Florence's hands dipped into the cool water, letting the clear become tainted with red that lingered, cleaning away the stickiness of blood and grime. But, she was glad that things had been put to rest… even at the deep cost that ached her heart. Though the window, the mound of dirt still there, concealed from public eyes and would settle down…they could leave after that, ensuring Madeline was laid to rest with no risk of being disturbed.
Washing herself down, knocking over only a bottle in her adjustment to her being sighted in her right eye. The depth perception was off and she hadn't yet been acquainted with it, but she would.
In the backroom of their safe house, Anna May and Scarlett were talking, voices hushed but nothing she couldn't hear. Sam must have taken Emily to the secondary room to sleep. Everyone here had someone in one way or another… but, she lacked the one she wanted. Ten meters apart, but only Madeline was six feet under. Too far. Too cold.
Florence sucked in a shallow breath, fingers digging into the eye patch end tugged it away, not allowing herself to see the damage, even if the skin had been stitched and repaired, the eye still there but with a loss of 95%. Removing it fully wasn't an option unless an infection hit but her sisters knew their skills well; they couldn't afford a proper hospital visit without questions.
The patch was cleaned up, but she left the injury to air before she took to her own room; passing the door to Emily and Sam, pausing only to watch them in their bubble, leaving only when she met Sam's tired gaze.
Her room was cold, the window barely ajar, letting the cool air in through the blinds. Foolish to allow it to stay open. An invitation for bad things. Scarlet knew better. Florence's fingers dropped the patch onto the bed covers, coming to snap the windows shut, eye lingering on her reflection on the glass before she shut the world out from her room and carefully lay down onto the covers. Under her pillow, the hardness of the gun was the only comfort that she had… even if sleep wouldn't come soon.
Dozing had been a trained talent in this business, enough to rest but not deep enough to lull her away to a state of vulnerability. Florence's senses kicked her to reality as she heard something from outside. Inside, it was quiet. Very little light and no noise; most, is not everyone was asleep or dozing. No one else had heard anything.
Her fingers curled around the handle of her weapon, her eyes sweeping across her dark room but it was empty. Knowing better than to draw attention, Florence left the lamp off as she moved from the bed, finger off the trigger as she slinked from her room down the hall though, she didn't quite know why she didn't alert the others. Her gut was…tense but, this was a different sense than fear of being attacked.
Her eyes narrowed as she reached the door; unlocked and slightly ajar. The wind blew but… why did no one else wake? It passed her mind to go in and check but…no one would have killed everyone else without the alarm being raised long before that; a silencer did nothing but bring down the sound to a safe hearing; a gunshot would have been heard.
Raising her Glock, she tugged the door open, eye scanning through the dark shadows before she stepped forwards. But, it was the shadow to her right that pulled her attention, only for a moment but it was enough for her to reach behind and slam the door behind her; to rouse the others if need be.
Walking out here alone was foolish and sloppy, to carry on would be a death sentence. Sam needed to protect Emily, the Van wasn't too far either which was good. She had to secure the door for them to arm.
Carefully, Florence padded down to peek at the gravesite; to make sure no one or nothing had tempered with it but her eyes narrowed as the tell-tale grave marker, Madeleine's tomahawk was gone or fallen but that was the problem as the mound it had was a different shape, hard to tell in such poor lighting. Something had changed.
"Shit." She took another step closer but the figure standing side pulled her attention, her gun raised and ready but she could tell the figure was a woman, hands exposed in the moonlight but covered by the shadow of the trees. It was the visible and still bloodied clothes and the dirt she was covered in that had her frowning.
No.
"Madeleine?" No, that wasn't right. Madeleine was dead. They wouldn't have buried her alive, they had watched her die. Held her body. She wouldn't have made that mistake. Her grip pulled her back to reality quickly, not lowering it from the ghost.
The ghost stepped forwards and Florence almost pulled the trigger right there and then if it hadn't been for the woman's expression; her eyes were wide and careful, lips pursed tensely but the rise of her expression was an easy read, she was scared.
"It's me." Her voice was quiet.
"You died."
Madeleine stepped forwards, inhaling deeply. "It's complicated."
"How?!" Despite her growing anger, Florence stepped forwards again but removed her finger from the trigger. "How is this complicated? You bled out. You died. We buried you. I was morning you."
Madeleine slunk back, her hand out as if to stop her but it just sparked Florence's anger, even more, her eye blazed angrily.
"I'm sorry."
Madeleine had stopped simply because of the tree line behind her but Florence hovered an arm's length away, her gun lowered to the floor. Her eye peered to her face; Madeleine's hair was matted with dirt and moisture, her face clearer and smudged cleaner than the rest of her. Blood from her injury stood out like an ink stain.
"How could you do this to me…to us." Her voice dipped bitterly. Her other hand rose, skirting through the soft fabric of Madeleine's cardigan, the softer material of her once white blouse, tracing up the bloodstain to her wound.
Her fingers caught the bullet's divert into her flesh, the wound unhealed and raw.
Madeleine's breath caught in pain, her hand suddenly grasping Florence's that had her gun raised in a second.
Florence's heart thudded in her chest, her hands shaking softly; she didn't want to pull the trigger again. If this was some miracle, how could she rid of it? How could she live with herself? Madeleine was up… she was talking. But…how had she survived?
Madeleine's other hand came to the barrel, not removing the weapon from her hand but pushed it softly to the left by a few inches.
"Please…" Florence demanded quietly, "tell me."
Madeleine inhaled deeply, her eyes baring into her deeply though Florence couldn't tell what expression was on her face. A deep longing, distrust, fear…
"You won't like the answer." Her lip quivered, "you weren't meant to see me leave."
Florence scoffed. "You were just going to disappear on us!"
"It's the safest way."
"Bull shit!" Florence knew her voice was rising, it didn't matter. "Do you think you meant so little to us? Or did we mean so little to you?"
"It's not about you!" Madeleine hissed sharply, "You can heal and move on."
"You are everything to me! Our group…our Jobs, it's all we all have. Each other. "
Madeleine's eyes fluttered, swallowing thickly. "Florence, please, go back to bed." Her hand coming to her face as if covering her shame.
"Tell me," Florence demanded again, stepping into Madeleine's face but she dropped the weapon to the soft grass this time as a peace gesture. Had to convince Madeleine she was serious; she needed to know.
Madeline's face crumpled up.
Florence's wiggled her hand free from her grip, one coming to her face, cupping her cheek but she could logically reason that to waking up in cold mud. She'll warm up soon inside…if she could convince her to do so.
"Please." Her tone was soft.
Madeleine sucked in a heavy breath, her gaze washing past her before returning to Florence, her hand moving to hover almost to her sides, not quite touching. Florence though pushed herself into her touch, encouraging her.
Madeleine's face so close, it only took Florence to push up to catch her lips but she got the response she wanted; immediate reciprocation but this time. It wasn't like their last kiss, Florence had always led, always been the one to top but now Madeleine fought for dominance. Hands pulling her against her, not caring about the mess or dirt that she spread.
Her lips tasted of earth, but also a metallic undertone but Florence gasped sharply as Madeleine's fingers caught into her hair, lips moving to kiss and nibble at her jaw and down, her tongue washing over the delicate skin of her neck.
For a second, Florence wondered how far this would go. If she would want to stop this from progressing into something else; outside sex was not typical but nothing she hadn't done before. Madeleine had never been the type; Anna May or Scarlet would. Florence almost wanted to; to get a release from her grief and anger.
She pressed herself against her, feeling for more, almost moaning out… until she felt two sharp points from her teeth before it sunk into her flesh. Her body jerking back, convulsing in Madeleine's grip. Her mouth opening in a soundless cry. Her fingers clawed into her grip immediately, shaking to knock her off balance but nothing swayed Madeleine with the weight against the tree and arms locked around her, caging her against her. It was like she was being hugged by a statue.
Unyielding.
Against her throat, Florence could feel her lick and suckle, the hot sensation of her blood escaping past lips and seeped into her shirt and cooling quickly in the night. Her energy and strength were quickly being sapped away from every heavy swallow and glug of her lifeblood.
"Mmm.." Florence gasped quietly, her voice rasped and weak "Madeleine!" Her head was spinning. "S…Stop!"
There was no answer but she could feel the soft earth under her knees, barely aware as they lowered but her grip did not wane at all nor her monstrous feeding. Madeleine's breathing was ragged, letting out a low moan of relief…
Florence panted softly, her struggles weakening. Her head lolling back "Pl…please..." her eyes fluttering. "…Madeleine..." She didn't want Madeleine to kill her…not after this.
"..st..stop.."
A gunshot suddenly echoed but Florence was unaware of anything outside her world which was lulled away into darkness.
Unaware as Madeleine took a shot to the shoulder, causing the vampire to pull back.
Unaware as she was dropped like a rag doll onto the grass, laying pale and sickly, the only colour was the dark red blood still seeping.
Unaware as Anna May and Scarlet surrounded them, weapons raised with shocked expressions to who they were aiming at.
Unaware as Madeleine stayed still, hands raised to a surrender, blood coating not just her lips and chin but also her hands. Delicate points of teeth barely boking past her lips with an expression mixed with horror, grief and pain.
Florence's heart still beating softly in her chest. Scarlet's hands first reach her, to add pressure onto the bleeding wound. Anna May taking charge of Madeleine and pulling her away from the scene, despite her stricken wails of apology….
Notes:
Now, my major factor here is that Madeline would be a vampire of control. On a good day. This is not a good day and her sense of control was good until Florence pushed her too far (proximity and temping scent) and she snapped. Vampires need to heal, but to do so requires blood, which Madeleine lost a lot from her injury. The vampiric, impulsive side will override for the sake of survival, to heal. The rational side will kick in once she's had enough.
If this gets a good response, I'll do what i can to write quicker and get this sorted :) Please drop your thoughts and ideas on this and your Kudos, that'll be very much appreciated!
