Vampire Savior
Sarafan Stronghold, Nosgoth
3: 57 A.M. Arithanid Time
The snow swirled gently around the crouched figure as she watched the courtyard below her with observing eyes, eyes that at one time held a kind light in them, a light that danced about like a candle's flame. But that light was gone now, and all that remained was a cold stare that could send chills down even the bravest of men. On bent knees, she rested her forearms, watching and waiting for her prey.
It would be difficult for one to say that she was easy to distract; the cold did nothing to deter her stare from the door, the snow hitting her face drew no emotion from her pale complexion. This was a woman that had had years to perfect her cold stare and blank face, and she made it a point to leave no survivors to say what she looked like. Despite the cold, all she wore was a strapless top that was held in place around her small bust by a brooch in the shape of a panda's head. Her green shorts reached only to her upper thighs, the ends frazzled from years of wearing them, a medium sized garter that had pouches of varying sizes sewn onto it was wrapped snugly around her upper left thigh.
Her left forearm was covered in a black sleeve that reached up towards her bicep, something that she rarely wore anymore, while her right arm was covered with a much shorter, grey sleeve. The only protection on her hands were fingerless green gloves. About her tiny waist was a long black sash that floated gently in the wind and a belt with holsters that held her most prized possessions; her dual Colt .45 caliber handguns that she had christened the Ying-Yang twins. These guns had belonged to her mother, and were passed down to her just before she was killed.
'Mother," she whispered in a soft voice, reaching into the largest of the pouches and pulling out a picture of a woman. She stared at it longingly, remembering what her mother once told her as a child.
An Arithanid girl is valued for her strength, her will, and above all, how well she carries on her mother's memory. She couldn't help but let a small smile cross her face as she caressed the picture with her left hand. Sighing, she put the picture back into the pouch, patting it gently as she resumed her watch on the courtyard. Guards walked about, talking to one another. She rolled her eyes and scoffed in annoyance; humans were an odd breed, always talking about meaningless things.
'Have you heard the stories from the others?" she heard one ask, almost as though she were right there with the men.
'Heard about what?" another asked, leaning lazily against a wall. The guard that had asked shook his head in annoyance, smacking the other roughly on the head.
'There's been some strange killings in the forest, and not by the vampire fiends," he began grimly, going on to tell about how every person had been killed by some strange methods.
'I have no idea what it was that killed them! There was only small holes with blood pouring out of them all over their bodies! One was so damaged that we couldn't tell who he was!" Another guard added. The girl rolled her eyes once more and looked down to her guns. I need to be more careful, she thought to herself. One fatal move and my chance will be gone forever...
Suddenly, the door that she had been watching finally opened, and the girl steadied herself as she laid a hand on one of her guns, waiting for the opportunity to strike.
'Come on," she murmured, her brow furrowing slightly, an angry fire burning in her dark eyes. 'The Sarafan Lord sent you out for a reason." Her dark, short hair covered her eyes for a brief second until an irritated hand flipped it out of the way. When her eyes were clear once more, she noticed that everyone that had been in the courtyard were gone. Looking briefly about, she saw no one. There was something very peculiar about what had happened. The door was open, yes, but where had all the Sarafan gone?
Slowly, she stood up, her calf high boots keeping her steady against the slippery dome. Once more, she looked about her, being absolutely sure that no one was around before she jumped down, doing a graceful front flip and landing softly on her feet. She looked about her once more, making sure that no one had seen her. Still, there was no sign of life in the Stronghold. It led her to believe that either they were waiting to ambush her, or they were all killed. This gave Julie all the more incentive to venture even further in, and without a sound, she began to sneak closer to the door that had been forcefully kicked open.
And then she saw him. His back was turned from her as he held a long sword in one hand and held the neck of a Sarafan guard in the other. She couldn't tell for sure what he was doing, but when she heard the snapping of breaking bones and the loud slurping, she knew what was going on. Drawing her guns, she flipped the safety switches off, taking cover behind a wall as she continued to watch him carefully. His decrepit skin was the color of olive oil, his hair long and white with some sort of clasp about the end. His hands were claws, three on each hand that looked as though they could penetrate anything. His feet were also claws, but cloven.
She could see a red drape on his back with a strange white mark on it, the pants he wore were black. If she looked close enough, she could see that he was not only muscular, but much taller than her. This did nothing to frighten her, nor did it make her cower away like a frightened dog. She looked away for a moment, making sure that no one was sneaking up on her from behind. Once the coast was clear, she turned back to the man only to see that he had disappeared. The girl looked about her, not sure where he had gone. She was so busy looking around her that she never saw a misty figure creeping up to her. It was hard to say that she did not sense him there; she knew quite well what her fate would be if she hadn't. Just as a clawed hand was reaching for her, the girl jerked away quickly, aiming both guns at her assailant. This only made him chuckle in amusement, almost as though he took her for a common girl.
'I don't know what you mean to do with those," he started in an arrogant voice. 'but they will do nothing to save you." The girl glared at him darkly, her eyes glittering from the light of the torches around them.
'Oh really now," she shot back, her voice just as arrogant as his. 'Well that's the mistake that all you men make. You all think that I need someone to save me like a damsel in distress." she laughed slightly at this, seeing how he had a slightly irritated look on his face. To her, he looked as though he couldn't believe that she had dared to say that. She would have shot him just for sneaking up on her, but she did not. There was something about this… this man that made her think twice about it. He certainly seemed to be a threat, but so far, he had not tried to inflict harm upon her. She quickly decided that he was a waste of her time and finally dropped her arms away from him. She shrugged and reholstered her guns scoffing in annoyance.
'Now if you'll excuse me, I have a Sarafan to kill." she called over her shoulder. Before she got any farther, she could feel a sharp pain go through her body. Looking down, she saw that it was the sword the man had been carrying. Her blood slowly trickled out of her, but even as this happened, her face remained blank. I guess I was wrong to turn my back on him, she thought nonchalantly.
'You think that I am an ordinary man?" a cold voice whispered in her ear. 'Do you have any idea who you're talking to?" It was then that she caught sight of his long fangs as he spoke, and once more she was unafraid. She couldn't help but sigh in annoyance as she walked straight ahead, the sword leaving her body. She looked back over her shoulder, seeing that he had a look of disbelief on his face.
'Actually, no, I don't. And to be perfectly frank, I don't wish to know." As she spoke, her wound healed quickly before disappearing without so much as a mark on her flawless skin. 'And if you're wondering, no, I'm not going to die from that. You'll have to do something more drastic to kill me." They stared at one another for a long moment, the vampire placing his sword on his back.
'What are you…girl?" he asked, still studying her. Once more, she shrugged.
'Who knows? I'm not even sure myself." she began. 'I've been called many things, so make of that what you will. Just know that I am not a vampire, though I heal like one, or a human, though I may look like it."
'I knew you were not human, but I cannot see how you are not a vampire. Is it possible that you escaped the evolution?" he questioned. She had to let out a low laugh.
'Is it possible that I am not from your world?" she replied. Once more, he was left without an answer. He looked as though she meant this rhetorically, but in fact, she meant it to be the truth. She was not from his world, nor did she wish to be in it because of the humans. They stared hard at each other for the longest of times, and they would have gone on for forever staring at one another, but before either of them could do anything, they were surrounded by Sarafan guards. The vampire turned and looked behind him while the girl turned to look behind her. Slowly, the guards were closing in on them, their sharp spears and long swords pointing dangerously close to them.
'Surrender now, vampires," one of them shouted, glaring at both of them. 'Surrender and you'll have a quick death." She heard the vampire chuckle darkly.
'I could promise you the same," he replied, drawing out his sword. 'But that would be a lie." It was then that she heard the clashing of swords and spears. The guards before her started to attack, but she was too quick for them; she had jumped into the air, before drawing out her guns and releasing a hellfire of bullets. It was no surprise to her that the bullets pieced their thin armor without any effort at all. The rest of the humans looked in the direction of the shooting, giving the vampire a chance to slice each of them in half, blood hitting the stone ground like a heavy rainfall. The girl, who had landed a few yards away from the vampire, looked on as the vampire grabbed one of the dying men before sinking his long fangs into his neck. Closing her eyes briefly and shaking her head, she turned her attention back to the guards that had surrounded her once more.
Without having to reload even once, the girl killed every guard around her, smiling coldly as each fell to the ground. But as soon as she finished, another wave came right out. Looking around her, she could see that she was largely outnumbered, and if she killed anymore, it would draw more attention than she really wanted to. The vampire was looking in her direction now, seeing that she was surrounded. Quickly, she decided that it was best that she got out of the Stronghold, and in that decision, she fired a few more rounds into the guards before jumping once more into the air and flipping over the crowd of guards. She looked once more at the vampire, seeing that he was watching her in what appeared to be awe. Nodding in his direction, she turned heel and made her way quickly out of the courtyard, shooting at every guard that chose to pursue her. There will be another time for me to hunt down the Sarafan Lord, she thought to herself, running with speeds that could rival that of a cheetah. I've drawn too much attention. It's time to haul ass on out of here. As she ran, she could see that more guards were lining up around the walls. All of them were armed with crossbows.
'Shoot that vampire! Don't let her get away!" they shouted, taking aim at the running girl. She dodged the arrows the best she could, rolling out of the way when she had to, diving to the ground to escape the hellfire they had unleashed upon her. That's when she was hit with a few arrows; two of them lodged in her back, three in her side, and one dangerously close to her neck. She gasped at the sudden pain, falling to the ground hard. Looking up at the guards, she could see that they were mocking her, laughing at her pain.
'What's wrong pretty? Does it hurt too much?" One called down to her. This brought peals of laughter from the others as they slapped their thighs, pointing and laughing at her once more.
'Damn humans!" she hissed through her teeth, refusing to let her pain slow her down. Staggering to her feet, the girl mustered all her strength and made a break for the opening that she had made earlier to get in. As she neared it, she was hit with even more arrows; this time, they hit her in her shoulders and legs, her blood running over her once pale, flawless skin. But she refused to stop; she forced herself through the gaping hole in the wall and crawled along through the tunnel, looking for the water that signaled her escape.
'I can't stop," she told herself, the arrows in her body stinging with blinding pain. 'I have to get out… I have to get back to the…forest!" she yelped in pain suddenly, thinking that she was not going to make it. The arrows, because of the low roof of the tunnel, were lodging deeper into her making it painful to move or even breathe. But the smell of water was strong in her nostrils, her skin suddenly growing dry and flaky in anticipation for the water.
'Oh no…" she murmured, seeing that she was quite literally drying out. Quickly, she dragged herself into the water that had appeared before her, plunging in without so much as needing to take a breath. The water was cool and healing as she allowed herself to sink to the bottom, curling into a ball as her skin took in the water's healing nutrients. She had been telling the vampire the truth when she said she was not human nor vampire; she was an Arithanid, one that was infused with the elemental power of water. It was with this gift that she could stay underwater without need air, and she could blind her foes with a devastating tidal wave of water if she willed it. But she dared not do that in the winter; it was simply to risky to do such a thing.
Knowing that she needed to get the arrows out of her, the girl raised herself once more and swam effortlessly through the water, making her way out of the long tunnel to the waiting hole in the ice. She clambered out, shivering violently as she pulled herself out of the water, dragging herself once more along the ground. She was much too weak to attempt to run again, and there was no way that she could outrun another group. Fatigue washed over her as she fell to the ground, lying on her stomach as she breathed deeply.
'Help…" she whispered, hoping that either her brother or another of her kind would come to her aid as her eyes closed. 'Please…someone…help me…" She recalled hearing someone approach her, but she was too tired to look up. All she remembered was gentle hands pulling out the arrows in her body, and then she was lifted off the ground. Every sense in her faded away as she drifted into what she thought would be a merciful sleep.
~*~*~*~*~
Another figure watched as the Arithanid was lifted into the protective arms of a tall figure. She watched carefully to see where the Arithanid was being taken; she distrusted the so called 'savior', but she had no better to reason to trust him than her sire.
'What is he up to?" she thought aloud, shifting into a lovely purple wolf. Cautiously, she followed them, noting that there were strange lamp posts lining a path. Each was black with a small cauldron in the shape of a skull hanging slightly from the top. Inside each was a green flame, something that she had not seen before, but it wasn't long before she realized what this was; The Ignus Fatus... The Path to Death. Taking cover in the shadows and behind bushes, she watched as they neared a large mansion, and it was then that she realized where the figure was taking the Arithanid; this mansion was none other than the vampire Vorador's. She gritted her teeth in anger, watching as the figure suddenly stopped, almost as though they sensed her presence. She crouched low to the ground, hoping that she hadn't been discovered.
'You needn't linger in the shadows, child," a deep voice called out to her. 'I've known you were there the entire time." She cursed herself for having been seen, and came out from her hiding place, her shiny fur shining brightly in the moonlight. She could now see that the figure was a man; a vampire. He was dressed as a noble; a rather nice long red coat with a white shirt and blue pants, complete with black boots. Apart from that, he'd a orange amulet about his neck, his figure being tall and muscular. His skin was a dark green, and his eyes as golden as the rising sun. But what set him apart from all other vampires was his ears. While she found them repulsive, women strangely found them attractive. The more she looked at him, the more she realized that she was in the presence of Vorador.
'Vorador," she said, shifting back into a vampire. Though he stood nearly three times her height, the female vampire was unafraid. Her long violet hair reached down to her lower back, her violet eyes shinning brightly in frustration. One would say that she looked human; she had the same features as one. But once looking at her small but sharp fangs, it would make someone think differently.
She, herself, wore a green off the shoulder top, something that she rarely bothered to wear anymore, paired with black skinny jeans, her dark plum boots reaching up to her knees. Watching Vorador carefully, she rearranged the ribbons on her wrists, her long white nails scratching the material softly.
'Jenna," Vorador answered, nodding his head in respect. 'It has been many years since you have come to visit me. You are welcome to my lands and home."
'Don't bore me with your false hospitality, Vorador. You know why I'm here." Jenna shot back, her sire's arrogance and short temper poking through her normally soft voice. Vorador's ears rose slightly at this.
'Oh? Do I now?" he pressed, holding the girl in his arms closer against him, almost protectively. Jenna glared at him as he did this, her eyes burning into his.
'Do you have any idea who that woman is?" she inquired, pointing a nail at the limp Arithanid. Vorador glanced down to her, seeing that the girl had rested her head against his broad chest. Looking back to Jenna, her couldn't help but let his eyes narrow at her.
'And if I did, what would it matter? She called for help, I came to her assistance." he replied. Jenna stiffened at this, but held her ground.
'I'll have you know that she's not a human, nor a vampire, Vorador," she managed to say through gritted teeth. 'and I happen to be well acquainted with her. If I were you, I would hand her over now, lest she wake up." Vorador chuckled darkly, and this felt like a slap in the face to Jenna.
'If she is not human nor a vampire, then what is she? A werewolf or something else?" he pressed on. Jenna had to clench her fists; just being in the presence of Vorador angered her.
'She's an Arithanid, a Water Arithanid at that. And she's of very noble birth, and if her father finds out-" Jenna dared not say another word. She knew very well what the King of the Arithanids would do. The vampires could not risk another war since there were so few left. This did nothing to phase Vorador.
'An Arithanid, you say?" he inquired, looking down at the girl. 'Hmm, interesting. Arithanids are elemental beings that have fought the Sarafan for longer than we. I've heard of her kind, but I've never seen one before." he thought aloud. 'Quite fetching for one as well. I believe you when you say she is of noble birth." Vorador couldn't help but add. Jenna nodded, hoping that Vorador would give her up now. But when she saw him draw the girl even closer to him, she knew that he would do no such thing.
'Vorador, you don't know what she's capable of. Anger her even in the slightest and she'll kill you before you can even stop her. Her vengeance knows no depth." she warned, stepping forward slightly. Vorador glared at her, his ears folding back.
'It doesn't matter what you say to me, Jenna. This girl will stay with me until I see fit to let her leave. You can argue as you may, but your words will fall on deaf ears." he replied with irritation. Jenna glared at him, trembling with fury. 'And if you find me ignorant and unfeeling about what you want, then go complain to your sire, Kain." This was the final straw for Jenna. Her fangs grew longer as her eyes glowed an angry red, black claws leaping from her hands.
'You bastard!" she cried, lunging at Vorador before being thrown back against a tree. She refused to yelp in pain, and when she looked back at Vorador, she could see that he had used his telekinesis to throw her away from him.
'Don't challenge me, Jenna." He hissed angrily. 'Your arrogance and fiery temper are clearly much like your sire's, but they will do nothing to phase me. Now I suggest you take time to rethink your actions before you dare to challenge me again!" It was with this that Vorador teleported himself away with the Arithanid girl still in his protective arms.
Jenna staggered to her feet, her anger still burning in her. But she dared not challenge the vampire again. He had made it clear to her that he wasn't going to let the Arithanid girl go, no matter what she said to him. But Jenna had a few tricks up her sleeve as well; she could be stubborn too if pushed far enough. But at the moment, she needed to draw back. She would wait until the girl awoke. Jenna couldn't help but smirk at how stupid Vorador had been when she explained the girl's nature.
'On your head be it then." she decided, walking away from the mansion. 'If her brother comes after her, don't come crying to me. Because I'll just watch as he tears your foul, womanizing heart from your chest!"
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