The Pain You Bring

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/43943407.

Rating: Mature
Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Category: M/M
Fandom: 山河令 | Word of Honor (TV 2021)
Relationship: Wen Kexing/Zhou Zishu
Character: Wen Kexing, Zhou Zishu, Han Ying (Word of Honor)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Vampire, Vampires, Vampire Bites, Vampire Wen
Kexing, vampire zhou zishu, Vampire Blood is Poisonous to Other
Vampires, Zhou Zishu Uses This to His Advantage, It Starts Dark but
Later it Will Just be Two Idiots in Love, Enemies to Lovers, It Gets
Worse Before It Gets Better, Blood and Violence
Language: English
Stats: Published: 2022-12-30 Chapters: 1/? Words: 1013

The Pain You Bring

by sootsies

Summary

Vampires are forbidden from feeding from their own species, as the moment that drop of
cold crimson touches their tongue, a poison spreads throughout their body, ripping them
apart from within until they're nothing but a bloody heap upon the ground they once stood.

Zhou Zishu is well aware of this fact, as it’s something he uses quite often in his line of
work. As assassins, they need ways to end a life swiftly and to prolong it in the most painful
ways possible. Which is why he always holds vials of his blood upon his person.

Aka.

Zhou Zishu is sent to remove the heart of his sire's enemy, Wen Kexing, but he learns that
not everything is black and white, and blood bonds can be broken.

Notes

Please be mindful of the tags! It will be dark in the beginning, but as Wenzhou grow closer,
it will tame itself out.

See the end of the work for more notes

Vampires are forbidden from feeding from their own species, as the moment that drop of cold
crimson touches their tongue, a poison spreads throughout their body, ripping them apart from
within until they're nothing but a bloody heap upon the ground they once stood.

Zhou Zishu is well aware of this fact, as it’s something he uses quite often in his line of work. As
assassins, they need ways to end a life swiftly and to prolong it in the most painful ways possible.
Which is why he always holds vials of his blood upon his person.

It’s not a role he enjoys, but it’s a role he must follow due to the blood tie that connects him to his
sire. Lord Jin, his sire, saved him when he was mere mortal, infusing a blood debt that cannot be
broken until one is swallowed by the soil in which they came.

There’s a coven called Val’Gho, or more commonly known as Ghost Valley, that resists the rule
Lord Jin has spread, and instead retaliates with violence. Left with no other choice, the latter sends
Zhou Zishu and his men to infiltrate and bring back the shriveled heart of the coven’s head.

From stature alone, one would assume the coven of Val’Gho would reside in a musky cave like the
vermin they are, but instead they live in a castle. A castle so grand it makes Lord Jin’s pale in
comparison.

Laying upon a mountain, surrounded by a sky so dark it could be considered an eternal night is the
castle. Dark cobblestone digs into the rock, latching on like the claws of a predator. It extends into
pillars that tickle the clouds, and glow with the jewel-like reflection of stained glass.

"Keep the shadows upon you, and if you're caught, spill none, or you will lose your tongue."

With that, the clearing is empty as the Tian Chuang disappear in flickering smoke, with he himself
following suit shortly after.

Without full knowledge of the interior structure, taking the back tunnels of the sewage system will
be their best option. They could move throughout the walls until proper information is gathered, or
the coven head is found.

Ghosts are taken out under the cover of darkness. Each one sucked within the inky depths never to
emerge again. Zhou Zishu slinks through the carnage until he discovers what appears to be a
laboratory.

Vials of vampiric blood line the shelves alongside limbs of various supernatural creatures.
Vampire, lycan, ghoul, centaur. Even the head of man. Tools of silver and hawthorn lay upon
tables and chairs, some holding a stain of crimson from victims past.

It’s gruesome, it’s morbid, and brings its share of questions. But before he could investigate any
further, footsteps can be heard from the opposite side of the door. One set is quick and brisk,
clearly holding a sign of authority, while the other has a limp, almost as if they’re being dragged.

Zhou Zishu hides himself within the casings of an iron maiden, arranging his body to avoid the
protruding spikes, but still remain concealed.

A man of crimson and ebony files into the room, bringing with a stench of blood. He’s ethereal in a
way, with hair that pools at his feet and is as dark as the sky above. It bleaches his already pale
skin in a way that makes it nearly translucent.

Then his nails, they should be called claws as they’re as long as the finger itself, and sharp as a
blade. They’re black, but the tips hold a crimson stain.

He drags an unconscious individual, who upon closer inspection Zhou Zishu learns is one of his
 own. Said man sports various injuries, each with different variations of severity. But, judging by
the look of fury, he did his job to spill nothing.

The crimson man tosses the assassin upon one of the tables with enough force that tools clatter to
the ground.

"That repulsive roach," He hisses, circling the table as a vulture would a carcass. "Sending ants to
do his job. How brazen. How cowardly."

Those claws connect with skin not even a breath later. Teasing at first, simply caressing the flesh
like a lover would, before they sink. Sinking further and further until the pads of his fingers touch
shoulder.

"One missing cretin won't draw any attention. But that doesn't mean I can't take my time…draw it
out, and make an example of its corpse."

The claws trail lower, splitting flesh as easily as a blade through water. "I'll flay you…peel the skin
from your flesh." Blood drips on the metal, a soft plink sound that contradicts with the horrors
coming from the man's lips. "Only after blood runs dry and bones protrude will I hang your corpse
above the gates of my kingdom. A lesson, a reminder of what will happen to your precious Lord if
he dares to spread his stain again."

The man's back is to Zhou Zishu, preventing him view of his face. But his frame shakes, almost as
if he's laughing, cackling instead of expressing signs of insanity.

Keeping his eyes upon the man, Zhou Zishu reaches for one of many blades stored away on his
person. Each one holds a coating of his blood, giving them a reddened hue.

If he's to use the distraction to his advantage, he'll come up behind the lunatic, and silence those
words with a knife to the neck.

The blood will work fast, acting like a paralytic to keep him immobile as it rips him apart. Then
he'll save his assassin and order for a retreat before they draw anymore attention.

However, it doesn't go according to plan for as soon as the metal touches air, the crimson man
raises his head. Those stained lips part, drinking in the scent of new blood like a snake.

"Intoxicating…like the sweetest forbidden nectar."

In the next breath he's before the iron maiden, and parting the doors. But before they can move but
a breath, he finds a blade against his throat.

End Notes

If you would like to see updates, or read other little drabbles, you can find me on Twitter ,
or my server over at Discord

Please drop by the archive and comment to let the author know if you enjoyed their work!