Reader-Insert Vampire Chronicles Edition!

Tiny snowflakes had begun to fall from the dark fluffy clouds that filled the night sky. Things felt still and peaceful. The wind carried a soft whistle that spread through the suburban houses and trees. My breath clouded around my face with every exhale. I watched each snowflake flutter around me and settle upon the roof next to me. I was sitting on the cold roof of the house, Daniel sitting next to me and Armand not too far away from us in the room by the open window. Daniel knew that watching the snow fall and feeling the cold against my skin would calm my nerves and give us a peaceful place to talk like we always did. So here we were on this roof, our eyes glued to the flakes that spread across the quiet neighborhood.

"So when I left the vampire I met in the bar, Louis, I went searching for Lestat. I was obsessed with finding him...with wanting to know him. But while I was searching for Lestat...Armand found me.", Daniel recited to me calmly. Behind me I heard Armand shuffling in the room, hearing his name being spoken.

"And so...now you're...but why?", I asked of him.

"That, would be because of me, I'm afraid", Armand replied, leaning out of the window behind me and Daniel. His breathe curiously didn't cause the same cloud as mine and I began to notice how the cold didn't seem to affect either vampire next to me. Daniel was always quick to become cold, and yet here he sat next to me in just a t shirt and jeans.

"I had become rather obsessed with your friend here, and..haha", he laughed softly as he spoke "I simply had to toy around with him a bit. One thing led to another and...he became my fledgling".

Daniel looked at me with a sympathetic look. I was noticing all the differences in him now. The way his skin looked paler than normal. The way his breath seemed to be more shallow. I saw the way his eyes would dart around every now and then, like he was being haunted by things I couldn't see.

"I came to find you when I noticed that Daniel wasn't the same. The Dark Gift changed him in more the usual way, dear. I thought maybe having you around would bring him around. This is honestly the most he's spoken since I offered my blood to him", Armand said to me.

I looked over at Daniel and moved to hold his hand, but he recoiled from my touch. He felt distant to me and when I spoke to him it was like I was shouting from one building top to another. I didn't know what to do and the only thing I could think of was to tell him a story like I always did for him when he was down. Stories were his hobby, his career and his life. Some people listen to music as though drinking water after a long thirst, and yet Daniel ingested stories like a highly desired meal you've been denied for so long. I sat back and closed my eyes for a moment, once again hearing Armand shuffle within the window sill, perhaps leaving the two of us alone for a moment. He seemed to stay close to Daniel like a clingy lover...or perhaps he was clinging to both of us.

I decided to be lazy in my storytelling for the night and simply recite a story from one of my old videogames to cheer him up. It was one of my favorites and I knew it was one he didn't play.
"A very long time ago, before we spoke the languages that we use now, in a land very different from our own, demons ruled the earth. In their rule, people lived in fear, plants wouldn't grow, flowers wouldn't bloom and streams wouldn't flow. The most frightening demon was a terrible beast named Orochi. He was a frightening eight headed serpent that ruled over Nippon. He favorited a small village in Nippon called Kamiki village. He believed Kamiki village produced the most beautiful maidens in the land. Once a year, just before the harvest season, Orochi would send an arrow into a house that held a maiden. The maiden of the house would then be sacrificed to Orochi. But one year, someone new began to visit the village", I began my story. I saw Daniel glance over at me, my words interesting him.

"The new visitor was a pure white wolf. It was a large wolf that would approach the villagers with no fear. The wolf would look into their eyes as though it would try to speak to them. It seemed to try to play with the children and offer love to the elderly. But the villagers began to fear the wolf, they felt it was a familiar of Orochi's, that it would help him choose his next sacrifice. But what they didn't know was that the wolf was actually a goddess. She was the goddess of the sunlight and the flora. She could make the sun rise and the flowers bloom with more colors than ever."

"Why was she a wolf if she could do all that?", Daniel asked quietly.

"It was simply the form she chose. Perhaps she felt more comfortable in fur than she was in skin. She didn't need to be in a human form", I said.

"Ah, yes. You speak of Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess of the Shinto religion.", a voice said.

I looked over my shoulder to see Marius now at the window Armand once inhabited. He was smiling at me and seemed more interested in my story than Daniel was at this point.

"I know the snow is beautiful, but please, come inside before you chill yourself to the bone", he said gently offering his hand to me. I was reluctant to give him my hand, but something about him put me at ease. I let my hand slid into his own and he helped me crawl my way back into the warm house. The room I stood in was the one Daniel had been using as his own for the past week. My eyes were immediately drawn to the black finished coffin that lay on the floor against the wall. That was where Daniel slept now. Daniel slipped through the window after me and quietly made his way over to his coffin and opened the lid. He muttered something under his breath as he moved to lay down inside the sarcophagus. I moved to approach him, but Marius gently grasped my arm to stop me.

"Give him time, please. The new blood is not sitting well in his veins, it seems. His new eyes are not adjusting well to the way light looks to him now. He needs time to soothe his mind and body, and for him, that means slumber", Marius beseeched. "Armand doesn't understand what he's going through, as Armand had no trouble adjusting to the blood himself, but some new fledglings have a hard time making the transition. Others never quite make it. That's why I am here, to watch over your friend."

"Maybe if I stay around him, it'll help?", I asked quietly of him. He seemed to think this over for a moment, his eyes leaving my own as he thought somberly.

"Perhaps. Though it would do you well to let us know in advance when you come.", he said almost gravely, in warning. I nodded in agreement to his words.

I felt a yawn stirring in my body before it left my body in a silent tremor. Marius smirked at my gesture and moved to lead me out of the room. It was a little unnerving, but it felt like he could read my mind, or perhaps he was so old that he could read every little movement I made and he instantly knew what I was going to do next. We walked in silence down the staircase that led back to the entryway of the house. Armand was waiting for us there, next to the door. He held a heavy black leather jacket...Daniel's, I recognized.

"Daniel said you liked the cold, but I think it's too cold for you to walk home in with just that sweater vest to protect you.", Armand said, offering the jacket for me to put on. I saw him bite his lower lip, his fang protruding a bit at his gesture and his eyes glanced over at Marius, as though he were about to do something that could get him in trouble, and those amber eyes flew back to me with a smile.

"May I walk you home, dear?", he asked, bowing to me with a slight chuckle. I remembered the way he had grasped my hand and held the small of my back as he led me to this house and my face began to blush as my mind was quick to imagine what else he could possibly try to do as he walked me home. Perhaps I don't want this one knowing where I lived...not yet at least. I shook my head at him but allowed him to slide Daniel's jacket over my shoulders. My heart beat increased at the sudden closeness between us. I noticed the specks of gold that lined his eyes and that he was only a few hairs taller than me. He looked so...human. More human than human, hilariously. His fingers lingered on my shoulders and collarbone, almost sliding down to my chest before pulling away. Even his touch was like a lover's.

"I think I can manage to get home on my own, thank you", I said, giving him a small bow of my own, and I bowed my head to Marius as well, who stood a respectable distance away. He bowed back to me with a smile before turning away. Armand stood by the door still, a slight frown on his face.

"Come on, you don't want to be out there alone, do you?", he begged, his hand reaching out for mine. Boy, he really was clingy.

"I'll be fine", I said quickly, pulling my hand away from his out of pure instinct. I saw Marius begin to turn back toward us out of the corner of my eye. His eyes silently told Armand to leave me be. Armand chuckled again and nervously scratched the back of his head, his eyes looking down. My hand reached for the doorknob to leave but before I could fully turn it open I felt Armand lean close and place a soft kiss on my cheek.
I felt a sudden rush of heat in my face and my hand clutched the doorknob tightly as I froze. He stayed close to me and draped one arm around my shoulders loosely as he laughed at my reaction.

"Just be safe out there. Can you do that for me?", he asked of me quietly, his hand grasping at my chin lightly turning my face towards him. I knew my face had to be turning every shade of red discovered by humanity as I stood there with him that close to me and I my eyes widened as he leaned even closer, his lips just barely touching my ear as he whispered.

"You're turning that the wrong way".

I heaved a sigh and quickly turned the doorknob the opposite direction and opened the door, thanking the cold wind that soared through the opening and cooled the blood that rushed to my face. Armand was laughing heartily now and let his arm slip loose from my shoulders as I walked out of the house, my loafers crunching in the fresh snow. The snow was still fluttering down around me, obscuring the distance as I looked on to find my way back home. I slowly felt myself calm once more in the peace of the night snow. Daniel was safe. I met vampires. And they were nice...even sweet. My mind ran through the images of seeing Daniel once more...and of Marius' gentle smile...and of Armand's touch. I felt the blush come back to my face as I wondered once more what would have happened if Armand had come with me.

My thoughts were broken as I heard another set of footsteps crunching against the snow. I looked over my shoulder quickly to see a figure heading towards me quickly. I let myself slow to a stop, with the snow flurries flying against my glasses I couldn't make out who was approaching me. Perhaps Armand couldn't stay away after all? But the person that approached wasn't Armand. Or Daniel. Or Marius. I now wished I had Armand at my side as my vision cleared to see a man with his face hidden by a black mask come closer to me. I desperately tried to reach for my satchel to only realize too late I didn't bring it with me and my eyes were wide with fear to see a blade being pulled, its cold metallic edge glaring in my face.

A voice was demanding money, wallet, whatever I had on me. I couldn't even respond with anything. My hands were shaking and my lip was trembling as I closed my eyes and tried to kick at him as hard as I could in the stomach to knock the wind out of him. My kick was enough to knock him to the ground and I took off running as fast as I could down the street. I could clearly see the short alley that led to one of the bars on main-street. If I could get to main street, I could get to safety. I ran as far as I could, the cold air restricting my lungs as I ran in full panic mode. I wanted to scream but I couldn't find my voice. And as I ran at full speed down the dark alley, my feet found a piece of black ice and I immediately lost my footing and slipped, landing painfully on my back and I felt the back of my head bounce off the pavement. I was left dazed for a moment and when I came too, I felt my pockets being pulled and violated. The cold metal of the knife was being held against my neck as the robber searched my pockets, finding them only occupied by lint and spare change. I heard him sigh and for a moment the knife left my neck. I went to scream for help, leaning my head in the direction of main-street, seeing the light of one of the street lamps bleed into the alleyway.
But before a scream of help could leave my lips, a scream of pain erupted as the knife was rammed into my stomach.

"That's for kicking me, you dumb bitch", the gruff voice said. The knife was pulled from my torso to only be rammed into me once again. "And that's for not having anything on you. You ain't even worth rapin". His knife ripped through me horribly. I could feel my blood pooling around me, even around my head it seemed.

I was screaming. Names, words, cries for help, prayers and the echoes of the pain that filled my being. The robber left me alone there in the alley to die. Snow was falling onto me, landing on my glasses like tiny cold blankets to wrap me in cold frost. Why wasn't anyone going to help me? I closed my eyes as I let myself sink into the pain, wanting the throbbing to stop. My breathe was leaving me in ragged gasps and tears were streaming down my face. My lips were moving in apologies. I'm sorry for all the drawings I wouldn't draw. I'm sorry for all the smiles I wouldn't bring. I'm sorry for all the years I wouldn't be able to see.
In a deep inhale, I could faintly smell cinnamon. I was still gasping as I opened my eyes to see Armand kneeling over me, his beautiful amber eyes wide and almost teary. His hands were on my neck and cheek. His lips were moving, but I couldn't hear what he was saying. At this angle below him, I could see his fangs peeking with the movement of his lips. My hand was slowly rising from their place in the pool of my blood to lightly touch his cheek. My fingers were covered in blood and ice and left a stain on his pale skin. I'm sorry that I won't be able to tell you that I think you're beautiful. I closed my eyes once more and I felt his cold lips place a kiss against the palm of my hand.

The alley was gone. The cold was gone. The pain was gone. My life...was gone. I was floating...somewhere in space. It seems silly now, but I was singing to myself, singing a lullaby.
Sekaijuu no daremo ga wakaranakute mo ii sa...
kimi ga matteiru kara..
Ima mo kawaranai kimi wo mite'ru
sono mama...
(Even if no one else in all the world understands, it's all right)
(because you're still there waiting)
(Even now, I still see you, unchanging)
(just like that...)

But instead of floating forever in this unknown space, I felt a sudden warmth engulf me. It was almost burning as it poured into my body and I slowly became aware of my body once more. I could feel my fingers and toes twitch, my eyes fluttering. My lips were moving..no..they were against something. My hands were holding something. I wasn't laying down anymore. My pain was now nothing more than a strange throb, like I was given a powerful anesthetic. My eyes were wide open, but what I saw was not true sight, but a vision. This vision was more clear than any vision I've ever encountered through objects I've touched. This vision was being given to me by something else entirely. I saw myself, splayed out on the cold pavement. Nearly drowning in a pool of my own blood and my glasses were completely covered in a fine frost. The tips of my white hair were stained red with my blood and my lips were quivering. I was running towards my own body with a speed I didn't know I possessed, if only I could have ran this fast before. But the hands that grasped at my form were not my hands. These hands were pale and the arm bands that covered my wrists were not mine. They were Armand's. I was seeing what he saw.

"Sarah, please, answer me. I know you're still alive in there..but darling...I'm losing you", I could clearly hear his words now. "I should have followed you more closely, but I ...I didn't want to scare you anymore".
Armand had been rubbing circles along my cheek to rouse me from my fast approaching death but my vision was fading.

"gomenasai...gomenasai...", my mouth kept repeating.

"Sarah...please...stay with me. I can heal you...but you have to tell me to...please Sarah, tell me that I can save you...just say yes...please.", Armand pleaded with me.

I saw my hand being stretched out before me, ah yes, I had touched his cheek. It seemed he took this gesture as my plee to save me and I saw Armand slash into his own wrist and offer the bloody wound to my mouth.

My eyes were truly opened now. I was sitting up in the alleyway and Armand sat in front of me, holding his wrist tightly as he was panting heavily as though I took his breath so that I may breathe once more. My hands shot to my belly and I found my vest and shirt had been ripped, but my skin was perfectly intact underneath the shredded fabric. Armand had healed me...but at what cost? Was I a vampire now?
I looked around the alley and the distant street lights seemed brighter than before...and I could swear I could hear voices in the distance that weren't there before.

"You're not a vampire...not yet", Armand said breathlessly. He shifted a little closer to me to place his hand against my cheek once more as he inspected me. "I've pulled you from the brink of death...but I'm afraid it's not right to leave you like this".

"What...what do you mean?", I whispered, finding that my throat felt strangely numb.

"You have my blood inside your veins now, but you're still mortal. My blood will try to twist you and turn you even with a small amount. It'll drive you insane until I fully turn you", he answered me grimly.

"My child...what have you done?", a voice said.

Armand and I both turned to see Marius at the end of the alley, eying us like a parent that caught their child in the act.

"She was dying!", Armand cried and brought himself to his feet to approach Marius. "She was attacked and left for dead. I had to..."
Marius quickly strolled over to where I still sat upon the cold ground. He offered his hand to me, but looked at me with a firm face. I hesitantly offered my hand to him this time and he pulled me to my feet in front of him. His hand came up to lightly grasp my chin and his steel blue eyes searched my eyes for a moment, and he turned my face from left to right slowly inspecting me.

"You're not strong enough to live in an in-between world like this but are you willing to become like we are?", he asked me firmly.

I was trembling as I stood there feeling faintly numb. Marius still held my chin, holding my gaze onto him.

"W-What about my family? My sisters? Would I be able to see them again?", I asked, hearing my voice broken and cracking.

"You can visit them from time to time, yes. But you would have to show a great amount of care to remove yourself from their lives in a believable manner. You cannot remain by their side without aging.", Marius stated, his blue eyes growing softer with each word, as though it pained him just as much as it did me.

I could feel my stomach drop as his words hit me. I would have enough time with them for a long goodbye, it seemed. I want to leave them on a happy note, as happy as I could make a goodbye. A part of me wanted to refuse immortality and try to live my life as well as I could even with Armand's blood running through my veins. And yet, to have all of eternity to perfect my art was too tempting of an offer.

"Will I become like Daniel?", I asked of both men. My eyes shifting over to my side where Armand stood, leaning against the side of the alleyway watching the two of us carefully. His eyes left mine almost immediately, as though my question hurt him.

"We cannot truly say." Marius said simply. "But if you accept, I will personally make sure that your turning goes much smoother than his.". He gave me a warm smile and his eyes glanced over at Armand and added-"Won't we, Amadeo?"

Armand glared at Marius for a moment like a child that didn't want to share, but he caved and nodded his head. He approached the two of us slowly, his steps lightly crunching along the cold cement below his feet.

"Do you accept us, Sarah?", he asked of me softly, pulling my face from Marius' grasp to his. "You must already feel it pounding away at your head, the need that would drive you to madness if you stayed as you are right now without us".

He was right, there was definitely something picking away at my head. It was a nagging feeling, a strange need I could only describe as a craving. But a very specific craving. I didn't understand it, but the craving brought a great desire to be in Armand's embrace. To feel his touch against my skin. I looked into his large eyes and nearly felt my body push itself towards him. But I shook my head gently, clearing away my thoughts.

"I just need time alone...", I whispered as I pulled away from the two enchanting beings that stood in front of me. Armand held his hand out as I pulled away as if to pull me back but Marius pushed his arm down, to end it.

"I'll take you home this time", Marius said, leading the way out of the alley. He turned towards Armand and the two of them seemed to have a silent conversation with their eyes alone. Armand nodded to Marius and smiled at me warmly, almost innocently before turning the opposite direction of where Marius was leading me. I could feel that strange craving once more and my legs wanted so badly to turn and go after him. But this was eased by Marius approaching me once more and bringing a strong hand to hold the small of my back as Armand once did. His eyes shown that he could see the fight that I had with the craving and before our steps could lead us out to the main street, he lightly pushed me against the rough wall of the alley, the nearby street lamps bringing an almost blinding light to my eyes as I looked up at the vampire. He had one hand against the wall next to me, blocking me from wiggling away in the direction of Armand. He studied me for a moment, noticing that my eyes looked in that direction before settling on his form. He heaved a sigh and clenched his jaw for a moment. I thought he was going to give me more firm words, but instead he leaned close. My heart was beating erratically as the older vampire leaned close and I felt his lips crash against my own. His lips were cold but soft and his kiss was strangely possessive and almost demanding. My eyes were wide at the sudden change in the distinguished figure and I noticed his eyes were peacefully closed, before peaking open as he forced my lips to part and his tongue slid across my bottom lip. His tongue left a strange taste and I felt the moment shift entirely. My eyes suddenly closed and I let myself sink into the kiss, my tongue suddenly seeking out his. In the kiss, my craving was satiated. I felt my body light on fire and I could faintly hear myself moaning softly against his lips as I savored the taste that cleared my mind and yet sent me tumbling down a deep trance at the same time.

Marius pulled away from me after sending me to heaven for a moment. I slowly opened my eyes to look up at him once more, finding the cause of the taste that I was craving. His bottom lip was covered in a sheen of red blood. I shivered at now knowing that I was tasting his blood and that he had offered it to me. My body still felt hot and on fire and I knew my face was blushing the same dark red shade that lingered on his lips. It was silent between us, save the sounds of the two of us catching our breath. My eyes were lingering on his lips for a beat too long and this did not go unnoticed by the tall vampire. He smiled at me once more and ran his hand through my hair thoughtfully, noticing the parts of my hair that were stained with my blood. I suddenly became embarrassed and self aware of the blood soaked clothes that covered my body and stuck to my skin.

"It's alright, little one. You've nothing to be embarrassed of.", Marius said gently. "We'll get you home so that you may get yourself cleaned up". He stepped away from me to remove his long red jacket and he wrapped it around me to cover the blood on my clothes. His jacket was huge on me and practically smothered me in the soft material. The smell of his jacket was strangely comforting. It was a warm smell, like spices and incense. The rest of the walk back to my house was quiet, but I felt safe and calm next to Marius. His blood had tamed the craving that tore apart my mind and I no longer felt dazed.
When we reached the steps of my house I turned to hand him his jacket. I wanted to form words to speak to him, to thank him...to ask him a thousand questions...but nothing came forth. But the vampire nodded softly as though I did speak...perhaps just reading my thoughts once more.

"Take the day to think, little one. My blood is powerful enough to leave you in your right mind for at least a day.", he said to me in a low voice. I nodded to his words and nervously tucked a few strands of my hair behind my ear, looking away from him as he spoke. "But...if I could make one request?", he asked of me gently. I looked at him, perhaps a bit more wide eyed than I intended.

"May I steal one more kiss from you?", the vampire asked.

I stood there a bit nervously and fidgeted a bit on the steps before nodding my head once more and descending the steps to stand in front of him once more. His smile was warm as he arms came around my shoulders and his lips met mine once more. There was no blood in this kiss. It was a gentle loving kiss that left my heart beating faster. He pulled away only a few seconds later, his blue eyes shining down at me. I felt his hand once more smoothing over my hair before stepping away.

"Goodnight, Sarah".

"Goodnight, Marius...and...tell Armand I said thank you".