::hidden in shadow, with only a trickle of moonbeam for her light...she writes::
Dangle temptation before my starry eyes
offer the sun, offer the moon
then under the cover of darkness
with the speed of the wind
snatch my first petal of spring
oh, Cruelty, what you do to me!
::teardrops stain the page::
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
Seconds
:: woot! Awesome job folks! Totally on the fly RP between The Coven and The Righteous. fun fun! ::
It was just the faintest whisper in the breeze, a gentle caress on her ear, calling to the empty spaces in her mind, filling them with sweet longing. Bethany stared into the murky waves rolling with the silver moonlight, kissing the gritty sand over and over. She touched her tongue to her tender lips, tasting the salty sea spray upon them. A memory flickered and faded. Sighing softly in her reverie, she turned to find her sister in the distance, making her way back to the Shop. She hurried her step lest she be left behind.
A glance, a second glance. Could it be him that stood to the side of the Voodoo Shop? His body too close to the young girl by the fortune teller machine. No, not him... They stood as lover's stood, his face against her neck. His eyes rose gradually and held steadfast to Bethany's gaze. Her breath caught in her throat, his hypnotic red orbs claimed her.
"Precious..." He whispered one word and lured Bethany to him with his vampire's compulsion, releasing the young girl to flee. Bethany moved towards him in a trance. His lips curled seductively as he opened his arms to invite her in. His eyes glowed, pleased with her obedience. He embraced her soft body against his and lowered his head, finding her willing vein.
"DUCKIEEEE!" a desperate shrill ricocheted off the brick walls and pavement from afar. "DUCKIE GET OUT HERE!" The vampire didn't move, except to grip Bethany tighter, closer, drinking deeper of her lifeblood.
Gloriana stopped dead in her tracks at the top of the shop steps at hearing the urgent cry echoing in the air. Her head whipped around, searching frantically for her sister and saw her in the arms of the vampire. "BETHANY!" She ran to her and grabbed her arm, pulling her with all her strength from the vampire's hold. "NO!"
Ares had come up from the street and saw her sisters in a scuffle in front of the shop and broke into a run. "Leave her alone!" she screamed at the vampire as she pulled at Bethany's other arm, trying to free her from him. Ares' grip slipped and she stumbled backwards. Her fury mounted and she attempted to summon her Storm, but found her reserves empty. Her eyes started to tear in frustration. She reached for Bethany again.
Duckie wrapped Bethany possessively in his arms and looked at the two women over her shoulder with malice in his fiery eyes. "I will have what is mine!"
Gloriana eyes were blazing and she flexed her fingers slightly, a rush of energy flowed into her. She grabbed a slender tendril of the earth's energy and created a small ball and with concentrated will, she lashed it towards the vampire. It didn't faze him, not even a little. His vampire strength and powers were too great.
"DUCKKKIEEEEE!!!" Out of nowhere, Keanna, the sprite Righteous angel cried as she jumped at the vampire, trying to wrench him free from Bethany. "DUCKIE!! I'M RIGHT HERE!" she made every effort to distract him from his prey, "SERAPH!"
Duckie pushed at Keanna with his free arm to shove her away while never letting go of his embrace around Bethany's limp body. She was like a rag doll in his hold. The sprite angel regained her footing and fought to separate them again. The vampire, consumed in his hunger, nuzzled Bethany's neck and bit her again, her warm blood ran down his chin.
Ares yelled at Keanna and Duckie, "Damn you Righteous bastards!"
Delrith, the fierce demon of the Righteous family, growled between pants as he caught up to Keanna. With instinctive wrath, he leaped at Duckie, grabbing his head like he did the day before, trying to force his fangs out of Bethany. Duckie's head was yanked back and he released his bloody fangs from her neck, still struggling to keep a hold of her.
Over what seemed like only seconds, the frenzy of bodies swirled around the vampire and his prey, desperate to break them apart. Gloriana tried to force herself between Bethany and the vampire. Ares shoved and pushed to no avail. Keanna's face was flushed with tears as she pulled again at Duckie's arm, pounding at his side and lower back as hard as she could. She remembered the thing that put him down the last time and threw a wing between Duckie's face and Bethany, trying to make a barrier as she continued to swing with her fists, landing a solid blow on his lower back, catching him in the kidney. Gloriana slammed a knee into the vampire's crotch. Duckie smarted from the dual attack, loosening his grip on his prey, and glared up at the ones who struck him, licking Bethany's blood from his lips. But before he could retaliate, Delrith constricted his arms around his front and with his brute strength, dragged him away from Bethany. Duckie struggled against Delrith, freeing an arm, he reached out for Bethany as he was pulled back, delirious in his demented thirst.
"KEA! Reach in my coat and pull out one of the blood vials!" Delrith shouted to Keanna as he wrestled with all his might to keep Duckie away. "Kea! Grab the vial!" he urged her to move fast, the vampire's strength nearly overcoming his own.
Keanna turned her head to yell at Gloriana and Ares as she rushed to aid Delrith, her angel wings splayed to block the women from Duckie's sight, "GET HER OUT OF HERE!!"
Ares grabbed Bethany's hand, dragging her farther away from Duckie. Bethany tripped backwards, she was still in a trance, barely aware of her surroundings. Gloriana scanned the scene quickly to be sure things were clear and steered her sisters towards the Voodoo Shop. She snapped, "Shop! NOW!"
The Coven sisters pushed passed the shop door, tumbling inside. Gloriana slammed the heavy door closed, cursing aloud as she hurriedly activated the protective wards on the building to prevent all from entering.
Bethany collapsed onto the floor in the front shop, weak from the vampire's feeding. Ares knelt down next to her sister's slack body, lifting her head carefully onto her lap, stroking her hair, frowning at the blood stains on her neck. Worry creased her brow as she whispered between sobs, "Beth! Come on Beth! Please be okay! Please!"
Gloriana, satisfied with the shop being locked down securely, turned her attention to her injured sister, coming to her side. Ares wiped at the tear stains on her cheek and pleaded, "Glori! Help! I don't have the powers to heal her!"
Gloriana inclined her head, and said with urgency, "Let me try." She cast her hands out and over Bethany's still form, centred on her neck. She cradled the wound carefully, and concentrated. She drew the energy flow into Bethany, a soft glow emanated from the wound, healing it completely with just a hint of the tiny scars from the vampire's fangs. Gloriana shook a little from the exertion of that healing. It felt stronger than anything she had ever done before.
Bethany cracked open her eyes, taking in a slow breath as she looked up at her sisters and tried awkwardly to get up. Gloriana and Ares simultaneously pressed her back down, "Whoa! No, you must rest!"
Bethany shrugged off her sisters' hands and sat up, her head spinning as she tried to focus on the trio still outside in front of the shop.
Delrith struggled fiercely trying to keep Duckie in his grasp. "KEA! GRAB IT PLEASE!" He jerked open one side of his coat revealing several vials of dark red blood.
Duckie resisted the fierce demon's restraints, his legs and arms kicking and punching. He glared at Keanna accusingly, his blood red eyes piercing. "You did this!"
Keanna jumped forward, trying to reach Delrith's coat around Duckie's thrashing body for the vials of special blood. "No, I didn't!" Her movements showed her chest to be covered with her own blood from earlier. Duckie's smelled the heady scent of the angel's blood and zeroed in on it, leaning forward to nip at her. She threw her hand up against him to hold him off of her.
Delrith snatched Duckie's head and pulled it back to force his mouth to point upward, readying him for the ingestion of the contents of the vials. The vampire was being extremely difficult in his possessed state. Delrith snarled out darkly and extended his fangs before slamming his jaw into Duckie's shoulder in an attempt to weaken him. Duckie struggled even more, yelling, his words clipped. "Nooo!!! Blood!!...I still thirst!...I am not satisifed!! Release me!"
Keanna couldn't reach the vials through the struggling, frantic for solution she finally barked out at the demon, "Let him go Del!...DO IT DEL!!"
Delrith snarled deeply like a rabid dog, he hesitated for just a second hoping Keanna knew what she was asking him to do. He released his jaws from the vampire's shoulder. "Whatever you're going to do Kea, do it NOW!" He scrambled to grab the blood vials from his coat before Duckie could get away again.
Duckie stumbled from the crushing clamp of the demon's mouth, knocking the sprite angel down onto the pavement. The vampire fell on top of her and Keanna's eyes flashed with sheer terror at that second. She knew she had to distract Duckie until Delrith could get to the blood vials. She screamed at the vampire, "DUCKIE! BITE ME!" Duckie flared and sank his fangs into the angel before him. She cringed and let out a scream, her light flickered, bouncing from vibrant to dim to vibrant to dim. She closed her eyes and began to glow, trying to block everything out, thinking only on the religion that birthed her.
"KEA!" Delrith shouted in alarm as he saw Duckie feed from her. He lunged at the vampire, grabbing his head, trying to force his fangs from the angel's throat. Duckie took one last swallow of the angel's blood and suddenly, as though intoxicated, his body slumped over the angel and he fell unconscious.
Delrith pushed the vampire's heavy body off of Keanna, pinning him down with his own in case he awoke. He bit off the cork of the blood vial and growled, "Let us be done with this!" He tilted Duckie's head up and ran half of the contents into Duckie's throat. The vampire thrashed in his unconscious state as the blood seeped down his throat. Delrith popped another vial and poured it into his mouth. Duckie coughed and sputtered. Delrith grabbed the last blood vial and forced it into the vampire's mouth, making him swallow it. Duckie groaned and clutched his head as he sat up.
Delrith shoved the blood vials back into his coat and cautiously kept a close eye on Duckie as he returned to his normal state. Then his sharp demon eyes fell to the sprite angel laying broken on the ground, her breathing was light and blood flowed from her neck staining her shirt burgundy. He knelt over her, "Oh no! KEA!" He shuddered for a moment, biting his bottom lip in guilt and anguish, as he gingerly held her bloody body,"...what were you thinking you little idiot..."
Duckie raked a hand through his hair and looked up in horror at the demon cradling the blood-covered angel. He moaned as he crawled over, "Oh no....it...happened again..." He reached out to touch the angel, "No! Keanna!...are you okay?"
Delrith rocked Keanna in his arms. "She's fading Duckie."
Duckie stared at the angel with remorse, " No...it cannot be." He shook her shoulders gently but with urgency, "Wake up...you have to be okay!...wake up!"
Delrith glared at Duckie, "She let you bite her to give me enough time to give you the blood!" He lifted her slight angel body effortlessly and snapped. "We have to go to the hospital. Now!"
Duckie gathered his trench coat and used it to apply pressure to the neck wound to try to control the bleeding. He shot Delrith a pained look. "No, the Vet Clinic. It's closer!"
Bethany watched the demon, angel, and vampire rush in the direction of the veterinarian clinic. Her hand came up to her neck and touched the healed wound, her palm cupped and covered it. She tilted her head to look up at her sisters, the expression on her face was of sorrow and sympathy. She whispered hoarsely, "He looked sorry for what had happened. He didn't mean to do it. To bite the angel...to bite me."
Gloriana rested a motherly hand over Bethany's head and watched the figures disappear into the fog, and for that second hoped it was true.
It was just the faintest whisper in the breeze, a gentle caress on her ear, calling to the empty spaces in her mind, filling them with sweet longing. Bethany stared into the murky waves rolling with the silver moonlight, kissing the gritty sand over and over. She touched her tongue to her tender lips, tasting the salty sea spray upon them. A memory flickered and faded. Sighing softly in her reverie, she turned to find her sister in the distance, making her way back to the Shop. She hurried her step lest she be left behind.
A glance, a second glance. Could it be him that stood to the side of the Voodoo Shop? His body too close to the young girl by the fortune teller machine. No, not him... They stood as lover's stood, his face against her neck. His eyes rose gradually and held steadfast to Bethany's gaze. Her breath caught in her throat, his hypnotic red orbs claimed her.
"Precious..." He whispered one word and lured Bethany to him with his vampire's compulsion, releasing the young girl to flee. Bethany moved towards him in a trance. His lips curled seductively as he opened his arms to invite her in. His eyes glowed, pleased with her obedience. He embraced her soft body against his and lowered his head, finding her willing vein.
"DUCKIEEEE!" a desperate shrill ricocheted off the brick walls and pavement from afar. "DUCKIE GET OUT HERE!" The vampire didn't move, except to grip Bethany tighter, closer, drinking deeper of her lifeblood.
Gloriana stopped dead in her tracks at the top of the shop steps at hearing the urgent cry echoing in the air. Her head whipped around, searching frantically for her sister and saw her in the arms of the vampire. "BETHANY!" She ran to her and grabbed her arm, pulling her with all her strength from the vampire's hold. "NO!"
Ares had come up from the street and saw her sisters in a scuffle in front of the shop and broke into a run. "Leave her alone!" she screamed at the vampire as she pulled at Bethany's other arm, trying to free her from him. Ares' grip slipped and she stumbled backwards. Her fury mounted and she attempted to summon her Storm, but found her reserves empty. Her eyes started to tear in frustration. She reached for Bethany again.
Duckie wrapped Bethany possessively in his arms and looked at the two women over her shoulder with malice in his fiery eyes. "I will have what is mine!"
Gloriana eyes were blazing and she flexed her fingers slightly, a rush of energy flowed into her. She grabbed a slender tendril of the earth's energy and created a small ball and with concentrated will, she lashed it towards the vampire. It didn't faze him, not even a little. His vampire strength and powers were too great.
"DUCKKKIEEEEE!!!" Out of nowhere, Keanna, the sprite Righteous angel cried as she jumped at the vampire, trying to wrench him free from Bethany. "DUCKIE!! I'M RIGHT HERE!" she made every effort to distract him from his prey, "SERAPH!"
Duckie pushed at Keanna with his free arm to shove her away while never letting go of his embrace around Bethany's limp body. She was like a rag doll in his hold. The sprite angel regained her footing and fought to separate them again. The vampire, consumed in his hunger, nuzzled Bethany's neck and bit her again, her warm blood ran down his chin.
Ares yelled at Keanna and Duckie, "Damn you Righteous bastards!"
Delrith, the fierce demon of the Righteous family, growled between pants as he caught up to Keanna. With instinctive wrath, he leaped at Duckie, grabbing his head like he did the day before, trying to force his fangs out of Bethany. Duckie's head was yanked back and he released his bloody fangs from her neck, still struggling to keep a hold of her.
Over what seemed like only seconds, the frenzy of bodies swirled around the vampire and his prey, desperate to break them apart. Gloriana tried to force herself between Bethany and the vampire. Ares shoved and pushed to no avail. Keanna's face was flushed with tears as she pulled again at Duckie's arm, pounding at his side and lower back as hard as she could. She remembered the thing that put him down the last time and threw a wing between Duckie's face and Bethany, trying to make a barrier as she continued to swing with her fists, landing a solid blow on his lower back, catching him in the kidney. Gloriana slammed a knee into the vampire's crotch. Duckie smarted from the dual attack, loosening his grip on his prey, and glared up at the ones who struck him, licking Bethany's blood from his lips. But before he could retaliate, Delrith constricted his arms around his front and with his brute strength, dragged him away from Bethany. Duckie struggled against Delrith, freeing an arm, he reached out for Bethany as he was pulled back, delirious in his demented thirst.
"KEA! Reach in my coat and pull out one of the blood vials!" Delrith shouted to Keanna as he wrestled with all his might to keep Duckie away. "Kea! Grab the vial!" he urged her to move fast, the vampire's strength nearly overcoming his own.
Keanna turned her head to yell at Gloriana and Ares as she rushed to aid Delrith, her angel wings splayed to block the women from Duckie's sight, "GET HER OUT OF HERE!!"
Ares grabbed Bethany's hand, dragging her farther away from Duckie. Bethany tripped backwards, she was still in a trance, barely aware of her surroundings. Gloriana scanned the scene quickly to be sure things were clear and steered her sisters towards the Voodoo Shop. She snapped, "Shop! NOW!"
The Coven sisters pushed passed the shop door, tumbling inside. Gloriana slammed the heavy door closed, cursing aloud as she hurriedly activated the protective wards on the building to prevent all from entering.
Bethany collapsed onto the floor in the front shop, weak from the vampire's feeding. Ares knelt down next to her sister's slack body, lifting her head carefully onto her lap, stroking her hair, frowning at the blood stains on her neck. Worry creased her brow as she whispered between sobs, "Beth! Come on Beth! Please be okay! Please!"
Gloriana, satisfied with the shop being locked down securely, turned her attention to her injured sister, coming to her side. Ares wiped at the tear stains on her cheek and pleaded, "Glori! Help! I don't have the powers to heal her!"
Gloriana inclined her head, and said with urgency, "Let me try." She cast her hands out and over Bethany's still form, centred on her neck. She cradled the wound carefully, and concentrated. She drew the energy flow into Bethany, a soft glow emanated from the wound, healing it completely with just a hint of the tiny scars from the vampire's fangs. Gloriana shook a little from the exertion of that healing. It felt stronger than anything she had ever done before.
Bethany cracked open her eyes, taking in a slow breath as she looked up at her sisters and tried awkwardly to get up. Gloriana and Ares simultaneously pressed her back down, "Whoa! No, you must rest!"
Bethany shrugged off her sisters' hands and sat up, her head spinning as she tried to focus on the trio still outside in front of the shop.
Delrith struggled fiercely trying to keep Duckie in his grasp. "KEA! GRAB IT PLEASE!" He jerked open one side of his coat revealing several vials of dark red blood.
Duckie resisted the fierce demon's restraints, his legs and arms kicking and punching. He glared at Keanna accusingly, his blood red eyes piercing. "You did this!"
Keanna jumped forward, trying to reach Delrith's coat around Duckie's thrashing body for the vials of special blood. "No, I didn't!" Her movements showed her chest to be covered with her own blood from earlier. Duckie's smelled the heady scent of the angel's blood and zeroed in on it, leaning forward to nip at her. She threw her hand up against him to hold him off of her.
Delrith snatched Duckie's head and pulled it back to force his mouth to point upward, readying him for the ingestion of the contents of the vials. The vampire was being extremely difficult in his possessed state. Delrith snarled out darkly and extended his fangs before slamming his jaw into Duckie's shoulder in an attempt to weaken him. Duckie struggled even more, yelling, his words clipped. "Nooo!!! Blood!!...I still thirst!...I am not satisifed!! Release me!"
Keanna couldn't reach the vials through the struggling, frantic for solution she finally barked out at the demon, "Let him go Del!...DO IT DEL!!"
Delrith snarled deeply like a rabid dog, he hesitated for just a second hoping Keanna knew what she was asking him to do. He released his jaws from the vampire's shoulder. "Whatever you're going to do Kea, do it NOW!" He scrambled to grab the blood vials from his coat before Duckie could get away again.
Duckie stumbled from the crushing clamp of the demon's mouth, knocking the sprite angel down onto the pavement. The vampire fell on top of her and Keanna's eyes flashed with sheer terror at that second. She knew she had to distract Duckie until Delrith could get to the blood vials. She screamed at the vampire, "DUCKIE! BITE ME!" Duckie flared and sank his fangs into the angel before him. She cringed and let out a scream, her light flickered, bouncing from vibrant to dim to vibrant to dim. She closed her eyes and began to glow, trying to block everything out, thinking only on the religion that birthed her.
"KEA!" Delrith shouted in alarm as he saw Duckie feed from her. He lunged at the vampire, grabbing his head, trying to force his fangs from the angel's throat. Duckie took one last swallow of the angel's blood and suddenly, as though intoxicated, his body slumped over the angel and he fell unconscious.
Delrith pushed the vampire's heavy body off of Keanna, pinning him down with his own in case he awoke. He bit off the cork of the blood vial and growled, "Let us be done with this!" He tilted Duckie's head up and ran half of the contents into Duckie's throat. The vampire thrashed in his unconscious state as the blood seeped down his throat. Delrith popped another vial and poured it into his mouth. Duckie coughed and sputtered. Delrith grabbed the last blood vial and forced it into the vampire's mouth, making him swallow it. Duckie groaned and clutched his head as he sat up.
Delrith shoved the blood vials back into his coat and cautiously kept a close eye on Duckie as he returned to his normal state. Then his sharp demon eyes fell to the sprite angel laying broken on the ground, her breathing was light and blood flowed from her neck staining her shirt burgundy. He knelt over her, "Oh no! KEA!" He shuddered for a moment, biting his bottom lip in guilt and anguish, as he gingerly held her bloody body,"...what were you thinking you little idiot..."
Duckie raked a hand through his hair and looked up in horror at the demon cradling the blood-covered angel. He moaned as he crawled over, "Oh no....it...happened again..." He reached out to touch the angel, "No! Keanna!...are you okay?"
Delrith rocked Keanna in his arms. "She's fading Duckie."
Duckie stared at the angel with remorse, " No...it cannot be." He shook her shoulders gently but with urgency, "Wake up...you have to be okay!...wake up!"
Delrith glared at Duckie, "She let you bite her to give me enough time to give you the blood!" He lifted her slight angel body effortlessly and snapped. "We have to go to the hospital. Now!"
Duckie gathered his trench coat and used it to apply pressure to the neck wound to try to control the bleeding. He shot Delrith a pained look. "No, the Vet Clinic. It's closer!"
Bethany watched the demon, angel, and vampire rush in the direction of the veterinarian clinic. Her hand came up to her neck and touched the healed wound, her palm cupped and covered it. She tilted her head to look up at her sisters, the expression on her face was of sorrow and sympathy. She whispered hoarsely, "He looked sorry for what had happened. He didn't mean to do it. To bite the angel...to bite me."
Gloriana rested a motherly hand over Bethany's head and watched the figures disappear into the fog, and for that second hoped it was true.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Liver & Onions
Bethany slid onto the squeaky swivel stool at the end of the counter in the Diner. There were a few customers to her left that were heartily enjoying their meals. She leaned forward to see what they were eating and felt a sharp jab under her ribs. She frowned, reaching into her jacket pocket to see what had poked her and pulled out a wad of Diner coupons. She turned them in her hands, inspecting them with curiosity, wondering how she came to possess them. She shrugged, deciding it didn't matter, it was going to be a free meal today.
The waiter seemed to be acting as both chef and server as he scurried back and forth between the kitchen and the tables. She tried to wave him down as he reached for a pot of brownish coloured sludge, which she assumed was coffee since he was about to pour it into coffee cups.
"Excuse me, what's the special on today's menu?" she quickly asked before he dashed off with the steaming mugs.
"Liver and onions!" he growled, sloshing the brown liquid onto the counter.
Bethany felt her stomach lurch and tasted the bitter bile rise from her gut. Liver and onions! Of all the dishes to be on Today's Special, it had to be liver and onions. Her hand went straight to her right side and she palpitated her organ gently. She only had half a liver and she was lucky to have that...
::flashback::
"Quillis is raging!" someone had shouted over the buzzing night air.
Bethany was lingering in the street across from the Haven with her friends and a few members of the Kindred Alliance, shooting the breeze. The conversation had turned to jesting taunts directed at her, teasing her about her innate knack of getting herself into incredibly inconceivable predicaments. She felt she was being unduly ganged upon and was ready to defend herself when the unmistakable sound of a feral snarl startled her.
"Human." Quillis sniffed and growled hungrily, "Yes, I'll have you for dinner."
Bethany slowly turned to face the lapping growl. The intense fear she had of werewolves, due to her near-death encounter with Blue, resurfaced with the tide of a tsunami. The hungry werewolf eyed her appreciatively noting her young flesh and extended her long claws. "Yes, you will satisfy my hunger, human."
"Hey," Meat hissed at the werewolf, "Leave her alone!" His vampire fangs bared as he stepped between Bethany and the werewolf.
Quillis glared at Meat for interrupting the capture of her prey. "Is she of the Kindred?" she questioned him and glanced over to the other vampires that were of their party who were observing with idle interest.
Gage, whom she had known the longest and who was of the Kindred Alliance, stood with his arms folded, shook his head. "This is not our battle." and he walked away. Bethany watched him leave, her heart sank knowing that his loyalties to his family were beyond their friendship. It was expected as a member of KA, she had to respect him for that. Though Jozua remained behind, his hand hovered over the hilt of his blade.
"I'm not of the Kindred," Meat drew his blade, his stance was ready, "Don't even try." he warned with fire in his vampire eyes.
Quillis let out a roar and swiped at Meat with her paw. "Out of my way!" she growled angrily, snatching for Bethany. Meat brought his sword up and blocked Quillis' reach. She raged and attacked Meat with wild aggression, slashing his flesh with her sharp claws. He fought the werewolf with the skill of a practiced swordsman, but the wolf's rage was too great and he was defeated.
Jozua was ready to leap after Quillis, but Bethany grabbed his arm. "No! Joz! Don't fight her! She's too strong!" she begged him. He yanked his arm from her grip, his vampire eyes blazing, "I will take vengeance for my friend!" he lunged at the werewolf as Bethany watched helplessly.
"No! No more!" she cried with anguish as both of her friends fell to Quillis' rage. "Stop!" she ran to their injured bodies. A crowd had formed to bottleneck the street, a healer emerged and was assisting her friends. Quillis crouched, panting heavily, licking at her bloody claws, her eyes still wild and hungry as she scanned the people looking for another prey.
Bethany's vision was blinded by her tears and she knew what she had to do to stop this werewolf's raging madness. She would go with Quillis. One life to save many. A sacrifice she had to make, otherwise, how could she live with herself. Quillis took her swiftly into the deathly shadows.
"What the hell happened?" Tanika barged through the crowd to see her friend Meat lying on the ground.
Meat struggled to get up, but was held down by the angel healer, "She took Bethany...Quillis took Bethany."
Tanika's own rage filled her and she reached for her guns. "Where did that bitch go?"
Quillis was returning at that moment, dragging Bethany's bloodied lifeless body back by the hair on her scalp, dumping her on the asphalt. "Here, take your human back. I just wanted a little snack. I'll save the rest of her for later." Quillis snarled and leaped away, snickering at the speechless crowd.
Bethany's wound was bleeding profusely from where the werewolf had ripped open her abdomen to get to her liver. She was fast going into shock and near death. The angel healer hurried to tend to her, closing her wound with a prayer, "She will live."
:: Diner ::
"What'll ya have?" the waiter barked at her, his pen drawn over the small order pad, tapping it impatiently.
Bethany looked up weakly from the counter, her face was pale. She muttered, "I've lost my appetite." She pushed off the stool and rushed to the exit, clutching her tummy, just making it outside before she keeled over and threw up on the street.
The waiter seemed to be acting as both chef and server as he scurried back and forth between the kitchen and the tables. She tried to wave him down as he reached for a pot of brownish coloured sludge, which she assumed was coffee since he was about to pour it into coffee cups.
"Excuse me, what's the special on today's menu?" she quickly asked before he dashed off with the steaming mugs.
"Liver and onions!" he growled, sloshing the brown liquid onto the counter.
Bethany felt her stomach lurch and tasted the bitter bile rise from her gut. Liver and onions! Of all the dishes to be on Today's Special, it had to be liver and onions. Her hand went straight to her right side and she palpitated her organ gently. She only had half a liver and she was lucky to have that...
::flashback::
"Quillis is raging!" someone had shouted over the buzzing night air.
Bethany was lingering in the street across from the Haven with her friends and a few members of the Kindred Alliance, shooting the breeze. The conversation had turned to jesting taunts directed at her, teasing her about her innate knack of getting herself into incredibly inconceivable predicaments. She felt she was being unduly ganged upon and was ready to defend herself when the unmistakable sound of a feral snarl startled her.
"Human." Quillis sniffed and growled hungrily, "Yes, I'll have you for dinner."
Bethany slowly turned to face the lapping growl. The intense fear she had of werewolves, due to her near-death encounter with Blue, resurfaced with the tide of a tsunami. The hungry werewolf eyed her appreciatively noting her young flesh and extended her long claws. "Yes, you will satisfy my hunger, human."
"Hey," Meat hissed at the werewolf, "Leave her alone!" His vampire fangs bared as he stepped between Bethany and the werewolf.
Quillis glared at Meat for interrupting the capture of her prey. "Is she of the Kindred?" she questioned him and glanced over to the other vampires that were of their party who were observing with idle interest.
Gage, whom she had known the longest and who was of the Kindred Alliance, stood with his arms folded, shook his head. "This is not our battle." and he walked away. Bethany watched him leave, her heart sank knowing that his loyalties to his family were beyond their friendship. It was expected as a member of KA, she had to respect him for that. Though Jozua remained behind, his hand hovered over the hilt of his blade.
"I'm not of the Kindred," Meat drew his blade, his stance was ready, "Don't even try." he warned with fire in his vampire eyes.
Quillis let out a roar and swiped at Meat with her paw. "Out of my way!" she growled angrily, snatching for Bethany. Meat brought his sword up and blocked Quillis' reach. She raged and attacked Meat with wild aggression, slashing his flesh with her sharp claws. He fought the werewolf with the skill of a practiced swordsman, but the wolf's rage was too great and he was defeated.
Jozua was ready to leap after Quillis, but Bethany grabbed his arm. "No! Joz! Don't fight her! She's too strong!" she begged him. He yanked his arm from her grip, his vampire eyes blazing, "I will take vengeance for my friend!" he lunged at the werewolf as Bethany watched helplessly.
"No! No more!" she cried with anguish as both of her friends fell to Quillis' rage. "Stop!" she ran to their injured bodies. A crowd had formed to bottleneck the street, a healer emerged and was assisting her friends. Quillis crouched, panting heavily, licking at her bloody claws, her eyes still wild and hungry as she scanned the people looking for another prey.
Bethany's vision was blinded by her tears and she knew what she had to do to stop this werewolf's raging madness. She would go with Quillis. One life to save many. A sacrifice she had to make, otherwise, how could she live with herself. Quillis took her swiftly into the deathly shadows.
"What the hell happened?" Tanika barged through the crowd to see her friend Meat lying on the ground.
Meat struggled to get up, but was held down by the angel healer, "She took Bethany...Quillis took Bethany."
Tanika's own rage filled her and she reached for her guns. "Where did that bitch go?"
Quillis was returning at that moment, dragging Bethany's bloodied lifeless body back by the hair on her scalp, dumping her on the asphalt. "Here, take your human back. I just wanted a little snack. I'll save the rest of her for later." Quillis snarled and leaped away, snickering at the speechless crowd.
Bethany's wound was bleeding profusely from where the werewolf had ripped open her abdomen to get to her liver. She was fast going into shock and near death. The angel healer hurried to tend to her, closing her wound with a prayer, "She will live."
:: Diner ::
"What'll ya have?" the waiter barked at her, his pen drawn over the small order pad, tapping it impatiently.
Bethany looked up weakly from the counter, her face was pale. She muttered, "I've lost my appetite." She pushed off the stool and rushed to the exit, clutching her tummy, just making it outside before she keeled over and threw up on the street.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
A Quick Bite
::the stranger = Duckie Dickins (yummy!)::
Bethany had taken the long route back to the Voodoo Shop trying to kill time. She went passed the Ryder's garage, crossed to the radio station and came down the street from the Pit. All was quiet. All was calm. Not a soul in sight. How odd. But this was Toxia - everything was odd.
She took the steps of the Voodoo Shop and stuck her head inside to check to see if her sisters had returned. No one answered except for the low growl of her hunger. Where in the world was everybody? She hung her head and sighed softly with disappointment at being left all alone. She decided to wait for them outside on the rocking toys beside the shop.
"Hello precious...all alone?"
Bethany slowly blinked out of her daydream and lifted her sea green eyes to the stranger standing in front of her. His shadow shrouded her like a dark blanket, blocking the feeble light that fought to escape from the lone lamp post. She could vaguely see his face, only the outline of a strong nose, a firm jaw, and the curve of his lip. She paused for a moment, registering this unexpected presence. She finally found her voice and greeted him politely, without answering his question. "Hello sir."
The stranger inched closer to her, "Tell me...what is a pretty thing, such as yourself, sitting all alone?" he asked again, his voice was captivating.
Bethany's brow wrinkled slightly at the stranger's unnerving familiar ease. She glanced around, beginning to feel a little anxious, and shook her head. "No, I'm not alone. My sisters are just inside." her voice trembled slightly in her lie. She slipped off the panda bear rocking toy carefully, keeping her eyes on the man.
"Inside you say?" He faced her squarely, even though she couldn't see his eyes, he held her gaze all the same, "I just came from inside. It looked quite empty to me." he drawled, each syllable strummed her quickening heartbeat.
She stepped backwards and stumbled a little. "Oh...well...umm, they'll be back soon." She glimpsed over her shoulder to the Voodoo Shop, expecting against hope that her sisters would stroll up the street any second.
The stranger's smile broadened when she tried to recover from her little lie. "How would you like to go get a bite to eat while we wait for your sisters?" he suggested with the air of a friendly acquaintance.
She pulled at a lock of her hair nervously, "Oh, it's okay. I'm not hungry right now. I'll be eating in a little bit with my sisters." Her tummy betrayed her with a resounding gurgle and her hand shot to her abdomen to try to stop it from rumbling.
The stranger took a step closer and he pressed, "Are you sure? I could really use the company while I eat..." his tone was utterly persuasive, curling around Bethany's mind, tugging at her, urging her. He moved nearer. "I do believe there will be more than enough for both of us..."
Bethany thought about his offer as she looked down the street again and decided impulsively with the help of his subliminal persuasion,"...well...just a quick bite. And then I have to come back."
His smile was of expected satisfaction, "Yes..." He closed the small space between them, "A quick bite is all I intended."
The stranger noticed the glint of her cross necklace that circled her slender neck, dropping low to the swell of her breast. "That is a pretty necklace...similar to my own..." He reached out slowly to brush her locks of hair back to have a better look.
Bethany stood very still at his gentle touch. His nearness was intoxicating, her senses were drifting as his scent of a mixture of foreign spices draped her. Her small fingers covered her cross protectively. "We should go eat." she whispered through her trance.
The stranger nodded. "Yes, you are right. Now for that bite to eat." He leaned forward as if to whisper something into her ear. "I have a secret to share..." He smiled wickedly, his warm breath brushed against the nape of her neck. Suddenly she felt a pinprick on her tender skin and heard his soft sigh as he sank his sharp fangs into her vein.
Bethany gasped and her hands pushed weakly against the man's broad chest, her knees buckled as he drank deeply, sucking in her beating life force. Dizzy and disorientated by the vampire's feeding, she whimpered faintly. "No..."
The vampire wrapped her tightly in his strong arms, holding her against him to prevent her from collapsing. His fangs left her slender neck for just a moment as he whispered soothingly, "Shhh...it will be ok..." He found her delicious pulse once again and he continued to feed.
Bethany's soft body pressed against the vampire's hard form, she closed her eyes, losing herself to the sensations overwhelming her. She gripped the lapels of his jacket as she felt her senses reel.
Satiated, the vampire ran his tongue with a sensuous glide over his tiny puncture wounds that marked her neck to seal them shut. His bite turned to kisses as he breathed heavily into her ear. "You tasted wonderful, precious...there is nothing more to fear..."
She felt a strange, but pleasant tingling along her skin from his kisses. She melted into his embrace, weak from his feeding. She was breathless and she couldn't find her voice. She could only nod slowly against his shoulder in reply.
The vampire's kisses trailed along her jawline, until his lips softly pressed against her own. She tasted a curious salty flavour in his kisses. He pressed his forehead to hers and delved into the pools of her eyes. He spoke softly, his words hypnotizing, "I hold no power over you. You have given freely and free you shall be."
He pulled back from her and she let him go reluctantly, feeling a loss she couldn't understand. He discreetly tucked a small bundle of Diner coupons into her jacket pocket. He caressed her cheek possessively, taking in the swirl of colour of her green eyes a moment longer, he smiled, "Until we meet again, precious..." Two red orbs appeared where his eyes would be and glowed intently from the shadow that still cloaked his face.
Bethany's skin flushed warmly from his touch, her hand reached to her neck, her fingers stroked the tiny scars left by the vampire's bite. Her eyes fell to his smile...his lips...and what was behind them. Her lips parted slightly and she breathed. "...yes".
The stranger turned and disappeared into the night.
Bethany had taken the long route back to the Voodoo Shop trying to kill time. She went passed the Ryder's garage, crossed to the radio station and came down the street from the Pit. All was quiet. All was calm. Not a soul in sight. How odd. But this was Toxia - everything was odd.
She took the steps of the Voodoo Shop and stuck her head inside to check to see if her sisters had returned. No one answered except for the low growl of her hunger. Where in the world was everybody? She hung her head and sighed softly with disappointment at being left all alone. She decided to wait for them outside on the rocking toys beside the shop.
"Hello precious...all alone?"
Bethany slowly blinked out of her daydream and lifted her sea green eyes to the stranger standing in front of her. His shadow shrouded her like a dark blanket, blocking the feeble light that fought to escape from the lone lamp post. She could vaguely see his face, only the outline of a strong nose, a firm jaw, and the curve of his lip. She paused for a moment, registering this unexpected presence. She finally found her voice and greeted him politely, without answering his question. "Hello sir."
The stranger inched closer to her, "Tell me...what is a pretty thing, such as yourself, sitting all alone?" he asked again, his voice was captivating.
Bethany's brow wrinkled slightly at the stranger's unnerving familiar ease. She glanced around, beginning to feel a little anxious, and shook her head. "No, I'm not alone. My sisters are just inside." her voice trembled slightly in her lie. She slipped off the panda bear rocking toy carefully, keeping her eyes on the man.
"Inside you say?" He faced her squarely, even though she couldn't see his eyes, he held her gaze all the same, "I just came from inside. It looked quite empty to me." he drawled, each syllable strummed her quickening heartbeat.
She stepped backwards and stumbled a little. "Oh...well...umm, they'll be back soon." She glimpsed over her shoulder to the Voodoo Shop, expecting against hope that her sisters would stroll up the street any second.
The stranger's smile broadened when she tried to recover from her little lie. "How would you like to go get a bite to eat while we wait for your sisters?" he suggested with the air of a friendly acquaintance.
She pulled at a lock of her hair nervously, "Oh, it's okay. I'm not hungry right now. I'll be eating in a little bit with my sisters." Her tummy betrayed her with a resounding gurgle and her hand shot to her abdomen to try to stop it from rumbling.
The stranger took a step closer and he pressed, "Are you sure? I could really use the company while I eat..." his tone was utterly persuasive, curling around Bethany's mind, tugging at her, urging her. He moved nearer. "I do believe there will be more than enough for both of us..."
Bethany thought about his offer as she looked down the street again and decided impulsively with the help of his subliminal persuasion,"...well...just a quick bite. And then I have to come back."
His smile was of expected satisfaction, "Yes..." He closed the small space between them, "A quick bite is all I intended."
The stranger noticed the glint of her cross necklace that circled her slender neck, dropping low to the swell of her breast. "That is a pretty necklace...similar to my own..." He reached out slowly to brush her locks of hair back to have a better look.
Bethany stood very still at his gentle touch. His nearness was intoxicating, her senses were drifting as his scent of a mixture of foreign spices draped her. Her small fingers covered her cross protectively. "We should go eat." she whispered through her trance.
The stranger nodded. "Yes, you are right. Now for that bite to eat." He leaned forward as if to whisper something into her ear. "I have a secret to share..." He smiled wickedly, his warm breath brushed against the nape of her neck. Suddenly she felt a pinprick on her tender skin and heard his soft sigh as he sank his sharp fangs into her vein.
Bethany gasped and her hands pushed weakly against the man's broad chest, her knees buckled as he drank deeply, sucking in her beating life force. Dizzy and disorientated by the vampire's feeding, she whimpered faintly. "No..."
The vampire wrapped her tightly in his strong arms, holding her against him to prevent her from collapsing. His fangs left her slender neck for just a moment as he whispered soothingly, "Shhh...it will be ok..." He found her delicious pulse once again and he continued to feed.
Bethany's soft body pressed against the vampire's hard form, she closed her eyes, losing herself to the sensations overwhelming her. She gripped the lapels of his jacket as she felt her senses reel.
Satiated, the vampire ran his tongue with a sensuous glide over his tiny puncture wounds that marked her neck to seal them shut. His bite turned to kisses as he breathed heavily into her ear. "You tasted wonderful, precious...there is nothing more to fear..."
She felt a strange, but pleasant tingling along her skin from his kisses. She melted into his embrace, weak from his feeding. She was breathless and she couldn't find her voice. She could only nod slowly against his shoulder in reply.
The vampire's kisses trailed along her jawline, until his lips softly pressed against her own. She tasted a curious salty flavour in his kisses. He pressed his forehead to hers and delved into the pools of her eyes. He spoke softly, his words hypnotizing, "I hold no power over you. You have given freely and free you shall be."
He pulled back from her and she let him go reluctantly, feeling a loss she couldn't understand. He discreetly tucked a small bundle of Diner coupons into her jacket pocket. He caressed her cheek possessively, taking in the swirl of colour of her green eyes a moment longer, he smiled, "Until we meet again, precious..." Two red orbs appeared where his eyes would be and glowed intently from the shadow that still cloaked his face.
Bethany's skin flushed warmly from his touch, her hand reached to her neck, her fingers stroked the tiny scars left by the vampire's bite. Her eyes fell to his smile...his lips...and what was behind them. Her lips parted slightly and she breathed. "...yes".
The stranger turned and disappeared into the night.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Spells! Shmells! ARRGH!
Bethany's arms flailed wildly and she shrieked in panic. The upstairs room of the Voodoo Shop was filled with black smoke that smelled awful, like burning plastic and sulfur. Coughing hard, she ran for the door to the balcony and sucked in deep breaths of air, only to choke again from the toxic fumes that drifted from the green waters beyond the beach. She really did need to invest in a gas mask one of these days, and she wondered if they came in pink.
She went back inside and groaned with despair at the charred heap in front of her. Her magick skills were just as pathetic as her combat skills! If anything, thank goodness the rug didn't catch fire. Arc would have had her head. She knelt down beside the catastrophe and wrinkled her nose, frowning in confusion. She picked out her spellbook from the mess with her forefinger and thumb. Surprisingly, it was still intact, only the edges were burnt. She tossed it to the side before she began to poke at the ashes for any evidence of success.
Her sisters had made magick look so easy! What a crock! She sat back on her bottom and sighed heavily, disheartened. She reached for her singed spellbook, tugged the pencil from its spine, and flipped to the page 'Easy Spells for the Beginner Mage' and promptly put a large X through the title.
She went back inside and groaned with despair at the charred heap in front of her. Her magick skills were just as pathetic as her combat skills! If anything, thank goodness the rug didn't catch fire. Arc would have had her head. She knelt down beside the catastrophe and wrinkled her nose, frowning in confusion. She picked out her spellbook from the mess with her forefinger and thumb. Surprisingly, it was still intact, only the edges were burnt. She tossed it to the side before she began to poke at the ashes for any evidence of success.
Her sisters had made magick look so easy! What a crock! She sat back on her bottom and sighed heavily, disheartened. She reached for her singed spellbook, tugged the pencil from its spine, and flipped to the page 'Easy Spells for the Beginner Mage' and promptly put a large X through the title.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Diary - Family
::lying on the rug in the backroom of the Voodoo Shop, in her usual spot::
::humming Beethoven's 9th symphony::
Dear Diary,
I've never had a sister before. Now I have 3, or is it 4, 5? ::number is scratched out a few times:: They keep popping up! Don't get me wrong though, I do love them all! They each have their own magickal qualities. Maybe one day they'll teach me some of their little tricks! But in the meantime and in between time, if only they just stopped sitting in my favourite spot on the rug, I'd be a very happy girl! So, I'm a little possessive of my spot, you'd be too if that's where you hid your secret stuff. Thank God, they don't know about it!
Arcann is definitely papa! He calls us his daughters. It's actually rather nice. It makes me feel safe. Although his temper can be quite, what's the word... Stormy. I know now why he was known as Stormbringer. When his temper flares, omigod, beware! Maybe he's just overprotective of us. I don't know. But, to be honest, I kinda like it. Scares off the undesirables rather handily, really. Though sadly, he's managed to deter a few desirable suitors. Gonna have to sneak around him in future if ever I'm going to meet someone! He's definitely our dad.
Regg is with us too. I'm glad he's here, even if he doesn't come by the shop much. He hangs at the Haven alot. At least I know where to find him. I've missed him so much...I wonder if he misses me.
But, no matter how horrible my day had been (usually because of Blue), or how much blood was spilled, or how many innocent and not-so innocent lives were slain. I know I have a family to come home to.
::humming Beethoven's 9th symphony::
Dear Diary,
I've never had a sister before. Now I have 3, or is it 4, 5? ::number is scratched out a few times:: They keep popping up! Don't get me wrong though, I do love them all! They each have their own magickal qualities. Maybe one day they'll teach me some of their little tricks! But in the meantime and in between time, if only they just stopped sitting in my favourite spot on the rug, I'd be a very happy girl! So, I'm a little possessive of my spot, you'd be too if that's where you hid your secret stuff. Thank God, they don't know about it!
Arcann is definitely papa! He calls us his daughters. It's actually rather nice. It makes me feel safe. Although his temper can be quite, what's the word... Stormy. I know now why he was known as Stormbringer. When his temper flares, omigod, beware! Maybe he's just overprotective of us. I don't know. But, to be honest, I kinda like it. Scares off the undesirables rather handily, really. Though sadly, he's managed to deter a few desirable suitors. Gonna have to sneak around him in future if ever I'm going to meet someone! He's definitely our dad.
Regg is with us too. I'm glad he's here, even if he doesn't come by the shop much. He hangs at the Haven alot. At least I know where to find him. I've missed him so much...I wonder if he misses me.
But, no matter how horrible my day had been (usually because of Blue), or how much blood was spilled, or how many innocent and not-so innocent lives were slain. I know I have a family to come home to.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Changing of the Guard
He was known as Stormbringer.
The still air literally crackled around his tall, lithe yet muscular, frame. Arcann Dyrssen, elven mage, stood with a dominating presence in the centre of the backroom of the Voodoo Shop. His sharp, elongated ears twitched subtly, detecting any sounds that disturbed the winds. A wisdom of over three hundred years shone from the depths of his azure eyes which rested on the gathering of the apprentices of The Coven.
He carefully folded the heavy papyrus and brought his arms behind his back, gripping the letter from his old friend tightly with his gloved hands. His lips were set firmly and he slowly released a long breath. The elven mage's aura seemed to glow and encompass the room with pure energy.
The Coven apprentices were silent as they waited for him to speak. He did not need to say a word. They already knew.
The young apprentices nodded to their new leader.
Their Satori.
The still air literally crackled around his tall, lithe yet muscular, frame. Arcann Dyrssen, elven mage, stood with a dominating presence in the centre of the backroom of the Voodoo Shop. His sharp, elongated ears twitched subtly, detecting any sounds that disturbed the winds. A wisdom of over three hundred years shone from the depths of his azure eyes which rested on the gathering of the apprentices of The Coven.
He carefully folded the heavy papyrus and brought his arms behind his back, gripping the letter from his old friend tightly with his gloved hands. His lips were set firmly and he slowly released a long breath. The elven mage's aura seemed to glow and encompass the room with pure energy.
The Coven apprentices were silent as they waited for him to speak. He did not need to say a word. They already knew.
The young apprentices nodded to their new leader.
Their Satori.
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