Finding James
Remus' trek up the mountain was long and draining, but he was well rested with the full moon behind him; he managed to reach the top with a lot more energy left than last time.
As he approached the locked gates, his eyes drifted to the top of the fence. The mysterious pikes weren't there anymore, but Remus didn't want to risk getting stabbed in the hand again.
He walked around the edge of the fence looking for a hole or piece of molding metal to make it easier to break through.
He eventually found a hole dug out by a fox or some other animal. The mud was slightly wet after rainfall from the night, making it easier for Remus to make the hole larger.
It took a while, but soon he was lying in mud as he squeezed through the hole and made it to the other side.
As he looked up at the large castle, he noticed curtains fully closed over every single window. Definitely a vampire.
He reached for his gun, and pulled it out to clutch tightly in his hand while he ran to the stone castle wall.
Remus climbed up to one of the windows on the first floor, heavily smashing his booted foot into the glass. It shattered and fell onto the floor.
He crept through the window, to find clothes stained in blood in a pile on the floor and old furniture covered by dark cloths.
The room seemed to be some kind of storage room, filled with random objects. But most noticeably, there on a hanger was the entire outfit that James had worn the last time Remus had seen him. The day he left for Hellsgate.
What was worse, James' clothes were also littered in blood and stains of mud. Ripped apart in various places. If someone had been wearing these clothes while it got destroyed, it was almost impossible for them to have survived.
And as Remus stared at the clothes, his eyes dripped with tears. He hadn't fully acknowledged the possibility yet. That his best friend could be dead.
And now here it was, right in front of him. Overwhelming evidence.
He felt like crawling into a ball and sobbing on the floor. But he was reminded of the fact he was currently standing in the castle of the vampire that had killed his best friend. That had killed James.
He prayed to God that the damned vampire was by the other side of the castle and didn't hear the sound of the smashing window.
Remus needed the element of surprise if he was going to rip this fucking monster to shreds.
As he opened the door and walked down the hall, it became obvious the vampire hadn't heard the smash of the window. But somebody else had.
"What's going on? I'm trying to sleep! Since you made me play boggle with you for hours last night, I'm pretty tired. So stop smashing stuff, you angsty wanker!"
Remus immediately ran towards the sound, instantly recognising the voice. He threw the door open to the room that the yelling was coming from.
James looked up at him in shock, he was sitting in a large king sized bed with dark red bedding and an extravagant bed frame. He was wearing a tight fitting white silk shirt, and underwear. His glasses were lopsided on his face and his hair was a mess as usual. He was alive.
"Remus?" James said, untangling himself from the blanket to reach Remus in the doorway.
He tightly hugged him, a beaming smile on his face.
It took a moment for Remus to react, shock holding him frozen in place.
As James continued hugging him, Remus quickly grabbed James by the wrist and pulled him out of the room.
"James! What the fuck are you doing?" he yelled, clutching James' arm as he dragged his friend through the castle.
"I mean- I was sleeping. But now, I'm being dragged away from my peaceful nap for absolutely no reason."
Remus stopped and groaned. He turned to face James for some answers, but the other man just stared back at him like he was the insane one.
Remus grunted and waved his hands manically around, frustrated at James' strangeness.
James followed the motions back in confusion, "What are we doing?"
"You were dead!" Remus yelled.
James gasped and looked down at his body, "I'm pretty sure I'm alive!"
"I mean I thought you were dead!"
"Well I'm not!"
"What are you doing here?"
James laughed, "I just told you; I was having a nap."
"In a vampire's castle?" Remus asked, completely bewildered.
"I mean, they gave me a room. And their bed's are so comfortable, I just want to lie in them all the time."
Remus gaped, "You're insane. You've officially gone insane. Where's all your weapons? You kinda need them if you've decided to start having naps in vampire beds!"
James waved his hand dismissively, "I don't need any of it. Sirius would never attack me."
"You're on a first name basis with it now? They're monsters! They're evil!"
James' smile vanished, "Remus, no. Look, you're a werewolf. People call you an evil monster, but you're not one. So don't you think some vampires might be good too?"
Remus stepped closer to James, looking carefully at him, as if inspecting him.
James looked at him with amusement, "what are you doing?"
"Did the vampire hypnotise you? Are you under its alluring control?" Remus asked, cautiously.
James laughed, "No. Moony, I'm just friends with them!"
"People can't be friends with a vampire!"
A voice came from directly behind him, "Well that's rude. I have many friends."