Immortals Are Boring

The Beginning

     "Hey, Ren," called the store clerk as she'd reached the door, "when you get home tell your mom the succulents she ordered will be in Friday morning".
     With her hand resting on the polished door handle Ren turns her head to smile at the man, "Sure thing. She'll probably still beat them here".
     The clerk gives a hearty laugh, "yeah she loves those plants, huh?"
     Ren chuckles and nods, opening the door to leave.

     She has better conversations with her plants then her own kid, the after thought came with a sigh. Pushing it back, Ren smiles at the small city. It quietly buzzes about, the many lights illuminating most of its nooks and crannies. Scattered patches and pockets of darkness lay in angled alleyways.
     The city was small, but busy. During the day, adults and elderly run the world; work, lunch, shopping, outtings. At night the place took on a different vibe. The younger ones come out as the sun falls, bringing their abundant energy and potential. With sundown also came the ones that deal in the dark.
     Her mother had said to get home before dark, worried about her safety. Ren was grown, but another woman had gone missing in the city and her mom was convinced it would only get worse. It was then while she was lost in concern for the others that she felt rough hands grip her by her upper arms and yank back.
    The Lights of the street blinked away, leaving her blind as she adjusts to the sudden change, now on the ground hidden in a blanket of shadow. The ground was made of small, smooth rocks. They were cool and rough against her skin. The smell of them and the dirt beneath them was an odd comfort in this terrible situation.
     The man towered over Ren who still laid frozen on the ground. The reality of it hit her, a lump forming in her throat. She couldn't breathe.. Breathe, dammit!... she inhaled.
    Her assailant mumbled words, something about trafficking goldmine. Ren's ears felt clogged, like she was listening through headphones. Her silence seemed to be the wrong answer, the man's face and demeanor becoming angry.
    Finally swallowing the lump in her throat, she'd lift a hand towards the man as he steps towards her. He stops and she quickly starts, "Look, I don't know what this is about but I'm not good for marketing. Terrible people skills, riddled with mental health issues, I'd clock out from a heart attack within days!"
    She rambled and ranted. And he listened. The man stood with arms folded, head tilted a bit, just listening with a substance smile. When Ren ran out of breathe he shook his head, now the one silent as he moves to crouch next to her. The answer was in his eyes, her fate was sealed the moment his hands had grabbed her. Her heart sank to her stomach, her head tingled.
     No, no, please someone help me... my mom, my cat, my job! I can't leave, I don't wanna go!  She begged in thoughts, saying them out loud would do no good now.
    Her frantic voice filled her thoughts imagining the horrors to come and panic planning escapes. She'd fight til she died or found freedom... she'd get back home. She'd do what she had to, anything to get back.
     It was then, right then, that a voice that wasn't hers entered her mind. The voice silenced everything else. She barely noticed the man lifting her, didn't feel his movements as he walked towards the Ally door of a building.
     The voice was a feminine, amused tone, "Ren, darling dear Ren, did you mean that?"
    A shiver ran down her spine, causing her abducter to chuckle, but the voice just continued as she was brought inside, "'I'll do anything to get back'.. well, I could help you not leave at all. What would you do for that?"
    Ren remained frozen, eyes staring off into space as she's plopped onto a small couch. The camera set up nearby went unnoticed as she silently answers the voice, "please... anything. Name it!"
    "Repeat after me, out loud".
    Ren nods, her body and mind feeling numb.
"Favor given, favor owed, favor returned down the road"

    Her throat was dry, a swallow did little to help the coarse, shaking voice that came out, "Favor given, favor owed, favor returned down the road".
    Her rapid heartbeat seemed to set the tempo for what happened next: there was movement in her peripheral vision, the sound of something snapping followed by a high pitched squeal. Ren's wide, bloodshot eyes slowly shift toward the sounds and her heart sank all over again. The man who had seemed so big and intimidating moments before now laid on the floor tentatively grasping at his leg. It was wrong, the leg was wrong. It was bent in impossible ways, broken in multiple places. The man's face was full of agony, his anger doing little to ease the fear that gripped him. The figure stood over him. Easily over 6 foot tall, a mass of wild black waves and ringlets fall from the beings head, cascading around its shoulders and down its back. The hair only made its pale skin stand out more. Like a ghost or demon's attempt at looking human. A dress of sparkling black material adorns the beings figure. It resembled the sky on a stary night. The woman/being/monster lifts her leg, posing her foot to smash into the man's face.
    That's the last thing Ren saw; The being raising her foot. She couldn't see anymore. Squeezing her eyes shut she made her thoughts scream louder then the man until finally everything was quiet. Her dreams were oddly calm, none of the recent events making its way into her slumber. She dreamt of sunflowers and sunshine, a tall woman with amethyst eyes, and her cat.
    Oblivious while the woman collected the sleeping Ren and carried her home. The woman's warm brown eyes watch Ren's face as she sleeps, flashing purple as a smirk comes to her lips.
    The mortal had no idea what she'd done, who she'd let loose, but for now she'd dream good things and wake thinking it had all, in fact, been a dream.
    Already dreaming of me, Ren?, another smirk finds her lips at the thought. Perhaps it made sense, but it still made the being feel strangely appreciated. Perhaps this mortal will be more fun then the last. He'd been so boring and aggravating, after a couple years she willingly went back to sleep just get away from him.
    Her eyes roll and she groans just thinking of his face, such a jackass. No vision, no adventure, no charm. Pathetic waste of a favor bond, but this one... she'd reacted so strangely to her situation, her panic was clear but still contained within her mind. This mortal could be taught, guided.
    Perhaps even, this little Ren could be the answer to Jackal's permanent freedom.