The sun gradually fell beneath the horizon, twilight racing across the land as the day fled the coming of the night. In the shadows for the forest the pile of leaves and dirt shifted, rose upward, then gracefully the tall figure climbed out of her rough concealment. "Such a nuisance," the black haired woman growled in annoyance as she tried to brush her garb off, her simple leathers soiled with the earth she had laid in. Heather McKennit took a breath more out of reflex than need, reaching up to tidy her mane of long hair. Plucking out a twig she muttered, "I need a bath." Heather had been oddly disappointed to discover that the legends of the vampires she had learned from her nanny were largely untrue, at least as far as she could discover. A stake through the heart was inconvenient but not lethal, as was the cross. Garlic tasted disgusting but little other harm was done. And finally the sun did not burn, though a great sleepiness overcame her in daylight, a weakness as severe as any fire. So during the day she slept hidden, digging in the dirt while traveling to shield herself from any curious fools. Leaving the woods Heather was relieved to see no horses on the road, no wagons or travelers walking from place to place. The hunger had been growing in her the past few days, and she had no wish to feast on the innocent or unwary. With her vision the night was lit up like day, and her nose brought the scents of the world to her... good and bad. It was nearly a hour before she came over a rise, the broken wagon coming into view beside the road. Heather's eyes narrowed as she swept it with her eyes, the broken axle and the loose guide lines showing the horses had fled. 'So where are the people?' she wondered. "Oh thank god!" the woman cried as she emerged from the woods, her golden hair hanging limply over her shoulders. "Traveler," she looked Heather over, "could you escort me to the next town? I fear my companions have abandoned me." Heather's nose twitched as a familiar scent carried on the wind, then she smiled. "Of course," she nodded, "I couldn't leave a woman alone here." "Thank you," she smiled up at Heather, "my name is Elizabeth." "We'd best get going," Heather said briskly, turning her back on the woman and starting off down the road. The knife was drawn with a steely hiss and Elizabeth lunged, but Heather was ready. Swiftly she dodged, pulling the girl's arm and forcing the blade free, sending it clattering to the dirt. "How did...?" Elizabeth gasped as Heather grabbed her by the arms, restraining her. "Let her go," the man yelled as he burst from cover, his two comrades following from where Heather had spotted them earlier, waving their swords threateningly. None too gently Heather cast the girl aside, the pretty bait these bandits had used to lure the unwary to death. "Of course," she said coldly, "I have you to play with now." That surprised them all, giving Heather a free moment to strike. The one bandit gasped as she grabbed him by the head and twisted with inhuman strength, the wet noise of a neck breaking loud in the near silence. Tossing him away she dodged a sword strike as if he was standing still, tearing the weapon away then skewering him with his own weapon. The third bandit tossed his weapon away in terror, pissing himself in fear as he whimpered, "Please, I never meant.... never wanted... they made me join them!" "And how many of your victims plead for their lives?" Heather asked coldly, punching him and feeling his face break beneath the force of her blow, killing him in moments. Elizabeth was murmuring prayers under her breath, backing away in pure shock from the massacre that had only taken a few seconds to happen. As Heather turned back to her she tried to bolt, but the vampire caught her easily. "Please mistress," Elizabeth blurted out as she looked up into that pale face, those intense eyes, "I'll serve you, just spare me!" "And is that what you told the bandits when you agreed to be their Judas goat?" Heather answered huskily, feeling distracted by the scent coming off her. It was sweeter than the men, like a fine wine, and drew her close to the beautiful girl. Elizabeth stopped struggling, seemingly fascinated by Heather's gaze, "Mistress...." Heather's tongue rasped across her skin to taste that sweetness, hunger spiraling up within her. There was a sharp burst of pain in her gums as her fangs extended involuntarily, fever taking her mind then she bit savagely, blood pulsing into her mouth. "Ah!" Elizabeth convulsed, legs involuntarily tightening around Heather's body as passion raced through her wildly. Drinking the blood of men had been far better than any food Heather had ever ate, and this was similarly better than those first feedings. Elizabeth's blood was like ambrosia, filling a hunger that Heather hadn't known she possessed, a need that sang in her veins as her hands stroked the girl to higher peaks of passion. Finally their mutual pleasure faded as the girl's blood ran dry and reluctantly Heather let the empty body fall to the ground. Reaching up to touch her bloody lips Heather murmured, "Not that I've tasted that... can I ever go back again?" "Hey Heather," the bartender nodded in greeting as he produced her regular bottle of wine, pouring her a glass then setting the bottle on the bar beside her. "Thanks Carter," Heather took the glass, swirling the wine around it a moment. She sniffed once, savoring the scent then drank. Wine didn't satisfy the hunger, didn't even make a dent, but it still tasted good to her. "Good year," she added as she set it down. She looked good in battered jeans and a leather jacket, athletic and a little wild. "Glad to hear it," Carter said with a smile, "since everything I've learned about wine I picked up from you." The older man wiped at a tall glass and casually said, "That little girl you rescued has been asking about you." Heather raised an eyebrow, "Oh?" "Seems you made quite an impression on her," Carter said calmly. He flashed her a smile, "Don't worry, I haven't told her much." "There's not much to tell," Heather answered as her thoughts raced, wondering what the child might have heard.... or deduced. Her natural caution had grown over the centuries along with her power, a wariness that had helped keep her alive. "This girl a problem?" Carter asked sharply, brown eyes narrowing. "Not in the way you mean," Heather said reassuringly, smiling slightly at his misplaced protectiveness. "Anyway, she's been coming around a lot lately," Carter said gruffly, "you can probably find her here somewhere." Heather poured herself another glass of wine, finishing it off in a single gulp then rising as the music pulsed and throbbed through the nightclub like a massive heartbeat. "Maybe I'll do that," she said, striding off into the dimly lit club. The dancers ground their bodies together wildly out on the floor, yet also unconsciously parting for the tall huntress that strode in their midst. The scents that filled the air were enough to make Heather's teeth ache to be used, sweet excitement and heated passion lingering on the artificially circulated air. A few brave figures dared to touch her skin or gaze at Heather longingly but she dismissed them, focused on one prey. Alice watched the dancers, the redhead standing slightly apart from the passionately moving people. The petite young woman was wearing a green blouse and blue jeans, her only jewelry a simple necklace that gleamed in the gloom. She looked up, somehow sensing Heather's approach and smiled at her shyly, "Hello." Heather met her gaze and was relieved to see that her eyes were clear, unclouded by the influence of her power. Her mind and will were powerful, so much so that she could influence a weaker mind without even intending to. "We meet again," Heather answered, "I understand you've been asking about me?" Alice blushed charmingly, looking away from the tall woman. "I'm sorry," she said, "I was curious about you." Heather could see the heat that was radiating off Alice, picking up the subtle scents of both excitement and fear coming off her. 'She may not know what I am,' she mused, 'but she clearly knows I'm dangerous.' Aloud she asked, "Why is that?" Alice smiled slightly as she confessed, "I can't seem to get you out of my mind, wondering why you helped me against Sam, when everyone else was just ignoring what he was going to do...." "I had my reasons," Heather answered firmly, "and they're not anywhere near as noble as you seem to think." "I don't believe you," Alice answered promptly. "You should," Heather answered, letting a tiny bit of her true nature come forth. Alice paled slightly, swaying as she gazed at Heather with wide eyes, looked up in awe at the predator Heather really was. "You're..." she gulped, "beautiful." Heather blinked in surprise, 'That wasn't the reaction I was expecting.' Taking the girl by the arm she gently drew her away from the dancers and towards the back of the club, then out into the alley behind the building. "What...?" Alice started. Heather cut her off with a kiss, a fierce pressing of her lips to the girl's. With a moan Alice surrendered, swooning in Heather's arms as they kissed passionately, tongues dueling. She kissed her cheek, licked down her neck, then... bit. Alice moaned as she writhed in Heather's arms, squirming as the most exquisite pleasure raced through her veins, a pleasure equaled in Heather's body. They remained wielded together for long moments before Heather pulled back, drawing on all her will to release the lovely young girl before her life was taken. Heather shuddered as the last tremors of ecstasy raced through her body, delicately bandaging the child's neck. "Forget about me," she commanded the entranced girl forcefully, "forget ever meeting me. Go home, and go on with your life." With a trace of regret Heather watched Alice walk home, following her in the shadows. 'I've had mortal lovers before,' she thought, 'it always ends in sorrow. Better that she be let go now, than be slain or flee from me later.'
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