disposing of another vampire with his fangs out, not dangling a dead raccoon from one hand. Taking a breath as he assesses what he's looking at, Reid meets the vampire's eyes--

(at least, he assumes the man is a vampire, unless there's a whole new brand of vampire-like supernatural beings in Darrow he isn't aware of yet)

--and lets his shoulders relax, though he doesn't take his hand off his gun.

"That's what you want to call it?" he asks, a brow arched. The vampire looks young, close to Alec's age, but Alec wouldn't even be happy about that comparison. "The answer to this is pretty obvious but bear with me. Mind telling me what you're doing out here tonight?"

[sidestepdestiny]

He has a gun, so I don't go for my wand. The odds of me pulling it from the inside pocket of my jacket and casting before he can pull the trigger are low. I'll have to wait for a distraction to use a spell, or hope he doesn't mean to kill me. If he shoots me for it, I couldn't even blame him. I am a monster.

(I have no actual proof that a bullet won't kill me. Rumor has it vampires are immortal, but I've never met one so I can't be sure.) (Even if I am, it would probably still hurt.)

"Eating." There's no point in lying, and I'm not in the mood to try to pretend or manipulate. "I know you saw what I am, but I won't hurt you," I add for my own benefit. "I only eat roadkill like Rocket, here."

[youfeelluckypunk]

All he'd really need to do is shout Luke's name, and Reid knows his boyfriend would hear it. Their apartment isn't too far and with Luke's enhanced hearing and his knack for being able to pick up on Reid's scent, he could probably be here fairly quickly, especially if he let himself change. The problem is, it likely wouldn't be quickly enough; but the vampire says he isn't going to hurt Reid and maybe it's against his better judgment, but Reid believes him.

Removing his hand from his gun and slipping it in his pocket instead, still prepared to react if he has to, Reid tilts his head, wrinkling his nose at the dead raccoon. There have been reports lately of suspicious activity in the woods, though they'd written it off at the station as just a few people's imagination during the changing seasons, but Reid wonders now whether this is the reason.

"Forgive me if I'm wary," Reid says, "we've been having some... issues with those who like to go for something shaped a little more like me. You're saying you only feed on animals? Is that by choice?"

[sidestepdestiny]

I haven't heard of vampires in Darrow, though I suppose it's not surprising. They exist back in my world, why wouldn't they here? And the fact that they've been eating people, well, that's not a shock, either.

Still, I can't help wondering who's keeping them in line. But I'm in no position to ask at the moment.

"Entirely by choice," I answer instead. "Believe me, I don't snack on woodland creatures because they're tasty. And I've never seen a vampire here, I'm not sorry to say. I don't know of any problems."

"Is it alright if I toss this into the brush?" I ask, raising the dead raccoon in my hand a bit. I don't want to provoke anything with any unexpected movements.

[youfeelluckypunk]

He must be new.

Every other vampire he's met knows exactly what he's talking about when Reid brings up the recent body count, though the ones that don't attack first generally don't have firsthand knowledge of what's happening. Whatever the specific group of vampire unsubs is doing, they're hiding it well, which only means that Reid is going to have to be more aggressive about figuring it out. He has Luke, at least, even Will now, along with a number of other informants he's met since his arrival so he has high hopes that the case will come to a close sooner than later.

That won't mean vampire attacks will stop altogether, obviously, Reid isn't sure that's a problem that can be permanently taken care of; but the sooner he can help prevent another death, the better.

"By all means," he says, waving his free hand to indicate the man should do as he pleases. At this point, Reid doesn't think he'll be attacked tonight, not by this particular vampire. "I'm Spencer Reid, obviously I work for the police department. I'm one of their criminal profilers." He pauses, considering what to say next before deciding on another question instead. "Why do you choose animals? Guilt?"

[sidestepdestiny]

I toss the raccoon away and then introduce myself. "I'm Tyrannus Basilton Pitch-Grimm, but I prefer Baz," I say, and don't offer my hand. I cleaned the raccoon with a spell before I ate, but it's still...well, it's still disgusting.

I let out a sigh and shove my hands in my pocket, stepping out of the brush. "There isn't...guilt," I say, trying to think of the best way to explain. "I've never eaten from a human. I was turned when I was very young. There wasn't a choice, I didn't need to be told. I prefer to be the lesser version of the monster I am as much as possible." It comes out airily, like a joke. This isn't something I talk about with anyone. My family are the only ones who know, and they aren't exactly the sharing and caring type.

[youfeelluckypunk]

"Well, you're not the only one," Reid tells him. "The vampires I mentioned, that's just one faction in the city. There are others like you, who don't feed on humans, but they never seem to be from the same world."

Pausing, he bites his lips, quickly observing Baz with a once-over. Like he'd said himself, he's young, like Caroline. Reid has no intention of so casually dropping names like that but much like he gains comfort and support at his AA meetings, he wonders whether the same could be true about vampires like this.

"Does it work?" he asks suddenly. "Do you feel like you're a lesser version of a monster? From what little I know of you so far, I wouldn't consider you one, for what it's worth. I've seen human beings do the kinds of unspeakable things that can't really be compared to drinking a raccoon's blood."

[sidestepdestiny]

Other vampires here who don't drink from humans? I'm honestly so shocked I think I'm just staring at Spencer like he's spoken another language. It's just not the way of vampires. Who knows where I'd be, what I'd be doing, if the vampires in the nursery had taken me with them.

I let out a small, startled, self-deprecating laugh at his question. "No, actually, it doesn't." I shrug and come closer until we're just a few feet from each other, since he doesn't seem scared of me. "But thank you. That's very generous of you."

What makes me a monster is that when I look at him, or any other human, I see what they are and what they have and I want it. I'm hungry for it, always hungry. I feed off life, and even when it's only in the back of my mind, it's still always there.

But he seems like a nice person, so I don't mention it.

"These other vampires," I ask instead, "the ones giving you a problem - have you killed any, yet?"

[youfeelluckypunk]

From the look on Baz's face, it's evident that he's never come across another vampire quite like him before. Reid can't speak for how that must feel because it's on a completely different level than his own typical sense that he doesn't really belong but even so, he offers what he hopes is a sympathetic and reassuring smile.

Whether or not Baz feels the inclination to feed on humans is largely irrelevant, though Reid has to suspect he does, based solely on his experiences with others who keep a human-free diet. What's more important to him is knowing that Baz makes the continued effort to feed on animals alone and maybe that's not enough for a vampire to chase away those feelings of being a monster, but it's enough for Reid. At least, it will be, so long as nothing gets in the way of the habit. Such as his neck.

"Not personally," Reid says, his smile fading. He'd come close to becoming a victim himself a few months ago, and the only reason he'd managed to get away was because Luke had intervened. "There are people out there, they basically patrol later at night to make sure nobody gets hurt, but they don't kill on-sight."

Sighing, he shifts on his feet, crossing his arms over his chest. "We don't have enough information to find out who's running the show. The bigger problem is if more people start to catch on to what's happening, I'm afraid it's going to cause a widespread panic. Vampires like you, like the others I was talking about, you'd all be in danger. I don't want that to happen."

[sidestepdestiny]

"What do they do, try to arrest them?" I ask, genuinely confused. Vampires are monsters, they aren't worth saving or jailing. Even vampires like me who don't kill humans, maybe we aren't doing anything wrong, but we're still a danger and I wouldn't blame someone for lighting us up. It's not like the Normals' police can work the same way with dark creatures as they do with burglars. We're too powerful.

But Spencer must be a kind heart, and other Normals who don't know better as well, to worry about us being in danger.

The problem is, no dark creature is going to take that into account if they're hungry.

"Do you have any vampires helping you? I don't know if all vampires are the same, but I'm flammable. The vampires where I'm from, they'd be dead afraid of fire. One spark and--" I snap my fingers. "Toast."

[youfeelluckypunk]

"It depends on what they see them doing," Reid answers honestly. "I haven't accompanied anyone on their patrols, but I've been told about them. The vampires that are found terrorizing humans don't usually get a chance to try it again."

It's a fine line the so-called vigilantes are walking, and Reid knows there are those who disagree with the way it's being handled. He's hardly equipped to deal with a horde of vampires on his own, but he's also fairly certain that there's never going to be a real end to the deaths they caused. It's been his understanding, though, that for the most part, many of the vampires who feed on humans here tend to let their victims go without draining them of too much blood.

Some have the power to wipe their victims' memories, others apparently rely on the victim's need to rationalize what had happened in a way that doesn't include the supernatural, but the influx of bodies has been the cause of a new wave. A faction that must be led by someone powerful, someone with influence, someone feared. That's the conclusion he's come to, anyway, considering how unsuccessful he's been so far in obtaining information about why this has been happening.

"I do have a few," he says, "but they haven't been able to offer much in the way of information so far. Darrow is strange, the rules seems to be a little different for every vampire I've met so far, which I suppose makes sense considering you're all from different worlds."

The same is true of the werewolves, of course, and Reid can't help the little twinge of frustration that always comes with the reminder that Luke seems be the only werewolf in the city who actually has to suffer on the night of the full moon.

"In any case, you're relatively safe, as long as you stay away from feeding on humans. Well, from those who patrol, at least. I can't be certain of whether or not there's animosity between the different vampire factions, though I have to guess it does exist."

[sidestepdestiny]

I've been keeping my vampirism as secret as possible since I've gotten here, just as I do back home. My magic is an entirely different thing. I still try to keep it to myself around Normals, as I'd do back home, but there's such an eclectic mix of people who have seen all kinds of things. Some of the Normals who have found out aren't even shocked by it. And now Spencer is trying to tell me even some vampires are accepted by people, magic users and Normals alike. It really is a lot to process.

Different vampires, different rules. But underneath all that, a vampire is still, at it's most basic level, an undead creature who survives on blood.

If there are groups that work together, would they then accept a vampire of any kind into their group? I have to imagine I would be desirable, a vampire who can use magic is especially powerful. Almost unheard of. At least where I'm from.

"Well, have you ever considered having one go under cover?" I ask.

[youfeelluckypunk]

"That'd certainly work if we knew where to send an undercover vampire," Reid says, smiling wryly. As it is, they've yet to discover which faction is responsible for the murders, and seeing as there seem to be so many different ones in Darrow, it's been difficult to narrow things down. He has a theory he's been working on, one that involves the idea that it's the family members of the victims who are connected, not the victims themselves, but he still has to coordinate with Graham to determine the best course of action.

Interviewing the families might not be enough. They made need further intervention involving more vampires who might know a thing or two more than they're letting on.

"If you're volunteering, I'll keep that in mind," he continues, "but if you're saying you just want to help in general, we could always use another ear. If you hear any whispers about vampires looking to make a name for themselves or anything that has to do with what's been going on, I'd appreciate a heads up."

[sidestepdestiny]

"Oh, I suppose that would be a problem," I say lightly, my expression turning to a small, momentary grimace. The Mage drove the vampires from Britain, or at least some, but he has incredible resources.

I can't believe what I'm about to say, but the words are out of my mouth before I can think better of it. "I'm willing to help. Undercover, or in general."

I can't avenge my mother until I get back to Watford, and I know these aren't the same vampires, but it's still something. I think she would have wanted me to.

And at the very least, maybe if I'm successful it will make up in some small part for what I am.

"I'll let you know if I find anything." I take out my phone and open my contacts. "What's your number?"