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[somepoorsoul]

The night is damp and chilly for May, but that has not stopped the university’s young revelers from stumbling about in drunken celebration, even past midnight. Athos only ever comes this far north to visit the stables, and it is strange to be here so late at night, amongst the older, more scattered houses, stuffed full of students nine months out of the year. Outside the university, neighborhoods fall away to countryside fairly quickly; it is no surprise that so many could so easily go missing.

Athos has spoken little during their late-night trek to the edge of campus, thoughts focused, as best he can, on the task at hand. Is he glad that Porthos agreed to come along, or nervous? He still trusts Porthos with his life, and always will, but he fears that the man has been guilted or coerced into this venture. Believing what he does (knowing what he does), why would he follow Athos anywhere?

But they are here now. Athos leans against a lamppost that leaves him half-illuminated. Celebrants are now stumbling home in ones and twos, and fewer of them seem out and about. If the vampires intend to strike tonight, it will likely be soon, now that most students have gone home, leaving the more foolish (and the more drunk) to venture into the darkness alone and vulnerable. He glances at Aramis, their "bait" for the night, and then, briefly, meets Porthos' gaze. “Still up for this?" he asks them both.

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[du_vallon]

Porthos continues to walk, but things are too quiet. He knows why he's quiet and he knows why Athos is, but usually Aramis fills the silence and tries to break the tension. He stops and turns, hand out to press to Athos' chest before they can get too far, glancing backwards into the darkness without finding Aramis standing there.

"Something's wrong," he says quietly, hand on his sword as he gives Athos a push towards something in the distance that looks like movement.

[somepoorsoul]

Athos turns around, his eyebrows knitting together in concern when he sees Aramis has vanished. “Aramis?” he calls the man’s name, but not too loudly, wary of capturing too much attention in these increasingly dangerous woods. He draws his sword, following after that brief flutter of movement, and hoping Porthos will do the same.

There are four figures moving together, and Athos realizes with a fast-beating heart that one is certainly Aramis. They are moving swiftly through the trees, all but dragging Aramis along towards what will certainly be some awful fate, still too far away to attack. He looks at Porthos, meeting his gaze with eyes a little wide, though he dares not speak for fear of being heard.

[du_vallon]

Porthos picks up the pace when he sees the figures, the growl in his throat a low, dangerous warning that he's about to tear someone's head off for daring to lay a finger on Aramis. He shoots Athos a look that says he's going after them, knowing Athos will understand. He opts for his pistols instead, charging after them while loading up the silver bullets, knowing that if Athos can get a hold of one of them, Porthos can take down the one holding Aramis and then they'll be left with just the one.

He just needs to get close enough for a clean shot.

[somepoorsoul]

Catching the fierce look in Porthos’ eye, Athos jerks his head in agreement to their unspoken plan. Moments later, he is charging ahead with his sword drawn, trusting Porthos to cover him as he attacks. Together, they will not allow Aramis’ captors to get far.

The band of vampires hears them come; one of them, who seems to be leading the group, turns with startling swiftness and springs at Athos with fangs gleaming. Athos leaps back to avoid capture, kicking up a clod of mud as a distraction. He uses the precious moments won to regain his balance and swing his sword in a precise arc to remove the monster’s head. But this vampire is bolder than most; with an animal laugh, it grabs Athos’ blade with its bare hands, stopping it in mid-swing. Athos realizes quickly that the vampire is stronger than he; he lets go of his sword hilt and allows the creature to throw it to the side (damn him), and then removes a silver-tipped main gauche from his belt. “Porthos!” he calls - in part crying for help, and in part seeking assurance that the other man is still standing.

[du_vallon]

Porthos hits his knees when he's close enough, a silver bullet in the back of the vampire holding Aramis hostage, which gives him opportunity to look to Athos next. He flips his pistol so his hand is on the barrel, on his feet and charging, tackling the vampire that has Athos pinned down. Once he's down, he clubs the thing just the once to give him opportunity to stagger back, cupping Athos' cheek as he searches him for injury.

When it seems all is fine, he turns wildly, trying to seek out Aramis. "Aramis?" he calls out, booming. "Didn't you say something about wanting to kill something?"

[afineseamstress]

"A moment, if you please," calls Aramis, winded. Two of the vampires are still alive, wounded but mobile, and through the ache in his head Aramis eyeballs them both, tracking their movements with two drawn pistols.

It seems to take an age for both bodies and barrels to align, but at last Aramis squeezes the trigger finger of both hands. The clearing explodes in short, deafening noise, and both vampires drop. Aramis lets his guns drop likewise to the ground and hurries forward. "Is he alright?" he asks Porthos, joining him to look over Athos.

"Are you alright?"

[somepoorsoul]

Athos lets Porthos help him to his feet, winded but otherwise whole. “Fine,” he says with enough of a smile to prove the truth of his words. “Nice shot. Both of you.” They have all barely escaped death, and Athos feels fully alive, both the danger and the light in his companions eyes warming something inside him that has gone cold of late. He returns his knife to his belt and goes to collect his sword. Finding it only a few paces away, he grimaces to see the creature’s blood clinging to it, but is glad to find it largely unharmed.

“We must be close,” he says as he wipes down the blade with his handkerchief. “And I fear they know we are coming. Do we finish them tonight, or do we wait until morning?” Earlier, he may have advised caution, but now he finds himself tempted to attack the nest at once and finish these cursed creatures.

[du_vallon]

Porthos, at this point, wants to make sure the threat is gone. If they come back, the vampires may have turned more to recharge their forces. "Only if the two of you are okay," he starts, "but yeah, I think we need to keep going and finish the job." His eyes are filled with concern as he looks at both Aramis, then Athos, knowing that they've taken a few licks tonight.

[afineseamstress]

"Perfectly fine," answers Aramis. His head will ache later, as will the various bruises already rising across his body, but Aramis pays them no more mind than he would a scratch. They are soldiers, after all, and used to far worse.

He smiles a little, hiding it in the quick press of his lips to Porthos' furrowed brow. Athos is in good spirits, and Aramis had not missed that brief moment of tenderness between him and Porthos in the fray. "Let's continue," he says, taking the front this time.

[somepoorsoul]

“We’ve come this far,” Athos agrees, though the light in his eyes proves that he is less indifferent to the decision than his mild drawl might make him sound. As Aramis charges ahead, he meets Porthos’ gaze, and this time he does smile - though it’s a quiet, uncertain thing. “I’m fine,” he assures the man, and claps his hand on his shoulder as they head off again.

[du_vallon]

He still isn't entirely sure he's comfortable with this. He's not sure they aren't lying but at the same time, he trusts them. With a lingering touch to Athos' cheek, he nods. "Let's finish this tonight."

[afineseamstress]

Ahead, Aramis can see the medical building loom, its windows just beginning to glow with lights as darkness settles. Not far beyond it is another building, not quite so tall, and as dark and silent as the other is teeming with life. Aramis doesn't recall it on the map, and when he draws closer, he realizes why. Apparently the place hasn't been in use for some time, and the outer walls are littered with graffiti. DON'T DEAD. OPEN INSIDE. says one. Haunted says another.

Aramis' brows climb to his hairline. Surely it could not be this easy? He hurries forward and around the side of the building, searching for an unboarded window or door.

[somepoorsoul]

Athos has the same instinct as Aramis, hurrying forward towards the low, unfamiliar building. He has scoured maps of the university campus; he knows them by heart, and this is certainly not one of them. Abandoned, unused, far enough away from the rest of the warm, busy buildings to be forgotten.

By all but the vampires. And, by the looks of the graffiti, a few bold youths.

He presses his lips into a thin line as he circles the building. “Not very creative, these vampires,” he observes, as though disappointed with the cleverness of the monsters they seek. “Aramis, Porthos, over here.” There’s a grate on the ground, half rusted in place, though Athos is able to pull it up with his hands. The hole it reveals is large enough for a man - if only just.

[du_vallon]

Porthos raises a brow. They could just blow the whole thing up, but if there are innocent victims down there, they'd be condemning them to death and he can't abide by that. Frowning, he knows that they're going to have to go down there. He yanks off his jacket and shoves it on the ground, outfitting himself with his silver. "I'd best go down first," he says. "Too dark for a shot, not enough room for a sword."

"This seems like a case for fists."

[afineseamstress]

Aramis is glad of the darkness when he sees the hole, his cheeks cold in the night breeze as they drain of color. He had imagined a door or a window, not a dark, cramped hole in the earth like the one that still haunts him.

The only thing that fills him with more dread than going down there is the thought of sending Athos and Porthos down alone, and Aramis draws a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Let me go first," he says. "With the light, so you can see what you're swinging at."

[somepoorsoul]

"Aramis." Athos rises to his feet with a look of gentle concern. "Porthos, you go. Aramis can shine the light down behind you." The firm look he sends both men brokers no argument. Matters settled - as far as he is concerned - he unbuckles his sword and leaves it on the ground, keeping his knife with him. "I'll go next."

[du_vallon]

Porthos gives a nod of his head, digging his crucifix out so that it sits above his shirt, resting for all to see. Between that, the holy water in his cologne, and his silver knuckles, he doubts any vampire is going to quickly come after him. Add onto that how very armed he is and he feels comfortable. He shifts to sit with his legs hovering over the side, getting ready to drop down.

"Kiss for luck?" he chances to ask the both of them with a wink and a smirk.

[afineseamstress]

Aramis doesn't want either of them to go down, he wants to grab them both by the shirt and haul them away from here, but he knows that is the fear talking. There are lives at stake, more than just their own. He steps forward and pulls Porthos to him, not to run but to kiss him, and a kiss for Athos follows.

"I'll be behind you both," he promises, for he would follow them anywhere, even into this wretched hole.

[somepoorsoul]

Athos huffs a laugh - yes, an actual laugh - and shakes his head. “After,” he says with a lift of his brow, and then, “Go. I’m right behind you.”

But he lingers a moment after Aramis’ kiss, his hand resting on the other man’s chest. He can see the panic in Aramis’ eyes, for all the man bravely tries to hide it, but he also respects Aramis’ pride. Athos will not insist that Aramis stay, waiting uselessly for them for the sake of his fears.

“Guard the way out,” he tells Aramis instead, turning away and going to dangle his feet over the dark tunnel. “In case any friends decide to come home late. Let’s not end up surrounded.” The plan is practical, for they still need to keep an eye out for any vampires lurking in the woods, but Athos also hopes that in keeping Aramis at the edge of the tunnel, he might calm the man’s fears.

[du_vallon]

Porthos flexes his forearms, thinking longingly of all the kisses he hasn't had with Athos since all this began and how much he desperately misses kissing the man. He sets his feet in the dark, his eyes alight on the way forward and he forces himself to wait for Athos before he starts charging, lest he get out of his depth.

[afineseamstress]

And then they are both gone. Aramis spreads his hand over his chest where Athos' hand had lingered, fingers pressed to the rosary beneath. He lifts it to his lips and forces himself downward, lowering himself into the dark below.

Even with the night above, the tunnel is dark, and it is difficult to see more than the shapes of Porthos and Athos ahead of him. Aramis grips his torch in one hand, his pistol in the other, and waits.

[somepoorsoul]

Thankfully, the tunnel is not very long. Soon it widens out into a dark, windowless basement. The air is thick with the smell of blood; startled, Athos must cover his nose with his sleeve to stop from gagging. By Aramis' torchlight, he sees a stairway leading upward, and in the corner, a dreadful sight - a pile of bodies.

No, Athos realizes with horror, some of them are still alive. Huddled against their companions that no longer breathe, three of the missing students squint as the light hits them. Athos can see dirty bandages on their necks and wrists, and must again stop himself from gagging.

[du_vallon]

Porthos' face falls, the horror showing in his eyes (though thankfully the dark obscures some of that) as he takes in the awful sight before him. He moves onwards to nod towards them, letting Athos try and tend to them while Porthos looks for their captors. He keeps quiet in his footsteps as he goes, but vampires still have that unnatural way of hearing. Occasionally, they have speed too.

He should've seen it coming, but all of a sudden, he feels strong hands whirling him around, fangs pricking into his neck. Unfortunately for the vampire, that little turn brings him face to face with a crucifix that he recoils at, giving Porthos an opportunity to dig out one of the wooden stakes. "I know I'm handsome," he quips, "does well for the ego," he says, using his boot to kick the vampire back enough to follow through with a stake to the heart.

[afineseamstress]

Hearing a fight begin at the other end of the tunnel, Aramis starts forward anxiously, glancing between the place where his brothers have disappeared and the hole above him. That their escape could be cut off is a real danger, but so too is the possibility of Athos and Porthos being overwhelmed in the small space.

Aramis is almost grateful when choice is removed from him in the next moment, as two vampires - almost as if sensing their presence in their nest - drop through the hole to land before Aramis. The first hesitates at the sight of his crucifix and tattoo, but the other charges forward, forcing Aramis to get his sword up to drive him back.

[somepoorsoul]

Unfortunately, Athos doesn’t have time to reach the trembling victims in the corner – at least not immediately. Hearing a door open on the landing above, he looks up just in time to see one of those creatures leaping down upon him. Athos falls to the ground, he and the vampire grapple as it tries to get its fangs into his skin. One of the poor souls in the corner screams, and Athos is almost glad for it – at least one of those students is conscious and has wits enough left to be frightened.

Fighting for what control he can, Athos manages to pull out his dagger and plunge it into the vampire’s heart. He hears something hiss when the silver blade sinks into flesh, and the creature lets out an animal scream as it falls back. Ignoring the way his vision still swims from the impact of the fall, he races for the stairway with his pistol out, ready to take on whatever waits upstairs.