Burden of Payne

-1729, The year mine existence changed for an eternity- [For as long as I could recall the Sanctuary's seeing-pool had called unto me, and silently as any other Chosen I would watch over the only thing that warmed mine cold and bitter heart. Vishous. Mine blooded brother, my twin. From young unto fully developed male. I'd watched him grow, wishing I could share a life with him, away from both our unwitting circumstances. Together. We had shared the womb of our vampiric race's bitch of a mother, the Scribe Virgin. Our Mahmen. The term was not an endearment within my thoughts, but a curse spat upon the being who'd birthed us into this terrible existence. 

I felt Vishous' pain this night more acutely than ever before, and over the last two decades I had witnessed many atrocities within the BloodLetter's camp. Or more accurately, our sire's camp. The sadistic male showed no favor upon his only son, instead made a marked lesson of him to all within his savage troupe. Vishous. Verily, I could not help but wonder anew if the nomenclature of his birthed syllables were a reflection of the vicious actions wrought upon his being, and not an indication of the male he would some day grow into. 

My fists found a tight grip upon the edge of the seeing-pool, unable to look away from the horrific events unfolding therein. Thus far our sire had seen to the defiling of Vishous and, as if that was not enough for his perverse nature to visit upon mine brother, he had Vishous' skin permanently marked to warn others of his supposed evil ways. Once these acts were complete I hoped, prayed to the fates, that the Bloodletter was finished. The appearance of a filth covered tool gave answer. I wept openly as Vishous was held down and the device was clamped into place; fore his screams of agony became near unbearable to stomach. Oh fates, his screams, how mine ears wanted to bleed from them.

When Vishous' skin burst with a light so bright as to be blinding the luminance melted away the metal viced on his flesh and incinerated his captors within a blink. This last caused an growl to rumble up from inside my chest, approving of his swift vengeance. I watched mine beloved twin drag his large frame from the Bloodletter's camp, his blooded and thrashed skin becoming embedded with shards of sodium rich soil. And in that moment a vow formed in my thoughts. No matter how long it took, I would find our blooded sire and snuff him from existence. He would receive no mercy…. ]

-Present- [Memories shifted within my mind while my white robed form hung in suspended animation, hidden within the Scribe Virgin's Sanctuary. They were reminders of why I was in this current state and whom was responsible. One debt had been paid. Verily, the bastard Bloodletter was dead, his blood on mine own hands. And though it had taken nigh onto 30 years to hunt down the male harming mine brother, Vishous, I -had- found a way to escape this side and destroyed him. Verily the memories of that time were aught that kept me sane in this never-ending stillness forced upon my being…. ] 

-1761, the Old Country- The hunt for my sire, and the smaller band of soldiers he now preferred, was over. I had escaped Sanctuary and would taste vengeance this night. My blood teamed with adrenaline, ready to be release at the slightest mental command. Materializing outside a small village I saw the Bloodletter and his small horde battle a group of Lessers, the spawn of the Omega. None gave no care to the human habitants, slaughtering without hesitation. The Bloodletter, on his massive stead, galloped after a terrified human female. Leaning to the side he snatched her up with ease and viciously clamped fangs unto her neck despite her frantic struggles. 

Braced for battle I willed molecules to scatter upon the wind and reform within his horse's path. The male did not slow, but I could tell when he noticed my presence, fore he tossed the human like a piece of unfinished meat. With the ease of a practiced fighter my body lowered into an attack stance and when the Bloodletter drew near I vaulted onto the back of his horse, wrapping both arm around his waist and launching us clear to the side with a swiftness that belied my sex. The big male attempted to go for his blade but it was too late. The hatred I'd nursed inside burst out in the form of a battle cry fierce enough to cause the strongest warriors to take pause. I whispered one word.]  Vishous. 

[While the Bloodletter's grizzled face showed confusion my body began to glow with an unearthly inner fire. And, as Vishous' had done that night he'd been brutalized, my touch set our sire aflame almost instantly. I leapt off, but stood close enough to feel the heat, needing to witness his screams and his failed attempts to put out the fire until he lay still in death, leathery corpse burning. Pure satisfaction. My lips curved into a cruel smile and I looked up and into the half shadowed countenance of one of his band. Though He said nothing I could feel his need to strike out mingling with a healthy fear of being burned alive. Before he could do more I willed myself to dematerialize, slowly dissolving into molecules until disappeared…. ]

-Present- [At that moment I became aware of my surroundings and though mine eyes were closed I felt her presence surely as if she had placed hand upon mine skin. The Scribe Virgin. Rage, like that I had for the Bloodletter, rose to the surface. Verily, this bitch had left me to rot herein and I was ready to put her down as I had mine own sire. She did not speak but after a few moments passed I felt a warm rush of molecules wash over mine skin, causing a tingling sensation. As soon as I found I was able I opened diamond colored eyes, so like my twin Vishous's and latched upon our madmen.] "Daughter." [I replied with equal ease and forthrightness.] Fuck you.

Calling Card

Butch

I got him, V! Go for that other fucker! –Alright, maybe that was a little premature but I was damned if that pasty assbag was getting out of this alley. I glanced over my shoulder at you before turning my attention back to my prey. The lesser was a fairly new recruit, his hair retaining a little of the brown it had been when he’d still been human. But, Jesus he was quick. Was the Omega making buttboys out of last season’s prospective draft picks? Hand clenched around my dagger, shitkickers thundering on the cracked asphault, I rounded a dumpster and said a quick Hail Mary, darting through a service corridor and barreling right into the lesser as I came out the other end, tackling him to the ground and burying the blade in his shoulder- The fuck you goin’ in such a hurry, man? The party’s just starting.

Vishous

-Fuck, was it a night. At least when paired up with the cop, I had a sure thing going on with letting off some steam. We had been on patrol not more than an hour or so and the hound caught the goddamn powdery scent. In a second, all jokes were cast aside and we had our game on. A few blocks over, shit went down, like two bats out of hell the relatively new inductees bolted from whatever shithole they had crawled from. Who knows what was back there but it sure as hell wasn't a bake-sale. Diamond eyes focused on my target when Butch pointed in the direction of the Omega's bitch, I was in the zone. Shitkickers crunching on the pavement as we go in separate directions. With a last glance to my partner, I nodded and went down with the stinker. Rounding the corner, I got a good look where he was going and dematerialized just a few feet away from him. Pivoting on my feet, I slammed my shoulder into his ribs, making him lose his footing and crush him into the rotting brick wall lining the passage-

Butch

-pulling the dagger free, I jam it into the bone of fuckboy’s other shoulder, pinning him like a bug on a slide- I said… stop… squirming! –cranking the blade in place and smirking at his howl of pain as he finally drops his piece, knocking it under a pile of rank garbage bags- Where’s the fire, pal? You got a date grabbing your ankles for the bossman? -“Fuck off, freak!” He kicked out, nearly bucking me off and I shifted all my weight onto my knee, grinding down on his solar plexus, cracking his ribs with a satisfying crunch- He must have picked you for the looks, ‘cause he sure as hell didn’t do it for your brains. What were you and Tweedledumber back there doing? –Dead eyes trained on mine, lips blackened with blood curled into a sneer “Your mom. Think she liked it, too.” Eyes narrowing to slits, I wrenched the blade free and buried it in his gut- Yeah? You like that, fuckstick? No recycling bin for you this time, either. –leaning in almost nose to nose- Game over. –breathing deep until the fog of evil that animated him was gone, its rank essence filling my lungs and seeping out my pores until I sit back on the corpse, coughing and wiping the back of a hand over my mouth as I look around for V-

Vishous

-hearing the grunts and sounds of battle not too far from my place, but I was barely listening, my boy had this and I had my own problem to take care of. The pale one grunted and rolled to his side, making me miss my footing for a split second, but not enough to give him room for more fight. Growling I connect a few jabs on his already fucked up ribs, one-two-three... each blow making me breathe in the sickeningly sweet scent. Dodging the hit that was sure to make me see double, shifting my weight on my feet as I easily slide my blade out of my sheath in the same more. I manage to slice his wrist open, landing some of the oily blood on my shitkicker, making him lose the tube he had managed to grab on his way out of whatever place he had crawled out of. The incoherent string of curses that came from his lips didn't face me, if anything it only served to make my cool turned icy with calculation. Flashing a menacing grin just before I stab into his thigh and twist the blade until it hits bone. A very un-male yelp came from the gurgling sonofabitch which just made me laugh. Once again, the blade was out and dripping from the disgusting blood. I took a step back, only enough to kick his weapon aside and watching him fall on his ass- Not your fucking night, huh? –calculating the intent in his eyes I land a good hard kick to his stomach that had him gasping for air. Sure thing, he was seeing stars-

 Butch

-sitting back on my haunches and wiping the stained blade of the dagger on my thigh, I grab the lesser’s wallet from an oil slick of grime and rise to shaky feet, shoving it into my pocket and swallowing back the bile rising in my throat, scanning around for my partner- V? –neck cranking toward a gurgled scream, plowing through stagnant puddles back toward the fork I’d taken after the lesser, falling back when the mangled body crashes into my chest. Quickly catching him in a full nelson, I grin up at Vishous- You lose something, brother?

Vishous

-taking my time as I take a few steps into the direction the lesser was attempting on going. My smirk only growing when I see that he bashes into Butch who with quick movements turns the pathetic piece of shit into an oily punching bag. I laugh at Butch's taunt- Nah, this fucker -raising my oily blood stained dagger to the lesser you held, his attempts turning into pathetic little squirms while his eyes widen in fear- is right -the point of the blade pressed firmly right against the lesser's jugular- where he should be -barely letting him get another squeak out before I make a quick slash all the way through. The joker would be damn proud of the wide smile I had just scored on this fucker's neck. Taking a step back at the same time Butch lets the bleeding asshat fall face first on the pavement- fun times, true –wiping the dagger on the side of my thigh-

Butch

Yeah. Fucking laugh riot. –crouching down and flipping the lesser, flicking hazel eyes up to V’s for a second before dropping my head and inhaling, filth seeping through me until I nearly gagged but not stopping until all that was left of the pale nightmare was the fading stench of powder and decay, bobbing and weaving when I brace on the crumbling brick and push myself back up, sliding my dagger back into its holster and wincing at the strengthening waves of nausea and scenting the air, nostrils flaring at the tang of blood- You get nailed, man? Jodi’s gonna have my ass if it’s deep.

Vishous

-watching you go to work with what was left of the Omega's bitch, holstering my dagger slowly. Eyes wandering from you for mere seconds just to make sure we don't have a little party without notice around us. It seemed pretty clear, even of human scum that tended to roam the filthy back streets of Caldwell. Taking a step forward just in case, brows knitting together in concentration at the state in which you were left in after destroying our enemy. Good, huh? Dhestroyer going at it. I almost miss what you say and without thinking I let my eyes drift to my limbs.- Me?- now my senses registering what you meant... blood... and not the oily kind but the one that usually meant there was bad news to come to a poor unsuspecting family. My senses on full alert, I give you a once over and my head snaps in the direction the wind was coming - It's not me, cop, and from what I can see it's not you either- eyes flickering to yours for one of our wordless conversations. We both nod and head back to where this night begun-

Butch

-hackles still raised in expectation of more company, I follow a few paces behind you, trying not to puke at the mingled smells of dead lesser and restaurant waste, unable to shake the feeling that someone was still watching our trek back to the starting line, the coppery smell getting stronger with every step until we pushed through a makeshift cardboard shelter and I stopped cold- Oh, Christ. –the female lay in a puddle of deep maroon, steam rising from the blood left to cool in the frigid air. Kneeling down, I studied every detail, going from Dhestroyer to Cop in an instant- She’s not a vampire, brother. –brows furrowed, my focus draws to the wound on her throat- But, it looks like someone tore into her to feed –scrubs a hand over my face and looking back at you- 

Vishous

-aware of the small distance between us, I feel the hair on the back of my neck stand the closer we get to the blood that wafts through the air. Hidden to human senses but not to us. The scent lured us in and I had to slow my pace, letting you take the lead as I scan the area more closely, something about this didn't sit well with me. Messing with humans is not their usual MO I took a closer look from a different angle, her hair was wiped to the side, successfully covering most of her features. The blood had darkened her long hair, making it almost oily black, my brows drawn briefly at that- We gotta report this, be it our case or not, this female deserves to be identified -taking out my phone distractedly as I mumble that-

Butch

Yeah… -reaching out, I gently flip a lock of hair aside to see her face, jaw clenching to see her neck hadn’t been the only thing savaged, dried blood streaked around a symbol cut into the skin of her forehead, muttering under my breath- Maybe she cut herself when she fell… yeah, maybe I’m a Chinese jet pilot. –calling over my shoulder when I hear the phone snap shut, my gut knowing what I was seeing without needing to be told- Yo, V? Tell me that’s not what I think it is.

Vishous

-flipping my phone shut, still watching over you like a hawk with the knowledge that we had minutes before the first police car arrived on the scene. The cop staying true to his nature while I ponder what could possibly join our world with the human one. Taking another step to the side when you call for me and stiffening on sight. What I expected to see when Butch tried to show me what was doing, I don't know, but it sure as hell wasn't this. Blinking just to make sure that I wasn't just seeing things, crouching next to the cop to examine the gash even though I could see it from where I was just fucking fine. A symbol was carved on her forehead, much like in the movie "Inglorious Basterds", the victim was forever marked. Or at least until her body was an unrecognizable putrid skin and bones. Shit. However, the problem wasn't that... the problem was what the symbol was. V whispering at the cop, could it really fucking be? A "V" in the Old Language on the skin of this poor female... what in the fucking hell was going on here?- That's... Old Language

Butch

That’s a hell of a way to leave a calling card, my brother.  –the sound of sirens coming in the distance didn’t leave time to speculate- Caldie’s finest are on it for now, man. We gotta bail. –stepping around the body to stand next to you, clapping a hand on your shoulder to steady myself as much as break you loose from wherever your supercomputer cortex had traveled, the woman at our feet jarring memories of Janie that had never really left me, I glance down at her one last time, the glow of neon from Trade giving her hair a mahogany cast to stand out highlight her unseeing chocolate eyes- Holy. Shit. V, doesn’t she look just like…

Vishous

-the blaring sounds of the sirens almost dim to a buzz as I focus on the female's face, on the way her bloodied hair sticks to her face and the ground. Little by little the trickle of the blood formed a bigger pool of blood. The way her body was positioned she must've been restrained but... the moment your hand clasped my shoulder all thoughts disappeared and I was back right on the grim, lonely alley of Caldwell. Like a sharp blade your words sliced through me, touching base, too damn close to home for me to feel comfortable. Springing to my feet like suddenly the stench of the body was burning me, the alley seemed smaller and I had to take a deep breath that only filled my nostrils with death. In clipped words I said - Don't you fucking say it, cop-  diamond eyes focus on widened hazel ones that had just a shadow of the sickness that came with your Hoover impersonation. I shook my head slowly -don't even think it- after another look at the cold body that laid on the pavement, I clasped the cop's shoulder and nodded in the direction we’d come from, flashing red and blue from the arriving squad cars turning the female’s blood black on the concrete- Let's go- the night was young, we could still score a few more lessers before we had to go back to the compound. I would not allow this disturbing scene to fuck up with the Brotherhood's job. No. The crunching of cement under the heavy footfalls of our shitkickers rang in my ears, or was it the rush of blood that I could feel almost boiling at the scene I’d left behind me, a human female with an eerily familiar scar. No. Yet, in the back of my mind there it was. Butch's harsh whisper "Shit. V, doesn’t she look just like…" Jodi... my female. Fuck. Let this be a fucking mistake. Sweet Fade, just me overthinking. Please.