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Post by jarahamee on Dec 6, 2023 2:27:44 GMT -6
Eda sat on the tree stump, licking her bloodied hands like a cat might clean a bit of cream off itself. Next to her, settled below the stump, the slumped body of a man gasped and wheezed, taking shuddering, gurgling breaths.
The forest clearing was calm, and in truth, she was only a half mile away from a popular trailhead here. Steeped in moonlight, she was satisfied with the knowledge that it was highly unlikely anyone would find him or his things anytime soon.
She watched his blood pool around her, wondering if she had wasted something so invigorating on the ground around her, but there was some beauty to it. The man who had brought nothing but suffering to women in life, could now feed one with his own death. A shame she was already full. Perhaps she should have brought another to feed.
The vampire glanced down at his face, staring coldly into the man’s already rapidly vacating expression. The gaping bite wound in his neck bubbled with blood as his severed jugular pumped rapidly darkening blood over his chest and body. It was a shame he was no longer conscious enough to realize he was choking on it.
She had spent about an hour breaking his legs and arms, and then finally, his pelvis and spine, before finally ending her game as she felt he deserved.
“Are…you finished?”
Eda asked, drawing a sharp claw-like nail down and into the ragged hole in his neck.
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Post by qhostqrowls on Dec 7, 2023 4:27:04 GMT -6
A lanky figure stalked, slowly, out of the undergrowth on the far side of the clearing. In the moonlight his eyes shone like an animals. His stare was direct. Hungry. It took conscious effort to tear his gaze from the dying man to the vampire, but as it settled on her he stopped, a careful distance between them.
"I was gonna ask you the same thing, but I see ya like playing with your food."
He sounded entirely nonchalant, hands in his pockets, shoulders slouched. He'd smelt the blood a mile off, and the heady scent lay so thickly in the air it was distracting. With how broken the human looked, he was surprised it hadn't been the screams that had attracted him.
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Post by jarahamee on Dec 7, 2023 15:34:07 GMT -6
Eda glanced over her shoulder, her expression a mixture of bemusement and cruelty as she eyed the newcomer. She brought her blooded fingers to her lips, and a long, cat-like tongue flicked out to lap over them.
“Not just yet. Who are you?”
She was a small woman, her skin pale as death, with dark make-up and red lipstick. Her dark hair was cut into a simple bob, and she wore a lowcut dress, torn in the front. Her stockings, also torn and ragged, told a similar story. Her face and clothing was blooded, and told the story of a creature who had pretended to be prey and instead, became the aggressor.
The vampire leaned over, almost protectively, like a lioness protecting her kill. Her body language spoke of her confidence. She wasn’t threatened by him, and she knew much better than any human.
“And what are you doing here?”
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Post by qhostqrowls on Dec 7, 2023 21:15:01 GMT -6
“I’m Kail.” He said plainly, still staring intently. “You?”
He knew better than to underestimate a small frame and a pretty face - she was a killer as much as he was. As she leant forward protectively, he held up his clawed hands, placating, smiling, staying where he was.
“Relax girl, I ain’t gonna steal your kill. I smelt his blood, followed it here.”
While that much was true, Kail did have all the hopeful wariness of a wolf skulking for scraps at the fringe of a campfire. Vampires didn’t eat flesh - why let it go to waste? His gaze flicked back to the man as he twitched weakly, his rasping breaths growing shallower by the second. She’d really torn into him.
“He must’ve pissed you off real good.”
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Post by jarahamee on Dec 8, 2023 3:50:30 GMT -6
“Jen.”
Eda lied, standing up from her crouch with no effort made to adjust her dress. Her disheveled state didn’t seem to bother her, and she pulled a packet of cigarettes out of her purse, lighting one up in front of the newcomer.
She took a deep drag, and patted the ash off the end, before staring back at him.
“He’s…scum. I’ve been watching him. He drugs girls and takes them places to deal with them. He just drugged his last girl today.”
Eda smiled slyly, holding out a talon-ed index finger as if she was going to press a button, then using it to press down into the dying man’s body, stabbing into his flesh. There was another twitch and shudder, but it seemed as if he was too far gone to respond beyond that.
“You look like you play this kind of game a lot. Why don’t you introduce yourself, and maybe I’ll let you have a bite.”
Her expression was playful as she wiggled her now bloodied index finger at the wendigo.
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Post by qhostqrowls on Dec 10, 2023 23:35:27 GMT -6
Kail made a noncommittal sound in the back of his throat, and took another skulking step closer.
He was dressed like a hunter. Heavy boots, a hoodie in camouflage print. As winter had crept nearer he’d shed his antlers, and the only signs he wasn’t human were the flashes of sharp teeth behind his lips and the blackened claws at the ends of his fingers.
His smile widened, and he tilted his head.
“Introduce? To you or your meal?”
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Post by jarahamee on Dec 11, 2023 1:41:07 GMT -6
“Introduce yourself to me. Obviously, he doesn’t matter, though now I’ve introduced him to you. Who are you, besides Kail, and what are you doing slinking around in the woods, looking for men to eat?”
Eda smiled toothily, leaning forward to give the body a gentle kick, rolling it so that it was face down now. She pressed a foot on the back of its neck. Her expression was patient; she was waiting for the newcomer to obey the rules before she was willing to give him anything. A hand moved to her hip.
“Do you do this often? Or did I just catch you by chance? Not that I believe in chance anymore.”
There were too many creatures slinking about these woods, and Eda didn’t care for most of them. Some of them, she recognized by aura. They were ghosts, or werewolves, other vampires, or lost denizens of the darkness like this one, which she’d never met before, and couldn’t place. Oh, but it did have a malignant aura.
Was it a sinner too?
Her eyes widened, and her arms flexed at the possibility. If he was unworthy, she could take him right now. Maybe that was the purpose of their meeting.
The body’s breaths became so shallow they were no longer visible to an untrained eye, but Eda knew that it was still living. Its life force was visible to her, ever waning. She could suck him dry right there, and the feeling would have brought her the familiar elation that she knew came with the end, but she didn’t need it. The hunger was not so deep.
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Post by qhostqrowls on Dec 11, 2023 7:55:40 GMT -6
There was a flicker of disappointment across the wendigos face. He’d hoped she’d meant he could finish the man off, but no.
His expression settled into one of faint amusement, though there was a certain watchful gleam in his eyes, and a tension in the way he held himself - like he expected a fight at any given second.
“I’m a predator. A hunter.” He said simply. “And I’m doing just that. Slinking around, looking for men to eat. I need flesh the same way you need blood.”
He watched the soil darken, the man’s life draining away into the dirt. Such a waste. She must have drunk her fill - would be at full strength. The corpse wouldn’t be worth a fight, not really, but he was here now and he could see the way she was sizing him up.
He shrugged, crossing his arms across his chest. The hunger was impossible to ignore, with prey so close, and whenever he glanced at the human his pupils swelled wide in the darkness.
“I live out here, so yeah. I guess so. I’m opportunistic. I smell blood, I’m gonna follow it.”
His tone was abrasive and rough, almost aggressive, but he was still smiling. It seemed to just be the way he talked, rather than anything directed at Eda.
“Why all the questions? You ain’t gonna eat him, are ya?”
And now it became teasing, almost provoking.
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Post by kilnarak on Dec 12, 2023 15:03:40 GMT -6
"A predator huh? Comin' off more like a scavenger."
The voice cut through the air of the clearing, coming from somewhere behind and to the left of Kail. A glance would find Niran leaning against a tree not so far behind the wendigo - a few yards maybe, easily within lunging distance if the wendigo felt so inclined. No other sounds had preceded him - no footsteps crunching through the brush, no breath, no heartbeat; no scent either. Niran knew a few spells, cantrips really, to keep his sound and scent close to him, undetectable unless he was right up on you. It was better for hunting, and better still for provoking startled reactions. Though, he knew 'Jen' wouldn't be startled - they had spent enough time together, she'd be used to it by now. He was sure she had known he was nearby. Her new 'friend,' however...
"Practically drooling, begging, and it isn't even your kill. I've known ghul with better manners." His lips curled in an amused smirk, then a flash of a grin baring sharp eye-teeth. "Carrion eaters should wait 'til the lioness leaves her kill, hm?"
He was dressed lightly, apparently not caring much about the chilly weather. A black high-collared shirt made out of some sort of shiny material, slim jeans, and tall boots - he looked more like he belonged in a club than the forest. It would have complemented Jen's outfit, although now his would need some tears to match. But the night was young yet, he still had time to acquire some...
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Post by jarahamee on Dec 14, 2023 21:20:48 GMT -6
“I may be a killer but I have standards. What about you? Have any goals besides survival?”
Eda raised an eyebrow at the wendigo’s response. He was cocky, coming to her like that, expecting her to give him the joy of her kill. The joy of her vengeance on the wicked. That was her purpose now, wasn’t it? Was she like a superhero then? Or was she simply the deft hand of revenge?
“You know, I’m not going to eat him, but he might.”
She glanced over to Niran and smiled with half-fondness. The expression was toothy and cruel as a tigress as she slunk back from the dying man’s body. She made room for the shifter to feed next to her if that was what he desired, but somehow, she had the distinct feeling that what he wanted was to attack the stranger for his boldness.
“Maybe if you’re a good boy, he might leave something behind for you. It’ll be fresh.”
Her voice was gentle, almost seductive as she stared back at Kail, but there was steel in her voice.
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Post by qhostqrowls on Dec 14, 2023 22:08:34 GMT -6
Kail turned to stare at the newcomer, more irritated than startled, his features shifting into a snarl. This had turned from an easy meal to a trap. This was the moment he should slink off into the darkness and let them play their strange little game without him.
It wasn’t like he desperately needed the kill. And he’d been called worse. But with the scent of blood so thick in the air, with aggression and hunger at the forefront of his mind, Kail smoothed his scowl into a smile, just for the chance to bare his fangs, and took the bait.
“Smarter not harder. And I know you ain’t preaching bout manners.”
He kept his tone easy, slipping his hands into his pockets like he didn’t want to swing at the man. Deliberately, slowly, he looked Niran up and down, his lip curling into a sneer.
“And I ain’t seeing no predator in you neither. I’m seeing a city-slicker bitch with more bark than bite.”
He half turned his head to glance back at the vampire, keeping Niran in his peripherals.
“Yeah, ‘course I do.”
It didn’t seem as if he was going to elaborate, and why would he? Her friend wanted a fight, so he’d get one. She’d probably just been questioning him so he had time to sneak up.
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Post by kilnarak on Dec 14, 2023 23:09:34 GMT -6
"Saying that like you know me. I don't think we're near so well acquainted." Niran tipped his head to the side, his grin broadening as Kail responded to him. "You'd be surprised. Feel like testing that theory?"
He pushed off the tree he was leaning against, stretching languidly before padding soundlessly past the wendigo. Closer now, easily within striking distance, all but baiting Kail to lash out. And then he was continuing, moving past the wendigo to where Jen had beckoned him - playing at being a good pet for now, as it suited his mood. He wasn't hungry, and had no intention to eat from her kill. Still, feigning interest kept the scavenger back for now, probably got under his skin.
He absently poked the near-dead man - had his nails been so long a moment ago? had they grown longer? - bringing a slow bead of blood to the man's skin. He was near empty, it wouldn't be long now. He hadn't helped with hunting this one, and he did wonder a bit what the man had done to provoke Jen's ire. He knew well enough by now that her marks weren't random - she picked who she hunted for a reason. Sometimes the reasons were obvious, but this one he hadn't been privy to. "Made a real mess of this one, Jen," he murmured.
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Post by jarahamee on Dec 15, 2023 2:26:41 GMT -6
Jen smiled at Niran, her sharp teeth flashing in the moonlight.
“I did.”
She leaned over the body, taking the wrist delicately between her hands. She made eye contact with her companion before wrenching hard, snapping the delicate bones as if they had been made of balsa wood.
“He’s never going to hurt another girl again.”
Her expression became distant, almost dreamy, and she leaned towards Niran conspiratorially, as if they were sharing her wildest fantasy. Her voice was a hoarse whisper as she said,
“I can’t wait to do that to the big one. He’s just… waiting for us.”
She glanced back over at Kail, as if finally remembering that he was there. She drew the broken wrist to her mouth and clamped down firmly with her mouth, drawing the rest of the blood into her. Taking the rest of his life within her.
The pale, clammy skin became white, the gasping and rattling finally stopped with a gurling breath. The body now lay still and silent, face down on the ground.
The vampire glanced over the corpse at Kail.
“Well, are you going to elaborate? Or are you going to start a fight here?”
She crossed her arms and leaned back, wiping her bloody face.
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Post by qhostqrowls on Dec 16, 2023 7:48:07 GMT -6
“Sure do.”
Kail’s eyes stayed on Niran as he prowled past, his gaze cool and distinctly hostile. He watched Jen as she fed, drained the last of the man’s blood, feeling a surge of hunger so intense it was painful. A part of him wanted to shift and lunge for the corpse. They wouldn’t catch him if he ran.
But he did enjoy a good fight, and could feel the familiar thrill of adrenaline at the prospect.
“It’s your friend who came in swingin’.” He drawled, removing his hands from his pockets.
“But sure. Come on then, pretty boy.”
He didn’t adjust his stance, or curl his hands into fists - he just watched Niran, waiting for the man to strike first.
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Post by kilnarak on Dec 22, 2023 6:55:48 GMT -6
"And I just got comfortable," Niran sighs in an over-exaggerated manner, raising his hands in a shrug and looking to Jen. His attention quickly returned to Kail, his put-upon expression quickly exchanged for a grin. "Aw, he thinks I'm pretty. Well, I'm not one to disappoint..."
He regarded the wendigo a moment, then was moving in a blur, darting directly toward Kail and aiming to strike him in the gut. The punch was fast, more to provoke a reaction than to deal real damage - if it hit it would certainly hurt, but he didn't entirely expect it to hit. He wanted to play a bit first - and to explore how Kail would fight back. Would he show his teeth or would he only use his fists?
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