Chapters Octavia bristled at the sound of her coffee maker's alarm going off, signaling it was 5:00 in the morning. With a tired groan, she sat up, rubbing away the sleep in her eyes as she yawned widely, sighing afterwards before smacking her lips together and looking at her clock next to the bed side table. 5:00... bugger mornings. She cursed, swinging her legs off of the queen sized bed and standing up, bare feet hitting the carpeted floor of her bedroom as she headed towards the kitchenette.
This was Octavia Melody, an up and coming musician in the Canterlot Orchestra.
She was a young woman looking to make it big, but for now... she had to make do with what small venues she could play in the run down areas of Manehattan scene, which paid very little in fact. But it was enough to help pay the shoddy rent of her apartment, and pay for bills and what have you, things that she needed to survive in the sprawling metropolis known as Manehattan, the massive city that housed millions of people. It was overcrowded in her opinion, but there was little a nobody cellist could say or even do on the matter.
So for now, all she could do was drink her coffee, speaking of which.
She walked into the kitchenette, glaring at the black device that produced the very liquid someone such as herself desired in the crisp mornings of Manehattan. She watched as it the device made noises, a stream of black liquid streaming forth from the hole into the waiting coffee cup she placed there last night before bed. She watched it fill up, sputtering slightly as she rubbed her eyes still. Bloody hell finish up already. She begged, and as if answering her plea, it stopped and she grabbed the cup before going over to her door that led out into the hall. Upon reaching it, she opened the door up before looking at the small mailbox next to her door and opening it up, revealing a few letters and junk mail. She snorted, grabbing them before going back inside, closing her door and locking it once more as she made her way over to the kitchen table and sitting down.
She sat the mail down, sitting in a chair with a creak noise before looking at the letters before her. A few of them were bills, which she put in a pile of to do later, some junk mail for some magazines she cared nothing about, gossip magazines weren't her thing anyway let alone fashion. She also had one other letter... one that was addressed from her brother who lived in the distant small town community of Ponyville. She sighed, no doubt he was going to ask her to return home once more, but she set it aside anyway to read later as she drank her coffee.
Her eyes lingered on the letter however, eyes burning with intense curiosity and morbid thoughts about her brother, a man named Noteworthy. He was her older brother, someone who had become an accomplished small time musician on the Ponyville stages, however she couldn't settle for something so small, and had to leave in order to at least try and accomplish her own dream of becoming a big time cellist, one of the greats. However, she hadn't made much leeway in regards to it. So far... she had only done small venues in the hopes of one day hitting it big.
And nothing.
A sigh escaped her as she took a long sip of her coffee, the hot liquid so soothing and so bitter going down her throat and waking her up. She would have added sugar and cream, but for today... was not a normal day and she didn't feel like it was one to feel good about. Today was a Monday, the 26th of December, the year 2016...
The night her parents were murdered.
Mother... father... She remembered them quite fondly, two of Canterlot's well known musicians retired to raise the Melody family. They were the strictest but nicest parents she could have ever asked for in life, who raised her and her two other siblings, her brothers, Noteworthy and Record.
She remembered that night all too well...
Twenty Years Ago
In the distant countryside outside of Manehattan, in the year 1996 sat a nice looking estate, the Melody estate. The entire area was fenced in with a three foot tall stone wall, with a gate near the front in thee driveway, and a large garage nearby adjacent to the building. It had a sort of old Gothic feel to it, the building itself crafted out of centuries old stone and has long been in the Melody family for years and years. A chimney above puffed out smoke into the air, as the house itself was filled with warmth, and the windows were all shut, with thick drapes to keep out the harsh and snowy winds of the outside world.
It was close to midnight, and the family was in the living room all gathered around the fire. The father, an older man with graying combed hair and striking blue eyes sat in an easy chair, as his wife was on the couch next to one of the sons of the family, Noteworthy, as Record was on the floor playing with a small object.
The only daughter, Octavia, was sitting in her father's lap as he read to her a story.
"... And she continued forth, into the bone chilling blizzards of Neighpan's countryside... never to be seen again..." The man, named Fine read off, closing the book as Octavia's gleaming youthful eyes looked at the book cover, which was of a wilting tree and the words, The Lost Princess of Neighpan's 1st Dynasty.
Octavia turned to look up at her father, purple eyes locking on his own blue ones. "Daddy." She started, voice oh so innocent sounding and cultured. "What happened to the princess?"
"Well darling, I've no idea." The man told his daughter, tapping a finger onto the book. "No one has ever been able to find her, some say she may have perished in the cold... others say she came over to Equestria and started a family."
"Really daddy?" Octavia questioned once more, eyes shining as the fire crackled.
"Yes really," He smiled in return, before the clock chimed, deep resounding thuds that sounded off once the clock struck midnight. "Alright children, time for bed."
"But daaaaaaaaad! I don't wanna go to bed." Noteworthy said, pouting his lips as Record was picked up off of the floor with his little toy.
The mother, who was named Cadance, just nuzzled her baby boy with a smile. "Well tough cookies my darling little boy, its time for bed and then school tomorrow."
Octavia was picked up by her father, who held onto him tightly as he set the book down. "Come tomorrow we can go outside, perhaps we can have some fun in the snow?" He suggested, and Noteworthy was sprinting off to the stairs, causing his father to chuckle. "Hahaha, slow down my son, no sense in hurting yourself for bed."
Cadance just giggled. "I think that's the most he's moved since last week."
"I do believe so, here's hoping he moves some more tomorrow, lazy boy." Fine chuckled again as he carried Octavia's sleepy form up the stairs.
The stairs creaked slightly with each step as the parents made their way to the second floor, passing by several oak wood doors until splitting up, Cadance took her son Record into one room with Noteworthy as Fine took Octavia into the room closest to their own.
Fine went over to Octavia's bed, gently placing her onto the softness that was her mattress before tucking her in. Octavia smiled, and he kissed her on the forehead. "Good night my sweet little angel," He told her quietly, and she returned his kiss with one on his cheek.
"Goodnight daddy, tell mum I said goodnight... I love you both." She smiled sleepily, before her eyes closed completely.
The last sight she had of her father... was of him smiling down on her...
Two Hours Later
*CRASH*
Octavia's eyes fluttered open from the crash, purple eyes taking their time to adjust to the dimly lit bedroom she slept in. Her eyes blinked sluggishly before she slowly sat up, the muffled sounds of something moving around on the rooftop above making her look up. She looked towards her window, it was closed by the thick purple drapes that matched her eyes, and unable to fight her burning curiosity she slowly climbed out of bed, tiny bare feet hitting the carpeted floor before scampering over to the window.
Slowly, she lifted the drape to where she could hear the harsh whistling winds of the snowstorm outside. Snow packed against the window sill, frost preventing her from seeing outside clearly. With a slight frown, she rubbed her shirt sleeve against it, the cold biting into her arm as she saw the cloudy sky, before the window frosted over again and obscuring her vision. Staring out into the snow, she let the drape fall back down, before stumbling sleepily to her door.
I wonder what that noise was...
Upon reaching the door, she reached up to grab the knob before turning it, and pulling the door open before treading into the hallway. However, once she stepped foot out into the hall... she felt a sudden chill whisk through the air, causing her to shiver before turning to look towards the stairs. She could hear the wind much more clearly now... a rushing wind that seeped in and chilled her to the bone, and causing her to creep towards the stairs. Each step on the cold and bare floor caused her to shiver as she hugged her arms around herself, purple eyes glancing out ahead in the darkness as a sudden fear took over her heart.
Once she reached the end of the hall, she looked off and down into the living room where she could see the front door that led outside into their snow covered yard...
It was wide open.
Eyes growing wide, she scampered back to her parents door, struggling to open it up before going inside. Her parents room was pretty bare, and the bed was a large queen sized bed with the two on it. She ran over to the bed, before jumping up onto the side. "Mummy, daddy!" She hissed softly, shaking her father's arm.
A groan, followed by Fine turning his head to look at his daughter. "Tavi, darling, what is the matter?" He looked towards his clock, and said, "Its two in the morning, why aren't you asleep?"
"The front door is open!" She said, obvious fear in her eyes.
Fine saw the fear, and felt himself growing nervous. The front door... Getting up, he picked up Octavia as he heard his wife behind him wake up. "Cadance dear, look after Tavi, I have to go check on something." He told his wife, who sat up.
After Octavia crawled over to her mother, Cadance hugged her daughter. "Whatever is the matter?" She asked her husband, who went over to the closet before opening it up. When both mother and daughter looked over, they saw him pull out a wooden baseball bat. "Fine?"
"Stay here." He told her sternly, before leaving the room.
A few moments later... they heard the sounds of something crashing to the floor.
Octavia sounded scared, whimpering quietly as Cadance held her daughter. The young six year old held onto her mother's form tightly, the door was closed, and Cadance couldn't help but move off of the bed and to the other side before opening her side table drawer and pulling out a small looking pistol . She held it in her hand, Octavia had no idea what it was, so she said nothing and just held onto her mother.
Holding up her pistol, she aimed it towards the door with a shaky hand. Fine, please be alright. She prayed, as Octavia held on even tighter. More crashing could be heard, along with a sudden yell of pain that sounded like Fine.
She was unable to do anything else, before the window to their room smashed in, and something roared. "Rooooooooooar!"
"AHHHHHH!" Octavia screamed, before Cadance whipped around and fired her pistol at whatever it was, the small round impacted the beast and caused it to recoil and disappear from sight before she could even get a good look.
Without waiting, Cadance got up and held Octavia to her before setting the young child down, and pushing her under the bed. "Tavi, sweetness, I need you to hide!"
"No mummy no, don't leave me!" Tavi cried softly, only for Cadance to cup her cheek.
"I have to get your brothers so stay here, do not come out no matter what!" Cadance told her, before getting up and quickly leaving the room.
Huddling up under the bed, Octavia scooted further under the bed until she hit the wall. She shivered from the immense cold filling the room as she heard the scuffle downstairs, things crashed and she heard screaming.
"AHHHHH!"
"Caddy run!"
"No! Get away from him!"
"Mummy!"
The screams filled her ears, and she hugged herself, covering her head and crying as the whatever was happening downstairs continued on. Eventually she couldn't stay awake... and she drifted off...
Four Hours Later
Slowly... Octavia woke up, eyes fluttering open to the sight of the cold floor. She felt wrong... her body felt numb, she couldn't even feel her fingers or toes anymore. With great struggle, she tried to crawl out from under the bed, shivering violently and coughing quietly. Once she was out, she saw there was a great deal of snow that had packed below the window, and she got worried.
Daddy wouldn't le-... Daddy! She stood up, ignoring the pain in her body as she scrambled for the door, opening it up and into the hall. "Da-" She stopped short... when she saw the hall leading to the stairs, the walls were burned slight, deep indentations in the thick wood and even small holes and slash marks. The floor was the same, littered with small brass casings that led towards the stairs. She slowly moved forward, eyes drifting towards the ceiling as she saw even more slash markings, even small holes that looked like they were made by claws or something.
Little Octavia continued forward, until she got to the stairs and hurried down them until she was on the ground floor. The entire living room was a mess, the couch and furniture was crushed and destroyed, the paintings and photos all in the same shape, holes were in the walls everywhere and it looked as if wild beasts had come into their house and ripped everything up. The carpet was shredded, and there were pools of crimson on the floor, trails of it, even splatters on the walls.
But what got her attention most... was the two bodies laying near the back door.
Her parents...
Octavia's eyes went wide... before she dashed over to them. "Mummy! Daddy! No!" She cried, falling to her knees next to them both. Both her parents were covered in blood, clothes ripped to shreds, covered in deep and bloody slash marks and bite wounds. Their eyes were locked open, hands holding as they stared at nothing. Hot tears stung at her eyes before trailing down her cheeks, blood seeped into her pants but she didn't care...
She wasn't given much time left to grief, before she heard something growl behind her.
She whimpered, turning her head and there she saw it... It growled at her... sharp bloody teeth bared in a snarl as it glared at her with beady yellow eyes, she found herself frozen... unable to even move.
Only when it roared did she find the courage to stand up and dart away with a scream of terror. "AHHHH! SOMEBODY HELP ME!" She screamed, running out of the back door as the beast behind her gave chase, claws digging into the wooden floor and aiding it in pursuing young Octavia. The young girl herself managed to get out into the backyard, where she started to run into the woods, pushing through the deep snow as fear gripped its icy talons around her heart. The young six year old managed to keep running, as the monster behind her leaped into the trees, watching her and chasing her, roaring to make her keep running.
I want mummy! I want daddy! She screamed in her mind, eyes wide with terror as the snow around her continued to fall. The icy winds of the areas outside of Manehattan bit at her skin, her thin sleepwear doing extremely little to keep her warm as she tried to escape. "Somebody help me! Please! Anyone!" She called out, except all she heard where the roars of the monster behind her.
After a great deal of running, she tripped onto the ground, in a small open area with a cry of pain. She felt too cold to move on, her body shivered and upon turning over onto her back, she saw the monster stalking her from the treeline, its yellow eyes staring into her soul as it walked around a tree. Blood dripped from its maw and onto the white snow below, staining it crimson and making Octavia reel back in fear and disgust. She kept moving back until she found her back against a tree.
She was trapped.
As the beast came out into the open, and made its way towards her, she whimpered, "P-please don't hurt me!" She begged, covering herself with her arms as her eyes locked on the beast, unable to turn away.
"Mmm, fresh meat!" She heard a voice say from the werewolf, before it snarled and then jumped at her, mouth open wide for the kill and claws aimed right at her.
"AHHHH!" She screeched, closing her eyes and bundling up as she prepared herself for the strike...
Only for her to hear a loud crack, followed by a yelp from the creature.
Slowly, the young girl opened her eyes, peering through her arms to see what had happened. There she saw someone... a person dressed completely in black clothing, a thick hoodie and pants, along with combat boots and wielding strange sharp objects in both of her hands . It was obviously a woman, from how her body was shaped and how she stood, but she didn't give Octavia enough time to say anything before she suddenly shot forward with blinding speed towards the wolf creature, who was just getting up.
The young girl watched as the newcomer dodged a swipe from the left, parrying it with her blades and slashing at the wolf's outstretched arm, drawing a geyser of blood that gushed out onto the snowy ground. The woman just jumped over the wolf, dodging yet another swipe before landing on its back, and then began to slash furiously into the wolf's back and causing it to roar in fury. The wolf shook its body, trying to swat at the woman, but she held on and stabbed her blades into the flesh only to end up getting grabbed and then thrown into a tree, she soared through the air before smacking into it, cracking it and flopping to the ground.
Octavia watched as the wolf made its way towards the woman, watching as the woman managed to get up, slowly as blood dripped from her pale lips. And then in one motion, her head whipped up to glare at the wolf, and Octavia could see bright red eyes glowing as her mouth opened up into her own snarl. An inhuman roar escaped the woman, as long and sharp fangs could be seen protruding from her gums, before she leapt at the wolf and started ripping into it with her claws.
The young girl couldn't take anymore...
She passed out.
Present Day
Octavia sighed to herself... hands shaking from the traumatic memory of that strange woman who... came to her rescue from the monster, that she knew was a werewolf. The woman, she never knew her name... who she was, but she did know what she was... Vampire. She played that thought back in her head... Vampires... and Werewolves. She shook her head, it was such a stupid notion to believe, that two mythological creatures, things that should have only existed in folklore were in her world.
She had woken up hours later, her uncle taking her and her brothers away as the strange humans in black cleaned up the mess that was left in their old home outside of Manehattan. It was... heartbreaking... traumatic, what happened to her, she remembered the funeral... how her parents died because of a wild animal attack as opposed to a single monster that were in the horror stories of old, the kind her father loved to read to her before bedtime...
The young woman had pestered her uncle for information over the years... wondering what in the fresh hell had really happened, and that she knew damn well it was not a dream of any kind, or a nightmare. He had caved, and told her it was a werewolf, and the woman that saved her was a vampire.
It was so crazy to believe, and yet... that was what happened... a vampire had saved her from a werewolf...
"Bollocks." She cursed, realizing she was out of coffee. She set the cup down, hands going to her eyes as she covered them, a memory flashing through her mind...
Of those red eyes... feral and inhuman, with a blood lust in them she couldn't comprehend even if she tried.
And that was just the vampire... she recalled the wolf's eyes... bright yellow like the moon at certain times of night.
She could never forget that snowy day... what was supposed to be a day of joy had turned into a bloodbath. How her brothers survived, she would never know, she asked them but said they were still asleep.
Figures. Octavia thought after standing up with her cup in hand. World War 3 could be going on and those two would sleep right on through. A smile graced her features at the thought of it, causing her to chuckle before walking over to her coffee maker and placing her cup under the spout and pressing the button. As she did that, she went back over to her mail and started to open them up, mostly out of boredom, today was her day off and the woman wanted plenty of time to rest before she went back to work.
However, a buzzing noise at her door brought her away from that.
A sigh, followed by Octavia standing up and discarding her half open mail before going over to the door. She went to the eye hole, spotting a very well dressed man in a suit and combed black hair, donning sunglasses. She rose an eyebrow. He's certainly well dressed, why is he... ooo! Could he be an agent for the CO? Without thinking twice, she opened the door up and gave the man a pleasant smile. "Hello, may I help you?" She asked nicely.
The man smiled back at her, before holding out his hand. "Greetings to you as well, Octavia Melody." He said, shocking her slightly before he continued. "I hear you're quite the cellist, is it true?"
A modest smile appeared on her face and she nodded. "I don't like to boast much mister...?" She took his hand, giving it a shake.
"Slow Breeze, at your service, Miss Melody." The man told her, smiling faintly.
"Ah, a pleasure." Looking at the man's attire, she asked, "May I ask why you are here?"
Letting go of her hand, the man reached up... and pulled down his sunglasses, revealing something that sent a primal shiver down her spine.
Bright yellow eyes...
"I'd like to know how you taste~ " He said, fangs growing out of his smile before she lunged towards her...
That is, if Octavia hadn't moved at near light speed and slammed the door in his face, sending him sprawling backwards. "Bugger me." She cursed, locking her door before running towards her bedroom. After going inside, she slammed her door shut and locked it shut before retreating towards her bedside table and opening it up.
*SMASH*
"Come out come out wherever you are sweet one~" She heard the man's sickly sweet voice call out, followed by the inhuman growling she was all too familiar with. "I can smell your fear~"
Damn it... She cursed before reaching into the drawer and pulling out a small knife of sorts. It was little more than a pocket knife she had bought for self-defense, made of steel with a wooden handle. She looked it at, before flicking it open and listening to the heavy footfalls of the man who stormed into her apartment. She listened to them... fear welling up in her gut when the footsteps suddenly stopped. She held the knife, the sun outside glinting off of the shiny metal before backing up near the window.
It wasn't long before the door was smashed in by the tall man in black, causing her to brandish her knife at him. "Back you!" She growled at him, and he just laughed smugly.
"How long did you think you could live before one of us came after you dear Melody?" He asked her, yellow eyes flashing beneath his sunglasses. "Its been far too long... far too long~ "
"Stay back! I'm warning you!" She yelled at him, a snarl on her face as she thought about who this was. Too long? Who is this man? She narrowed her eyes at his own yellow ones... the predatory eyes staring into her own and bringing flashbacks to when the werewolf attacked her. "I know how to use this!"
"Hahaha, if you really did, I'm sure you would have already used it sweetness~" He chuckled deeply, strutting forward with his claws unsheathed. Black and sharp things that could easily rip into her flesh, if they so desired to.
Octavia shivered, she was trapped, and her knife was the only weapon she had. I won't perish here! She thought, before lunging forward, knife held up in attack.
And she would have stabbed him, had her bedroom window not shattered into a hundred pieces and something caused her to skid to the side. Octavia nearly hit the wall, had she not steadied herself with a hand against said wall. Looking up, the young woman spotted to her shock, a hooded woman standing in her room... wearing a familiar hoodie and pants and wielding two very distinct weapons she had seen 20 years ago. The mysterious woman stood protectively in front of Octavia, blades gleaming in the light as the werewolf just growled in challenge.
"Well well well... should have figured you damn Society pricks would show up, can't you see I'm trying to have dinner?" The wolf quipped with a fang filled grin, a deep growl emanating from him.
The woman in front of Octavia just growled back, making her clutch her knife tighter as she backed away.
She wanted no part of this...
She just wanted her coffee.
"How about you beat it mutt, before I spank you~" The woman in front of Octavia said in reply, in a mocking sort of tone.
Another growl from the wolf, before he flexed his fingers, claws growing out of them. "Try me bitch, RAAAH!" He roared, before lunging at both of the women.
Octavia ducked down, arms over her head as she closed her eyes. She heard the roars and snarls of the wolf, along with slight grunts from the other woman who had to have been the vampire she met years ago. Splashing sounded, along with blades clashing and meeting flesh and yelps of pain, crashing and thuds came soon after as she stayed down.
And it ended...
Hearing nothing else... Octavia opened her eyes, shaking in absolute fear as she looked up, spotting the woman standing stock still... over the dismembered body of the wolfman, who lay on the ground, missing his head, and both arms. The head was on her bed, and the arms were in her dresser. Blood quickly began pooling, blackish red blood that smelled of iron and death and staining her lush carpet. The woman in the hoodie however, looked completely unharmed, her blades stained red with the blood of the wolf.
Gulping down her fear of the female in front of her, she stood up on shaky legs and asked, "W-who are you?"
Turning slightly, Octavia saw the flash of red in the woman's eyes... bright red... the same scarlet red color of the vampire she had seen two decades ago. The woman smiled, before putting her blades away somewhere on her person and reaching up to her hood, causing Octavia to pay close attention as the hood was pulled back, revealing the palest skin she had ever seen on a person. Bright red eyes turned to look at Octavia, as light purple eyes gazed at the woman's two tone neon blue hair that seemed to defy gravity with how spiky it was.
The woman then grinned, showing a pair of rather sharp fangs. "Name's Vinyl Scratch and I just saved your life... again," She told Octavia, who looked a little confused. Vinyl then sniffed the air, before turning to the kitchen. "Is that coffee I smell? Can I have some?"
Octavia just looked at Vinyl... dumbfounded... before dumbly walking out of the room.
"Is that a no?" Vinyl asked, raising an eyebrow before she followed the younger woman into the kitchenette.
Octavia just sighed... turning on the coffee maker once more.
I'm too tired for this shit...
Author's Note
Just an experiment to see how well this does, and holy crap adding this to groups is painful... I need people to do it for me.
Peace out my gooblings~
Octavia sat in her chair... looking - no - staring at her guest who sat across from her, hood down as she sipped from her cup. The cellist was confused... at a loss for words, unsure of what she could or should even say in this type of situation. Here she was... this strange vampire, the same exact one that saved her 20 years sat in front of her...
Drinking her coffee with a tiny smile on her face, acting as if this were a friendly social visit of sorts.
"So kid, how've ya been?" Vinyl asked, setting down her cup and grinning at the 26 year old.
Octavia just blinked, her hair was ragged, her eyes slightly bloodshot, and her mind a whirling male storm of confusion. "H-how am I doing?" She asked, getting a nod in return. "H-how am I d-doing? Oh well I'm just swell!" Octavia told her. "I just woke up expecting to get a nice cup of coffee, only to end up having a werewolf of all things burst into my apartment and then get sliced into pieces by a fucking vampire! SO YES... I am doing quite well. " The woman trembled, hanging her head over her cup and holding her forehead in one hand. So far her morning had been exciting.
Did I say exciting? I meant insanity.
Vinyl just slurped her coffee loudly. "*Slurrrrrrp* " Went her lips as she broke Octavia out of her stupor.
Dragging her hands down her face, Octavia glared at the vampire sitting across from her. Normally, one would probably fear having an immortal killing machine sitting across from you drinking your coffee, but Octavia herself was barely able too get her senses straight. Locking eyes with the blood sucking creature, Octavia asked, "Why are you in my apartment?"
Blinking her ruby red eyes, Vinyl set down her cup and sighed. "Hmm... well you invited me in of course!"
...
Octavia blinked, and started speaking. "You broke through my bedroom window-"
"I'll pay for that by the way." Vinyl said.
Octavia continued despite the interruption. "-Dismembered a man in my bedroom-"
"I'll uh... get a mop?"
"-And now you're drinking my coffee-"
"Its pretty good too, what brand its it?"
Octavia let out a huge sigh, holding her face in her hands. This woman... Shaking her head, she inhaled deeply and tried to get her thoughts into order on how best to process this entire situation. "I am well aware... of what you are, as well as the... recently deceased in my bedroom. And while I am grateful for your saving me-"
"Again." Interjected Vinyl as she slurped her coffee again.
"... Again." Octavia added, rubbing her temple as a ache slowly made its way into her head. A headache if you will. "But if I may ask-"
"You may." Went Vinyl again.
Barely able to suppress her anger, Octavia asked her question, "... Why?"
Vinyl tilted her head, not unlike how a puppy would at a questioning noise in the distance. "Why what?"
"... Why make your appearance known after twenty years?" Octavia questioned the vampire, she truly wondered why twenty years of... somewhat dull living and moving across Equestria to try and find both work and silence from the ever growing vampire and werewolf presence in her old town and city. Everywhere she went during the night -a time she had grown to despise- she would always see them... the red eyes lurking on rooftops or the yellow ones stalking her from the alleyways.
She had taken to carrying a pocket knife soon after, but after this morning she wasn't sure she could do much damage to a werewolf or a vampire with such a weapon. This Vinyl character had taken out the werewolf like it was nothing, of course now she had to sleep on her couch until the body was... disposed of.
...
Should she call the police?
"Nope." Vinyl said, jarring Octavia from her thoughts once more.
"W-what?" Octavia asked, Can she read minds?!
"I know that look in her eyes, let's just say you probably... shouldn't." Vinyl told her, emptying her coffee cup.
Tavi blinked. "I shouldn't... what?"
"Call the cops." Vinyl clarified.
The cellist looked disturbed, but steeled herself and stared at the vampire. "Oh? And why is that?" Octavia challenged her. "You just murdered someone in my own home, after breaking in!"
Vinyl just smiled. "To save your life of course."
"... True." Octavia deflated, sitting back with a huff. Really, would they even believe me? 'Oh yes hello? A werewolf broke into my home and was killed by a vampire, please help?' Bollocks to that.
Vinyl leaned back in her chair, tapping the table with a finger. "Oh, and to answer your question from earlier," She shrugged. "Well, if I'm being honest I've been keeping an eye on you for years."
Octavia blinked again. "I'm s-sorry... you what?"
"I, Vinyl Scratch, have been keeping an eye on you, following your every footstep for the past twenty years." Vinyl smiled toothily, fangs showing.
"... You've been stalking me for twenty years?" Octavia asked carefully, scooting her chair back just a few inches.
"I wouldn't call it stalking , I've been watching your back." Vinyl clarified once more, sniffling. "Of course."
Standing up, Octavia rubbed her eyes before stalking off towards the bathroom. I need a shower.
"Going number one or number two?" Vinyl called out to her, only to hear the bathroom door slam shut. "Definitely number two."
Author's Note
Will this silly 1000 word chapter sate your needs?
Vinyl popped her lips a few times, drumming her fingers on the table as she looked around the apartment. It was rather bland, a few paintings of an old looking Manehattan as it was just getting built years ago. Back then it had been a series of small islands connected to the mainland, which had been blasted out and rebuilt upon as a large shipping community during the Exodus Period from Prance and Trotland. Vinyl sighed, rubbing her nose as she gazed at the photo for the longest time, there were others, some of Octavia's family and some friends that Vinyl recognized from the young woman's collage days in Manehattan.
She recognized one of them very well...
After hearing a flushing noise coming from the bathroom, Vinyl turned and saw a nicely groomed Octavia step out. Her long deep charcoal colored hair was combed and slightly wavy near the bottom, her light purple eyes shining a bit more brightly and there was the barest hints of a smile on her face as she adjusted her clothes which consisted of a nice warm jacket and pants.
Thankfully she had some in her bathroom so she didn't have to go back into her bedroom...
Yeesh!
Once her eyes caught sight of Vinyl, she frowned slightly. Vinyl stared back, drumming her fingers awkwardly on the table as Octavia stood nearby, nervously twiddling with the hem of her shirt tail. Both women just looked at one another, one unsure of what too do now, and the other... well she was having a craving for coffee.
"Got anymore coffee?" Vinyl asked. "this morning has just been wheeeew~ " She made a whooshing motion over her own head, as Octavia dumbly made her way over to the cupboards.
After a quick search, Octavia said, "Uhm... no, it appears I'm all out."
"Aww." Vinyl pouted sadly, slumping in her seat.
A sigh from the cellist. "Oh come off it!" Octavia said, turning to look at the vampire. "Don't your kind drink blood for a living?"
"Hey! That's... okay that's kinda true..." Vinyl muttered, before she she quickly added, "But we can drink other stuff you know... I just happen to like coffee."
Octavia rubbed her eyes, breathing in through her nose as she wondered what to do now. She had no work lined up for today, and she had plenty of food stores so she didn't need to go to the store, and her social life left much to be desired. Another sigh escaped her as she turned to Vinyl, wondering how best to deal with this... vampire.
But first, the door knocked... or rather one knocked on the door.
"Oh bollocks." Octavia cursed silently and was about to make her way there, but Vinyl had beaten her to the punch and was looking through the eyehole.
The woman grinned before opening up the door, revealing two tall men in black clothing who eyeballed Vinyl. "Hey guys, glad you came."
"Made another mess?" The bald headed one asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Uhh... maybe?" Vinyl offered.
The two men sighed before walking inside, and spotting Octavia. They paid her little attention however, only moving into the apartment to clean up Vinyl's mess. Who are they? She wondered.
"I swear anytime you call us its because you want us to clean up one of your messes." The bald man said, frowning as he sniffed the air. "Never, oh hey guys, wanna go grab a beer? Or maybe catch the game tonight? Never a hello! Just, hey, I eviscerated a bunch of dudes, can you clean it up for me?"
"Hey, I'll have you know its just one dude, not a group." Vinyl told them as the one wearing a hat made his way into Octavia's bedroom.
"Geez! Vinyl, did you miss any of his limbs?" The man yelled out. "Shit, you went to town on this sucker... damn wolf." The man complained.
"Oi..." The bald man groaned before making to exit. "I'll get the supplies."
As he left, Vinyl turned to Octavia. "Hey, wanna go for a walk while they clean up?"
Octavia just sighed heavily, rubbing her eyes as she walked over to her bedroom, making a face at the other man who was covering his nose. She hesitantly stepped into the room and grabbed her purse nearby and her cellphone, before making a hasty retreat towards the door leading outside. Vinyl soon followed her, closing up the door and walking up next to Octavia and matched her speed. Once they were outside in the chilly air of Manehattan, Octavia shoved her hands into the pockets of her jacket and tried to ignore what all just happened.
A werewolf breaks into my apartment, tries to kill me. Then a vampire breaks in and saves me, eviscerating the werewolf and leaving hi a bloody mess on my nice carpet. She sighed, pulling out a hand to rub her eyes again. If she hadn't pestered her uncle for information that day, would she have reacted differently? I'm surprised I'm handling this so well... Shaking her head, she wondered how she ended up being the lucky human to end up with a vampire in her midst?
She looked over at Vinyl, the woman who looked like she was in her mid twenties at most. Her hair spiky and hanging down one side of her face, and the purple sunglasses she whipped out along with her current attire made her look like she was about to hit up a club or two. Her loose black hoodie and black pants and sneakers, she looked like a girl who'd be causing trouble at said club. A rowdy club hopper, a troublemaker if Octavia ever saw one. The woman didn't seem to even mind the cold, her body didn't shiver, and her breath came out in wisps of white smoke that billowed out of existence.
Octavia wasn't sure what to make of Vinyl. She was a vampire , a creature thought to be something of mere fiction and legend, and yet here she was... walking next to her with a smile like she was out on a walk with her friend. To anyone else, she may have looked like a very pale, yet quite attractive woman wearing baggy clothes. Maybe she was out with her best friend, the better dressed of the two and more... reserved then the other.
What do I do now? She wondered as they walked down the slightly snowy streets of Manehattan. Looking back ahead, she noticed they were approaching a cafe. Vinyl took the lead from there, strutting up to the door and opening it up, holding it until Octavia walked past her with a muttered, "Thank you." Before entering the warm establishment.
Upon heading inside, Octavia shook herself a little and let the warmth wash over her before going over to take a seat in a booth. Vinyl had followed shortly, taking a seat opposite of her and keeping her glasses snug on her face. Octavia sat her purse aside, brushing aside some of her hair as she took in Vinyl's relaxed posture. She didn't even look like she was winded from the earlier fight, or disturbed by it as she looked around the cafe with a slightly bored expression. Octavia looked around, and noticed they were the only customers inside at the moment, business was slow it seemed.
"Miss Scratch." Octavia started, clearing her throat afterwards and continuing, "If you don't mind me asking."
"Vinyl." The blue haired girl told Octavia, who gave her a questioning look in response. "Just call me Vinyl, Miss Scratch makes me sound old, which I'm totally not."
"... Okay then, Vinyl. " Octavia said. "If I may ask-"
"You may." Interjected Vinyl once more, causing the hairs on the back of Tavi's neck to bristle.
Taking a deep breath, the woman spoke. "... You said earlier that you've been watching me for twenty years." She told Vinyl. "Why?"
Vinyl just smirked. "Well someone had to watch over you after what happened twenty years ago in the countryside." She said as a waitress came over, pulling out a notepad and a pen from behind her ear.
"Hello, welcome to Earl's, what can I get ya?" The rather attractive waitress asked, chewing on her gum.
"Ya'll got coffee?" Vinyl asked, and when the girl nodded Vinyl asked. "Gimme a cup of that would ya?"
Turning to Octavia, the cellist said. "Can I get the breakfast special?"
"Got it, I'll have your order in a bit." The waitress nodded as she wrote down their orders and went away.
As they waited, Octavia continued her line of questioning. "Still... while I'm grateful for what you did, I still don't see why you felt the need to..." She gesticulated wildly with her hand. "Watch me for two decades, i'm aware you're immortal but... didn't you have better things to do?" The cellist wondered, raising an trimmed eyebrow towards Vinyl.
"Oh believe me, I could have been doing plenty of things." Vinyl responded, sniffling. "But watching you struggle with life was kinda cute~" She cooed, to which Octavia scoffed.
"I am not struggling thank you very much." Octavia retorted, crossing her arms.
"Then what do you call living on the lower side of Manehattan in a cheap run down apartment building sweet cheeks?" Vinyl smiled at Octavia's infuriatingly cute pout. "That's what I thought."
Octavia was going to reply, but their order came. A plate was sat down in front of Octavia, containing freshly cooked bacon and eggs, with buttered pancakes and a cup of what looked like freshly squeezed orange juice. It smelled heavenly to Octavia as a cup of coffee was sat down in front of Vinyl who paid up front for it all. Tavi made no move to stop her however as her stomach protested its emptiness and she dug in. Vinyl just drank her coffee silently as she pulled out her cellphone and scrolled through it.
Any conversation died there, the two just tended to their orders in silence. Octavia ate with as much grace she could, but she was starving and getting a nice meal was something she had been craving since yesterday after a failed performance at a concert hall. Stupid drunks. She cursed, they had booed her performance and threw vegetables on stage. She had barely saved her Cello, she had spent the latter part of her night cleaning it of the juice and gunk that caught on her strings and tuners. She was mad of course, but she cleaned it and it looked brand new, even though it was older then she was.
After some time, Vinyl spoke, "Well it was nice actually meeting you Octavia." Vinyl told the younger woman before standing up and pocketing her phone before downing the rest of her coffee. "But I have to get going, duty calls~"
Octavia blinked. "Duty calls? What on earth kind of business would a vampire have to do in the middle of the day?" She asked, then her eyes went wide. "Wait, aren't your kind allergic to the sun's rays? Why aren't you bursting into flames?" At that, Vinyl laughed. "What?! I'm serious!"
"Hahaha! That's what makes it so funny." Vinyl told her, wiping away a tear. "I'll explain some other time, I gotta get moving. Catch you later kid." Vinyl told the girl before exiting the cafe, leaving behind a confused Octavia.
The cellist watched as Vinyl put in some ear buds before turning on some music and walking away, bobbing her head as she put on her hood and vanished into the morning crowd of Manehattan. Octavia sat back in her chair, holding her fork in one hand and fiddling with it as a thought crossed her mind.
My apartment better be clean when I get back. With that in mind, she went about devouring the rest of her food in peace...
For now.
Author's Note
Is this a good chapter? :O
After having breakfast with the mysterious vampire, Vinyl Scratch. Octavia had found herself at odds on what to do with this entire situation she was involved in. its not everyday you meet a mythological creature and she buys you a delicious breakfast. But what could Octavia do? She couldn't go to the police and tell them a vampire had eviscerated a werewolf in her apartment, for multiple reasons.
One: Vinyl had made it clear that Octavia shouldn't do that.
Two: The men from earlier had probably cleaned up the body by now, erasing any bit of evidence she could use.
Three: Why would she want to possibly imprison or even piss of the one who saved her life?
She sighed as she stood outside in the chilly cold air. Her mind was a mess as she tried to figure out what to do now with her time. Knowing there were actual vampires and werewolves out there in the world, who could possibly rip her to shreds just because they were hungry disturbed her and limited what she could do.
How was one supposed to live a normal knowing there were deadly human like creatures wandering the world lying in wait, just waiting for someone to pass on by so they could eat them, suck their blood and other ghastly things. She was suddenly more fearful of walking home alone now...
Hopefully she wouldn't come across anything that had plans on making her their dinner.
She's had enough fun for one day.
Walking down the street she decided on heading for home, her small dank apartment building in lower Manehattan. She sighed, bundling up her hands in her jacket's pockets as the chilly wind blew over her like a wave of nipple freezing cold. She did wish she could live in a better place, lower Manehattan was teaming with vagabonds and criminals out for blood and wallets... and now it seems, vampires and werewolves. The latter wanting to eat her for some ungodly reason.
Really, why come after me? I'm just an up and coming cellist, I'm not important... at least not yet. She reminded herself, keeping a stiff upper lip as she walked the route home.
The roads were covered in snow, people that were out and about kept to themselves amidst the melancholy of the atmosphere within the city. No one played in the snow, no children frolicked in the parks... it was just depressing. To Octavia, such a time like this was meant for having fun, enjoying time with your friends and lovers in front of a warm fire, sipping hot cocoa. But no one was having fun, in fact everyone around her looked as if they would rather be inside as opposed to outside.
She couldn't blame them. She felt as miserable as they looked.
With a sigh she made her way home, trying her best to ignore the cold biting into her through her rather comfortable warm clothing. Her mind thought back to Vinyl Scratch, the vampire that saved her life. The woman had no real reason to save her life, so why did she other then the fact she had been watching Octavia for twenty years since... since her parent's death?
She had no clue, the only reason Vinyl gave was that, Watching her back. Why watch her back? What made Octavia so special as to warrant a blood sucking vigilante?
Octavia did not know in the slightest.
After a rather short walk, Octavia made it back to her apartment building and walked inside. Heading up the stairs and making her way towards her door, she hesitated, wondering if the men from before were gone. She and Vinyl were only gone an hour or so, so... perhaps they could be done?
She opened the door.
Once inside, she could smell the faint scent of Fabreeze in the air as she went inside and closed her door. Which she also noticed, had new locks on it and the damage was gone. Putting her purse down on the counterspace, Octavia walked towards her bedroom and, after a hesitant look inside she saw the carpet had been replaced and the body was gone, along with the blood and most of the destroyed furniture.
They work fast. Octavia thought to herself as she sighed, taking off her jacket and laying it on the back of her chair as she looked towards her bed.
Strangely enough, she saw a folded up note on it.
With a raise eyebrow she walked over to it before grabbing it and picking it up, she could smell a faint scent on it. Vinyl didn't wear any perfume Octavia could smell, not that the woman looked the type to wear any to begin with. This smell she picked up was... fruity, something expensive that made her think of a designer perfume. When she opened up the note, she saw a red lipstick print on the bottom right corner of the letter, along with some elegant writing.
'I've been watching you for some time, not unlike the little friend that killed one of my favorite little toys has been doing for... how long has it been? Twenty years I believe, I don't remember, old age and all. But enough about that. I just wanted to let you know that the bloodsucker won't be able to protect you for long... I will get what is mine child, just you wait.'
Octavia blinked, her heart suddenly pounding in her chest at the implications of what the note promised. She gulped before sitting down, looking down at the note again and rereading it several times as the smell of the fruity perfume hit her nose. First the werewolf attacked her, then she met a vampire, the same one who saved her life years ago. Now...
Now someone was promising death to her.
Oh why me? Octavia asked herself, holding her head in her hands.
Perhaps she can get some answers tomorrow...
Death Threats and Cheeky Vampires
Waking up had felt like a chore for Octavia, having managed to finally go to sleep after what felt like hours of worrying if an assassin was going to break through her window in the middle of the night and stab her in her sleep. Alas, she was able to sleep, quite peacefully, until she woke up in a near panic attack when she remembered she had been sent a death threat by some unknown. She calmed down however, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she set about for preparing for the morning.
Which mostly meant cursing her lack of coffee.
The vampire, Vinyl Scratch, had essentially drank her last bag of coffee leaving her without the black gold. But hey, losing coffee in exchange for having her apartment cleaned up of the blood and gore that was in it was worth it!
Octavia sat in the kitchenette, at the counter where not too long ago a vampire was sitting across from her. A cheeky vampire if she ever met one. Which was never.
Frustrating woman. Octavia growled, sighing as she looked down at the little note she found on her bed. It still smelled of whatever perfume was on it. She had half a mind to say it was Vinyl, but the vampire didn't seem like the type to wear perfume let alone leave death threats. Why would she save her life just to kill her herself? And if that was the case, why not do it right after dealing with the werewolf? I can't be her, she doesn't seem like the type. Puffing out a cheek, she slid the note away from her as she wondered what she was going to do today. "Do I ned to run to the store perhaps?"
"It'd help, you're out of coffee still." Came a voice suddenly from behind her.
"AHHHHH!" Octavia screeched as she fell backwards off of her stool and onto the floor with a crash. "Oooow!"
"Whoops, my bad!" Came the insufferable vampire's voice. Octavia got up and slowly rose up from behind the counter as she glared at Vinyl who stood near the cabinets with an innocent smile on her face. "Mornin'!"
The cellist glared at Vinyl, eyes narrowing into thin slits as she growled out, "How did you get in! I had the door locked!"
Vinyl blinked and held up a key. "I have a key!"
"... How did you get a key?! " looking at Vinyl's hand at the key, she saw it was in fact a key to her apartment. If the number on the base of the key was any indication which was her apartment number.
"Oh, I snagged one of yours and copied it when you weren't looking." Vinyl smiled as she pocketed the key. "So, what's up?"
"Rrrrrr!" Octavia slumped down, banging her head on the counter a few times.
"... You okay or...?" Vinyl questioned as she took a seat opposite of Octavia, her red eyes glancing down at the note.
Sitting back on the stool, Octavia held her face in her hands/ "First I get this note, and now you've apparently stolen my key and copied it!? What's next?!"
"Note?" Vinyl picked up the note and unfolded it, and gave the contents a good thorough reading. She rose an eyebrow at the elegant handwriting on the note before giving it a smell. Her eyes turned into pinpricks, eyelids narrowing before she crumpled up the note and tossed it in the trash can nearby. "Where did that come from?" She asked Octavia.
The cellist seemed a bit put off by Vinyl's sudden mood shift, but responded and said, "I had come home yesterday and found it on my bed..." She told the vampire, her eyes flicking over to the note she threw away. "Vinyl?"
"Do you have anything like, super important in this apartment?" Vinyl's eyes flicked from her to the windows, as if she were expecting someone to break in.
Wouldn't be the first time.
Octavia made a noise between a hum and a sigh, looking towards one part of the room where both women spotted a chair with a cello case next to it and a sheet music stand. "Just my cello... why?"
"Ooooh... no reason." Vinyl assured her.
Needless to say, Octavia didn't feel reassured.
"Do you know who sent that note?" The cellist questioned, tilting her head at the vampire sitting across from her. She didn't know who sent the note, but if Vinyl did, then maybe she could get some answers. "Vinyl?"
"Yeah... yeah I know who sent it." Vinyl snorted. "The woman who sent you that is... not a fun person, to say the least."
"Ha! Really? I gathered that much." Octavia waved a hand about, "She sent me a death threat! Of course she's not a fun person... but who is she? And why does she have it out for me? I'm a nobody!" Octavia felt rather... embarrassed that she just admitted that, but it was sadly, true.
"You might think that... but there's more to her then meets the eyes." Vinyl tapped a finger against the counter before saying, "Chances are she's the one behind the wolf that attacked you." She told the cellist, who's eyes went wide. "And there's a good chance she's gonna do it again... not sure when though."
"A-again?" Eyes growing wide, the cellist leaned back and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, again? As in another one of those dreadful things is going to..."
The vampire nodded. "Most likely... and that's not a good thing, at least to me and the people I work with that is." Vinyl commented as she pulled out her phone and looked through it.
"Why is that? I'm just a cellist! I don't even make much money, and I'm still struggling to find places to play so I can earn money to pay the bills! Why on earth would she be after me?"
Something flashed in Vinyl's eyes, but all she said was. "Doesn't matter, but those dogs aren't gonna be able to do anything against ya." She tapped a few things on her phone before putting it away. "You got yourself a vampire guardian~"
"Vampire... guardian?" Looking at Vinyl still, she wondered what on earth she meant. If it meant what she thought it meant...
"Yep! I'll protect you from the vampires, of course... I'm gonna have kinda move in with you." Vinyl stood up, stretching out her arms and arching her back as Octavia's eyes widened in horror. "Got a spare bedroom?"
Oh bugger me. Octavia thumped her head on the counter.
*Thump*
Walking over to the couch in the room, the vampire said, "Eh, I can sleep on the couch."
Great, now I have a vampire living with me. "You can't be serious?"
"Oh I am serious sweet cheeks." Vinyl kicked up her legs on the coffee table, boots colliding with some old magazines about music and knocking them aside as she unzipped her hoodie and let it fall open, allowing Octavia a nice view of her rather tight sports bra and toned abs. "Those wolves will probably come back for another round, so you need someone to keep you protected from them. And the group I work with, well we don't take kindly to wolves attacking innocent civilians so..." She smiled at the cellist. "You got yourself a roomie now!"
*Thump thump thump thump*
"You okay there?" Vinyl asked.
"Uuuuggggh." Was all Octavia could utter. What has my life come to?
She had no idea...
