Tuesday's the Day [Cassie]

[Dacian]

First she was food, then she was practice, and now she was revenge. Either way, he was using her. He managed to feel slightly guilty at that. She had never done anything to deserve it, but Edward was another matter. His cock-sure attitude to women needed shaking up, and his insolence toward him could do with a kick in the balls too. At least Connery tried to take out his anger out on him properly. Even Silas with his guerrilla warfare tactics were preferable to Edward’s constant grumbling and failure to confront him head-on. The barman had gotten away with it until Dacian had heard of him mentioning Vivian behind his back. The mortal could say whatever he liked about him, but Vivian had done nothing. If he had a problem, he should voice it and/or demonstrate it with physical force. Dacian did not appreciate weakness, and Edward was a prime example. To be fair to the boy, he was no actual threat so why should he bother to make empty ones? Dacian could at least justify some violence if he did. Instead useless sack of meat was just taking up space. He couldn't even eat him.

When he had first seen Cassie, she was just another woman, and he’d been so desperate for an attractive meal that wooing her first had seemed the natural course of action. Now he was getting her into this mass, but he was enjoying it more than he should. She felt good, she smelt good, and she tasted good. How could he resist now? Even in this state of insecurity, she was becoming more charming by the second. Returning his advances while knowing what he was seemed to be the better trigger for his growing resolve to keep this going. Inexplicably, she believed every word and move he made and it made him want to do it again. He wanted to test her, see just how far he could push her. He didn’t want to break her, not exactly, but bringing them both to the brink of something both emotional and physical was trespassing on the forefront of his mind.

This initial thing was about Edward, but already he could feel that dangerous craving rising. Soon it would not be about him, it would be about them. Instinctively his hand smoothed over her knee, trying to comfort her. His sympathetic expression had something of his real emotion in it. “Thank you.” As her hand rested on his, he found himself following her movement and he helped her nervous fingers tuck that little wisp of hair behind her ear. Before he touched her too much, pushed her comfort level too far, he pulled reluctantly away. His hand touched briefly on her knee before he pushed his chair back, allowing her an escape. “You haven’t outstayed my welcome.” Dacian said quietly as he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his stomach so he couldn’t reach for her again. He knew exactly whose welcome she was referring to, but the comment was to draw her closer to him rather than push her from Edward. “Take care of yourself, I’ll be seeing you.”

[Cassie Vimes]

Cassie felt relief as she took in Dacian’s expression of sympathy. He understood her hesitation and he wasn’t angry about it. She gave a small shaky smile as his hand followed hers to tuck her hair behind her ear, half wishing she could stay here with him and take advantage of the kindness he was showing her, but knowing she wouldn’t be able to stand staying in the room with Ed for much longer. Already she could feel the desire to go to him growing.

It was weird how she felt a loss of warmth as he leaned away from her, that shouldn’t be possible as he had no body heat to share. ”No, thank you,” She said, managing to hold it together long enough to really look at him, a contrast to the brief nervous glances she’d been using so far. ”You’ve been very kind.” Cassie began the slightly arduous task of wrapping herself up in the many layers she’d shed as she entered the pub.

Somehow she had the feeling she was going to spend a restless night pacing in her room, thinking over the evening’s events in agonising detail. She stood, keeping her head down so she didn’t have to look over at the bar. If she could just get out without seeing Ed then maybe she would be able to keep the guilt at bay long enough to escape. ”Goodbye Dacian.” Her voice was quiet, but she had no doubt Dacian could hear her. He was a vampire after all and that was the problem.

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[Edward Johns]

Everything Dacian did was driving the landlord practically insane. Edward’s income had dropped considerably a few days after the vampire had moved in. He snacked on customers, people instinctively knew to stay away and he took all the best spots in the pub. And Ed swore the vampire did it all to spite him. Now it was Tuesday and more than anything the man was looking forward to Cassie’s daily visits. To be honest it was the only thing that kept him from kicking Dacian out of the pub.

To distract himself from the very sight of the vampire and watching the door Ed turned to the small sink behind the bar and began to clean glasses. As he washed his eyes brushed over a small yellow envelope from Silas of all people. He’d been more than surprised when he’d opened it and found not one trace of abuse. Instead a reasonably sized crucifix had fallen into Ed’s open palm, Silas really did care. Somehow the letter had escaped Dacian’s notice and lucky for the vampire, he hadn’t pushed Ed far enough to make him use it.

Quietly, so as not to draw attention from Dacian, the man stopped cleaning glasses and took the crucifix out of its envelope. Over and over he twirled it in his fingers, rubbing his thumb over the intricately carved details. The gold inlay and silver of the chain glinted in the shafts of sunlight that penetrated the room. Without thinking, Ed put the cross around his neck and tucked it under his shirt. He had no idea why he’d done it, for some reason something had told him to start wearing the crucifix.

When the door to the Hog’s Head opened, out of habit Ed looked up and was elated to see it was Cassie. Broad smile plastered on his face and heart beating fast he waited patiently for her to make her way over to the bar. The smile soon faded as he realised she wasn’t here for him today. It was Tuesday, the day she’d said she was catching up with the vampire. Pretending that it didn’t make him roar inwardly, Ed went about serving customers but kept one eye on the pair’s exchange.

The more he saw the more he wished he could disappear. He felt his heart hit the floor and it was probably the most painful thing he’d ever experienced. The kiss was the last straw on a pile of many straws that Ed had let built up. Not anymore. He let the creature in HIS pub, stood by while he scared away and ate his only source of income and scared the one thing that wouldn’t totally screw him over by getting it on with a vampire. If Dacian expected him to just stand by and watch this he had another thing coming.

Somehow Edward managed to restrain himself and keep his heartbeat steady as he waited for Cassie to leave. As soon as she’d left the man made his way slowly to the fireside table, crucifix concealed in his right hand.

“G’day, glad you had a good time with Cassie, now get the fuck out of my pub and never come back. Sorry scratch that, you’ll only ever come back to check on the girl until she no longer needs you, which will be soon I’m not sorry to say. Now get the fuck out and stay away from Cassie otherwise I will hunt your sorry arse down you pathetic, ungrateful, spiteful little fuckwit,” he towered over the vampire. Surprisingly Ed was incredibly calm. He was facing what could be his death in the face and he wasn’t flinching or fearful.

The truth was Ed didn’t care what happened, he was sick of being screwed over by everyone he cared about in life. A few months in hospital would be a welcome change. All those people actually caring how you felt, sounded good to him.

It seemed even Edward Johns could only take so much.

[Dacian]

He greedily drank in that last look she gave him. He tried hard to keep that eye contact, and he rewarded her with a smile. He watched with rapt attention as she concealed herself one garment at a time. Something about his gaze suggested he’d rather see her taking them all off again, and he looked away before it became uncomfortable for either of them. Kind, was he? He shrugged a shoulder, somehow making the awkward gesture graceful. “I don’t think you’ll believe the kindness you’ve shown me.” He said quietly, not sure if she’d even heard the remark. A pity if she had not, it was perhaps the truest thing he had said all night.

Dacian turned in his chair to watch her go, wistfully peering over the high-backed chair. He flashed a smile as she spoke to him from across the room and as soon as she was out of the door, he was standing. Hastily, he began to return all his knives to their proper homes secreted about his person. He was hunched returning the throwing knives to his boots when Edward loomed over him. The vampire straightened, refusing to square up to the taller man as it would only accentuate the other man’s height advantage. “Making a scene are we, Edward? What’s the matter? Can’t handle a little competition?” He replied, his voice low to save the ears of the customers still hanging around. “I can smell you all over her but you know what? I can hear her heart race for me. When we kissed, it was fluttering like a bird in the cage just waiting to get free. Whom do you think that little heart will fly to, Edward? Are you positive it’s you?”

He gave a dismissive huff and picked up the last dagger, sheathing it firmly at his belt. “I’m not going anywhere, Edward, Vivian needs me here.” His left hand lifted, but he only pushed the taller man’s shoulder to make way for him to pass. “Now get out of my way.”

[Edward Johns]

Edward smiled almost manically at Dacian. Ever word the vampire uttered hurt like hell but he refused to let it show. Gripping tight to the crucifix in his right hand, the man waited for the perfect opportunity to strike. “Oh I’m not going to be the one making a scene,” he whispered dangerously, rubbing his thumb over the carved cross.

His heart beat was regular, not one inch of him was nervous. He was about to attack a fucking vampire who could in turn kill him and his head was surprisingly clear. The words about Cassie made him angry but Ed told himself he couldn’t let them get to him, no matter how much they were true. “I have no doubt her heart will fly to someone else, after what I did to her when we were young I don’t exactly deserve her. That being said if it were anyone else I’d be happy to watch her go, but you? All you’re doing is using her to get at me for reasons I can’t see. I’m so sorry for opening up my home and letting you stay here, I would hate it if someone did that too,” Ed spat sarcastically.

He regretted not facing up to Dacian until now, he’d been taught not to let emotion show and just grin and bear things. Usually the man would and he had for the last two weeks but the vampire was incredibly abrasive. Feeling Dacian’s hand on his shoulder told Ed it was time to act. Quick as a flash his right hand tore up and grabbed at bare skin. The man pushed the crucifix down hard, he had to make sure it hurt like the bitch Dacian was.

“You keep telling yourself Vivian needs you,” he snarled, “but you’re no longer needed here. You’ll only ever be allowed in here to make sure she’s ok because I’m not that cruel. Now I won’t repeat myself again. Get the fuck out of my pub.” To add insult to injury, Edward whipped out his wand, lit it up using lumos and shined it straight into Dacian’s eyes. No doubt he would go play the whole ‘OMG Ed is such a psycho, look what he did to me,’ card to Cassie and then they would end up having glorious sex on her bathroom floor or whatever but Ed didn’t care. It had been made obvious that Cassie no longer had feelings towards him and now this was just about dealing with Dacian and nothing else.

[Dacian]

Oh now that was delectable news. Edward had done something wrong with Cassie in their past? Perfect, more cannon fodder. “What I do with Cassie is our business, Edward. Keep your fetishes--” Something was suspicious here. He stopped mid-sentence. What was Edward doing?

Never underestimate the enemy, his number one rule. And he had broken it in epic proportions. He barely had time to think of what the barman might be trying to do before he knew all too well. In an instant, his arm was alight with the most excruciating pain. It burned through him, gripping every muscle and wrenching. The shock of it stormed up his spine and he was blinded and deafened by it. It was if lightening had hit him, stabbing evey nerve, followed by the deafening roar of thunder. With an unholy scream, the vampire looked as if he had been propelled by the fist of God himself as all but flew away from the mortal to collide heavily with the foot of the bar. The instantaneous heat of the reaction of the crucifix against him had ignited his half-rolled sleeve, and the cotton was burning fast. Tripping over chairs and crashing out of the door, he was gone within seconds of Edward’s attack. The rest of the mortal’s words were lost on him now, but his subconscious would probably supply him with them later.

Had he been lucid, he would have been ferociously angry. As it was, he was busy rolling in a nearby ditch unleashing the occasional yelp, tearing furiously at his shirt to rid himself of the flames threatening to engulf his entire body. Vampires tended to be a little flammable, and already his arm was smothered in burns but their pain paled in the face of the already welting cross-shaped burn on his forearm. He finally ripped the garment off and extinguished it. His arm was taking a turn for the worse. Not only couldn’t he move it, but the pain it was dealing him was invading the rest of his body. Soon he wouldn’t be able to move at all. The vampire staggered to his feet, gasping and panting as he fought just to stand.

Without warning the pain stabbed into his heart and when he opened his eyes, he was laying on the cold damp road. When the cascade of pain had finished lacerating his internal organs, he groaned and got to his hands and knees. He needed to get somewhere safe before this worsened and from experience he knew exactly, in unforgettable detail, how much worse it would get. And there was the dilemma. All his safe places were far from here, too far. He choked as another wave of pain wracked him and blackened his vision. When it was gone, he lurched to his feet and started toward town. There was one place. The one person who wouldn’t try and kill him, but would probably be the death of him at this rate: Cassie.