Aftermath

[kathminchin.livejournal.com]

Cara slunk through the shadows, her nose wrinkling against the smell of burnt flesh and bone. She had no idea what had caused the chaos. She’d been carefully patrolling the sewers when a stream of rats had pelted past her hiding place. Curious, she’d followed them, caution paying dividends when she spotted the huge rat monsters above ground.

“Like werewolves, but rats?” She followed them, wondering what they were, and if she could use them in her experimentation to create better creatures.

London had burnt around her, the fear and terror it left in its wake familiar. She’d been in towns that had caught light in the past, the wood and thatch of ages past had been a dry tinderbox and a mere spark could cause devastation. She’d also seen the results of packs of “wolves” when they’d hunted through the countryside, hunting those that they considered enemies.

Now however, it was the aftermath, and she chose this time to hunt herself. The breakdown in law and order meant that those who normally hid their monstrous desires were taking the opportunity to let them run free.

A scream attracted her attention. She slipped down the alleyway, her unnatural gifts allowing her to pierce the black shadows with ease. A young girl was huddled in a heap, her attacker standing over her. She whimpered now, unable to make much more noise as the man pinioned her to the ground.

He didn’t notice the monster that flowed behind him. The girl’s eyes widened in terror as she saw the inhuman creature stand upright, and then grasped the man around the neck. He screamed now as Cara’s bite sent agony coursing through him.

Cara fed, draining the man dry before the girl, and then looked at her with consideration. The Masquerade should be kept, however right now was there any point? The girl’s tale would simply merge with stories of other monsters. However, right now the girl could be helpful in other ways other than simple sustenance.

She took the girl’s arm and tried to pull her to her feet, only to have her scream in agony again. Her arm drooped at an unnatural angle, and she seemed unable to put any weight on her leg. Cara felt along the limbs, ignoring the girl’s cries of pain and protests. Broken by the man who had pushed her down and then used a piece of lumber against her.

Cara shrugged and sent power coursing through the girl, brute strength and vicissitude repairing the breaks and ensuring that they set straight. A splash of vitae forced between the girl’s lips ensured that the other injuries would heal, and then Cara lifted her easily and took her in her arms.

“Where are you taking me?” the girl’s frantic whisper finally caught Cara’s attention. She looked at her.

“Somewhere safe. Or it should be.” The girl looked as though she was going to protest, but Cara ignored her as she allowed their figures to once more be swallowed by the shadows.

She sped through the streets, ignoring the burning piles of rubble as she went. Eventually she came to the place she was aiming for and looked at it, carefully assessing if there was any obvious danger. Satisfied she walked to the door and knocked on it.

Mhaire opened it, showing little surprise at the vampire standing in front of her. Cara carefully let the girl down, and tilted her head.

“I believe that the normal rules will still be in force?” Mhaire nodded and stood back to let the vampire and her burden enter Biers, Cara's obfuscate subtly altering her features to appear human ...