A/N: VERY important: You met Vida in the last chapter. Like I said, all I took from AAR is the names, so make sure you remember Vida is IN NO WAY connected to the Vida in the AAR books! This is my Vida! She is in no way, shape or form a witch! There is no Vida line. I just thought it would be funny if Nikolas and Vida got together.
Disclaimer: I don't own the vampires' names, and the basic concept belongs to Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, but the rest, is mine. Including the plot, and the characters.
Chapter 4: Games and Fun
I have thought about this moment for most of my unnaturally long life, even pestered Jagar constantly about it. But never have I fully understood it. When I drank form the assassin, the blood was hot and thick, full of life. It flowed furiously in a rush of red. Jagar's blood is much different. It is cool and flows sluggishly. As I drink, I get a sense of power and time. I swallow many times before coming to my senses. My being a vampire will not help if Jagar is killed in the process. Still, I don't want to let go. I hear Jagar moan and realize that if I do not let go, I will kill him. Reluctantly, I push him away. The room is spinning in dizzying circles. I try to regain my fading sight and rouse Jagar at the same time. Finally, he is awake, but now I am fainting. I see his mouth moving, but I hear no sounds. My last sight is Jagar's face bending over mine. Belatedly, I remember why this is happening. Though I am dying, soon I will wake up. With that thought in my mind, I finally succumb to the overpowering darkness, hoping that I will soon be awake.
---------------------------- (A/N this is a dividerlet...like a mini-divider...the thingy took away the ones I had)
"Rachel! Where have you been?"
"Vanessa! But… I thought you were dead!"
"How can I be dead? Just because you ran away, it doesn't mean that I died from shock."
I realize what she is saying and run to her, beaming with joy. Suddenly, my perspective changes and I am looking down at the whole scene. Ness is hugging me, but as the sun peeks out from behind the clouds, I spy a glint of silver. Looking closer, I identify it as a knife – a knife pointed straight towards my back.
The unexpected shock of seeing Vanessa – my sweet, loving dependable Ness – betraying me seems to jolt me back into my body. Breaking me away from her, I run blindly in the other direction, blinking back tears.
"Rachel! Stop! I'm sorry!"
I ignore her words and run on until I reach black oblivion once more.
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(A/N The upcoming description was courtesy of my friend who problably wouldn't want me putting her name on here. She gave it to me, and I chopped it up, and then I glued it back together, and voila!)
Risika! Wake up. The voice seems to echo from a faraway land. I can barely hear it through the darkness threatening to swallow everything up. It seems vaguely familiar. I hear it not only in my ears, but in my mind. I think I'm supposed to open my eyes.
Hot. That's the first word that comes to my mind, and it is the closest I can get to describing this stranger who is hovering anxiously over me. Immediately my attention is drawn to his eyes. I am startled to see that they are the same perfect green that mine are, but somehow infinitely deeper. As he runs his fingers worriedly through his lustrous hair, a few raven strands fall across his eyes, concealing the long jet-black lashes that frame them. His luscious lips are a deep red, accenting his finely sculpted face. Abruptly, I become aware of his hand lying on mine. I notice that his arms are perfectly toned. A tight black shirt stretched across his chest displays the muscles in his upper body. He is wearing dark shorts that expose much of his strong legs.
His smooth, soft skin shines even in the shadowed room, and I can barely restrain myself from reaching out to touch it. The chocolaty tint marks this teenager as an Egyptian, and swiftly I wonder how his eyes could be green. With that thought, my gaze wanders back up to his face. Astonishingly, those round forests have turned into a mesmerizing onyx that is just as amazing. I get the feeling that they can show many things, but right now, they are filled with concern.
"Who– Who are you?"
Wow. You really did forget everything. I don't suppose you know your name either.
The voice in my head makes me to jump up. That motion causes me to glimpse my self in the mirrors that surround the room, and memories begin returning slowly.
"I'm Risika. But who are you?"
The stranger sighs. "And you're supposed to be in love with me too. I'm Jagar." A mischievous glimmer is in his eyes.
Now the trickle of memories becomes a flood. Along with them comes the dream I had when dying. I frown momentarily as I recall what Vanessa had planned to do to me. Then I look at the person in front of me who is a stranger no more.
Sorry about that, Jagar. I remember now. I grin at him, flashing my teeth. Delightedly, I run my tongue over the sharp white fangs that have now appeared.
I didn't realize you thought so highly of me, teases Jagar. Hot. The closest I can get to describing this stranger, he mimics. My checks heat up as I recollect what else I had thought about this vampire before me. I was joking, he assures me. The expression on his face changes to one of concern as a shiver wracks my body. Of course! You just changed. You should consider feeding. I think – we'll go to Egypt.
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Upon return, I decide that I will transfer my things to Dark Rose and live with Jagar. I'm inclined to test my strength, so I challenge Elliot, Jagar's blood brother. Jagar and I meet him at Devil's Lair, one of the many vampiric nightclubs in the state, and a date is set for next week.
"So what are you going to do about Vida? You want to fight her yourself? That would be boring for me though. How about… I know!" Jagar exclaims brightly, "I could kill Nikolas first, and then we could fight his lover together. It would be fun!"
Would it ever occur to you that I don't wish to destroy Vida? She was my sister, I inform him. I am certainly lying about that, but I do want to see Jagar's response. Carefully, I arrange my features so that they are filled with what I hope are anger and scorn.
"Oh – then I – umm – you know – just assumed that –" he breaks off as her sees I am grinning. "You liar! Your are going to kill Vida!"
Dodging Jagar, I leap over the bar beside us. I gulp down its contents and then throw it over my shoulder. "Come on," I call, pulling Jagar to the middle of the floor. Soon, I will have to consider what to do about Vida, but for now, I am going to have some fun. Jagar looks startled at first, then relaxes and dances with me.
"Damn!" I look up at Jagar curiously, wondering why he just cursed. Before I can say anything, however, I feel it. There is a Veer witch in here. Without bothering to look, I lash out with my aura. The witch is thrown out of the nightclub, but it looks like he will return.
Lets go. When we are back at Jagar's – or now my – house, he questions me again. "So, shall I go rid us all of Nikolas?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I have a better, much funner idea. I'm going to befriend Vida. And maybe you could too?" I hold up a hand before he can protest. "Wait – I'm not done. After she trusts us, we can bring her over here. And then she can die, or whatever. I don't generally kill my kind unless I can help it, but in her case – I'll make an exception."
"And then - if he comes after us – then I can fight Nikolas," Jagar enthuses.
"Sure," I agree. "When do you wanna start?"
How about right now? queries Jagar.
Sure, I reply silently. But what's up with the mind speak?
What do you think? It's in case someone's listening.
Like me? This is not Jagar. Nor is it I.
"Elliot!" Jagar shouts, intensely annoyed. "If you keep intruding on our conversations, then I will block you out of my mind!"
"But it's fun," says Elliot, his form finally coalescing before me.
"That's it!" Jagar growls. "Get out, and do it NOW!" I quickly move aside as Jagar heatedly shoots his power at Elliot.
Stop it, I command Jagar with my mind. I definitely don't want them shattering glass in my house. It would be such a bother to get rid of. Besides, Elliot's pretty cool. You shouldn't be killing your own fledgling. I thought you two weren't enemies.
Well we are now.
Fine, but if you're going to kill him, do it out of my sight. And I'd prefer if it weren't in this house either.
"Agreed. Elliot, will you please leave now," Jagar requests with exaggerated innocence.
"If you really want me to. This is getting boring anyway," answers Elliot insolently. He shakes some white-blond hair out of his eyes and swaggers away. Once he gets outside, he transforms into a hawk, his preferred form, and flies into the night.
I suppose Vida will be gone now, I inform Jagar. She always hunts at midnight. We can start some other time. As I drift off to sleep, I consider killing Nikolas right now.
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I dreamt of Vida again. I am sure now that I must betray her. If I don't, the bitch might do it to me first. After all, that is what happened to Maeve, is it not? It is lucky that she even survived to make Jagar. Lazily, I stretch out. Then I go to feed. I take myself to a house by the edge of the forest. There is a teenage boy there, a little older than Jagar. I know from past experience that his name is Aiden. As soon as his eye meet mine, I smile coyly, concealing my fangs, and then slink into the trees. Before he arrives, I make my eyes golden and change into what humans would call "provocative" clothes.
Aiden, when he reaches me, stares for more than a few moments with his mouth open. I know what he is thinking – I look just like one of his younger teachers; I changed my whole appearance. Still smiling, I beckon him to me with just one finger. I could just as easily bring him to the middle of the woods with my mind, but I enjoy toying with my prey.
"Aiden…" I croon as he strides towards me, a dazed look in his eyes. I draw him closer, my hands around his waist, and he sighs. I gaze into his eyes, and whisper a single word to his mind: Sleep. He almost falls to the ground, but I quickly slide my hand to the back of his neck to support his body. My teeth neatly pierce his neck, and blood flows freely.
As soon as I return home, Jagar is in my mind. I saunter into his room, my skin flushed from the blood meal I just took. "What?"
"You know you're supposed to fight Elliot soon."
"Right. I'll go to Onyx now. You coming?" I ask idly. It's a pointless question; he'd come even if I didn't want him to, just to ensure that Vida didn't decide to drop by and kill me. I use my mind to take us both to the nightclub.
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Now I'm at Onyx. It's an exclusive club, run by Maeve, Jagar's blood mother. Only full vampires (or vampira) can get in, so it's my first time here. I scan the room, looking for Nikolas or Vida. They aren't there, but Elliot is. I cannot see him, but I sense he aura nearby. There is a slight humming in the air, and some of the vampires are moving. Elliot appears in the middle of the clearing. He turns toward me, clear Caribbean pools catching my own emerald gaze. Come on! he says. What are you waiting for?
You, I reply as I squeeze in next to him. Jagar follows. So let's get this started! I shove him gently, but not so softly that he doesn't stumble. Elliot moves back a little, setting up his defenses. I gasp as a wave of dark power rushes through me. I look around for the source, but everyone is looking towards our circle still. It's not me, and Jagar's power does not feel like that either. That leaves only one person.
"Surprised?" It is not really a question. Elliot knows I am stunned. "Just because I don't fight too often doesn't mean I can't. I'm not quite as weak as you thought."
The words run through my mind a couple times before I finally realize the truth. All the times that I have met him, Elliot has been veiling his aura. I wonder why, but know that this is not the time to ponder it. I have a battle to fight.
"Oh well." I toss the words over my shoulder, more to Jagar than Elliot. I look back at Elliot. All right. I did not think you were quite this strong. Now get over it and DON'T kill me if you get the chance.
I'll consider it.
Consider what? Killing me or letting me live?
Both, he smirks. I feel his aura stretch to mine. He is searching for breaks, or weak spots in my defense, just as I am in his.
Risika. Jagar is in my mind now.
What? I snap, trying to converse with Jagar and keep my walls up simultaneously.
The knife.
Oh. Yeah. Right. I forgot.
Evidently. Jagar was talking about the knife that I took from Nikolas. I bring it out and lunge at Elliot.
My attack is easily sidestepped and Elliot smiles beguilingly at me. "Naughty, naughty. But it's okay. I have a blade too." Swiftly, Elliot reaches to his back and pulls out a blade of his own. It looks like the famed blade of Isvarya, the greatest Veer witch. I still can't be sure, because there should be a carving on its blade: Eternal; unstoppable; brave, but I'm not going to get close enough to see.
I build up my power, and then lash out with it, throwing the knife concurrently. But Elliot is ready. He reflects it with a shield of his own, and then kicks the knife into the crowd. "Good throw, Risika," he taunts, "but not good enough." His power whips out and surrounds me. Before he can get a good hold, I change into tiger shape.
Elliot rolls his eyes. "How did I know you were going to do that? You're so predictable, Risika. You really need to expand your forms."
I growl and charge at him. My tiger claws score his chest, but marks heal instantly. Elliot frowns for some odd reason, and then transforms into hawk. While he is changing, I let my aura squeeze his, and his defenses fall for one second. In that moment, I sneak a vine of power in and grasp his mind. Elliot gasps, and I smile the slow, lazy smile of a cat. I leap forward, pinning him to the ground. I guess I'm stronger than you anyway, Elliot, I taunt. This is the first time I have said his name, and it echoes strangely in my mind. I ignore that, changing back to my human form. My hands are on his chest now, and I slide them to his arms incase he tries something. Nice body, by the way, I add.
Don't let Jagar hear that, he teases.
Why not? I am my own person, you know, I retort.
Yeah, whatever, he says airily, and then sends a surge of power along the line I was using to hold him. There is a brief burning in my veins, and Elliot uses that time to expand his aura until I am out of his mind. Maybe I'm not weaker than you, he calls, and then the fight continues.
We are unable to take hold of each other again. At one point, when our auras are squeezing each other, I begin to laugh. I see realization dawn on Elliot's face as he figures out what is so funny. We are so evenly matched that we tire at the same rate. Finally, when both of us are gasping from fatigue, I call, "Enough!" (A/N Totally an Eragon moment...Iknow, I cheat...)
"Sure," Elliot agrees, and finally we let go of each other.
"That was fun." I stagger to the bar and pull out a bluish drink. "This is good," I say. "Does anyone know what it is?"
Perhaps, says a familiar voice in my mind, but I'm not going to be telling you what it is.
"Joy," I moan aloud. Jagar and Elliot both turn to me. "Nikolas is here, with his 'partner' in tow."
A/N: Ha! Finally you met Elliot! That guy is just soo annoying! When I started, this was supposed to be all about Risika and Jagar. Only Risika and Jagar. But then Elliot had to come in and screw everything up. God.
