Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Caprice, I’d like to talk to you alone, if that’s alright with your party.” Escher Krezkov sat weary upon his throne, slouched in the seat, his eyes flicking towards the Tiefling. 

Caprice looked around, then pointed a finger at himself and raised his eyebrows. 

“Me? You wanna talk to me?” 

“I said your name, did I not?” He rolled his eyes, exasperated. 

Caprice contemplated, a pensive expression on his face, tail flicking behind him. A vampire asking him to be alone was a red flag, but so far Escher had been more than accommodating and helpful. It seemed rude to deny a simple conversation. 

“Why do you wish to speak with Caprice of all people?” Iris questioned with a hint of incredulousness in her voice. “Especially alone.” 

“He won’t be harmed, if that’s your concern. I simply wish to discuss something relating to his devilish heritage. As a creature of darkness and undeath, I have a kinship with Tieflings. One of my closest friends was a Tiefling.” Escher sat up a bit, waving his hand as he explained. 

Felix tilted his head slightly. He looked towards Caprice and lowered his voice, near a whisper. 

“I mean… Do you want to, Caprice? We wouldn’t stop you or anything, but it seems strange.” 

“He probably can just sense that my soul is owned and wants to know more, I’ll explain everything and it’ll all be daisies. No problem.” Caprice flashed a smile, Felix caught a glimpse of pearly white canines.  

“Alright vamp man, you got me. We can have a one-on-one, heart-to-heart. Devil to Devil.” He joked and walked towards the throne. 

“Brutus, please see that the rest of them are shown to their quarters. Tend to their needs as they ask.” Escher commanded his gargoyle, the stone construct waddled along. 

“Come now! Come now! The Master is very embarrassed of his vampireness, he doesn’t discuss it with many! I’ll show ya to your rooms!” He corralled Caprice’s friends out of the throne room, shutting the large ornate doors behind them. Leaving Caprice with Escher. 

“Now look, I know what you’re gonna say, ‘you’re an idiot for making a pact with an arch-devil’ and you’d be correct, but it’s a lot more complicated than you think-“ Caprice started his lengthy explanation of his contract situation, but was interrupted. 

“I don’t actually care about your soul or your pact, Caprice. It’s not what I asked you alone for.” Escher stood, even in his weakened, blood-starved state, he had an eternalness to him. 

“Oh, well, look. I’m flattered, but I’m a virgin and there’s this girl I’m kinda waiting for-“ Caprice started again, before a sneer appeared on Escher’s face. He paused.

“Just because no one’s ever willingly slept with you doesn’t mean you’re a virgin.” The vampire drew close. Despite Caprice’s height, Escher still stood a bit taller, and something about his presence was overwhelming. 

“What… What do you mean?” Caprice stuttered it out. A nervousness started to crawl within him, dark red eyes peered into him. Like they were staring into his very soul, and they didn’t like what they saw. 

“I know what you are, Caprice. I know what you do. Felix may be consciously unaware, as is everyone else, but only because he chooses to believe that his friend would not be so monstrous.” Escher stalked towards Caprice, stepping closer. Caprice stepped back until he hit a wall, panic rising in his chest. 

“I’ve been around a long time, and I know someone truly dark when I see them. Your charms may hide your intentions from many, but not from me.” Escher punctuated the statement by slamming his hand next to Caprice’s head. 

Caprice shrunk down, avoiding Escher’s intense gaze upon him. He gathered the courage to sputter out a thought. 

“I… I don’t know what you mean, but if I hypothetically did know what you meant, what then? You told Iris you wouldn’t hurt me, right? What do you want?” Caprice tried to steel himself. 

Escher’s facial expression transformed from disgust and condescending, into something fiendish, a sly smirk and a bloodlust in his eyes only a vampire can truly experience. He breathed out a laugh, his fangs showing for a passing moment. Caprice could feel his own blood in his veins, painfully aware of the situation he was in. 

“I want a taste .”  

~ 

“Felix? You good, man?” 

Felix was shocked out of his thought induced stupor. He had been deep down a metaphorical rabbit hole within his own mind, Toa’s voice brought his consciousness to the forefront. He had found himself drifting away from his physical body more often. 

“Yea, I’m alright Toa, I’ve just got a lot on my mind. You know, Milo and everything. I finally have a lead but I don’t want to get my hopes up.” Felix trailed behind the group a bit, Toa slowing his pace to make sure he didn’t get separated. 

Despite the minor distance, Iris heard with her keen Tabaxi senses. 

“Anubis did not indicate Milo had crossed into his realm of death, therefore he is alive. It is not about hope, Felix. This is about faith in the God that has guided our quest thus far.” Iris flicked her tail, Felix knew this was her way of reassurance but he didn’t think he’d ever get used to her unyielding trust in the death god. 

“Ja! Milo is out there Felix, and we’re gonna find him and bring him home!” Lufti skipped and floated lightly back down, her enthusiasm was infectious, and Felix cracked a smile.  

“Alright now, the masters got yous all a mighty fine dwelling. Made up the room meself, if you need anythin’ feel free to call for ole’ Brutus!” The stone construct led them into a comfortable looking large room, it was just in fact one room, but the party has had worse accommodations. 

They said their thanks to Brutus with a couple drink requests on his way out, and they sat about, unpacking and resting after a more than taxing journey to Castle Remornia. 

Truth be told, Felix had more on his mind than just Milo. His thought process always ran at a thousand miles a minute, there wasn’t time to relax and clear his head. Despite this, he had found himself drifting. He was physically there, but his mind elsewhere. Milo was his number one priority, as always. However, there were other pressing things, the beast army wasn’t a problem anymore, but with that came a whole new demonic issue. What was the Carrion King doing with all of these children? These questions raced along every synapse, and with every fire of nerves and notions, Felix came up blank. 

There was something wrong, Felix couldn’t tell if he had just lost his touch. Got hit in the head too many times and had finally sustained enough damage for his intelligence to take the hit instead of his body. He had these gaps in his memory, nightmares, his body was sore like he’d been tensing up while sleeping. He knew he should tell his party, but what would they even do for him? Obviously this wasn’t something to be mended with traditional healing. He worried it may be a curse or a demonic entity trying to get to his thoughts in his sleep. 

“Sooo… do we all agree that Escher is going to try and fuck Caprice?” Lufti jumped into the air and floated gently onto one of the beds. The crude comment had everyone looking towards the genasi. 

“Lufti! That’s inappropriate” Toa had just set down his weapon. 

“But not entirely out of the question. She spoke aloud what I had presumed was the case.” Iris seemed to be looking at the bed disappointedly. As she did with every accommodation that wasn’t up to her standards, which is nearly all accommodations.   

“He said that he would not harm Caprice, the only conclusion I can draw is that he wishes to bed him. Why else would he request a private conversation?” Iris smoothed out the sheets and sat regally, crossing her legs. 

Felix was used to Iris making rash assumptions. She seemed to think that Escher was inherently promiscuous, being a vampire and all. Felix had only the one interaction to go off of, but he didn’t really sense any sexual tension. 

“I think Caprice is right in thinking it’s about his deal. Vampires may have some innate ability to sense those touched by infernal dealings.” Felix found a small writing desk and set his things on it. 

“Even if he does come onto him, I think Caprice is gonna save himself for Hyrja.” Toa said it in an upbeat manner. Like he believed the two to be fated to be together. 

“It’s still shocking to me that Caprice has saved himself… he’s so… Caprice. You know?” Lufti looked around at the group, looking for validation in her minor slights on Caprice’s character. 

Felix felt an anxiety rising within him, there was always a base level of anxiety that he felt but this was bubbling over that level. He couldn’t pinpoint why. He was surrounded by his friends, relatively safe, nothing was more pressing than it already was. Despite this, his heart began to pound, his palms started to sweat, his breath sped up. Any moment he’d start hyperventilating. 

“Can we stop talking about this?!” It sounded much more panicked than he had intended it to come out.

His head spun as his nightmares replayed in his mind, constantly being touched and assaulted by faceless figures. Sometimes it was his friends, or enemies, or total strangers. He had read somewhere that dreams about sexual assault could relate to feeling violated in other ways, but he couldn’t fathom why he was getting these dreams so often. 

“Felix, are you alright? You don’t look so good.” Lufti stood and approached him, hand outstretched. Before he could control himself, he backed away from her touch. He gripped his coat. 

“I’m-“ He swallows. There’s a lump in his throat like he’s going to cry. There’s a disconnect between his brain and his emotions, he almost thinks it’s a magical effect for a moment. 

“I don’t know. I don’t know what’s wrong, but something is wrong.” Felix lowers himself to the ground, his entire body is trembling. He blinks and tears fall, hitting his pants. 

“Felix!” Toa rushes over, crouching next to him. 

“Did something happen? Did the vampire put a curse on you? Iris, help! Fix him, fix him, fix him!” Toa holds a hand to Felix’s forehead, checking for fever, when he feels none he grabs his hand. 

Felix resists the urge to jerk back, to yell at Toa to get away from him. He had never felt that urge before, but in this moment someone touching him felt like needles on his skin. He can’t breathe. He’s suffocating. 

“Toa, move.” Iris has made her way over, he didn’t even notice her move from her bed. Her paw-like hand comes to rest on his head. 

“Anubis will guide you, Felix.” Felix feels actual magic wash over him, it feels like warm desert sand, an ice cold drink that shocks him from within. His face is still wet from tears, but he breathes at a normal rate. 

“Thank you, Iris.” He wipes the wetness on his face and sniffs, he’s seen Iris use this spell before, he knows it’s an emotional dampener. He also knows it only lasts a certain amount of time. 

“Thank Anubis, Felix. Now tell me, what are you hiding from us?” Iris’ asked the presumptuous question. Hiding? Felix didn’t have anything to hide. He truly trusted everyone in the group at this point, he wasn’t hiding anything important from them. His dreams were private, and embarrassing. They weren’t prophetic or even related to anything that they were fighting against. He had no reason to divulge the specters that had been haunting every moment unconscious that he had. 

Despite this, he felt compelled to confess. 

“I’ve been having nightmares. Every night.” Felix looked up at Toa who sat next to him on his knees. He went to stand, Toa immediately went to help, grabbing his hand. 

“Felix! Nightmares! You know that weird dreams usually mean it’s something important that we’re gonna have to deal with! Tell us, what are they about? Is it P-Man?” Lufti scolded him, but in a soft tone. Similar to your mom lecturing you after scraping your knee while she bandaged the wound. 

“I…” Felix hesitates, he’s stiff as he stands up. He looks at his hand sitting in Toa’s. “I don’t think they’re related. I think they’re just stress induced.” Felix avoids eye contact with Iris. He knows she’ll press harder. 

“You are aware that we are unable to help if you refuse to make your struggles known, Felix. We all love you, you cannot help Milo if you are emotionally compromised. If you cannot do it for us, or yourself, do it for him.” Iris doesn’t vacillate. Her words cut deep, as Felix got closer to finding out what happened with his brother, he became more erratic in his decisions. 

“Fine.” Felix takes a deep breath. He scans his friends eyes, all he’s met with is concern. 

“The dreams are similar, but different. I’m back in boot camp, or back in Zentra, Aqaa, Eyrios. It doesn’t really matter. For some reason, I’m powerless, my dagger is gone, my connection to the weave is severed. I struggle against someone, they-“ Felix pauses. Even with the spell Iris put on him, he can’t find the right words to describe this without feeling a stinging behind his eyes. He squeezes Toa’s hand. 

“They take advantage of me. They hold me down, they do horrible things. I told you, it’s unrelated. It’s just a manifestation of my anxiety. I didn’t talk about it because of that, I didn’t mean to hide anything. I’m sorry.” Felix clenches his jaw, focuses on the calming magic, the feeling of a desert sun on his face. It’s only enough to keep him from trembling. 

“Felix…” He turns to look at Toa, his eyes are filled with tears. “You’ve been having these dreams… every night? How long?” His gaze is intense, his verdant eyes shine as they look down at Felix’s. 

Felix looks away, he can’t handle the way Toa looks at him. It’s pure pity. Felix doesn’t want pity, he doesn’t even want to be telling them about this. 

“How long, Felix?” Iris reiterates the question, Felix feels that pull of her holy magics. 

“Since we left Zentra. I had the first one around that time.” He mumbles the answer, all the focus on him was making him nervous. He felt his hand clamming up against Toa’s, but Toa didn’t make any motion to let go. 

Iris hummed a noise of recognition, she focused on no particular point as she thought deeply, her tail whipping behind her. She loomed over Felix as he slouched into himself against the desk behind him. Her presence was comforting but also commanding, Felix always did well with confident authority figures. 

Felix felt the magics fading from him, but his episode had passed. His breathing was regular and he wasn’t shaking anymore, but the room was eerily quiet. He didn’t like everyone surrounding him, it felt suffocating. 

“I’m sorry, Felix. We shouldn’t have pushed it, but we’re worried about you. We can tell you aren’t sleeping well.” Lufti looks guilty, she had playfully jabbed at Felix for being a prude in the past, he had the feeling she was regretting her comments at this moment.

“It’s fine. We can move on. I’m sure the dreams will go away, especially once I find out what's happened to my brother.” Felix takes his hand out of Toa’s, wipes the sweat off. He looks up and Toa eyebrows are scrunched, he has a pensive expression. Within the moment, his expression changes, a beaming smile coming to his face. 

“I have an idea!” He snaps his fingers and stands up straight. “When I was little, I had terrible nightmares of a crab man, to help it we tried tons of stuff. Some worked, some didn’t, but it’s a place to start. If it’s really just your brain being upset, let’s try and fix it!” Toa takes out a notebook, it looks comically tiny within his large hands, the quill he holds even moreso.

As he scribbles, Toa sticks his tongue out a bit, a habit he has whenever he’s focused. He turns the book so they may see his writings, there’s lines of text showing seemingly random things. ‘Warm coconut milk’, ‘dipping fingers in sea water before bed’, ‘fishing net above bed’, and others. 

“Toa, I’m not sure-“ Felix starts. 

“I think that’s a great idea!” Lufti jumps, her former dower expression is nowhere to be seen, a positive force she can attach to quickly pulling her out of her slump. 

“The monks taught me tons of meditative self-healing junk, we can start doing a nightly routine. Everyone is free to join of course.” She grasps Felix’s other hand, also ignoring the sweat that coats it. 

Iris stays quiet, her golden eyes are intense. 

“Yes, I think common remedies are a good place to start. You also won’t be permitted to go on watch alone, Felix. We can’t have you fainting due to lack of proper rest, endangering us all.” She turns away from the group. “Before you start, I am firm in this, Felix.” 

Iris knew him well enough that he was, in fact, about to argue against the watch clause. He enjoyed his alone time, it helped him focus on learning new spells. 

“Alright, just, let’s not talk about it anymore. I’m okay, I’ll be okay.” Felix wipes his hands on his coat, he takes in a deep inhale, nearly sputtering at the influx of fresh air right after hyperventilating. 

The moment the discussion ends, there’s a loud knock at the door, Felix flinches, but what else is new. The stone construct they’ve come to know as the main help here, Brutus, waddles into the room. 

“‘Ello again! The master cordially invites you all to dine with him this evenin’, if youse would be so kind as to join.” Brutus does a clumsy bow. 

The group looks to Felix. 

“Let’s go then.” 

-

“The methods you’re currently using to keep Felix in the dark, so to say, are inadequate. You are slowly drilling into his subconscious, soon enough it’ll puncture the surface.” 

Escher led Caprice through extravagant hallways, dark, gothic architecture surrounded him. He marveled at the work, occasionally falling too far behind Escher’s brisk pace and having to jog to catch up. 

“So… are you saying I’m on a time limit?” Caprice was shocked the vampire didn’t tell his friends about what was truly going on, before realizing that of course a vampire would want in on some perverted activities. 

Escher stood at a large door and swung it open, revealing an expansive alchemy lab. Ornate wooden tables and desks against every wall, scattered vials, bottles, and what Caprice assumed to be reagents. 

“I’m saying that you need to learn a new trick.” Escher strided towards one of the tables, one that housed a small glass container holding a shimmering pink liquid. He picked it up and swirled it, Caprice saw purple flecks come up from the bottom and spiral within the vial. 

“This concoction will be all you could ever want, or need. It took me a long time to perfect.” He looked at the potion like it was his child, a look of pride. “It’s an aphrodisiac, a healing potion, a memory modifier, and of course, a magic dampener. We’ll still need to remove his focus from him, it isn’t powerful enough to eradicate all forms of spells.” 

Caprice looked at the brew, it shone in an alluring way, and despite knowing the effects Caprice almost considered taking a sip. 

Instead, he walked slowly and examined the rest of the room and other shimmering bottles while he spoke. 

“That’ll be easy. Felix drinks tea all the time, we just slip it in that. Getting his focus might be more difficult, he basically sleeps while clutching it.” Caprice had never attempted to wrench the danger from the young wizard; his own arcane charms did the trick enough that Felix never attempted to harm Caprice during their ‘activities.’ 

“I’ll be putting it into the dinner I serve tonight, as well as a powerful sedative in everyone else’s. I have the feeling soon the others will pick up on Felix’s ailment and be on higher alert, but I only require one night.” Escher hands the potion off to a stone servant, a different one than Brutus who seemed less animated. 

“Escher, not like I don’t appreciate you encouraging my unethical hobbies, but why? If you wanted to do this yourself, why involve me?” Caprice looks into a red liquid, it looks like a common healing potion. 

“You, my dear, naïve Tiefling, have a very important job.” Escher finishes instructing his gargoyles, and turns to stalk towards Caprice. 

“You’re there to make sure that I don’t drain him completely.” 

-

Dinner is eerily normal, for dining with a vampire. 

Escher’s neatly set plate in front of him is barren, his utensils sit untouched. In his hand he holds a gem-encrusted gold goblet, he assures the party that in it is in fact pigs blood. This is emphasized by the grimace across his face whenever he goes to take a sip. 

“Considering you don’t eat food, this is incredible.” Lufti has her mouth full of roasted vegetables, the rest eat in near silence as they’d been exclusively surviving on rations for weeks. Their first warm meal in a while feels sacred. 

“Yea, this is more than nice, Escher. We’re all very grateful for your hospitality.” Toa is first to finish his food, wiping his mouth politely. 

Caprice takes notice that Felix pokes at his food, he avoids eye contact. He needs Felix to eat enough for that potion to get in his system. Only one way to do that. 

“Hey, Felix, buddy, you alright? You’ve barely eaten.” All it takes is one push, and the rest come barrelling through. 

The party's voices overlap as they all fawn over Felix, encouraging him to eat. They make comments that he’s too skinny, he’ll need his strength, food is good for your brain too, and Caprice sits back satisfied as he watches Felix take his first solid bite. He sees him force himself to eat, drinking lots of water in the process to get it all down. Caprice wonders why he’s so food aversive despite their weeks of near starvation. 

He sees Escher sip at his goblet, eyes closed, he looks to him for validation. He doesn’t receive any, but he hopes that Echer will praise him for his performance. 

The dinner goes on, Brutus even brings out a dessert. A tart made with various berries, Felix doesn’t partake, he politely declines with the excuse that he’s full. They ask Escher various questions about the plans going forward, and who he was before his vampirism, before Ravenovia left. He’s cagey about the latter.  

“Alright then, I hope all of you have had your fill, of food and of information.” Escher stands, his goblet has a bit of blood left in it, he leaves it on the table. 

The rest start to get up, Caprice glances towards Felix across the table. He stumbles as he gets up. 

“Ah-“ He braces himself on the table, a hand coming to his head. “I’m, I’m sorry. I’m not feeling so well.” Felix is flushed. Caprice has to pour all of his ability to deceive into not looking elated. 

Iris is immediately at his side, her frame towering over his as he struggles to stay upright against the table. She says something too quiet for Caprice to hear, and  Felix shakes his head. Iris’ brow furrows as she grips Felix by the shoulders. 

“Toa, please come and help Felix. I need to look him over back in our room.” Toa was already out of his seat and on his way, he lifted Felix into his arms effortlessly. Caprice’s stomach flips. This isn’t how it’s supposed to go. He doesn’t know how to get out of this. Luckily, Escher does. 

He doesn’t even notice his approach, his steps are completely inaudible, it’s like he’s just suddenly appeared next to Toa. His hand comes to rest against Felix’s face. Felix flinches, and Iris steps between him and Escher. 

“We can handle this, but we appreciate your concern. I am a more than capable healer.” There’s a bite to her tone that Caprice is puzzled by. 

“I’m sure you are, Iris of the Sands. Anubis is a very capable death god, but I believe I know what his affliction is. He was stung by a specific barovian insectoid, it causes weakness, fever, brain fog, loss of appetite, etc. I have a cure, but he’ll have to stay in my lab so I may administer it in intervals.” Caprice lets out a breath he’d been holding. Escher will fix this. Caprice can’t imagine the carnage if this potion took effect in the company of the group. 

“I’m sure the power of Anubis will be sufficient. Felix has suffered worse and survived, I would prefer him in our care.” Iris stands firm, she’s eye to eye with Escher and peers into him intensely. Toa seems incredibly uncomfortable in the middle of this exchange, Felix seems to only register half of what’s being said. 

“I insist, it is a lengthy and painful process with traditional healing magics. You’ll only drain yourself and put Felix through unnecessary torment.” Escher keeps his cool. He waits for Iris to agree, he’s absolutely sure she’ll agree. Caprice knows better. 

“How about I go with? Earlier, Escher and I had a really pleasant talk. I'll stick around and make sure Felix comes back in one piece. That sound good to everyone?” Caprice jumps in, not only does this mean he won’t have to sneak out of his room, but also it’ll hopefully put Iris’ mind at ease. 

He gets the opposite reaction, Iris’ gaze is ripped towards Caprice and a deep scowl is plastered on her features. He sees the fur on her shoulders raise, why is she so on guard? 

“Iris of The Sands, I know you care deeply for Felix. I can assure you with utmost confidence that he will be safe in my care, and returned fully restored after one short night.” Escher places a hand on Iris, Caprice sees her visibly calm, her hands go slack. Caprice understands what’s happened, he hopes no one else catches on. 

“Fine. I pray you to be a capable Alchemist. Caprice will stay with you and assure Felix’s recovery, and fetch me once you fail.” Iris quickly turns, she strides toward the door gracefully, long, brisk steps. Her tail whips behind her. 

Caprice internally lets out a sigh of relief, outwardly it just seems like a deep breath. Escher directs Toa to follow as he leads them to a medicine room. Toa holds Felix like he’s glass, focusing so hard on keeping his footsteps light and not disturbing him. Felix is awake, in a sense. He slips in and out of consciousness, mumbling about his time in the military and arcane ramblings. Toa tries to soothe him, the way Toa’s features are wound tight, lines etching concern into his face, a pang of guilt hits Caprice. 

“Please place him on the cot, Toa.” Toa does just that, lowering Felix’s body as he writhes and murmurs. 

Escher busies himself, grabbing random medicinal tinctures. He leans over Felix’s body and injects him with a small syringe, Felix seems to still, his breathing evens out a bit. Toa still hovers close, closer to Escher than he’s ever been. 

“Uhm… Thank you. He’s going to be okay, right?” Toa reaches out and takes Felix’s hat, setting it on a nearby table. 

“Of course, As I stated Felix just needs this antidote administered hourly. As I have no need of sleep, he’ll stay within my care. The rest of you must be exhausted from your journey.” Escher looked tired, but Caprice knew this was from the lack of human blood, rather than lack of proper rest. 

“Could you take Felix’s belongings, Toa?” Escher slyly handed Toa the bag, then reached into Felix’s coat pulling out his silver dagger. 

“Yea, yea of course.” Toa hesitated. “Felix doesn’t usually like… being away from his knife. Can it stay here?” Caprice stays quiet. Hoping to just blend into the background, he doesn’t want to fuck this up and Escher seems like he’s got a way better handle on things than he ever could. 

“As his arcane focus, the closer he is to it, the more the object will sap his energy and convert it into magical power. Additionally, I fear he’ll be disoriented when he comes back to his senses and may attempt to attack me. I’m in no shape to defend myself.” Escher places the knife in Toa’s hand. Caprice, who’s vaguely aware of how magic items work, knows this to be absolutely, undeniably, demonstrably, false.

Toa, however, has no idea of this. 

So he solemnly nods, gathers Felix’s things, and leaves. Caprice finally lets the ball of anxiety within him release, all his muscles relax. He’s left with Escher standing above Felix. Felix breathes ever so slightly unevenly, lying on a simple bed in the middle of the room. 

At one point this may have been a bedroom but it seemed to be turned into another makeshift lab, there’s cupboards and tables, the bed in the middle, however that seems to be it. Bare essentials. 

“Allllright then!” Caprice claps his hands together. Escher looks towards his way, almost bored. Caprice comes to the other side of the bed, reaches out a hand, he’s immediately grabbed. 

“Ow!” Escher has a tight grip on his wrist, nails digging into him. Caprice looks at him, confused.

“Before you get your fill, I need mine. Keep your hands to yourself for the time being.” Escher moves mechanically, his hands are calculated as he undresses Felix. Caprice rubs his wrist where the nail indentations are left. 

Felix is pliant, he’s in a stupor. Basically half asleep as his shirt is pulled over his head. Caprice watches mesmerized, his fingers twitch as he yearns to touch him, to explore his body as he’s done dozens of times before, but Escher exudes an air of command. Caprice is inclined not to disobey. 

Escher sits behind Felix, practically pulls him into his lap. It’s almost surgical, Escher’s mouth is drawn in a thin line as he places Felix flush to him. 

“N-no…” Felix mumbles, the plea is like music to Caprice’s ears, a familiar tune which he’ll never tire of. 

“We’ve not even begun and he’s already resisting. You’ve truly taken a toll on him.” Felix’s head lolls against Escher’s shoulder, his neck exposed, Caprice can see him practically drooling. His eyes are shining, a voracious hunger pooling in the ruby red irises. 

“Are you ready?” Escher looked at him expectantly. When he spoke, Caprice noticed his fangs appear more prominent. It sent a chill down his spine. Caprice only nodded in reply. 

With that confirmation, Escher ran his fingers along Felix’s neck, where his shoulder attached. He licked his lips, and seemed to hesitate. He’d spent so long refusing his blood driven urges, he had to fight the initial reaction to deprive himself of this pleasure. He bares his fangs, wraps his arms around Felix so he may not escape, and he sinks in. 

Caprice tries not to gain sick pleasure from watching Felix struggle in Escher’s arms. As Escher drinks, the sedative starts to leave Felix’s system. Caprice was warned this would happen, but the blood rejuvenates Escher’s strength, so his grip doesn’t falter. 

“Ca…Caprice-” Felix reaches a hand out to him. “He-lp, me!” There are tears pricking at his eyes, but his struggles are slow and trepid. Even his own drugs didn’t make Felix this weak, it’s like he’s trying to move through water. Caprice bites his lip as he observes, moves a hand down to the front of his pants. 

He sees a look of dread wash over Felix’s face. He’s seen it a multitude of times at this point, but gods he never gets bored of the way his eyes widen, his lip quivers, his whole body shrinks in on itself and starts to tremble. It always starts with a couple silent tears, he always holds onto a shred of his decency for just enough time that when he breaks , it’s delectable, sickly sweet, true misery for Caprice to drink up. 

Though, this time he sees the color in his face drain more than usual. He watches as his eyelids fall halfway, and the irises start to roll back into his head. Welp, that’s his queue. 

“Alright buddy, you had your fill. I suggest you stop, since you feel so full right now.” Caprice whistles a tune, feels the familiar tug of the weave bending at his will. Escher’s eyes glaze over, the deep wine red of them dimming. He detaches himself from Felix, leaving behind two perfect puncture wounds, sore and swollen. 

Felix appears to be struggling to stay awake, Escher holds on tight to him but releases his grip slightly so his nails aren’t dragging lines across his skin. Caprice feels a spike of jealousy for only a moment before it passes. He likes that Felix has no scars, Escher better not be leaving permanent marks. Caprice, obviously knows consciously that Escher isn’t stupid enough to do that, but his obsessive tendencies get the better of his thoughts sometimes. 

“N-no more…. I want… I want to wake up…” Felix mumbles lethargically, he’s pale and sapped. Escher laughs lightly. 

“I see the appeal, Capriccio. He’s ambrosian in nature, alluring to a fault.” Escher beckons Caprice like a dog, a finger extending to call him forward. Caprice crawls onto the bed and sits awkwardly in front of Felix. He studies his features as he has many times before, usually he’s unconscious at this point. He doesn’t know what to do with his hands. 

Escher teased, “Nervous, are we?” 

He places light kisses on Felix’s neck, earning shivers in response. He trails his hands down his torso, and comes to the front of Felix’s pants. His thin fingers are deft in undoing the clasps, Escher reaches and pulls Felix out of his pants, stroking idly. Caprice watches on, anticipation dancing across his skin. Felix writhes at the touch, his dick is twitching in Escher’s hand. 

“Not again, not again, not again, please-!” He whispers it out, Felix seems to be waking up more, but his body still only sluggishly fights. Caprice can’t tell if Escher is just stronger than he looks or it’s the potion’s effects. 

Escher’s other hand comes to wrap tightly around Felix’s neck, his mouth trails along his neck until he reaches his ear. 

“Struggle less, I’m being kind for now. You’ll need your strength for what comes later.” He punctuates the threat with a squeeze, cutting off Felix airways momentarily, Felix sputters. Escher keeps his hold, but doesn’t choke him anymore, as Felix’s physical outbursts die down to weak wriggling as Escher pleasures him. 

“Good boy.” Escher places his lips on Felix’s temple. “Caprice, lean back and undress.” 

Caprice isn’t sure why he’s following his orders, he's been doing this to Felix for months now, he should know what he’s doing. However, now that Escher has wrapped himself firmly around the object of his affection, Caprice is stunned into compliance. It’s a whole new angle of Felix’s divine suffering. 

Caprice shuffles out of his pants, which is a great relief as they had become increasingly tight, and undoes the lacing on his vest to slide it down his shoulders, he feels cool night air touch his skin and he recoils. He’s glad he runs warm. 

He can’t help but wrap his hand around himself, he’s aching to be touched as he watches the occasional tear wet Felix’s cheeks, he knows by the end of this he’ll be sobbing, and every whimper and choke Caprice hears is like notes in his perfect symphony. He can’t wait to hear his favorite song once again. 

“Alright now, Felix, you’re going to be giving your friend Caprice some assistance. Make sure to breathe through your nose and keep your teeth out of the way.” Escher tangles his fingers in Felix’s hair, and pushes him so that he’s at eye level with Caprice’s leaking dick. Felix looks up at him with his doe eyes, golden brown like pools of milk chocolate, rich and sweet, they shine with a wet sheen of despair, and that’s Caprice’s favorite part. 

“C-Caprice, you don’t have to make me do this. We’re friends. Please help me, please, I don’t want to do this again, please.” Felix stutters, his hands grasp at Caprice’s thighs, he makes intense eye contact as he begs for mercy. This focused gaze has him missing the way that Caprice twitches every time he utters the word ‘please.’ 

Caprice runs a hand through Felix’s hair, the soft, thick brunette locks entangle in his fingers as he brushes his bangs out of his face. He wants to see his eyes as clearly as possible. 

Caprice guides Felix’s head to the tip. The look of betrayal that flashes in eyes has a mix of pure euphoria and soul-crushing guilt swirling madly within Caprice. 

“Come now, Felix. You’re simply far too trusting of your companions. Where ever did you think those horrible nightmares were coming from?” Escher ran his hands along Felix’s body, admiring it, occasionally leaving red trails with his nails. 

“Now open up, baby bird.” 

Caprice watches a wash of hot shame come over Felix, his entire face flushed despite the blood he lost, his ears going red too. His lip trembles as he opens, he closes his eyes tight before any tears can escape, his hands fall to grasp at the sheets of the bed below him. When he hesitates to move forward, Caprice takes the initiative. 

Caprice has never done this before, it really hasn’t crossed his mind that he could try and use Felix’s mouth with the right concoction of drugs and spells. There’s a whole new level of control he feels, an entirely foreign sensation of Felix’s panicked breath, his dick sliding against the muscle of Felix’s tongue, it’s overwhelming. He takes his time, watching himself disappear inch by inch into the wet heat. With every moment Felix hyperventilates more, Caprice worries he’ll pass out. Then remembers that that’s kind of his thing anyways. 

“It’s okay, Felix. Just breathe... That’s it. Mmh,” Caprice rocks his hips, testing the boundaries of Felix’s gag reflex, which has a very hard limit. Felix drools into Caprice's lap and makes strained sounds as he tries to keep his jaw as slack as possible. 

“Put some effort into it, Felix. Use your tongue, you’re not that naive.” Escher interrupts Caprice’s thoughts, for a moment it was just him and Felix alone. Escher hovers behind Felix, reaches a hand out and pushes Felix down. A violent gag reverberates in the room as Felix shakes, Escher rubs against Felix through his pants as he holds his head down, relishing in the struggling breaths and choking. 

Caprice is on a different planet. He can’t stop himself from pressing deeper, Felix’s nose touches his pelvis and he can feel the back of his throat contracting around him, Caprice moans and grinds into the warmth, spilling out praise for Felix. 

“So good, oh my gods, Felix, fuck, don’t stop.” Felix couldn’t stop if he wanted to, the hand behind his head was immovable. Caprice watched as his eyes started to roll back, the ecstasy building in him, waiting to be released, and suddenly he’s met with cold air. 

Escher has pulled Felix back by the hair, Felix coughs and sputters, tear tracks stain his cheeks and various other fluids cover the area around his mouth. His lips are plump and swollen and Caprice thinks about how they were just wrapped around him. 

“What the hell?” Caprice complains, his orgasm unceremoniously ruined, frustration builds in him. 

Escher cocks an eyebrow. “Would you rather you be bitten?” Caprice doesn’t comprehend what he means, too focused on himself and how he yearns to be within Felix again. 

So, it’s a surprise when Felix starts yelling. 

“No-!” Felix’s protests are cut off by his impaling. Escher holds both of his wrists as he lowers him down, Caprice wants to think that he didn’t notice Escher prepping him, but with how loud Felix is being, it sounds like there wasn’t any. 

He’s full-on panicking now, Caprice watches his thighs shake violently, his breath comes out ragged, no time to recover from the assault on his throat. He sobs, a miserable broken wail as Escher bottoms out. 

“Please stop, please it hurts. It hurts. Hurts.” Felix begs for mercy, Caprice had never hurt him to this degree. He sees Escher’s sharp nails digging into his wrists, the vampire bite on his neck, and he thinks he can make out stark red droplets trailing down Escher’s shaft. 

“You are being raucous and melodramatic, it isn’t that bad. Caprice, please quiet him.” Escher bounces him in his lap, Felix can’t see it, but Caprice knows that he’s feigning annoyance. Escher smiles wickedly, his fangs stained red with Felix’s blood. 

Caprice scoots closer, he still is reeling from his first blowjob, but he gets close to Felix’s face. He’s studied it many times before, as Felix writhed in pain, pleasure, and despair beneath him. Eyes half lidded, fully closed, glazed over in force compliance. He’d seen him in every state, he thought, but in this moment Caprice knows he was never as cruel to Felix as this. There isn’t any amount of pleasure in his eyes, no gasps, no whimpers, just sharp intakes, sobs, high pitched strained whines fall from his lips. Caprice is fucked up sure, but is he this fucked up? 

Well, it’s not like he isn’t still hard.  

Caprice reaches out his hands and caresses Felix’s jaw, Escher’s thrusts aren’t violent, they’re rhythmic and steady, so it’s no issue to keep hold of him. Caprice is good at following a tempo. 

“Shh, you’re alright. You’ll be okay after this, no more nightmares. No more insomnia. You’ll sleep so soundly.” Caprice fantasizes, recently he’d begun to miss his original proclivities. He’d gotten so used to suggesting Felix into submission, he’d been plagued by nightmares so badly that sedatives weren’t doing the trick to keep him asleep. Caprice yearned for the simpler days of fucking into an unconscious form, watching their breath come in evenly, their confusion at their bodies soreness in the morning. It was a sick comfort to him. 

Felix doesn’t stop crying. Tears streak down his face freely, gathering on his chin before dripping onto the bed below. There’s a wet spot below him, mixing with drool and spit. He pants. 

“Caprice, Caprice, help me! Please, you’re my friend, please.” He rasps it out, desperate and animalistic. He begs the cat for mercy while caught in the mousetrap. The cat only watches in deviant curiosity. 

Caprice comes close, presses his lips to Felix’s. He apologizes through the kiss, he hopes that Felix gets the message. It’s ultimately an empty apology, Caprice agreed to this.

“Look at that, how saccharine. Hold him, why don’t you.” Escher releases Felix’s arms, moving his hands to grip Felix’s waist and fuck into him more earnestly. Felix wrenches away from the kiss, his face contorting into a grimace, he looks like he’s gonna be sick. He sucks in a breath like it’s his last. For a moment he doesn’t know what to do with his hands free, he doesn’t register Escher’s words. Caprice helps him, not in the way that he wants, but he guides his arms to wrap around his neck. It’s a grotesque mockery of intimacy, which Caprice devours. He catches Felix’s mouth again, exploring it in earnest, his tongue runs along every inch of flesh he can reach. He feels Felix’s warm tears against his face, tastes the salt in his mouth. It’s intoxicating. 

“Caprice, your turn.” Escher hooks his arms under Felix’s knees, pulls Felix up, but doesn’t pull fully out. Caprice stops his assault on Felix’s mouth, enough to think about Escher’s implications. 

“Uh, are you sure? Can he take that?” Caprice doubts. He sees a rust colored stain between Escher’s thighs and attempts to rear back, Felix sweetly holds him closer, his fists shake only lightly, and his sobs turn to sniffles as he’s finally gotten semi-used to the intrusion. 

“The more he bleeds, the slicker it’ll be. The potion will heal him, no need for concern.” Escher explains, and the words register in Felix’s head, Caprice knows by the way he tenses. He catches Caprice’s eyes. 

He doesn’t beg, not aloud. Caprice is met with Felix’s pleading in only expression. Pools of golden brown, like a doe’s fur gleaming in the summer sun. They pray to him. Seeks for humanity, for pity, for compassion. His lips move silently, he mouths ‘no.’ 

Pity, he does receive. Caprice cannot help but feel pity, as he looks between them and remembers that he wants release. Knows that this isn’t over for Felix, not yet. One more night. 

“ Sing for me, my songbird.” 

Caprice attempts to press forward. 

Felix’s nails dig into his back, or more accurately his lack of nails. Nasty habit he has of biting them down to the nub, Caprice is thankful for it at this moment. There’s a stark contrast between Felix’s insides, and Escher’s cold, undead skin. 

As Caprice tries to insert himself next to Escher, Felix is hyperventilating again. His sounds of agony are only muffled by Escher, who had the foresight to wrap his hand around his mouth. Caprice holds Felix’s thighs up and apart, Felix trying to close them feebly. 

Abruptly, the light in the room increases. Caprice only notices a flash, before Escher says something. 

“Under regular circumstances, you must be very powerful, Felix. To fight even without your focus and under my potions effects is admirable, however futile it may be.” Felix only shakes. Caprice realizes now that the torches in the room had grown, for only a moment. Felix had tried to kindle his connection to Weave, only to have the embers be snuffed out. 

Felix holds onto Caprice even tighter. 

As the tip pops in, Felix shrieks . A shrill sound, followed by inconsolable sobs. He convulses, trying to escape the intrusion and failing between the two men keeping him in place. Felix buries his face into Caprice’s neck, seeking comfort, escape, anything other than the pain he feels. Caprice is shocked that he is able to get in at all, Felix is stretched to his limit. He listens to Felix’s despondent cries, he doesn’t understand how such a desolate sound can make him feel so exhilarated. He doesn’t want to understand. 

Inch by inch, he’s enveloped. On one side of his cock he feels the cold flesh of Escher, on the other Felix’s feverish body. The sensation is wholly foreign and overwhelmingly thrilling. He shudders as he’s fully in, and he feels something, wet. He dares not look down. 

Instead he focuses on grinding his hips into Felix’s body, it’s a tight fit, tighter than he’s ever experienced, and probably ever will. He chases the climax he was earlier denied, he pretends it’s just him and Felix. 

He only feels Felix’s wet face pressed against his neck, only hears him muttering inaudibly, he isn’t scratching him anymore. Caprice imagines his knuckles are clenched, turning white. 

His focus on Felix is broken as he feels cold lips against his own, the taste of iron in his mouth as he recognizes that Escher has caught him in a kiss. He thrusts in rhythm with Caprice, guiding Felix’s hips as Caprice holds his legs up. They work in perfect tandem, it’s a testament to Escher’s experience. 

Caprice leans into the kiss despite the taste of blood, after getting a meal, Escher’s beauty is something to behold. His skin is full of life, pale like the moon. His jaw is sharp, perfectly shaped, his hair cascades like silk sheets across his face and back. Caprice isn’t going to miss the chance to make out with a hot vampire, even if he is scared shitless of the guy. 

Caprice vaguely registered that Felix was speaking. A harsh whisper, barely audible over the slick sounds and moans of Caprice and Escher. 

“Kill me, just kill me—, I can’t take it anymore, just kill me. Get it over with, please.” Felix chokes, never quite being able to take a full breath. He pleads for things to end. Caprice almost throws up, it’s miserable. He also almost comes. 

He has to dig his fingers into Felix’s thighs to stop himself, but Escher notices anyway. 

“Feeling overwhelmed? It’s quite alright to finish early, my little incubus. You’re only learning the ropes. Come, my darling, release into his warm, inviting body. You know you want to.” Escher encourages him, increasing the speed of Felix’s hips meeting Caprice’s. 

Caprice has to brace himself not to drop Felix, as Escher’s teasing goes straight to his dick. He thrusts into Felix as he clings to him, there’s a new feeling of sticky fluid drying onto him and flaking off, it isn’t entirely pleasant but it’s only a small matter in the grand scheme of sensations Caprice feels in this moment. He focuses on Felix’s breath coming out in shaky puffs against his neck, along with the tears, he remembers the look of utter betrayal that marked Felix’s features as he pushed in. This last thought is what pushes him to the edge. 

He grinds up into Felix, twitching as he releases deep inside him, his mouth falls open as he moans, nails digging into Felix’s thighs as his orgasm wracks through him. He pants in the immediate afterglow of it, short lived as he feels Escher rubbing against him. Overstimulation starts to creep up on him, he’d usually wait a bit to pull out, basking in Felix’s heat, but he makes his way out quickly. A little upset in his disruption of his usual routine.  

“Now that’ll make things a little more comfortable, it’s your turn, Felix. Ready to feel good?” Escher gives Caprice a look, Caprice somehow understands it loud and clear as ‘ move.’ So he does just that. 

Caprice kneels next to the bed, and watches in morbid curiosity. Steadily coming down from his high, he watches Escher push Felix down onto the mattress, holding his hips flush to where they connect to him. He moves his hips in a circular motion, hovering above Felix as he tangles his hand in his hair to keep his face pressed into the mattress. Caprice takes notice of the red staining where they meet, he winces. 

Felix is quieter than he’s been, he can see him still shivering, but if he’s crying he wouldn’t know due to him being pressed into the bed. Escher makes slow, deliberate thrusts into Felix, he takes his time drinking in every movement that Felix makes, the way his outstretched hands grasp at the fabric in front of him like it’ll be able to pull him away from all this, the way he twitches when Escher plunges deep within him, Caprice also can’t take his eyes off of the young wizard. 

Caprice observes and starts to take account of his own state, he’s sticky and when he looks into his lap he immediately looks away seeing crusted blood flaking off of his softening cock. He’ll deal with that when this is all over. He refocuses on the scene in front of him, it’s jarring how calculated and precise Escher’s thrusts are, he moves like it’s a dance and Felix is his unwilling partner. He guides him by the grip on his hips and Caprice notices that Felix is hard again. Escher is a miracle worker. 

“Finally, you’re enjoying yourself. It’s unlike me to be so inconsiderate, I simply had to make it up to you.” He punctuates his sentences with long, drawn out drags out of Felix’s body. “You have to understand, I was ravenous. I get a bit out of control after a good meal.” Escher moves his hands to be wrapped around Felix’s neck, he pulls him up so that Felix is upright on his knees, Caprice can see even better from this angle that Felix really is enjoying himself. He’s biting his lip and each thrust has him twitching and panting. 

“Darling baby bird, do you want release?” Escher continues his pace, his grasp is loose, not enough to cut off his breath, just enough to keep Felix in place. Felix frantically nods, his eyes are squeezed shut, his eyebrows drawn tight, and Caprice can see the lines of tear stains. Felix holds onto Escher’s hands. 

“That’s no way to ask for something, use your words. Tell me-,” Escher looks towards Caprice’s way, a smirk arising. “Tell your friend, Cappricio, how good you feel. How much you want to come.” Escher speeds up. At the mention of Caprice, Felix wearily opens his eyes, they’re half lidded and their eyes meet as Felix lurches forward repeatedly. 

“I, I can’t. Please don’t make me-“ His sentence is cut off by a high pitched moan as Escher angles himself a certain way and grinds . Caprice notices that Felix is less pale, color is returning to him as he flushes from his shoulders to his cheeks. Caprice thinks about how beautiful he is right now, flushed, drooling, bleeding, and begging. 

Escher’s grip tightens, and Felix sputters as the privilege of air is taken from him. 

“I wasn’t asking , Felix.” He deprives him of oxygen, Felix claws at his hands but it’s ultimately fruitless. His pace is unforgiving, the sensation heightened by the adrenaline of being choked. Escher loosens his grip when he sees his eyes start rolling back. Felix coughs violently, shaking with the motion, harsh intakes as his chest rises and falls. Caprice can’t stop himself from reaching a hand between his legs. 

“Try again, baby bird.” Caprice thinks that if Felix wasn’t horribly dehydrated, more tears would be running down his face. He can only tell this fact because of studying his lips, which are dryer than usual. Caprice doesn’t want to admit just how much he looks at Felix’s lips. He strokes himself at the thought. 

“It-it’s good.” It comes out like a sob. Escher clicks his tongue. 

“Unconvincing. Sloppy. Dreadful performance. Again.” Escher threatens with a squeeze. He bares his fangs and runs the needle sharp canines against Felix’s shoulder. Caprice watches a violent flinch wrack through Felix, his breath quickens. 

“I-it’s good! I love, I love it. Please, gods, I love it. I want to come, let me come, please.” He struggles to get the words out, like each thrust punches them out of him. Escher hurries his pace with every plea. 

“I feel good, it feels good, I’m, I’m!” Felix’s thighs shake as he comes, thick white ropes spill across the sheets in front of him, whimpers and begs spilling from him incoherently. Escher seems pleased, a satisfied smile plastered on his face. He slams into Felix, once, twice, before he embedding himself in the warm body below him, spilling inside. Felix cringes and tenses at the feeling, a pathetic whine being pulled from him. 

The room falls silent. Tense air surrounds them as Caprice wonders if Escher remembers he’s there at all, as he pets and praises Felix in his afterglow. Felix looks on the verge of fainting, when Escher pulls out, he collapses forward onto the bed, into his own mess. He can’t be bothered, his body is so spent and used that it crumbles as soon as there’s no support. 

“He’s,” Caprice swallows. “He’s um, gonna be okay, right?” 

Escher gracefully leaves the bed, standing naked in front of Caprice. Blood and cum is smeared in his lap, and even then his deathless elegance retains his charm. 

“You can have the next round.” Caprice knows better not to repeat his question. He follows Escher’s line of sight to where he’s looking at Caprice’s hand, firmly wrapped around his dick. 

“Next round?” Caprice feels a wave of anxiety and hopefulness crash into him. It’s a confusing feeling.

Escher leans down, and smiles fondly at Caprice. His long, delicate fingers come to run across one of his horns. Caprice tail starts to swish. 

“I’d say we have a few more hours. Have your fun, my little devil.” With that, he looks back at Felix’s used, drained body. Then back to Caprice. 

“After all, it’s only one night.”