An Investigation with a Touch of Madness

Before long you and Rudy were sat in your car. The ignition roared to life as you adjusted the rearview to reflect the guitar case in the back seat.

The gentle grey of the autumn morning was beginning to set in, amber leaves blew in the wind and Rudenia Vulcan fidgeted in the passenger side, shrouded in a huge yellow parka jacket, a surgical mask pulled across her face and thick sunglasses covering her eyes. She hugged her knees and twitched at every little stimulus she encountered.

"Are you sure you don't want to sit this one out? I mean how long has it been since you went out in the day?"

She peered out the window as you pulled out into the driveway "I uh don't remember. D-Do we have to roll around in this tin can, Rudy prefers jumping and running."

"We go to the human world, we play human rules."

She grunted, clearly uncomfortable. Despite what people thought, a Vampire could walk in daylight, many of the books on Vampirism admitted this, but even in the scribbles of Kvasir, You could sense the terror of the sun.

Having the most dangerous thing you could ever encounter in your un-life; shielded by a few meagre clouds did little in dulling the discomfort.

This was not Rudy's time, her powers would be severely hindered and if even a ray touched her skin she'd burst into flames, and yet here she was.

Maybe getting her talking would be a good idea? hearing her so lucidly was enlightening at how intelligent she actually was "So umm when I bit you I saw a cabin."

She stopped fidgeting and looked at you, her expression shielded by the mask and sunglasses.

"...There were rocks everywhere, you looked, animalistic."

"The good ole days." She muttered as if they weren't good at all.

"I just wanted to ask one thing, why were you stuck there? and there was another place when I bit you last, all those rocks I mean what were you doing with them?" Okay, that was more than one thing, but she was such an enigma to you and you loved nothing more than solving mysteries.

She rocked her head back and forth, clearly trying to find the words "The rocks... nine rocks, ten rocks throw a girl a bone...." Rudy shook her head "Rudy, used to make masks out of rocks, pretty little masks all dark and dreary, I had such little practice. But Rudy hadn't seen her own face in years, so she made her own over and over again, anything was better than them."

"Them?" You remember faintly, stretching and chewy flesh "The Leeches."

Rudy nodded "Will you, promise Rudy something?"

You shifted into fourth gear, racing out down the forest roads "What's that?"

"If I ever get like that again and the real me is lost. Kill me, you have to kill me." As terrifying as she could be, that was the softest, most ****, human thing that you'd ever heard.

Your hand slipped from the gear stick and onto her thigh "I can't kill you, Rudenia Vulcan. What I can promise, is that I will never let you get like that again, let's stick together today and we'll leave tomorrow for then, okay?"

She pulled her mask down and pulled away her glasses, Rudy beamed "Sounds like a plan to me." Rudy warmed her cold hands with yours, pulling them in closer between her legs so that she could absorb the heat in your fingers.

Passing through the Academy gates you parked in the student lot. Rudy watched the swarm of students flowing into the premises, Starbucks cups and phones in hand.

You grinned at her houndish staring, getting out to open the door for her. She flinched as the world opened to her, but you lent down and offered a hand "Come on, we got this."

Taking your hand, Rudy closed the door behind her and followed you to the courtyard. She stuck close, tightly gripping your hand... very tightly "You don't have to crush the bones in my hand you know."

People seemed to start noticing the short girl in the bright yellow parka, occasionally a group would rush past them and Rudy would scoot closer, crushing your fingers as she sniffed at the air "Grmmm I can taste it in the air, youth, sweat, anxiety, it's so delicious."

You knew what she meant, it always took a certain amount of will not to lash out at anyone in school, like forcing yourself to stay awake when you haven't slept for days, or holding in a homicidal hiccup.

Striding through the revolving doors, you felt the blonde on your arms shake with irritation. "I can't resist, the scent... is too thick."

You lent in coddling her as you sink your claws into her mind, feeling it buck and rock in protest "Be calm, you do not want to eat them-"

"TRIM THE EARS, RIP THE TONGUES FIRST ON HEARTS, FUCK A KING AND CHEW ON HIS LIGAMENTS, COLLECT THE NAILS OF THE DEAD AND-"

"JESUS CHRIST! NO, JUST-JUST NO! this is definitely gonna be a lot harder than normal. Okay, how about.... focus on me, do not smell them, they are only specs of dust in comparison to me, as long as you can see me, then your lust for blood will ebb and flow away like waves washing on the shore. Focus on me and do not eat them."

A long, empty breath escaped Rudy's lips, one of deep relief. She looked up at you and grinned "Rudy doesn't know what you just did, but I'mma fuck you so hard later like I'm talking full frontal vaginal ****, with Mr Big down there sieging the gates."

You blinked "You know we could just go back to the car and-"

She chuckled rushing forward, pulling you along "Stop yer yapping and let's go!"

You'd heard rumours in the hallways, girls sat over on the couches in the student lounge. It was rich and snobbish here, the others still did their rounds every morning, gathering to greet and gossip. You knew you'd meet certain girls here, who would serve a good purpose.

Striding into the room, a hoard of students sat. A few eyes turned your way, the academics in the corner sat by the fire, Then there were the typical jocks; it seemed however that they too were struck by Wallace's, particularly strange culture. There were the goths drapped in black and sulking over some TikTok video which deepened their collective existential crisis... not that they actually had any real problems.

"They have a cruel nature, either that or they're part of something a lot worse."

You looked forward to correcting that.

That's when you saw just who you were looking for. Vicky Kaz lazed in one of the booths, scrolling through a phone too big for her nimble hands, likely waiting for Camile or Izzy to show up, luckily you'd gotten to her first.

She didn't notice your approach, even with Rudy twitching and grinning strangely beside you "Uh-hgmmmm." You cleared your throat making your former bully jolt and nearly knock over her paper cup of smelt like a caramel cappacino.

You shot forward steadying the cup as Vicky cupped her chest "Jesus, where the-" she gulped at your closeness and you smile as you slipped into the booth.

"Morning."

"Hi." She said, collecting herself "You gotta stop that batman shit, dude." She complained.

"Sorry, I didn't think you'd scare so easily." You apologised, watching as she placed down her phone, pushing the knuckles of her index fingers under her bagged eyes tiredly.

Rudy did not join you in the booth, as much as she tried to pretend like she didn't want to devour everyone in the room, her curious glances around the student lounge weren't lost. "Rudy." You called, shifting around and capturing her attention, Vicky tilted her head curiously at the small blonde in her puffy parka. "We do not eat until lunchtime got it? if I find out you've been cheating on your diet..."

She lifted her gloved hands "I won't go far now, Rud-" She paused, noticing Vicky's speculative gaze "...I Promise"

You nodded, waving her off. You could feel every inch of her even from meters away, it was one of the many benefits of being a Vampire's master, even if she did kick up a fuss, you'd be there in the blink of an eye, and you didn't think leashing Rudy would do any good, best to test her fortitude and see if this effort was worth it.

Victoria cleared her throat as Rudy sauntered off to creep around the chatty students "What's her deal?"

"Old friend, promised I get her out and used to people again, she ain't all there but she's family and kinda sweet when you get to know her." twisting the truth was always better than outright lies.

Your former bully seemed too slothful to look into it too much, for which you were thankful "God I'm tired, what is it with you and dragging weird blondes around?"

You raised an eyebrow, she... wasn't wearing makeup "You're looking a little worse for wear, you doing okay?"

"Oh so now you care?" She frowned, however when your eyes met hers she huffed "My dad is being a dick, Millie and Jane aren't answering my snaps and... nightmares all night."

You bit your lip at the mention of Jane.

"I'm hoping your date didn't go terribly?" She said.

"It got a little rocky near the end, but yeah it was eventful."

"You really got this ted Bundy way of speaking that makes me suspicious you know that?" Vicky said, your fingers tightening on the table.

"Yeah, sorry I'm just a little on edge. Jane wasn't feeling too well so she's staying with me for a while. What kind of nightmares?" She was sharp, you knew that and so you pushed every so gently on her mind, trying to ease her suspicion... your claws slipped right off her stormy mind.

"I don't really remember..." Okay, she was clearly suspicious, it was uncharacteristic for tricky Vicky to let things like that go, what was going on with her? "...Well, I sorta do, I think I was in the woods, and I swear all I could hear was this echo calling me or something, it made my skin crawl... crazy shit."

You huffed, she was clearly a little stressed. Your hand wandered across the table, you went to stroke her thumb with your finger but she wrenched it away impulsively. "I..." She paused, confused and apologetic. She reached over and took your hand "S-Sorry, you're just, really hot."

"Thanks so are you," you smirked

"-That's not what I mean, ugh. What's wrong with me today?"

"That's an obtuse question with many many answers."

Vicky cracked a smile "Shut up, nerd."

"There's the spiteful little diva we all love to hate. Look, I've got some plans for today-"

"-You mean you have one of your little schemes for today." she interrupted.

You shrugged, smiling "...Not scheming exactly, I'm just looking to make some noise. I think you help with that, and it looks like you could use the distraction." Vic folded her arms, You gripped her fingers tighter "Come on, Vicky, the more time we spend together, the better Mr Harrow's evaluation will go."

She sighed "Yeah, fine. What were you thinking exactly?"

"Meet me after First-Period, I wanna kick up some fuss."

Goosebumps flushed across your skin as your neck straightened, a warning chill flying up your spine. "Hey! the fuck are you sniffing me for weirdo!?"

You whipped around, spotting Rudy burning her face in Tracy Green; the fucking head girl of Wallace academy, inhaling her scent deeply. You shot up from the booth "First Period, meet me in the library." You darted towards Rudy, leaving a very confused Vicky behind.

Rudy knelt down by Tracy's side, smiling ominously. As you quickly approached them, however, Tracy seemed to calm down as Rudy spoke "Sorry hun, it's just your shampoo, look how silky your hair is and the scent is so floral, girl the things I'd do to have hair like that."

"Oh... well, it's just Cantu conditioner. Umm who are you exactly?" Tracy asked.

You knelt by rudy, gently taking her shoulders "Everything alright over here?"

Tracy stiffened at your sudden appearance, as did her friends in her booth. "H-Hi Charlie, I didn't realise this... lady was with you?"

You looked deeply into Tracy's eyes, flickering occasionally to the friends sat with her: "Yeah, Rudy here family from Texas, sorry if she's a little forward, my uncle thought it would be beneficial for her to spend some time here, you know, to help her with her bipolar."

Your gentle tone, struck deep into Tracy making her nod as if you'd given her the greatest excuse in the world "Ooooh okay, well isn't that nice. It is very nice to meet you, Rudy, I hope you make some good friends here."

Rudy licked her lips "Mmmmm I'm sure I will, Tracy, some very good friends indeed."

"Okay!" You picked Rudy up "We are going to homeroom so I'll see you later."

Tracy and her friends stirred "The bell hasn't rung yet?"

"Three, two, one"

You raised a finger, queuing in the screaming home-room bell which made the students get up and flood out of the room. You grinned "Bye-bye now!"

Dragging Rudy off, you gripped her close "Real nice job." You dripped with sarcasm.

"Rudy saved it before she got weirded out, don't be all lost in your social migraine now."

"The only social migraine I'm gonna get lost is you if you don't behave yourself." You grunted.

Rudy gripped you hard, pressing her chest against your side "Mmmm behave, Cowboy."

You left the student lounge with everyone else, but your eyes flickered to Vicky, who remained sat in her booth, rubbing her eyes and holding her forehead.

Why didn't the mesmerisation work on her where it did before? worked on Tracy just fine, something was off here, maybe you'd find out after Homeroom.

Homeroom passed quickly and without much incident, even as Josh Wilkins the usually diligent prefect calling for assembly passed over Rudy's twitchy presence as you steered off his attention with your powerful mind manipulation.

"This is insane, with blood in my system, I feel like I could bend this entire academy under my thumb."

As intoxicating as it was, you didn't want to lose it, not here-not with Rudy in tow. Still, as everyone was dismissed to class, You couldn't shake the blood-drunkenness inside. Maybe you could incorporate some testing into your plans for today?

You had mathematics with Professor Omnyo for First-Period, the class had just settled into the relaxed environment. Everybody loved Miss Omnyo, she was gentle and understanding, but firm in her work ethic, some idiots found it funny to make fun of her accent even though it contained the smallest hint of her Japanese origin.

When the cheerful spectacle bearing round face of the Mathematics professor strolled into the room, she greeted everyone with a cordial grin "Morning everyone, if we're all present then let's pick up where we left off with the implications of the Googol."

You all began your work. People had obviously noticed Rudy, but due to Daisy already frequenting your side in school they mostly ignored her. Miss Omnyo however did wander over, addressing you curiously while people tapped away on their laptops and made eyes at their textbooks "Another one of your carers, Mr Drake?" she inquired softly.

"Yes ma'am." You answered sharply.

The Professor turned her attention to Rudy, who fixed the Lecturer with a strange look "It's truly lovely to see you ladies helping this young man settle back in, Amnesia is a serious affliction, on behalf of the staff here I'd like to thank you miss..." Omnyo offered a hand, and you eyed Rudy almost in warning.

The Wendigo put on a friendly face and reached out taking the Professors hand. They both paused before Rudy spoke up "Vulcan, Rudinia Vulcan, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Omnyo."

When Omnyo pulled her hand back, she made a strange face, rubbing her palm before resuming her neutral stance "Likewise Miss Vulcan. Mr Drake, do you mind if I have a private word with you after class?"

You nodded "Sure thing, Professor."

After you'd absolutely smashed out your word, solving every question and taking thousands of notes, the bell rang, beckoning the entire class to zoom out the door.

You remained behind, just as instructed. You touched Rudy's arm "You're doing really well, Rudy, but I need to talk to Miss Omnyo alone, you think you can manage to wait outside without killing anyone?"

Rudy stood slowly, arching her back as she trailed her finger across your face temptingly "Your wish is my command, cowboy. Don't take long now." The Wendigo walked off to stand outside. Miss Omnyo was watching.

You walked towards her, and she gestured for you to sit on the opposite side of her desk. Adjusting her large square glasses, Miss Omnyo tapped her paperwork on the table and gave you her full attention "How you feeling, Charlie, I've noticed your progress over the past week, and I must say it is truly stellar."

"Getting better every day, and thank you, Miss Omnyo."

"Haru when we are alone, please." She spoke as a professional, even when she was being friendly.

"I will not lie to you, Charlie, talks in my meetings regarding yourself have been interesting, to say the least. Our main concern is not purely academic, but on some of the relationships you've been building with your peers."

Ooooh, interesting

"Oh?"

"Yes, indeed. You seem to have become rather popular. I haven't gotten through a single class in the past 78 hours without hearing your name, and of course, there is the incident with Mr Harmon." Haru had the queen of poker faces, a very pretty one nonetheless, she was narrow and sharp of body, but she had a sisterly face, trusting and familial.

Still, that didn't mean that you didn't have your suspicions. "I understand your concern, Haru. Thank you for respecting me enough to address it with me personally. The Fight with Duke... was a moment of weakness on my part..."

"It is how I discovered my strength."

"...And I want you to know that I plan on patching things up with him soon. I also get the staff's concerns about my social status. I wasn't exactly James dean before, but, having the people around me that I do now, well, I can't think of a better way to help me get back on the straight and narrow after my father's ****."

"I have so much love to give, so much power to share. As a Descendant, I will protect the innocent, and as a Vampire, I will take what is mine."

Haru nodded "Absolutely, I understand." Her demeanour changed, if only by a hair. She leant forward as if she could look behind your eyes and see the real naked you. "I must insist, however, that you take things slow. Certain eyes may not look favourably upon your actions, and of course, there are rules that must be followed."

"Pft." You touched your lips, holding back a chuckle. Who the hell was she trying to fool?

Haru lent back again "Did I say something funny, Mr Drake?"

You raised your arms in a cartoonish shrug, before grinning knowingly at Haru "I don't know, but I do have a question for you, Miss Omnyo if you'll indulge me?"

She tilted her black head, making her neat silky ponytail swish slightly.

"...You're the host of the Spiritual and Religious Studies club right?"

She didn't even flinch, damn she was good.

"Yes, I am."

"Good, I've been reading a lot on chakras, deep meditation techniques, religions from all kinda cultures. I've even been looking over some old Norse and Gaelic books in my father's library, and damn if I ain't fascinated. I know that getting into the club requires going through the strict approval process, but I was hoping for a ticket in?" You rested your hands on the desk "What do you say?"

Haru stood straight, reaching up to remove her glasses. the corner of her lip arched into her cheek "I'll have a chat with the girls today, but I have to say that it's not likely. We require approval from the board to get into that club, with the sensitivity of the subject matter in our... current social landscape, you understand?"

"Oh, I absolutely understand." You stood "If that's all Miss Omnyo, I've got to meet a friend. I hope to see you soon."

"You too, Charlie," Omnyo said, watching all the way out the door.

Scooby-dooby doo, you had some work to do.