dialogue – thoughts
"dialogue" – speaking
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Chapter 13
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Meryl let her grip on the vampire's wrists fall away the same moment her bloodcurdling scream seemed to shake her house. Then, still feeling half conscious and acting completely of instinct, she sent her knee straight into the bloodsucker's chest.
Truthfully, she didn't know what the point of screaming bloody murder was, but it sure seemed to distract the winded vampire while she set about thrashing like a madwoman. Of course, she guessed that he was already shocked to the point where he couldn't see straight; so all she had to do was escape before the bloodsucker regained his senses.
Briefly, and in the darkened depths of her mind, she hoped her show of loudness had awakened the half-blood slumbering in her spare room.
The petite woman found herself feeling resentful instead of lost, and she struggled to untangle herself from the vampire's grasp. For god's sakes, the man was just down the hall and hadn't even noticed the vampire lurking in her house!!
Spurted on by her sudden burst of anger, Meryl lashed out at her dazed attacker. Seething with fury, her hands caught her assailant by its neck, and the petite woman began struggling to remove its face—and fangs—from her personal space. This bloodsucker was too close for her comfort.
And being bitten would do nothing to help her situation.
After all, she had no stakes.
No weapons whatsoever.
Meryl figured she was as good as dead.
But the petite woman immediately found herself revising her statement when she caught sight of the fire poker to her side, hanging neatly with her shovel and tongs. Thinking quickly for her life, Meryl brought another knee up to catch the wheezing vampire in the chest. She struggled with its head, forcing its face from her neck.
Finally—and to her luck—she was instantly dropped, and the short woman wasted no time in pouncing for her fire poker.
And once it was gasped firmly in her hand, Meryl steadily backed up so she was facing her opponent. She stood with her shoulders heaving and fire poker readied.
About then was when she realized, hardly visible in the pale moonlight and golden lamplight, that there was more than one vampire.
Many more than one…
She was facing six bloodsuckers. Unarmed with only a fire poker…
Without aid and a not a stake to spare, no less a silver bullet.
Briefly, just before her thoughts shifted to the battle at hand, she wondered how she had gotten into such a ridiculous situation. In her own house! In her own living room! What sort of fool was she?
An armed fool, Stryfe.
The petite woman's smoky eyes narrowed, flashing in the dim light and focused on the task before her.
Sliding down into a fighter's stance, she brandished the poker like a sword, and waited patiently for the first to come forward.
Now, if only her fire poker was heated…
Her thoughts were interrupted as the group shifted, and Meryl readied herself as the first vampire moved. It was, silent, graceful—catlike. She could tell immediately it was a female.
Truthfully, she hadn't faced so many at one time before, but at least she had time to practice.
The shadow seemed to dance up to her, uncaring and confident.
Okay, Meryl, She told herself, watching the un-dead, aim for the head and heart. Once you have them all down get your stakes and finish the job!
The hunter raised her poker, ready to strike as her attacker came at her.
Swing to the right…!
The vampire almost easily evaded her swing, and Meryl stumbled back as the woman sent a fist flying toward her.
Duck-!
Too late.
A sharp pain exploded in her chest as the vampire's fist sent the air from her lungs, leaving the petite woman effectively winded. The strain of her lingering illness and weakness combined with the sudden strain of the fight finally got to her, and Meryl was left nauseous, doubled over in pain and gasping for breath. Although, it wasn't until someone dealt a sharp, effective blow to the back of her head did her world start spinning, her vision blurring. And then she saw rather than felt the floor come up to meet her quite suddenly, and the impact of her head on the hardwood left hersight dizzywith bright lights.
For a moment, she wondered if she had gone blind…
However, as Meryl was caught up in her rather delirious, painful and utterly confusing comatose state, she was able to decipher the ringing in her ears from the loud bangs going off around her.
Were those the loud sounds of…gunfire?
Of course, her mind was more focused of the pain in her stomach and the sudden nausea she was feeling than the reality moving around above her. The petite woman was aware of the shots going off, the bodies hitting the floor, the screams and yells, but she really couldn't bring herself to care, much less wonder.
She was in too much pain…
And after just one punch…?
Faintly, in the back of her mind, she was aware that wasn't anything like her usual self, but she pushed it off as another wave of pain swept through her tired body.
Maybe that stupid bloodsucker had hit something vital; maybe she had cracked a rib?
Damned sickness…I didn't think I was this weak…
Meryl contented to listen, curled up on the floor as the gunfire suddenly halted, leaving her in a dead silence, nothing but the feeling of pain to keep her mind occupied. Nothing but the darkness of night to comfort her.
She felt as thought she was dying.
The sudden urge to groan and moan in pain, scream for all she was worth filled the petite woman's being, but she restrained herself. Vaguely, she was aware of who had held the gun she had been listening to, who had downed all six bloodsuckers while she lay huddled like a crying child on the floor. She knew, and she didn't dare show any weakness before him.
She'd be damned if she would show pain in front of Vash, a half-blood vampire.
But, her mind protested loudly with her logic, It hurts so much…!
Meryl decidedly ignored her usually helpful thoughts and encased herself firmly within in her walls of pain.
She wasn't quite sure why she still felt so hurt, and why the throbbing wasn't receding, but she would have given anything in the world to make it end. The petite woman wasn't even aware of Vash's presence in the room anymore, his tall form looming over her. She wasn't concentrating on the bodies littering her floor, or wondering if they were alive or not. She was grimacing in torment, unsure why her whole being now seemed to radiate with pain.
And why was her neck burning, hot and throbbing as if her skin had been melted by fire?
Meryl couldn't feel the tears gather in her closed eyes, she didn't even notice when they began to slide down her pale cheeks.
But the sudden shock of a light hand on her shoulder brought Meryl back to reality, though, and the petite woman's eyes quickly snapped open, fogged by gathering tears and pain.
She was suddenly all to conscious of the blonde half-blood by her side, and she fought to cover up her own tears. Pure instinct powered by something else—maybe resentment—led her to unfurl herself and send an angry fist in his direction.
Her efforts were rewarded by a yelp of pain, and the blonde sprawled out with a hand to his throbbing nose.
Meryl wasn't sure when she stopped experiencing the pain, when the burning in her neck subsided slightly and eased to a low throb, but she was entirely grateful and set about masking her earlier distress as she turned to Vash—who was cradling his head and whimpering like a lost puppy.
Gathering herself from the floor and straightening her shoulders, she sent a glare at the man, "Be quiet, broom head." Her sharp statement overrode her hidden confusion and slight aching.
The half-blood quieted somewhat, reverting to holding his head and regarding the small woman with a wary eye as she surveyed the room.
Meryl frowned at the first thing she noticed.
Groaning. Muffled moans of pain.
Her midnight visitors where anything but dead. There were no ashes and remains of clothes piled messily by twin front fangs.
The petite woman frowned, retaining her mask and turning a disapproving glare on the cowering half-blood. Smoky grey eyes narrowed, boring into the vampire's aqua ones.
"You didn't kill them?" Meryl demanded of the man in a voice lined dangerously with outrage, "I know it was you who shot them, so why didn't you get rid of the scum?"
Vash winced, pulling himself from the hardwood. In an instant, his demeanour changed, and his hard expression was clearly visible in even the darkness, "You expected me to kill them?" even in his own ears, his voice sounded harsh, "Is this the thanks I get?"
Meryl bristled at the tone in the vampire's voice, and her lips narrowed dangerously, "Thanks for what, idiot? Inviting a horde of demons into my home?"
Both knew what she said was not true, but Meryl preferred to ignore that fact.
The petite woman continued in the silence hanging over the two, "Usually, when vampire's decide they want to steal your life, you kill them before they have the chance!" Her teeth ground together in a vain attempt to vent her frustration, "If you are going to stay in my house, I'll expect you to live by my rules!" Meryl finished vehemently, scowling at the man.
She waited, trying to block out the continuous moans from the vampires surrounding her.
Vash stood stonily, his earlier mask of hurt had long since dissolved into nothing but air. Meeting her fiery, angered eyes, he replied evenly, "I refuse to kill them, no one has the right to take the life of another." He remained motionless; "After all," he gazed on at the petite woman, "Would you murder a human?"
That last statement caught her, and the two stayed in silence for a moment. They stood in a standoff, both glaring at the other, before Meryl let out a loud humph! and crossed her arms as she turned away.
Vash continued despite the small woman's defeat, "Besides, I can leave if you want. It's not as though I have to stay here…" he trailed off suggestively.
Inwardly seething, she replied grudgingly, "Have it your way, then." She cast a sidelong glance at Vash through the darkness, "Just get them out of here before morning, I don't need more bloodsuckers in my house!" she nudged an injured vampire with her foot, and was rewarded with another groan. A pool of blood that was not its own grew on the hardwood.
She sniffed in disgust, "This blood better not stain my floor…" she muttered, and threw a sharp glance at the half-blood watching her, "I want no trace of them left by dawn, you hear me?" she felt her threat fell upon deaf ears, but shot daggers at the man just for good measure.
And with that, she turned to exit the room, avoiding the bodies strewn throughout her living room. Ashes, she figured, would have been easier to clean up, and then she could have traded in the teeth for money.
She could have used more pay…
Shaking her head, the petite woman entered her kitchen. She hadn't ever believed the man had silver bullets in his gun…what vampire would? To kill his own kind?
She had no idea how the half-blood had done it, but he had brought down six vampires without a scratch and with one gun.
Crazy bastard half-blooded demon… Meryl's subconscious started up again, healthily cursing the vampire with words she wouldn't dare utter out loud.
She would never be caught with a mouth like Nick's…
"Hey, short girl." Vash's voice interrupted her thoughts.
She paused—prickling at the name—but did not turn, "What?" she demanded, frowning slightly. Sll she wanted to do right now was sleep…
The blonde grinned even though she couldn't see. It was more to reassure himself anyway, "Thanks, I guess I owe you another one."
Meryl shook her head, turning slightly before stopping herself and stating sharply, "You don't owe me anything."
And with that, she left, leaving a room with seven vampires, six of which were wounded and one of which was troubled.
And she never had managed to make herself that cup of tea…
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--Cayenne Pepper Powder