Eight
Misprint stood in the crowd, staring up at the turntables, where Racetrack was still spinning tunes, and Shade was sitting ruefully.
"Comon Racetrack." She whispered under her breath. "Play it…play it…" She cheered erratically as the slow piano lick pushed through the tired beat he had been playing. She saw him catch sight of her and grin. She smiled back.
I gotta remember to buy him chocolate later, she thought, as she spun to the music. It was one of her favourite songs, and she moved her lips along with the words whispered in the little boys British accent. Put out the torches…light the moon…light the stars…
Well you're the grand wild, have you noticed
When you walk in all the fairy boys are pale and nervous
She spun around slowly, not listening to the conversation that sprung up as her fellow class mates realised this song wasn't current, or even well known. It was very obscure, that was for certain. But every time Misprint heard it, it melted her heart. And not many songs melted her heart.
A quick glance up at Racetrack told her he and Shade were talking. But he wasn't looking at her. In fact, he was avoiding her eyes as much as possible. She smirked. She probably had him cornered with some embarrassing fact.
You're the grand wild, come and court me
'Cause this wooing, Is what I'm wanting
She felt someone behind her and spun around, expecting Stephen or something. But there was no one. She sighed, but didn't let it put a dent in her dancing. She thought suddenly of his words. It'll be dark. She felt a tremor in her stomach. How much did he know about her? She had a feeling it was a hell of a lot. He had mentioned Spot. Not by name or by features, but she knew that he had. He might be there.
Spot ain't here. She told herself firmly. Now let go. Relax. This is one of your favourite songs.
When my spaceship comes to orbit
Then hold me like a girl
I am the captain of the gravity, Maxwell
Everywhere I see your face
She finally was able to forget about the concept of Spot and whirl herself around as the chorus started, and the familiar voice crooned out the song.
Hot One
From the starship over Venus to the Sun
But, it's a crime!
You're mistaken!
A momentary seizure...of love
Oh, love
She glanced up again and saw Gemini, Mondie, Mush and Blink walk into the haunted house. She smiled. It was adorable, the way they seemed to click into each others personalities so brilliantly. She wondered if she'd ever have something like that.
Well you're the grand wild
But Darling, I'm a mess
I've got to humanise my wrinkled form
But the boys are not impressed
She lip synched along to the soft voice, hardly able to help the smile that split her face wide open. It seemed as though it had been a long time since she was really, truly happy, but as she spun and raised her hands over her head, she figured that this must come pretty close. Her friends were happy, she was happy, not to mention there was a song on that made sex look bad. Or sex as she assumed.
The image of herself actually having sex sprung to mind, and she brushed it off with a roll of her eyes. While Shade bemoaned her frequent states of loneliness between boys, Misprint had never actually felt the physical need for someone. Except for at the club.
She pushed that from her mind too, as the song drove relentlessly on. That didn't count.
When my spaceship comes to orbit
Just hold me like a girl
I'll be the captain of the gravity, Maxwell
I see your face in the strangest places
She felt it first as a strange sensation in her stomach, the tightened feeling that permeated through her torso just before she was about to scream or throw up. The muscles along her shoulder blades tensed, and she lowered her arms slightly, almost feeling vulnerable, as though she had a bright red target painted on her back. A quick glance around showed her that everyone else was idly joined up in pairs and taking the opportunity to get a few good feels in, or lounging about on the sides waiting for a more popular song to blast from the speakers. Trying to shrug the feeling off, she raised her hands again and slowly moved her hips to the beat.
Suddenly, the small of her back grew cold, and goose-bumps sprang up around her shoulders and stomach, along with the tingling sensation at the base of her neck that told her someone was close to her. She forced her feet to keep moving, her hips to keep swinging, forced herself to keep dancing. She was in a room full of crowded people, of course there would be closeness, of course there would be contact. Regardless, she found herself stiffening as she spun around, and caught sight of a figure that stood too close for comfort, backlit by the flashing purple and yellow lights that spun around and high lighted the loose strands of hair flying from the girls heads, and their soft, yeilding bodies, the thin, long fingers of the boys, the stubble that grew around their mouths. The light shone around him, illuminating his shape, his strong thin arms and wiry torso, his loose, shaggy hair. But the figure itself was darker than hell.
Misprint froze, her arms raised, her eyes wide, her feet fastened to the floor, as though nails were driven through the soles of her shoes. She couldn't move. The bite marks on her neck began to throb.
Almost as though he could sense this, the shadows of his face twisted into a smirk. He reached out, placed a hand on her hip, another on the side of her neck, gently running his fingers over the marks, feeling the scar tissue underneath his fingertips. He leaned in, delicately inhaled, and blew the words out against her ear, soft as a prayer.
"I came to see you dance again."
Hot One
From the starship over Venus to the Sun
But, it's a crime!
You're mistaken!
Momentary seizure...of love
Oh, love
Misprint meant to scream, to yell, but the noises stuck in her throat like steel wool as soon as his fingers found her skin. The words she meant to hurl hatefully at him scratched the insides of her mouth, and filled it with a taste that was almost like blood. She felt sick.
"You…" She managed to get out, her voice soft and strained. With the strength she had, she twisted away, hating the way his hands felt so pernicious, but gentle and dangerous. Promising. She didn't like that thought. She didn't like how he was here. Hadn't Stephen told her? Why didn't she listen?
"Me." He repeated, stepping forwards and catching her wrist in his long, thin fingers. Even before she tried, she knew resistance would be fruitless when she was caught in a grasp with that strength. She could feel the veins throbbing in her flesh, could feel tentative bruises trace their marks around his fingers. In a wild attempt at getting help, she twisted her head around desperately to see if anyone had noticed the two of them. If they had, they were doing nothing about it, eyes closed and hips swaying, arms around one another, gentle and loving. She turned, arching her body away from him, to see if she could possibly alert Chaos or one of the slayers, but she felt a tug at her wrist, and was pulled towards him, her feet skidding and sliding in their broken runners in an effort to prevent it.
Before she could catch her balance, he caught her in his arms, and pulled her towards him, her wings crumpling against his chest and the back of her head landing against the curvature of his neck. One hand slid around her waist, silent and gentle, while the other caught at her wrist and raised it. He slid it around his own neck, exposing the hardly existent curve of her chest. Laughing gently to himself, he leaned over and kissed the side of her throat, letting his fangs slide out and scratch ever so gently against the skin. It had the desired effect. She stiffened and paled in his embrace, frightened enough not to scream for help, resistant enough to put up a good fight. God, how he loved that.
But, it's a crime!
You're mistaken!
Momentary seizure...of love
Oh, love
"You like that?" He whispered, fully enjoying the way she smelled. A cool, light fragrance of salt and blueberries. It brought back the image of the alleyway, and the dark haired slayer that had been foolish enough to try and come to her rescue.
"Get off me," She said, trying to will her voice into something stronger. He laughed shortly, and ran one finger down the camber of her arm, pausing slightly to outline every rib on the way down to her waist. "I'm serious, Spot…I don't…I don't think that…"
"Don't fuck around with me, Misprint." He whispered, kissing her throat lightly, tasting the coolness of her on his lips. "I know what you're thinking."
"Don't." She said shortly. She realized that her fingers were resting lightly on his neck and moving slightly in the rhythm which he stroked her hip. Disgusted with herself, she pried them loose and tried to lower her arm, but he caught it, holding her wrist steadily in his hand. "I said don't. I'm…what do you…what…"
"What do I want?" He murmured. "Right now, I want for us to go outside, so I can talk to you without having to worry about your little slayer friends interrupting any…conversation that we may indulge in."
"What exactly do you mean by conversation?" She pressed, a slight spasm of fear going through her body. Spot said nothing, but she could almost feel his smile in the pit of her stomach. She let out a small groan of fright, and tried to pull herself away, but his hands were tight, and insistent on her skin.
"Come on." His voice was harder now, less soft around the edges. "Outside."
"I'm not leaving this gym," Misprint said in the firmest tone of voice she could muster, feeling the muscles in her stomach twist and clench with anxiety and determination. "And if you try to drag me, I'll scream."
She felt him sigh with aggravation, but not the kind of sigh that told you he was beaten. The kind of sigh that an irritated parent might give. The kind of sigh that told her what she just said made no difference in what would happen to her at all. He bent close again, and pressed his lips against her ear.
"Since you seem to be having trouble with this concept, I'll make it easy for you. I don't like being refused, Faith. And when I do, I can't really be held accountable for my actions." Gently, he took her waist in his hands and spun her around to face him. Seeing his eyes made her feel nauseous.
"Actions like what?" She spat.
"Actions like ripping someone's throat out."
"I'm an orphan, Spot." She replied, feeling her stomach twist at the tone of her voice. "No one's gonna care about me if I'm gone. The world may even be a little better off."
His eyes sparked, and she knew that she had somehow given him an oppurtunity, a hook. He smiled.
"Not yours." He said. "Shade's."
Hot One
From the starship over Venus to the Sun
But, it's a drag!
You're so mean,
Destroying my belief in, in love
Oh, love.
"So. You comin' or not?" He asked softly. Terrified into submission, she followed him from the gym.
+
Jack was ready to kill Shade as she darted ahead of him into a room and had a vampire straddled before he even got his bearings.
"Shade!" He snapped, as the girl dug her fingernails into the flesh on her enemies face, leaving moon shaped scars up and down his cheeks.
"What? Can't you see I'm a little busy here?" She snapped, as she scratched at the skin.
"Just kill him! We don't have much time!"
"Your no fun!" She protested, slamming a fist into his gut.
"Shade! I'm ready to kill you!" He screamed. She glanced up at him and caught the anger in his eyes. Sighing in disappointment, she rammed the stake through the demons chest, and stood, brushing the ash off her pants.
"Man." She suddenly grinned at him. "That really gets you hot an' bothered, don't it?"
That was totally unexpected! Jack gaped at her, blinking a few times. She stood, quite calmly, in front of him, grinning like the Chessire Cat.
"No." He finally said thickly. She rolled her eyes.
"Yeah. Right Jack. Tell me you don't get off on this."
"I don't!" He protested, feeling his face flame up like a burning fireplace. He stuck the stake in his belt and crossed his arms.
"Yeah. Okay." She said sarcastically. A sly smirk crept onto her lips. "Can we go find another one?"
"Shade!" He reprimanded her.
"I'm serious." She rolled her eyes when his stern face didn't alter. Then she turned and opened another door. There was a girl with fake, orange looking blood caked on her face, staggering around and moaning. Jack went up behind her, and for some reason, placed a hand on her lower back and led her through the room.
Shade stiffened at his touch, and gripped her stake harder. It wasn't hard to miss it. The tank top wasn't made of five layers of wool. She glanced up at him, but he was staring resolutely ahead. They walked into the next room, which was blissfully empty.
"So." She said, wanting him to remove his hand, very badly. "If that ain't your big O, than what is?"
"What?" He spluttered. She grinned. He was very cute when he got all flustered.
"You heard me." She said coolly.
"What makes you think I'd tell you that?" He asked, glancing around at the shadowed corners.
"'Cuz I told you mine." She said plainly. Then she darted in front of him and grinned. "Comon…"
"Fine. Watching." He snapped. He pushed her out of the way and stalked towards the next door.
Watching people slay? She thought in perplexity. What kind of a weirdo is this guy? She thought of the way he killed of vampires. Coldly and neatly. He didn't even throw in a punch or two.
No wonder he doesn't get off on slaying! Maybe if I taught him a few tricks or something…watching? He get's off on watching people slay? Watching Chaos slay? Her next thought stopped her in her tracks, even as she heard the moan of a vampire that, thanks to Jack, obviously just had a stake through his chest. Watchin' me slay?
"Jack!" She called, running into the next room. "Wait up!"
+
The darkness of the night was apparent, even before they opened the door. Misprint felt the cool night air against her skin and shivered. But it wasn't as cold as his hands on her arm and waist. He pulled her outside, away from the prying eyes of the teachers and classmates, and leaned her against the wall, in the solitary blackness.
He hooked his thumbs into the waist band of her capris and nudged them down over her hip bones. She felt a pit in her stomach form, and sweat break out on her hands. She had never even entertained the thought of going farther than a kiss with any guy. Let alone a vampire. Her hands shot out and grabbed his wrists.
"What are you doing?" She asked, feeling her voice quake, and rise a few octaves in tone. "Stop it." She managed to hold his wrists back, but he wasn't putting up much of a fight. It was almost as though he enjoyed seeing her that worked up.
"I already told you I came to see you dance again…" He whispered, leaning in and kissing her throat again, enjoying the way it felt so warm and alive. She let out a shaky breath, and pushed the question out at the persistent flick of his tongue against the bite marks that made her shudder.
"Just to dance?" She whispered. There was a brief silence between them, a throbbing hush that made her heart pound in the narrow cage of her ribs. She felt his smirk against her throat.
"Clever girl." He said softly.
"I'm not doing…what you…" She stumbled over her words, wondering how Shade handled the subject so easily when blowing off members of the opposite sex. Was this really the same thing? He twisted one hand out of her grip and hooked his fingers into the belt of her pants again."I wouldn't."
"Wouldn't you?"
"Fuckin' not with you."
"Ouch." He laughed, slipping his fingers past the waist, making her tremble and let out a small whimper of fear. And curiosity. "Harsh words, Mis."
"Just go. I'm not…I'm not going to."
"That's why I came, Faith." He said seriously, lifting his face and staring into her vibrant blue eyes. "You know that, right?" She grimaced, then softly removed his hand, before pulling the waist of her pants higher. He looked at her in amusement. Her fingers flicked up towards the bite at her neck, and an unspoken question flashed between them, brief and clear.
"I don't need these re-opened." She said in a small whisper.
A look that greatly resembled longing flashed in his eyes. He tilted his head one way and replaced her fingers with his own, stroking the wound softly. "You came for this too, didn't you?" She asked, afraid to hear the answer, already knowing what it would be.
"For this." He said softly. "Don't let me lie to you. I'd like that." He dug his fingernails into it slightly, and she twitched. "You've gotten it all back, haven't you?" Misprint said nothing. He smirked. "Spent some time off, didn't you? Wouldn't hurt if I took some more…"
He caught the delicious fear in her eyes, and felt it was something worth savouring. Laughing, he encircled his hands around her waist, pulling her towards him. No. He restrained himself, tearing his eyes from the beautiful wound. He'd have his fun later. For now…his fingers wormed their way under tank top and slowly crawled up her skin. "Comon." He whispered. "We'll go back to my place. Meet some of my boys…" He leaned in towards her, inhaling deeply. She smelled so nice, cool, close. He wanted to taste it again.
"You're bent." She spat bitterly, knowing she was fighting a losing battle. He laughed again, a soft chuckle that made her insides tighten and a strange heat smother her throat.
"Yeah. It'll really make you scream." He breathed against her ear.
+
Gemini peeked over the top of Blink's head to see, with some embarrassment, Shade standing there, hands on her hips, a knowing look in her eyes.
"Well, well, well." She said in a mocking tone. "Blink finally got some." Blink jumped and spun around to see Jack stumble in behind her, definitely looking a little strained.
"Shade!" He panted, raising his eyebrows. Gemini straightened her tiara and brushed her curls back from her face. She was pretty sure she was blushing, and guessed she deserved what she got. It was kind of reckless for her and Blink to not pay attention to what was going on…
"Sorry we disturbed you." Shade said, rolling her eyes and grabbing Jack's collar. "But we have to sweep through this house, and split. Pronto. Go back to what you were doing." She urged.
Gemini suddenly caught sight of the stake in her hand. "What are you supposed to be?" She grinned. "A vampire slayer?"
"Sure." Shade smiled secretly. Blink rolled his eyes, or at least the one visible.
"Comon Jack." Shade urged. "We gotta leave these two alone…"
"We should probably go catch up with Mondie and Mush…" Gemini said reluctantly.
"Oh no, you two carry on!" Shade ordered, wrenching the door open. But she yelled and stumbled backwards as a figure from the other room fell from the doorway and slumped onto the floor, baby blue eyes blank and staring, her dark hair spread around her like an oriental fan, the hair band with the cat ears skittering across the floor and landing at Jack's feet.
"MONDIE!" Screamed Gemini.
+
Shade sprinted into the room and let her eyes adjust in time to see seven vampires surrounding a terrified Mush. His ears were lopsided, and his eyes were wid with fear as he scrambled over to the corpse of a student dressed as a dead base ball player. He grabbed the bat and stumbled to his feet, holding it threateningly out in front of him at the seven demons.
He was terrified out of his wits. So scared, he didn't see Shade stalk up behind one of them and drive a stake through it's heart. Until it burst into dust.
He felt his legs collapse from under him, and he slumped to the floor, as two more of them disappeared, as Shade burnt through them.
She was so angry. She could feel hot blood pulsing through her like fire, as she stabbed another two of them. Mondie's eyes were etched in her head as she pushed her nails into one's eyes and smiled at the cry of pain he let loose. She staked him, and then finally finished the last one off.
"Jesus!" Mush said, standing and dropping the baseball bat. Shade ran to him and tilted his head back and forth, checking his neck.
"You okay?" She asked, as he wrapped her in a hug. She returned it, feeling her heart pound in her ribcage. But Mush's mind was elsewhere.
"Mondie." He whispered. He suddenly let her go and raced towards the door, to find Jack kneeling over the girl, while Gemini was searching her wrist and neck desperately for a pulse. Blink had his arm wrapped around his date.
"Is she okay?" He demanded, kneeling next to her. "Is she alive?" There was a long silence. Mush saw the place where they had hit her over the head, and could see the trickle of blood from the gash in her temple. Her whiskers were smeared by the frightened tears that had poured from her eyes. "Answer me! Is she alive?"
"Yes!" Gemini suddenly crowed, pressing her fingers harder into a point on her neck. "She's…yes…she's alive."
"She's been knocked out." Jack said in a business like tone, as though he dealt with these things every day. Only Shade knew that he did.
"What the hell was that?" Mush asked, taking Jack's place by his date's side and cradling her head in his lap. "What…who were they?"
"Part of the attraction." Shade remarked breathlessly.
"Seemed pretty damn real to me!" Mush shouted.
"Keep your voice down." Jack advised calmly.
"What's going on?" Gemini demanded.
"What happened in there anyways?" Blink added.
"I'll explain all this lata." Jack said, glancing at Mondie, who was still unconscious at their feet. "Right now we gotta get her over to the sick room. And Shade and I got some business to take care of." They exchanged a glance, and then Jack lifted Mondie and wrapped an arm around her waist. She slumped sideways. Mush quickly went on her other side, and they supported her as though she was a walking person. "It'll help wake her up." He assured them.
The six of them left the room, Mush only remembering the way Mondie's eyes had gone blank when she was hit.
+
"Honestly." Flo murmured, seeing the drunken, wispy lady stumble out of a bar. "How stupid are you?"
Fact is, Flo had been eating incredibly well for the past couple nights. The human race just seemed to be getting dumber and dumber. They knew how much booze hurt them, but they kept drinking it anyways. Oh well. Women were easier to beguile. She put on an exaggerated, tragic face. Men weren't as compassionate.
Wasn't it tequila that had made Spot's job a little harder? It was all over the lair now. I mean, their leader has a new toy. What was her name again? Faith, or something. But her friend had come at him all drunk and disoriented. Flo found it extremely amusing he hadn't been able to finish the both of them off.
It wasn't any secret, she reasoned to herself as she stalked the woman down an empty side street. He thought he could keep this quiet from his men. They all knew. Flo had been one of the first to find out!
"Lady…" She whispered. The woman turned around a blinked a few times, before a smile spread across her face. "I'm cold an' hungry." She said, looking up at her with tears congregating in her eyes.
"Don't you have a mother to go home to?" The woman asked, leaning down and swaying slightly, so she was eye level with the child. Flo glanced her up and down quickly. She didn't look like much, and certainly wouldn't be a problem in a fight. Baring her fangs, she quickly pushed her down and sunk them into the flesh of the woman's neck.
She was even too disoriented to put up a fight! She cried of course, but they all did. Flo had made large, strong, men break down and cry.
She drank hungrily from the wound in the throat and finally sat up, wiping the blood away from her lips. It was time to get back to the lair. She hoped Rosie was there. She and Rosie were good friends, or maybe Rosie was just humouring her. She wasn't exactly sure. She shrugged and stood.
Suddenly, two pairs of hands circled her arms. She opened her mouth to scream, but a hand was clamped over it. A figure loomed in front of her with a needle, and she could already smell the essence of it. She shook her head frantically and struggled, trying to kick at whoever was holding her, but their grip was too strong.
Her wrist was wrenched out and the man stabbed the needle into it. Flo watched as the brownish liquid in it slowly lowered, spilling into her own blood. Garlic. She felt her eyelids droop, and in a few seconds, was dead asleep.
"Comon. Quickly." Her vampire captors said, baring their fangs. "Let's get her back to Slade's lair. And fast."
+
Shade: No, Misi.
Misi: Please?
Shade: Fine. But then we get to do things my way -insert evil laughter here-
Misi: Partially.
Shade: whaddaya mean partially? Fascist
Misi: Watch it. I have a crematorium at the ready. -runs away from the people who are offended by the political incorrectness of bringing up bad points in history. And the Germans.-
Shade: fine we'll do it your way, evil wench of STAB WOUNDS
Misi: Bejewelled stab wounds. -fondles belly button barbell-