Wallow in the Dark [Open]

[cujo]

[Dareynn:]

I walked through the darkness, enjoying the quiet. Not many dared walk here, but I did. It was one of the few places I could go without being bothered. Most humans (fangbangers, that is) didn't seem to get that I didn't want to be messed with. I'd do what I wanted when I wanted, and they weren't going to coerce me into doing something they wanted me to do.

What I really wanted to do was go back home; I missed my city. New Orleans, although extremely populated, had always calmed me. The Cat's Meow, The Jazz Funeral, El Gato Negro... All the places I had gone. But now I was in London, thousands of miles away from the city I had called my home. Though, I hadn't tecnically lived within the city limits of New Orleans, I had escaped there often with a neighbor... My life at home had been troublesome, to say the least.

I ached to walk the beautiful city I had been raised near, to watch the street performers and eat a beignet at Cafe Du Monde. (Which I couldn't really do now, given I was a vampire...)

I sighed; regret and pain seemed my constant compainions these days. Regret for leaving, though I had wanted to so badly... Pain from longing for my old home by the bayou, with the alligators and the nutria (no matter how annoying those stupid, beaver-like creatures had been). I'd always bear the scars from the reason I had left--my step-father. In some ways, I was glad to be away, but not tonight.

I sat by an old, rotting tree trunk and leaned my head against it, glaring at the starry, moonless sky above me.

[Caitlyn Isabelle O'Shea]

Two feet hit the ground silently, on after the other. White shoes with blue designs covered them. The body that they were carrying was silent. It was as if she wasn't there. Her breathing was steady and her pace was fast. She wore a blue tank top and black Sophies. Her hair was blown out behind her, not pulled back, just hanging free. She wanted to get away, but why... why?

I ran through the forest swiftly, breathing steadily. I wanted to get away from my life... from everything here. I looked around, but didn't see anything. I roled my eyes, but I knew that most people didn't come here. I ran on thinking about everything in my life. All the people that seemed to want to follow me around all the time. Didn't they see that I just wanted to be left alone?

I was thinking about this when I tripped over what felt like a rock... or a foot, but I couldn't look back now. I had just run full speed and tripped and now I was falling to the forest floor below me. I landed on my hands and knees. I rolled over onto my back and laid there for a moment. I thought that I might have sprained my left wrist, but when I rolled it around, it was fine. Now to find out what tripped me...

[cujo]

[Dareynn:]

My thoughts drifted to the French Quarter. I had always loved the crowded, artisan-filled area. The different crafts various people sold; the man painting designs in the shapes of letters, the woman with an oriental stall that sold chopsticks, the many tables with voodoo dolls and Tarot decks.

I slipped my hand into my pocket, where my own silk-wrapped Tarot deck was. I thought about pulling it out and messing with it for a bit, but before I could, something (or someone) hit me. Before the creature had a chance to move two inches, I was on my feet and on the other side of the log, putting a obstable--no matter how useless it may be--between us.

The girl was laying on her back; she was a vampire, of that much I was sure. If she'd been human, I'd have heard her coming. I waited for her to do something; all she did was roll her wrist. I kept my face blank as I looked at her, something I'd been doing all my life.

Unlike when I was alone, I kept a very guarded expression when around others. If they were going to see something other than my poker face, it was going to be because I wanted them to see it. Hopefully this wasn't one of those vamps that went around looking for other vamps to do...that... A vamp like that was worse than a fangbanger, in some ways. (They definitely weren't as easy to get rid of...)

[Caitlyn Isabelle O'Shea]

I took a deep breath and then heaved myself to my feet. I still didn't look at the thing I had tripped over. I guess you could say I was afraid. Afraid of what I might see. I brushed myself off, and as I ran my hand down my leg, I felt a sticky liquid. Then the scent hit me. The scent of my blood. I sighed and reached into my pocket. I pulled out a thick, white cloth, and wrapped it tightly around my leg.

I took a deep breath, but before I turned to face the thing behind me, I grabbed the bow from my back. All I needed was this because I could grab an arrow in an instant. I took another deep breath and then turned to face whatever I tripped over. My eyes fell upon the vampire (I knew he was a vampire because I hadn't heard him get up) standing behind the rotting tree trunk. His face was gaurded. I looked him over, but didn't move toward or away from him. I wanted to see what he would do first. If he moved toward me too fast, I would grab an arrow from the bag on my back. But if he started talking... I might listen.

[cujo]

[Dareynn:]

Silence hung in the air, thick as a cloud of smog. She was staring at me; after mentally debating the pros and cons of talking to her, I said, "What?"

I leaned forward ever so slihgtly, putting my weight on the balls of my feet. If I had to get out of here quickly, or attack her, that would make it easier. I had a long-sleeved shirt and pants on; both were black. If I had to run, there was a pretty good possibility that she woulnd't find me. If I got far enough away.

I was sort of thirsty; maybe I could attack her before she attacked me... Eh, it was easier to just go to a bar and find some stupid fangbanger...

Either way, I didn't really want to get into a fight at the moment. I wasn't in the mood for fighting. I was too...morbid at the moment. My heart just wouldn't be into it, and that would completely defeat the purpose of fighting. So I figured I'd just see what the girl wanted and go from there. Her actions would decide what mine were.

[Caitlyn Isabelle O'Shea]

"What?"

The word hung. He had spoken, and not tried to attack me. I didn't know how to reply. I wanted to know why he was here, sitting there all alone. Maybe it was so he could get away for a bit like I wanted to. My mouth didn't move to answer his question. I just stood there like I was frozen. I finally found some words to say, but I didn't know if they were going to be the right ones.

"Um... nothing..."

I was going to go on, but I saw him move ever so slightly and faster than lightning I had the arrow in place on the bow and pointed at him. I stared at him, watching his every move. My breathing was shallow because I was afraid of what he might do to me. I had heard of sick men, and out in the woods was the perfect place for no one to here me scream.

"I swear, if you move one step toward me I will release the arrow."

I had the arrow pointed at his chest and the bow string pulled back just enough so that it would make it into him if I released. I meant what I had swore I would do. I would release if he took even the slightest step toward me. I didn't like to kill, but if it meant protecting myself, then I would do it.

[cujo]

[Dareynn:]

She had an arrow aimed at my chest. Being a vampire, I could see each move clearly as she strung the bow and pulled the string back. I turned my head looking down at the ground to my left. "Who cares?"

At this moment, she could decapitate and kill me if she wanted to. I was in an unfamiliar country (for the most part, anyway), and I didn't have anyone that cared about me. My "dad" had made it quite clear that I wasn't to come back. My mother had been terrified of me. My city...that was one hope that was dashed the second my maker bit me.

Why he had chosen me, I wasn't sure. Maybe he felt bad for me. Felt bad for the way I'd been treated. But I didn't care. There really wasn't anyone that did, other than maybe, maybe Anthony. Maybe.

He was truly the only person I missed. He'd been the only one that had ever seemed to care about me... He'd stood by me in school when the stupid jocks shoved me around, getting himself hurt because of it. He'd walked home with me (well, our houses had been right next to each other), and he'd scaled the lattice in the middle of the night to make sure I was okay after my step-father stormed out of the house, risking being grounded and being caught.

[Caitlyn Isabelle O'Shea]

I lowered the bow a little when he spoke. He seemed so sad, so depressed. Isn't that how all emo people are supposed to be? I asked myself. No, he was different. He seemed to be missing something. Something of his life maybe. I watched him and before I realized what I was doing, I had the bow string pulled back fully. I released and it stuck into the ground an inch from his foot. I sighed and put the bow back in its place. I looked down and sighed again.

"I know what it's like to be... well... let's just say unloved for now. My parents pretty much hated me. And... well you probably don't want to hear my story... nobody usually does."

I looked back up at him. He seemed to be remembering something or someone. I looked away from him and up at the sky. The same sky that I had looked up at with my mother long ago. I found the star that she had told me she wanted to name it my name. I reached up and touched the necklace with the word believe on it. She had given it to me that night and I will never forget the words she said. I didn't want to think of them now, so I looked back at the vampire standing before me.

[cujo]

[Dareynn:]

I ignored the arrow she shot at my feet; if it hit me, it hit me. So be it. I was through caring. But her comment, on being unloved, she had no right to say that to me. She didn't need to act like she knew what I was thinking about; she had no idea. I ground my teeth together for a moment, my fangs scraping my lips.

"Leave me alone," I all but spat at her. I didn't want to talk to some stranger about how much I missed my home, my city, my friend. Despite what she said, she didn't know what I felt. What she felt was entirely her own; our feelings may be similar, but they were not the same.

Ignoring her thret to shoot me, I let myself fall, as gracefully as I could manage, down against the log again, leaning on it like I had been before she'd tripped over me. I didn't lean my head back this time, though I did close my eyes. I was tired of being here in this country. I wanted to go home.

Tears welled up behind my closed lids, but they didn't flow out of my eyes, a fact for which I was greatful. That girl didn't need to see how upset I was...

[Caitlyn Isabelle O'Shea]

I was taken back by his remark. I hadn't meant to upset him. I had just told him that I knew what it was like to be unloved. He flopped down by the log again, but I didn't make any move to pull out my bow and arrow again. I watched him for a moment and then, ignoring his words, walked toward him. I knelt infront of him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Look. I never said anything. I told you that I knew what it was like to be unloved because I have been unloved, but I didn't tell you that I knew what you felt like."

I looked at his eyes. They were closed, but behind those closed eyes I saw pain, suffering, sadness... all thing that I had felt once before. I watched him for a moment, wondering what he would do about me being so close to him. I was, infact, afraid. He was a stranger, and I was kneeling not a foot away from him. I didn't care though. I just kind of pushed it to the back of my mind and waited for him to do something like bite me or push me away. Either of these I wouldn't mind, but it would hurt more if he bit me, and I kind of hoped that he wouldn't do it.

[cujo]

I felt her hand on my shoulder; that really bugged me. I shrugged my shoulder in an attempt to dislodge her hand. I didn't want her pity, nor her company. I would be fine on my own. I had to be find on my own. There was no one here for me; they'd all deserted me when I'd turned into the vile creature I was.

I wouldn't mind being an undead creature of the night so much if my so-called family hadn't deserted me. (Not that my step-father had liked me much before; now he absolutely loathed me.) I didn't want this girl as close as she was; I wanted my space. I wanted to be outisde while I could be without getting burned to death or mortally wounded. Neither of those prospects seemed very inviting.

I opened my eyes and did my best to glare at the girl that was in front of me. "I don't need youpitying me. Go find someone that wants pity. Some bloody fangbanger, for instance." My words were harsh, but I was fed up with all the fangbangers than tried to seduce and con me into biting them.

One fangbanger (a guy, which was sort of unusual) had followed me from a vampire-owned bar all the way here, and only left when he knew I wasn't just coming in here to get rid of him. He'd razzled me; fangbangers were lower than humans. Normal humans were afraid of vampires and werewolves and all the other supernatural creatures that supposedly existed; fangerbangers? Nope. Not a single ounce on common sense in their entire persona. Idiots, ever single one of 'em.

[Caitlyn Isabelle O'Shea]

I kept a grip on his shoulder as he tried to shrug it off. He wasn't going to get away from me that easily. When he told me to go away again, I had to close my eyes and calm myself by saying, It's okay, he's just upset. Don't lose it on him. But none of this help. When I opened my eyes, they blazed with a fire that was secretly hiding behind the soft glaze that I had put on before. I clenched my jaw, something that I always did when I was angry. I looked him in the eyes, my blazing fire eyes, meeting his glare.

"Look. I am never told what to do. You're lucky you're even getting pity. I give my pity to the people I want to give it to, and by God if I give it to you you better like it."

I all but growled at him. My drip had tightened on his shoulder, too. This was something I hadn't realized I had been doing. I was gripping it so tight, that if I didn't let go right then, I would break it. I released my grip on him, jumped to my feet and walked a few feet away from him, keeping my back to him. I stood there with my back to him, trying to get the fire out of me. I took deep breathes and spoke calmly and quietly, not wanting him to here what I was saying.

[cujo]

[Dareynn:]

As her grip on my shoulder tightened, it only made me angrier. I growled at her, clearly stating what I thought of her pity. Pity was for people who were weak; I was not weak. Her grip almost shattered my shoulder; as it was, it was pretty sore when she finally let go and stomped off.

She was muttering to herself; maybe she was insane. She had to be, to be pitying me. I was the weirdo out-of-county vampire no one wanted around. I was just a freak that another vampire made because he pitied me. Sure, that vampire (who had deserted me a year ago) had been one of the few who had been kind to me during my life (existance...?), but that didn't mean I wanted pity. I never had. I didn't ask for him to change me. Then again, I didn't ask him not to change me, either. That wasn't really something I could change now, though; I was all ready the living dead.

If I'd wanted to, I could've heard what she was saying. I just didn't care enough. I stood, stretching my arm and clenching and unclenching my fist as I did, making sure the appendage still worked. If she'd incapacitated me, I'd've had to hurt her.

I sighed quietly, my anger dying off. My meloncholoy mood returned, though I stayed standing. "What do you want?" My voice sounded tired and aged, even to me. I was a nineteen-year-old stuck in a sixteen-year-old body. I was sure this was some god's sick form of a joke. Vampires, werewolves...in all reality, we shouldn't exist. I'd have claimed they didn't, three and a half years ago. Now? Pfft. I was one of 'em. I could hardly claim I didn't exist; I was walking, talking...not so much breathing anymore, but I was animated. Going through the motions of living. My heart didn't beat, but some magical force moved me. It was just tiring to think about. I felt a hundred years older than I was, thinking of how long I'd survive beyond this. That is, if someone didn't kill me.

Maybe someone would "pity" me and make the mistake of killing me.

I could only hope.

Though I knew I didn't really want to definitely die; I liked being alive. Well, as alive as I could be. But I didn't want to be here, in London. I wanted New Orleans and Madisonville. I wanted my home.

[Caitlyn Isabelle O'Shea]

My eyes still blazed with fire as I rounded on him. I didn't walk toward him, but rather stayed in the same place. "What do I want?" I repeated his question softly,"What I really want is to be loved, but from you... I don't know. I guess I thought that I could help you, but obviously that didn't work... now did it?" I held back the tears that were forming in my eyes as I grabbed my bow and an arrow again. I strung the bow and aimed for a nearby tree. I realsed the arrow and the arrow landed right in the center of it.

Something moving caught the corner of my eye and I turned to see a wolf about to pounce on the boy before me. I strung another arrow and aimed at the wolf that was almost directly behind the boy. "Don't move." I whispered just before I shot the arrow. I was dead on. The wolf had pounced just in time and the arrow flew a few inches from the boy's neck and landed in the chest of the wolf. I smiled triumphantly and then put my bow back on my back. I turned to him to see what his reaction would be.

[cujo]

[Dareynn:]

To be loved? She really didn't expect... No, she didn't. Good; I doubted there was a vampire alive (er, in existance) that could even possibly think about getting close to me. All the vampires here...the Brittish ones...seemed to have a certain contempt and arrogant air; none of them wanted to be around the outsider. Pompous jerks.

I stiffed slightly as I heard a wolf behind me, but decided I didn't care what happened. If it attacked me, it attacked me. No one would care. The girl drew her bow again, and I thought she was going to shoot me. After telling me not to move, which I didn't, she loosed the arrow. It soared barely an inch from my neck and embedded itself into the wolf's chest.

I didn't see this, though I heard it. The blood it spilled made me clench my hands tightly; I wasn't going to act weak in front of this girl. Sure, I hadn't drank all day, but I didn't need to act like a starving newborn. I turned my head to look at the wolf, undisguised hunger burning in my eyes. I could keep the rest of my expression carefully blank, but my sapphire eyes...not so much. I swallowed loudly and turned away from the wolf to look at the girl. "Why'd you kill it? No other vampire--or were, or human, for that matter--would have stopped it for someone like me. I'm an outsider. No one cares what happens to me." That was the longest speech I'd given to someone other than my maker; I was surprised I'd said it at all.