Path of the Vampire forum

* * Wolfgang thumbed in the woman’s number from memory; he had always had a mind for numbers and had little trouble recalling anything he had set his eyes on at least once. Wolfgang had a rule, let it ring five times and then hang up, it if goes straight to voicemail, be polite, leave a number and hang up; for Matilda though… He counted the tones, eight, nine, pick up already, he thought, a knot forming at the centre of his brow.
* * Matilda had anticipated a quiet evening, one where she could frolic as long as she wished without concern. The night before had been a challenge for her but she had come out of it somewhat unscathed, other than mild dose of embarrassment and good natured teasing from Eva and Lyonel. The blonde vampire had found herself wandering eagerly into the quarantine zone, on the hunt for zombies and other beasts that roamed there. In fact she'd just lain to waste a particularly nasty bugger with her new rifle when her phone began to ring. She considered ignoring it, but knew that it had to be one of five people and they were all important. Tugging the phone out of the back pocket of her little black shorts she stared at the name for a few moments before finally answering. "Look at you, doing as asked. Evening, Wolfgang."
* * Wolfgang “I don’t call people, count yourself lucky,” he smirked, glad she had answered, rejection was a sour old ***** Wolf had little time for. “So you’re really not going to come round?” He placed with a stray thread on his shirt, one that had held the button in place Matilda had rid him off; such rough treatment.
* * Matilda giggled, a delighted little sound. “Aw, so I should feel special that you called me? Little Wolf, trying to get in the good books.” When he asked about the hotel she went quiet for a few moments, sighing down the line. “I don’t know, is that smart? I mean you... Do you really want me stepping into that life? Or are you going to take me into empty top floor suite? It’s up to you, Wolf, I can come to the hotel or you can join me in this really cool empty Quarantine Zone! Zombies, yay.” She did a mock cheerleader voice; though he couldn’t see it she kicked one leg up and did a little jump, her fist pumping into the air.
** Wolfgang “Somebody has forgotten who is boss,” he smiled, breathed in through his nose and thought about her offer for a moment, “all right, I’ll go find my gun.” Wolfgang didn’t wait for Matilda to respond before ending the call. He left his phone on the end of the back and discarded his jacket and tie before leaving the room, a handgun tucked into the back of his pants. He made it across town in good time and, jumped the fence and headed towards one of the abandoned buildings, pushing a zombie out of his way casually as he went by. "Trouble."
* * Matilda scoffed as the call ended, shoving the phone back into her pocket, “Boss, psh.” She shucked off her jacket, tossing it down on top of her backpack and rolling up the sleeves of the loose white shirt she wore. Lifting the rifle to her shoulder she closed one eye, focusing through the sight on the remaining zombie blocking her entrance to Velox Nocte, she figured the old office of Wolf’s might make a good place to meet. She remembered meeting him there often, and one particularly memorable meeting involving the desk nearly made her miss the shot. “BOOM!” She crowed proudly, sure it was a little off centre but she got the son of a *****. The loud crack of the shot still echoed in her ears, the woman breathing in that burnt gunpowder smell. She’d never much appreciated guns but she was beginning to. Turning to retrieve her belongings she bore witness to a very attractive man making quick work of leaping over barricades, and couldn’t help but let out a low wolf whistle in his direction.
** Wolfgang the missing button on his shirt caused him to sport a deeper V than usual, and even after jumping the fence it seemed not a hair stood out of place. Immortality loved the man, and to be fair, he had warmed to it after a very rough start. “All that gun for such a little lady,” the man teased, offered a playful wink and turned his back to pull the handgun from its keep and make short work of the zed that decided to follow him, “compensating, dear?”
* * Matilda cocked her head to the side, giving him a measured look. “I found the button, if you want me to sew it back on. As for compensating, we both know full well I have no need to do so. I mean, maybe you should consider it though?” She teased right back, swinging the strap on her rifle over her shoulder, her free hand gathering up her things. “Well, we could keep playing hunt or be hunted; otherwise I was thinking we could head to your old office. I assume you still have full access to it?” She gestured vaguely towards the Velox Nocte building, “Unless you are still determined to get me into a hotel suite…”
* * Wolfgang didn’t say anything, only smirked as her less than creative retort. He looked over at the old science lab, or what Velox Nocte had originally been purpose built for before rolling his shoulders up in a shrug, “I don’t think I’ve had a cleaning crew through in a while, so as long as you don’t mind the spiders,” he looked over his shoulder at Matilda and then headed across the street towards the building.
* * Matilda fell into step behind him letting him lead the way; it was his building after all. “I don’t mind things that go bump in the night or creepy crawlies. I’m an Australian for goodness sake, and my job was as a reptile handler at the zoo. You know I kept it up for a while? Doing evening visits here and there to assist after hours.” It was useless fact and she ceased the chatter after she’d said it, she hadn’t felt nervous about silence with him before he arrived. Being in his presence was something else entirely, it felt good to have him come to her without hesitation again but it was still a little overwhelming once he arrived. She fought back the urge to reach out, or to jump playfully on his back and draw him into some dumb wrestling much; it was unlikely they were in the clear just yet.
* * Wolfgang “I haven’t forgotten your love of all things hairy and repulsive,” Wolf snickered and stopped at the door to punch in the code on the keypad lock. It looked as if someone had tried to get in a few times and given up, the number four and six on the pad almost worn down completely. Inside, Wolfgang was please to find the lights still worked, and though the place looked a little sad, he still appreciated the design work his team has done, “this way,” he led Matilda around to his office and sat on the edge of the desk, looking at the empty filing cabinet, “didn’t miss this place.”
* * Matilda didn’t hesitate to walk around him as he entered the office, for although the place had not been in use for a while she had snuck in to take refuge a few times. It had served as a nice quiet place to think, to recover and rest. She was convinced she must have stumbled in here during her napping in obscure places phase. The blonde dropped her things onto a chair, pressing her palms flat to the desk and hoisted herself up to sit on it. One tights clad leg crossed over the other as she leaned back on her hands, watching him. Matilda kept her voice quiet as she spoke; it felt strange to disturb the silence in the place, “So… Hello, Wolfgang.”
* * Wolfgang scoffed, “You’re so strange, stop making things awkward.”
* * Matilda rolled her eyes at him, kicking out at him. "I am strange, but so are you. Now, what do you want me with me?"
** Wolfgang smiled, “I just want to talk without you trying to rip my clothes off.” There he was, laying all the blame on her once again.
* * Matilda narrowed her eyes on him; it was her turn to scoff. "Ah yes, you mean how you started taking your pants off then trying to get my dress of before pinning me to a wall? You mean that? Charming."
** Wolfgang looked smug, “oh that, right. Just imagine… if we hadn’t been interrupted.”

* Matilda struggled with the desire to roll her eyes at the man, instead managing to contort her attractive features into something more seductive. "Come now, Wolfgang, I don't need to imagine. If I really wanted to I could have you laid out naked on this desk right now, it wouldn't be the first time. You came here to talk, so you best get to talking before these tights get ripped beyond recognition." As if to further illustrate her point she stretched out one her long legs alluringly, one hand reaching to trace a line up her leg. "Is that a run forming, care to take a closer look? Or did you remember what you wanted to say to me?"
* Wolfgang hawkeyed the woman’s tights as she drew a line over the fabric with a finger, “Bold words,” he whistled, “but I think I’ll be keeping my pants on. Did you talk to Lyonel and Eva?” That meant he hadn’t made up his mind, or he was still too stubborn to change it.
* Matilda groaned, shaking her head at him. "Mate, I still don't know what you want me to say to them. I'm still waiting for you to tell me exactly what you want, because I’m not going to do your dirty work without a damn good reason." She paused, reaching up to rub at the back of her neck. "And Lyon doesn't want me to stay behind; he wants to drag me along with him."
* Wolfgang “Then come with us,” he offered, paused, played with the thread on his shirt and sat up straight before adding, “My wife really wants to stay… why do people find danger so appealing?”
* Matilda sat stock still for a moment, just watching him with those big blue doe eyes. "You don't want me to come with you, Wolf." He'd said the word she'd been dreading hearing, 'wife'. She couldn't exist easily in the world he'd built for himself in her absence. "Yeah, why do they find danger so damn appealing? They should really learn when to walk away."
* Wolfgang “What makes you say that? Of course I want you to join us; I’d like you all there.”
* Matilda "I'm not sure you do, Wolf, I don't think you've really thought this one through. Lyon and Eva are fine, they'll figure out a way to manage their affairs here, probably have to come back often or just delegate and I’m sure they'll fit nicely into your family life. Me? Jesus Christ, Wolf, me? I'm not convinced we could make it work." She pointed at the missing button on his shirt, "It's too easy for us to..."
* Wolfgang again touched where the button was missing, “And that’s such a bad thing because?”
* Matilda blinked at him rapidly, "You know, the whole you being married thing? There are children involved. I love you, some part of me always will in some capacity and it's pretty obvious I lust after you... ****." She hopped off the desk, stepping up to the man. Without her heels her head could tuck easily beneath his chin so she had to crane her neck to stare up into his eyes. Her hands reached up to cup his face, drawing his head down towards hers. "I want you, but I don't want to **** up your life buddy."
* Wolfgang leaned forward and kissed the woman’s temple, “I know, but I think you assume I want you in return… I know we have this strange… chemistry, but I,” he shrugged, “I have no idea why I kissed you tonight. Lyonel left the room, I hadn’t seen you in so long,” Wolf closed his eyes and for a time he sat like that, eyes closed, either thinking or swallowing another emotion he had little time for.
* Matilda released him, "Then don't be a dickhead. Stop making stupid choices, stop trying to force me into situations, stop saying you want one thing then saying you want another. STOP acting like you want things only to deny you do." She patted his cheek, sharply. "Stop ******* everything up for everyone."
* Wolfgang looked across at Matilda, “Do I?” He asked her, did he really **** things up for everyone? Was he ******* things up for Lyonel and Eva… “Don’t answer that,” the man changed his mind.
* Matilda pulled her arm back sharply, only to swing it forth in a wide arch until her palm collided with his cheek. A cracking sound echoed through the room, her hand stinging from the contact. "Listen to yourself. You lie, and you deceive rather than just owning your damn feelings and I'M the broken one. ****, no. Wolfgang please, please just think for a second and tell me what you want me to do. I am not going to do your dirty work; I’m not going to run your sordid errands until you pull your head in. Do you want to go? Do you want us to go? Do you want them to go? Decide."
* Wolfgang closed his eyes on impact only to open them to a wash of red. Matilda was playing a dangerous game and he was doing his best not to bite. His jaw tightened as teeth were clenched together and his fingers folded tightly against the edge of the desk. He didn’t speak, just stared at her as if deciding where to hide all of the pieces.
* Matilda "See right now you aren't thinking about what you need to, you are thinking about how hard to hit me." Dangerous, the man really could become a vicious animal in seconds and she knew just how to bring it out. She didn't really want him to become completely crazed; she needed him somewhat sane to solve the dilemma they found themselves in. Her fingertip traced daringly against his clenched jaw, tilting his head to check the damage to his cheek. "What do you want?"
<Wolfgang> His complexion was that of a human’s, so too was the damage, a faint red half circle where her open palm had collided with the left side of his face. His muscles soon relaxed and the anger, like a passing storm, subsided. “I don’t know,” he admitted, “I don’t know what I want… my family together.” That was exactly how he saw them, they were family, ripped from one life and thrown into the next, just as he had been; adapt or fade away.
* Matilda "Ok, but are you willing to compromise? To ask what they want? What they need?" She nudged one knee aside to allow space her to move closer to him, arms wrapping around the Wolf's shoulder to draw into an embrace as he sat on the desk mulling it over. The woman lowered her head to brush a light kiss across his bruising cheek bone. "They want to be with you, but you make it hard on them. On me. Us."
* Wolfgang knew what they wanted, they wanted him here, trapped in the cage that was Harper Rock, “This city is too small for me,” he smiled, “I have friends in New York.”
* Matilda scoffed, "You have friends everywhere, well, you have "friends" at least." She formed her fingers into air quotations behind his head. "What do you want from me, Wolfgang?"
* Wolfgang bumped Matilda’s shoulder with his own, “friends?” He asked, “Can we do that?”
* Matilda rolled her eyes, "I MEANT about the others, idiot. What do you want me to do about them? There are concerning plans to kidnap me and drag me wherever they go. I don't think I can play happy families with you. I don't know if we can do friends, we try all the time but every time we try to be friends it blows up."
* Wolfgang pushed her off the desk. The assault came from nowhere, but the satisfied little smile he wore as a result made it seem planned.
* Matilda stumbled back from the desk, managing to twist her frame to land in one of the chairs in front of it instead of sprawling on the floor. "I will fight you, Wolfgang and it will end up messily."
* Wolfgang presented his gun, finger on the trigger, “I’m stronger than you, faster, more agile, and I will pull this trigger unless you buck up and think about the words you’re saying before they fumble out of your mouth like a crowd of fat kids lining up for ice-cream.”
* Matilda raised her brow, folding her legs once more, picking idly at the tights. "Hm, interesting imagery you've gone with. I have thought about my words, and you can shoot me all you like but it won't help. You'll just put holes in my clothes, and that's not very nice." With a swift movement she kicked up at the hand holding the gun.
* Wolfgang knew Matilda too well and the fact that he pulled the trigger a split second before she made her move only proved his point.
* Matilda heard the shot ringing in her ears before she felt the pain. Her limbs seemed to stop working, falling limp around her in a manner that had her strongly resembling a broken doll before him. The bullet had lodged deep into her chest, piercing her heart. Blood began to blossom on her white shirt, the crimson matching the colour of the pendant that sat in the hollow of her throat, two wounds to the heart she wore from him. "Red." The word barely escaped her lips before all was darkness, the blonde's head lolling back, eyes closing as she grew oblivious to the world. Shot through the heart... Yes, the Wolf did give love a bad name.