Astrid
Astrid yawned and checked the small device in her hand. Her wings beat steadily as she flew on, tracking the small glowing bleep that was Christian's collar. Hopefully, it was still on Christian.
She landed out the front of a decrepit hotel and pushed open the door. She walked straight past the deskclerk who wisely looked the other way as the tall woman with black wings and in tight black leather went by. She went out a heavy service door and looked around. The tracking device went nuts.
"Christian, I know you're here."
Christian
Christian's eyes shot open as he kept his knees in to his chest. He could hear the tracker going nuts, and cursed himself for not realizing there'd been one on the collar. If he had, he'd have made sure to get it off straight away. He would have even gone back to Tulsa for Christ's sake...
For now, he held his breath without moving a muscle. Let her $#!+ing find him if she wanted him so badly.
Astrid
"Oh, I'm so not in the mood to go sifting through garbage for a lost puppy," Astrid said crossly.
"Fine. Be stubborn. That only makes it worse, puppy."
She lit a cigarette, inhaled, then flicked the lit cigarette towards a stack of cardboard boxes.
Christian
Christian watched the flames rise in the boxes across from him and rolled his eyes.
Yeah? Well he wasn't exactly in the mood for it either. Go figure.
He rested his head on his knees and closed his eyes for a moment, before deciding to keep them open just in case.
Astrid
"Mmhmm."
Astrid watched the flames rise, before flicking another lit cigarette in the other direction.
"He only wants you alive. Injured he can work with. Odious little rat."
Christian
"Your insults are getting more and more pathetic, Queenie," Christian said, before sitting back against the wall.
There was nothing beside him that could catch fire, so he didn't bother moving. The warmth was actually welcoming after nights of freezing his ass off.
Astrid
"I was talking about Blakesley," Astrid said.
She located him by the sound of his voice, walked over and grabbed his shoulder.
"You're just irritating."
Christian
"It doesn't matter who it was directed at," Christian shrugged.
He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed, then opened them again.
"What do you want?"
Astrid
Astrid looked at him, frowning slightly as she hauled him out of his hiding place.
"To take you where I'm meant to, then finally get some sleep for the first time in three days."
Christian
Christian leant back against the wall to stop himself falling over, looking into her face tiredly.
"Why do you have to help this guy so much anyway?" he asked.
Astrid
"Ashtoreth wishes it," Astrid said.
"I do as she commands."
She looked up into the night sky and whinnied. An answering whicker floated down from above the buildings.
Christian
"Well how did you wind up with Ashtoreth?" Christian tilted his head slightly, keeping his eyes on hers.
"Was it punishment for something?"
Astrid
"She came with an offer I couldn't refuse," Astrid said dryly.
"My continued existence."
A horse with wings, black as the night around it dropped with a quiet clatter of hooves to the pavement. He reared, snorting and rolling his eyes before walking over to her. She petted him, stroking her fingers through his rough and tangled mane.
Little sister lost.
Not so lost. Will you carry us?
Can I eat him?
She laughed, and he whinnied, displaying curved canines instead of usual horse's teeth.
Christian
"You'd rather do this than die?" Christian raised his eyebrows, then thoughtfully rubbed his chin.
"Although I guess she could have drawn your death out had you refused. Unless..."
He looked up again.
"You were already dead."
Astrid
"I'm not exactly certain," Astrid said.
She tilted her head slightly as she led the horse towards Christian. He blew at Christian, ruffling his hair slightly.
"This is a Hurrok. Kinda like a pegasus, but carnivourous. He wants to eat you, but I told him no."
Just wait, little man.
Christian
"What a shame. I would have been willing," Christian regarded the dark horse thoughtfully.
It seemed familiar for some reason. He brushed it off as something to do with earlier lessons.
Astrid
"Would you donate a limb?" Astrid said.
The hurrok looked away disdainfully, powerful muscles gleaming under its ebony coat.
"Anyway...can you mount? Or do I need to tie you to it?"
Christian
"I'd only donate a limb if I was killed for it," Christian smiled slightly, completely ignoring the second question.
He looked back down the alleyway, regretting the decision to stay in the same state for so long.
Astrid
"You run, I will catch you," Astrid warned.
"Look, just get on the damn hurrok, puppy."
Christian
"There's no need for name calling," Christian raised his hands in surrender, but raising an eyebrow at the same time.
"Of course I'm not gonna do everything the split second you tell me to. Look at the position I'm in. No respect for anyone, and a strict problem with authority."
He shrugged and put his hands down.
Astrid
Astrid sighed.
"Look, I'm tired and I really don't have time for this shit. Get on the damn hurrok. Or come here and I'll put you on it. Anyway you look at it, you're getting on the hurrok."
Christian
"You're not the only one who's tired," Christian shrugged again.
"I haven't slept since I left. Bet you have since then."
He looked the hurrok over again.
Astrid
The hurrok glared back.
Let's eat sky, little sister.
I agree.
Astrid grabbed Christian's shirt and pulled him forward.
"Hurrok. Now. Or I carry you over his back like a dead deer."
Christian
Christian looked down at where she had hold of him, then looked back up at her.
"Then do it, because I don't give a $#!+."
Astrid
"Hela!"
Astrid mounted the hurrok with an agile movement, then hauled Christian over the black shoulders. She kicked the hurrok's side and he rose, wings beating powerfully.
Christian
Christian settled on the hurrok, and closed his eyes to feel the ride.
It wasn't like he'd be feeling much fresh air again for a while anyway... until he had enough trust from the Blakesleys to be able to pull off another escape.
With a sigh, he ran his fingers along the hurrok's coat.
Astrid
Astrid guided the hurrok with subtle shifts of her knees as she turned it back towards Nevada. The stallion whickered as another hurrok started to gallop alongside them.
"Ferrrrrrying 'umansss, Hetaski?"
"Bite meh, Fralia!" The stallion retorted.
"With pleasssurrrre, Hetaski."
"Go eat carrrrion!"
Christian
Astrid
The other stallion took off with a snickering whicker of contempt.
The black stallion shook his head and continued on. Astrid patted
the curve of his neck, then rested her hand on the curve of
Christian's back.
They wouldn't reach Nevada before sunrise.
Interesting.
Christian
Christian's eyes shot open when he felt her touch, but he didn't move.
The last person who touched him there... like that... was Christina.
Before she'd screwed him 'round.
Astrid
Astrid looked out over the hurrok's head as they travelled on,
fingers moving mostly aimlessly over Christian's back.
When the first glimmers of false dawn started to glow, Astrid leant
down to talk to the stallion.
Find a place to hide the day away.
With pleasure, little sister.
Christian
Christian leant away from her, barely unnerved. But more than he
would have been a couple of months ago.
He looked down toward the Earth and let his long hair fall over his
face - the tips stinging his face every now and then.
Astrid
The hurrok started to gallop down towards the earth in a wining
sprial.
"We'll camp out the day and get going again tonight," Astrid said.
They landed in the middle of the desert with a spray of fine sand.
Christian
Christian waited until the hurrok stopped, then slid off.
He looked around silently, pursed his lips, then looked back up at
Astrid.
Astrid
Astrid lifted an eyebrow at him slightly, then threw him a blanket.
"If you get thirsty, I've got water."
She took a medallion off from around her neck and whispered to it. A
door appeared, and opened. Cool air wafted from it.
"Or you can come in and be comfortable. You won't get very far in
desert. No towns for miles."
Christian
Christian looked toward the door.
"And where's 'in'?" he frowned.
Astrid
Astrid shrugged slightly.
"It's a magic rip into another dimension. Which is very small and is
composed of exactly seven rooms."
Christian
Christian raised an eyebrow, then stepped up to the door. Peeking his
head through first, he stepped into one of the rooms.
Astrid
Astrid entered the room with the Hurrok stepping daintily behind
her. When she closed the door, it disappeared. She led the enormous
black stallion to a door, which opened to show a stable. He trotted
into it and she went to feed him.
So, little sister...
Hush.
She brushed her hands together sharply to cleanse it of horsehair
and then went to wash her hands clean of blood from the haunch of
meat she had given him. A sickening crack sounded as he broke
through the bone with a huff of satisfaction. That done, she walked
back out, taking off her sword and putting it away in a cupboard
next to her quiver and bow.
"So, how exactly did Blakesley get his eye on you in the first
place?"
She stalked through the room to another door, opening it to reveal a
small kitchen. She entered, leaving the door open and opened the
fridge.
"Drink?"
She raised an eyebrow at him.
Christian
"Water," Christian replied, rubbing his neck.
He looked around for a moment, then threw the blanket into a corner
and followed it. He sat on it and looked up in her direction.
"And apart from my trying to make his life hell, he's only interested
because I'm a clone."
Astrid
"Ah, the wonders of being different," Astrid said.
She threw him a bottle of water and then got out a can of soft
drink. She popped the tab, then started to browse what she could
eat. And get for him as well.
"So, alien? Mmph. My father was an alien, my mother a mutant. Hence
the wings."
Aforementioned wings beat softly, ebony black feathers gleaming.
Christian
Christian studied the bottle for a moment, took the cap off, smelt
it, then had a drink.
"Yeah, alien. Used to think I was a hybrid 'til I found out."
He put the bottle down and leant back against the wall.
"My foster parents were killed when I was a couple of years old."
Astrid
Astrid moved aout the kitchen, setting a meal up econimcally and
quickly.
"Dead parents. Such a hassle, really."
The corner of her mouth twitched in a smile.
Christian
"I couldn't really comprehend what was going on at that age,"
Christian shrugged, eyeing the door to the stable.
He considered for a moment.
"You probably wouldn't know that I was taken in by Craig."
Astrid
"La, I don't remember what it was like when mine died," Astrid said.
"But my grandmother told me how it was my fault everyday while I was
growing up. Craig would be the telepath, yes?"
Christian
"Only the most wanted," Christian raised his eyebrows.
He began to pick the dirt out from under his nails.
"I'll probably end up like him one day."
Astrid and Chelsea
"Or dead first," Astrid said.
She sat up on the bench and cross her legs.
"Worthy ambition, despite the high unlikehood of it happening at
this point in time. Kitten!"
A door slid open and Chelsea looked out, a livid bruise running
across her face.
"Come here."
Chelsea darted a look at Christian, then walked across to Astrid,
eyes downcast.
"When Blakesley thinks he's finished, which I for one think he
should be soon, how would you like a job?"
Chelsea knelt to take Astrid's boots off, red hair hiding her eyes.
Christian
"I'll already have one."
Christian let one knee fall to the side, then leant his arm on the
other as he watched Chelsea.
"Or three. Or more."
Chelsea and Astrid
Chelsea took Astrid's boots, then scurried into the room she'd come
out of. She shut the door, then slid down the wall, breath coming in
short frightened gasps. She shook herself, then went to clean the
boots.
"Just keep it in mind," Astrid drawled.
"Do you want her?"
Christian
Christian looked to where the girl had disappeared, and frowned.
"To me she seems kind of worthless."
He scratched his forehead lightly.
"She might have talent, but I don't know how long I could put up with
her blubbering and generally annoying behaviour."
Astrid
"I was only talking about the one day," Astrid said.
She slid off the bench and attended to her cooking.
Christian
Christian frowned.
"What would I want her for then?"
Astrid
Astrid smiled slightly.
"To f*ck?"
She served the food onto two plates.
"Food's ready."
Christian
"She's not worth my time."
He stood up and made his way to the doorway, his eyes on the plates
warily.
Astrid
Astrid handed him a plate.
"Then who is? Or are you gay?"
She started to eat slowly, regarding him thoughtfully.
Christian
Christian took the plate, then took it back to the blanket and sat
down again.
"No one's worth my time at the moment. Unless I just wanna get
something out of someone before I kill them."
He took note of what he was eating, before he began slowly.
Astrid
"Makes a sort of sense," Astrid said.
She ate her food, watching him with interest. Such an odd man.
Christian
"If I can get something out of it, why not?" Christian shrugged.
He continued to eat, keeping his eye out for anything she might have
slipped in - senses tuned in case something was out of the ordinary.
When he was done, he set the plate beside him and leant back again
closing his eyes.
Astrid and Chelsea
Astrid finished her own meal and sat watching him for a few moments.
He held himself so tensely, like any moment, something was going to
attack him. And she really didn't like Blakesley...
"Kitten!"
Chelsea appeared again and shot a look of query at Astrid.
"Clean up dinner."
Astrid slid off the bench and went to look through her belongings.
Chelsea knelt briefly to pick up Christian's plate before quickly
making her way to the kitchen to wash up. She was shaking slightly
from the constant nervous terror Astrid's presence had condtioned
her to.
Christian
Christian watched Chelsea cleaning up, and stopped himself from
laughing at her obvious state.
Setting his thoughts back to Taylor for once, he began to plan what
to do with him when he saw him next.
Astrid and Chelisea
Astrid found what she was looking for and returned, tossing the
amethyst pendant neatly into his lap.
"Here."
Chelsea started to dry up, nervous glances flicking out to the main
room.
Christian
Christian plucked the pendant from his lap and let it rest in the
palm of his hand as he looked it over.
He raised an eyebrow and looked up at Astrid.
"Why are you giving me this?"
Astrid
"Because I don't like Blakesley and I want to cuase Chaos," Astrid
said.
"It's the key to Varian's collar."
Christian
Christian stared at it for a moment, then chuckled.
"I quite like Varian. Whatever it is," he smiled.
"It was because of Varian that I got out in the first place. And if
I'd realized there was a tracker on the collar I'd still be out."
Astrid
"Eventually, you would have been found," Astrid said.
"Rats go mostly everywhere."
Christian
"Depends on who I got to, or who got to me first," Christian
shrugged, looking up again.
"Tanya might have had me on the space station, or Steel could have
taken me underground. Or maybe one of Craig's associates..."
Astrid
Astrid snorted.
"Have you forgotten who I work for? What she is, exactly? The
tracking device was...expedient, but there are always other means."
Christian
"No one is indecievable," Christian clasped his hands together,
resting his elbows on his knees as his eyes moved to Chelsea again.
"If they were, the world as we know it would be rather a bore."
Astrid and Chelsea
"True," Astrid agreed, sitting down on a chair.
Chelsea finished and started through the room to go back to the room
she'd started in.
"Kitten."
She paused, changed direction then sank down at Astrid's feet.
Astrid ran her fingers through the coppery strands as Chelsea closed
her eyes, very tired.
"Everyone has a weakness to be exploited. Some more then others."
Christian
"Indeed."
Christian leant his chin on his fists, his eyes to the floor
thoughtfully.
"I've been thinking over Blakesley's for some time. It might have
something to do with his father."
Astrid
"The old man? Probably," Astrid agreed.
"Family ties can be strong."
Christian
"I wouldn't know," Christian shrugged, "well, not personally. But I
have seen it before. Killing in front of loved ones can sometimes be
quite interesting."
Astrid and Chelsea
"As Kitten knows," Astrid said, fingers tightening.
Chelsea hissed in pain, head wrenched backwards.
"I killed her family in front of her."
Christian
Christian nodded, watching.
"So... gonna end up killing her too? To round it off?"
Astrid
"Probably, sooner or later," Astrid said carelessly.
"At the moment, she diverts me. And her blood tastes sweet."
Christian
Christian nodded again.
"The human blood type 'O' is quite sweet. Tasted that?"
Astrid
Astrid chuckled.
"It's her talent makes her blood sweet. Something for which you'll
have no appreciation."
Christian
"No, I wouldn't."
Christian looked away.
"I was merely talking about blood. It has nothing to do with power.
Or lack thereof."
Astrid
"Well, you're not a demon nor a blooddrinker," Astrid said.
"Normally, blood tastes mostly the same."
Christian
Christian looke dup again for a moment, then down again.
"You haven't taken the time," he said simply.
"Each has it's own texture... although it would take a while to be
able to identify each just by taste. But it can happen."
He tilted his head slightly, remembering something to the effect.
Astrid
"Most times when I drink blood, I'm in the middle of a battle,"
Astrid said.
She lounged indolently, wings bracketing her slender form.
"When have you? Just out of interest."
Christian
Christian glanced at her quickly, then put his arms down beside him.
"I've met a lot of weirdos in my time," he frowned slightly.
"One of those such people used to drink blood for the sake of it. He
managed to pull me aside one day and convinced me to try it."
He shrugged.
"I didn't mind, but I couldn't have done it long term either."
Astrid
"You want weird, you should try my life," Astrid said dryly.
"A goddess's court entertains all sorts of creatures."
Christian
"I never said I wanted weird," Christian shook his head.
"It's just what I grew up with."
He brought his knees up again, leant his elbows on them and put his
face in his hands.
Astrid
"I grew up as a servant of the Norse Gods, fighting on the side of
light," Astrid said.
She stroked Chelsea's hair thoughtfully.
"A far cry from what I am now."
Christian
"I've never been on that side," Christian said.
He hesitated for a moment.
"Almost switched, but not quite."
Astrid
"Trust me, the hours are worse and for less reward," Astrid said.
Her eyes lightened from red to blue momentarily and she shook her
head irritably.
Christian
"Apart from giving Tanya something to be proud of," Christian mumbled
under his breath.
He moved his hands from his eyes and rested his chin on them again.
He closed his eyes again and sighed.
Astrid and Chelsea
"Anyway..."
Astrid rose from her chair supply.
"You can't leave without me, the food will run out eventually and
you'll starve to death if you kill me. Kill yourself, and I'll drag
you out of whatever Hell dimension you've sent yourself to, kicking
and screaming. Kitten, watch him and get me if he does anything."
Astrid left to sleep. Chelsea stared at Christian, looking scared.
Christian
Christian opened his eyes just to roll them.
"Well duh."
He shuffled down slightly, so just his shoulders were against the
wall. He wouldn't be sleeping for a while yet.
Instead, he began to pick at his nails.
Chelsea and Astrid
Chelsea settled, knees drawn up against her chest. She fought the
exhaustion that wanted to swamp her and watch him. Like she'd been
told to.
Astrid nearly moaned in delight as she finally got a chance to
sleep. Hand on the hilt of a dagger, she slept.
Christian
Christian glanced up at her for a second, then went back to what he
was doing.
"You may as well spare yourself. I'm not going anywhere."
Chelsea
"You're not the one who's looking at a beating," Chelsea retorted
softly.
Her green eyes fixed on him unblinkingly as she watched him through
the night.
Christian
"And not only from her, so watch your mouth," Christian scowled.
He closed his eyes , willing to possibly get a few hours sleep.