Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Exotic Solos =&gt; Topic started by: SapphireStar on 03-01-2017, 04:58:43</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SapphireStar</strong> on <strong>03-01-2017, 04:58:43</strong>
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				The mission rapidly devolved into chaos. It felt as if she was moving in molasses while everything around her seemed to move fast. Opening her mouth to shout but no words came out as her partner was attacked. Breaking free of her prison, Victoria rushed forth. Casting a spell, she sent her attackers flying. Blood, so much blood. Time was quickly running out. Ignoring her own safety, Victoria began casting a spell to save her partner. She was not going to let him die. Concentrating, letting the magic flow through her. Chanting the words, Victoria cast the spell on her fallen partner. As the spell neared its end something sharp pierced her shoulder. The pain interrupted the spell. Heart pounding. The teeth retracted dropping her to the ground. She could feel blood oozing from the wound. As darkness descended upon her, the only thing on Victoria's mind was hoping the spell worked.<br><br>A bang jolted Victoria awake. Bolting upright in bed, chest rising and falling in rapid gasps of air. A fine sheen of sweat glistening upon her body. Outside rain pelted against the glass windows. Another bang caused her head to whip towards the windows seeing a gnarled tree branch slapping against the window pane. Running a shaking hand through her jet black hair. Lightning flashed illuminating the room briefly. Even after that fateful night over a week ago, Victoria had yet to return to the field. She still didn't quite feel normal. No one knew for sure how a werewolf's bite might affect someone with magical powers. A sigh escaped her lips. Resting her head in her hands. A shiver rippled through her body.<br><br>Looking up, Victoria felt an odd sensation. As if she was being watched. "Hello?" Victoria called out into the darkened room. "Who is there?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jet</strong> on <strong>04-01-2017, 06:31:33</strong>
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				This was supposed to have been simple, almost easy. Werewolf hunting was never free of hazards, but there was a method that kept them safe. Always fight together, never get isolated, never get bitten. If one were to get bitten, they died. Nothing more had to be said there. Either they lost their life in the attack itself, or a hunter took his or her own life instead of becoming one of them. Those were the rules, and they were always followed. Instead, somehow, Aedric found himself alone in the middle of what must have been half the pack, his sword flashing around him furiously, the only thing keeping him from giving in being an unseemly amount of righteous anger and more than a little indignation at the thought of dying here. <em>No,</em> he told himself in his head. <em>I will not be one of those lessons taught to youngsters on biting off more than you can chew.</em><br><br>Chuckling at his own joke, despite how dire his situation was, Aedric thrust his silver sword into the chest of one creature rushing him, then sidestepped another and chopped down hard to rid one of its arm, claws and all. He was determined to be more than they could chew, in any case. He felt a sharp pain on his back and cried out, spinning and seeing blood on the paw of the beast behind him. He had not been bitten. There was still some hope. That sword came down between shoulder and neck, sending blood spraying from the collection of veins and arteries there. Seeing another out of the corner of his eye leaping towards him, he yanked at his sword and started to turn to face it, only his sword did not come with him. <br><br>It remained stuck inside the werewolf he had just struck, and as he tugged again, he got it free, but already he was on the ground, the claws opening him up. He screamed in agony, aware that these were his last moments if Victoria could not get to him. He stretched an arm out to her, saw her casting a spell, and knew it would be too late. Aedric closed his eyes as his attackers moved in for the kill, and he briefly felt the life-giving spell Victoria had cast before all sensation left him. His soul was leaving. It was over.<br><br>______________________________________<br><br><br>In the shadows of Victoria's bedroom, a familiar voice, albeit raspier than she had last heard it, called out.<br><br>"I'm surprised you didn't take your own life after the bite," in the brief silence that followed, she could see the darkness waver all over, as water will when something is dropped in it. "That is the rule. We do not become what we hunt, Victoria."<br><br>Finally stepping forward, she might recognize the altered form of her fallen partner, Aedric. He seemed to blend seamlessly into the darker corners of the room, and the edges of his body constantly wavered and shifted like smoke or a mirage. He still carried his sword at his side, and was wearing the same clothes he had worn when Victoria had watched him die, although now they were shredded in many areas. A scar occupied half of his face, and those dark eyes that had once sparkled with laughter showed none now. His hair, a golden blonde color, was the only part about him that seemed exactly the same, rugged and partly unkempt.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SapphireStar</strong> on <strong>04-01-2017, 07:00:43</strong>
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				The sound of his voice made Victoria nearly jump a foot off the bed. Hand over her heart feeling it hammering wildly against the inside of her chest. This was unexpected. Eyes widened slightly in surprise. Blinking once, then twice to make sure she was not seeing things. Each time she opened her eyes, there he was. Maybe she was dreaming. Reaching over, pinching her left forearm. The tiny yelp coming from her soft pink lips confirmed to Victoria this was no dream. Her spell had worked. But, something was off. Tilting her head slightly, before pushing off the blankets from her bed. Swinging long slender legs over the edge, slipping her feet into soft, warm slippers. Grabbing her robe, Victoria slipped it on to ward off the chill in the room.<br><br>"I know it is the rule," Victoria spoke softly. That night was mostly a blur after the werewolf had sunk its fangs into her tender flesh. She didn't remember how she had gotten from the battle to home. When she tried to remember it was a hazy blur. Victoria was fairly certain she had been found by a fellow magic user, or good Samaritan? Rubbing her arms walking towards Aedric. "I couldn't do it. Not yet. Not until I completed some unfinished business, first."<br><br>Stopping before him, he looked the same, save for the differences. If only she had acted quicker but something had prevented her from properly engaging in the fight. Her ice blue eyes softening, a flash of guilt. Reaching out with her hand to caress his cheek. "They think because of the magic I use, it might cause the bite to react differently. Maybe even delay transformation," Victoria spoke softly, watching him waver in and out of shadows. He reminded her of a ghost. "I'm sorry." Her voice barely above a whisper filled with sadness.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jet</strong> on <strong>04-01-2017, 07:57:05</strong>
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				When her hand met his skin, she would find he did not feel cold as a corpse, although he did feel cooler than usual, with a slight hint of warmth far beneath his skin. He did not retreat from her, but let her have her moment, almost feeling alive when she sought contact with him. She was the first person he had met with after regaining his sense out in the fields. Aedric had awoken alone long afterwards, rising to find himself very different indeed. His body bore the scars of the battle, red and vibrant, although they did not bleed. He did not feel pain, and inside was a vast emptiness, a calling to another place, a longing for death. <br><br>"I did not come to kill you, Victoria," he said finally, not pulling away from her touch but making no moves to embrace her either. His demeanor was as chilly as his flesh, though, like that, there were hints of fire beneath. "I am torn between life and death, and I need you to help free me."<br><br>Considering her words again, he looked confused, eyeing her and taking a small step closer, filling the gap between them somewhat, a reflex more than anything meant to show closeness and comfort her. "What unfinished business?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SapphireStar</strong> on <strong>04-01-2017, 08:34:12</strong>
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				His skin was cool to the touch, and yet, Victoria found there was some warmth. Biting her lower lip, she sensed something was different. It was like he was here and not here. Did the spell do this? Was it because it was interrupted by the werewolf attacking her? There were so many questions running through her mind. She was glad to see him, and yet, felt guilty for what the spell had done. Leaving him straddling two worlds. Her breath hitched hearing him ask her to free him. She would do anything for him. It made her heartache at the thought of losing him again.<br><br>"I am sorry. It is my fault the spell went wrong," Victoria spoke softly. She did not move away when Aedric stepped towards her. Her heart beat a little faster. "Aedric, I'm not sure how. I...I can try, but I need to find out what the spell did. There are so many unintended events which could have happened. One possibility, is that the spell tied us both together."<br><br>Victoria took a step towards him. THe distance between them disappearing a little more. Her delicate cheeks became flushed with a rosy shade. Heat began to sweep through her body despite the cool air in the room. Body trembling ever so slightly. "I...I have been looking into what happened that night. I think there was a sorcerer there that night. Things seemed to chaotic and at the same time, too organized. The way the werewolves attacked was different. Not as frenzied as some tend to be."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jet</strong> on <strong>04-01-2017, 09:49:42</strong>
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				Aedric looked upon her face, saw her cheeks flushing. His new senses made her heartbeat audible as it sped up ever so slightly. He could see the gears working in her mind, and could sense that there were feelings going on between them, but they felt muted, odd and otherworldly to him. His heart beat, but it did so begrudgingly. Though he appeared to breathe, no air moved in and out of his lungs, and they did so seemingly only out of habit. His insides felt cold and lifeless, but even so, seeing Victoria again, a small ember seemed to burn somewhere within.<br><br>"Magic was never my specialty. I do not know how your spell worked or might have gone awry. I feel your attempts to keep me alive were successful, in some fashion, though I do not understand how or why."<br><br>Was she afraid of him? It was very likely she was, and it was definitely something he felt she should fear. Even he had no idea what he was or what he was capable of, simply that there were things now that he was able to do that he was not before, feats long held as impossible. Just in thinking of this place, in thinking of her, he had arrived, in mere seconds, to stand within the corner of her room. He reached his hand up and placed it against her chest, up high to feel her heartbeat, never taking his eyes off hers.<br><br>"Would you seek to finish what we started?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SapphireStar</strong> on <strong>05-01-2017, 07:54:41</strong>
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				Eyes looking over Aedric, taking in his scarred form. She wasn't entirely sure what the magic used created. He seemed alive, almost similar to a vampire, but when he returned the wounds should have healed. Tilting her head slightly. It was almost like the spell brought him back at the moment of death. Magic was unpredictable in how it worked. If one wasn't careful when casting a spell, it could go awry. The aftereffects could be anything. Even one as skilled as she was.<br><br>Feeling his hand against her chest caused her heart to skip a beat or two. Placing her hand over his, happy that he was back. FIngers curling giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. "Magic is unpredictable," Victoria spoke softly, her eyes staring into his. A faint tinge of gold in her icy blue eyes. "Yes. We need to finish what we started."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jet</strong> on <strong>06-01-2017, 22:11:23</strong>
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				If Victoria were to touch his wounds, she would find them warm to the touch, but otherwise they were almost like scars, slight indents in his flesh but no opening to whatever tissues lay beneath. She tried to reassure him, but he felt no fear, no uncertainty. What was inside of him was smoldering coals, small reminders of the man who used to laugh and smile and hunt, occasionally pausing to wonder if what he was doing was entirely right. Now, having become one of the things he had so vehemently despised, he had no doubt. There was no place in this world for him or similar creatures.<br><br>"We should go back to where this started. When do we start?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SapphireStar</strong> on <strong>09-01-2017, 03:55:42</strong>
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				Victoria looked at Aedric, a flicker of sadness in her eyes. Fingers moving over his body, lightly tracing over the scars. Biting her lower lip, a pang of guilt stabbing through her very being. She should have stayed. She should have gone back to him, but everything that happened once she had blacked out was a blur. The days seemed to blend together. Victoria berated herself mentally for letting her guard drop which allowed the werewolf to attack.<br><br>Hands trembling slightly. "We should review the details of the mission we were given, retrace our steps which led us to that spot," Victoria spoke, shivering, yet she felt a growing heat within her body. "Question again the people we talked to, see if anything has changed." Resting her head against his scarred chest. "Is it hot in here?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jet</strong> on <strong>09-01-2017, 08:43:33</strong>
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				The shade of Aedric knew that she was sad, knew that the state of him bothered her as it troubled him. He would have trouble sleeping if he slept at all these days. Truthfully, he did not know how long his body laid there on the ground, waiting for his revival. His body did not decay at all, and maintained many of its old traits, including many of his old emotions. Though struggling to find meaning in his new existence, there was still life in him, somewhere.<br><br>"We can talk to them, though I doubt they would look kindly upon what we are now," then, looking over her largely unchanged form, her body remaining outwardly at least completely the same, he revised his words. "At least, what I am."<br><br>Her hand upon him stirred something, a base urge that apparently had not left him with death. Her hand upon him was trembling. His own covered it, almost on instinct, something that he might have done before, and it felt appropriate now.<br><br>"I do not know," he said in response to her question. His form edged closer, seeming to tower over her. "Do I frighten you?" he asked in a whisper. "Or is it...something else you are feeling?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SapphireStar</strong> on <strong>10-01-2017, 03:51:17</strong>
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				Looking up, a brief flicker of confusion appeared on Victoria's face. Shaking her head, she wasn't afraid of him. She could never be afraid of him. He was still her partner no matter what. Something else was going on. Resting her head against his scarred chest, letting out a shaky sigh. "Aedric, you do not frighten me. I could never be afraid of you," Victoria spoke softly.<br><br>Pulling back slightly, ice blue eyes looking into his. Reaching up to caress his cheek. "I do not know. I think it might be something else," she spoke softly. "Perhaps a delayed reaction to the bite." Biting her lower lip. "If someone is hiding something, seeing a change could rattle them enough to reveal something." Her skin was starting to itch, feeling as if it was on fire. She ignored the feeling for now focusing on more important matters. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jet</strong> on <strong>10-01-2017, 05:07:39</strong>
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				It relieved him that Victoria did not find him frightening. In truth, Aedric was not sure of what he was or if he should be afraid. Her hand felt warm on his cheek, her head against his chest spoke of comfort that felt he had not known in a while. She seemed to be taking comfort from him as well, although perhaps it was just the familiar face and voice. He contemplated putting an arm around her, but did not know why or how. "Then we will get the information we need, when you are ready."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SapphireStar</strong> on <strong>13-01-2017, 02:16:08</strong>
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				Fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. Her body resting against his, closing her eyes for a moment letting the strange sensations gradually subside. Taking a few deep breaths, Victoria felt everything beginning to return to normal. Licking her lips, mouth feeling a little dry. Slowly, nodding her head. Pulling away from him, but still remaining close to him. <br><br>"First, we need to prepare before jumping into the investigation," Victoria spoke softly, icy blue eyes looking into his. She wasn't about to jump right in. Not until they gather some information before proceeding. "We should go over the original information that we were given, and piece together what we remember from being out in the field." Turning slightly then moved over to the fireplace. Placing some pieces of wood inside, she lit a fire. Dancing amber light illuminated the room. The warmth radiating from the fire chasing away the chill in the room. Walking over to the bed, Victoria sat down upon the edge. Glancing at Aedric, she motioned for him to come sit with her. "What do you remember from the battle?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jet</strong> on <strong>13-01-2017, 04:54:03</strong>
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				Aedric wanted to get close to her, as she seemed on the verge of embracing him. He just was not sure how such things would work considering the stages they were both in. He still had urges, that much was true, but everything felt different now, like familiar places seen for the first time at night. He knew what everything was called, where they all were, but it was a different atmosphere entirely. He followed her to the bed, watching the fire curiously, understanding that it gave off warmth but not needing such things. His belt and scabbard were removed and leaned against the wall nearby as he sat down.<br><br>"The battle. I remember getting separated, but I do not remember how that happened. I remember..."pain in his back, his sword getting stuck, being stricken to the ground, his entrails being ripped out before his eyes. "Being surrounded. I remember dying. When I awoke, I got up alone and retrieved my sword from nearby. It was night, and the air was cold. I thought of this place, and I was here."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SapphireStar</strong> on <strong>19-01-2017, 04:54:30</strong>
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				Rubbing her hands over her thighs to relieve the clamy feeling. Biting her lower lip, Victoria watched Aedric curiously. He looked the same, except for the scars. Talked the same. But, she could sense the subtle differences. Closing her eyes lost in thought. Feeling the shift of the bed, her eyes slowly opened. Without saying a word, she listened. Feeling a pang of guilt stab through to her very soul. Reaching over, Victoria took hold of his hand giving it a gentle squeeze. <br><br>"I remember bits and pieces," Victoria spoke softly, sliding a little closer so that she could rest her head upon his shoulder. Icy blue eyes staring at the dancing amber flames in the fireplace. "I remember the feeling like I was moving through quicksand. Everything seemed to be moving slowly around me." Pausing, trying to shift through what memories she could find and piece together. "Seeing you go down, something snapped inside me which seemed to break whatever hold was on me." Holding his hand, her thumb moving in slow circles over the back of his hand. "I remember casting the spell to save you, then one of the werewolves biting me. Everything after just dissolves into darkness."<br><br>A soft sigh escaped her lips. "Since then, I'm sort of on unofficial leave till they know whether or not I have been affected by the bite." There was a hint of a cool edge to the tone of voice. "That, and I've refused a new partner. The fact you just thought of here and then appeared I find interesting. I haven't come across that ability before. It could be that the spell has possibly connected us together." Lifting her head to look at Aedric.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jet</strong> on <strong>23-01-2017, 03:31:47</strong>
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				Aedric almost could not bare the feeling of her hand upon his when it came as a surprise. His fingers reflexively twitched back as though to pull away, but he grit his teeth through it. What did she want from him? Victoria treated the both of them as if they were the same as before, but they were not. Within his bones, he knew that things were different now, and he wanted to discuss it, to find an answer to it, a way back. But that fire within screamed that there was no returning to the way he was. Aedric had never had an aptitude for magic, but certain magics called to him now, resonated within his blood. With them came urges, strong and dangerous. She incited those now.<br><br>There was a piece missing to this puzzle. The more he thought about it, the more it seemed they only had pieces, maybe a dozen out of a hundred or more to complete the picture that was in front of them. Aedric thought back to completing smaller puzzles as a child. It had been so much easier to complete when one started at the edges, forming a border for everything that was to come within. Finding what fit on the outer surface would often lead farther to the center, provided a framework. As Victoria told her story, he began assembling those pieces now, only to find more questions, one that held his attention quicker than the others. His dark eyes turned toward her, glowing softly by the fireplace and by similar embers within. <br><br>"Why, then," he began slowly, forming his question carefully. He could not keep suspicion out of his voice. "was I killed and you were left alive?"<br><br>Aedric stood and walked toward the fire, sensing more than feeling the heat coming off of it. His form cast a long shadow over the room behind him. Without looking at her, he spoke again. <br><br>"Everyone is affected by the bite, Victoria. We know this. Why were you spared when they could have easily finished you off, then?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SapphireStar</strong> on <strong>23-01-2017, 04:47:23</strong>
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				Taken aback, Victoria stared at Aedric when he spoke. At first her mind went blank. She didn't know how to answer his questions. She still did not know herself why she was spared. Maybe they thought she was dead herself since she had blacked out. Her heart began to pound as a tightness began to form. Like a knot being tied tighter and tighter. Slowly, Victoria rose to her feet.<br><br>"Aedric, I don't know why I was left alive," Victoria spoke as she walked over to him. "Maybe they thought I was dead as I was unconscious." Even with the warmth of the fire, she still felt a chill in the air when she moved closer to him. "I don't have the answers. Maybe they left me alive because whoever was behind this wants me for something else later."<br><br>A dull throbbing began to form in her head. Her senses began to go haywire. Part of her wondered if he was suspicious of her. Her skin began to feel hot, and itchy as if something was crawling beneath the surface. "I know that, but there are rare occurrences where effects of the bite are delayed." Victoria felt increasingly agitated, like the room was becoming too small. Normally icy blue eyes began to tinge with gold. "Part of me wished I had so we could be together because I cared about you." Her voice turning into a growl, even as it was tinged with sadness. Feeling sick to her stomach, Victoria spun on her heels, staggering towards the bathroom. The door closed with a bang behind her. Looking in the mirror, she saw sweat trickling down her face. Eyes glowing gold, frightened that she was turning, Victoria smashed her fist into the glass. The reflective surface shattering into hundreds of jagged shards. Sinking to the floor, ignoring the blood staining her hand. Searing pain shooting through her body causing her to double over.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jet</strong> on <strong>23-01-2017, 05:12:28</strong>
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				He listened silently as she spoke. It had not occurred to him to appeal to survivor's guilt, and he winced when he realized exactly what he had been doing, apparently making her feel remorseful for having lived. That had not been his purpose here. Why she had been spared, that was the piece he was pursuing. A heart pounded in his ears, surprising him when he realized it was hers. Something was happening here, something that Aedric had been fearing. He watched her disappear into the bathroom. As he heard glass shatter, he drew his sword, the blade glimmering silver.<br><br>"We made a vow."<br><br>Aedric had spoken it into the bedroom but now it resonated deeply beside her among the broken glass. He stood beside her with his sword drawn, resting it on one knee as he knelt down beside her. His hand gently took her chin and raised it so their eyes could meet. Her eyes...<br><br>"We made a vow not to become what we hunted, but there is no recourse for me but that you live, so we might end this together," his sword clattered to the floor as both hands now brought her face to his. There was fire of many kind in his features: fervor, fury, desire. "I will keep you here all night if I have to."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SapphireStar</strong> on <strong>23-01-2017, 06:27:56</strong>
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				The fire and itching seemed to intensify. Clutching her midsection, trying to force the pain away. Bones began to ache as subtle shifting began to occur. Closing her eyes, bowing forward till her head almost touched the floor. No, this could not happen. She would resist it. A tear slid down her cheek. Victoria did not want to become a monster like the ones they hunted. But, there were some things one couldn't fight. The process was set in motion. Stress and anxiety triggering the change. She felt as if she was being torn apart and reformed.<br><br>The sound of Aedric's voice caused her head to snap upwards. Seeing the silver blade drawn. At first, part of her seemed relieved at the sight. That the pain would end before she could inflict pain on innocents she swore to protect from the monsters in the night. Her eyes were more of a molten golden hue. Heart skipping a beat as his words echoed in her head. The beast within growing stronger, wanting to come out. "I...I know, but sometimes things can have a way of being turned on its head," Victoria stuttered as speaking was taking away her concentration of keeping the transformation at bay. Feeling his hands upon her face, she grabbed hold of his gripping them as if holding on for dear life. They were a lifeline keeping her anchored. Eyes locking with his, Victoria saw flashes of emotion. Another tear slid down her cheek. Nostrils flaring drinking in his scent. The wolf part tensed at it, sensing Aedric was more then human. To Victoria, he was Aedric. Having him here, she felt safe and knew nothing would happen. "Promise? I don't want to hurt anyone. It hurts trying to stop the transformation..." Another spasm racked her body. Control growing increasingly fragile.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jet</strong> on <strong>23-01-2017, 07:06:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As Victoria's plight increased, and she seemed to have to fight more and more to maintain control and avoid the change, Aedric, too, struggled against conflicting thoughts. The strongest urge was to kill her, to end her suffering and fulfill the vow they had taken as hunters not to join the ranks of those creatures they fought against. His presence seemed to help her, but if she ended up turning, he might end up having to kill her anyway. While he had no idea how much punishment his body could take, what pain he could endure, or how his own death had affected him, Aedric felt strongly that there would be no effect her bite would have on him.<br><br>The glint of his blade drew his eye, teasingly, seductively. A quick and easy end to this dilemma. If she died, however, it was possibly all chances of reversing his own condition would with her. His mind whirred, seeking solutions that would not involve her death. The only thing he could think of was to contain her. His thoughts grasped hold of something in his past, him smiling over a nice set of silver shackles that he kept in his own home. With that image firmly in his mind, he could almost feel the sweet chill of that metal in his palms as he tested their weight. His form wavered, smoke seemed to envelope his entire body briefly, and he found himself within his home once again, the place dark and cold. The chains glistened in his hands under the moonlight creeping in from a nearby window. There was a brief ache of longing, then he thought of Victoria again and was back, slamming open the door to her bathroom and thrusting her into the larger room beyond. <br><br>Shackles were thrown onto her wrists and ankles, ends weighted down heavily, enough to keep a human down, but the wolf would not be hampered by the weight, merely by the material it was made of. He retrieved his sword and, looping her arms over her head to overlap those chains, drew his sword over his head, carefully aiming the point. With a heavy grunt, he thrust his blade down through the loops a foot or more into the floor of her home, staking her to the ground. Then he sat next to her, feeling strangely like his old self, albeit much worse. He had never dreamed it would be his own partner staked up like this, awaiting the change. He never thought he would have to contemplate ending her torment, her life.<br><br>His hands moved over her body, feeling the spams as her body struggled with the beast within. Nobody, to his knowledge, had ever been this close to the change before, had not withstood the horror of witnessing it firsthand. His palm moved over her chest, feeling her heartbeat. His eyes met hers and behind the comfort he sought to exhibit to her, there was the threat of glimmering death. <br><br>"I promise. I will kill you before you hurt anyone," his words sounded bitter even to his own ears. What he had said earlier echoed in his head, mockingly. She had known. They all had known. They had not spared him death, and they had not spared him this. Now he was forced to watch. Her heart banging in his ears, he undid her robe and slipped it to the sides of her form. She was chained still. It would not go further off of her, but Aedric would bear witness and take note of how the change affected a person, and this would at least prevent most of it from being ripped. He was unsure why that mattered now, but it seemed to matter more than modesty at this moment. <br><br>"Do not make me kill you, though," he said with a note of remorse. "I will try to keep you here."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SapphireStar</strong> on <strong>24-01-2017, 04:59:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She could feel the beast within continuing to rise. Holding onto Aedric seemed to anchor her humanity. Victoria felt like herself even as the beast continued to claw for control. Heart hammering wildly against her chest. Part of her knew that she should end this before it went too far, but what about their unfinished business. There were too many questions left unanswered and she could not end it without resolving what happened. She would brave being a monster if it meant finding out what happened that fateful night.<br><br>Her chest rising and falling with each ragged breath she took. Eyes widening in surprise when smoke appeared enveloping Aedric. Victoria felt him vanish from her hands. Suddenly her heated blood ran cold with fear. Looking around for Aedric, but she didn't sense him. What had just happened? "Aedric?" Victoria could out a nervous quiver to the tone of her voice. The fear seemed to accentuate the pain. Her body jerked this time. Mind racing, concentration becoming harder. "Aedric?" Her voice barely above a pained whisper.<br><br>Vision swimming, Victoria was vaguely aware of the shackles being thrown about her wrists and ankles. They felt so heavy. But, she didn't care at the moment. She just felt so...tired. Victoria was aware of her body being carried. She felt disconnected from her body. The sensation felt as if she was floating. The gleam of the blade made her flinch, eyes closing preparing for what was to come. But, it didn't. Victoria's eyes snapped open at the sound of the blade sinking through chains and floor. Her breath hitched feeling his hand upon her chest. Color blossomed within her cheeks, not from the fever consuming her body but the way his hand touched her. As the robe opened, her breasts heaved against the satiny material of her nightgown. Harden nipples pressing against the fabric. <br><br>Hand shaking, Victoria reached over to give his hand a squeeze. Just as she was about to say something, another painful spasm ripped through her. Pulling her hand back suddenly, her body scooting backwards. Bones began popping and shifting. A pained cry escaped her soft pink lips. Victoria felt her body changing and tried to resist but that just continued to make it even more painful. The robe and nightgown began to rip apart briefly exposing her naked body. Jet black fur began to sprout over her body. Soon the human form was gone replaced by a slender wolfen form. Feeling the chains, the now transformed Victoria snarled pulling on them. The chains held fast to the sword staked into the ground. Angered, she continued thrashing wanting to be free. It was too confining in the room. Sharp claws tearing into the floor with each struggle to get free.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jet</strong> on <strong>24-01-2017, 05:33:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The brief glimpse of Victoria nude before him made his blood run hot, a feeling that seemed to evoke the humanity of his past, and vaguely promised that not all hope was lost. As he realized she looked more and more to him for comfort and security, that shifted his perspective. In the past, Aedric had always been reliant on his sword but took great comfort in her magic and in her ability to turn the tides of battle in their favor. Now she depended on him and though she had been unable to save his life, he would not fail her now. <br><br>As the change wracked her body, his hands moved over the bones cracking, the sinewy muscle shifting and seemingly erupting under his hands, under her skin. The feelings that were consuming her came over him as well, and he was surprised to find he was not breathing heavily with the weight of it like he thought. It seemed to be a purely emotional response and one that his body had not caught up to, if it ever would. Seeing the beast come alive before him brought back memories of his own death, and denial came forward. Heat seemed to fill him up, to overflow into the room around them. Maybe it was merely from her struggling, maybe it was him as well. Every part of him felt consumed by it. Elsewhere in the room, the fire went out and darkness enveloped them, yet his eyes adjusted immediately. <br><br>Erik's hand rested on her stomach, but it snaked along her curves, then her fur, up to her throat where he grasped her in his iron grip. Defiance filling every part him, his brain reliving over and over again the scene where he was torn apart, still alive, still screaming, this was the beginning of overcoming any fear that still lived within him, to smoke it out and burn it, to kill that fear where it lived until nothing but ash remained. He shifted his body on top of hers, fighting her massive bucking, holding her down with bulging form and raging fury alone. His hand would remain over her throat, seeking to control that maw. His face slowly lowered over hers, eyes boring with a heavy mix of emotions as they looked upon his companion and adversary. Rage, lust, fear, disdain, control, submission to his own new dark form. Whispering incoherently to her as he raised his face to be equal to hers, the grip he had on her never wavered. If he were to fail now....<br><br>But no. If doubt crept in now, surely failure would soon follow. There was no room now for doubt. Death at this juncture was meaningless to Aedric anyhow. Maybe Victoria was right. Maybe they were connected. He made eye contact with the beast and held it, refusing to blink, aiming to put command into every look, every vocal inflection. She had no pack, not yet. Maybe somehow he could convince her that he was Alpha.<br><br>"Calm now," he commanded, unsure of whether it would work but deciding there was better chance there than unshackling her. All muscles in his arms bulged as he tried to force her head upward, to look at the sword and to bare her neck to him. A throaty growl escaped his throat as his soul seemed unable to escape the heat of this moment, feeding off the beast's energies. "Be still!"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SapphireStar</strong> on <strong>24-01-2017, 06:19:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Victoria continued to thrash and buck beneath his body. Her mind wild, seeking freedom. She wanted to run. To hunt. Having someone on top of her only stoked the wild fire burning within her. Jaws snapping in an attempt to bite him. No matter how much she twisted her head, the black furred werewolf could not reach him. Her instincts to survive overriding all other senses. Golden eyes shifting to look into his eyes when his face came closer. There was something about them? <br><br>Her wild thrashing and bucking began to gradually cease. The wolf part seeing he was strong, for a man. She recognized him as being an Alpha, even if he wasn't a werewolf. But, there was something about his voice. It was familiar. Deep within her mind, the human Victoria stirred. She fought her way to the surface. Golden eyes softening as she stared into Aedric's. Gradually, the struggles ceased all together. The massive black furred body relaxing. Ears flat against her head. A soft whine filling the air, tucking her head towards her chest feeling shame for attempting to bite and claw him.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jet</strong> on <strong>24-01-2017, 06:48:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The more she struggled, the harder Aedric gripped down, pushing the beast down over and over again or his grip simply refusing to slacken. He became more and more surprised at how strong he was now, at how his mind seemed to determine the limits of his body rather than naturally reaching his normal mortal limits. He was even more surprised when she stopped struggling. He imagined himself breathing heavily, relief coming over his muscles as he succeeded in conquering the beast beneath him, but nothing visibly changed.<br><br>In the wolf's eyes, he once again saw hints of understanding, hints of Victoria beneath. If he had not come back from the veil, if he had not been here to stop her during the first change, surely she would have found prey somewhere and had to have been slain. He refused to release her now, however. There was still the chance she could run off. He was convinced she needed to stay here until the change reversed. <br><br>"Try to rest now until the beast subsides. I will stand vigil. Do not bite." he cautioned, as his hand came up to rest upon her head so both her and the beast could see he meant no harm. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SapphireStar</strong> on <strong>26-01-2017, 05:10:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Feeling the pressure lessen, the rest of the tension practically melted away from Victoria's now transformed body. Golden eyes staring at Aedric soulfully. She stopped struggling against the chains. A huffing sigh escaped her mouth. Her body felt strange. All of her senses were in overdrive. She could hear things outside that were a few miles away. Smell things in more acutely. Things she never could smell before in her human form. Vision, more crisper, and clear. When his hand came to rest on her head, at first there was a faint growl rumbling in her throat. But, she understood the gesture. Slowly, she pressed her head against his leg. Her tail flicking slightly. This was all...strange. Victoria felt a whole new power flowing through her.<br><br>Resting on the floor, Victoria began to feel restless again. Rising to her feet, she stretched testing her new limbs before pacing a little. Occasionally straining her head towards the windows. The pouring rain gradually lessened to a light rain. The rumbling of thunder having moved off in the distance. In between rumbles of thunder, Victoria's eyes twitched, then perked to full attention. Something was moving somewhere outside. She couldn't tell if it was outside the house or miles away. The rain caused much of the scents outside to mix together. Pulling on the chain trying to peer out one of the windows. A growl rumbling in her throat at the potential threat invading her domain.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jet</strong> on <strong>27-01-2017, 05:20:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Aedric spent most the following time moving between the floor to the bed, trying to find a comfortable sitting area and not landing at anything. In his mind, he wondered where else he could go if he thought about it, or maybe it was limited to familiar places and people. The only two times he had tried, he had known exactly where he needed to go, what the place had felt like, what it had smelled like even, so it had been as simple as pulling up an image and appearing there. His form seemed to go without bounds, or rather, beyond the typical bounds of a living form. <br><br>Victoria had mostly been quiet. He looked up from examining his own hands to watch the new werewolf stand up. It was not long before she began acting wildly again. The thunder might upset her like a dog, he thought bemusedly, but he could tell it was not that. She growled, but it did not matter to him too much. Moving over to the window, he looked outside cautiously. Whatever might be out there was probably fine where it was. What truly concerned him was not even that anything might come in here, because it would most likely quickly die if it meant harm. No, what bothered him most was the thought of Victoria getting out. He looked over at her again.<br><br>"Don't worry about whatever it might be. Probably just an animal," he stated. "Even if it isn't, stay in here where you can't hurt anyone. If you are discovered in this state, we have a much bigger problem."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SapphireStar</strong> on <strong>29-01-2017, 13:59:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Victoria scowled as best she could given her current form. Ears flicking this way and that. Hearing the strange sounds had her on edge. Maybe she was overreacting and hypersensitive in her wolf form to sounds and smells. But, part of her didn't like another animal or being invading her domain. She felt the primal urge to defend what was hers. A faint growl rumbled in her throat when Aedric told her to stay. The wolf part of her looked around the room looking for a way to get out. She began to pace once more. Occasionally testing how far she could get with the chain. Subtly applying pressure to the sword embedded in the floor to see if she could move it.<br><br>Outside, something moved just beyond the treeline. It was hard to see due to the storm clouds still hanging in the sky blanketing the land in darkness. A brief flash of eye wolflike eyes gleamed in the darkness watching the house. Sniffing the air, sensing there was a wolf in the house, but something else prevented the werewolf from charging the house. Another pair of wolflike eyes appeared not far from the first. They sensed a newly changed werewolf and came to claim her for their Pack.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jet</strong> on <strong>30-01-2017, 05:05:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Where is your head at, boy?" The sharp rebuke broke Aedric from his reverie the same as if he had been physically struck. His combat instructor had been talking about various ways to hold a sword, and the restless teenager had been drawing in the sand with the dulled end of the practice sword he had been holding. He already knew what he was in for and could mouth the words along if he had wanted a beating. "That is a weapon, not a quill! Salute! Now!"<br><br>His arm went up, the heavy sword presented at an angle toward the sky, fully extended, the position he would be stuck in until his muscles gave out and the training began anew.<br><br>______________________________________________________<br><br><em>Where is your head at, boy?</em> Aedric heard again, and he stood, senses coming aware of something going on outside. Now, multiple heartbeats registered in his ears, even above the rain. He looked out the window, though he did not see them, he knew they were there. Looking around at Victoria, still chained, he began calculating the threat levels of each, weighing the benefits of releasing her with the potential costs. The potential costs were huge, he knew. He could well enough guess what had come for her. <br><br>"Victoria," he said, gauging her reaction, to see if she or the beast would register. There was only one way to know for sure. It was better to slay her here if he needed to than to try to reach her through the rest of the pack. Walking toward her, he withdrew his sword, watching the chains drop. Though the shackles remained, they would do little to slow her down. They were a potential weapon for her, if the beast could plan that much. He kept them in mind. Not fearing death, unsure of whether or not he was beyond it, he strode up to her, until he stopped a few inches.<br><br>"Are they your pack, or am I?" he asked, his tone clear that her next move would determine his. His grip on his sword shifted.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SapphireStar</strong> on <strong>30-01-2017, 07:06:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Stopping her pacing, Victoria looked at Aedric. Her head tilting curiously as she watching him walking towards her. Ears flicking slightly. Golden eyes shifting from him to the sword. Heart skipping a beat as it was pulled from the floor. She looked surprised. As best as she could while she was in wolfen form. The human side was surprised that he freed her, but still she felt the weight of the shackles on her body. Sensing the gathering of more werewolves outside, the wolf part would like to run with her own kind, but thoughts and memories from the human bled through. Images of werewolves attacking both of them. What if the ones gathering outside were part of the pack which had attacked them?<br><br>His question caused her to turn back to Aedric. Seeing his grip tighten on the sword made her body tense. Head lowering, ears flattening against her head back in apprehension. Huffing, Victoria walked over to Aedric. Leaning up, her tongue darted out to lick his cheek. She picked him over the werewolves outside. By licking him, it also left a trace of her scent upon him letting the other werewolves know that he was hers. Walking over to the balcony doors, she pushed them open and sat on the railing overlooking her land. Head slowly moving from side to side judging where each intruder was located. She waited. Watching. <br><br>One of the werewolves finally broke cover. It was gray furred, and moved quickly towards the house. The werewolf began to scale the wall up towards the balcony. Growling, Victoria swung the chains attached to the shackles like a whip. The impact hit the wolf in the base of the neck. Yelping in pain, the creature fell down to the ground. Even as the gray furred wolf fell, another broke cover rushing towards the house.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jet</strong> on <strong>30-01-2017, 07:40:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Aedric did not flinch as they stared at each other, and didn't even blink when she leaned forward to lick his cheek. Though it surprised him, he made no motion of it, only making a slight face over it when she turned away and wiping his cheek with one hand, surveying her saliva with a mental sigh. He followed her outside, seeing their adversary, his chest burning with rage when he saw them. When they came up, Aedric sidestepped the backswing on Victoria's chain, allowing it to crack into one of the creatures. He surveyed the pack coming toward them with curiosity. Were they the ones that killed him? In any case, he knew them to be related, and had no qualms distinguishing. They would all perish save the ones to potentially lead them back to the pack leader.<br><br>His sword rose, waiting for them to come to them. The first rule of hunting was not to separate yourself from your partner. They currently had the high ground, and if they gave that up, they could easily get swarmed. In this case, Aedric would wait until one of them got past Victoria's swings, then he would begin his deadly dance. Their heartbeats gave themselves up to his newfound senses, but his eyes had difficulty tracking them, to the point where he closed his eyes, listening for one to get close.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SapphireStar</strong> on <strong>05-02-2017, 13:07:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Victoria snarled at the intruders. They were uninvited and this was her territory. How dare they invade?! More werewolves broke cover charging towards the house. They were going to make the newly transformed werewolf a part of the pack. Female werewolves were highly coveted. If she wouldn't go with them willingly, they would force her to submit. A werewolf managed to stay out of range of the chains. The sandy brown wolf scaling the wall halfway, then leapt up onto the roof. Hurrying along the rooftop, the wolf launched himself at Aedric. Sharp talons out, mouth opened showing razorsharp fangs that could rip flesh from bone. <br><br>Several more scaled up the wall, one grabbed the chain as it came whistling towards his head. A gleam flashed in the werewolf's eyes. Suddenly, the red furred wolf pushed off the wall taking Victoria with him as he fell to the ground. Unprepared for what happened, Victoria was yanked off the railing. As she fell, Victoria tried to twist her body to land on her feet. The red furred werewolf again yanked on the chain using Victoria's momentum to his advantage. Victoria slammed hard into the ground. The red furred werewolf was upon her, the chain wrapped around her throat. Growling, snarling, Victoria thrashed trying to get the larger werewolf off her. Her claws digging into the ground, grabbing at the chain while her attacker snarled in her ear trying to get her to submit.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jet</strong> on <strong>13-02-2017, 09:32:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				His former training rose up inside of him, and he remembered the many drills on attackers from multiple angles. In his eyes, he still saw his own death at their hands, and his rage fueled him, the memories of his former defeat reminding him of where he had failed before, drove him to improve. There seemed more to lose now. Death had reached for him once and failed to grasp him, and Aedric was the undying, that which refused to fall and not rise up. His eyes snapped open at the sound of the approaching heartbeat, the wet, throaty snarls of the beast closing down upon him. His sword gleamed brightly in the moonlight, reflected death.<br><br>Side-stepping at the last possible instant, the wraith threw his sword up into the beast's path, drawing it easily to the side with him once it met the resistance of fur and flesh. Blood flew, blade rose in both hands and slammed down onto the wolf's back heavily, like an ax chopping wood. Taking another step backward, he drew it out, sliding it along bone. Behind him, he felt more than saw Victoria's distress as she was thrown from the balcony. No time to finish this one. He rose and looked over the edge, imagining his next move and feeling it as it happened in an instant.<br><br>Before he or his query knew what was happening, Aedric was down there, his sword planted halfway up the blade inside the monster upon his only friend. Yelling with rage, he scooped the beast up and thrust forward, impaling it to the hilt before his sword seemed to waver, sliding easily out one of its sides and dropping the husk on the ground next to Victoria. Brandishing his weapon around him, he stood guard over her as she gained her feet.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SapphireStar</strong> on <strong>20-02-2017, 00:25:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The chain around her throat began to loosen as the wolf upon her back suddenly went rigid. Victoria could feel something wet and warm dripping upon her furry body. The wolf fell to one side impaled upon the sword. As it laid there, the body twitched once or twice. Victoria trembled, that primal force within her taking over as her fragile control snapped. Rearing up, seeing red, Victoria howled enraged at being attacked. Her eyes fell upon several werewolves lingering near the trees who were poised to attack. Crouching down, claws digging into the dirt before she charged forward in a flash of fur. Lunging at the werewolves, claws and fur flying. No one was going to invade her domain again! <br><br>Standing in the midst of the bloody carnage, fur matted with blood. She snarled, baring her fangs at the remaining werewolves who were starting to back down. They didn't want to engage her or Aedric, they began backing up slowly till they vanished into the darkness of the woods. Breathing heavily, Victoria looked down seeing the bloody mess surrounding her. The blood dripping off her claws. Terrified, she took off towards the barn. Nearly knocking one of the doors off its hinges, Victoria found dark corner towards the back to hide. She just wished this night would end. The smell of blood filling her nose making her even more on edge.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jet</strong> on <strong>24-02-2017, 04:48:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Afterward, Aedric would remember flashes of what happened in their vicious counterattack. Even now, he seemed to float outside of his body, watching himself pace along the battlefield, blood dripping off his weapon and him. Seeing the blood around him, picking up his hand to look at red, sticky fingers, it made his mouth water for reasons he couldn't explain. The warrior flared his nostrils but the smell of the blood blended with that of the forest around them and made an alluring aroma. The scents that were missing were just as conspicuous, however. Sweat, bile, piss, none of these assaulted him now. It would seem that the wolf does not mark the ground where it lay dying.<br><br>He knelt down, the leather covering his palm pressing against the face of his adversary, the one he had torn nearly in half. Its eyes were open, its teeth pulled into a pained grimace. Its eyes were dark and animal. Looking in them now, Aedric felt disgusted, and he indignantly shoved the face to one side, leaning on it without consideration as he examined its wound. The sucking sound as he pulled at the flesh barely phased him as he peered at where his blade had slid through flesh, muscle, and bone. It had not caught like the last time he had fought this pack. The shade had needed the sword to free itself and it had, easily. The silver had singed everything it touched like moon-fire but had not cauterized any wound. The blood had flowed generously this night. <br><br>His eyes surveyed the carnage around him, betraying no feelings. Any survivors would not be quick to return. With a sigh, he moved to follow Victoria into the barn. Strangely, he was not feeling fatigued at all. He strode through the open doors and up to his friend, showing her his empty hands. Reaching over, he undid the shackled on her wrists and let them fall to the ground now, finally completely freeing her.<br><br>"You did well," he said, "but we are still cursed."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SapphireStar</strong> on <strong>25-02-2017, 07:32:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Victoria huddled in the corner. Moonlight streamed into the barn. A sliver of the moonlight washed over part of the stall. Turning her head when she heard movement, the light reflecting in her golden eyes. Ears flat against her head. Body trembling. The human mind residing in the wolfen body was horrified at the blood lust and the carnages she had inflicted upon others, regardless of the fact that they had been attacking werewolves. What if she had still been consumed by the bloodlust and had taken off for the nearby town? What if she had gone on to attack innocent people?<br><br>Watching Aedric approach, she didn't move. Guilt flashing in her eyes. Feeling the shackles fall away from her wrists. Even now that she was free, Victoria didn't move. She hated the smell of blood. It was all she could smell, even in the barn which smell of hay and leather. A soft whine escaped her lupine mouth. Scooting close, she rested her head against Aedric. She wished she could rewind time and go back to a few hours before they went to follow that lead which wound up turning into a fight for their lives. Closing her eyes, Victoria just laid there, tired.<br><br>As night gave way to the coming morning, light slowly pushing away the shadows of night. Warm golden rays began peaking over the trees. Inside the barn, Victoria's body twitched. A new change occurring. A howl of pain soon followed as her body began shaking, reverting back to what she was, a human woman. Dark fur receding to reveal naked pale flesh smeared with dirt and blood. The process of changing back was just as painful. Laying there, chest rising and falling with each rapid gasp of air. Raising her hands, seeing them stained with blood brought tears to Victoria's eyes. Images of the night before flashing within her mind.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jet</strong> on <strong>03-03-2017, 08:31:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The night passed, and Aedric kept his vigil over her. There would be a time when the bloodshed would consume her, as he could feel the conflict within himself rising even now. His old self, that part of his soul that still resided within his physical coil, regretted that it was necessary for their survival. He relished in their success, rejoiced at their continued life. This new part, the shade, felt the cold embrace of death and that its grasp had reached more creatures fed its own tortured existence. <br><br>Turning their head toward the rising sun, Aedric longed to watch its rise into the sky but as the first beams touched his form, he watched the smoke rise and his hand begin to evaporate in it as water turned to steam. "No," he mouthed quietly, feeling his abilities diminish, an instinct inside of him to leave the warmth of that orb and retreat to safety. As his eyes beheld that golden globe, they burned within their orbits until his vision was blurry. They, like the rest of his body, was dissipating. Soon, there would be nothing left of him for the day. He turned to Victoria, now returned to human form.<br><br>"I will return," he said desperately, hoping his words were true. Moving toward the rapidly retreating shadows of the barn, he moved quickly inside of them, feeling the comforting embrace of the dark swallow him up until he was no more.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Shadows (Jet x SapphireStar)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SapphireStar</strong> on <strong>10-03-2017, 08:08:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Hands still trembling, Victoria was horrified at what she had done, what she had become. What if she had run off and attacked innocent people? Having the blood of innocents on her hands would tear at her soul. Mind racing. Thoughts of what might happen the next time she transformed kept swimming through her mind. Biting her lower lip. She would need to find a way to curb her more primal nature if she was to walk among normal humans without fear of hurting them.<br><br>Sensing she was not alone, looking up her eyes fell upon Aedric. Her heart swelled seeing that he had survived the night. Slowly, the fear and worry began to melt from her knowing that they were once again together. The moment of happiness began to falter seeing what the warm golden rays of the sun were doing to him. Eyes widening as he began gradually turning to smoke. No, she couldn't lose him again. Fingers curling, clutching fistfuls of straw.<br><br>"No, Aedric," Victoria cried jumping to her feet. She didn't care that she was completely naked. Sort of run, staggering towards him. "Don't go!" Her eyes began watering. What if this was the last she would see of him? The magic which brought him back were unknown. Even she did not know the full extent of the consequences or side effects of spells. Anything could happen. Stretching out her hand towards his retreating form, heart aching seeing him disappear into the lingering dark abyss of the shadows. <br><br>As the day wore on, Victoria kept herself busy in the house. She didn't dare step outside for fear of the primal beast within her might rear its head and make her do something. Pulling book after book from shelves delving into each page hoping to find the answers she was looking for. So much so that she ignored the growling and rumbling of a hungry stomach. The sun continued its slow travel across the sky. By early evening as the sun was dipping below the trees, inside the manor, Victoria was asleep upon the leather couch in front of the roaring fire in the marble fireplace. A book lay open upon her chest. Her breathing rhythmic and steady. Shifting slightly caused the book to hit the floor with a thump. Her desk and coffee table were littered with papers and books on magic, lycanthrope and what happened to Aedric. 
			</dd>
		</dl>
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