These Streaks of Blood

12

Ryffin doesn't even have time to wipe the gape off his face. His thoughts are still scrambled when Natalee flings herself at Olivia with the force of an out-of-control bulldozer. Olivia had apparently not expected this, and shrieks as she and Natalee both fly across the lounge and slam into the opposite wall. Olivia's face is then used as a vampire punching bag; Ryffin hears the sharp cracking noise that must be Natalee's fists making contact with Olivia's bones. There are few things that are capable of physically harming vampires, and fellow vampires are one of those things. Olivia is thrashing, trying to run away from Natalee, but the latter's expression is entirely murderous, merciless... Ryffin knows that Natalee will want to continue to beat Olivia until she's nothing more than a pile of ashes. She'll be able to do it, too; she's much stronger than Olivia, and he knows it.

He hasn't decided what to do yet when Nelye moves, sweeping in front of him and walking briskly over to the two girls.

"Now, really... I would have expected this from stray newborns, but you two are supposed to be civilized, taught by a Master. Come now, let's act rationally," she says, though her voice betrays her. She's enjoying this. And, unless Ryffin has been misreading all the signs...

"Nelye," he says quietly, but of course she still hears him. She turns around, eyebrows raised expectantly. "Tell me you didn't have anything to do with this," he pleads.

Her expression doesn't change, but the volume in the room does. Natalee pauses her torture and looks around at Nelye, her normally-green eyes nearly black with rage and hatred. The brief silence is tense and dangerous, broken only by Olivia's whimpers.

Nelye purses her lips. "And if I did?" she challenges contemptuously.

Natalee gives a strangled hiss and begins to stand up. Olivia is now lying on the floor, her face bloody, probably due to cuts from Natalee's sharp, predatory nails. She looks stunned, but Natalee pays her no mind, watching closely as Ryffin slowly treads toward Nelye.

"If you did, you broke no vampire law. The council won't be troubled by your actions and Galador will still be under your thumb," Ryffin begins softly, dangerously, and Nelye smirks, "But you knew who this human was, and you know what she meant to Natalee." Nelye begins to interrupt, saying something like, "And why should I care about Na--" but at one look from Ryffin, she falls silent.

"You know what Natalee means to me," Ryffin states. Meeting Nelye's gaze, he sees the first glint of uneasiness in them since before he can remember. "I will never forgive you for this. You have not broken the law, but you have broken any trust I had sustained in you. You are not welcome in my home anymore, and this time I mean it, for good. I never want to see you again, Nelye."

Lady Nelye turns frighteningly pale. "You can't do-- You can't say-- The council will not allow--"

"The council be damned," Ryffin hisses, practically spitting with rage. "The council be damned a thousand times over. Leave now, and never let me catch you in my sight again."

Looking stricken, Nelye backs away, the trembling of her dark red waves of hair proof that her body is shaking. "Ryffin... I didn't want to hurt you..." she seems to mutter.

"OUT!" Ryffin shouts, and Nelye turns tail and runs, seeming to forget for a moment that she can teleport. Ryffin waves his hand, and the open door she had just run through slams behind her, hitting her backside and causing her to yelp. Then, finally, a soft swish announces her departure.

Ryffin immediately swings around and walks towards Natalee, who has resumed grabbing fistfuls of Olivia's hair and tugging until she screams. She's crying as she attacks, her face streaked with the paths of angry tears.