Mira quickly shoved her hands in her pockets looking at the fight, then Saint, and back to the fight. "I'm fine." She said simply. The woman took in the scene in the warehouse, searching for the vampire with the scar. She doubted she would see him, but there was a chance. "Where is he?" Her gaze was fixed down below, refusing to meet Saint's eyes. "When will I know where he's at? I want to get this over with sooner than later." The faster she killed him the faster she could move on and forget everything. That or she would die and then she supposed it didn't matter anyways.
"Well lassie, so eager ta end things so soon?"
Mira's head whipped to the opposite side of the landing where Saint stood, her target appearing out of the shadows. He gave her a crooked grin as he approached until he was maybe a foot away from her. His eyes slid over her body.
"Ya should definitely leave yer hair down more often. It suits ya." He reached up to stroke the side of her hair ever so lightly before returning to his space. "I'll be honest. Ya surprised me. Dinna believe old boy here," he was referring to Saint, "had been honest with me."
Mira sighed, removing her hands from her pockets to cross over her chest. "I don't have time for this banter and your stupid quips. Let's go somewhere and settle this already."
Scarface stared in shock for a moment and then let out a thunderous laugh that mingled in with the cheering below. "Eager indeed." He said as he wiped the corner of his right eye.
“Let’s not rush–“ The Scot appeared before the blonde vamp could get the human out of the warehouse. Dammit, why did he’d have to show up? He’s messing up my plan. He was going to rip off the asshole’s hand if he touched Mira again though. Relaxing his jaw, he wondered if Scarface knew about his abilities and fixation on the human, and he was being tested. Glancing down to see the signet ring on his finger, he twisted it to reaffirm the band was still physically there. Saint thought he had everything in control, that he wouldn’t have to improvise so early on in the grand scheme of things. “We’re not going anywhere.” He clasped Mira’s shoulder. “You.” Saint narrowed his eyes at the Scottish vampire. “We made a deal. I gave you the location of the humans’ hideout, so what are you doing here?”
Mira spun to look at Saint, her expression that of confusion and disbelief. "You told him already?" Guilt sank deep into her bones. She had hoped there had still been time, time to figure something out, time to maybe coax Saint to her side. She should have known better. The betrayl hit harder than expected as she shrugged her shoulder away from Saint aggressively, glancing between the two vamps.
"Well, well. Looks like the cat's out of the bag." The Scotsman shrugged, a smug look on his face. "Let's not get testy now." He directed at Saint. "I have yet ta recieve what I asked fer." Mira's eyes widened with hope, holding her breath. "It would appear I was expected." Scarface paced slowly in front of the pair. "I had ta kill one." He looked to Mira then, a devilish smirk on his lips. "You know. The rough looking one."
Mira's heart sank, her hand instinctively grabbing on to the sleeve of Saint's shirt to keep her from falling to her knees. The man hadn't deserved whatever death this demon gave him. The Scotsman's eyes flickered in a pleased glow from her hand on Saint's sleeve to her face.
"Oh don' worry lass. Unfortunately fer me, the rest of 'em got away." He flicked something from his nail as if they were talking about the weather.
"You're a monster." Mira said through a shuddered breath.
"Names Callen actually, but you'll come ta know it well." Callen's eyes shifted to Saint, approaching him and dusting nothing off his shoulders. "Perhaps you should watch yerself lad. Wouldn't want you fallen astray. When I get what I want, you'll get what you want." He gave Saint a knowing look. Callen walked backwards, slipping back into the darkness he had come from and then he was gone.
Saint counted his breaths before he acted rashly and did something to the human he’d regret. He pushed her hand away. A smirk cracked through the hard and reserved exterior. “You... I’m not an angel. I withheld the truth from you, but I was going to eventually kill him as long as you gave up the humans. I would’ve protected you!” He clenched his fist, slamming it into the wall. A small crater was left behind, and his hand bled. Concrete dust and shards of plastic fell from the open cuts on the side of his hand. The non fatal wounds healed rapidly. “Yet, you lied to my face and still came here.” He shook his head in disbelief. He was an idiot, not noticing he was also being deceived. Deep down, he had a slight intuition, but it was mere coincidence that he shortly kept Scarface up to date. His mind clouded his perception, and he couldn’t believe he was going to kill Callen for her. To get nothing in return in the end. “Let’s go.” Saint roughly grabbed her arm, pulling her down the stairs and through the crowd.
“You’re going to tell me where they went, and if you tell the truth, I might spare your life and reconsider killing your enemy.”
"Ow!" Mira yelped, trying to rip her arm away from his grip to no avail. As he dragged her away and out of the warehouse she had to catch herself many times from falling on her face. Mira released a growl in frustration, trying to plant her feet firmly on the ground. "Like you're one to talk!" She lashed out at him. "You're not doing this for nothing. Funny how you left that bit of information out!" Mira grit her teeth while her free hand tried to peel his hand away from her arm, but his grip was like stone. "You have no right to judge me for not giving up my people like sacrificial lambs! Are you listening to me?"
Mira stared at the back of his blonde head and wanted to punch it. He lied just as much as she did. He had no right to be angry with her. They were both being self serving. It was the nature of the beast, this world didn't take kindly to anything less. "You can be mad all you want." Her breathes were coming in pants as she tried to keep up with his long strides. "But when it came down to it, would you have even bothered helping me after you got what you wanted?"
The humans couldn’t have gotten far in a few hours time. Annoyed, her rowdiness hindered the vamp from moving as fast as he could. Saint continued to drag her along on the empty street, feeling the muscle fibers in her arm stretch from resistance.I should’ve killed her in that alley the first time. “Are you listening to me?” She was the one who didn’t listen to him. Squaring his jaw, he wouldn’t listen to another word from her mouth. He was close to breaking her arm to quiet her down, but his mind fought against the notion. In midst of his inner turmoil, her words halted his advance forward. His golden strands unraveled from the bun. “Would you have even bothered helping me after you got what you wanted?" The water rose to his knees, and waves thrashed against his skin. The water level gradually grew, submerging the lower half of his torso. The atmosphere tingled as energies were disturbed like fire and ice clashing together.
“Listen to me, I would have helped you.” Saint whipped around as he got into the human’s face as he pulled her to meet his eyes. “It was fights in the pit. I wanted to fight, and Scarface has the power to let me do that.”
“You’re so dense. I don’t know how to make you believe me. I would’ve still found a way to kill him. This—“ Pushing down her sleeve, he made her look at the silver bracelet, glinting in the night. “I could’ve taken everything from you– killed you, for my benefit on the night we met. I wasn’t lying when I said I can’t stop thinking about you.”
Saint let her go. If Mira wasn’t going to be cooperative, he’d find them on his own.
The hurt on Mira's face was obvious, her lower jaw beginning to quiver. Without a second thought she quickly undid the bracelet and flung it at Saint as hard as she could. It hit him and then fell to the floor with a tinkle. "There." She said. "Have it!" It was becoming obvious she was getting in over her head. All these vampires with their lies and deception on top of their strength and speed. She was nothing compared to them. A tiny fly to be swatted away in annoyance. For the first time Mira began to wonder if revenge was really worth it. As she looked back on her life she wondered what she had to show for it. No family, no friends, no hobbies, and now she didn't have a home. Callen had seem beatable, like a bully that just wouldn't let up. In reality he was much worse. Mira had underestimated him, letting the hurt and rage fuel her drive forward instead of logic. Delia's hopes returned to her mind, wishing for Mira to settle down and live a quiet life away from all of this. That seemed like an unattainable dream now.
Mira took a few steps back, raking a hand through her hair as she looked at the ground. Am I really going to falter now? The wind picked up, tussling her hair and making her turn her face. It was hard looking at Saint now. Once again he hadn't been wrong, but trusting wasn't so easy. One step at a time. "I'll tell you where they are." Her voice was soft, all anger and roughness gone. "Then I want this over." Maybe she could live knowing that lives had been taken because of her, but maybe she wouldn't have to.
Saint picked the bracelet up from the ground, dusting off the grit on the chain. How much are three humans worth? I have a better idea. Pensive, he observed the jewelry, weighing the metal in his palm. "I'm sorry, but there's no over. I said I might reconsider." He wouldn't fall for her trick twice. She could be planning to do something else behind his back by using her emotions to her advantage. Although it was unknowingly, his mind was susceptible in concern to the human, and he dwelled on Callen's warning. He placed killing the asshole on the back burner. His body and mind were separate entities, resisting the conflict between the two species. An abundance of heat radiated from Mira, and a salivating aroma rose to the surface of her skin. "You made the choice to be your people's lifeline when you aren't sure that they would reciprocate, and Scarface still lives." Saint clasped the bracelet back on her wrist, and it was marvelous how quickly she became vampire-like. "Don't tell me where they are, and we'll be both miserable." He delicately held her wrist, watching how the chain captured moonlight. "I'll hold my original promise to you by helping you kill the Scot. If you strongly desire revenge, you can become a vampire and kill him yourself."
Mira jumped at the sudden cold of his fingertips as Saint placed the bracelet back on her wrist. Her gaze shifted from the bracelet to him several times. She had been sure once he had the bracelet he would have disappeared into the night, never to be seen again. She wouldn't have judged him too harshly if he had. She was tempting fate as soon as the metal had left her wrist. Goosebumps spread across her skin, the contact of his hand against her making her want to recoil and simultaneously lean in. Mira was shorter than him, but still noticed his lashes. The way they fanned out over his cheeks while he stared down at the metal, thick and long. His hard had come undone in some places from his bun, golden locks gleaming in the moonlight. He was beautiful. However the spell was quickly over. "What?" She flinched. "You aren't serious?" She breathed a laugh, watching his face, but she already knew the answer. Her brow furrowed, opening her mouth to say something and then closing it again. Become a vampire? It was something she had never considered. An idea that had never been on her radar. "And I supposed you'd be the one to do it?" Mira raised an eyebrow at him. Could she make that choice? To live forever was a long time, but if she really thought about it she could live a more free life. She would no longer need to live in fear. She could walk among the rest of the world an equal, find a nice place to live that wasn't dilapidated and cold. "What's it like?" She wondered softly. "When you first turn?"
Saint gently returned her hand to her side; his fingers grazed the metal once more. "Yes, I would be the one to turn you." She couldn't sacrifice the other human lives, but she possessed the power to exchange her mortality at the expense of her own discretion. Beautiful. The light in her clear eyes was unmistakable, offering what she seemed to want most. The ultimate gift. He would remember the sight fondly and etch into his book for safekeeping. He couldn't force a decision out of the human, so if she refused his last effort. he would shoulder the misery and live aimlessly as she would too. "Your body will try to cling on its life. You'd be in great agony, feeling as if you're dying over a thousand times by fire. If your body is able to survive and adapt to the changes, you will successfully kill the Scot without an issue." Twirling a lock of her hair around his two fingers, he let the long strands slip out of his grasp. "This is my best and last offer to you."
"You sure you aren't suggesting it just to taste me blood?" It was her last attempt at light hearted humor over the serious situation. It wasn't the worst idea. So what if she lived for ever? There was no one waiting for her. No one left to care as well as no one for her to watch age and die while she continued on. It was an ember in the darkness, asking to be fanned, but did she really want to become the thing she had always hated? Was it worth it for revenge? Amara's brow furrowed as she stood, thinking. The transition didn't sound pleasant, but what other choice did she have. She let out a long sigh, wiping her hand over her face. "I can't believe I'm going to do this." She mumbled, mostly to herself. "So, your place or mine?"
“My apartment would be best. Being more prepared will lend the transition to be completed without any complications.” Saint looked at the sky. While the blonde vampire should have taken precautions to the eyes and ears in the night, morning was coming. Scarface would be too late once he got word of what was underway. The perfect opportunity for the human to become a vampire. “Where are your belongings? We need to move quickly.” The human may have made her decision, but the vamp slowly processed the weight he was about to bear. The tide was rising, and it would swallow him whole. Father, give me strength.
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“Make yourself comfortable.” Locking the apartment door, he engaged the deadbolt lock and activated the security system. The doorman minded his own tonight and complied to the vamp’s demand of no disturbances. “It’ll be easier if you’re relaxed.” Saint led Mira to the bedroom he had shown her before and set her things down in the room. Going into his office, he grabbed candles, and he opened the drawer for the enchanted silver blade. He traced the sigil engraved on the handle before he wrapped the knife in a deep blue cloth. He returned and set the candles on the nightstand along with the blade. He lit the trio of candles by one by one. “Any second thoughts? It will be too late otherwise to go back.”
It felt like one moment Mira had been in the street and the next she was standing in Saint's apartment. She noticed the way he locked the place up and it made her nervous. Relaxed? Right. Cause it's that simple. She walked over to the room, taking in the small space. Mira worried her lip as she slid off her jacked and draped it over the end of the bed. To calm herself she tried some deep breathing and ran her hand through her hair, massaging her scalp as she went. She was beginning to feel hot, fanning herself with her hands. Swallowing hard she said, "No kidding." That familiar feeling of her stomach sinking and her heart racing returned. "What's with the candles?" She managed to ask, worrying her hands together. It was hard to stop fidgeting. "Nevermind." She closed her eyes and swallowed. "What do I do?"
Saint pressed his lips together in a line, and he sat on the bed next to her. Seeing Mira fidget made him anxious to even touch her. He understood how transitions were nerve wracking by word of mouth, but he lacked the first-hand knowledge to offer genuine advice. There weren’t words really available. Candle ambience also did not provide a buffer. “Just try to relax. We’ll go slow.” For both of their sakes. The bed dipped as he shifted his weight to face the human. Taking her bracelet off, he set it aside on the nightstand. There was no telling the extent of the enchanted bracelet would have on the transition, if it would prevent it or no effect at all. The vamp wasn’t taking the risk. Brushing her hair away from her neck, his hand cupped her cheek, letting her warmth fill his palm, then slid down to her neck. He leaned in, the smell of blood wrapped around his senses like a thick fog of sweet perfume. Highly intoxicating, he drew his fangs for a moment, ready to break her skin. His head was barely above water, and he was losing a sense of restraint. Blood rushed through her veins, accompanied with a fast heartbeat. He pulled away to look into Mira’s eyes. “Trust me.” Saint guided her hand to feel his face and neck, mirroring the way he touched her. Then, he moved her hand to his chest where his heart rested. He had no heartbeat, but he didn’t know how else to show her she was okay, safe with him. “I got you.”
Mira felt the mattress shift as Saint turned to her. The simple act of him taking her bracelet off made her heartbeat pound in her ears. Relax. It's fine. Her body stiffened, his cool hand pressing against her cheek. She swallowed hard as he leaned in, trying to concentrate on the wall behind him. The closer he drew, the less relaxed she felt. His breath tickled her neck sending a tremor through her, but Saint pulled away. She was trapped in his emerald oasis. "Trust me." He said, guiding her hands to his cheek and his chest. "I got you." The words echoed in her mind as she breathed in through her nose and out through her mouth. "What if you can't stop?" She licked her lips, finally voicing her concerns. "You've never had human blood before. What if you can't stop an-and...?" Mira's expression was one of worry, unable to finish the sentence. "I'm sorry. I'm ready, I just-" Her thumb caressed his cheek in a gentle circular motion. "Don't make me regret trusting you."