Hellion

RPGC #27: To the sky! (Prompt and Discussion)

I am finally, definitely.... maybe going to enter this.

@Stormflyx

You should!

Also...I think I might take a crack at it again.

Hai

My name is Epic Roleplay I'm here for the chaos :P

@EpicRoleplay

Join the club

But srly, welcome to Guild!

D&D 3.5e - The Marches of the Savage Realm

Traversing down the winding tunnel, the Vah’lux released a long-held breath as the path opened up yet again to another pocket full of rats. Why?... She thought, wiping beads of sweat from her forehead that had inevitably mixed with the dirt falling from the ceiling. There had been a small glimmer of hope that if the group simply ignored the charred chest from the previous chamber, the rats would leave them be. But how absurd a thought such as that was. Perhaps being underground was starting to take its toll on the Goliath’s imagination.

No matter, as the creatures of various sizes charged forward with reckless abandon, the lean muscles of the woman tensed as she prepared herself in a combat stance. Although, she hoped to be faster as both humans in front of her were attacked and presumably injured, even as they continued to shove off several of the smaller ones. Vah’lux then noticed Gorosk rush up past her as he too went after the larger rat.

But the most obvious had been the creature who attacked and was clinging onto Renault’s arm by it’s putrid incisors. And while the floor was scattered with many, in a split-second decision, Vah’lux turned to swing her ax in order to either slice the rat in half or embed her weapon into its body, thereby causing it to release its grip.

Effects against rat clinging onto Renault

Attack = 20
Damage = 7

Veritas Lux Mea

Kai’mos Varthus

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---

Pain for the young mercenary woman was felt as not a ripple but a wave throughout the ship, and the Captain was no exception. Kai knew she was hurting, especially having to carry the weight of guilt for crewmates lost to war, and while he could come off as a very stoic individual, the empathy he endured was still there regardless.

“I know this” Kai’mos responded to Maria with a nod and smile. “Although I do hope we may honor their memory by surviving long enough to right a few wrongs out there.”

“I didn’t realize there was monetary compensation for my medical services.”

The Ithlo smirked, as that was one of very few attempts at humor, especially for one of his kind. Still, Kai hoped to lift the otherwise dreadful mood that had been looming over the entire ship since the attack. So much destruction in so little time. And deaths of beloved crewmates, one confirmed and the other...hanging by a mere thread which was continuing to fray. But all hpe wasn’t lost thankfully, and the technology they did have at least was operational enough to assist in mending the First Mate Vin'Akali, and while they may not have spoken much during their time together on the Veritas, Kai was thrilled that the Naka had made it through and would hopefully get to know him going forward. He respected Kevej for the bravery shown during the attack, and that was something which could never be forgotten.

“Do not move too quickly, Mister Vin'Akali.” Kai’mos mention, helping the First Mate to sit up. “The antibiotics are still working their way through your system, so you may experience mild disorientation for the next few hours.”

The Doctor ran another scan along the affected areas of Kevej’s body to ensure internal healing was as successful as externa, and with a satisfied nod he powered down the machine. “And from what I can see, all healing agents are doing precisely what they are supposed to do.”

Kai’mos took a few steps over toward the back wall and picked up what appeared to be a seemingly unremarkable walking cane. It was a silvery metal alloy of some make, had an adjustable height that worked off of internal hydraulics controlled by a button on the handle, and a galvanized rubber end. “So, whenever you are ready to stand, sir, I would recommend that you utilize this to keep yourself steady until at least a few days from today. You also need to keep pressure off of your forearm, so no heavy lifting of any kind. Do I make myself clear?”

The Ithlo turned his attention to Maria for a moment. “Captain, if I may, I’d like to continue monitoring Mister Vin'Akali until weeks end, and would suggest he is put on light duty.”

“As for Miss Taggart…” Kai paused for a few moments, not so much to think about what to say, but moreso, how to formulate the words in a way that did not appear as though he was giving up hope on her. But there was none. Truly, based on the mercenary’s current condition, there was little chance of survival, and he knew they knew that. “I shall stay with her for as long as she holds on.”

He turned his attention back to the datapad held firmly in his hand, pulling up readings on the ship’s CO-2 levels and air quality, ensuring there were no toxins that could be potentially fatal. No one needed that. A few minutes passed, as Maria spoke to Kevej and the mention of a “Pink Ithlo” piqued the Medic’s curiosity.

“Had we taken on a guest, Captain?”

Our Final Nights: A World of Darkness Roleplay

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Oasis Apartments | West Hollywood | 3:24am

Cold water cascaded down her body as she sat up on the shower floor; arms hugging tightly around knees that were drawn close to the young woman’s chest. Save for the leather jacket and black Sketchers laying in the hallway, Nicole was fully clothed, never changing out of the dark skinny jeans and charcoal Nine Inch Nails t-shirt that she had worn for the meet-up only two hours early. Before it all went to shit. Before things started to make less sense. What should have been a routine operation that had an ongoing investigation for weeks, turned out to be a game of cat and mouse, and unbeknownst to the officer, she had been the mouse all along. Lured into a trap by misinformation, following breadcrumbs that were eaten up by the rats who laid them there to begin with. It was all too surreal and horrific, something she thought would never be expected in her line of work. Something unexplained that should not have happened to begin with.

“What am I?...

Nicole had only asked herself a dozen times or more since landing back into her apartment, a place that didn’t seem as familiar as it once was. Even the ice cold water, which had been running above her for at least a half hour did not chill her to the bone as it normally would have. She never liked cold, and yet for the first time in her existence, her body had become void of any real warmth. After a few more moments of contemplation, however, she finally stood to her feet, turning off the water before stripping the remainder of her now soaked clothing and allowing them to fall into a watery heap onto the tiled floor. Stepping onto the fuzzy lavender bath rug, the woman’s hand shook as she reached for the hanging towel, and slowly wrapped her body in what should have been comfort. But there was no comfort to be found in such things she took for granted.

Even the mirror told a different story, and a wave of emotions swept over the woman as she glanced at the reflection of a person she hardly recognized. Skin tone, once olive, now sapped of it’s hue, it’s vibrance, and all that remained was a paleness that bordered on sickly. Her eye color even seemed to change slightly, but that could be a trick of the light. She cocked her head slightly to expose her neck where she had felt the pinch, but no markings were there. Had she imagined this? The slices on her face were hard to miss -a reminder of her assailant’s clawed fingers- yet, didn’t hurt any longer, however, the fact that they were healed over so quickly was surprising enough. Injuries such as that would have needed stitches in the least, but the wounds sealed, leaving a few scars in their place. Would they ever disappear for good, or was she to live with the markings for life?

Impulsively she reached for the medicine cabinet -her hand still trembling- slid the door open, and grabbed the electric hair trimmer before positioning it against her temple as though a handgun pressed to the head. Although suicide hadn’t crossed her otherwise erratic mind that night, but rather the urge to prune away the ugliness that crawled it’s way to the surface. The claw marks on the side of her head tore through the follicles of hair so none would ever return, and there was no way she could bear to look at herself in the same way again. Flipping it to the “on” position, Nicole ran the clippers along her scalp slowly, trimming away her once beautiful, wavy auburn hair as wet locks fell to the floor and into the sink like dark tendrils. She paid careful attention around the scars just above her left ear until she was eventually finished, and rubbed the remaining stubble across the top of her head. It wasn’t what she wanted, but it was all she could do at the time. It wasn’t hard to recall Britney Spears going mad and shaving her head.

Is this the insanity of L.A.?

“Have I gone mad?” Nyx mused, trying to insert a semblance of humor into an otherwise fucked situation, as she stepped into the shower to rinse the loose hair and properly clean the rest of her body.

Shortly after, the woman found herself standing in the kitchen wrapped in a bath towel and going through the missed calls. Twenty-three to be exact over the course of the last few hours. And several text messages as well with the expected “Where the hell are you?” and “Are you okay?” inquiries from the police Captain as well as a few of her colleagues. Based on the voicemails, they knew already, since First Responders discovered the bodies of both undercovers, still sitting in their respective vehicles with a bullet to the head from point blank range. Voices on the other end were laced with confusion, anxiety, and concern. And why wouldn’t they? None of it made sense, and yet at the same time, finding two murdered police officers in Park Mesa Heights wasn’t unusual. Nicole clicked on the police radio, and amongst the chatter, they were still searching for their third officer.

“Shit.” She leaned against the wall closing her eyes for a moment just to slow her mind and figure out the chaos that just wouldn’t stop. Her emotions wanted to get the best of her, but she fought them as best she could. How was she to explain any of what had transpired? She didn’t have answers, and they would expect answers. The operation was a bust, her partners were both shot dead, and somehow she survived? The large man who initially attacked her, and the others...and some kind of creature? It was all madness. Had the job taken a toll on her mental health? Where had all her training gone? What was her recourse at this juncture?

Nicole’s body shook at the endless questions flooding in, the mental snapshots of the meeting, the attack, the unexplained fear, and the violence all rolled up into one. She stepped over toward the counter that had a few of her favorite wines and poured a glass, spilling a bit of it due to an unsteady hand. Yes, alcohol was needed. It always managed to quell the fires in her mind. But no sooner did she try to ingest the pinot noir, that her body convulsed at the taste and prompted vomited it out, nearly missing the sink.

Clearly that wasn’t the answer at all.

As she cleaned up the mess, the woman felt nothing but helplessness at that moment. Despair you might even say. She knew they would be coming to the apartment soon enough to investigate. Dead officers were one thing, but a missing one? Too many loose ends to tie up. Too many questions and not enough answers.

Or was there?

Sitting in a small bowl near the edge of the counter was a black business card with the letter “E” emblazoned in the center. Eva. Nicole remembered the other night. The beautiful woman sitting at the bar. She had such lovely eyes and an inviting smile. The conversation between them had been brief, but Eva’s words were laced with a sweetness and sympathy that spoke volumes, and days later her voice could still be heard echoing from the depths of the chaos. At that moment, Nicole felt a friendly tug at her heart, a hope surfacing as she picked up the card and dialed the phone number listed on the back. Anxiety washed over as the line rang, as part of her wanted to hang up realizing how ridiculous it all was. Or how absurd any of this would have sounded to anyone else.

But it was too late to turn back, as the line picked up. No. Wait. Voicemail.

“Fuck it.” Nicole whispered as she hung up the call and laid the cell down on the counter. “I don’t know who the hell this person is anyway...”

Stepping out of the kitchen, the woman unknowingly paced her living room, trying to figure out whatever the next steps would be, mumbling to herself every-so-often as though thinking out loud would put things in a clearer perspective. As paranoia dug itself further into her mind, she couldn’t help but check the windows that looked out into the street from her second story apartment. At any moment they could come for her, but she wondered if the safer bet would be to just not run.

Only cowards run.

Hello there.

Welcome to Guild

Musings n' Dreams

○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Headphones in
Music blaring
Deaf to the world
Trying to forget

Trying to remember
Not quite able to do either
Thinking to much
Missing someone you barely know

Trying to remember
Trying to forget
Not quite able to do either
Lost in a daydream

Fantasizing about what could be
Wishing and hoping for more
Trying to be content
Not quite there

Headphones in
Music blaring
Deaf to the world
Missing someone you barely know

Trying to remember
Trying to forget
Not quite able to do either
Turn the music up

Close your eyes
Think of what could be
Wishing and hoping for more
Missing someone you barely know

Trying to remember
Trying to forget
Fantasizing about what could be
Lost in a daydream

A gorgeous smile
A heart-clenching laugh
Brief moments shared
Shameless flirting

Harmless innuendos
A handsome face
A great smile
Full of compliments

Headphones in
Music blaring
Deaf to the world
Missing someone you barely know

Fantasizing about what could have been
Lost in a daydream
Trying to remember
Trying not to forget
Smiling the whole time

○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Penny's Pencils

Nice work, @Penny!

Musings n' Dreams

One of the
Most difficult
Battles I face
Each day
Is between
What I know
And what I feel.

And each day
I have to
Remind myself
Not to allow
My emotions
To overpower

Our Final Nights: A World of Darkness Roleplay

Nicole Stathos | Gangrel | 13th Generation

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.

Who do you trust?
Tell me who do you trust?
I see 'em coming at us
But when the molotov drops
Tell me who do you trust?

Name: Nicole “Nyx” Stathos

Age: 26
Actual: 26

Species: Kindred (neonate)

Clan: (Urban) Gangrel

Disciplines: Celerity | Obfuscate | Protean
Note: her Sire’s former Sabbat affiliation has granted the above disciplines

Generation: 13th

Appearance: Standing at five-foot-four with a weight proportionate and lean muscle, Nicole had always been considered “small but tough” throughout most of her life. She’d been a very physical person, whether it was in work or play, and her shorter than average stature continued to push her to challenge everything.

Her hair, once long, wavey, and beautiful in her mortal life, was reduced to nothing. Shaved down to the scalp out of a fit of rage, after realizing a deep wound given to her by an assailant post-Embrace left one side of her head partially scarred. A spot where hair would never grow properly again.

A tomboy for the most part, typical clothing for her had always been more or less “streetwear”, or at the very least, tshirt, jeans and sneakers. Very rarely did she ever dress up for an event, unless it was absolutely necessary.

Personality: Confident. Outspoken. Polite. Genuine. Compassionate. Just a few traits that could sum her up. Always putting those she cares for first, Nicole would rather live a life where others are the center of her focus. However, don’t ever mistake her friendly disposition with weakness, as she will quickly remind you otherwise. Emotions can run high with her at times, especially in cases dealing with her struggles of immortality and adjusting to the unlife, however she does her best to repress those thoughts and tears in order to move on.

Biography

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“Your body is dying...pay no attention.”

The unforgettable quote from Interview with the Vampire resonated -oddly enough- within the woman’s otherwise agonized thoughts as she remained curled up in a fetal position on the cold, filthy tile floor of an unfamiliar kitchen in an equally unknown apartment. A place she will most likely never forget. A place she should have never found herself anyway in the late hours. The darkness. The horrible smell of trash, old bleach, spoiled milk, blood, and death. But not fresh death. Rather a creature whose body was rotten from long ago and far past its expiration date. The room had been full of them only minutes before, but now it was only...the silence. All but her heart, as the pumping slowed to a halt, and the once mortal coil she lived with for twenty-six years continued its transformation into something entirely more impressive. Perhaps even more monstrous. What was happening on that night? And more so, what had happened to the large man who caused this shift of lifestyle? A paradigm that was once laid out for the young woman, now turned to a path of uncertainty. The attackers, who had come out of nowhere, resulting in a scar across the woman’s face that may never heal.

And the creature...the hairy beast who saved her from a gruesome death.

How does one find themselves in such a situation?

It only makes sense to go back to the beginning.

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Situated between the megacities of San Francisco and Los Angeles, and bordering Yosemite National Park, Nicole was born to a middle class family in the relatively sleepy town of Fresno. Daughter of a retired police captain, and a flower shop owner, the girl was - at times- standing before a crossroad, wondering just where to go with her life. She respected both of her parents occupations, as law enforcement and entrepreneurship were no easy tasks, however, after graduating highschool, it seemed that her father’s line of work had the most influence during her life and the Fresno Police Academy was the next major step on her journey. Was it something she dreamed of? Not necessarily. But she was never quite sure what her dream was, and simply settled for familiar territory.

Fast-forward seven years, arduous training, political bullshit, misogynist leadership, and generally gathering as much street knowledge as possible, and Nyx found herself in Los Angeles, or more specifically, West Hollywood, working undercover for the LAPD’s narcotics department for a few months. New to the division, but not the life of a police officer, the woman certainly proved capable enough in cracking a number of smaller pending cases that had otherwise baffled the local precincts. Perhaps the chaos and massiveness of Los Angeles simply needed a fresh perspective from a small-town girl, or perhaps, there were greater forces at work. Either way, Nicole was given the chance to strike at the heart of a blackmarket operation, as a meeting with the suspected ringleader was set into motion, with the young woman going as the “potential buyer”.

A few days before the meet -and simply wanting to unwind after a long day- Nyx met a few friends and coworkers at a quaint pub in Fairfax on Melrose Avenue, hoping to drown the stress and anxiety she felt at times on the job. It wasn’t the best idea for a cop, but it sure sounded great at the time. While sitting at a small table near the back corner of the pub, chatting it up with the others, Nicole couldn’t help but glance across the room, almost as though a subtle voice compelled her to do so, as she nervously curled a lock of her shoulder-length auburn hair around an ear. It felt...right. The feeling of possibly knowing the young brunette who sat at the bar nursing some sort of refreshment and exchanged eye contact. Within a few moments, Nicole excused herself, asking the others if they wanted anything from the bar, before heading over there, solely focused on the beautiful woman with the intoxicating smile. Very few friends even knew much about her personal life, especially when it came to relationships or sexual preference, but it all didn’t matter at that moment. There was only her and the mystery woman, and Nicole was intrigued. Stepping up to the bar next to her, she ordered for her friends, to at least keep up the appearance that she wasn’t just strangely drawn to a random female. Small talk or otherwise, they both spoke, Nicole finding herself smiling and blushing more than she had in a long time, caught off guard by the compliments and subtle flirtatious gestures from the woman who called herself “Eva”. After what could have been a solid five minute conversation, Eva handed Nyx a black business card, with a beautifully crafted lavender-tinted “E” emblazoned on the front, with parting words to contact her if she needed anything.

Nicole didn’t quite know what to think of that -just meeting her and all- but she smiled and nodded, before heading back to her table with a new pitcher of beer in her hands and a contemplative expression. Her friends gave the woman their own suspicious looks as to wonder what was going on between the two. One could only imagine.

The Animal I have Become.

The evening of the meet put Nicole in the heart of Park Mesa Heights, one of the roughest neighborhoods in South Los Angeles, and one of a dozen or so areas where cops were found brutally murdered with very little trace of the culprits. Unexplained shit was the norm it seemed these days, so Nicole wasn’t surprised that her backup -two unmarks- were mostly reluctant to take the job considering where the meet was taking place. But, early intel reported very little gang interference that night, so they had to take the opening while it was still possible. With backup flanking both sides of the condemned tenement along 15th Street, Nicole made her way to the second story apartment, as instructed via the dealer’s email, stepping over piles of trash, sleeping, drunk, or high vagrants, and dead rats before knocking at the door which opened within moments.

Greeted by a tall, muscular, bearded man dressed in mostly leathers and covered in tattoos, Nicole followed behind and locked the door per his request. The place was in shambles as one would expect from a building that had been considered “unsafe to occupy” for years, but it looked as though plenty of undesirables took shelter regardless of the concerns.

“I’ll cut right to the chase.” The large man stated, crossing his arms. “I’ve been watching you for awhile, and I know all about you.” He paused for a moment, before allowing a smirk to cross his lips. “Officer Stathos.”

Nyx wasn’t prepared for what had just happened, and her body tensed, her poker face giving away more than she probably hoped for. How the fuck does he know? Was there an insider feeding this shithead police-sensitive information? But he couldn’t know that much. Clearly it’s a bluff.

“Look, I don’t kn-”

“Don’t bother denying it, Nicole. I have literally every piece of intel on you that goes all the way back to mom and pop’s home in cozy Fresno.” He shrugged, while his voice remained even-toned and nonthreatening. “The bottom line is, you’ve got guts, you’re a good cop, and I want you.”

The woman cocked her head slightly, and was just about to say something, until he continued.

“No, not in the way you’re thinking, my friend. You’re not my type.” He snickered, taking a few steps closer. “More like, joining a family who will stick by you through thick and thin.”

The woman wasn’t quite sure how to respond, so she simply didn’t, but rather backed toward the door. Locked. Fuck.

“Now I know this is all a little unorthodox, but I assure you it’ll be over before you know it.” The bearded man kept his arms crossed as he stepped closer.

“Look, just stay the fuck away from me!” She exclaimed, slowly reaching for the 9mm tucked behind her.

The other simply shook his head. “I wouldn’t do that.” He responded, and before the firearm could be presented, supernatural speed positioned him directly at the woman’s side, knocking the weapon from her hand and pinning her against the door with strength that felt like the weight of a garbage truck had pressed down against her torso.

“You can struggle...” The man growled, his eyes glowing a subtle amber as he pierced her own frightened gaze. “But it’ll only make what’s coming next all the more painful.”

“Wait-”

Before further protest, a sharp pinch surged through the flesh on her neck, the muscles tensing, causing the woman to recoil and attempt to pull away from the iron grip of the large bearded man. But the short-lived pain quickly turned to a pleasurable experience as her body slowly relaxed, and the blood being siphoned from the open artery flowed freely and with little resistance. Her mind, body, and soul would all succumb to the song of the kindred. The Kiss. The Embrace. What felt like an eternity had only been a few moments, but the vampire who would become her Sire carried the woman to the center of the living room and laid her down onto the floor, before opening his wrist to allow his new Childe to feed. And feed she did, without much hesitation in fact, as though the very lifeforce which coursed through his veins called out to her. Beckoning her to become one. One flesh. A pact that would be unbreakable until Final Death.

In a sudden turn of events, the front door of the apartment was kicked in and off its hinges, and three figures -silhouetted by the light of the street ambience- rushed in, catching the Gangrel off guard. The lead assailant, a hefty dark-skinned brute with a shaved head and gold teeth snarled baring fangs as he leapt with inhuman speed at the bearded vampire, knocking him against the adjacent wall. The large Gangrel recovered quickly, landing on his feet and springing forward with ebony claws out and rage in his expression. The altercation between the two seemed to go on for what could have been mere seconds at their rate of acceleration, with growls, hisses, and the crunching of bone and cartilage with each exchange of punches and kicks.

And there was Nicole, her body slowly going through the agonizing physical and psychological transformation of vampirism, was of little use in an otherwise vulnerable state.

But, it mattered not, for as quickly as the fight started, it ended, with the Gangrel being held by the other two attackers, and the leader pulling a large iron rod from his coat and placing it over the heart of the bearded one.

“How did you find me?” The Gangrel hissed through clenched teeth.

“No one dips out on the Sabbat.” The dark-skinned man growled before driving the rod through the other’s chest, eliciting a blood curdling howl before his body went limp. “Take that punk-ass outta here.” He spat. “I’ll deal with his bitch.”

The woman’s body continued to react to the vitae introduced into her system minutes early, even as she stared up at the man looming over her with a poisonous grin, trying to formulate words of help or to plead for her life. She had no idea what was transpiring at that moment. Was she drugged? Had she been hit by something? Her head throbbed, muscled convulsed, and veins burned with a fire from a thousand suns. The Gangrel’s own blood was killing every cell in her body, reforming organs and tissue into something else. Something...monstrous.

“Pathetic lil dog.” He shook his head mockingly. “Not even worth my time, but can’t leave any loose ends.” He said, pulling a military grade tactical knife from his coat. “And yo a fuckin’ huge loose end. And don’t think your friends are coming. Nope. I’d say they're out for the count. For good.” A wry grin crossed his dark lips. “Fuckin’ mortal pigs.”

“But-ah, I’m gonna take a lil souvenir before I slice yo pretty ass up good.” The dark man leaned over the woman and grabbed a handful of her hair, running the blade across her scalp as Nicole’s own hand grabbed on his wrists. Strength was slowly forming in her muscles, but not enough to do anything worth keeping the stranger from cutting away a few locks of hair from the side of her head.

“Fuck you!” She vomited out the words as blood streamed from the corners of her lips, feebly attempting to punch her assailant in the head with her free hand. One. Two. Three. The punches did nothing as the dark man smiled, taking his own hand and raking clawed fingers across part of her face and head, which caused the woman to scream in pain as the inherent poisons aggravated the wounds.

“Ev’ryone has their kinks.” He chuckled, hovering the tip of the blade over the exposed and bloodied throat of the woman. “Mine just happens to be causing pain-”

But before the vampire could finish, he sniffed the air and quickly turned his head in surprise only to notice a creature, whose stature reached the ceiling, looming behind him. Although it was too late, as the hairy beast thrust it’s large clawed hand forward, grabbing the head of the Sabbat creeper, and slamming him against the floor with a force that sent a rumble across the apartment. Again and again the Werewolf plowed the head of the other against the splintered hardwood floor until the body went limp, and no longer was the vampire a threat.

The towering creature allowed a low growl to slip through it’s huge muzzle as it merely stared at the female neonate laying at its feet, her own eyes glared back with a mixture of confusion and rage.

“You’ll need this, and I suggest you get the hell out of here soon.” The beast said, tossing a blood pouch which landed next to her before effortlessly hoisting the dead vampire up and over its shoulder and heading out through the door.

“Ah...and let Eva know that my debt is paid.” It concluded, disappearing into the darkness.

And so we end where this began. On the floor of a place unfamiliar to her, staring through eyes that did not belong to her prior to the Embrace that changed everything. The blood pouch had been ripped open easily enough, and a woman who’d never thought drinking blood of any kind would be a treat, guzzled the two pints down as though it would be her last. It began it’s mending of wounds, although the scars on her face would never truly heal fully. And it didn’t take long for at least the hunger, the rage, and the instinct to want to rip something apart to subside as the vitae ran its course, nourishing as best it could. Extinguishing the beast within that so badly wanted to claw its way out of the darkness.

Not today Satan. But maybe tomorrow.

Hands trembling, Nicole sat up and reached for her phone, calling both men who were to be the backup for the operation that was clearly a total cluster fuck. It wasn’t even real. It was all a sham, and the woman fell for it, hook line and sinker. There was no answer from either cell, and while shaken and confused beyond belief, she needed to know, and so she stood and made her way out of the apartment complex to where the unmarked cars were to be positioned. And there they were. The cars. The corpses of both officers. A bullet to each of their skulls. Their lives ended due to a big joke.

And Nicole was the punchline.

She wanted to cry, but could not. Tears that were once something familiar to her had disappeared. There was nothing but agony and guilt. She reached into the car and grabbed the police radio, calling out for emergency assistance due to two police officers down. The whole operation was a bust. It didn’t matter who knew about what anymore. It was all a setup. Who could she go to? Sure as hell not her Captain. Nicole couldn’t stop shaking. It wasn’t the hunger from her new unlife, it was fear of the unknown. Fear and uncertainty of anything anymore. The initial transition from mortal to kindred was no easy thing for the psyche to wrap around. None of it should be what it is, but it happened. Although...what happened? What was happening to Officer Nicole Stathos?

That night fear compelled her to flee. To run far from where all of this had gone down. And so, with a heavy conscience she leapt into her car and peeled off into the coolness of the night. Back to her apartment. Back to the familiar turf of West Hollywood.