It's never been the same {Damien}

[Caitlyn Isabelle O'Shea]

The form sat there on the beach, staring out into the ocean. The moon shone off the water a bright silver. The water looked a blackish/ silver color. The girl wore no shoes, but the blue flip flops were beside her. You could barely tell, but her cover up was blue. It was also see through. Under this she wore a white bikini with blue and green fern leaves. This was her favorite bikini. She sat alone and watched the waves crash against the shore. But why... why was she alone?

I looked out over the mostly calm ocean. I sat in the middle of the beach with no one around. Of course they aren't around, I thought, No human comes out this late. Human. That's one thing that I'm not. Human. No I was not human. I was a vampire. A blood-sucking monster. I wasn't proud of what I was, but I also couldn't help it. I was born a vampire, raised a vampire, and trained to be a vampire. (though you really don't need any training) My life formed around being a vampire.

My bow and arrows lay next to me. I always carried these with me. I mean, you never know when something might attack you. And another thing was that I didn't miss what I shot at. I reached out with one hand and touched it lightly. I longed to shoot it, but I didn't have anything to shoot at. I sighed. I was alone on this peaceful night. The sound of the waves calmed me and I relaxed back into the sand. I layed on my back and let the sound of the waves calm me even more. What did I want on this calm night?

[AKREE]

Such a nice peaceful night, the weather was that which suggested pure perfection. A nice bright moon hung low in the jet black sky. The sand looked pristine white, bleached of all color yet managing to look not pale, but rather a lively ivory, the color of polished bone, speaking of bones; they were such a messy thing to take care of. Right now I stood over a very, very lonely part of the beach, the part where you would only walk around if you wanted to get mugged, but tonight there was no one in site. My blue eyes traced the hazy line that was the horizon, anyone watching the horizon just saw the black of the sea merging with the black of the sky, nothing more nothing less. But if someone were searching for an abnormality in the horizon, searching for something to the extreme of maybe even walking closer, squinting in an attempt to see anything in the horizon, they would find a lump, something darker than the sky, yet darker then the ocean. Of course, you only saw a black spot there, even for a vampire’s careful and excellent night vision it was impossible to identify what it was, in fact if I didn’t know what it was, I couldn’t even guess. I would guess it was a rock, or perhaps the shadow of something, but I really couldn’t go farther than that.

But of course I knew what it was.

It was a boat.

Not any old fancy boat, it was a sinking boat. Yes, the boat was about to sink, not now, not for a few hours actually, but it was going to sink far away from sight, when the night was darkest and when absolutely no one would be venturing in these waters. The boat contained a corpse, a horribly mutilated and deformed corpse; the corpse was tied to an anchor, a heavy rusty anchor. The boat was drilled with a series of holes, positioned so the boat would fade from view and sink quiet the time later, anyone in any kind of water vehicle that passed near the boat would catch the rumble of the engine. Of course, they would see nothing else. The mutilated and dismembered corpse had been ripped to pieces, if anyone where to find it they would need dental identification, but upon opening the man’s mouth you would see that the man’s teeth were ripped off. Either way, the man would soon be swimming with the fishes and, later become fish food and the boat would become a new fishy habitat. It was something natural, but the corpse would certainly never be found. The boat in itself was in perfect condition, you see, this man was causing troubles for Izan. He wasn’t a cop or anything, he was one of those rich werewolves who decided they wanted to investigate any suspicious vampire in the city, it was about time before they targeted someone in Izan and I had to take care of this man. The whole incident, in the end, would look like a simple boating accident, the ship’s bottom had a hole dug into it by a very large rock and our little friend in the boat would be too late to call or do anything. His ship sunk and he got tangled with the anchor thus drowning him, but fishes would feast on his flesh and that’s that. It was all such a simply crime that would look like a nice and simple accident. That was the beauty of it. Oh and in case you were wondering I played with him around a bit before drowning him, so he had the same look as any drowned man.

But that was if little matter now. Right now I was walking alongside the tide feeling the sand squish between my toes. A normal guy enjoying a walk in the nice beach. I looked around the horizon, occasionally turning my eyes around as if I was enjoying myself. With somewhat like a shiver I noticed a girl resting upon the beach. I had hoped I was alone, but I guess that matters little now, if I was in any luck I would simply just walk around, yes that’s it just continue your walk, but then again it wasn’t polite to ignore someone. That’s it I would walk and greet her like any nice pleasant walking guy. With my thoughts in order I continued my pleasant walk in the beach, looking around casually. Soon I reached our little girl here and I plastered my best fake nice guy smile, I was good at faking emotions mostly because I couldn’t feel anything that would prevent me from acting. “Nice weather for a walk, hm?”

[/b] I said, walking past her, but looking down curiously at her bow, I paused to inspect it a bit more curiously. “A little overly-cautious are we?”[/b] my voice like before was kept at a polite tone, a bit of curiosity hinting at my words.[/blockquote]

[Caitlyn Isabelle O'Shea]

I looked up at the man as he spoke to me. "Yes, it is. And its a shame that I'm not walking, but relaxing is what I like to do best." I sat up and put a hand on my bow, ready to bring it up and shoot at him. I noticed him examining my bow. His words, they were different then others' words had been. I looked down at my bow and then back up at him. I didn't know how to respond. Yes, I guess I was a little overly- cautious, but my bow and arrows were the only things that I was experienced in protecting myself with.

"Well... I guess I am, but it's the only thing that I have to protect myself with. I'm not experienced in handling a gun, or a knife, or a sword. The only thing that I know how to use is my bow and arrows."

I said quietly. I was definitely afraid of this man. He could be carrying a gun with him right now. And I had just told him that the only thing that I had to protect myself was my bow and arrows. He could take those easily. I tightened my grip around the bow as I waited to see what he would do.

[AKREE]

There were plenty of reasons to carry a bow around, you could be crazy and you could see it as your companion to talk to, you could think the bow brings you luck thus making you crazy in its own way, you can think that the soul of your great great grandmother lived inside the bow, thus you had to carry the bow everywhere with you or you could be in trouble, searching to protect yourself from such monsters that followed you around, shadowed your every footstep. It could be something that may you need some security some sense of protection, something that you have, that will give you an advantage. She didn’t look like the type to be haunted by past ghosts, so she must be the type that found that in this dangerous times, in this wretched city any kind of weapon was necessary for protection, in this case a bow and arrow. Thousands of years back, the bow and arrow where the most advanced of weapons, but today they were simply a thing of the past. She should know that bows did little nowadays, especially if the monster that now stood before you was a vampire or a werewolf, they would snap through an arrow like a measly twig, jump at you and rip you to pieces. A measly bow wasn’t nearly enough for any kind of protection, it could maybe intimidate a human man, making him think twice about nearing you but they could as well take it as a challenge. It truly was a useless weapon, but of course as a simple sport it would be enough. Couldn’t actually think anything would be wrong about archery as a sport, now would I?

She looked up when I spoke and I kept that smile on my face, my clothes were casual, not a suit and whatnot normally required when you had a job such a mine, a suit in a beach would draw more attention. The only other possibly notable difference that presented itself was the lack of shoes. "Yes, it is. And it’s a shame that I'm not walking, but relaxing is what I like to do best." she replied. Her hand stretched and stroked her bow; I pretended not to notice and instead met her gaze easily. It was, much better to play ignorant little walking twit, that experienced with guns and other kinds of weapons assassin who had a revolver right now hidden in a place that’s rather uncomfortable, but I’m not going to say where to keep you curious, ha! Anyway, from when she talked to me I quickly made her a vampire, those fangs that poked through her gums were far longer and sharper to be a humans, either way, if I wanted I could just pull out my gun and shoot, besides I really doubted this pleasant conversation would last more than a few milliseconds, I was itching to be far away from this wretched beach, especially since I had better things to do than enjoy a chat with a paranoid vampire. Remembering the girl’s pathetic existence I met her gazes that smile never faltering from my expression “Well, too each their own right.”

[/color] I replied, my voice being kept neutral and polite, it was simply how anyone would speak upon meeting a stranger and that was it, nothing more, nothing else.

"Well... I guess I am, but it's the only thing that I have to protect myself with. I'm not experienced in handling a gun, or a knife, or a sword. The only thing that I know how to use is my bow and arrows." she replied quietly.

She just confessed that the only tool she had to protect herself with was a bow and arrow, that was dangerous, she was stupid that was for sure, how was she to know that I didn’t have company and right now they could be sneaking behind her and traffic her. Of course I didn’t deal with any of that, but it could be possible, it would be simple to snatch her bow from her and maybe stab her with her own arrow. On top of that she also said that it was the only thing she could fight with, so I wouldn’t have to worry about any kind of mortal hand-to-hand combat of any kind, although I was experienced in that field, but not nearly enough as with my gun and little torturing methods. I preferred something that would cause more pain at the same time as have some function, repeatedly kicking and punching wasn’t my style, but the point here was that she just tightened the grip on her bow and was waiting my reply, still my eyes meeting hers, I had nothing to hide so I shouldn’t be avoiding her gaze, after all. “If you think a weapon is necessary in the first place, why not carry something more… modern?” [/color] I suggested , it was after all common knowledge that criminals in London preferred guns and knives.[/blockquote]

[Caitlyn Isabelle O'Shea]

If you think a weapon is necessary in the first place,why not carry something more... modern?

I closed my eyes and clenched my jaw. Don't lose it... don't lose it... don't lose it... I kept repeating this in my head, trying to calm myself. It didn't work. My eyes flew open and I sprang to my feet, bring my bow and arrows with me. I stiffened and said,"You want to see why? Or do you want to know why? Oh wait I can tell you and show you at the same time." I narrowed my eyes and then turned around and walked away from him. There was a tree not too far away. I walked to it and stopped. I didn't care if he had followed me or not, but if he followed me, then he saw what exactly i put on the tree.

I pulled a blue ribbon, a nail and some scissors out of my bag. I cut the ribbon into a small square just big enough for the arrow. I nailed the ribbon to the tree. (Don't ask me how.) And walked back to where I had been standing before. I saw the tiny ribbon and smiled. This would be my biggest challenge yet. I pulled out an arrow and strung it on the bow. I pulled back and aimed.

After taking a deep breath, I released the arrow. It went flying through the night, faster than lightning. (Not really. An arrow can't fly that fast) It hit the tree and I smiled. I hadn't missed. I walked over to the tree, motioning for him to follow. When I reached the tree, I pointed at the arrow that had gone straight through the center of the ribbon.

"You see? This is why I don't carry something more modern. I'm better with a bow and arrow than any other weapon. I know that this arrow might not stand up to a vampire or a werewolf, but that's why I have these..." I pulled out a silver arrow. "If it drives through someone in the right place, it will kill them. As soon as it hits something, the gases inside it spread through that thing. It kills almost instantly. It's something that I created because I knew that I was only experienced with a bow and arrow. It helps me protect myself and people I care about." My voice was calm as I spoke.

For some odd reason, I felt that I could tell this stranger everything. I knew that I probably shouldn't, but I did any way. I knew that he probably already thought that I was stupid for telling him that the only thing that I had to protect me was a lame bow and arrow, but after what I had just shone him and told him, I hoped that he would understand.

I looked down at the arrow that I still held in my hands. Maybe I shouldn't have told this guy what I have...

[AKREE]

She was pissed and for some reason that greatly amused me. She seemed hell-bent in thinking that a bow and arrow could do anything to a vampire, trust me you could stuff that thing with exploding powder and it wouldn’t do anything to a vampire and werewolf, it was too slow for a werewolf and in any way shape or form would that even get a vampire and if it did, the vampire would pull it out and be on his/her merry way. The arrow had to take something not only vital with it, but it had to punch it well through, the heart wouldn’t do, vampires really didn’t need their heart it was there like Christmas lights on a tree, they were nice to look at and made everything seem normal. So our little rabbit here had to pierce the brain in which case it would be impossible, judging by those arrow they couldn’t pierce through a skull enough to instantly kill a vampire. It would take a minute or two before the effect of an arrow killed the vampire, by then our little villain vampire would have ripped her to shreds if that’s what she wanted, the vampire would start feeling a light headache after ripping her to shreds than fall dead. I would know, I was basically trained my whole life to kill vampire and werewolves, this was just some idiot girl that thought we were still in medieval times and a prince would come and sweep her of her feet. Very nice, very fairy-tale-ish. Of course we were in the late twenty first century and in no way near medieval times, thus arrows were useless to vampires or werewolves, she could kill a human though, of course she was a vampire she might as well take that sucker and punch his brains out. If you were going to carry a weapon at all carry something that works. Either way, let’s say she could actually hit a werewolf or vampire with one measly arrow, she had to pick another one up, notch it, point and then pull back so the arrow actually flied through the air, takes to much time. By then she would be seven feet under the dirt and mud. Arrow were to slow, would be faster to just pick one up and throw it at someone with all your strength, had much more effect than with a measly bow behind it. The bow limited the vampire’s strength, if a vampire used all the punch they have and applied it to the bow we would rip it to shreds, let’s face it, bows and arrows were completely and utterly useless. A sword was much more convenient, you could hack that sucker’s head off and it worked faster, wouldn’t break if you had a good sharpened sword. In fact screw sharpness, you could hack a head off, would take much more work, but believe me with a sword constantly slashing at your neck you won’t have much thought besides maybe going “GET THIS THING OFF ME AHHHHHHHH” etcetera, etcetera.

I was jolted from my thoughts by some movement besides me and I noticed my little caveman walking towards a tree. She dug savagely through her pack picked up something that looked like… a strip… of… I squinted to catch what the flash of blue was… a ribbon apparently. I arched a brow, what was the caveman up to now? Oh and if case your wondering why I’m calling her a caveman it’s because that’s what she is, primitive, like a caveman. Kind of reminds me of those Geico commercials ‘so easy a caveman could do it!’ well I’m afraid she falls in that caveman category, I can bet she’s offended every time she sees that commercial like the caveman from Geico… Anyway, I was beginning to wonder what the fuck she was exactly trying to prove when she returned with the bow and arrow still in hand. By this time both my eyebrows almost disappeared into my hairline, but she seemed furiously concentrated on something so I let her do whatever she wanted, I wasn’t worried about the bow and arrow, I could easily dodge the damned thing, then I would pull my gun and shoot her. See, simple and caveman-ish. Either way, she shot the arrow with what I think must be experience –caveman experience at that, but you get the point and hit the little blue square of ribbon on the other side. But her aim didn’t matter, in fact her good aim could be the death of her because the tree was standing stock still, now if you really wanted that challenge fix that square right between a wolf’s eyes and try to hit that sucker, can bet you can’t do that and you have to be able to do that to kill werewolves neatly and cleanly. Proving my point that arrows were completely useless, she could hit a human if they didn’t move, now I bet if I started running in zigzags she would fail miserably at even scratching me. See, again proving my point, but of course she seemed stubborn as a mule and wouldn’t listen to reason as she gestured for me to follow her and I easily complied. I was giving her good advice, but she had to be all caveman-ish about it. It was like the most intelligent mind science had trying to reason with a rude and grumpy caveman, completely and utterly useless. They would be better of dead.

"You see? This is why I don't carry something more modern. I'm better with a bow and arrow than any other weapon. I know that this arrow might not stand up to a vampire or a werewolf, but that's why I have these... If it drives through someone in the right place, it will kill them. As soon as it hits something, the gases inside it spread through that thing. It kills almost instantly. It's something that I created because I knew that I was only experienced with a bow and arrow. It helps me protect myself and people I care about." she said showing me what I believed was a silver arrow.

I couldn’t help it, she was just so ridiculous. I laughed. “There’s quite a few problem with this little weapon of yours…” I said easily snatching the arrow from the grasp and inspecting the point with a critical eye “First of all, steel it too heavy, you just slowed down the arrow, my cousin’s sick old human grandmother could dodge this.” I replied, keeping my voice polite and reasonable despite how I felt more like sneering at her for her caveman-ness. “Second of all, this myth of steel actually hurting a werewolf or a vampire is just that; complete myth, making it: you just slowed down your weapon for nothing, has the same effect a rock tip would have.” I explained, easily returning the arrow to her. I paused to gather my thought for a minute and managed to say “Making my suggestion of getting something more modern quite reasonable if you ask me, sure you’re better with an arrow but its basically useless, better not to carry any weapon at all, all you’re doing is carrying with all that dead weight if you ask me.” I said again, making sure she got the point through, she wasn’t about to go vampire and/or werewolf hunting with that crap weapon.

((Sorry for the wait))

[Caitlyn Isabelle O'Shea]

I knew he was right. Everything he had said was right. I sighed and took the pack of arrows off my back and dropped my that and my bow onto the ground. I walked back to where I had been sitting before and flopped down. I was graceful, but not as graceful as I could have been. I stared out at the ocean and a few tears fell down my cheeks. I closed my eyes to hold back the tears, and it worked. No more tears escaped my eyes. I brought my knees to my chin and wrapped my arms around my legs. I knew that people thought that I was the stupidest thing that walked the earth, that's probably why I didn't have any friends. I opened my eyes again and watched as the waves crashed against the shore.

"Someone should just kill me now." I mumbled as I looked out over the ocean. I guess you could say that I wanted to die. I didn't want to live anymore and have people think that I was stupid for carrying a bow and arrow. I didn't know how to use a gun... or a sword... or a knife... or anything like that. I was completely hopeless in this world.