Vi waved from the passenger side of the purple convertible and shouted out to Malcolm, "Yo boss, lets go!"
|"I'm comin', hold your horses."
He locked the door behind him, walked a few steps towards the curb and stepped into the vehicle.
"We're gonna have a blast tonight. Caitlyn thinks she can get an octave higher than me." Vi said. She giggled and turned towards Malcolm.
"C'mon. You know I've got a higher voice than you, babe," Caitlyn scolded in reply.
"Aw, don't be mad, cupcake." She etched a diligent smile towards Caitlyn.
"Seat belt, Malcolm," Caitlyn huffed.
He fastened his seat belt and shut the door. The engine purred to life as Caitlyn accelerated towards their destination. He gazed up at the sky while Vi continued her idle chatter and cheesy apologies to her girlfriend.
The night cast an iridescent glow littered with starlight, yet Malcolm felt a clot of darkness surrounding him. He wasn't used to social gatherings, and would ordinarily lay low in group situations that he was forced to attend with Tobias. He perceived himself to be an outcast and reminisced to the stars as people shining away from him. Tonight he was determined to not be an observer.
He shook his head lightly and a cold stream of air distracted him from his somber thoughts.
He turned his head back towards Vi and shouted, "Put on some music or something? We can't just be silent on a night like this."
Vi's eyes connected with his and she flashed an amused smile. "Sure, hope ya don't mind rock n'roll."
Her hands reached for the stereo and volume control knobs and flickered through several stations until a powerful beat emitted from the sound system. Malcolm closed his eyes for a brief moment in response to the resonated melody, for the strums of the guitar flickered an energy within his body that made him feel alive. He bobbed his head lightly to the rhythm and sang along with the cliche lyrics he unknowingly memorized from mainstream broadcasts.
"Shot through the heart," he coaxed in a low octave.
"And you're to blame," Caitlyn replied in a tenor tone.
"Darling you give love, a bad name," Vi's voice filtered a trill of notes on a chromatic scale as the final word rolled off her tongue and boomed with a resounding alto-soprano pitch
Malcolm stared at her with his eyes agape. He was stunned at her ability to sing and wanted to ask her how long she took vocal lessons to be this gifted. However, his desire to question the young woman was cut short. She continued to take the lead and pressed forward singing the rest of the song. Each lyric was enunciated with care as the suspenseful bridge drew near. She belted powerful notes for the remainder of the song, and trilled the ending with a high octave scale.
The pink haired woman was breathless by the end of the performance, and lightly huffed short breaths of the night's cold air.
"You know you can't go higher than me, cupcake," she spoke between exhausted breaths.
"Fair enough, but I can still give you a run for your money, babe," she mused in reply.
The two went about their idle chatter and within three songs they arrived at their destination. The Blue Moon Pub was a dimly lit building that clashed with the bright neon sign. Several parking spots were available throughout the lot, and Caitlyn wheeled them in a vacant area towards the entrance. She shut the ignition off quickly, and Malcolm's eyes focused on the building's structure.
The structure was dark brown, and the lighting dimmed unlike a typical bar scene. Warm lowlights brought an inviting feeling in Malcolm to step inside.
I'm ready ta have at this, he thought. I won't be sit back while he plays his ace this time.
"Runterra to Malcolm, if you don't get out of the car we're gonna lock you in it!" Caitlyn hissed.
Malcolm stepped out of the vehicle and uttered an apology, "Sorry bout' that. Let's go ahead and head on in. I'll buy you ladies the first round of drinks."
"Charming," Caitlyn said. Despite her sarcastic tone, Caitlyn's cherry colored lips formed a tiny curve - and her eyes gleamed with amusement.
The three walked forward to the bar's entrance. Malcolm motioned the women forward while he held the glass door open for them. The low rustle of rock music hummed through the building. It seemed like a warm invitation, but Malcolm still couldn't shake some of the lingering nervousness off. He followed behind the two after they entered and familiar lyrics rang through the bar.
"Stairway to Heaven," several people sang out of tune.
A nervous laugh escaped him and he took a moment to observe the surroundings. The lighting was dim at best outside of the neon lights cast beside the bar-tending area. The bar table was jet black and the stools were a dark velvet shade. The walls and other interior appeared to be wooden and only a few windows were cast along the sides of the establishment. The tiled floor clashed with a white color some areas more tarnished than others. A few tables for playing cards and watching television were setup, but Malcolm knew it was best to avoid his vices for tonight.
His attention was shifted by a familiar voice snapping him back to reality.
"Malcolm, hello? Are you gonna keep us waiting on those drinks until new years?" Caitlyn remarked sarcastically.
"Sorry, I'll get them for y'all now. What do you want, something only the most delicate princess could down?" he shot back at her with a devious smile.
"Oof. Now I know why Vi likes you so much. Get me a cosmo please and a martini for her."
Malcolm turned around towards the bar and stole a glance back at the pair. They were loosely dancing next to each other and giggling about god knows what.. He turned back towards the bar and motioned the bartender forward.
His eyes shifted towards the menu while debating what drink he should get.
I'm not in the mood just to get plastered. He thought. At the same time though, I don't want to look frilly with a blue or pink cocktail.
He debated on whether he should get a fruity cosmo, or surrender himself to a light craft beer. He wiped his fingers against his head and, without letting himself play into frustration's arms, made a decision.
"Yes sir. I need two cosmos and a martini please," Malcolm nodded towards the bartender.
The bartender was a tall pale skinned man. He nodded and prepared the drinks. His hands danced across the bar as he fumbled through ice, liquor, and various fruits to make the beverages. He turned around with the three drinks in what felt like an instantaneous response to Malcolm's request.
"Thirty gold please," The bartender spoke.
Malcolm fumbled for the change in his pockets and retrieved the drinks. He turned back towards his two companions and gave a quick, awkward, wave with the hand holding Vi's martini. Their hands fumbled towards him for their drinks as he stopped in front of them and a soft smiles spread across the duo's faces in response.
"You're the best old man," Vi said.
"It ain't no thing," Malcolm replied.
Malcolm sipped his cosmo and felt relief with his choice. The fruity flavor overpowered the lingering burn he usually despised with alcohol. He felt comfortable, only a few dozen people were in the bar tonight and the occasional sips of his drink pushed all worry to the back of his mind. Between loose dance moves and quirky jokes he found his drink was finished rather quickly.
"Hahaha, oh god, you're so silly boss," Vi said.
She attempted to sip her drink, but found nothing remained.
Malcolm exhibited a more relaxed attitude in the moment, yet -despite being a lightweight - he wasn't sure if he could blame it entirely on the alcohol. He stumbled backwards a tiny bit after performing a half-assed twirl that appeared graceful in his mind.
"Yo watch it old guy," Caitlyn remarked after he nearly tripped into her.
"Sorry, princess. I'll go get us another round. Same stuff, right?" he asked playfully.
"Yes, same stuff. Now go."
Malcolm turned towards the bar-tending area once again and paid for a second round.
A voice echoed throughout the room, "Ladies and gentlemen, we're about to start karaoke in a few minutes. Get up here and join at any time while we dim the lights for some more fun."
The light shifted to a minimal soft glow, which revealed only what they needed to - the colors of the labels and the shapes of various alcohol bottles - behind the rather uninterested bartender that awaited one's service. The scattered figures were like shadows of night, shifting here and there like a dance. Though, for those closer to Malcolm, there were many actions being done in a rather crude attempt to conceal how sexual they may be feeling.
He turned his attention back to Vi and Caitlyn and walked towards them. He noticed the two relaxed a bit further back from where they stood earlier. They were giggling at each other's expressions. Both of them offered a smile while he presented their drinks.
"Thanks Malcolm," Caitlyn said with a smile.
The alcohol must've lightened her mood up. He thought.
Idle chatter echoed within the tavern along with the strangers singing karaoke, and the lights reverted to their previous illumination. Caitlyn and Vi continued to exchange playful jabs towards each other, and their carefree attitude reminisced of Malcolm's previous life he led.
"So Malc, I think it's time you meet your date now." Vi said. She giggled with her arms lazily stretched.
Malcolm rolled his eyes - annoyed at being called half of his name. The only thing uncertain about tonight was this supposed setup date. His nerves were notably less clingy than usual though, and he knew without a doubt that would be the alcohol in his system. Without it, he'd be helplessly anxious and uptight.
"I guess we should arrange that." Malcolm said with a cheerless tone.
"Lighten up old man, geez," Her tone was harsh and frustrated. "I'll go get'em. Sit over by the bar and wait. Got it?"
"Okay, alright," Malcolm mouthed in an almost silent tone.
He turned around towards the bar tending area and paced towards the familiar alcohol labels and blue lights cast over the velvet bar stools. There was a small pit of nervousness fluttering in his stomach, but he knew this type of nervousness was different – it would carry him through the conversation to come. It was like a calm before the storm, he felt
I reckon as long as I don't forget my first name I'll be ok. He thought.
Malcolm chewed over his thoughts as he stood in front of the red seat. He attempted, with tipsy hurdles, to elegantly hoist himself up - using his grip on the bar-tending counter to help him sit down. It was certainly not the most elegant scene he could showcase, for the seats were much higher than they appeared to be. He periodically glanced around in anticipation for his date.
I wonder what she looks like. He thought. His anxious eyes searched for anyone who was about to sit next to him. Surely she's found whoever it is by now. It ain't a big crowd exactlyn
He let out a sigh and surrendered into his over analyzed thoughts. He didn't know what to expect to come of this forced arrangement. Malcolm was confident in his physical appearance, but what did he have to boast or describe about himself? He was a workaholic, retail manager, and anxiety driven ex pirate with Post traumatic stress disorder. It wasn't the pinnacle of an engrossing life and Malcolm knew he couldn't lie to save his life. Despite being a crafty thief in the past, he was an honest man.
The trebles of the soft music abruptly spread within the room. Uneven jabs of bass poked Malcolm's ear and the small crowd cheered another performer on stage. He scrunched his brows in annoyance at the songstress singing out of tune - the mix of sharp and flat notes threatened the dwindling patience he had left. It had been fifteen minutes since Vi ran off to grab his date.
Perhaps I should leave and say I got sick or somethin'. He thought. I'm sure she won't be too pissed.
He placed his feet on the ground, stretched liberally, and sifted through his pockets for some cab money. It was in that moment, however, that a woman with bright red hair sat in the seat to the right of him. She had a thin scar above her eye, and could swear he recognized her somewhere. The alcohol certainly wasn't doing him any justice with his memory. He scratched the back of his head and fumbled on the bar table to sit properly again. An awkward silence accompanied the space between them. He extended his arm out as a gesture towards the younger woman, and his heart raced in conjunction with millions nerves that clung to his tongue.
"H-hey I'm Malcolm nice to me-"
His words were immediately cut off by a baritone voice that blossomed to his left. "Oh, so you're Malcolm. I never thought you'd introduce me to yourself – or anyone else here for that matter."
The man offered a small chuckle, and the woman he inadvertently introduced himself to looked him in the eye. There was no mistaking who she was once he got a better look at her.
"Oh, h-hey boss! Nevah see you out in places like this. You havin fun?" Katarina slurred her words with a tipsy grin.
He gave her a modest smile with a swift nod, and gazed towards the other voice behind him. He was a man in his early thirties. He had short, delicately placed, brown hair and a complexion that any man would kill for. He was curious why this guy felt the need to act sly.
"Yeah that's me. Why do you want to know?" Malcolm asked.
"That's no way to talk to your date, sweetie," The man said. He smiled back at Malcolm and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder.
Oh shit. He thought while wearing a half baked smile. Oh my god. Why did she hook me up with a guy?
The man who replied stared at Malcolm, waiting for a reply. His eyes were a captivating shade of cerulean. Although he never dated anyone before, he had not considered men the primary candidates. He knew his life living with one man for nearly a decade wasn't exactly convincing, though. Malcolm could feel a prickly heat running straight to his cheeks while the man smiled at him, and his breathing was just a few steps short from becoming a mute. There was an awkward ambiance between the two, but he welcomed the silence. The surrounding chatter and attempted singing faded away. It was just the two of them. His date showcased a smile that could kill, and Malcolm could only conjure an awkward uncertain look in his eyes.
Well, I ain't opposed to trying this I suppose. He thought.
"Oh, you blush brighter than a cherry. How adorable." His date teased.
The heat in his face burned like a wildfire and Malcolm was unsure of how to reply. He offered an embarrassed grin and laughed. The other man teased a flirtatious click of his tongue back at Malcolm. He was clearly not in the most advantageous position.
"Well, you know my name. What's yours?" Malcolm mustered - all while trying to not sound nervous.
"Jayce," He said - a small chuckle escaped his lips.
"Good to meet ya, Jayce."
"Let me buy you a drink, let me guess. Martini, whiskey?"
"A Cosmo, please."
What happened next shocked Malcolm. An honest, yet heartwarming, laugh escaped Jayce's lips. Malcolm stared back at him feeling lost. He was bewildered at Jayce's unexpected outburst.
"A burly bear downing fruity drinks? I like you already."
Jayce motioned the bartender over an ordered their drinks - one cosmo, and one screwdriver. The worker's hands crafted through the ice, flavorings and liquor in a few methodical sweeps. He handed the beverages over mere moments after the request. Jayce paid the man, thanked him briefly and took a quick sip from his drink. A small satisfied grin etched from the corners of his mouth. The brief satisfaction from his drink faded within a second, and his eyes returned back to Malcolm's.
"So, do you come here often?" Malcolm asked the question carefully to break the mutual silence.
"Hardly. Why go out and get buzzed when I can at home?" Jayce continued after a brief pause, "So where are you from, Malcolm? Vi mentioned you are her boss at that hextech store downtown, but said she knew nothing else about you.
What am I gonna do, describe my life as a filthy pirate? Malcolm groaned in thought, and opted to sprinkle a lie instead.
One little lie won't kill this man. He thought - being a criminal wasn't exactly impressive.
"I'm from Demacia. I graduated from their university a few years ago studying mechanical magics."
Jayce tilted his head in interest yet his eyes reflected a look of suspicion. Malcolm gulped on the lingering aftertaste of his drink, for he sensed that perhaps the lie he wanted to tell wasn't convincing.
"Interesting. I actually graduated from the same university and never heard of a Malcolm. Would you like to try that introduction again?"
Fuck, real smooth Malcolm. He cursed to himself in frustration.
Jayce's expression shifted with each word Malcolm spoke. Malcolm waited in annoyance for him to take another sip of his drink before continuing.
"I...I guess you could say I'm a freelancer of sorts. I used to travel the world."
"Oh, so you must have seen tons of places then. Sounds exciting."
"Nothing but the seas for the most part. I never traveled by land much."
"Oh, so that's why you're into booty, right?"
Malcolm chuckled heavily. His cheeks were a little flushed from the joke. He cursed under his breath, frustrated, for acting too vulnerable. Jayce laughed at his reaction.
"Well, you seem rather easy to amuse then," Jayce said while laughing.
"Ok, sure. What about you then? I know where you graduated, but what do you do exactly."
Jayce toyed a calculating glance at Malcolm, and lightly clicked his tongue in amusement. Time seemed to be non existent in that moment and the scarlet color he tried to conceal bled into the remaining spots across his face. He didn't want this to be awkward, but Jayce wasn't letting his control of the conversation go.
"Well, I'm a millionaire, an inventor, and studied mechanical magics. There's two truths and a lie. You can pick whichever suits your fancy."
He delivered a wink after the reply. Jayce could read him like he was an artist painting from a blank canvas. Malcolm understood there wasn't much he could tell him. He felt defeated in a sense; however, there was a small desire to know him a little bit better.
I'll be damned if he gets away with being sly. He thought.
He composed himself as best he could, and took the final sip of his drink. He was a little above tipsy still, but the confidence that came from it would allow him to toy with Jayce a bit easier.
"With those clothes I'd have to say you're an adopted puppy at best, and you already gave me the answer to one o' those. Cute bio I suppose, though."
"Ah, well you're smarter than I gave you credit for. Perhaps I'll just luck out on a few million someday, though."
"Or- you could just steal some booty from me."
Malcolm covered his mouth up in shame.
Okay I've had one too many. What the hell was that?! He fumed in thought. The words were reciprocated well by Jayce, for a genuine laugh as strong as Malcolm's earlier erupted from him. He clutched his head while trying to calm the tiny outburst, and wiped a single tear from the corner of his eye.
"Oh damn. Please, tell me you're like this sober too."
"I'm learning not to be a hardass all the time."
"Well, that being said, I want us to have an actual date instead of an awkward meet up. You seem too cute to pass up."
Malcolm blinked a few times in surprise, and it took him a moment to process what happened. He was being asked out again, but he wasn't sure if he was up to it without something to loosen him up. Jayce sat there and waited patiently for a response. Malcolm wasn't sure how to reply exactly. He didn't see any negatives saying yes. Worse case scenario the second date wasa train wreck and he stays single. He didn't see anything wrong with that. Jayce, though annoying, was entertaining enough enough to keep around.
"I suppose we could do that. Though, I'm not sure how I'll be without something relaxing me, to be honest."
"Oh, you think you're drunk? How adorable."
Malcolm looked at Jayce, confused, he sure as hell felt loopy.
"Uh, duh? I don't normally stumble around and talk like this."
"Well, I totally slipped an spell into your drink in while you were busy daydreaming. You've been sober since a little before that booty comment. I just thought it would be fun to play along."
Bastard. He grunted to himself.
Malcolm wasn't sure how he was played so easily. It brought him back to the nostalgia of Tobias pulling an ace out of his deck when he needed to. He had a feeling this guy was a cheat, and he played right into his trap. Jayce's ace was played perfectly. Despite feeling frustrated over being dealt a cruel hand - he felt warm around Jayce.
"Well, glad to oblige."
"Come see me tomorrow at around Three. Text me and we can discuss where to meet up."
Jayce slipped a piece of paper in Malcolm's right pocket and got up from his seat. Jayce's lips left a brief trace on Malcolm's forehead, and Malcolm felt a jolt of electricity pass through him. This man was enticing feelings he wasn't used to throughout him.
"If I could give you a nickname, it would be scar. I think Scarlet is to effeminate for a man," Jayce's comments drilled a final blow into Malcolm.
He couldn't help but blush from embarrassment over nearly every remark Jayce threw at him. His cold nature was leveled out by the other man's comments. With Jayce's departure - Instead of everything being isolated and slow - the momentum and energy of the bar returned a cascading roar of song lyrics and laughter.
He noticed Jayce's retreat towards the exit. His gaze was fixed on him, and just as he was about to break his unsatisfied stare a pair of hands were laid on his shoulders. He sighed in annoyance, and turned towards who he assumed was Vi. To his surprise, however, it was Caitlyn.
"I've gotta say, I'm disappointed you kept us waiting until we sobered up. You ready to head out?" She waived her words in a playful tone, and appeared to be impatient.
"Yeah, let me run to the restroom real quick and we can head out of here."
Malcolm turned away from Caitlyn and excused himself towards the restroom beside the bartending area. The hallway matched the bar's normal color scheme, but he could sense something was amiss in this area. There was a magical aura pulsing faintly behind the women's restrooms, but he dismissed it immediately. He knew his abilities to detect magic outside of Tobias's were guesswork at best, and assured himself it was just the side effects of the spell Jayce slipped into his drink.
He propped open the door to the men's room and slipped inside. The bright light was blinding in comparison to the establishment's near minimalist lighting. He blinked a couple of times to adjust his eyes to the new lighting, and walked over to the urinal a few feet away. He relieved himself into the white porcelain bowl and pulled the handle. The silence in the restroom was replaced with a hiss from the murky water being washed away.
Malcolm scrunched his face and placed his right hand on his forehead, for he began to develop a slight headache as he walked towards the sink. The silence returned a few seconds later, but the stream of water colliding with the sink replaced the mute atmosphere within moments. He took his hand away from his forehead, applied what little soap remained from the dispenser, and washed his hands liberally under the lukewarm water.
Just as he washed the suds that remained, a jolt of burning pain cascaded from his head into his neck. He let out a yelp of pain and shut the water off.
The hell am I hurting for? Is this some kind of side effect? Because if so, that asshole will get an earful tomorrow! Malcolm huffed in thought.
He gripped his head with his soaked hands and slowly settled himself to the floor, and - with the pain that accompanied him - several flashbacks replaced his current surroundings. Instead of seeing the bright white walls he gazed into Tobias's face, and the scene behind him shifted with each breath he drew. He saw the disturbing memory of the heist after hyperventilating several years of memories in front of him. He was viewing himself inside the castle where Tobias left in real time, and the cards that materialized beside tobias generated a wind stronger than he remembered. It was like the calm before the storm, and – suddenly – he felt the physical and emotional pain of that night. His pain amplified to a greater magnitude beyond what his memory offered.
"What the fuck!?" He screamed in a confused rage.
He shivered with an uncontrollable tremble, and watched himself desperately crawl down the castle entrance and dodge oncoming attacks. He made a mental brace for the impact of the sword when he saw himself thrusting the door open. Closing his eyes wasn't enough to stop what came next, however. Blood oozed liberally from his sides, and the pain he felt that night rushed throughout his body. He clutched himself as he watched the final bits of the scene unfold. The frantic running through the town, blindly tripping through brush outside of Ionia's border walls, and falling into the forest floor hit him like a magnetic force – compelling his body to the scene.
The hell is going on? This shit hurts so bad. He thought in confusion.
He blinked and froze in pure panic. The world around him began to melt away in a black haze, and the bright white bathroom walls came into view once again.
Damnit, get me out of here. I need to collapse at home. He thought.
He straightened himself back upwards again and glanced into the mirror. There we no visible injuries on his body, but he still ached everywhere. It was as if the scene itself was reality in that moment. His eyes were nearly shrunk into tiny beads, and his once scarlet colored cheeks were transformed into a pale color. He wasn't sure how to process the situation.
Was I drugged? Am I hallucinating? Have I gone mentally insane? These were only a few of the questions he thought in pure panic.
After taking a moment to compose himself again, he tried his hands off with the scarce brown paper towels in the dispenser. He heard murmuring from within the room -no- from the other side in the women's room as he disposed of the soiled paper towels.
"Tobias Fate, the all powerful mage, and renowned cheater?" Came an eerie female voice.
"Yes, him. I've got him locked up in the shadow isles, and have enough mana to keep me transformed for eons." Another replied, her voice etched an occasional malevolent giggle.
Wait, the bastard is alive and flaunting with a harem!? What the hell is he letting these women do to him. Malcolm thought.
He was exasperated and never thought he'd hear of Tobias again, for his name being mentioned sent a cold chill down his body. He trembled under the icy feelings, and felt agony itself embrace him. He was hurt for all of these years, and vowed that – one day – he would kill Tobias himself for leaving him to die.
"He should be completely drained in a few days. After that, he'll simply die a painful death. He's longing for what he loves the most, and that kind of agony exhilarates me SO much."
Malcolm – fearing for his own safety - nudged himself towards the door to leave. He opened it with care, attempting to avoid any unnecessary noise, and – gingerly - let the door close behind him before he walked forward. The aura behind the women's room faded, and any magical pulses that lingered dissipated.
He approached the women's restroom - the door opened, and a woman with short golden blonde hair exited. She walked towards the bar-tending area, only keeping a few steps behind Malcolm. She abruptly turned around to meet his gaze, and her cerulean eyes poured into Malcolm's brown pair.
Damn she's cute. I need to say hi to her. He thought to himself
He felt compelled against any better judgment he had, for a strong desire to speak to this woman overcame him. It was as if she magically allured him into her and ,by force, overwhelmed Malcolm into her beautiful complexion. Her cherry lips complimented her sun kissed skin, and – in that moment of admiring her – he noticed her black dress was slightly shy of revealing her breasts. She delivered a wink that would kill and walked closer towards him.
"Hey there, are you lonely?" She asked the question in a concerned tone.
There was no mistaking it, her voice matched the woman that claimed Tobais' captivity.
She's just an ordinary woman. There's no way Fate would allow this. He reassured himself.
"You need to relax, love," Her voice seemed to echo in the small hallway.
His vision became distorted again, and the surroundings melted away into a dreary black mist. The painful sensation he endured moments ago began to etch from every ligament of his body, and felt like he was being burned alive. He couldn't determine if he was feeling sick, or if this woman had ill intentions planned for him.
Screams of suffering flooded his mind, and with each cry he came closer to finding the voice familiar.
"Please, let me go!" The voice was deep and familiar.
"Is he ok still?"
"You stupid bitch!"
Fate. Malcolm uttered the thought with a desperate desire to see him again.
His emotional torment wrapped around him like a spider would its prey. Malcolm's body ached with a pain he never felt before, for it was like agony itself choked of sweat dripped from his forehead as his body temperature rose into a level he never experienced before and his body was shifted to the ground in his disoriented state.
"Come on, touch me. I'll make it all go away."
He saw the woman reach down with gentle hands – his eyes traced them in panic. The mysterious woman's face materialized in a puff of red smoke, and the beady black eyes of a demon glared at Malcolm with killer intent. He froze in place as her arms wrapped around his body in a loose embrace – the contact began to dissipate his pain, or so he thought. Shortly after, the painful pulses dropped and a new wave of torture kicked in.
"I'm not done yet," she hissed.
"Fuck, let go of me!" Malcolm cried.
His body was akin to lava, and the pain transformed from a burning agony into hellfire. Malcolm's bones felt severed from each joint, and his eyes were frozen in place. Malcolm could only stare at the horror above him. She leaned in closer and the petrifying eyes prevented even the most shallow breath.
I'm going to die, he thought.
She tilted her cloaked face to reveal what appeared to be a pair of razor sharp tails attached to her and slowly lowered them to Malcolm's neck. She giggled lightly in amusement and etched a small incision into Malcolm's neck. A tiny drop of blood dripped onto the fin, and she pressed a little harder in response to a whimper that escaped his lips.
He could feel her digging deeper and the pain flared to a level he could only describe as inhuman.
"Mmnf-.. AGH!" he attempted to cry out but his cries were muted to the outside world.
Malcolm wanted someone, no, anyone to save him. The pain was too much for him to bare. Hot tears welled down his eyes through both pain and misery, but the wet droplets that echoed on the ground were like a speck of dust in dim lighting compared to the festivities occurring outside the small hallway. All he could think about during this period of suffering was Tobias' well being.
Is the bastard getting torn up like this every day? What the hell is his deal, is he a sick masochist of some ki – His thoughts were cut off abruptly.
"Malcolm? What the hell are ya doing over there?!" The voice belonged to Vi
The hazy visions faded along with the mystifying woman, and he slowly began gain control of his body again. His friend looked panicked, for Malcolm appeared like someone out of the morgue. She dropped closely to him and offered her arm to help him stand, and he accepted it generously – using mostly his regained strength to stand.
"Sorry, felt a little dizzy for a second. I'm ok now though," He mumbled while rubbing the wound on his neck.
"Did he get crafty with you or something?"
Her eyes were fixated on the wound the unknown woman inflicted on him.
I reckon this does look like a lovers bite. He thought.
"No it's nothin' like that. Let's get outta here. I need some sleep."
The walk back to the car was slow, and – with every step - his mind flashed replays of the hellish torture. He winced at the thought of Tobias being alive, for he couldn't imagine this type of pain over several years. All of the dreary dark nights fearing for his life, his life essence -mana- being drained to a few drops, and the false sense of hope she offered for release. All of it seemed too depressing to cope with, and the fact she hadn't killed him yet seemed worse than the liberation death would offer.
Fate. I don't know how the hell this happened to you. Malcolm's somber thoughts drained any positive energy he gained from that night. But mark my words, she won't be the one to kill you. I will, once I get my damn answers.