Of Gods and Monsters

Break A Leg

"I know nothing - nothing in the world - of the hearts of men. I only know that I am alone - horribly alone."

 Ford Madox Ford

Ambrus had immersed himself in reading while he took his leave from Elek's presence. Though it pained him to do so, he knew that nothing good would come from continuing the conversation they'd been having the night prior. Elek knew nothing of affections, knew nothing of the new immortal feelings he possessed, or about the mortal one's that lingered to him. Lingered to him more than anyone he'd ever met. He was so delicate that it was Ambrus's full time job to thwart anything too unpleasant from the boy.

He knew bringing him to the theatre was risky. Victor was amicable at first glance, and certainly he mostly was, but something truly sinister lived inside of his heart. When he warned Elek of vampír, vicious ones, he'd been thinking of him directly. He'd never hurt Elek physically of course, but he'd damage him in other ways. Victor lacked any emotion from his human life, probably do to his brutal bringing into his immortal life. Victor's maker had been ruthless, blood-thirsty, and had met his demise at Victor's own hand. Ambrus trusted Victor about as far as he could throw him. However, he'd known the theatre would bring life back to Elek, and had pushed aside his worries in favor of pleasing him.

Now however, he wasn't so sure. He'd seen that nasty look in Victors eyes when he appraised Elek. It wasn't just sexual attraction, it was a desire to break him, like a horse or a dog. He wanted Elek to buckle and cave into his nature. Victor always loved a challenge, and Elek was no exception. He wanted to break his soul.

Ambrus unlatched the door, finally willing to speak with Elek, to explain to him all of the things he'd kept from him. However, he quickly was alerted to the obvious. In his own anxiety, he'd failed to notice that Elek had fled the premises. Realizing immediately where he would've gone, he snatched his tailcoat from the couch, and rushed out.

--

Bile threatened to spill out of Elek's mouth as he stood behind the stage. He kept getting flashes of reassuring smiles from Victor, but it really wasn't helping too much. He was too scared stiff to be lulled by that alone. He was shaking in his boots, quite literally. (Victor had insisted on him wearing these ridiculous pirate-looking boots, far too big for him.) He was nervous about the part he was about to play.

Victor had disclosed that their roles would be simple and easy, which had originally sounded at least bearable to Elek. However, once he'd explained the entirety of what they were to do, his anxiety had sky-rocketed. He wanted them to play vampír, as actual vampír. The thought made him so anxious. What if someone saw through their act? What if they were exposed somehow? He wished deep within his heart he'd waited to come here with Ambrus. He felt so utterly alone and scared in this moment. Unsure of what to do.

He didn't have time to really think on it as Victor nearly skipped over to him, a look in his eyes Elek couldn't quite place.

"Don't fret, Elek. I promise it'll be relatively painless."

He said, humor flashing in his eyes. Elek gave a huff through his nose of irritation and Victor just patted him on the back in a friendly sort of way. He shied away from it however, remembering the way he'd come onto him the night before. Victor didn't notice, as they were given their cue to prepare for the stage. Elek gulped. Victor laughed patting him on the back once, hardily.

"Toi toi toi."

--

Ambrus made for the theatre as quickly as he could. He knew that Victor was planning something. He wasn't ignorant or stupid enough to not know the reasons Victor had wanted Elek to come back. And it hadn't been for a good time, like he'd promised. Cursing his own indiscretions, he finally reached the theatre and flew in, despite the protests from the ticket booth.

Much to his horror, the play had already begun. To pull Elek off stage now would be a pain, besides, with all of the mask's he could've tell which one he was. He felt panic begin to spread through his chest, but he had no choice but to merely watch as the events unfolded, standing in the back of the auditorium.

--

Shoved on stage by Victor, Elek took a deep breath, and pressed forward. Being on stage was vastly different from being in the musician's box. It was hot and the light was near blinding. With relief, he realized he couldn't see the audience at all. It was as if he were performing for only his fellow actors. He found his breathing slowing. He knew this part of the play, from when they had been here before. They'd bring out a young actress, who would pretend to be mauled by vampír's. It was simple. All Elek had to do was pretend to ravish her, and then he'd have his debts paid. Ambrus none the wiser.

As the final lines of the play finished, they pulled the actress out from behind stage. Elek felt his anxieties slowly rising as he prepared to play his part. She was thrashing about, tied up and crying pretty convincingly, for the audience. Finally, it was their turn. Victor jumped to her first, Elek following slowly and hesitantly behind him.

Victor "bit" into the girl, spraying blood everywhere. Suddenly, with great horror, Elek realized what was going on. He blanched and immediately became immobile as the scent of blood flooded his sense. Oh god, this is all real. All of this is real. They're really killing her, in front of all these people.

Worse yet, Elek couldn't block out her thoughts. They were too loud, too desperate to ignore. She pleaded for her life, pleaded to God. Frozen completely, hearing her cries of pain and her inner last thoughts, drove Elek to tears. The rest of the cast of real vampír jumped her, killing her finally. His tears pricked his eyes, red liquid falling down his face, on the mask he was wearing.

Without a second thought, he tore from the stage.

--

Ambrus watched in disgust as they killed another unfortunate girl. He knew that Elek was watching, that Elek must know now. He felt his heart break a little for him. He knew he could hear her, hear her thoughts. He finally saw which one he was. The one frozen, crying bloody tears. It looked like part of the play, like a vampír's ennui and regret. It was almost poetic. The audience seemed moved by Elek's raw emotions, mistaking it for great acting. They watched with bated breath as he fled the stage. Ambrus knew that was his cue to seek him out.

--

Elek fled and didn't stop until he reached the cobble streets outside of the theatre, the cool air hitting him in the face, letting him breathe. He was panting, he realized. He felt the bile he'd suppressed earlier reach his throat, and he emptied his stomach, splaying blood all over the street.

He heard a voice behind him and spun around, seeing Victor running down the steps, attempting to speak to him. Elek felt anger flash in his head like an atomic bomb. He wanted to throttle him for what he'd done to that poor girl. Killing mortals was bad enough, but to make a spectacle of them? Disgraceful. In his current state though, all he could do was wipe his mouth and continue to cry.

Victor approached him like one might approach a wild dog. His arms were drawn out, as if Elek might strike out at him, bear his teeth and bite him.

"Elek! Don't be unnerved. It's just a human, merely food for us. No need to make a scene."

There was thinly veiled irritation hidden behind Victor's face. Elek just continued to cry uncontrollably, unable to retort any of the insults he had in his head back. Murderer. Monster. Victor's face now shone true irritation.

"I thought this would be an opportunity to embrace your true nature. I thought you'd give in and help us kill her. You'll have a hard life ahead of you if you keep this---this heart you bare on your sleeve. Ambrus was a fool to ever turn you."

He said, with some malice. Elek was still mute. Suddenly, a figure blew past Elek with great power at Victor. Elek realized it was Ambrus, whose fist connected with Victor's face at a neck break speed. There was an audible crack as Victor fell backwards onto the ground, with so much force, the ground shook beneath their feet. Their immortal strength still amazing Elek.

"Fils de pute!"

Victor managed, rubbing his jaw, still awkwardly sprawled across the floor. Ambrus brought a hand around Elek's shaking body, drawing him close to him, shoulder to shoulder.

"Never come near either one of us again, Victor. Or I'll end you."