NoHoper Ch 4 - Forced
Tentative Title: No-Hoper
Full Summary: Merely a test-subject and researcher for the anti-Vampyre drug Denyxinil, a No-Hoper in the grand scheme, all that changes when he is Marked and forced to live among those he despises most. No identified pairings so far, takes place somewhere around a canon-changed 'Untamed'. Expect pride and a lot of prejudice.
Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note, nor do I own the House of Night series, or the various mentions to various other products of modern and post-modern Western culture. Let me warn you that, while I'm sure the Casts' way of doing things works very well for them, I took the liberty to take what I hated about the series' narration and change it to suit my tastes. So just expect some changes to things, like narrative style and the competency of character development.
The whole veritalisation of Homosexual stereotypes and such starts to come in here, and if the Cast duo do not take the hint, I may have to confiscate their writing equipment. This may prove difficult, but I’m enlisting in the help of the SWAT team right now!
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Chapter IV
Forced
ZOEY
Stupid friends! Why didn’t they understand that those secrets I kept were for their own good? Whether they know it or not, Neferet would’ve definitely found out if they knew - that hag bitch resisting the opportunity to read my ex-friends’ minds to get information on me would be like me trying to resist a nice, tall glass of refreshing full-fat brown pop. With ice. And a classic curly straw. Why didn’t they get that at all?
Just attempting to handle the Twins’ impression of Gossip Girl’s hateful Blair, or Buffy’s Cordelia is making me tired, not to mention mad. So really, all I can do is pick at my salad and nurse my brown pop with tiny sips, all the while letting their crap go in one ear and out the other. I’d laugh at the stupid metaphor (or idiom, or whatever it is), were I not too mad at them to feel happy.
Without warning, Jack bound up to us with his tray, narrowly spilling his glass of tea as he scooted himself into the booth and sat with Damien, smiling broadly in his puppy-like way at him. Following not far behind was a stranger, a fledgling I hadn’t seen before - an Asian boy wearing his new HON uniform, despite the fact that class wasn’t due to start for a while. Obviously - and that was without looking at the symbol on his sweater - he was a Third Former, the newest new kid around here until the next one. Even as a Third Former, he seemed older: Although he was handsome, with flawless skin and practically-perfect features, he had this permanent air of seriousness about him, as though the Architect built him that way (yeah, total Sci-Fi geek, I get it), with narrowed eyes and a scowling mouth. Even his deep (blood?) red hair did nothing to lift the solemnity in his manner.
Perhaps, if I got to know the boy better, he could tell me who did the professionally good dye job on his hair.
But yes, he was totally uptight. The complete and utter opposite of Jack, who spent most of his time babbling to Damien, and probably kissing him when we’re not looking, the former of which he was doing right now. Why in the name of the great Goddess they were hanging out together was anyone’s guess.
“Can you believe I got a new roommate?” Jack chirped, almost wriggly with delight, “I know Neferet told me, like, yesterday, but it was still a total surprise! And so soon after Erik, too!” Ah, so that made sense. How else would two guys on opposite sides of the dork scale be hanging out? (As in one of them being firmly on it, and the only being, like, totally off). I’d say that Stevie Rae and I were a prime example (her being a total Kenny Chesney fan, and me still thinking that European Magical schools are a great idea), but she’s not my roommate any more, and that would be cheating.
Meanwhile, the new kid was still stood up by the table, holding his tray. He looked totally uncomfortable standing there like a dork, probably not sure if any of us were going to scoot up and give him room, or if inviting himself to sit here would be too forward. Tearing their stank eyes away from me, the Twins began eyeing up the new kid instead, sending him total flirtation signals. Typical. The moment one perfect guy (a.k.a Loren Blake) goes, they totally mourn his death like his widows, and the moment one new perfect guy moves in all is forgotten. And they call Aphrodite the hag bitch from Hell. Go figure.
Like the boy-crazy girls they were, Shaunee slid out of the booth to let him slide in next to Erin. Taking the invitation, he slid in gracefully next to Erin, watching with discomfort as Shaunee sat in next to him, leaving him crammed in a rather formidable Twin sandwich.
“Everyone,” piped up Jack, now finished with his babbling to Queen Damien, “This is my new roommate, Light Asahi!” Fiddling nervously with his hair a little, Light lifted a hand in greeting, mumbling something that could’ve been a hello.
“I’m Shaunee Cole,” Shaunee said, giving him one of her seductress smiles.
“I’m Erin Bates,” Erin purred, mirroring Shaunee’s expressions and gestures exactly.
“We’re twins.” They said together, demonstrating their Twinness. Damien rolled his eyes at the pair, and they giggled in unison. Eyes fixed firmly on their prey, they seemed to ignore the deer-caught-in-headlights look he wore as he nodded slowly, acknowledging but not believing.
“I bet you are.” He said, focusing instead on the two glasses of water on his tray, and the four white salt packets next to them.
“They’re not really twins,” supplied Damien, being his usual studious self, “with Erin being an extremely white girl from Tulsa, and Shaunee being of Jamaican descendant and a lovely mocha colour from Connecticut. Still, they may as well have been separated from birth, they’re that in tune.”
Light was tearing open a packet of salt and - ewww! - pouring it into a glass of water, upending it all before opening another one. “So,” he said, inclining his head slightly to Shaunee, “I think I’ve heard the name Cole before. You’re not related to Dr Saxon Cole, the Pharmacologist?”
“Yeah, that’s right.” Shaunee said, eyes a little wide, obviously in surprise. “How do you even know him? I didn’t think you were into that kind of thing.” The emphasis on the one sounded almost seductive coming from her, as though she was trying to charm him out of his slacks right there and then. The movement of her left arm meant that she was no doubt promoting one of her signature moves, placing her hand on his thing and squeezing it suggestively. The poor guy made none of the usual indications that the moves were working on him, as they would with other boys. He just stirred up the solution of salty water, an uncomfortable look on his face before answering.
“No, but I read his research on vaccines and their effects on human physiology. I have to say I was impressed, especially by the detailed studies. Very impressive, I must say.”
“Uh… huh.” Yep, the girl was lost now, more than confused by Light’s talk as she usually was with Damien’s. And the boy’s accent didn’t make it that much easier, either - English was obviously not his first language. His accent was mainly Chinese or Japanese (I could never tell which), with a Queen’s English sort of intonation to it. Not only that, but there was a slight Inland Northerner accent too, as though he’d picked something up from upstate New York or something. The result? I was really wishing I had that knack for understanding accents that some people seemed to just have, and not others (like me).
“”Well, I’m Damien Maslin,” the resident boy expert continued, “I’m here if you need any help settling into classes. You’ve already met the perpetually cute Jack Twist over here.” Jack just blushed, giving a downward wrist-flicking, Oh you! kind of gesture. “And on my right here, with the expanded Marks and Goddess-given power to kick major butt, is our High-Priestess-in-Training Zoey Redbird.”
Yes, Queen Damien, thanks for the totally high-profile introduction. You may as well just set up an official website for me and be done with it. Still, at least you’re not talking crap about me. I must thank you later for that.
“So, does that make you the leader of this group?” Light asked, reaching out a hand to shake forearms with me, which we did. His light brown eyes, I noticed, were fixed on my Marks, but not in awe or fascination - although I suppose there was some fascination to it - no, there was definitely something different to the look, but it was too well guarded to be spotted. Only that gut feeling told me I wasn’t just seeing things, that I was probably right.
“I suppose you could say that,” I replied, adding hastily, “not that I appointed myself or anything.”
“Fair enough,” he replied, giving a slight smile and picking up his glass, “if there’s one thing we should learn, it’s that the people who want to be leaders, who want the top jobs, are exactly the sort of people who shouldn’t be trusted with those jobs to begin with.” Finishing the sentiment, his lifted the glass in a sort of toast, before downing the salty water, not stopping ‘til it was completely drained. Now empty, he sat the glass back on the table, turning his attention to the second glass, which he began filling with salt the same way as before.
“Hey, slow down there, stud - do you want to give yourself a heart attack?” The voice, laced with bitchiness, was all too familiar to us, as of late, and yet still a surprise to us. Why was she here? Didn’t she run off two days ago? Didn’t she lose her Mark? Isn’t she human now? But, of course, like the icky, gross stomach flu, she just had to come back again, did our bitchy, occasionally useful, hag bitch from hell nemesis Aphrodite.
“Oh,” Light said, looking up at her from his glass, “no, I’m not trying to give myself a heart attack, but thanks for your concern.” The smile he gave her was probably meant to look kind, but was almost condescending, in a What do you know? kind of way.
“Oh, that’s alright. If you want, I’ll help you out with anything, and I mean anything.”
“Aphrodite,” I cut in, sensing a catfight between the Twins and Aphrodite about ready to rumble, “This is Light Asahi. He’s new here.”
“I can see that.” She said to me, eyes still fixed on him like white on rice. “I’m Aphrodite LaFont, but you can call me Aphrodite.” She leaned forward, perfectly manicured fingernails fingering at his hair. “I’ll be right here waiting for you when you get tired of the Dorkamese Twins over here and want a real woman.” She began playing with his fringe, face practically inches from his as he smiled back in that mocking way of his. Uh, what. A. Slut. She’d probably been hanging around Vamp-Mountain Darius earlier, and now she was follicle-fiddling some guy she just met (ewww… fiddling).
“Alright.” He replied, tone breezy as he took hold of her hand before she could push his fringe back, and pried it off himself, letting it drop on the table. Honestly, I’ve never seen a straight guy drool so little in front of that hag before, or even remotely resist. “And I’ll be right over here if I do.”
“You hear that-” said Shaunee, catching onto the ‘if’.
“You ho bag?” continued Erin, following the lead, “Light isn’t interested in trash,”
“And he’s got the best quality right here!” Shaunee finished.
“So why don’t you catch some other boy-”
“In your nasty crotch-web?”
“Got it?” They finished in unison, glaring Aphrodite down like wolves challenging an Alpha. The trio remained locked like that for a full minute before Aphrodite flipped her hair, winked back at Light, turned on her heel and twitched off, with not even a snide comment as a leaving present. Whatever happened to her in the last two days, it must have been weird enough to have her act even a little bit unlike her bitchy self.
Without the resident hag around, the Twins continued their flirting, “So what will it be, Bright boy?” Shaunee asked, eyes back on Light, a hand ruffling his red locks, “Would you like a nice, hot cappuccino?”
“Or is a vanilla latte more your style?” Erin enquired, hand gently resting on his arm.
Picking up the second glass and draining it in one, Light gave a coy, if charming smile to both of them before setting the glass back down. “I don’t know,” he said, his voice laced with charm, “but I’ve always been something of a caffeine addict.”
“Ah! How nice to see that you’re settling in already!” I glanced up from the scene of heavy flirting to see Neferet standing by our table. At the sound of her voice, Light looked up from the Twins to the High Priestess, his face freezing once more into its solemn mask at her presence, almost displaying hate. Does he know about her evil side already, or is he just intuitive? Whatever gave him the idea; it’s definitely leading him right.
“Oh,” he replied, head bowed respectfully and voice devoid of feeling, “thank you for your concern Neferet. I think I’ll be alright from now on, with this group.”
“I’m sure you will,” Neferet smiled, “But you will also need a mentor. Until a more suitable candidate can be found, Professor Lankford will henceforth act as your mentor. You will, of course, meet him tomorrow.”
“I understand.”
“Excellent.” Turning to face the rest of us, practically ignoring Light, she spoke to us, all except for Light and I grinning at her in ignorance, “Zoey, Erin, Shaunee, Damien? I have called a special Council Meeting for tonight at ten thirty, and I expect you to be there. I can’t very well run it without our House of Night’s gifted Prefects, now can I? So, since it’s almost ten o’clock, I think you’d better hurry up, or you will be late.”
“We won’t be!” Damien and the Twins answered perky and perfect, utter fools for her.
“Oh Neferet,” I cut in, raising my voice to let it carry, “that reminds me: Aphrodite will be joining us. Since she was gifted by Nyx with an affinity for earth, we all agree that she should be on the Prefect Council, too.”
“Oh, but how can this be? She is no longer a member of the Dark Daughters, let alone the Prefect Council.”
I played the innocent student card, using the tone that came with it, “Did I forget to tell you? I’m so sorry; it must have been because of the awful things that have been happening! Aphrodite rejoined the Dark Daughters. She swore to Nyx and to me that she’ll uphold our new code of conduct, and I allowed her back in. I mean, isn’t that what you want - for her to come back to our Goddess?”
For a moment, she didn’t say anything, and in that moment, she looked ready to slap me, or even to reject the offer. But, of course, she wouldn’t want to cause a scene, and so she did neither.
Finally, she said, “Why, how generous of our Zoey to welcome Aphrodite back into the bosom of the Dark Daughters, especially as Zoey will be made responsible for Aphrodite’s conduct. But, you seem to be comfortable with a great deal of responsibility, isn’t that right Zoey?” She looked right into my eyes then, baring so much hatred in them that I could barely breathe.
“Do be careful you don’t strangle under all the pressure, Zoeybird. I’ll go inform Aphrodite of my approval now.” Her hatred vanished, and her voice was all sweetness to match, a torch of light once more. “Blessed be.” Neferet left as simply as that, with nothing more to say.
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LIGHT
After Neferet’s talk with Zoey Redbird and her loyal Scooby Gang, Jack and Damien (who, as it happened, was his boyfriend) practically frog marched me out of the dining hall, past the guards known as Sons of Erebus warriors and down the path to the boys’ dorm, as Damien had a full half hour before his meeting, and neither of them were sure I knew the way back to my own room yet. While I could certainly say that I could find the way to my own bed both in the dark and blindfolded, I was still more than a little confused.
Obviously, there was still a lot more about the vampyres that I had to learn.
So there really is more to them than murder and blood… or at least for the fledglings there is.
“So, Light,” Damien asked, watching me from the corner of his eyes, “how are you finding the House of Night so far?”
“It seems nice,” I answered, offering him a small, coy smile, “I mean, the students here seem friendly.” Actually, they seemed more friendly than I was implying, but as if I needed to elaborate.
“Better than at your old school?” Damien asked.
“You could say that. Besides, I’ve got a great roommate here to help me out.” Turning to my left, where Jack walked beside me, I watched as he practically squirmed in delight, happy to have made a good impression on his new roommate for the next four years.
Or so he thinks. He really is a pathetic child, barely even teenage by human standards. Why would the vampyres send him to spy on me?
Damien’s contentment showed, no doubt because of the compliments I’d paid his boyfriend. “I’m glad you’re settling in well. Most new fledglings find their first few days here to be the most testing they ever have here. I know I did.” His features saddened now, as though he was reliving the memory in his head.
Shaking himself, the sadness disappeared once more, and he was just plain glad again. “But that doesn’t matter, what’s done is done. What matters now is that you get settled in properly. Your mentor will always be there to help you, of course, but we will be, too.”
A fledgling vampyre… willing to help me? Now that I’d like to see! No doubt he’d much rather help me onto his plate, and my blood into his cup, but… his honest tone must mean something… right?
“Thank you,” I finally responded, allowing myself to bow my head at him, to give undeserved respect. “I’d really appreciate that.”
Damien just smiled back, inclining his head in response. Unprepared for the gesture as he probably was, he accepted it all the same.
“You know,” said Jack, eyes practically smiling with delight, perpetually cheerful, “when I first came here, I was just full of questions, and thankfully, I had Damien to answer them! If you’ve got any questions, you can ask him any time - he’s a genius!”
Damien laughed quietly, a laugh coloured with embarrassment. “I’m not sure I’m as clever as that, but I’ll do my best to answer. If I can’t answer anything, then you’ll be best asking Professor Lankford - he’s married to Professor Anastasia, the Spells and Rituals professor, so he knows more than most professors do.”
I had to give a moment of thought to that one. Was this offer an honest one or not? What did I need answering first? “Well, I heard the High Priestess and Zoey Redbird talk about Nyx earlier. I know that vampyres worship someone named Nyx, but who is she really?”
Jack’s eyes seemed to sparkle at the name, as did Damien’s, “Oh, Nyx is just the best,” Jack gushed, unable to control himself.
“What Jack means,” supplied Damien, “is that Nyx is a benevolent goddess, to whom our kind are considered her children. No, she is more like the Goddess, the only Goddess we worship and recognise. She is known by many names, but here she is Nyx, the embodiment of night itself. It is due to her that vampyre society is matriarchal in nature, although it must be noted that men are valued as protectors, warriors and consorts, as is Nyx’s consort, Erebus.”
“Ah, I see,” I nodded in acknowledgment, “but what’s this about ‘rituals and spells’? It’s not all about blood-drinking, is it?”
Jack laughed at the question, giggling like it was a funny joke. “No,” he said gleefully, “of course not! There might be blood-drinking in some rituals, but we’re too young for that!”
Damien nodded, “Yes, as blood-drinking remains abhorrent to fledglings until much later into the Change, we Third Formers - or first years - won’t encounter this. Rituals, such as the casting of circles, are a way in which vampyres worship and pray to Nyx, and gain her aid. While members of the Dark Daughters will cast circles at their meetings, the whole school holds a ritual to Nyx twice a week, and also at the full moon.” I must have shown my feelings of apprehension, of uncertainty on my face, for he gave a smile of comfort before continuing. “Don’t worry, you’ll enjoy them - they’re one of the superlative aspects of life at the House of Night.”
“The whole deal with rituals is explained in The Fledgling Handbook 101 too, so there’s no way to not know about Goddess-worship here!” Jack chipped in, practically hanging off my arm now.
And this is what turns mere children into murderers? Surely that’s not it, is it?
My feelings of confusion must’ve transferred onto my face, for the blond hanger-on added, “Everyone gets a copy of The Fledgling Handbook, so if you don’t get it tonight, you’ll have it by tomorrow for sure!”
The happy faces of the two fledglings were becoming painful to look at, too difficult to accept. Turning my face away from them, I found myself looking at the boys’ dormitory entrance, our conversation having carried the time of our journey away. Looking back at the couple, the two of them beaming at me, holding hands, radiating bliss like body heat. It was just so, so…
Repugnant, disgusting, obnoxious…
My stomach began to turn, a sick queasiness coming on, with a dizziness that unsteadied my mind and my body. Feeling a deep, cold chill grip me, I held my stomach. Saliva, hot and fluid, filled my mouth, accompanied by a shock of contractions, painful and-
… Nauseating.
Covering my mouth instinctively, I ran into the dorm without the others, up the steps and down the corridor, barely making it into my room and into the bathroom before vomiting into the toilet, receiving the bitter taste of acid and bile on my lips. Kneeling down before the porcelain bowl, taking up what would probably be a nightly residence, I heaved again and again, unable to cease. Ignoring the footsteps of Damien and Jack from behind the bathroom door, I continued, determined for Plan A to succeed.
The Denyxinil was still coursing through my system, and if purging it from my body involved spewing up the poison, then so be it.
At least I won’t have to die the way of the lab rat, of a No-Hoper.
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There. I have heard tell that the use of my ‘prize term’ No-Hoper will get annoying, or over-done, but please be warned, in this fic, it is a sort of official term, to the point that even Primrose and Summers will use it. As for the use of a different POV, this has come from the technique used by the Casts in ‘Tempted’ and onwards, so I consider it non-canon not to use it. If some people feel the need for me to explain my chapter titles, then I will - either that or wait until the last chapter, where I’ll make a list at the end for you to enjoy and such. Whatever, it’s something to do.
Thanks to generosity and some under-hand self-advertising, I have now got readers for this fic, and some actual reviews. Now I know that I’m writing for someone(s), I will carry on with gusto!
Until next time,
Thank you, and please R&R!
Ruin Takada XXX
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