Dream: Blood Pact

Date: 11/5/2020

I was a young witch, about 19-20, still learning to really understand my magic. I had a fae companion named Kirin as my magical guide. She was specifically a forest nymph. She was sweet but protective in her own way. I was best friends with a young man named Joseph. He preferred to be called Steph as his contribution to breaking societal norms. He was a half-vampire capable of walking in the daylight. His father was a strict older vampire who was only this way to keep his son safe. As a young witch I had left home at about 17. I was sent with Kirin to learn the world and begin understanding my magic outside the basics. I had to spend five years away at minimum to learn this stuff.  And that's how I met Steph. I'd moved into a small cottage in the woods. It was just on the outskirts of town. Far enough that people wouldn't be able to see me just practicing my magic whenever but close enough that I had some neighbors just down the road. I was practicing my magic out back as Kirin helped coax the nearby animals towards me. We were trying to get the wounded ones to come closer so I could heal them. Each wounded animal began to calm as they watched my magic help the one before them. In turn it helped me build a rapport with them. Helped us come to an understanding. They'd leave my spices and herbs alone as long as I set aside a small garden for them. Seemed like a fair trade to me. As a small doe came up to me she seemed to shiver. I looked at the wound on her hide and recognized it immediately: vampire bite. "Lay down young one. This may hurt a little but it will make you better I promise." I told the doe. It did as told, the doe's mother laying beside me for extra comfort. I placed my hand just above the bite mark and focused my magic, "Pull the poison and forsake the curse. She shall be free and healthy." A faint purple glow appeared as the vampiric poison flowed out of the mark and into a small vial I had gotten out of my bag. Once the poison was all out I closed her wound and corked the vial. The doe and her mother both gave sounds of approval. I fed them both and sent them on their way. It was about this time that I felt eyes on me. Kirin and I exchanged glances before she vanished and went to locate our watcher. She'd been erasing and altering the memories of anybody who happens to see my magic. Something she was grateful she didn't have to do often. "Back off!" I heard someone shout. "Shit! That hurts!" Within moments I saw a young man with dark Indigo hair get chased out into my yard. He froze before me and a few gartner snakes that I was treating. The snakes all hissed at him and he paled at the sight of them. "I meant no trouble. I just… I was curious…" he explained in a panic, "It was a strange new scent… and I'd never seen magic before…" I tapped the heads of the snakes and they came back to my side. He looked a bit calmer and I smirked, "Sit down. Watch closely. Try not to move too much." He sat across from me. The snakes all hissed once before looking back at me. I grabbed a small bag of powder and took a pinch of it before sprinkling it on the two hatchlings snakes. They had been stepped on recently. Their tail-ends had been hard to move. The elder gartner snake had gotten help bringing them here by the doe's mother. "You two should stay here for the night while that heals." I told the hatchlings. They looked to the elder who seemed to nod. Kirin flew over and held out a tray for the trio to curl on. "We have a nice cozy space inside that can protect you as you heal. Even has some food for you." The snakes slithered onto the tray and curled up, "Try not to keep him here too long. He'll scare off your guests." Kirin added and headed inside. The young man from before looked down, "It's not like I chose this life." I sighed and got to my feet. I took his hand and led him back towards the cabin. "I understand that. I didn't choose mine either. I just make the most of it. I'm Emilia. You?" His bright orange eyes lit up, "Joseph. But call me Steph." We headed past the garden where some rabbits I had helped were working their way through a shared cabbage. "You lot better get inside before it gets dark." I told them and they quickly scurried off through the 'dog door' into the cabin. "So are you a forest nymph?" Steph asked me and I just laughed, "Not at all. Though I have met some. I'm just a witch who leans a bit more towards animals than people." We got to the kitchen and I released his hand. I brewed some tea and watched him lean back against the counter. I could tell he was built. Probably had to wrestle with some people for his blood meals. Or maybe face against other vampires. "So did you know you left your poison in the doe you bit?" I told him and got out some mugs to pour the tea into. I grabbed a small vial that had an herb mixture of mine and sprinkled it into just one mug. "I didn't mean to. I'm only half-blood. The poison is actually a new development for me." He answered honestly. He really made it difficult to be upset with him. I poured the tea. It was a blend of pine, lavender, and honey that I had made myself. I mixed some milk into mine and stirred. "Milk, cream, or straight?" "Cream please," Steph answered. I poured some in his mug, stirred, and handed it to him. "The added herbs should help with the poisons in your system. Most vampires already know how to keep the poison at bay when getting their blood meal. That poison could have made that young doe a vampiric deer. I doubt your coven would have liked that." Steph tensed at that and nodded. He took a drink of the tea and allowed it to relax him, "No. I doubt they would. Though my father is really the only one I need to fear in that regard." "He the coven head?" I asked before drinking some of my own tea. "Worse. Their judge." Steph answered and drink more of the tea. I grimaced at that, "I've heard that can be a taxing job." I looked over at him and saw him staring into the mug, "Don't worry. The herb mixture will work. Think of it like this, the herbs slowly work their way through and when you go to sleep you'll be given the best ways to control your poison." "But how?" Steph asked me. "My parents were close to many vampires of different covens. The young ones always had troubles in that area so they made this herb mixture and taught me how to do it. I don't exactly know what it is that does it, something about the chemicals in the Vampire brain mixing with the chemical makeup of those herbs in that exact manner." I shook my head and sighed, "Magic and science have very close ties. That's the best way I can explain it." Steph just nodded and drank down the rest of his tea. We chatted about the science of magic and about the politics of a vampire coven. It was probably the most interesting conversation I'd had in a while. Kirin even joined us with her knowledge of the fae hierarchy.  As the weeks went by our trio got close. Steph would often come over with whatever hurt animals he'd find and help us with caring for the wounded ones. We'd talk about our kind and our days. The animals eventually got used to his presence here.  Then one day he didn't show up. We'd gotten into a routine but he wasn't here. Instead a black fox had come pawing at my door. I didn't understand why it hadn't used the dog door. When I opened up it sat there, staring up at me, with a note tied to its paw. I removed the note and it walked past me to curl by my fire, drifting to sleep almost immediately. "I wish I could have gone myself but that would have drawn suspicion. I'm sending a friend of mine to go in my place. Your magic has been noticed by more than just me. Apparently the blood of a witch is said to be in good taste. I don't know when I'll be able to meet with you. Please be careful and on guard." I looked to Kirin in worry. We exchanged a nod before I began putting up wards around my cottage and my lands. I whistled for any injured to come my way. Kirin and I had been building a barn space for the bigger animals over the last couple weeks. We just finished it a couple nights ago. Kirin ushered the smaller animals into the house to different resting stations. I led some of the bigger ones to the barn. I doubled up on protective charms for it so they could all stay safe as they rested and healed. We did all we could to finish before nightfall. As night came my anxiety spiked. The young fox that Steph had sent was awake again. It stretched and slowly its form changed to that of Steph. "Sorry for not telling you it was me." He stated as he adjusted his pants and shirt, "This and charm magic are all I know. I promise I won't use the charms on you two though." "I'm gonna kick his ass." Kirin grumbled but she did hug him all the same. I shook my head but felt myself relax a bit. "So what's going on?" Steph pat Kirin's head as she headed back to the couch. He looked to me and sighed, "My father tends to have me followed. I have always noticed them before. I'd give them the slip every time before I get out this way. This last time… I didn't even sense them. They saw your magic and saw me with you and Kirin. They reported back and told not only my father but the coven head as well. Now they want me to share my new… blood donors… with them." His eyes darkened at those words. He was clearly pissed about this, "I told them you two were friends and not donors. I tried my best to make them understand to leave you alone." "A bunch of old bastards stuck in their greedy ways." Kirin remarked. I sighed but nodded, "So what do we do?" "You've already done it. Keep your land warded. Stay in the protective barriers when it's dark out. Things like that should keep them from being able to get in." Steph explained to us. The next few nights were exhausting. Steph would sneak out during the day as a fox and sleep here till nightfall. During the darker hours he’d keep watch a couple hours then head home to keep his father from coming out this way himself. It was exhausting and nerve-wracking. “Em, there’s something just beyond the border of the wards.” Kirin called out. She was feeding a baby horse at the time. I whistled to a couple of the wolves that had begun taking up residence in my yard. They got up and stood watch near the edge of the wards. I headed out the ward, night was beginning to fall, and made my way towards the creature. It was a red fox. Older one at that. I walked over to it and knelt nearby. “Easy now. I’m just gonna come over and help you. Okay?” I said as I scooted closer to the fox. The red fox got on guard. It’s ears slicked back as a low growl like sound escaped it. I slowly reached my hand toward it but it snapped at me. I tried again and it launched up but not at me. There had been someone behind me it dived after. They shouted as it bit down on their hand. I whirled around to see an older man fighting with the fox. Trying to get the creature to let go. I quickly went and got the fox to release his hand. The man glared at the fox who just growled at him. I held the bitter fox in my arms as I cautiously made my way back towards the barrier. “Should keep your pets on a leash.” the man grumbled angrily. “I take care of the animals here. They are my allies not my pets.” I told him as I let the fox down near the barrier and it scurried off limping towards Kirin. I stood my ground as I watched him. I saw the flash of fangs and felt every fiber of my being go on high alert. He sighed as the wound on his hand began to close. This was definitely trouble. “I was sent to tell you that your guard dog won’t be coming tonight,” the man said calmly, “If you want him back you will have to come with me back to the manor.” “Don’t do it, Em!” Kirin shouted as she reached the ward’s border. “Stay with the animals. As long as one of us is the ward it will stay up.” I told her sternly. Kirin stepped back from the border. “They’ll kill you.” “We don’t know that for sure.” I told her as the man in front of me watched in silence. Kirin chewed her lower lip then nodded, “I’ll stay here then. You better get back here though.” I nodded and followed the older vampire up to the manor. Inside I saw Steph curled on the floor. He was clutching his stomach in pain. There was blood on his lip and a bruise forming around his eye. The downside of being a half-blood. He can still be hurt as if he were human. He can just withstand it more than them. I went to his side and let my magic flow to my fingertips. “It’ll be alright, Steph.” I whispered as the magic worked its way into him to heal him of what wounds he may have endured. Another man came into the front room. By his looks I assumed him to be Steph’s father. They had similar facial features and the same orange eyes, this man’s having dulled with age. She felt Steph cling to her hand. “What the hell did he do to deserve such treatment?!” I snapped at them. The older vampire scowled at me. Steph trembled as a menacing aura radiated off his father. I held my ground. I wasn’t afraid of him. I was more afraid for Steph than anything. The man waved off his goons. “How could you do this to your own son?!” I snapped at him. The older man smirked and snapped his fingers. Steph laced his fingers with mine and looked up at me. He leaned in and whispered in my ear, “We need a small ward. Just us three.” I didn’t like the sound of that but I agreed. I made a magical ward around us three. Blocking any sound from escaping it while allowing us to hear what was going on out there. Steph looked to his father and nodded. “As judge of our coven, I have the final say on all rulings dealing with our people. Anything outside our coven is left to the leader. My son seems quite fond of you and your nymph. If you two take a blood pact with him the other coven members won’t be able to touch you and you two can continue as you are.” Steph’s father explained to us. “And why should I trust you?” I asked him. Steph gave my hand a squeeze, “He’s telling the truth. This… was to trick the rest of the coven into thinking I was being punished.” “What are the side effects of a blood pact?” I asked them both. Steph let go of my hand and slowly got to his feet. He and his father both held a hand out to me. They helped me to my feet and I waited for their answer. “You’d… feel me. My presence would be more noticeable. My pain would become something you could feel as if your own the moment it happens.” Steph explained and looked away, “And I could give commands that would be hard for you to disobey.” “So you could control me,” I asked him. “I wouldn’t do that though. I just… technically… that is something that can be done.” Steph admitted and kept his gaze down. “Can this be done at my garden?” I asked them. “The pact with your nymph can. Not yours.” His father told me sternly, “Witch’s blood is a delicacy. If you leave these halls unclaimed I can’t promise your safety.” I sighed but nodded and held out my hand, palm up to them, “Fine. Let’s do this.” Pain scorched across my skin as they forged the blood pact between myself and Steph. Afterwards I took down the ward and was escorted out by Steph. I could feel the pain searing my arm. The wound had closed fast. I was thankful for that. Steph scooped me in his arms and carried me back to the cottage. It was not going to be fun explaining all of this to Kirin. (Then I awoke.)