Shit. It hurts. Everything fucking hurts. Every last muscle, the countless nerves in my body, everything. And I don't mean it like most people do, I feel like I'm on fire and frozen at the same time, with sharp stabbing pains covering my entire body. I don't like to use my second form for this very reason. My first form comes with its own set of side effects, mostly just muscle soreness. Like what you get after a hard workout. And if I stay that way for an extended period of time, sometimes I'll get a migraine after. I rarely ever have to crash right after I come out of the transformation, and only for a couple of hours. But the second form's side effects are excruciating, and I'll be incapacitated for most of the day.

One of the things I hate the most about my "condition", other than the fact that I have a damn demon talking to me all the time, is that I don't have to sleep. I'm aware of everything around me when I'm resting. I hear the bloodsucker go to my bathroom and drink one of her bags of blood. Then she showers for a while. I hear her make her way into my room and rummage around for some clothes, then she comes back out and I hear her starting on a second bag of blood.

After a few minutes, I hear her sob. Just once. For some reason, I find myself wondering why.

"Ooooo, little Titus has a new pet. I wonder how long he'll keep her before he puts her down."

"Wrath, shut the hell up. I'm in no mood. If you haven't noticed, I'm dealing with some very nasty side effects right now, and it's taking a lot out of me. I would really appreciate it if you would shut the fuck up."

"Oooooohhhhhhh, Titus, you really know how to hurt someone's feelings, don't you? I'm just trying to make friendly conversation. We don't do that often enough."

"What is there for us to talk about? You share a body with me, I don't really like you, you give me supernatural powers, and that's pretty much it."

"Oh really now? I like to think I can carry on a good conversation, given the chance..."

"Just shut up for now dammit! I'm in no mood!"

"Jeez, fine!"

I hear him a little later say, rather sulkily, "And I thought I was bad. Hell, my name is Wrath, after all..."

Oh well. All I can tell him to do is suck it up.

It seemed like I had laid there for hours, more like felt that way. My back was stiff and my arm was numb from being curled up by my face. Sitting up, I flexed my arm a few times, laughing silently to myself. It's not like much circulation was going on in me anyway. I really did feel like laughing, for the first time in a long time, I wanted to hug my ribcage and laugh until I couldn't see passed the blood tears.

Running a hand through my crazed-looking curls, I looked to Titus. He was still spread out on the couch and looked to be fighting in his "sleep". I crawled across the floor and sat on my knees beside him, truly curious about this man, this man living with a demon and a hell of a past.

I raised a pale hand, slowly, hesitantly; not knowing if he liked to be to touched.

My hand was just about to touch his face when a knock sounded at the door. It was Vlad, I could smell his fear and excitement. Rising in one fluid movement, I went to the door and opened it an inch, peeking out at him. He was smiling nervously and holding a bag of blood that had large "V" scrawled on it. "P-Please take it, it is mine to give," he said softy, stuttering. I noticed that he was a lot paler under that white make up and wondered how much he took from his own body. Regarding him closely, I opened the door a little wider. His contacted eyes scoured over my body and he like he wanted to get on his knees and worship me.

I lifted my hand to his face and he didn't flinch away, I was glad for that. "What do you see when you look at me, Vlad?" I asked softly, truly curious.

Curiosity killed this cat long ago.

He flushed and smiled at me and said: "I see a beautiful creature, a lovely young woman that will be that way forever."

I had to look away, my hand slipped from his flesh, so stunned by his words that I stood there motionless. I looked down at he blood in my hand, then back into the room at the resting Titus. "Thank you, maybe I can com out to play later, love." Vlad's eyes lit up but his smile was sad. "Yes, I would like that. " And with that he walked away.

I closed the door with a bang and looked at Titus. "Time to wake up massa!!!!!" I said loudly and skipped around the room.

The blissful silence I had for a few hours was cut short by Vlad knocking on my door. I ignore the short exchange he and the bloodsucker have. Then she decides she's going to wake me up. Still calling me master.... And it still creeps me out. I'm a bit pissed at being woken up. I don't like being woken up, I get up when I damn well feel like it.

I sit up slowly. "I hate being woken up. You're smart for not deciding to scare me awake. The last idiot who did that ended up losing his head."

I sit there for a bit, thinking. I may as well ask her name. I may be rough around the edges, but I'm not a complete brute.

"I can't keep calling you 'bloodsucker', so enlighten me. What's your name?"

My first thought was to make fun of him for being cranky, but thought better of it. My eyebrows arched up.. Decapitated, eh? Hmm. That's doesn't sound like fun at all. "Good thing I didn't touch your grouchy ass, damn.." I couldn't help muttering. Then it hit me all of sudden.

What the FUCK am I doing?! This guy has killed countless of my kind and here I am, chillin' all up in his place?! WHAT THE FUCK?! My thoughts were still bouncing around my head when he asked my name. I looked him in the eye and said: "Alarica Muse, sir." Hoping my eyes weren't giving anything away, I stopped skipping around the living room, the bag of blood in my hand becoming all attention-consuming, wondering just how good Vlad may taste.

My thoughts were still crazy and all but I actually gave them some thought. I never really did get along with other vampires, they always made fun of me. For being so young, so new, so.. Childish. Oh, and for still having humanity. Yup, I don't like killing people like I once did, so I somewhat got my humanity back. I still have to feed and whatnot, but, let's just say I won't be making the news anytime soon.

Then, another thought stuck me: "Uhm, I hope you don't mind, but I borrowed some clothes.. It was either do that or run around naked and I think Vlad would have died of a broken heart if he thought you had me that way.." I couldn't stop the words from tumbling out of my mouth. No filter, AT EFFING ALL. Honestly, I wanted to laugh, but I was close enough to Titus to were, if he wanted, he could very easily choke me.

I stared down at the blood bag in my hands and chewed my lip, a nervous habit I've had forever, hoping to God that Titus wouldn't freak out. Nervous as I was, I still noticed things, like I was kneeling in front of him with my head bow.. Where did this crazy obedience come from? And I couldn't control my mouth: "I"m sorry for speaking so rashly."

Can't help it that, I'm a loud, blabber mouth of the South...

Alarica Muse? Sounds like a pop star I've never heard of.

She talks to me like a servant would a master, and it unnerves me. I'm not used to complete and utter submission. I've seen it only a few times, but I was in the process of killing the ones who were begging for their lives.

I think for a little while longer. There is something different about this vampire. Something not in the norm. Something... unconventional.

I answer her rambling a little gruffly. "OK, for one, you can drop the formalities. No more of this "master" and "sir" shit, and you can stop with the bowing and subservience. You aren't here to be my servant, you don't have to address me like you are. And as for the clothes, I don't care. I appreciate you not running around naked, Wrath would never shut the fuck up then.... And as for Vlad, he's probably jealous enough as it is, I don't need him holding a grudge. It wouldn't be very healthy for him."

She's right about Vlad. His heart would have shattered into tiny pieces. And then he would have most likely confronted me, and I would have to stop him. I really don't want to hurt Vlad, but if he gives me reason to, I will. He can be useful, and I would hate to lose that.

I think I know what's different about her. That thing in her eyes that I saw that told me she wouldn't feed on me, I know what it is.

Its a little spark of humanity. A soul.

My eyebrows fly into my hairline and I started cracking up... "Holy Jesus...” Flies out of my mouth before I can stop.  But, whatever. I stand up slowly and look back him. "So, Wrath, huh?" I purred my green eyes half closed. Bedroom eyes, I think that's what they're called, not that I did on purpose. It was just a thing I did when I knew I was getting under someone's skin.

I really didn't want to irk him too bad, but he just made it so easy. Like way too easy. A small giggled escaped me lips and I shut myself up by taking a small sip of Vlad-in-a-bag.
Colors exploded in front of my face and I laughed from the sheer joy of it. This was fresh, really fresh blood, like fresh out the vein blood. I had to sit down before my dumb ass falls over and causes another fussin' to happen.

I was sitting in front of the sofa and giggling softly as the colors dance and my head somewhat fuzzed over. A blood high, was that what I was experiencing? I haven’t felt this in ages and it’s glorious. My head lolled back and I peeked at Titus, scrunched up my face and giggled loudly and obnoxiously.

“S’not my fault the little blood bag likes me…” I said and hissed softly.
The sudden urge to play was strong; I had to fight the urge to call Vlad to me. Drinking his blood gave me a certain, but weak, link to the humanoid. And hewas just a few doors away…

Have to be good, have to be good; I was thinking too much, like when I smoke a cigarette.  My brain goes into overdrive and I solve crazy shit like, world hunger.

I cleared my throat and shook my head to clear it, trying to think coherently. I didn’t succeed and accidently called Vlad to me. I nearly jumped out of my skin when he knocked at the door; I rose slowly to answer it, when I thought struck me… Why was Titus tied up with the badass ninja vamps tonight?

I pushed the thought aside and let Vlad enter, not caring if Titus minded or not. Vlad immediately wrapped himself around me.  “It’s okay,” I whispered and stroked his dark hair from his eyes. I smiled and bestowed a kiss on his warm cheek. His color had returned to normal, he had washed the make up from his skin, looking more human.
I walked back to the sofa and slowly lowered myself to the ground, Vlad still super glued to my hip.

“Why exactly were you captured tonight, Titus?” I asked, knowing that something deeper than what he told me had happened. Vlad was curled around me, head on my lap, making that cute purring sound. I stroked his  head and waited for Titus to answer.

It's funny. Utterly comical. I know about the link established between vampire and human when the vampire gets the blood by secondary means. It's a little tidbit of information Wrath shared with me in the early days.  Vlad was at my door within seconds of her first sip of the bag. Poor weak minded fool...

Alarica pets him like the cat he's pretending to be. More purring. Damn. Kid's got it bad. Then she asks me what I've been expecting to hear for a little while now. Why was I captured.

I take a moment to get my thoughts together.

"I was captured on purpose. Do you really think I could be captured by vampires? Really? You're probably wondering why I let myself get captured. To shorten a long story, my family was killed by a couple of your kind. The rage I felt awakened Wrath, and we kicked some ass. For years I thought they were just a couple of hungry vamps off the street. But about three years ago, I found out that they weren't just a couple of random vampires. They were sent by another one. It was a hit. I was in a bar one night, when a couple of suckers came in. I didn't want to make a scene in the bar, so I decided to wait until they left so I could follow them out and kill them. I was listening to their conversation to pass the time, then one of them brought up something about a hit they remembered. How their boss, who they called Aaron Spade, had sent a couple of vampires they knew to kill a family he wanted dead. They continued on about these two like they were remembering old friends. I listened a bit longer and found out they were in fact there to drink to their memory. Apparently, one member of the family was a bit stronger than they anticipated. Wrath was halfway out before the two left the bar. I held him in until they left, and then we killed them. I did some investigating after that night, and found out why this Aaron Spade wanted me and my family dead. It turns out, I am one of a long line of talented slayers. My son was next in line. I had no idea until about a year and a half ago. I was 'captured' tonight because I was trying to get closer to Spade. I want him dead. More than any other vampire, I want this fucker dead. And I will see him dead before I die, even if it kills me. If i see him die first, I can die happy."

I sit back and wait for her response.

My hand never slowed its movement through Vlad’s thick, dark hair, while Titus spoke. I did break eye contact with him when he said Aaron’s name.  Breathing deeply, I looked back at Titus and said flatly, “He’s my maker, I want him dead just as much as you do.” I sounded so dead, even to myself, but the undercurrent was of danger. Pure danger.

I hated Aaron more than anyone could ever know.” If I would have been strong enough to kill him when I was first changed, I would have done it,” I said my eyes looked to Vlad’s face. He looked so loving, so concerned. My smile was dead and fake, but I showed it to him anyway.  I brought the bag of blood to my lips and took a long pull of the delicious liquid, an excited squeal escaped Vlad’s mouth and I truly smiled then. Oh this delightful little creature, I thought.

I didn’t realize I was shaking until Vlad sat up and nuzzled my neck, his arms wrapped around me slowly, carefully. “I’m okay, love, really,” I tried to lie, but my voice gave me away. It shook with so much emotion, it scared me. I wanted revenge, not only for myself but for Titus, and anyone else that Aaron may have hurt.

“Titus…” I began, not knowing how far an apology from a vampire would go. “I’m sorry about the brutal lose of your family. Aaron is an evil bastard and he needs to be stopped.  ”

A single blood tear fell down my cheek and I completely came undone. “FUCKING EVIL BASTARD! YOU HAD CHILDREN!” I screamed with such passion that Vlad actually inched away. I stood and began to pace the room, my mind going a mile a minute. Where is he hiding? Where, where are you Aaron?

My link with Aaron had been slightly crippled when I tried to end my own life. No one wants to willingly be a blood sucker, I don’t care what anyone says, even Vlad. It’s not just some sexy fantasy, not for even a second. It’s survival in a world that doesn’t want you. Never, ever wants you.

I looked to both of the guys. Vlad was slowly recovering from my outburst and Titus was well, being Titus. “I’m trying to re-establish my link with Aaron. It’s going to take a little time, so shush and let me concentrate.”

I stood by the window and closed my eyes; I let my hand flutter up to the glass. I touched it lightly and tuned everything else out.

It came to me in a flash, so quick, just like old times. I opened my eyes and said, “He’s at The Hookah on Decatur Street.” Not giving them time to think, I walked out the door having crossed the room in a flash.

No plan. No rational thought. Just revenge.

“Come on, guys!” I called from the main door of the complex.

“I’m so ready for this.” The sickest smile crossed my face and I started walking.

I'm taken by surprise when she mentions that this Aaron guy is the one who changed her. My head starts spinning with ideas the moment she says she knows this bastard and wants him dead too. I hear her talking some more, but I don't take it in entirely because Wrath is feeling frisky again. He screams "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! OOOOOOOOO HOT DAMN, WE GONNA GET HIM GOOD!!! GONNA GET THIS FUCKER REEAAAAALLLYYYY GOOOOOD!!!!!!" This is one of the rare occasions I actually don't tell him to shut up. I feel the same way, excited that we get the chance to kill the fucker who caused me so much pain and torment. I can feel Wrath's energy begin to teem, but I hold him back for now. "Hold on stupid, we aren't even close to him yet. Pull in the reigns for now." For once, he doesn't give me any lip.

I'm snapped out of my thoughts by Alarica screaming at the top her lungs, “FUCKING EVIL BASTARD! YOU HAD CHILDREN!”. I'm confused, but I'll ask her later what she means, because right now, she doesn't look like she's in much of a mood for sharing. She has rage in her eyes. Pure, primal rage. I like that look. It suits her better than the total subservience she showed a few moments ago.

I get an idea. Maybe, I can use her help. I really have no need to kill her. She could be useful to me in finding Aaron. And, I've grown, not really attached, but accustomed to her already. She's the only conscious entity I've shared more than a few sentences with other than Wrath, and he's annoying as fuck most of the time. Before I can run my idea by her, she says “I’m trying to re-establish my link with Aaron. It’s going to take a little time, so shush and let me concentrate.”

She has a link to Aaron!? I didn't know that vampires could have a link to one another, I just though that they shared a link with humans who's blood they drank indirectly. Now that I think about it, it makes sense. Aaron had to feed on her to change her, and to be changed, the victim can't be sucked dry. It only makes sense that a link would be established.

Before I sink deeper into thought, she blurts out “He’s at The Hookah on Decatur Street”, then heads out the door. I tell Vlad to go home, then follow her out right as she calls “Come on, guys!” from the entrance to the apartments. I catch her before she goes too much further.

"Alright, hold on. I can see the anticipation carved all over your face, and trust me, I feel the same. But its complete idiocy for us to just bust in on him unprepared. We need a plan. That link you share with him, its useful. We don't need to rush over to him right now, since you can find out where he is at any time. Get back in here so we can figure out our next move."

With that, I turn and walk back into the complex. Vlad is still sitting in my apartment. I stare at him for a moment, then he heads out the door, I'm assuming back to his place. I sit and start to think.

(Sorry so short, better post next time! Promise.)

My mind is spinning, Titus barely made sense to me. I was faintly aware that my legs were moving me back to his apartment. Once inside I passed by Vlad and kept going. I think I heard him sigh but was to gone to really take notice of him. Back inside of Titus' place, I immediately went to the window and threw it wide open and lit a joe. I felt numb and dead-er than usual. "Titus," I began my voice was barely a whisper, "Titus... I.."

The memories started floating back and I nearly collapsed to the floor. The words just starting flowing, I couldn't stop them.

"He killed the man I loved more than life itself and made me have a miscarriage.." The pain was blinding and I melted to the floor, joe flying out of my hand out the window as I tried to stay up right. "My twins, Titus, he took my babies from me.." When I opened my mouth next a scream like nothing that ever been hear left my lips and pierced the air. The tears flow down but I spoke through them. "Him made me this monster, he did this to me!! Jealous, hateful FUCKFACE!" My body shook with tremendous force and I feared I was going to vomit. Feeling the blood run down my chin, I tried to stop biting my lip; the only thing to stop me from screaming again.

I hugged my knees to my chest and let loose a sob that would break in asshole's heart and continued to shake. I felt so small and breakable at that moment, but now.. Now Titus knew my pain and my turmoil and my sorrow. My eyes wandered over to him and I heaved a sigh.

I've never seen a vampire in so much agony. Well, not emotional agony. It's a new experience for me. She tells me of how her lover and unborn twins were taken from her by this bastard. At that moment, something clicked inside my head. Compassion. Shit, I'm feeling compassion for an undead creature of the night... Hell must be freezing over.

She's sitting on my floor, vulnerable and crying. I get up and cross the room to where she is. Kneeling down, I look her in the eyes.
"We'll find him. We'll find him, and we'll make him suffer. Then we'll kill him in the slowest, most agonizing way possible."

I never thought I would work side by side with a vampire.

My eyes never left his face as he spoke, for I knew he was telling me the truth. We would end that bastard before he destroyed someone else's life.

I turned around lifted my borrowed shirt to reveal the names of my dead daughters: Lydia Rose and Allie Michelle. "They were going to be my world.. Along with Sylas, my lover.." I whispered.

In essence, we shared the same pain. In difference we were turned into different monsters.

Wow, that thought actually just occurred to me.. "How long have you been stuck with Wrath?" I asked in a low voice, my eyes still holding steady to his. I was trying to change the subject, I didn't like dwelling on my most recent loses. So, I was giving him a chance to tell me his history, though I gave him a watered down version of my own.

It was show and tell time in my books

Daughters. She had daughters. Christ....  It takes a soulless fucker to kill little girls. It takes someone worse to kill unborn baby girls. I can hear Wrath howling in the back of my mind. He and I don't share much, but our views on killing children are the same.

"Let's go Titus! LET'S GET THIS BASTARD! I may be evil, but I'm not going to stand by and let this bastard kill children!"

"Just hold on dammt. We are not running into this half cocked. I feel the same way, but if we dive in headfirst without a bit of planning, we're just fucking ourselves. Hold out for a bit longer."

I hear Alarica ask me how long I've been stuck with Wrath. I'm not in a mood for sharing, but I suppose I do owe her a bit of an explanation.

"We've always shared the same body. He's been with me since the day I was born. He just didn't feel like showing up until my family was slaughtered. I always felt that something was inside me, but I was never sure what until then."

I find the parallel in our situations layered with irony. If I believed in such things as "fate" or "destiny", I would tie this together using those terms in a long corny monologue. But I think things like fate and destiny are total bullshit. 

In the blink of an eye, I was standing and lighting another Joe. Wrath's been there forever, eh? Takes a blood bath to awaken the beast within. My face is surprisingly blank, almost calm looking. "You're such a romantic, Titus," I said, slowly stepping closer to the window. He didn't feel like talkin' and I didn't feel like just sittin' there.

Pacing around this dank, dark gloomy-feelin' hellhole wasn't solvin' anything. "You need to come up with a plan or something, I'm beyond restless." I was so close to jumpin' out of my skin, I couldn't stand myself. Before I knew it, Vlad was knockin' on the door and I flew into his arms as soon as he was in the room.

Not liking myself, I knocked him up against the wall and bit into his neck, softly and as gently as possible. He moaned softly and dug his fingers into my back, holding me close as I shivered with relief. I licked the wound clean and watched as it poofed into nothing, I smiled blankly up at Vlad and he kissed me.

I pushed him away and stared at his broken face. “I’m not for you, love,” I said softly and walked to the sofa. Instead of sitting down, I stomped it in the middle, sending wood splinter past me. The smile on my face was barely noticeable.

“Sorry ‘bout that.. I’m freakin’ out over here.” Not the best reason for breaking someone’s shit, but what else could she say? I took a drag from my joe and looked from Titus to Vlad, flicking my joe out the window I smiled at them…

…

Then passed out as the sun came up.