Path of the Vampire forum

The rattling of full wine bottles provided a subtle balance to the heavy pounding of hooves landing on the ground beneath. Instead of the large wheels of a fine Victorian travel carriage holding the telepath it was the saddle created specifically for her in the iron and leather shop bearing the family name. Equine speed carried her with a power and grace that could only be found in the majestic Friesian beneath her. In tow without a leash to lead was the far more spirited Demitri. The massive creature could sense his mistress was not far and took to clearing the first of several well known sizeable shrub hurdles taking the lead. The weight of each horse went airborne and landed with a surprisingly light impact that left clumps of the earth beneath kicking up.

“Demetri!” Iris called out with a tone of firm disapproval.

As if he ever listened to her to begin with. The leather gloves over her hands felt the tightening of the reins as she delivered a directive tension to Shakespeare’s bit. A snort and slowing of pace had the horse up ahead ultimately coming to a trot as if to walk out it’s warm muscles beneath the cooling air instead of being in compliance. It certainly would not be to fall into some sort of expected line or direction. The horse had a mind much like his owner’s. Which gave it the extra allowance it had from those caring for it at von Drol Farm and stables. Some required a special approach and direction. The one and only monster of a Belgian cross fit into such a category.

“Zurück!” She called him to ride back. This only had him slowing a little at best. She reached over as Shakespeare trotted up and passed Demitri. A black glove surrendered control of the reins to her left hand while waving down and back. “Einfach.”

Cornflower blue eyes sparkled beneath the limited street lighting while the chorus of heavy, ground rattling claps of well shoed hooves followed them. It had been an exhausting week of excessive energy all around. The city seemed to have something in the water and the blood that spread its increase to all those within reach. Even the two creatures in her charge seemed to still be winding down from it all. The clicking of her tongue popping from the suction and release against the roof of her mouth had both once again falling into the expected formation. Demitri wore his mistress’ saddle and the reins were loosely tied to the horn. He impressed Iris in the end of the ride with his ability to stay within expectations. Perhaps he was better without a lead when riderless. Time would tell. For the moment it was time to summon the one he missed nearly as much as Iris did. A reach of her thoughts found the connection to her beloved sire and gave the typical countdown.

“Zehn, neun, acht, sieben, sechs, fünf, vier, drei, zwei, eins.”

As she counted down she slid from the towering black beast of beauty that had carried her safely from the outskirts stables into town. Her gloves were pulled slowly from each hand followed by a gentle tug backward that had her riding hat dangling at the middle of her back. Waiting for the sire to arrive with the summon she delivered a downward caress at the withers to each Friesian and finished with a firm pat of bare palm to the shoulder. Perhaps her mystic sire was not well versed with the adopted Germanic tongue she had mastered courtesy of years spent with the German born Hagen von Drol. Iris could not help but tempt Zodiac to pick it up with such use to summon her. It was more often than not a motivator. It certainly performed wonders with Iris.

Rarely heard laughter passed from the telepaths unpainted lips. Soft, unintrusive in its delivery just as the air that it found. She waited between the two massive creatures getting the warmth of both settling over her. Wide eyes settled on the empty spot where she expected her siress to arrive. Brilliant pools of blue watched the darkness and were rewarded for the rise of anticipation that filled her. The connection was there just as always. Unchanged, strong as ever and with it a grin found her face that reminded her she missed more than she thought. Her chin lifted just enough to feel the hat behind her back shift between her shoulders. Dimitri had the ground vibrating beneath her feet as he stepped forward to greet the one who held claim to him.

“Clearly he misses you.” More reasons to smile in observation came from the two interacting as if they had been separated for years, which they had not. “And your gifts.” Of course it was apples to Dimitri and the familiar scent Zo offered. But for Iris it was so much more.

She had lost track of time. With the realization she felt a pang of neglect and shared responsibility. Nothing shattering but still what quite possibly could happen to anyone living or nearly but not quite dead. Given enough distraction in the endless state of immortal existence they were sentenced to their worlds inevitably expanded instead of shrank. Distance. Time. It was unavoidable. So was the error in watching those who mattered most drift too far. The clicks of soles connecting with the surface beneath echoed as she closed her share of the distance between them.

“I have as well.” The gloves in her hands were combined into a single grip as she lifted her arms and wrapped them around the dark beauty who she owed everything to. Curve to generous curve she hugged her, arms pulling her in tight. Affection and physical contact limited to two as a general rule for the victorian proper ritualist meant her actions were not out of her adhered to lines for interaction. “I hope you do not mind.” She kissed the cheek that her own brushed free of. “They are always waiting to run.”

Iris no more than turned to catch the tap at her shoulder and witness the backend of Dimitri shrinking due to increasing distance between them. The telepath took to the challenge with all the determination she was known to possess. Her hand nudged the hat between her shoulders and checked the tie that held it in place while her button up ankle boot lifted from the ground. Despite being petite she had the grace to move with consideration of her dress as she pulled her body into the saddle. A last adjustment of the multiple layers of material secured anything from being compromised should the impending race get rough. Which, more often than not, it usually would.

One by one her gloves formed like well fitted second skins over each hand. A last strap was tightened to hold the sack of gifted items in the leather saddle bag. Cornflower blue orbs sparkled beneath the streetlight’s glow while she smiled at the fading thunder left in Dimitri’s sudden escape. Patience and discipline Iris had an abundance of and she never failed to use it to her advantage. Once her hands had the reins where she was comfortable a gentle prompting was all that was required for Shakespeare to take to the race like the starting gate had been removed. Like a well trained jockey she was down low and ready to command the Friesian rocket taking off beneath her.

“Challenge accepted.” Confirmation that she and Shakespeare were shoe ins for the midnight run was sent.

Instantly the street became a trail blazing with the eruption of ground rattling claps of hooves picking up with noticeable rhythm. The riding hat lifted and took to hovering on the back draft. Her heels needed to only tap once and it was as if Shakespeare had been inspired to double his breakneck speed. The intersection ahead produced unexpected beams of light and her body lifted slightly leaving her upper curves to nestle against the majestic beast below her. Trust bonded them and never failed to have them working together as one. As the vehicle turned and entered their path the massive beast responded accordingly sharply changing direction. A sudden lift had the victorian garbed rider and horse airborne and shooting forward. The flight over a streetside hedge was brief and the landing flawless.

The scent of a horse in full sprint was easy enough to track in the moist night air. Shakespeare was on Dimitri’s trail with gain of an open stretch of what once was unused land. A flash of a wooden sign on the right announced what was coming soon. The rise of unexpected obstacles competed for their immediate attention. A massive outdoor gathering full of flames, the pulsing of music and the unmistakable scent of human energy found them as Shakespeare did nothing to alter his speed of travel. As if the earth was shivering beneath those on the outer reaches of the massive bonfire bodies and heads turned while the legs responsible for holding them up started stumbling to get out of the way.

“Good evening!” Iris called out to the eyes that she pinned so briefly that she was left greeting several disturbed clusters of party goers at once. “Pardon!” Her fingers gripped the reins as the line of not so distant motor cycles shimmered as a solid barrier for where her trusted steed was aiming for. Heads bobbed and necks twisted . “Good eve!”

“W-O-A-H!”

The command called out by the first one to reach the bikes had a set of gathering arms flapping up and down following the lead. Others nearby dropped their bottles and ran for the same direction like drunken ducks summoned towards the closest pond. Piercing whistles and shouts filled the air but proved to be no deterrent for the challenge issued Friesian. A clean, smooth jump cleared the bikes but disturbed one of the owners who was trying to foot pedal his bike away. Losing balance and wobbling back and forth the lack of coordination took effect and down the bike and title holder went as well as the half dozen bikes neatly lined up next to it.

Shots quickly firing in succession behind her provided the inspiration for her to ask more of Shakespeare. Sharp prompting nudges of her heels at his walls of working muscle to increase his speed were obeyed. She could hold back the rise of the rumbling engines coming back to life. Her abilities certainly could deal with a crowd or two, possibly even more than that. But the idea that she would be riding in to meet her sire with a procession of angry cycle enthusiasts said there was more fun to be had.

Iris’s cornflower blues were nearly glowing with the brewing excitement beneath her pale skin. Especially now that her sire’s words reached her despite the distance. With their minds connected she confirmed as much as she tapped her heels of her soles at the warm sides of the horse racing beneath her. A smile found her natural lips as she felt Shakespeare increase his efforts to close the distance between them. Clearly there was a few noticeable hiccups in the roaring engines behind her plowing through the soft overgrown grass beneath the Friesians pounding hooves. She was no mechanic but something off in the rhythm of the inner workings of the engines in pursuit of her signaled damage had been done even if only minor.

“That is why I will take the lead.” Her giggle rarely heard erupted as her cheeks balled up to amused peaks and dimples simultaneously appeared as a result. With a burst of speed, or an shift of equestrian gears, she flew past Dimitri and the gypsy in the saddle strapped to him. “You are so much better at calming the storms that rise.”

Zodiac was one of those rare few who could truly teach the world about bridging their differences and embrace what it was and likely would be. She held the company of those who would otherwise tend to set flames to the immortals as a whole. Something about her just soothed the monsters that held residence in each and every being. She read the palms of the well to do and delivered her visions with equal honesty to the down and out. Her wisdom was not restricted to those she held in special favor. She offered what she was, whatever she was willing to give to those who gave her the respect she was entitled to expect. If she was shorted then those who took too much found the consequences of doing so swift and memorable. The group behind her shredding through the night would be a minor challenge at best.

“They can’t run on a limited tank of gas forever!” Her cousin proved that while giving her a ride on the back of his thirsty Vespa to the bus station that got her from there to Harper Rock several years back. She shook the memory free from her eternal mind. She didn't look back. Not then or now.”Race you to the pond.” Hopefully Shakespeare and Dimitri would be far more behaved than the last time they visited the naturally hidden watering hole.