"Phoenix! Hey, Phi!"
Still no response. It was nothing short of infuriating, to say the least. The monster that crashed into the Wolfheart castle left everyone in disarray well into the following morning and it was during that confusing and nerve-wracking moment of destruction that Christle somehow lost track of her sister. She search all around and within the perimeter of the castle, on foot and in wolf form, but she came out empty handed in the long run. There hadn't even been a single clue to Phoenix's whereabouts and the various servants Christle interrogated denied seeing anything akin to a flaming bird sailing away from the castle.
Christle was well aware that Phoenix was a grown women with the capability to look after herself, but her sudden disappearance was nevertheless troubling. They promised to stand by each other so where the hell was this sudden cold shouldered business coming from?
The demigoddess was just about to set off for another run around the perimeter when a soft thud caught her attention. It was too light to have been an indication of a fallen body but, seeing as how it was the only interesting thing that had happened since last night, Christle's curiosity got the better of her. She came around the corner to the approximate spot she heard the noise when her eyes were immediately drawn to a bright red shimmering object in the grass. Stepping forward to get a better look, Christle found that the item was a ruby encrusted necklace.
She surveyed her surroundings but there was nothing that hinted that anyone had recently passed by to drop it. She glanced up the side of the building but all the windows were shut tight. How did something so valuable end up there, then?
Whatever the case, someone would probably want it back and thus Christle took hold of the loose item with the intent of returning it. With any luck, the owner of the necklace might have seen where Phoenix had wandered off to as well. At least, it was worth a shot.
Ramir turned his head towards the sky. His sensitive eyes squinted against the brightness of the sun and he moved closer to the shade.
ReplyDeleteHis journey to the Wolfheart castle had proven more of a hassle than he thought. To his disappointment, the accursed necklace was no where to be found. He knew he sensed it there. It's aura was unmistakable. He would have been frustrated, he was sure of it. . .if he could feel a single thing.
Ramir sighed before turning towards the road leading away from the castle grounds.
"Phoenix!" A feminine voice resounded from his left. His eyes found the figure of the female quickly. She jogged about the grounds searching for someone, apparently named Phoenix. A closer look revealed it was the woman from before. The apparent demigoddess that had distracted him on his search. Though, that is not the startling fact he found.
She held his necklace. He knew because it called for him. . . and it was in the hands of a woman. He was actually glad for once that he couldn't feel panic, he was sure that would have effected his senses negatively, and he needed his wits about him to retrieve the thing. He hoped she didn't know how the cursed item worked. If she did. . . she held his entire life in her hands. . . and likely how every woman whom came to possess the necklace, she would abuse its power to no end.
"Phoenix- Oh shit." She jumped as Ramir appeared in front of her. Her heart rate spiked and she nearly looked sorry for a moment, before she got a good look at him.
"You." She sneered. For whatever reason, he found amusement at her sudden change from fright to anger. She truly was easy to extract a reaction from.
"You have something of mine." He told her blankly.
"Oh? And what would that be?" She took several steps away from him, eyeing him suspiciously.
"Yes. It is a gold encrusted ruby necklace. I'm sure you know it. It's in your right pocket." The woman frowned as her hand flew to cover the pocket as if it would hide it from him.
"I doubt its yours." Well, true he supposed. She did have reason to doubt that such a feminine object actually belonged to him, but nonetheless, he showed no expression to show her otherwise.
"It is mine. I doubt you are a thief, so I ask again." He had to phrase his question carefully, she had to not only grant him the necklace, but she had to voice it. It was the only way he could come to it. "Would you please relinquish possession of the necklace and grant it to me?"
This guy couldn't be serious. Of all the outlandish things Christle heard throughout her lifetime, this one took the cake. A vampire mercenary was asking, practically begging, for a piece of jewelry that just happened to belong to him and that Christle had just happened to find lying on the ground; all within the span of one hour. And since when did mercenaries forego violence and bloodshed for politeness to get what they want? Something was definitely off.
ReplyDelete"Look," Christle snapped. "I don't know what kind of game your playing but-"
"I assure you this isn't a game," replied the mercenary adamantly, his face stone cold and unyielding. There wasn't even a hint of irritation in his striking, crimson red eyes. The whole picture just looked... wrong.
He outstretched his hand this time but did not advance forward. "Relinquish the necklace to me and I shall waste no more of your time."
Highly doubtful. He'd been easily distracted from his "mission" or whatever to try and seduce her at the night of the party. There had to be a catch to this whole thing. This was the second time Christle had encountered the vampire since Phoenix's disappearing... were the two incidences somehow connected? Only one way to find out.
"First-" The vampire lowered his hand stiffly but otherwise showed no other signs of irritation. Christle continued. "- I want you to tell me something."
"Always a catch, right Ramir?"
Before she could process what the voice meant or whom it belonged to, Christle found herself literally swept off her feet and in the arms of the vampire mercenary as a small explosion erupted a split second later where Christle had been standing. He let her down before she could even protest and instantly turned, weapon drawn, towards what Christle presumed to be the source of the attack. She followed his eyes to a shadowy figure obscured by the smoke of the blast and Christle immediately drew her own twin blades out and at the ready.
"No." Christle jumped at the strange urgency in the vampire's voice but, upon shifting her attention to him, his eyes were trained upon his target like the true mercenary he was. "Stay back."
"Fat chance," Christle sniped, assuming her signature battle stance beside the vampire. Whatever situation the bastard leech had dragged her into, Christle wasn't going to leave without a fight. She'd be damned to allow herself to be protected or be told to run away.
He said nothing more, perhaps in concession or he was too preoccupied with the current threat to care. Christle had to fight back a smile; never before in her life until now could she say she'd fought alongside a vampire instead of against one. For all Christle knew, she could be aiding the wrong side. Her doubts were put to rest, however, when the slender feminine form of their assailant emerged from the cloud of dust and sported a wickedly devilish grin towards the both of them. Her eyes, glowing with monumental power, however, were trained on one person in particular.
"Hello, darling Ramir. Did you miss me?"
Raquel.
ReplyDeleteHer tease did not phase him a bit, and she knew why. Her eyes turned slowly towards the female next to him. She smiled crudely as she realized why Ramir stood protectively in front of her.
"I see you are still not able to piece your life together, my little vampire. Perhaps," She took a step forward, causing the woman behind him to grew tense. "you have finally learned your lesson?"
Ramir scoffed at her taunts, what was the point of her making this show? She knew it would not phase him and he would give her no reaction she wanted.
It wasn't until her gaze wavered for just a moment, enough to show her true intentions. Ramir barely had enough time to intercept the attack, not from Raquel, but from the female behind him. With his attention diverted, the witch took her shot. The strike hit dead center in through his chest and right through his heart.
"Holy shit." The woman breathed as she stared at him with wide eyes. Her hands inched up, as if she meant to stop the help stop the bleeding somehow. But he batted it away. He supposed the fact that he was still standing and not showing a glimmer of pain was unsettling.
"Oh, she's a keeper. She doesn't know the power she wields over you, does she?" Another comment, not pointed towards him. She wanted the female to come to her, it would be much easier to take her out then, she would least expect it. There was no other option, he had to take the girl and flee.
"Do not fight against me. I beg you to trust me."
"Oh, no. Who do you think you are!" She jumped away from his grasp and took a fighting stance. He now stood in between the most stubborn female he probably ever met and the woman hell bent on possessing the necklace and through it. . . him.
Jeez, this whole thing was just a circus show of freaks. A witch that spouted some cryptic bullshit and a vampire mercenary that could take a blow to the chest without even so much as flinching, all within one hour. All of this couldn't have been about the ruby necklace... could it?
ReplyDeleteChristle leapt up into the air as she avoided another blast, the woman keeping a set distance away from herself and Christle with the small explosions. The wolf demigod huffed, clenching the handles of her twin blades but otherwise made no more advances to attack the witch. Closed distance fighting tactics weren't going to work, which completely threw off Christle's mode of offense. It didn't help that the cumbersome vampire was attempting to impede her attacks blatantly by shoving her aside as he took his opportunities to strike at the woman whenever possible. Son of a bitch was treating her like a helpless victim!
Clenching her teeth tightly, Christle jumped as she saw an opening to strike. If hand-to-hand combat was out, she was just going to have to improvise. Utilizing all the momentum from her leap, Christle hurled her blade and sent it flying through the air. It spun towards its intended target straight and true; the witch shot up her hand immediately as it emitted an invisible force of power impeding and finally repelling the weapon. Without missing a beat, Christle threw the other knife-blade toward the first, where the handles immediately locked midair and gave the weapon momentum again. Still in the recoil from countering the first attack, the witch was forced to hop out of the way. Her attention drawn toward the weapon, the woman laid bare another opening and Christle sprinted forward at that moment to strike... until a flickering shadow obstructed her path, taking Christle's chance of attack in her stead as he hurled himself towards the witch. Quick to ascertain the situation, the witch deflected his advances and sent him flying back to Christle, who nearly avoided being crushed underneath his massive form.
"What the hell are you doing!?" Christle snapped, sparing the vampire a glance before rising to her feet until a speedy hand grasped her wrist, hindering her ascension.
"If you will not listen to me, I will force you to leave at once," was his reply.
Cocky bastard. "Screw you! Let me go and stop getting in the way!"
Almost at once, the vampire's grip relinquished Christle's arm and took a step back, his watchful gaze never leaving her. It didn't even fully register that she was free from his grasp; the fact that he actually listened to her was enough to leave Christle frozen and open mouthed. He was so insistent that she flee the scene and he just lets go upon command?
Suddenly echoes of the woman's taunt didn't seem so cryptic anymore, which didn't help prevent Christle's mouth from going dry nor alleviating the instant weight in her stomach. Just what the hell... have you gotten yourself into, Chris?
For once, Ramir was thankful he couldn't feel fear. It probably would have left him speechless, frozen in his spot as he saw the connection the young demigoddess made. She knew, his fate was sealed in that very moment.
ReplyDeleteBut there was no use in mopping about it. He would be her slave, but he would bid his time. . . one day, he would be free again.
Ramir took the opportunity to vanish into the shadows of the trees. Raquel's cackled resounded through the air as she peered at the woman left unprotected.
"You see? He has left you. It's something he is _so_ proficient at, it's what got him into this mess. Now, kindly hand over the necklace and you will be free to go. You don't want it, too much . . . drama, attached to it. You look like the type of girl who doesn't like such things." Raquel's voice was laced with venom, her stance tense as she took a step towards the girl.
"Not a chance. I don't know what kind of. . . _drama_" She teased the witch, which, oddly enough, sparked something within Ramir he couldn't name. She was a cocky little female, wasn't she? "you two are involved in, but. . . I think I _like_ this necklace now. And I don't need him to protect me." She took a fighting stance. His eyes moved towards the location of her weapons which lay splayed in front of the witch. Alright, she said 'stop getting in the way' right? Never said anything about letting her battle this alone. Ramir was going to have to take the lesser of two evils. The girl knew about the power within the necklace... but he was sure _anything_ was better than it falling into Raquel's hands. Before either women could engage in combat, Ramir moved towards one of the demigoddess's weapons. He kicked the one of the nearest blades to her, and instantly spun his body towards the witch. Before she could react to his attack, he found the other blade and launched it into the air. A horrified shriek tore free from Raquel as it found its way into her shoulder.
A loud crack from bones shattering soon followed when the blade he had tossed towards the demigoddess slammed straight into his, jamming the original blade deeper into the witches shoulder. But he knew this was no victory.
He had to move fast. Ramir appeared before the female, his hand reaching up to cover her mouth should she try to command any more from him. She squirmed in his grasp, her eyes narrowing to a dreadful glare as he swung her up into his arms and got out of there as fast as he could.
The ground shook with the sheer force of the witches anger, spurring Ramir to move quicker and get the demigoddess as far away from the witch as possible. Whatever happened. . . Raquel could take possession of his necklace. He just hoped, the woman in his arms would not be as cruel as Raquel was all those years ago.
Christle grasped at the mercenary's hand incessantly but his wrist was like stone, set and immovable. It didn't stop Christle from trying, however, and her throat began to ache from all the muffled screaming she was making. Despite her best efforts, the bastard seemed set on his destination and was completely undeterred with her attempts to bark commands to let her down. Christle would be damned if she was forced to flee from a fight and she did everything in her power to make that clear to the vampire.
ReplyDeleteThe clawing and punching was no more effective than the stifled shouts.
The rushing foliage around them was becoming more and more irritating as the minutes passed. It wasn't long that something finally snapped. Concentrating the whole of her power, Christle began a partial transformation of her face, which elicited a reaction out of the damned vampire at last. His moment of hesitation was opportunity enough to strike. Christle twisted in his arms, writhing her face viciously as the power of the wolf within pushed against the cage that was his grasp. He determinedly tightened his hold, ignoring the slash of Christle's teeth as though they were nothing more than bug bites, at best. The heat of fury rising throughout her body, Christle threw her entire weight into the next pit of struggles and managed to make the mercenary stumble until the both of them were crashing to the ground in a hot mess of limbs and claws.
Christle broke away and quickly snapped her gaze back up to the mercenary, who was already on his feet once more. Her entire energy spent hastily reverting the transformation, Christle swayed to her feet and stepped back as the vampire began to advance. Jeez, the bastard was relentless!
"S… stop!" Christle bellowed as speech was back at her disposal once more. Instantly, he froze in his tracks. Christle let out a shaky sigh; at least this whole thing wasn't a fluke… of course, that made it all the more harder to cope.
ReplyDeleteHe watched her intently as she tried to regain her composure, never once offering to help (which Christle had to remind herself that it was solely because she hadn't ordered him to do so) nor did he speak one word in the vast silence hanging between them.
Finally satisfied with her coherency, Christle addressed the mercenary, "You want to tell me what the hell all that was back there?"
"No," he simply replied. What the hell? A small smirk stole the corner of his lip as he spoke in response to the glare Christle was surely wearing. "Ljubóv, you need to learn how to word your commands."
Sneaky asshole. "Fine… First off, do me the common courtesy of telling me your name, okay?"
"My name is Ramir Baryshnikov," answered the vampire.
Christle raised her eyebrow but otherwise said nothing else about the matter. "Alright… Ramir… let's get-"
"Aren't you going to tell me your name? As you so accurately put, 'common courtesy'… did you not?" That smile was getting to grow bigger on that accursed face of his and the fact that Ramir's sneer didn't detract from the beauty of his features made it all the more irritating.
Narrowing her eyes, Christle stiffly replied after a moment's pause, "… Christle. Christle Silvertail."
Ramir averted his gaze toward the ground, the smile on his obviously becoming more and more strained to keep from outright grimacing. Fucker just loved to push the envelope, didn't he?
"As I said," Christle began again through gritted teeth. "Let's get one thing clear… whatever that necklace is or whatever value it has - don't interrupt me, you can tell me about it later - you've managed to get me tangled up in your problem which is something I sincerely don't need right now. In light of this, however, I'm not just going to hand over the necklace either… yet. So here's the deal: to make it up to me, you, Ramir, are going to help me find my sister and when we do, I'll let you go on your way with that accursed necklace. Understood?"
After a few seconds of tense silence, the vampire mercenary replied, "Yes."
Christle took a deep breath, the gravity of this whole situation gradually becoming heavier and more suffocating as the seconds ticked away. Suddenly this was starting to feel way out of Christle's depth. "Good… let's get started."