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scallioncreamcheesebagelhttps://yurishippingolympics.dreamwidth.org/3182.html?thread=327534#cmt327534
Ship: OC/OC
Words: 768
This is chapter 3 out of 4 in a series! AO3 for all chapters: https://archiveofourown.org/works/56401327/chapters/143310463
Previous chapter: https://yurishippingolympics.dreamwidth.org/3182.html?thread=264558#cmt264558
THE THIRD DAY
Antigone woke to a gentle shove on her shoulder, warning her of the coming dawn. She allowed herself to be wrapped in cloth once more before they set out.
“It’s a few days more travel, with some stops here and there for trade–I’ll be sure to pick up some pigs’ blood or some such for you as well. You’d do best to stay hidden when we go into town, what with your pointed fangs and cats’ eyes and the rest.” As if anticipating her answer, Hyacinth added, “I won’t go far. You’ll be able to hear my voice at all times. I’d hate to leave my wagon unguarded even if it didn’t have such precious cargo.”
She gave Antigone a friendly pat on the head before sealing that safely away, too.
“After, us three–Barosus included, of course–will board a boat and set out for home, the island Iiezvus. A couple weeks’ journey, and there we are. You’ll love it there. The beaches are even more beautiful at night, when the stars all twinkle. You can meet my family–they’ll love you, they aren’t so shallow as to scorn you for being a vampyre alone–and you can rest in a true bed.”
“With you?” Antigone asked before she could help herself.
Hyacinth’s laugh was like that of a bell. “With me. Though I’ll need to be up during the day, unlike you.”
“I could take you out in the early evening,” Antigone offered in turn. “Or the early morning, before the sun. The night is my home anywhere. When I regain my strength, I can carry you as well as the mule or better. Certainly faster.”
“Oh, my. Perhaps I could retire Barosus to the pasture and you could pull my wagon,” Hyacinth said, amused.
Antigone dared to peek out as the dark glow of the covered sun disappeared from beyond the fabric over her face. They’d entered a tunnel, it would seem.
“I often make my home in caves,” Antigone commented. Made. Before the horror of the humans. Hyacinth had shared so much of herself and her home, it felt paltry in comparison, but this was all she was. “They’re safe from daylight even if I sleep long, and I can kill and drink anything else that tries to make it its home. I could,” she amended, running a hand up her now-wizened arm. “I will again, with enough blood.”
“Then you will,” Hyacinth agreed.
A distant rumble was the only warning they had before the rocks fell.
Antigone leapt from the wagon, tackling Hyacinth from the rider’s seat to the ground. A sickening, wet crunch and a mouth-watering aroma soon followed, but it was the mule, not Hyacinth. The creature itself did not make so much as a whinny, so thorough was its demise.
The wagon’s wood, peppered with rock, splintered against Antigone. But through her weakness, she remained straight-backed, her knees and palms dug into the gravel until the tunnel was silent.
“Antigone?” Hyacinth whispered under her.
“I’m alright,” she strained, collapsing onto Hyacinth’s chest. “And you?”
Hyacinth wrapped her arms around her, her breath shallow, and did not answer. Her eyes closed, and the only thing that kept Antigone from worry was the steady beat of Hyacinth’s heart against her cheek.
“Myself as well,” she said belatedly, after minutes laid so, her eyes opening. “We have to check for a way out.”
Antigone struggled to her feet, helping Hyacinth as well. She teetered to the side, keeping her weight off an ankle already swelling. “Where first?”
“There.” Antigone aided Hyacinth in walking, watching as she checked each barrier in turn. Experimental pushes did nothing, no matter which of them tried. It would have been effortless if Antigone had her strength, but it had been stolen from her by years half-starved and beaten. Even the corpses of the mule and wagon could not be recovered, only a small puddle of wine and mule’s blood leaking out from under the rocks.
“It’s no use.” Hyacinth sat with a huff.
“So you’re saying we’re trapped in here?” Antigone asked, joining her.
“I am. We’ll simply have to wait for someone to come this way.” She twirled restlessly at her hair, her words devoid of that joy they’d always held in their short time together.
It tore at Antigone’s heart to see her this way. She gathered Hyacinth up, pulling her into her lap and away from the cold ground. “You will not wait alone.”
Hyacinth offered her a smile, though it held less weight than any she’d given before. “And I’m glad for that, at least.”
Ship: OC/OC
Words: 768
This is chapter 3 out of 4 in a series! AO3 for all chapters: https://archiveofourown.org/works/56401327/chapters/143310463
Previous chapter: https://yurishippingolympics.dreamwidth.org/3182.html?thread=264558#cmt264558
THE THIRD DAY
Antigone woke to a gentle shove on her shoulder, warning her of the coming dawn. She allowed herself to be wrapped in cloth once more before they set out.
“It’s a few days more travel, with some stops here and there for trade–I’ll be sure to pick up some pigs’ blood or some such for you as well. You’d do best to stay hidden when we go into town, what with your pointed fangs and cats’ eyes and the rest.” As if anticipating her answer, Hyacinth added, “I won’t go far. You’ll be able to hear my voice at all times. I’d hate to leave my wagon unguarded even if it didn’t have such precious cargo.”
She gave Antigone a friendly pat on the head before sealing that safely away, too.
“After, us three–Barosus included, of course–will board a boat and set out for home, the island Iiezvus. A couple weeks’ journey, and there we are. You’ll love it there. The beaches are even more beautiful at night, when the stars all twinkle. You can meet my family–they’ll love you, they aren’t so shallow as to scorn you for being a vampyre alone–and you can rest in a true bed.”
“With you?” Antigone asked before she could help herself.
Hyacinth’s laugh was like that of a bell. “With me. Though I’ll need to be up during the day, unlike you.”
“I could take you out in the early evening,” Antigone offered in turn. “Or the early morning, before the sun. The night is my home anywhere. When I regain my strength, I can carry you as well as the mule or better. Certainly faster.”
“Oh, my. Perhaps I could retire Barosus to the pasture and you could pull my wagon,” Hyacinth said, amused.
Antigone dared to peek out as the dark glow of the covered sun disappeared from beyond the fabric over her face. They’d entered a tunnel, it would seem.
“I often make my home in caves,” Antigone commented. Made. Before the horror of the humans. Hyacinth had shared so much of herself and her home, it felt paltry in comparison, but this was all she was. “They’re safe from daylight even if I sleep long, and I can kill and drink anything else that tries to make it its home. I could,” she amended, running a hand up her now-wizened arm. “I will again, with enough blood.”
“Then you will,” Hyacinth agreed.
A distant rumble was the only warning they had before the rocks fell.
Antigone leapt from the wagon, tackling Hyacinth from the rider’s seat to the ground. A sickening, wet crunch and a mouth-watering aroma soon followed, but it was the mule, not Hyacinth. The creature itself did not make so much as a whinny, so thorough was its demise.
The wagon’s wood, peppered with rock, splintered against Antigone. But through her weakness, she remained straight-backed, her knees and palms dug into the gravel until the tunnel was silent.
“Antigone?” Hyacinth whispered under her.
“I’m alright,” she strained, collapsing onto Hyacinth’s chest. “And you?”
Hyacinth wrapped her arms around her, her breath shallow, and did not answer. Her eyes closed, and the only thing that kept Antigone from worry was the steady beat of Hyacinth’s heart against her cheek.
“Myself as well,” she said belatedly, after minutes laid so, her eyes opening. “We have to check for a way out.”
Antigone struggled to her feet, helping Hyacinth as well. She teetered to the side, keeping her weight off an ankle already swelling. “Where first?”
“There.” Antigone aided Hyacinth in walking, watching as she checked each barrier in turn. Experimental pushes did nothing, no matter which of them tried. It would have been effortless if Antigone had her strength, but it had been stolen from her by years half-starved and beaten. Even the corpses of the mule and wagon could not be recovered, only a small puddle of wine and mule’s blood leaking out from under the rocks.
“It’s no use.” Hyacinth sat with a huff.
“So you’re saying we’re trapped in here?” Antigone asked, joining her.
“I am. We’ll simply have to wait for someone to come this way.” She twirled restlessly at her hair, her words devoid of that joy they’d always held in their short time together.
It tore at Antigone’s heart to see her this way. She gathered Hyacinth up, pulling her into her lap and away from the cold ground. “You will not wait alone.”
Hyacinth offered her a smile, though it held less weight than any she’d given before. “And I’m glad for that, at least.”