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Riven Wight Insomniac Vampire
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Back in the Athletic Field
Izzy sighed in the darkness of the night, wondering whether she had been earlier than she thought, or if Psychotic Episode was running late. Either way, she took a deep breath as an uncharacteristically chilled summer wind blew through the field, taking in the many smells that rode its invisible waves, searching for any that smelt familiar. Perhaps one of Riley, though she doubted she would sense him in any way unless he wanted her to, even though she was sure he was there, somewhere, cloaked by whatever abilities he possessed.
She glanced around the field, absentmindedly searching for him as she ran his warning to not leave the school unnecessarily through her head. She sighed darkly. Bound by the sun, and now ordered to remain within the rotting building’s property save for her impending fights.
If the hunters didn’t kill her, she thought, she may just go raving mad.
Movement in the corner of her eye made Izzy turn around as Episode appeared in a cloud of mist. So, he could use transformation. To what extent, though, was the true question.
Izzy returned his glare, her mouth a straight line. She snarled at his words and tone, then snorted. She clasped her hands behind her back and leaned forward slightly. “Says the guy who’s half-bloodsucker,” she said, trying to keep her tone even despite the bite in her gaze, to feign a standoffish air equal to Cerasus’. The desire to annoy him as much as he did her was overwhelming.
“Nah,” she began with a dismissive wave of her hand as he finished speaking, her voice soaked with sarcasm. “I was thinking we could have a friendly chat over tea and crumpets. There’s this lovely place between Childs Road and Eisenhower.”
She glanced warily to the mammoth cross he held, then to the track that circled around them. How she had hated running that thing in school. But now, she could not help but wonder for a quick second how quickly she could run a lap.
He has half the strengths, she reminded herself. But passion was one of the strongest motivators. Trying to remember exactly how fast he had moved the night they first encountered, and debating on whether she would regret the suggestion, she stood as straight as she could, her tone dark as she spoke aloud.
“What do you say to an old-fashioned race? No weapons.” She cast another glance to his cross, then spread her arms to her side, showing her lack of armaments. “No transformations. Just physical prowess. Going outside the track,” after all, she did not exactly have a patch kit for a running track on hand, “the first one to pass the finish line,” she gestured to the white stripe painted on the polyurethane, “say, thirty times, declaring each pass, claims the victory.”
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Izzy’s fists clenched at her side and her nose pulled up angrily as Episode had his laughing fit. Her nails dug slightly into her palms as he continued to insult her. She took a slight step back when he easily extended the cross toward her, and forced her fingers to uncurl. She took a deep breath trying to calm herself.
“Ha ha,” she said irritably. “Funny.”
She crossed her arms loosely over her chest as he continued to talk. “Oh, poor little you,” she growled when he complained about having to fight fair. But he still admitted that, one-on-one, she had a chance.
“Such a shame I’m neither of those, then, isn’t it?” She uncrossed her arms and tried to relax her muscles. “Since you’re afraid of a little honest competition,” she returned her arms to her sides, her gaze wary as she watched him, “I’ll let you decide the answer to your question. Unless you’d rather just stand around talking all night.”
“Ha ha,” she said irritably. “Funny.”
She crossed her arms loosely over her chest as he continued to talk. “Oh, poor little you,” she growled when he complained about having to fight fair. But he still admitted that, one-on-one, she had a chance.
“Such a shame I’m neither of those, then, isn’t it?” She uncrossed her arms and tried to relax her muscles. “Since you’re afraid of a little honest competition,” she returned her arms to her sides, her gaze wary as she watched him, “I’ll let you decide the answer to your question. Unless you’d rather just stand around talking all night.”
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Out of all the questions running through Izzy’s head, Episode answered only one she had not posed.
Her fists clenched and she opened her mouth to protest, but he made the first move of their fight, sealing her retort on her tongue. Izzy jumped out of the path of the cross as it sliced through the air with deadly accuracy. She let out a low, pained hiss as, despite her agility, part of it still nicked her arm, leaving a burning sting in its wake. When the sharp, sulfuric smell rose to her nostrils, and, unlike with her injuries from her match with Theurge, the sensation did not immediately fade, she looked to it. She inhaled, horrified, at the gruesome sight. Her other hand moved to hover just above the wound, but did not dare to touch it.
One more vampiric piece of lore proven correct, she thought, swallowing as she quickly returned her attention to where Episode had stood, to keep him in her sight. But she found him missing. Panic filling her chest, she spun in a circle to find him. Her gaze settled on him as his body reformed near his weapon.
Wishing she had figured out how to use transformation herself, when Episode turned back toward her, appearing to be readying to throw the cross again, Izzy darted toward him, watching him cautiously and doing her best to gauge the distance between them verses the speed of the projectile based on his first throw. Trying to not overthink it, her body prepared to bound over the cross as it flew at her, a hand clenching and drawing back mid-leap to immediately land a blow aimed at the shoulder of the arm Episode had wielded the cross with.
Her fists clenched and she opened her mouth to protest, but he made the first move of their fight, sealing her retort on her tongue. Izzy jumped out of the path of the cross as it sliced through the air with deadly accuracy. She let out a low, pained hiss as, despite her agility, part of it still nicked her arm, leaving a burning sting in its wake. When the sharp, sulfuric smell rose to her nostrils, and, unlike with her injuries from her match with Theurge, the sensation did not immediately fade, she looked to it. She inhaled, horrified, at the gruesome sight. Her other hand moved to hover just above the wound, but did not dare to touch it.
One more vampiric piece of lore proven correct, she thought, swallowing as she quickly returned her attention to where Episode had stood, to keep him in her sight. But she found him missing. Panic filling her chest, she spun in a circle to find him. Her gaze settled on him as his body reformed near his weapon.
Wishing she had figured out how to use transformation herself, when Episode turned back toward her, appearing to be readying to throw the cross again, Izzy darted toward him, watching him cautiously and doing her best to gauge the distance between them verses the speed of the projectile based on his first throw. Trying to not overthink it, her body prepared to bound over the cross as it flew at her, a hand clenching and drawing back mid-leap to immediately land a blow aimed at the shoulder of the arm Episode had wielded the cross with.
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Izzy growled and stumbled slightly when her fist met only emptiness as his misty form rode the air to his weapon once more. She spun back around toward where his cross had landed as he returned to his physical form. Which, it seemed, he took on only long enough to retrieve the cross and hurl it at her again.
So much for the brilliance of the comic books.
Her teeth ground together as Episode spoke, her eyes never wavering from his weapon. She inhaled and dodged aside, doing a quick roll on the ground and springing back to her feet as the hunter finished his sentence.
She took a breath and held it as he finished speaking, trying to push aside the thought of what losing would mean. She could not--would not--let that happen. Not willingly, at least. She would not give him the satisfaction of her surrender.
“Well, don’t you think you’re Mr. High-and-Mighty!” Izzy eyed him, her body tense and retaining a slight crouch. The next time he threw it, she decided, she would try to beat him to where it landed. Even if she could not wield it, it provided her a short window before he transformed. If she could make it before he picked it up. “And you thought I was the pompous one?”
When Izzy’s name sounded in the night, it made her cringe and inhale. Confusion replaced the surprise at hearing her name as reorganization hit.
Trevor? Izzy spun toward the gates, trying to keep an eye on both her friend and Episode. “You shouldn’t be here!” Izzy snapped, her eyes widening slightly, unsure whether her voice had carried over to him. The last thing she wanted was for him to get caught in the crossfire.
When Trevor shouted to her again, trying to help her, Episode’s soft voice drew her full attention as she noticed the short movements that preceded a throw. She readied to dodge once more, to race after the weapon to try beating him too it, but the angle was wrong.
“NO!” she shouted the moment the weapon flew from his hands toward her only friend in the world, and raced after it, her voice ringing in her ears and echoing through the field. Her terror-filled eyes on Trevor, she pushed herself harder than she ever had. She jumped into the air, to hop over the cross. For a fraction of a second, the sole of a shoe brushed the metal and she kicked down in an attempt to push it off course before she lunged to try pushing Trevor out of its path.
So much for the brilliance of the comic books.
Her teeth ground together as Episode spoke, her eyes never wavering from his weapon. She inhaled and dodged aside, doing a quick roll on the ground and springing back to her feet as the hunter finished his sentence.
She took a breath and held it as he finished speaking, trying to push aside the thought of what losing would mean. She could not--would not--let that happen. Not willingly, at least. She would not give him the satisfaction of her surrender.
“Well, don’t you think you’re Mr. High-and-Mighty!” Izzy eyed him, her body tense and retaining a slight crouch. The next time he threw it, she decided, she would try to beat him to where it landed. Even if she could not wield it, it provided her a short window before he transformed. If she could make it before he picked it up. “And you thought I was the pompous one?”
When Izzy’s name sounded in the night, it made her cringe and inhale. Confusion replaced the surprise at hearing her name as reorganization hit.
Trevor? Izzy spun toward the gates, trying to keep an eye on both her friend and Episode. “You shouldn’t be here!” Izzy snapped, her eyes widening slightly, unsure whether her voice had carried over to him. The last thing she wanted was for him to get caught in the crossfire.
When Trevor shouted to her again, trying to help her, Episode’s soft voice drew her full attention as she noticed the short movements that preceded a throw. She readied to dodge once more, to race after the weapon to try beating him too it, but the angle was wrong.
“NO!” she shouted the moment the weapon flew from his hands toward her only friend in the world, and raced after it, her voice ringing in her ears and echoing through the field. Her terror-filled eyes on Trevor, she pushed herself harder than she ever had. She jumped into the air, to hop over the cross. For a fraction of a second, the sole of a shoe brushed the metal and she kicked down in an attempt to push it off course before she lunged to try pushing Trevor out of its path.
Riven Wight Insomniac Vampire
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“Trevor!” Izzy shouted when, despite her desperate efforts, the cross still met its mark. Izzy caught him as Trevor fell. The pungent smell of his blood filled her nostrils with more potency than the stench of burnt rubber and flesh as the thick liquid pumped from the gaping wound the cross had made in his side. With shaking arms, she gently lowered him, keeping one hand behind his neck as she sunk to the ground with him, the burning in her foot drowned out by the sight of him.
For the second time in her life, she had not been fast enough when it truly mattered. It was Amber all over again. Only this time, there was no there one second there, then simply vanished the next. Even if she could get him to a hospital, she knew it would be too late. The damage was done. He had lost far too much blood in just those short couple seconds. Her vision swam and she let out a quivering exhale as she placed a hand over his wound, as if that alone would staunch it, would stave off Death’s cold, cruel hand.
“My... my phone,” she breathed as she tore her gaze from the thick liquid pooling over her fingers, and looked into his eyes. She shook her head and bit her lower lip before her fangs gave her a sharp reminder of their presence, of the world she had pulled Trevor into. “Trevor. I’m... I’m so sorry!” she sobbed out softly, then swallowed hard against the tears swimming in her eyes. “This is all my fault. I-I shouldn’t have brought you in on this.” She shook her head again, then hung it heavily. “I should have known better.”
For the second time in her life, she had not been fast enough when it truly mattered. It was Amber all over again. Only this time, there was no there one second there, then simply vanished the next. Even if she could get him to a hospital, she knew it would be too late. The damage was done. He had lost far too much blood in just those short couple seconds. Her vision swam and she let out a quivering exhale as she placed a hand over his wound, as if that alone would staunch it, would stave off Death’s cold, cruel hand.
“My... my phone,” she breathed as she tore her gaze from the thick liquid pooling over her fingers, and looked into his eyes. She shook her head and bit her lower lip before her fangs gave her a sharp reminder of their presence, of the world she had pulled Trevor into. “Trevor. I’m... I’m so sorry!” she sobbed out softly, then swallowed hard against the tears swimming in her eyes. “This is all my fault. I-I shouldn’t have brought you in on this.” She shook her head again, then hung it heavily. “I should have known better.”
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Izzy returned Trevor’s stare, wishing she could do something, anything for him without risking Episode killing them both in the process. Izzy nodded stiffly as he closed his eyes. He was wounded, on the brink of unconsciousness, yet still, he was trying to help her. She opened her mouth to tell him to save his breath, but he continued. She inhaled through her nose when he went limp in her arms the moment he finished.
A snarl settled over Izzy’s face at Episode’s voice, and her hands balled into fists. She gently laid Trevor down, her bloodstained hand resting lightly on his chest for a short second. At least his heart still beat.
With a feral hatred and anger burning in her eyes, Izzy slowly stood and turned toward Episode. This time, she could fight back against the thing that hurt her friend. It would be Episode’s blood she would see soak the field next for what he did, if she had her way.
She moved away from Trevor, not wanting to risk his further injury. The quicker she dealt with the hunter, the sooner she could get her friend help.
Trying to figure out what a long jump had to do with mist being water while resisting the urge to lunge at Episode, she readied to dodge away from another of his attacks. Then, she noticed the sand pit designated for long jumps.
Sand. Earth was a weakness of water. If she could use that to turn him into sludge...
She waited for him to throw his cross again, then, when he went to retrieve it, she angled herself this time with her back to the sand pit, leaving enough room between her and it for the cross’ momentum to carry it where she wanted.
“Monkeys with guns have better aim than you!” she taunted, malice in her voice, when he solidified again by his weapon. “Poor little half-breed. Hated by vampires. An outcast in human society.” She made a sarcastic tisking sound. “You know, you oughta learn some manners. Maybe then you’ll get invited to more than hunting parties out of more than just pity for your sorry state.”
She waited for the last possible second when he threw his cross again. Once it whizzed by her, without missing a beat, she rushed after it, trying to keep close to Episode. She jumped the last few yards and landed in the sand just behind the hunter's mist form, and kicked up as much of the granular earth as she could.
A snarl settled over Izzy’s face at Episode’s voice, and her hands balled into fists. She gently laid Trevor down, her bloodstained hand resting lightly on his chest for a short second. At least his heart still beat.
With a feral hatred and anger burning in her eyes, Izzy slowly stood and turned toward Episode. This time, she could fight back against the thing that hurt her friend. It would be Episode’s blood she would see soak the field next for what he did, if she had her way.
She moved away from Trevor, not wanting to risk his further injury. The quicker she dealt with the hunter, the sooner she could get her friend help.
Trying to figure out what a long jump had to do with mist being water while resisting the urge to lunge at Episode, she readied to dodge away from another of his attacks. Then, she noticed the sand pit designated for long jumps.
Sand. Earth was a weakness of water. If she could use that to turn him into sludge...
She waited for him to throw his cross again, then, when he went to retrieve it, she angled herself this time with her back to the sand pit, leaving enough room between her and it for the cross’ momentum to carry it where she wanted.
“Monkeys with guns have better aim than you!” she taunted, malice in her voice, when he solidified again by his weapon. “Poor little half-breed. Hated by vampires. An outcast in human society.” She made a sarcastic tisking sound. “You know, you oughta learn some manners. Maybe then you’ll get invited to more than hunting parties out of more than just pity for your sorry state.”
She waited for the last possible second when he threw his cross again. Once it whizzed by her, without missing a beat, she rushed after it, trying to keep close to Episode. She jumped the last few yards and landed in the sand just behind the hunter's mist form, and kicked up as much of the granular earth as she could.
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The moment Episode was forced to take form, her rage at what he had done to Trevor became an all-consuming desire for revenge. Before she knew what she was doing, or the hunter could even register her, she barreled toward him, feeling her body move at the dictations of a force, of a frenzy she had never felt before. Her fangs bore in a vicious snarl, she easily brought him to the ground, her weight on top of his and hand around his throat pinning him beneath her as she assaulted him.
With only the desire to see him bleed, for him to be the one laying, dead, in the field, the fingers of her free hand moved to press into his chest, when she felt a hand rest on her shoulder and Riley’s voice broke through her haze.
It took her a moment to register who it was, her breathing coming in quick, angry spurts, red blooming on Episode’s white suit around her fingers.
Exhaling through her teeth, Izzy hung her head as his words hit their mark. If she kept going, she would cross the line between human and monster. With a snort, she raised her head to look into Episode’s eyes, a lingering sadistic glimmer still in the depths of her gaze. She leaned into him so her mouth rested near his ear.
“If you ever,” she growled through her teeth, tightening her grip on him so her nails dug slightly into his throat, “hurt someone I care about again, I swear I’ll end you.” With that, she pulled from him and got to her feet, leaving a streak of Trevor’s blood on Episode’s chin.
Trevor. Leaving Riley to deal with Psychotic Episode, she spun toward where she had left her friend, then hurried to him, a lump in her throat. She knelt down beside him, fearing how she would find him. Did she have time to get him help? Would it do any good?
“It's done,” she choked out, searching for any sign of life, her hands shaking as she once more placed a gentle palm to his chest, hoping beyond hope that the heart beneath still beat. “Thanks to you.”
With only the desire to see him bleed, for him to be the one laying, dead, in the field, the fingers of her free hand moved to press into his chest, when she felt a hand rest on her shoulder and Riley’s voice broke through her haze.
It took her a moment to register who it was, her breathing coming in quick, angry spurts, red blooming on Episode’s white suit around her fingers.
Exhaling through her teeth, Izzy hung her head as his words hit their mark. If she kept going, she would cross the line between human and monster. With a snort, she raised her head to look into Episode’s eyes, a lingering sadistic glimmer still in the depths of her gaze. She leaned into him so her mouth rested near his ear.
“If you ever,” she growled through her teeth, tightening her grip on him so her nails dug slightly into his throat, “hurt someone I care about again, I swear I’ll end you.” With that, she pulled from him and got to her feet, leaving a streak of Trevor’s blood on Episode’s chin.
Trevor. Leaving Riley to deal with Psychotic Episode, she spun toward where she had left her friend, then hurried to him, a lump in her throat. She knelt down beside him, fearing how she would find him. Did she have time to get him help? Would it do any good?
“It's done,” she choked out, searching for any sign of life, her hands shaking as she once more placed a gentle palm to his chest, hoping beyond hope that the heart beneath still beat. “Thanks to you.”
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When no heartbeat greeted her, Izzy gave a sorrowful exhale. “No,” she breathed, her shoulders drooping. “Please, no!” She placed her other hand over his wrist. A cold spread through her, and she felt like she was going to be sick.
She flinched when Riley clicked his tongue from where he stood near her.
“A shame?” she spat heavily at his callous response. She shut her eyes for a moment, and a tear streaked down her cheek. She removed her hand from his wrist and formed a fist. “You were watching this entire time,” she growled out, opening her eyes, but not looking to Riley. “Why didn’t you stop him? Or block him from getting hurt? I know you’re fast enough. Or does being ‘neutral’ mean you don’t give a crap about what happens to innocent people in the process?” Her nose pulled up angrily and she turned her head so Riley was just in her field of vision.
She flinched when Riley clicked his tongue from where he stood near her.
“A shame?” she spat heavily at his callous response. She shut her eyes for a moment, and a tear streaked down her cheek. She removed her hand from his wrist and formed a fist. “You were watching this entire time,” she growled out, opening her eyes, but not looking to Riley. “Why didn’t you stop him? Or block him from getting hurt? I know you’re fast enough. Or does being ‘neutral’ mean you don’t give a crap about what happens to innocent people in the process?” Her nose pulled up angrily and she turned her head so Riley was just in her field of vision.
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Fury drowned out all the anguish on Izzy’s face save for that lying within her eyes at Riley’s response.
She stood on unsteady legs and faced Riley, her hands clenched at her sides and gaze boring into him.
“Not in your bill?” she hissed through her teeth, turning her internal anger toward him. “You let him die,” the word came out in a choked rasp as she stepped slightly closer to him, the very sound of the word making her cringe and painfully tightening the knot in her stomach, “because I didn’t promise you enough money?” She bore her fangs at him. “You wretched, greedy cad!” Not caring what consequences it would have, she swung a fist toward his face, all the rage and hurt stewing inside her trying to find a release and choosing the most convenient outlet.
She stood on unsteady legs and faced Riley, her hands clenched at her sides and gaze boring into him.
“Not in your bill?” she hissed through her teeth, turning her internal anger toward him. “You let him die,” the word came out in a choked rasp as she stepped slightly closer to him, the very sound of the word making her cringe and painfully tightening the knot in her stomach, “because I didn’t promise you enough money?” She bore her fangs at him. “You wretched, greedy cad!” Not caring what consequences it would have, she swung a fist toward his face, all the rage and hurt stewing inside her trying to find a release and choosing the most convenient outlet.
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When Izzy’s blow missed, she willed herself to try again, ignoring the look he gave her and wanting nothing more than to wipe the grin from his face, but instead, she could only sink back to her knees, her shoulders shaking in silent sobs. She snarled when Riley voiced one of his unfortunately familiar mantras, which almost gave her the extra boost she needed try landing another hit. But before she could return to her feet, he continued.
She looked up at him, her body stiff. Her glare darkened as he placed a price on Trevor’s life, as if it were nothing more than a trinket to be bought from a street market. She closed her eyes with a snort in disbelief, and looked away from him to her fallen friend. “Whatever you want,” she said without hesitation when he finished, “if you can do it, just save him. Please,” she added nearly inaudibly.
She looked up at him, her body stiff. Her glare darkened as he placed a price on Trevor’s life, as if it were nothing more than a trinket to be bought from a street market. She closed her eyes with a snort in disbelief, and looked away from him to her fallen friend. “Whatever you want,” she said without hesitation when he finished, “if you can do it, just save him. Please,” she added nearly inaudibly.
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