The Duality - Part IV

[Victria 0]

Her first conscious thought as she rose to a state of awareness was that she needed to feed. Her second conscious thought was that she needed to feed immediately or she would go mad.

 

As her mind slowly began to focus, Victria realized that she was not alone. Someone was in the room with her and it was not Siyar -- it wasn't even an Al-Ucard. She could hear the rapid beating of his heart and could smell the fear he radiated. The scent of him was tantalizing. It brought her to full awareness and, as she began to move, she heard his heartbeat increase. Without pausing to survey her surroundings, Victria spun in the direction of the warm body, leapt to her feet, and lunged! But, having moved no more than few steps, the collar about her neck -- the one she hadn't even realized she wore -- took hold. She jerked against an invisible chain and slammed into the floor, hands clawing at the device. Rolling backwards, she jumped to her feet and shot forward again, only to have the invisible chain jerk her back a second time. Choking, she retreated and did not make another attempt.

 

Panting, she looked up to glare across the room, only then realizing that she was in a cell. The force field behind her hummed softly, but the rest of the room seemed to be made of some sort of metal. Several feet thick, no doubt, if it was designed to hold Victria's kind. There were lights in the ceiling, but they were not active. Though the room was in near darkness, she could plainly see the creature that huddled across the room from her.

 

"We are being tortured, in case you were wondering," the warm-blooded almost-meal stated. "They have set your collar to extend to a certain point, leaving you unable to feed. The only exit lies behind you. I could open it if I could reach it, but in your state, you would rip out my throat before I made it to that point."

 

"Shalia," she growled. "You are one of them. I have never tasted your kind. Come closer."

 

"I am perfectly content to sit here at the moment," he grunted, his voice shaking only slightly.

 

"If you can deactivate the door, you can deactivate this collar." Her fingers pulled at the device, intending to shatter it in her hands.

 

"Of course I could, but I am not an imbecile. You are, after all, my personal torture, selected to keep me from walking out of this cell. I am well aware of what an Al-Ucard can do to a chosen victim. It is the reason we have been in hiding for centuries. And I would not damage that collar if I were you. I believe it is set to explode if tampered with."

 

Victria hissed and crawled forward until the collar began to cut into her neck. Her fingernails scratched at the cold metal floor as she vainly tried to reach the Shalia. Fangs bared as her intended victim cringed, still a few feet out of reach, she pushed against the invisible restraint until it threatened to crush her windpipe. Shaking from fatigue, she finally collapsed within the collar's range and lay gasping.

 

Cheek pressed against the cold floor, she closed her eyes, fighting the urge to try again. "I cannot control it. I have no wish to harm you, but I cannot control it. I have lost... much blood."

 

"I know. Siyar has explained to me in detail what her plans for me are, and I'm sure you have suffered more as she intends to kill you once she is done toying with you. They need me alive, on the other hand. I am not sure which is worse."

 

"Me either," she said weakly.

 

Her body had not yet totally regenerated from Siyar's attention. The ultraviolet burns were the least of her wounds. And now that she was weak from lack of blood, Siyar teased her with the promise of a meal she could not reach, intending to drive her into insanity. Perhaps eventually she would simply expose her to full sunlight and let her burn alive, but Victria doubted it would be any time soon. Siyar was too good at what she did.

 

"Free us and I will not harm you," Victria murmured as she opened her eyes to stare at the male Shalia. The Hunger rose inside of her at just the sight of him and it took every shred of willpower to not fling herself at the electronic barrier.

 

"Forgive me if I cling to my disbelief. Al-Ucardian promises are easily made and easily broken."

 

:"And I would say no more. We are being monitored. Until I disable their systems, they can see and hear everything we do.":

Victria blinked and stared at the Shalia, surprised into ignoring her hunger for a brief moment. She had not known that the Shalia were telepathic.

 

:"I am not telepathic, if that is what you are thinking. I cannot receive your thoughts, but I know that you can receive mental messages on a certain frequency. The brain is, after all, a highly developed machine. If you can hear me, signal by trying to grab my leg.":

 

She growled and flung her hand as far out as she could reach, trying to grab his outstretched leg. She strained against the collar again as he drew back against the wall.

 

:"Good. I have been thinking on this for quite some time and have decided on the best course of action. We were put here with the intention of remaining at odds, but I think they underestimate us both. You are an Al-Ucard, but not one of them. I have learned much in the past few days. I know who you are, Victria, and that you are no longer aligned with the Scorpiad. You need blood. I will give it to you in a small quantity -- enough to give you more self control. If you kill me, you will never be free of this place. You know this and so you will control yourself. I will loop their monitors from previous recordings and give us a small amount of time to escape. Signal that you understand.":

 

Collapsing again, she offered the barest of nods to indicate that she could hear him.

 

:"I can deactivate your collar and the field. When we reach a core terminal, I can also download sensitive information on why the Scorpiad are here. I know that is what you seek. I was sent to retrieve it as well. I had not counted on Siyar, however. She is ruthless in her mission. To the point, I need you to handle any resistance on our way back to your ship. I was not created to fight or kill and could not possibly defend myself against Al-Ucard or Scorpiad. Do you agree to this plan?":

 

"Yesssss. Come closer," she begged.

 

The Shalia rose from his crouch and pressed himself against the wall. Moving along the length of the cell as though to skirt Victria's portion, he held one hand flat against the cold metal until he felt the electronic thrum of computer circuitry. It took only a few moments for him to access the monitor feed and set it in an endless loop from previous footage. He was careful to remove any of their dialogue.

 

"We are not being watched," he finally said as he moved next to her. "I will give you my wrist and reclaim it when I think you have had enough." He stretched out his arm across the barrier for her to take.

 

She needed no other invitation. Grabbing his arm as she sat up, she yanked his entire body to her and crushed him against her. She barely noticed his wide-eyed expression of shock and surprise as she pushed his head to one side and sank her fangs into his neck. He struggled against her, but the warm fluid that she took from him made her stronger even as it weakened him. Lost in the Hunger, she continued to drain him, unable to stop herself.

 

Without warning, the collar around her neck jerked her back and flung her against the force field. The shock of the energy field ripped through her and she lost her grip on the Shalia. Weakly, he scrambled back out of reach, one hand pressed to his neck. Clawing at the collar, Victria attempted to rip it free, arching her back in pain as the field sizzled against her skin. Dragging himself to his feet, the Shalia placed his hand against the electronic collar. The pressure decreased and she fell to her knees, gasping.

 

"I... am sorry," she panted. "I tried to stop, but could not. I think it will be enough now, however." Slowly, she rose to her feet, sensing the invisible barrier that still lay between them. He had retreated well out of range until she could compose herself and she was thankful for the brief respite.

 

"I understand. It is why I left the collar active, though you moved faster than I had expected." Though he had one hand pressed to his neck, blood continued to flow from the jagged wound where she had ripped through his flesh.

 

"Let me help you," she said calmly when she finally caught her breath. "I can close your wound for you. I have certain coagulants that can speed the healing process." Her hand rose and beckoned him, each move slow and deliberate to show that she was in control of her own actions and not a pawn to her Hunger.

 

Hesitantly, he neared, pausing a few inches away to gauge her reaction. When she did not move, he closed the distance, placing one hand on her collar to adjust it again should he feel her fangs penetrate. Slowly, very slowly, Victria drew his wound to her lips and ran her tongue along the torn flesh to coat the surface. A shiver of pleasure rolled through her as she tasted his blood once again. When she felt herself reach the edge of her self-control, she pushed him roughly away and staggered backward a few steps.

 

"Disable the field and we will head for my ship," she said breathlessly, refusing to look at him. "There will be a terminal along the way, but remaining undetected will be difficult."

 

"As long as no one stops to physically check on us, the security feed will keep them occupied." The Shalia moved to the force field and placed his hand on the control panel, deactivating it after only a few moments. He put it back into place once they had both stepped out of the cell. "An alternate route through this complex would help us, however."

 

Victria nodded, her gaze drifting up to the ceiling in what seemed to be the central holding area. "Access points in the ceiling and walls indicate maintenance tubes. I remember the general layout from glancing at the schematics, though I do not know the location of all the access points. Perhaps there will be a terminal where you can download a map of the complex."

 

"We need to leave now," he said, moving to what appeared to be a maintenance hatch in the wall.

 

She followed, though tried to keep as much distance between them as she possibly could. His blood had taken the edge off her need, but the Hunger was still there, pushing her to find another meal. His scent filled her nostrils, the taste of his life-blood lingered on her lips, and she clutched at the wall to keep from launching herself at him.

 

"Let me go first," she ordered, rather than suggested.

 

"Wait," he said, grabbing her arm just before she entered the hatch.

 

Victria hissed in frustration and steeled herself, turning to face him. Her icy gaze traveled from his hand to his face and she bared her fangs in an entirely unfriendly gesture. He seemed to recognize the danger in her expression because he quickly let go. "What?"

 

"My name is R'eln."

 

"A pleasure to meet you, R'eln," the sarcasm in her voice evident. "And if you intend to escape from this place alive, do not touch me again. Until I feed, you are the closest meal and I am not certain how long I can contain myself."

 

Turning back to the hatch, she crawled inside and began to head for the docking port where her ship waited -- she hoped. Behind her, she could hear R'eln in his efforts to stay with her without being too close. At least while they crawled, the scent of his blood was not too overpowering.

 

Soon, she told herself. Soon she would find someone she could drain completely. Otherwise, R'eln would not be traveling as far as he thought...

[Kansas_Jones 0]

I *really* don't think that Mr. R'eln is going to make it to Part V (gives whole new meaning to the term "let's go get take out"). I'm loving the sci fi vampiness!

[Dox Maturin 0]

I *really* don't think that Mr. R'eln is going to make it to Part V (gives whole new meaning to the term "let's go get take out"). I'm loving the sci fi vampiness!

 

Bet you 3 strips he at least makes it to the shuttle :lol: