Session 46 – Just in the nick of time?
Alexis
"The last tribute was found... wanting." Viscount Mordrakk turned a slow circle in the middle of town, his voice projecting the profound disappointment we should all be feeling in ourselves that only aristocracy could affect. "You will now improve upon it. Two fold."
Slowly, doors around the ramshackle town creaked open and their residents marched reluctantly forward. I counted about twenty people. They were mostly a mix of old and very young. It seemed like if there ever had been many young and fit, they had either left or been offered up as tribute. One of the few young men stepped up nervously. "We've already given tribute this month. If you take any more lives, we won't have enough people left to harvest the brickleberries."
"Ahh, delightful. A volunteer." In less than the blink of an eye, the vampire crossed thirty feet and had the man by the throat, his feet dangling off the ground. Mordrakk's fangs sank into the guy's neck and his body went limp in seconds. The body hit the floor, the body hit the floor. Sorry. I miss music apps. "A satisfactory first offering. Who is next? You, perhaps. Yes, you look most tasty."
He pointed to a young girl and I grit my teeth. One person had already died. Could I fight this fucker before it became two? I'm a lost soul. I don't have blood to drink. But... I wasn't on a material plane. I looked down at my scraped knee. No magic. No weapons. No backup. Cerbe is tough, but not vampire tough. The girl's mother was begging and crying to take her place, for someone to do anything, for the gods to have mercy. I sucked in my lip and looked away shamefully.
"Come on, Cerbe. There's nothing we can do for them." We turned to sneak away when a big fuck-off portal ripped open right next to me. Well, shit.
Paz tumbled through the portal and her eyes lit up as she saw me. "Alexis!"
"Paz!" She came sprinting full force to pull me into a hug, and smashed into the wall behind me as she passed right through. I snickered. She stomped around and pointed a threatening finger at me. I snickered harder. "Don't you fucking dare laugh, you useless spirit!"
"Hahaha." I bent over laughing while Cerbe slapped a paw against the ground and guffawed.
My ginger's head tilted and her mouth fell open. "Are you- did you.. HOW DID YOU BEFRIEND A CERBERUS?!?!"
I straightened up and grinned at her. "Because, I'm just that charming." I struck a pose that I thought of as charming and Cerbe loyally put on a cute face and posed next to me like the amazing hype man he is.
Paz scoffed and shook her head. "Unbelievable."
"Sorry. Am I interrupting your little lover's spat?" We spun around, suddenly reminded of the big scary vampire who was now drifting towards us threateningly.
"Shiiiitt! Alexis, come on! We gotta get out of here." Paz turned and violently gestured for me to run through the portal.
Cerbe and I both booked it and leaped through the portal. Paz was right behind us. I blinked and shook my head at the suddenly bright lights of the Vaqyn inn. "Close the portal as soon as she's through! There's a fucking vampire!" Moira and Sterling stood to one side. Sabastian and a man I didn't recognize stood to the other. And they all ignored me. Because I'm a wandering soul. Fuck.
Paz came running out of the portal, tumbling straight through Cerbe and I since we weren't really there. "Close it! Close it!" My girlfriend turned and pointed a glowing hand at the portal.
The mystery man started muttering something to close the portal, but a clawed hand reached through and grabbed the edge. "Leaving so soon? Pity. We haven't even been introduced."
Everyone sighed in relief as the portal snapped closed and the hand disappeared. Just in time. "Who in the Hells was that?" Moira sputtered as she slowly lowered her fists and relaxed.
"Viscount Mordrakk." I whispered before remembering that no one except my furry companion could hear me. Cerbe rested a reassuring chin on my shoulder and blew a heavy sigh into my ear that made me giggle.
"No fucking clue. Just some asshole."Paz stood, dusting herself off before whirling around frantically. "Wait, where's Alexis?!!? She was right in front of me?"
"Paz. You came through and then the hand. We didn't see anyone else." Sterling shrugged and looked to the others to back her up.
Moira nodded agreement with her girlfriend. "Yeah, no. It was just you."
My furious ginger was preparing to either cry or go on a murder rampage or perhaps both when the mystery man spoke up. "Chill out, Red. She's here with us. In spiiiiiiiritttt." He wiggled his hands in what he thought was a spooky and mysterious manner. I giggled.
Paz grit her teeth and bit out each word. "Okay. Then how do we get her back?"
"When we are in need, the spirits provide..." He spread his arms wide and slowly turned in a majestic circle.
Nope. My ginger had obviously decided. As she clenched and un-clenched her fists, Paz was definitely going to murder him. "Can you PLEASE be more specific, as hard as I realize that is for your mushroom addled brain."
The man looked around the room. "Was I not being specific? I really feel like I was. Like.. you gotta hold her and rely on your Soul Bond."
"I've been holding her for hours." Paz angrily swiped at the tears running down her cheeks.
"Yeah, but like, now her soul is here. That was the missing piece. You have to take a blind leap of faith!" He cupped his hands together and intertwined his fingers.
"Okay.." Paz walked passed me over to where my body was slumped in the corner. She slid down the wall and pulled me against her. Her cheek pressed against mine. "Please love, I need you more than anything."
My perspective was ripped away and I opened my eyes as a mess of red hair attacked my face. I gasped and painfully sucked in air. "Fff-ffff-fffuck!"