Work Text:
There was a light filtering between the cracks. It drained into her dreams, and pulled her out from the depths of slumber. Consciousness came slowly. She remembered who she was: Nerissa Ravencroft, beloved soprano. Famous across hundreds of opera houses was she, having spent decades in the limelight singing for her adoring fans with a voice so sweet it was rumoured it could drive you mad if you let it. Little known to those who fawned over her, she was one of the most powerful of undead: A vampire.
Remembering why she had returned to her grave was the tricky part. It was all a blur. Had it been it hunters? A scandal? Had she simply grown tired of the busy life that came with fame and fortune? She had no more time to consider it.
There were voices nearby.
“What’s this weird box?”
“I think it’s a coffin, Moco.”
“Like, a coffin for dead people? Creepy! Leave it alone, Fuwawa. Let’s go check the other rooms.”
Nerissa jerked fully awake. Hunters! In her home! She had to get out, and fast! She listened to heavy footsteps fade away from her secret sanctuary. She shoved the lid out of the way and slipped out of the room. She ached, every joint stiff as she hobbled out the door. How long had she been asleep?
Light was coming from around the corner, a blinding white. Some kind of blessed torch? Nerissa panicked and sprinted around the corner. The hall stretched before her, she could feel the light wavering behind her. She ascended the stone staircase and shoved her way through the front door.
What met her beyond did little to calm her undead heart.
Her home sat proudly on the peak of a grassy hill, where all in town could look up and see. Three floors of beautiful, ornate wood. Its facade lovingly carved by the best craftsmen, windows of stained glass and pillars of marble. But now towers of glass that reflected countless lights below dwarfed her hill by hundreds of feet. The lights in the town below illuminated the stone streets like daylight. Nerissa shivered. But the hunters were in her home. It wasn’t safe here. Of all creatures, she should understand that no matter how bright the light, there were always shadows. So she squared her shoulders and started the trek down the path. Down to the noise and light.
The town was even more baffling up close. Strange, hulking beasts of metal and light roared down the streets. Crowds of people bustled out and about, despite the sun having set hours ago. They were all dressed in the strangest fashion, and spoke so oddly she could hardly understand a word. All their eyes were on her as she passed. It was no mystery why, she was covered in dust and her grave soil. She needed a place to hide and get caught up, find a way to blend in. But she would need help to do that.
She continued to wander until the unmistakable scent of alcohol burned her nostrils. Perfect, a drinking establishment. The perfect place to pick up a new thrall.
The music was loud, she could feel it thrumming in her chest, vibrating to the very tips of her fingers. It set her teeth on edge. It was crowded, but all the patrons were too busy dancing and drinking to notice her. She found a seat in the corner and scanned the room.
A server sidled up to her table. “Good evening, ma’am! What can I get for you?”
Nerissa looked up into his eyes. “Red wine. You won’t require payment.”
The server relaxed into a dopey state, completely under her sway . He grinned, “One red wine on the house, coming up!” And he stumbled away.
Nerissa continued her search. Every patron seemed to be in parties of two or more. They all chattered and moved to the music, none bothered to glance her way.
Except for one set of eyes. A woman seated at the bar had turned to face her, and was looking at her quite intently.
At last, the perfect target. Nerissa started by shooting her a shy smile. Something that said, I am harmless and looking for company.
The stranger grinned in return, and got up to walk over, drink in hand.
“Hi!” The stranger greeted, “This seat taken?”
Nerissa gestured, “Be my guest.” She watched as the stranger slid into the seat across from her. “And what might your name be, beautiful?”
“I’m Shiori.” The stranger replied brightly, “What about you, gorgeous?” She leaned one elbow on the table, grinning broadly. Her eyes were were most unique… The dark makeup she wore made their amber seem to glow like lanterns. And her hair was… different as well. Although, from Nerissa’s short jaunt through the streets, decorating one’s hair wasn’t uncommon nowadays. One half was darkest black, and the other white as snow.
“I’m Nerissa.” The server returned with her wine, which she took without a word, keeping her eyes on her guest.
“Well, Nerissa…” Shiori said her name like it was something to be savored, “What brings you here?”
“I’m looking for someone.”
“Oh? What do they look like? Maybe I can help.”
Nerissa sipped her wine. This was too easy. Despite her long nap, her powers of attraction had not been lessened in the least. She would have this one wrapped around her finger in no time. She swirled her wine and looked deep into Shiori’s eyes. “I think I’ve already found her.”
Perhaps the women of this time were different from the shy maidens of the past, or perhaps Shiori was made of sterner stuff. But not once did she break eye contact. The only sign Nerissa’s words were having an effect was a slight pink across her cheekbones. “Well, well, well…” She simpered, “How lucky for the both of us.”
“Indeed.” Nerissa slid her half-finished wine to the end of the table. She had no more need of it. “You will take me to your home, and allow me to stay there for as long as I need.” She commanded.
Shiori’s breath hitched for just a moment. “Yes, of course!” She finished the last swallow of her drink. “Right this way, my lady.”
One of the noisy carriages pulled up to the curb at Shiori’s gesture. She shot a grin over her shoulder as she opened the door. “After you!”
Nerissa nodded in polite thanks and slipped into the back seat. She folded her hands primly in her lap and looked out the window. This was clearly a perfectly normal occurrence, and so she must not look surprised. Especially not at how fast the carriage took off down the street. Shiori looked perfectly at ease in the barreling deathtrap, and so Nerissa followed suit.
“You okay?” Shiori asked. Her voice was suddenly much softer than it was in the establishment. There was real concern there. It was touching.
“Why yes, of course.” But Nerissa had to blend in. “Why would I not be?”
Shiori shrugged. “Oh, you just seemed uncomfortable. But it must have been my mistake.”
Nerissa smiled. “Perhaps it’s just the shadows, they do like to play tricks.”
“That must be it.” Shiori chuckled.
In a short few minutes, the carriage had taken them what must surely have been clear across town. One of the tall buildings loomed over them as they parked nearby. Shiori led her up some steps and unlocked the door with a strange little device. They rounded a corner through the lobby and pressed a button on the wall. “I’m on the seventh floor.” She said.
Nerissa nodded, frowning. How strange. Then, where were the stairs?
There was a ding, doors slid open, and they went into a tiny room. Shiori turned and pressed another button on the wall. Then she leaned back and waited as the doors shut, sealing them into a barely closet-sized space. Nerissa was thankful that she did not require air anymore.
A terrible sinking feeling took Nerissa by surprise. She clung to the rail behind her and waited for it to be over. A number display above the doors counted up. They were ascending? And so quickly! She felt faint…
“Hey, it’s okay, we’re almost there.” Shiori soothed, patting her shoulder. There was another ding, and the doors slid open. “There you go, you did it! Very brave, Nerissa.”
Nerissa nodded weakly. She followed Shiori down the hall.
A door at the end of the hall was unlocked with a strange key. Lights flickered on, more of the strange unnatural glow that Nerissa saw back at her house, all over the streets, and in this very hall. Oh wait, she had heard of this! Electricity? What a marvel.
“Make yourself at home.” Shiori told her as she hung her jacket up on one of the pegs near the door. “I can take your dress and give you some clean clothes, if you’d like.”
“Yes. I will need a bath as well.” Now that she was properly assessing her appearance under the harsh lights of Shiori’s home, it was clear that she had laid buried in her coffin for a long, long time. There were cobwebs strung through her hair, and every inch of revealed skin were smudged with dirt and dust.
“Of course!” Shiori flitted around her home, turning on lights and tidying up as she crossed the sitting room to a door left slightly ajar.
Nerissa joined Shiori in the small, sterile-looking room and disrobed as the bathtub was filled with steaming water. She dropped her dusty dress into Shiori’s waiting arms and turned to shut the door. Just before she did so, she looked deep into Shiori’s eyes. “Do not, under any circumstances, let anyone else in while I am here. Do not tell anyone about me. Do you understand?”
Shiori pressed her lips together. “Mhm!” She nodded.
Nerissa sighed as she got into the bath. This was going much better than she thought. But, really, that was silly, wasn’t it? Of course it would be fine. Her panic earlier was completely irrational. No matter what things were like in any time period, people were still just as easily influenced. Now… She sunk deeper into the hot water. It was time to warm up the cold of the grave from her bones.
For a while, there were just the footsteps of her new thrall moving around the small home. Getting everything ready for her stay there, naturally.
But then the door opened, and two new yet… familiar… voices were introduced.
Nerissa surged from the bath, splashing water all over the tiles as she strode to the door. She swung it open with a cold fury.
Shiori looked up from the sofa with innocent eyes. Two women were sitting across from her, identical blond hair and identical looks of surprise.
“What is going on?” Nerissa growled, “I told you not to let anyone in!”
“Oh, yeah, about that.” Shiori picked up a teacup and took a sip, “I’m not enthralled. Sorry.”
Nerissa deflated. “What?” She muttered weakly.
“I knew you were a vampire right away. Imagine my surprise that the abandoned house I arranged to be searched should still be inhabited.” She nodded to the twins. “These are Fuwawa and Mococo Abyssgard, local cryptid hunters.”
Nerissa remained frozen in the bathroom doorway. Shiori wasn’t enthralled? Had she not hypnotized her once? She felt herself withering away. Was she not as powerful as she had been…?
Shiori seemed to read her expression, “Aw, don’t worry. You did great. I was just prepared for it, is all!”
“Why go along with it? What do you want from me?”
“Something that benefits us both, it just so happens!” That same, bright grin from before was back. Now Nerissa saw it for what it was: Scheming, delighted. “You can stay here, of course. I’ll catch you up on the times, help you blend in. But in return, you teach me everything you know about your… condition.”
Nerissa sighed heavily. She could not deny her pride had taken a shot… And now, this may be her best option. “Fine.” She said at last, “I agree.”
“That’s great!” Shiori put down her teacup, “Now, should I get you some clothes?”
Nerissa glanced at the twins, both looking down at their hands bashfully. “…Yes, please.”