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Once Bitten Twice Shy: Part One

cowritten by @lux-scriptum

Cameron Maržena had been watching the human known as Nikolas Mejias for the last three weeks. Though his girlfriend was always with him, it was Nik who Cameron couldn't seem to keep his eyes off of. Against the mundanity of the mass of humans that ebbed and flowed through the club, Nik was a shining star that caught the eye. His unwavering spirit had certainly caught the four hundred and sixty-three year old vampire's attention and he'd been unable to resist following him ever since.

Cameron watched from the high office of his club while the two humans danced and drank themselves stupid. He knew he wasn't the only one. There were some humans whose mere humanity lured in immortals, like moths to a flame; humans who lived so brightly, so fiercely that the undead wanted to catch it in a jar and hold onto it forever.

By nature vampires could not hold onto such a delicate flame without threat of snuffing it out permanently. Not when one careless action easily ended everything, quick as a fang slid into a vein. This lesson had been drilled into Cameron by his maker centuries ago.

That didn't stop him, however, from watching. With Darius slumbering for at least four more decades, Cameron was alone. He spent his time working but these last few weeks he had been distracted by Nik. He was constantly with his woman, those brown hands touching her skin, her hips, her hair. They orbited each other, but did not hesitate to shine for anyone else. Their smiles turned outwards as often as they did in.

The humans were foolish, no matter how much light they had. To be in this place full of predators so carelessly at night. They were both in leather jackets, their hair teased with hairspray and Kohl lined their brown eyes. They drew attention without effort, and seemed not to notice when not all of it was benevolent.

They weren't the only humans in the club, but Nik at the very least was the only one that Cameron cared about. Well. Perhaps 'cared' was too strong a word for Cameron's interest. However, it would be a waste of such a vibrant life if he were to die. Hopefully the human played his cards right and did not attract too many predators his way. Hopefully he made it to sunrise.

Cameron turned around and went back to his desk where he spent the rest of the night doing paperwork. The music was muffled enough he could focus and no one came to bother him. He took a drink from the tea cup on his desk. Good. It was still warm and pleasant. He had slit a wrist from a clubber and drained it into the cup half an hour ago.

It was an hour before sunrise when the club started to clear out. Cameron finished up his work for the night and cleaned up before heading downstairs. There were a few stragglers but overall the place was empty. The faint smell of blood still clung to the air and the dark curtains. Employees skillfully cleared out any bodies that had been drained that evening.

Cameron walked outside, the crisp autumn air hitting his skin. The cooling temperatures still made his bones ache. If he had thought of it, he would have brought his cane with him. Next time, then.

The sidewalks were empty aside from a few people who seemed to be on their way home. They all paid him no mind, just as he preferred. No need to stick out in the minds of mortals when life went so much smoother as a pale shadow on the fringes.

The thick scent of blood caught his attention as he passed the entrance to a nearby alley. His fangs cut against his bottom lip as the smell teased him forward. He found himself wandering down the alleyway to investigate. Even before he found two familiar bodies covered in blood at the very end he knew who he'd find.

Nik.

There was no one else, just the two of them. Light officially snuffed. And yet. Against Cameron's better judgment he found himself kneeling in front of Nik. That warm brown skin was splattered in blood, his and hers from the smell of it, and there were ragged puncture wounds on his tattooed neck.

There was a pulse, just barely one. Nik's dark lashes fluttered and he groaned. A spark, then? Blood pooled when Cameron ripped open his wrist. “Drink,” he ordered, pushing it against Nik's mouth. He would question his decision later.

Nik mumbled against his wrist, perhaps the name of the girl who laid dead next to them. But then he started to drink. Those dark brown eyes opened slowly and moved to Cameron's face.

For a moment time slowed down while Nik drank from him, it was just the two of them in this alleyway. When Cameron finally pulled away, Nik absently palmed at his healed throat. He blinked a few times, still staring at Cameron.

Inevitably his distant gaze landed on the dead woman beside them. That was enough to shock him into action. He scrambled towards her, long fingers going to her hair, her face, the bite marks on her neck. “Fix her.” Again those dark brown eyes snapped to his. Demanding, of all things.

“I cannot,” Cameron said, standing. He took out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his hands and the dark cuff of his sleeve.

“What do you mean you can't!” Nik snapped. Despite the initial temper to his question, his voice wavered as he insisted, “Fix her.”

“She's already dead,” Cameron said. His blood would do her no good now, and Cameron wasn't one for empty gestures.

Nik pressed his forehead against hers. A shudder went through him, and then sobs shook him in earnest. Tears mixed with smeared eyeliner and blood. He held her face between his hands as if he could cup the soul already fled and keep it from slipping through his fingers. There was nothing Cameron could say to help the situation, so he said nothing.

“What good are you then?” Nik finally rasped. He visibly swallowed another sob and then ground out, “Why save me and not her?”

Again, Cameron offered no words. Nothing he could say would make any difference. He felt nothing when he glanced at the dead girl. It hadn't been her light he'd trailed over the last few weeks.

“Would you like me to take you somewhere?” Cameron finally asked. Immediately another thought hit him, a kindness he could offer, hollow though it was. “I could make you forget. If that would be easier.”

“Easier for you?” Nik asked. While his tone was accusing, the look he gave Cameron was lost. Adrift. Already fading.

“This does not matter to me. She does not matter to me,” Cameron said. “She matters to you. This would be easier for you.”

“Just go away,” Nik said. He brushed her hair from her face, smoothed it so it hid the punctures in her throat. “Go away and leave us alone.”

Perhaps that was best. The smell of blood was starting to get to him. His fangs ached and all the blood soaking Nik's skin was beginning to make Cameron dizzy with thirst. His eyes lingered on Nik's exposed throat for far too long.

Cameron inclined his head. “Very well,” he said, and then promptly turned on his heel. The smell of blood hunted him as he walked to his car.

It was a sleek thing, black with tinted windows, carefully made to prevent UV rays from penetrating inside. A sound investment for when he traveled.

He drove home in silence, his only thoughts on the human with blood that sang to him.

----

Cameron was vaguely surprised to see Nik again so soon. The very next night Cameron found the human in his club once more, long before the night reached its peak.

From high in his office, Cameron watched Nik dance around the club as if it was just another night. He wore eyeliner and glitter, he was fitted in a black leather jacket and white v-neck. He was the picture of feverish health. But- His movements were jittery and jerky. He was sweating more than anyone else.

Nik was now talking to a tall man, taking from him a small package and following him to one of the backrooms. Cameron argued with himself on whether or not he should follow. Nik was likely on his way to take even more drugs. Drugs, from a strange man in a club full of vampires while he still had vampire blood in his system.

Cameron closed his office behind him and followed Nik and the man back to the VIP room. He moved past vampires feeding, past dancing and sweating bodies. The music was so loud it practically made his brain rattle in his skull.

It took him longer than he cared for to get past all the people to get to the rooms. He didn't so much as glance at the bouncer in charge of the rooms before going through each room until he found what he was looking for.

It was the fourth guess before Cameron found the right room. The man with Nik was passed out cold, but he was still breathing. Cameron promptly ignored him.

He found Nik sprawled out on the floor, unconscious. There was blood streaked vomit beside him. Pain pinpricked behind Cameron's eyes when he leaned down in front of Nik. The stress of the last few days was going to trigger a cluster headache tomorrow, most definitely.

Cameron put his ear next to Nik's chest; he wasn't breathing. Cameron patted Nik's clammy face, he tried to do CPR. He tried to shove two fingers down Nik's throat to induce more vomiting, but it was too late.

Whatever was in the drugs Nik inhaled, it had killed him. Nik was dead. And he was dead with vampire blood in his system.

---

tag list: @pouchedmilk <3

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LADS @lux-scriptum and I are writing a vampire au with cam/nik/and lev

@pouchedmilk I thought u might be interested :D

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I cant help but if I hear a book recommended and the term "shadow daddy" comes out of your lips you've just successfully made me not want to read that book. I HATE that term

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𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔹𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 ℂ𝕚𝕥𝕪 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤:

ᴀꜱʜᴡʏɴ ᴘʏʀʀᴇꜱ, ʙʟɪɴᴅ ʙɪꜱᴇxᴜᴀʟ ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ

“So should we bring weapons with us? If my spine is going to be used as a toothpick we should make it a bit harder for them to get their teeth in me.”

@achaotichuman @pouchedmilk @sonics-atelier @caelis

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𝕆ℂ 𝔸𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕤:

ʙᴀʏʟᴏʀ ʜᴀʏᴇꜱ, ᴄᴀᴘᴛᴀɪɴ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ɢᴜᴀʀᴅ

“No. It's commentary on your lack of intelligence and an inability to stay on anyone's good side,” Bay said. “For example: you wanting to hike through a forest crawling with wild fey who would like to use your spine to pick their teeth.”

@achaotichuman @sonics-atelier @pouchedmilk @lux-scriptum

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I love their friendship so much

@pouchedmilk <3 I thought ud like

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see. I've always been here for the Mean Girl. Evangeline Samos. Rosalie Hale. Nesta Archeron. Manon Blackbeak. Jude Duarte. Adelina Amouteru. Zoya Nazyalensky. the Mean Girls provide such rich commentary for media and break through the boxes female characters are often shoved into and in return a lot of them get a lot of backlash. justice for mean girls in media. they have a story to tell

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𝕊𝕚𝕝𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕕 𝔽𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕌𝕟𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕖 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤:

ᴇᴅᴇɴ ᴍᴀʀŽᴇɴᴀ, ᴘᴀɴꜱᴇxᴜᴀʟ ᴍᴇꜱꜱ

I'm only trying to get some peace So let me do me

@achaotichuman @livvywrites @idreamonpaper @lux-scriptum @autumnruby @sonics-atelier

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𝕊𝕚𝕝𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕕 𝔽𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕌𝕟𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕖 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤:

ᴄᴀᴍᴇʀᴏɴ ᴍᴀʀŽᴇɴᴀ, ᴀʀᴏᴀᴄᴇ ᴀᴜᴛɪꜱᴛɪᴄ

good luck killing me because I'm already, already dead inside

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𝕊𝕚𝕝𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕕 𝔽𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕌𝕟𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕖 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤:

ᴄᴀᴍᴇʀᴏɴ ᴍᴀʀŽᴇɴᴀ, ᴀʀᴏᴀᴄᴇ ᴀᴜᴛɪꜱᴛɪᴄ

Good luck killing me because I'm already dead inside

@achaotichuman @livvywrites @idreamonpaper @incandescent-creativity @lux-scriptum @aleksandra-maryyia

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𝕊𝕚𝕝𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕕 𝔽𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕌𝕟𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕖 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤:

ᴇᴅᴇɴ ᴍᴀʀŽᴇɴᴀ, ᴘᴀɴꜱᴇxᴜᴀʟ ᴍᴇꜱꜱ

I'm only trying to get some peace So let me do me

@achaotichuman @livvywrites @idreamonpaper @lux-scriptum @autumnruby @sonics-atelier

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Hey pretty how are you doing,in the most respectful way, will you be my sugar baby. Kindly DM and how much you need right now?🥰❤️

Google chat : charlosbrain888@gmail.com

Snapchat : charlosbrain21

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𝕊𝕚𝕝𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕕 𝔽𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕌𝕟𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕖 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤:

ꜱᴀᴢʀᴀ ᴄʜᴀᴜᴅʜᴀʀɪ, ʜᴇᴀʟᴇʀ

Shed been in this hole for as long as she could remember. At all ends there was darkness, except for when he came.

@achaotichuman @sonics-atelier @autumnruby

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𝕊𝕚𝕝𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕕 𝔽𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤:

ʙʟᴀᴋᴇ ᴅᴜŠᴇᴋ

Magic burned in her veins. Ancient, powerful. Long lost and never-ending. Like the first starlight to ever shine across the darkest skies

@achaotichuman @sonics-atelier @autumnruby

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girlie that's not a random headache u are dehydrated malnourished over caffeinated over stressed and sleep deprived

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𝕊𝕚𝕝𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕕 𝔽𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤:

ʙʟᴀᴋᴇ ᴅᴜŠᴇᴋ, ʟᴇꜱʙɪᴀɴ, ꜱɪɴɢʟᴇ ᴍᴏᴍ, ɢᴏᴅᴅᴇꜱꜱ ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜᴇᴅ

Magic burned in her veins. Ancient, powerful. Long lost and never-ending. Like the first starlight to ever shine across the darkest skies

@achaotichuman @sonics-atelier @autumnruby @livvywrites

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hey yall I moved blogs to @fragmentedink ti start fresh since I don't really get traction here so if yall wanna follow me there pls do :)