Knives and Pens(open to all)

[Reika Hitachiin]

A blue haired girl sat behind a large headstone, calmly staring at the notebook in front of her, like she had for the past ten minutes. She was trying, with no avail, to write a story based loosely on her life. To say she was failing was an understatement... So far the page said "A small girl hid under the sink, shivering, as she listened for the bad man to go away." The blunette just couldn't figure out how to keep going, this part of her life had always been fuzzy to her. Like her mind didn't want her to remember the events that took her family, her everything, away. Reika slammed her head back against the headstone and looked up into the blue sky. She wasn't surprised that there came no pain from her actions, small things like that had long ago stopped bothering her. Almost like her body was putting up a wall to anything mundane enough to keep her feeling human. Reika had learned to accept her body's way of shielding her from the day-to-day pains of being "normal", but some days-like today- this wall annoyed her. But she wasn't about to challenge her body's natural defense mechanisms. Her ever present animal-friend Zev nudged her elbow in question. 

"No, I don't think I'm going finish this story today Zev-girl." Reika sighed and scratched the wolf behind the ears. Zev seemed to smile as her tail thump-thumped against the ground. Reika smiled fondly at the large animal and snuggled close to her,reveling in her warmth. The wolf licked her hair almost lovingly. Suddenly, the two girl's stomachs growled. Reika laughed and look the big animal in the eyes. "Time to get some food, eh Zevzev?" With that, Reika stood up and began looking for a small rabbit or two. Living with a hunter for the last couple of years had taught her how to hunt even the smallest of animals. Zev bounded off in search of a couple of animals herself, and no sooner than Reika found a bush of blueberries, did Zev come up with a couple of rabbits. Reika smiled and set to work building a fire and preparing one fluffy rabbit for her to eat, and giving the other to her equally-furry companion. She quickly threw the rabbit onto the fire and set to work making it edible. Five minutes later, and both wolves -ok, one half-wolf and a full wolf- were happy and fairly full. They'd hunt for a better meal later when they got home, the humans never really liked seeing dead critters all over the place.

[seras]

A lone girl stood solemnly before a headstone, strange tears welling up in her eyes. Though her eyes were already of a crimson shade, being bloodshot instilled yet more fear to any onlookers. In her favor, she was vastly alone. A chilled breeze blew gently, rustling her otherwise perfect hair. Despite her choice in location, and the melancholy aura about her, the young vampire was quite stunning in her own right.. Thus was part of being cursed as a creature of the night. In her youth, she had experienced the sun but as of late the waning rays of the evening were barely tolerable.

Seras sighed softly. "Im so sorry.... I can't imagine what to say for what ive done to you..." Her soft, timid voice was still just shy of angelic, its seductiveness alluring to anyone whom might overhear, but to this the girl appeared not to realize. She remained very still, unsure of any further actions whilst visiting a grave. Despite the man having hurt her, she still felt something most vampires never do- remorse.

Placing a single white rose before the headstone, she smiled a weak expression only after accidentally pricking herself upon a thorn. As she watched the blood drip out of her pale finger and fall upon the stone, the splash was as wondrous to her as it was disturbingly loud. Of course, to any human it wouldn't barely even make a sound to be distinguished.

However, with her excellent sense of hearing, something caught the girl's attention amongst the tranquil and gloomy atmosphere. The rustling of decayed leaves and withered grass, everything indicative of someone's presence yet no one would realize it so quickly.

"There..." Seras barely had to focus, not quite even a squint, to see a few dozen yards in the distance a lone wolf stalking its prey. She recognized the majestic creature as such immediately, instead of perhaps mistaking it for a pet canine. But no, it wasn't alone. Moments later, Seras witnessed two. Although there was something a bit off about the one, they were both astounding to her nonetheless. Again, she was frozen though this time in awe rather than a morbid depression of guilt and torment.

Seras watched the two with such respect one might mistake her for a shifter herself. Or a hunter of exotic animals. But the vampiress was neither. Wolves always peaked her curiosity since childhood. She could see them perhaps at equal distances at which they could recognize her. No, surely their keen sense of smell would have alerted them already. Except seras had no breath to exhale, and a cold exterior. Perhaps the only discernible scent about her was her Chanel perfume. 

All time seemed to stop for the vampiress. For once in an awfully long while, nothing else mattered as she simply stayed fixated by the magnificent wolves before her some great distance away. She took a small step forward and bit her lip gently. A drop of blood remained on her finger, masking her scent. 
Seras concentrating on listening to the creatures pant and the incessant beating of their hearts. Ifshe hadn't   been so tragic, a smile would have escaped her lips. The pair of wolves were simply that gorgeous to her. It became apparent to her shortly thereafter that he'd like to greet them. Where any human might be afraid of a wolf, seras closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye. Only a few bounds away, the vampiress slowly knelt down and held out a gentle hand, her porcelain skin as exquisite as it was marred  by droplets of blood. Surely it would draw a wolves' attention as much as it commanded hers. But Seras meant the best. She fell in love with their majesty. The girl didn't hold her nonexistent breath in anticipation nor call out to them. She simply waited with a strangely pleasant way about her. Somehow, the way she effortlessly moved, her aura, even the crimson in her eyes was inexplicably angelic.

[Reika Hitachiin]

Reika smelled before seeing the strange creature. She looked to her faithful companion to see her reaction. The pet always had a way of alerting Reika if an outsider was to be considered friend or foe, though her own shifter instincts told her that this trespasser was, in fact, friendly. When Zev took a step forward to sniff the girl's hand, Reika did too. She bound for the tree where she had hidden her clothing and shifted back. She stepped out from behind the tree and walked calmly toward the girl and Zev, who was rubbing up against the stranger. Reika laughed lovingly.

"Zev, come." The animal obeyed and Reika gently pet her head. "I'm sorry about Zevzev here. She seems to have taken quite the liking to you. Which is strange, since she doesn't like strangers. Tried to bite me the first time I met her. I'm Reika." She offered her hand in what the humans knew as a handshake,knowing that's what was expected. Zev looked at her curiously, but Reika dismissed it, opting to explain later. What was it that she was going to have to explain? Why she had decided to associate herself with this human. 

For as long as Reika had known Zev, she had never taken any stock in making friends of humans. They were frail, and infinitely annoying. All she needed was Zevzev, and she was good. But there was something... Alluring about this human. Could it be her charming looks? Or the way she carried herself? Reika wasn't too sure, but didn't really care. It wasn't until now that Reika realized how much she craved for a human friend....or more. But she was getting ahead of herself. This person hadn't even spoken a word to her! She mentally shook the thoughts from her mind and allowed a small smile to play across her face as Zev licked her other hand.

[seras]

When the wolf approached her, Seras had a bit of a smile across her lips. There was no fear, not even a flinch about her. She always was very great with animals. Humans too. There was always someone or something being captivated by her allure, though often times Seras considered it a curse. 

Still not speaking a word, seras watched calmly as the animal took in her scent, appeared perplexed, and was then relaxed nonetheless. 

"it's alright... " Seras whispered quietly to the beast, somehow not even drawing the attention of the other. The vampire knew there was something strange about her. She wreaked of human, but perhaps a bit more strange. Still, she was too busy with a gander at this one before her whom seemed to be only a wolf. The awe they shared for one another immediately was adorable. The vampiress stroked her slender fingers through its silver fur, her touch equally as soft as the wolf's hide.

"You're very beautiful, you know that?"

No sooner had the other creature dissappeared behind a tree did a girl make her presence known from the very same spot. Seras knew now what the girl was, but wouldnt admit her surprise. The fact brought conflicting emotions to her. It flooded her mind with distaste for herself and memories of a past love with a were tiger. But alas, the girl possessed as much allure for seras as the vampiress did for all others. Seras was mesmerized. 

The girl introduced herself with a smile, catching Seras momentarily off guard. Soon, she smiled and stood slowly and with such grace her elegance would steal anyone's attention. Brushing her hair aside with a soft touch, Seras took the girl's hand in her own but she did not shake it. She simply held it, marveling at its soft skin and attractive warmth. But just as she stroked it lightly with her thumb, the vampiress took her own hand back almost swiftly. Her smile faded to a more conflicted blank expression. Seras averted her eyes before the girl might notice they were a deep crimson. But as hard as she tried, Seras could not shake a feeling growing deep within her. It was something perhaps only an inhuman creature could understand. 

"Im so sorry, darling. My name is Seras. Its a pleasure to..." Her voice was astoundingly bright and very much angelic, enough to unwillingly seduce most any creature, before drifting silent 

Seras found herself lost in the girl's eyes. The only other thing she could concentrate on besides the attractive female was her steady heartbeat. It was loud and with the blood flowing through her veins it was a symphony to her vampire ears. Moments went by with Seras being transfixed, her eyes inhuman and her porcelain white fangs peeking out from behind her cold lips. 

By the time Seras came to and realized she let out her secret, the confusion, fear and disbelief all flooded her mind and body. How was this girl before her able to demand her true form without saying a word? Seras found herself absolutely unable to hide her secret from Reika, when under any circumstances she was typically brilliant at doing such. It all frightened her. What was it about the shifter that intrigued her so much? Seras immediately covered her mouth with a hand and began to swiftly take a few steps back away from the shifter and her pet. The fear and pain in Seras' eyes was more than evident. Her heart ached severely. Seras couldn't admit to herself the longing and immense lust she felt as a woman and as a vampire for Reika. The creature of the night never could understand her kind's ability to ascertain and lust for another so quickly or so deeply. It was simply how vampires were. They were truly like beasts afterall.

Seras  wanted a friend. She didn't want to be alone. But most of all, the tortured soul didn't want to feel cold and destroyed anymore. The only warmth ever associated with vampires was perhaps their loyal lust. Although in her current state, the most Seras would admit with herself freely was her belief of not deserving what any vampire desired deeply. It was a strong lust from within her mind and soul, second only to the desire to drink blood, but Seras denied herself of it all. 

She feared now her chance at having a friend, one whom didn't ever even have to talk back for she could turn herself into a wolf, was ruined. She'd ruined it with her vampirism. Afterall, in her experience it only brought hatred and fear from all of those around her. It didn't help that Seras could not tell herself that it was alright to find Reika gorgeous and was very much more attracted to her the instant she turned human.

Seras wanted to cry. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. The second to the last thing the girl wanted to do was make a fool of herself in front of such a beautiful, lovely and majestic creature, and she'd already done the first. 

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... Please.... You weren't supposed to see... I'm sorry..." Seras whispered in a shaky voice. She wasn't entirely certain if it was said aloud, or if she'd indadvertedly projected a thought into Reika's mind, but either way it only made things evident that the beautiful creature of the night was rather timid. It was true the girl had too big of a heart for a vampire and was very much a broken soul. Seras prayed she'd only said her apologies aloud, for if she dove into Reika's mind, if even for a moment, surely it would be cause for further hatred against the vampire. But if the shifter happened to catch a glimpse at what was inside Seras' head also, the emotions it could instill would be explosive. Fear, confusion, hatred, sympathy. The years of abuse Seras lived through was unpleasant to know of. 

Seras fled the scene, effortlessly weaving between headstones, barely leaving any trace behind her but a few broken blades of grass. But to any wolf, it wouldn't be difficult to catch the scent of her perfume. Seras hid behind an old stone, cowering in fear. The amount of disgust she held for herself was so immense, it was a miracle by any human standards that its conflict with her true, pleasant self didn't cause her to break more often. Tears rolled down her porcelain cheeks heavily. All she wanted was someone's company but in a matter of seconds she'd ruined the pure innocence of the scene. In her mind, it was a sin to be a vampire. But the rudeness of having fled from someone who was kind enough to make her acquaintance also haunted her. Seras grew absolutely lost. The only thought that immediately became clear was the fact that it had been months since she last truly fed off someone other than herself. Even just the thought of how delicious Reika's blood would taste made the tears flowing from Seras' blood-red eyes relentless.

 But it was undeniable. Somewhere deep in the back of Seras' tattered psyche, she knew. She knew her heart skipped a beat so hard it nearly stopped when Reika first stepped out from behind the tree, her dashing azure hair and mesmerizing eyes freezing the vampire in her tracks. The vampire inside Seras knew, it longed for Reika in every sense of the word. A vampire's desire for someone was absolute, beyond anything human. But Seras always did everything in her power to keep the creature of the night within her suppressed, so much so she never realized it only made it truly into the monster humans grew to fear from tall tales. But even as her true form showed itself to Reika, out of Seras' control, it hadn't attacked nor fed. It still was a pristine example of elegance and beauty. The complete opposite of all Seras knew of the vampire within her. To her, the creature was a curse. It went against everything the poor girl grew up being. Kind hearted people with a pure heart don't lie about what they are, or feed off innocent humans, afterall.

Before long, Seras was lost within her own fragile mind, fighting to get ahold of herself. But just as Reika brought out the vampire in her, her thirst only grew exponentially, as did the girl's hatred and lust for pain. In the blink of an eye, her tears dried up and her fangs grew long and sharp as they dripped with saliva in anticipation. Under the moonlight and within the dark shadows of the gravestone, Seras forced herself not to go back and drink from Reika and instead bit down hard on her slender wrist. The cold blood trickled down the back of her throat, barely keeping the monster under control. Finally after a few minutes, Seras pulled her teeth out of her icy flesh and licked her lips. The ordeal was as familiar to her as it was appalling. She watched as her wound healed up, leaving only the slightest trace of a scar amongst the hint of others'. 

The tormented girl remained seated on the cold earth as she brought her legs to her chest and buried her face down in her knees. Softly, she began again to weep but there were no more tears to shed.

[Reika Hitachiin]

Reika wasn't at all surprised to feel Seras' thumb caress her hand, many others had done the same. But, where the others brought out appalling and fear, this girl brought out endearment, passion. Dare Reika admit it to herself? Yes. Longing. But all too quickly, the girl she was watching stepped back. Reika saw a flash of canine, an elongated canine. And before the girl turned her head, red eyes.

'Ah, one of those.' She thought. She gave a gentle smile, hoping to ease the distress on the other's face. It didn't seem to work as Seras stuttered out an apology and ran away. Reika looked at Zev questioningly. The shewolf bowed her head in what Reika recognized as a nod. Yes, they shall go after her. Make sure she's ok.

Reika bounded off after the girl, but as the sound of crying hit her ears, she stopped. The scent of blood filled her nose, and she knew... This foolish girl hadn't drank in a long while. Reika rounded the corner silently to see Seras biting her own wrist. 'Well, that's unorthodox...' She thought bemusedly. Out loud, she said "Why did you run off? You think I'd be scared of a vampire?" This last word she said with a laugh. "I've seen many things in my seventeen years on this earth. One lone,albeit attractive, vampiress isn't going to scare me. I live with a wolf for Pete's sake!" Again, she couldn't keep the laugh out of her voice. She knelt down next to the girl and put her hand on Seras' back comfortingly.

"My question is though, why haven't you fed? You're obviously hungry..." Reika gestured nonchalantly to the girl's wrist, where she saw other scars. "A vampire who doesn't hunt humans, eh? You, are one mysterious girl. You know that?" She smiled softly again and sat down next to the girl, waiting for her to cry herself out. She had nothing better to do, nothing to go home to to other than Zev who was right next to Seras, laying her big wolf head on Seras' lap as if to say "Stop crying please?" Reika looked lovingly at the big dog.

[seras]

If Seras was of sound mind in that moment Reika approached her, the vampiress may have been able to hold a polite, even pleasant conversation. The shifter would have simple answers to all her caring questions, and all would be well. However, the deeper Seras' mind dwelled into the matter, the further depressive her mood grew. If there was a visible aura about her, it would be a miasma jet black with a corrupt sadness. The amount of pain she harbored was vast, nearly seeping from every fiber of her body.

"I... I-I" Seras stammered, unable to articulate as too many words and thoughts flooded her mind full of angst and worry, ruining her otherwise very polite vocabulary. Even the sheer thought of being confused in her emotions and coming off rude to Reika made her horrible in her own mind.

Meanwhile, two simple words spoken to her drove Seras into circles within her psyche. Attractive. Vampiress. Though she already knew, it hurt her greatly to hear the object of her desire acknowledge that Seras was in fact a creature of the night. The timid girl couldn't realize perhaps she was the only one in the situation who felt ill towards her kind. But when Reika admitted she was attractive, Seras' heart skipped a beat. She couldn't breath for a moment. Did the shifter feel even a bit of the same feelings Seras knew she had but couldn't admit?




"You're nothing but a fool! Do you honestly believe this girl is telling you the truth? She can't possibly find you anything but disgusting! Oh, and you adore her?! Don't be ridiculous!"


If Reika could only hear the thoughts admist the vampiress' mind, she would surely question Seras' sanity. The creature within her soul despised any and all humanity Seras' would ever attempt.

Seras grew very quiet, a certain sadness welling deep in her eyes getting more and more prevalent. Her expression was as lifeless and dull as the cold blood that ran through her veins. The poor girl could do nothing to disagree with the vampiress in her. She shook her head from side to side lightly, gazing only downwards in utter shame and never once meeting eyes with Reika since she found her again.
"I-I'm heaps sorry, Miss Reika. Its alright. I'm not hungry. Ever. I promise." Her english accent made her already angelic voice all the more soothing, despite its now certain softness brought on by an ever present depression. 

With all her might, Seras could not focus on Reika's thoughts or mind. Without looking up, she also couldn't read her body language one bit. Every one of her extreme senses due to her kind was clouded extremely. All she could feel was such immense hatred and foolishness for herself, there was close to no way Reika would ever convince her that the world didn't possibly despise her.
Seras began to grow colder, her body and soul wanting to shut down. Her skin was paler than death itself, so icy to the touch it would stop anyone in their tracks with fear. But the less colour she exhibited, years of scars, both old and new ones alike, began to show in various hues of azure and violet. Her body was covered in them. There wasn't a mere few square inches anywhere on her body that didn't weave a story of grave pain. Without her vampire healing and her morbid state of mind, Seras went from an absolutely gorgeous young woman to one who looked as if she'd gone to a butcher. Years of torment left their mark, and in her fragile state they all showed, giving another secret up to Reika. A secret that showed just how deep her self loathing was, to slice herself apart and ruin her sheer beauty, the only thing Seras didn't absolutely despise about her. 

Seras slowly lifted her head up from her knees as Reika's pet rested his head against her in an attempt to comfort her. The vampiress always shared a special bond with wolves. They were her most favourite creatures and she revered them greatly. But not even one in her presence could comfort her. As the pain grew from emotional and mental, to a physical one she knew all too well, Seras opened her eyes slowly. Immediately, the realization that doing so was a mistake came to her. If her back wasn't already against a headstone Seras would have scooted further away from Reika. As she stared down at her arms and legs, now covered in the scars only she herself knew she had, the mental anguish brought tears of blood to her vampire eyes. The crimson liquid ran down her colourless cheeks, staining her visage with horror. She attempted to wipe them away, only smearing bloodied stains across her skin as more continued to flow from her eyes.

Seras looked up at her new acquaintance and everything dawned up her right then. In such a fragile state, seeing such a beautiful young girl before her, the vampiress knew she was absolutely smitten with Reika. A vampire's desires were of heart and soul in its purest form, stronger than any human could comprehend, but it only destroyed her further. There was no way, in her mind, that her desires would come close to being reciprocated. Especially not after proving  how much of a despicable, filthy vampire she was. How tortured and broken she was. How unattractive the previously beautiful woman was underneath her veil of pleasantness. It drove Seras mad! All she wanted was to start over in a new town and not be alone. But Seras' belief in never being able to outrun her curse ruined her yet again.

The bloodied tears would not stop. It was a bizarre sight to behold, yet even in her misery the elegance had somehow never escaped her. Seras shook her head from side to side in utter disbelief and shame as she buried her face in the palms of her hands. 

"Please don't look at me! Please, I'm begging you... please... I'm heaps sorry!" Seras barely found any words at all to attempt to make amends with Reika for having to see such a morbid sight. Even in her plight, all the vampiress proved to care about was anyone and anything but herself. The physical and mental pain engulfed her, but yet she was numb to it all anymore. The further she fell into her deep, relentless depression, the darker her old scars became as they cracked and bled. Her designer skirt and thigh high leggings were now ruined and matted to her deathly white skin with blood, as even her heeled booties felt full of the liquid.  

"I'm s-s-sorry... I'm heaps sorry..." Seras stammered, her fangs as long and sharp as can be. She was fighting with every ounce of strength and will left in her to not let the vampire take over her mind and body. Desperately holding onto whatever false humanity she'd brought on through years of starving herself of blood and torturing herself with the waning sun's rays, Seras shook her head in an almost violent turmoil. Every thought crossing her warped psyche, every urge for the sweet scent Reika brought to her senses, it all empowered her to be the monster Seras knew she was. It horrified her. Seras felt the fear in every fiber of her now frail being. The last time she craved someone so truly led her to by far the single greatest regret of her life. It was from the death of her lover that every bit of self hatred and disgust for being a vampire stemmed from. It was because of this episode in her life Seras made habits of torturing herself. It was because of her ex lover that she refused to allow herself to feed as any vampire needs to to survive. The few times since the incident that the vampire in her got the upper hand only drove Seras into a deeper downward spiral of shame and fragility. 

When the tears all but ceased flowing from her strained eyes, and her aching body grew impossible to feel as any form of discomfort, Seras grew afraid. Very afraid. Holding herself tight, the timid girl desperately attempted to stop her body from shaking and cowered in fright. Seras knew she was swiftly losing the battle for control over her body. She knew in an instant her mind could be fogged over with an overwhelming, unquenchable thirst for Reika's blood. The vampire in her desired the shifter. All of the shifter. Seras was beyond afraid of her own self. She knew what the vampire in her was capable of. Biting down in a nervous fright, Seras' now extremely sharp and even more prominent fangs easily sliced right through her bottom lip.

Seras wanted to yell. She wanted desperately to scream and tell Reika to run. To immediately get as far away as her wolf form could take her, for the vampire knew her monstrosity would stop at nearly nothing to taste Reika's sweet blood. It was as if a drug to Seras. One she was far addicted to out of sheer lust for the shifter. However, no words escaped her closed, bleeding lips. Seras wouldn't dare let her body open its mouth, for anything. The moment she did, Seras feared her teeth would be in Reika's neck in the blink of an eye. And so, the vampire bit down hard, cutting deeper into her lips. 

She didn't even want to risk looking at the shifter, but eventually stole a gander. Her gaze was that of a bloodthirsty vampire, but only for the most brief moment as Seras closed her eyes tight and reopened them with hesitation. Still, the fear in knowing that Reika surely must have noticed the horrific, lustful glare, if even for a split second, anchored Seras' depression. Without even saying a word, the fact that the vampire within Seras wanted desperately to drink from Reika was now common knowledge amongst them. But it killed her further to not be able to simply warn the wolf girl. 

The look of utter devastation and sorrow that had now washed over Seras' eyes left little room for life. Their beautiful luster had since dulled to something rivaling that in death. Even if she'd had them, there were no words that could describe the amount of anguish that filled her heart. Cold blood ran down Seras' neck, pooling in the indent of her collarbone before flowing further down over her subtle breasts. Her adorable outfit was long since ruined and sticking to her body, further accentuating her brilliant figure. Slowly, her mouth began to open, but in an overwhelming fear Seras was able to bite back down with such force it made an inhuman clenching. 

What blood trickled across her sharp tongue and down her throat wreaked havoc. In an attempt to retain any control over herself, Seras was desperate enough to think of nothing but the memories she'd always wished to erase from her fragile mind. The thought of being solely responsible for her ex lover's death destroyed her more than ever. Even more recent was her past failed relationship with a were-tiger and his baby that she'd murdered inside her body. It was all she could do to convince her body that she wouldn't allow it to drink someone else's blood ever again. 

[Reika Hitachiin]

Reika could see the pain flitting through the girl's countenance. She wrapped her arms around the quivering vampire in an attempt to comfort her. As Seras slipped deeper into a depression that Reika herself knew all too well, she could see the years of pain etched into the beautiful pallor skin. It killed Reika to see anyone with so many scars. Her own scar, one no one had ever seen save Zev and herself, ached with memories of her own torment. As the girl begged her to not look at her, Reika said the only thing that could come to her mind.



"I'm not running away. It's not going to happen. I don't know why, but I can't leave you be. Maybe it's your vampire-charm taking hold, or maybe I'm just stupid. But I'm not going anywhere." She looked over at Zev, who was now licking up the blood from the newly open cuts. "Besides, I don't think Zev would ever forgive me if I did."

She wiped away the bloody tears from the girl's face and smiled sadly. "I think, you and I need each other more than we think. We've both been hurt, in more ways than one. And that pain is literally killing us inside." She couldn't believe what was coming out of her mouth, but somewhere deep down, she knew that her words were true. And, her words would possibly help calm the young vampire.

Her scar, now a dull pain, reminded her of the things she herself had dealt with. A family she didn't belong to, a father who drank one too many spirits at night, and a mother to cowardly to do anything about the screams she knew her "mother" had heard coming from her room at night as- Reika shook her head. She was not going there. Not in a million years would she go there. The scar on her side though, that one came from someone more intimate with Reika. Another shifter who transformed into a lion from long ago in another town had caught Reika being mugged, and in an attempt to save her, he "accidentally" clawed her side. He was her friend, but she could never shake the feeling that it wasn't an accident at all, and she told him as much. When he came out with the truth, she couldn't look at his face. She left him there, standing in the hospital room as she looked for somewhere else to go...

Reika brought herself out of Memoryland and looked at Seras. "Your outfit is ruined. C'mon, I'll take you back to my place and let you borrow some of my clothes while we get these cleaned up." She knew that the girl would assume she lived in town and therefore would reject the offer in fear of being seen in her current state. "Don't worry, I don't live in town." She added, her eyes conveying her understanding. It was here that Reika saw the flash of hunger in the other girl's eyes. She laughed quietly and shook her head. "You, my dear. are a liar. You are hungry. And I think, you're hungry for my blood. I honestly don't know what would happen if a vampire drank from a shifter..." She knew what her self-assigned homework was now: Find out what would happen if a vampire drank from a shifter. For some reason, she almost wanted the vampiress to drink from her....

[seras]

The vampire nearly froze in disbelief. No matter how tormented, how hideous she thought she'd appeared, there was still no amount of fear in Reika. Seras would have sensed it long ago, but the only fear in the atmosphere was her own. It almost frustrated her. The shifter had absolutely no idea how dangerous and violent the vampiress before her could prove to be. She once tore an innocent human being to pieces in a matter of seconds, just out of a jealous rage. 

But this was different. After suppressing her vampire body for so many years, forcing herself to never again know the wonderful taste of another's blood, her inhuman thirst was astronomical. Coupled with her newfound lust, once awakened Seras had every bit of sheer doubt in her ability to control herself. Seras knew all it may take was one simple drop, one breath of her scent in blood. To even consider being involved with someone in such a situation made her shudder.

All Reika and her wolf companion did to brighten Seras' mood may have done little to raise her from such a grave depression, but in the very least, her wounds healed. In a matter of minutes they were gone, leaving behind only disheveled clothing as a reminder. Still, Seras quivered in the shifter's embrace. Her scent ever stronger, the touch of the girl's warm skin excited the vampire within. All Seras wanted was to remain there for a long while, but also in that moment she came to realize just how dangerous this was for her. Before the timid vampiress could even realize, her fangs were pressing gently against the perfect skin of the very girl who was only trying to help.

It took everything in her for Seras to pull away and close her mouth tight before biting into Reika. She was clearly hesitant, for nearly every fiber of her being longed to feed off the shifter. But, Seras wasn't able to pull away quickly enough to not have run her tongue gently against the girl's skin. It was merely a tiny peck, but enough to drive the monster in her mad. Again, Seras' eyes were transfixed only on Reika's neck, a deep desire only possible for a monster burning in them. When she noticed the tiny stain of her own blood upon the shifter's neck, however, Seras again began to lean in slowly.

One last time, Seras was able to stop herself but not without pushing Reika off of herself and standing swiftly. Through her strength, if it was a mere human surely the girl would have been thrown about and have been hurt. Blinded by lust, Seras hadn't even considered the possibility. It was completely against her character, the timid and hopelessly kind girl.

"P-Please... I'm heaps sorry...." Seras pleaded through trembling lips before attempting to distance herself from Reika. She took a few trembling steps backward before something started to change about her disposition suddenly. Seras winced in pain, acknowledging something she'd never done since. Something was in fact hurting her. Her glare darted between Reika and down at her hands, the confusion setting in. Finally, when she began to feel very heated, Seras turned her head only to witness a sight that would cause her pains only a vampire would know. 

The first rays of the rising morning sun engulfed the vampire in unimaginable pain. In truth, it was what she was praying for. After initially meeting Reika, she already knew that waiting out the darkness for the morning sun was the only course of action for her for she severely doubted she would be able to live whilst holding her urges back from hurting the shifter. Her wish was granted, and Seras gave up. She was tired and lonely and no longer knew how to live with herself.
Holding her eyes as the light began to burn the very blood off her skin, the vampire let out a blood curdling scream only a nightwalker could muster. It would chill any soul and wake the dead. As she fell to her knees, Seras held herself gently and for the first time in ages, the girl wore a smile. Despite enduring the most excruciating pains a vampire could experience, next to silver, it appeared to make her happy. Seras knew, inside an hour the sun would be bright and full enough to burn the life out of her. Had she been in a better state, it would be as any other day's torture routine. But Seras was giving up. She wanted this now.

"I...I promise... I-I c-c-can't hurt you now..." A faint, weak voice escaped Seras' lips.

[Reika Hitachiin]

Reika couldn't understand the girl's hesitation, until she felt the fang on her skin. She couldn't understand why, but she almost wanted the vampiress to drink from her... But she knew not to push willpower. As Seras dashed away from her, Reika stood up. She knew the vampire was going to read her body language, so she kept it calm and inviting. Her scar still hurt, but it was slowly going away. Reika's wolf-like eyes noticed the sun starting to rise, and knew this girl couldn't be out for much longer. She held out her hand, beckoning the girl to take it.

"C'mon. Let's go to my-" Her sentence was cut off by the blood curdling scream that ripped from Seras' throat. Reika, without knowing why, was at Seras' side in an instant, trying - and failing- to shade her from the sun. She didn't want the girl in front of her feeling any more pain that she had already felt. As Seras whispered something about not hurting her, Reika smiled. "I wasn't worried about it in the first place." Here, she picked up the vampire -with relative ease- and carried her under neath a large tree that hid the two from the sun quite easily.

"So, now that you've made a big to do about nothing,"she chuckled. "Are you willing to let this shifter carry you to my den.. I mean house.... and get you cleaned up, and maybe an animal or two to feed on?" She bent down so she was eye level with the vampire. "You're really not as scary as people would make you believe Seras. And I don't say that to most people." She straightened up and put her hand on Zev's head, who had wandered over in concern. "In fact, I hate most people, supernaturals and humans alike..." She smiled gently and sat down next to Seras, waiting for her answer. Zev walked over and sat in front of Seras with her head cocked to the side as if to say "Well?"

[seras]

Naturally, Seras wanted to obey without even a second's thought when the girl before her offered to take her home with her, but still the vampiress was slightly hesitant. She could not come to terms with Reika showing no fear and being very hospitable on top of everything. No matter what Seras were to believe, or do, still the shifter was nothing but kind and caring towards her. The vampiress hadn't felt anything like it in years. It was something so distant to her, it was nearly new. Seras had gone through much torment ever since her attitude changed drastically, most of which was sought after. 

Nodding her head slowly, Seras didn't have any words to speak as she agreed to go back with Reika. In truth, it made her heart flutter, but the vampiress was so unaccustomed to the feeling she was by far confused. Still, following orders was something of a specialty to her. It was what often had given her purpose in the past years of her morbid life. Though Reika meant the best for her, Seras only thought of it as obeying what she was told. Being a slave was what she did. Many men and creatures alike had taken advantage of her, it was all she knew anymore. Seras would be devastated if her newfound acquaintance took any offense, though she didn't mean any. However, Reika casually mentioned she hated most people and supernaturals. Of course Seras were to firmly believe she were at the top of the list.it made her heart sink.

The morning sun had robbed the vampiress temporarily of her vision, leaving almost colourless orbs in her head. If her tears weren't burned away she would be bawling her eyes out. She hadn't the faintest idea how to feel at the moment. Slowly, she attempted to stand but her weak legs left her hobbling and her knees hitting one another. For support the tattered girl put her arms around Zev's neck. The wolf didn't appear to mind. Seras collapsed back to the ground, as she simply sat still, horribly sad and disappointed in herself. Reika wanted to take her home with her. She couldn't let herself let the shifter down. Seras was determined to prove herself useful. Though she found herself to be incredibly dangerous to the shifter's well being, if Reika wanted her, Seras would do anything to be desired by anyone. She was beyond lonely. That notion in particular had gotten her into much trouble in the past, but Seras never once complained to horrible things she'd had to endure. The girl once stayed with a serial killer for months, even returning to his place after being tortured and thrown away. The only way of life Seras could remember vividly anymore was to be a slave, wether sexual or emotional. Memories of living happily with someone, as an equal, were so vague she regularly forgot all about them.

Never speaking unless first spoken to, Seras waited patiently for an order, anything, as she still made an attempt to stand. Finally, with the help of Zev for support, Seras was able to. To see a vampire reduced to such a pitiful state beneath even that of a mere human was disturbing. Seras stood solemnly with her head down in utter shame. Still, with the shade of a nearby tree soothing her burned skin, the charred bits began to heal already and again her thirst for blood was excruciating. Seras wanted so desperately to drink from herself, her hands shaking nervously, but she vowed with herself never to burden Reika with having to witness the feat ever again.

Even in her shattered state, Seras was an astoundingly beautiful vampiress. Despite being matted with her own blood, her hair was nearly perfect and her posture was as perfect as could be despite being in horrible pain to be standing on her own at all. However, Seras conditioned herself so as her body and mind no longer registered pain as one of the same. There was never any discomfort in it at all save for the most excruciating. Seras's warped psyche convinced her it was a beautiful thing and the pleasure it brought was as disturbing as it was unique. If the apathetic girl could register any emotions on her face at all, she would be smiling for she'd convinced herself that Reika did not want her to pass away. It was a reason enough for her to live.

[Reika Hitachiin]

Reika smiled more as the girl nodded her head. She stood up to pick the girl up once again, only to see Seras try to stand on her own. Reika's gaze became pitiful, heartbroken, knowing. As the girl finally was able to stand on her feet, Reika took off the cloak she had been wearing and wrapped Seras in it, pulling the hood over her face and clasping it around Seras' throat. She made sure the girl was fully covered before knocking her legs out from under her with her right arm and catching her with her left. Reika was surprised at how light the girl was, and knew instantly that this was going to be easy.

"You're so light!" Reika laughed. Zev nipped at the end of the cloak and bounded off toward home. Reika followed the large dog at an inhumanly fast pace. She knew that she would need to get Seras out of the sun soon, and that her clothes would need to be washed. Reika looked at Zev, who had now bounded back to keep up with her, and said "Zevzev, go find us some large animals. Deer or cougars or something." She looked back at Seras. "I hope you're ok with that. I would let you drink from me, but I don't know the side effects of a vampire drinking from a shifter. As much as I hate my shifting, I wouldn't want to suddenly have it gone...."

[seras]

Wearing the cloak Reika had put around with her with a strange sense of comfort, despite enjoying the tortures of the sun, Seras took in its scent lightly. To her, it was heavenly. Although on most occasions, the vampiress hated the stench of most animals, this shifter was far different. She had a most pleasant aroma about her, only with a hint of wolf. It was perfectly arousing and comforting to Seras.

If she had been able to read Reika's mind, as she unwilling did of most humans, perhaps Seras would have seen it coming when the shifter swept her off her feet and began to carry her off to wherever it was that she and her wolf companion resided. Seras was thankful that being a starving vampire she was very much weightless by human standards, but when Reika commented on it she immediately took it as being far too heavy.

"I'm sorry..." Seras whispered weakly.

Seras didn't argue with her saviour and simply tried to do her best and relax whilst being carried. The only other time she could recall being carried and cared for as such was by a man she fell deeply in love with. However, it was short lived and despite being mistreated the vampiress still blamed every bit of it on herself. This felt new and well to her. She'd only been with a woman but a few times, often because in the end she'd ended up feeding off them and typically she preferred the taste of men. There was something strangely enticing about Reika though, Seras could see it in her eyes. Although she'd only been with one shifter in her life, Seras had only drank blood offered to her, and it wasn't fresh from his body either. Still, the taste was out of this world. Seras could only dream of sinking her teeth into Reika's neck. But when she caught herself dreaming such, she mentally scolded herself and instead concentrated on the other wolf.

As Zev was told to go fetch some wild animals, Seras shook her head 'No' immediately. She wasn't one to argue, but furthermore she was not one to try and inconvenience anyone, be it a human or an animal. "Please... come back Zev... please don't leave us..." Seras whispered softly, though her voice had a way about riding the air. Or it could be she simply projected a thought into another being, though she'd never quite done that with an animal and wasn't too sure if she'd even said it aloud or not. Still, in the distance Seras thought she heard the returning footsteps of a wolf. 

"Please, Miss Reika... I'm alright..." Seras pleaded softly with whom she considered her new master. The vampire simply did not ever feed off animals. She did not ever favour or get used to the taste. Plus she loved animals. Subconsciously, the vampire within her despised humans. Still, for Reika to even mention the fact of Seras feeding off her excited the vampiress more than she'd care to admit. It brought her daydreams, vivid images throughout her mind of sinking her sharp fangs into the young woman's slender neck, her warm blood flowing effortlessly down her throat. Being so close in the shifter's arms made the fantasy excite her more than ever. Just her scent and her heartbeat made it almost unbearable for the vampire. She was so close. All she'd needed was to lean up a bit and Reika's sweet blood would be hers.

Seras pulled the hood of the cloak down over her face more and cuddled closer to Reika, concentrating on her heartbeat. She could hear it pounding relentlessly as clear as day, along with the flowing of blood through her veins, her lungs taking in air and then contracting with every exhaled breath. These were all the simple things she could never get used  to hearing because she'd never been so close to a live human being before soon they were dying at her hand. It made her fall in love with Reika even more. She could listen to her body forever and never grow weary of it, as simple as it was. It was perhaps why she'd never been attracted to her own kind. Their blood was cold and tasteless, barely flowing. Their hearts beat silently, and they had indistinguishable breath. 

[Reika Hitachiin]

Reika laughed as Zev started to come back, bewildered. She looked at the dog and nodded her head, indicating to keep doing what she was asked to. "It's ok, Seras. We needed dinner for tonight anyways. And please,please, please[/p] don't call me 'miss'. It makes me feel like your master or something." Here she laughed, not knowing why it was that this girl had slipped into such formalities. It was cute, and she could feel herself falling for the girl even more, maybe even too much...

Finally, but somehow not soon enough, they reached Reika's home. A large cave set deep into a mountain. Reika set Seras on her makeshift bed, a mattress stolen from the town dump and some pillows and other bedding stolen from the town store, and started looking through her clothes for something for Seras to wear. Soon she found a pair of p.j pants and a large "Black Veil Brides" shirt and carried them over to the girl.

"You'll be relatively safe from the sun in here, as long as you don't go anywhere near the mouth of the cave. It doesn't go back very far" she pointed to the back of the cave. "But you're welcome to explore it. It can get quite fun. But first you need to get out of those clothes. I can still salvage them from the blood, thankfully. Since that's such a beautiful outfit." She smiled and laid the clothes on the bed next to the girl and started for the mouth of the cave.

"I'm going to go find some wood for when Zev comes back. I'll still be within earshot, so if you need anything, just call." She smiled and a look came into her eyes that was foreign to her, but she felt it. She felt it because it was also pulsing in her heart, her brain, her blood, her limbs, everywhere. Love, she concluded. She was feeling love. It had been so long since she felt love for another person that she almost forgot the feeling. With this feeling still in her heart, she left the cave to look for wood.

[seras]

Finally opening her eyes upon their arrival to Reika's home, Seras had to admit with herself that she was surprised, almost even disappointed. She had it in her mind that her new friend's living arrangements were more civilized, but in the end they were wolves afterall. She shrugged it off lightly, though in truth having a nice contemporary space to live in was more ideal to the vampiress. She herself had only been bouncing between hotels in the area because there weren't any living arrangements yet found that suited her fancy. Be it as it may, Seras had grown up with a bit of luxury in her life. She'd inherited plenty of money, with nothing to spend it on but lavishes that kept her mind preoccupied from the outside world and off blood.

Seras did her best to hide her discomfort about stepping into a cave. It was a strange thing that her comfort would sooner lie with blood and scenes so horrific it would turn the stomachs of the strongest willed men, yet a simply bit of nature disagreed with her. Seras was a crafty, often sly and manipulative vampire when she needed to be. All her kind were. But she was having much difficulty keeping her look of disappointment out of her eyes.

"Miss Reika..." Seras spoke softly, only because she didn't want to seem rude and never speak to her love interest. "... You deserve better than this.. if you don't mind me saying so." She shrugged slightly, her gaze dropping to the floor of the cave as if expecting to be scolded. "Please excuse me."

In truth, it amused her quite a bit that this girl provided her with a 'Black Veil Brides' shirt of all things, a band she'd never met another fan of. It was one of the vampire's guilty pleasures. However, her musical interests were vast. Sometimes, music was the only thing that could keep her mind stable and her ears from listening to everything and anything. Seras hated that when she'd walk down the street, heartbeats were so clear to her. Its been worse for her since her hunger had escalated ever since entering town. Seras now knew the reason she'd been searching for. The reason why she found herself strangely attracted to the town.

The teen icon inside her wanted to laugh and say "as if" when she was handed pajama pants and shown a bed that was clearly repurposed from a dump, but Seras wouldn't dare speak out again. It was nothing like the designer outfit she'd been wearing that was now ruined, and the silk sheets she often slept on. However, the vampiress never truly sleep. Mostly just laying in bed partially nude wishing she wasn't alone. Seras wanted so terribly to treat Reika to a fancier place to stay, but again bit her tongue before speaking.

Since they entered the cave and her sight returned to her, Seras found herself uncontrollably staring at Reika's neck more often than not.

[Reika Hitachiin]

Reika was surprised by the girl's words. Deserve more? She had never thought of herself deserving anything. She ignored the girl's puzzling words and started on making the fire just outside the mouth of the cave so that she didn't smoke out her new friend. It wasn't until the girl had whispered "Please excuse me" that Reika turned around. She walked over to the girl and sat next to the bed.

"Excuse you for what? You haven't done anything." She said, bewildered. Just what kind of inhuman torture did this soul have to go through? Regardless, she smiled. "We should probably get this dried blood off of you. There's a stream a little ways down the river. It somehow doesn't come from the snow up top, so it's relatively warm. It's also heavily shaded, so we won't need the cloak." She stood up and offered her hand to the girl on the bed. "Do you think you can walk?" She didn't mind carrying the girl, but she knew that if you could walk, you should.

'Why the fuck am I falling for this girl?' She thought to herself. She kept her face calm and composed despite the emotions raging inside her.