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Philza’s footsteps echo eerily in the arching stone halls of the Somnus Coven’s stronghold.
It is far, far emptier than it once was.
Once, he was head of the largest, most powerful coven on the continent. Once, his bond was alive with the constant thrum of his covenmates living and thriving.
Now-
Now, he has but a few last loyal guards left. His son, and Wilbur’s little fledgling, wrapped up safely in the nest. The others are gone- some killed, some gone their own way, others simply having vanished without a trace.
And Philza, if he is honest with himself, misses them.
He is not lonely, but he does long to have a changeling of his own. Those early stages of a vampire’s life are so precious, and it has been a long few centuries since Philza Turned someone.
Yes, there is Tommy, but Tommy is Wilbur’s. Old enough to be established in the bond, yet not to leave the nest, and already so independent. And he isn’t Philza’s, except by association.
And Philza isn’t looking for someone to Turn, exactly, but he does pay attention to his instincts when he goes out, which is often. He usually knows who it is he’s meant to bring into his coven.
So when he meets the dirty, lonely child on the streets, he’s certain. This, this boy is to be his.
~~~
Techno is just your average, everyday, completely normal street kid. Dead parents, raised himself with nothing but his wits and determination. One of the lucky ones who made it to his teen years without starving or freezing or getting grabbed or killed.
So when this random guy is interested in him all of a sudden?
Yeah, that sets off some alarm bells. Namely, all of them.
Except the guy- Philza-call-me-Phil- is nice. He buys Techno food and warmer clothes and offers him a place to stay.
…okay, maybe that’s what makes him so nervous.
Nobody’s just nice. Especially not to street kids, who can’t give anything back except thieving or ‘favors’ or other things Techno is streetwise enough to stay far, far away from. So yeah, Phil’s kindness is unnerving. Techno is constantly on edge, constantly waiting for Phil to demand repayment.
He never does. It’s exhausting.
So maybe Techno got into a little fight with another kid over an apple the kid tried to steal from him. Maybe he underestimated his opponent, just a bit. Maybe the other kid hit him so hard he blacked out.
Whatever it was, Techno’s waking up in some dark place, in a pile of blankets- he thinks they’re blankets, anyway- alone.
At least, he hopes he’s alone.
He tries to sit up, but there’s something wrapped around him. Techno thrashes, managing to wriggle free; goes tense as he realizes that the clothes he’s wearing are looser and softer and- cleaner than his.
Bad sign. Very, very, very bad sign.
Techno swallows, his throat suddenly dry. Tries to think about his situation calmly, logically.
He’s in a strange place, he can’t see, someone changed his clothes while he was unconscious. That someone is- presumably- not here.
Hopefully.
Just as that rather unnerving thought crosses Techno’s mind, a door somewhere opens, letting a blinding ray of light fall over the room. It’s too sudden for Techno to make anything out, and it’s gone too quickly for his eyes to adjust. He’s left sitting stranded in the dark, breathing shallow and fast with terror.
“Hey, mate, good to see you’re finally awake.”
Oh, so this is how it finally comes due.
Techno wouldn’t have expected Phil, of all people, to kidnap him, but he didn’t have any idea what the man would demand as payment. This is it, apparently.
Techno can’t see Phil, but he tries to scramble away from where he last heard the man’s voice. It doesn’t work very well- doesn’t work at all- he’s helpless as the thing- mattress? he’s sitting on dips and Phil’s cold arms wind around him. Strong, inescapable.
Techno thrashes anyway, screaming, even though he knows it won’t do any good. Phil just holds him tighter, humming low and quiet.
When Techno’s strength gives out- which happens rather quickly- he goes limp in Phil’s grasp. Realizing that the man’s chest is… vibrating?
“There you go,” Phil murmurs, adjusting Techno in his lap. Tilting Techno’s head back to rest against his shoulder, pinning the teen’s arms with one hand. He wraps a blanket tightly around Techno’s legs so even if he tries to struggle again, he won’t be able to. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“What-” Techno’s chest hitches. He feels like he’s gonna cry. “What are you gonna do to me?” he asks, making his voice sound braver than he actually is.
“We’ll get to that,” Phil says.
His voice is soft, gentle, with none of the greediness or anger Techno had expected. That’s almost worse.
“Please don’t hurt me,” he begs, a tear slipping down his cheek. He- he’s fifteen, he shouldn’t be crying like a baby, but he’s so scared. He doesn’t want to die, gods he doesn’t want to die-
“Oh- oh, starlight, never.” Phil sounds hurt by that. “I will never hurt you. You’re safe here, Techno, this is the safest place you will ever be.”
Except he’s not. This is as far from safe as he can be.
Phil holds Techno while he cries, exhausted and so, so scared. Holds him until the tears run out, dries his face with something soft.
Then Phil shifts, tilting Techno’s head back. Exposing his neck.
Techno shivers as a cold breath ghosts over his throat, as Phil’s icy forehead presses into the crook of his neck. “Ready, sweetheart?” the man murmurs.
Techno’s chest hitches in a dry sob. “P- please,” he whimpers. “Jus’ let me go, I- I won’t tell anyone, I pro-omise-”
“Never,” Phil says, soft and vehement. “You’re mine, Tech.”
He doesn’t want this. Whatever it is, he doesn’t want it-
He makes a last attempt to fight. Phil tuts, his arms wrapping tighter and squeezing the breath right out of Techno’s lungs.
“You know, if I’d known you would be this damn wiggly, I’d’ve just done it while you were unconscious.” Phil sighs, another cold breath puffing against Techno’s skin. “Hold still, starlight, it’ll be over quickly.”
Techno opens his mouth to protest again, but the words never come.
Twin points of ice pierce his neck, the pain melting away just as quickly as it comes. Phil swallows audibly beside his ear- once, twice, again and again. Techno’s dizzy, he can’t think, he can’t… he doesn’t…
He’s so cold.
He’s barely aware of being moved, of hands smoothing his hair, something rubbing a sore spot on his neck. Of Phil’s low, gentle voice.
~~~
Philza smiles as Techno’s eyelids close, as his heart gives one last weak beat and stops.
His fangs unlatch and he licks his lips, savoring the last taste of Techno’s blood. Gently, so gently, he lowers his changeling into the nest, settling his limbs with care. Smoothing down his hair, messy from his struggling; moving his thumb in small circles over the Turning bite.
Neat, perfect. He always has tried to be so careful. And especially for Techno, young and pliable and so, so precious.
“Shh, starlight, you’re all right,” he murmurs, smoothing out the tiny furrow in Techno’s brow as soon as it appears. “Oh, little one, you’re going to be just perfect, aren’t you?”
Techno does not answer. He’s unnaturally still as Philza swaddles him in blankets, the only proof of his undead life is his shallow breaths. Reflexive, unnecessary, but a good sign all the same.
It’s too soon to feel any sign of Techno in the bond, but Philza feels Wilbur’s curiosity, Tommy’s eager interest. They can’t have failed to sense Philza’s contentment, his quiet pleasure in a Turning gone smoothly.
He projects back patience, insistence for them to wait. He will rejoin them in the main nest, in time; once Techno is far enough along in the Turn to be moved, then, perhaps. But for now, he has his changeling safe, all to himself in his own nest.
Philza wonders if he will ever be able to let Techno go.
~~~
Awareness trickles in like slow, sleepy blinks.
Pain in the center of his chest. Something cold pressed against his lips, viscous liquid pooling in his mouth, rotten and disgusting. Trickling down his throat to ease the gnawing in his stomach.
A hand holding his mouth open, poking at his teeth. More pain, in his jaw this time.
More of the cold thick liquid, syrupy sweet this time. Satiating his hunger.
A sensation like a tickle at the back of his mind. Emotions, but not his, love and welcome and adoration flooding his very being.
But floating in the haze like this, Techno does not truly process any of it.
When he wakes, truly wakes, he is warm. Luxuriantly comfortable. He yawns, tries to stretch.
“Oh?” The voice is soft, sire-safety, and Techno preens in the warmth of it. “Are you waking up, darling?”
Techno makes a grumpy sound, he’s tired. He wants to go back to sleep.
A soft chuckle. “I know, I know, but it’s time to wake up.” A hand sweeps over his face, thumb teasing at his eyelids. “Open your eyes, starlight.”
He’s trying, but it’s so hard.
“Just a little bit more,” Sire croons. “Come on, you can do it.”
Techno wants to make Sire happy, so he does. It’s difficult, like lifting something heavy, but he blinks at Sire’s faintly glowing red eyes, all that’s visible in the darkness.
“There’s my Techno,” Sire croons. “Oh, hello, little one.”
Techno’s not little, he’s fifteen! He’s practically a grown up now!
He tries to make a sound, and hears a funny chirp. Sire chuckles softly again, pulling Techno into his lap.
“You must be hungry, changeling.” Sire lifts his wrist to his face; there’s a pop, and a delicious smell fills the air.
The smell makes Techno’s stomach roar with hunger and his fangs and body ache with need. He needs it, he’s so hungry, can he have it-
“So eager,” Sire chuckles, and his wrist is pressed to Techno’s open mouth.
Techno doesn’t consciously register his fangs latching, throat working to gulp down as much of Sire’s blood as he can swallow; but Sire’s possessive adoring love, that he comprehends.
He shivers under the weight of it, a weak purr startled out of his chest. Sire responds with his own purr, so strong it vibrates in Techno’s bones.
It sends him back into the haze. Techno’s barely aware of anything but Sire’s purr, Sire’s love, Sire’s arms holding him so tightly.
He doesn’t want anything else, anyway.