//AN: Previously on; Dragontales...lol jk.//

There are walls around people, structures so grand and sturdy that others can neither climb over or travel around it so all that is left for them to do is admire the design of the architect. Some areas as beautiful as modern buildings, with gleaming windows that allow them to look down upon all who lookup. Others are fortified and indecorous, uncaring of how they appear to the outside world. Rare are those put together brick by brick, tower by tower, a castle of desolation and utter despair despite the maze that lead the viewer with flowers that bloomed only to those worthy of the path.

But what of those of us who have both the power to rip down those structures to get to the heart of it all and those of us who wish to enter the world of the architect without destroying the story of their pain? What then? How do we walk into the maze when our very steps shake the foundation their world is built upon?

I was not a violent man, but I knew violence well. Death moved amongst us with such easiness that I think those that lived in the future, were taken aback when they were wretched back into the present.

All I had to do was remind her that I was more than a spectator. That if I could not step foot within her world, I would protect it. Even if it meant tearing down the structures of others, I would do so with everything I had.

Using all of the violence within me.

Viper had tried to tell me once, that our kind was not something that blended well with the creatures of now. That as timeless as we were, there were some things that rattled even the strongest of minds. Something about, changing the mind on what they knew to be possible.

I knew it, but to see it still made something in me unsteady. I had a fragile hold on her, no matter how intertwined our lives were, she was always on the run, and I the one to chase her. To the ends of the world if I needed to do so. I hadn't told her what I was, not out of fear of how she would react, but because I wanted her to hold nothing against me.

Monster, she called me. She was correct, but she knew not to what extent. She knew I was not like the others of her world or this one, something uniquely different. All I knew was that I liked how she looked at me when she tried to figure it out, watching me when she thought I was unaware. Now that look was gone and in place of curiosity and frustration, there was fear and disbelief. I could smell the anxiety coming off of her in waves as she tried to hold as still as possible. In another world, it would have been that very stillness that alerted me of her.

She avoided my gaze. I did not like that. She had such a particular strength in those rich brown eyes as if seeing straight into the very being of what one was, deception brushed aside as if she simply knew what someone wanted. I could not call it the eyes of truth because as beautiful as those eyes were, they were murky with secrets of her own. As small as this room was it felt as if the walls grew and expanded, stretching to accommodate the distance she was trying to rekindle. I could not have that, not when the true wall between us had finally been brought down.

When the hunter could not hunt, when the prey was in fact a ferocious predator the only sensible thing to do was either hide or run, but within my sights, she could not do either. I did not wish for her submission or her fear, what I wanted was a chance.

But if she hid from me, if she trembled in fear then all I was and all I held within this body of mine would...those eyes, those beautifully sharp eyes had to be cleaned so that she would see not the man nor the monster but Venom. As I watched her make her way back to her room, both of us aware of the other but silent on acknowledging what it was that we did, I looked for signs of flight. Steady breaths and slow steps, a tense frame but a strong gaze. Perhaps she had something planned? Or perhaps not? The thoughts within her mind were her own and yet I knew that if I delved into the dark that belonged to her, that lingered within my very own subconscious like black smoke that I could find a clue, but it was too soon. She needed time.

And I needed things to do in order for her to have all the time she wanted and more. After a lingering glance at her room, I went to find my sister. Of course, I wasn't at all surprised to find her within the movie room, gorging herself on things she did not really need. I was a bit taken back to see Harper slumped over, a leg thrown over the back of the couch as she slept soundly. She was an odd one, to be able to sleep with a creature such as Viper in the room, suspecting as she did that we were distinguishable creatures. My sister spared me a cautious glance before looking back at the screen.

"I need you to watch over Mykela for the night," I said softly, leaning against the wall and crossing my arms over my chest. I closed my eyes and took in a rare breath, feeling the scents of the room make their way into my body. I was not hungry, but I knew that if I wished to eat now, I would be able to taste things to the fullest.

"Why? Not interested in her midnight strolls for once?" She muttered grumpily. Throwing a single kernel in the air she caught it between her teeth before eating it.

"I need to go out and she knows." My words made her forehead wrinkle as her brows came down.

"She knows you are going to go out and is looking to make a run for it?" She asked unbelieving and doubtful. "Are you sure it's not your paranoia acting up again?"

I stared at her in silence until she looked over at me, then, and only then did I repeat myself. It didn't take her long before she set down her food, turned down the volume, and slipped out beside me. I turned and followed her as she made her way outside.

"How did she take it?" She breathed the words out all in a sigh. No mirth or excitement in her tone.

"Frightened. Cautious." I mulled over the words. Stepping over her lengthy robe I turned to face her as we walked down the stairs. Our shadows cast tall and intricate images on the sidewall, looming and angular. "I do believe her response was better than expected, she promised to keep in mind all of the time we've spent together over what her instincts tell her."

"If you believed her you wouldn't have told me to keep watch." I hissed at her but could not bring myself to fight her claim. The soft steps her bare feet made echoes in ears. We stopped at the bottom, her long hair rubbed against the silk of her robe as she tilted her head to the side with squinted eyes, lifting a brow as her lips flattened, grimacing.

"I take it you're a bit more...liberated from her now? How are you not-"

"I'm going to handle somethings before I reach that point." With a flourished turn, I made my way out to the kitchen and to the back door where I held it open until she passed by me.

"Being cautious won't hurt I suppose, but you have heard of 'being caught off guard', right?"

"I will be fine." At my words, she scanned me head to toe, a peculiar look that made her ink-black eyes glimmer.

"Have you by any chance already hunted?"

I glared at her, placing my hands behind my back. She mimicked my hands before spinning around me, a mischievous look about her before poking me in the stomach.

"Oh, keeping secrets. Okay, I won't tell, but I do hope your favorite Hunter doesn't mind her man a bit on the animalistic side."

"I am no man," I said through clenched teeth. "now go, you nudnik."

She laughed in response and stepped into the night before vanishing out of sight but not sound. There was some rustling before her soft hiss filled the air.

"Then let's hope she doesn't see you as one when she finds out exactly what it was that she released."

I could have tracked her down if I wanted to but I let it go and simply walked off.

I was not a man, just as I was not violent.

I was simply Venom.

And sometimes Venom did things no man could do, things that only violence could take part of.

But most of the time, I was simply Venom.

*        *         *

There were many things I could list under positive when it came to my unique connection to Mykela, but where there was positivity, negativity followed close behind. I would never change-well, there were some things I could see changing if I had any say so, but for the most part, everything was...tolerable.

Once I became accustomed to the bond, the hold she had over my entire being, I wasn't bothered by what I lost to her cold demeanor. In a way, she released me from the burden of having to contain all that I am, an escape of what I could do in a world with such fragility.

Long ago she had bitten me out of rage, malice, annoyance even and the invisible link that surrounded us became tangible, brought forth our beings in an intimate way that body could not do. She was faster at realizing what had happened, of course, and so when she built up her defense while I went in a daze of wonderment, she built a door and then slammed it just as quickly. She wanted to take no chances, but in the process of this newfound connection, where we were so intertwined in what the other was and stood, she caught some of...me, in the process.

Almost like an invisible limb that I had long forgotten, no longer desired control of. She trapped some of my essences and being within her side of the bond and kept it firmly in place. It didn't take much to realize that I was different, no longer whole without her. I did not mind that new development, she intrigued me and so I was content to go as she wished.

But now I was freed and I did not quite like the feel of the return of my phantom limb.

A bottomless pit, clawing hunger that sinks its blades into the pit of my stomach climbing upward in demand of attention. The sensation of clothing, silky or rough, scratching about and snagging my attention every second within my movements. I could take this because I expected it.

What I did not welcome back was the effort it would take to control it all. In a way, it was new, in a way it was not. I knew myself, but temptation and knowledge did not coexist in peace. You could eat to fill your hunger and continue to eat because you remembered that very starvation, to the point where you ignored the knowledge that you could fall sick.

Gluttony, a sin for some, a flaw in others.

Crouched down the closing restaurant rooftop, watching the humans down below, scurry down the street with an uneasy expression as they looked around, I couldn't help but feel as if I fell into the first category. Even when I also knew I shouldn't have.

A sudden hum from my left, growing to flinching screech that broke apart and sputtered as a street light flickered, the sound so sharp for me that I flinched. Closing my eyes I grimaced, yes, I was not looking forward to the effort to relearn myself.

Below me, the roof creaked, a subtle crack beneath my foot as if my very weight was slowly sinking me. Leaving that spot I slid down the side and strolled from out of the thin gap between the buildings, ignoring the confused looks from the humans behind me.

"Where the hell did he just come from?" The couple sputtered behind me.

"Whoa, like magic."

Strolling along I stuffed my hands into my hoodie, head up, and breathed out slowly, watching fog-like smoke spill from my lips, a cloud of cold air drifted up above me and disappeared. No one else breath did the same. Distractions where good, needed, even. Tonight would be both a distraction and a test.

Recalling the adress I made my way down from the merchant stores and restaurants filled with groups of late-night humans enjoying their time, the further I walked the more the scenery began to go from huddled stores and multiple complex structures to larger stores and spaced out homes. It was almost unavoidable for me not to be spotted unless I hid and went in through shiftier ways, but I couldn't be sure that my usual methods would work as flawless as usual.

Humans were perceptive creatures with a curious case of selective senses. They could both sense out when someone nearby was dangerous to their lives and yet if they relied too heavily on their sight, they would dismiss a threat based on appearance sometimes. Or in my case...

I found that my tall frame attracted both male and female gazes for different reasons, the first recognized me as a possible threat, the second as a possible interest. Then it seemed custom to scan what one wore, in a way to check how well I blended or stood out from those around me, which could quickly then switch to dissecting exactly what brand I wore. Materialistic camouflage that indicated statues, telling those around if they could or should approach.

It was entertainingly fascinating once I understood what all of the looks meant. It was also extremely helpful for directing attention elsewhere when out. The things I could not change I hid as well as I could,  what could not be hidden was flaunted. Many peeked over at me with curious and searching eyes, quick steps and easy maneuvering left them far behind me as I entered the luxurious cafe. Shades at night were a bit odd but could be played off as having a flashy personality. 

Dark wood and black walls, white chairs pushed against the wall facing each other in pairs for privet conversations but at the right angle to see who came in and out, a dull blue counter where two polished workers waited with fixed smiles and patiently stood. Soft wordless music played in the background, swirling works of light dangled every so, white light that cast shadows on the ceiling.

A handful of people continued typing away or talking to their companions, but those who stilled and looked over in smooth glanced, held dangerous glints or recognition as well as caution. Continuing my walk I slowed by the counter where the two watched with professional smiles and nearly calm scents.

"Welcome, how may we feed you today?" The woman on my right spoke, hands clasped in front of her black apron. There was nothing on the counter but two rectangular devices facing them. On a large screen, order options and dishes were lines up.

Reaching into my back pocket I placed a blue-tinted plastic card on the counter and placed a finger on top, sliding it forward. Both eyes followed the motion, I pulled my hand back. I had no gloves on this time, so slow creeping silver scales seemed to shimmer under the bright lights above us.

"I'm here for a pickup," I said, my words a little more normal, but the unnerved air that arose from them still there. To their credit the one before me nodded and side the card down and tossed it somewhere I could not see. With her other hand, she began typing something into the screen. When she was done she motioned with an elegant motion to the right of her.

"Enjoy your meal."

Walking off I made my way around the end of the long counter. This section was filled with a lot fewer people, large windows with colorful glass, at the corner right of the wall there was a bathroom door and on the left, there was a large black door with no handle. It almost stood there as decoration with its glossy paint, arched top and broken mirror fragments arranged artistically.

Placing a hand on the right I was cautious with my strength and when nothing moved I added more until it began to open up. I didn't open it much, just enough so that I could slip into the darkened room and shut it behind me. There was nothing in the room, it could have been a small closet before the wall before I began to side down with a soft sound and the overwhelming smell of bodies and exotic drugs of a sort began to fill the small space.

With a grimace I took a step forward into what was the end of the floor and then down a staircase made of glass planks that stuck out of the wall, springing downward into the heart of Primal.

Various species hung around the large room, partaking into things not acceptable to do within their own community. A den of trouble for the troublesome. Dark flashing lights and perfectly volumes music both slipped in and around the room but also thrummed for all of the sensitive hearing. It was a mixture of a club, cafe, restaurant, and depravity.

Not altogether, not too far apart. A precarious balance that was always in danger of being taken to far by those who lived in extremes. Once on the floor, I stuck to the wall as much as possible, and then away from is when I passed a cluster of hormonal shifters. The good thing about Primal was that no matter where they were located, their layouts were always the same. The left door always leads to in house meals.

Slipping through the curtain I went down the hall where various doors played their choice of music that couldn't truthfully hideout the screams of horror or pain. We all just chose to be ironically polite in such a place and mind our own business.

At the end of the hall, there was a bored-looking older man with a painful-looking burn mark over his face, at the sight of me he stood up with sharp eyes. The closer I got to him the quieter the hall got, meaning there were unoccupied rooms. Good. Stopping before his little red table I waited. Reaching into his jacket pocket he took out a silver lighter and placed it on the table.

"In house meal?" Dark eyes scanned me over, a speculative glint, one different from the usual look I received. He wasn't trying to figure out what I was, in a place like this we were all monsters.

"Correct," I answered calmly, clasping my hands behind my back.

"Will one suffice or shall I keep the tab open?"

"Open." At my response there was a slight twitch from his eye, for a moment his body stilled before he continued as if nothing, but he sat up slightly straighter more alert.

"...very well, any specific crime?"

I pondered this for a moment. Was there a real difference in mercy for the merciless? This bought on a fresh wave of questions, none of which I knew would be answered by the man before me.

"Only the worst," I answered with a soft answer. His eyes narrowed this time out of suspicion as if others had asked for the worst without being able to pay.

"Are you aware of the cost-"

"Yes."

"Hmm." Looking off to the side for a moment he sighed before taking hold of the lighter once more and began speaking in a robotic tone as if reading off of a script. "Door's 103, 107 and 116 have the worst. The crimes are by the door, if they get loud turn up the music, under no circumstances are you allowed to bargain with them or offer an escape service. If you do you will be tagged for all Primal members to recognize and you become fair game. Do you still wish to proceed?"

"Yes." At once he flicked up the lighter and blue flame shot out of the lighter and into four different directions at once. Three went to different doors behind me, outlining the door frame in blue flames that did not spread or ruin the place, the fourth shot straight towards me. Removing my left hand just as quick, I let the harmless flames wrap around my wrist until it became a small flickering bracelet. It felt like there was nothing but a thin string around my wrist.

"Enjoy your meal." He said aloofly. I stared for a moment trying to fathom if he truly meant it.

Knowing there was no proper response I turned and walked into the first flaming door I reached, 116. Once my hand touched the doorknob the flames dissolved and slinked into the room with me, lining up the sides with dull lighting in the pitch-black room. Shutting the door I reached for where I knew a clipboard would be positioned and grabbed it without reading it just yet. It wouldn't make much of a difference what was on the paper, Primal tended to go for the worst criminals in the community. It was usually up to the buyer of the night to decide whether or not they needed another reason to hate the world.

Despite the tight-fitting hall, these rooms were specious, on my side a single chair and a glass wall stood planted before it. Walking over to the chair I sat down and placed my hands on the armrest. There were four buttons on the right armrest. I placed the clip bored on my laps and looked ahead, pass the glass and watched, listened to the uneven thumping within the human body. Reaching over I hit the second third button. 

Click-clash.

An unlocking came before the chains hit the floor.

shtsht-clank-clank-clank-clank

The slow retraction of the chains dragging against the floor, within his chest his heart took off. Rapidly reaching upwards, he tore off the blindfold over his eyes and turned around and around, searching within the darkness of his confined space. Damp hands reached out in both directions as he felt out his surroundings. The sound of his fingers, dragging along the brick wall, the pads of his fingers scraping along the rough material as his shoes dragged along uncertainly, soft steps forward and then back as if he feared the very floor beneath him might fall. 

I took in a breath, although the glass muted his scent, his fear and anxiety, rage and nervousness perfumed the air, I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. Allowing myself to be drowned in this moment. 

A hitch of his breath as soon finished touching alongside the brick walls and came upon the glass. Both hands planted themselves firmly on what I have sure felt the familiar feel of glass. At once he called out, first hesitantly and then harder, thumping on the glass until it turned into banging. I sighed and hit the second button. 

Without opening my eyes, I could almost feel the illumination of light that had burst forth from his side trying to make contact with me, washing over my still form.

 The sudden brightness startled him into silence, but now that he could see through the glass he began once more. Blocking out the unnecessary chatter I picked up the clipboard and scanned it over. Unessissary name, affiliation, crimes, and of course the real reason he was here. 

Primal had various ways of entertaining the supernatural world, but it also had a way of keeping us all in check with an unorthodox way. We were as powerful and strong as we were vicious, but humans and machines were nothing to be underestimated. A lesson easy to forget when young and full of courage, add in wrongdoing from one to the other, and revenge becomes the simple output. It's not that simple.

Humans weren't all that off from being predators in their own ways, it was true that they were not blessed with the sharpest claws or teeth, their physical strength was nothing to be wary about even in the best conditions, but they were as vicious as any other preditor within this building with the odd trait of how they went about at showing it. Humans protected their own, strived together for the best, lived with unbridled preservice for their goals as any other species. 

But they were also known to be the cruelest among all of the species.

The government knew of the supernaturals that roamed about, there was no actual way for all to coexist without a few favors having to be made, eyes to be averted and in some cases losses to be made. Such as the deal Primal had with the law of man. For any human caught entangled in supernatural affairs, affairs that harmed supernaturals for human profit that is, for peace to be maintained those humans would lose all protection from their own species. It was a bit of a win-lose-win situation.

Young supernaturals with courage and rage driven minds would not start a bloody war for some small trivial matter, humans around the world would not come to fear their own shadows, and negotiations could continue between all. There were always acceptions of course, but for the most part, criminals would be punished, revenge could be meet for the only participants responsible and no boundaries would be crossed.

The human male before me had been dropped off by his own government, not that he suspected, on charges of forced prostitution on a half-succubus. Flipping through a couple more pages I shook my head. It was always the halflings that found themselves in the clutches of humans. I suspected that it was because half of their nature was human that they thought it would be easier to blend in, but if there was one thing I knew, it was that the closer you got to your enemy-as did they. I didn't understand how it was that they were discovered for being what the were, but the process of being so different that it caused suspicion, it intrigued me if I was honest. Even so, I did not understand what made one stand out when one was with kin. Even half kin.

I've witnessed humans who have come to sense something off about their own kin, but what usually happens in those situations is that they turn a blind eye or they wish to offer help, if they are no kin to the odd person, then avoidance is seen. But what drives these humans to decide that they shall make a self profit off of another being, even one that is not of their kind. Self-gain, hunger, I understand, but a profit on another suffrage is not something that I can grasp. Even when in raged, those harmed are usually those responsible or those with the unfortunate luck to be within the vicinity of blood lust, and yet I would never venture out to harm those I have no knowledge of.

I hunt what I need to survive, those who have wronged me and those who threaten me. What other need is there for me to venture out and harm others. Is this a specific human trait or have I- the silence from my guest brought me back. He was observing me, no doubt. 

"Why am I here?" He asked clipped, a slight rasping from his throat from previously yelling. 

I could have told him it was because of his choices in life, as all choices lead to rough roads, I might have brought up the victim's name as an even faster response but I rarely got to speak to humans with such terrible personalities that I simply could not help myself. I sat up straighter and crossed my legs, lifting my head up to look at the human male. Immediately he scanned what he could see of my face, looking for something to recognize or a clue as to who I might be. Uncertainty and unease crossed his features, an oily look to his skin under the bright light. 

"Within this room, which of us do you think is more human?"

Shifty eyes began looking around as his hand lowered on the glass, leaving filthy prints on the glass, taking a step away from the glass as he muttered a curse under his breath. Looking behind him to see nothing he turned back towards me with speculative eyes.

"More human, huh? Well if you let me out of here that would be both of us." Taking a step forward he tapped on the glass, eyes shifting around me until a strained expression came over him. "Let me out of here man, there must have been a misunderstanding here, I'm just a simple-"

If only it were that easy, as opening a door and ahh. I pursed my lips. 

"How does releasing you turn me human?" 

There was a moment of silence where something seemed to come over him, he stared ahead of me, all strain falling from his face as a blank look masked him. Watching this transition, listening to the slowing of his heart I wondered what had caused the change in his plan to go with the sniveling. Glassy eyes glared at me with understandable loath, after all, no one liked to be in a cage. Even the guilty, not that it would rouse any sympathy from me.

"If you keep me here what are you going to do?" His words were gruff. His stare did not waiver from my face.

"Feed," I answered truthfully. He stumbled back, eyes widening as his mouth opened and closed repeatedly. A stench of staleness, rust, and salt filled the air. I glanced down and then back up.

"F-feed? You're-like you're going to eat me? What the fuck-" The white of his eyes seemed to glow from the light above him, so wide were they that they trembled. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, dripping into his eyes, he didn't seem to notice.

"Not in the sense you are thinking of, but if I've underestimated myself then you might be correct. In which case I will be very disappointed in how this visit will end." Taking hold of the clipboard I dropped it on the ground. With a nosy clatter, it settled by the chair. Reaching upwards I removed my shades. "Either way, you still die."

Ba-dum.

Tripping over nothing he flung himself backward at the sight of my eyes, scrambling away and towards the furthest corner of the room until he could move no further. Something akin to understanding and fear coming together as she began to shake.

"Fuck, your one of those freaks. You're with the girl aren't you-" Slinking down he pulled his legs towards him, for a moment it looked as if he would start climbing the wall backward like those demonic movies humans liked making. "Stay away from me! I didn't do shit to her she didn't want! We even paid her-" I hit the first button and watched as the glass began to retract into the ground.

Zhhhh

Blood drained from the man's face as he realized the only thing between him and I was soon to be gone. 

"Sometimes the cage is for your own protection," I muttered standing up. No sooner did I speak the words did their weight impacts me so much that I remained still.

Sometimes the cage is for your own protection.

Sometimes the cage is for your own protection.

Why did those words ring so fiercely within my mind? I was unaware of many things, of this I knew with certainty, and yet at this very moment, something about these words made me think of Mykela's cold gaze. The corner of my lips turned upwards ever so slightly as the image of her came to mind, it was certainly no expression to smile about but it was not the image of her that made me smile, but rather just her being that drew something that resembled warmth from me. Those words, felt so true to her being that it made me nervously eager at the possibility of where my mind was wandering.

If I replaced the word cage with barrier. . . then. . .then what? It was foolish of me to be presumptuous of her motivations and desires, her fears and yet I knew that where my mind wandered most often was a trail she had laid before me. Mykela. She was a woman of such complexity, for a being of myself to dare to even try and understand her I knew it to be foolish, but the instinctual need to follow was simply too tempting to walk away from.

Through all of the mental rambling, I was not unaware of the slow inching, the tensing of muscles as the human male positioned himself better and lept towards my left, making a dash for the door. My left arm sprung out, hand wrapped around his throat before his body could understand the sudden restriction of his momentum. Unmovable from my grasp, his legs continued to race towards the door but forced to reckon with my strenth like a rubber band they wept from under his body when his head failed to follow. He choked and gurgled at the new strain as his body hung in my grasp. Soft human fingers pulled and tugged at my hand but I paid him no mind as I continued with m thoughts, fearful that I might lose the path I had triggered upon myself. 

In all of the time I had known her, I had seen Mykela as the hunter I had met long ago. A force to be reckoned with, a hunter in all her right. But in a way hunters were just as cautious as the prey they hunted, they too had self preservice. I knew some of the reason behind her hesitation when it came to Viper and me, but what if the reason behind that disappeared, would there be another. I knew without a doubt that there would be something there. I glanced at the male squirming in my grasp. I wasn't even depriving him of oxygen but I could see that the very fact that I held him panicked him.

Mykela disliked it when I touched her, but I never felt any fear from her, looking past the instinctive fear that is, once she had that under control all I could sense was unease. Hmm. He bared his small teeth at me, spit flying out and landing on my sleeve, his lips trembled as he mouthed something that was unintelligible.   

"Then again I did just show her what I truly am, so I do believe it was time to reign my thoughts in." I sighed and pulled the human close until he was at my eye level. "I would apologize, but that would defeat the purpose of my visit to this establishment, I'd rather lose control on someone who caused trouble than a misfortunate one."

Concentrating I closed my eyes and listened to the chaotic sound of his heart, following the rhythm, the flow of blood pumping through his body and then I pulled. Nothing happened for a long moment and yet I continued, feeling as if I were doing nothing at all but even then I didn't stop. When his body began to tremble unnaturally my eyes opened to watch as what could easily be mistaken as a small stream of light and mist rose to the surface of his skin in an almost ghost-like appearance. Outlining his form he glowed for a second, I tightened my grip on him and glared out of concentration, feeling as if I were trying to remove individual sand grans from a pool of mud. It was slow progress but soon that ghost light swirled around my hands, silver scales rose predominantly at the surface of my hand and palms, I clenched my teeth as my claws came out with a burning sensation, curling at the tips. The white of his eyes rolled back, twitching open as I pulled the life force from his body. 

Floating uselessly around my scaly and, finding no easy entrance it tried to return back to its rightful owner, but I focused on pulling it along the length of my arm, slowly it traveled around my like a coiling snake until it made its way to my shoulders and around my neck, loosening my jaw I parted my mouth and consumed the energy for sustenance for once in a very long time. As soon as it touched my tongue I knew I was in trouble, repressed hunger pains rebelled and demanded more, my teeth morphed and shifted in my mouth, I felt as the human facade began to slip from my grasp as all of my focus turned into pulling more from the human male. Scales came forth and traveled upwards, hardening and morphing into a hard textured skin, I began to hunch forward as something pushed from inside me out back, touching the fabric of my hoodie and sliding downward at a growing speed. I choked out a breath as heat filled my stomach, no actual taste, but somewhat filling. 

More, I wanted more. To fill the hole I had been walking around with all of this-

No. I aware that I was getting dangerously close to hitting the ceiling I struck out with my free hand, strange fingers digging into the rubbled that feel from the wall, curling int on myself more, I dropped the human as an arm wrapped around my torso. There was nothing left to take from the male he was done, but that didn't matter to my body. Teeth bared I snarled out as pain twisted and pulled at me from within, no sound other than that of the other rooms and outside played into my ears, screams, and wet splatters. I glanced down at the body, saliva filled my mouth. There was no life force to take, but other hunger's. . .I looked away with a clenched jaw.

This was why I was here. Unlike Viper who had perfected her feeding, being in full control of all of herself, I knew once Mykela released what she had trapped of myself with her behind that door I would have to face a dangerous side of myself. The side that did not care for how my mind had developed and grown into comprehending complex ideas and beliefs, the side that only cared for filling its hunger, whatever it may be. The hunger that craved flesh to fill a physical form that had starved for years and the magical side of myself that had eaten little less then what it needed. My primitive instincts were something I would have to learn to tame quickly or else I might find myself indulging in the wrong desire.

The dark thought was enough to calm my mind, I forced my body down to an acceptable size, noting the torn bottoms and shoe backs. Dropping my hands I stood up straight and turned to the grey corpse on the floor. He looked perfectly normal if one could look past the bloodshot eyes rolled back, gaped mouth, and drool sliding out of his purple tongue. I crouched down and placed a finger on his forehead, noting that they were back to my definition of normal. In less time than it usually took his body disappeared leaving behind nothing but clothes. I remained there for a moment, thinking over everything and recalculating my expectations. Before standing up, I looked over to the wall and stared at the rough imprint of my hand on the wall and sighed.

It was going to be a rough night, no matter how I tried to twist it.

*                      *                 *

"You have a talent for looking like shit for someone who should be happy to finally be able to enjoy the world to the fullest." Viper said moodily, throwing herself on top of my bed and rolling onto her stomach, both hands under her head as she watched me.

"There's not much of this world to interest" She cut me off with a purposefully loud groan filled with annoyance and despair. 

"Save the sappy stuff for her, not that it works." I turned to glare at her over my shoulder and turned back to throw a log into the fire. I did not need the heat of it, but I enjoyed watching the dance of destruction it performed even when no chaos came forth from its confined space. 

"Anything?" I asked after a moment's silence. I knew Mykela was still within her room as soon as I returned but that did not mean she had remained there the whole night or that nothing could have happened while I stepped out.

"Besides her opening the curtain to stare me down? Not a twitch." Her tone implied that she found amusement in the action, but the put out sigh that followed made me doubt my judgment for a moment. "It's nice to see she's still bold even after knowing."

Walking over to where my lone chair sat I grabbed the white mesh vest and slipped ontop of my long sleeve, tucking the front into my pants. I could certainly imagine Mykela doing such a thing, but standing in the exact place where I revealed myself to her, doubt began to rise, recalling her horror-stricken face. 

"Do you actually believe in that boldness?" I murmured sticking my hands into my pockets and turning to face her. Staring ahead she took a long strand of braided hair and twirled it around her finger. After a moments thought she turned to me, making a face.

"Fake it until you make it?" She answered with a question, shrugging her shoulders up. I nodded in agreement and walked over.

Whatever it was we would see as the time came, but it was also time that we did not have much to spare of. For a brief moment, I thought I heard the sound of a clock ticking. My shoulders tenses. Shaking my head I reached out with both hands.

"It's almost breakfast time." I pointed out.

With a roll of her eyes she took them and allowed me to drag her off of the bed until she turned her legs towards the edge of the bed and with a graceful movement twisted before her body fell from the bed and stood, having turned my arms to be placed over her shoulders as if we were in a dance sequence, she stood beside me. Dropping my right hand, she wrapped an arm around me. Walking out we made our way further into the quiet house, the rising sun painting the house into hues of pink and blue.

"Something tells me, she's going to skip it today." She sang playfully, but her words brought no laughter from me. Looking in the direction of where I knew her room was located I tried to figure out if that was a possibility. Did she plan on avoiding me for the day?  "Do you want me to deliver food to her door-"

I shook my head. I appreciated her offer, but it brought a sense of anxiety I could not reason away. I trusted my sister not to kill Mykela, but I did not trust her not to purposely bother her.

"No, I shall ask Harper for assistance on this." I hoped she accepted. Viper stepped away from me, I looked at her, tilting my head at the surly expression she wore. I raised a brow in question. Crossing her arms she shook her head which actually brought forth curiosity. Not much-bothered Viper, but what did was usually very odd in my mind. She understood rules and ideals as I did, but she saw more then I could comprehend, she had a better intuition to the unspoke and unseen of this world. Pitch black eyes looked back at me,  

 "Are you really going to follow her back to that place?" She asked lowly, her head titled down as she looked up. Contradicting the somewhat timid pose, there was nothing soft about the look she gave me. My brows scrunched together.

"Do you wish to stay here?"

"We were there for a short period of time, we've been here for much longer." She pointed out. " We would be going back to a world where we know no one, the norms, or how we would be received there. Last I remember, that's how we ended up with your beloved hunter. We would be going in blind."

"Is that something we have to fear?" I questioned smoothly, narrowing my eyes at her. She straightened up, arms dropping at her sides as she glared as if offended. 

"No, but-"

"Then what are you worried about. If anything comes up, I'll handle it." I declared seriously. Whatever came our way I would handle it, regardless of what I had to do to make sure she and Mykela were left unharmed, I truly meant it. No one would be harming them as long as I remained.

We stared at each other, as soon as the corners of her mouth rose in a twitching smile I found myself unable to stop my own from doing the same. Unable to do anything about it both she and I found ourselves grinning with anything but kind expressions on our faces. I hissed at her in mock annoyance, she hissed back and laughed. 

"Just checking." She said in between laughter. 

"I won't force you to come with me if you wish to stay, the choice is yours." Even as the words left my mouth and I knew that she was fully capable of living by herself, I disliked the thought of not being in the same dimension as my sister. We could go weeks or months without contact, but that was usually just because we hadn't realized the passage of time or we were busy. 

"Ah, it would be nice to hear you say 'Oh Viper, it sure would be nice if you came with. Nothing would be the same without your awsome presence.' I do, after all, make the best companion for your tedious trips." Her voice lowered to an eerily impressive impression of my own. Clasping her hands in front of her dramatically she leaned up against me with wide eyes.

"I was not aware I would have to voice the obvious, but if you wish for me to do so."Shaking my head I poked her in the forehead and pushed her away. I removed my hand as she made a swipe for me with narrowed eyes.  "Viper would you be so kind as to continue to join me in whatever journey we find ourselves in?"

"Obviously." She said casually, throwing locks off of her shoulders. I smiled.

"Brat." 

"Hmm." Without another word she made her way off in the direction I presumed she would be napping in. She never really used her room, no matter the house to sleep in. I think she just saw it as an extension of her closet, clothes were always thrown around the room, mountains, and piles that made me nervous to dig through. I wouldn't put it past her to hide something within them. Or someone. That was a problem for her to deal with if it came down to it. 

When I got down to the kitchen it was still too early for either human within the house to come down to eat so I planted myself down in the open space sitting area and waited. I turned to stare out into the backyard as the flowers awoke and moved into the best position to be blessed with the first blush of color over the night sky cover, movements no human eyes could follow. Birds flew over from here to there in search of a morning meal, leaves brushed against wet grass before being blown into the pool, landing with a rippling effect across the surface of the lifeless pool.

Moments like these, where nothing but nature moved where my favorite because it was as if it were even just of my own, but as a creature of the earth even if it were not of my original birth, I knew that nothing here was for me. If anything I was the one the plants watched with unnerving stillness as I roamed around them. People thought trees and plants were still life, how funny. 

Slow shuffling, the dragging of slipper covered feet against the floor walked into the kitchen. Keeping myself still, my eyes flickered to the side as Harper walked in rubbing at her eyes. Her purple-colored tips were beginning to fade a bit, sectioned off into two messy buns atop of her head she didn't particularly seem all that awake as she stumbled away from the turn of the stair. She had the sleeves of an old light green off the shoulder sweater rolled up, long baggy pants, and fuzzy slippers that looked like something Viper would wear herself. As she walked away I stared at them a bit longer.

Scanning her face I tried to find the similarities between her and Mykela, it was a pointless task, but I did it anyway. If I had to place any solid likeness to the two then, I changed position, facing forward with my hands over my crossed knee, I would have to say that it was the fact that they looked nothing alike. Curiously, neither resembled the other, but the air they carried about them, a sense of aloofness with- what would the humans call it? Haper was slightly smaller than Mykela, her aura was softer, younger I suppose, her face a bit more round, but it wasn't the facial feature but the expression? Hmm. 

Seemingly unaware of me she stretched as she walked over to the fridge, shoulder joints popping, cracking her fingers and wrists. Pausing in front of the fridge she tilted her head to the side slowly and then with a fast jerking motion a popping noise came from her neck too. She repeated the same process for the other side before reaching up to pull the cereal from up top. Box in hand she made a smooth turn and lunged forward, poping her knee joint. Taking another lunge she reached for the plated and pulled down a bowl, standing straight she kicked out oddly with the left leg until another pop reverted. Pouring the cereal in she gave her whole body a shimmy before turning back to the fridge to place the box out, take out milk for her bowl, dig around for a spoon and plant the bowl on the counter facing me before she pulled out a chair for herself. She moved the spoon around, or perhaps it was the cereal that she was moving around before bringing it up to her mouth. She did this with her head down the first couple of bites before lifting her head to look around lazily, glasses on the bridge of her nose as she glanced around.

I knew without a doubt the moment was her eyes met my own was approaching and I had enough sense to know that she would be started, but the timing of it suddenly seemed very important. If I calculated correctly, by her next spoon full she would be looking my way. If she were too startled to process her food correctly...ah. Choking hazard. 

"Good morning Harper."

She froze, spoonful halting inches away from her open mouth. Her eye turned to look around for me with a wild gleam as her heart suddenly took off. Lifting my fingers up, but not raising my hand, the motion pinpointed my location. She flinched back for a moment before she coached out roughly and then took in a shaky breath. She dropped her spoon back into the bowl.

"What the fuck man, how long have you been there?" Bringing a hand up to her chest she rubbed it as if soothing her hardworking heart. Lowering her head she placed her free hand on the counter and gripped it tightly.

"I apologize, I wasn't sure when the best moment to greet you would be," I said truthfully. Her popping of joints seemed like a morning ritual, and I was curious to watch it play out. 

"Right, right." She said loudly before mumbling. "Not like sitting there watching me isn't creepy, but I'm pretty sure he didn't mean it like that Harper, no need to freak out."

"I apologize," I repeated, feeling both amused at herself rambling when I was positively certain she knew I would be able to hear it but also sure that at this moment she wasn't able to her control herself from talking to herself. 

"No, really it's all good." She raised a hand and nodded. "And uh, good morning to you too."

"Thank you."

I watched as she brought her hand back to her spoon and moved it around once more, but the movements were slower. I looked behind her at the clock, it was a reasonable time, still early, but a lot later than she would get up at. Looking over at the stairs I tried to figure if she really would be holing herself up in her room and what to do of it. Turning back I found Harper looking at me from over the frame of her glasses, she looked down as soon as I made contact with her.

Since the first time I met Harper, after the initial shock and her own examination of my face, Haper had taken a real look at me, I wasn't sure what it was that she saw but whatever it was made her not necessarily afraid of me, but a different type of cautious I wasn't sure I had encountered yet. It was different from the other humans who seemed to sense there was something odd and possibly dangerous about me, different from the supernaturals who had keener senses and suspected I was a new breed of monster rather than suspect I was an old one and different from Mykelas wry and distrustful caution. With Mykela I knew it was because she wasn't sure how to maneuver herself around me as if testing out a land mine.

Yet with Harper, it was as if she...suspicious of me. I tried to recall my behavior around her and found no obvious fault that might have caused such a reaction. With Viper she seemed a lot more outgoing, teasing too.

"Harper?"

"Yup?" She popped the P loudly, but the nerves of her response were still tangible to me. Glancing up she gave me a small questionable smile. 

"How are you and Mykela getting along? Any progress in..." I trailed off, letting her mind fill the void. Listening to some of their conversations and being knowledgeable about how this process worked were to different things.  

"Well, that depends on what you count as progress? On one hand, I've learned some really cool tricks and information on how magic actually works, none of that rhyming hocus pocus bull, on the other." She lifted both hands beside her and brought them up and down like a scale. 

While that wasn't exactly what I was asking, it was good to know she would improve in the magical aspect. It's always better to know what you've did wrong in order to keep moving forward.

"I'm glad to hear that." I was sure I schooled my expression appropriately but she took one look at me and the corner of her mouth turned upward in a grin. Pushing her bowl to the side she placed both hands on the counter, hands clasped in front of her.

"But that's not why you asked, huh." Shaking her head she pushed her glasses up higher before returning to her previous position, the grin slipping. "I've taken a glimpse into Mykela. Whenever I try to use y powers on her she always knows, which made me think that I wasn't being subtle enough but after some time I began to wonder if she knew what I was doing because she learned how it works." Looking off to the side, she continued to speak but I felt as if she were voicing her concerns rather than answering any of mine.

"She does have the ability to mimic any ability used on her, it makes sense that she would be able to tell how your power works after the first time."Pointing that out I leaned forward a bit, tapping a finger on my leg. Her eyes looked down to follow that finger for a moment before looking up briefly, enough to narrow her eyes and then look away. I frowned.

"Yeah, that's the thing though. For someone who can't access her power, who has probably spent years not flexing that particular muscle, she's rather sharp. Muscle memory? Good intuition? She's too quick for that to simply be so-" She trailed off, her voice cutting off until the thoughts turned silent to my ears, privy to her own mind. She was rather expressive even when she did not talk, her lips pinched together as her nose scrunched up. Tilting her head this way and that before shaking her head to something.

"You have a theory." I stated, sure of the fact. My words did not startle her, but she turned to look at me slowly.

"I do." She admitted almost reluctantly. "I think she can access her powers, it's just that she, well-she doesn't want to. There is definitely something there blocking her from being able to do so, but I think that even if it wasn't there she wouldn't."

This was unexpected to me.

"Why do you say that?" The question flew out of my mouth rather sharply, a hiss to the words that chilled the air. At my tone she stilled, it was brief but her fingers trembled before she pulled them under the counter and away from view. She opened and closed her mouth before clearing it and trying again.

"It's not my place to say, but I do think you've all been focusing on something that isn't the problem." Her voice was soft but tightly controlled. As she spoke I noticed that looked in my direction but not at me. I think her eyes were positioned on my shoulders. I leaned back, trying to air relaxation as much as possible to keep her from fleeing before I got an answer to at least one of the new question that buzzed about my mind.

"If she accesses to her power then she can establish a solid link to her birthplace and pull herself out from this world. She's wanted to return for years, how is this the wrong focus?" It was difficult with a voice such as my own, but I tried to soften my voice, to keep my air as none threatening as possible. I doubt it worked, but as long as she remained, I liked to believe it was progressing.

"I'm not saying it isn't important," She shrugged, an uneasy look on her face as she turned to look at the stairs. "but there's definitely something shifty going on here."

"Shifty?" I repeated quietly. Unease ate at me at, the could mean anything. I sat silent for a while, dropping my head to stare at my lap while I mulled over things. As ideas began to piece themselves together I mulled over the plans I had previously made and recounted the days. It would be a bit sooner than I planned but, at this point sooner made no grand difference in the grand scheme of things. It might even come to my advantage. With a shaky plan in mind, I dug into my pants pocket and pulled out my phone, fingers moving swiftly.

"Harper, may I ask for a favor?" I asked without looking up.

"I don't have shoveling muscles." She replied at once. Her odd response made me glance up, unsure of what she meant.

"I'm sorry?" She glanced off to the side for a moment before polite smile covered her face, I noted her cheeks looked slightly darker as blood rushed to them. I blinked.

"Nothing, what can I do for you?" She responded.

//AN; SHe'S aLiVe! Nah but really, in these times its uh, pretty uncertain. Hope yall have been doing well. 

I've mapped out the end of the book so all I have to do is sit this procrasinating butt which just so happens to be attached to me, down. I've decided to put all of the book's I have waiting to be put out on hold beacuse it's a scientificfact that I will start a book and walk off like a kid in a candy store and as some one who is waiting for manwha updates, I've done to you what has been done to me. Lol my bad.

What else....yall checked that miraculous lady bug new york special...what about our lord and saviour Michael Lee Taemin Jackson's Criminal....

Some of yall prob like what about politics-no, I rather not drag Cheeto Von Tweeto into my paradise...nope. *She said as she dragged him by the toupee*

Stay safe, wash your hands, mute your zoom button when your done talking, reconsider the definition of snack and dinner and as always stay peachy.

-S