Chapter Text
Up until a few moments ago, Steve Harrington had been sleeping soundly in his bed. Recently it had been a struggle for him to get to sleep, as it had been every night since that battle. If he wasn’t spending his days checking in on Dustin, he was visiting Max in the hospital. His parents were away on another business trip - though they’d called after the news about Hawkins broke, leaving him once again alone in a big house, with emotionally broken younger friends to take care of. It had all been more than the young adult was prepared for. But it was his lot.
That night, he’d only been asleep for a few hours when something began tugging at his window. At first, the sound of the window opening was slow, and not enough to jostle Steve from his heavy slumber. But after the shadowy shape made its way through it, the sound of boots hitting the ground and the window slamming shut a moment after, caused Steve to bolt up, startled.
Steve blinked a few times, before his eyes started adjusting. Across the room from him, standing in front of his window, was a human figure.
“Who are you?” Steve said, rubbing his eyes. He moved to the edge of the bed, standing facing the figure with a forced bravery. His eyes darted to where he kept his bat by the room door, far to his left. His vision continued adjusting, and he started recognizing brown curls and familiar features.
Steve stared, eyes wide. “...Eddie?” He said in disbelief.
The being only stared at him. It looked like Eddie - but different. His normally warm dark brown eyes were a sharp golden-yellow color that almost seemed to reflect the low light of the room - and there was not a bit of warmth to be found in his gaze. The scars on his left cheek were familiar, as was the torn up Hellfire Club shirt and black jacket he wore. But there was something very wrong with him. He shouldn’t have been able to get into the locked window of Steve’s second-story room. He shouldn’t have long claws on the end of his fingers. He shouldn’t be alive.
“Not exactly,” A smile crept across his face. He sounded like Eddie, but his voice was colder somehow. He spoke slower. And in his smile, Steve could see two sharp fangs. “You’re Steve Harrington, aren’t you?”
Steve narrowed his eyes. “Eddie, what’s wrong with you? And how are you…” He swallowed. “Alive?”
Eddie tilted his head, considering him. “That’s a long story that you don’t need to know.” Eddie took a step forward towards him. Steve took a step away instinctively. “For now, I need something from you.”
Steve felt his heart begin to beat faster. He turned his body, beginning to back towards where his bat was propped up against the wall.
“Ah ah ah,” Eddie chided, waving a hand.
Steve felt his body turn back to face him against his will. Eddie pushed his hand forward, and an invisible force shoved him backwards, as Eddie seemed to move further away. He was shoved up against the wall of his room, his limbs pushed back up against it, almost as if something was holding them there. He yanked desperately at his wrists and ankles, and tried pushing his chest up off the wall, but he could barely move. Something held him there, something powerful. His fear began to rise, his heart pounding in his ears.
“How are you doing this,” Steve breathed as Eddie continued towards him. “Are you Henry?”
Eddie smirked. “I was supposed to be.” He angled his head as he explained, stopping a short distance from where Steve was held. “Long story short, Henry tried to take over Eddie’s body, but your friend is stubborn.” Eddie knocked his head twice. “He’s still rattling around in there. So instead of Henry, you got me.” He bowed sarcastically, with a flourish of his hand. “Not quite Henry. And definitely not Eddie. More of…” He narrowed his eyes. “Something new. Influenced by Henry and what remains of your friend in here.” He pointed to his head again, smiling. “You’re welcome to call me Kas. That’s what he calls me.”
Steve swallowed nervously as Eddie/Kas took another step forward. “So… Eddie’s still alive?”
Kas’ golden eyes rolled. “Unfortunately. And that’s where you come in.” He took one final step, and was face to face with Steve, electric yellow eyes trained on his. “See, I’m having a problem with your friend. My job is to follow Henry’s orders. But your friend Eddie,” - there was a disdain in the way he said the name - “is causing problems for me. I was thinking you could help me get him in line.”
Steve glared at him. “I’m not doing anything for you,” He struggled again, his body barely moving. “Now let me go!”
Another wicked smile crossed Kas’ face, his fangs showing once again. “I don’t think you’ll have much of a choice, Steve.” He brought up his hand, tracing it slowly down Steve’s cheek as his eyes moved slowly down his face, inspecting him. The touch sent chills down Steve’s back. “See, I can see some of Eddie’s fractured memories.” His gaze lingered on Steve’s lips as his hand settled on his chin. “And he likes you. A lot.” Steve looked away from him, his heart beginning to beat a bit faster at the words. “I need him to behave. So you’ll be coming with me for a while.” His tone was dark. “As long as I have someone he cares about, Eddie will have to behave.”
Steve yanked his head to the side, freeing himself from Eddie’s hand. He was grateful he could at least move his head. “Eddie barely knows me,” Steve snapped, though the words felt inaccurate. They’d only known each other a few days, it was true. But traversing the upside down and fighting monsters together had a way of forming quick bonds. Still, he had to try something. “You’re wasting your time.”
Kas tilted his head again, his surveying gaze making Steve feel like a captured insect being studied. It made his skin crawl. “You’re smart, Harrington. But not a great liar. I can feel Eddie, even now.” His pale eyes met Steve’s. “He’s been extra loud ever since I got here.” Kas closed his eyes for a moment, as if he was listening for something “He’s scared. He’s screaming at me to leave you alone.” He smiled, opening his eyes. “Say what you will, but he definitely likes you. Which makes you useful to me.”
Eddie likes me. The words put a warm feeling in his chest. But it faded quickly. Steve shook his head, as if trying to shake away the way his mind reacted to the news. “Let me talk to Eddie. Show me he’s still in there.”
Kas snickered. “What exactly makes you think you’re in a position to make demands?”
Steve swallowed. He was right. He was completely at his mercy.
“Now then,” Kas moved in closer, his chest practically brushing up against Steve’s as his eyes moved to Steve’s neck. “There’s something else I need from you.”
Steve swallowed nervously. “Eddie,” He said desperately. “Eddie, please don’t do this.”
Kas ignored him, wrapping a hand around the back of Steve’s neck. Steve’s body prickled with electricity at the touch, though he wished it wouldn’t. Kas tugged gently, tilting Steve’s head to the side. His chest was moving rapidly with frightened breaths.
Kas stepped into him then, his chest pressing up against Steve, further holding him to the wall. He swallowed, closing his eyes tight. He wished he could push away the warm feeling spreading through him from being so close to Eddie. The feeling of Eddie’s body against his shouldn’t have made him feel the way it did. Not when they were ‘just friends,’ and especially not when it wasn’t Eddie. But he was rapidly realizing that something inside him longed for Eddie’s touch. He thought of Eddie, despite himself - the real Eddie, his friend. He wondered what it would be like to be held by him. Then he blinked, trying to clear the desire from his mind. This wasn’t the time.
“What are you doing?” Steve breathed.
Kas locked eyes with him, and as Steve stared, his yellow eyes darkened, slowly turning into a deep, blood red. Steve tried to look away, but something was pulling him into his red gaze. He couldn’t help but be left staring, as if he was hypnotized. “I’m hungry,” Kas said, as if that explained everything. Steve’s heart was in his throat with fear as he struggled with his bonds again, his eyes locked on Kas’. Nothing.
As Kas stared, Steve began to feel a strange sense of peace take over his body. His soul began to relax, his fists unclenching despite himself. His body became calm and tired, and his eyelids were heavy. Kas’ eyes faded back to their previous yellow-gold. He put his other hand up against his cheek as Steve tried to focus on the danger he was in. But it was getting difficult. “ Good . Now just stay nice and still,” Kas whispered invitingly, smiling.
As Kas leaned in again, Steve blinked, struggling to stay focused on the situation he was in. His eyes, he thought. Kas must’ve done something to him with that stange gaze. Tried to hypnotize him, to pacify him. Unfortunately it worked far too well - Steve’s mind felt slow and foggy, his body unbelievably heavy. He found it difficult to remember why he’d felt so afraid in the first place, when the calm of Kas’ power was so warm and inviting.
He blinked, trying to focus on Kas’ face and the impending danger. “What…” He breathed. “What did you do to me…?” He asked, his voice weak.
Kas gave him a smile. “I merely calmed you down.” He stroked Steve’s cheek with his thumb. “Usually makes this a bit easier on my prey.”
Steve’s heart pounded in his ears. “No,” Steve muttered, struggling half-heartedly against his invisible bonds.
“Relax. I’m not going to kill you,” Kas said, as if this would console him. His smile was gone, and there was a wicked excitement behind his gaze. “But you look delicious.”
He leaned in, and Steve felt Kas’ tongue trace his way up his neck. He reminded himself to breathe, and forced himself to focus, to try to fight the tiredness. He had to fight it. But everything in his body wanted to relax. “Eddie,” he breathed. “If you’re in there… Please let me go.”
Steve felt his Kas’ breath on his neck. “Shhhh,” he whispered in his ear. “Just relax. It’ll be over soon.” He lowered his head again.
Suddenly, Steve felt a sharp, stabbing pain as Kas’ fangs dug into his neck. He gasped in pain, trying again to move his arms and legs. But he was helpless. After a moment he felt warm blood start to pool on the wound, and he felt Kas sucking at it, swallowing it down.
Steve closed his eyes tight, his stomach turning. This couldn’t be happening. Eddie couldn’t be back, he couldn’t be some kind of vampire, and Steve couldn’t be his new prisoner. “Please…” Steve pleaded again. There was no response from the vampire as the heavy forced sense of calm weighed him down again. His body began to relax again despite his efforts.
As Kas held him and drank, Steve wondered if Eddie could see him from in there. Could feel him. And if he was a prisoner along for the ride, the same way Steve seemed to be. Either way, nothing Steve said seemed to be getting through to him. Or if it was, he must not be able to stop this other entity that had taken control.
Steve’s blood must have been good - he heard Kas let out a low moan of pleasure, as his grip on his neck tightened. Steve grimaced. Kas’ hypnotizing gaze had served to calm him more than he wanted to admit. As ashamed as he was of it, Steve wanted nothing more than to relax into what was happening. Only focusing intently on his situation made him able to hold on to any desire to escape or fight. And the strangest thing was that somehow, he couldn’t help but feel a sort of pleasure in the moment. But he suspected this was also Kas’ power. Or at least, he hoped it was. Because his brain was screaming out in anger and fear as he felt his lifeblood drain from him. But that voice was no match for the hypnotizing feeling Steve was now enraptured in as Kas drank.
Kas’ feeding felt like an eternity, until Steve noticed his vision starting to get blurry. Just as he started to wonder how much blood he could lose before passing out, Kas finally stopped, pulling his head back. Then he leaned back in, licking up what was left on Steve’s neck.
Steve blinked, trying to fight off the grogginess. But he was no match for Kas’ power. The exhaustion was rapidly making it harder and harder to keep his eyes open.
“Eddie,” Steve whispered, unable to say more.
Kas stepped back, his eyes connecting with Steve’s again. “Good night, Steve Harrington.” He whispered. His eyes swirled from their yellow-gold hue to blood red. When they did, Steve felt his consciousness finally forced to slip under.
The last thing he remembered was falling forward into Kas’ arms.