New Covington - later
Once they'd left the tower, Kanin and Jackal had been directed to one car, while Allie, Kaidan and Zeke had been directed to another. When Allie questioned why they couldn't all travel together, the guards shrugged and said they were just following orders. Since Kanin and Jackal didn't seem bothered by it, Allie went along with it. After all, if the Prince wanted them dead, he would have killed them by now. It was only after they got in the car that Allie realized whose orders they were following. Stick and his ever present, cross-bow wielding guards where waiting for them. The locks clicked and the car began to move as an uncomfortable silence filled the air. "What do you want Stick?" Allie asked, unwilling to be impressed or intimidated by Stick's steady gaze.
Stick
"My name," he said, glaring at Allie, "is Stephen. Mr. Stephen, first aide to Prince Salazar himself. Stick was my worthless Fringer name, the name everyone thought I deserved. The name you and Lucas started calling me, because that's all I was to you. Something that could be broken and easily thrown away." Stick focused on Zeke and Kaidan, his eyes glittering. "I used to be her best friend, you know. Did she tell you that? Back when we were both street rats, living in the Fringe."
Kaidan
"Is this really the time to share childhood memories?" Kaidan asked, shooting Sti-- Step-- the guy a firm Look. "We have a job to do."
Stick
Unfortunately Stick was too caught up in his own issues to worry about the job that needed to be done.
"We were friends once." Stick gave a bitter smile. "Or at least I thought we were. But she was just pretending. They all were. She's good at that you know. She'll pretend to care, that she wants you around. But it's all an act." He held Allie's gaze and blinked back a glimmer of tears. "I wanted you to trust me. I wanted to show you that I could be more, but you never gave me the chance. You always thought I was worthless. Well I'm not worthless now am I?"
Allie
"I never thought of you like that," Allie said through clenched teeth. "I didn't get close because I didn't want to get hurt if anything happened to any of you."
Stick
Stick's laugh was ugly. "That worked out well for you." He turned to Zeke and sneered. "Fair warning, don't get too close. She'll never let you in. Besides, everyone who gets close to her tends to disappear."
Zeke
"Thanks for the warning," Zeke replied, deliberately reaching over and taking Allie's hand. "But I think I'll be fine."
Allie
As touched as Allie was by Zeke's gesture, she had to admit, it probably wasn't the best move. She'd never seen Stick this livid before. The look he turned on Zeke could have peeled paint off the wall. Anger, hate...and was that a flash of jealousy?...darkened his expression before his face went red and his jaw clenched. Abruptly he turned and snatched a gun from one of the guard's belt and pointed it at Zeke.
"Dammit Stick!"
Stick
"Don't move, Allie!" Stick yelled, his eyes wide and feverish. "If you move, all I have to do is pull the trigger and his brains will be all over the back window. Keep going!" he yelled to the driver, who cursed but continued to drive. "You see how they listen? Everyone listens to me, except you! But now, you'll listen to me, because I have the power. I can kill him, I can kill them both and the Prince won't care. He won't care about two dead humans. So you'll start listening to me now."
Allie
Allie was certain Kaidan was more then capable of protecting himself in this situation. It was Zeke she was worried about. "All right," she said, hoping to calm the situation down at least for the moment. "I'm listening. What do you want me to do?"
Zeke
Despite the gun pointed inches from his face, Zeke turned towards Kaidan and lifted his shoulder in the tiniest of shrugs. It wasn't that he was giving up hope, it's just there were only so many ways to say well now what the hell do we do? when there was a gun in your face.
Kaidan
Kaidan's hands flew for his own firearm almost immediately. "Lower the gun," he snapped. Yeah, he wasn't worried - he had his kinetic barriers up, and nobody knew about it.
Moments like this, he missed Ash. She would've told Stick to shut up or deal with her boomstick minutes ago. "We can talk when you drop the weapon."
Allie
Guns were drawn, there were crossbows and Allie had reached the point of having had enough. "Or we can talk when I rip his arms out of his sockets and beat him with them."
Sorry Kaidan, no boomstick. Would threats of brute vampire strength work?
Zeke
When Stick's eyes jerked to Allie in shock, Zeke moved, ducking to the side and lunging forward grabbing Stick's wrist and pushing it away. Stick yelped in shock and the guards started doing some shouting of their own.
Kaidan
Should he reach out with his biotics and knock the gun out of Stick's hand entirely?
No, Zeke seemed to have it handled. Better not give that one up unless he had to. "Everyone, CALM DOWN."
Allie
Too late Kaidan. Sorry.
One of the guards tried to grab the gun as Zeke and Stick grappled over it. When the shot rang out he fell back, blood covering his face. As the gun boomed, the driver swerved and lost control of the car, slamming it into a wreck on the sidewalk. The impact slammed the second guard's head against the side of the car and he slumped against Allie, unconscious.
Allie pushed him off, just in time to see Stick stagger from the car, still clutching the gun.
Zeke
Zeke followed after him, leaping forward and slamming a fist against Stick's jaw as he staggered and tried to raise the gun.
Stick dropped and sprawled across the pavement.
Out of breath, Zeke reached down and took the gun from Stick's fingers. With a practiced ease he released the clip and racked the slide to remove the round from the chamber. He tucked the ammo away before tossing the gun to the side.
"Allie? Kaidan? Are you okay?" he asked, turning his attention back towards the car.
Kaidan
"I'm fine," Kaidan gritted out, though he'd activated his omni-tool so he could spray a fine layer of medi-gel on a cut on his arm.
Allie
Since Kaidan was managing his injury just fine, Allie scrambled from the car and over to Zeke, ducking under the arm he lifted and leaning into his side. "You're okay," she said, taking comfort in the steady beat of his heart.
The car carrying Kanin and Jackal had turned around and sped back. The guards hoped out, guns and crossbows in hand. "What's going on here?"
"Ask him," Allie replied, unable to help feeling pleased as Stick groaned and tried to push himself upright. "He's the one that tried to kill us."
Stick
"Kill him!" Stick yelled, pointing at Zeke. When the guards didn't move Stick yelled again. "Kill him now! What are you waiting for?"
The guard shifted uncomfortably. "Sir that's not really an option."
"What? Eyes narrowed, Stick glared. "What did you say?"
"The Prince ordered us to escort them to the gate. All of them. We cannot countermand his orders, even for you."
A vein in Stick's temple started to pulse. "He's just a human! They both are! The Prince won't care about two humans. Do as I say!!"
Kanin
"I would think very carefully about that." Kanin stood on the edge of the circle, his face serious. Behind him, Jackal leaned against the hood of the car, clearly amused. "Think about where you are standing right now. Far from the Prince's tower surrounded by three vampires. If violence erupts here, what do you think will happen?"
The guards had no trouble imagining the picture Kanin painted. "Sir," one said, turning back to Stick. "We need to go now."
Jackal
"And where do you think you're going, exactly?" Jackal crooned, sliding off the hood of the car. An edge had crept into his voice, and his eyes glittered. "Running back to the Prince, are we? I don't think so, bloodbags."
He could see Allie glance over to Kanin as if she expected him to step in and stop things before they got out of control, but Kanin remained where he was, his face expressionless. The guards raised their weapons and began to shuffle away. Stick's eyes were wide, fear plain on his face.
Jackal grinned at Allie, vicious and eager. "Come on then, sister. Let's do this, you and me. We'll make it a family thing. I'll even leave you the little parasite. You can rip his heart out and eat it in front of him if you like."
Allie
Allie had tensed and prepared for things to get ugly when Stick first started shouting. But when the guards didn't react, and it seemed like they'd get out of there with no further trouble, she'd been willing to let things slide.
Not that Jackal's offer wasn't tempting.
Stick
Sadly Stick hadn't learned anything about keeping his mouth shut. "Allie no! We were friends once. That means something doesn't it? You're better then this!"
Allie
The rage that had disappeared when the guards spoke up? Back now.
Snarling, Allie pulled away from Zeke and stalked towards Stick. "How dare you! You have no right to bring that up. You sold me out when all I wanted to do was talk to you. You've threatened my friends and made me out to be some sort of monster and now you have the nerve to appeal my humanity? I don't think so."
Jackal
Oh, Jackal liked this. He was going to encourage it.
"Yes," he said, grinning as he stalked forward. "That's right, sister. Let it go. This is what we are. And it's been ages since I've had a decent kill. Let's send the Prince a message, that this is what happens to pets who don't fear vampires like they should."
Allie
The careful and tight control Allie had kept over her vampire side since she'd been turned was slipping. She was losing herself and she didn't care. Reaching back, she pulled her sword.
The guards raised their weapons but they didn't matter. They were a frail wall of meat and blood that would easily fall and let her at her real target. "You want to see what saving your life termed me into?" she asked Stick. "Fine. I'll show you."
Someone might want to stop her or it was going to get ugly.
Kaidan
This had gotten a lot worse than Kaidan was comfortable with. He wasn't planning to let it get any worse. So he took a step forward."Allie," he said sharply. He reached for her shoulder. "You're better than that. Walk away."
Allie
Whirling at the touch, Allie barely stopped herself from lunging forward and attacking even as Kaidan's words registered.
She closed her eyes, resisting the urge that still called for blood and focused on the friend standing before her. "You're right. I am."
Kaidan
"We talked about this," Kaidan said firmly. "Being a better person? Means knowing when to pull your punches."
Allie
Kaidan was right. Allie knew that. It didn't mean she had to like it. "I know. He just makes me so mad."
Too disgusted with Stick to turn around, she kept her focus on Kaidan and Zeke, who'd maintained a solid, reassuring presence over Kaidan's shoulder. "Leave Stick. Go back to your Prince. Forget you ever knew me."
Jackal
Jackal gave a disgusted snort. "You're kidding," he muttered, and sighed. "Well, bloodbags, you heard her. Guess it's your lucky night. Better hurry -- I'm not as squeamish as my dear sister. You have five seconds to be gone, or the first human I see when I'm done counting won't make it to the end of the street."
Zeke
The guards quickly hustled Stick into the remaining car and drove off into the snow that had started to fall.
Ignoring Jackal's continued muttering, Zeke stepped close to Allie and rested his hands on her arms, waiting as she slowly relaxed. "You did the right thing."
Allie
According to Kaidan and Zeke, she'd done the right thing, and Allie really didn't care what Jackal thought. But Kanin...once she was fully back in control she turned from Zeke and sought out Kanin. He was standing next to the crashed car, his face impassive.
"Why didn't you stop us?" Allie asked. "I almost killed them. If Kaidan hadn't said anything, Jackal and I would have torn them apart. Why didn't you say anything?"
Kanin
"I am no longer your teacher, Allision," Kanin said quietly. "You have been one of us for a while now. You have hunted and killed. It is not my responsibility to curb your demon." He glanced past Allie to where Stick had been sprawled on the ground. "And I wanted to see what type of monster you had become."
Allie
"Oh." Suddenly Allie felt like she was a newborn vampire again. And that she'd failed one of Kanin's tests. Defiantly she lifted her chin. "Well I hope you liked what you saw. Because I'm not going to change."
Kanin
Kanin nodded, his words almost too low to hear. "I should hope not."
Jackal
"Great," Jackal said, sauntering up, still just a little disappointed Allie had kept control of herself. He eyed the abandoned car, the smashed one a few yards away, and sighed. "Looks like we’re walking to the Fringe."
Kaidan
"Next time I come to your world, Allie," Kaidan muttered, "Remind me to bring a shuttle."
Stick
"My name," he said, glaring at Allie, "is Stephen. Mr. Stephen, first aide to Prince Salazar himself. Stick was my worthless Fringer name, the name everyone thought I deserved. The name you and Lucas started calling me, because that's all I was to you. Something that could be broken and easily thrown away." Stick focused on Zeke and Kaidan, his eyes glittering. "I used to be her best friend, you know. Did she tell you that? Back when we were both street rats, living in the Fringe."
Kaidan
"Is this really the time to share childhood memories?" Kaidan asked, shooting Sti-- Step-- the guy a firm Look. "We have a job to do."
Stick
Unfortunately Stick was too caught up in his own issues to worry about the job that needed to be done.
"We were friends once." Stick gave a bitter smile. "Or at least I thought we were. But she was just pretending. They all were. She's good at that you know. She'll pretend to care, that she wants you around. But it's all an act." He held Allie's gaze and blinked back a glimmer of tears. "I wanted you to trust me. I wanted to show you that I could be more, but you never gave me the chance. You always thought I was worthless. Well I'm not worthless now am I?"
Allie
"I never thought of you like that," Allie said through clenched teeth. "I didn't get close because I didn't want to get hurt if anything happened to any of you."
Stick
Stick's laugh was ugly. "That worked out well for you." He turned to Zeke and sneered. "Fair warning, don't get too close. She'll never let you in. Besides, everyone who gets close to her tends to disappear."
Zeke
"Thanks for the warning," Zeke replied, deliberately reaching over and taking Allie's hand. "But I think I'll be fine."
Allie
As touched as Allie was by Zeke's gesture, she had to admit, it probably wasn't the best move. She'd never seen Stick this livid before. The look he turned on Zeke could have peeled paint off the wall. Anger, hate...and was that a flash of jealousy?...darkened his expression before his face went red and his jaw clenched. Abruptly he turned and snatched a gun from one of the guard's belt and pointed it at Zeke.
"Dammit Stick!"
Stick
"Don't move, Allie!" Stick yelled, his eyes wide and feverish. "If you move, all I have to do is pull the trigger and his brains will be all over the back window. Keep going!" he yelled to the driver, who cursed but continued to drive. "You see how they listen? Everyone listens to me, except you! But now, you'll listen to me, because I have the power. I can kill him, I can kill them both and the Prince won't care. He won't care about two dead humans. So you'll start listening to me now."
Allie
Allie was certain Kaidan was more then capable of protecting himself in this situation. It was Zeke she was worried about. "All right," she said, hoping to calm the situation down at least for the moment. "I'm listening. What do you want me to do?"
Zeke
Despite the gun pointed inches from his face, Zeke turned towards Kaidan and lifted his shoulder in the tiniest of shrugs. It wasn't that he was giving up hope, it's just there were only so many ways to say well now what the hell do we do? when there was a gun in your face.
Kaidan
Kaidan's hands flew for his own firearm almost immediately. "Lower the gun," he snapped. Yeah, he wasn't worried - he had his kinetic barriers up, and nobody knew about it.
Moments like this, he missed Ash. She would've told Stick to shut up or deal with her boomstick minutes ago. "We can talk when you drop the weapon."
Allie
Guns were drawn, there were crossbows and Allie had reached the point of having had enough. "Or we can talk when I rip his arms out of his sockets and beat him with them."
Sorry Kaidan, no boomstick. Would threats of brute vampire strength work?
Zeke
When Stick's eyes jerked to Allie in shock, Zeke moved, ducking to the side and lunging forward grabbing Stick's wrist and pushing it away. Stick yelped in shock and the guards started doing some shouting of their own.
Kaidan
Should he reach out with his biotics and knock the gun out of Stick's hand entirely?
No, Zeke seemed to have it handled. Better not give that one up unless he had to. "Everyone, CALM DOWN."
Allie
Too late Kaidan. Sorry.
One of the guards tried to grab the gun as Zeke and Stick grappled over it. When the shot rang out he fell back, blood covering his face. As the gun boomed, the driver swerved and lost control of the car, slamming it into a wreck on the sidewalk. The impact slammed the second guard's head against the side of the car and he slumped against Allie, unconscious.
Allie pushed him off, just in time to see Stick stagger from the car, still clutching the gun.
Zeke
Zeke followed after him, leaping forward and slamming a fist against Stick's jaw as he staggered and tried to raise the gun.
Stick dropped and sprawled across the pavement.
Out of breath, Zeke reached down and took the gun from Stick's fingers. With a practiced ease he released the clip and racked the slide to remove the round from the chamber. He tucked the ammo away before tossing the gun to the side.
"Allie? Kaidan? Are you okay?" he asked, turning his attention back towards the car.
Kaidan
"I'm fine," Kaidan gritted out, though he'd activated his omni-tool so he could spray a fine layer of medi-gel on a cut on his arm.
Allie
Since Kaidan was managing his injury just fine, Allie scrambled from the car and over to Zeke, ducking under the arm he lifted and leaning into his side. "You're okay," she said, taking comfort in the steady beat of his heart.
The car carrying Kanin and Jackal had turned around and sped back. The guards hoped out, guns and crossbows in hand. "What's going on here?"
"Ask him," Allie replied, unable to help feeling pleased as Stick groaned and tried to push himself upright. "He's the one that tried to kill us."
Stick
"Kill him!" Stick yelled, pointing at Zeke. When the guards didn't move Stick yelled again. "Kill him now! What are you waiting for?"
The guard shifted uncomfortably. "Sir that's not really an option."
"What? Eyes narrowed, Stick glared. "What did you say?"
"The Prince ordered us to escort them to the gate. All of them. We cannot countermand his orders, even for you."
A vein in Stick's temple started to pulse. "He's just a human! They both are! The Prince won't care about two humans. Do as I say!!"
Kanin
"I would think very carefully about that." Kanin stood on the edge of the circle, his face serious. Behind him, Jackal leaned against the hood of the car, clearly amused. "Think about where you are standing right now. Far from the Prince's tower surrounded by three vampires. If violence erupts here, what do you think will happen?"
The guards had no trouble imagining the picture Kanin painted. "Sir," one said, turning back to Stick. "We need to go now."
Jackal
"And where do you think you're going, exactly?" Jackal crooned, sliding off the hood of the car. An edge had crept into his voice, and his eyes glittered. "Running back to the Prince, are we? I don't think so, bloodbags."
He could see Allie glance over to Kanin as if she expected him to step in and stop things before they got out of control, but Kanin remained where he was, his face expressionless. The guards raised their weapons and began to shuffle away. Stick's eyes were wide, fear plain on his face.
Jackal grinned at Allie, vicious and eager. "Come on then, sister. Let's do this, you and me. We'll make it a family thing. I'll even leave you the little parasite. You can rip his heart out and eat it in front of him if you like."
Allie
Allie had tensed and prepared for things to get ugly when Stick first started shouting. But when the guards didn't react, and it seemed like they'd get out of there with no further trouble, she'd been willing to let things slide.
Not that Jackal's offer wasn't tempting.
Stick
Sadly Stick hadn't learned anything about keeping his mouth shut. "Allie no! We were friends once. That means something doesn't it? You're better then this!"
Allie
The rage that had disappeared when the guards spoke up? Back now.
Snarling, Allie pulled away from Zeke and stalked towards Stick. "How dare you! You have no right to bring that up. You sold me out when all I wanted to do was talk to you. You've threatened my friends and made me out to be some sort of monster and now you have the nerve to appeal my humanity? I don't think so."
Jackal
Oh, Jackal liked this. He was going to encourage it.
"Yes," he said, grinning as he stalked forward. "That's right, sister. Let it go. This is what we are. And it's been ages since I've had a decent kill. Let's send the Prince a message, that this is what happens to pets who don't fear vampires like they should."
Allie
The careful and tight control Allie had kept over her vampire side since she'd been turned was slipping. She was losing herself and she didn't care. Reaching back, she pulled her sword.
The guards raised their weapons but they didn't matter. They were a frail wall of meat and blood that would easily fall and let her at her real target. "You want to see what saving your life termed me into?" she asked Stick. "Fine. I'll show you."
Someone might want to stop her or it was going to get ugly.
Kaidan
This had gotten a lot worse than Kaidan was comfortable with. He wasn't planning to let it get any worse. So he took a step forward."Allie," he said sharply. He reached for her shoulder. "You're better than that. Walk away."
Allie
Whirling at the touch, Allie barely stopped herself from lunging forward and attacking even as Kaidan's words registered.
She closed her eyes, resisting the urge that still called for blood and focused on the friend standing before her. "You're right. I am."
Kaidan
"We talked about this," Kaidan said firmly. "Being a better person? Means knowing when to pull your punches."
Allie
Kaidan was right. Allie knew that. It didn't mean she had to like it. "I know. He just makes me so mad."
Too disgusted with Stick to turn around, she kept her focus on Kaidan and Zeke, who'd maintained a solid, reassuring presence over Kaidan's shoulder. "Leave Stick. Go back to your Prince. Forget you ever knew me."
Jackal
Jackal gave a disgusted snort. "You're kidding," he muttered, and sighed. "Well, bloodbags, you heard her. Guess it's your lucky night. Better hurry -- I'm not as squeamish as my dear sister. You have five seconds to be gone, or the first human I see when I'm done counting won't make it to the end of the street."
Zeke
The guards quickly hustled Stick into the remaining car and drove off into the snow that had started to fall.
Ignoring Jackal's continued muttering, Zeke stepped close to Allie and rested his hands on her arms, waiting as she slowly relaxed. "You did the right thing."
Allie
According to Kaidan and Zeke, she'd done the right thing, and Allie really didn't care what Jackal thought. But Kanin...once she was fully back in control she turned from Zeke and sought out Kanin. He was standing next to the crashed car, his face impassive.
"Why didn't you stop us?" Allie asked. "I almost killed them. If Kaidan hadn't said anything, Jackal and I would have torn them apart. Why didn't you say anything?"
Kanin
"I am no longer your teacher, Allision," Kanin said quietly. "You have been one of us for a while now. You have hunted and killed. It is not my responsibility to curb your demon." He glanced past Allie to where Stick had been sprawled on the ground. "And I wanted to see what type of monster you had become."
Allie
"Oh." Suddenly Allie felt like she was a newborn vampire again. And that she'd failed one of Kanin's tests. Defiantly she lifted her chin. "Well I hope you liked what you saw. Because I'm not going to change."
Kanin
Kanin nodded, his words almost too low to hear. "I should hope not."
Jackal
"Great," Jackal said, sauntering up, still just a little disappointed Allie had kept control of herself. He eyed the abandoned car, the smashed one a few yards away, and sighed. "Looks like we’re walking to the Fringe."
Kaidan
"Next time I come to your world, Allie," Kaidan muttered, "Remind me to bring a shuttle."