Tuesday 12th August
Who: Brynn and Arthur where: Arthur's bedroom When: The early hours of Tuesday What: Artie is rudely awoken by his so-called friend Rating: Swearz - a brief scene to explore their friendship
There was nothing better than a deep sleep. It was rare that Arthur was able to sleep so soundly but tonight he managed, cozied up in bed with the stuffed toy he’d had for years, the soft moonlight outside peeping through the thin blinds. Everything outside was calm, he dreamed of beaches and trees and a nice roast dinner. Yes he’d quite like a roast dinner tomorrow with gravy and spuds and…
Something stirred in the room. He knew it because even in his dream there was a sense of invasion, like his grandmother had decided to show up with her snappy little dog, Truffle. The wolfish instincts in him made him growl out of his slumber, bleary eyes attempting to blink around the room to find what could have caused his unease.
Artie woke up with a gasp and a jump as he spotted the figure of a man sat serenely on the edge of his bed. The imposing sight of vampire and colleague Brynn Dediver was illuminated only by the thin veil of light from the moon outside, but Artie could see a dull smirk on the other man’s face. Feeling immediately scalded, Artie brought the sheets up to his chin, frowning.
“What are you doing here?” he snapped.
As usual, Brynn spoke softly like it didn’t matter he’d just scared Artie half to death. It had happened several times over the years, and Brynn had never been the frightened one. Not even when Artie tried to get him back. “I was hoping to find something with which to blackmail you, but your stuffed bed-friend has already helped with that.”
Suddenly aware of the teddy bear by his side Artie grabbed Snuggles and shoved him under the covers. “He’s – that’s none of your concern.” What a bastard. What an absolute… Feeling flustered, Artie tried to compose himself in Brynn’s presence. “What do you want?”
“I just told you.” Brynn’s smirk widened into the sort of smile Artie would gladly smack off his face. “I want to blackmail you into doing something for me.”
“You never thought of just asking me?”
“That wouldn’t work.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I want you to break into Colette’s office.”
Artie’s face paled almost to the pallor of Brynn’s silky tones. Stunned and just a little bit concerned he had to do a double take. This idiotic, criminal vampire – because that’s what it was, breaking and entering even in staff apartments – was seriously asking Artie to trespass on the headmistress’ office. “Break into Colette’s – break into… why would I want to do that?”
Serious now, Brynn leaned closer into the light so they were almost nose to nose. Artie hadn’t realised before but Brynn’s eyes were dark, very dark, not even brown somehow, just….
“She knows I’m on to her,” said Brynn, voice deep and rich in that weirdly attractive Welsh-vampire way. “She watches me every day. You would not arouse suspicion, she likes you. There is something coming, something big, and she knows about it. It could erase our entire existence and put us all in danger but the only evidence is in her office. You need to get it for me, Arthur, for without it we all face certain death. Everything rests on you.”
Artie’s heart began to beat hard in his chest and not just for what Brynn had just told him. This had to be a prank. Otherwise Brynn would surely have asked him earlier, right? In daytime, where they could converse without intimate secrets being revealed to the point of embarrassment. But the more he thought about it, the more he realised Brynn appeared deadly serious. He wasn’t even blinking and he had that very deathly presence that was his utmost business face. The prospect hit Arthur that if this were true he really would have to break into her office, and even then it would probably be his ending. Colette wouldn’t be happy. They wouldn’t be happy. And if They weren’t happy, Artie was in for it. But then if he didn’t do it, everyone else was in for it too. Artie began to shake, his nerves on edge, his breath coming faster as he realised he had to be brave – yes it was him and only him that could do this!
And then he noticed, firstly with the sparkle of the vampire’s eye and then by the sniggering sounds, that Brynn had begun to laugh.
The penny dropped.
“You bastard,” Artie hissed, anger rising his chest but Brynn seemed to gain more mirth from this and laughed brighter. If he weren’t so comfortable Artie would have got straight out of bed and thrown the stupid ignorant vampire out of his home. But as he was, with the duvet just right and a nice temperature and Snuggles very warm, he settled with an angry hiss. “You bastard! Do you have any idea…? You know of the one who cried wolf, don’t you?”
Once his laughter subsided Brynn merely shot him a grin. “You shouldn’t be so gullible. People will take advantage of you.”
“I’m not gullible.”
“You were fully prepared to march off into Colette’s office, I could see it plain as day.”
“I wasn’t,” said Artie, but he had no comeback to a man who had read his every thought. “What do you actually want? Other than to annoy me.”
The vampire sighed and thought about it, then merely shrugged. “I couldn’t sleep.”
“You never sleep.”
“I was bored.”
“So you thought you’d inflict yourself on me.”
“Rude. I’m a delight to be around.”
“Bollocks. How did you even get in here?”
“You forget I was a blacksmith, I have my ways.”
With a sigh, Artie sat up properly, thinking it best to keep his manners. “Do you want a cup of tea for your trouble of invading my home?”
“No, thank you. I truly was only bored. About to go for a little swim then thought I’d like a detour.” Brynn offered Arthur a smile. “I’ll make you a cup of tea.”
“As an apology I hope.”
“More of a thank you for the laugh.”
While Brynn disappeared to make Arthur some tea, the lycan was left to try and gather his thoughts. His adrenaline continued to pump in his veins at the thought of something dangerous. Maybe it was the last of the full moon’s energy making him all the more susceptible to impulse but he truly would have marched to Colette’s office without a second thought had he not seen Brynn’s damn stupid bloody nauseating handsome grin in time.
After several minutes of mentally cursing his friend Arthur was given his cup of just-right tea which he accepted with a grumble.
“I will leave you in peace,” said Brynn, patting Arthur on the shoulder just once before making to leave. As Artie grunted in reply the vampire paused at the door, and Arthur could tell just by his voice that he was grinning. “By the way, did you know you talk in your sleep? Or is it – Snuggles who’s the noisy one?”
Brynn disappeared from the bedroom barely a second before Arthur’s pillow hit the door.