Path of the Vampire forum

Her sire gave her the inspiration to follow through with her current plan. Giving up was not an option. Especially now. Finding her clip empty HOPE pulled it. Her head turned briefly as the sound of a trigger being pulled caught her attention. He found ammo. She shook her gun as the bullets pinged around her. An hiss of profanity sounded behind her then a drop of heavy flesh hitting the cement.

"That ******!" Dominique could only bob her head in agreement as the permanent honeycomb heart at the center of her throat seeped black beads into the air. The fencing behind her shook wildly. "Let me at him!" Sounds of a near riot building behind her left her hopeful for the sounds of support falling into the ring beside her. Support that was fully loaded and improving her chances of setting things back in her favor. Finally the heavy thud of steel hit the floor and she was lightning quick grabbing it and putting it to use as soon as Old Man made his fateful step.

Just like that a bullet caught her in the throat inches to the right of the first wound. Both permanently inked bees were oozing black. She dropped and huddled down into what she believed to be the most cover to be found in an open ring of the arena. This gave her enough time to be realistic. She had perhaps two or three more wounds tops before she was in the red zone. The weakness was impossible to ignore but a hell of a lot harder for the cursed former paladin to accept. The fighter in her said go hard or...well go to hell. She been there and booted out more times than she could count so go hard was going to have to be it. She knew it was fact but that didn’t stop her body from fighting. Against the very wafer thin, wet paper sack possibility she still believed she would likely come out bloodless, blind and walking Swiss cheese proof that bitches in uniform can clean up and dismiss the retired actors as well as the produce and fruit throwers. Plushie tossers could stay. She was going to need all the cushion for her tenderized *** she could get her hands on when this was over.

The raise of HOPE and LESS joining in for extra support had the barrel of the gun aiming for him a little shy of where it needed to be. A single step out from where she had been hiding and the pull of her trigger sealed the fate of the bullets disappearing into the crowd behind him instead. So much for that. She sank back where she had been and prepared for her final moves. There was something to be said for a blaze of semi-glory.

Lack of what likely was her last pint of blood pretty much meant either Old Man turned to ash or tossed up the proverbial white flag and called it. Something about the fight he put up said the latter wasn’t going to happen. Not when he held out as long as he had. Just as she was preparing to train her shaking hands to hold the weapon and fire her leg buckled with the bullet that entered with such force that it took out the cold muscle and nearby bone sending the particles in a spray behind her. The ******** needed to die already, fade or whatever the hell his kind did. She didn’t have the fucks left to care. Bouncing back up with far less dexterity or speed than she entered with she took aim, focusing as much as possible on her mark and fired. What was left of the inside of Enver Marshall ll became all that more pungent to the sensitive shadow. That meant he had one more reason going with him to remind him to think twice about underestimating anyone in school uniform.

The unmistakable final dose of pain sent into her body confirmed it was over.They say it isn't about winning or losing but how you played the game. This certainly was true for the former paladin turned shadow that had the last of what she had to fight with seeping out into the air around her. The crowd cheered. She knew the count was up and she had been had. Pride before the fall wasn’t exactly beneficial but it was her to the core and she was taking that **** with her. A challenge was made and she accepted it.

Now if someone would have only impressed it upon the asshole that grabbed hold of what was remaining of her skirt and upper garments. Like a broken doll she was plucked from the floor. Using the material for the leverage needed he moved in a fast pace and hip checked the door and swung the petite female nearly behind him then sent her forward. The tossed shadow rolled and bounced out into the back alley darkness.

“Better luck next time.” That was the only verbal offering left with her as the brute quickly turned on heel,  entering the arena and slamming the door to lock behind him.

A bent but hardly broken HOPE raised a single finger in parting. With the feet she was fortunate to have left she balanced herself questionably and managed to stop the cab about to pass her by. Sinking into the seat she was relieved to find immortal eyes glowing beneath the cap that turned with the drivers head to look back at her. He had a busy night ahead and figured he recognized her from the Honeymead side of town. He started the cab into a fast roll and headed for the market area. From there she would disappear into the outskirts of town and hunker down in the one place that had reliable refuge. It would keep her safe until she was like new.