Beauty and the Beast (Vasik)

[Paige]

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

Vasik: Before he decided to meet the unhappy new roommate, Vasik took to the streets for an hour for some merriment. He had a feeling this could be a very boring and tiresome endeavor, so why not enjoy a little fun time first?

Paige: The bathroom door is slightly ajar, and the sounds of a toothbrush cleaning a sharp set of teeth echo from within. The figure standing before the mirror is messy-haired, scrawny and dressed in a unitard. Her orange eyes remain downcast as she goes about her daily ritual. Her routine is paramount, and she will be very angry if it is interrupted. Fortunately her siblings do well to leave her alone, and Julius, her sire's mate's childe, is only sometimes a bully before he gets tired of her and bothers someone else.

Vasik: A large thud could be heard from the front door, followed by stammered footsteps towards the bathroom. The vibrantly red-haired, disheveled intruder beat down the door, lifted the toilet seat, and started to relieve himself with a bottle of beer still in his left hand, balancing him against the wall. It took him a minute to notice he wasn't alone. "ssssssssup?"

Paige: The orange-eyed vampire spat in the sink and rinsed out her mouth. This place was like the orphanage she had grown up in in some ways. No privacy. The sight of the beer irritated her more than the leaky genitals of the other vampire, and she snatched it out of his hand. It wasn't even blood. What was the point? She pointed to the bathroom door, indicating her displeasure and the demand that he leave her some privacy.

Vasik: "What, don't see what you like?" Vasik scoffed. "Man's gotta do what a man's gotta do." Leaving the seat up, he kicked the handle down and glared as he left the bathroom. Vasik wasn't completely unkempt. He decided to wash his hands at the kitchen sink, then plopped on the couch in the living room, staring at the television without turning it on.

Paige: Paige returned the bathroom to its normal and undisturbed state. Each towel had to be precisely hung, the seat and lid down, the curtain drawn, the beer can emptied and tossed in the wastebasket. The Russian girl had not been so obsessed with tidiness before her turning. It had changed her in more ways than one. With a low growl, she exited the bathroom and slunk to her room, a tiny windowless place with exercise mats on the floor. The unitard-clad vampire began her evening exercises, practicing with invisible daggers. Her mind began to get over the rude interruption.

Vasik: After a few minutes of silence, the living area was filled with the sounds of grunts and moans. It wasn't at a pace of suggestive intent, but more at discomfort and pain. They slowly turned in to short bursts of yells, then a loud THUMP and a barbaric shout.

Paige: Paige sheathed her imaginary daggers and stalked out into the living room to see what was going on. She could only assume that he belonged to Catherine, the way he showed no regard for the routine of others. Her sisters would never do such a thing.

Vasik: The couch was overturned on its back. Vasik was struggling and fighting with himself, ripping out his hair, beating himself up on the counters and walls. He had already bruised his left eye. What could be seen was insanity, but what Vasik heard and felt was much different.

Vasik: "You deserve to live in filth!" He shouted. Then, when he met eyes with Paige, all be came calm. He stood straight, then said in a low groan, facing the floor, "what are you looking at?"

Paige: She growled at him, unnerved by the bizarre display. There had been quite a few mentally ill children in the orphanage, but they did not usually last long. Paige stayed her ground. She was not sure quite what she was looking at. A man who had just beaten himself.

Vasik: A small trickle of blood creeped its way down his forehead. He brushed it off with his hand and licked it. "Sorry..., " he struggled to muster with a low voice. Vasik never apologized. Was he growing soft? Or was he just being sarcastic? He lifted the couch to the upright position once more, pulled out a notepad from his back pocket, and started writing things down in a hurry.

Paige: All at once she charged, swooping without making a single noise, and was upon him like a dark cloud before a monsoon. She tore the notepad out of his hand, threw it on the ground and stomped on it several times. The only noises that emanated from her were of the growling, throaty variety. That other vampire, in her space. She did not like intruders making noise and doing strange unpredictable things.

Vasik: Vasik's first reaction was invasion of his personal space, the second was frustration, for the cost of that little notepad was priceless since it was the only thing Vasik actually valued. It was a tool, a key, a piece of hope for him to be rid of his flaws. He growled a little, and snatched the notebook from under her feet as she continued stomping. "Damn, *****, I said I was sorry..."

Paige: She glared disapprovingly at him until she remembered life without anger, then sat on the floor. Her routine had been defiled. There was no point in going out tonight.

Vasik: Vasik hated company. He hated the idea of living with people, but his sire insisted. He was hoping the experience would do him some good, but knew it would come to this. Like his mirror self informed him shortly before, he deserved to live in filth. And he enjoyed it. The silence was getting too awkward. He began to grimace. Betwixt his lips came forth a little, quiet, "I'm Vasik."

Paige: "Paige," she whispered. It was the name the Order had given her when she was adopted into the Paladin fold. As far as she was concerned, it was a good enough name and she did not know what it would do to the structure of the universe if she were to change it. "You must be Catherine's. I belong to Axel."

Vasik: "Ha, so you could tell, eh? Both a little.. wo-ho." With that he made a circling finger gesture around his ear. "Or is it my gorgeous face?" He knew good looks didn't come from vampiric lineage, but he always loved mentioning his exterior beauty. He was quite vain, but it wasn't like he couldn't back it up...

Paige: She sneered at him, showing off her teeth, which were all as sharp as fangs. Her orange eyes gave him an unamused look before she looked away again. She considered herself ugly and did not enjoy vain people. If she still believed in God, it would have been a sin to be vain. But God had forsaken her.

Vasik: "God, that horrible, eh? Surely I can't be that ugly." Vasik smirked, showing off his own fangs. "But damn you have gorgeous teeth..." Vasik leaned in for a closer look. He envied the beautiful, physically and mentally scarred creature. She was a gorgous beast in his eyes, and he wanted a piece of that animal inside himself.

Paige: She growled low in her throat at him. Since her turning Paige had been more animalistic than most vampires, and was once mistaken for a Feral. "I do not think you are ugly," she finally managed to whisper past her instinctive, stomach curdling territorial feelings.

Vasik: "Well that's a relief then." Vasik was happy to finally hear some words from the antagonizing creature. "And I find you simply amazing," he said with a smirk. He really did find her amazing. He had somewhat wished that she was his sire instead of Catherine. Not that he didn't like Cat, but Paige was so intriguingly violent and wrathful inside. He wanted that raw power for himself. Maybe they could become not just roommates but friends or allies.

Paige: "Thank you," she whispered in a flat and disbelieving tone. She wanted to prove him wrong by snapping all of her bones out of their sockets and tying herself up in a knot, but she had a feeling that would just make him even more excited. "Why were you damaging yourself," she whispered instead.

Vasik: "Why are you whispering all of the time?" Vasik was more interested in her than bringing up his flaws and weaknesses. "...I can see myself... but it isn't myself... and he doesn't like me very much. He tries to help me, but in the most peculiar ways, haha." Vasik cringed a little. "...we call him The Mirror, since he looks like us."

Paige: Paige did not like or trust other vampires on an instinctual level. It had gotten her into a fight in which she was maimed for almost a week, and since then she had learned to keep her feelings somewhat in check. If her own self was a stranger, an intruder, she would not know what to do either. In response to the whispering question, she gave a crack of her jaw. The bones came unhinged and she opened her mouth wide, so that he could see the scar tissue and mutated growth inside her throat. It caused her pain to talk in anything above a whisper.

Vasik: With Paige's jaw drop, so did Vasik's. "Damn, that's impressive! You're like a snake! Mind if I call you Viper? You look like a Viper. Or a Vixen if I do say so myself." Even unintentionally, Vasik could not keep from flirting with the ladies. He admired the creature for opening up to him, literally. There was an uncanny grace in her disgrace, almost like watching the miracle of a crocodile killing a zebra. It was a beautiful, dark piece of nature he craved. "You really are a thing of beauty."

Paige: She closed her mouth and gave him a mistrustful stare. Nobody had ever called her beautiful before. Her eyes were like hellfire and had always gotten her into trouble. She knew that she was wretched. He must just want something from her.

Vasik: "I know you don't believe me," he explained, "but I don't have an opinion like most people. I'm not LIKE most people." Vasik chuckled a little bit. "Excuse me before I forget this thought." He went back to jotting down notes in his little book about the recent Mirror instance that had occurred. The more notes he wrote, the more he felt like he could figure out how this mirror came about, and how to get rid of it.

Paige: While he wrote, she flipped on the television and selected a Russian soap opera. The humans in it were disgusting, like all humans.

Vasik: He finished jotting down his notes within minutes, then watched a few minutes of the soap opera. "Why do you watch this crap? Can you even understand them?"

Paige: "Russian is my first language," she informed him. She turned the soap off anyway. It was not worth her time.

Vasik: "Interesting." His intrigue in her grew ever stronger. He wanted to know more, but he knew she wasn't the sharing type. "I've always found Russian extremely sexy. Mind teaching me some sometime?" He smiled wide. More spare time with this gem could mean a great partnership with a powerful ally.

Paige: "Da. Means yes," she stated shortly. Her irritation seemed to have melted away, now that she was used to this new presence. She was hungry, though. Feeding would have to happen.

Vasik: "I know that bit actually." He wrote in his little notebook. "Go on..." The information was tantalizing. He could feel the agitation in her fade, exciting him even more.

Paige: "Eto vremya, chtoby poyest," the raven-haired vampire grunted and stood. "That means, it is time to eat." He could tag along if he wished. He probably would anyway.

Vasik: "Indeed it is." Vasik could stand for a munch. He had never fed with another vampire. This could be interesting.

Vasik: Vasik followed closely behind Paige, hands behind his head, casually kicking the snow around. He wasn't in the mood for stealth and deception, just acting natural and attempting to pass as human, although his vampiric aura prevented him from doing so. His aura was strong and thick, and gave off a metallic, salty taste, like iron-rich blood, with a dark, cold chill. He savored Paige's harsh aura, tiptoeing around the borders as he watched her closely on the prowl. He was intent on learning her secrets.

Paige: Each step was graceful and seemed choreographed even though she did not pause or move slowly. Her orange eyes scanned the landscape and took in easy marks. She could go inside where she was not invited, and pull people out of their beds for him. She did not know if he wanted that kind of meal, and she was not ready to show him that part of herself. Instead she headed for the club district. People wandered about in dazes already. They smelled like foolishness. Paige occasionally glanced at Vasik but mostly searched for someone off their guard.

Vasik: Vasik was surprised at Paige's choice of clubs and bars, an easy, intoxicating kill. It was Vasik's perfect choice, the innocent, drunken girl always tasted like refined wine. He licked his lips, flashing his fangs in the moon and snow cover. His stance changed dramatically, one of anticipation rather than boredom.

Paige: Paige was pleased that Vasik seemed so eager to feed. She had a great hunger as well, though it was rarely sated without great cost to the human involved. She pointed ahead of them and across the street at a young, college-age couple holding hands and smoking. They would looked like punk rockers and seemed to not have a care in the world. "Tell me honestly," she whispered. She wanted to know if Vasik wished to dine on one or both of them, or neither.

Vasik: "The girl...," he replied with a vicious grin. Women were always his favorite. In the time right after his siring, when he was drunk on power, he would spend constant hours of the night feeding on women, ravaging them, and slicing their flesh from head to toe with his claws. They would end up dead, throats torn out, ribs visible through gruesome lacerations that ran from their shoulder blades to their hips. It was better he killed them. He would rather make love and kill than resist sex entirely for fear of fadebeasts. He resisted the urge these days, mainly due to Logan, but he couldn't completely avoid a little infliction of pain here and there.

[Vasik (DELETED 5042)]

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

Paige: Paige nodded darkly, and a plan began to formulate in her head. The couple disappeared inside the vibrant club, and she walked beside Vasik. He seemed competent, at least, he had yet to get in her way. She did have her suspicions of him, but that was due to her Territorial curse. Each vampire was a threat. The raven-haired vampire crossed the street, long limbs moving with purpose. The bouncer narrowed his eyes at her and held up a hand, but suddenly grew dazed as she used one of her abilities to lower security in the area. With the bouncer complacent, the gangly girl walked inside with Vasik. The club was vibrant, loud, sweaty and pulsing with euphoric energies. The air was charged with lust and other flavors. There were some booths and tables, a dance stage and a dance floor, a bar and a DJ.

Vasik: The red-head's face blew up with excitement and ill intentions. He savored this kind of atmosphere, the charged, pheromone-filled air, the stereos beating his heart again, the dazing lights and fog. It was as if the spirit world wanted to reawaken him, make him feel alive again. His amber eyes followed the girl's throat so precariously. He had a plan to woo her away from the boy, to separate them. He left for the DJ and asked to sing a song. With his charm and charisma, he knew he could win the crowd over. He had been practicing his singing voice for quite some time, and he believed he was ready to put it to the test. He wondered how Paige would take it, but was sure this would provide the perfect opportunity to separate the lovers.

Paige: Paige was distracted. A drink in bony hand, she leaned against the bar and watched them dance. They were older than her, most of them were punks and if she had been wearing the right clothes she would have probably fit in there. At least, in appearance. Paige was not used to places like this. Under the Order's care she had learned to detest them as cesspools of sinful behavior. How naive she had been, Paige thought with a low growl and a glare. She thought she had known sin. Her caretakers could only fantasize about such things without fully understanding them. When Vasik took the stage, she snapped out of it and stared. In her mind he had gone from a threat to her territory, to a fellow hunter. She had never hunted in a group before and considered him an asset.

Vasik: Thunk, thunk, thunk came the mysterious footsteps on the stage. He took the microphone in both hands, and with a luscious voice, "Are we ready to have fun yet?" The crowd was silent and confused, but gave a hesitant cheer. "I SAID," with a gruffer voice leading into a scream, "WHO'S READY TO HAVE A ******* GOOD TIME?!" The crowd seemed to follow into his march like lemmings to a cliff. He was ready to devour their attention. He loved being in the spotlight. It was simply intoxicating. While the DJ's track began, Vasik slowly licked the microphone's base, caressing it with the wet organ with half-opened, cocky eyes. He knew exactly what they wanted, and he would give it to them. Then, the bass dropped, and he began to sing.

Paige: Paige knew that this was some kind of magic, she had read about it as a child. Like a siren luring ships to their demise, he was commanding them, and they rocked and jerked in unison. Like puppets, they were drawn into his song, to his will. It was a fascinating ability. She watched him, completely riveted, and when her foot began to tap she plugged her ears with her fingers. No. She was not going to dance or give her devotion to him on account of his voice. Such a dangerous spell! But impressive. As her ears were plugged, she looked toward the couple. Both of them were cheering and dancing for Vasik. The entire club was enthralled. Paige's head bobbed above many humans in the crowd, being so tall, and she slunk behind the couple. Quickly, deftly, she seized the male around his middle and before he knew what was happening she dragged him to a shadowy place. The Shadow pire removed the boy's shoes and bound his wrists behind his back with one set of laces, then his ankles with the other.

Vasik: As the song came to its climax, Vasik was all over the stage. He swung his hands in the air, pulling the crowd's strings, tightening around the veins in their hands. They had no power, and it felt fantastic. His eyes grew wide with fervor. A normal human would be dripping in sweat, but as the song died, no one could notice through the moshing and cheering. He leapt off the stage with a graceful swoop as the crowd parted for him, somewhat upset that he would not perform again. He headed straight for the girl, blushing harder at his approach. "That," he lifted her hand and kissed it gently, "was for you." The girl felt something was a little off, something was missing, but wasn't immediately concerned. She was enraptured by the whiskey-filled irises staring right into her own. After seconds of dazed lust for which seemed like hours, she muttered, "m-my boyfriend..." Vasik's talons caressed her chin, and said "Don't worry about him. It's just us," and gave her a gentle kiss. The crowd roared at the couple. He took both of her hands in his own, and with a crooked head and cocky grin, he ushered, "Let's go somewhere more quiet... shall we?"

Paige: Paige's orange eyes flashed briefly at Vasik from the shadowed area. Only someone looking for her would have seen the twin glimpses of glittering flame before they vanished. She was watching, waiting patiently for him to bring the girl outside. Perhaps to the apartment. She lifted her foot and swung her shoe into the human male's most vulnerable place. Nobody heard him screaming because the crowd was so noisy, and the music had started back up again. Paige slipped away from her bound quarry and whispered in Vasik's ear. The other girl, the human, seemed to shrink a little when Paige came near, though she cowered closer to Vasik when Paige briefly regarded her with a cold expression. "The apartment," she whispered, then gracefully disappeared into the writhing dancing crowd. Now there was the matter of how to get a bound male across town without being noticed. She had her magic to lower security, and the ability to keep to the shadows. It would take about thirty minutes longer to get there than Vasik, so he would definitely arrive first. Paige methodically scooped up the terrified human like a hero cradling a rescued woman, then ducked out the back door. She moved carefully, when nobody was around, and did not have to lower security once. The woman had to traverse a few back alleys, but she did manage to get to the apartment. When she arrived, she barged in loudly and threw the boyfriend unceremoniously onto the floor of the living room.

Vasik: "Sounds like we finally have some company," Vasik said. The woman's hands were tied to his iron-framed bedposts next to a window in the dark. His eyes glowed over her. He preferred darkness when he was feeding, especially like this. A razor-sharp nail trickled down her cheek as she whimpered. He wanted to so bad to break into her flesh, to thrash her, to violate her like in the old days. He was losing more control every minute he waited for Paige, but that wait was finally over. Vasik knelt into her neck, savored her smell one last time, and whispered "I'll be back, I have to greet our guest." The girl made movements of not struggle, but hazed seduction. Was she trying to break free? It was a desperate attempt if so. No, she craved him. She was lost in his aura. Reluctantly, he set aside a chair in front of the bed for the boy, opened the bedroom door, and leaned on the doorframe. He was dressed in his black tank and loose-fit jeans and black combat boots with accented steel jewelry and dogtag. He cursed the light for a minute, but was excited to see Paige's face, and the fearful, sweating boyfriend.

Paige: Paige took off her coat. Beneath it she was dressed in a unitard, which seemed to alarm the boy more than it should. He had been carried by a monstrously tall and bony girl wearing a unitard. Somehow that seemed to make it worse. A dark grin spread across her face when Vasik came to see them, as if the two vampires were sharing the same joke. Her jaws, pointed soldiers, gleamed with saliva. She was hungry. She hoped that he had drawn it out long enough for his taste while she was busy with the male, because she could not keep herself in check much longer. The male began to stammer and plead again. Paige gave an animalistic growl and stomped her foot near his body, reminding him what happens to those who displeased her, and he quieted down. He would not remember any of this before the night was over anyway. Paige dragged him by the back of his shirt to the chair and sat him down. She studied the shocked and confused look on his face as he stared at his entranced girlfriend.

Vasik: Vasik joyfully closed the door behind them, ready for the night to truly begin. He was so excited to speed things up, but he knew the way was to savor it slowly. He took off his necklace and shirt, threw them at the foot of the bed, and slid like a snake above the girl. There was a large, full-back tattoo from when he was human that Vasik had no memory of, as well as a scar on his side from his turning. He looked to the panicked boy and winked as he frantically breathed through his nostrils. He bent down over the girl, brushing her hair behind her ear with one hand, and licked her cheek up to her eyebrow. "You want to play a game?" He muttered quietly in her ear. He started leaving light kisses down her neck to her chest. With a single swoosh of both hands, he tore the bindings off, then ripped her winter coat and scarf off. She had a laced, white blouse in the style of a poet shirt. How romantic, he thought. Her long, blonde hair swirled around the heart-shaped face to frame it perfectly. He took a moment to stare at her half-opened eyes and let out a light chuckle.

Paige: Paige growled appreciatively as she took in the sight. It was a somewhat more drawn out noise than her usual gruff 'I don't like you and I don't approve' growl was. There was not enough fear in the girl, but the boy's turmoil made it worth it. He tried to speak to his girlfriend frantically, he seemed to understand that something wasn't right, wasn't normal. Like the girl had sensed earlier when she met eyes with the red haired siren, the boy knew in his heart that he was among predators. Paige watched the human female respond to Vasik's touch favorably. If she ever lost focus, one singsong murmur would reign her back in. Paige [REDACTED]. Paige wanted him to dissolve into tears.

Vasik: Vasik's look turned away for a moment to see Paige [REDACTED] the captive. His bicurious arousal kicked in. He [REDACTED] and kissed her intimately, tongue exploring the insides of her mouth. As the expedition continued with vigor, he started to claw down her back, his usual ritual with his victims, from the shoulder blades to the waist, softly at first. The cuts grew deeper and deeper, staining the sheets below. Finally, the girl let out a seductive "ow!" Vasik was driven over the edge. He missed those former days so deeply. [NOPE] Then, something twitched inside his brain. "You can't do this! I won't let you!," he heard in his mind alone. It was like a ringing at first. His eyes furrowed as the pain grew worse, but he didn't make a sound. Several, quiet seconds went by as the woman writhed beneath him, physically begging for more. He didn't want to appear weak to Paige, so he mentally came to a consensus with Logan to not take advantage of the girl, but made no promises not to kill her. Logan was sad, but knew how much this moment meant for Vasik. Logan believed that this moment, with this deal, he would be remembered for giving Vasik this opportunity and gain something later for this. Vasik scoffed, "sorry, minor annoyance. Where were we?" He caressed the girl's upper leg with one hand, hungry and ready to feed. He licked his fingers one last time and looked to Paige for permission.

Paige: Paige smiled at Vasik. It was a genuine, vibrant smile which made her seem human. She was kneeling beside the sobbing human male's chair, she had humiliated him enough. There seemed to be a silent signal between them, and the raven-haired vampire sank her fangs into the boy's neck. She fed with a happy purring growl. It lasted only a little while. As much as she wanted to kill the boy, cleaning up would have been irritating, and she had company. Best to obey her sire's wishes and not leave a mess either. She would send the couple stumbling on their way. When she was finished, she sealed his wound with her tongue, then untied him as he blinked, dazed, unaware of what was taking place, with no memories of what had occurred.

Vasik: Vasik was happy to oblige in feeding. He was virtually starving after Logan's turn with their body. His body. Unlike the eloquent growling purr of Paige, the graceful, as soon as Vasik's fangs punctured the girl's neck, Vasik's fervent feeding took the best of him. He gulped heavily and frantically, nearly bleeding the girl dry in seconds. Logan held him back. He was a messy feeder tonight, blood dripping around his face and gullet. He looked up to the ceiling and glowed in the moon, arms laid back. It had been a nearly perfect night.

Paige: When he had nearly finished the girl, Paige grasped his hair and tugged him back. "No," she whispered. It took a few moments for the enthralled girl to recover, and Paige led the couple to the door. After booting them out alive but without their memories, Paige licked her lips. She was happier than she had been in quite some time. Even though she would have rather let Vasik turn the girl into mincemeat. She returned, not to her own small room, but to Vasik's, and lay down beside him. She shared the moment of his contentment in silence, and fell asleep with her back against him. They were like a litter of evil kittens.

Vasik: Although Vasik let out a slight yelp at the tug of his hair, which would normally infuriate him, at the time, he found it enjoyable. He said nothing though. This was a time for silence and suffice. Vasik was honored to have Paige sleep next to him in the blood-stained nest of his. Maybe this relationship could become something more than allies.

[Vasik (DELETED 5042)]

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

Vasik: Vasik awoke with a deep-throated yawn, scratch of the head, and a nuzzle in his pillow. He slept well, a rare occasion, but perhaps that was because of his company. He grabbed a pillow from above his head, nuzzled again in it as he stretched his clawed toes, and turned to face his last night's companion in crime, peeking from behind the pillow. He stared at her curiously, then out of the corner of his eye, saw blood speckles on his pillow. He let out a light moan. He should have just gotten red or black sheets.

Paige: Like her cohort, Paige had also slept very well that night. She was still sleeping after Vasik woke up, and looked more like a corpse than usual. Her raven hair was disheveled, her unitard was a bit twisted, and her mouth was slightly ajar, revealing her jagged teeth. Hearing the moan made her sigh in her sleep, as if she was in agreement with him, but the sun had set and it would be a waste to sleep the night away. Eventually her eyes opened. She blinked with embarrassment. Had she fallen asleep in another vampire's bed? What had come over her?

Vasik: Vasik liked the idea of sharing his nest. If he could, he'd do it every night. He was like a kitten, sleeping and cuddling in groups, despite his horrific people-skills. "Morning," he jested at Paige. He let out a little chuckle revealing his bright smile. He did have a genuine smile for once. He got out of bed, stretched out one last time like a dog out of its crate, then left Paige alone to usher her up. He wanted her out so he could change, out of respect, not preference for sure.

Paige: When he got up, she hurried out as deftly as a ghost. Her feet made no noise, which he might have noticed was due to the fact that they hovered just centimeters above the ground. It would be a difficult thing to notice if not for the lack of sound. Embarrassed, Paige washed her face, brushed her hair and changed into her leggings. The scent of last night's activities lingered on her flesh, and thankfully she had not taken complete leave of her senses after the gratifying torture of the human couple, because she did not see or smell any signs that they had mated. When Paige was finished, she sat in the den on the floor doing stretches. She knew that the chatty redhead would likely want to talk about what happened.

Vasik: Vasik was glad that Paige had rushed out so soon. Within seconds, the young man was stripped, redressed, and thumped on the couch. "Like to limber up, eh? You remind me of a ballerina, you know? It's probably the unitard. And how you move so gracefully. How do slide your feet like that? That's a pretty useful hunting technique. Speaking of last night was fun. Let's do it again sometime." Vasik had never imagined himself being so talkative with another person, but this one was different. This connection... Could it be... friendship? It's at that moment he felt a twinge in the back of his eyes, making him wince and turn his head a little.

Paige: Her ritual continued, as she contorted and stretched her muscles. It was more out of habit than necessity at that point. It was soothing to do the same thing every evening. As Paige expected, he began to speak. But she did not feel the usual vexation with him. Perhaps sharing a sleeping space with him had caused Paige to view him as a littermate of sorts. The raven-haired vampire looked at him briefly, then nodded. She wanted to do it again. He was good at helping her make people suffer the way she wanted. When he winced, she began to practice her handstand.

Vasik: "Sssssshit," Vasik whispered. "I'll be right back." Vasik swept to his room, shut the door behind him, and leaned on the door itself. He was murmuring to himself. "Logan was in the way, I couldn't go through with it." "No, we're nothing." "I can't do this anymore, I have a pack now." The murmuring got louder and louder until a loud grunt could be heard. He slammed down on his bed and began strangling himself with the wrappings he bound his victim with the previous night.

Paige: Suddenly Paige barged into the room. She literally levitated to the bed, quick and weightless, then landed upon him. "Vasik," she whispered, visibly puzzled. She glared at the cord around his neck and straining against his flesh, orange eyes searching his face for some kind of recognition. Time passed and it seemed like he was lost to the world, Paige swung her arm back and struck him across the cheek.

Vasik: The fiery-headed vampire kept his head where it had been slapped for a few seconds, then turned to face her. He had a face of unmeasured fury. He spat at her, with his own blood from biting his own tongue. "Never, ever, touch me again you monstrous *****." He wiped off the blood from his mouth.

Paige: She wiped his blood from her cheek with a growl, seeming to grow larger in his presence. Her blood was already running ice cold, but a similar feeling rushed through her body and gave her goosebumps. Just what was happening? He had been easygoing and immature just minutes ago, then this. She remembered when they first met yesterday evening and suddenly rushed off. The adolescent had a habit of darting very quickly to where she wanted to be. She hardly questioned the levitation just yet but she was too angry to notice. She returned with the journal Vasik had been carrying. With another growl she took his hand forcefully and opened it to a blank page, then pushed his hand against it as if it might make him come back.

Vasik: His back arched as he let out a silent scream. After a few seconds he relaxed. Vasik's eyes were wide with surprise. Although vampires had no need for breathing, he began to pant in short, shallow breaths of surprise and fear, holding his head with his free hand. "I can't believe it... he can... he can take over this body..." His worst fears had become realized. Another persona inside of himself, but one more terrible than his former invigorated, fresh-blood self.

Paige: Paige let go of his book, and his hand. She was sweating as well, she had never seen anything like this and it was unnerving. She wanted to attack him, but when he spoke it was as she suspected, he had come back. But what did that mean? Was it an illness? Some kind of demonic possession? If vampires were real, it might also be possible that this was a separate entity possessing him. Breathing heavily despite the lack of need, she watched his face suspiciously.

Vasik: "I can't, I can't do this anymore. I need air." He leapt out of bed past Paige and ran out the door with frantic footsteps down the hall. Him, afraid of himself f. That was worse than admitting his unnatural yet still natural fear of fadebeasts. On the way outside, he kept repeating his panicked mantra "this can't be happening this can't be happening" over and over. He kicked the door down outside and collapsed on the ground. "I am a PRINCE! THE prince of fire and death and fear. What have I become?!"

Paige: Some kids were smoking outside in the cold. They gave Vasik strange looks, but when an enormous bony girl glared at them they immediately went inside, some with muttered curses of disbelief. She crouched beside him. He seemed to feel violated, and she began to have flashbacks to the orphanage and her best friend and later adopted sister crying saying the same thing. Back then she had not known what to say, and tonight she was equally useless. She could only hunker near and watch him bawl.

Vasik: Vasik howled into the night with frustration and grief. Everything he knew he was was slowly crumbling down. If the mirror took over, did that mean he could be replaced? Could he actually cease to exist? He was apparently just whisked into existence from trauma and fairy tales. He may be just as easy to get rid of, even though he was the prominent personality captaining this vessel. There was too much to think from such a small instance. How could he lose control like that? He looked to Paige, breathing slowing down. His face showed emotions Vasik had never felt- shame, disgust with himself, sadness, and even... a sense of thanks. He was... thankful for Paige. If it weren't for her, the Mirror could have done much worse damage, or become permanent master of their body. He felt Logan inside. He spoke no words, only conveyed... empathy for the beast of Vasik.

Paige: Paige did not know Logan, or the mirror. When his eyes focused on her, she pointed to the door. He had broken it. Axel would be furious. He would punish her severely if he found out that they had damaged his property. She did not inform Vasik of this, only pointed and whispered "This is now. Look what you've done." She got up and lifted the door, set it back on its hinges carefully. It hadn't buckled or dented, so at least there was that. Nobody else had to know. As she fixed it, she whispered "What happened? You spat on me."

Vasik: "I... I'm sorry." God, now he was apologizing. The thought made him slightly sick, but in all honestly, he did feel sorry. Sorry for himself, sorry for Paige that he had to go through all of this. He might as well tell her the truth. "I'm not who you think I am. I'm not the original person of this body. My name is Vasik, but this body was born Logan. We trade this body from time to time, but there's another we call the Mirror, who we don't really get along with much. Cat told you to watch me because of this... other... thing." He exerted a quiet sigh. "I don't know what to do anymore. I don't know who I am... I feel like an imaginary friend who will one day just disappear... So much for the prince of demons..."

Paige: Interesting, so he was some kind of wraith as well, possessing another boy's body. She had never seen anything like it in her life. It was so remarkable that she forgot to be angry for a moment. Nodding, she asked him to come inside, then went back into the apartment proper. There were several possibilities. Vasik and Logan could have been the same person, plagued by a mental disturbance. Vasik could truly have been a prince or a demon. Perhaps he was playing a sick joke on her for his own amusement. But to strangle himself, and to make himself bleed...? No, that was going too far for a prank.

[Paige]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--
Vasik: He followed her in close behind, shoulders slumped like a discouraged child, finding no presents under the Christmas tree. He felt a strong longing to open up to this stranger he was forced to live with. Awkward introductions, antagonizing gestures, then hunting together and now this? Sharing and caring? The Mirror would definitely take this as an opportunity for abuse at a later date for sure. Any sign of weakness. Perhaps The Mirror was just a side of himself to try and be a better him, more like the one he was killing for sport and taking advantage of women. It's a piece of him that seemed to split from him, stem from him. Did Vasik germinate that way from Logan? Was he a piece from when he turned, Logan's dark desires made somewhat flesh? He looked to the tall, dark sentinel. "I was a prince... in a world where magic is very real. Our royal blood could summon demons. We were by far the most fearful power in the known world. Some things came up... My kingdom was collapsing, literally, then I wake up to find that I'm just a character in a storybook, stuck in a body of a teenage-like heartthrob. Am I a joke?" He gazed in her eyes for some sort of sympathy.

Paige: "I do not know," she informed him. "It is pointless to speculate. You are here now." It was the most she had ever spoken to him, and though it was a whisper she still paused to swallow in pain before continuing, "The rug will not be pulled out from beneath you again. You will stay here and be a vampire forever. This is our fate." She lapsed into a silence. The mirror creature he mentioned may be able to provide them both with some answers, but it seemed less than reliable. What did it have to gain from being so cruel? Had they not shed enough blood yesterday night to sate Vasik's inner demons?

Vasik: "How can I be so sure? A few months ago, I thought I was to be a king forever..." He paused for a moment, got up, and washed his face in the kitchen sink. He wasn't thinking clearly. Now he felt he could empathize with Logan. "If I am to be a vampire forever, then I must become a force to be reckoned with. I am weak now, but I will grow. I must. It's how I thrive. In fear and pain and shadow." He wiped off his still dripping face with his washed-out, black denim shirt. "I cannot be simply a creature of weakness and dependence. I must rule." For a brief moment, he thought back to his venue, his kingdom, his sanctuary.

Paige: "You ruled last night. When you were singing. And those humans were your subjects. This will have to be enough. You were satisfied. I saw you sated and peaceful. When you let your guard down it came to you. You are discouraged because of this. But we will defeat this thing." First they had to unmask its true nature.

Vasik: Vasik looked to the floor, echoing a truce with his displeasure of the moment and contentment with the memory. He did rule with his voice. He was the master of his domain. A weak smile peeked from the corner of his lips. "I guess you're right..." Vasik went back to the couch again, took out his notebook, and began scribbling down his latest and greatest experience with the Mirror. He honestly hated that name. It made him feel like it was just a clone of himself tormenting himself. It couldn't be... it was just the best way to describe him. He wondered for a moment if he had a name, but at the same time, didn't want to have the conversation to find out. After he finished writing his thoughts, he looked to Paige, the dark sentinel of beauty, and said, "I... I'm sorry Cat threw you in to this... but for what it's worth... thanks."

Paige: "Paige did not say it was alright, but she did not condemn him either. She merely whispered "Next time I will tie you up and get our answers." She expected it to be a difficult task. What did the creature have to lose? The body?

Vasik: "Mm, kinky. I'm down for that. Cat had the same idea, you know. Maybe you guys are more alike than you think..." Vasik managed a weakly sly smirk. He was slowly becoming his old self again, although awkwardly forced.

Paige: "I am nothing like that child," Paige grumbled, even though Catherine was older than she was. At least things felt like they had returned to normal. But for how long? Paige stood and stalked to the kitchen. She emerged with a blood bag and two mugs. The girl handed him one of the mugs, bit into the bag and drained some of its contents into Vasik's, then hers. She drank glumly. It was not the fear filled feeding she had hoped for, but she was too off her guard to go hunting and risk a masquerade breach tonight.

Vasik: "Mm, my favorite... Blood in a mug," he mouthed sarcastically. "Probably not the best night for hunting though... huh?" Vasik didn't drink at first. He looked into the blood in the glass, staring at the lack of reflection. He was starting to resent being a vampire. He was stronger than most of the population by nature, but damn did he miss looking at his pretty face. Vasik's visage was full of discontentment, yet resolve in his nature, an upturned corner of the mouth on one side, downturned on the other. He took a few sips, licked his fangs, and put his feet on the coffee table before him, trying to relax a bit like at his old place.

Paige: "You were a prince..." she whispered in a way that made it seem like she wanted him to elaborate, or at least talk about it. A demon prince, talking to a former paladin. God must hate her, Paige knew in her heart.

Vasik: "Yeah... THE prince..." He took a long gulp, ending in a refreshing "ahhh, those were the days. The concubine room was my favorite. We had gardens and exotic animals and faires. We were rich beyond compare... and ruthless. ...because we possessed the power to summon demons. Mmhm."

Paige: "Did you have enemies?" she whispered. She seemed in less pain the more blood she drank, it wetted her throat and eased her speech a bit to make it more intelligible. Her Russian accent even began to shine through the whisper.

Vasik: "Enemies?! Ha! Enemies... no. We were the thundering cloud on the horizon. The kingdom of Vulcan was an inevitable force. We had no enemies, only pests in our way of total rule. We were exterminators. With the power of our volcanic demons, nothing could stop us..."

Paige: She interrupted him. "But. There was nobody in your family who disagreed with you, or who would kill you if they had the chance? Nobody who resented you or called you names."

Vasik: "I was an only child. My mother was like any other, caring, fearful, genuine. She was technically queen but a trophy or war prize in actuality. My father... you could say he was an enemy. He knew I would take the kingdom from him one day, and disapproved of.." He stopped short for a moment, lost in the distance like an instant daydream overtook him.

Paige: "Disapproved of what, Prince Vasik," she asked him. They had come close, she could tell. A scientific breakthrough, almost. The epiphany that shone in the other fledgeling's eyes.

Vasik: "Of... ...her." He looked down to his cup again, nearly empty. It was visually palpable the pain these memories brought him. "Her name was Selene... a thing of pure goodness and growth, the opposite of our land-torching peoples. We burnt the land, spat upon it, yet everywhere she walked, she undid our terror. Everything about her was pure. Her hair was pure, her skin was pure, here eyes were pure... This prince of murder and embers, fell for his opposite."

Paige: It did sound like a fairy tale, and fairy tales often had tragic endings. So it made sense that he had been slain, probably by his father. But to be reborn here, even stuck in the body of a boy, Paige reflected aloud, "You have been given a second chance."

Vasik: "It's not the way I see it. To me, I'm living an undying curse I put upon myself... The king sacrificed his eyes to the Grixalon, a snatching demon, a black demon with three pairs of white eyes and horns the size of its body. It took Selene away to the pit of the volcano. I swore allegiance to the demon with my mortality and its freedom to strike back at my father, but as years passed, the demon broke free and snatched everyone in my kingdom away, except for me... ...decades passed, looters came to steal our magicks. I tried to bury it all away, collapsing the kingdom, and then I end up here." He took a deep breath. "I'm just living out my immortality, in another life..."

Paige: She listened to the story quietly. Could the mirror be his father? There was much more she wished to learn. She slid onto the floor and lay on her stomach, thinking. She had to be prepared for the next time the creature emerged.

Vasik: "It sounds crazy, doesn't it. It feels so real to me though... and as if this were a dream, a damnable dream..." He laid back on the couch, hands behind his head, crossing his feet, staring at the ceiling. "There's not really much else to say..."

Paige: "You are a vampire now," she reminded him. Killjoy. But it was true. He may have been a prince on stage, charming the weaker human sheep, but that was only a remnant of what he'd had. Better to move on.

Vasik: "Yeah... at least I'm not alone in a city of ash anymore... and damn is bloodlust fantastic!" Vasik was actually beginning to lighten up a little. "Being a vampire is at least something. A something that does come with status and power. Although I can't conquer with fear and monsters anymore, I can still have my women and drink. I'm still immortal, and I'm more powerful by myself than I was before. It's just these damned personalities..."

Paige: Paige knew some rituals, but nothing that could place him in a different body. Perhaps there was someone who could help. She would ask various elders. Perhaps her boss Mr. Groom had heard of such a ritual. ""We can try to fix it. We have unlimited time."

Vasik: "Hnnhnn," he chuckled. That was true. There could be a cure, meaning maybe he could get rid of Logan forever. It was his deepest desire, to be free again, to be a predator of the night with no inner weakness holding him back. But more so, the Mirror, to be rid of him meant true freedom, chains unbound. "I'm up for trying."

[Vasik (DELETED 5042)]

Vasik: The red-haired boy stumbles weakly into the apartment, pale and famished. While leaning on the door, he rubs his arm where a small little prick of blood is oozing out. It's healing fast, he thought to himself. He licked the wound as it shut, went to his room, and returned with a sketchpad in hand. He plopped down on the couch and began to sketch.
Paige: In the next room, Paige is practicing her routine by lamplight. The raven haired vampire steps through each blow gracefully, barely touching the ground in the process, and brandishes two imaginary daggers. She hardly makes a noise until her sire's puppy gets in the way. The enormous puppy yelps when she accidentally trips over it. Paige growls at it, and it yelps and runs away. Cursing to herself in Russian, she slinks to the door and closes it.
Vasik: "Hey there little guy..." Logan had an extreme empathy for animals. He reached his hand out to the poor creature as it cowered and sniffed. Suddenly, it growled and lashed out to bite him. "That's okay, you just need some time." Logan began to draw the dog, but his mind was elsewhere. It was to the vampire in the other room. He tried to keep himself distracted, but in all honesty, he was afraid. The only other vampire Logan had met was Cat, their sire. Paige was a force to be reckoned with in his mind, as he saw from the sidelines of Vasik's experiences. Should he introduce himself? How awkward would it be? Would she be angry from the disruption? Logan put down the sketchbook and walked as gently as he could to her door. He approached, raised a hand, and hesitated.
Paige: Paige levitated across the room. Her footfalls didn't reach the floorboards as she performed the nightly ritual. More than anything, it was for her own comfort. She heard Vasik speak sweetly to the Ovcharka pup and growled low under her breath. The imaginary daggers whooshed through the air as she stepped, parried, stabbed her imaginary opponent.
Vasik: Logan felt like Paige knew he was there. If she didn't, well, he didn't want to seem obtrusive in presence. Instead of knocking, he put his hand down and simply said, "H-hey Paige. Can I talk to you?" His voice was soothing, quiet, and calm, trying to be respectful of her space while verbally invading.
Paige: What did he want? Was he going to badger her about the dog? He got in her way, she did not kick him. He belonged to her sire, she would not deface her sire's possessions. Best to get it over with. Having roommates was difficult, but it reminded her a bit of home. There was a silence as Paige drifted to the door, then a beam of dim light that filtered out as she squinted at him through the crack, orange eyes narrowed.
Vasik: Surprised at a response, Logan was taken aback. Still, he mustered up the courage to carry out his duty as roommate. "We haven't met. I'm... Logan." He knew she was sure to be confused. "You've met Vasik before. I'm the true host of this body." God, that sounded weird, he thought. Am I being too awkward? "I just... thought you should get to know me?" Do vampires 'get to know each other'? Do they really care? Stupid! He thought to himself.
Paige: She bared her serrated fangs at him and growled like a threatened lioness. This boy was frustrating! He was a prince, but he was the body's boy, but he was the monster in the prince. Just how many roommates did she truly have? At least this one seemed easily cowed. Paige did enjoy making them cower.
Vasik: To his own surprise, Logan was less frightened of Paige than upset that he had disturbed Paige. He was such a caring, delicate creature, fixed on his humanistic forms. "Sorry to bother you. I know it must be hard dealing with all of us. I swear I'm the last one. I'm the... was the... human one." He could hear Vasik laugh in the back of his head. "I still haven't gotten used to all of this... not being human anymore... I still feel human. But I know I have to stop. Sorry to bother you again." Logan had the habit of repeating his apologies. He turned, head down, and walked towards the couch.
Paige: Oddly enough, seeing the body step away and submissively retreat twisted Paige's empty stomach with guilt. She growled again, lower this time, and shut her door. There was shuffling as she changed into pajamas and slippers. Once that was taken care of and her routine was once again abandoned, the adolescent sat on the floor near the couch occupied by Logan.
Vasik: There was a deep spark of happiness that arose within Logan. Was this her way of showing acceptance of him? Maybe this was her way of greeting him. Either way, he saw it as progress. Logan continued to sketch away, but this time, began to draw Paige, starting with the contours of her face and hair. It occupied his time and kept his mind away from the edge of the razors his arms so frequently befriended. He tried his best to not look directly at Paige as he scribbled as fast as he could.
Paige: "You wanted to talk to me," she reminded him in a hoarse, almost inaudible whisper. She began to hover just a little on her back, seeming to lay on thin air. Her long raven hair brushed the floor some.
Vasik: For once since he was human, Logan genuinely smiled. He felt he was rushing the idea of being friends with this dark creature, but he had to try. "I just feel so guilty about Cat assigning you to babysit me. I really wanted to apologize and see what you felt about all of this, you know? Not everything is about us, as in the us inside of me, unlike what some of us are lead to believe..." Vasik let out a little groan in Logan's mind. The sharing and caring would normally make him nauseous. But he, too, was curious as to what the coal-haired beauty would say, so he remained quiet, to Logan's delight.
Paige: When she had been a human, she was a servant to humanity. Now that she was a vampire, she was a servant to her sire. Her sire's mate, by definition was a part of her sire. However the pair had recently parted ways, and Paige was under no real obligation to aid or even live with Vasik anymore. That being said, he had hunted with her. "When we hunted together, you became my ally. I cannot allow an ally to harm himself."
Vasik: "Allies?" Logan felt honored. Perhaps Vasik was really doing good for all of them. "I appreciate it, but I'm not sure how much you can help." All Logan knew for sure was that the Mirror had yet to antagonize Logan directly, so he was possibly safe from him. It was Vasik's possible fellowship that endangered him. The Mirror drove him, and could possibly manipulate him to threaten Logan. "I feel that I personally am not in immediate danger. I'm starting to learn the signs myself. Have you noticed anything yet?"
Paige: She stood up and began to pace, recalling the scenes like a prosecution attorney. "The first night we met, you were talking to yourself and tearing out your own hair, and strangling yourself. Later you did the same thing, only when I attempted to stop you, you spat on me like an insolent circus monkey."
Vasik: Logan laughed at the way Paige said "circus monkey." Did he really act like that? He quickly apologized for laughing. "I'm really sorry I did that to you. I mean... that we did that to you." He thought back to what she said about abusing himself. "Well... I have my share of self-abuse as well." He rubbed his arm where he let a blood theif suck him dry moments earlier. "We're just all screwed up. It must be entertaining to watch."
Paige: "Do you think that I enjoy watching you beat yourself? You are not a bumbling retard," she rasped in a soft Russian accent. Then she winced and coughed.
Vasik: "Are you alright?" Logan was aware of Paige's condition from the back of Vasik's mind, faintly flashing an image of her showing her wide jaws detach to reveal the scarred back throat. He knelt down on the floor close to Paige to show concern.
Paige: She crawled backward away from him until she had coughed herself ragged. Embarrassed, she licked her lips and glared at the ground as if the marble floor had done her a personal disfavor.
Vasik: "Sorry." Logan lifted himself up and returned to the couch. He realized he asked so much from her and was bothering her so. He flipped to the next page of the sketchbook, not drawing anything. "I don't think you enjoy it. At all. I'm not entertainment. I'm a chore for you. A burden. A job you may not want a part of. But I'm glad you see me as an ally."
Paige: She watched him draw for a long time. She seemed like a gargoyle, or an oversized doll. The girl didn't move. Only her hair waved every now and then when the ceiling fan bid it so. Paige watched him, but her mind was very far away. She was thinking about a fairy tale.
Vasik: Logan put the pencil to paper. Two elegant swerves turned into a female silhouette. "You know, I still can't stop thinking about the past... I used to draw all of the time, and write fantasy stories. I didn't have many friends. It was my escape." His eyes were lost in the drawing, moving with the motion of the pencil.
Paige: Perhaps that was the start of it.Perhaps he had made up a friend, who had become real when he was turned. Perhaps Vasik was not real. But he was so terrified of vanishing. It was pointless to be afraid, because if he did,, he would cease to worry at all. And Paige would be left with this one. She crawled back toward the couch and slid carefully to sit there. When the ground didn't shake, she stared at the paper.
Vasik: Upon the sheet there was a Mother Earth-like form developing, branches as horns housing a nest, perch for an owl. A newt and a frog accompanied her on her shoulders, a snake around her neck and waist. It was truly intricate. Paige felt like a curious, shy child next to him, peering over his shoulder. He was glad he wasn't drawing Paige anymore. How strange would that be? Logan felt he was being talkative, yet he wanted to know more about this esoteric specimen. "Is it natural for a vampire to dwell on their human past?"
Paige: "I do not know," Paige answered truthfully. She had not conversed with enough vampires to know, and even if she had she would not ask such a personal question. She reflected for a moment, then added "Sometimes vampires practice things to soothe them and kill their humanity."

[Paige]

Vasik: Logan winced at the thought. The idea brought him serious sadness deep within him. Darkness crept inside his mind like a reoccurring dream. "Perhaps... I should... try," he hesitated saying. "Have you done such a thing?"
Paige: It was personal, but she had no reason not to tell him. Perhaps he would hate her, or retreat. Paige closed her orange eyes, the sketchpad and boy vanished. There was darkness, then a memory. "I hunted. When I had her, there was only red. I came to my senses on top of her ribcage. My body baptized in her blood. I do not know why."
Vasik: The boy grew ever so much more curious to her past, but he felt she was dodging her history for good reason. "I still have yet to hunt a human... as I possess this body. Perhaps that is why." He regretted providing that information. He felt weak and knew he would be forced to break this habit for "the greater good."
Paige: "There are rats. Rabbits," she growled tersely. A long gangly arm draped itself across her own face as she burrowed into the memory like a comforting blanket. She often grew aroused thinking of and committing these acts. "I do not kill much anymore. I was hired and do not want to lose my job."
Vasik: "That's reasonable," he replied dumbly. To think she stopped for a job meant that it was the only thing holding her back. Logan wasn't sure if this made him happy or upset. Still, she wasn't killing. And neither was Vasik anymore because of his business and his own actions. Perhaps things were looking up and he refused to see. "I usually let Vasik do the hunting, or feed on animals as I can." This only partially explained Logan's weak, famished appearance.
Paige: "Suit yourself," she grumbled. He would probably end up wasting away, and then it would be Vasik and his mirror fighting for the same body.
Vasik: For once, Logan was actually slightly annoyed. As conflicted as he was, he just wanted it to end and have someone make decisions for him, tell him what was best. He couldn't grasp the conviction he needed to keep himself barely alive. He faced an epiphany. Did he have the right to survive? Was he worth existing in this realm? He had to find worth or purpose, otherwise, the answer was no, and this was quite an upsetting realization. Logan let out a frustrated sigh and rubbed his fingers between his eyes in contemplation. "I refuse to believe that all vampires have lost their humanity. It's a part of what defines us. It must be. Our past created our present. We are all remnants of our past remade."
Paige: Paige's whisper was soft, but oddly scathing. "Did you eat cattle when you were a human? Humans are blood cows, and they eat. They take, and harm. Vasik has not lost his humanity, and neither have I." The gangly adolescent sprawled her legs up on the couch, then tucked them to her chest like a spider.
Vasik: Logan couldn't argue with Paige's logic, not because he agreed, but because she knew she would not understand his sentiment with human beings. Still, Paige did have a point. But he felt feeding on humans would make him less... human. He still had yet to come to terms that he couldn't call himself human anymore, not even in his mind. Every time he did, Vasik would chuckle and mock him. Logan stopped rubbing his eyes and looked to Paige longingly. "I think, for this body to survive, I have to die."
Paige: "You cannot die," she informed him. "Never." Normally she enjoyed seeing people suffer, but Logan's pain gave her no gratification. She stopped remembering how good killing had felt and focused on other vampire. "Humans are dense, stupid blood cows. God is a fairy tale, and their morals too. You are above that filth."
Vasik: Logan simply replied with an upturned corner of his mouth in disappointment. He knew he couldn't die, but he was hoping she could reveal a way for him to spiritually disconnect, to die away from his body riddled with mental parasites. He wanted to be kicked out of what was rightfully his. He thought back to his first nights after siring, ripping through the veins in his arms with crude blades. No, he cannot truly die. He wished for it, but he was nearly given up.
Paige: Paige studied his pained expression with a frustrated glare. Perhaps he was deluded and insane, but it did seem that Logan was a different person from Vasik, who she had hunted with and was growing attached to. "Do you truly hate yourself so much," she whispered, and betrayed no emotion with her monstrous face. From her perch on the couch, curled up and hugging her legs, she seemed almost vulnerable.
Vasik: "I guess I don't hate me, I just hate what I've become..." He thought for a moment, and realization was spread across his face. "No... I hate... Vasik." His body shivered as he said his name. Vasik's cackle echoed through his mind. "I feel like... I could move on, be more... you know, accepting of what I am, if it weren't for him." Logan put his chin in his hands, looking forward into nothingness.
Paige: "Vasik cannot help where he is any more than you can," she reminded him. They would have to find a way to separate them. "I have dabbled in some rituals. Perhaps I can try to banish him."
Vasik: Logans eyes grew wide, looking to Paige. "You really think you can..." Suddenly, he stopped, eyes beyond Paige's visage. A few silent seconds passed. Then, with fury and rage in his face, he lunged for Paige. "You *****! This is MY BODY!" With one hand, he grabbed the fair girl's jet black hair to peel her face from her legs, and with the other, grappled her tender throat.
Paige: With her usual animalistic growl, Paige met his attack by cringing at first. She held still under every blow, though she could feel her patience cracking like ice. It did not hurt until he gripped her throat, and when he did Paige cringed and her orange eyes flashed dangerously. They became as round as saucers, bright orange and with tiny black pupils. Her teeth contorted and became inch-long daggers. She bashed her forehead against his with a loud crack.
Vasik: The red-head released his grip to feel his head, blood trickling down. He let out a scoff-like laugh, then stood up. "After all we've been through, I thought you liked me more than that." He paced around the back of the sofa. "You can't get rid of ME. I am the ULTIMATE. And if that little pussy takes over this body it will be a DISGRACE. A disgrace to all our kind." Vasik was never more defensive nor infuriated in his life, but there was a tinge of fear underneath his expressed persona he dare not show. If Paige favored Logan, that could be the end of Vasik for good. Still... that knowledge she posessed was a valuable asset for combating the Mirror. He could not simply walk away. He must work this out.
Paige: Paige's forehead was also smeared with blood. Gobs of strange, oil-black blood. Her animal eyes slowly began to turn back to normal when he went behind the couch and added a blockade between them. "Then what do you propose we do. Because you are the wraith from another land. Your existence itself is tenuous. I have no experience with exorcisms. And if it even did happen, I would have tried to put you in a different body. A corpse perhaps."
Vasik: "I am NOT a wraith! I am a prince!" Vasik threw his arms down his sides in protest like a disgruntled teenager. "I'm not... Logan doesn't care about this body. He abuses it. You've seen him! Why does he deserve this body more than me?! If anyone needs to be banished it's the damn Mirror!" He was afraid of saying such things, for the Mirror could have been roused within him. Surprisingly, it kept itself quiet in his mind, only observing for now.
Paige: "You of all people should know how he feels," Paige argued in a whisper. She stood but stayed on the other side of the couch from him, in case he decided to attack her again. The girl's raven hair was mussed from the tussle. "Of course he cuts himself open. He wishes to let you out. And you. You do not wish to be set free? But you are a prince? A prince in an earth boy's body. And you shall remain such if you stay. So what would you have me do," she repeated.
Vasik: Vasik wasn't quite sure what he wanted, to be honest. He wanted more from life, but he was pretty set in this body, and he knew it. "Not just any Earth boy's, a vampire. I have the power to sway crowds to my will, and to devour them all. That is true power." Perhaps he was defending a minor attachment to this body? But he had to come to his senses. "Maybe you're right... I would do much beter without Logan. My conquest would be in a clearer view. Would such a ritual remove the Mirror as well? Otherwise, I won't allow it."
Paige: "I do not know," she admitted impatiently. "I have never tried before. For all we know it could be a child's game with no effect." She would have to read texts and speak with elders. "Find a suitable corpse. I will try to put you inside of it, and then I will turn you into a vampire." All sorts of things could go wrong. What if he arose as a zombie? What if he was dispelled from the body but not able to enter another? What if, she begrudgingly thought, she lost him.
Vasik: Vasik grew weary of this uncertainty. One thing was sure, if he did this, he would find a living person and kill them. He wanted something fresh and sexy. Logan's thoughts on the matter were sad, but desperate, and would not stop him. "This all seems... delicate...," he said with furrowed eyebrows, "...but we can try." Vasik was still knew to this world, and he was not fully knowledgeable on the risks that would come about.
Paige: "I need to research first. I suggest that you do the same. And never touch my throat again," she added as an afterthought. Tossing her hair indignantly, she turned away from him. It seemed, in spite of her monstrous demeanor, she did have feelings, and they had been hurt by his outburst. Of course, so had Vasik's feelings been tread upon. It seemed to be a tenuous topic for them both.
Vasik: Vasik spat out a little "sorry," then turned and left for his room. He needed time to think. It was a hard decision for him, because he loved this body in so many ways. It was handsome, comfortable, strong, and he couldn't deny he loved this red hair... As soon as he closed the door, he felt a twinge in his brain. The Mirror was not happy...