Twisted Tales: Vampire Bites By Midnight (Malleus x Reader)

Fang 28: Clan Of Beasts, Pt. 3

Startled, Ace and Deuce searched around for the source of the feminine voice.

"Up here, surface dwellers," it beckoned.

The boys looked up and their eyes widened at the sight of a toucan resting on the bar of the balcony.

They stared at it.

"No way..." Ace trailed off.

"You don't think..." Deuce added.

"While your gawking is somewhat flattering, I would prefer if you didn't stare so hard," the bird said as it cocked its head.

Ace was outraged by such a proclamation.

"How do you expect us to react?! You're a talking bird!"

"You have talking animals in the Queendom, do you not?" it quipped.

"They're beastmen, not birds!" he retorted back.

"Let us agree to disagree."

"Uh, excuse me," Deuce politely cut in, "Miss Toucan? You spoke as if you could help us. Do you know a way we can reach our friends in Underworld?"

The toucan was silent for a moment before making a noise that sounded like a chuckle, though Deuce wasn't sure.

"Do not mistake the Lionsgate Master's sense of caution for procrastination. There is a reason vampires are the sworn enemy of beastmen. They, like us, have a monarchy. The heir to the throne as the King of Vampires is known as..."

It paused for a moment.

"Malleus Draconia."

The air grew cold for a moment, which caught the boys by surprise.

"Ah," thr bird began again, "I must apologize. The mere utterance of his name is said to bring ruin to those who hear it."

"WHAAAAATT?!" the boys exclaimed in unison.

"Just kidding," the bird said before doing its weird caw again.

Before they could object to the toucan's ill-suited joke, some beastmen scouts came to check in on them.

"Everything alright?" one of them asked.

The boys' faces flushed.

"Er, well..."

After getting reprimanded for their outburst, Ace and Deuce turned to the bird again.

"You bastard! Your lousy sense of humor almost got in hot water!" Ace hissed.

"I apologize," it said, sounding not sorry in the slightest. "I merely required recompense for your comments earlier."

"Are you-?!"

"We don't have time for your schemes, Miss Toucan," Deuce cut him off. "We're desperately in need of aid and answers."

Ace gave Deuce a mean glare while mouthing "cut me off will you."

Deuce mouthed "not now" in response as he glared back.

"Fear not, surface dwellers," it said as it raised its wings, exposing the beautiful colors in its feathers, "they merely intend to coronate a marriage between the Child of Eden and the heir of Vampires.

"Though, you must make haste, as the wedding ceremony is to happen on the night of the blood moon, which will occur in three months."

Deuce had to sit down from the news.

"They're forcing them to get married?"

"There's no freaking way Y/n is gonna marry some crusty ass vampire," Ace said with full assurance.

"Now all we need is a plan to crash it. Hey, bird–"

His face fell as he saw the talking toucan vanished, not even a feather remaining.

"Hey, Deuce! Did you see where it went?!"

"I was watching it like you!"

"What the hell!"

*******

Your POV:

The morning came quicker than you anticipated, and as soon as you and Grim got out of bed there they were, the two same maids lying in wait with a wooden pail filled with various bathing tools in their hands.

Grim screamed in outrage while you just let out a tired sigh.

"We hope you had a nice rest, Masters," the younger of the maids said meekly.

"Please come to get washed and dressed today," the older one added.

After you took turns getting cleaned and put in a black, frilly shirt and dress pants (aptly named "morning clothes") you and Grim fell out on the bed, your arms and legs sprawled along the bedspread.

"I'm exhausted and the day's just started," Grim said wearily.

You closed your eyes and were about to doze off when you felt as if someone was standing over you.

You opened your eyes to find yourself eye-to-eye with Silver.

You merely jumped back and gasped, though your furry companion wasn't so quiet.

Silver stared blankly.

"What're ya doin'?!" Grim yelled. "You're sudden showin' up gave me a heart attack!"

Wordlessly, Silver grabbed Grim and turned to walk away.

Alarmed, you went after him but he closed the door before you could stop him.

You stood there stunned.

He just took your friend away to God knows where without warning and slammed the door on you.

You remembered Sebek's... unsavory reaction to seeing Grim eating at the table and a terrifying thought hit you:

Were they gonna hurt him?!

Completely consumed with panic, you ran out of the room and down the halls with reckless abandon, searching each corner until you made your way downstairs.

You were moving so hard that you almost bumped into a couple of servants.

You apologized and called out for Grim until you made it to the first floor.

Right across from you was the dancing platform where the party you saw the other day took place, which was where Silver was now–sporting an uncharacteristically large grin as he along with a female vampire played with Grim's paws.

Grim himself looked annoyed at being puppeted around, but thankfully unhurt.

You smiled for a moment but grew serious as you needed to stop Silver; that guy was far too strange for your liking and you didn't want Grim alone with these...people.

You two needed to be together when your friends came for you.

You began your stride toward the floor when you felt someone grab the back of your shirt and violently pull you into a dark room.

You fell on your butt and hit your head against something hard.

"I believe a punishment is in order," the all too familiar venomous tone of the person blocking the door spat.