GerIta - Hunter Ch. 1 [On Hiatus // Rewriting]

[Fantasy AU (vampire), human names used, M rating in later chapters, GerIta (and other pairings)]

Ludwig turned a corner, sword in hand to see a young man feasting on a woman's blood. The woman was lying in his arms, unconscious. She seemed rich, rich enough to afford treatment for any injury she sustained and the vampire was careful not to make a noise, crouching low in the shadows as not draw attention as he drank. Releasing her neck, he put a hand into his jacket pocket and finding nothing looked around worriedly and caught sight of Ludwig. His eyes widened and he dropped the woman to the ground.

"V-Vatican?" He shuddered, hands raised and trembling with fear, "Please! I have done nothing! Ah!" He winced, stepping back as Ludwig strode forward.

"My name is Feliciano Vargas, so please!"

Ludwig stopped, instantly wary. The vampire had spoken the truth, he could feel it. But a vampire that was so willing to give his name to a Hunter, even though he may easily be able outrun him? With his name, combined with a prayer taught by the Vatican, any soldier of the Church could control a vampire in any way they chose. It was an old and powerful magic, though the Church wouldn't have wished to call it that. So, this creature was willing to throw his life out to him?

Feliciano was on the ground now, picking up a vial. It was a small glass vial, with a curving shape and spiralled design, the stopper was in the shape of a diamond. Ludwig recognised it instantly. It contained Holy Water: stolen from the Church.  

"Hey!"

Feliciano flinched but didn't let go of the vial. Instead he took out the stopper and soaked a small amount onto the edge of his jacket and pressed it against the bite marks on the woman's neck. That act stopped one from becoming a vampire, supposedly by cleansing the blood of the vampire's impurities when they took blood. It was usually only effective within the first several hours of being bitten – Ludwig had heard of cases where after 24 hours if had been too late to act, but never of a vampire willingly preventing a transformation. This day was becoming stranger by the minute.

Nevertheless, he ran towards the vampire, grabbed Feliciano's shoulders and pinned him against the wall of the alley, "How old are you, vampire?"

"Ah!" In fear, Feliciano screwed his eyes shut and instinctively threw his arms out, throwing Ludwig to the ground. He landed several feet away and cracked his head on the ground. The first time in years he let his thoughts get clouded by emotion and he's on the ground at the mercy of this creature. The world was spinning oddly. The vampire opened his eyes, a few stray tears collecting in the corners.

"Ah~! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt y– sir? Ah, you're bleeding!" Feliciano panicked and through the dark haze that was now descending Ludwig could feel a hand clamped to the back of his head. The vampire was trying to stem the flow of blood. "Hold on." He heard something rip and concentrated, his vision clearing slightly and could see Feliciano frown at a strip of cloth on his hands. "Too small…"

He ripped a long strip from Ludwig's clothes using his teeth, which were still sharp from drinking blood, and wrapped it tightly around Ludwig's head, tying it quickly. "I had to use your shirt, I apologise…" He looked at the Hunter in confusion.

The vampire stuttered, still shaking violently, "Wait here, I'll go get some help from the Vatican!"

He was gone before Ludwig could say anything. If he had truly gone to a nearby Church he would be killed, no doubt. Feliciano was probably fleeing and finding somewhere to hide.

But… Ludwig thought as he lay still, succumbing to the black, he didn't seem like the vampire I was ordered to search for, though he did seem to match the description. The vampire was said to have slaughtered many in towns South and now East of here and throughout Italia. Dangerous. Feliciano Vargas was thin, as if he had not been feeding well, and had been terrified of Ludwig at first sight. Vampires had extraordinary strength but he had not used it until pinned against the wall with nowhere else to go.

It would have been all too easy for him to outrun and possibly kill me during my confusion. He had not the attitude or appearance of a killer. In fact, he didn't seem like the typical vampire. Yes, Feliciano was different indeed...

-

Ludwig awoke to find himself, in fact, in a nearby Church laying down on one of the pews. Fresh bandages of linen had been wrapped around his forehead and Feliciano was no where to be seen. Around him were several concerned priests and two fellow Vatican Hunters, recognisable by their overcoats: a Spaniard Ludwig was familiar with and a blonde he didn't recognise.

"What am I d…?" Ludwig started and sat up. A hand instinctively went up to his neck but found no puncture wounds.

"You were lucky, it seems like he wasn't hungry for you," the Spaniard spoke, offering his hand to Ludwig who accepted it and was pulled to his feet. He was in fact an old friend of Ludwig's older brother.

"Antonio, why are you here?" Ludwig looked at the man in mild confusion. When they had last spoke, he had been lively and energetic, with a constant smile on his face, it was almost silly. His dark, wavy hair was now shoulder length and tied using a red ribbon, and he looked tired.

"I was tracking a vampire in the Hispanic Kingdom and it seemed as though it fled here and attacked a village," He frowned and Ludwig only just noticed his gaze flicker briefly to a small room, behind Ludwig.

"It seems I've been ordered to look for the same one. Ah, where is he?"

"Hm?"

"The vampire who helped me. I assume a boy of around 20 ran in here earlier, unless someone else happened to find and carry me here?" Ludwig saw Antonio and the other glance at each other. "Surely… you didn't kill him?"

"He was not ours to kill. 'E is over there," The stranger spoke with a thick French accent, nodding towards the door over Ludwig's shoulder.

"Ah, Ludwig, this is Francis. He's travelled from France. I don't suppose you know, but it seems the vampire was there too. He's a lot more trouble than anticipated…"

Ludwig and Francis nodded politely to each other in greeting.

"Can I see him?"

"Of course," Antonio led Ludwig to the room.

Stepping inside Ludwig saw Feliciano sitting quietly on a chair against the wall, shivering. His chest was bare and Ludwig could see the faintest scars of knife wounds trailing over his chest and presumably across his back, though he knew that they were fresh from the bruises that had not healed. A vampire could heal itself very quickly, especially since he had fed so recently. Ludwig couldn't have been unconscious for more than an hour. It seemed that though they hadn't killed Feliciano, his fellow Hunters had seen fit to try and interrogate him using steel. The vampire's hands and legs were chained and Ludwig could see silver laced into the cold steel shackles, which would make it painful for him even to struggle against his bonds. Using silver had the same effect of purifying steel using Holy Water and prayer; it was simply easier and had a permanent effect within the object. Silver was also more potent than steel, causing acute pain and was ultimately toxic to vampires, which is what made it all the more precious to the Vatican.

"Vampire, how old are you?"

"Twenty," Feliciano replied, not looking up. His voice was dry and slightly fearful.

Too young than the one he was searching for, almost definitely, and he really didn't seem like the vampire Ludwig was searching for. That didn't mean he bared no sin, though.

"…Did they hurt you?" Ludwig found himself addressing him in a softer tone. Feliciano flinched and looked up, confusion leaving his eyes as he saw Ludwig.

"You're okay then… thank goodness…" His shoulders slumped in relief. "I didn't know what happened–"

"– you have no right to talk to him like that, vampire!"

"Antonio…"

"He attacked you and there is evidence that he attacked someone else, too!" Antonio withdrew a dagger from the inside of his overcoat, a silver cross shining in the blade and pointed it at Feliciano, who flinched again and closed his eyes, gritting his teeth expectantly.

"He saved my life, Antonio. He could have run, or drained my body, but I suppose instead he came here and told you, or whoever was there at the time about what had happened, am I correct? What's more, he wasn't purposefully trying to attack me. What would have happened if I had been left outside unconscious? Vampires aren't the only enemies we have here…" Ludwig's eyes narrowed as Antonio offered a weak reply and nodded, "He treated the woman he bit with Holy Water, so I doubt you would need to search for her."

"Am I expected to believe that?" Antonio raised an eyebrow hesitantly, as if he wanted not to believe him.

"Was there a vial on him?"

Antonio shook his head.

"Check the alley then, please," Ludwig bowed his head quietly, willing them to do as he asked. Strange, it was his sacred duty to hunt down and kill vampires, yet here he was trying to save one. He wasn't even sure why.

Francis bowed his head and left. Minutes passed in agitated silence, the vampire quieter than either of the Hunters before Francis returned with an empty glass vial, identical to the ones used in Churches and by Vampire Hunters for just these situations. He handed it to Antonio, "I checked it, it did contain Holy Water."

"Well… we'll have to check, but if the victim has been treated then…" Antonio sighed, almost sadly, "Ludwig, we still can't let that creature go."

"I owe him my life, just let him walk free." Ludwig persisted, still unsure of why he was doing so. Why did the life of this vampire matter amongst all the others that hadn't? Because he had done no wrong? Or was it something… else? Something was present that Ludwig couldn't identify, he was sure of it. Something specific to this vampire.

"I still have a duty to get rid of it, same as you," Antonio gulped as he walked over to Feliciano, holding the blade against his throat so a thin trickle of blood started pouring down his neck. He looked down in shock as the vampire started shaking more violently, shackles digging into his wrists.  He had never seen a vampire terrified before. They were meant to fight back, hiss and struggle with hateful eyes, not cower in the face of death. The little Italian offered no resistance as he pushed the knife deeper into his skin. He fought the slumbering reflex to gulp, yet could not stop his hands and breaths shaking.

"I'm so pathetic…" the whisper was barely audible even in the soundless room.

Ludwig could not stand to see the vampire shaking in fear like that, it was so human, so he called out, searching for an excuse to let him go free, "Stop that!"

Antonio glared at him coldly, and he could feel Francis' eyes on his back also. If this didn't work…

"He… he told me his name, willingly." Ludwig knew that as he spoke it would have been a bad idea, but it was the only one he had.

"How can you prove it?"

"If he truly has," Francis spoke up, "then order him to kill himself." Ludwig turned around in shock to look at the Frenchman. "A vampire would not kill itself just like that, non?"

"Then what would be the point? It achieves nothing."

"No, it achieves his innocence, and one less dangerous creature in the world. It is only the Lord's command." Ludwig could hear the hints of sarcasm in Francis' voice as he spoke. True, it was his mission on this Earth to kill unholy creatures such as vampires, but Ludwig felt that any killing should be justified, and not simply by the Lord's will. Existence is not a sin.

"If I can prove to you that what I say is true, and that he is innocent, will you let him go free? I shall speak to the Vatican council about the matter," Ludwig licked his lips hesitantly.

"Certainly," Francis folded his arms and waited, a look of superiority and mild amusement on his face. Antonio moved the knife away from the vampire, who inhaled instantly, and walked towards the door to stand next to Francis, also expectant.

Ludwig thought for a moment. The order would have to be something powerful, something that would affect the vampire in a way that was not normal. Certainly what Francis said was true, so Ludwig needed something just as serious, but he did not wish to kill the boy. He stepped up to the creature and removed something from around his neck: a metal cross that he always wore.

"Do you know what this is?" He spoke coldly, and Feliciano nodded his head slowly. He could tell the vampire was desperately trying to block out all the reason in his mind that was telling him what Ludwig was about to do. Ludwig held it out to one side and looked back at the others. Antonio nodded to show he knew what it was also.

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit and the name by which you are bound, Feliciano Vargas–" It was a simple enough prayer, spoken in Latin, yet it was one of the most important powers a vampire hunter possessed.

Feliciano shivered, feeling something cold wash over him, as if some sort of ghost or otherworldly presence had appeared beside him. His thoughts began to blur and found he could not connect them together. His mind was scattered, and in fact it and his body no longer felt like his own. A puppet, that was the only way he could think to describe himself: the mind and soul was there but ultimately he was not in control of his body. The moment Ludwig had spoken his name the strings had appeared and claimed his body.

Ludwig knelt down to look at Feliciano from the side. The boy's eyes looked glazed over and he had stopped shivering. He looked round to meet Ludwig's gaze.

"– no matter what, you are not to scream, not to make a sound." Feliciano nodded mindlessly, eyes clearing as he finally understood. Ludwig paused before sliding his hand down over the Italian's back, which was indeed scarred and bruised as he'd guessed. He placed a hand on the vampire's shoulder, holding him still as he positioned the cross on his back over his shoulder blade.

Feliciano shuddered as the metal hovered just above his skin, as if Ludwig was hesitating, but he was overcome by pain as it touched him. The vampire arched his back instantly, eyes wide and mouth open, but the chains around him prevented any further movement. He closed his eyes, gritting his teeth and wrapped his arms around his chest. Ludwig was certain he could hear the fangs grating against each other as the vampire fought harder and harder to block out the pain, his nails were digging into his sides and blood trickled from the wounds. His chest was beginning to heave now, and he was biting his lip harder and harder, his fangs growing under the pressure and fear. The vampire should have been screaming by now. His vocal cords strained but not a even whimper escaped the vampire's lips.

Antonio and Francis watched as the German pressed the silver cross harder into the vampire's back, causing the creature to start. Ludwig himself flinched as Feliciano slumped forward as if unconscious, tears pouring down his face. Feliciano's world was on fire, the pain was too much, he'd never felt anything like it, he was sure that he'd died, the flames he felt were Hell's gates opening up to him, but no sooner than he'd slipped into the darkness he was brought back again. The vampire snapped back up, mouth gaping as if he were screaming, his entire body tensed and hands and fingers curled like some animal. He was jerking as if movement would dislodge the metal from him, let it fall to the ground where it could not harm him, yet his efforts made no difference and he continued to cry and shout silently. The boy wasn't even breathing. Ludwig had never seen something so disturbing, so inhuman.

He took the cross away, closing it in his fist and stepped away from Feliciano, who swayed to one side, full of obvious relief. His jaw was working silently, whimpers that he could not form leaving his mouth and his body trembled. His gasps shuddered as he inhaled repeatedly, gulping in between breaths, swallowing nothing but air, yet not even that seemed to help him. Feliciano's world was numb, his body felt hollow and empty and he had no voice, yet he had to scream, he had to. If nothing else, he needed to rid himself of the pain, of the utter agony lighting his veins. Nothing else mattered.

He could feel the gouges he'd inflicted upon his own pale body, seeping red across his skin like tiny rivers and onto the floor. Rings of red, raw skin marked his wrists and ankles where his restraints had burned him, not nearly as badly as the silver cross. Through the haze of the pain he could hear Ludwig speaking, voice resonating with anger at the two other Hunters.

"Are you satisfied? He is mine, and you will let him go free."

Antonio thought of nothing to say, a chill ran down his spine at the German's powerful words.

"We…" Francis gulped, his hands starting to feel clammy. Both would never admit it, but seeing the vampire writhing like that sickened them. He had the form of a human, had spoken like a human, so to them it was like they had burned someone alive. He had no doubt that Ludwig had control over the vampire after that torture. After all, he had known for a fact the vampire had screamed when exposed to their silver blades.

"You don't seem to understand me," Ludwig glared at the two pointing behind him at the vampire, "He will stay with me, and shall do no harm. And you shall leave him untouched from now on. Do you hear me?" His voice was level and quiet, somehow more terrifying than if he were to shout.

"Apologise to him."

Antonio blinked and looked away, Francis' eyes widened as Ludwig stepped back beside the vampire, crouching down beside him and releasing his wrists.

"Ahh… l-lo siento…" It was nothing more than a whisper, yet Feliciano and Ludwig could pick out the Spaniard's voice.

Francis said nothing but bowed his head, as if somewhat ashamed.

"Feliciano…" The man's breath tingled against the vampire's skin as he opened his mouth, finding words and voice returning to him, even through the lingering tongues of flame wrapped around his dry throat. He found himself silently begging God, begging the Devil to ease the pain, to let it all be gone. No relief came to him, his upper back felt scorched and every movement hurt him. Heat radiated from that single point on his left shoulder, he could feel that shape of the cross in this skin and his flesh burned, the only thing lacking was the smell. He licked his lips, finding no moisture except his own blood: he'd bitten his own tongue.

"Kill me…" Feliciano spoke, raising his head to look at the two Hunters in front of him. Seeing something glint in the corner of his eye, he grabbed the dagger from inside of Ludwig's overcoat and stood up, kicking his shackles away. He held the dagger out in his hand, gripping the sharpened blade of the weapon which began to feel slippery and warm.

"Please. Kill me…" His voice was weak, and the dagger slipped out from between his bloodied fingers and palm as Ludwig passed a hand in front of his face.

"Sleep."

Feliciano felt strong arms wrap around him as his knees gave way and found the darkness embracing him. He heard the beating of a strong heart die down as he fell gratefully into unconsciousness.