Complications of the Dark
An Old Mare's Guide to Vampirism
"Go ahead. You need to drink. Don't worry about me." The white mare held her friend close, her muzzle resting on her shoulder. Her white coat was damp from the gray mare's tears.
"But I still feel uneasy by all of this. Won't it hurt you?" The gray coated mare shuttered at the thought of biting into Vinyl's neck, even if it meant getting the blood her body now craved.
"Tavi. I understand your hesitation. This wasn't easy for me either, but you need blood. Otherwise, you'll risk going feral and losing yourself to hunger. I was the one who turned you. This is the least I can do for you. Don't worry about me." Octavia's eyes stared at her roommate's bare neck, her warm breath coating her fur.
"Thank you, Vinyl..." With one final gulp, she bit down. Her audible gulps were the only thing filling the night as Octavia fed off Vinyl's kindness.
"There is no rush. This life is not an easy one. I am fully prepared for you to take as much time as you need. Having an eternity to live does that to a pony." The kind and gentle voice that once was Alistair's echoed in Vinyl's head. Alistair's teachings were what kept her secret from getting out. If only he hadn't turned into an ass as soon as Vinyl could hunt on her own.
Vinyl put a hoof on Octavia's back to relax the mare as she quenched the hunger inside her. Octavia pulled away and wiped the blood from her mouth. "D-does this ever get easier..?"
"I wish I could say it does." She turns her friend around so she could look into her eyes. "I wish I could lie and say that all of this blurs over. But it doesn't. That is why I'm here for you. This isn't something you should go through alone." She pulled her into a hug. "I will always be there for you, Tavi."
"Thanks..." Octavia's shaking came to a halt. This wasn't going to be easy to get used to and wouldn't get any less painful fighting against it.
Vinyl's hoof still rubbed Octavia's back throughout the hug. They stared at each other as they broke the embrace. "You okay, Tavi..?"
"Yeah..." The cellist stared at the crimson smear on her hoof. "I'm good. Feeling much better, at least."
"That's good. Let's get back home. The sun won't be rising for a while, but I think this is enough for tonight." Vinyl took a few steps towards Manehatten's city borders, stopping abruptly. She glanced back at her friend, a childish smirk on her face.
"Oh, no. We are not doing this again." The smirk only grew more substantial. "Vinyl. No. Don't you dare...." Vinyl interrupted Octavia's sentence with her sudden shout.
"Race ya back to the apartments!" And just like that, the white unicorn was making a mad dash for the city.
"Son of a... Damn it!" Tavi rushed after her. This was the third time she has done this. Granted, it did wonders on teaching Octavia about her new physical strengths. But the least Vinyl could do was give her better warnings before leaving her in the dust.
As per usual, the gray mare arrived to find her roommate spread out on the couch, the usual shit-eating grin on her face. "One of these days, Vinyl. I am going to deck your ass."
"Is that a threat?" Vinyl rolled onto her stomach. "Or an invitation." The deadpan expression her question brought only added to the humor running through her head. Several moments passed with them locking eyes before Vinyl rolled off the couch. "I'm going to get some rest. My door will be open if you need anything. And don't forget-"
"Close the shades to limit the sunlight as it will be harmful over long periods. I know Vinyl." Octavia repeated the same warning Vinyl told her every sunrise. The detail about daylight only being harmful after prolonged direct exposure still fascinated her. Until now, Octavia thought any amount of sunlight would bring her pain, a byproduct of how terrible of an example the media has given vampires. But it appears something as simple as window curtains, where sunlight could still seep through, was enough to stop any damage from being done. That being said, it did make sense. Vinyl did always go out in a hoodie during the day, and she was okay. Maybe a little toasted, but that was just the heat darkening her white coat. "Go get some rest. I'll be taking care of some errands before I head to my performance this afternoon."
Vinyl yawned, the one habit that even being a vampire hasn't made less exaggerated. "Don't work too hard." She stepped into her room. "Night."
"Don't you mean morning?"
"Whatever it is. I'mma nap it away" With Vinyl off to bed, Octavia was free to get some work done. That meant tidying up the apartment, getting few dishes that were dirty cleaned, and picking up what groceries they were missing. Usually, those tasks would have taken up what time she had before her recitals, but a lot had changed since then.
The sun was on its descent by the time the Great DJ pony awoke for her nap. She stepped out into the living room, rubbing her eyes. "Tavi? You here?" Vinyl looked around a bit before remembering hearing something about a performance today. She glanced at the clock on the wall. "Okay. It's half-past one. Her group's preshow practice likely ended by now. If I leave now, I might be able to make it there before the door closes. Heck, it'd be a nice surprise for me to actually make a performance I was invited to."
With that plan in her mind, Vinyl got herself dressed. By no account was she in full formal wear. That was not ever going to change. She was wearing a loose-fitting blue dress that came to a halt over her flank. With that and her mane brushed smooth, she looked herself over in the mirror. "Eh. It could be worse." Out of fun and knowing absolutely no pony would see her, she gave herself a spin. "Could be much worse." After countless fights over what would be socially acceptable to wear to a concert, this dress was what they both calmly agreed on. It was loose-fitting, something Vinyl kept pushing for. And still looked good on her and didn't show off enough coat to be a problem. Something Octavia explicitly harped on her roommate about. Vinyl even got to pick the dress out, so she wasn't going to complain. Even the white mare herself thought she looked good in it.
The only problem was the fact that her shades really took away from the look. That problem was swiftly dealt with by a pair of contacts. Now the white unicorn, vampire, could walk around without causing a scene with her somewhat intimidating crimson-colored eyes. Octavia thankfully got blessed somewhere in between dying and becoming a vampire. Getting a set of fangs was the only thing about her that changed. After waking from death, she had a darker eye color. Talk about a ripoff if you ask Vinyl. But that was enough fiddling around with her outfit. She needed to get to the theater house.
With a bit of vampiric speed burst here and there, Vinyl managed to get to the theater just as the last few ponies were crowding in. She fixed her dress and mane, both of which had become a little blown out on the way here. "Name?" The stallion at the door asked Vinyl as she approached, glancing between her and the clipboard he held in his hoof.
"Vinyl Scratch." The door pony looked down his list, muttering her name a couple of times.
"Found you. There is a seat reserved for you in the front row. You must have some talented connections, miss." He had no idea. "Go on in and enjoy the show." She nodded at him as she walked in. It didn't take her long to find her seat, the curtains rising as soon as she sat.
Twenty-five ponies, dressed in their black attire, stood at the ready for the conductor. They each grabbed their respected instruments as the grand conductor himself stepped out onto the stage. With a raise of his baton, they each readied themselves to begin playing. The pieces of music the group played were nothing new to Vinyl. She had heard several of them already, both as Vinyl Scratch and Serenade Symphony. Not to say, the pieces weren't given a hint of a personal touch as different ponies took part in each performance of them. It wasn't until the end that the white unicorn's attention was peaked.
As the conductor left the stage, the rest of the ensemble did the same except for Octavia, who remained sitting, putting away her cello. She glanced at her roommate and mouthed for her to look at the pamphlet. Vinyl did and was immediately speechless. The following piece was a solo violin piece. The click of the violin case brought her attention back to the stage to find the grand cellist everypony in Manehattan, heck in Equestria, holding a violin on her shoulder. To say everypony present was taken back by this would have been the most massive understatement.
Octavia took a deep breath, raising her bow. With a slow exhale, she began playing, stealing the attention of everypony within the area, Vinyl included. What was being played was a piece she never dreamed she'd hear again. Springtime Opus of Serenade Symphony Violin Concerto #1, her sister's arrangement wrote for her. A bit, she only got to play once. She couldn't believe she was hearing her sister's best work, performed by the mare she cared for so much in this life. An eternity seemed to go by before she lowered her bowstring. Correction, saying Octavia stole the breaths from the audience was a colossal understatement. Everypony there let out a collective exhale, none of them realizing they had been holding their breaths.
Octavia put the violin back in its case and stood to take a bow before exiting the stage. Vinyl met her on her way out the backdoor. "You want to tell me what that was all about? Like where you found that piece of music? Or the time to learn the violin?"
She just smiled softly at her unicorn friend. "I ended up finding somepony who had a copy. As for the violin lessons. I figured you would know just how much free time we have." Octavia broke eye contact, blushing. "And I figured you'd enjoy this... Knowing today's a special day for you?" Special day? Vinyl didn't have the faintest idea of what she was talking about.
"What's so special about today?" Oh crap. Did she forget about the day they met? No. That wasn't until next month. What was so special about today?
Octavia laughed at how confused Vinyl looked. "Not too surprised you forgot. I wouldn't even know if I didn't get curious myself." Her marefriend's confusion only grew stronger. "You are so hopelessly adorable. Today's your birthday."
"Nooo... That's not for another few months, Tavi."
"I wasn't talking about Vinyl Scratch's birthday." Octavia stepped in to kiss the confused mare on the lips. "Today's Symphony's birthday. And your sister wrote the song as a late birthday present to you."
"But how did you...? And when?"
"You really think I don't get out while you're napping away. Spent a few days finding where you used to live. It was there I found a copy of the piece. As well as somepony else." The steady clop of hooves brought their attention to the west stage exit as a typical Manehattan dressed mare approaches them. Octavia smiled warmly at her. "I'm glad you could make it. Did you enjoy the performance?"
"I did, but..." The mare stepped closer to Vinyl, not fully listening to what the gray mare had to say. "No. It's impossible. You're an almost spitting image of her." Vinyl was not very comfortable with a mare older than her, appearance-wise at least, getting up in her face.
"Spitting image of who?"
The mare stepped back, continuing to unnerve the white unicorn with her constant eye scanning. "My grandmother had a picture of her mother with her older sister. It's an old picture, but you look so much like her. The older sister, I mean." Vinyl was now lost for words. Of all the things she would receive today, this was not something she expected. "What I don't understand is why you look like her. My grandmother was told she died long ago."
"I-i...." Vinyl didn't know what to say. Would she even believe her if she just told her the truth? It wasn't until Octavia spoke that the current tension was broken.
"Perhaps we could find somewhere less drafty. Tea anypony?" The mare broke her gaze on Vinyl to look over at Octavia.
"Tea would be lovely. Besides, you mentioned something about explaining what you said when we met and why your friend there would look so familiar to me." Wait. Did Octavia tell her what she was? And just how much did she leave out? Octavia could read her roommate's concern.
"Yeah. It's only right I explain in better detail. I know a lovely place not too far from here. If you two would follow me."
The sun had tucked away behind the looming Manehattan buildings as the three mares walked towards their destination. Much of the walk up to this point had been silent, centered mainly around Vinyl and Octavia. One wasn't sure this was a good idea. The other wasn't sure how to explain herself. Both of them continued to throw short glances at the other in hopes they'd at least say something.
Octavia had escorted the others to The Black Lotus, a well-known tea parlor. It was one of the few places in Manehatten that served both ponies and vampires, though only half knew about that. It was a safe haven. A place where vampires could interact with typical ponies, and for some, inform their pony loved ones about the truth. It was the best place to have their discussion. And hopefully, explain things better.
The ring of the door's bell brought a brief silence to those in the front half of the parlor. They exchanged quick notions about the two famous musical ponies coming in when they were present. A butler-esque stallion approached, inviting Octavia and the others to an open table. "And how might your days have been?"
"Quite fine. Thank you for asking." Octavia scanned over her guests, noting Vinyl sitting quietly, her head lowered. "Could you give us a moment, sir?"
"Right. I shall be back in a bit to take your orders." He left the table, quickly assisting with another table's needs.
Octavia let out an exhale. "Should we all introduce ourselves? Feel that would at least lower the tension here."
"I feel you are right." The white coat Manehattan mare bowed her head, giving her fancy jewelry a jingle. "Glitter Facet. I run a small jewelry shop and even have ties to Rarity's Beautique. It's become my passion since I was a filly. But I still found time for my great grandmother's passion for the violin." For a mare who likely grew up in Manehattan, her tone wasn't as refined as what you'd expect from similar mares. She still clung to the informal accents from somepony born and raised in small communities.
"So, does that mean you're responsible for that lovely mane decor you have on?" Octavia's tone settled on being Manehattan, prompting a grumble from her roommate.
"Why, yes. These are from my store. Planned on putting them out for the next season, but I just had to give them a more public display." There was that high-class tone. Glitter's gaze fell to Vinyl, who still kept her head leaned against the wall. "Settling the matter at hoof. Vinyl Scratch, was it?" She straightened her head in response.
"Yeah. That's me." Now was the moment that would change everything. This mare could simply be lying about who she is or could just be using her and Octavia. Either way, how this conversation went would mean a lot of changes to come.
"Your marefriend here told me that you are actually Serenade Symphony, my great grandmother's older sister. A mare who, according to the records, died in a back alley mugging gone wrong." Even with Vinyl's shades on, Glitter can see the impact her words had on her. Giving her words a few moments to set in, she met the other's eyes. "I am not quite sure how much of this I want to believe, but there is no mistaking your resemblance. Your mane and eyes might have changed, but you still hold her face. A timeless reminder of who you once were."
"What of it? I gave up that name when Serenade Symphony died. When she was stabbed, I ceased being her. That was a truth I learned quickly. I am Vinyl Scratch, a DJ pony living in a low-class apartment in Manehattan." Vinyl stood up from her chair and grabbed her hoodie. "So, if you're looking to bond over our family ties, you can forget about it! As far as I am concerned, I have no family." With that, she trotted out, gathering curious stares from the nearby clients.
"I didn't mean to offend her."
Octavia lowered her head with a sigh. "It's fine. Vinyl's reaction was about what I expected. But the story I told you was true. All of it."
"Don't get me wrong. I still find it hard to believe. But from how close your friend resembles Symphony and how quickly you learned my great grandmother's best work, I find it hard not to believe. Imagine, I'm related to an actual vampire."
"Find that amazing? Half the clients at this parlor are vampires, myself and the bartender included. But there's no need to be scared. The Black Lotus is a safe zone. No vampire wants to be caught causing problems here."
"Why's that?"
"None of us want our existence to be public knowledge. Most vampires living nowadays only want to live a 'normal' life. Making a scene threatens that. Which goes without saying-"
Glitter put up her hooves. "I'm not one to gossip about other ponies. Your secret is safe with me." The two mares shared bits of their life stories over tea like they had been dear friends reuniting after being apart for years.
Meanwhile, Vinyl wandered the streets, hanging close to the shadows. She could already hear Octavia yelling at her about making a scene in public over something stupid. And for once, she agreed. Vinyl let the moment get to her and lashed out at a pony who wanted to know Vinyl as Vinyl instead of some celebrity. One of the main reasons she and Octavia got along so well. Tavi had been too cultured to have heard of DJ Pon3 and, as such, treated the wild mare like a typical, unrefined mare. Though, a part of that opinion changed later in their roommate relationship. By now, it was likely that Octavia would have apologized for her roommate's outburst and came up with some believable excuse for why she ran off.
Nightfall had set in, painting the town in the glow of streetlights as Vinyl continued to wander. The one time, she wanted ponies to crowd around her. When she wanted to be recognized, if only for a moment. The one time, she wanted somepony to help get her mind on a different track. But that wasn't going to be the case. Not tonight. Vinyl continued on her way when the scent hit her—the unsettling smell of iron upon her nose. Somepony nearby was injured, and every gear in Vinyl's head clicked into place as she broke off into a heavy trot towards the source.
At the entrance of a back alley, the white mare stood, surveying the situation. A stallion laid on the alley floor, a cloaked pony knelt next to him. Their back was turned to Vinyl and looked as if they were trying to help the stallion. It wasn't until Vinyl took a better look that she understood what was going on. "Hey! What are you doing?" The cloaked vampire was startled at the sudden appearance of their first audience member. They glanced over their shoulder, letting out a light chuckle. A mare's voice responded.
"What does it look like I'm doing? I got hungry, so I went out to eat. Somepony like you should understand." The mare turned until she faced Vinyl, managing to keep her face hidden. "I'd ask if you'd like a bite, but there's not much left in him, sadly. You do look pale. Not eating right these days? Shame." Another chuckle brought Vinyl's hoof down.
"Tell me who you are. And why you'd just attack some random pony. There's no way you needed that much blood that you'd drink him dry." Her question quieted the other mare's chuckles, replacing it with a curious head tilt.
"Who am I? I thought somepony like you would recognize me. Then again, I should be long dead in your eyes." She took several steps back. "I should be off. I'd love to catch up with you after so long, but at this moment, you need to be returning to your marefriend. Bet she's worried just where you ended up. Especially after that outburst at Black Lotus." Before Vinyl could push for more questions, the cloaked mare stepped back into the shadows of the alley and vanished. "Do take care, DJ Pon3."