Ursa sighed in loneliness. She had gotten too attached to Leo, more than she ever thought she would. Now that he had to go to one of his jobs, she was left alone.
"Why couldn't you be like the other wielders young lord?" Ursa wondered out loud in their apartment. "It would make life so much easier. I'm so foolish for allowing myself to care. You will die in a matter of moments to me, even if you live well into later years." It was this thought that she had come to accept many years ago, which is why she avoided attachments as best as possible. Watching various aliens and humans walk along the street, she frowned deeply and glared at them.
"Why?" She smashed her fists into the window sill. "Why can't I die!?" She almost yelled while holding onto her head. "I just want it to end," her voice drifted off as the image of Leo smiling at her came into her head. Tears slipped from her eyes as she slumped against the wall and she let out a bitter laugh. "If only you knew. If only your eyes could see this darkness," Ursa chuckled. Griping onto the front of her shirt, she snarled. "I hate you, you and your damn eyes!"
Leo sneezed, rubbing his nose as the party had gotten underway. He got to meet many other members of Libra that he hadn't ever seen before, like Patrick and his assistant, Neyka. He was sitting on the sofa and looked around the room at the people having fun drinking.
I wonder if Ursa would like this… Eh, I don't really take her as a party person. Leo thought as he imagined she would probably just stand in a corner, wary of all the technology in the room. Many times she had been frightened by just the beeping of the microwave or sudden noises on the TV.
"You know it's nice to get everyone together and kick back for a while," Patrick said from his spot next to Leo. "You guys have been working to damn hard lately."
"You've been going full throttle yourself Patrick," Steven said as he sat across the sofa in a chair.
"Nah, it's nothing I can't handle. I'm lucky to have a good assistant who keeps things running smoothly. And besides, arms' dealing is my passion. Bring on the work, we can take it." Patrick said as Neyka sat beside him munching on something.
Leo had been zoning out on the conversation, only hearing the hiccups of Sonic who sat beside him on the armrest. The more Patrick drank, the louder he would get.
"Hey what's the matter Leo? Why so quiet? Got anything interesting to say?" Patrick's voice awoke Leo from his thoughts and caused him to just stare at the man.
"Not really," Leo commented.
"Apparently. Come on big guy, speak up. Got any dirty jokes?" Patrick said while putting his face much closer than Leo would have liked. Patrick picked Leo up and started to spin him around, much to the younger boy's dismay.
"Patrick I think you've had one too many!" Leo said as he tried to keep his stomach calm.
"That's enough Patrick. How have you been Leo?" Klaus asked. "Do you feel like you are getting settled into the city?"
"More or less," Leo said after stopping his struggle. He had a lot of things that had happened in the past few months than the six months prior to joining Libra. He was tempted a few times to spill about Ursa, maybe in the hopes that they could help her. Leo noticed a few times that she would stare off in the distance and looked angry. She never directed her anger towards him, but somehow he felt like it kinda was connected to him.
"I am still getting used to the abrupt weirdness." Leo said in the shake of moving the conversation. "Like today, on the subway, I saw someone who had the most incredible crimson aura around them and I thought, "That's awesome," and I sort of said it…out loud…cause I was so surprised." People began to gather around while he spoke, all their eyes on him.
Thus, Leo was introduced to the idea of vampires and blood breeds. After Klaus mentioned calling in the specialist and Zapp's reluctance to talk about said person, Leo redirected his attention to Klaus. There was something on his mind that was bothering him.
"Hey Klaus, are vampires… ah blood breeds, were they ever called strigoi?" When Ursa said it, it bothered Leo to the point that he looked it up online. He found that strigoi was the Romanian term for undead spirits, and was the bases for creatures like vampires.
"Yes. That is one of the names they had accumulated during their time… why do you ask?" Klaus asked, giving Leo a weary glance.
"Oh, it's nothing," Leo quickly said, rubbing the back of his neck.
So did Ursa fight vampires?
Ursa looked out the window to see the sun had set and Leo wasn't back yet. When he did enter, he said he was tired and went right to bed.
What happened? Ursa wondered, staring at Leo's back.
The next morning he was gong early and had left her a note. Again, she was left alone for a large portion of the day. Suddenly, she felt a darkness sweep over her as Excalibur pulsed.
"You saying there's one of them here huh?" She paused before turning quickly back on her heel to stare at the sword against the wall. "You mean there is more than one!" Ursa paced around the small bedroom and tried to figure out what her next step will be. There was a shocking pulse that went through her heart and she swore she could feel that Leo was in pain.
"Excalibur! I need your help to find them, Leo could be in trouble." Her slip on words would seem strange, but it was a desperate attempt to coerce the sword into working with her. "I know you hate me, but this is for Leo," with that said, she suited up in her armor and grabbed Excalibur before taking off out the window.
Ursa used whatever roof tops she could to avoid people as Excalibur continued to pulsate. Its pulses began to grow more rapid as she approached an area filled with police. She watched as a woman wearing a red trench coat and a man in a suit walk towards the entrance to the subway.
They also go to the building Leo goes to, they must be trying to fight the strigoi on their own. Ursa thought as she looked around the area.
"There must be another way in," Ursa whispered as she looked around. Eventually, she found an entrance to a maintenance tunnel that she followed out to the platform. Hiding, she noticed that there was the two people whom she saw enter before, heavily injured. There was also another woman in a suit, a very tall male, the annoying silver haired guy that bothers Leo, another male in a trench coat and…
"Leo," Ursa whispered. She was happy to see he was alright, but she could still sense the darkness of a blood breed in the air.
So they cannot kill them. Ursa noticed as she sensed one of the blood breeds presence in a small metal cross. She grimaced, holding onto Excalibur that hung at her side.
"Well, looks like Valsh was just as pathetic as I thought she was." The group turned to see another shadowy form.
"Klaus that's a-" Leo yelled out, his eyes peering into the darkness to see the crimson wings. The shadow took a few steps forward before it was interrupted by Ursa jumping in front of it.
"Sir Leo, tell your friends to stand back," Ursa appeared with her hand on the hilt of her blade.
"Ursa! But how?!" She smiled back at Leo.
"I told you, I will always be here to protect you." She turned back to face the blood breed before her. It was an average male, with long brown hair and wearing a trench coat. "Your friends are weak and need attention, please take care."
"Well well, if it isn't that pesky knight they've been buzzing about. We all thought the elder of England finally got rid of you. Too bad for you… we now know your secret." Ursa flinched as her hand seemed to shake over the hilt.
"Is that so?" Ursa replied. As the flickering flame of anger began to light in her eyes, the Blood Breed laughed.
"You're nothing. Just a pathetic human who sold away her soul for immortally. Not that much different from us I'd say," the blood breed laughed.
"Do not!" Ursa yelled, widening her stance while the upper portion of her face darkened. "Liken me to you!" With the force she propelled herself at; she seemed to vanish from sight. She reappeared to swing the sheathed blade into the body of the blood breed, splitting him in half. From the blood, he created his own weapon, piercing through Ursa's abdomen and throwing her back.
"Ursa!" Leo cried out as he attempted to step towards the injured woman. Klaus held him back, while keeping his own eyes on the battle.
"The only thing that changes you is that sword of yours. Although, the rumors seem to be true that you can't even wield it anymore," the blood breed laughed, reforming his body. "Without it, you couldn't possibly beat me! With the blood I consume from you, I'll be able to take over this pathetic city!" He laughed, the menacing sound resonating throughout the subway station.
Why? Ursa thought as the blood began to pool around her. Why can't this end? With a shaky gaze, her eyes fell upon Leo, who was being held back by a large man. There were others behind them. Two were heavily injured by the blood breed they had fought. They radiated spirits of soldiers, in an unseen battle. Especially the large one who held Leo, the look and fire within his eyes…
I remember, when I used to look like that. Whatever made it stop? Ursa let out a breath before standing up. Steam began to rise out of the wound as it tried to repair itself. Sensing the All Seeing Eyes of the Gods on her back, she was reminded of her duty. She readied her sword once again and sprung at the blood breed. They exchanged blows and parries in a flurry. Excalibur would begin to pulse again and Ursa's blood rushed through her system.
The thrill of a battle, she thought while allowing some distance between them. I never knew I could miss it.
"Leonardo," Klaus called to the young boy. Even as he shook, he knew he needed to do something to help her.
I am no hero, Ursa thought as the blood breed's blade ripped through her leg, causing her to take a knee. No matter how much, or hard I fight, I can never make up for what I've done.
"Brain Grid Blood Battle Technique." Ursa gasped as she heard one of the men behind them yell.
"Are you sure you want to do that?" Klaus stopped, seeing as the blood breed had grabbed Leo with his blood and was strangling the poor boy. "I won't let you seal me like that other weakling!"
Ursa watched the scene as if in slow motion, with Leo struggling. A fragment of blood formed into a blade and was nearing him. A heavy pound in her heart awoken her mind and with her remaining power, she forced out the sword a few inches from its sheath. The light and resonating sound caused the blood breed to screech and drop Leo in his attempt to get away from Ursa.
"Now!" Ursa ducked and allowed Klaus to vault over her.
"Dmits Niles Nigrasha Anisimov! I hereby seal you. Despise me. Forgive me. Resign yourself. Form 999 Ewigkeit Gefängnis!" The blood breed screamed as he was contorted and sealed away within a cross. The moment of relief was short as Leo yelled.
"Ursa!" The red headed woman was slumped on the ground. She looked up and gave Leo a smile.
"Now my dear lord, I told you I would protect you… from anything," her deep breath was interrupted by her coughing up blood. "Tell your friends… I'm sorry." Her eyes drifted as she fell into a slumber. Leo felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Abrams. Klaus was holding onto K.K. and Zapp had Steven on his back.
"You can tell us later," Abrams said, hoisting the armored woman onto his shoulder. Of course, he had left behind her sword which Zapp tried to bend down and pick up.
"Hey what the hell is with this thing!?" Zapp yelled as the sword could not be picked up. Leo went over as he felt a strange pull to the sword and was able to pick it up. Zapp gave him a look but the group knew they couldn't waste time as their allies needed care.
At the hospital, Leo was waiting in Ursa's room. The doctors were amazed and mystified by her wounds. He kept his hands on Excalibur, in the hopes that Ursa would wake up soon. He had no idea where to start with explaining her to Klaus and the others.
"How are you doing Leonardo?" Klaus said upon entering the room. He received a nod from the distant minded boy. He proceeded to informed Leo that both K.K. and Steven were doing fine.
"That's good," Leo replied.
"I can wait on the explanation about your friend until she is fully recovered… but I am curious about that sword you have. Is there anything you could tell me that would not impede on her personal information?" Klaus asked. Leo was happy that he wasn't pressing too hard on information about Ursa.
"Well, I've only known her for a while now," Leo trailed off, thinking of the first time they met. The rough, almost wild look to her eye as she took down the aliens who attacked them, to the happy smiles, to ranting about why everyone should be a vegetarian, Ursa had really changed his life in the past few weeks.
"One month and five days," a female voice alerted both men to the woman who was now sitting up in her bed. She had a smile on her face. The doctors had pinned back her hair, so they both had a view of the long thin scar that ran from above her right eye brow down to be perpendicular to her lips. There was even a slight film over that eye, making her appear almost blind out of it. Being curious, Leo started to wave a hand on that side of her face but her smile never dropped.
"My eye sight isn't the best out of that one, but I can still see," she said with a bemused look in her eyes. Leo jumped back and apologized. "It's fine, just another reason I keep it covered. Best to not frighten young ones," she laughed. Leo laughed lightly too, remembering how once a child had gotten a view of her whole face and started crying.
"As for the sword, it is Excalibur. Ah! Pardon my impoliteness. It was awfully rude of me to act in such a way in front of new people. My name is Ursa; I am Sir Leo's knight!" She bowed her head the best she could while holding out her hand for Klaus to shake. Meanwhile, Leo was hiding his face as she kept saying embarrassing things about being his knight.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Ursa. I am Klaus Von Reinherz, leader of Libra." Klaus said while shaking her hand.
"Ah yes! Sir Klaus. Leo had only mentioned your name but only a few times. From the air you carry, you are most certainly the leader he refers to. I do beg your pardon as to my negligence to speak to you all before these events. My mind can unfortunately be very cluttered and sorting things out takes time. But I assure you that I have been keen on my quest to protect Sir Leo from anyone and anything that may harm him. You have my word," Ursa said while hitting her heart, but regretted it when a sharp pain surged through her body and blood sprayed from her mouth onto the white sheets. Leo screeched as he attempted to help her clean up.
"Please miss, do not strain yourself," Klaus said with a tone of alarm. It didn't matter if she was some weird, sword slinging stranger; she was still a lady that Klaus felt the need to worry about. It had startled him with the course of her manners and posture, reminding him of the nobles he has dealt with. Ursa held a hand up to halt him from any further actions when she noticed Klaus also attempting to help her.
"This is nothing. Trust me… when I tell my story, you will know. Thank you though," she said, her eyes and tone reflecting sadness within. Klaus nodded and watched as Leo began to fret about her and she waved him off. Klaus excused himself to check on his subordinates while Leo said he needed to go meet someone.
Left alone, Ursa cursed herself.
How could I allow myself to get angry at what the strigoi said? Her thoughts trailed off as she stared at the window. Maybe… I am not that different from them. She bit her lip as she took in a fist full of white hospital sheets. A monster who feeds on the weak. Ursa lowered her head before her attention was drawn back up to Leo entering with a girl. Her blonde hair was tied up in two high pigtails and she had quite the brilliant green eyes.
"Ursa, this is White. White, this is Ursa." Leo introduced the two.
"So you are Leo's knight, he's told me a bit about you," White said with a giggle. Ursa blinked in surprise at the girl's kind tone, especially with how rough Ursa looked. She watched how the two interacted while they kept her company. Leo was describing Ursa in a fight, making movements to show sword swipes. He even tried to swipe with Excalibur but the weight caused him to fall backwards. This caused White to burst out laughing. Ursa smiled at this. There was a warmth that rose in her chest and bloomed throughout her being. It was a familiar feeling that she had forgotten and dearly missed.
No, I am not like them. As long as I have someone to protect, I will remain true to myself… I can't believe that I had forgotten that. Ursa felt like there was a weight lifted off her shoulders as she laughed as well. Leo and Sonic acted out a battle, with Sonic causing Leo to trip and being crowded the victor. It was a while before White left the room, leaving Leo and Ursa alone.
"Sir Leo, there is something I need to tell you," Ursa sighed, knowing this wasn't going to be easy.
"What is it?" Leo asked as he sat on the edge of her bed.
"The truth is, I never intended to get attached," Ursa said with a serious posture. Leo's eyes opened as he stared at Ursa in confusion. "The reason I first became your knight was in hopes that if I did a good job, those gods would come and take this curse of immortally away from me." Ursa hung her head in shame. She felt she had brought dishonor to the code of knights and couldn't bear to look at Leo.
"So… what you're saying is that you were doing your job and you hoped to be rewarded?" Leo didn't seem to understand what Ursa was getting at. The knight's face became red as she stumbled over words.
"Don't you get it? I used you for my own means to an end!" Ursa's flustered face didn't go away until it was replaced with confusion upon Leo busting out into laughter. Once he calmed down, he shook his head at her.
"You really don't have a bad bone in your body Ursa."
"Huh?" Ursa gave Leo a look like he was the crazy one.
"When we met, you told me this was a job given to you. And you think that it's bad that you were doing your job to get what was promised to you in the end," Leo said.
"Well, they never promised to take it away," Ursa said shyly.
"Ursa, I don't blame you. The way you make it sound, immortally sucks and I'm sorry you've had to suffer for this long. But I want you to know I really do think of you as a friend and will be there for you just as you have been there for me," Leo finished with a smile.
"Wah!" Ursa began to cry a waterfall and she pulled Leo into a tight, bone crushing hug. "Sir Leo I don't deserve your kindness!" She said between wails.
"Ah, Ursa!" Leo said as he face was stuffed into her chest. She continued to sob and say she was sorry and repeated how she didn't deserve Leo's friendship. "You're crushing my lungs," Leo said in between the moments he gasped for air. Upon letting him go, Ursa continued to cry and say how nice he was. Leo laughed and tried to calm her down so it didn't bring in a crowd.
BAM in the action we go
So I'm not sure if I was able to convey it well. Ursa is in essence, a very innocent individual. Her perception of what is bad, is absolutely no where near what the rest of the world perceives as bad. To her, this small thing is like the world is on fire. I've really come to love her because of this innocence. (Also, just want to note the things about Excalibur are rather pivotal and important to Ursa's development, so keep an eye on those hints.)
Please please review, it really does help to motivate me. I have this story up everywhere in the hopes that people will love me... :( It's the hardest I've worked on a story in a damn long time.
Also what would be yall thoughts on a nice funny, filler chapter? I kinda have something in mind, like a bonding chapter with Ursa and the members of Libra?
