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Abolish takes a step out of town to clear his head. The cold, evening air is refreshing as he takes a breath in. He shouldn't be going out alone at night, with the vampires undeterred by the sun and the disorganised town still tense with the realization of how many vampires had gone undetected within. But at this point, he's too apathetic and exhausted. So what if a vampire attacks him? He knows how to defend himself. He wanders into the forest, letting the dirt path guide him as his mind wanders aswell.
At some point, he stops himself before he passes by the vampire's castle. Though the bridge is just as, if not more, derelict than when he first saw it; the castle itself has been built up large and somewhat menacingly. He simply has to applaud the effort the vampires have made to rebuild such a structure. It is shaping up to be quite nice.
Before he has time to turn back and return to Oakhurst, Abolish notices footsteps approaching.
"Hello Abolish," the vampire says, his voice is monotone yet prickly.
"Hello, Owen," Abolish replies, unfazed by his sudden appearance.
"What are you doing all the way out here? At night? All alone, too."
"I just needed a break from… everything, really."
"Not afraid of the creatures of the night? I didn't think you were that foolish."
"I know how to defend myself," He furrows his brows and grips the hilt of his shield ever so slightly.
Owen sniggers, "I'm sure you do."
They stand in silence for a moment, only the breeze gently flowing through the trees. Abolish should be heading back, but he doesn't.
"A break… from what exactly?" Owen asks.
Abolish takes a breath out, easing his tension, "The town, people, vampires… everything." He looks out into the trees, but not letting the vampire completely out of his sight, "All I wanted was to pay respects to my parents. Now I've got to worry about so many things that I honestly don't care about," he says, bitterly.
"You're saying you don't care about the town? And the others?" Owen leans forward, red eyes and fangs glinting in the moonlight.
He turns back to the vampires and hesitates, "Well, no. I do care. It's just… frustrating. They don't really listen to me, everytime I speak I get talked over. I don't know if they really care about me, either, since I'm not as outspoken or vocal as them." He covers himself with his shield and pulls his glove.
Owen tilts his head, "Then why bother? Surely you've paid enough respect to your parents already."
Abolish pauses. Then firmly says, "I'm looking for something… And it's better if the town is safe."
The vampire nods, "Things on my side have also been… frustrating, to say the least."
"Trouble in paradise? With half the town turned already, I'm surprised."
"I wouldn't call it 'paradise'," Owen grits his teeth and crosses his arms. "With so many other fledgling vampires, Oakhurst is becoming more like an infant school. Not to mention how… unaccepting… of their gifts they have been. So many of them have been fruitlessly rebelling."
"I'm sure most of them had good reason not to want it, plus Legundo is working on a cure."
"It doesn't matter if they wanted it or not. Life is unfair and that's that," Owen snarls. The vampire looks off into the trees aswell and sighs to regain his composure, "Vampires and humans… working together… it just won't work. I'd be better off alone."
Abolish quietly hums in agreement, "Wouldn't that be nice. Wouldn't that he nice…" He repeats to himself, quieter than the first.
Owen turns to meet Abolish's eyes. Though he now owns blood red irises, Abolish's dark brown eyes remind him of what he used to be like. The human looks back. Neither of them can help but notice how tired the other is, no matter how much they try to hide it.
"Well, you best be off now," Owen begins walking towards the castle, waving a hand.
"Goodbye," Abolish says. The vampire tranforms into a bat and flies away, over the bridge and through the castle's frame.
When Abolish returns to Oakhurst, it's quiet. Everyone else must be sleeping. He heads back to his lone house, climbing the ladder upstairs and laying down on the floor, too tired to bother with anything else.
He's interrupted by a knocking on his door. Wearily going back down, he answers it, "Who's there?"
No reply.
He opens the door to find a chest with a notebook inside. It reads, 'You might find what you're looking for easier as a bat. The offer stands for you.'
Abolish looks around but nobody is in sight. Nonetheless, he replies out loud, "I appreciate it, but no thanks." He puts the book back into the chest and returns to his house.