Chronicles of the Night
In part one of the Fear and Rage mini-arc…
The Night Hunters seem to corner a rapist that has been terrorizing the San Pedro area of LA. However he quickly discovers Night-princess' weakness to garlic and uses it against the Night Hunters to get away with Night-princess. As he prepares to rape her she finally loses control of her thirst and drinks his blood. Unfortunately, the Night Hunters weren't the only ones that found her. Blade has now reappeared, and he intends to back up his threats.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Marvel Comic elements present in this story, I do own my original characters and the plot.
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Rage in the Night
"I warned you what would happen if she lost control." Blade told Night-claw. "And let me tell you… I don't back down on my threats." Blades said through gritted teeth as he drew his guns.
"Hold up." Night-roller demanded. "You think we're just going to let you do this?"
"No… please… just let him do it." Night-princess said through tears.
"Night-princess, I can't let him do that." Night-claw said.
"Now then… let's…" Night-roller started.
"No. He's mine and mine alone." Night-claw said.
"Excuse me? You sure about this?" Night-roller said. "This guy does have powers right?" Night-roller asked.
"Yeah, he does. But he's not after you, he's only here for Night-princess and I." Night-claw said as he stepped forward.
"So then… you first?" Blade asked with a growl.
"Night-roller, you just make sure Night-princess just stays safe." Night-claw said as he stared at Blade.
"…" Night-roller was hesitant to just let Night-claw take this alone. "Okay." He said as he backed up next to Night-princess.
"Why? Night-claw don't fight him!" Night-princess shouted before breaking down in more tears.
"He's going to do it no matter what either one of us says." Night-roller said.
"Now then Blade… let's actually finish this fight." Night-claw said as he flexed his fingers a bit.
"I owe you for those blows last time." Blade growled. The salty sea breeze came in through the open windows. It blew by the many wooden crates stacked on one side near Night-princess. It blew by the metal crossbeams at the top, and the metal beams holding up the ceiling.
"Ha!" Night-claw lunged forward. Blade then open fired with his automatic guns. Night-claw apparently expected this since he dived to the side and then sprang all the way up to the metal beams near parallel to the ceiling. Night-claw then ran along the length of the beams as Blade kept his guns aimed at him. A barrage of bullet shells hot on Night-claw's heels.
"Hold still!" Blade shouted. Night-claw jumped to another beam and then jumped over the top of Blade. Night-claw grabbed one of the chains dangling from the ceiling and swung on it. Night-claw then grabbed another chain and yanked the one he was previously swinging off of right off the ceiling and changed his direction mid-swing by wrapping the chain he yanked off around a beam.
"Try this on for size Blade!" Night-claw then swung off of that one and went straight for Blade. As Blade fired his guns at Night-claw, Night-claw ducked side to side rapidly and narrowly avoided the bullets. "HA!" Night-claw spun around and was about to kick the gun out of Blade's hand. Blade attempted to pull it out of reach, but Night-claw extended the claws on his toes to add just enough reach to knock the gun out of his right hand.
"Gah!" Blade tried to shoot his other gun at Night-claw, but Night-claw swiped that gun out of his hand as well.
"Ha!" Night-claw scratched Blade across the face, knocking off his sunglasses, "Ha!" Night-claw then swiped both of his claws across Blade's chest, "RAH!!!" Night-claw then kicked Blade in the abdomen and sent him skidding backwards.
"Whoa… Night-claw hasn't shown himself to be this good. But then again… I guess he doesn't need to go all out on normal people." Night-roller said. Night-claw was running forward to throw a fist when…
"Wait… he's got more silver on him than before… WHOA!!!" These thoughts raced through Night-claw's head right before Blade pulled out a silver dagger from under his coat and nearly slit Night-claw's throat. Night-claw ducked under that knife then jumped back as Blade pulled out another one and about stabbed it in to Night-claw's chest.
"Like them? You won't like them for much longer!" Blade shouted, the scratches on his face finally completely disappearing as he jumped at Night-claw and swung his dagger at him. Night-claw revealed his claws and blocked the first dagger with his claws, he then side-stepped the second dagger and attempted to swipe a few claws at Blade. The two kept going back and forth with claw and dagger swipes at each other.
"Ha!" Night-claw threw a punch that Blade dodged and tried to stab Night-claw, but Night-claw managed to avoid the worst of it and only got a slight scratch on his cheek. Night-claw then grabbed Blade's wrists and started digging his claws in to Blade's wrists, giving him a scowl as he did so.
"Grrrrrrrrr… just… give… up!" Blade shouted. He kicked Night-claw hard enough in the chest to send him flying backwards and sprawling across the ground. "Ha!" Blade threw one of his daggers at Night-claw, who regained his balance fast enough to jump in to the air right above that dagger. However Blade threw the other dagger at Night-claw as he was jumping and it would have struck his face if Night-claw didn't raise his arm to block the dagger.
"AH!" Night-claw shouted as the dagger pierced his arm pretty deeply. Night-claw noticed that Blade pulled out two more daggers in one hand and a glaive in the other hand. He began quickly threw the two daggers in succession at Night-claw. He deflected them with the dagger he yanked out of his arm and just as he landed, Blade threw the glaive at him. Night-claw jumped over it and threw the dagger in his hand at Blade.
"Hmph." Blade caught the dagger by the blade between the fingers in his right hand and held it backhanded. Night-claw then ran forward with his claws revealed.
"LOOK OUT!!!" Night-princess shouted.
"Hm?" The sound of the glaive whooshing through the air reached Night-claw's ears too late. "AUGH!" The glaive boomeranged back towards Blade, and cut Night-claw's right leg pretty deeply. Night-claw fell down on to the ground and Blade was right there ready to stab him with his dagger.
"Now it's time to pay the price!" Blade shouted, anger flaring in his brown eyes. Night-claw jumped off of his left leg and kneed him with his right knee, ignoring the pain in his leg, and then kicked off of Blade's with a clawed left foot. "AUGH!" Blade shouted as some blood flew from his face.
"Augh…" Night-claw groaned as he landed on his still bleeding leg.
"Night-claw…" Night-princess uttered. "Please… please just let him…"
"Night-princess…" Night-roller started.
"Night-roller, please don't." Night-princess cried. "I'm not Night-princess. I'm not Lisa Braveheart. I'm just a monster!" she cried.
"No… you're not Night-princess." Night-claw said. "The only monsters here are me… and HIM!!!" Night-claw shouted as he ignored the pain and ran at Blade.
"That does it!" Blade drew his silver katana from under his coat and swung it at Night-claw. Despite his injuries, Night-claw managed to duck under the swing and then jump over the next as he attempted to kick Blade across the face.
"Please stop…" Night-princess thought. "I can hear your breath… your heart… I can hear how much pain you're really in!!!" She thought. "STOP HURTING YOURSELF FOR ME!!!" She yelled.
"HA!" Night-claw another claw at Blade, who spun backwards to avoid it while taking a swing with his katana. Blade then jumped forward to deliver another swing. Night-claw ducked to the side then jumped back and dug his claws in to Blade's face.
"ARGH!" Blade grabbed Night-claw around his throat and was about to thrust his sword through him if Night-claw hadn't grabbed his wrist with another claw. Blade then grabbed Night-claw around the throat.
"You… know… cats have… loose skin…" Night-claw coughed out.
"So?" He asked.
"So… I can do this!" Night-claw rather painfully pulled out of Blade's grip, leaving claw marks on Blade's face and arm and jumped back.
"Gah!" Blade cried as the claws scratched in to his skin. Night-claw then leaped forward and threw a punch forward and knocked Blade down to the ground. Blade quickly got up and took several swings of the sword at Night-claw. As Night-claw ducked flipped over the top of Blade, Blade spun around and backhanded Night-claw hard enough to send him skidding backwards.
"Night-claw!" Night-roller shouted in concern.
"I'm fine…" Night-claw cringed as he stood up.
"Not for long." Blade reached under his coat and pulled out yet another silver katana.
"Oh you have got to be kidding me." Night-claw said exasperated.
"HAH!!!" Blade leaped high through the air with his both of his katana drawn. He landed a few feet away from Night-claw and rushed forward. Night-claw now had to dodge left, right, and in all directions to avoid the endless chain of expertly timed sword swipes taken at him. Blade managed to strike Night-claw once and leave a decent cut on his chest near his left shoulder.
"Ah!" Night-claw gasped. He attempted a leg sweep that Blade simply jumped over and was about to stamp a boot on Night-claw's head when Night-claw rolled out of the way and stood up only for the tip of a silver katana to strike him across the forehead. "AH!" He shouted as the blood flew from the tip of the katana.
"HAH!!!" Blade then thrust his katana forward towards Night-claw's heart.
SHING
"NIGHT-CLAAAAAAAWWW!!!" Night-princess shouted.
"It's… not… that bad…" Night-claw gasped. The sword missed his heart, but it did pierce him quite badly in the shoulder. Before Blade could finish him off with the other katana, Night-claw kicked it out of his hand and tried to throw a punch. Blade caught the fist, pulled out his katana roughly. "AH!"
"Time to die…" Blade dropped that katana, picked up Night-claw and held him above his head. "RrrrrrrrrrrrAAAAAHHH!!!" Blade then threw Night-claw towards the stack of crates nearby Night-roller and Night-princess
CRASH
CRUMBLE
"Night-claw!" Night-roller shouted.
"No… no no no…" Night-princess cried.
"Hrmph… he was more trouble than he should have been." Blade said as his wounds healed rapidly.
"You'll pay for that." Night-roller said. Obviously angry, but still managing to keep his cool as he stood up. "Let's dance!" Night-roller rocketed forward towards Blade while firing single fingered blasts at him. Blade picked up both his katana and knocked away the blasts of energy before ducking to the side in time to avoid Night-roller. Night-roller turned around and continued his assault of single-finger blasts.
"You won't fare any better!" Blade shouted as he pulled out a grenade from under his coat and tossed it where Night-roller was going to be.
"Oh cr…"
KABOOM
"NIGHT-ROLLER!!!" Night-princess shouted. Night-roller was sprawled on the ground, his helmet screen flashing something. 'Force field at… 42 percent power."
"I'm fine…" Night-roller said as he stood up. He grabbed a nearby piece of metal and hurled it towards Blade. Blade swiped his katana at the metal to knock it away even if it did knock that katana out of hid hand. Night-roller was then right in front of him with a fist drawn back.
BAM
"GACK!" Blade flew backwards with a bleeding nose, the blood flying out as he flew backwards. Night-roller zoomed forward to deliver another blow when Blade got up, dodged the punch and threw a palm thrust at Night-roller's helmet. The force-filed flickered a bit more but it was still online. Blade then threw his fist forward and stuck Night-roller's chest, spun around and elbowed him, and then jumped in to the air, twirled around and kicked Night-roller in the head.
"Whoa!" Night-roller stumbled back a bit as the helmet visor flashed 'Force field down. Force field down. Warning.'
"RAH!" Blade then threw two daggers at Night-roller, who blocked them with his gloves, but he let them down only to see a fist in his face.
"AH!" Even behind the helmet, Night-roller felt a fair bit of force behind that punch and was knocked backwards.
"You're lucky I'm not here for you." Blade hissed at Night-roller. He then turned to Night-princess and began walking towards him. "I hope you're ready."
"Just… do it quickly…" Night-princess said. "Just… stop hurting Night-roller…" She cried.
"Hmph." Blade picked up his silver katana and walked closer to Night-princess. "Time to die little girl."
"Not… Lisa…"
"Hm?" Blade and Night-princess turned towards the ruined pile of crates.
"RAH!!!" The crates were sent flying everywhere, splintering as they hit the walls and beams. Night-claw stood there, his costume torn in several places on his legs and torso, his mask hanging down around his neck revealing his severely scratched face. His face was a complete scowl, his breath was much heavier, and his eyes were half narrow half round due to the dim light in the room.
"Night-claw…" Night-princess whispered in awe. "But… something's not right… his heart beat is… so fast…"
"You're still alive?" Blade asked in an annoyed tone.
"Hssssss…" Night-claw hissed lowly.
"Hm?" Blade turned to Night-claw as Night-claw hunched over.
"Not… hurt… Lisa…" Night-claw hissed at Blade.
"Fine… come and get some more." Blade dared as he pointed his katana at Night-claw. Night-claw ran at Blade on all fours. "Hm!" Blade wasn't expecting Night-claw to come at him that fast. But Night-claw head-butt him in the stomach and sent him sprawling backwards. "GAH!" Blade went sliding towards a wall.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" Night-claw hissed like a feral animal as he leaped through the air with his claws revealed and ready to dig them in to Blade. Blade saw one of his guns on the ground. He picked it up, jumped towards the wall as Night-claw about sunk his claws in to his body.
"RAAAAAHHH!!!" As Blade jumped off of the wall, he open fired his gun at Night-claw. But Night-claw jumped towards one of the metal beams, jumped off of it towards a wall, and then jumped towards the wall and jumped off of it. All the while staying far ahead of the gunfire.
Click…
Click…
"Ah son of a… ARGH!!!" Blade soon felt Night-claw's claws tear through his vest and in to his chest. Night-claw had him pinned to the ground and was now swiping away at his body. "GAH! AAAHHH!!!"
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!" Night-claw hissed as he slashed away at Blade's already bloody and mutilated body.
"Night-claw… Felix…" Night-princess started.
"HAH!" Blade kicked Night-claw off of him and sent him flying through the air. But Night-claw did several flips in mid-air and landed on all fours, growling and hissing as he landed. "What is with him? He was fighting as a smart person with his abilities would, but now he's fighting like a wild animal." Blade thought.
"Night-claw…" Night-roller groaned as he groggily sat up. "Night-claw?" Night-roller noticed Blade, and then looked at Night-claw. "Hey! Night-claw you okay? Night-claw?"
"Hsssss…" Night-claw completely ignored Night-roller and then dashed at Blade.
"RAH!" Blade raised his katana and rushed at Night-claw. Blade took more powerful swings at Night-claw that Night-claw avoided more swiftly than before. Night-claw then leaped back, quickly dashed at Blade, pounced to the side and then jumped at Blade. Blade thrust his sword forward.
"Rah!" Night-claw avoided the sword and bit down on Blade's forearm, and then wrapped a clawed hand around Blade's neck. Night-claw then dug his other claw in to Blade's upper arm and then scratched away a huge chunk of Blade's skin on his arm and neck rather violently.
"GAH!!!"
"Night-claw!" Night-roller shouted. "That is not the Night-claw I know."
"Night-claw stop!!!" Night-princess shouted.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!" Night-claw was preparing to further mutilate Blade when an energy blast hit him.
"That is enough! Now calm down Night-claw!" Night-roller shouted.
"Hrrrrrmmmm…" Night-claw shot one of his feral eyes at Night-roller. "Strike me… enemy…" He growled.
"What now?"
"RAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!" Night-claw rushed at Night-roller with his claws drawn.
"Wait Night-claw! It's me Night-roller! Felix come on man!" Night-roller shouted as he skated out of the way of Night-claw's pounces and claw swipes. Night-claw finally tackled Night-roller and slammed him against a metal beam.
"Grrrrrr…" Blade picked up one of his katana and eyed Night-claw.
"HRAH!" Night-claw then threw Night-roller on to the ground near a puddle of blood. Night-claw was now on top of Night-roller, hissing and bearing his fangs.
"You… have to die!" Blade shouted as he ran forward with his kanta.
"STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!!!" Night-princess was behind Night-claw and hugged Night-claw around the back.
"Hm?" Blade's katana stopped mere inches from the back of Night-princess' head.
"Huuuuuuhhh…" Night-claw gave a more relaxed breath. His look was a little shocked at first, it then gradually changed to a more relaxed look. "Puuuuurrrrrrrrrrr…" He began purring before he passed out.
"Oh… man… that… was… close…" Night-roller breathed out. "Hey! Night-claw! You okay man?" He asked concerned. "Night-princess?"
"Blade…" Night-princess started, tears still in her eyes.
"…" Blade stood behind Night-princess, still holding his katana mere inches away from her head.
"If you're going to kill me… then… then just stop fighting them…" Night-princess begged. "Stop fighting… my friends…" She continued to cry.
"Why?" Blade asked.
"Be… because… they're hurting themselves more… than you're hurting them." She cried. "The… they'll… they'll just…" She tried to say, practically choking on her words. "They're hurting themselves… just for my sake… which… isn't worth it…"
"Blade." Night-roller said as he stood up, holding Night-claw in his arms. "Listen… that man was a criminal. He ruined several lives and tried to ruin her life even more."
"…" Blade listened further, still holding a katana to Night-princess' head.
"And yet still she regrets drinking his blood. Would any vampire that you call a monster really do that? Would they regret?!" Night-roller continued to ask. "Well?!"
"Hmph… I guess not." Blade said.
"And let me tell you… we'll fight through hell for this girl if we have to." Night-roller said. "After all, we both made a promise to her, a promise we intend to keep."
"Is that all?" Blade asked.
"Yeah…" Night-roller said.
"I'm… sorry guys… but… I… I just can't…" Night-princess started to say. She closed her eyes and waited for the katana to pierce her head.
SHING
"Hm?" Night-princess looked up and saw Blade sheathing his katana, and then walking around the room picking up the other weapons lying around.
"Very few have a chance… but maybe… you will." Blade said. "For now I'll let you go." Blade said. "Something tells me, that you're not the only ones that needs a little help fighting their demons." He said as he eyed the unconscious Night-claw.
"…" Night-roller looked at Night-claw as he held him in his arms. "Night-claw… did you know about this? Are you even going to be alright about this?"
"But my threat still holds." Blade said as he finished collecting his weapons.
"…" Night-princess looked at him bewildered. "You… you still should have… but… what about Felix?"
"I just might be giving you a bit more leniency, and I'll probably regret this later." Blade said with a growl as he walked away.
"Night-roller, will he be alright?" Night-princess asked as she picked up her shades and held them in her hand. She looked at Night-claw sadly.
"We'll… find out tomorrow." Night-roller said, concern in his voice.
The next morning…
"Yeah… okay understood." Felix said as on his headphone while working at his chemistry equipment. He had a sad look on his face, and as he tried to mask it with a professional tone of voice, it was obvious he was bothered. "Hm? No everything's just fine. Yes I still have my job. Talk to ya later." Felix said as he shut off the headphone.
"Hey." Joseph walked downstairs and looked at him.
"Hey… Joseph." Felix said.
"Good news, from what I gathered… the police haven't figured out anything at the warehouse. Your altered blood and DNA doesn't show up on their computers." Joseph said.
"I… didn't hurt you did I?" He asked.
"Well… not badly but… what was that anyways?" Joseph asked.
"…" Felix continued to mix chemicals together as he thought about it.
"Come on, it's obviously bothering you. I mean I overheard you making all of the calls you were supposed to do." Joseph said. "You'd only do that well if you're depressed so tell me what's bothering you."
"You've figured me out all too well Joseph." Felix said. "It… happened three times… the first time it happened was shortly after I got my powers… the second time I hurt a few quite a few people… and the third was last night." He said.
"You remember any of it?" Night-roller asked.
"The first instance, no I was only told about it." Felix said as he continued to mix chemicals. "I remembered bits and pieces of the second instance. And I only remember bits and pieces from last night."
"…"
"You ever hear of cornered animals?" Felix asked. "What they'll do when cornered?"
"Yeah." Joseph nodded his head.
"Well, the same thing happens with me. Whenever I get really angry, or really scared, adrenaline pumps through my system rapidly. Much faster than it pumps in a normal human." Felix explained. "Normally I have my intelligence along with cat instinct, but when the adrenaline starts pumping, my human conscience becomes completely suppressed and my cat instincts completely take over. I become a savage beast that is a danger to friend and foe alike."
"That bothers you a lot doesn't it?" Joseph asked.
"Yes." Felix answered. "What I hate even more about it this time is that Lisa had to see me like that." Felix said. "She was already an emotional wreck, and all I did was pick a stupid fight and show her more savagery. What she didn't even need." Felix said in frustration. "I have a favor to ask." Felix said as he picked up a vaccine full of a semi-clear liquid.
"What is it?" Joseph asked him as he walked closer.
"If you inject me with this, you'll suppress my adrenaline flow." Felix said.
"And that will calm you down." Joseph finished.
"Yeah. Now… if you'll excuse me." Felix said as he started removing his lab equipment.
"Hm?"
"I'm going to drop off my costume for repairs." Felix said as he left.
"Yeah… okay." Joseph said.
Later…
Lisa was on her bed. She wasn't asleep, but rather huddled up on the edge of it, thinking about last night. Her eyes were blue, meaning she wasn't thirsty for now. "Come in." She said quietly.
"I didn't even knock." Joseph said as he came in. "You alright?"
"Yes…" She said. "You can… sit down." Lisa told him quietly. Joseph sighed and sat down next to her. "How is Felix?"
"Honestly… I think last night hit him harder than any of us." Joseph said.
"Hm?"
"I know he and I were both pretty sad to see you like that. Broken and crying, but I think it hit him even harder." Joseph said.
"Really?" She asked.
"Yeah. He admits… he doesn't like it whenever he gets mad enough to… act like that." Joseph said. "He hated putting you through all of that. I think to him… he feels like he's let you down."
"No… he didn't." Lisa said. "Joseph… thank you… for protecting me… and Felix too." She said quietly.
"It's alright." He said.
Elsewhere…
"Oh… back again Night-claw?" The old lady that made his costume asked.
"You know… you don't have to call me that." Felix told her as he handed her his costume. He was in the outfit he first came to LA in.
"Oh my… this is worse than when you brought it to me the day after I sold this to you." The woman said with a tsk tsk click in her voice.
"…"
"Oh… something wrong dear?" The lady asked.
"Well…" Felix hesitated.
"Don't worry, you can tell me anything. Mum's the word." The old lady said.
"A… lot of things happened last night." Felix sighed. "I… feel I hurt everyone last night."
"Oh?"
"There's just… some things that… make you wonder if you're really cut out to be doing heroics. It just… feels like you're making things worse sometimes." He said.
"I don't know anything about being a superhero." The lady said as she observed the costume some more. "But I know one thing, you have good friends now don't you? Your teammates I mean?"
"Yeah… yeah I guess so. But…" Felix started to say.
"If you really feel you hurt them, and even if you did, I know that they need you and you need them." She said.
"…" Felix let these words sink in on his mind. "Thank you." He said with a smile.
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Thus ends the Fear and Rage arc. Well I'll update this after my vacation this week. Leave a review until then.
