The Car journey

Maia was reeling, Ben had flipped out and for the first time in a while she felt wary… Only Alucard had ever done that to her, the other thing that had un nerved her were the ranks of SS back when she was a child. The endless parades, the endless songs, the endless hatred. She gulped, it was raining now and despite the warmth of the car she felt uneasy, things felt awkward inside the car to say the least. Sighing she slowed down a little as they drew closer and closer to the hotel, it was going to take another few hours but they’d get there… she gave Ben’s hand a reassuring squeeze, she wasn’t sure if he considered them “an item” yet but they might as well have been by that point… "you ok... you seem a little shaken after what you did back there..."

The first sound that came back to Ben`s ears after that frightening experience was the sound of the M3s engine, roaring like a lion on a prowl as Maia punched it past the traffic lights. He was alive, and he was with her, in the car. That much he was certain of... and he thought he had seen the vampire turn to ash before he blacked out.

Maia asked him something, but for now he could only look down on his clothes- his body was regenerating quite well, Maia probably fed him after they had left, but he could still see various bite marks and tears that were healing up whereever the armor he still wore wasn`t covering him.
He finally got around to answer her.

"Maia... what happened to me? I just saw you fall off that ferris wheel, and the ghouls were surrounding me all over while this guy was getting away... and then it was like my body was lighting up from the inside like a firecracker. Everything got blurry and i can barely remember what i did."

He looked down, uncaring for the outside world for now.

"Then i don`t remember a thing anymore."

Maia gave a worried glance, she wasn’t entirely sure what happened in the aftermath of the fight… the lad had collapsed and she had rushed to him as he came out of his rage to finally feel the pain of the injuries. It had been horrific; she never felt doubt, well not normally. But then she had, she had felt like here was an outcome that scared her more than the prospect of dying. And although she’d never admit it, she had cried as she rushed to him, she had felt the tears as her mind convinced her of the worst amidst the smell of fire and blood.

Maia had little to say to him, for once she wasn’t sure about the vampiric gift, she wasn’t sure if that was a part she could embrace now that it had almost tore someone from her. Her mind raced, then as they pulled up to more traffic lights she simply settled for what she could tell him.

“I’m not sure what happened, but it’s the gift of fear, it drove you to greater feats of slaughter by bypassing the urge for self-preservation. You took horrific injuries and carried on, whether it was because you thought something had happened to me or were angry about the innocents is for only you to know. Your reasoning is not irrelevant but I do know this, in that time you put aside all thoughts of pain and all thoughts of survival to reach your goal and win… I’m not sure why it happens but that’s how I understand it and that’s all I know”

Her face was dark, she wasn’t a big fan of talking but now she wished for once that she was, she needed to at least try and lift his spirits…

Ben listened, his face halfway turned to her, until he gave it a little nod.

"I think i understand... if you think of vampireisim as your inner beast, as many people call it, then its easier to understand... most of the time the beast follows your command, but when its in fear of being killed, the beast defies you and takes over control- and when it does, its difficult to gain control again."

Depressed by the events of the evening, despite their victory and the lives they`ve saved, Ben couldn´t bring himself to say anything more. He couldn´t say how it felt when he held her in an embrace, nor could he say that he was glad Maia saved him there. Somehow he wasn`t sure if surviving was really the better option, given that he knew what he really was, now.

"...I`m sorry i brought that up. I just wanted to know what happened." Ben said, then he fell silent again until a question lingered in his mind. "Thats not the way back to the manor... where are we going?"

Giving him a worried look as he finished speaking the female Vampire turned on the heating, it was still nice to have comforts when you were Undead. It was going to take a few minutes to get toasty but in the meantime she was just going to try and distract her sullen companion “We can’t be on the road during the day, we need a hotel and I know one near here. But I suppose that it is surprising to find out what you can really do Ben, but you’re no true monster. The vampires we kill are the monsters; they kill innocents for the sake of it. Letting what you are define who you are is bad, and others judging you on what rather than who you are is also wrong. I know that better than anyone.”

She sighed, it was going to be a long journey “There’s some more blood in the glove compartment, just don’t get too sullen ok, I have you and you have me, we’ll be alright dear”

Ben didn`t like the sound of that- you have me, and i have you... that sounded like they had no one else left. In the back of his mind, something was unconciously worrying him, but he couldn`t tell what it was. Silently, he opened the glove department and took out the blood bag, opening it and drinking it about halfway down... at the first traffic light though he handed it over to Maia.

"You had a tough time there too, Maia. I think you could also use some refreshments."
He worked up a smile- it wasn`t as bright as he ususally smiled, but it was an honest one. It reflected how he felt at the moment. Not good in the least, but a little bit better than he felt five minutes ago.
She was to blame, and for that she recieved a smile.

Taking the blood with a weak smile back she quickly drained it before shoving it into a carrier bag they were using as a bin, they had reached their destination and now she felt a little better it was time to go and get in bed while the sun was coming out. She patted him on the shoulder; “we’re here Ben, I’ll get my rucksack out while you check in, unfortunately we don’t have too much money so try and get a decent but affordable room…” she was well aware of the cheaper prices of double beds, but she was still getting used to the closeness that their job brought. Nonetheless it wasn’t the worst option, a bed was a bed right?

She went to the boot of the car, taking out everything they might need the Jewish woman gave the car one last look around before locking it up and double checking to make sure it was locked. “Hopefully he got us a good room,” she mumbled under her breath as she took the bags in.

Ben smiled a bit, waving a keycard as she came in- a single one.

"Number 507, it was the last one they had on offer today so i got it a bit cheaper. Even has a balcony and everything... it should be fine for a day or two."

Or two... there was that feeling again. What was it? Why was he feeling so uneasy about this? Its like something in the depth of his mind told him that something was very, very wrong, but he couldn´t quite place it. Nevertheless, he carried on, taking one of the bags from her and bringing them up on the elevator... in which he told her what he really felt.

"...y-you can take the bed, if you like, Maia. I´m not that tired, besides, i can probably take a seat or something to rest..." He muttered, looking the other way as they acended to the top level.