A/N: I know. Demon bitch from hell. Well, here it is.
***
She was bored. Not that it surprised her, but the delicate process of paint drying was looking to have interesting conversational properties compared to this. Ryan really needed some new hobbies.
"...so I took his queen with my knight and he..."
Paint. It comes in many colors and maybe if we sit and stare at walls for ten hours or so, we'll answer the age old question of which color dries the fastest. "Ryan!"
He flinched at her tone and grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, sometimes I forget that not everyone in the world is a chess-fanatic."
You don't say.
She offered him a weak smile and reached for her bag. No point in prolonging the torture more than necessary and for some reason she couldn't draw upon her earlier sympathy. "I'm sorry, I think I should go"
He stood with her frowning. "Was it something I said?"
"Uh...yeah, actually." she bit her lip. Since when was she such a bitch? Oh yeah, after two hours of cars, chess and NASA. "You're sweet but we don't have anything in common and I think it's better if we just call it a night."
"Well, at least let me drive you home" he tried for a charming smile and failed miserably.
Still she pecked his cheek and threaded her arm through his. She wasn't
that
much of a bitch.
She gasped as a wave hit her in the doorway, so sharp it stole all sense of self. Something deeper than voice or emotion, something primal. Simple knowledge that leaving that room would be bad. Even as her feet were walking.
"April, are you alright?" Ryan's concerned voice broke through the haze.
Her head snapped around and she saw him. Oh god, she saw him. Her sight flooded with darkness and blood, the honey-sweetness of power and stale thickness of death. Not just death, but inflicted pain with the pleasure of taking life. It was sickening and intoxicating at the same time, feeding one part while sapping another. She stumbled backwards out the door and into the alley vaguely aware of Ryan's face twisting in something of amusement and knowing only that she had to get away, and fast.
"Now, now" Ryan chuckled following her step, "no reason for our date to end so early in the night Ril. Especially now that I suspect we're both playing with a full deck."
"What are you?" she said proud that she didn't stutter but cursing the weakness in her voice.
He blinked innocently. "Why April, I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm just your average, boring, run-of-the-mill single white male, out on the town with my girl." She raised a skeptical eyebrow as he stalked her slowly down the alleyway. He chuckled again when she hit the back wall and leaned in close to her, eyes twinkling. "Okay, so I'm not." Her eyes widened as two sharp fangs lengthened before her eyes and the primal warning writhed inside her.
Then there was calm, and she smirked. For the first time since joining the freakier side of the universe, she was completely alone in a life or death situation. And it felt great. Ryan for his part, stood there looking confused. Her knee shot into his crotch at the same time her right hand gripped his throat, pressing down on his larynx. She dug her nails into the flesh, keeping him from tearing forward. She kneed him a couple more times before bringing her foot down on his kneecap. He shifted out of the way and crossed his legs behind hers, sending the both to the ground. He recovered fast. Rolling to his feet and kicking her in the stomach when she started to rise.
"It was a bit disconcerting when you didn't immediately know my breed let alone my title. A man has his pride you know. And while I've never been the sort to follow with that 'mine is bigger than yours' train of thought, I would at least think my kill count would warrant a mention." She rolled out of the way of another kick and bounced to her feet, shifting impatiently from one to the other.
"Evil villain talks should really be reserved for movies." She stated blocking his punch and swiping at his face.
The grin never left him throughout the fight and April had to admit it was fun. Something heady about dancing around the point of death and knowing you could possibly lose. She was just wondering why they were so equally matched when she landed a rare kick to his midsection, sending him crashing into the wall. She frowned then and looked at her palms.
She was covered in blood she didn't notice before, but there was nothing in her senses that said she was any more powerful. Her body just knew, the changes she had been expecting hadn't happened yet. And she was facing off with a creature who had bargained with a demon to be stronger than any human on the planet. She raised curious eyes to the dark figure opposite her, his knowing smirk confirming her suspicions.
He was just toying with her.
When he rushed her that time, there was no defense. No time to even consider it as he twisted her arms behind her, the bones protesting under his strength. One hand jolted her head back as his fangs bit into her neck and ripped a long, jagged path to her shoulder. She kicked back and he wrestled her to her knees, fangs still mutilating her skin. His arm abandoned her head to hold her around the waist, the first draws of life leaving her body. Through the strange connection, she could feel it. Feel both her weakening state and his growing strength. The taste of blood and rapture as it slipped down his throat and flooded his body with unexpected coolness. Peace.
He stopped and drew back. She almost protested the loss until her head returned and she realized what was happening. Hands still held her fast, but eyes were directed to a familiar figure standing at the end of the alley.
***
She mouthed his name with a look of combined relief and irritation which he guessed would be a constant no matter how many times they faced off. He shoved his hands into his pockets and tipped his head to Ryan. "Urien Alaster"
"Ah, someone who knows me."
Seere smirked. "Not really. But if it makes you feel better, sure."
"Hmm...you look familiar."
He waved a hand dismissively. "Got one of those faces."
Ryan chuckled and narrowed his eyes. "Your breed eludes me but I'm sure we've met before."
"And I'm sure we'll meet again for tea a crumpets and be the best of friends. But as of this moment, you have something of mine."
April snorted, choking out a weak "not yours"
"Now's not the time to discuss technicalities Ril"
"Presumptuous basta..."
She cut off in a whimper as Ryan dug his fingers into her ribs. "While all this banter is very amusing, I have to agree with the lady. She's not yours." He gave a short laugh. "Actually she's not mine either. I'm keeping her warm for an acquaintance."
Seere focused on April, begging the Gods for some measure of justice. Not that he deserved it. He was one to beg from, not beg in of itself. But it couldn't hurt. His eyes met hers and the air between them thickened and while Ryan continued what was possibly a crucial part of the conversation, Seere couldn't hear him. His senses focused on the barely visible waves of power projecting from her body. Her face paled more and eyes fluttered as a breath parted her lips and muscles slackened against the vampire. The weight of her body barely registered a pause in Ryan's monologue.
"So you can see my predicament. The girl for what amounts to a great deal of power, and the cursed knowledge that I couldn't give two bits about the lady in question."
