Private Tales Monsters

[Orchid]

Orchid liked deserts. They were hot and dry and full of death. Nothing survived unless it killed something else.
It felt a lot like Vel Anir.

This place, a pleasant little outpost that was little more than a few sandstone buildings about a well, was full of life and in his humble opinion the best kind of life.

Desperate.

As soon as he began walking among the people he knew there was plenty to eat. Grifters and drifters abounded. Treasure hunters and lackeys galore.

He could stay there for weeks without needing to move on.

The target was a large wealthy woman, a merchant leader with guards and carriages enough to supply a small army. She was refined and smelled like scented oils. Lavender.

Orchid waited a whole day to make his move on her entourage and it was through a lonely looking creature that smelled like years and tarred up lungs. Personally he never understood the aversion the young had for the old. Everyone tasted good to him... as far as humans went at least.

He took his time, charmed the old man, lured him out into the dark and stopped...

A new smell was in the air, something not human, or elf or any of the other myriad things that walked and talked. It was familiar but he couldn't place it.

It smelled like dirt and blood.
Somewhere close, if he was not mistaken, was a vampire.




Lilette Blackbriar

 

[Lilette Blackbriar]

Orchid​

---

It was natural that the desperate should prey on the desperate, and even among "civilized" species it was no different. One of these desperate creatures lurked in the dark tonight, veiled in lace that covered her features and a dark cloak which did the same, all save the eyes.

Silver, piercing.

Humans rarely looked up, thank the Gods, not like forest dwelling elves who'd learned to watch for predators in the trees, or hunt like them. It was for this reason those glowing eyes searched from the rooftops, darting and primal. This... wasn't her, not quite, but hunger did terrible things to all creatures.

It was sight of the old man that drew her in, and the sound of a heartbeat.

Maybe two? she was too starved to tell.

The Vampire leapt from roof to roof until she found the source, and dropped into the street just beyond the reach of torchlight or sight of windows.

Little more than glowing eyes warned of her approach, as she reached for her prey without thinking.

 

[Orchid]

Swift and recklessly Orchid yanked the old man away from the clasping hand and the burning eyes.

"MINE!"
His voice melted into many sounds, snarls and growls as if within him was a menagerie that all spoke at once. In the dark he let his shape ripple, mouths and fangs and claws before settling to his assumed form again.

"You find your own plaything."
The old man had broken from his shock of being pulled so hard and so fast and now attempted resistance.

"Unhand, me."
"SILENCE!"

Orchids hand twisted and wrenched the older mans until it broke and the old man whimpered, which was at least quieter though he could not deny something of the magic of his seduction was lost and his plan was now in jeopardy so he turned his attention back to the vampire.

"You're ruining this for me you stupid blood sucker. Get lost!"

Lilette Blackbriar

 

[Lilette Blackbriar]

A thousand screams. The sound sent her instincts reeling and feet a step back. She would not run though, not while the voice within growled at her to press on.

This was survival.

The display of wanton cruelty made her neck crane like crane. She'd have just killed him, personally. It was easier, quieter, and mercifully quicker. Her eyes never strayed from her fellow predator however, even as it presumed to bark orders at her.

She opened her jaws wide, and the loose fabric about her face deformed in the shape of a fanged maw, canines out on full display.

"Rrraaghhh!" she hissed like a big cat.

Her posture showed no signs of backing down, shoulders hunched, knees bent.

Even as all logic commanded she flee. The fact he knew of her affliction from the start was sign enough, to say nothing of the supernatural warping of flesh and teeth and snarls.

But in this moment, she was not entirely herself.

"...blood..." she rasped.

"...only blood. I need'st not the rest."

Perhaps there was just enough left to bargain.

---

Orchid​

 

[Orchid]

He was annoyed at the vampire but even in his frustration he knew that they were not so secluded that none would notice if they came to blows and Orchid needed to remain undetected.

Just blood, that was the offer and perhaps then he could convince her to stand up straight and use more of her words. Vampires were creatures he had little experience with.
There may be an opportunity to learn here.

"Very well."
Another painful twist sent the old man collapsing into the vampires hungry arms.

"Have your fill and then..."
Taking a moment to sit elegantly on the top of a woven basket as if waiting for some tedious thing to be done.

"... we may have a little talk."
Possibly he could discover where she came from and how she ended up in such a terrible state. Weren't vampires supposed to be intelligent? She seemed more beast than anything at the moment.

Lilette Blackbriar