“…Melissa!” Calypso tried to smile with her razor fangs of her own. “What… Timing!”
The new Consumed tried to catch her breath, tried to rise to her feet. All that resulted in Melissa swaying in place, haggardly looking upon the two crowds that were before her.
But the fact that the horde of Bat Subsumed were still and silent, waiting for something, when seconds before they were ready to swarm the girls… Really made Calypso anxious.
“A-as you can see—” Natalie tried to hop onto damage control, in hopes to aid Calypso. “—We couldn’t bust you out of there because, uh, trying to save the world at the moment—wasn’t because we forgot you or some level of neglect on our parts—also uh, I’m good now—I know that’s a tad confusing given your timeline—”
Calypso sensed Sal lean toward her, and the skeletal monster girl turned to see her cousin in position to fire when ready.
“I know when yer all… Freaked out an’ lyin’,” Sal whispered with caution. “Only way to tell that ya’ are… Is this—is she al’ight?”
“WHAT ARE YOU WHISPERING OVER THERE--?!” Melissa coughed and pointed her claw at the duo. “I’M PART-BAT NOW—I CAN HEAR THINGS--!”
“My cousin is just newly thrusted into all this—just like you,” Calypso raised her own claws, showing her palms. “No one is accusing anyone of anything.”
Calypso stepped forward, causing Melissa to immediately tense so violently, so feral, it caused Calypso to abandon that tactic.
“Melissa’s just like the rest of us!” Gale cheerily answered Sal, and proceeded to ease toward the broken girl. “First time Consumed, just like a first-time caller~ It’s uber intense, becoming one at first, like—you have to keep yourself from freaking out AND eating people, it totally sucks…”
Somehow, Gale managed to get so close to Melissa, that she effortlessly brought the vampire in for a hug. No judgment, no caution. Even Melissa didn’t know what to make of the gesture.
Gale quickly broke off the hug, and gently draped an arm around Melissa, as if she were a longtime friend. “It’s why we all promised to help her, like, with no questions asked~ It’s just that everything was tense, basically the worst possible time where we were all busy and caught off guard. And there’s definitely no stopping us now~!”
Melissa’s wild eyes settled, and her muscles visibly relaxed as they shifted in her violet skin. Letting loose a build-up, soothing sigh of relief—the lightest steam pouring from her now full lips.
Calypso had to withhold her own sigh of relief. Always able to count on Gale in the strangest of ways.
And yet it wasn’t enough to completely sate her unease. She glanced back to the horde… It was unnerving.
They were just… Gawking. Letting the shadow-based drool dribble out from their slack jaws. Their black, beady eyes were glazed. Even with a certain number where they still had human remains hanging from their skulls, their stolen gazes were just as bewildered.
Then it clicked for her.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
The chants of “MELISSA HARKER!” erupted from within her mind, as she recalled the moment they all found out when she was alive.
Calypso had to figure out what it meant. And fast.
“Okay, okay…” Melissa slipped out of Gale’s gesture, before realizing she was lightly covered in slime, trying to awkwardly wipe it in a way that didn’t offend the swamp monster girl. “I… I think I’m fine now. Me being a raging monster now aside—"
“So we’re cool?” Natalie asked.
Melissa turned her gaze towards Natalie, some trepidation etched across her face. “If you’re all good with me just leaving and never looking back, then sure…”
“Leaving--?” Natalie asked further.
And before Melissa could get more agitated, Calypso raised a claw to stop Natalie from going further. “I can imagine a couple of reasons why, but if we may be so bold in hearing you out…”
“It’s not rocket science, guys—” Melissa waved her arms, at the wreckage of the town. “I knew this place was fricked up from the start! Heck, I’m sure other people will too, if you guys get through this! I’m leaving, I’m packing my stuff, and I’m leaving this… Literal Hell hole!”
“W-without learning more about the whole Consumed lifestyle?” Natalie piped in again, leaning forward almost. “You need pointers—not to mention we have the perfect vet to get proper training from—”
“Why are you all so insistent on me staying all of a sudden?” Melissa questioned, not at all hiding her malice. Her confusion and fear.
“All we want is for you and others to be safe…” Calypso carefully gestured to the burning, twisted remains of the town. “We don’t want you and anyone else to suffer anymore. We’re standing on what could end up happening. Plus, Cassie could still be out there—willing to follow you—”
“Cassie’s dead.”
That caused Calypso to pause. To glance back toward Natalie, then to Gale—they both shared different but the same confused-looking faces.
“Now hold on—” Sal looked at Calypso. “Who’s Cassie—give me a history lesson—”
“The one that caused this—is a bigger bat monster except not really because she’s a Vampire—she wants to fuck over everything—is why Melissa’s a Vampire—NOT blaming you Melissa—by the way--” Natalie was blistering fast in her delivery.
But it caused Calypso to remember why she did the gesture from before.
The Bat horde continued to do nothing. Nothing but gawk at this comedy skit.
Calypso was more certain than ever, about what was going on here.
“W-what do you mean, Cassie’s dead…?” Gale asked the question Calypso desperately wanted to ask.
“Iunno,” Melissa shrugged, folded her arms. “Figuratively? Metaphorically? I really fucking hope—sorry—that it’s literal… Whatever it was but when I was in that book… She came to me. It wasn’t a puppet thing, that’s what I thought at first but no… She said her final words and everything. She’s gone.”
Calypso clenched her claw into a fist.
“…As much as I believe you,” Calypso began. “That’s all the more reason you have to stay here—”
“Fuck you, why?!” Melissa suddenly roared, her blood-red eyes glowed in response.
“Melissa, if you could please calm down—” Calypso tried to explain.
“FUCK YOU, WHY?!” Melissa swiped forward. “HAVEN’T I GONE THROUGH ENOUGH?! I FUCKING DIED, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!”
Calypso glanced at the horde.
They were suddenly animated. Shaking excitedly, nodding, and looking at each other with energy.
Approval.
“Well, I’m going to spell it out—” Natalie stepped in. “—Since, y’know—you keep asking. Like it or not, she made you into this thing. Which means that some part of her still lives on in you. You’re not our enemy—you don’t have to be. So let’s just calm down and figure this out—”
“Aw hell…” Sal muttered. “The worse choice of words ya’ can say ta’ a person when they’re mad…”
Melissa stood there. Shook with her claws now open, at her sides as she gritted her fangs.
“Melissa… We just want to help you out…” Gale offered her hand, even as it softly dripped.
“You’re not an enemy,” Calypso quickly added. “You’re a victim. Like us. Not a monster.”
In response, the Vampire Consumed’s wings unfolded from their makeshift dress. Spreading them completely, as the Bat Subsumed horde cheered.
“…I guess you have to be one,” Melissa stared at her new enemies, with her head lowered. “To get what you want.”
Sal and Natalie responded faster than Calypso could remotely form words. Firing their respective ammo at the Vampire, as she hunched forward in pain immediately.