Member
Their shouts were getting louder - closer. She could hear them now, their loud footsteps, the shots. Bullets whizzed by, barely missing her body. Her human body at that. She wasn't sure how long she had been running across the rooftops now, but her chest was heaving with the effort, and sweat was beginning to drip from her brow at the effort. Her boots gripped at the rooftops desperately in the rain, splashing against the large puddles that were beginning to form. As she tilted her head back, amber eyes searching the dark, she found multiple lights focused on their target - her.
Sucking in a large breath of air, Sam turned back, flicking her soaked hair away from her eyes in the process. She knew she couldn't run all night, even with her impeccable stamina. She still had yet to get used to her human body, it was a matter of time before she slipped on the water, before she was caught. Pushing the thought aside, Sam thrust ahead, chest burning against the crisp air, legs aching under the effort. Her hand found it's way to her chest, seizing the warm necklace that rested there, the only thing to keep the beast at bay. 'fzoOoOOm' Another few rounds burst, this time she felt a sting at her left heel, a bullet had clipped the tender skin, blood spurting from the fresh wound.
"SH*T!" Sam bellowed out in pain, her new form was not accustomed to pain - at least, not from bullets. She grit her teeth and took a sudden turn, hoping to confuse her pursuers at the brash move. Her feet quick and agile, she bounced to the side before dashing along the rooftop, forgetting about the blood spurting from her wound, the pain, and the why she was running. Everything blended into one, her mind settling on the idea of escape, her heart pumping furiously. She was running on pure adrenaline now. Aaelith had not escaped to be caught again - she would not die here.
That's when she saw the ledge approaching up ahead, the jump that would secure her safety. She was sure that they had slowed, the police. They would most likely give up on their pursuit after this. She could make it! Breathing hard, fists clenching at her sides, she dashed forward. Her foot found the ledge, her fiery gaze focused ahead. With a push, she felt her muscles protest and ripple in response. With an effort, she leaped into the air, throwing herself to the next building.
She had heard it more than she had felt it, her body numb with exhaustion long ago. The tear of her flesh, the sight of her gleaming red blood. The sight reminding her just how human she had become. Falling - she was falling now, wind whipping against her body relentlessly. She had been flying - soaring, and now she was falling, faster and faster. The world spinning, blood splaying in the air, her suddenly fragile life escaping from her wounds, fleeing from her skin.
With a grunt, she landed. Her side aching, her ankle screaming. Her arm bleeding, her soul spitting fire. She sucked in a deep, shaky breath, fiery eyes fluttering open to the dark of the night. She should be dead - her fall should have killed her. Unless.... Straining, the demon lifted her head, each movement sending a fresh wave of pain that decided to make itself heard. She had made the jump. She had soared, and she had fallen - she had made it. Deep amber eyes closed, and a grin split across her face. She made it. Even when the police swarmed around her still body, she smiled.
The words blurred, became deep and distorted - the warmth of her necklace fading into the cool of the night. A sharp pain hit her temple, and only then, did the demon stop grinning. She had made it
The blood was the first scent she recognized. Strong - possibly still fresh. Opening her eyes, squinting at the sudden light that shone against her eyes, Sam groaned out her displeasure, her side stinging and her heel buzzing with it's own displeasure. When she could make out the basics in the room, her bearing somewhat gained, she reached for her necklace, only to find her hands locked securely in place. The chains that held them held a faint purple glow - a technological advancement. A power diffuser. She could feel it, the disconnection with herself. Her demon held in a cage made from man. She growled low in her throat, leaning back in her seat.
It would be pointless to struggle, as it would only waste valuable energy. Besides, if she were still alive after her recent killing spree, there was obviously something more to te situation than paperwork and her jailing, or disposal. Licking her dry lips, Aaelith trained her stare on the door, waiting.
She didn't have wait long. The golden knob turned, and a clean black dress shoe stuck into the room. Her brow raised. The shoe slid it's way inside, attached to it, a navy blue suit. Inside the suit, a man. He strode into the room with purpose, his chiseled face set into a deeply set frown. In his arm, he carried a vanilla folder, which he haphazardly tossed onto the table in front of the demon in front of him. Though there was a seat across from her, he didn't sit. Instead, he gazed down at Sam with disinterest, brown eyes locking fiercely with her amber one. They both remained silent - staring, as if measuring each other up.
Just as she was about to question the man, he slithered around the edge of the table, sliding the folder with his fingertips. She watched silently as he opened it, his brown eyes boring into her the entire time. When the folder opened, she was met with a full-body shot of herself in a dark hoodie, her signature red eyes glaring into the dark. The man tapped his pointer finger against the papers, "Do you know what this is?" His voice was gruff, and impatient. Of course she knew - but she wouldn't answer. Instead, she glared defiantly into his eyes. That was all she would give him.
With a sigh, he rolled his eyes, his perfectly trimmed eyebrows moving upwards at the movement. "This is your criminal report," He offered, a gleam forming in his eyes. "But, it doesn't have to be..." He continued, his voice slightly lower. He closed the folder, sliding it to the edge of the table. Sam scoffed, watching the man give her an impatient glare. "Now, I know that you aren't interested. But the alternative is death. I have to set an example against these vigilantes somehow. Even if that means starting with you." He turned away from her, letting that piece of information sink in before continuing.
"I also know that after how far you've come to get here, you wouldn't be too keen on that..." He smiled, his grin stretching against his face, making him appear slightly impish. Sam sucked in a breath, he couldn't know. He couldn't.
"I can see those gears turning, maybe I can help you a little." His voice raised, he was obviously enjoying his little show. "You aren't the first of your kind to come here - but, you are the first to be stupid enough to show yourself." His grin faded, and a general curious look overtook his snarky face. "I could crush you - but...What good would that do, when I can strike a deal instead?" His eyes flashed again, the corners of his lips twitching into a smile. With a surprisingly elegant wave of his hands, he said, "The current election is looking a little...shaky. But.." He smirked at the demon, pausing to add weight behind his next words. "If I can give the people of this city what they want, you get to live, and I get another term."
The suited man sat upon the desk, leaning slightly closer to Aaelith, the rich cologne forcing t's way down her throat. "What makes you think that I'll agree?" She sneered at him, the fire returning to her gaze.
Without hesitating, he responded with a low voice, leaning closer still. "Because dear, I know your type. That's the reason I choose you, out of everyone else here, I choose you.." He watched as her sneer fell, the fire raging behind her eyes snuffing out. "..Because you don't want to die, to lose the freedom you worked so hard to achieve. In the end, all you care about is you. And that, my dear, is why I choose you. We have that in common." He leaned back, taking his strong cologne with him. "You will be the first of my little team, and you will be their little "leader". But don't get me wrong - you will answer to me."
With that, he stood from the desk, picking up the folder. "There are other...delinquent's like you. They are already being searched for, and, like the hero you are...You will rush in and rescue them from their fate, allowing them onto your team - that had been so kindly blessed by your's truly" He smiled then, not thin-lipped like before, but an actual grin. It sent a shiver down her spine. "Do we have a deal?" He raised a dark brow, as if challenging her to prove him wrong.
She didn't. He was right - she did care about herself more than anything. And - if this team was all it took to keep her alive, she'd take it. Nodding her head, Sam gave her official agreement. Little did she know, she had made a deal with a devil of a man.
Upon seeing her nod, the man turned on his heel and matched toward the door, the folder in his hand. Before he opened the door, he tilted his head to glance her way. "These files will be destroyed, and as Mayor, I can erase any footage of you that needs to be erased. You will start off anew." He opened the door, and made to step outside, but stopped abruptly. Before the door closed fully, she heard that gruff voice followed by words she would never forget.
"Thank you for your cooperation, we'll be seeing more of each other, don't worry about that...Aaelith."
HQ, Millennia Manor, Team Arrival
The dull hum of the plentiful monitors cut through the early morning silence. Each day, Sam had woke with the first glimpse of sun breaking the horizon. She liked her time in the morning - to think. She would sit and stare at the sun for an hour, her own eyes reflecting a fire of their own back at the sun. Only when the sun hung high in the sky did she turn away, pursing her lips at the massive walls around her. The mansion that she had earned. Scoffing, Sam turned on her heel and headed off for the showers. Today was going to be a long day.
She had scanned through the list of who would be joining the team with disinterest, at least, until she found a few that made the demon within her surge, sending warm blasts from her necklace against her skin. Reminded of her long time without shifting, she shifted uneasily, pushing the folder aside; the names forgotten. She longed to she'd her human skin, to breath through the lungs she had been created with once more. She couldn't. Today, she was supposed to appear as far away from evil as possible. The image of redemption - of what the mayor could do. This was all about him after all. That's what they had in common. It had been three weeks, and she could still remember those words crystal-clear; The smell of cologne had stuck too.
With distaste clear on her features, Sam put her somewhat dry hair into a ponytail - messy, yet fitting, strangely graceful. Glancing to the clock to her right, Sam groaned her displeasure. She had mere minutes to prepare a welcoming act, to welcome the newcomers to their new home. Rolling her eyes, Aaelith lifted herself from her seat and double-checked the quarters, moving back to the elegant entryway, fixing her suit jacket, brushing the non-existent dust from her dark blue skinny jeans. Everything had to be perfect. Fixing her bright amber gaze on the tall mirror to her left, she tilted her head. Human bodies were...strangely intricate. She raised a brow at herself, how her body curved and straightened, the muscles that could only be noticed upon intense scrutiny. Taking a deep breath, Sam turned to the large mahogany doors and awaited for the bells to chime. The sound of a new life, a start of the mayors squad of puppets and for the team.
