A Failed Homicide

[Melodia]

She swayed outside along the back of the brothel, the silky fabric of her top sliding against the tile. Her curly hair was ruffled all about in different directions and her black liner was smeared on the right side of her face. She hadn’t the time to freshen up, but felt compelled for a breath of fresh air and, though she had kicked the habit long ago, a cigarette. The breeze caught Koral’s bare legs and tickled her skin, and the only thing keeping her warm on this night was the musky, if not slightly disgusting scent of the smoke. It curled around her fingers and trailed past her eyes, the pretty blue eyes with slits like a snake. They closed, the lids slowly descending as she exhaled, all silent for a moment before she would have to return to work.

“That’s a bad habit.”

Koral jumped as the voice seemed to appear out of nowhere. What with the darkness and the glow from the streetlamps and all, she hadn’t really noticed anyone approach her. Again she cursed her lame ‘gift’; snake eyes that didn’t work and a few patches of scales that hardly protected the soft skin underneath. She waited until her heartbeat slowed and opened her eyes, only to see her last customer hovering by her side. Immediately she calmed down, flicking the cigarette in her fingers and glancing at him slyly. “Hey there pretty boy. What’re you still doing here?” She asked, her voice taking on an edge of seductiveness and curiosity, as though he was her harmless plaything. She brought the cigarette up towards her lips.

Anthony stepped out in front of her, the dull orange light no longer shading his face. In the dark and dimness the faint glow of his skin looked threatening, and his next action only provided more support to the assumption. His fist curled around hers, completely smashing the hot object against his unprotected hand. Koral looked at him in horror as the heat caressed her skin and he refused to let go, and then a sort of shocked awe as he held the inside of his palm up, and the nasty black burn that was forming seemed to simply melt away.

Then he took on a new ferocity, a sort of passion in his eyes as he lightly pushed her up against the wall. He took her chin in one hand and felt down her waist with his other. His breath brushed up against her face and he sucked on her upper lip. Her breathing was heavy and she laughed, completely unaware of what a dangerous situation she was in. “If you wanna go again, it’s gonna cost you,” Koral whispered heavily as he stopped, his eyes falling to the ground and his jaw set in something between anger and pleasure. His dark, brooding eyes flickered up to meet her and suddenly he was holding her down, a knife in his right hand.

His lips twitched into a smile. “You know, the heart pumps blood through the aorta straight to your brain…” He flipped the blade the opposite direction in his palm and ran his hand down to her chest to where her heart was located. “Every beat, blood pumps straight through. So a little slit…” The blade was pressed flat against her neck. He chuckled darkly, “Well, that’ll be the end of you.”

Koral’s breath was heavy, but this time for different reasons. Her chest heaved up and down, her eyes wide in terror. This guy was freaking going to /kill/ her! She felt the cold blade press against her neck and stuttered. “Y-you want your money back? I c-can get it for you, please don’t…” The red-head said softly. Anthony looked at her with mock sympathy, leaning close to her ear. “Do me a favor darlin’, an tell Maybelle I said hello.” He grinned, a rare sight, and turned the tip to slice her throat.

Koral screamed suddenly, an ear-splitting shrill that echoed off the trees around them. Anthony tensed. His victims were usually still from shock, never had they the courage to make sound. He paused, and in this pause the girl took her chance. She kneed him and he winced, his wrist falling. And with that she was off, running, running, running down the street, to people and population where she couldn’t be followed.

“S***!” Anthony hissed, flipping the blade closed, not bothering in the least as is sliced clean through his palm.

[charismaticcryo]

this fateful night Zimri happened to be strolling through the port, enjoying the local nightlife. His white hair shining in the light of the lamps, his eyes looking everywhich way. He wasn't really looking for anything in particular. He was bored and felt like getting some fresh air. Amanda was off on some photographic adventure, she really was quite good. she could take the most breathtaking photos of the most boring views. He sighed as removed his hands from his pockets and stretched them above him, groaning while he stretched.

Then he heard it. A scream. His hand immediatley went down to his sides and his back straightened. he could feel as he manipulated the small bone in his ear so he could pick up fainter sounds. Nothing, the scream had stopped. Zimri then started to make his way through the crowd, gently moving them aside as he tried to go fast, he didn't want to knock anyone over. Out of the corner of his eye he could see a red, curly haired woman squeeze hurriedly past him. He didn't make a note of it though. After some time he had escaped the crowds. looking around he saw the brothel. He had never been, why would he? he had Amanda, he loved her no matter how off and on their relationship was she was the only women in his mind.

He was sure he heard a scream. He made his way to the forest behind the brothel. THe scream had come from this direction he was sure. as he neared the woods he noticed another man. Maybe he heard something. He didn't assume it was him, there was no blood to be seen. "Hey did you hear a scream? I swear it came from this direction." His brow was furrowed as he walked closer to the other man. He loked left and right, then turned around to face the woods. "maybe she was attacked in the woods."

((Oh no someone heard the scream, and he his back is turned! What ever is anthony going to do?))

[Melodia]

Anthony stood perfectly still. His head turned slightly to the side to acknowledge his visitor. His dark eyes narrowed threateningly, the orange glow of the streetlamps shadowing the turned half of his face. His hands clenched into fists and he flexed his fingers, his mind sorting through the possible plans of action. This man had no idea Anthony was the cause of the scream. Actually, he thought to investigate it. So why not, you know, go along with it? He had never blown his cover before. A countless number of victims had fallen to his knife and pistol and he had never had to deal with police or justice or any of that. This girl—Koral—had almost cost him his lifestyle. She and the man that almost discovered her were going to pay...

...with their lives.

“Yeah, I heard it,” Anthony chuckled darkly, his hands in his pockets. His thumb ran over the hilt of the knife, caressing it softly. To kill a woman was a passionate goodbye to his wife, his love. But to kill a man was a different story. It was revenge for everything taken from him. Both he liked equally, blood and lust, lust and blood and everything bit of heart-wrenching pain that came in between. A smile twitched on his face at the thought of it. He took a few careful steps in the man’s direction, each placement of his foot predetermined, soft, soundless until he was right behind him.

“Such a shame, you know. Women,” He said, his voice soft and low right behind Zimri. He straightened, his eyes shifting along the outline of the trees as though he was looking around. He side-stepped Zimri, coming up on his right, his hands still casually in his pockets. “Didn’t happen to catch anything did you?” He asked, looking out among the foliage until his eyes rested on the other man. He held out his left hand. “Anthony. And you are?”

[charismaticcryo]

This guy was too silent, too calm.being calm certainly was a good thing, but there was such thing as too calm. Zimri let it slide, if he was dangerous he would allow him to attack first knowing he would heal. Zimri continued to scan the woods as the man came up behind him, saying something. "well i wouldn't call them a shame." he said as he turned to look at the man. who then asked him if he caught anything, then introduced himself.

Zimri looked at his hand for a second before firmly shaking it. "I am Zimri, and no i didn't see anything. I just heard a scream and came running to help, and if you didn't see anything it probably happened out in the woods. So come on we should go check it out." yeah he had to admit, suggesting to go into the dark woods with this man may be stupid, but what was the worst that could happen? get cut? or shot? or burned? he could take it.

[Melodia]

"Yes, let's."

Anthony stayed a step behind the man as they ventured into the woods. All the while he was sorting out this man's fate. A stab through the back? Head? His brow furrowed slightly, his hands gripping around the hilt of the knife. None of these would work. His mouth twitched as he prepared himself, moving slowly, quickly, quietly towards Zimri.

Fluidly he went, blind to everything. Blind to the darkness, the trees, the ground below his feet. He appeared in front of him, smiling darkly, pain flashing through his eyes. He missed Zimri's reaction, too caught up as his hand gripped the man's neck with force only a tortured man could possess. He pushed him backward against the rough bark of a tree, raising his right hand. The blade flashed and Anthony whispered, "Give my love to them, filthy traitor." He let himself grovel in pain, in anguish, all for his revenge, and he plunged the knife into Zimri's heart and savored the blood that poured from it onto his hands.

[charismaticcryo]

It all happened so fast. He was walking along with Anthony in the dark woods, a crunch beside him then anthony standing in front of him, it was only a flash of a second later, his back was against the rough tree, Anthony's strong hand crushing his throat. immediately out of reflex his hands went up around the other man's wrist, His eyes averted to the knife in the other man's hand. He knew this was a bad idea. stupid Zimri, and now his favorite shirt was about to be ruined by his blood! He watched as the blade disappeared into his chest cavity, he felt it pierce his heart., the blood pouring out of him like a fountain.

He was pissed, first of all he just got stabbed, and secondly, what was that nonsense he said before he was stabbed. after the blade went in, he went, a little limp, so the grip on his neck would be loosened, this guy probably thought hewas dead. When he felt his airway clear up more he shot a hand up to crush the hand that was gripping his throat, and another to grab the stabbing hand. He pulled him in close quickly, using the surpise that he was still alive to his advantage, he delivered a sickening headbutt to the other man, only made worse by the fact that he hardened his skull with his bone power. he let go the man and let him stumble back a bit. (that was slight godmodding, but they both heal they are fine, and it added to the effect. sorry though.) He grabbed the handle of the knife in his heart and pulled it out, the skin on his chest could be seen closing back up, the blood stopping. he threw the knife far to the left. He looked back to the man, taking astep. "What the hell was that about? That whole bit about giving your love? Who the hell did i betray? and what was with the knife? Such pathetic attempts at my life will never work. Holy crap i can't begin to explan how you totally fucked with the wrong guy." He looked down at the somewhat shorter man, a small hint of anger in his eyes. he was going to beat the crap out of him, and he wasn't even going to use his bones.

["Parker!"]

[*woo* go zimri!!]

[Melodia]

Anthony waited for death to come. To take its precious claws and wrap them around Zimri, slowly lifting his spirit and leaving his bloody behind. He waited to see the light leave the man’s eyes, and to see his form slump against the tree. He would pull the knife from his chest and wipe it on the grass, and then slowly walk away with a heavy burden lifted from his shoulders.

But that is, unfortunately, not what happened.

Zimri was fast—too fast for a dying man. He grabbed Anthony’s neck and the wrist holding the knife. And then in a flash he felt a heavy object come in contact with his head, hurting him enough to cause him to stumble backwards. He gripped the air for something to steady him but found nothing. He blinked back the fuzzy cloud of unsuspected pain, focusing his eyes in the dark towards his victim. He straightened, his right hand clenching into a fist. How could this be possible? A stab to the heart was fatal. He knew from past experiences, of course. And yet here Zimri was, standing in front of him, pulling the knife from his chest and tossing it aside and emitting a string of curses mixed with other words Anthony didn’t understand because his head was so messed up at the fact that Zimri was not dead.

“You…you’re…?” He muttered, his teeth clenching together as he felt slightly lightheaded from his fast recovery. “You’re cursed as well?”

[charismaticcryo]

Zimri laxed his guard a bit as Anthony stared at him in almost disbelief, asking if he was cursed as well. What nonsense was this? What did he mean by 'as well'? ZImri pointed a finger at his assailant. "What are you muttering about? What do you mean cursed, how can i be cursed when I am standing right here ready to kick your a.ss? C'mon stab me again and see what happens, you will lose another knife, no better yet, shoot me! c'mon I want another reason to beat you to death."

As Zimri stared daggers at the other man, venting at him. he pondered what he had meant by as well. he must've been talking about the healing, but how was that a curse? Ansd if he said as well that must mean he could heal as well. If so it wouldn't matter if he did this. A spike of bone grew out out of his palm till he grabbed hold. he c.ocked his arm back and threw the bone spike, which lodged in the other man's shoulder. Let's see how he takes that the bastard.

(sorry for anopther god mode, but if they can heal, it doesn't really matter, they are completely fine, I mean, just as long as I dont say he cut off his head and took it away from the body. that would be going to far.))

[Melodia]

[You didn't really godmode. ^^]

Anthony's eyes widened just a bit, not so much to look suprised. The man could heal, and...what was that?! A bone protruding from his hand? But the last thing he would've thought of was what happened next--it came flying straight for him. He grunted a bit and was jerked backwards by the force. Blood immediatly started to soak through his shirt. He clenched his teeth and wrapped his opposite hand around the spike, pulling it out just as the skin and tissue were beginning to reform. That bastard had cut a hole clean through his leather jacket, his nice, if not slightly worn out jacket, that he would now have to repair.

His thoughts were grim. If this man could make his own weapons, Anthony was in for a world of hurt. He could never die, only be tortured by pain and agony, seeing as his only weapon was the knife that was now lost among the underbrush somewhere. He relaxed his jaw. The pale moonligh cast shadows against his skin, making some parts appear light while others unvisible.

"Wish you could," He said dismally, almost with a sad, regretful hint. "Kill me, that is. I wish you could kill me. You 'ave..." Anthony stopped trying to compose himself, to keep from reliving even more pain,"...no idea."

[charismaticcryo]

Zimri scoffed at the tone in which the other man wished for death, what a dismal life he must lead. Even the way the light fell on his face added to the feeling of sadness eminating from this man. Zimri began to walk toward him, the bone that he was about to throw at the other man dropped to the ground. "and here I was thinking I would never find someone similar to me, I must say I am dissapointed. What do you do? Can't cope with the pain and kill others?"

Zimri was now standing in front of Anthony, his arms crossed, if he had looked he could see the hole in his shirt had closed up just as well as his flesh, though it was stained with blood. "And what don't I understand?" Zimri then placed his finger between one of Anthony's ribs. a thin spike shot out of his finger seperating the ribs more as it grew longer, piercing Anthony's lung and heart, then exited his body through his neck. And to make it worse, Zimri moved his finger.

[Melodia]

Anthony choked, this sort of sound mixed between a gasp and a gurgle. His dark eyes widened momentarily as he felt his throat close, his brain screaming for air at the collapsion of his lung. But even as his mind panicked, the tissue and blood was reforming itself around Zimri's finger, the skin healing back into place, each process going faster and faster as his gift recognized and studied the foreign object.

He shut his eyes and opened them, the full force of his hard stare locked on Zimri. "What you don't understand," He said hoarsely, taking in small breaths of air as he talked, "is pain. This...it doesn't hurt." Anthony motioned weakly with one hand to the finger that was practically tearing up his insides. He chuckled darkly before continuing, his vocal chords reforming so his voice was going back to normal. "What pain is...is not having death. You see my...quarry, they are all human. They feel as the knife slits their throats, but not the hurt part. Emotional," He paused and coughed, blood spilling out over his lip--it made his smile even more deadly. "They see their lives. Their precious happy memories, spilling out...before them...all in one moment before they die. I see nothing. I see no happy memories, no times in my life that I wish to remember as I stand here, bleeding. All I see is you," He whispered, and added somewhat comically, "and that's not a very pretty sight."

He stayed silent, wetting his tongue and closing his eyes. How he wished to die! Right now, right here. His insides burned with agony and spilt blood and the dull ache of the healing process. How he wished to close his eyes and see Maybelle, oh Maybelle! welcoming him into the light, heaven, hell, whichever would lead him back to his girls, his family, his love. But instead he was in a forest in the night, being stabbed by some guy who could heal and manipulate his bone structure. That fact alone was more painful than any physical harm could do.

"Pain," Anthony said, his nostrils flaring slightly, the whole of him seeming to suddenly catch a warmth of anger. He grabbed Zimri's wrist and pulled, hard, so that the entire composition of Zimri's finger entwined through his body ripped clear out, taking the skin and whatever else with it. Anthony collapsed on the springy forest floor, his mangled body looking as if he had been viciously attacked by a dog or something. All was still, quiet for a moment as his wounds sewed themselves shut.

A whisper could be heard from his still body before he stirred, sitting up among the underbrush, preparing his defense. "Pain is coming home to see your wife and daughter murdered, taken from you without a known cause, and to have the killer never convicted. That is pain, Mister Zimri. Do whatever you'd like to me, but none of your grusome torture could possibly hurt as bad as what those years did to me."

[Awwe. I love him.]

[charismaticcryo]

Zimri retracted the bone back into his body after Anthony ripped it out of himself, He had a point, if he was anything like Zimri pain really did nothing, but he had a different reasoning. Zimri decided then that anything violent would be pointless. He sat himself cross-legged on the ground in front of him. Neither of them could really hurt the other so, attacking and being cautious was pointless.

His wife and daughter were murdered? That really was harsh, even more due to the fact the killer got away. Zimri sighed, it was true he really didn't know that exact pain. but he knew some like it. "It may be true I don't know your feeling of loss. but I have lost. My mother was killed by my father in front of me before turning on me, forcing me to kill him accidentally." He then slowly reached over to tap the other man's shoulder in a reassuring way. "But hey, They should catch him eventually, I mean look at us. You look about my age, we have a lot of time ahead us. It is useless dwelling on the past. would your wife really want you killing in her name? And hey, I am fine, and you are fine. well physically anyways so no damage done here." Zimri was trying to lighten the mood. totally imblevious to exactly what he meant by 'years'

[Melodia]

"I'm sorry," Anthony said broodily. He sat cross-legged on the blanket of mossy ferns and twigs, picking up one and breaking it in his fingers. "About your parents, that is." He was silent thereafter, as if absorbing the fact that he was having a conversation, an actual conversation, with a man he could not kill. He picked up another twig, a thick one and toyed with it in his hands. But at Zimri's next words he snapped it clean through and turned his head slowly to look at the man. He wanted to laugh but felt like he couldn't, like it would take a whole breath away from him and that was too much.

"My girls were killed in 1826," He said, the moonlight catching on his eyes and making them flash. "I'm two hundred and six years now." The sentence was filled with a sense of despair. His lips set in a thin line, and then, to his surprise, quivered. The world blurred before him and his eyes grew hot. The only time he had ever cried was that fateful day, the day he shot himself in the head only to find himself still alive. But luckily the night was old and therefore dark, so his watery eyes were invisible. He took a deep shuddering breath, pushing the tears away. He did not cry. "The man who I had in mind, who I believe comitted the offense, is long dead, Zimri. He rests in the graveyard behind my house, a handful of spots from my wife and child. Time, time...it takes away too much, you see. I /despise/ time."

He ran his tongue over his lips, looking up at the moonlight that filtered in through the trees. "You seem to be...cheery. Have a woman, don't you? Someone you care about, is it?" His dark eyes flickered back to the man sitting on the ground a little bit aways from him. "I will not stop the one thing that I have left," He said dangerousy, "but if you'd like, your loved ones are safe from my...manical behavior." He chuckled at this, picking up another twig and tossing it into the woods. It met with a small clink on metal instead of the soundless mossy ground. His knife.

[charismaticcryo]

The date of his family's deaths hit him hard with confusion. 1826? How is that possible, he isn't a vampire, or any other being that lives long, he is just a gifted human like himself....Zimri's eyes widened, he wasn't even paying attention to Anthony anymore. This revelation took full hold of his mind. Zimri slowly looked Anthony in the eyes again. It made perfect sense, The power that was held in common between the two men was in essence immortality in itself. and it also made sense how there was another with the healing power. he was a couple generations older than him, he just happened to still be alive.

Zimri coughed out sigh as the realization of his own immortality kept growing clearer. "So am I too live forever just as you?" He didn't want to live forever, just the thought of it scared him. And even if they weren't destined to live forever, he would still live a very long time. "While i stay young and healthy I will have to watch the woman I love grow old and die?" Thoughts of Himself still young sitting next to a very old Amanda on her deathbed flooded his mind causing his eyes to grow hot with the promise of tears.

Zimri pushed away the feeling and looked up to Anthony the words he had spoken earlier about sparing Zimri's loved ones reissuing themselves in his head, he supposed that was generous of him, but he still had no intention of stopping. He hung his head, the news had just depressed him even more. Then he chuckled. He spoke as he stared the ground. "Well i bet the vampires are going to be pleased at the news of my longevity." He looked back up, a forced smile on his face. "I run a blood bank, my blood is stockpiled for vampires, so they don't have to hunt for animals." the thought of Vampires brought up another interesting thought, his best friend was now immortal as well, well at least it wasn't all bad.

Zimri looked over to where he threw Anthony's knife, and sighed, so he wasn't stopping. Zimri looked back to him, his brow furrowed, glaring. "When you kill how do you choose your victims? And where is the girl I heard scream, where is her body?"