Unholy Night (Dominique, Doc)

[Catherine Nilson]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

Catherine Nilson: Cat had been visiting a convent a night since she had messed up and let Dominique go. Doc had been furious with her, but he hadn't shot her yet. His patience was wearing thin, a tightrope of monstrous hate that could snap at any moment, and Cat was traipsing across it very carefully. Except, tonight, she was sick of being careful. The childe was getting desperate. It was in her stiff walk, in the way she fingered the pocketknife in her purse periodically. She was wearing tactical boots and breaking and entering gear when she burst through the large double doors. It was not a touring day, and it was too late for visitors.

Dominique: Dominique had already cut up and sorted the tuna and chicken she had been preparing for Feisty Cat as she now called the feline who still hated her. She wondered why the cat wasn’t her best friend by now since she was responsible for saving it from that lab and ...him. The little bits of food were nearly even in size and the arrangement was rather appetizing. She smiled proudly as she opened the small metal door to the carrier and slid the small glass plate down in front of it. the cat hissed as predictable. Her own smile faded and she sighed plopping her robed body back on chair next to the desk in the small room she was calling her temporary home.

Catherine Nilson: In the main room, a couple of nuns approached Cat from across the aisle. Cat's movements were swift. With a gleam in her dusky green eyes, she flipped open her pocketknife and sliced open the older one's neck, letting her fall like a marionette with the strings cut. Cat and the other nun watched the lady twitching and struggling to breathe as her lungs filled with fluid, then Cat grabbed the other nun, bruising her shoulders. She tried her best Doc impersonation. "WHERE IS THE PALADIN?" she demanded. It didn't quite occur to her that the nuns might not know what a paladin was.

Dominique: The glass plate was clear and void of the smallest particle of food. She leaned down and quickly grabbed it before the cat made a dive to bite her hand again. It was getting rather old. It liked her as much as its owner did. She wouldn’t be surprised if he was linked to it somehow and the thing would be on her chest one night while she was asleep cutting her to pieces. The animal moved slowly like it had all the time in the world finding its way back into the cage. When it was safe she leaned down and secured the carrier door. Adjusting her robe and fastening the silk rope belt around her waist she moved towards the door of the room. Surely there would be no one in the kitchen right now. It was late and like Feisty Cat she also needed a snack before her evening would be content and restful.

Catherine Nilson: Cat killed the other nun after she led her to Dominique's small room. Well. It was empty, and Cat was kind of irritated. She stabbed the nun in the stomach a few times and sat on Dominique's bed as she watched her bleed out on the floor. How much blood can a human make? Cat once read in one of Doc's medical books that it was enough to fill a bathtub, but she wasn't really sure. The vampire flipped open her phone and text Doc.

Cat: *text* She's here. Unless the nun was lying. They're not supposed to lie are they?
Doc: *text* they are human. Humans aren’t perfect. They lie.
Cat: Cat frowned at the dying human and nudged her with a toe. "you were lying, huh. You just wanted to buy yourself some time."

Dominique: Dominique was hungry but now instead her stomach was boiling. Her soft brown eyes darted back and forth as if something would pop out at any minute from some dark corner. She wasn't ever afraid. It was more like a heightened sense of anticipation. The lights that normally were on through the otherwise dark hallway leading to the kitchen were out. The sisters took turns shutting the place down for the night but that was usually much later. Her eyes narrowed a little more with each step she took. It was unheard of and really she should feel wrong for doing so but she had the iron fireplace poker in her grip as she passed by the main fireplace. 'HOPE' lifted and reached back behind her head and pulled the hood of her robe up over her head so that her face was hidden deep within as it drooped over. She spun the fireplace poker with the same fluid and flawless form she would a sword or her master blade. Maybe it was al for nothing. Maybe not. Either way she was feeling her fingers tighten more as her feet carried her closer to the kitchen.

Catherine Nilson: Cat stood and stepped over the body of the human after it was good and dead. She hadn't killed any of the nuns at the other convents before, but Doc said that was probably why she hadn't found the paladin. Cat thought about Dominique and her tattoos, and the last time they'd seen each other. She was a mess. Should have died. What excited Cat was that a human could be so strong. She didn't have the same roiling in her conveniently undead stomach, but Catherine did have a heightened sense of anticipation. She would start checking rooms one at a time. For now, she kept her pocketknife out, and left her automatic in her heavy backpack.

Dominique: Dominique was quiet in her barefoot steps. Each time her skin came into contact with the cool hardwood beneath her eyes searched for movement that would change her current course she was on. the distant sound of a door opening caught her attention. However she did not turn to investigate the source. Something compelled her to move instead towards the main doors. It was not long before she came upon a pool of blood and the black and white material that should never be on the floor or the body within it. Her jaw tightened and her hand locked around the handle of the iron poker. There was nothing sacred anymore. The bloodsucking beasts had no respect for anything. Nothing at all. She inhaled deep and then held her breath as she followed the bloody path that may have been only drops here or there but enough that the paladin was making her way towards the hall of private chambers that she had left not long ago.

Catherine Nilson: Cat peeked in on sleeping nun after sleeping nun. Not a single stinking paladin in sight. Just when she was about to give up and call it a night, Cat heard footsteps coming from across the corridor. "I spy, with my little eye, a nun creeping around," she murmurs under her breath. After tossing her hair and adjusting her backpack over one shoulder, Cat creeps toward the creeper with her switchblade out in front of her. A former gangster, she is practiced with it, but tends only to use it against weaker foes.

Dominique: The shimmer of a faint moonlight spilling in from a far window landed on what she knew should not be. Her eyes narrowed as it went dark and the object was gone. Her bare inked foot paused midstep then went back. Slow but careful she nearly became part of the wall behind her as she rounded back and found the shimmer appear again. A blade walked the halls? Highly unlikely.

Catherine Nilson: Cat stopped near where Dominique had tried to blend into the walls. Cat squinted at the wall. She and walls had a sordid past. Because of her schizophrenia, she tended to see things that weren't there. Was there a paladin? Cat had better make sure. Growling out a challenge that sounded inhuman, she flicked her pocketknife in a wide arc in front of her, letting it bite along the hallowed marble walls. God hadn't struck her down just yet, so she figured she might as well deface something.

Dominique: The silver shock of color had her lean to the side and spin down sweeping her foot to the space beneath the blade. It was quick and she looked up to see the proof there was indeed a knife on the move. The hand that held it was attached to an arm that of course was leading to a shoulder. That shoulder was attached to a female whose face came to a brief view. It was her! Rage filled her every last pore. There was no end.

[Dominique]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

Dominique: She was sick to her stomach again. That familiar boil started bubbling in the pit of her belly and she felt overwhelmed with agitation at what to do next as the walking dead spoke. It was in a tone as if she was explaining she was looking for the bus stop and stumbled into the convent innocently. Her nostrils flared and her eyes narrowed as she spit out in anger. "You tell that sick **** to take you and him and step up to the guillotine and stick your heads through and pull the rope. Do this world a favor. You are Hells rejects." She hissed. Her only choice to keep those within the convent safe was to get the minion of the man who sent her outside the convent walls.

Catherine Nilson: "Guillotines don't even exist anymore," Cat mumbled impatiently. Frowning, she took her hand out of her pocket and away from her phone, then drew a firearm. It was a small handgun that Cat was rather skilled with. She aimed for one of Dominique's kneecaps, hoping to maim her enough to drag her back to her sire.

Dominique: Dominique was a flash of flesh moving as the woman pulled out a gun and shot at her. She rolled on the floor and bounced back up. In that split second she felt the panic of needing to get outside. With a dexterous lunge she didn’t question her next move as she dove through the stained glass window next to her. Her body fell to the ground with a dull thud. At least she was outside and running from the convent. She would kill them both if it meant bringing guillotines back by building one herself and using it

Catherine Nilson: "Come back!" Cat shouted. Doc was going to kill her if she lost Dominique again. Growling under her breath, Cat sapped some of Dominique's energy with a spell, then gave chase. "You can't run forever, paladin!" Cat panted. She had her gun hidden in her coat pocket, she would have to wait until she had a clear shot with no other human witnesses to fire again.

Dominique: Running was a part of her as much as air was to a human needing to breathe, water for a fish. Her arms were her source of energy. Each one pumped hard as if it would propel her faster forward and farther from the woman with a knife, the convent and possibly him. Her inked arm alternated with the plain one. Her robe flying behind her leaving her ink and bare limbs in full view while her bare feet ignored the rough unforgiving wooded earth beneath her. She went through thorn bushes, hopped over wooded vines and now just as she could see a road in the distance she felt as though she had been tripped up by an invisible wall. She went down hard.

Catherine Nilson: Cat was hit in the face with the robe. Dominique was like a ******* gazelle or something, running for her life, jumping over ****, ducking branches. Then Cat's spell took affect and the paladin fell flat on her face. Cat finally caught up to her and, with an exhausted smirk, she drew her handgun and shot at Dominique's legs, hoping to cripple her so she could more easily drag the human to her sire's lab. "Time to go back."

Dominique: The ***** was really a pain in the ***. No wonder she was linked to him. The thought sank into her brain as she went down like she had finished the New York Marathon in record time but she had not. It was barely five minutes out and she was so exhausted she was collapsing. She was down and out and screwed all to hell if the woman found her. What was going on? Did she miss something? Why was she so weak? the sound of a click and then predictable fire of a gun in quick succession opened the door for the pain through her knees and into her bones. The wench had shot her twice. "You *****!" She hissed and clawed to find a large rock and once she had it in her hand she threw it like a pro right at the woman’s face.

Catherine Nilson: "OW!" Cat cried out as soon as the rock hit her face. Her nose was bleeding. She let go of Dominique's hair and started squirming. "My face," she lamented, then growled and started reloading her firearm clumsily. "Just you wait till we get back to the lab," she was grumbling under her breath, and "I'll show you."

Dominique: "You are so done!" She swung at the woman and kicked out at her as soon as her inked and bloody leg made half the effort. As soon as she pushed it out a searing pain shot up her leg. She had no choice. A slow chant began with the goal of healing the blood she was now losing.

Catherine Nilson: "Go ahead, use up all your stupid energy," Cat taunted her. She flipped her phone out of her pocket, took a photo, and text it to Doc. Dominique was a mess, but she kind of always looked like that, and Cat wasn't going to underestimate her. She reloaded her firearm and shot at Dominique's lower back.

Dominique: She growled and reached up and nailed the woman in the side as the next shot went to her back. The chick was taking pictures of her with her phone. with the last of her draining energy she sent her elbow into the females shin.

Catherine Nilson: The paladin had quite a stabby little elbow, and Cat groaned and bit her bottom lip, trying to keep from going down. Like a small lion with a big kill, she starts dragging Dominique by reaching under her arms and pulling her backwards toward the nearest manhole. She intended to meet Doc at the lab with her.

Dominique: "You are going to be one broken fang by the time I am finished with you. Nothing left but a stain." She growled and went after her with her bunched up fist and sent it upward into the face above her. Her fingers curled at the neckline of the woman’s clothing and tugged hard hoping she still had the strength left to bring her down to her level.

[Doc]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

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Later on the evening of 12-12-13
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Catherine Nilson: at scooped up Dominique and dragged her down the manhole. She couldn't see out of one eye and her arms and neck were killing her, but her legs still work. She started grumbling to herself about "stupid paladins," and "Dad had better let me use the lab more..." as she carried the human to certain doom.

Dominique: Her throat felt like an iron poker was skewered through it leaving a hole. Her back was on fire, her gut in flames which made the boil in her stomach finally have a reason for being there. In pain again and this time Skipper Barbie was dragging her off like salvageable roadkill. "You ..." She hissed and choked in the blood then spit it back out of her lungs with a hacking cough. "Will die."

Doc: Doc glanced at his watch yet again, and fixed his cuff over the face of his watch once more. He would give her twenty-two more minutes, then he was leaving. Crossing his arms over his chest, he leaned back against the counter as he waited. The odds were not in Cat's favor, but she had twenty-one more minutes to prove herself.

Catherine Nilson: Ten minutes later, and the cat dragged something in. It was a human, more bloody even than Cat, though they were both a mess. Cat looked at Doc with her one good eye when he opened the lab door, then croaked through her lacerated throat, "Here... is... your... stupid... paladin... dad." Her head was spinning, and she threw the human at him, then slumped forward and coughed.

Doc: Doc caught Minx's broken body and then dumped it unceremoniously on the autopsy gurney. He then went back to Cat's side and squatted down to get a good look at her. He lifted her face, so he could peruse it better. "Mmmmm She got you good.. Come on.. Over here.. " He stood up and held his hand out to her. "Lets get you cleaned up."

Dominique: She writhed beneath the woman's hand then kicked her shot up legs wildly as soon as she spotted him. "Oh **** no!"

Catherine Nilson: Cat took her sire-dad's hand and limped over to the sink. She knew there were needles and threads in store for her, but it was for her own good. She ignored the paladin on the gurney even though that paladin had caused her a lot of trouble. Cat's wrong was righted, she brought Minx back like she said. It... would probably feel worth it when she was well again.

Dominique: She rolled off the gurney and crawled like a soldier looking for a bunker to slide down into.

Doc: "Oh.. there is still some life in her.. One sec Cat..." Doc quickly moved toward Minx, grabbing a bedpan, as he went. As he closed in on the paladin, he reared back with the metal bed pan and belted it on the back of her head. He waited a moment, to see if she was out.. or going to continue to struggle.

Dominique: Her head felt like the big round thing that they pounded on the gong show that her grandmother always watched. Bells were ringing through her ears and she stuttered and spit. "Prick." Out her lights went.

Catherine Nilson: Cat started messing with bandages and preparing a curved needle. She sat on the gurney beside Dominique's passed out form as though they hadn't just been tearing into one another for dear life earlier.

Doc: Doc smirked and picked up Minx, then secured her firmly to the gurney. Then he looked at Cat. "I am going to clean that eye first.." His voice absent as pulled on some latex gloves. He soaked some cotton in some sterile water, and gently cleaned her face. "So where was she...? His voice was absent as he cleaned, and took a needle and made a couple of quick neat stitches by the side of her eye. He dressed the stitches liberally with ointment, and looked at her neck.. "Use small tiny words.."

Catherine Nilson: "Convent," Cat mumbled, then cried out in pain when he started on her eye. "Ah! Ffff. Hnng. Ugh." Nothing quite like having your eye jelly pulled out and your eye socket disinfected. Well, maybe there was something like it. Cat reflected. "Red wants to know if taking those fade babies out was like getting my eye washed out. I guess my guts would hurt more." She seemed to be trying to keep good humor about it, but when she laughed some blood spat out of her throat hole and hit Doc in the face like venom. Cat didn't even have the energy to apologize for her bodily fluid.

Dominique: Dominique had seen far worse and unfortunately it happened it that very lab she was now secured to a gurney in. Her body hurt like hell and she moved one shoulder only to have her head feel like it would explode. She heard the ringing in her ears and the drowning feeling in her throat and lungs from the pooling blood about her back, she gasped back to being alert.

Doc: Doc sighed, and moved to the counter to take a gauze pad to clean his face. He gave Cat a look. "Alright .. new rule. No talking." He moved back to Cats side, "She fucked you up..decent.. " He nudged her chin up a bit, so he could stitch her neck, "And for Red's benefit.. the evisceration was much worse..." He spared a glance at Minx, then back that job at hand. "You need to train I think.. she should not have landed so many hits on you.."

Dominique: "I got another one for that Raggedy Ann." She tried to laugh miserably in defiance but choked on her own blood instead.

Catherine Nilson: Cat growled when Doc told her she needed to train more. Stupid no talking rule. She decided to conveniently forget it so she could retort, "I brought her here didn't I? Jeez." Her neck flesh moved a little, making stitching difficult, and she thought she felt a few unnecessary stabs of retaliation.Growling again, she fell sullenly silent and occasionally glared at Dominique as if this was all her fault.

Doc: "Convent huh? Those places are thick with penguins.." he knew Minx was Catholic, he had her ‘beloved rosary’ to prove it. "Did you manage to skin a few of those old birds?" He slid a glance at Minx, and then winked at Cat, as if to silently show her, that Minx would ******* hate to hear about it. "Those old biddies.. bet they told you to wipe your feet.." He deftly made stitch after stitch to Cat's neck. It was a clean neat job.

Catherine Nilson: Doc's imagery made Cat smile, though it was more of a grimace, it was a distraction from the pain of being sewed up. Her sire was pretty agile with a needle and thread. Between stitches, Cat would nod and mumble "Heh. I just killed two of them, that's all." It wasn't a big deal to her.

Dominique: She could not ignore that he showed as much respect for the very nuns that saved her life a few times from his hands. Now he referred to them with the same importance of zoo animals. No wonder he was dead with sharp teeth sucking on other like a parasite. “Heaven didn't want you and hell will never have you. You will burn so stop trying to fix what will only be coming undone again. I will kill you both." She hissed and growled out of the damage to her throat. She was so light headed the room was spiraling like a bad night in Puerto Penasco. "God will hunt you down, *****." She spat out blood.

Doc: Doc grinned, his barb struck gold. He brushed Cat's hair back from her face, "I am sure you did me proud.. I think it's time you create a mark.. that is yours. One that you leave in a small hidden place at your kill sites, where it will be overlooked.. but one.. when you pass by, know that it is there. I have mine.. I think it's time you create your own." He pulled a fresh swab and soaked it. "Arm..." He glanced at Minx absently. "God is a fairy story.. that man made up.. to give their children hope." He leaned down over Minx ear, "It's all a lie. How could a ‘holy work’ like the bible be real” his voice was derisive and patronizing “.. and there be no, absolutely no, mention of.. us?"

Catherine Nilson: "Plus he didn't strike me with a guillotine," Cat chimed in casually. She was dizzy from blood loss, so that was how much sense her words were going to make for a while. She looked over Minx's prone body. A secret mark. Maybe between her toes, or in her ear, or…

Dominique: His voice to her ear sent a chill down her spine. "You were not worth mentioning." She wanted to bite his face off. the idea so savage and primal went around like a cartwheel in her foggy mind. "When I get my hands on your lab rat of an assistant I am going to peel her flesh off her like a banana...nana...oh godssssss..." She was going to be sick but passed out instead.

Doc: Doc gave Cat a look. "A guillotine? " He boosted her blood. A skill he had recently learned. He began stitching her arm. And as he stitched he wondered what course to take next with Minx. Meanwhile Minx was babbling about fruit. Death by blood loss? Or death by dehydration? Or a ******* bullet to the brain. That last one made him smile as he envisioned it. Until.. until it would be time to clean up the mess. So Bullet to the brain, outside.. better...but it would be

Catherine Nilson: Cat sighed. She felt a little better. "Just kill her already dad," she pleaded and rubbed her head, watching Dominique. She worked hard bringing the human here, so what was he waiting for? It was nice to be babied and nursed back to health, but didn't he hate this lady? Why was he just talking to her and gloating?

Doc: "If only it was that easy... We have a history.. she and I. Over too quickly it's anti-climactic.. and I am in a ******* rage for weeks.. You've never seen me in a rage.. its best you don't."

Catherine Nilson: Cat blinked at him. So it was like that. "Like when Cyth went away." Cat sounded pensive, she looked at Dominique again.

Doc: Doc frowned, "I wasn't in a rage when Cyth went away.. I was ******* depressed. You have never seen me in a rage. Trust me."

Catherine Nilson: Cat tilted her head. She thought he had seen him in lots of rages. Did he mean that he could be in even more of a rage than he sometimes got? She didn't really want to find out. "But if you let her go you'll be angry too."

[Catherine Nilson]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

Doc: "Let her go? Are you ******* crazy.. No I am not letting her go. I am pondering a cyanide cocktail." He wasn't but he wasn't about to tell Minx what he was planning. Because what was he planning? The thoughts of putting her down, just didn’t seem right. He pushed the thought away.

Dominique: The sounds of wet air exchange whistled from the gurney where the paladins unconscious body.

Catherine Nilson: "Dad... just kill her now..." Cat pleaded. She knew this wasn't going to end well again. He was like a James Bond villain biding his time and letting James Bond regain strength and power of will to bust through the piranha pit or guillotine trap... at this rate Cat was going to be on Dominique duty for a long time, and she didn't think her body could handle it.

Doc: For all Doc knew, she was just pretending to be out. She wasn't stupid. And Cat was right, he should just kill her now. But He and Minx had been in this battle for so long, he almost didn't know .. what to expect if she was gone. "Yes.. I should.. but I can't.."

Catherine Nilson: "Then why did I even bring her here," Cat asked him. She rolled up her other sleeve and went for her backpack and her gun. "I'll do it," she said with a deadpan resolve. It was for her sire's own good. Being this attached to a human wasn't healthy, even if it was a hate-attachment.

Doc: "No." It was a sharp, soft hiss. "She's mine." But even as the words left his mouth, he knew Cyth would give him hell. He had promised her. Yet she was right here, Here for the killing. Here at this moment, where he could rid his existance of her presence forever! And yet he still hesitated. He told himself, it was the promise he made. But, deep down in some sub-conscious part of his brain, he knew it really wasn't the promise. But what was holding him back, he still had yet to pinpoint.

Catherine Nilson: Cat stopped with her gun in hand and turned to look at her sire. This was the moment she'd been waiting for. "Then do it," she said again. She could not for the death of her fathom why Doc was unable to go through with a simple murder. He had killed so many other people, human people, not even paladin filth.

Doc: Doc wanted to tell her something was off. Something was wrong. It was .. unsettlingly wrong. He wanted to say that he needed time to run the iterations, to plan all eventualities, to be prepared. But he knew that was a lie, and the unease he felt made it clear, he wouldn't be able to sell that story .. not right now. "I do things my own way. I don't always do quickly.. " that true .. "and I don't necessarily want an audience.." He spit the words. Her insistence at action infuriated him.

Catherine Nilson: "She's gonna get away again," Cat said and lifted the firearm, aiming it at the prone figure. This was for Doc's own good. Once this paladin was out of the way then things would be better.. For everybody. Cat aimed with her one good eye, shook her hair out of her face and squeezed the trigger…

Doc: "Mine!" He snarled, and lunged toward Cat viciously, attempting to knock the firearm out of her hand. The attempt whether successful or not became moot, as the bullet slammed into Doc's chest. The snarl quickly became an enraged roar of pain, anger, and that ******* phantom emotion that had been frustrating the hell out of him for weeks now. He backhanded Cat, as he focused on blood boosting due to the loss from the wound.

Catherine Nilson: She was freshly injured from the bout with the paladin, and her head spun after Doc backhanded her. She glared at him, feeling more betrayed by the fact that he was stalling on the paladin than she was about the jarring blow. The pale-haired vampire stumbled back with a grunt, then wiped her nose and lifted her gun again. The weapon was shaking as she aimed it at him. Enormous pools of clear tears wobbled like gelatin in her green eyes, then as they overflowed she ran away sobbing. She didn't have the magical energy to dig a hole, because she had wasted all her magic fighting the paladin.

Doc: "What the ****?!" He winced from the pain in his chest that was suddenly compounded by the vehemence of his words. "I don't have to ******* explain myself to you! I claimed her months ago!" He jabbed a finger in the direction of Dominique. "Do you think I am taking this ******* LIGHTLY!?"

Catherine Nilson: Cat spun to look at him, bawling like a baby. "Then do it! Do it right now, dad! Kill her now. You've fucked her up enough. Don't be greedy, she'll just get away again, I keep telling you but you won't listen, cause you can't What are you thinking, huh? She's been setting traps, and having sex with vampires and having their fadebabies. That's gotta be at least ten violations of the masquerade right there...!"

Doc: Every word she said was true. And it only served to fuel his anger, because the guilt of her words hung heavy over him. He clenched his jaw tightly, the sinews under the skin standing in relief. His right hand went inside his jacket and pulled the glock free from the shoulder holster. His face took on a cold aloofness, that showed he did have a course of action now set in motion. The only problem was, it wasn’t Dominique that was his target. "Don't tell me what I can and cannot ******* do." The dripped liked ice. "I will show you what I can ******* do.. " He lifted the gun and aimed it at Cat. "You are the childe.. I do not have to explain to you." He glared at her, his finger on the trigger, "Say it one more time.. that I 'can't' do something...."

Catherine Nilson: The little thug gasped and stared at him, heartbroken. Did he care more about that stupid paladin than he cared about her? She took a big unneeded breath, sniffling, and aimed her gun at the paladin. "If you shoot me I'll shoot her," Cat warned her sire. "She can't take much more." Since she was so important to him, why would he risk it, Cat thought bitterly. He had no qualms shooting Cat herself.

Doc: Doc was seething. She dared question him and his abilities? Who the **** did she think she was?! He didn't owe her a ******* explanation! And though, one would think his experience with eternal binding with Cytherea, would teach him a lesson about backing down,.. it didn't. Cat had thrown down the gauntlet, daring him to shoot her. As if he wouldn't?! Hell He shot Cytherea on a weekly basis and Cat thinks he WON’T shoot her? That's ******* joke. Of course he would shoot her. His thoughts weren’t even about the paladin. The paladin didn’t even figure into his actions. They were focused on how his childe dare question him. Him! He aimed the gun at her specifically, "Put the ******* gun down." His voice bespoke frigid determination of his intentions.

Catherine Nilson: "No dad," she sniffled and stood her ground. Her head was still reeling, and she felt like ****, she could only see out of one eye, her left arm was all kinds of fucked up under those bandages, and her neck wound was starting to seep underneath the bandages there. She didn't want to back down either, though.

Doc: The muscle in his jaw flexed as he clenched and unclenched his jaw. It was a lesson she needed to learn. The lesson being, one, sometimes you don't get all the answers, and you have to ******* deal with it. And the second lesson, don't ever give him an ultimatum. He pulled the trigger. His face reflected no emotion at his actions, he readied for a second one immediately, in case he needed to shoot again. His first shot had been aimed her weapon hand. His second would be more incapacitating. He had been staring at her eyes as he pulled the trigger, and his gaze was still locked on her face. He wasn't even sure he had hit her.

Catherine Nilson: The gun skittered out of her hand. She clutched it with her bad arm and gave him a baffled look. He had betrayed her, and she couldn't deal with it. He also seemed to be ready to gun her down, so Cat spun and sped off on her two good legs. At least she had that going for her. Sobbing and muttering, she scampered out into traffic. Cars honked and tires screeched, but she kept on across. Blood splatters marked her trail as cat ran who knew where.

Doc: Doc didn't move for a long moment as Cat bolted out. The screeching tires and blaring horn, broke him from his rage fueled haze. "****!" He had done it again. It was happening more and more. And they were getting closer and closer. These anger fugues, were causing him to do **** he would have never done before. The speed at which the anger boiled up was milliseconds, and in the end he would just loose it. It had happened at the Tytonidae party and now it had just happened again. He had shot Cat. ****! He took off after Cat. His chest was burning where she had shot him. She wasn't in sight, but he could smell her, and her wounds. He closed in on where she was, but she was hidden from sight. "Catherine.." he holstered his gun, his voice was tired and tinged in pain. He knew he had fucked up. Now that the rage filled haze was gone, the pain from the chest wound began to radiate in a larger and larger area. His energy hadn't been high before, but the wound, his anger, the boosting brought it even lower. "Cat..." he sighed audibly. "I don't know what's happening to me.. the anger takes hold.. I .. " he couldn't explain.. his words just trailed off except to say that maybe now, she had seen him in a full blown rage.

Catherine Nilson: Doc's words fell only on concrete and steel. Car horns blared but the girl with the bandages had already vanished, as if she had never run into traffic in the first place. The cars ignored Doc by the side of the road and eventually everything was back to normal. But it was quiet. Cat's scent was vanishing in the snow. Some blood spatters shone wetly in the distance, and then there loomed enormous trees, thistles and wild animals. The young woman, in her blind panic and confusion, had charged headlong into the wilderness.

[Catherine Nilson]

A vampire is just another animal, deep down. Where Doc's inner beast dictated that he protect his possession and fight his childe, Cat's inner beast told her to run. She didn't want to hurt him, just the paladin, for everybody's own good. Cat had tried, but there was a burst of pain and confusion, and before she knew it she was scampering outside. Out of the lab, into the headlight-glossed street, away from blaring horns and past confused pedestrians. The one-eyed vampire hopped fences, sniffling and wiping her nose occaisonally. She traversed empty lots, bled her way around each house. Her boots thumped like a heartbeat as she followed her instincts.
She wasn't particularly attached to her emotions, but she couldn't think straight. She felt like something was still on her tail, and that if she stopped it would destroy her. The pain of her injuries bit deep into her body with each silent leap, but that only made her run faster. It didn't register in Cat's panicked brain that she was only making it worse. The stitches in her neck and arm tore open, filling the snow with her essence before it would melt away the next morning.
Concrete gave way to thistles and tall grass... the sound of cars became the hum of insects. The young vampire was in danger, alone in the wilderness, where she could be vulnerable to attacks from fadebeasts and other wild creatures. It took a while for her to run out of juice and fall over. Sniffling, she wiped her nose on her sleeve and lay on her stomach on top of some moss. It was hard to tell how much time had passed and her wounds were all throbbing.
What now, Cat finally thought. Red and Green, the voices in her head, weren't being particularly helpful. Red's routine was the usual I Told You So mixed with We Are Doomed and topped with This Is All Your Fault. Green chimed in with Red on the We Are Doomed, and also added We Can Never Go Back. Cat knew that they could go back, just... she didn't feel like it. Doc would be mad at her again. She couldn't say anything right. She was always making him lose his temper like this. It was pointless. Plus this spot was kind of comfortable. She would stay a little longer, and rest...
Hours passed. It was getting close to dawn, and Cat lay prone on her face. A long, rough tongue scraped at her wounded face, scooping out more of her eye jelly. Her bandages were gone. Cat whined and pushed on the face. It was a feline face, large, soft and kind of scarred. A puma, great. Cat was going to get eaten by a puma. This was ridiuclous. "Go away," she told it. The creature briefly startled backward, then began to purr. The puma licked Cat's long pale hair and her face for a while. Cat managed to stay still for this whole process, and eventually she found herself being dragged away by her hoodie hood.
When dawn arrived, she passed out in a cave with a pile of young pumas on her backside, a few juvenile pumas wrestling nearby, and the adult pumas watching over her. Cradled from the sun's rays, bathed in purring and covered in plump heavy cats, Catherine slept and began to recover from her battle with the paladin.

[Dominique]

Background music

"You can't let go and neither can I." Such pain in the words. Each one laced with awareness and finality. It was supposed to hurt. The thought alone was supposed to be too hard to fathom. But there it was and it was impossible to take back now that she put it out there. "So ya know..."
"Yeah I do know..." She shrugged her bare sun kissed shoulders while the red strands of hair skipped back and forth between the front and the back of her tattooed skin. It was a cruel hot summer and so was the heartbreak of saying goodbye. "Hard habit to break and let it be."
"Serious? You went and put Chicago in the same line as The Beatles? That is just wrong!" Jane snapped out in frustration without thinking. "What the **** are they feeding you this week for meds?'

There was no waiting for the answer either. A unit tech came walking through the outside grounds where they were sitting at a picnic table. The man looked to be hazed in the eyes. Perhaps he had his own cocktail on board? A quick nod upward of his head was followed by the slide of his hands into his front pockets. A impish smile appeared briefly then faded from the mans face as Jane looked from him to the woman she had been friends with for the better part of twenty years. Her jaw dropped.

"I can't believe you." This only proved her friend had lost her mind. "Him? Ron beat you to a bloody mess and cost you everything and now you are back in the saddle riding before the clowns have got the last bull back in the pen?"

Jane loved her like a sister. She wasn’t trying to rub salt in a wound but she also knew if she didn’t say it like she always had which was direct and to the point that the creepster five yards away eyeing them like prime rib on buffet night would likely be the next ******** to **** and twist up the woman and her fragile mind even more.

“He’s no good. I know it.” Jane breathed out knowing her words would likely not be taken seriously. There was too much in the womans system to sedate her to a zombie like existence already.
“No one is ever good enough for me, Jane.” She sighed and pulled out a cigarette from the pack in her hand.
“Is that a bad thing?” She looked back at the guy keeping watch and bugged her eyes out and put her hands up. That sent him on his way. Satisfied with the response she turned back around. “Hell, you should be taking it as a compliment.”
“Actually…” The green Bic lighter came to view and a flame followed the click of her thumb and shaky fingers. “You are the only one who thinks that, Jane.”

Ribbons of smoke moved in a serpentine dance upward between them. The scent reminded her of days when they would sit behind the high school and think they had the world in the palm of their hand while lighting up her grandfathers Swisher Sweets. They were clueless. Now as she looked at her best friend that seemed to be the case still. The woman plucked something off her lip that Jane didn’t get a chance to discern and flicked it away. Another long drag of the cigarette broke the dance of the grey ribbons while the end of the cancer stick lit up bright orange.

“And you never thought enough of yourself.” Why she couldn’t see how amazing she was? Jane felt she was perfection. Smart, funny with a beautiful heart and never had a bad thing to say about anyone. She reminded those around her it was possible to be kind and good while the world kept kicking you in the ***. Her brown eyes fell to the top of the picnic table then to the scars on those fragile inked wrists that shook with the pack in one hand and the cigarette in the other. “Breaks my heart to see you like this. I hate him. I really do.”
“That makes two of us, Jane. Breaks my heart for you to see me this way.” A long exhale had the ribbons gyrating upward once again.

An inked leg bounced beneath the table faster than it had been. Wide brown eyes met the hazel orbs across the table. If she loved her she had to save her. She was responsible to take her and make it all better. The woman was dying right in front of her otherwise.

“Then say yes.” Her warm brown eyes were already flooding with tears. “I do this last job for Tony and we do it like we said we always would. We get out of here. I will take care of you till the **** is out of your system that they keep feeding you. I promise. I will be there for you and we can go anywhere.”

The vacant eyes across from her winced as the smoke darted to the left with a sudden warm breeze. Jane could barely recognize the woman she was talking to. There was all the hope in the world she would agree. It would be the best thing for both of them.

“You have court coming up, Jane.” She crushed out the end of the cigarette on the top of the picnic table. “But if you are willing to miss it I am willing to run too.”
“Tomorrow morning.” Jane looked at her watch. “I have a pick up at midnight and I will be back here tomorrow morning. The last one then I am done for good.”
“Good. If you are tired I will drive.” Her thoughtfulness was nice but Jane wasn’t going to let the doped up woman drive her out of the parking lot much less to wherever they were going.
“I will be alright.” She stood up and brought her leg over the bench of the picnic table. “I have a case of Monster waiting for me if it gets to be too much.
“That is what will kill you.” The redhead stepped around and wrapped her arms around Dominique and kissed her cheek. “I give up cigarettes and you give up those energy drinks. Deal?”
“You got it.” They were going to finally do it. Getting away from what haunted them both was going to happen. “See you tomorrow.”

The next morning Jane Dominique Doe drove up to the hospital where the best friend a person could have was under self-admit for the most recent attempt at trying to kill herself. It was senseless. The ******** who put her through the emotional and physical hell for the last three years should be the one behind a locked door. Preferably with bars in the windows. Instead of the usual routine she was asked to sit in the waiting room. Usually fiery haired beauty would come with hands holding packed bags. Something wasn’t right and she could feel it.

“Thank you for waiting.” The doctor that spoke she recognized while they sat down next to her. “I was told you were very close to Tavi.”
“Were?” She felt like the air was punched out of her lungs with the single word that was so wrongly placed.
“Tavi passed away last night.” She inhaled deep like if she got enough air the sudden pain spreading through her would cease in route to the places it was traveling. She could not hear any of the rest of what the doctor was saying while his lips moved. We found her during second rounds bed check.”
“No…” It was a dry whisper of protest and denial that moved past her tear soaked lips. “No.”
“There was nothing we could do. We tried everything.” The doctor tried to explain what would never make sense.
“No.” She couldn’t think of anything that she meant more to say. “No…”
“I know this is a shock to you. It is to us all.” The voice went on but only sounded less convincing as it spoke.
“Stop.” Her jaw clenched and her eyes finally fixed on those staring back at her. They were concerned but had seen all this happen before. They would go home and do it all over again in a couple days. Jane wouldn’t. What she had left was going to be standing up and walking out the door. “Just stop.”

Jane’s hand was on the door of the unit where she had entered not long ago. The chill of instant abandonment was suddenly gone. Tavi was with her. She could smell her next to her. She was right there. It was going to be alright. They were leaving and no one was going to stop them. HOPE and LESS came up and wiped her own eyes and a smile came to her face because Tavi was back.

“Don’t listen to them, Jane. The world is full of idiots and they are just trying to ruin our fun.” The sound of the voice was such a relief the pain was nearly absent now.

“Jane?!” She felt a throbbing all over her body as Tavi’s voice called her name. “JANE! WAKE UP! TIME TO RUN!”

With a disoriented slap of her inked hand to her own face she did just that. Blinding pain claimed her as her body began to move. It was back to reality and to the current method of operation. Her beaten body was visibly wearing wounds that were not life threatening nor deter her from stumbling towards the door. Just as she was about to dash to freedom once again she found something worth stopping for. It was his name with an address beneath. Dried blood over her hand was not distracting her from the evidence he in fact had a home. Her hand shakily curled up and held the paper tight. Had was going to be the key word. Had. He wanted to take from her over and over. The man was about to learn a costly lesson in how the robbed that smile steal something from the thief. Before anything she needed to stop by the local hospital for some conventional medical treatment. Making her way outside she was quick to tuck the paper tightly in her remaining pocket then sprinted before it was too late.

[Doc]

"Cat..." he sighed audibly. "I don't know what's happening to me.. the anger takes hold.. I .. " he couldn't explain.. his words just trailed off except to say that maybe now, she had seen him in a full blown rage.

Sharp pain from the bullet wound in his chest almost brought him to his knees. But that pain also reminded him, he couldn’t keep up with Cat. If she didn’t want to be caught, she wasn’t going to be. The damnable lyrics reared up again in his mind ‘Everything you touch only dies..’

Apart from the fact that Doc was standing by the street, looking for the now disappeared Cat, he couldn’t remember what really brought him here. Yes he knew he lost his temper, he knew it had something to do with that god damned paladin. It seemed that these rages that overtook him, were all tied to that particular paladin, apart from the one he experienced at the party.

Making his way to the apartment, the one that Cat used to share with Jacq, he let himself in and started taking care of the hole in his chest. He replayed as much of the previous few hours as he could remember in his mind. But everything was so jumbled and erratic, and to make it worse, he couldn’t remember what order the events happened.

He held his hand out in front him to see if it shook. It was steady as a rock. It made it all that much more disconcerting. So steady and even at this moment, but it was just one event away from doing something else that he would regret. And who would pay the price of his rage then? It was time for him to seek help. But who, and what possible solution could they offer?

[Doc]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

Doc: Doc picked up the phone and called Zodiac. It wasn't a normal thing for him to do. But he had few options. Of all the people that he felt comfortable talking to, One had run away from him, another his Sire had forbidden contact with,.. for a good reason. She was that last recourse. He waited for her answer.

Zodiac: The cell phone trilled in her dress pocket. She removed it and raised an eyebrow in surprise at the ID that appeared. "I will take this in my office" she told her assistant. Once inside and behind a locked door, she put her Bluetooth on and pressed the TALK key to connect the call. "Good evening, Doctor Nilson" her mindspeak reached out to touch his thoughts. "I was beginning to think you had forgotten about me."

Doc: "Forgotten.. ? No.. " He paused, he wasn't sure how to proceed. Perhaps it would be better face to face.. "Could I come by.. and see you .. to talk.. ?"

Zodiac: "You could do that," she replied. "But I can also hear you as things are now. I imagine this is a bit awkward to be honest. So how about stopping by in the next hour perhaps? Give me a bit to clear a few things off my plate?"

Doc: "Yes.. and .. honestly.. I prefer face to face.. for me.. not.. your awkwardness." He said it bluntly. "I will arrive in an hour."

Zodiac: She stares at the phone as the connection was broken. As far as Zodiac saw it, she felt he would be the one in the odd position. Speaking on a phone and hearing replies in his head. "Oh well," she shrugged as she got up to make sure all could be done before he arrived.

Doc: Doc actually arrived earlier than an hour, but he spent the next twenty minutes pacing slowly back and forth along the block. He was trying to arrange in his mind the best way to go about things. However, each iteration came with a new and awkward set of circumstances and questions that he had hoped to avoid, yet all iterations came back around to the same thing. As it closed on the hour, he entered the store, and moved to the counter.

Zodiac: Jennifer looked up and smiled at the man. "Hello, Doctor Nilson. The boss is waiting for back in the room you guys had your last session in." she pointed down the hallway.

Doc: Doc nodded, and with a brusque, "Thank you." he strode back to the room where he and Cat had the showdown with the demon dog. He frowned as he remembered and as he wondered where she was now. He entered the room, straightened his tie absently, unbuttoned his jacket and sat down. "Zodiac."

Zodiac: She smiled, as always, then inclined her head in greeting. "Hello again, Doctor. So how may I be of assistance to you this eve?" She settled back in her chair and relaxed.

Doc: He didn't respond with a smile. His face wore a solemn purposefully blank look. He decided the direct approach would be the best. "I am having issues."

Zodiac: An eyebrow raised at his statement. Judging by the larger picture she had been building of him from different viewpoints, she had not expected the man to admit what could be considered apparent to others around him. "What kind of issues are we talking about?" she asked softly for clarification.

Doc: "I am being assaulted, with bouts of extreme rage. I cannot sense it coming. It escalates in milliseconds. My actions during these events are not actions, I would normally do."

Zodiac: "I see," Zodiac considered quickly how to continue. "If I state the obvious along the way, I apologize now. It is not uncommon for people who follow your particular path to be more aggressive. Have a 'hair trigger' emotionally. If you were not this way before, I imagine it is not the most easy thing to cope with."

Doc: "Anger yes.. rage.. no." Doc stopped. Again he told himself, blunt to the point. Dont make her yank it out of him. "I shot Cat."

Zodiac: "You what?" Zodiac gasped audibly. "What did she do now?" From the few times she spoke with the girl she imagined Cat could get on anyone's nerves if she tried, but not enough to merit being shot at.

Doc: "She threatened to..." He looked at Zodiac, ".. destroy my property."

Zodiac: "Oh, I see." she frowned a bit. "Threatened, not actually doing it?"

Doc: "She had her gun out and was about to put a ******* bullet through it.. Alright?" He said in an exasperated tone. So Zodiac would know it was a human.. she didn't know to know it her was bomb maker…

Zodiac: "Wow. So this is not the only instance where your anger has overridden your reason I assume."

Doc: "No.. the instances are getting closer and closer in time.. and lasting longer. I have tried relaxation tapes. They don’t ******* work." He stood up unexpectedly and started walking about the room. "At first I thought it was tied to .. a specific event.. but then it happened at the Tytonidae party.. That party was in no way tied to the event."

Zodiac: Sits back and listens. Noticing how easily agitated he had become already. She kept her hands flat on the table and made no moves. Not out of fear, but not trying to trigger a response out of him just yet. "Can you tell me when and where the first time you noticed these things happening began?"

Doc: "When my cat Minx.. not Sheba, went missing some months ago."

Zodiac: "You were worried? Concerned?" One hand picking up a pencil as she began to jot notes on a waiting pad. "Wait. You cat Minx? I did not know you had another cat."

Doc: "Yes I was worried.. I call her my cat.. she’s feral.. but she allows me to share her company.. I hadn't seen her in days, and I was concerned something had happened to her. But I did eventually find her.."

Zodiac: A tiny flag pops in her thoughts as she listens. Part of her wondering a few things now. "So that was the first time you felt this aggression. In a situation where you was not in control of things. Is that right?"

Doc: He stopped and turned to look at her, she might just be on to something, "Yes."

Zodiac: "So could it be assumed then, these bouts of anger you are describing. Could they be triggered by the fact you may suddenly not be in total control of a situation at the time?" it was the best guess she had so far.

[Zodiac]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

Zodiac: "Tell me about the Ty party. What was going on when you suddenly felt angry?"

Doc: “Some ******* skirt.. I don't know who the hell she was.. sat on my lap.. uninvited.. like she ******* belonged there. She didn’t." He glared at nothing in particular as he remembered. He remembered the feeling of humiliation right before the rage went full blown.

Zodiac: "Suddenly you were not in control of what was going on around you." she kept jotting on her notepad. "Can you recall any other incidents where the pattern matches?"

Doc: "When that ******* paladin of yours tried to put me in a ******* cage.. How’s that, hmm?" He grimaced sarcastically at her.

Zodiac: She ignored the verbal jab and kept writing. "Yes, Mini has that effect on people. I imagine being in danger of getting trapped was an unexpected twist to whatever you had planned that evening. Again, you suddenly were not in control of things." she sighed and thought for a few moments. "As a physician-both before and after being turned, control is part of the required mindset I would guess. You need to keep yourself and those who come to you for help calm and assured. The work, surgery, whatever- calm, following steps from beginning to end. When a deviation happens, control is required to deal with the unexpected. However, now- as a vampire, and one of the killer's path that control is strained."

Doc: "I'm not a ******* killer.. I'm ******* useless shadow."

Zodiac: 'You could have fooled me' she thought to herself. "My mistake then. But even then, I imagine in any situation...." an idea dawns on her. "Tell me Doctor. Were you turned by your own choice or was that decision made for you by your sire?"

Doc: "******* *****.. I was at peace with my death.. " The grimace returned, and then a cold smirk slowly curled upon his lips. "So .. I can thank Pi for this bit of ****.. is that what you are intimating?"

Zodiac: "What I am thinking is this," she began to explain carefully. "Being a man of science who had control as a major part of his normal and professional life, you have not totally been in control of anything since you have been turned. Your vampirism was forced on you. Not your choice, but hers. To someone who needs to be in control, that had to be a major smack in the face."

Doc: He was about expound with the use of some colorful metaphors, but he merely inclined his head in agreement. "So .. I am a 'control freak', so to speak. How do I stop these rages? "

Zodiac: "I would not use that term, honestly. As I said, the profession you chose demanded you have that ability." she clarified. "And in the proper context, not a bad quality to have at all. But how to tell you to learn you cannot control every single thing around you and that somethings just happen is going to take a bit of thinking." she tapped her pencil on the pad for a few moments.

Doc: "And what about Cat? She ran away from me. Because .. she didn't know me anymore, couldn’t trust me anymore. I can't.. " He shoved his hands in his pants pockets, and stared at the floor for a long moment. "I will not do that to her again."

Zodiac: She looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. "I can talk to her and try to help her understand if that will help. As for you, I am not a psy person by any stretch of the imagination. I can only give you the best advice I can. If it does not work, then perhaps more of a professional might be required."

Doc: Doc nodded silently. He let the words settle. "I would appreciate it if you would speak to Catherine."

Zodiac: "Not a problem. I have been meaning to catch up with her anyways to see how she is doing." Zodiac continued. "Start small. That is always the best way to attack a massive issue or problem. You are going to have to teach yourself you cannot run everything around you or that it will go as you expect it to." Slowly, she reached across the table and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "I did not get turned by choice either. I know its not the most easy experience to deal with."

Doc: "You've accepted it now.. though yes?"

Doc: Doc stared her at as he waited for her answer, it was as though he was trying to see inside her soul.

Zodiac: "I will admit. Every so often? It comes back to haunt me. Somedays, despite all that has happened in the good to me since I was turned, I have those moments where I wish I was alive again. BUt for the most part, I have accepted it and as I did when I was alive I continue to do now. Gypsies are a curious lot. They learn early in life to take the cards they are dealt and make the best of them. Do they always win? No, but they never quit the game if that analogy makes sense."

Doc: He finally broke the stare as he nodded and looked past her. It wasn't easy for her either. And if there was anyone that seemed to have it all together, it was she. "Tell Cat I am sorry.. and I have taken up enough of your time. Thank you." He nodded but he didn't elaborate or say anything more. He buttoned his jacket gave her a smirk, and headed into the hallway.

Zodiac: She stood up and called after him. "Doctor? There is too much of you left inside not to try. If you wish my help further, please call me."

Doc: He paused, and half turned, "Oh I intend to try.. but I am going to let you pave my way..." He said as though he was surprised she hadn't realized that.

Zodiac: "I understand" she bowed her head slightly. "Blessings of the night to you, Doctor."

Doc: He winked at her, he was feeling quite a bit better. "Good evening Zodiac..." He viewed Zodiac as a colleague, and now even more so. In hospital, there were consultations. Not because doctors didn't know the cause or disease that their patients had, but rather, speaking about patient cases in an open fashion allowed for new thoughts and perspectives to clear, when the staff felt they were impasse. He had been at such an impasse. He needed another view. And Zodiac gave him that view with unjaded and impartial eyes.

Zodiac: She watched him leave and then pulled the pages free of her note pad she had written on. Unlocking her file cabinet, she deposited the pages in the file marked Nilson. She would sort them out later on, but for now she had a scared child to find and try to talk with.

[Dominique]

Three hours of conventional medical treatment and the exhaustion of her bank account went into effect before the young paladin could find her way back out of the hospital. It had been a week from hell. Nothing new but it was more than any mind could take over the last several months. Everything was boiling within the body that encompassed it like a volcano long overdue to blow its top. Life was a series of constant motion. All were controlled, planned, anticipated and ultimately executed according to the stimulus around her. What she was about to do would be no different. She was prepared. Nothing could stop her from the steps she took out of the hospital doors. The very same doors that had become far too comfortable pushing open and releasing with her hands.

The sun was ridiculously bright. HOPE pulled from the right jacket pocket and presented obnoxiously thick black framed sunglasses which she was grateful to find in the in the nauseating pink parka that she lifted from the emergency waiting room. The jacket was not in use and it was roomy. It was not hers nor would it be. She was borrowing it. It was hideous enough that it would be going back if it was the last thing she ever did. For the moment it meant she was able to leave with another set of surgical and suture kits. It was not something she was proud of doing but she couldn’t afford anymore trips to get sewn up when she had witnessed it enough that she could perform many of the procedures herself. Walking slowly made it possible to not clink or rattle while clearing the hospital doors. This time she didn’t see Rupert. Maybe he finally went south like snowbirds usually did. She hoped he was using her Christmas present and kicking back with some savory pink ice-cream.

Dominique set the dark glasses upon the bridge of her throbbing nose. It was something to be grateful for. Her nose in place. The persistent fanged blonde side kick of Dr. Demento did her best to try and remove it from her face but failed. She was still stiff and sore. That would take a few days to fully heal. Hopefully the woman he sent after her like a minion gone wild felt her own pain Dominique delivered in return. However in her own favor thanks to modern medicine and a few sessions of chanting she was stronger and in far better shape than when she walked in. The air that smacked her in the exposed flesh of her face and neck nipped her repeatedly with the chill of exceptionally cold winter winds. It was the beginning of hell truly freezing over. Her muscles twitched and body shivered beneath as she took on the frigid elements to find her way back home.

It wouldn’t last for long. The suppression of dead winter was about to be challenged with the heat of a growing fury unlike any ever seen before. It was all within reach as the key was removed from the hiding spot in the doorframe and slid into the lock that opened as expected with a soft click. Her colorful fingers returned the key back where it was found and the space sealed as it was before. It was the oldest and most common spot to tuck a key but it worked. Anyone finding it and using it would be greeted with enough power and blast that they would be hearing and feeling the aftershocks long enough they wouldn’t repeat the uninvited attempt on the same door again.

Now it was time to open the gates to unholy hell. Wide warm brown eyes scanned the space of her apartment in front of her. For months it was a slow but consistent process in these walls. She worked hard at learning the skills she had needed to come to the point when she could be prepared. It was originally going to be a widespread effort. Each trap she could have made money on selling but saved each instead and placed about her apartment as visual reminder of her goal slowly coming to fruition. Now it all collectively had far more purpose and value. She set her mind on it an hour earlier as she signed the papers for discharge instructions on her wound care. The location had been undecided until she arrived at the hospital. Her eyes were fixed for more than an hour on that piece of paper in her bloody hand. While her skin at her stomach, thighs and neck lifted up and went back down with the pull of the hooked suture needle in the warm-blooded doctors hand her mind did cartwheels with the details of what she would do. One piece of paper with an address made it all perfect and possible. Her message would finally be delivered and received without fail.

Gathering several bags that would carry the collection of lethal devices took more time than it did to fill each duffle size canvas bag up with what she spent countless hours making. One by one all went in. It would be a little draining on her limited energy carrying them but she was more than ready to make this all finally happen. Someone was long over due for a shotgun blast and a kick in his pompous self-absorbed demented ***. Taking from him something that was supposed to be untouchable made as much sense as what he stole from her. Two wrongs never truly made anything right but this time she was sure it would feel pretty god damned good pulling it off and knowing she did it. Her mind was set. Maybe it was frayed or fractured but set and intent.

The travel with her bags through the transits had a few glancing at her but she moved with conviction and determination which increased her speed at which the black haired paladin moved. If her car was there she would be driving home. Her lips moved and she mumbled inaudibly. That and her rosary beads. She was done putting up with not having what was hers to begin with. There was no way any more of her was going to be taken. She was taking every bit of what was left of her back. Then she would feel the satisfaction of walking away while what he had counted on to be there, to be respected as his and be left alone went up in flames. It would be cathartic. Who wouldn’t feel purged or nearly **** their pants watching something as large as a house within their ownership blow up in front of their very eyes? Nothing would say piss off quite so effectively.

The process of breaking into the home was hardly difficult. Lock picks and bypassing the alarms allowed her to move smooth as butter on a warm skillet trough the impressive space within. The large bags were gradually lighter as she made a few drop-offs at strategic points hoping her planning for simultaneous explosion would have the impact she counted on. Even if it didn’t fully send the home into the air and sail in a blaze of glory towards the border it would have an impact. Final touches were made to what appeared to be his study or office. She cared less what was within the walls she entered. Her creations were set in each spot with purpose and care. Standing there she rolled up the empty bags and dropped them into a single back pack resting on her shoulders. Her hand went to her pocket where a disposable cell was and pulled it out. Inked fingers went quickly to the keypad and typed out a message and hit send.

“Do you like surprises? Ignoring this message will not lessen the impact of one meant especially for you.”

An inked thumb pressed send and the text was moving out there unseen but sure to arrive at its destination and to the one who really should be grateful she sent anything at all. Once this was done she was going to be greeting the New Year with a whole new outlook and a change of scenery. No resolutions and no regrets.