Christopher?

Vivian stood behind Kit, fear like adrenaline through her system. Someone had just burst into Kit's apartment, knocked the door clear off. And now they stood in front of Kit, tall and foreboding. Vivian couldn't see much because Kit stood in the way, but from the tension she saw in Kit's shoulders, there was no way to twist this into a good thing.

"W-What are you doing here?" Kit asked, his voice shaking.

"Can a sire not see those whom he has given life to?" The other man asked, voice deep and silky.

Kit shook his head. "You should not be able to get in here."

"Oh you mean the wards?" The man Kit called sire asked. "Yes, I took those down. Took quite some time." The vampire in front of her shivered. "I wanted to see you Christopher, it's been so long."

"I-I thought you had let me go." Kit said, taking a small step back.

"Oh, my dear Christopher." The other man said, taking a step towards Kit. He used that name again, Christopher. Was that what Kit's real name was? "You will never escape me."

Kit went completely silent, his body becoming even more tense than before.

"What are you hiding from me?"

Vivian felt her heart drop. Hide. Kit's warning replays in her mind. Is this who he wanted her to hide from? "Nothing, sire."

"It does not look like nothing." The other man's form was in front of Kit, his hands grabbing Kit and shoving him aside. Deep red eyes land on Vivian, and she takes in the man standing before her. This man was just as beautiful as Kit, long blonde hair tied back, sharp angles to his face and a smooth complexion. "Definitely doesn't look like nothing."

"Sire, please." Kit pleads with the man, but from the red eyes, she assumed this was another vampire. "She is not worth your time."

"Christopher." The vampire bit out, his arm launching out and grabbing Kit by the throat, shocking Vivian. "You know I hate lying."

"Don't hurt him!" Vivian yells, feeling herself move a step forward, but then the vampire's deep red eyes snapped to her, and she completely froze. There was something about those eyes, something sinister and evil. Vivian felt herself shiver. She can understand why Kit was so terrified of this person.

He just looked at her, Kit struggling against the man's hand. Fear and panic mixed in her stomach. "And you are?"

"No one." Kit gasps out, fingers clawing at the hand on his neck. "Please, sire, she is no one."

"If she was," the vampire looked at Kit, "you wouldn't be trying to stop me."

"Please," Vivian pulled the vampire's attention back to her, "don't hurt him."

The vampire releases Kit, the man crumbling down to the ground coughing as he grabs at his throat. The vampire's attention was still on her, his eyes narrowing as he stared. "You're not human, are you?"

Vivians eyes go wide. Oh, no. He didn't know, did he? Would he harm her? Looking down to Kit on the ground, she assumed he definitely would. "W-What do you mean?" She struggles to get out, taking a step back as the man takes one forward.

"I can sense it. There's something special about you, isn't there?"

Panic shot through Vivian as the man continued to encroach upon her space. "N-No!" She says, resisting the urge to grab her necklace.

"Sire!" Kit was in front of her then, arms spread out. "Please, she is nothing-."

Vivian watched as the vampire brought one hand up and then quickly down, claws digging into Kit's chest. Her eyes go wide, reaching out for the man. "Kit!" She screamed, catching the man as he fell to the ground. "What the fuck?" She snaps, looking up to the vampire who stares down at them.

"You know better than to cross me." The vampire spoke from above them, looking down at them as if they were filth.

"What is wrong with you?" Vivian spat out at the vampire, moving herself from beneath Kit so she could see the damage. Five long cuts ran across his chest, deep and red. "What the fuck?"

Kit reached for her. "Vivian, don't."

"Oh, so your name is Vivian?" The vampire says, kneeling down to be eye level with them. "How lovely." Vivian stares at the vampire, feeling her face heat with anger. Who was this asshole? She was about to say something, but before she could the vampire quickly stood up. "It seems my time is up. I will be seeing you both again soon."

And then he was gone, leaving Vivian and Kit alone in the vampire's apartment. Vivian instantly moved, going to the kitchen to grab a hand towel. She rushed back to the vampire on the ground, and pressed the towel to the man's chest. "Who the hell was that?" She asked, the adrenaline leaving her making her shaky. Kit tried to sit up, but it seemed the pain stopped him and he fell back to the ground. "Don't move!"

"He knows." Kit said, reaching up and grabbing Vivians arm. "He knows."

Vivian felt her throat close up. "He doesn't know. He's suspicious."

"Vivian, he knows." The vampire was serious, his grip firm.

The woman just stared down at Kit, unsure of what to say.

"Kit!" Viktors voice carries into the apartment, the witch appearing in the doorway as Vivian looks up. "Where is he?"

"Gone." Kit says from below Vivian

Viktor runs into the room and drops to their knees on the other side of Kit. "He used his claws on you."

"I will be fine." The vampire tried to sit up again, and with Viktors help, he did.

"Who was that?" Vivian asks again, both Kit and Viktor looking at each other before looking at her.

"That was Ezra." Viktor begins, helping Kit stand. "He is the vampire who turned Kit."

Vivian froze, the words echoing through her mind. He was the one to turn Kit? That asshole? She watched the two of them stand and moved with them. She thought about the implications of that, of what his life must have been like with this man Ezra in it. Her stomach tightened, realizing it must have been horrible. "That's unsettling." Vivian said, going to support the other side of Kit. She wanted to ask him about the Christopher thing, but decided against it at the moment.

"You have no idea." Viktor said, leading them out of the apartment. They went all the way up to Viktor's penthouse, Kit's breath becoming more labored with each step. The vampire looked really rough, strands of hair fallen over his face, skin looking sickeningly pale.

"Is he going to be okay?" Vivian asks as they lay Kit down in one of the beds. "He looks really bad."

"Thanks." Kit coughed up from the bed.

"His sire used his claws against him." The witch said, hands hovering over the vampire's chest. "It's like a form of punishment, the wounds won't heal as they usually would." Closing lilac eyes, Viktor began to chant something under their breath, their hands beginning to glow a faint white. Vivian watched in fascination as their forearm down to their fingertips glowed white, the witch beginning to move their hands over the claw marks. Their fingers twitched, face scrunching up slightly.

"Is it working?" Vivian asked, watching the wound on the man's chest.

"It's slow." Viktor replied, voice low and hushed as they continued to chant under their breath. Kit's face contorted in pain, gritting his teeth together and hands fisting at his sides.

Vivian moved to stand by the vampires head, reaching out and brushing some of Kit's black hair off his forehead. "You'll be okay." She said, more to herself than to the vampire lying below her. Crimson eyes caught hers, and she saw the pain within them, the desperation. It made her chest sting.

"This will take some time." Viktor said, their voice strained. "You should wait in the living room."

"No." Vivian spoke, a little too quickly. "No, I want to stay." She said a little slower, but the panic she felt made it hard to speak. Leaving his side was something she really didn't want to do. "Please, let me stay."

Viktor looked at her for a moment, lilac eyes shifting between the vampire and her. "As you wish." The witch replied, moving their attention back to Kit. Vivian was thankful that was all they said on the matter, the woman turning her own attention back to Kit.

They stayed like that for Vivian doesn't know how long, Viktor's glowing hands moving over the claw marks, Kit gasping and grunting in pain as the witch worked. At some point the witch pulled their hands away, the glow dissipating and returning their hands to normal. Letting out a breath, the witch looked over at Vivian. "I've done all I could." They said, exhaustion clear in their voice.

"You've done more than I could." Vivian comforts the witch, Viktor giving her a soft smile. "What now?"

"Now," Viktor begins, straightening their back, "I need to bandage him up, and then let him rest." Stretching their back, the witch moves into what Vivian assumed was the bathroom at the other end of the room.

"Vivian." Kit's voice sounded below her, pulling the woman's attention down to the vampire. He looks up at her, somehow even more exhausted looking than Viktor. "Thank you." He says as he breathed out.

The woman paused. "For what?"

"Staying by my side."

A warmth floods Vivian as she looks down at the vampire, him looking up at her with an expression she couldn't even describe. It made her heart and stomach flutter. She had the sudden, overwhelming urge to kiss him, and Vivian could feel herself leaning forward without thinking. There was this tiny sound that came from Kit, but it was blocked out by the press of her lips to his.

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It was soft and gentle, a brushing of lips more than a kiss. Then Vivian pulled herself back, quick enough to give her whiplash. "I-I..." Vivian began, looking down at a Kit whose expression was of complete shock and awe. What the hell did she just do? Heat flashed across her skin, the woman knowing she was flushed across her cheeks.

"Here we go!" Viktor calls as they exit the bathroom and reenter the bedroom. They don't seem to notice either Kit nor Vivians expressions, and if they did, they don't say anything. They just go back to the spot they were standing before besides Kit. "Can you sit up?"

Kit just blinks for a moment, as if gathering himself. "Uh, yeah. I think." He mutters, pressing hands to the mattress and pushing himself up. It doesn't look like he had an easy time doing it, but with the help of Viktor, the vampire sits up.

Meanwhile, Vivian stands completely still, thinking about what she just did, because what did she just do? Why had she kissed him? Oh gods, did she just ruin everything? It was an impulse, a fleeting thought that crossed her mind as she looked at Kit, as he looked at her with such a soft expression. It felt natural to just lean down and kiss the vampire, until she did it and realized what she had just done. And the look of shock and awe on his face. It was a good thing he didn't look upset, she supposed.

Hazel eyes move to watch as Viktor picks up a pair of scissors and cuts the vampire's shirt away. Vivian felt herself flush even more as the witch peeled the shirt off, revealing the man's back. The woman almost looked away, until something caught her eye. Scars. Dozens of tiny ones scattered across his skin with a few larger ones. Her breath caught in her throat as she stared at them, her mind reeling with the thoughts of how did he get so many?

Viktor manages to bandage Kit up, his chest wrapped tightly. The vampire laid back down on the bed, chest rising and falling evenly. He even looked a little better than before, but his expression was guarded as the room stilted with silence once Viktor was done.

"She has to go to Niccolo's." Kit's voice cut through the silence, his words a shock to Vivian.

"What?" The woman said, her back straightening.

"Is that what Niccolo decided?" Viktor asked, crossing their arms. "You know if you show up unannounced-."

"Niccolo suggested the idea to me when I told him Vivian is an aether reservoir." Kit cut the witch off, looking away from them. "I was supposed to bring her to him to have a conversation about it."

"Wait, wait, go to Niccolo's? You mean that creepy mansion in the middle of the woods?" Vivian said, pulling both Viktor and Kit's eyes to her. When she meets Kit's eyes, the vampire looks away. "W-Why?"

"Ezra knows what you are." Kit said, looking back to Viktor.

"He doesn't know, he just has a suspicion." Vivian offered, because that's what she believed. The vampire couldn't have known, she was wearing the necklace after all. "Which I still don't know how he could have with the necklace."

"The necklace might not be strong enough to deter Ezra." Viktor muttered, placing a hand to their chin. "He is a very powerful vampire, he might still have been able to sense the excess aether within you."

"You're kidding me." Vivian said, feeling her body deflating. "So he knows?"

"He knows." Kit said, lilac and hazel eyes moving to the vampire. "Which is why we can't stay here. We can't stay in Lake Ashton."

"So what, we run off to Niccolo's?" Vivian argues.

"Yes. That is exactly what we do." Kit looks at Vivian finally, and there's an intensity there she wasn't expecting. "It is the only way to keep you safe."

Vivian is silent, unsure of what to say. Of course she didn't want to go, the last place she wanted to go was to that mansion again. But she knew her home wouldn't be safe, plus with Ophelia there, she would be put at risk. And the apartments clearly aren't safe anymore, as Ezra was able to easily walk in and break into Kit's apartment. So her only real choice was to go to Niccolo's estate. "Would... would I be going alone?" She asked, keeping her eyes on Kit.

Something softened in the vampires's expression. "No. I would be staying there with you."

Vivian nodded, looking at Viktor. "So when do we go?"

"Now, preferably."

✩

Vivian called Ophelia and explained everything that had happened. When she went home to gather some of her stuff for her stay at Niccolo's, Ophelia helped her pack. They also came up with a lie to tell Ophelia's mom, as she wouldn't be working at the cafe anytime soon. The lie ended up being that Vivian's grandmother in Texas reached out to her and asked her to come down and visit, to which Vivian agreed to. Luckily, Ophelia's mom was more than happy to comply, giving Vivian as much time off as she needed.

That same day, they were off to Niccolo's. Kit had seemed to be feeling better, the man moving about easier than he was earlier. It was a long drive, and Vivian was surprised to see the same route in daylight. They stayed on the highway for a while before finally turning off on a dirt road that led deep into the woods.

"We need to discuss why we are there." Kit said in the silence, the car remaining quiet since the two of them climbed inside.

"Okay." Vivian replied, looking over to the vampire. "It's because I'm an aether reservoir, right?"

Kit bit his lip. "Yes, but no one there can know that. It has to be kept a secret." Crimson eyes looked over at her for a moment, but quickly returned to the dirt road. "So we had to come up with a reason why you are going to be there with me."

"And what reason is that?" Vivian asked.

The vampire was quiet, keeping his eyes on the road. "That we are lovers."

"What?" Vivian snapped out, turning her body to him. "Lovers? W-Why?" She felt her face flush, thinking of her impulsive kiss.

"It is the only way to keep you safe inside the estate. Other vampires will leave you alone if they believe we are lovers, and I will not be expected to drink from you. It was what both Niccolo and Viktor suggested. It... it was the best idea."

The woman just sat there, mouth open. Lovers. Oh gods, she had to pretend to be lovers with Kit? It wasn't like that was a horrible thing, but it conflicted with the feelings she felt which... well she wasn't so sure on yet. "How is that the best idea?"

Kit looked over to Vivian, his eyes hard. "It is the only way to keep you safe in there Vivian, please." And there it was again, that desperation leaking into his expression. It made her stomach twist and lurch. "I know it is not ideal, but it is the only way."

Vivian looked at Kit, wanting to argue, wanting to resist, but the look he was giving her, the desperation in his expression, it took her fight away. "Fine." She said softly, sitting back in her seat. "We can pretend to be lovers."

"I am sorry, Vivian." The vampire said, looking back to the road.

"Don't apologize. If it's really the only way..." She let her sentence drift off.

"It is." He affirmed, but his voice sounded tired.

Silence fell over the car for a little while, at the same time, Vivian kept repeating the events in her head, watching Ezra strike down Kit, the way he spoke down to him. She remembered how Ezra had called Kit 'Christopher', and the scars she saw while they bandaged him up. Vivian also remembered the way she had bent down and kissed the vampire, her cheeks flushing for a moment. No, no she couldn't think about that, let alone talk about it.

So Vivian settled on something else. She cleared her throat before she spoke. "So... why did he call you Christopher?" She spoke into the silence, guessing that was the easiest thing to start off with.

Only the vampire tensed up at her words, and she almost regretted them. "That is my given name." Kit responded, voice tight. She could see his fingers tighten on the wheel. "I do not go by it anymore."

"I see." Vivian said, and that was it. She didn't want to press more on that at all, by the way he spoke it seemed like a sensitive topic. The woman rattled her brain, thinking of how to bring up the scars, because she really wanted to know about them. There were so many of them. But how do you ask about something like that? "Back at Viktors," she began, "when we were bandaging you up after Ezra had hurt you and I saw... there were a lot of scars Kit."

"You really like to hit sore spots, huh?" Kit spoke in a tight voice.

"I'm sorry! I'm just really nosy I guess... I don't know, I'm concerned about why you had so many." Vivian defended herself, feeling embarrassed for asking. "You don't have to answer."

Silence fell over the car once again, and Vivian felt like she had blown it. But then Kit took in a slow breath. "Since Ezra is my sire, the one that turned me, whenever he injures me with his claws, they leave scars. Most of my other wounds heal just fine without leaving any trace behind, but when Ezra wounds me, it... it does not heal properly."

Vivian was silent at his response, her gut twisting in a horrible way. "H-He gave you all these scars?" She asked, her voice small.

"Yes." Kit answered, keeping his eyes on the road. "They're supposed to be reminders."

She could almost hear Ezra saying it himself. "That's terrible Kit, I-I'm so sorry." It was all she could think of to say, anything else feeling like it fell short.

"You do not have to apologize Vivian. It was in the past, you had nothing to do with it."

"I know, but still, I can't even imagine it."

"Try not to." The vampire said, looking over to her. "It is not a fun thought."

Vivian didn't know what to say to that, so instead she reached a hand out and placed it on his shoulder. She could feel the man tense beneath her, but she didn't remove her hand. "If there's anything you ever want to talk about, I'm here to listen."

Kit's eyes went a little wide as he looked at her, before quickly looking back to the road. "Thank you." He said, his voice tight with an emotion she could not quite pinpoint. "I cannot promise I will ever take you up on that offer, but that is kind of you."

Vivian smiled, feeling like that was still a small win.

It was a long time before the trees started to thin out, and a mansion slowly revealed itself. It was a huge, gray brick building with ivy crawling up the sides, sharp angles and towers reminding her of Victorian homes. It looked beautiful, something out of a story book, especially with the roof covered in a thick blanket of snow.

Parking the car outside of the estates front doors, Kit and Vivian gathered their suitcases and headed for the front door. Knocking on it, the huge wooden slabs opened inward, revealing a foyer lit by chandeliers with candles in them, deep red tapestries covering the gray brick walls.

"Welcome to the Alvera Estate." A man said from behind the door, ushering them in from the cold outside. "Our Master has been expecting you." The man said, and when Vivian looked closer she saw red eyes staring back at her. Vampire. Vivian felt herself clam up, stepping closer to Kit. "I shall lead you to your room."

Your room. As in one room. That's right, they were lovers, so of course they would share a room. But even still, Vivian couldn't help the faint blush that came to her cheeks. They followed the vampire into the estate, tugging their luggage behind them. The vampire led them up a massive set of stairs, and down halls with portraits hung up. When they finally stopped, it was in front of a large set of doors, dark wood with a silver door handle.

"This is where you will be staying." The vampire opened the door, revealing the room within. It was large, very large, with a little table set up and couches by a fireplace. On the other side of the room were glass doors with curtains that led to a massive bed, tall wooden posts creating a canopy. "We hope it is to your liking."

"Yes, thank you." Kit said as he pulled his suitcase inside and set it against the wall. "Where is Niccolo?" The vampire asked the other, placing hands on his hips.

"The Master is currently out, but should be returning in time for dinner." The other vampire said, bowing. "I shall leave you." And then they headed towards the door, closing it behind them as they left.

That left Vivian and Kit in the bedroom, alone.

Vivian walked around the room, fingers running along all the different pieces of furniture.

"I will sleep on the couch." Kit said, not moving from where he stood next to the door.

The woman turned to look at the vampire. As their eyes met, the kiss flashed across her mind. "Are you sure?" She asked, her voice a whisper.

Kit nodded. "The bed is all yours. I will sleep during the day so you may have your privacy at night."

Vivian continued to look at the vampire, her words trapped in her throat. She wanted to say that it was okay, that the vampire could share the bed with her, that it was large enough for both of them, but she just couldn't get the words out. It was too embarrassing. "Y-You don't have to." She struggled to say.

"It is fine, Vivian." The vampire shifted on his feet. "It is the least that you deserve."

But that wasn't what she wanted. "No." Vivian said, the man's eyes widening. "I-I... I would rather sleep at the same time." She managed to say, hands fists at her sides. "I-I want to be able to spend time with you, Kit."

The vampire just looked at her, something akin to longing across his expression. He opened his mouth, but then shut it, looking away from her. "If that is what you wish."

Vivian took a step towards him. "What about you?" Kit looked up at her when she spoke. "What do you wish?"

He didn't say anything as she slowly crossed the room to where he stood. "It does not matter what I wish." The vampire finally said, shaking his head. "What matters is you."

"You matter too, Kit." She said as she approached him, lifting a hand to his face.

Kit grabbed her wrist, stopping her movement. "Do not." Kit said, but it was weak and quiet. "Please, Vivian."

The woman froze. His plea tore her heart open, but she didn't listen and placed her hand on his cheek, his hand still holding her wrist. "Why not?" She whispered. The vampire released a shuddering breath, his eyes fluttering closed at her touch.

"Vivian, please." Kit breathed out, eyes opening and meeting Vivians. There was so much pain in them, it twisted her stomach. "I cannot do this."

"But why?" She pushed him, her thumbs brushing along his cheek.

Again, the man's mouth opened but nothing came out. He shut it, tearing his eyes away from Vivian. "I do not deserve this." He finally said, and it made Vivians chest hurt.

"Kit," Vivian whined, making the vampire look back at her, "of course you do."

The man shook his head against her hand. "No, Vivian, no, you do not understand." Then he took a step back, his face leaving her grasp. "I cannot do this."

And before she could say anything, before she could do anything, the man slipped out of the room, the door shutting behind him. Vivian was left feeling like she had just been rejected, the sting in her chest. But it wasn't that. No, there was something more going on here, there was a reason why Kit resisted so much. I do not deserve this, he had said, and it rang in Vivian's mind. Why would he think such a thing?