She was dreaming, that much he could tell.
Simon stood in the shadows watching Ellis fitfully sleep, curled up on the ledge hanging over the run off of one of the sewer exchanges - the appointed meeting place. He needed to speak to her about the werewolves hoping she would remember their history with them when he found her so vulnerable and so deeply sleeping. He opened his mouth to rouse her when she started to twitch in her sleep, her face wrinkling up pain and her position on the ground tightened up into a ball as if she was cringing from something. It was a nightmare. Funny, he thought, what does someone so bereft of remorse and a human conscious have nightmares about? Simon leaned back against the wall, taking a moment to watch her when she jerked awake.
She was on her feet in a second, gun out and backed up against the wall. He waited quietly in the shadow, not wanting to startle her further. Relaxing she looked at her gun and then tucked it back into her pants. He waited for her to notice him before he stepped out to climb the ledge she was on and as she turned her back to him and reached for her jacket, he noticed her head cock to the side for a moment registering his presence.
Simon pulled himself up to the ledge and waited for her to collect herself. He noticed the slight tremble of her voice and he could not help but ask.
'What were you dreaming about?'
Stop and Stare
The pain in her thighs burned deep as she ran down the length of the steel hallway. She had pushed too far for too long and her exhaustion tapped the last bit of her abilities - her agility waned along with her strength. It was covering her like a thick wool blanket, blocking out the light and sapping the air from her lungs. She ran as fast as she could, but it was never fast enough.
His fingers felt like steel clamps around her neck, crushing her windpipe. She tore at them with her broken fingernails as her tongue swelled, filling up the back of her throat. The blood vessels in her eyes began to pop and her vision began to blur, but not before she saw the blood shot hazel eyes staring back at her. Suddenly she could no longer plant her feet on the ground - her toes scraping as she was lifted up, higher and higher. Kicking out and flailing was all she could do as her eyes closed and unconsciousness began to take her.
The snapping of her left shoulder as she hit the opposite wall yanked her back from the darkness. A bright light welcomed her as she hit the floor, the wind knocked out of her but she struggled to breathe through her broken neck as he pushed her flat on her back and put all of his weight on her. Long fingers grabbed her mouth, twisting her head to the side as the smell of his putrid breath filled her nostrils. The searing pain of teeth tearing the flesh off her face helps her find her voice and with a deep breath, she screams.
Ellis jerked awake with a stifled scream. Her hand immediately reached for her gun and she pulled it out, waving it around her, pointing at nothing. She was up and on her feet in a second, her eyes wide and afraid. The air in her lungs burned as she blinked awake, backing against the cold, damp sewer wall.
She had been early for her meeting on purpose. There wasn't much to do back at her new lair and Tai was off doing whatever he does when not on errands for her. Checking her watch she noted the time just as her perception triggered the presence of another in the sewer with her. Ellis sheepishly looked at her gun and clicked the safety back on, tucking the piece into the waist band of her black pants. Her jacket was folded beneath where she slept. Reaching down she picked up her soft leather jacket and pulled it on as Simon stepped onto the lip of the ledge. Without looking at him, she straightened her clothes and listened to the rushing water beneath them.
'What do you want, Simon?'
Simon Huntington
15 years ago
Ellis Duban
15 years ago
Half turned away from him, she hid her face as she pulled her long black hair out of the back of her jacket. With the flat of her hand she dabbed the sweat off her face and gave him an annoyed glare.
He had sent a text message to her via her phone, which perplexed her, considering she had taken great pains to keep the phone clean and untraceable. With an annoyed shrug she busied her hands with clothes to keep him from seeing them shake. The nightmare, and it was always the same one, always left her shaken to the core. She wasn't sure if it was from the memory of having her face bit off or if it was because it was Simon infected with the zombie virus doing it.
'You called me down here for that?'
He had sent a text message to her via her phone, which perplexed her, considering she had taken great pains to keep the phone clean and untraceable. With an annoyed shrug she busied her hands with clothes to keep him from seeing them shake. The nightmare, and it was always the same one, always left her shaken to the core. She wasn't sure if it was from the memory of having her face bit off or if it was because it was Simon infected with the zombie virus doing it.
'You called me down here for that?'
Simon Huntington
15 years ago
Simon tucked his hands into the pockets of his jacket and shrugged. 'No.'
For some reason he was enjoying seeing her uncomfortable and fidgety. The cool, calm and collected Ellis had a bad nightmare and the terror of it left a thin sheet of visible sweat on her. The wisps of her hair were plastered to the sides of her face and he looked at her openly, head to toe again causing her to wipe at her face and straighten her appearance.
'Just curious.'
He slowly approached her, his hands still tucked into his pockets till she took a step back away from him. Looking down his nose at her, he felt a smile creep into the corner of his mouth.
'It looked like a nightmare.'
Simon let the smile form on his lips as he realized he was enjoying taunting her. Seeing her so vulnerable and embarrassed by it was a rare sight and he wasn't going to let it go.
For some reason he was enjoying seeing her uncomfortable and fidgety. The cool, calm and collected Ellis had a bad nightmare and the terror of it left a thin sheet of visible sweat on her. The wisps of her hair were plastered to the sides of her face and he looked at her openly, head to toe again causing her to wipe at her face and straighten her appearance.
'Just curious.'
He slowly approached her, his hands still tucked into his pockets till she took a step back away from him. Looking down his nose at her, he felt a smile creep into the corner of his mouth.
'It looked like a nightmare.'
Simon let the smile form on his lips as he realized he was enjoying taunting her. Seeing her so vulnerable and embarrassed by it was a rare sight and he wasn't going to let it go.
Ellis Duban
15 years ago
That fucker.
Ellis bristled at Simon's expression as he walked closer to her. She fought the urge to wipe her face on the sleeve of her jacket and opted to just dab it at with her hand. The sheet of sweat on her was ridiculous, but she hadn't planned on falling asleep down in the sewers waiting for him. With an exasperated huff, Ellis rolled her eyes and looked back up at Simon. He was closing the distance between them, smug smile in place, which was making the situation even more embarrassing.
Taking a step back Ellis reached out behind her to avoid colliding with the wall again. 'I...what are you...it was...I mean...' Clearing her throat she felt a blush rise up into her cheeks. 'I don't remember what it was.'
Hi to you big, fat lie.
She shrugged and closed her eyes for a moment. 'You know, bits and pieces...god damnit.' Flustered now Ellis angrily demanded, 'Why did you ask me down here?'
Ellis bristled at Simon's expression as he walked closer to her. She fought the urge to wipe her face on the sleeve of her jacket and opted to just dab it at with her hand. The sheet of sweat on her was ridiculous, but she hadn't planned on falling asleep down in the sewers waiting for him. With an exasperated huff, Ellis rolled her eyes and looked back up at Simon. He was closing the distance between them, smug smile in place, which was making the situation even more embarrassing.
Taking a step back Ellis reached out behind her to avoid colliding with the wall again. 'I...what are you...it was...I mean...' Clearing her throat she felt a blush rise up into her cheeks. 'I don't remember what it was.'
Hi to you big, fat lie.
She shrugged and closed her eyes for a moment. 'You know, bits and pieces...god damnit.' Flustered now Ellis angrily demanded, 'Why did you ask me down here?'
Simon Huntington
15 years ago
Simon shrugged his shoulders forward as he looked down at her, his smug grin deepening. Any second now she was going to light up a cigarette to busy her fingers, and right on cue she began to dig her hands into the pockets of her jacket, but her agitation only grew when apparently she could not find her pack.
Looking around at their feet he noticed her pack of cigarettes were laying on the step below the ledge they were standing on. It must have fallen out when she put on her jacket. He stepped off the ledge and knelt down to pick up the red and white pack of smokes. Still with his grin, he wiped the bits of dirt off the cellophane, shaking out a stick for her. Ellis stopped fidgeting, and with a guarded look, reached out and took the offered cigarette. Automatically he reached into his own jacket and took out a book of matches. His grin faltered as he realized that, as an avid non-smoker, he was still carrying matches around. In a quiet role reversal Simon narrowed his eyes at Ellis as she raised an eyebrow and snorted quietly.
'Old habits, eh?' He said as he ran the flame of the match over the tip of her cigarette. Ellis inhaled deeply on her unfiltered cigarette and then picked a bit of tobacco off her tongue. Simon pulled the match back, and without taking his eyes off her, blew the match out and threw it down into the running water. Tucking the matches back into his inside breast pocket he lifted his chin and looked down his nose at her.
'I'm curious about what you remember.' Ellis gave him a perplexed look to which he replied. 'About Hammerthynn.'
Looking around at their feet he noticed her pack of cigarettes were laying on the step below the ledge they were standing on. It must have fallen out when she put on her jacket. He stepped off the ledge and knelt down to pick up the red and white pack of smokes. Still with his grin, he wiped the bits of dirt off the cellophane, shaking out a stick for her. Ellis stopped fidgeting, and with a guarded look, reached out and took the offered cigarette. Automatically he reached into his own jacket and took out a book of matches. His grin faltered as he realized that, as an avid non-smoker, he was still carrying matches around. In a quiet role reversal Simon narrowed his eyes at Ellis as she raised an eyebrow and snorted quietly.
'Old habits, eh?' He said as he ran the flame of the match over the tip of her cigarette. Ellis inhaled deeply on her unfiltered cigarette and then picked a bit of tobacco off her tongue. Simon pulled the match back, and without taking his eyes off her, blew the match out and threw it down into the running water. Tucking the matches back into his inside breast pocket he lifted his chin and looked down his nose at her.
'I'm curious about what you remember.' Ellis gave him a perplexed look to which he replied. 'About Hammerthynn.'
Ellis Duban
15 years ago
Fucking....fuck.
Ellis averted her eyes and fought the flush rising up into her cheeks. She wanted to tell him to stop looking at her with that stare that made her stomach tighten up into knots. Her elbow bounced off the wall behind her, reminding her of how much of her personal space he was taking up when suddenly she wanted a cigarette. Mostly because she needed something to do while he was pressing closer, but mostly because her hands were beginning to tremble. Looking up briefly she caught the knowing smile on his face, and she silently cursed herself, knowing she was doing exactly what he was expecting.
Fuck, Ellis thought as she dug deep into her jacket when Simon took a step down and picked up her missing pack of cigs. They must have fallen out when she hurriedly put her jacket on and she glared at him as he shook out a stick. Ellis took it, returning his stare with a guarded glare as her hand reached back into her breast pocket and found her lighter. Imagine her surprise when he produced a lit match, and with a soft snort she leaned in, placing the cigarette in between her lips and lighting it from his hand.
There was no space in between them as the flare of the flame lit their faces in the dark sewer tunnel. Inhaling deeply on her cigarette she watched his hazel eyes with her watery green ones and exhaled, nodding slightly at his comment about old habits. She picked a bit of tobacco off her tongue and noted that he stayed in close proximity - so close that she felt her chest join in with her stomach in feeling tight and painful.
He knew she loved it when he 'leaned' on her like this. It reminded her of all those years ago, meeting him when he was still human. The gritty, quiet constable invading her personal space when in actuality he was always welcomed. His smile faltered and it left his eyes, but his expression softened instead of turning cruel, which wasn't what she had expected. Flicking the ashes off her cigarette beside them, she held his stare when he finally spoke again.
Hammerthynn, the werewolf, is what he was interested in speaking to her about. This time she shrugged lightly and brought the cigarette back up to her mouth, noting his eyes watching her mouth.
'I've been trying to recall where we might have run into someone in his family in the past, but honestly who didn't have an eye patch back in the day?' Swallowing she looked off to the side and tried to think. 'I seriously cannot recall, but it was after you and I met, which really only knocks off about three hundred years about of about a thousand.'
And that was all she could really tell him. The funny thing was - he knew this already.
'But you know that,' she said slowly, relaxing against the wall behind her. ' So what do you really want, Simon or were you just wanting to stop and stare for old times sake?'
Ellis averted her eyes and fought the flush rising up into her cheeks. She wanted to tell him to stop looking at her with that stare that made her stomach tighten up into knots. Her elbow bounced off the wall behind her, reminding her of how much of her personal space he was taking up when suddenly she wanted a cigarette. Mostly because she needed something to do while he was pressing closer, but mostly because her hands were beginning to tremble. Looking up briefly she caught the knowing smile on his face, and she silently cursed herself, knowing she was doing exactly what he was expecting.
Fuck, Ellis thought as she dug deep into her jacket when Simon took a step down and picked up her missing pack of cigs. They must have fallen out when she hurriedly put her jacket on and she glared at him as he shook out a stick. Ellis took it, returning his stare with a guarded glare as her hand reached back into her breast pocket and found her lighter. Imagine her surprise when he produced a lit match, and with a soft snort she leaned in, placing the cigarette in between her lips and lighting it from his hand.
There was no space in between them as the flare of the flame lit their faces in the dark sewer tunnel. Inhaling deeply on her cigarette she watched his hazel eyes with her watery green ones and exhaled, nodding slightly at his comment about old habits. She picked a bit of tobacco off her tongue and noted that he stayed in close proximity - so close that she felt her chest join in with her stomach in feeling tight and painful.
He knew she loved it when he 'leaned' on her like this. It reminded her of all those years ago, meeting him when he was still human. The gritty, quiet constable invading her personal space when in actuality he was always welcomed. His smile faltered and it left his eyes, but his expression softened instead of turning cruel, which wasn't what she had expected. Flicking the ashes off her cigarette beside them, she held his stare when he finally spoke again.
Hammerthynn, the werewolf, is what he was interested in speaking to her about. This time she shrugged lightly and brought the cigarette back up to her mouth, noting his eyes watching her mouth.
'I've been trying to recall where we might have run into someone in his family in the past, but honestly who didn't have an eye patch back in the day?' Swallowing she looked off to the side and tried to think. 'I seriously cannot recall, but it was after you and I met, which really only knocks off about three hundred years about of about a thousand.'
And that was all she could really tell him. The funny thing was - he knew this already.
'But you know that,' she said slowly, relaxing against the wall behind her. ' So what do you really want, Simon or were you just wanting to stop and stare for old times sake?'
Simon Huntington
15 years ago
Just what in the hell did he want?
Her nervousness dissipated and for a moment he saw a flicker of the Ellis he first met so many years ago cross her face. A genuine smile touched her lips and it warmed her expression, her eyes laughing at him. He could see that young, spoiled yet independent noble woman who had taken up residence just outside his village. A view seen so few and far between over the hundreds of years that it broke his heart to see it again.
Reaching up he scratched his top lip as he rolled his shoulders. They shared that moment, grinning at each other over past memories long since lived. Simon lowered his chin and looked down at her. It was probably best to avoid answering that question, so he answered it with another request.
'Tell me what you were dreaming about first.'
Her nervousness dissipated and for a moment he saw a flicker of the Ellis he first met so many years ago cross her face. A genuine smile touched her lips and it warmed her expression, her eyes laughing at him. He could see that young, spoiled yet independent noble woman who had taken up residence just outside his village. A view seen so few and far between over the hundreds of years that it broke his heart to see it again.
Reaching up he scratched his top lip as he rolled his shoulders. They shared that moment, grinning at each other over past memories long since lived. Simon lowered his chin and looked down at her. It was probably best to avoid answering that question, so he answered it with another request.
'Tell me what you were dreaming about first.'
Ellis Duban
15 years ago
Ellis looked away and closed her eyes with a sigh.
'Halloween,' she said quietly. There was no need to elaborate.
'Halloween,' she said quietly. There was no need to elaborate.
Simon Huntington
15 years ago
'Oh,' he replied.
The laughter fell out of her face and that brief shared moment passed just as quickly as it came.
'What about it?'
Without looking at him her hand came up and pointed to her cheek. Simon nodded.
'You know I've bitten you before and I don't recall you ever having nightmares about it.'
Ellis erupted into laughter, covering her mouth as she snickered. She finally looked back into his eyes as her giggles subsided, confusion flickering in her eyes.
'I do wonder about that night, myself.' Simon tilted his head to the side and cautiously asked, 'You didn't take the shot, E.'
That was twice she spared his life. First Christmas two years prior when he found himself dangling over Hammerthynn's pack of wolves, she saved him from falling to certain death then and this past Halloween after he had become infected with the virus. She had a gun pointed in between his eyes. Twice she had her revenge for his attempt to kill her and taking over the clan in her absence. He flipped her world inside out and from the moment she returned from the dead, she's done nothing to pay him back. Yet.
He held up two fingers, 'That's two now, why?'
The laughter fell out of her face and that brief shared moment passed just as quickly as it came.
'What about it?'
Without looking at him her hand came up and pointed to her cheek. Simon nodded.
'You know I've bitten you before and I don't recall you ever having nightmares about it.'
Ellis erupted into laughter, covering her mouth as she snickered. She finally looked back into his eyes as her giggles subsided, confusion flickering in her eyes.
'I do wonder about that night, myself.' Simon tilted his head to the side and cautiously asked, 'You didn't take the shot, E.'
That was twice she spared his life. First Christmas two years prior when he found himself dangling over Hammerthynn's pack of wolves, she saved him from falling to certain death then and this past Halloween after he had become infected with the virus. She had a gun pointed in between his eyes. Twice she had her revenge for his attempt to kill her and taking over the clan in her absence. He flipped her world inside out and from the moment she returned from the dead, she's done nothing to pay him back. Yet.
He held up two fingers, 'That's two now, why?'
Ellis Duban
15 years ago
Her cigarette burned slowly in between the fingers of her right hand. The taste of the tobacco dirtied her mouth and she repressed a grimace as she swallowed the burnt flavor of her favorite brand. The paper of the cancer stick rolled uneven and gritty against her skin as she prepared her answer.
'Why?' She repeated. With a nod she considered taking another drag of her cigarette but decided against it. Instead she looked down at it, the glare of the blazing tip glowed softly in the darkness of the sewers.
'Why,' she said again and with her middle finger flicked the cigarette into the rushing water beneath them.
For a moment she watched the trail of her cigarette as it floated quickly down the current of the sewage water, disappearing into the mouth of a pipe outlet. Her green eyes then looked back at Simon and she tilted her head with a blank expression.
'This is why.'
Ellis' hands reached up and traced the lapel of Simon's light weather trench coat. As they made their way up his chest she watched the expression on his face bypass surprise and go straight to a raw hunger she hadn't seen in quite some time. She cupped the side of his face with her left hand and ran her fingers into his hair. His eyes closed in a pained expression that she undoubtedly met with her own and they pulled each other close, engulfing each other in a hard pressed kiss that would certainly leave bruises.
He planted his hands against the wall as she let him push her back. Ellis closed her eyes tightly and felt them roll back as the intensity of his kiss penetrated her very soul. Her feet left the ground and wrapped around his waist as his hands reached down and cupped her ass, leaving barely any room to breathe between them. She was suddenly reminded of the first time they kissed. She only knew him as the quiet constable from the nearby village she had decided to rest at for a short spell. Several weeks turned into several months after he kissed her for the first time during his village's harvest festival. She had every intention of wiping the town out before moving on but when she first noticed the human watching her from her perch at a nearby lake, her youth and curiosity got the better of her.
He was kissing her now the way he had kissed her then and the painful gnawing at her stomach that had been bothering her since he let her drop into the inferno started to subside, replacing the blackness with the stirrings of what traces of humanity she may have had left in her. When he reached up and entangled his fingers in her hair she whimpered softly but when he said her name, she became undone.
His tongue was warm and soft, running down the length of her fang. Her body shivered with delight and she returned the favor.
He said her name again against her lips and her legs tightened their hold around his waist. His hands were steady and his breath felt like fire against her skin. Simon had never let his vampire side change him from what she had fallen in love with so many years ago. It was more than likely her growing bitterness against the Council and need for power that pushed him away from her, turning him into her worshiping shadow. He never let it affect his love making and for as cruel as she was to him, she had given him anything during their shared private moments together.
She felt like she was moving but not going anywhere. Maybe that's what kept her from exacting her revenge on him. She was scared of losing this feeling of being...lost?
'Ellis?'
'Huh?'
Ellis blinked and her eyes focused back on the glowing tip of her cigarette. Her face crinkled in confusion and she looked back up.
He wasn't kissing her.
She wasn't breathless.
And more importantly, she wasn't as lost as she wanted to be.
He had asked her a question. Why had she spared him not once but twice and she had let herself day dream about his kisses. Her eyes narrowed and irritation ran up her back like hackles.
'Why? Because you're worth more to my position in the city alive than dead, Simon.' She let the cruelty in her voice reverberate against the walls of the sewer.
'That's the difference between you and I, Simon. It wasn't a weak moment for someone I might have loved once a long time ago but a necessary evil. You're alive because I want it so, because it suits my purpose.'
Ellis pushed off the wall and glared at Simon, forcing him back two steps away from her. Her cigarette fell forgotten from her fingers into the sewage water. It softly hissed as it hit the water and traveled its way down in the water's current.
'It sure as shit isn't for old time's sake.' She let the sting of her words sink in before she stepped away from Simon, concluding their business for the evening. Slipping into her blending ability, she disappeared and began to walk away from him when she suddenly felt his hand grab her elbow.
The force of his arm shocked her out of her blend and the pain from being slammed back against the sewer wall blurred her vision. He was still holding her arm in a painful vice like grip when her vision cleared again. His angry hazel eyes were inches from her face and the enraged sneer on his was nothing she had ever seen before.
For a moment, a brief one, Ellis was scared.
'Why?' She repeated. With a nod she considered taking another drag of her cigarette but decided against it. Instead she looked down at it, the glare of the blazing tip glowed softly in the darkness of the sewers.
'Why,' she said again and with her middle finger flicked the cigarette into the rushing water beneath them.
For a moment she watched the trail of her cigarette as it floated quickly down the current of the sewage water, disappearing into the mouth of a pipe outlet. Her green eyes then looked back at Simon and she tilted her head with a blank expression.
'This is why.'
Ellis' hands reached up and traced the lapel of Simon's light weather trench coat. As they made their way up his chest she watched the expression on his face bypass surprise and go straight to a raw hunger she hadn't seen in quite some time. She cupped the side of his face with her left hand and ran her fingers into his hair. His eyes closed in a pained expression that she undoubtedly met with her own and they pulled each other close, engulfing each other in a hard pressed kiss that would certainly leave bruises.
He planted his hands against the wall as she let him push her back. Ellis closed her eyes tightly and felt them roll back as the intensity of his kiss penetrated her very soul. Her feet left the ground and wrapped around his waist as his hands reached down and cupped her ass, leaving barely any room to breathe between them. She was suddenly reminded of the first time they kissed. She only knew him as the quiet constable from the nearby village she had decided to rest at for a short spell. Several weeks turned into several months after he kissed her for the first time during his village's harvest festival. She had every intention of wiping the town out before moving on but when she first noticed the human watching her from her perch at a nearby lake, her youth and curiosity got the better of her.
He was kissing her now the way he had kissed her then and the painful gnawing at her stomach that had been bothering her since he let her drop into the inferno started to subside, replacing the blackness with the stirrings of what traces of humanity she may have had left in her. When he reached up and entangled his fingers in her hair she whimpered softly but when he said her name, she became undone.
His tongue was warm and soft, running down the length of her fang. Her body shivered with delight and she returned the favor.
He said her name again against her lips and her legs tightened their hold around his waist. His hands were steady and his breath felt like fire against her skin. Simon had never let his vampire side change him from what she had fallen in love with so many years ago. It was more than likely her growing bitterness against the Council and need for power that pushed him away from her, turning him into her worshiping shadow. He never let it affect his love making and for as cruel as she was to him, she had given him anything during their shared private moments together.
She felt like she was moving but not going anywhere. Maybe that's what kept her from exacting her revenge on him. She was scared of losing this feeling of being...lost?
'Ellis?'
'Huh?'
Ellis blinked and her eyes focused back on the glowing tip of her cigarette. Her face crinkled in confusion and she looked back up.
He wasn't kissing her.
She wasn't breathless.
And more importantly, she wasn't as lost as she wanted to be.
He had asked her a question. Why had she spared him not once but twice and she had let herself day dream about his kisses. Her eyes narrowed and irritation ran up her back like hackles.
'Why? Because you're worth more to my position in the city alive than dead, Simon.' She let the cruelty in her voice reverberate against the walls of the sewer.
'That's the difference between you and I, Simon. It wasn't a weak moment for someone I might have loved once a long time ago but a necessary evil. You're alive because I want it so, because it suits my purpose.'
Ellis pushed off the wall and glared at Simon, forcing him back two steps away from her. Her cigarette fell forgotten from her fingers into the sewage water. It softly hissed as it hit the water and traveled its way down in the water's current.
'It sure as shit isn't for old time's sake.' She let the sting of her words sink in before she stepped away from Simon, concluding their business for the evening. Slipping into her blending ability, she disappeared and began to walk away from him when she suddenly felt his hand grab her elbow.
The force of his arm shocked her out of her blend and the pain from being slammed back against the sewer wall blurred her vision. He was still holding her arm in a painful vice like grip when her vision cleared again. His angry hazel eyes were inches from her face and the enraged sneer on his was nothing she had ever seen before.
For a moment, a brief one, Ellis was scared.
Simon Huntington
15 years ago
'Ellis?'
He said her name softly, not wanting to interrupt the sudden thought she seemed to have lost herself in at that moment and he would have given anything know what she was thinking just then. Her eyes strayed off from her hold on his and unfocused with a strangely intense concentration on the cigarette in her hand.
Simon opened his mouth again and said her name so quietly that he barely heard his own voice say it. She let out a distracted sigh and his face nearly crumbled. He wanted so badly to hold her in his arms and kiss her. To love her the way he had always wanted to, to feel her touch and smell the intoxicating perfume of her want. He whimpered her name.
'Ellis?'
'Huh?'
Her eyes snapped back up into his and blinked in confusion. Then she was gone. Her enigmatic sneer returned with her condescending tone. He was nothing to her and never had been and it was by her choice that he'd never be anything to her again. She may not have said it, but as she brushed by him, blending out of existence, it was as clear as if she had carved it on his forehead. The rage welled up in to such a degree that his blood lust immediately snapped to attention and using his perception he reached out and caught her in her blended state and yanked her back against the wall.
He tightened his grip on her arm and leaned in close. There were a thousand things he wanted to say to her. To admonish, berate and scream at her but in the end it was never about what he could say to her that affected her. It was never his words but his actions and he found that part of him preferred it.
Each encounter together always ended in him wanting to hear her say the words and her refusing...but not this time. In a very quiet, very determined voice, Simon said two words.
'Say it.'
He said her name softly, not wanting to interrupt the sudden thought she seemed to have lost herself in at that moment and he would have given anything know what she was thinking just then. Her eyes strayed off from her hold on his and unfocused with a strangely intense concentration on the cigarette in her hand.
Simon opened his mouth again and said her name so quietly that he barely heard his own voice say it. She let out a distracted sigh and his face nearly crumbled. He wanted so badly to hold her in his arms and kiss her. To love her the way he had always wanted to, to feel her touch and smell the intoxicating perfume of her want. He whimpered her name.
'Ellis?'
'Huh?'
Her eyes snapped back up into his and blinked in confusion. Then she was gone. Her enigmatic sneer returned with her condescending tone. He was nothing to her and never had been and it was by her choice that he'd never be anything to her again. She may not have said it, but as she brushed by him, blending out of existence, it was as clear as if she had carved it on his forehead. The rage welled up in to such a degree that his blood lust immediately snapped to attention and using his perception he reached out and caught her in her blended state and yanked her back against the wall.
He tightened his grip on her arm and leaned in close. There were a thousand things he wanted to say to her. To admonish, berate and scream at her but in the end it was never about what he could say to her that affected her. It was never his words but his actions and he found that part of him preferred it.
Each encounter together always ended in him wanting to hear her say the words and her refusing...but not this time. In a very quiet, very determined voice, Simon said two words.
'Say it.'
Ellis Duban
15 years ago
'Say it? SAY WHAT?'
Ellis pulled at Simon's grip as she yelled into his face.
'What is it, exactly, would you like me to say? Thanks for trying to KILL ME? Thanks for TAKING MY CLAN?'
She continued trying to tear herself from his vice grip on her arm as her rage ran up her spine and began to tingle at the base of her neck. Unconsciously she reached up with her free hand and scratched at the itch.
'You always seem so surprised that I'm fucking pissed off at you for turning your back on me! IMAGINE THAT!'
The niggling at the back of her neck was making her eyes flinch and had it been any other time, she would have understood what it meant, but looking into Simon's beautifully moody eyes only enraged her even more since he was only wanting to hear one thing from her.
'What is it that you want to hear, Simon? Is it that important that I say it to you - even now? Even after what you did? That the reason I haven't killed you yet, which I fucking should have, is because I still lo-.'
Ellis stopped mid sentence and looked at Simon. The expression on his face suddenly changed and his eyes grew unfocused. His hand relaxed, releasing the grip on her arm and curiously he slid to the ground in a crumbled heap. She watched him fold and hit the ground with a soft thump and then it hit her like a jack hammer in between the eyes. Why the niggling at the back of her neck was so irritating, so apparent and ignoring it was very stupid indeed.
Without a second thought Ellis reached back and drew her guns from her waist band and began shooting.
Ellis pulled at Simon's grip as she yelled into his face.
'What is it, exactly, would you like me to say? Thanks for trying to KILL ME? Thanks for TAKING MY CLAN?'
She continued trying to tear herself from his vice grip on her arm as her rage ran up her spine and began to tingle at the base of her neck. Unconsciously she reached up with her free hand and scratched at the itch.
'You always seem so surprised that I'm fucking pissed off at you for turning your back on me! IMAGINE THAT!'
The niggling at the back of her neck was making her eyes flinch and had it been any other time, she would have understood what it meant, but looking into Simon's beautifully moody eyes only enraged her even more since he was only wanting to hear one thing from her.
'What is it that you want to hear, Simon? Is it that important that I say it to you - even now? Even after what you did? That the reason I haven't killed you yet, which I fucking should have, is because I still lo-.'
Ellis stopped mid sentence and looked at Simon. The expression on his face suddenly changed and his eyes grew unfocused. His hand relaxed, releasing the grip on her arm and curiously he slid to the ground in a crumbled heap. She watched him fold and hit the ground with a soft thump and then it hit her like a jack hammer in between the eyes. Why the niggling at the back of her neck was so irritating, so apparent and ignoring it was very stupid indeed.
Without a second thought Ellis reached back and drew her guns from her waist band and began shooting.
The Pipers
15 years ago
Irritated and wet, LT stood hunched over in the infuriating catacombs known as alternative travel in Nachton - located deep in the belly of city - the sewers.
It was disgusting, even for a werewolf.
Wiping the slime from his hand, he continued trying to map the sewers tunnels in hopes of staying one step ahead of the vampires, specifically Duban and Huntington. He had traveled through the tunnels in wolf form and was retracing his steps with a mapping system that the Commander had installed within the Den. There were literally hundred of miles of tunnels beneath the city, more beyond what the city grid maps had on file.
And god, he was in the sewers.
On his person he was carrying the universal PDA/mapping hand held, copies of the city's old underground tunnel maps, his weapons and his cell phone. The weapons in particular were new models from the Beta and the research team within Kadzait. Armor piercing, hollow tip, high caliber darts. The bullets were heavy enough to cause substantial damage to humans, but they proved to be not nearly as effective with the vampires, especially the woman and her lackey; the Tacharan's, they called themselves, were much more resilient - piercing the skin of the older vampires was near impossible in snap situations. They were resorting to using high powered piercing darts that delivered a very potent, very quick acting numbing solution which effectively knocked them out within seconds. Barbs on the tip made extraction difficult, resulting in maximum concentration delivered over time.
Who knew he'd get to use it?
He immediately picked up her scent as he traveled down one of the tunnels located near the downtown area of Nachton. Resisting the urge to call in to the rest of the Pipers, LT advanced down a large drainage pipe, realizing he was down wind of the Duban woman. Drawing his weapon, LT advanced up the drainage pipe, stepping out of the water and walking along the ledge that ran up into a containment ledge. Taking a deep breath, LT closed his eyes and tried identifying the smells.
The woman...smoking. And the man. They were both there.
Then as if on cue, the used butt of a red and white cigarette floated past him in the sewage drain. His eyes flicked up and he advanced quickly up to the couple.
Their voices were getting louder - another argument. LT shook his head, for a couple they were constantly at odds. Reaching out again he smelled the air, searching for any other vampires nearby but nothing registered. The tunnel began to bend to the left and their voices grew louder till he stood just twenty feet away, around the corner.
'...You want to hear, Simon? Is it that import...that I say it to you...even now? Even after...you did?'
Peering around the corner he saw the man's back blocking his view of the woman entirely making a double shot impossible. He'd take out the man and then go after her. The drug in the dart would knock them out for hours or at least long enough to bring them back to the Den. Raising his weapon he aimed for the man's back and fired a dart.
'That the reason I haven't kill...you yet...Which I fucking should have, is because I still lo-.'
It hit him square between his shoulder blades, through the material of his jacket and symptoms were immediate. The man wobbled and then fell. LT was surprised at the speed of the drug, so much so that he barely registered the woman firing her guns at him.
Jumping back down the tunnel, LT managed to miss all but one of the bullets. This realization was very apparent by the burning sensation in his shoulder and his inability to change to wolf form. The pain made him double over in agony. He pulled back the material of his coveralls revealing sizzling skin through a huge hole in his shoulder. The only thing that could do that was...
It was disgusting, even for a werewolf.
Wiping the slime from his hand, he continued trying to map the sewers tunnels in hopes of staying one step ahead of the vampires, specifically Duban and Huntington. He had traveled through the tunnels in wolf form and was retracing his steps with a mapping system that the Commander had installed within the Den. There were literally hundred of miles of tunnels beneath the city, more beyond what the city grid maps had on file.
And god, he was in the sewers.
On his person he was carrying the universal PDA/mapping hand held, copies of the city's old underground tunnel maps, his weapons and his cell phone. The weapons in particular were new models from the Beta and the research team within Kadzait. Armor piercing, hollow tip, high caliber darts. The bullets were heavy enough to cause substantial damage to humans, but they proved to be not nearly as effective with the vampires, especially the woman and her lackey; the Tacharan's, they called themselves, were much more resilient - piercing the skin of the older vampires was near impossible in snap situations. They were resorting to using high powered piercing darts that delivered a very potent, very quick acting numbing solution which effectively knocked them out within seconds. Barbs on the tip made extraction difficult, resulting in maximum concentration delivered over time.
Who knew he'd get to use it?
He immediately picked up her scent as he traveled down one of the tunnels located near the downtown area of Nachton. Resisting the urge to call in to the rest of the Pipers, LT advanced down a large drainage pipe, realizing he was down wind of the Duban woman. Drawing his weapon, LT advanced up the drainage pipe, stepping out of the water and walking along the ledge that ran up into a containment ledge. Taking a deep breath, LT closed his eyes and tried identifying the smells.
The woman...smoking. And the man. They were both there.
Then as if on cue, the used butt of a red and white cigarette floated past him in the sewage drain. His eyes flicked up and he advanced quickly up to the couple.
Their voices were getting louder - another argument. LT shook his head, for a couple they were constantly at odds. Reaching out again he smelled the air, searching for any other vampires nearby but nothing registered. The tunnel began to bend to the left and their voices grew louder till he stood just twenty feet away, around the corner.
'...You want to hear, Simon? Is it that import...that I say it to you...even now? Even after...you did?'
Peering around the corner he saw the man's back blocking his view of the woman entirely making a double shot impossible. He'd take out the man and then go after her. The drug in the dart would knock them out for hours or at least long enough to bring them back to the Den. Raising his weapon he aimed for the man's back and fired a dart.
'That the reason I haven't kill...you yet...Which I fucking should have, is because I still lo-.'
It hit him square between his shoulder blades, through the material of his jacket and symptoms were immediate. The man wobbled and then fell. LT was surprised at the speed of the drug, so much so that he barely registered the woman firing her guns at him.
Jumping back down the tunnel, LT managed to miss all but one of the bullets. This realization was very apparent by the burning sensation in his shoulder and his inability to change to wolf form. The pain made him double over in agony. He pulled back the material of his coveralls revealing sizzling skin through a huge hole in his shoulder. The only thing that could do that was...
Ellis Duban
15 years ago
'Fucking silver, you piece of shit.'
Ellis muttered to herself as she reloaded her guns with the silver tipped bullets her weapons guy had made for her. No silver bullets, no liquid silver cartridge bullshit but just enough silver dipped onto the tip of her .38 super's bullets to sting like a motherfucker. Werewolf or not, it was going to fucking hurt.
Grabbing Simon by his arm and lifting him onto her shoulders, she quickly jumped off the ledge and began running up the tunnel, away from the intruder. Huffing and puffing, she tried to concentrate on her surroundings, searching for anyone or anything else lying in wait but the weight of Simon on her back was too distracting.
The water began to rise to above her knees as she made her way further down the Strip's grid. Ellis sloshed her way through the water, looking for a man hole up and out when a low guttural scream vibrated off the walls. She stopped and turned, listening for the sound of the intruder who, odds are, was benefiting (suffering, pick your poison) from the silver tip of her bullets.
Mmphf.
'Huh, what?' Ellis spun around trying to get a peek at Simon's face back over her shoulder. 'Simon, are you ok?'
Something pierced the tunnel surface just above her head and grazed her jacket, spinning her back away from the noise. Instinctively she crouched down and turned to the side, making herself less of a target...but making Simon more of one.
Whmpf....oof.
Twisting Simon a bit she saw a second dart sticking out of his lower back.
'Oh shit. Sorry,' Ellis snorted softly and continued working her way up towards the surface.
Ellis muttered to herself as she reloaded her guns with the silver tipped bullets her weapons guy had made for her. No silver bullets, no liquid silver cartridge bullshit but just enough silver dipped onto the tip of her .38 super's bullets to sting like a motherfucker. Werewolf or not, it was going to fucking hurt.
Grabbing Simon by his arm and lifting him onto her shoulders, she quickly jumped off the ledge and began running up the tunnel, away from the intruder. Huffing and puffing, she tried to concentrate on her surroundings, searching for anyone or anything else lying in wait but the weight of Simon on her back was too distracting.
The water began to rise to above her knees as she made her way further down the Strip's grid. Ellis sloshed her way through the water, looking for a man hole up and out when a low guttural scream vibrated off the walls. She stopped and turned, listening for the sound of the intruder who, odds are, was benefiting (suffering, pick your poison) from the silver tip of her bullets.
Mmphf.
'Huh, what?' Ellis spun around trying to get a peek at Simon's face back over her shoulder. 'Simon, are you ok?'
Something pierced the tunnel surface just above her head and grazed her jacket, spinning her back away from the noise. Instinctively she crouched down and turned to the side, making herself less of a target...but making Simon more of one.
Whmpf....oof.
Twisting Simon a bit she saw a second dart sticking out of his lower back.
'Oh shit. Sorry,' Ellis snorted softly and continued working her way up towards the surface.
The Pipers
15 years ago
'Ugh...'
LT dug deep with his fingers into the hole in his shoulder, tearing the flesh further apart, trying to get to the piece of metal burning painfully.
Gritting his teeth he felt his fingertips sizzle as they touched the silver on the crushed bullet and with a pained scream he pulled it out.
'Ah...GAWWWWWWD!'
LT shoved the bullet down in the front pocket of his uniform and tried to rotate his shoulder. It did, eventually. Turning wasn't going to happen either, not with the effects of the silver lingering. So he began to move quickly up the tunnel after the couple, double timing it as fast as he could till he caught her in sight again.
He squeezed off another round of darts, missing her again but he heard more soft groaning from Huntington.
'Fuck me.' Reaching for his cell he called into the rest of the team.
LT dug deep with his fingers into the hole in his shoulder, tearing the flesh further apart, trying to get to the piece of metal burning painfully.
Gritting his teeth he felt his fingertips sizzle as they touched the silver on the crushed bullet and with a pained scream he pulled it out.
'Ah...GAWWWWWWD!'
LT shoved the bullet down in the front pocket of his uniform and tried to rotate his shoulder. It did, eventually. Turning wasn't going to happen either, not with the effects of the silver lingering. So he began to move quickly up the tunnel after the couple, double timing it as fast as he could till he caught her in sight again.
He squeezed off another round of darts, missing her again but he heard more soft groaning from Huntington.
'Fuck me.' Reaching for his cell he called into the rest of the team.
Ellis Duban
15 years ago
Ellis pushed up on the manhole slowly, looking out into the dark alley. Satisfied they were alone, she climbed back down and retrieved the slumbering Simon at the bottom of the ladder and carried him up. Peering out again she lifted the manhole and pushed it gently to the side. The alley was completely clear and it made her extremely nervous. She did not get a chance to look at the intruder in the sewers but she had little doubt it wasn't one of Hammerthynn's men. A girl couldn't travel the city without a bulls eye on her back anymore.
Lifting Simon up she set him next to the opening and climbed out. The hair on the back of her neck began to tingle again. Her eyes moved up and down the alley - nothing - but her perception was telling her differently. There were people in the area, but she couldn't tell if it was just normal building occupants. Again she repositioned Simon onto her left shoulder and with her right hand she pulled her .38 super out. Its silver barrel twinkled in the full moon which she noted with a dirty look. She looked at the moon differently now, knowing its sway held more than the vampires in its grasp. The world was beginning to fill up with unanswered questions for her and after over a millennium the blank pages were few and far between. Still, living in a world full of missing answers was better than not living at all.
Ellis took a step away from the manhole and headed toward the main street looking for a car to boost. As she approached the street the silence continued. Looking down she could see the Strip's main roadway and more cars mingling with the night. Her perception was working over time now, registering smells and body signatures - not as clear as older ancients, but enough to make her uneasy. There was no telling the difference between a vampire, werewolf or human signature - they were all the same. She looked down the opposite side of the street and down an opposite alleyway she spied the tail end of Simon's jag.
Making haste she jogged down to the next alley, Simon still unconscious on her shoulder. This would make number three now for helping him. She fingered the trigger of her .38 and did a wide sweep of the street with her eyes trying not to distract herself with thoughts of Simon's question, or rather, demand. Clenching her jaw she approached the car and tucked her gun back into her waist band. Lowering Simon to the trunk, she searched his pockets for his keys. Finding pay dirt she retrieved the keys and hit the keyless entry button, unlocking the car and the remote doors opened. The alley in front of her was dark and silent, still she was glad to not have her back to it as she opened the door wider to push Simon into the passenger seat. Lifting his legs she tucked him in when the tension in her neck made her face wince.
'Oh fuck.'
Ellis put her hand on the door and yanked it hard, ripping it off the hinges and turned it around, using it as a shield. Three darts clanked and pierced the steel of the car door where her back had just been. Her left hand squeezed the keyless entry remote, starting the car as she crawled over Simon, still holding the car door up and bullet proof window chinked as more darts bounced off it. Stepping on the clutch and shifting awkwardly with her left hand, she put the car into reverse and gunned it out of the alley, directly at the assailant.
She caught sight of them as they flew past in the jag. Two were shooting at the front windshield as she swung into the street and continued toward the Strip main drag in reverse. They pulled further and further away from the two on foot, but if they were there - the rest were close by. Ellis let go of the car door and it clammered down to the ground and she held onto Simon as the car careened into oncoming traffic.
((ooc - continued in The Strip - Can't drive 55))
Lifting Simon up she set him next to the opening and climbed out. The hair on the back of her neck began to tingle again. Her eyes moved up and down the alley - nothing - but her perception was telling her differently. There were people in the area, but she couldn't tell if it was just normal building occupants. Again she repositioned Simon onto her left shoulder and with her right hand she pulled her .38 super out. Its silver barrel twinkled in the full moon which she noted with a dirty look. She looked at the moon differently now, knowing its sway held more than the vampires in its grasp. The world was beginning to fill up with unanswered questions for her and after over a millennium the blank pages were few and far between. Still, living in a world full of missing answers was better than not living at all.
Ellis took a step away from the manhole and headed toward the main street looking for a car to boost. As she approached the street the silence continued. Looking down she could see the Strip's main roadway and more cars mingling with the night. Her perception was working over time now, registering smells and body signatures - not as clear as older ancients, but enough to make her uneasy. There was no telling the difference between a vampire, werewolf or human signature - they were all the same. She looked down the opposite side of the street and down an opposite alleyway she spied the tail end of Simon's jag.
Making haste she jogged down to the next alley, Simon still unconscious on her shoulder. This would make number three now for helping him. She fingered the trigger of her .38 and did a wide sweep of the street with her eyes trying not to distract herself with thoughts of Simon's question, or rather, demand. Clenching her jaw she approached the car and tucked her gun back into her waist band. Lowering Simon to the trunk, she searched his pockets for his keys. Finding pay dirt she retrieved the keys and hit the keyless entry button, unlocking the car and the remote doors opened. The alley in front of her was dark and silent, still she was glad to not have her back to it as she opened the door wider to push Simon into the passenger seat. Lifting his legs she tucked him in when the tension in her neck made her face wince.
'Oh fuck.'
Ellis put her hand on the door and yanked it hard, ripping it off the hinges and turned it around, using it as a shield. Three darts clanked and pierced the steel of the car door where her back had just been. Her left hand squeezed the keyless entry remote, starting the car as she crawled over Simon, still holding the car door up and bullet proof window chinked as more darts bounced off it. Stepping on the clutch and shifting awkwardly with her left hand, she put the car into reverse and gunned it out of the alley, directly at the assailant.
She caught sight of them as they flew past in the jag. Two were shooting at the front windshield as she swung into the street and continued toward the Strip main drag in reverse. They pulled further and further away from the two on foot, but if they were there - the rest were close by. Ellis let go of the car door and it clammered down to the ground and she held onto Simon as the car careened into oncoming traffic.
((ooc - continued in The Strip - Can't drive 55))