A Vampiric Hook

You’re awakened by shouting, which quickly becomes clear. “Sir, we’ve finally caught one!” You quickly get up, throwing on your silver-threaded gambeson, belt and baldric, and of course hat.

Exiting, weapons already attached and ready, you come to find her. A vampire, caught in a net. One of the hunters quickly explains what happened. “Caught this bat sneaking through the foliage, triggered a silver ward and got netted. Turned out to be a vampire, not just a blood-bat.”

You examine her. Pale skin, freckled by brown and black dots across the nose and shoulders. Wearing clothes that would best be called a nightgown, and with hair as black as night. Crimson eyes meet yours.

“Strangest part is, they ain’t the least bit hostile yet.” Another soldier comments. You nod.

“That is strange. So, vampire, why are you so… docile?” You ask her directly.

“Oh, it’s nothing.” She responds, voice silky and dreadful at the same time. Honeyed tones that could ensnare unprotected bodies from their owners or weave themselves into one’s mind. None here flinch. “I would’ve expected to be dead by now, but this is just curious~” She smiles innocently, yet her fangs are barely visible. “Why would the hunters play with their prey?”

You smirk. “Now, now. Can’t tell you everything, lady.” You slip a hand into a pouch, bringing out silver-plated cuffs, crouching down to bind her wrists through the net.

“Ooh, someone’s into forepla-”
Your gloved hand covering her mouth shuts her up, and when you pull it away she simply pouts. You roll your eyes. “Prepare the prison tent, two of you help me move her.” The net is removed; the silver cuffs will prevent any escape, so you take her to the prison tent prepared by your other hunters.

When she’s seated on her rightful chair, a wooden stool surrounded by a barbed silver cage, you sit outside and sigh. She’s kept staring only at you this entire time, which… while unnerving, you don’t much care for. “What were you doing out here? Judging by your eyes you haven’t fed in a week. And surely going after Hunters isn’t a smart move.”

She scoffs. “Well, duh. But it’s not my fault that you’re camped out here, is it?” She giggles. Trying to play with your mind, despite knowing your tolerance to her magic.

“True, yet some care would’ve been smarter from you.” You sigh, taking a few things out from a pouch.

“Ooh, what’s that?~” She asks, watching you mix the twinned capsules together into one, blue and yellow into an off green.

You get up, and enter her cage, approaching her. Grabbing her by the jaw, she tries to struggle, but with her strength drained by the silver and hunger, she’s weak enough for you to test the concoction on her by forcing it down her throat. Letting her go, you take a step back.

She coughs and hacks, trying to get it out. “W-what the fuck did you do?” She asks, angered. Destroying her playful shell in an instant.

“Stand up and maybe I’ll tell you.”

She seems to not notice that she’s already standing by the time she speaks again. “And why in the fuck would I do t– what the fuck??” She glances at the ground, at her own self standing up beside the chair, then you. “Oh, you fucks. You absolute silver-snorting assholes!”

You can’t help but laugh as she starts to understand. A very special mix targeting vampires and compelling them to serve the one they first see in front of them. “Now, vampire.” You speak quietly, approaching her. “You will do as I say, and you will not go against me.” You pull out a piece of gold, whispering a quick incantation as it wraps its shape to the five-spoked trident of your organization. “Stand still, and remain silent.”

She strains for a moment, but doesn’t move.

With a hand you shift the nightgown to reveal her collarbone, then press the metal to her skin and whisper another spell to seal the deal. Or, rather, to seal her fate. When your hand retreats the metal remains, buried in her skin. Invisible, detectable to only high magic, and a mark that’ll ensure she cannot fight the Organization.

“We leave at sundown.” You tell her. “We’re headed to Castle Innoris, and you’ll work with me from now on, vampire. You shall remain here, where nobody will know what really happened to you.”

She smirks a bit, seeing that you might not quite be as pure as you seem, but as she’s compelled to comply… she simply slumps to the ground.

“I’ll have them bring a blanket and pillow at least. You may speak, but quietly.” You crouch down by her side. “Tell me what your name is. And title, if you have one.”

“I’m… Marissa Elize von Althengrand, Lady of the Blood Crown.”

Your eyes widen a bit, and you laugh. “Pleasure to meet you, Your Highness.” You tell her. The first experiment, successful and on a trueblood, even! You get up, nodding to her. “Thank you for understanding.” You leave, and order the hunters to keep watch outside, after bringing a fresh pillow and blanket into the cell. You return to sleep, since dawn’s rapidly approaching and you’d rather be wide awake when it’s time to deal with Marissa.

The day rolls past, and you spend some time preparing for your departure. The rest of the hunters will remain here, soon continuing on their travel towards Fort Cavenir, to the south. When you return to her cage, you smile, almost grin. “We’ll be leaving tonight, vampire.” You speak differently in front of the others. Her acknowledging smirk from yesterday proven right again since you speak as if you don’t know her name. “Ever travel by motorized carriage?” You ask, using magic to add a whisper to the end of the sentence. “While we aren’t alone, you’re to answer without compulsion.”

“Is… is that horrible line how you engage with ladies back home?” She laughs, picking up on the latter and immediately returning to her outer shell. “Tch, should’ve known hunters to have no taste. I have, if you truly must know, but they pale in comparison to horse-drawn or even slave-drawn ones. Such… emotionless machinery.”

You roll your eyes. She didn’t have to go that hard into her persona. But the other hunters seem disgusted by her, so it’s at least useful. “So says the harlot; alas, you’ll remain in cuffs. While I know you’d prefer freedom, it’s not our style to let our quarry out so easily.” You step out and start to arrange things for your departure; the chain of command and such.

By the time of departure, she’s put in proper silver manacles and cuffs at both her hands and ankles, as well as a gag forced into her mouth and a blindfold over her eyes. She resists, further playing into the act.

Transferred into the carriage, you climb in with her, and after a bit things start to roll. And, after a few minutes, you reach over and take off the gag, followed by the blindfold. “So unpleasant.” You sigh. “Forcing a Blood Crown to do such things, when you’re suited for much greater tasks.” You smile at her, taking out a well-sealed phial. “Part those thin lips of yours but remain perfectly still, let me get some color back in your flesh.”

She parts them obediently, eyes fixed on yours still. You uncork it, and can see her body flinch, jerking a little towards the unsealed blood in front of her. But she remains still as you pour it into her mouth, letting her consume the entire thing. She shudders and lets out a drawn-out sigh, her lips reddening and eyes changing from blood-red towards orange, then a hazel brown. Her flesh less pale, less wiry.

“Good girl.” You use a whisper of magic to cancel those orders, patting her thigh.

She groans. “Fucker.” She then giggles. “But, mm. I wasn’t expecting anyone so… unique to be my captor. Usually I imagine your kin are more… violent and inquisitive, no?“

“Hunters? Sure. My kin, not so much. The Fifth Trident is… less interested in destroying the vampires than we are using them.” You smile softly. “Oh, and before I forget. Any knowledge about the Fifth Trident is only spoken about with my explicit permission.” You ensure the order’s in place. “For this conversation, I’ll allow you to speak of the Fifth.”

She winces a bit as her throat constricts, about to respond before you give your order allowing her. “N-nh, do you have to use that… stuff?”

“That ‘stuff’ is the reason you’re alive. Well… more like the reason you aren’t being treated more violently and inquisitively. Being tortured in the woods by… savage means.” You sigh. “And yes, I do. I’m bound by my duty, but you’re… a shackled vampire. Against being used, I’m sure, even if it benefits your own life.”

She tilts her head from curiosity, leaning back. The shackles more audible than her movement, even on the leather seat. “Benefits me? Surely you don’t simply mean my survival under your little organisation?”

“Oh, not at all… shall I call you by Eliza?” You smile as she nods. “Good. Whatever the case, a vampire’s a vampire, so we can’t just have you running around. You’ll lack certain freedoms, but in exchange you’ll be protected from hunters.” She gasps as you lash out at the curtain, uncovering it to shine the setting sun on her.

Only for nothing to happen. “What… does this mean?” She asks, as if she’s unable to believe her own senses. Other than the warmth of the sun, there’s no reaction.

“The seal protects you. Both from the sun and holy water, but from other things as well. Controlled by me, not any other.” You tell her. “So, as long as you’re with us, you will never have to fear the sun, silver, holy water, or anything we hunters use.”

She’s still rather… shocked by disbelief, blinking rapidly and staring at you. “Why… would you want that?”

A.