Hey there Ashes here! Been looking back on some of the reviews posted for this story, I would very much like to thank everyone for the feedback! Some main things I'm touching on is after a review I realized that sometimes when Sal has dialog…I make him sound Irish…like seriously what the fuck me. I have no idea why or how this happened. I get to writing and I guess I wasn't fucking paying attention. I'm gonna do my best to try and fix that problem in these next few chapters. lol sorry for that. I have no idea what nonsense I was thinking. Also got some feedback on the whole blood lusting, dominating, Zero. Some like it some don't. I for one love it, and it's my story so well yeah. I get to call the shots lol and I love the thought of a power crazed Zero. Don't like it, this may not be the story for you. Also these next few chapters will be developing the sort of long term plot for the story. Don't like monsters, transformations, and Hyperion experiments then well theres the door. If you do like some twists and turns and outrageous monsters then come, read, enjoy! Oh and there will be blood. lots and lots of blood. -Ashes
Curse
Zero sat to the right of Axton at the old wooden bar, leaning forward in his barstool lean elbows rested against the countertop. Axton had already had far too many drinks to be of any use to their mission of gaining information.
Salvador had already broken some poor drunk's arm in an arm wrestling match. Zero on the other hand remained quiet, simply listening to the hum of the bar, trying to pick up on any informative conversations that may offer up just a sliver of an explanation for the strange plague going around.
He targeted a conversation between the bar keep and a customer.
"Yeah...found old Lou torn in three different pieces just outside of town, found two more washed up on the river bank missing pieces and parts. Three this time...thats two more than the norm. Whatever is getting to them...it's taking more now." The bar keep said drying a glass with a dirty towel.
The customer sighed.
"It's a curse. We're cursed, I don't know what we fuckin' did but this town ain't safe no more Bill. The moons getting thick again, you know it always happens when the moon gets full. Thats when the curse comes, when that go forsaken plague comes. I'm leaving town. I aint riskin' it no more. Aint worth it, i'd rather Jack get me than whatever that thing is that got the rest of them poor bastards." The customer said sipping his drink.
Zero remained unmoved, simply listening with full attention.
The bar keep set the glass down.
"I think its Jack's doing. You know him and his Hyperion fucks have been testing on the wildlife. I think thats where this shit started, I reckon its his doing. Some experiment gone wrong. This aint no fuckin' curse. It's something else." He growled.
"People just get all excited saying its a curse and our town is under seize by some crazy superstitious shit. It's horse shit." He finished.
The customer shrugged.
"I don't care if it's Jack, or a curse, or what I just know I don't wanna be found with my ass in pieces in the fucking river. Thats all i know." The customer took a loud swig of his beer, slammed it down and then whisked out the door without another word.
Zero soaked all of the information in.
Now he was intrigued. Very intrigued.
Something was murdering the townsfolk, and he was going to figure out what.
Nothing made his heart race faster than hunting another hunter.
He grinned beneath his helmet.
He would bring this killer to its knees...somewhat for the sake of the safety of the townspeople, but more for the raw challenge. A killer against a killer.
He was determined to win.
Now to figure out what he was up against.
He stood and turned to Axton who currently had a busty little brunet perched upon his lap whispering and kissing on him. Zero rolled his eyes.
"Comrade, I go in search of more information, I am departing for the night." Zero said dryly.
Axton peered at him from around the lady on his lap.
"Leaving already!? Oh but Zero look at all these fine little lassies running around just waiting to get their pretty little hands on you. Stick around I'm sure one of Lilly's little friends here would take real good care of you." Axton slurred.
"I do not wish for any of these women. Information is more important. I go now." Zero muttered unamused with Axton's pig like nature.
"Oh c'mon assassin! Candy over there has been eyeing you all evening! Give her a shot big guy!" Axton bellowed.
A blonde woman leaned over the bar giving Zero a big flashing smile. Zero now understood when women get that look in their eyes. It was a lustful look that before the past few weeks he was oblivious of its meaning. This "Candy" was giving him a full dose of those lustful big blue eyes.
Zero's faceplate displayed unsureness.
This woman looked as if every man in town had gained entrance to her body at some point or another. Poor thing looked dirty as the floor they stood on underneath all her heavy makeup and smiles. Her shorts were too short, and her fishnets were torn. Her shirt was tied at her bellybutton and exposed her large cleavage. There was a shamrock tattoo decorating her right breast.
She walked over to the assassin, her body swaying like a ship at sea.
Ugh.
Zero sighed, he wanted nothing to do with this woman.
She tried to hang on Zero's chest, but he took a step back.
"What's the matter big boy, don't wanna let me take care of you? Cause I can take care of you sweetie...I'll take real good care of you. Lemme see what's under that armor huh? I bet you are real interesting under there aren't you." She said drawing little circles up his arm.
"Apologies. Tend to another man here. I take my leave." Zero said mechanically as he turned on his heel and strode out the door.
Zero brushed off his arm, he felt dirty with her just touching him. He was not a fan of women like that coming onto him and not taking no for an answer that was for sure.
He wandered outside of town and started into the hills. He figured this night was as good as any to search for clues of any type. The townsfolk had said the killer was most active on full moons, and tomorrow the moon would indeed be full.
He walked along the river bank slowly, gun at the ready, the almost full moon shining brightly down upon his armor.
The night was eerily quiet. He searched along the rocks, trying to pinpoint where the bodies had been found, going off only what the two men had said in the bar.
Down along the bank he spotted several rocks stained with dark matter.
He leaned down to inspect.
There was no doubt it was blood stain.
As Zero searched the ground...in the hard clay he noticed footprints surrounded the rocks. Most were boots from what he supposed were townsfolk, but among them he picked out a footprint he did not recognize.
It was enormous, it swallowed the print of any man's boot. It was apparent it was animal...or so he thought. Paw pads had sunk into the dirt as did large claws, and so he assumed Skag, but yet this print had five fingers, like a human hand. He furrowed his eyebrows.
What was it? Zero pondered heavily leaning down in the dirt inspecting the scene.
He had not come across something of this nature before.
Suddenly he heard the defined moan of a Thresher nearby.
He had been discovered.
Zero whipped up and in a flash had sword in hand.
The Thresher burst from the ground tentacles whipping, trying to get a hold on the lither assassin. Zero rolled underneath one long limp and sprung off a rock nearby. He swung his sword with all his strength and took the beast ugly head clean off. Its body slumped to the ground as its toothed head rolled into the river.
He looked around panting, covered in fresh thresher blood. He knew they usually travelled in packs...
Suddenly a tentacle sprung up from the ground followed by a much larger Thresher.
Zero grinned to himself.
More of a challenge.
Zero held his ground against the monster and simply dodged as it's arms sprung for him. He casually whipped his shotgun off his back and unloaded it into the monsters flesh.
It howled soulfully. It's voice echoing up into the night.
Zero walked up to it and sunk his sword into its belly flesh.
The threshing beast fell forward and Zero lethargically stepped to the side, pulling his sword from it's guts.
He basked in the smell of the kill. Relished in it as it flowed over him.
It was not as good of a high as killing something of equal intelligence to himself...but it would do.
He cracked his knuckles and sprung off into the night.
He needed more...more to kill.
The morning came before Maya was ready for it.
She roused herself slowly, prying herself from the tangles of the bedding.
She struggled to get her bearings and then looked around the room. It was only then that she realized that Zero...had never come to her last night.
The side she had left for him was undisturbed and her invitation was left forgotten in the air.
Maya frowned deeply.
where the fuck has he disappeared to now? She thought irritably.
She dressed herself and equipped all her heavy weaponry.
Downstairs the inn was bustling with people, a small room next to the check in counter served as a small eating establishment.
The smell of breakfast teased Maya's nose and she was immediately drooling.
She trudged into the cafe, only for her eyes to rest at Salvador sitting alone at a table, empty plates littering around him.
Maya smiled and walked over.
"Mind if I join you?" She said grabbing the back of the other chair.
Salvador looked up and smiled widely.
"Of course chica! Sit down have some bacon!" He said loudly, spitting a little food on the table.
Maya sat down and grabbed the plate of bacon, then scooped some eggs onto her plate as well.
Maya scarfed down the food like a wild animal, almost as fast and as animal like as Salvador forked down his own plate of food.
Turned out they made pretty good table mates.
Salvador chewed heartily and then looked up at the Siren.
"So wheres the asshole this morning." Maya said bluntly.
Salvador just laughed.
"Axton? He took some purty chica back to his room last night. I haven't seen him since." Salvador said chuckling.
Maya made a disgusted face and laughed.
"So wheres your assassin this morning." Salvador said noticing Zero's absence.
Maya shrugged.
"Fuck if I know." She growled irritably.
Salvador smiled.
"He'll come around eventually. Amigo is like a shadow, he shows up on his own free will." Salvador said grabbing a mouthful food.
Maya nodded and sighed.
"He's a stubborn son of a bitch." She growled.
"He's a Vault Hunter...aren't we all stubborn son's of bitches?" Salvador said through his mouthful.
Maya giggled.
"I guess you are right." She said leaning on her elbow.
Salvador smiled.
"So you, and him you are... err a thing?" Salvador said curiously.
"I suppose so." Maya said shrugging.
Salvador nodded.
"Well good luck with that chica. Keep him under your thumb. That Zero he's a strange fellow." Salvador said sternly.
Maya nodded and finished her plate.
She smiled fondly at Salvador and got up from her seat.
"I'm going to go for a walk. I'll see you later Salvador." She said swiftly crossing the room and disappearing out the inn front doors.
The morning sun warmed her face, and a chilly breeze played at her hair.
She walked through the town slowly, people's eyes immediately watching her as she passed by. She was used to stares.
These were because she was a vault hunter, but normally they came because of her siren nature.
She walked with no purpose. She simply walked to walk. To stretch her legs and to be alone with her thoughts.
Why had Zero not returned last night? What was going on with him...
She had never worried nor cared about someone else in all her life. She wasn't used to things like this bothering her so much.
She had had flings here and there throughout the years, but this was something else.
Something stronger.
Something more primal.
It disturbed her greatly to realize how deeply she had fallen into this.
She could walk away now...forget it ever happened...
But no she couldn't because she knew she couldn't forget it. She had to face this. She wanted to.
She wanted Zero.
No matter what he was.
She found herself standing on an overlook of the landscape. The wind licked at her face and rushed around her body.
It was a gorgeous day, well by Pandora standards it was.
This seemed like such a sleepy little town, almost untouched by Hyperion's grasp...what could be going on here that had these poor people so spooked.
They peered out their windows like death itself could come knocking on their door at any second.
She sat down slowly and hung her legs over the edge of the cliff.
Rakk's cried of in the distance, circling aimlessly in the morning sky. Their black wings bold against the dusty blue.
She leaned her chin in her hands.
She sure didn't do this much thinking when she was alone wandering the ice.
She rose to her feet suddenly.
Maybe going on a raid for loot would get her mind off things.
She hauled her gun off her back and wandered off into the mountains.
The land was painted in dusk when Maya trudged back into the boundaries of overlook.
She was winded and worn, but she didn't care. She had raided four different bandit camps in search of some clue to the source of the murders happening here but had come up with nothing. Well nothing but guns, ammo and riches at least.
Blood of her slain enemies clung to her armor and her gun was still smoking in her hand. She felt all powerful. Her wound stung a tad, but she paid it no matter, she would go to the medical center later. She held her head high and wiped a bit of Thresher flesh from her cheek. She looked back from where she had come, smoke billowing from several of the camps. She snorted and headed into town.
She made her way to the medical center and paid the price for a healing vile of serum.
She held her breath and injected it into her arm.
It stung like a bitch.
"Fuck" She growled lowly as the last bit of serum disappeared into her body.
She suddenly felt a presence behind her, she lifted her gun in defense, snarl spread across her face.
She was instead greeted by a sleek black helmet she knew all too well.
She didn't lower her gun for a moment but instead just scowled at him. Finally she lowered the SMG and threw the empty vile in the discard bin.
"What do you want." She growled.
Zero let his shoulders fall. He had no excuse for his absence this time. He did not return to Maya in the night like he had promised, instead his need to kill had taken him for the night.
"I had wanted to apologize. For my absence. Where have you been all day?" He said slowly.
Maya looked at him with unforgiving eyes.
"Getting tired of hearing nothing but apologies from you assassin." She growled.
The teeth of the animal she was were showing terribly.
Zero sighed.
"I got carried away. In searching for clues...and wandered too far." He said trying to reason with her.
Zero observed her from top to bottom. She was covered in blood and dirt.
"You have been raiding? You are filthy." He asked pointedly.
"Yeah, whats it to you. I needed a good day of looting." She snapped.
"I would have accompanied you. I would enjoy to loot with you. I am disappointed." Zero said lowly.
"Yeah kinda like how I was disappointed your ass didn't show up last night." Maya scoffed folding her arms.
"Look I don't give a rats ass if you have other things to do and shit. But just don't make me promises anymore if you can't keep them. Got it Vault Hunter." Maya said sharply.
She turned and walked right past a very silent Zero.
Maya had not talked so fiercely toward him since the first day they met.
He hated that it turned him on more than it made him feel bad.
How could he not feel instantly needy of her, she was battle worn and gorgeous. The days plunder still clinging to her armor.
Zero ran to her, only a few of his long strides were needed to catch up to her. He grabbed her wrist and yanked her into an alley just behind an old building.
"Zero what the fuck are you doing!?" She barked shoving him hard.
Zero pulled the back of his helmet open and ripped it off his head. He shoved Maya back just as hard. Her back hit the wall, knocking dust onto the couple.
He forced his lips against hers.
Maya wanted to slap him.
Shove him off her and punch him.
She wanted to...
But god the way he kissed her.
She could taste the need on his tongue, feel the want flowing from his body to hers.
Zero pinned her wrists against the wall, just in case his very moody siren decided she wanted to take her anger out on him.
"You are the most stubborn thing I have ever seen in all my days. Violent, harsh, grumpy, fierce, and unpredictable. But god Maya you could not be any more beautiful." Zero whispered to her in-between indulging himself in her lush lips. They were like two shamrocks pressed together, soft and wet. She tasted like dust, blood, and sweet water.
He could not get enough of it.
Maya melted against him. And as much as she hated him at the moment she couldn't help but to...love him...
Maya pushed into him hard.
He released her arms and she wrapped them around his neck, fingers entwined in his dirty blonde hair. She closed her eyes and forced into the kiss harder. Bodies pressed together, breath stolen by the moment.
"Zero...I think I love you..." Maya breathed heavily.
The words escaped her lips before she even knew what happened. It was just the heat of the moment, her brain got foggy and her tongue got lose.
shit...shit... She thought frantically.
Zero stopped kissing her and pulled back a little. His ebony eyes wide.
He studied her with pupil-less eyes. They darted over her face, observing her, soaking in the sentence that hung heavily in the air.
Maya looked at the floor embarrassed and upset with herself.
How could she have been so fucking stupid!?
She felt her cheeks growing hot and tears threatening to sting her eyes.
She cursed herself under her breath.
Don't fucking get sappy that will only make it worse! She screamed in her head.
The silence could have been cut with a knife as it layered over them.
Zero just continued to stare at her silent as stone and just as still.
Maya wanted to hide her face and run. She wanted to disappear into the dirt.
"Did you mean that Maya. What you said. Did you mean it." Zero said finally breaking the awkward silence drowning them.
Maya looked at him nervously and then back at the ground.
"I-i...it just came out...I'm sorry." She whispered shamed.
Zero raised a gloved hand to brush her face.
"Do not be sorry. Maya I know little about human emotion, feelings...love. But what I feel for you, I believe it to be what you call love." He said softly to her.
Maya looked up at him meekly.
Her eyes were glassy with embarrassment and fear.
"Zero- I- I just said it...if you don't feel that way it-its ok..." Maya stumbled over her words like a newborn Skag taking its first steps.
Zero put one slender finger to her lips.
"You heard what I said. I do not lie to accommodate others. I believe what I have found here is indeed love." Zero said his tone of voice light, a smile tugging at his lips.
Maya smiled smally at him.
She pulled him back in for another kiss.
Their lips collided forcefully and once again Zero was lost in his Siren's essence.
Zero hefted Maya up into his arms and forced her to wrap her legs around his slender waist. Her back once again collided with the wall.
Their kiss deepened as the evening crept into their secluded crevice between buildings.
Zero's breath quickened and came to him in short gasps between kisses.
Lost in each others embrace, drowning in the realization of the feelings between them that could no longer be ignored. Two hunters, naive to love, loners now brought together by fate.
Zero pulled away from her slowly, panting softly.
He knew being here was vulnerable.
He looked up to the sky.
The night was falling...and the full fat moon was rising.
He slowly returned his helmet to his head and Maya sighed sadly.
She savored the little moments she was able to see him without his mask.
"The word around the town is the curse takes under the full moon. I will hunt the murderer tonight. Bring an end to this." Zero said turning to exit the alley.
Maya grabbed his arm and he turned to her questionably.
"Not alone you aren't" Maya growled.
Zero sighed heavily.
"Maya you have been active all day. You wound demands rest. Do not lie to me and say you are fine, I know better." Zero said folding his arms across his armored chest.
Maya bit her lip and scowled at him.
He tapped his slender fingers against his arm and tilted his helmet to the side displaying a very annoying smile.
"I isn't bothering me that badly...I could just cover you or something..." She said clearly beaten but not wanting to give up the fight.
Zero shook his head.
"Your body needs needs rest. Do not worry of my well being. I can handle myself." He said.
Maya rolled her eyes and dropped her shoulders.
"Fucking fine. God damn there will be no winning with you." Maya said sighing and throwing her hands up.
Zero chuckled at Maya fondly.
"I will accompany you to the inn. And then I will go. Tonight I promise I will return to your bed." Zero said following behind Maya.
Maya looked back at him, eyes narrowed.
"Promise?" She said warily.
"My word I give you. I promise. This time I will return to you." Zero assured her.
Zero reached up to brush her hair out of her eyes and Maya could feel his fond gaze upon her.
Maya nodded at him sternly.
"You'd best keep your word assassin..." She said smiling smally at him.
Zero nodded, and with a flicker he was gone into the fading daylight.
Maya let her shoulders fall and slowly turned back to the direction of the inn. Once Zero was hung up on something, he would not leave it alone. He wouldn't stop until he figured out what was going on in this sleepy little town. Maya sighed, it was just his obsessive tendencies. She had to let him go, as much as she wished he would just stay...
She looked out into the landscape searching for an assassin she knew she would not find. Something just felt...wrong.
The moon rose as she stood there contemplating whether to go after him, or to listen to his orders. Zero never listened to her...why should she listen to him? She frowned heavily. Her wound throbbed slightly and reminded her of her state. She knew she couldn't keep up with the assassin...even if she wanted to. He was already long gone.
She shook her head and trudged back to the inn.
Zero wandered through the rocks, hugging the river closely. This is where many of the townspeople had been found dead, so possibly this is where the beast may strike again. It was the only lead he had to go on, and he followed it like a hound on the trail of a fox. Sword at the ready gun swinging at his hip he lunged and sprung over boulder after boulder, searching wildly for any sign of movement. The night was incredibly still, not a whisper of wind was there to join him in his hunt. Just the far off moans of an animal here and there to join him, and the trickle of the river as it sloshed around the rocks and licked at the bank. Zero perched atop a huge rock and leaned on his sword. Even as he hunted...his mind was other places. His thoughts wandered back to Maya, and the words she had spoken to him in the alley. She said she loved him...
Zero pondered and savored the word. It left a strange taste in his mouth. He was unaccustomed to having to deal with emotions such as these. They were strange and new and he was unsure. He thought he loved her, with only the small bit of knowledge he had about love it was hard to tell. He didn't want to be without her, and her presence gave him pleasure...was that love? He cared about her more than he cared about his own well being that was for sure...was that love? It had to be. Or else he would have just left her out in that icy hell hole. He was not one to take in stray animals and care for them, and yet with her he had made an exception. And now he was hopelessly addicted to everything about her. He was spiraling downward and his obsession was growing. He supposed that was some kind of love. He sighed.
What had he gotten himself into. Maybe this was all too much to handle. Though he cared for her more than he cared for anything else, in the back of his mind he still feared hurting her. She was strong, and yet he made her vulnerable. They made each other vulnerable...did this make them poisonous for each other? A mixture that was toxic for them both? But how could something so delicious ever be toxic...
Zero shook the thoughts away. He needed to focus on hunting, not his and Maya's roller coaster of a relationship...or whatever it was.
The moonlight reflected vibrantly off his armor and bathed the land in white light. Shadows played across the ground and all the dark spaces wandered around him.
Maybe the killer had no intentions of returning to its favorite killing spot. Maybe he had been wrong.
Zero stood to press on, when suddenly he heard a rustling to his right. He whipped around sword ready.
More rustling to his left.
He turned that direction.
Was he surrounded?
Heavy footsteps echoed in his ears, he stood motionless, his blood rushing, ready for the attacker.
Whatever it was, it seemed to be toying with him.
Suddenly a low growl rumbled up through the night, it shook Zero's bones with its intensity.
It was no animal he had ever heard before.
This was no skag, or thresher. This was something else.
Zero gripped his sword tighter.
"Show yourself to me beast. Do not toy. Show yourself." Zero growled.
As if listening to Zero's command suddenly something began to emerge from the shadows casted by the large boulders.
Zero held his ground as it slunk into view. One huge clawed paw came lose from the shadow, and its huge hulking body followed.
It stood one two massive back legs, like a man, its monstrous shoulders hunched forward. Zero could easily guess it stood at least nine feet tall.
Its massive body heaved with every breath it took. It's body was lean and armored in rough looking scaled skin, a strange glowing purple and orange light shone through cracks in its skin...as if it were glowing from the inside out. Long spikes sprouted down its back and arms, but its face was a mixture of almost human and somewhat canine. A long muzzle sporting from its dog like face. Two long pointed ears stood on end like devil's horns atop its skull.
The hell beast no longer moved, instead it just stood there in all is monstrosity, staring at Zero with molten eyes.
Zero soaked in the monster, observing it and trying to piece together what it could be.
Suddenly it peeled back is heavy lips revealing rows and rows of sparkling white fangs probably as long as Zero's helmet. It's throat glowered majestic purple. Ribbons of purple saliva dripped off its jaws.
Zero felt his heart almost stop, whatever it was he couldn't wait to kill it.
The beast eyed him unmoving. Two hunters sizing each other up...two monsters staring each other down.
It reared its huge head back and let lose a howl that reverberated through Zero's bones. It echoed off the cliffs and rocked his form.
Zero knew it was coming for him, the howl like a signaling battle cry.
In a split second it lunged, with speed Zero had not expected.
Zero dodged out of its way and swung his sword, grazing the beasts shoulder as he came down.
It bellowed enraged by its own blood.
It came for him jaws gaping, saliva running over its lips.
It swung its great paw in his direction and Zero ducked just barely avoiding its blow.
Zero slashed at its ankle attempting to knock it off its feet, but his blade caught against its thick bone. The monster howled, its eyes blazing, wild with pain and the need to kill.
It swung its other arm around and caught Zero right in the chest.
Zero fell into the dirt, sputtering for air that did not exist, his lungs failing to provide him with a breath.
He managed to get his feet beneath him and readied his sword.
What the fuck was this thing.
It was ten times as strong as any resident beast here on pandora.
The beast leapt down from the rocks, limping slightly, orange blood pouring from its wounds, but it seemed not to care. It was locked onto Zero and nothing else mattered. Zero felt something that could only be...terror...run through him. Looking into the eyes of the monster, he saw himself. What he was when he needed to kill, when the monster came out from him and longed for bloodshed. The overpowering want to slice flesh, to spill blood. When nothing else mattered but his victim. This monster was a reflection of himself. His skeleton come to life, staring him in the face now threatening his life.
Zero gritted his teeth.
The beast leapt claw outstretched, and Zero ran to meet it.
Its massive form fell upon him, and as it did he ran his sword up through its chest, piercing it through.
The monster roared out and brought its teeth down upon the assassin.
Its long fangs pierced through his armor like it was butter, sinking down into his flesh.
Zero twisted the sword, slicing downward, paying no mind to the beasts fangs buried in him.
It bit down harder.
Zero twisted his sword again and then with a great heave pulled the blade from the beast, its heart coming out with it and falling upon him.
The beasts clenched jaws slacked, and its glowing eyes quivered as it looked upon Zero.
"Thats right. Die for me. You have fallen monster." Zero whispered to its dying form.
The life faded from its eyes slowly and Zero pushed it off of him and it fell to the ground limp. A massive form of dead flesh.
Zero sat up slowly and touched his shoulder where the beast's fangs had pierced him. The wound was deep, and blood was beginning to pool underneath his armor. He knew this wasn't good. It had pierced his armor like it was nothing. Zero stood slowly and looked at the beast next to him.
He re-sheathed his sword and went to observe the monster.
It's large blue eyes were wide open, staring into nothingness, void of all life and emotion.
Zero froze. He had seen those eyes before.
Those wide, lustful blue eyes. Why were those eyes so familiar.
Where had he seen those eyes...
Zero leaned down to the beast and slowly touched its flesh...as he did so, its body...began to change.
The dead animal was shrinking, its massive claws seemed to retract into its fingertips, the spikes on its back and arms disappeared into its skin. It's rough scaled skin began to fade away, revealing pale flesh...human flesh.
Zero took a step back, unsure of what was happening.
It's long muzzle began to shrink, conforming into a human face, ears shrinking, hands replaced paws, and rosy lips replaced its snarl.
And there where a monster of lore had laid dead only seconds ago, a young woman now replaced it.
The woman from the bar. Candy...the one who was intent on taking him home for the night.
Zero felt a pang of guilt hit him as he stood over her body, her heart laying by his feet, blood pooling around her naked form.
What was this witchcraft before him.
The words of the inn keep rang in his ears. This was Jack's doing...it had to be.
One of his wildlife experiments gone wrong. Now he was turning humans into animals? What kind of sick shit was this...
Zero felt his shoulder suddenly sear with pain, he nearly doubled over. It racked through his body like a white hot flame.
He cried out and clutched his shoulder.
He had never felt pain like this before.
He couldn't stay here. The townsfolk would never believe this woman had been a monster when he had killed her.
Zero ran off into the night, trying to ignore the pain as he did so.
Maya crossed the room slowly and picked her gun up off the desk, setting it in her lap to begin cleaning it of all the days grime and blood.
She looked out the window into the night sky, the moon was high and fat in among the stars. It was getting late, and her assassin still hadn't returned from the nights clutches. She shook her head slowly. Maybe this was the way it was always to be. Zero was a wild animal, promises were cages that he could not be held to. Wild things like him could not be domesticated...
She wasn't trying to domesticate him exactly...she just wanted him to keep his promises. To stop being so flighty and unsure. She just couldn't wrap her head around his strange ways. He wasn't human after all...maybe he was wired differently. Maybe this was the problem. She was human and he was not, was this why he was the way he was? So strange and emotionless? But...he had said he loved her...
did he even know what that meant though? She pondered angrily cleaning her gun.
She felt so stupid for letting such childish things slip from her mouth. She cursed herself for saying it.
So what if it were true.
Just as she became more entranced in her thoughts, the window suddenly flung open with a large bang.
Maya jumped back and bumped into the desk.
Zero appeared in the windows opening, and basically tumbled down onto the bedroom floor with a large crash.
Maya could tell instantly something was wrong. It wasn't like him to make such a sloppy entrance. Maya ran over to him as he tried to stand but was failing miserably. She hauled him up into her lap and he leaned against her hard, breath coming in short pants. It was only then that she noticed the pool of blood slowly forming around him, he was covered in blood, his armor soaked in it. But this time...she was certain this was not the blood of a victim, but instead his own.
"Zero what happened!?" She barked at him terror rising in her voice.
Zero lifted his head to speak, but the burning pain stole his voice from him.
"Fuck lets get you cleaned up ok, can you stand?" She said frantically.
Zero nodded.
Maya helped him to his feet and he cried out in anguish. The sound made her sick to her stomach. She had never seen him in pain, she had never seen him injured. What the fuck could have done this to him!?
Maya helped him slowly to the shower room.
She helped him into the shower, armor and all then slowly leaned down over him.
"I have to take this armor off, I don't know where you are hurt." Maya said her fingers shaking. There was so much blood.
Zero weakly pointed to his shoulder then let his arm fall limply to his side.
Maya nodded and hurridly began to strip his armor off. Zero moaned and gritted his teeth with every movement the shedding of his armor caused.
Maya finally stripped him of his armor and pulled his helmet off him.
His eyes were shut, his face twisted in agony.
She looked over his blood soaked body and her eyes rested on the torn flesh of his shoulder, deep gnarled puncture wounds decorated his blueish skin. She needed to stop the bleeding or he would likely bleed out before morning.
"I'm going to sear the wound shut. This is going to hurt." Maya whispered apologetically.
Maya's hand glowed blue as a ball of energy formed around it, its heat radiating wildly.
Then she quickly place her palm over Zero's wound searing it closed with the sudden burst of heat.
Zero threw his head back and yelled.
Maya took her hand away quickly.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry" She stuttered.
She looked over her handy work and was pleased to see she had stopped the profuse bleeding and shut the wound.
Zero breathed heavily his back pressed against the shower wall, eyes still shut but slightly less pained.
Maya stripped her armor off and climbed in with him, she turned on the warm water and slid down beside him. She soaked a washcloth in the warmth and slowly ran it over his body, attempting to wash away some of the blood from him.
Zero sighed and let her wash him, his brain was fuzzy and his body was tired, exhausted from the pain coursing through it. Maya cradled his head against her body and just let him melt into her.
The water rushing down the drain was red with his blood. She continued to tenderly wash him until only his gorgeous blue tinted skin was left behind.
Zero's pain seemed to be waning slowly. His body giving way to Maya's gentle touch and the waters warmth.
Maya nestled her nose in his golden locks and breathed out.
"You scared the shit out of me Zero..." Maya whispered.
Zero chuckled quietly.
"Apologies my siren. For scaring you. That was not my intention." Zero said his voice low and strained.
Maya smiled into his hair.
"What the hell happened to you..." She asked slowly.
Zero breathed in heavily.
"Went in search of a killer. Found it. It was something I have never seen or faced before." Zero said.
"It was fast. Strong. I was unprepared." He finished.
Maya shook her head.
"You should have let me go with you. I could have helped." She said angrily.
Zero shook his head.
"In your state. It would have killed you. It nearly killed me and I was at full strength." Zero whispered.
Though if his mind hadn't been wandering...maybe the outcome of this would have been different. If he had focused on hunting...and not on his thoughts...
He brushed that away and ignored it.
"What was it?" Maya asked running the wash cloth down his good shoulder.
"I am unsure. It had the spikes and claws of an animal, the stance of a human...I have never seen anything like it." Zero said through labored breaths.
"Maya, if I tell you what I saw. Will you believe my words. They are truth but they do not make sense." Zero asked tiredly.
Maya nodded and furrowed her eyebrows.
"The monster. When I killed it, it turned into a woman. A woman I had seen at the bar the night pervious." Zero whispered.
Maya looked at him sternly.
"What do you mean..." She asked confused.
"When I slaughtered it, it was a beast. When it died, it became human. I believe this is Jack's doing." Zero said.
"He is playing with nature. Dabbling in something dark. Experimenting on humans."
Maya stared at him pondering his words.
"What do we tell the townsfolk." Maya whispered.
"We don't tell them anything yet. I am not positive this is Jack's doing. We do not tell them of the monster." Zero said.
Maya shook her head.
"Why not!?" She said angrily.
"Because the beast I killed. Is now a human. They will not believe or understand." Zero said slowly.
Maya bit her lip.
"Fine...but what do we do now?" Maya whispered.
"We have to go to the wildlife preserve. I heard the townsfolk speak of it. Its where Hyperion has been testing on animals." Zero said his voice tired.
"Thats where we will find answers. If there are any to be found. They will be there." he finished.
Maya nodded.
"Should we tell the others?" Maya asked.
"In the morning. We will tell them. I need to sleep." Zero mused.
"Oh Zero..." Maya whispered sadly looking over his weak and tired form.
"Lets get you bandaged and get you to bed." she said gently helping the wounded alien to his feet.
Maya retrieved some gauze from the bathroom shelving and tenderly wrapped Zero's wound.
Zero leaned on her hard for support, his body felt hollow, the pain had waned but the exhaustion now took over.
Maya settled him into bed and climbed in next to him, tucking the covers around him.
He was almost instantly asleep.
Maya touched his back tenderly and let herself slip into sleep as well.