The Rose and Flame // One On One // Closed // Stalkers Are Hella Cool

God, it was incredible. That taste. Like the most decadent chocolate, the sweetest fruit, the creamiest sorbet… He couldn't get enough. He wanted it all. A sound like a lion's purr escaped his throat as he took more. He pulled Lorelei's body closer to him, a hand splayed across her lower back as the other knotted in her hair. Her body was not warm to the touch, but still it seemed to seep into him. That coolness, that strength, that…power. His own tendrils of darkness reaching out, pulling more and more, gnawing against the pillar of immense power within her. Biting at it. Attacking it. Sucking her dry–

Taran pulled away with a gasp, shoving her as far from him as he could. "Goddammit." He furiously wiped at his mouth with shaking hands. There was blood all over him. He stared at it, his jaw tense. Everything about him felt off, foreign, but his eyes felt the most bizarre. He pressed the heels of his hands onto his eyes, leaning to sit back down on the couch.

"Lorelei. What's wrong with my eyes? No. Wait. What did you do to me?"

Lorelei stumbled and fell against the door. She worked her neck and covered the wound with her hand, it would heal soon. Or at least she hoped. For a moment, her vision pulsed, fading in and out. She growled in general frustration as she got to her feet. She swayed before bracing herself against the doorframe.

"Damnit Taran, I said enough…" She muttered as she move to hold her head. She was teaching him to hunt much sooner than she had planned. No way she was letting him do that again. Not for a long time.

"You're not a child. You know what you are now. You know what I am. You know what I did to you! You're a vampire now. You drink blood, run really fast, and turn to dust in the sun." she droned dryly. "You'll get use to the upgrades. Laser eyes and bioluminescence. It's all really nice…"

She was being aloof and facetious. But she was also really out of it. Mother above, her head hurt. Her core churned with unease. She looked at Taran. Just to think, if she'd let him continue, she'd have given herself entirely to him. All of her power, all of her control. All to him.

A fledgling…

Taran snorted, looking up at her, "Nice?! You think this is nice? Why did you do this?" He stood, the movement so fast he swayed. By shear force of will he wasn't letting any of the overwhelming sensations get through. And it was overwhelming. He really wanted to curl up in a ball and hide in the corner, or let the wild monster out from under his skin. He shuddered. I will not kill.

He walked over to Lorelei, or he thought he did. One second he was over at the couch, the next he had practically slammed into her. The speed was somewhat exhilarating. Hard to control but exhilarating. "Ugh. I'm…I'm sorry…", he sighed, stepping back. "Is there any way I can go back to my life?"

He looked at her pleading. Taran knew deep in his heart that there was really no point in asking. He wasn't Taran anymore, so why would his old life fit around him?

((Hey, quick question, I don't mean to bug you, but…. are you going to continue the Blood Wars? I just really like the rp and now we're just kinda of waiting.))

Lorelei braced her hands against his chest, as if to keep him from barreling into her. "We'll…. we'll work on that." She said to him, or rather, his chest. He was tall, much taller than her. Her fingers spread wider on his pectorals. Her mind drifted to visions deep within the crevices of her long denied desires as she felt the muscles beneath the fabric of his shirt. Bare skin and sweat, ripped sheets and screams. How was he in-

Lorelei ripped her hands away as if they was on fire. What was wrong with her? How could she even contemplate such things? C'mon Lori; you have way more pressing issues on your hand than his rising libido and your will to calm it, she scolded herself. With a sigh, she leveled her gaze to his, catching only the last part of his sentence.

"Back?" She raised a brow and laughed wryly. "No."

(((I literally just remembered that I forgot about that one. D: I'll post to it asap! I'm so sorryyyyyyy!)))

Taran sighed, defeated. "I figured." He murmured, taking an exaggeratedly slow step backwards after sensing her discomfort. He stared at the ground, not sure at all what path he was on now. He thought of his family, how devestated they would be to knnow that he just up and vanished. Rebecca, especially, would be a wreck. They were closer than twins despite her being a couple years older than him. What would happen? He thought. They'll find my dead car and assume I go throttled by a serial killer? How long will they look for me? Months? Years? I guess technically I am dead.

He chuckled to himself. Dead. He was dead. And yet here he stood. In a cabin in the middle of the woods, with a gorgeous woman that had just ended his life.He laughed louder. A vampire even. A goddamn vampire. The laugh getting more and more desperate until he was shaking with sobs. "I'm sorry…" he said to Lorelei again. "I feel like I'm feeling ever emotion at once. Its insane…" He wiped his eyes on his bloodied shirt.

Taran jerked his head back so he was staring into her eyes again. "What now?"

((It's all good! Don't worry, take your time))
Lorelei watched with a ever-raising brow as Taran laughed and laughed and laughed, and then sobbed. She pitied him. She felt guilt gnawing at her insides.

He was a mess.

Tentatively, she took a step toward him. And then she sat beside him. "No, I'm sorry. I'm being insensitive. Let's start with the story…." She sighed. Crossing her legs on the couch she fisted her hair before launching into the tale, head first.

"I am a vampire, obviously. And I am fugitive, a wanted criminal. I'm on the run, hiding from the others looking for me every chance that I get. Tonight, I ran until I couldn't anymore, collapsed on the hill. I was convinced that I was either going to be found or baked. And then you came. " She looked up to him, gratitude in her eyes before she nodded in a conceding gesture. "I know, in a sick sense, you're my savior. When you came on to that hill and kneeled by my side, I planned just to take a pint or two, wipe your memory and keep moving. But…" she trailed, her head hanging. In shame. In guilt.

"I was a selfish bastard. And I took too much, I drained you. The only way I could… perhaps 'make it right', I had to turn you. So you're not completely dead. At least your mind isn't, you're still you…..just- Mother above, I'm sorry."

Taran stared at her for a few moments. He looked as if he was going to say something, his stormy eyes focused intently, but he just kept opening and closing his mouth like a fish. What in the fucking world have I walked into?

Finally his brain seemed to work. Surprisingly able to bring up a bit of his old humor. "Forgive me if I don't forgive you right away, I'm still very new at this. You know, being a victim. Being dead and all… But…" He paused, looking at her. Really looking at her. She didn't look like a fugitive. Or at all like someone that would willingly do harm to others, his situation notwithstanding. Her large doe eyes were full of expression, he could practically read the thoughts as they passed through her mind. But he didn't see a hint of malice, of violence. He only saw the gratitude that she had for him for, accidentally, saving her life. Deeper than that he saw a ferocity and power that gave her the strength to move forward despite her bad situation.

"You're in trouble…" He reached out tentatively, to touch her hand. Her skin was so soft, delicate. Yet he could feel the rolling waves of power within her. So unlike the inky tendrils inside of him. The urge to protect her, serve her in all ways, was something he couldn't deny even if he tried. She was his master and for the first time since the nightmare began, he was okay with that.

"I'll help you." He said softly, squeezing her hand.

(Can I stalk this? God you guys are so good at writing this is giving me shivers)

(you're more than welcome! let us know if you have any input!)

(Thanks so much!)

((Welcome aboard, Topaz!))
Lorelei brought his hand to her lips, pressing a grateful kiss to back of it, her eyes on his. "Help me help you. You have a lot to learn and not a lot of time to learn it. I say we have two more days here, at the most.Then, we have to find someplace else to go." she explained. She licked her lips and let go of his hand.

"Tell me how you feel." She said rather gruffly. She wasn't use to the whole "making friends" ordeal. This was all rather strange to her. It was nice that there was one vampire that she didn't have to run from. But all types of dangers could come from putting her trust in this male.

Her mind's eye turned it's view from the present and to the snow-covered night of the past. She saw herself, from a bird's-eye view, being dragged into the woods, a trail of bright red blood forming behind her. The one she loved left her to die…or so she thought. She could see him even now, his ruby gaze, sultry and provocative lips, his cold grasp. Her first Death.

The view faded before she began to scream for mercy, her hands raised in a weak attempt to shield herself from the inevitable. A cruel, taunting reminder of where she had come from, where it had all began. After a few blinks she found herself back in the living-room. She wasn't sure if Taran had said anything, maybe she hadn't been away for too long?

His hand burned from where she had kissed it. He resisted the urge to shake out the tingles from his hand. Everything felt more intense than it did before. All of his senses dialed up to a hundred. It wasn't particularly bad, he figured, it would probably take some time to get used to. More than the two days he had though.

Taran chuckled darkly to himself as he watched Lorelei disassociate from the cabin for a moment. Her soft face contorting into a ferocious frown. He wondered where she went that made her so distressed. His urge to protect her flaring again, making him scoot just the tiniest bit closer to her. He was going to call her name to bring her back to the present, but she blinked up at him after another moment. He let out a small sigh.

"Honestly?" He began reaching up to run a hand through his hair. "I feel like I've been hit by a truck, but then went back later to completely rip it and the driver to shreds. God, my throat hurts like a bitch. Does that get any better? I'm so hungry, but not at the same time. But the second I think about it, I can't take my mind off the hunt. The kill." He frowned.

"There's so much room in my head that all my thoughts keep bouncing around in. I keep blinking but the light doesn't get any fainter and I swear my eyes keep changing? I don't know. I can just feel it here." He reached out and gently touched the corners of Lorelei's eyes. God her skin is soft.

"I can hear…I can hear everything. That. That I don't like at all… And the smells… Jesus…" Looking from his lap to Lorelei's face, barely taking a breath as he sped through what he was experiencing. She knew, she knew what it was like to go through this. She had to be able to help him. Or just listen and let him get all of this insanity out so he could breathe again. Just keep me from doing anything that might hurt people… He knew he sounded insane, but it was probably the best way to describe what he was feeling. Like an alien in his own body. Except…

He stood, beginning to pace. Zooming from one end of the cabin to the other as he spoke. "There's something else…Like a ball of black tentacle-y ink inside me." He used his hands to show her, gesturing vaguely. "When I get angry or…I don't know… when I call to it, it reaches out with one of those tendrils and will do whatever I tell it to. Is that normal? Do I have something evil in me?"

He turned to stare at her. His stormy eyes not worried, not scared, not weak, but determined. Determined to do what needed to be done to protect those from him. He wouldn't hurt anyone. Not a soul. I swear it on my…life. I will not kill.

Lorelei nodded, she understood what he was going through completely. She watched as he spoke and saw, his eyes were in fact changing. But that wasn't what worried her. What worried her was that he was conscious of the darkness inside of him… and it didn't scare him.

She clasped her hands together. "Okay. Let's get through this slowly. Now, what you feel is normal. Your body is changing in some ways. Your form is morphing into that of a predator. Your senses, instinct, movements, and emotions are all increasing. It's to make you a better hunter." She took his head int her hands, looking directly into his eyes. "Your eyes are to react better to the dark now. It's like getting your eyes dilated. It would be wise to go easy on the light, hence the fire and not light bulbs. And now, your core is battling. It's the darkness within you, it's raw power that has no personality, it has no distinct purpose yet, you have not given it one. It wants control of you. But you must learn to control it." She smiled.

"Now, pay close attention. My powers have been given purpose, I have the ability to speak through mind, amongst other things. That's just my personality. Now, *you, you seem like a brute…*" Her eyes flashed a bright violet, glowing and pulsing, before returning to their shining brown.

Taran's tense shoulders relaxed a tiny bit as Lorelei spoke. He'd never been more happy to be normal in his entire life. Although, he wasn't exactly a fan of the whole 'turning into a predator' bit, but it seemed that there was no going back. Fate had made this bed for him and now he had to lie in it. No matter how much all he wanted to do was go home. Why hasn't Rebecca called….?

Lorelei's hands came up to frame his face and he jumped, he'd been so focused on his thoughts he had almost forgotten that she was there. This hyper focus was not doing good things for him so far.

Then her voice sounded in his head. His lips parted in surprise watching her eyes flare a different color. Was that what he had been feeling? That strange tingle, had it been his eyes shifting color? He wasn't sure but he did know that his power, the roiling inky mass within him, did not like that one bit. Her intrusion into his mind was not allowed. Master or no.

"How? How did you do that?" He asked through clenched teeth, as he tried to keep a lid on it. It was difficult as the tendrils snaked through his body and squeezed. Attack! Attack! It screamed. He jerked out of Lorelei's hands. "Stay away!"

Dropping her hands, Lorelei looked genuinely confused for a moment, before realization fell on her. "Oh…" She placed her hands on her lap. "I'm sorry, I did consider that…" She tucked her hands in between thighs. Even then, she tested the borders once more, opening the folds of her power to his. It lashes and reached for hers with the ferocity of a starving animal. She closed herself, the forces within her recoiling with tension. Lorelei frowned. That's not good. She continued speaking nonetheless, as if nothing had happened.

"You'll have to work on that. But anyways, the hunger will dwindle eventually. Maybe after a day or two of consistent feeding. I'm not sure how much I can supply, but I will hunt for you until you gather your bearings. It's a lot to take in…I'll help as much as I can."

Lorelei kept her gaze on him, praying that he wouldn't do anything untoward in this situation. He looked tense and abrasive, no doubt still battling the force within that wanted out. He's a brute….I know it. He's just like him….

Taran nodded slowly in response to Lorelei. God that burn was hard to ignore. "I'm sorry I yelled at you. This is just… a lot to take in. And I don't want to hurt you." He cracked one of his famous goofy smiles at her as he finally shackled that strange power within him. "I think I'm doing pretty well so far. Yeah?"

He wondered how long they'd been there in that cabin. It felt like he hadn't smiled in days, but it really only could have been a few hours. Right? He turned to glance at a window but it was impossible to tell if it was light or dark. Lorelei had firmly covered all the windows. His hand drifted to his pocket where his phone was. Rebecca would have called. My parents would have called… But that's not my life anymore. His heart tightened in his chest and he wheezed, power flaring. The thought of never seeing his family again was as painful as a blow to the gut. He frowned, forcing the thoughts away. I can't lose control. I won't stop fighting to see them again. Even if it's just to say goodbye.

He was sitting next to her again in a flash. He wanted to learn all he could, control was his main goal. And he wanted to know what color his own eyes turned, but there was a questions nagging at the back of his mind. He had to know who she really was. He couldn't fully trust Lorelei if she was just going to lead him to his true death. "What did you do? That made you a criminal?"

Lorelei nodded to him, smiling at that goofy smile of his. She turned from him and took a vase into her hand from the stand beside her. The flower inside was dead, long stemmed, black, and dried, yet eerily beautiful. She inspected it with a hypnotized gaze. She was a sucker for roses, dead or alive. After twirling it in her fingers, she moved to the vase. It was painted the color of copper, shimmering in the firelight.

"What did you do? That made you a criminal?"

Lorelei's blood blazed as she heard the words pass from his lips. Her grip crushed the vase between her fingers, glass shards cutting her flesh before falling to the ground. She could hardly breath against the icy, unforgiving chill that slid down her neck and spine. She managed a shaky breath as the event flashed before her eyes, visibly glowing their violet as she looked back at Taran, rage swirling within her in such a dangerous cloud of smoke and ash. She shook her hand out, tiny drops of blood being flickered away, like the harsh words she wanted to spew at the male.

"Wow…great job at ruining the moment." said a brusque voice that couldn't have been Lorelei's…but it was. She sucked a tooth before looking to the fire, she couldn't look at him, pure and innocent, without losing her mind. Not while speaking of this. "I committed Tyrannicide." Her eyes were on the rose, cadaverous and cut off. The smaller shards of glass hidden within the petals glistened with out-of-place delicateness. She tossed the rose in to the hungry flames of the fireplace. She watched as the fire consumed the rose.

((hehehehe, see what I did there?))

((I see you lotus. XD I see you.))

Tyrannicide

Well that certainly put a damper on trusting her. Taran stared at her, shock settling his features into an almost comical state. "I wasn't expecting that." He said softly after a moment. Something wasn't quite right. The way she had closed off before telling him. The way she wouldn't meet his eyes now, staring fiercely into the fire and the rose that burned within it. It had been a little shock in his mind, like someone had zapped him after rubbing their socked feet on the carpet, that told him something was off. He had always had a talent for reading people. Being able to pick apart their emotions and motivations. Being able to tell when someone was lying.

Only now that talent seemed stronger, refined, clearer. He didn't know if he could just tell with her because she had sired him. Making her his master in all things, or if it was the power within him that lent him this sixth sense. "You're lying." He said, the words spilling from his lips in a sudden rush. He leaned forward, close enough to kiss that pale cheek, trying to get her attention back on him. Look at me.

"You didn't really do it did you? You're covering for someone." The more he spoke the more he could feel the words settle into the universe. As if Fate, herself had said them, settling both Taran and Lorelei on their path.

Lorelei eyes widened as she listened to his words, felt his breath tickle the skin of her cheek.

How did he know? Worry, fear, and anger mingled within her, fighting for dominance of her emotions. She braced a hand on his chest and pushed him away. "That is none of your concern." she answered through gritted teeth. She let her power flare, watching as it filled the space of the room in a suffocating manner. The fire was snuffed out, casting them in utter darkness. Her eyes glowed like a dangerous fire of their own. Apparently, she'd let the anger take over.

All these years, I've been running and hiding. Spending every breath planning to survive the next. And this fledgling could easily deduce that I was innocent, but you couldn't!? Her thoughts were livid and bitter, churning with such sick, thick emotion.

She stood. "Since your keen on learning," she spat, "We start training tonight." And with that, she turned on her heels, back ramrod straight, chin held high. But her mind was filled with memories of sleepless nights and thoughts of a home she had once know. She retreated to one of the bedrooms and slammed the door behind her, causing the house to tremble.

And she cried.

Wet.

Silent.

Tears.

Taran stared at the door that Lorelei had disappeared behind. The room suddenly ice cold without her and the fire she had doused with her power. He'd touched a nerve he knew that, but he couldn't figure out why she had felt the need to lie about her crimes. Why not just tell him from the start that she was wrongly accused? Who was she trying to protect? Or rather, who was she trying to convince that she indeed was a criminal?

He leaned forward to brace his elbows on his knees, dropping his head into his hands a near quiet snarl ripped past his lips. The anger that flowed through him was white hot and volatile. He knew somewhere in his mind that becoming this upset was counter productive, but he was suddenly so tired of the control that he had held over his entire life. The power within him roiled in response. Since he was a child, after his brother's accident, his anxiety and stress had caused him to learn to control every aspect of life so nothing would take him by surprise. So nothing like that would ever happen again. So he could protect Rebecca… But now, he hated it. He wanted to let it all go. The power within him flexed, hard, lashing out, cracking the floor beneath his feet and up the wall where the fireplace was. Another flex had the fire springing back into life. Taran sighed, shoulders drooping, the tension he had been holding back released for a brief moment.

He leaned back until he was laying flat out on the couch again. He was about to get dragged into the intrigue of the Vampire Court. The thought was insane, something out of a horror movie. But he had promised Lorelei that he would help her, and he still meant it. Deeply. He didn't know how he was going to be of help. It probably wasn't the smartest idea to have a untrained, uncontrolled fledgling on your side, but he would. He was just that kind of man. He couldn't turn away from someone who was so obviously hurting.

Hurting… He yanked his phone out of his pocket. How did it get turned off? He knew that he didn't do it. He cut a quick glance to Lorelei's door, shaking his head. Very nice of you master. Flicking it back on, he stared at the screen, waiting. He was prepared for what was coming. According to the date and time on his phone he had been out of it for about a day and a half. Missing for a day and a half…

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

He had so many messages and missed calls that the phone just buzzed for a minute straight. He couldn't even open it to make it stop, it was overloading so much. "Goddammit" he muttered. Most were from his sister, but a few spaced here and there were from his parents. A hundred and twenty texts and forty-four missed calls. He opened up the text folder under his sisters name:

«T, where are you? Mom is unusually anxious tonight. She said she felt you needed help?»
«Is it your car? I told you dude. Get rid of it. I'll come get you. Send me your location.»
«Little brother answer your phone. You supposed to be here an HOUR ago.»
«Don't make me call you. I SWEAR»
«Taran. Now I'm worried…»
«TARAN»

The messages progressed into a full freak out from his sister. He scrolled through, his dead heart giving a twinge that made him ill. "Fuck Bec…" He whispered. He didn't bother to open the texts from his parents. Sliding over to voicemails, he just started deleting them. There was one at least every ten minutes. He couldn't stand to listen to his sister's growing panic. He didn't even realize he was silently sobbing until his finger slipped and pressed 'call back' instead of 'delete'. He stared at it, immobile as it rang. He was caught between terror and a want so desperate it had him flinging the phone up to his ear just as his sister's voice came though.

"Taran?! Oh my god. Taran. Talk to me little brother. Where are you? Are you okay? Are you stuck? The cops found your car. Where are you baby brother?" He didn't speak. Couldn't. Couldn't even breathe, which he found didn't bother him in the slightest. Why would a dead guy need to breathe? "T–Taran…? Please don't leave me here… I can't be without you little brother. Pleas-se." She hiccuped, sobbing on her end. "Don't die…I can help. just tell me where you are." Taran reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose, squeezing his eyes tight he could almost see her. His big sister. His best friend. "Come home, Taran…"

"Bec…" He whispered, "Don't cry."

Whipping the phone from his ear, he crushed it in his hand. The strength was satisfying, the pain in his cursed soul… was not.

((whoops… that was a lot…aheh))

(I'm so stalking this.

And crying. A lot. This is lit my dudes.)

(this is better written than most books I've read oh my god)

((KK. Your comments had be blushing like a schoolgirl. thANk yOU! cries))

Anytime! Ack this is giving me shivers I’m rereading it for the billionth time

((Oh shucks, you guys! Thankies!))

Lorelei tried her best to stop the sobs as she slid down the side of the door. She gripped her chest as pain wracked through her, though she knew it was just her mind, there was nothing in her chest anymore. Nothing living, anyway.

Wiping the streams of tears from her cheeks, her body finally calming, but her mind was still racing, anger fueling thoughts towards a being whom she'd never see again. A being that condemned her to a life of running and shame.

It was all for love…. She thought with a bitter sniffle. All for the love I thought was true. Naive and stupid girl…. she growled. What had she expected to happen? Did she really, so blindly, believe his words of love and adoration. Of a life better than what she had once had? She was such a fool.

Lorelei stood, her hand still on her chest.

I can hear your heart beating, love…. He would say, kissing along her collar bones and trailing down to her chest, linger above the carcass of her heart. You're so much better than the rest, you are so much more. I need you by my side… His words had meant the world to her, they were the anthem she lived her life upon. But now…. she could see he had wanted her allegiance… not her love. No, he ran the Vampires with the "love of his life" by his side, while his scape-goat ran.

Lorelei had made such a dire mistake. She had taken the throne from one leader…. and handed it to a monster.

Taran had no recollection of time as he lay on that couch staring at the ceiling. He could have been there for hours, days, but he couldn't find it in him to care. If he was a worse man he would let the true death come for him while he lay there, but he had made a promise. The carcass of his phone was in a crumpled heap on his stomach and every few seconds he would glance down at it. He had butchered saying goodbye to his sister, but maybe it was for the best. They were mortal, he was vampire. If he had to watch them grow old and die… He shuddered.

He lifted a hand before him, as he had repeatedly done for the past…however long, Turning it left and right. The shock of the smooth pale skin had worn off but now, but it was still unnerving to think that his entire body, mind, very soul had changed into something he wasn't familiar with. Dismissing the thought, he focused, allowing the mass of dark energy within him to expand, filling his entire being. It felt more comfortable this way, like the two halves of his split soul were coming to together. His control was still shaky though, as the couch trembled beneath him. He frowned focusing harder. He was going to do this, master his power alone, so he could show Lorelei that he was strong. Capable of helping her, protecting her. He wouldn't let anyone else down.

Taran allowed a tiny sliver of the power out, forming it, controlling it. A slender shadow leaked from the palm of his hand, twisting elegantly around his fingers before it solidified into a vicious looking blade in his palm. This was all he was able to do at the moment. A tiny little blade, barely longer than his hand. The strain to release all of the energy would grow to be too much in a moment, but he held firm. He could do this. The couch trembled harder beneath him. "Fuck." He muttered as he grit his teeth, fangs slicing into his bottom lip. I can hold it. I can…

A soft sound came from behind Lorelei's door, breaking his focus. The slim blade turned back into shadow, sliding back into his skin. He thrashed the energy back into it's frigid ball in his core, as he sat up. He wanted to see her. He had heard her moving about for time, but hadn't plucked up the courage to go to her. If he was honest, they still didn't know each other at all, how would the comfort of a stranger help her? He sighed looking at the door still. Just because I'm a stranger now doesn't mean I always want to be.