The warm body I was laying against must have twitched or something because I was suddenly awake and scanning the surrounding area. Yup, still my decimated valley free of all animal life since the ship crashed. I lift my head every so slightly and yawn as I stretch my front paws in a luxurious typical cat manner. Sure enough, the pressure against my back lessens and sudden coolness sends a shiver down my back. I had hoped that I would get some more sleep considering this was the first time I had stopped in a long while, but it looked like the man I had rescued wasn't going to cooperate. Rolling my eyes briefly, I rise to a sitting position and look behind me. My breathe stops mid inhale as I notice his eyes watching me. They are like no other that I would have ever imagined, but at the same time they are somewhat cool yet disturbing. His irises were red encircled yellow which wasn't so bad, his pupils though were like a cat. I could see great intelligence in those somewhat unsettling eyes, I could also see... something else as he studied me. It only took me a split second to remember that I was not in anyway comforting, I did appear to be a giant meat-eating predator.
Coming to this conclusion, I wasn't surprised that he was slowly backing away from me. Sighing,I force myself to shift into my true form, a vampire. I heard a surprised intake of breathe from him as my sleek, black body morphed into slim, deadly huntress. I was on my hands and knees when the shift was finished. Standing, I look at him and realize that maybe shifting wasn't the best way to introduce myself. His expression was frightful, kind a mix between outright horror and total astonishment/interest. I wonder if he is afraid of me, if so he had me entirely pegged wrong because if I could help it I wasn't going to hurt him. I hope.
Out of the corner of my peripheral vision, I see him flex and clench his right hand as he continues to study me. Curious behavior, at least to me. Suddenly, he rushes toward me with his right hand raised. Completely caught of guard I did not react except to voice a startled hiss. His hand pushes against my breast bone and a bizarre sensation spreads through my body, I don't know how to explain it properly. It was kind of like a combination of the most potent and powerful pleasure that you could ever think up but at the exact same time there was a overpowering sense of pleasure pain. It kinda felt a little to good, I keep expecting myself to start purring. All to soon, he pulls away and I open my eyes, I hadn't realized that I had closed them.
For some reason, he is looking at his palm with confusion. He glances at me before lowering his hand and taking a step back with a disbelieving expression. What the hell had just happened? I look down at my chest and prepare myself to see some giant gaping hole, I see instead perfect skin. Relief is overpowered by sudden mortification as I notice that I have no clothes on. My mind reeling, I focus all my thought to quickly put a blue cotton dress over my form. I was vaguely surprised to see that the dress just sort of materialized out of no where, like it was produced from my body. Weird. I look up to see that the man is half way across my meadow by the crashed ship, not much he could do anyway with that earth mountain. Smiling just ever so slightly, I bend my legs and push from the ground sending myself flying through the air only to gracefully land on top of the mountain. Easily a twenty foot jump. The man whirls around to look behind him, a strangled version of a growl coming from his direction. I enjoy watching him stiffen as he sees that I am not across the meadow anymore.
Rather pleased with myself, I clear my throat. He turns around so quickly I am sure that human eyes would have just seen a blur, his interesting eyes meet mine. Smirking slightly, I jump down from the mountain top and land in front of him. Standing directly before him, the thought that he really is rather tall crosses my mind.
" Hi, I really must thank you for destroying my meadow." He stares at me like I'm speaking Japanese to a white man, completely blank. Well, shit. There went all my hopes of communication. His expression didn't change much as he surveyed the surrounding area before turning back to watch me. Hm, maybe my attempt at communication wasn't a total waste.
" There is not suppose to be anyone on this planet, why are you here?" shock temporarily freezes me in place, his voice sounded kinda cool. Rough dual tones, it seemed to match him somehow. I noticed though that his teeth are noticeably pointy, sort of strange for a non vampire considering it was all his teeth. How interesting. In the time it took me to realize these facts a matter of five seconds passed and he is still waiting for my answer.
" Why do you care why I'm here? Who are you?"
He seems sort of taken aback by my last question, " I am Wraith." Like that is suppose to answer my question, that don't give me jack. Irritated, I glare at him and wait for the rest of that explanation, but he seems satisfied and just waits for mine.
" Right, okay, is that suppose to mean something to me?" I was starting to get confused, maybe it would have been better that I had let him die.
" I am Wraith, if you were human you would know this already. It is obvious though that you are not. What are you?" his voice was beginning to effect me, I have no idea why but every time I heard him my heart started racing in flurry of... excitement. Then I realize that my heart is beating... what the hell? But I was more focused with the dilemma I was faced with, do I tell this Wraith the truth or lie and make a great escape? I don't know anything about Wraith except that their blood is rather delicious, can I risk this Wraith knowing me? Wraith, on earth I'm not so sure that that is a good thing, but vampires are also suppose to evil, mindless monsters. So, where does this leave me? Stuck between a rock and a hard place, that is where. What am I going to do? Lie and walk away leaving him to wonder around on this planet? I growled in frustration, this kind of thing had never been my strong suit, everyone used to tell me I was to kind.
In the process of thinking this, the Wraith in front of me cocked his head and continued to watch me. My heart raced against my rib cage in response. Another enigma, why did I (meaning my body) respond the way it does to him? Was he doing something? No, I was powerful enough to avoid the mind control that those people had over me, I doubt that he could do anything to enforce that same kind of power.
" I'm not at liberty to say what I am, not yet anyway," my answer would either confuse him or amuse him, or a bit of both depending on how familiar he is with earth lingo.
He got a really aggravated expression, so I'm guessing neither. I really need to turn the subject away from me, " Just out of curiosity, do you have... a back up plan for stuff like this," I pointed behind me at the buried and completely wrecked ship. A small growl completely unlike mine answered before he glanced up at the other planet on the horizon. What the hell was that suppose to mean? If he didn't give me a straight answer here pretty soon I was going to slap him into the trees on the other side of this meadow. I smiled at the mental image. My smile must have been a little to... expectant, because he took a few more steps back away from me.
" If you don't answer me-"
" My hive will arrive soon and send a dart down to transport me back."
Well, at least I got me to answer me. 'Hive? Dart? How soon?' I nearly shouted this inside my head and at the exact moment that I did, he winced before I heard 'Very soon'. His mouth didn't move so I assume that that last conversation was completely telepathic, I rather hope anyway.
" Great, nice knowing you, have a nice trip," I turned around and started walking in the direction of the nearest tree, I don't even want to think about what it will mean when his hive comes and picks him up. Was I destined to walk this uninhabited planet for the rest of eternity? I shivered at the thought. I was a mere three feet from the tree line when something huge, muscular, and rank smelling hit me from the right. Working on pure instinct I lashed out with talons with enough force to cave in an elephants skull. I felt my talons tear through flesh and saw a flash of unnaturally bright red. I was on my back with a giant paw on my left shoulder and I was aware of hot putrid smelling breathe blowing against my neck. What stupid creature had choose to attack me! Before the animal could pierce my neck I tucked my legs in front of me and pushed against the animal flinging it into a young tree. I jumped to my feet before the snap of the tree finished. The animal stood and faced me, I was suddenly not surprised that I was attached because I recognized the crazy creature. The only way that I can explain it is that it is like a grizzly bear only pitch black and five times bigger. And meaner. Over the period of time that I had been on this planet, this is the only animal that has not kept it's distance and this is not the first time that one has attacked. There was five deep and gagged wounds dripping with that unusual colored blood on it's left shoulder. It bared it's two inch long canines and roared at me in defiance but I override it with my furious growl. The animal limped back and retreated into the forest, I had interacted with these creatures long enough to know that they would not give in so quickly, even injured. Knowing this, I scanned the surrounding forest with my vampire senses. I am shocked to discover a rather large herd of these things less than a mile away, and when I say large I mean twenty-one herd members. I could take them but even as annoying as they were I didn't want to kill them so needlessly, and the little bastards could climb if they were so inclined. They were also capable of at least keeping up with me when I run, but it was my only way to get away from them. It would be a matter of minutes for that animal to get to the herd and those creatures are very territorial, and vengeful. Whirling around I find him no where to be seen, and those things would sooner kill him. Sighing, I start into a dead run and head south in the direction of his scent.
I catch up to him within a minute and grab his left wrist. He doesn't fight me and he stops in his tracks. I hurry in front of him and look directly at him. I hear the herd growling in the meadow behind us, it would be all to soon before they picked up on our combined scents.
" Listen to me, if you want to survive on this planet until your hive arrives, I would recommend getting on." I turned away from him before he could ask the obvious question, on what? I needed speed over stealth, I would have preferred to have been in a smaller form but right now I need to be able to carry him without worry. Before the animals found our scent and persuaded us I shifted into gleaming black horse, I turn my graceful head toward him. He must have heard the herd because he only hesitated a second before leaping onto my strong back. I felt him stiffen before entwining his hands in my long mane, ' don't be afraid of hurting me when we start going, I need you to stay on at all costs so that I can focus on trying to outrun these beasts'. He didn't answer except for the pressure that I felt on my sides and the weight I felt pressing against the base of my neck. I heard a howl and the sound of many feet trampling the forest ground, they had found our scent. My ears flattened against my head and I surged into a gallop enhanced by vampire skills. If I had to guess I'd say we were going at least 300mph and those little menaces were right behind me, I am able to stay ahead of them but I think that that is only because I never trip or need to worry about running head long into a tree.
The pressure on my sides increased greatly when the forest thickened and there were sharper turns, I encountered no other wildlife in my wild dash to stay ahead. My hooves barely touched the ground before they were flying through the air again, nothing blurred around me, I saw every detail imaginable. From the howls coming from behind and in front there was more than one herd in on the hunt. So, they wanted to play dirty? I could play that game too. In mid stride my fangs lengthened and the edges of my hooves became razor sharp, hopefully none of the beasts would get close enough that I would have to use them. A branch cracked to my left and I shied away, pushing myself to go faster just as four six more of those things burst through the trees were I would have been. I lengthened my stride and forced myself to gallop even faster, ' hold on tight!' I turned to my right and galloped as hard and as fast as I could, I knew of a steep wide canyon a few miles in this direction that with any luck I would lose these things on the narrow path.
Suddenly, my hooves hit stone and I felt the hard ground crumbled under the sharpness of my hooves. I saw the ground abruptly end in front of me but there was a narrow trail that hugged the very edge of the bluff. I dig my hind hooves into the ground under me, bits of rock pelted the air before falling twenty miles to the bottom of the canyon. I don't come to a complete stop and I wouldn't have slowed down at all if it had only been me but I did this now because I feared the momentum would fling him from my back as I sped around the turn. I lost precious seconds doing this and the beasts were only a couple of feet behind me now. The Wraith was stronger than any human and I think that that is the only reason why he was able to keep his hold on me. I wasn't getting tired, I never would, but I wondered nervously just how far these guys would go.
The trail we were on started to descend and a solid wall of gray rock blocked our left and a drop-off on the other. That was when I saw them, a snarling, growling, howling foursome standing and obstructing the way forward. I glance up to see two more walking above on the precipice glowering at me. Those pursuing us slowed to a stalk as they realized that we were trapped. I dug my hooves into the ground and sat on my hindquarters as I slid to stop. I stood up immediately and looked around me, it looked like there was no way out of this without me dropping him, climbing, fighting through the two above me and disappearing through the dark forest beyond. Thankfully, looks can be deceiving in my case. I turn so that my hindquarters are pressed firmly against the stone behind me and I'm facing the chasm. I feel the Wraith stiffen on my back as I unexpectedly leap forward. I marvel in the sensation as we fall through the air for a few feet before I lower my head and spread a pair of black, silk feathered wings and I glide on the air currents. I shift my weight to the left and glide in a graceful circle to see the beasts watching in defeat as I soar above them. I push my wings down and gain altitude rising above the trees and I neigh in pure pleasure as I feel the power coursing through my beautiful wings.
'So, how you holding up back there?' my answer was dead silence. I swing my head to look behind me and see him studying my right wing with an expression of down right wonder. ' I guess that answers that question.'
" What are you?" he sounded kinda breathless but all things considered I wasn't very surprised. I arched my neck as I beat my wings to gain more altitude before I answer him, ' I am what people on my planet call a vampire. We live forever, never dying, never aging. Usually we feed on human blood, but around here I've had to make do without and survive on the animals. I only spent like three days with the vampires who turned me so I don't really know for sure, but I don't think that any of the others could do this, change their shape. Sigh I'm different and I've been alone for so long that I almost don't know how to react to you.' I stopped climbing and just rode the wind. I felt his hands clench as his weight shift slightly to the left, I glance behind me and see him peering over the side and down at the landscape. It looked so small, miniature. I turned my head forward when he straightened again.
" Never dying? Maybe that would explain the reason why when I fed from you nothing happened." it seemed to me that he was more talking to himself then to me, but he got my attention. ' Does this conversation have anything to with our first meeting?'
He seemed a little surprised himself that he had spoken when I voiced my question, and even though he didn't answer I saw a flash of the meadow with the dirt mountain behind me. The freaky part is that I was looking at myself as a blue dress materialized over my naked form. I felt sudden hunger, like a ragging fire that demanded attention and I somehow was directly in front now with a pale hand on my chest. We lost some altitude as I forgot to flap my wings, What the hell! I am 99.99% sure that I just saw our first encounter from his point of view, which meant I was more of a freak than I had first thought if I was capable of observing other peoples thoughts and memories. What was I, because I'm not completely sure that I am a vampire anymore? Before I could wonder any further on this train of thought, I realized that he had started to talk again.
" You say that your kind need to feed on the blood of humans. Wraith feed on humans as well, but not for their blood. For Wraith, we desire the energy, the life, that the humans have. Unfortunately, there is never enough life in one human to fully satisfy any of us so we must feed more than once. Usually those that we feed on die and all that is left is a withered husk, that is why I was taken aback after I fed on you." I know I'm suppose to be past all this sort of creepy stuff seeing as I am one now, but the thought of seeing what he just described sickened me with a long lost human fear. I needed something to distract myself, so I lowered our altitude even more and saw a rocky mountain ahead with the most perfect cliff for landing. The stone was smooth and covered a good five yards in the mountain face, if by some miracle those monsters were able to follow us it would be only to easy for me to take off again before the little bastards got within a mile.
' Hold on, we're going in for a landing.' I pulled my wings closer to my body and shifted my weight forward, I can only imagine how this would have looked from the ground. It's not everyday that see a black horse nose diving to the ground, thank goodness. About thirty feet from the ledge I fanned my wings out and beat them quickly to stop my free fall and maneuvered so that my hind hooves touched rock first. It feels good to have a solid surface under ones hooves. I walked away from the edge of the cliff before stopping and lowering my wings enough for him to get off him, when he did I curled my wings against my sides and felt them melt into my skin. I shivered in delightful bliss.
I turn my etched head toward him and prick my ears in his direction, ' Enjoy your ride?' I know I am being sarcastic but I can't help it.
" Do not do that again." I can't laugh in this form but my sides sure did heave with the laughter that should have been.
Three minutes passed before I could control my spasmodic lungs again and concentrate long enough to shift from horse to vampire. The dress that I chose to wear was blood red and made of the softest cotton, I do not know what it is with me and dresses. My dress was backless and I felt my long red hair reach to my lower back. Sighing, I glance at him and find him watching me with a odd look on his face. I did not really want to know what he was thinking but I was suddenly aware of the curiosity burning inside, question that he wouldn't ask. Questions that I didn't want to think of the answer.
" Why don't you just ask? It is not like your going to hurt my feeling or anything." my voice sounded subdued and tense even to my ears.
He focused his strange eyes on mine and sifted through the question in his mind, looking the question that wouldn't provoke me into a frenzy. I wish him the best of luck on that one. " You keep referring to your planet, you did not know of Wraith, and I have never seen a creature such as yourself before, where then do you originate from?" his dual tones were even and calm but I could feel the tension in his body.
I winced as the memories I have tried to push away came flooding back. Earth, family, Him, Eric and Sam, being taken from the ocean cliff, the burning fire that I cannot quench. I hissed at that last memory. I close my eyes and focus on not shivering with the sudden cold running down my spine. Clenching my hands, I open them. I might as well answer his question, I mean, what else can I do?
" My planet is called Earth and it is nothing like this one. Earth has forests, sure, but it has many other climates too," I point toward the planet on the horizon, " there is nothing like that in sight of Earth unless you count the sun and our moon. Earth is also abundant with life, from hundreds of different animals to humans. And vampires. No one there has ever heard of Wraith, we don't even know if 'life outside our solar system' really exists. I at least know the truth. You want to know something amusing? I was once completely human with a family, home, friends. I was happy and never planned to leave them. But I did, to save them from a human monster. Psychopath really. He almost killed me and he would have had it not been for a vampire who heard my weak screams. His name was Eric and his mate Sam turned me with no real hope of my survival. I guess I proved them wrong. I spent three days with them after I became a vampire, not by choice, I probably would have stayed with them had I not been taken.
You must forgive me, the time that follow is just a great blur. I do remember the scorching fire that consumed me, and that's all. I don't know who took me, I still don't know why, or why vampires, I mean we are not the most cooperative and... I want to say smart, but we are one of the most intelligent things on Earth so that doesn't fit. I suppose stubborn, that will work. What you have to understand about vampires, is that we really can't die, even if we are starved to the point of virtual oblivion, we... still survive. When a vampire doesn't get enough blood or is captured and refused blood, we go into this strange coma that will never end until blood comes into contact with our skin. Before the coma stage though, all we are aware of is the excruciating agony coursing through our bodies, and even though we may be brilliant we lose all rational thought. Who ever took me did this and for all intent and purpose I lost my mind and turned into a blood crazed monster. Whoever they were, I guess they decided to try a test run and I was loaded into a very small space. Before I could really think of anything I was pushed out into a lightly forested area on this planet. I didn't even have time to really take in my surroundings before I caught the scent of hearts pumping hot blood through the trees, and I just reacted on pure instinct. I couldn't have stopped myself even if I had been in my right mind and there was nothing that they could do to stop me from killing them. On a brighter note, they died quickly and barely felt any pain with the speed that I drained them. Logical thought returned after my fifth victim and I felt like a sleep walking murderer. I didn't want to encounter any of my kind, especially not before they had fed, and I didn't want to be caught again so I shifted for the first time into the black jungle cat that you first saw me as and ran through the forest until night fell.
I stalked the land more hundreds of miles and survived on the blood of the animals, that is why those beasts attacked, they didn't like having a predator that could kill them so easily.
I was standing on a bluff over the meadow when you crashed and I went to investigate when I heard your heart beating. You know the rest."
He didn't say anything as he processed this new information, but he also didn't avert his exotic eyes from mine and my heart started racing like a marathon participant. Why is it he has this affect over me? I was puzzling over this question when lifted his eyes to the sky and mine followed. I saw nothing out of ordinary, at least for this planet, and lowered my gaze to the forest below.
" This planet has been forbidden for many years ever since a gathering of a vicious species was introduced. The Wraith used to have a outpost here where... experiments were performed. Those that introduced this species was our enemy, we know them as Lantians but they are known by many names. We had been with war with them for hundreds of years before this event. Years have passed since and there still some within the Wraith that believe it was a last desperate attempt to win. The Lantians had superior technology but we had superior numbers and over welled them.
As for this planet, we abandoned it entirely after they attacked with their untamed and unstoppable... pets. We knew that the only reason they had so many had to be because they were somehow controlling these things. There was nothing that the Wraith here could do to stop them and every last one was killed. I am the first to come back, I must admit that I thought the Lantians would have rounded up all of their pets and didn't expect to encounter any. I was wrong." I scowled when he used the word "pet" to describe us. At least I now know what to call those who took me, Lantians. The name rang a dim bell but I could not pin point the source. I wonder what kind of experiments they had been conducting to provoke the Lantians into attacking. I was vaguely curious as to what had brought him to a taboo world, especially one that promised the threat of death, but I wasn't going to ask because it really wasn't any of my business.
" I take a fence to being called a pet just so you know. As for the vicious part, I just explained the reasons behind that."
He met my eyes and didn't look away, there was a portion of his mind that he seemed to have blocked me out of but I could still sense the gist of it. He was weighing opinions, but about what is the part that I couldn't understand. I raised my left eyebrow in question as he glanced back up to the darkening sky again. His expression became one of uncertainty as he seemed to come to a conclusion.
" I am still curious about many things, but I have limited time available to discover the answers to all of them. Unless, you wish to... come with me. You may not be human but you must still have a yearning for companionship, why else would you have journeyed to my crash site?"
I was shocked by his offer, come with him? I mean, I could see the benefits to him having an all you can eat buffet 24-7, but the Wraith didn't seem like a very... sociable group. That lead to a thought, " Do you have the authority to extend an invitation? I mean, you said that this hive was a ship, are you able to promise me a place in it's company?" I was thinking of the definition of the word 'hive' that I had in my head, a place where many people are busy or actively engaged. Of course, the image of a bee hive also invaded my mind but I seriously doubted that there would be a bee in sight on a hive.
A flash of anger mixed with vague doubt crossed his face for only a second before, " I cannot say for definite, but I believe the odds are good that you will be allowed to stay if you are already on board." I saw flaws in his logic but I didn't argue the point seeing as it might interfere with my chances of getting off this disturbing planet. " What ever you say, when do we leave?" I was suddenly all for this, I guess I had convinced myself that I would never escape.
He glanced back at the sky and frowned, " It should not be long now. The hive will send a dart down to retrieve me, if you stand close by the beam will pick you up as well and we will be taken to the hive in orbit were we will be rematerialized from storage."
" You know, I don't think that I really needed to know the details."
Seeing as time still didn't mean anything to, I don't know exactly how long we stood on the precipice overlooking the forested land below, but I do know that the sky was pitch black and full of stars when I heard a faint buzzing sound. I raise my eyes to look into the sky for the seventieth times tonight in search of the source. All I see is a bright moving speck that isn't a shooting star. The buzzing grows in intensity to the point that the Wraith standing next to me gazes up. Slowly, I start to make out a shape to match the buzz. The "dart" was well named, it had a somewhat wide end with two points aimed down most likely to act as landing gears, another point aimed directly up though I could see no practical use for this. As the dart extended forward it also narrowed, not quite in the middle but centered more towards the back was a opaque black shell like the one I had torn apart to get to him. The front was like just an inch wide and I saw at least two uses for this, one as the third landing gear and two it must add an aerodynamic quality that would increase speed.
After this period in time, the dart's approach was rapid. Perhaps I was right in assuming the aerodynamics. The Wraith stepped away from the edge of the bluff still watching the dart approach, I followed to stand next to him as he had explained in his plan for sneaking me on board. I briefly wondered if the Wraith inside could see me before a bright bluish/white beam spread out and down from under the tail end which raced toward us. I took confidence in that the Wraith didn't even flinch, I think that is the only reason that I was so relaxed. I resisted the urge to close my eyes as the beam overtook us. There are no words to explain exactly what happened or how I felt next, the best I can do is to say that I couldn't see but I felt a strange electric burning sensation. It was the weirdest and most unnerving experience that I have ever had the misfortune to find myself in and hoped that this would be the first, and only, time that I had to deal with this.
Even for a vampire, the time was very short before suddenly I was aware again. I was tingly from head to toe and my vision was slightly blurred for a moment before it refocused. The Wraith was still next to me and I rather envied his casual stance because I was suddenly nervous and regretting my decision to come. I sure this had nothing to do with the fact that two of those masked ones were pointing two of those stick-like, I assume they are weapons even though they didn't have any effect on me all those years ago, pointed in our direction.
The Wraith next to me issued another wanna be growl but the Masks didn't falter. Instead, another unmasked Wraith approached. For a second I was mesmerized by the fact that this one was identical to the Wraith next to me and yet different. This ones eyes were the same but he didn't have the cool tattoo around his left eye and his long white hair was a little less tangled. He studied me with a superior, somewhat predator-like expression. I almost laughed because it was close to the expression on... my Wraith's face when he first saw me. If only this one really knew. He turned every so slightly to my Wraith but didn't say anything, I don't know how powerful a Wraith's mental abilities are and wondered if they were having a conversation with no words. It wouldn't surprise me much if they were capable of such feats.
I watch as they glare at each other seeming not to do anything else when the other one hisses slightly and turns around, walking away with the two Masks behind him. I glance at my Wraith, I didn't know what else to call him and I had to distinguish him somehow. He looked calm and relaxed but his mind was troubled. Seeming to realize that I'm watching him, he tilts his head in my direction, " Follow me if you will. We must have you meet the Queen before we do anything else." With that he starts forward and walks down a corridor made of that same weird material that his crashed dart was, I also notice that a strange white fog swirling in his passing. Things just keep getting weirder and weirder. My Wraith turns around a corner so I hurry to catch up not really wanting to get lost in this maze. I don't know what he meant by Queen, by the title I can only assume that it's a she and that she is in charge. What the hell was I suppose to do when I meet her, bow and say, " Long live the Queen,"? I smiled faintly to myself as I picture bowing to anyone, let alone someone called Queen. If she asks me to worship her I'm going to slap her so hard she wont be able to see straight for at least a day.
I caught up to my Wraith easy enough, I was well aware that this was his territory and I was the trespasser. I kinda liked it when I was the one who was in charge and saving his life this way and that. Get use to it. I didn't need to pay attention as to which direction he was leading me, if I had to make a quick escape I could find my easily, that is assuming that I can get past the hundreds of Wraith that I feet at the edge of my mind. They can't hurt me but I wince at their shear numbers. My Wraith turns to the right and enters a room, I sense a dominant and rather potent mind. I hesitate only a second before following inside and being greeted with a sight that I never thought existed. The room wasn't all that big but it wasn't small either, there wasn't really anything inside except my Wraith who presently stood off to the side of a rather cheesy thrown made of that same stuff. It was what sat in the thrown that caught my attention. There was no denying that she was Wraith with those eyes, but her body was unnaturally slim almost unhealthily so. Her hair was straight and long but it wasn't white like the others, it was actually an interestingly rich shade of chestnut.
She rotated her head away from my Wraith and it felt like her eyes were going to burn a whole into the middle of my forehead. If the other Wraith weren't mentally gifted the Queen sure made up for all of them. She was strong and I could hear her inside my head, trying force me sub come to her will like some weak human. She was way to confident in her abilities and even though she was strong, I was stronger. Without having to exert much energy I mentally pushed her out and placed barriers after her, I saw her expression go from one of confidence to one of distaste. Keeping eye contact, I smile rather smugly at her and say just a little sarcastically, " Now, now. Is that any way to welcome someone who just as easily snap you in half as with a twig? Not to be disrespectful or anything, Your Highness, but I do not bow to anyone let alone an inferior." I took great joy in watching her expression go from distaste to down right loathing, but I must say I loved the fire behind her eyes at inferior. My Wraith starred at me awestruck by my display. I smirked, it wasn't that I was trying to make her hate my guts but when she invaded my mind I just became so offended and outraged. Have I mentioned that I haven't had any social interaction since being dumped on that retched planet?
While in my thoughts, the Queen turned to my Wraith ( who is still watching me like I am the craziest thing he ever saw, he may be right).
" Why have you brought this... this creature aboard my hive and then allow it to speak to your Queen in such a manner?" her voice didn't sound as... cool as my Wraith's, it was to high-pitched with the tones I was associating with the Wraith. My Wraith turned to the Queen looking a little dazed before saying, " She is one of the creatures that the Lantians used to fight us on this planet, she escaped from them and was left behind. I will not make excuses for her behavior but I wonder if it has something to do with that she has been alone since. As for bringing her aboard, her kind seem to have an ability that could prove useful." I could see what he was trying to do with that last sentence, trying to make curiosity entice the Queen. Maybe.
She raised her head slightly, waiting for him continue, " Her kind do not die like humans, they are filled with life and energy and are continuously replenished by their intake of blood. I have already fed from her so I know that it is possible. I suspect that she could endure countless feedings and never show any signs." I had to give him this, he sure could smooth talk his way, the question now was would it be enough to persuade her. There was a silence that left my ears buzzing as she considered me carefully, I don't know what she is looking for. Suddenly, she pulls her upper lip back and a low wanna be hiss comes out before she turns her head toward my Wraith and nods. My Wraith bows just as the Queen shews at us with her hand, the sign to get out of her face. With pleasure.
I wait for my Wraith to get in front of me before I step towards the door, I don't want to give the Queen any more reasons to hate my guts, especially if this means that I'm allowed to stay aboard indefinitely. I followed my Wraith as he enters another room but this one is much smaller and a little more comfortable, it had no furniture but I suppose that would have been asking to much. The walls were made of that material and I was beginning to suspect everything was. I walk to the middle of the room and turn around to face my Wraith, " Now what?" my question wasn't much but his mind went blank, he didn't know either. I nodded before he could say anything, " I understand." He inclined his head in my direction rather grateful that he didn't have to say it, " Excuse me, I must get back to my duties. There will be a Wraith soldier outside this room, if you require anything he will make sure you get it." I nodded, he turned around and walked out into the dimly lite hallway before a door of sorts closed. Here I stand, in the middle of an empty room with dim lighting and a faction of that strange fog swirling around my ankles.
Maybe I should have stayed on the surface.
Sighing, I wonder over to the corner furthest from the " door" and place my back against it. Leaning my head back, I slowly slid down until I'm sitting on the floor, which I discover slightly gives under my hands. Now what? My Wraith didn't have any answer for me so what were my odds of figuring it out? I groan as I close my eyes and tuck my knees to my chest before lowering my head, resting my chin.
I didn't move but my mind was racing through answers to my question. I wasn't getting any closer either. I'm alone in a strange room on a strange ship in space surrounded by creatures called Wraith who suck the life out of humans using their hands, but want me because I am immortal and full of never ending life. I'm screwed. And still lonely, rather thirsty too.
Opening my eyes, I stand up and look around. No glass or pitcher filled with delicious red stuff, no nothing really. My Wraith said there would be a Wraith soldier outside that door in the hallway. I glance at the door and walk towards it, no door knob so maybe it had a mental connection. I probe in that direction with the thought of 'open' and sure enough the door does open. I jump a little with the speed with which it does but I control myself my gasping. I step past the thresh hold and look around to find a Mask standing to the right of me. For the first time, I notice that they don't wear the same leather-like material that the others do, they have a kinda hard-looking white stuff over their entire body. Different. The Mask turns his head in my direction, in my peripheral vision I see that he is holding another of those stick weapons, " Um, I require something to drink," I didn't know if he would know about my need for blood but he turned away from me started walking. I hesitated for only a fraction of a second before following him down the hallway corridors. I felt a little uneasy without my Wraith with me, then I realized this and I hissed to myself. How did I allow that one single Wraith to get to me so? I didn't have an explanation and I was surprised to find that I deep down I didn't want one. I rolled my eyes at myself and hurried to follow Mask. After a few more corridors, he stopped in front of a row of strange looking slots covered with an even stranger looking rope-like thing. I would have stuck my tongue out in disgust but didn't want to give the Wraith anything to tell that Queen that would lower my already diminishing classification that she had given me.
Then I notice something, towards the top of each of the slots and surrounded by rope stuff I see a face, a human face. Something inside rejoices at the idea of human blood, what can I say, even as a vampire I disgust myself sometimes. I glance at Mask before stepping towards the closest slot. There is nothing else showing except the face and even that is nearly covered, I wanted the neck so I guess I'd have to cut through the rope to get there. I raised my right hand and extended one talon, my pointer finger. Mask doesn't react so I place the tip of my talon against the rope over where the neck should be and carefully press down, I don't want to slice the throat before I have a good enough space for my fangs.
The "rope" gives way easily and I smile at nothing in particular. At least I did until the once closed eyes of the face popped open. They were all conscious. Vampire or not, I felt sorry for them all. I'll make it easier for them, those that I feed from I'll inject some numbing venom that will never dissipate and they wont feel me or the Wraith who feeds on them next. It seemed only fair to me as I saw the fear in those blue eyes. I felt my fangs grow as I secreted the venom, I bent forward and bit into the soft flesh before those eyes could see what was coming and I injected a far amount into this humans system. The muscles and tendons in the neck relaxed as my venom quickly took effect and deadened all the nerves and pain receptors through out the body. I wasn't all that thirsty, I had recently hunted before I went to the meadow, so I didn't even come close to draining the human even though the blood caused my body to radiate absolute delight and bliss.
I removed my fangs and produced a small quantity of my healing venom and slathered it across the tip of my tongue, which I then ran over the two bleeding holes. Pulling back I watch as the bleeding stops and the wounds heal in record time, small injuries are always easier than more extensive ones. I nod to myself and turn around to face Mask, but I don't see him behind me. The ship around me shudders with a violate motion and a screeching alarm goes off. Surprised, I push my mind out past the ship and examine the space around, sure enough there is another ship, a hive. We were under attack. Why? I couldn't believe that they would know about me, and I doubt very much that hives just start blasting away at each other for the fun of it. So, why? Why us?
A thought occurred to me, the Wraith had had an outpost on the planet were they did experiments, could those experiments be the cause behind this sudden attack? Most likely, but what could I do to help fight them off? I was just a lone vampire among hundreds of Wraith who knew what they were doing, how could I possibly help them? My mind raced with my dilemma as the ship shuddered again around me.
Perhaps I could help fire weapons at them, but were in the hell was weapons? I almost laughed at my stupidity, I didn't need to go there. I focused away from the rival ship and devoted my attention on this one, searching the systems for the weapons control. It didn't take long for me to find them, the Queen had deployed the darts because this hives weapons were off line. My lips twitched, this would be easy. I didn't know much about repairing anything, but the ship knew what it needed and I gave it, energy. The ship was organic in nature and could regenerate with the right amount of power, well at the moment all power was focused on hull regeneration. Me being full of it, literally, I transferred enough so that the weapons could function. Since no one was most likely paying attention to the weapons system to see that they functioning again I took the liberty of firing at the other ship. Not a single one of our darts got hit with my aiming but I took out quite a few of the enemies. I smiled with the raw power that I felt coursing through me from the ship as the powerful weapons slammed into the hull of the other ship.
A small portion of my attention was on that ships status so I knew when I finally knocked their weapons out of order. I ceased firing then, and detached myself from the ship feeling rather proud of myself. Then I thought of something, how would the Queen react if or when she found out that it had all been me that saved them? I didn't know but I grinned at the mental picture forming in my head.
Not knowing what else to do, I figured that the Wraith on this ship could take care of the rest, if they wanted to destroy the other ship they now knew that weapons were operational. So, I wondered back to the room that my Wraith had taken me to and closed the door behind me wondering where my Wraith was, then I realized what I had just thought and scolded myself for that train of thought. It didn't work though because I still found myself wondering and rather hoping that he would come see me soon. Suddenly self conscious, I look down to see that same dress. My eyes narrowed as I thought of what I just did, if I'm going to fit in around here I need to be more prepared and a dress just is not appropriate attire. I stood in the middle of the room again and thought about it, I was never really good at fashion and always just wore whatever I wanted. Now I had to think about what would be convenient and practical while still being the desirable vampire that I always imagined that I looked like. I needed pants, that was a given. From there it was rather quick for me to decide what I wanted and forced my dress to reform into it. I smiled as I looked down and saw a wide V-necked black shirt with inch wide straps clinging to my shoulders, the back of the shirt mirrored the front and didn't even extend past my belly button so it showed of my flat and firm stomach. My pants were black also and the lowest kind of hip-huggers you could imagine, the pant legs emphasized how slim my short legs were and I liked it. My shoes were boots of course, with three inch heels that made me seem not so short, black as always. My hair was up in a pony tail but a few curls hung on either side of my face, even up in a pony my hair still hung past my shoulder blades.
I was pleased with my choice, but it soon wore off as I started to wonder if it would be enough. Regrettably, I walked back to the same corner and slid down the same way and wrapped my arms around my knees as I lowered my chin. I closed my eyes with sudden exhaustion waited for sleep to take me.
Something touching my bare arm jerked me awake and my eyes flew open, ready to defend myself. I relaxed when I saw that I was on the hive and not in the forest (unlike in my dream) and that what had touched me was my Wraith (I knew because of one: his mind was unique and two: he was the only one had had seen with tattoo). Quickly, I sat up not realizing that I had fallen to the ground in the madness of my dream, and looked at him. He looked even rougher than the last time I saw him, I think this is mostly because of the dirt smugs that smeared his face and hands.
Before I could stop myself, " Your filthy, what were you doing?" I hadn't meant to say it because the still human part of my brain said it was none of my business but sometimes my vampire self overrules the human part altogether.
My Wraith looks down at his dirt smeared hands before looking back at me, " I went back down to the planet in a dart to retrieve some valuable information. Unfortunately, the cave were the lab was hidden collapsed and I had to dig my way out. Does this answer your question?" to my surprise I noticed that he did sound oddly tired, I say oddly because none of the other Wraith ever sounded that way. Must have been one hell of a dig.
I nodded to ensure him that I understood only because I didn't trust my voice right now, I would have preferred to have gone with him if I had known he was on the planet.
To my shock, after I nodded he sat next to me and leaned his head against the wall.
" Are you okay?" I asked.
He looked at me, " Why do you ask?"
" Because you look more tired than you did after I healed you." and he did, I was starting to get worried. Was this normal for Wraith?
He smiled at something I said, I was momentarily distracted by the fact that he smiled, before he said, " I hate to be the one to tell you this, but I would have been fine after that crash even if you hadn't been there. Wraith have their own special healing abilities." my eyes narrowed in a playful manner.
" Oh, really? Would you have been able to survive that herd of beasts after they found you, without me?"
He didn't even have to think about it let alone answer me, we both knew that the answer was 'no'. The silence after that grew to an uncomfortable level, at least for me, and I searched for something to say that would start a more... pleasant conversation. Luckily, he came up with something that was likely better than anything that I could have come up with.
" After I arrived back on the hive, I discovered a Wraith who had recently fed. He was greatly concerned by his humans lack of reaction to feeding. Before I came here I did a test of the remains and I found a foreign substance in the tissue that we had never come across before. Since you are the only thing that is different on this hive I thought it would be more productive to ask you about it before I brought it to the Queen's attention."
I thought of the blue-eyed human that I had fed upon and asked if the slot the human was in had been cut, he answered yes. I nodded to myself.
" I fed from that human not long ago, I didn't like feeding on it while it was conscious but I especially didn't want it to suffer from either feeding. So, I injected it with a venom that deadens all nerves and responses so that they feel nothing. If the other Wraith want the humans to get a rise out of the humans before feed I can neutralize the venom." he seemed fascinated by what I did but didn't say anything, he didn't even verify my last offer so I promised that those I fed on would have a painless death from either feeding from now on.
" There is something else that I'm curious about. While I was on the surface, another hive arrived and started firing on us. The Queen sent the dart as our sole defense because in the last attack we lost weapons. Somehow, the weapons started firing on their own and disabled the other hive. You wouldn't know anything about this would you?"
I smiled at him, " So I found a way help, is that a crime?"
He grinned, " No."
" Then why are you complaining? Did you tell your suspicions to the Queen?"
He grinned wider, " No."
I laughed at the thought of how utterly frustrated she must be at that, " You and I are going to get along just fine."
His grin faltered for a second while he thought about what I had said before he cocked his and agreed.
" Now what?" I asked him again.
He sighed, which sounded really cool with his voice, before saying, " I don't know. Everything will change for sure now that you are hear and soon word will spread and other hives will try to get you no doubt. We'll go into hibernation soon and then you'll be rid on us for a short time while we wait the human population to recover. I wonder if you'll stay or disappear while you can."
I wouldn't admit it, at least not yet, that the thought of him going into hibernation and leaving me behind for who knew how long made my stomach turn. But I knew for sure that I would be here when he awoke, but again I would never tell him that. At least not yet.
We sat in silence and he closed his eyes, I watched and listened as he relaxed and his breathing slowed. He was asleep, and here I was fighting my swimming thoughts and pounding head. How soon before he and the other Wraith entered hibernation? Did he expect me to vanish as soon as I was able to slip away undetected? How long would it take the human population to recover taking into consideration sicknesses and environmental conditions? Could I wait that long before I heard his voice again?It would take years no doubt for recovery, what would I do until that point? I didn't have any answers to my questions and the longer I thought about it the more anxious I became and the more my head pounded.
If my time was extremely limited I didn't want to waste it by sleeping so instead I watch him sleep. The smugs annoyed me but I didn't dare touch him for fear of him jerking awake like I had. So, I ignored my desire and sat next him. I could hear his steady heartbeat and further of through the ship the other heartbeats, the ship itself emanated a low thrumming sound that I suspected was like the ship's heart.
I don't know how long I sat there watching and listening, I was still getting use to keeping track of time and you couldn't go by other Wraith because they never stopped. It seemed to me that they only slept when they had done something... vigorous and demanding, like digging through who knew how many pounds of rock and debris.
I guess that at some point I must have closed my eyes though I don't remember deciding to do so because when I opened them my head was on his shoulder and he knew it. I met his gaze before sitting up and looking down at my hands, thankful that I could prevent myself from blushing. He didn't say anything and I was grateful for it. Instead, he slowing stood up and reached a hand down to help me up. I accepted it and stood in front of him. I still wouldn't meet his gaze but I immediately felt his hunger when I peaked into his mind.
He wasn't sure how to ask so I made it easy for him, " Go ahead, you don't have to wait for my permission." my voice was quiet and small to me but he didn't react except to reach his right hand forward and place it on my chest again. That same pleasure-pain moved through my body and I briefly forgot everything else. When he pulled back and broke contact with my skin I had a strange urge to want to cry, I controlled myself thankfully.
It was at this point that I heard the thrum of the ship grow louder before the whole ship shuddered, we can't be under attack again. I look at my Wraith but he appears unconcerned so I try to relax.
At least until he says, " The Queen has landed the hive on a uninhabited world, I requested earlier that it at least have a portal for you to leave in search of humans. I will show you some of the more favorable addresses before I enter hibernation." all to soon, feeding forgotten, my world crashed around me. I listened to the symbols that he described and as to what order would take me were. All I could so was nod I was so dazed and depressed. When he finished I followed him to the rear compartment in the ship and watched as he stepped into an alcove. Thinner ropes that looked almost more like veins covered and attached to him and a semi-clear screen covered the entire alcove. Only a few Wraith didn't go into hibernation, the Queen included, so I wasn't alone but it was enough. There weren't enough minds around me which though, those hibernating were blank. I felt alone again in every way.
Not long, maybe five days, had passed before I went in search of this portal that my Wraith had told me how to operate. As it turned out, it was a large circular device with those symbols all around it. There was also the device that he told me activated too. I punched in the first address that he had told and watched as the portal activated with a bluish substance that forced it's way outward before settling in a pond-like surface. It would have looked calming but I recognized it from the times that the Lantians had taken and used me.
Taking a steadying breathe, I walk up and step through the water-like stuff when suddenly, I'm facing another starter device and the sky is black with night. It takes a millisecond for my eyes to adjust to the sudden change in lighting and then I start forward in search of the village that is suppose to be close to the portal.
I soon find a path leading away from the area through some trees. I wonder down until I see a clearing with an few pin points of orange light, most likely fires. I don't want the humans to see me, a outsider, and then the murderers start and they chase me off and try to kill me. So, I think of an animal that they will be curious about and bring into the little village, the first thing that comes to mind is a horse. It didn't really matter, I like being a horse anyway. I shift into a graceful riding horse, my coat his black satin but my mane and tail a as white as snow. I do not know why I made my mane that way, probably to that I wouldn't completely forget about my Wraith while I waited, or I was trying to make the people of this village wonder just were and to whom I belonged.
TBC
A/N I beta-ed this, if I missed anything let me know.