“Mom, I’m fine,” Violet said for what felt like the eighth time. Honestly, she felt better than fine. She didn’t really understand who those people of Jasmine’s were, but she had to give them credit. They knew how to clean up a room. The room she was now resting in was positively spotless. If old and a bit creaky.
More importantly, the bed she got to sleep in was the most over the top, pretentious thing she’d ever slept in. It had hanging curtains, she was pretty sure the bedding was actual velvet and everything in the room was this gorgeous dark red. She was beginning to think Scarlet really just liked the color red. Maybe it was a vampire thing. Probably. She supposed she should just be grateful the girl wasn’t named puke green or something.
She felt like some kind of exotic princess now in her fancy room. There was even a balcony she could just walk out onto. Granted, it creaked whenever she stepped on it so she wasn’t sure she wanted to go out there and risk dying. In fact she was already pretty sure almost half the manor needed to be remodeled before it fell down around her head.
But her bedroom was really pretty, so she was oddly more okay with that than she suspected she should be. Even more awesome, she had a really big armoire that she was able to stuff her veritable armory into. Well, once the people who Jasmine had sent to collect her things brought them. But now she had to discuss it with her mother on the phone and, frankly, the vampire was a lot more comfortable to talk to.
“I don’t know,” her mother said. “This sounds really dangerous. What if she gets nippy?”
“I’ll stab her,” Violet said.
“One stab isn’t going to stop a vampire,” her mother said. “Especially if she keeps coming. What about your curse? If you weren’t cursed and a boy again, I don’t think--”
“What’s that, mom?” Violet asked before making static noises. “Mom? I think I’m going through a tunnel! Oh no, I think--” And then she clicked the off button before rolling her eyes. She was NOT in the mood for THAT talk again. Besides, even if she wasn’t a girl, it wasn’t like a boy would have any better luck against a vampire. Boy muscles weren’t much better against undead magical bullshit than girl muscles. The last thing she wanted to talk with her about was trying to ‘undo’ this ‘curse’ of hers.
She flipped through her phone for a few moments, bringing up her messages. A few other hunters had sent her some messages about her current ‘job’, but she didn’t respond. She’d only even announced anything about it so if anyone in her area needed help they’d know they could reach out to her.
Violet muted her phone’s ringing when her mom called her back. Nope. She was NOT getting into another one of those arguments. After a few tries her mom gave up and sent her a text.
‘Meet for lunch tomorrow?’
Violet cocked an eye and texted back. ‘You know my terms.’
‘Fine, no curse talk, I’ll pay. The bakery at eleven?’
Oof. Bakery. Violet considered it for a moment. Her mom really had to be worried if she was going straight to the bakery. Her mom knew she couldn’t resist those delicious little fruit cakes with extra frosting. They were so soft and moist, they almost melted in her mouth. She sighed and texted back. ‘Fine, breakfast at noon.’
‘Isn’t it a bit late for breakfast?’ her mom texted back. Violet could almost read the disapproving tone.
‘I work late nights,’ Violet texted back. ‘Yes or no?’
‘See you then.’
Violet then let her phone drop onto her chest with a light oof. Ow. But hey, at least she’d get some good pastries tomorrow. Those were always nice.
She then grudgingly crawled out of her bed and got to her feet before making her way to the door. Her phone went off again and she rolled her eyes before walking back to her bed to pick it up. She swore if her mom was now texting her about the curse she was going to make sure her breakfast was extra large and expensive. With plenty of things to go.
To her surprise, it was a text from Jasmine. ‘How’s the list?’
‘Massive,’ Violet texted back. ‘How does anyone live here?’
‘Vampire,’ Jasmine texted back.
‘Stove is broken,’ Violet texted back. ‘It’s on the list. Microwave works.’
‘Good. I had some dinner delivered,’ Jasmine texted back.
‘Thanks,’ Violet texted back. She hoped there wouldn’t be any--
‘No mushrooms,’ Jasmine texted back.
Violet stared for a moment. Had she told Jasmine she didn’t like mushrooms? Probably. She hoped. It wasn’t like Jasmine could read minds. Could she? Probably not. She crawled her way out the door and made her way towards the stairs and paused when she passed Scarlet’s door. She leaned in and listened for a moment.
“No, no, maybe if she, mmm, what if she… and then she was all, um, kicked? No, that wouldn’t, gahhh, what are you thinking? That’s no, but what if he bit her and she, hee hee, then she’d kick him and it’d be so cute and they’d--”
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“Having fun?” Violet asked before pushing the door open.
She’d expected to see the vampire sitting at her desk talking to herself.
She did not expect to see the foul, powerful creature of the night in the middle of the room dancing in the most silly, over the top and dusty gray ballgown with an old, faded teddy bear.
Scarlet’s face matched her name and she just stared at the hunter, unmoving.
Violet stared as well, her breath taken away. What was she even supposed to say to that?
“It’s not what it looks like!” Scarlet finally managed to say.
“Are you sure?” Violet asked. “Because it looks like you got into a really pretty dress and are dancing with a teddy bear. I’m not sure what else it could be, but please, enlighten me.”
“It– it’s not– I’m– it’s a scene from the book, Lily and the duke, they’re– there’s a– then they– they do– they– I– i-it’s part of the writing process and I’m sorry! I forgot you were here!”
“No, please, continue, it’s great,” Violet said. “Can I have the next dance?”
“I’m going to go die now, okay?” Scarlet said before turning her back to her and going to sit at her desk. “Can you knock next time, please?”
“Fine, fine,” Violet said. Though, fearsome predator of the night or not, she couldn’t help starting to feel a little bad for the vampire. She did seem really upset. “It really is a pretty dress,” Violet said. “It looks good on you.”
“Please go away,” Scarlet said, her cheeks burning red.
For a moment, Violet considered doing just that. But leaving it like this would probably just make her more embarrassed in the end. “Do you usually dance like that?” she asked in as soothing a tone as she could. “Come on, I really want to know.”
“It’s a writing thing,” Scarlet said softly. “Sometimes I’ll act out little bits and pieces of the scenes to help me better visualize them. Or I’ll listen to music to try and envision the movements. I usually do it alone, though.”
“And sometimes you’ll turn into a bat and fly out the window?” Violet asked.
“I get excited sometimes and second-hand embarrassment is a thing,” Scarlet said sheepishly. “Please don’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t, promise,” Violet said. “If you’d like, next time I could dance with you. Especially if you have another one of those dresses around.”
“This wouldn’t fit you,” Scarlet said.
“What? Why? What’s wrong with me?” Violet asked.
Scarlet blinked a few times before getting to her feet and walking over. She then put a hand on top of Violet’s head and pulled it over to her own, showing the vampire was at least a few inches taller. “Also, your boobs are a lot bigger and you’d probably struggle to breathe. This dress was custom made for me, I’d rather it not tear.”
Violet couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed she wouldn’t get to wear a pretty ballgown. Also, she couldn’t help feeling she was just called short and fat. “Oh, right, I guess… yeah. That’s fair. I--”
“I could get you one, though,” Scarlet said quickly. “I have a tailor. I did. Once. I think? They might still be alive. But I’m sure if they’re not, Jasmine could find one.”
“What? Oh, no, don’t be silly,” Violet said quickly, her cheeks burning now. Unfortunately, an all too familiar look seemed to flash on the vampire’s face. A predatorial grin. Narrowed eyes. Oh shit. Did she have any knives on her? No.
Before she could object, she was pushed up against the wall, Scarlet’s arms on either side of her. Trapping her. She was suddenly all too aware that despite her flustering, Scarlet really was an incredibly dangerous creature.
“I’m going to get you a cute little dress,” Scarlet said in a tone that made Violet’s stomach flutter. “A cute, pretty little dress that you’re going to wear for me. Then you’re going to dance for me. Isn’t that what you said you’d do?”
“Yes,” Violet said. She wasn’t that much smaller than Scarlet, but suddenly she felt like she was being towered over. More importantly, her stomach was twisting into knots and it was so hard to breathe. She could feel the vampire’s breath on her lips and, undead or not, it felt so warm. So wonderfully warm.
“I’m going to dress you up in the prettiest little gowns and make you my pretty little dancing dolly. Doesn’t that sound fun?” Scarlet asked before leaning in a little closer. Her lips almost on hers.
Violet gave a soft little squeak and nodded. “Y-yes, ma’am.”
“And next time,” Scarlet whispered those words, but they felt almost like they were being yelled in her ears. Like they were the only sound in the world. She leaned in closer, her words very, very warm on her ear when the vampire moved her mouth near them. “You’re going to knock and not barge in, right?”
“Yes,” Violet managed to stutter out.
“Good,” Scarlet said before pulling away suddenly. “I– oh. Oh dear. Err, are you okay?”
Violet just dropped to her knees and squeaked a little in response.
“Oh… I… I’m sorry. Was that too much?” Scarlet asked sheepishly.
“What? No, you, you can do that again. If, if you want,” Violet said.
“Oh dear,” Scarlet said, her cheeks going a little redder then. “I guess it was too much. Can you stand?”
“In... in a minute. Just need a minute,” Violet said gently. “That was not very nice.”
“Sorry, I couldn’t help it,” Scarlet said sheepishly. “You were just too cute when you got all flustered.” And then that predatory grin formed on her lips again when she eyed her. “I’ll probably do it again later. Since you gave me permission and all now.”
Violet stared up at her, blinking a few times and struggling to process that. “What? I did?”
“You did. Hee hee. You’re going to look absolutely adorable in a little dress,” Scarlet said before turning around and walking back towards her desk.
Violet blinked a few times, struggling and failing to process how this had happened. Why? What?
When did she so heavily lose control of the situation? And would her stomach please stop making excited little leaps? That had to be some vampire magic, right? Maybe? She hoped? Though being dressed up in a pretty little dress DID sound pretty nice. Especially if it was anywhere near as gorgeous as that bed.