Built for Sin

2. VAMPIRE

"Alyssss!" She suddenly heard a sing-song tune.

At this point Zarina was staring at the sky with wide eyes. The exhaustion was starting to hit her as she finally had laid down. Sitting up and looking, "yes?" Astarion was standing not too far from her holding some bottles. "Can you help collect water? I can't do it by myself." She rolled her eyes but stood up and walked over to him. Alys took three of the six bottles he had and walked over to the water with him.
She knew Astarion was very capable of collecting water himself, it never took long. However, she was curious about her sudden need for her. Slightly annoyed she began to collect water into the bottles. The sun was beginning to set and the air was cooling off. The pair quickly finished their task and Alys stayed sat at the shore.

Her feet were the only part of her in the water now, watching the water swirl around her. All the sudden she feels the cool water splash up at her. "Agh!" Getting up from her spot swiftly she sees Astarion standing there with a smirk on his face. Her eyes narrowed at him as she fully charged, tackling him down into the water. The two tussle in the water getting completely soaked.
Alys had a hold of Astarion's hair as he desperately tried to push her away from him. "Surrender!" Alys demanded him. His face grew into the most mischievous smirk, catching her off guard. Getting caught staring at his eyes he took the opportunity to get out of her grasp and put her at the bottom.

"Oh look dear, your favorite spot."

Alys's face turned red as she hit Astarion in the face knocking him off of her. Getting out of the water she stood in front of him out of breath. Astarion's look on his was complete disbelief, she had surprised him. "Why do you have to be like that?!" Her fists were balled up and she was dripping onto the shore. "Oh come on! It was a joke!" This caused Alys to scoff, a joke? Was she really to believe that it was a joke?
Kneeling down she grabbed half of the bottles, "A joke? We were having a good moment, but of course your mouth fucking ruins it." Walking away she left him in the water. Her head was reeling, he was an asshole. A cocky asshole who thinks he can get away with anything. The choice of whether or not she wanted to keep him in the party or not was beginning to be at the center of her mind more.
Setting the bottles down by the campfire she set them up so she could boil the water. She sighed heavily as she started to work. Even in the fleeting moments of relief she is still left with uneasiness. Something was nagging at her, though she couldn't figure out what. Just that something, deep inside her, was uncomfortable. Something wasn't fair.

Shadowheart soon came and sat by Alys. They weren't close and Shadowheart was very private, yet loved to be in each other's company. Perhaps, that was why they got along. Alys herself knew the anguish of not knowing, and not wanting to be asked about it. Moments of silence together were perfect for them. On an unmentionable level, they understood each other. Alys boiled the water while Shadowheart refilled the bottles with now clean water.
Gale turned in rather quickly, which bothered no one. They just found it a bit odd he never stood up for too long. Perhaps he was up to his studies when possible. Astarion kept his distance for the rest of the night. He didn't come near the girls, especially Alys. It kind of bothered her however, not only did she want an apology but she wanted to just be friends.
She couldn't remember the last time she had fit in somewhere properly, with proper friends. For once she was around people she had something in common with! Why was she still not able to befriend all? Alys would never complain about it out loud, but it got to her deeply.

"I think I'm gonna head off to sleep now, sleep well." Shadowheart said as she gave Alys a smile and walked off to her tent, leaving Alys alone.

It did not take long for her to make the same decision as well. But as the night grew on she started to shift in her bedroll. She wasn't sleeping well. Flitting between dreams and nightmares. Maybe she wakes up because she knows something is wrong, maybe because she is just lucky. Her eyes flash open only to catch a flash of Astarion, teeth bare.
Alys quickly crawled away from him on the ground, "..Shit." Astarion says as his face got red from embarrassment. Alys snatches her dagger out of her boot, ready to start a fight. "No! No! It's not what it looks like I swear!" Astarion pleads with her, putting his hands up in surrender.

Astarion sighs, "I wasn't going to hurt you! I just needed- well, blood." Alys's mouth tasted metallic, like she was only now aware of the blood pulsing through her, the thought of it made her uneasy. What has she done? In the dim firelight, she can see him for what he really is: a vampire. A slave to sanguine hunger.
Alys took a closer look at him and noticed his red eyes of hunger, fangs ever so slightly hanging out of his mouth. The punctual wound scars across his neck. "I can't believe I didn't see it." She finally said as she took a step back. "We even came across the boar you snacked on!"
"It's not what you think! I'm not some kind of monster." He pleaded with her, just to hear him out. As soon as those words hit her ears, her heart softened. Her heart was always the one to blame for misjudgments and this was one. Her brain was arguing logically saying, "You idiot! You can't trust a vampire! Kill him!" Though, she doesn't have it in her to do it.

Alys's demeanor changed as she urged him to speak further. His face had a wave of relief, "I feed on animals! Boars, deer, Kobolds- whatever I can get." He paused for a moment before continuing, "I'm just too slow right now. Too weak."
Suddenly, a pit fell into her stomach. She had a feeling what his next words would be and it made her face go pale white. "If I just had a little blood, I could think clearer. Fight better. Please." His words confirmed her feelings she wanted to puke.
In theory, it could be a good experience for one, she has always been a bit curious. But is she willing to turn her fantasy into a reality?

A strange sensation overcomes Alys, and her companions mind unfolds, secrets half-revealed. The connection severs and she's left in wonder once more by him. "Why didn't you tell me?" Astarion chuckled, "At best, I thought you'd say no. More likely, you'd ram a stake through my ribs." He shook his head, "No I needed you to trust me. You can trust me." Alys let out a deep breath, she wasn't sure what to say or think of.
Would she really be willing to let him do such a thing? Could she really trust him? Astarion has been nothing but a cocky asshole who apparently loves to lie. "I do. I believe you." Against her better judgment, she is trusting to put faith in him. That he wouldn't endanger her or the camp. "Thank you. Do you think you could trust me a little bit further?"
Her throat tightened as her tail twitched in nervousness. Her fists balled, this was too conflicting! "I only need a taste, I swear." He begs her once more. Out of a panic she responds, "Alright, go too far and I'll drive a stake through your chest." Astarion chuckled to her as a tease and led her back to her bed roll. "Not a drop more my dear."

Alys had a bad feeling about what she was doing, and she feared she had made a grave mistake.