Between Gods and Monsters Archive Chapter #2

[Maltesedragn]

' As you wish' .

Arctos  picked up her drink and took the first sip. 

' Not only have I got keen hearing and sight, but I also love to smell things. Just comes with the territory. These Natural instincts have saved me one or twice.  It's not easy for a Werewolf living amongst humans, however remote the location.  '

[Lvciferi]

I couldn't help but chuckle as she said as you wish, because I didn't wish for that. I wished with all my might that I might sup from pitchers of gold and feast upon the most tender of shoots once again. But it was just a figure of speech, a hatter of a figure that seemed to stare through the looking glass right at me, then again he may of just been looking at himself.

"You move more now and speak less, but I can see through the walls you lay and perceive what you mean and truly say. Speak at me and tell how you manage to live in this big rotten apple without trouble. Do you not hunger for the flesh of the sons of Seth? Or do you slake your thirst on vermin now in pestholes away from the prying eyes of man?"

[Maltesedragn]

'How could it be that I would not Hunger for the Sons of Seth. the fresh warm still beating heart from a human is the sweetest bite.  But is not Seth a son to Abraham' ?
 

[Lvciferi]

"Actually no, Seth was the third son of Adam and Eve. He existed long before Abraham" I said in what was probably the hardest to understand statement of that day. My eyes must of looked blank, for that stirred up thoughts and I was quiet for a long moment before turning back to the murderer.

"I see, do you not fear where this will cause you to house when you pass into whatever is next? Do you not fear the forces of evil? Or do you count yourself as a wolf amongst their ranks?" I asked, I was interested in the answer and I'm sure it showed on my face as I watched her drink her gin.

[Tinker]

Halo's body continued battling within itself as Orion cradled her, flecking him with great gobs of frothy saliva. Her body rattled with the intensity of a trainwreck in the mountainous man's protective arms, her muscles contracted to the point of virtual petrifaction.  Her eyes snapped yawning wide, the palest blue eclipsed with the depthless darkness of her dilated pupils. Soft lips moved wordlessly as if trying to formulate speech for the first time, then she found her voice, clear and light, "Etutu qitrubu, eli baltuti ima' 'idu mituti. Uggae alaksu qabu Urbat ki'am usella mituti ikkalu baltuti."

Her small body slumped in the security of Orion's embrace, sweat drenched and covered in filth from the floor. Slowly her breathing returned to normal, her face serene as if merely napping in the sunshine of a perfect summer's day.

[Maltesedragn]

The Shewolf bit her lip now and considerd this mortals words very carefully.   Then set her gin down with more skill than earlier that evening. 

[Maxx]

"I've dealt with epileptics before,"  Sebastian said to Orion.  "In your time they were hailed as being touched by the god.  These days, they've just got fucked up brain wiring.  How the mighty have fallen, eh?  Did you happen to catch the gibberish she was spouting?  I speak a lot of languages but obviously not enough to make out all of what she said."

[Maltesedragn]

'Yes, yes of course Abraham was much later. Forgive the receding Biblical knowledge. Yet isn't it Odd you said Sons of Seth and not Sons of Adam' ?

Arctos could sense Something Very deep about this figure beside her, but did not press further.

[Lvciferi]

"She's not an epileptic" said Orion as he brushed some of the hair out of the fallen girl's face and started to wipe away some of the froth with napkins that had fallen with her. "She was having a vision of some sort. It has happened before. I don't recognize the language though, but it wasn't gibberish, it's never been before anyway". Grey eyes watched Halo, Orion was waiting for her to wake up while repeating the sounds she had said in his mind, she'd want to know what she said.

[Lvciferi]

"Not at all odd, Adam had three sons, but from those sons only one had further offspring. The other two, well they didn't. So all men come from Seth, so sayeth the bible anyway. Although I've since learned much that confuses the issue. But enough of this speaking of time long since lost to all but the dusty old pages of a book written by men who weren't even there".

I watched her watch me, wondering what wormed inside the werewolves mind.

[Maxx]

"That was an epileptic seizure if I've ever seen one.  Classic grand mal.  Don't worry, I don't think any less of her.  It's not her fault and it's only a problem if she lets it be one.  I know somebody else who lets epilepsy rule her life.  Tragic, really."  Sebastian shook his head.  "Anyway, what she said had a cadence.  I have a gift for languages and she said something, possibly important, possibly meaningless.  I just hope she understands it when she's conscious.  If I can pronounce it properly.  Get much chance to practice your Greek, Orion?"

[Lvciferi]

"Why don't you go away?" growled Orion over his shoulder. "You can take your know it all attitude and shove it up your ass. I just fucking said it wasn't a epileptic seizure, clean out your fucking ears".

[Maltesedragn]

The Shewolf felt the curiosity from this Damned creature, in the way he played with his red locks, gazing at  her with his deep emerald eyes.

 Arctos took another sip of her gin, swallowing the entire contents. Then pulled out a wad of bills  handing them to Al.

' How have I come to live without threat in The Big Apple?, Assuredly I have not lived Without threat since my birth. I cannot say exactly when and where or the time or any of that such nonsense.  Only that I became what I am today.... and that I have travelled across continents, feasted upon the sick, the weak, the criminal, and the honest. When needed. Rats and other vermin in times of desperation are essential to survival in urbane centers.

No, Things are never quite what they seem. We both know that.  And I choose to rid this earth from the pariahs of society.  Examining my prey for some time. Observing.... then making my move.  Yes. the thrill of the kill... So exhilarating at times,  the chase,  the Kill, the Passion inside that allows us to do such things does not go unrewarded. 

I haven't always been a Werewolf.  For the first 16 years of my life, I was such a young sweet girl, over protected and naive.  How long ago that was.  IF only I knew then what I know now!  Things might have turned out quite different.  It hasn't been all bad - Don't get me wrong. I've probably done more with my life since I've become a Werewolf, than if I hadn't. '


 Arctos then turned to Al and ordered another gin and a bag of Cheese and Onion crisps.

'Thank You'

Arctos spoke as she grasped hold of the bag and opened it wither her claws. and turned back to the Damned

' One of my Guilty pleasures, What can I say? ' 

She stated with a wolfish grin.

 

[Lvciferi]

"Then which god has assured you that the rending of the unloved and misunderstood will lead you into their graces? Again I blaspheme but such are the ways of one who wishes to converse without the strains of having to do the dance of the pious around words and phrases that may offend. And for even saying that again I blaspheme. But I fear not, I've had time to fear and no longer does the shadow of that moon hang over me. Rat hunter tell me this, why do you hunt the living? Are you not but a simple sheep in wolfs clothing, or are you some sort of immortal hunter from a myth my ears have not yet been privy to? Do you feel some sort of arousal from the cannibalistic processes of hunting down those who are similar to you? Or is it even more carnal than that and pertains only to the need of feeding? To make others afraid, pleasure does it bring? Pleasure like a star brings in the darkest of black nights? What difference would knowing you were to become a murderer have made. To have fallen so far and learned nothing, that is your failing".

I laughed to myself as I watched her order such mundane food, gin and onion, hardly the nourishment you'd expect a apex predator to eat.

[Maltesedragn]

'I do not ask favors of anything i cannot touch.  I'd rather rely on my instincts.  Why Shouldn't I hunt the Living? I hunt  for sustenance- How can I expect to live off of crisps? Impossible .  As you said, I do it to keep the sheep inside happy. But I am also a murderer of the Living.   How can One NOT be arroused with the cannibalistic tendancies of the hunt? '

[Lvciferi]

"Anything can be touched if you read far enough. Instincts are just gut notions that animals follow and humans have a name for but do not follow. Sustenance has very little to do with what lays beneath the layers of skin, for what lays beneath the breast of the earth is just as life sustaining. Understanding how murderer of the flock brings the sheep peace is something I am lacking, could you betray the answer to me murderer?" I asked, ignoring her question about cannibalism and arousal. How would I, a perfectly well adjusted human being, know what sort of pleasures were brought about by the slow tearing back of skin to sup at the blood and still beating organ systems of a man?

[Maltesedragn]

Some do it for revenge, and some do it for sport...... Others out of necessity- For example:weakness in the flock. Sometimes the mere boundary of dominant and submissive roles take place, and must be carried out.  Is it not law in the Animal Kingdom?'

[Lvciferi]

I watched her with my dark green eyes for a long time in silence with a very severe look gracing my dark features. Then a smile spread over my lips and I chuckled.

"Of course" I said while smiling and leaning the back of my head on my raised arm.

[Maltesedragn]

'So tell me, IF you and I happened to bump into eachother on the street-  WHY mighten I save your carcass?'

Arctos  could see the frustration creep up on the darkend strangers face and decided to let the subject drop. 

The Shewolf then smiled at the holder of the emeralds and put aside her gin.

'Enough about me, What about You? '

[Lvciferi]

"I exist, that is about the short and long of it" I told her while looking around the bar room. Someone seemed to be sick, but at the same time was speaking in Sumerian. A most odd occurrence. I seemed to have come to the right place to learn things, but did I even come to learn? Every passing day seemed to hold a new suprise for me. I longed to bring about an end to it all.

[Tinker]

Halo's restful body flinched, her facing crumpling up as blues eyes reapeared in the relative gloom of the bar. She brought a hand up slowly to shield her eyes from what little light was getting into them, "Ooooow. . . . .shit."

She pushed herself up on to her elbows and shakily looked around, slowly realising the difference of her perspective, "Oh bugger, I'm not on my stool, feel like someone has ripped the top of my skull off and taken a shit in it and. . .", she glanced at the filthy floor she was now sat upon, "And covered in barfloor filth."

Halo slowly rose, using Orion for support, until she was standing her full modest height. She placed both hands firmly on the bar and stood with her head bowed as the room slowly spun, "Al, I'm going to the little girls room in about five seconds, please make sure there is something sickly sweet, waiting for me when I get back? A Shirley Temple sounds just dandy right about now."

She looked to both men that had been with her for the duration of the evening so far, "Sorry guys. I'll be right back after I try to pull myself together."

Staggering with all the grace of a dyspraxic chimp, she made her way to the swinging door of the ladies. She pushed the door open with a quick kick from her toes and shambled to the first sink, in front of the vast mirror. She concentrated on the dishevelled image presented to her, shaking her head at her rough appearance, "Christ on crutches, Hal. . .you look like shit."

She closed her eyes and her lips moved in whispers. A gentle breeze toyed playfully with her midnight hair and tugged at the fitted blouse, slowly the breeze twisted around her form and gained speed and velocity until she appeared to be within the eye of a small vortex. The winds whipped her hair up on end and threatened to rip the very clothes from her back. A smile graced her fine lips as the whirlwind finally slowed to nothing at all. Tenderly she peeked her eyes open and looked at the refreshed and cleansed young woman smiling back at her in the filth crusted mirror. She sighed as she brought a hand up to her eyes, pressing the ball of her palm into the sockets, "I look so cute, I just wish there was something I could do to shift this feeling of post vision hangover hell"

She returned to the bar, looking more prestine than when she had first entered O'Leary's and much to her a joy a pitcher in variegated sunset sat at the bar waiting for her. "Thank you, Al. Remind me to install that peacemaker enchantment for free of charge next time I'm in."

Halo drew a long gulp of the childish drink as she settle back onto the barstool between Orion and Sebastian, without looking at either of them she said, "That was a doozy, huh? Haven't had one that big for a while. Must've been something pretty fucking important to take me out completely. Did I say anything of interest or did I just roll around in the leftovers of my rum?"

[Maxx]

"Cosmotological theologian and neurologist, specializing in test free diagnosis.  I'm impressed, Orion.  Tell me are you a lawyer as well or will I be safe venturing opinions in that field?"  His opinion of the arrogant hunter who seemed to believe in nothing so much as his own infallibility was rapidly dropping.  He was nothing more than an impressively muscled buffoon that thought he had a brain and an opinion on every subject that everyone wanted to hear.  He had often wondered whether such people knew they were full of shit or whether they actually believed themselves as well as expecting the rest of the world to do so.

He welcomed the newly cleaned Halo back with a warm smile and a nod.  She obviously recovered quickly.  "I wouldn't know what you said exactly, since I didn't understand it.  I can repeat it fairly accurately, I hope.  Orion will have to vouch for the accuracy.  You'll need to forgive my accent.  I didn't hear enough to pick it up properly."

Sebastian cleared his throat.  "Does 'Etuti kitrubo, eli baltuti ima idu mituti. Uggay alaksu kabu Urbat kiam usella mituti ikkalu baltuti' sound at all understandable?"

[Tinker]

Halo felt the quagmire thick atmosphere produced by the men that flanked her, nothing to do with her mystical prowess, any fool with an ounce of perception could feel the frigidity between the two men. This was something she would have to tackle later, if she actually remembered.

"Hang on a minute there fella. Hey Al can you toss me some more napkins and a pen? Thanks buddy."

The demonic barkeep scuttled to the register and produced a black, ballpoint pen. On his way back to Halo he grabbed a further handful of napkins, "Thanks, Doll. The S.T. is fabulous, is there no end to your talents?"

Al smiled at her and tipped an imaginary hat, "My pleasure, Hal."

"Okay so lets get this straight", Halo scribbled down the phrase that Sebastian had replayed for her in a penmanship that was fitting for GP in its illegibility. Her eyes scanned over her writtings, sounding out every word soundlessly. Her eyebrows knitted in concentration as the words played on her tongue and danced through her mind, then the colour slowly drained from her already pale cheeks as the realisation kicked in. "Oh, sweet blood of the virgin. . . ."

 

[Maxx]

"Why do I think that, in this particular case, virgin blood is a bad thing?"  Sebastian tried to decipher the handwriting but got nowhere.  Not only was the serviette upside down but it was wrinkled and Halo's penmanship left a lot to be desired.

[Lvciferi]

"How long have you been alive? That's what I thought, when you've had a chance to study under every major medical and physiological scholar since the dawn of civilization than we can talk you arrogant fool" laughed Orion as he got to his feet. If he wanted to he could smite the man where he stood, there would be no consequences, and if the fool managed to kill him, so what? He could just come right back and finish the job.

"Maybe instead of taking so long to get dressed and working on that pathetic pseudo gentleman demeanor you should invest your time in something worth while, say learning when to keep your mouth shut? I wonder, do you keep any brains inside of your skull or is just filled up with shit? Have a nice night, and when you die have fun in hell. Oh and yes I can read your mind you waste of space".

Orion  pushed pass the much smaller man in black, making sure to knock past with a large portion of his solid shoulder as he made his way towards the exit.