The Mayor the Witch and the Lumberjack - Part 8

Instructions

The room was dead quiet. The only sound was Owen’s quiet breath echoing off the walls as he stared at Louis. Louis held his own breath. ‘What is he thinking?’ He thought. The vampire wrung his hands in his lap, waiting desperately for Owen to speak. ‘Please don’t hate me. Please, by all the gods, don’t let him hate me.’ Owen’s gaze never left Louis’s neck, his eyes shiny with confusion. He traced the mark with his eyes, trying to understand what the words had meant. Louis bit his lip, bouncing his leg to get the nervous energy out. It was a few minutes before either spoke. Owen shut his eyes, his mouth left open for a few moments before sound came out. “A… vampire.” It was two simple words. But the tone was what made Louis breathe again. He wasn’t hostile or angry, just confused. And Louis could handle confused. “Yeah.” He slowly nodded. “Vampires are real, and I’m one of them.” “How?” Owen cracked open his eyes, his brow creased. “You… you aren’t…” “Bloodthirsty? Moody? Evil?” Louis cracked a nervous smile. Owen blinked, finally catching a glimpse of the small fangs, and Louis hid them again. “The stereotypes aren’t perfectly accurate.” The lumberjack still looked unsure. Louis decided it’d be best to just keep going. “Vampires don’t need human blood. We can survive on just animals. It got boring after a few days, but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.” He shrugged. “Being a vampire doesn’t automatically make you evil: it just heightens your emotions. It increases what you are. If you’re a good person before you're turned, your morality is intensified. If you’re… someone who's been hurt, there’s more of a chance that you change.” Louis watched Owen carefully. He hadn’t run away screaming. That was a good sign, right? He was still sitting, listening, watching. There were a couple minutes of hesitation before he spoke up again. “Can I ask…?” Owen wondered quietly. “O-of course.” Louis nodded. “Ask away, this is… probably a lot to hear.” “Why are you telling me all of this *now*? Of all times?” The mayor paused, thinking carefully. “Um…” He worked his jaw. “I don’t know. I just… felt it was time someone else besides Varona knew. And I wanted it to be you.” “*Me*?” He raised an eyebrow. “*Why*?” Louis fidgeted, biting his lip. “... Because I care about you. And I couldn’t stand lying to you any longer. And…” He hesitated. Owen waited. “And…?” Air failed to fill his lungs for a few moments. Was he really about to say this? “... And I wanted Varona to try to help you before I did. Because I didn’t want me to be your only option.” “... Louis?” He hesitated again. “Vampirism heals you of every ailment, Owen. Doesn’t matter how chronic, or unhealable medicine deems it: vampirism fixes it. It comes with the cost of hunger, though.” Their eyes met, and they stared. Owen’s gaze was laced with suspicion and intrigue. Louis frowned nervously. “It’s irreversible.” His voice grew quiet. “Once you make the choice, there’s no going back. Believe me, I’ve *looked*. I’m stuck like this.” “Do you think I’m any less stuck than you are?” Owen asked. The vampire looked away, towards the window. “... At least you know it will end.” There was a long silence. The lanterns crackled quietly–they didn’t dare speak too loudly and interrupt. In that moment, there was nothing else in the world. It was just a leper and a vampire, trying to understand each other. Owen was the one to break the silence. “I don’t want it to end, Louis.” His voice cracked. “I mean- *I* don’t want to end. Not if I’m spending my life like… *this*.” He raised his hands desperately. “If the alternative is an eternity with you, I-...” His face grew red as a guilty smile appeared on his lips. “I want that life.” Louis bit his lip, trying to hide his smile. “I would love that. Don’t get me wrong–I wouldn’t be offering this if I thought it couldn’t help. But I don’t want you to feel this pain for eternity.” He placed a hand to his stomach. The hunger never left, just softened. It rarely even did that. “I’d rather that pain than the ones I already have.” He laughed in exasperation, standing up. “I’m ostracized because of *this*,” –he raised his hands again– “If I could just belong for *once* in my life… If I could just be with you…” “Okay...” Louis took his words in with a sigh. “I want you to understand *everything* before you decide. You deserve to know what you’re getting into before jumping in.” Owen hesitated. “Alright… if you say so.” Louis forced himself to his feet, closing the gap between them. Gently, leaving time for the lumberjack to pull away, he took Owen's hands. They stood together in front of the window, the sun casting their shadows against the wall. Two monsters, finally safe from prying eyes. Finally fully themselves. All they needed was each other. They could handle whatever Oakhurst, the gods, life–anything–threw at them. They could see that so much clearly now.