Say A Prayer, Morri and Open!

[Silver Wolf19]

Ama stood across the street from the elaboratly designed church, staring at it with a look close to longing. Could she go into it? Would she burn up or melt or something? Looking at the cross on the front of the church didn't bother her any, but was holy ground different? Was there something about the church itself that would send her up in flames?

Well, Ama had never been the religious type, and she didn't care for organized religion even more simply because of the finatics that had kidnapped her and turned her against her will. She'd know by now what waited next if they hadn't done anything... But it was too late to be thinking like that now.

She sat on a bench, pulling her knees up to her chest as she looked at the building. It was almost two-thirty in the morning, the streets were quiet, a car passing only every now and again really. There wasn't a noise on the street...

It was stupid to stay in the city, she knew that much at least. There were vampires everywhere, the Amman included, and she didn't know if all of them would be as lenient as the ones who'd destroyed her coven. As finatical as they'd been... They'd still been her only connection to the world that existed.

Now...

Now she was just a loose end... A thread dangling out of a piece of cloth that had no purpose and no real use. She was nothing but something to be snipped, trimmed and thrown away.

Maybe that was what should happen though. Maybe she should die. She should have died when she jumped into the freezing arctic water, and since then... She'd just been a stray.

Ama sighed then, resting her chin on her knees, her keen eyes looking at the brickwork of the building across the street.

[Morrigan]

Click, click, click

Aithne's red heels clicked on the pavement as she headed towards Temple street with a little grin on her pale face. She had just secured an excellent business deal, so her night's quest was complete. Reaching into her deep coat pockets she fingered the document that meant more money for her; more money for her small plan.

It had been a long while since she was this busy or optimistic. For the past few years, she had slept more than anything. Her two closet "releatives" had moved away for awhile to seek their own fortunes. Then, a few weeks ago, her passion for purpose rekindled by chance. She was refreshed in a sense and ready to change her scene.

Like the waves of a sea, vampires' lives ebb and flow in mood, also.

The Celt turned the corner to meet the Catholic Church. Without really knowing why, she paused to look up at it. Its steeple and arches...its narrow dark windows and its cold bricks...

The Catholics had not changed as much as she had hoped they would. She remembered them from thousands of years ago. Though people inside had grown a little spiritually, their temples still haunted the streets.

She sighed, then forced herself to look around. Anything not to remember...

A young woman sat on a bench looking rather confused, curious, and thoughtful all at once. Aithne stared, as old vampires often do without second thought, unmoving and eyes locked on the small thing.

[Silver Wolf19]

A shiver ran though her... Someone was watching her... And she hadn't even noticed. Wide with fear her eyes looked around, trying to find the person.

But they didn't even find what they were looking for when her other senses told her what she feared even more than a watcher... A vampire... Older than all but the one who'd obliterated her coven...

Had she had the ability to wet her pants, she probably would have. The terror that ran through her was all consuming, taking over every fiber of her body. She stumbled off of the bench, nearly falling to the ground in her uncoordinated haste, and bolted down the street as fast as she could, far faster than any human could.

She couldn't think, wasn't able to rationalize anything. All she knew was there was a vampire, an extreamy old and powerful one, near by and she had to run the other way. Which was exactly what she was doing now. She didn't care she didn't really know where she was going, she didn't care about that because she'd find her way back later.

But for now, she had to run. In her mind it was either run or die. And she didn't want to die just yet.

[Morrigan]

At first, the girl seemed normal. With grey eyes, dark hair, and tan skin was probably just another teenager. Then, Aithne noticed the markings...

Many, small black markings were scarred into the young girl's flesh. Not the kind willingly given, she assumed. The girl did not look the type to have such...scars. The few she could see were definately not of the normal, high school rebellion, tattoo sort.

Aithne raised a fine, dark eyebrow as she watched the lass suddenly, seemingly, strucken by madness stumble off the bench and make a wild dash. The vampire was amused, if not surprised. She could not enter the female's mind, therefore for she was immortal.

An immortal girl? So young? So...frightened?

Without moving, the Celt woman melted into shadow and followed the other vampiress as quick as a shadow can move.

[Silver Wolf19]

For a while, the power was staying away, growing farther as she moved faster through the streets. Turning down an ally she skidded to a stop before clambering quicker than any human.

She paused and nearly cried with fear as she felt it moved closer now. And fast.

"No!" She whimpered.

Ama wasn't so stupid that she thought she could outrun the other vampire... She knew she woudln't be able to hide. But why were they following her? What did they want from her? If they wanted to kill her... Maybe she shouldn't fight. Maybe running would only make her punishment worse.

Punishment for what?

Only for the crimes of her coven. There had to be someone who was angry that she was still alive.

Leaping across one roof to another, her grace left her as her panic resumed, sending her rolling and tumbling over the asphalt of the flat roof. The momentum from her roll sent her to the lipped edge where she curled up into a ball. Maybe... maybe the vampire wouldn't know she climbed the roof. Maybe she had a chance.

"Please...." She whispered in her mind to whatever higher being might have existed. "Oh please don't let her kill me... I don't want to die... I haven't done anything to anyone!" She fought hard to keep the whimper that was in her throat from coming out.

[Morrigan]

The ancient watched the girl for a moment, still as shadow clung to the flat roof. She was curious, a dangerous feeling for someone so easily bored. A trembling mess of a girl was curled up a corner; a ball of fear. Youngsters were afraid of ancients at times, indeed, but not like this? Unless...

Morrigan released herself from shadow, solidifying in the night air into her small, but firm form. She was not the strongest vampire or the fastest - she was old. That ancient wisdom told her something was wrong, very wrong. Her fangy, mild smile flashed white in the darkness. Her dark eyes studied the girl.

She did not approach the girl. She simply said, "I am not here to harm you."

[Silver Wolf19]

The whimpers became audible as Ama heard the woman's voice. The other vampire knew she was there. It was no use hiding anymore...

"P-pllease..." She whimpered, the fear and trembling noticeable in her voice. "D-ddon't.. kkill me..." Not there to hurt her? How could she know that for sure? How could she know that this ancient didn't know of her past and didn't feel like mercy like the other had? Was she really worth the time and effort to hunt down after the couple of years? She was only a stupid little fledgling! She hadn't done anything that would have attracted attention, her fear was enough to keep her in line.

"I haven't done anything! I've never killed anyone! Please! No one knows what I am!!" Maybe... Maybe it was because of how close to humans she was. Maybe they thought she was a danger to their secrecy. Besides, maybe she was just going to have a painless death...

That wouldn't fall under 'harm you' right? Older vampires had their own way of looking at things, she knew that well.

"I just like being with them! They're my friends, I won't ever hurt them!" She pleaded, too afraid still though to move.

[Morrigan]

The girl's pleads surprised Morrigan. Obviously, the youngling expected someone or something to find benefit in getting rid of her. She assumed her introduction into the world of vampire was less than pleasant. Perhaps, she had learned her own abilities and strengths, yet? Surely, she could defeat Morrigan, but she could fight back a little.

She squated to eye view of the young vampire, still smiling. Her dark eyes examined the markings more closely, but she did not recognize any of them. The few that were barely visible seemed more sinister than artistic. For a moment, Morrigan contemplated the idea of a young female sacrifice, but did the gods really bless that anymore? Was this lass the victim of such a crime?

Morrigan wanted to know more, as she always did. With a long, old life learning was all that the world left her. Learn, explore, then move on.

"Well, I'm not interested in your friends," Morrigan said, "Honestly, you can befriend who you wish." She paused. "My name is Aithne, but everyone calls me Morrigan. And you are?"

[Silver Wolf19]

Ama saw the woman, young yet still... Still very very old. The one who called herself Morrigan had seem the tattoos, the markings on her body. She felt very exposed, as if she were naked laying before this old vampire. How had she ever expected to hide? How had she ever expected to survive?

The only thing she could do was trust the woman's word. Trust her that she wasn't going to hurt her, kill her.

"Ama, ma'am..." She mumbled softly, keeping her eyes from the woman's gaze, not wanting to challenge her. She felt as if she should say something else, but she wasn't sure if she should. She wasn't sure if speaking out would anger this woman. Something told her no, but she couldn't take chances. Though there were times she thought she wanted to die, this was not one of them. Not when she was faced by the very real possibility.

"I didn't get them on purpose you know..." She mumbled quietly, only loud enough for the vampire to hear. And if she hadn't been a vampire, even that close she wouldn't have heard the words.

[Morrigan]

Morrigan's smile reduced to a the placid expression of a very old person. She nodded, acknowledging she heard the girl. Rising up, she moved to the roof ledge to look out over the streets. The hum of cars and the mortals living in their homes vibrated as background noise. She was more aware of the heat of the lives all around them and the coldness of death between them.

"I guessed you didn't," she told the girl, honestly. "It would have painful and difficult." She looked at the other vampire with the corner of her eye and shoved her hands in her pockets. After a sigh, she added, "It's hard for you to relax, isn't it?"

To the ancient, the young one appeared as if she could snap at any moment from inner tension. She seemed so afraid.

[Silver Wolf19]

"I don't remember. They always did something to make me pass out first. I remember these weird things..." She murmured, not knowing if the woman would even care.

Relax? With this ancient here with her

"Your kind killed my coven. I was the only one to survive... How do I know you aren't here to kill me too? To finish the job or something." She stated clearly. 

Ama could only trust someone as well as she could kill them. That was just what her life had become. 

"I have no reason to really trust you... Or anyone else really. Humans are the only ones I trust because they haven't tried to kidnap, rape or kill me yet." Her tone was rather blunt as she spoke.

[Morrigan]

The vampiress frowned. What horror was this? Possibly some twisted occult of foolishness. The ways of sacrifice were long ago barbaric. She did not reply to this, only sighed.

The girl didn't trust anyone.

Morrigan nodded. It was wise of the young woman to not trust so openly. "Wise choice," Morrigan said, before adding, "Of course, I'm not saying that about myself. I know that Iwouldn't hurt you without reason, but how could you know that?"

The vampiress stepped onto the edge of the roof; now, she was lookind down into the darkness of the alley. Puddles of dark water and oil and other fluids reflected back the colors of night. The twinkle of street lights and stars made the liquid shadows sparkle.

Could any vampire trust anyone?

[Silver Wolf19]

Ama felt the woman's disgust, felt her anger at the 'barbaric' things that were so archaic. "Yeah... Pretty much. But they never hurt me, not while I was human anyway. They didn't deserve it... Well maybe they did. But I don't know. Maybe I should have died with them, but I don't really want to die."

The young vampire frowned as the older said that she could be trusted. But then that she pretty much understood why Ama didn't trust her. 

"I trust humans." She said simply. "Because I'm stronger then they are. They couldn't hurt me. You could though. You could kill me before I knew what you were doing..."

She wanted someone to trust, someone who could protect her from everything she feared. Someone who understood her desire to still be human, to be the child she had been before all  this crap had happened. 

She wanted to go home... To be with her mother again, but she knew that wasn't possible. "Do you remember? What it was like? Being lost, alone? Without anyone?"    

[Morrigan]

Morrigan blinked. The steady hum of her old, numb brain began to click. Typically, her thoughts did not wonder far; she had plenty of time to think, imagine, and rethink. Now, suddenly, the shadows of the past touched at the edge of her mind.

She made a sound between a sigh and a soft grunt as her eyes glazed over. Normally, she wouldn't give in to the suggestion of remembering, but memories seeping back crept up unexpectedly. Of course, they were but liquid dreams and faint feelings. The specifics had long gone blurry.

"Well," she started, pausing to think of the loneliness the young woman was expressing, "Yes, actually. It was so long ago though..."

[/I]Should I tell her the loneliness doesn't always go away...not for everyone...[I]

"You learn to be strong and independent," was all she could think to say. What she really wanted to say was much more difficult to muster.

[Silver Wolf19]

"Yeah... I guess..." was all she could mumble to the woman's answer. Time... That was what they all seemed to say. Time. That was all good and well, but what about now? Was there anything for the here and now? Anything that could stop the pain or help her become less afraid.

"Do you miss you family?" She asked, wanting to know if that was normal as well. "Or... Or was it too long ago?"

She wanted to know she wasn't alone. That she wasn't the only one who was missing something, hurting for some reason. Every vampire she'd met was happy with their lives. Ever vampire she'd seen was... Well adjusted. She hated being like this, but she just didn't know how to do it. If it was just time...

Ama sighed and closed her eyes. "How long? Does it last, I mean. How long until it goes away?"