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Post by ElliBleu on Jan 18, 2009 0:12:16 GMT -6
The water was cool. Rielle doubted she would have stayed had it been warm. It was also starting to seep through her jeans where she sat on the small tiles of the deck, but the girl hardly cared. The moon was almost full, adding to the heavy feeling of calm making the high-strung wolf's shoulders slump. The overhead lights reflected off the water, her swaying legs making ripples skitter across the surface with the pleasing, low splash the little waves made.
Water had always had a calming effect on the wolf, though for a few months after finding herself in Death's current she had avoided water at all cost. Now, though, Rielle was as at peace as she had felt in a very long while. Her eyes hooded far more easier than she would have thought, reduced to green and gold slits peeking blanky through heavy lashes. She was tired- and not the exhausted, over-stressed tired that sleep could never really do away with. An honest, easy sleepiness that filled ehr brain with a pleasant, weighty blanket of fog.
How far she had come, always running. Through light and darkness, love and hate, life and death. It was still surreal, to be sitting here, feeling the water swirl around her legs and knowing she was safe within these walls. Still... she jumped at any unexpected noise, and Rei said she startled and growled like a demon when he woke her. Rei, her brother. She owed him so much- more than she could ever repay and more than he would ever accept in repayment. Someday she would tell him the stories behind all the scars littering her skin, when she herself was ready to again confront them.
Bit by bit the older wolf was starting to understand the heartache and soul sickness that had turned the sprightly pup he remembered into the almost painfully cautious, haunted young woman bearing his sister's features. And bit by bit he was trying to mend the frayed threads, happy to hold the fragile creature and watch as the dark circles faded from beneath her eyes and gaunt ribs fleshed more smoothly.
But now it was just the moon and the water, the clear water devoid of mystery or fear. She closed her eyes, stretching her fingers out along the wet tiles and started to hum quietly. A few more minutes, and she would go back before Rei started to worry too much. A few more minutes, just to enjoy the solitude and know it was not permanent anymore.
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Post by Admin on Jan 18, 2009 0:47:45 GMT -6
Cade loved Blythe. She really, really did, but sometimes she just wanted to strangle the vampire she was bound to. They hadn’t even begun to unpack in this, their latest apartment when Blythe decided it was disgusting. ‘Filthy, Cade; it’s just filthy!’ Cade, having been raised by the pristine Kaala Jaycie had somewhat similar standards of cleanliness and what was and was not acceptable and this apartment was perfectly fine. Add to that the fact that it was Blythe of all people who was complaining? Blythe’s idea of unacceptable was not having a six inch walk way trailing through the piles of miscellaneous whatever she had spent the six months since the room’s last cleaning throwing on the floor.
Baffled by Blythe’s objections to the room, Cade, in an effort to maintain a happy, positive moving-in atmosphere began cleaning the already clean apartment. But apparently Cade was a failure at cleaning since she didn’t manage to do anything right. Then all of a sudden Blythe decided she was hungry, so Cade started unpacking the necessary kitchen boxes only Blythe couldn’t decide where she wanted the things to go and god forbid she decide what it is she wanted to eat. So Cade offered to order delivery or pick up take out. Blythe, of course, rejected these offers.
Fed up, Cade yelled at Blythe to figure out what the fuck was really bothering her and grabbed her comfort blanket before storming out of the apartment to explore the building. She remember the landlord mentioning a pool when they first came tour the place and so she sought that out since Blythe hated water unless it was a shower...or bath with Cade to join her in it, and would therefor probably not come in the pool room after her.
Thinking that no one else would be there at this time of night, Cade quietly opened the door to the pool room and breathed in the smell of the chlorine, closing her eyes at the blissful silence. Opening her eyes, Cade looked around the room, noting the hot tub, the fair sized pool and the girl sitting silently on the edge. With her blanket thrown carelessly over her shoulder and dressed just her PJ shorts and tank top with a single knife strapped to one arm and one more on a leg, Cade stared at the girl with a shock of familiarity.
So far the necromancer had made very little noise but god only knew what the girl was, she might have heard her entrance regardless. Cade shifted her blanket to free her right hand and slowly reached for the blade on her left arm just in case as she tried to place the girl. Why did Cade get the feeling that she really should know her?
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Post by ElliBleu on Jan 18, 2009 22:24:09 GMT -6
It was the click of the closing door that brought Rielle's eyes fluttering open sleepily, automatically inhaling deeply to see if there was any scent indicating company. Nothing but water and and the sharp tang of chlorine that left her sinuses tingling unpleasantly. A few moments later one of her pointed ears twitched casually, hearing the hushed rustle of fabric. The wolf turned to look over her shoulder, eyes widening after a moment at the face that greeted her.
Cade and the water combined made Rielle's pupils dilate, breath quickening as memory of her death threatened to overwhelm her. The shadows started to crawl, the water was like ice and this messenger of life-and-death was back to correct her wrong in letting the wolf return. She was frozen in fear for a few long seconds, the sudden flicker of one of the fluorescent lights overhead jarring her back to the present.
With a surprised yelp Rielle shot to her feet. Or tried, wet feet sliding helplessly on the tile as she spun to face the necromancer. Helpless to stop her momentum and correct her balance, Rielle tumbled backwards into the pool with a splash. A torrent of bubbles raced to the surface as she screamed, the sudden submersion shocking her again back to that dark river.
Her cries died as she gasped for air at the surface, clawing at the stone edge of the pool and clinging tightly. Wide eyes stared up at Cade through bangs plastered wetly to her face. "Y-you..." she breathed, shivering. "I-I never told a-a-anyone, I p-promise."
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Post by Admin on Jan 19, 2009 18:20:14 GMT -6
Cade’s eyes narrowed in recognition as the face that turned to see her was that of the lone wolf she had once upon a time saved from Death itself. The only person she had ever saved from Death. She lowered the hand that was grasping the hilt of her knife and watched in slight surprise as Rielle stumbled and tumbled into the pool.
Understanding and something akin to pity along with a tad of guilt reached Cade as Rielle sputtered to the surface and stuttered out professions of innocence to the charge of betraying the necromancer before her.
Cade wrapped her blanket around her shoulders like a shawl and sat down at the edge of the pool like Rielle had been doing when Cade first came in and stared straight ahead.
“Rielle, I didn’t come here for you. I didn’t even know you were here. I came here to get away from my - Her what? Her lover? Too graphic. Her girlfriend? Too innocent. Her vampire? Too vague. Her Bond? Too confusing, Rielle wouldn't have any idea what that meant. - …Blythe," She settled on. "Finding you here is a complete surprise. And besides, even if I did think you had told someone – and I’m happy to hear you haven’t – I wouldn’t be coming to seek revenge dressed as I am now: in my boxer shorts, tank top, what is my version of a baby’s safety blanket and just two knives.”
Cade looked down at the girl next to her. “You can relax, Rielle, I’m not going to hurt you.” Cade continued on in a lighter tone with a slight smile. “So you haven’t told anyone, huh? How’d you manage to explain away that rather fatal looking scar of yours? I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”
Cade offered Rielle a hand to help her out of the pool even though her current position wasn’t exactly conducive to puling someone out; it was the meaning behind the motion that mattered and Cade was sure Rielle would understand it.
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Post by ElliBleu on Jan 26, 2009 16:05:30 GMT -6
Rielle's heart slowed to a less frantic pace when Cade sat down, her reassuring words helping but failing to put the girl completely at ease. She blinked at the offered hand, hesitating for a few moments before lightly grabbing hold. Besides, she had taken that hand in Death, so why should she refuse it in the safety of Life? Rielle easily hauled herself from the pool, all her weight on her legs and free arm to keep from pulling the other woman down into the water. Cade was hardly in a position to actually do much to pull Rielle up, though Rielle kept her brief grip on the hand in a silent testament of her wary trust in the other.
When she was again on the pool deck, Rielle released Cade's hand and nervously settled a few feet away. Hands rose to her hair, twisting to one side and leaning forward as she proceeded to wring her long hair out into the pool. The position had her watching Cade, unable to repress a shiver at the memory of Death's waters and suppressing the canine urge to vigorously shake herself off. She swallowed her initial question as to who Blythe was, deciding she had little right to ask anything of this woman.
Leaning back and loosening the twist, Rielle began slowly working her fingers through her wet hair and tried to decide what to say. "No, I've told no one. A-as for the scar..." a hand dipped briefly to her chest before moving back to continue working at the knots. "I ran for a very long time after we parted. I haven't come across anyone who would know of the wound and my death yet. So long as I pick appropriate clothing it's easy to hide." A cheerless smile crossed her face. "And I'm always alone, except for my brother. So nobody has seen it."
The static grin softened a bit more genuinely, managing to reach her eyes. She was still nervous, the scar mirrored on her back and front feeling painfully tight, but the she-wolf almost felt glad to see the necromancer. It may have been an unpleasant memory, but remembering was good. And Cade had been so kind...
"Thank you. Again, for everything, so much... I-... I am doing well, I think. Better all the time. Because you gave me another chance." A puff of air that may very well have been the beginning of a laugh left her mouth, keeping her eyes down but looking over to Cade's reflection on the water. "You are probably the very last-- maybe second-to-last," she amended, "Person I expected to meet here."
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Post by Admin on Feb 11, 2009 22:04:32 GMT -6
Cade realized that seeing her here now, and especially around water despite its lack of enticing movement and cold temperature must be bringing back some terrifying memories for the wolf.
“I apologize for invading your life here, Rielle. I understand that my presence must make you feel…uncomfortable. It is truly the strangest coincidence that we find each other here. Though not really so strange, I guess, given what little I’ve seen of the other tenants,” Cade said as she warily watched two people meeting on the other end of the room, her hand on her knife again and her power prepared to reach for Death. It was making her tense though she’d like to relax to help Rielle relax around her.
Eyes never leaving the others in the room, Cade continued to respond to all the information Rielle had shared. She would be the first to admit that they didn’t know each other all that well but Rielle had never struck her as the type prone to revealing so much information on so little prompting. Though the girl was a canine, she probably had something of a canine’s wary loyalty to the necromancer.
“Well, if anyone ever does see it, feel free to ignore them and tell them it’s none of their damn business, hmm? People pry too much these days. They’re far too interested in everyone else’s life, in my opinion. But, then again, I’m a necromancer. We’re famous for our hermit like habits and for our undying love of privacy and our intolerance of questions.” Cade allowed a slight smile and added, “Or, infamous, I should say since no one ever has anything good to say about us.”
For the first time since meeting Rielle, Cade wished she knew more about her. She was rather shocked that the girl hadn’t asked who Blythe was though exceedingly grateful she hadn’t. Blythe was a long story and not one Cade was overly fond of sharing with near strangers…or with anyone for that matter. Not that she had anyone else to share it with aside from Kaala that wasn’t a stranger. But even more shocking than the lack of questions regarding Blythe was the lack of comments regarding her “baby blanket”. Cade hardly ever left the privacy of her home with it and after this, after randomly running into someone she actually knew, Cade never would again.
Silent for a moment, Cade watched as the newest member to the pool party bought a water, and just as silently her shoulder’s tensed a bit more as she reached farther into Death with her power to see who might be nearby. There was a cemetery near the apartment complex. Blythe had picked the building out for their new home. She’d have a few words for that damn vampire when she went back up to their rooms. Cade hated living near cemeteries. She hated. There’d be zombies at her door by the end of the week, she thought suddenly in a foul mood.
“You don’t need to thank me, Rielle. I put the dead to rest and I protect the living. You were alive enough for me; I couldn’t walk away. And I didn’t give you another chance. You did that. I still don’t understand how you did it, but you are the only reason you’re alive today. Yes, I helped, but had you not done whatever it is you did, I wouldn’t have lifted a finger to save you that day. You have yourself to thanks, Rielle.” In a lighter tone, Cade went on, “Second-to-last, hmm? Who’s the last person you expect to see here I wonder. You know now that you’ve said it, they’ll move in tomorrow.” Cade cracked a grin at the thought and allowed Death to slip away from her mind, her body relaxing again as she finally determined the people across the room weren’t a threat to her.
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Post by ElliBleu on Feb 18, 2009 0:08:27 GMT -6
Rielle took in all the necromancer had to say, silently taking note of everything. Particularly that she should avoid questions, leave Cade a respectable amount of privacy, and that at some point she really should find a way to repay the woman for helping such a pitiful pup in her most desperate hour of need. Despite what Cade said, Rielle was highly disinclined to believe that she was alive solely thanks to herself. Rather than start a potential- if petty- argument about who had to thank whom, Rielle turned her attention to the last question.
A thin smile found her face, glancing up from Cade's reflection to actually look at the other female. It seemed the least she could do, really. Let a few of the smiles she usually let die blossom on her expression for a few moments to let the necromancer know she did appreciate the life she was spared. The duo at the other end of the pool seemed innocent enough, Rielle didn't even twitch an ear at them. When Cade seemed reassured of their presence, the wolf again began lightly kicking her feet in the water as she spoke.
"With my luck I suppose I couldn't be very surprised, after the initial shock and terror wore off..." the she-wolf paused, raising a hand to fiddle with still-wet hair. She wasn't exactly sure how to speak about Mason. Yes, the vampire scared her. But they had a weird, shaky sort of camaraderie. After all, Mason had taken and protected the wolf in her home. She sighed, resigning herself to the confusion. "There's a vampire that life seems to delight in occasionally dropping into my company. We've bled each other a lot, and Fenris knows she's so much stronger than me that I could never stand a chance. But... she hasn't killed me yet, and even once protected me form her own coven. I just... I can't understand her, which is why I guess I can't not-expect to run into her again."
A breathless laugh left her mouth, leaning back to stare at the ceiling and stilling her restless legs. "I mean... I met you in the most unlikely of places, and here you are living under the same roof and deciding to haunt the pool on the same night. I suppose nothing should surprise me anymore."
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Post by Admin on Mar 7, 2009 1:15:13 GMT -6
Cade listened to Rielle speak of the person she least expected to see here. It sounded more like it was the person she least wanted to see, if only for the confusion the woman seemed to cause in the wolf. No wonder too. Wolves and vampires were no great friends, and when they met, usually only one walked away alive yet it seemed that these two had met on numerous occasions and yet both remained alive. And if what Rielle said about this vampire being so much stronger than her, then Cade should indeed be wary of her for Rielle was no weakling to have secured herself to life somehow.
Cade had nothing against vampires, as Blythe was evidence to, but she wasn’t particularly fond of them as a whole. Vampires didn’t really ever worry Cade though. They were rarely a threat to the necromancer given their affinity with death regardless of their state of being. They were more or less easy to control. The average vampire didn’t stand a chance against the average necromancer and Cade was far from average.
As a species, vampires were rather selfish and reclusive. They kept to themselves and rarely helped any none vampire unless there was profit in it. The powerful ones like this vampire of Rielle’s were usually the worst though that made it more than a little strange that she had left the wolf alive on numerous occasions. The truly shocking part was that she had defended her against her coven! She must be powerful indeed to stand up against her entire coven in favor of a dog.
Blythe also didn’t think much of vampires, even though they were her own species. She didn’t have much contact with them and after spending so many decades away from them and their culture, their habits began to bother her and now she could barely tolerate going to a coven or vampire city for whatever reason. Vampires were not well liked by anyone really though they were tolerated more than a necromancer would be.
Wanting to know a little bit more about this strange vampire of Rielle’s and deeming that it seemed to be a safe topic, Cade asked, “What caused you two to fight in the past and why do you think she let you live? And how on earth did she manage to protect you from her entire coven?
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Post by ElliBleu on Apr 24, 2009 22:55:44 GMT -6
Rielle hung her head, blushing in shame and embarrassment. She kicked her feet in the water a few times to distract away form her expression, staring down at the ripples and almost quirking a smile as she remembered. They were heavy memories, fraught with fear and pain and confusion. But they were hers and hers alone, some of the only memories where Rielle had willed herself to step out of the mindless control of the group and think for herself.
Some of the only times she hadn't wanted to be a part of that thoughtless herd.
Her words were slow, calm and quiet, and Rielle felt like her tongue was a bit too thick for her mouth. "We fought because I had a terrible temper, because she knew how to bait me and I was a puppy-fool who leapt and bit without thought to consequences. We fought because I am a masochist and she was the only one I could find that had no qualms about kicking a dog." Mismatched eyes blinked as the redhead straightened a bit, staring down at the water and adding as an afterthought "We fought because we are vampire and lycanthrope, I suppose."
A few short, breathy laughs interrupted her quiet musings. Shifting a bit, Rielle finally looked over to Cade and offered a brief smile. "It was after one of our more lengthy encounters. We fought, we argued, and were interrupted by a small army of creatures seeking my death because I'd turned my back and ran from the wrong people. I was scared, tried to retreat but I couldn't. And then... then Mason helped me."
She pulled her legs form the water, wrapping her thin arms around her knees. "Well, she threw me into a fire. We killed the things, went for a coffee, argued some more, and Mason told me some truths I'd been denying that..." Rielle trailed off, licking her dry lips and looking for the right words. "They broke me. I'm weak and unstable, and I'd been hiding in the darkness for so long that her ray of truth blinded me from anything but my fury. I tore a bloody path through that city, a mad beast cutting down any in my way as I sought to destroy the ones I had left. Mason threw a manhole cover to stop me, shattered my shoulder and left me bleeding on the concrete."
Another sigh. Rielle settled her chin on her knees, speaking up a bit to be heard through the muffling of her arms. It was far too easy to spill her words to the dark-haired woman, far too easy to once more fall into the comfortable lull of comapny. "I don't know why she never killed me. Why she helped me so much that night. I woke up and she was unconcsious, with more broken bones than I had left her with. I was tired, mind-dead and probably wishing my body would just give up. She wanted to go home, and since she had saved and spared my life I escorted her back to her home."
Rielle frowned, her fingers constricting on the cement edge of the pool. The necromancer's second question was easy enough to answer, but it brought up more questions in the she-wolf's head. Mason had protected her from her own coven- probably her own family- with incredible ease and resolve. The terrified and, at the time, wounded wolf hadn't remained at the Blake estate long enough to find out why.
"Having a wolf reeking of their Mistress' blood set the vampires on me immediately. She threw them all off of me, ordered them back and all the fires in the room were raging in response to her anger. She even... This royal vampire een offered me her hand. I don't know why she did it. Pity seems unlikely, and she has no wolfish morals that would paint me in any sort of respect."
And so Rielle shrugged, a few bones popping in relief at the movement. She hadn't been aware she was so tense, and let another smile ghost across her face as she looked to Cade. "Maybe I'm just a good chase."
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Post by Admin on Sept 14, 2009 15:30:17 GMT -6
[Sorry it's a bit short. I was seriously lacking on things to say as this however many month interval between posts can testify to.]
Cade listened intently mostly for just in case she ever met this particular vampire, and the tale was interesting. Cade understood the how when what Rielle said finally made her realize that this Mason was the leader of her coven.
"She sounds rather unusual for a vampire but at the same time incredibly typical. Of course, I don't have all that much experience with vampires beyond Blythe and my infrequent interactions with those connected to her that we occasionally run into. And Blythe is a very atypical vampire. I've actually killed most of the vampires I've ever met."
Cade kicked her feet in the water, bundled up her blanket and put it behind her head ans she slowly leaned backwards to lay down on the wet tile with her eyes closed. Perhaps she was stupid to do so, but she trusted that Rielle would make no move against her and if any threat did enter the pool, the wolf would at least warn her before running away if she ran at all.
"Did you have any trouble getting out of that graveyard, Rielle? I'm sorry I couldn't stick around to see you to safety."
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Post by ElliBleu on Dec 25, 2009 13:29:07 GMT -6
Rielle covered her curiousity, and slight apprehension, at discovering this Blythe was another vampire, by sliding a sardonic grin into place. "I've only tried to kill every vampire I've met. I was only ever succesful once, and it was a weak, stupid vampire who'd spent too long playing and not enough time hunting or hiding." Having Cade relax did a great deal to help Rielle do the same, letting the tension drain from her shoulders as the necromancer laid back. Wolves were social creatures, and the cues of company often dictated their own mood.
She managed to keep from tensing up again when Cade questioned her about their last encounter, though a shiver rocked down her spine. The water here smelled of chlorine, not despair, and Cade smelled of fabric softener and steel. Real, everyday scents, nothing to fear. The wolf shifted, turning towards Cade so the other woman could see her sincerity. "You'd done more than I ever could have asked. I certainly didn't expect you to hang around and cub-sit after pulling me from Death."
The grin returned, more true each time, as she turned her head to stare at the moon beyond the windows. A hand settled lightly onto her chest, above the scar "I was where I needed to be, within reach of the Moon and somewhere relatively secluded without needing fear anyone show up with silver weapons ready." A flash of humor sparked in her eyes, lips pulling back to reveal a brief glimpse of fangs. "Besides, what missing dead person sticks around to hide in a graveyard?"
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