[color=gray] [center][h1][color=red]FLASHBACK[/color][/h1] [h3][color=red]Trigger Warning: Blood and some gore[/color][/h3] [H2][color=lightsteelblue]Cassius[/color] [color=D35F56]&[/color] [color=firebrick]Violet[/color][/h2][/center][hr] The night answered with suffocating silence. The wind had died, leaving behind a heavy stillness that pressed in from every direction. Even the distant laughter of the stray drunk had ceased, as if swallowed whole by the shadows. The once comforting flicker of lamplight became distorted, stretching and shrinking the shadows of buildings, transforming familiar alleyways into eerie corridors of darkness. Cassius moved on instinct, body turning sideways as he slipped in front of his sister...calm, alert, and ready as he braced for what was to come. Then, slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, the darkness itself began to move. From the corners of their eyes, the shadows peeled away from the walls like ink bleeding into water, forming shapes too precise to be tricks of the imagination. One by one, silhouettes melted into existence, slipping out from behind crates, doorways, and concealed corners. Each figure moved with predatory grace, their steps unhurried yet purposeful, like wolves emerging from the forest, scenting vulnerable prey. The sound of a blade being drawn was sharp yet strangely delicate. Clothing rustled softly as more figures detached from their hiding places, forming a tightening noose of shadowed forms around Cassius and Violet. Alleyways that moments ago seemed empty now offered up menacing eyes and glinting steel, each exit methodically sealed, each pathway methodically blocked. The circle of figures drew nearer, the gaps between them shrinking until Cassius and Violet were left with no route of escape. Their approach was patient, almost languid, relishing every second of fear they instilled. A low chuckle emerged from the darkness. From within the dense shroud of shadows, a figure slowly emerged, barely illuminated by the faint, flickering lamplight. Dark waves of unruly hair framed a face half-hidden in darkness, revealing only the barest hints of youthful charm: sharp cheekbones, a faintly amused curve to the lips, eyes that shimmered with a dangerous look of mischief. He stepped casually into the dim light, the shadows reluctantly peeling away from him as though hesitant to lose his presence. His elegant attire contrasted starkly against the grim setting, a stylish dark suit and high-necked black shirt beneath, almost as if he’d come from some lavish event straight into the gloom. His eyes glinted as they flicked between Cassius and Violet, as if he had stumbled upon an amusing secret rather than a deadly encounter. [color=#dda0dd]“My, my, isn’t this a delightful surprise… Two Damiens wandering alone, so late at night? Seems almost...irresponsible.”[/color] Violet's breath caught as she stopped, her eyes frantically glancing at Cassius before looking back at the man. Cassius didn’t flinch at the man’s little speech. Instead, he rested a hand on Violet’s arm for the briefest of moments as to reassure her that everything would be okay. Then, he began to slip off his coat. He moved with the kind of unhurried purpose that only men like him could afford in moments like this…men who'd survived ambushes before. The kind who knew the rhythm of it all. Folding the heavy fabric in half, he wrapped it once, then twice, around his left forearm, cinching it tight at the wrist like a makeshift shield. The other sleeve he coiled loosely around his right hand, fingers flexing within the folds. Blades were coming, and though Cassius was unarmed…he didn’t seem worried. He was already shifting his weight, ready to meet them. [color=lightsteelblue]“Alright, then…Enough with the theatrics.”[/color] he muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing. [color=lightsteelblue]“But I hope you know how many of you will die in vain before death earns the right to reach us.”[/color] The approaching man’s eyes darkened abruptly, the smile sharpening. His expression shifted from entertained to merciless in a heartbeat, the warmth draining from his features until all that remained was something predatory.He raised a hand slowly, almost lazily, as if giving a command to mere beasts. [i][color=#dda0dd]“Kill them.”[/color] [/i] Violet gasped before her brows furrowed. She looked over at Cassius but he appeared so calm and collected, he had certainly done this before. She took a few steps back, giving him ample space. At his command, the surrounding darkness erupted and the figures surged forward like a pack of unleashed hounds. They surged forward silently, blades glinting, their eyes vacant, their faces masked. The young man simply stepped back into the gloom with a shrug, commenting with intrigue, [color=#dda0dd]“Let’s see if the legend bleeds as beautifully as they say.”[/color] Two men lunged toward Cassius. Their eyes were wide, clearly men driven by either promises or threats, yet with enough ferocity to make their blades dangerous. Another came from behind, swinging low with a heavy wooden club aimed to bring him to his knees. Cassius waited until the last possible moment to move. The first blade came in fast, aimed for his ribs. He pivoted sharply, letting the coiled jacket around his forearm take the brunt of the thrust. The blade skidded off the thick fabric with a dull scrape, slowed just enough for him to slam his shoulder into the attacker’s chest. The man stumbled back with a grunt, winded but not finished. The second was already on him, slashing high. Cassius ducked low, twisting his wrapped hand up and catching the man's wrist mid-swing. In one brutal motion, he yanked the man forward and drove his knee into the side of his face, sending him sprawling into the cobblestones. But the real danger came from behind. Cassius sensed the shift in air before he heard the swing. He turned just enough to see the club arcing toward his legs. Instead of leaping away, he dropped...his body folding into a crouch as the weapon sailed just over his head. In that same breath, he spun low and swept a leg outward, catching the third man off balance and toppling him to the ground. [i]The fucker got lucky.[/i] The club clipped him on the way down, grazing his shoulder with enough force to jolt through the muscle and rattle bone. Pain flared sharp and hot, but Cassius barely gave it a blink. He straightened in a smooth, practiced motion, rolling the shoulder back as he just shook off the blow. The first two attackers were scrambling upright, and Cassius shifted his jacket as he raised his arms again, one hand balled tight in its coiled sleeve, the other braced behind layered cloth. He stepped forward without hesitation, already reading their weight, their fear, the timing of their breath. Whatever wound the club had left barely even registered. Cassius moved quick, controlled, and utterly certain that they had fucked with the wrong siblings. Meanwhile, one assailant approached Violet. Their steps were cautious, perhaps even wary. He brandished a knife, his hand trembling slightly but his eyes locked with a deadly resolve. Violet froze for a split second as the man broke through the tall grass, heading straight for her. Her breath caught in her throat.She took a few stumbling steps back, boots catching in the uneven ground. [color=firebrick]“Cassius!”[/color] she started to shout, but the man was already on her. His weight slammed into her like a wall. She hit the earth hard, the breath ripped from her lungs. Grass and dirt scratched at her arms as she landed on her back, a sharp rock jabbing into her hip. Then he was on top of her. His legs straddled her, pinning her down, and his hand closed around her wrist, shoving it roughly above her head while the other went for the knife at his belt. Violet thrashed beneath him, twisting, kicking, gritting her teeth. [color=firebrick]“Get [b]off[/b] me!”[/color] she snarled, voice shaking with fury and fear . He tried to pin her harder, his weight crushing against her ribs, but she shifted her hips, jerking violently. She used his momentum against him, one desperate push, all her strength thrown upward And he tumbled. She scrambled to her feet, breath ragged, heart pounding in her ears. Dirt streaked her face. Her arms ached from where he’d grabbed her. Cassius turned his head just enough to catch sight of Violet, stumbling back through the tall grass. His gut dropped as she hit the ground with the attacker falling atop her. He moved to reach her, but before he could take more than a single step, a hand seized the collar of his jacket from behind. The first assailant, blood on his lip and rage in his eyes, yanked him off balance. Another figure crashed into his side, forcing him to pivot and brace, absorbing the blow through his wrapped arm. He swore under his breath, twisting free, but the moment had already passed. Violet’s cry echoed through the alley. He saw her limbs thrashing beneath the weight of her attacker, and he could feel her panic as though it were her own. Cassius gritted his teeth and turned back to the men in front of him. He’d find a way to get to her…but right now, all he could do was survive...and pray she would, too. The first attacker lunged, his blade flashing in the low light. Cassius met it head-on, twisting his jacket-wrapped arm to catch the blow and deflect it wide. He stepped in close and drove his free hand into the man’s throat with a brutal, open-palm strike. The man staggered back, choking, and Cassius didn’t give him the chance to recover. He lunged forward, grabbing him by the collar, dragging him down, and wrenched with all of his might. A sharp twist, a sickening crack of the neck…then the man crumpled to the dirt. Another was already moving behind him. Cassius turned with practiced fluidity, letting momentum carry him into a sidestep that narrowly dodged the next strike. He slammed his elbow backward into the attacker’s jaw, then spun low, sweeping the man’s legs out from under him. The bastard crashed hard, breath leaving his lungs in a wheeze. Cassius rose again, breathing heavy but controlled, his shoulder aching, his coat darkened with dust and sweat. His gaze flicked once more toward where Violet had vanished into the grass. She was out of sight, but not out of mind. Just two more fuckers to send to hell before he could make it to her. The blade slashed through the night like lightning, and Violet barely twisted away in time. The knife grazed her side, slicing clean through the fabric of her gown and leaving a stinging trail of fire along her skin. She gasped, stumbling backward, one hand pressed to her ribs as warmth bloomed beneath her fingers…blood. The attacker grinned, thinking her weak, thinking the fight had left her. He was wrong. Her breath slowed, deepened. Her vision narrowed to a tunnel, the world blurring around the edges as her pupils dilated, swallowing the color from her eyes and replacing it with a deep, seething crimson. Rage boiled up, hot and sharp. A low snarl tore from her throat as she lunged forward, feral and fast. He tried to react, but she was already too close. Her fingers clamped around his wrist, twisting it hard until the knife clattered to the ground between them. Her knee slammed into his chest, knocking him backward, and they hit the earth with a thud. Violet was on top of him in an instant, one hand bracing the knife now turned against him, the cold blade biting into his neck just below the jaw. The moonlight gleamed off its edge. Her lips pulled back as her teeth bared. The scent of his blood was thick in the air. Coppery. Tempting. Her fangs made their own appearance. He whimpered something…words or pleas, she didn’t care. His eyes twisted in fear as he looked up at her. Her mind was lost to instinct, drowned in fury and survival. With a guttural growl, she struck. With a quick motion, she twisted his head to the sid,e leaning into her attacker. Her fangs pierced deep into his throat, hot blood rushing into her mouth. He screamed once, short and sharp, before it was choked off by the vicious tear of flesh. Her teeth ripped through tendon and vein, blood gushing over her chin, down her neck, soaking into the remains of her shredded gown. He writhed beneath her, weakening with every beat of his failing heart. She didn’t stop. Not until his body stilled completely. When she pulled back, her face was a mask of crimson, breath heaving, hands trembling. Her eyes still burned red, glowing faintly in the dark. Slowly and with ease, Violet stood to her feet, the blood strained deep and rich around her mouth, falling down her chin and soaking into her gown. She watched as Cassius continued to scuffle with his attackers, her chest rising and falling with deep breaths as she felt drunk on her kill, stumbling slightly as she walked towards him. Cassius caught sight of his sister through the chaos, crimson staining her face, her eyes burning in the lamplight. For half a breath he faltered, not in fear, but in recognition. The world had its way of stripping people down until all that was left was what they had to become to survive. And gods help him, maybe only monsters could survive nights like this. He let the thought settle as his boot drove hard into the chest of the bastard scrambling back to his feet, sending the man reeling toward Violet’s waiting hands. Catching him in her grip, Violet's fingers dug into the man's arms, gripping so tightly that blood drew beneath her fingers. The man let out a guttural groan, but before he could attempt anything, her fangs were already buried deep in his neck. The other came in fast, blade flashing. Cassius moved just as quick, his jacket-wrapped arm snapping up to catch the arc of steel. Fabric caught the edge, slowed it just long enough for him to clamp down. With a vicious twist, he wrenched the man’s wrist until it snapped with a wet, splintering crack. The knife clattered free, but Cassius already had it in his other hand. Without a second’s hesitation, he drove the blade deep into the attacker’s neck. Hot arterial spray burst across his chest and face, soaking the collar of Cas’s shirt, the copper sting of blood sharp in the air. The man gurgled once before collapsing at his feet. Cassius stood over him, chest rising hard, crimson dripping down his jaw, eyes already cutting back to Violet as if to say they weren’t done yet. Then, the air shifted as a figure appeared behind him as though from nowhere at all. A whisper brushed against his ear, low and haunting, carrying a voice he hadn’t heard in months. [color=#4DD0E1] "You should have never abandoned me."[/color] His blood ran cold as he recognized that voice; familiar and bearing a unique accent, one she rarely used around those she didn't know. An arm coiled around him from behind, locking him in place. Before he could wrench free, white-hot pain tore through his gut as steel drove deep once, twice, then a third time. The arms didn't loosen; it was almost as if she meant to watch and hold him as he bled out. [color=#4DD0E1]"Perhaps your sister can feast on your traitorous blood."[/color] The Women swiped his legs out from underneath him to force Cassius to slam backwards onto the ground. The breath left him in a ragged gasp, his body folding as he hit the dirt. The world tilted, shadows blurring into the lantern glow. He looked up at the ghost of an old friend, the black mask obscuring her face but he knew who she was… There was no denying that voice, and the burning rage and coldness in those eyes was just as painful as the dagger had been to his stomach. [color=lightsteelblue]“…I…How?[/color] was all he could manage as he watched her turn and walk away. Tossing the limp body in her arms to the side, Violet's dark crimson eyes looked for Cassius, watching as a female figure walked away from Cassius as if nothing had just happened. She saw Cassius lying in his blood as the scent hit her. Cassius clutched at the wounds, crimson blooming across his shirt, his vision swimming. The sound of retreating boots echoed like a drumbeat in his skull as the assailants made their exit. He turned to his sister once again, true fear laced in his eyes as he began to lose consciousness. Rushing to his side, Violet dropped to her knees, blood soaking into the fabric of her dress as it spread in thick, glistening pools beneath him. Her hands hovered above him, shaking, torn between the instinct to save and the urge to devour. The scent was overwhelming. It filled her lungs with every breath, thick and sweet and maddening. Her mouth watered. Her pupils dilated. Somewhere deep inside, a voice begged her to look away, to press on the wound, to scream for help, but it was buried beneath the roar of hunger. The ache in her teeth throbbed. The hunger clawed at her ribs, howling, relentless. She had fed. Twice. It didn't matter. A tremor ran through her as her eyes locked on the vein in his neck. Her breath came faster. Her fingers twitched. [color=firebrick]“Cassius…”[/color] she whispered between gritted teeth. Her voice was barely audible. [color=firebrick]“I- Can’t…”[/color] But the hunger didn’t care. Her hands moved before she could stop them. One wrapped around his jaw. The other gripped his throat. She hesitated. For one brief moment, she froze, trembling with the weight of what she was about to do. Then her grip tightened. With a sudden, fluid motion, she twisted his head to the side, exposing the soft skin of his neck. Her hollow crimson eyes gleamed with hunger, a twisted smile creeping across her blood-stained lips and chin. Her fangs were fully bared, sharp and gleaming. With a breath Violet leaned into him, pressing her mouth to his skin, lips parting… Then…. Darkness… [/color]