Chapter Text
Rain poured down hard as Viago stood outside the church where the funeral proceedings of the woman he spent nearly 75 years pining over commenced.
“What a strange thing, to request to hold your funeral at night…” A relative of the deceased had said to her husband in a hushed tone as they walked up the steps.
Viago smiled bitterly, knowing Katherine had requested it in her will for his sake. So that he could attend... She had probably not realized this act of kindness only amplified Viago’s pain. Being a vampire, he couldn’t step on holy ground. Once again, just as it had been when she was alive, he was so close yet so far. But this would be the last time.
He stood by the gate near the entrance and listened to the muffled sound of organ music coming from inside. The rain nearly drowning out the sound.
Just a few weeks ago he had finally mustered up the courage to reconnect with Katherine. He floated up to her window and she had let him in. Both, with tear filled eyes, spoke with each other about what had come to pass and of what could have been.
Viago had offered to turn her... But to his utmost devastation, she refused. She had had a wonderful life, and eternity was not something she wanted.
He spent the last few weeks of her life returning to enjoy her company for as long as he still had it. And every time as sunrise approached and he prepared to take his leave, he renewed his offer; growing slightly more desperate each time as her condition worsened. The staff at the retirement home were convinced Katherine had finally lost her mind to her age as she spoke fondly to them of her old friend from Europe who looked exactly as he did 75 years ago, and how he came to visit her every night to play checkers and reminisce about the past.
Then, on Sunday, he had floated up to her window and found her. Sitting in her arm chair with a book, looking as if she had fallen asleep reading it. As he approached and touched her hand to wake her, he realized it was as cold as his own. He felt his heart shatter.
After the funeral Viago returned to the house soaking wet. Deacon and Vladislav stood in the entrance of the living room shooting each other awkward glances as they watched Viago float slowly to his room and close the door quietly behind him.
“This is why you shouldn’t fall in love with humans. Look what she’s done to him.” Deacon grumbled to himself. His annoyed tone masking his worry.
Vladislav looked down at the trail of rainwater leading from the front door to Viago's bedroom.
“Yeah… I don’t think he will be joining us at Big Kumara tonight... Let’s uhh-- give him some time?”
“Whatever” Deacon scoffed.
Deacon and Vladislav had fully expected Viago to get over Katherine’s death in a matter of weeks. A human life is so short. Only a blip in the eternal life of a vampire. In their minds they thought the death of Katherine to perhaps be compared to the human equivalent of losing a beloved pet.
So, when the third month of Viago refusing to feed or come out of his room had passed, a house meeting was called. Nick, though not officially living with the group, was of course also expected to attend.
They sat around the table in the kitchen. Stu had tagged along and was sitting off to the side sipping from a juice box the vampires had provided for him. Unfortunately, Viago had not shown up to the meeting. They sat in silence for a while.
Vladislav spoke up.
“Where is Viago? He loves these meetings!”
“I really thought this would lure him out.” Deacon looked astonished that the plan had failed.
“This is ridiculous” Vladislav got up and walked out of the room. From the kitchen they could hear him walk down the hall and begin to slam on Viago’s door.
“Viago, come out of there! We are having a MEETING, yes? Your favorite!”
Nick turned to Deacon
“What were you planning on saying to him if he had shown up?”
“I don’t know, we thought maybe if we let him complain about the house keeping to us it would cheer him up.” Deacon responded.
“Mate—” Nick paused and considered his words.
“I don’t think that’s going to work. He’s grieving, yeah?”
“Yes.. But over a HUMAN. No offense Stu.”
“Well, technically I’m a werewolf.” Stu responded.
“Right... I always forget… I’m sorry, Stu. You are a cool guy even if you are a disgusting mutt. Once again, no offense.”
“Um”
“Yeah, but he really liked this girl, right? For like.. A long time?” Inquired Nick.
“Yes, but it is not like he was actually courting her. He had just followed her to New Zealand like an overly attached puppy and sat outside her house for 70 years whining about love that did not happen. He could have been--” Deacon started making vague hand gestures as his frustration grew.
“Sucking and fucking these past few decades like me and Vladislav. But he spent that whole time pining and being sad. It was pathetic then and it is pathetic now.”
“Well maybe this is an opportunity to turn the page to a new chapter in his life.” Nick offered
“What the fuck are you talking about.”
“He just needs some guidance. You know, have someone help him move on. Maybe we take him to a club, find him a new girlfriend?”
“Yes… We should organize a vampire orgy!” Deacon was starting to get excited.
“Not to talk down on our dear friend, Deacon.” Vladislav spoke as he re-entered the kitchen.
“But Viago was a bit of a mood killer at the previous one. He had covered all the furniture in plastic wrap and wouldn’t let us start until he had finished reciting his erotic poetry.”
“Okay then we just organize an orgy… Without him!”
“Great idea!” They high-fived.
“Um, guys. How does that Help Viago?” Nick asked.
“It doesn’t, this is just for us.” Vladislad chuckled, having already mentally moved on from the previous subject.
“Okay I think we’re losing the plot here a little bit”
“If I may…” Stu interjected.
“Yes Stu! Speak!” Vladislav raised his hand towards his werewolf friend.
“Thanks. Um. So… A while back, when Clifton’s long-term girlfriend left him, Anton helped him through it pretty good. He has a whole binder dedicated to break-ups and everything, maybe he can talk to Viago?"
“Okay but they weren’t actually together. Katherine died.” Vladislav clarified.
“Wait she died?” Stu was apparently not informed.
“And this Anton is…”
“The leader of the local werewolf pack. He’s been over multiple times. We all hang out with him and the other werewolves like every other month? C’mon mate, are you doing a bit?” Nick was slightly offended on Anton’s behalf.
“He also has a grief binder.” Stu added.
“Right, binder or no binder, I agree with Stu. It’s probably good to have someone like Anton listen to Viago’s problems. I’m not sure you guys are really emotionally equipped to help him process this shit.” Nick reminded everyone.
“You are suggesting we invite a smelly dog into our house?” Deacon scrunched up his nose.
“Once again, I am one of those smelly dogs.” Stu interjected.
“Right, I apologize.”
“If Stu vouches for him then I don’t see why not. We all know none of us want to listen to his bitching. Getting him an emotional support dog might be good for him.” Vladislav nodded.
“Anton is a person.” Nick corrected.
“Pff okay sure.” Vladislav rolled his eyes. “No offense Stu”
Stu went back to sipping his juice box.
A plan was set up. Stu would go talk to Anton, who was a bit apprehensive at first. This was definitely a trap, right? The rest of the Te Aro pack was also uneasy about it.
Sure, the flat mates and the pack weren’t necessarily on bad terms anymore, they had Stu to thank for that. But at the end of the day Werewolves and Vampires were still each other’s natural enemies.
If Anton was being honest, the only reason he ended up agreeing was because it was Viago. If it was any other vampire, he probably would’ve felt less inclined to help.
Out of all the vampires he had gotten to know, he liked Viago the most. He was courteous and a little bit goofy. If you got Anton drunk enough, he might even get him to admit that he found Viago’s awkward mannerisms quite endearing.
He wouldn’t say that they were good friends, but they definitely got along. As an initiative to keep their two groups on friendly terms, each side would take turns every couple of months to organize an activity to do together. Like a game night or a friendly competition. He’d only spoken to Viago a few times during these gatherings, both of them would sit off to the side and chat like two parents meeting at a playground while their kids played. Having polite conversation but also keeping an eye out in case they needed to step in. Anton was willing to help the guy out if he was having a rough time.
Before he knew it, he was standing in front of the vampire residence with his baby blue binder tucked snugly under his arm. Stu had briefed him on the situation and he had made alterations to the binder where it was needed. He put his hand on his chest to make sure the cross necklace tucked under his shirt was still there. You can never be too careful when dealing with vampires.
He took a deep breath and knocked on the old wooden door. Moments later Deacon opened, he stared at Anton briefly before opening his mouth to say something. But he seemed unsure.
“Um” Deacon pointed at him.
“Anton.” Anton answered Deacon’s unspoken question.
“Right. Anton. Pff, I knew that.” He didn’t.
“Right, and you’re Deacon.” Anton cleared his throat. “I’m here cause Stu told me Viago was having a rough time. I don’t know if you know but I’m actually trained in grief counseling. Lots of werewolves accidentally killing loved ones and all that. As the Alpha of my pack, it’s my job to be there for them. Werewolves are very led by their emotions. So, it’s important to have a strong alpha as the leader to keep those emotions in check” God Anton loved reminding people of his alpha status.
“Right. So, you want to come in now?” Deacon asked awkwardly.
“Right! Right! Sorry!” Anton made his way inside.
“So do you want… Like.. Dog treats or a bowl of water or something?” Deacon had no idea how to host a werewolf. Viago usually was the one who handled guests.
“A glass of water will be fine, thanks.” Anton responded, slightly offended. “Where can I find Viago?”
Deacon emerged from the kitchen with a glass of water.
“Over there.” Deacon said pointing at a door near the hallway as he handed the glass to Anton.
Anton looked down at the glass, questioning how well it had been cleaned, eyeing some dark rust-colored spots that looked a heck of a lot like dried blood.
“Thanks…”
Deacon nodded and disappeared into the hallway. Anton glanced at the door to what he presumed to be Viago’s bedroom. He awkwardly looked around, taking in his surroundings. He had been in this house before for social gatherings, but this was the first time he really closely examined the state of it. The chaos that was the interior décor aside; in one glance Anton spotted like fourteen safety hazards. It drove his inner handy man insane. He might speak to Deacon about it later.
Anton began to approach Viago’s bedroom door. With each step he took an uneasy feeling in his chest started to bloom. Werewolves had a keen sense of smell, a lot stronger than a human and much closer to that of a canine. As such, he could pick up on scents that a normal person would not be able to, like the smell of emotions.
To clarify, it’s not that Anton could read people like a mood ring just by walking past someone and catching a whiff of how they were feeling. It was hard to describe, but, a sad person just smelled different from a happy person. Over time Anton had grown to differentiate the smells of basic emotion. It was subtle, like the difference between the smell of limes, lemons, grapefruits and oranges. All smelled of citrus, but they were different. He usually only really picked up on them when in close proximity, for example when giving someone a hug.
But this room… It REEKED of sadness.
He gently knocked on the bedroom door.
“Viago? May I come in? It’s Anton.”
No response.
“It’s alright if you don’t want to talk, but you’ve got your flat mates worried sick, mate.”
Again, silence.
Alright, if this is how it was going to be… Anton downed his glass of water and set it down.
“I’m coming in alright?”
The door creaked as Anton entered the room. He was surprised at how neat it was. He was used to the animalistic emotional outbursts of werewolves. So, to see the room in such a good condition was a change of pace. Well... To use the term “good” was debatable. It was still a very old and sad looking room none the less.
No furniture except a wooden closet and small bedside table with a little reading lamp on top of some old magazines. Next to the lamp sat a very outdated digital alarm clock from the 90s that had been plugged out. The walls were adorned with blue floral wallpaper. On it hung a framed pencil portrait of Viago looking very serious.
Nothing else really seemed to occupy the space except for Viago’s coffin, which sat positioned next to the wall on the left side of the room. It was a surprisingly simple and shiny dark brown coffin. Anton had somehow expected it to have some sort of decoration on it, maybe because everything Viago wore was accessorized with frills or embroidery.
Anton stood awkwardly over the coffin. Not sure what the custom was here… Does he just… knock? Is that rude?
“Um.. Viago, you in there?” He started
He didn’t really expect any response, but was surprised.
“Anton?” A small raspy voice emerged from the coffin.
Anton swallowed.
“Yeah. It’s me... How ya holding up, mate?”
Viago had gone silent again.
“It’s alright if you don’t want to talk. I just want to know if there’s anything I can do to help you.”
“You can’t.” The response was quick and cold.
“You sure? I have a buddy who works down at the blood bank who was willing to help me out. I heard from Stu you haven’t eaten in a while. It might make you feel a bit better.” Anton took a thermos from his bag.
The coffin door opened slightly. A pair of deep dark brown eyes peered through the crease, little dots of lights reflecting off them.
“You brought blood for me?” He sounded really touched.
“Yeah, man. But you’re gonna have to open up that coffin all the way if you want me to give it to you.”
The coffin’s small opening closed again.
“I’m not presentable” A mumble came from inside.
“Ahh well that’s alright. You’re talking to a werewolf, I’m sure you don’t look any worse than any of the lads after transformation night.”
A pause.
The coffin door slowly opened. Viago sat up and turned to Anton.
Yeah... He looked rough. His hair, usually so soft and bouncy looking, was a tangly, droopy mess. He looked extremely malnourished. His cheeks were sinking in and the dark circles under his puffy red eyes could almost be mistaken for bruises. Anton didn’t know vampires could become paler than they already were.
“Jesus—”
Viago recoiled and hissed.
“Right, sorry.”
“I told you I was not presentable.”
“Hey, that’s alright. You wanna have a drink real quick?” Anton opened the thermos and held it out to Viago.
Viago stared at it.
“I… Am afraid opening my coffin… and sitting up… has taken up the last of my energy... I don’t think I can lift my arms.” He sounded a bit embarrassed.
Before Anton had time to properly think, he made an arguably dumb and impulsive offer. “Do you want me to… Um… Feed it to you?”
Getting within bite range of a vampire who hasn't eaten in months. Fucking incredible thinking there, Anton. He felt his pulse quickening.
“If it’s no trouble…” Viago responded.
“No!! no.” Anton cleared his throat. “It’s no problem.” He got down on his knees to be at eye level with Viago and began to hold the thermos up to his mouth.
Just as Viago was about to begin drinking he paused. His eyes locked onto Anton.
“I can hear your pulse you know… Don’t worry. I won’t bite. Well… For now.” Viago said. Anton could've sworn he just saw him wink.
He felt his face heat up. Get a grip, Anton.
“Drink up, you dickhead.”
“Swearwolf.” Viago mumbled with a hint of amusement in his voice as he brought his mouth to the flask. Despite the jokes, Viago’s tone was that of someone who had given up. But the fact that he was willing to joke at all was a good sign.
Anton watched him as he drank. In awe how Viago’s features improved rapidly. His skin smoothed out and his dark circles disappeared. He went from bony and sickly back to… Soft looking… Anton stared. Viago really was a beautiful man.
Dismiss that thought IMMEDIATELY. Anton squeezed his eyes shut as he attempted to physically force the idea to leave his head.
“Thank you, Anton.” Viago’s voice interrupted Anton’s mental battle.
“Y-yeah. No problem, mate.”
Anton screwed the lid back on the now empty thermos bottle and put it back in his backpack.
“You feeling a bit better?”
“Physically, yes. I suppose…” Viago answered somberly.
“Stu told me about what happened… I’m really sorry for your loss.” Anton spoke sincerely.
“Ah… Thank you. It’s… Well, I don’t really want to say that it’s alright. That would be lying, wouldn’t it?”
There was a brief silence.
“She was so wonderful… Katherine… Back in Germany, she was a nurse, you know. She worked nightshifts at the local hospital in my hometown. I used to sneak in for a cheeky little snack every now and then. She was so committed to helping others... To saving lives... And there I was every night… Taking them…” Viago looked down at his hands.
“We met one night after she walked in on me about to feed on a comatose human and confused me for a family member of her patient. We had a lovely conversation that night. And I before I knew it, I found myself returning every night just to speak with her. I thought she was just… Great. Just a really nice girl with a great sense of humor. We also shared so many interests… I was completely smitten…”
“Sounds like she was really something."
“Oh, she was… I remember specifically, one night. I met with her when she had just lost a patient. A young woman with cancer. Such an unforgiving disease…
But I remember so vividly; Katherine wiped away her tears and took a deep breath. She turned to me proudly and said she had done everything to make her patient’s last days as enjoyable as possible.
She told me about how sometimes, when death is inevitable, healthcare is making sure someone can pass on with dignity; or at the very least that their death is comfortable. And that had a great impact on me…” He turned to Anton, his eyes shining with a mixture of sadness and pride.
“As you know… I feed out of necessity. So, when I have a victim in my home, I make sure they at least have a good time and are comfortable before their inevitable death. I give them some food, play some music… I just want to make sure if I’m taking a life, it’s at least not all traumatic for them, you know. That’s because of Katherine.”
Anton was taken aback. He didn’t think there was such a thing as a vampire that was trying to be ethical. Anton was sure that the last moments of Viago’s victims were probably not very pleasant, having your neck be bitten into and your entire body be drained of its blood and all that.
But the fact that Viago made an effort to make the experience more humane in his own little awkward way was… Endearing… In a kind of fucked up way, you know? He was still a killer.
“Wow… You don’t hear of vampire’s being sympathetic towards their food a lot. I really respect that, Viago.” Anton meant it.
“Really?” Viago looked embarrassed. “Deacon and Vladislav think it’s a silly waste of time...”
“No! No! it’s really commendable!”
“Look at what caring for others has done for me, though… If I hadn’t cared for Katherine, I wouldn’t be in agony right now.”
“I know…” Anton sighed. “Caring comes at a price. I often wish I could just… Turn my emotions off as well. But… if we don’t experience loss, we can’t appreciate what we have… If we don’t experience heartbreak, we can’t truly appreciate love. If we don’t know what sadness feels like, how would we know what happiness is?”
“What a shitty trade-off…”
“Yeah, but aren’t you glad you at least got to care for her at all? It sounds like she had a tremendous impact on who you are as a person now, right?”
“My affections were wasted though… I followed her all the way to New Zealand and yet she married someone else… I spent 70 years watching her live her life without me.”
“Was it a good life, though?”
“She seemed to think so...”
“And what about the rest of your life, Viago?”
“I’m dead, Anton”
“Your afterlife then, you know what I mean. You spent 70 years pining for this girl. Are you planning on spending the next 70 mourning her as well? Starving yourself? Is that what she wanted for you?”
“I suppose not… The last few times we spoke… She really seemed to want me to move on…”
“Are you planning to listen to her?”
“But I… Can’t! I don’t know how! I spent over half a century like this. I had gotten used to living in this state of longing for an unrequited love… We vampires… We have trouble adapting to change.”
“That doesn’t sound like a good time, Viago” Anton spoke softly. His heart broke for him. Viago and his flat mates often compared the werewolves to dogs. But ironically, it was Viago that had been like an overly attached puppy for the past 70 years. Not caring that he was rejected, but continuing to love unconditionally and watching over Katherine until the end. He was like a vampire Hachiko.
“It really wasn’t…” Viago smiled painfully.
A silence fell.
“Thank you, Anton… No one has ever let me talk this much about my woes... Deacon and Vladislav call it ‘bitching’”
“It’s not. And I’m always here if you need someone to listen to your problems. You can always give me a call.”
“On your cellular device?”
“You have a cellphone?” Anton genuinely didn’t expect Viago to have any grasp of modern technology.
“I do.”
“Shall I put my number in your phone then? Then you can give me a call or a text anytime.”
“Any time?” Viago seemed really touched. Anton had a feeling he was going to regret this.
“Of course.”
Viago rummaged around in his pockets and fished out an ancient looking Nokia cellphone. Anton guessed he shouldn’t have expected anything more technologically impressive.
Viago handed it to Anton and watched with excitement as Anton added his number to his contact list.
“There you go.” Anton handed the phone back to him.
Viago took the phone and stared at his screen for a moment before typing on it. Moments later Anton’s phone vibrated in his pocket. A Text from an unknown number that read “Thank you.”.
Something inside Anton’s chest fluttered. He wasn’t going to acknowledge it.
Anton cleared his throat awkwardly “No problem.” He spoke as he got up from the floor “I was thinking it might be a good idea for you to go outside for a bit. How about I come back tomorrow and we go have a nice walk outside? Get some fresh air?”
“You are leaving now?” Viago’s voice carried a hint of disappointment.
“Well, I don’t have to. I thought perhaps you might want to get cleaned up a bit. You know. You’ve been in that coffin for 3 months. I think you’ll feel a lot better if you brushed your hair and put on a fresh pair of clothes.”
Viago looked mortified. “I look that bad? I can’t see myself in mirrors. Is it that bad?” He ran his fingers through his hair and his eyes widened when they got caught in a knot.
“No! No! You look… Fine! But you’re wearing funeral clothes, mate. I think it’s better for you if you’re not clad in a constant reminder of your grief.”
Viago looked down at his clothes. “Y-yeah… Perhaps it would be better if you leave. I promise to be clean and presentable tomorrow.”
“Don’t push yourself too much. Oh—That reminds me!” Anton started to rummage in his bag and pulled out a second thermos. “I didn’t know how hungry you might be, so I got an extra pint of blood for you.” He handed it to Viago, who smiled softly.
“Thank you, Anton. I will clean this after I finish it and return it to you tomorrow.” His fangs sticking out from under his top lip ever so slightly.
They awkwardly said their goodbyes. And as Anton closed the front door behind him, he felt a bubbly feeling of pride. That went… So much better than expected.