Saving Davin

[manofdusk]

Davin passed the next several weeks in a haze of blood and violence. By keeping his fingers on the pulse of the city through the blood banks, combined with tips from the Sheriff about Sabbat activity, Davin was able to hunt nightly.

Driven by rage and hatred to murderous extremes, Davin exulted in the bloodshed. Vaguely he remembered that he had a purpose for what he was doing but, as the nights passed, he found that purpose to be growing ever more distant in his mind. Now he sought violence for its own sake. His skin took on the pallor of the dead and his face a sunken appearance. He growled what few words that he chose to speak and let his normally neat appearance go.

Nearly two months passed before his leads finally began to dry up... or, rather, he became too absorbed in the hunt to avail himself of them, and he was walking the streets of LA in search of his next victim. It was then that he heard a woman's voice followed by the clicking of high heels running toward him.

He turned to face her and she stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes grew wide and her mouth fell slack. He noticed her strawberry blond hair, her green eyes, and her figure. She looked familiar to him but he couldn't place where. He felt the urge to kill rising within him but he quelled it. He turned and began to walk away.

Prey...
No. Human. Not Prey.

"W-wait!"

He turned back to her. She had found her voice. Though her voice faltered when he looked back at her. She took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and spoke. He noticed that her voice still shook.

"My name's Diana. Do you remember me? From the clinic? I don't know what you did but you saved my life back there... and since then, I..."

I smell something.
Blood!
Like mine.
Prey!
Like Me...
Feed!

"... I haven't been able to stop thinking about you! P-Please, I-I want to repay you for saving me. Just name it."

Kill!
My blood... mine...

"A-are you... okay? You look... kinda scary..."

She had started to take a step backward when Davin finally took note of her reaction. It took him a moment to remember.

What did it feel like?
No!
flushed skin...
NO!
A smile...

He straitened up and the color slowly returned to his face. "I'm alright, Diana." He forced a smile, a false warmth that left her feeling uneasy. "I'm glad you're doing well... but you shouldn't have come looking for me. People close to me have a habit of getting hurt."

I forgot what it felt like, talking like this...

"B-But I searched all over! Please, let me repay you, I-I'll do anything! Here. I got you this!"

She pulled out an old antique watch and held it out to him, "It was my grandfather's."

However, he did not take it. He instead took off his sunglasses and put his hands on her shoulders. His green eyes looked into hers and she seemed to shrink back. She looked away but Davin put his fingers to her chin and raised her gaze back to his. "Keep it."

She's... like me... a.... ghoul?

Slowly he forced memories back to the surface, things that he'd cast aside in his quest for vengeance were now returning to him. He put his hand to the side of her face and she pressed her face into his hand.

Blood... bond? Maybe?

For a moment, Davin saw Kyla's face. He pulled his hand away, noting the distressed look on her face as he did so. "You should leave."

Her face registered shock and her bottom lip quivered. "Isn't there anything I can do?"

I... I. I don't know!
Part of me... mine...
But... Kyla...
She feels... warm...
What if she dies?
Warm... with life
I don't want that to end...

Davin put his hand back on her face. It was so warm, despite the cold air... it was like a soothing salve upon an open wound. Even that slightest touch reminded him again of something he'd forgotten. "Yes... but you don't need to do anything more."

He vaguely remembered that the blood bond created an attraction, but he'd never really bought into it. He'd never felt any closeness to his meals... but...

He hugged her, partly to see how she would react. She reacted as though she'd known him forever... and it felt good. "Do you have a place that I can rest? I am tired."

She smiled and nodded. "You can rest at my place. My car is over here."

As she watched her head toward a blue Chevrolet, he let his mind wander. He smiled. This time he didn't need to fake... he hadn't felt this way in what seemed to him to be an eternity...

[manofdusk]

Davin watched the night sky as the blue Chevrolet made its way to her apartment. He wondered how long it had been since he had been close to another person... or had even thought about such a thing.

He couldn't remember.

He looked over at her and she flashed him a nervous smile. It was the first time he'd really payed attention to what she looked like. She was quite attractive, if a bit plain. A bit of time and effort and she could turn heads, of that much he was sure.

He tilted his head, imagining her in a dress when the car suddenly slowed to a stop. He looked around at the apartment then back to her and she smiled at him again. "We're here."

He liked it when she smiled. It made him feel warm inside. It reminded him of happier times.

He made an effort to smile back, but the gesture seemed to disturb her more than anything, so he decided to follow wordlessly and let her take the lead.

When he entered the building, the smell of alcohol and sweat immediately assaulted him. He followed silently, watching, waiting, ready to face a threat should one arise... and it did not take long for one to present itself.

As he and Diana reached their floor, the source of the stench rose from his sitting place against the wall. "Who's this? Your new boyfriend? You going around cheating on me now?! Didn't I tell you you were MY girl? You bitch!"

He staggered forward and grabbed for her... but he never made it.

Davin lashed out and backhanded the guy hard enough to send him sprawling out on the floor. He looked at Diana... he could smell fear. Suddenly, her eyes went wide. "LOOK OUT!"

He felt a sharp, stabbing pain in his back. He snarled and lashed out with another backhand. His hand connected with the drunk's face, sending him sprawling yet again.

He heard Diana gasp but he did not look. Reaching back to the source of the pain, he felt something hard. Pulling it out, he found that it was a knife. The drunk and Diana both looked at him in shock as he pulled the knife from his back, clean as a whistle. The drunk registered more than a little fear when Davin smiled at him.

"Ouch... that stung..."

Crawling backward, the man stammered as Davin advanced. "What ARE you?!?"

Davin vaguely remembered that someone else once asked him that question. He snatched the man up by the collar of his shirt and head-butted him twice... hard. Dropping his limp form to the ground, Davin answered, "I'm pissed off... now, go away."

When he turned, he found Diana had already unlocked the door. He made his way inside, leaving the barely conscious man collapsed at the top of the stairway.

When he entered, she was in the process of picking up the phone, though her hands were shaking far too much to dial a number. "Don't worry! I'll get help!"

Davin crossed the distance between them in two steps and placed his hand on hers and placing the phone back on the hook. "I'm fine."

She was still in the process of panicking however and did not want to calm down. Looking around, she had gathered first aid supplies. He couldn't help but smile.

"Listen, I'm not like you. Something as minor as that will not hurt me... or, at least, not much."

"B-but!"

He placed a finger on her lips. "Watch."

He took the knife that he had confiscated from the drunk and stabbed it strait through his hand. She covered her face and looked away. "What are you doing?!?!"

He pulled the knife free and put his other hand to her face, making her look at his hand as he willed his blood to close the wound. "Do you see? Things such as this will not harm me."

"B-but, how???"

Davin sighed. "I am different from you. My blood has healing properties. You should know that better than anyone."

It was only then that recognition dawned on her face. "You mean...?"

"Yes, it was my blood that healed your body that day."

"But..."

Davin sighed yet again. He did not know whether he would be able to fake being human for very long this go around. He decided to take a chance and see what happened. "How? I'm a vampire... and anyone who consumes the blood of a vampire while still alive becomes a ghoul. You are a ghoul... and I need you. I am tired."

"V-Vampire!?!? Wait, this is some kind of fetish thing right, not the 'bleh bleh' vampire, right?"

He just gave her a rather flat look. He didn't want to have to kill her, but if she freaked out, he would be left with little choice...

Fortunately, when the shock wore off, she seemed to be okay with the idea. She set up her bedroom with heavy curtains and blinds. Davin, not taking any chances, slept under the bed that day.

[manofdusk]

Nights turned to weeks and weeks to months. The time Davin spent with Diana changed him significantly. He had begun to awaken earlier in the night and he had once more began to care about things he had long ago stopped noticing.

One such thing was the orphanage he now stood in front of. He had been coming here rather often here recently and always there was a young girl sitting at the window watching him. The first few weeks, they had only watched each other, but then she began to drop notes to him from her window.

He had not mentioned his trips to the orphanage to Diana but he had kept all of the letters this young child had sent him. Her name was Alison and she was eight years old. She was bound to a wheelchair and no one seemed to want to adopt her. These were the things that the little girl wrote in her letters... but this one was different.

Will you adopt me?

Was what was scribbled on the note she had dropped tonight. Davin looked to the ground. He couldn't meet the little girl's expecting gaze... and less than a week from Christmas, no less!

Davin stayed away for several nights after that... but, on the night before Christmas Eve, he set a garbage bag on the door of the orphanage, stuffed with toys for little girls and labeled To Alison... but, as he walked away, he felt eyes watching him. Looking up toward her window, just for a moment, he caught a glimpse of her as she left the window. Despite the brevity of the encounter, the pain was evident upon the little girl's face.

I am sorry little one...

He walked down the street that night, and the next, and the next... the little girl's last letter haunting his sleep.

Nearly a week later, he passed by the orphanage. He wasn't sure why, but he missed seeing Alison at her window. He wondered if she had forgiven him... but, when he looked up at her window, she was not there... so he continued on his way.

Less than a block down, he heard a small metallic creak but pretended not to notice. He smelled the scent of flowery soap, fabric softener, and cookies and he smiled. However, there were other scents here too... or unwashed bodies, blood, sweat, and alcohol. He pretended not to notice but quickened his pace, hoping his little tag-along would get frustrated and turn around. He turned around the corner and was about to dash off until he heard a little girl scream.

He peaked around the corner and finally saw Alison. She was bundled up in winter clothing. It looked like she had been waiting on him to show up again. There were two men blocking her way and the ice on the ground prevented her wheelchair from backing up.

Davin crossed the distance in a flash, standing to his full height mere inches behind them, speaking in a tone as level as he could. "Is there a problem gentlemen?"

The two men nearly jumped out of their skins as they turned quickly. One slipped on the ice, falling on his back out in the road. Davin shook his head and smiled at Alison. "You shouldn't be out here all by yourself. It's dangerous."

When Alison responded, Davin's heart almost melted. It was the first time he had actually heard her voice. "I wasn't alone. You were with me."

Davin was left scratching his chin. He wasn't sure how to reason with the logic of an 8 year old. "We need to get you home."

Alison pouted and looked down. "Y-you don't want me either? It's the wheelchair isn't it? Nobody wants me..."

She had begun to cry and Davin was at a loss. He looked at the two men who had now gotten their footing. They were leaving but were casting lingering glances at her... the kind that made him want to gouge their eyes out. "You do understand that I can't just take you, right? There are proper channels people have to go though for this kind of thing... and I don't have the qualifications to adopt. Do you understand?"

His attempt at an explanation didn't calm Alison in the slightest and finally he sighed. "Please, stop crying. I'll look into it... see what I can do."

That was enough to stop the waterworks. She sniffled and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "You really mean it? Promise?"

He crouched down by the wheelchair. "Listen, like I said. I don't know what I can do, if anything... but if you really want it that badly, I can give it a shot. OK?"

She smiled and reached out to hug him. He was a bit taken aback at how readily she had taken to him.

He helped her sneak back into the orphanage and left quickly.

This is going to be a huge headache. Maybe the Nosferatu can make this easier.

After several nights, pulling in what few favors he had, then doing a job involving "night security" at a techie shop, he finally managed to get an alternate Identity... something to let him pass through security checks, apply for things legally and such, etc.

Then there was the discussion with Diana about it. Her first reaction was shock, then doubt, but finally agreement. It took nearly two weeks before he managed to get himself in a position where he could start the adoption process. He managed to get an interview with the manager of the orphanage after dark, explaining that he had a rare condition that caused sunlight to be poisonous to him.

Though there were issues with his "condition", he did manage to convince them that he was a qualified parent and they ended up bringing Alison home.

As they rode together in Diana's car, Alison was all smiles. "I almost thought you weren't coming back! But you came! You really really came for me!"

Davin rustled her hair, causing her to giggle. "I made a promise, didn't I?"

... though, in the back of his head, doubt gnawed.

Is this really the best thing for her? Can I do this as I am now?

[manofdusk]

Though it was an odd situation, living with an eight year old wheelchair bound little girl, Davin adapted quickly. Soon, he could not figure out how he ever lived any other way. Despite her occasional temper tantrums, she was a delight to be around, considering the "people" he had to work with.

After almost five months, Alison and Davin sat together watching the TV when she just blurted out what was on her mind. "Davin? Can I call you Daddy?"

The question shocked him into silence for a moment but he smiled and hugged her. "Nothing would make me happier, Little One."

He stood then, because he had business in town. Before he left, he took another look at his family. Diana was in the kitchen and Alison watching the TV. He chuckled to himself. It was hard to believe that this was happening to him when, almost a year ago, he had almost lost himself entirely to the Beast in his quest for vengeance.

He flipped open his cell phone and rang the Sheriff. There was a new lead on a pack of Sabbat getting rowdy in the city and the Sheriff needed someone who spoke their language to go "negotiate" with them, preferably with a bat.

He followed the lead to an abandoned building. He then pumped his muscles full of stolen blood, using a few spare blood packs to restore some of what he lost before peeking in through a partially boarded window.

They were there. Davin grinned ferally as he licked his fangs. He made quick, quiet steps to a window that was not as heavily boarded and slipped in quietly. He took off his sunglasses and peeked around the corner, letting his claws extend to full length. He let his augmented speed take effect before he dashed around the corner, crippling two of them with massive strikes and disemboweling a third before they could react to the threat. He dashed toward the exit as Davin fell upon his wounded comrades, consuming them to refuel. When he left the building, he found no trace of the last one.

After sniffing around for a while, he gave up and returned home for the night.

The next evening, when he awoke, he found Diana pale and shaken... in front of her was a note.

We know where you live.

Immediately he had Diana take Alison back to the orphanage and then told her to disappear. He gave her money for a plane ticket to another city.

Despite Alison's screaming and crying, Davin left her at the orphanage with a hurried excuse then went to see Diana off at the airport.

As Davin passed the orphanage on the way back from the airport, he scented blood on the air. He brought the Chevrolet to a screeching halt and lept from the car.

The smell of death inside the orphanage was overwhelming. Blood stained the floor and walls. The caretaker's corpse was ripped to shreds and bleeding on the floor. Other than that, there were no bodies... just blood... and no sign of any of the kids living here. Davin screamed.

Howling for blood, Davin lept into the car and gunned the car back to the apartment. He ran up the stairs and searched for a gun. However, he sniffed unfamiliar scents on the air in the room. His eyes widened as he saw the small package laying on the bed. He dashed out the window just as a massive fireball rolled out behind him.

He broke a rib as he hit the ground and he staggered to his feet. He reached inside his pocket only to find that his phone was shattered. He staggered to a pay phone and called the Sheriff, calling in all the favors he had left to find out what had happened to the orphanage.

He climbed in the car and made his way to Hollywood. It was here that the Sheriff said he would find his mark. He found the address and stopped. He no longer cared about tact or subtlety. He put his fist through the window pane and stepped through.

Immediately, he was attacked by a... THING it almost resembled a humanoid, except that its abdomen was entirely a grotesque head. He tore through the creature with his claws... but its blood smelled... human... mixed with vampire blood.

A ghoul?

He had no time to contemplate it for there were several more. They bit into him and he bit back, refelling on their corpses. Once he had a moment, he almost retched as he saw his grotesque surroundings. There were chairs made of bone, curtains made of intestines, bathtubs filled with gore, and worse besides.

He blocked his sense of smell and put the images from his mind. Alison was somewhere in here. He needed to find her and get her out. He opened his ears and heard sounds coming from the basement. He crept downward, only to find some sort of inhuman creature working on a small body strapped to a table. He was reshaping it into one of those creatures that had attacked him earlier.

His gaze drifted from the body to what was beside the workbench and his stomach lurched... Alison's wheelchair was empty...

He burst from his hiding space, claws extended, face streaked with tears of blood, pulled back in a feral rage.

The creature dodged. "My my, how hasty. I apologize if my creations disturb you."

Davin lashed out in a frenzy of claws and fangs but this thing seemed to dance just out of reach every time. Davin screeched and charged again. This time the thing pulled a shotgun on him, launching him off his feet and into a pile of boxes. The weight smashed his arm, pinning him beneath tons of iron worming material. Davin screeched in hatred, beyond all reason.

"Non now. I can't have you going around damaging my property."

He pointed toward Davin and more of those small creatures crawled out of the woodwork. Grabbing a pipe and crushing the end. He impaled his pinned shoulder and wrenched free with a scream of agony. He followed it by impaling the attacking creatures on the pipe and tossing it to the ground.

The pain returned Davin to his senses. "You monster! Get away from my daughter! I'll kill you!"

"Daughter? Ah, well, she's not yours anymore."

Davin threw the pipe as hard as he could... but it passed THROUGH him. The creature smiled. "And I'm afraid that it would be quite impossible to kill me from here. You can have your daughter back... what's left of her anyway."

He laughed as his image faded into nothingness. Davin staggered over to Alison. She had been twisted into an inhuman form, barely recognizable as the vibrant girl she once was. Only one of her eyes still worked, the other having been removed from its socket and rerouted through her cheek. "D-Daa..."

That small vocalization caused a spasm of wracking coughs, opening wounds on her now thin skin. He ruffled what was left of her hair and bundled her up. He took her to the car and took a canister of gasoline. He doused the house in gas and led a small trail off from it, struck a match, and let the den of sadism and horror go up in flame. He checked into a hotel.

He could sense Alison's life force fading. If he did nothing, she would die... but if he did save her, what kind of life would he give her.

"tch"

He bit into his wrist. "Listen, Little One, Daddy's going to make it better. Trust me and drink, please."

He put his wrist to her lips and let her drink, willing the blood to work its magic... but nothing.

Her life continued to fade at an alarming rate. His mind turned to the Embrace and a hundred thoughts raced through his head.

What if the Prince catches me?

What if it doesn't work?

What if it doesn't heal her?

Do I even have any right to do this?

End the end, he sighed.

If this works, then it is worth any price I have to pay.

...and so he bit down, draining the blood from her veins and feeding her yet more of his vitae...

...
......
.........

but nothing. 30 minutes passed, then an hour, then 2, then he began to smell decay...

Three weeks later, Diana returned and found him, still kneeling in front of Alison's grave...