I’m the Bad Guy (Duh) || Eloy and Murphy
PARTIES: @eloycadena & @riseofmurphy SUMMARY: A rogue vampire appears, and Murphy takes charge CONTENT: domestic abuse mentions, emotional abuse mentions, transphobia mentions, gore, NSFW
The sounds of flesh as it was ripped from bone echoed through the forest. It was a signal to others to come no closer, that there was a predator at work. With each fresh rip, a wolf’s jaws snapped together to chew the morsel. Crimson droplets streaked the animal’s white coat, its neck and chest stained pink from the blood that had already started to dry as she continued to enjoy her meal. Tonight the wolf was gluttonous, having forgone the pleasure to feed due to other more humanly pursuits. But now all that remained of those human thoughts were the senses that lingered within the back of her mind. Ears were keenly tuned to the rustling of the forest and her nose, though filled with the aroma of a fresh kill, was still poised to detect a change in the scents of the forest. Slow work was made of her meal, each piece of flesh savored as it was picked clean from the bone. Soon all that remained was the mere outline of a body that if studied carefully could once more resemble a person.
Murphy was relaxed and felt no need to leave her meal so soon. With a full belly and scents and sounds of the forest filling her senses, the wolf’s eyes began to grow heavy. A soft sigh blew hot breath into the cool night air as a large head rested between bloody paws and soon sleep overtook the beast. It was the smell that first woke her, the sickening scent of decay, of death. It was too soon for the carcass beside her to have started to rot, the meat was still considered fresh, and so her attention immediately went elsewhere. Triangular ears flicked back to listen as an unnatural movement began to move into her space, her territory. Murphy had been careful to drag her kill out to the woods that surrounded her home. She had heard the rumors that were being churned. He was in town. And she knew that in order to respect her friend’s wishes, to leave him alive, a distance would need to be kept.
Second thought wasn’t given as the stranger closed in, she lunged. It was a great distance, one her wolf body would have struggled to make of its own accord, so halfway through she shifted. With a thunderous crash, the perpetrator was flush against a tree, a blood-encrusted hand at his throat. Murphy’s nails dug in ferociously and she paid no mind as black blood dripped down the other’s neck. “You’re trespassing, fanger.” A growl rumbled low within her chest as the sound reverberated powerfully through the woods. No attention was paid to her nude form, the way that blood had dried across the swell of her breasts, or how her neck was still coated in the semi-sticky substance. All that mattered was to defend what was hers. Her kill and her home. Only one vampire was allowed to be here, and they were currently otherwise occupied.
Metal filled the air as Eloy traversed through the trees. Surroundings unfamiliar and strange, making it a little difficult to find a decent meal. If it had been up to the vampire, he would have already killed a few humans and taken his full stomach to the airport. But this was not his territory, and he knew better than to draw unnecessary attention to himself. Attention only presented problems, and problems weren’t something he needed while he went about his business. So, for now, animal blood would have to do.
Just as he finished his meal and walked around to settle his stomach, the smell of wet dog filled his nose, and a nude woman was on top of him. What a sight. Eloy thought to himself excitedly. “Just walking through. I meant no harm. I can leave now if you wish. But if you want to have some fun, we can do that too.” A smile crept onto his lips and he raised his arms in surrender, trying to show her he meant no harm.
As he laid there, Murphy’s full face registered and that made his smile grow wider. She laid with Metzli, and an awful plan formed in Eloy’s head.
Murphy’s instincts screamed at her to end the creature. They were trespassing on her territory at a time when danger was afoot. This was not the time to be forgiving. Green hues intently trained on the intruder. It was thoughts of Metzli that caused her to slacken her grip ever so slightly. The thought of what would have happened if she had chosen to end them rather than having engaged in what had turned out to be a thoroughly fun-filled exploration of each other’s abilities.
“Leave.” The word was final, a chill laced into its pronunciation. Though she chose not to kill in this instance, if pushed further she would commit the deed. There was only so much that a she-wolf could tolerate when on the defensive. Eyes still trained on the vampire she took a step back, hand moving to rest at her side once more, nails coated in the black of the vampire’s blood. Murphy remained close enough to strike again if necessary, every muscle in her body coiled and ready to spring. “If you come here again, I will kill you.” Her head was held high and confident as she spoke, the way her body carried itself gave a clear indication that she knew she could take him, and her eyes flashed a warning. Do not challenge me.
Murphy was ferocious and ready to kill, proven by how she already drew blood. Eloy enjoyed it a little, but he’d enjoy it more if he could put her in her place. Killing wolves was always fun, but keeping this one alive was important. Besides that, she could put up more of a fight than Bex. Carefully as he stood, he began to offer, “I won’t come back again, but only if, you beat me in a fight. Kill me, fine. Kill you, whatever. I just have some steam to blow off.” Eyes examined Murphy carefully and narrowed enthusiastically. She was on edge, but he didn’t know why, didn’t really care to.
“Don’t think I’ll leave yet. You seem like fun.” Eloy removed his tee and threw it to the side. Muscles tensed and readied to pounce. Teeth bared and red hues met with green, going against what her eyes spoke. They challenged her and beckoned her forward to attack, wanting so badly to sink himself further into Metzli’s circle.
Echos of a vicious snarl ripped through the otherwise serene forest. As it vibrated through Murphy’s chest the other sounds of the night ceased to exist, critters scrambled to get out of the path of the two predators as they circled each other. A certain weakness seemed to permeate the vampire, the blatant attempt at provocation screamed he felt he had something to prove. What it was, she didn’t care. All she wanted was this over, and quickly. It was not the time to be attracting unwanted attention. Human eyes morphed to lupine as he crouched, lips pulled up to bare glistening teeth. With a snarl, she lunged and razor-sharp canines tore into the dead flesh of a leg. Her head shook rapidly until the other lost his balance. And as he fell a chunk of flesh was tossed into the woods by a shake of her head as she circled to attack again. Black goo mixed with red as it dribbled from her mouth and onto the leaves of the forest floor. A glint shown in her eyes. This was going to be easy.. perhaps even fun. A way to blow off the sharp feeling of anxiety her worry over Metzli continuously caused.
Grabbing at ravenous jaws, Eloy pulled them apart and had to stop himself from pulling them to a full one-eighty angle. But he was unable to do it anyway as she shook her head and tore skin off. His leg healed quickly, thanks to his age and power. Her actions made the urge to kill overwhelming, but the need to sustain the ongoing pain to Metzli was much stronger. Head was pushed and he immediately dived forward with a predatory growl vibrating his throat and violent arms wrapping around Murphy’s throat. Arms tightened and teeth sank into her shoulder, ripping flesh from body and spitting out the awful tasting meat before kicking her body forward into a tree. White fur stick to his tongue, making him spit again with irritation painting his face.
“You’re smart. You’re efficient. But you have to do better than that.” A bloody smile greeted Murphy as she looked back up and Eloy licked his lips. Taunting made things so much more fun, and tended to make someone wild, less likely to think before they acted.
The taunts set off fireworks within her mind, and her shoulder stung from where his teeth had made contact. All she felt as they punctured her skin was pain. There was none of the passionate caresses with which Metzli’s teeth pierced her. As her body slammed into the tree it cracked, the large oak splintering down the center from the force with which she had hit it. Still, she rose to her feet. It was shaky, but as the shock of the blow wore off she began to circle once more. Murphy darted in and out of the vampire's reach, too quick for them to grab hold of as canines tore at flesh. That luck ended as arms wrapped around her throat, cutting off the growl that had been ready to fill the air. Paws scrambled at any purchase they could find, sharp claws shredding clothing as well as skin. But no matter how hard she wiggled, he still had the upper hand.
Quickly she shifted back to her human form and with human hands reached down to grab his most sensitive area. She crushed it cruelly within her fist and used the opportunity to dart away. Seamlessly Murphy shifted back into her wolf and lunged forward to treat a large chunk of flesh from their abdomen.
There was a groan as Murphy squeezed and used this to distract. But Just as he did before, Eloy grabbed her jaws, but this time he prevented them from latching onto him. Murphy had a powerful bite, but he was just as powerful, bringing the attack to a battle of endurance. Not wanting to waste energy, there was a push back. Claws raked at the dirt as Murphy retained her balance and kept her body ready to continue. Her sharp teeth grazed his skin enough to draw black goo, but they sealed quickly. Being ancient had its perks.
“I know you’re faster than that. You have to be.” Eloy taunted more and shifted into a thick mist that danced in the air, moving quickly and dispersing around the area. It bellowed and collected over Murphy, allowing him to manifest above her and drop to push her down with his weight. Teeth ripped at fur and skin again, and he had to spit immediately. The taste lingered and he grimaced at the wolf. “If only you tasted better. Perhaps another part of you does?” He smiled and laughed at his taunting joke. Murphy was being a little difficult, but he hardly minded. Patience was something he had little of though, and it was quickly running out. He just wanted to make his mark on Metzli’s intimate friend and depart.
Murphy snarled as the mist convalesced over her form. It was foreboding and it had been a long while since she had taken on a vampire of this age. Still, she reveled in the fight. Her body absorbed each shock with little more than a flinch. The injuries would be felt later, when the adrenaline had worn off and they started to heal fully. She knew she had not been fighting as keen as she could, it was due to her initial observation that he was weak. Her original thought still stood, but his age gave him an advantage she had not anticipated at the start. But she was growing tired of playing his game.
The vulgar words were all that was needed to propel her forward. A torpedo of white fur flashed through the darkness. Oh, she could finish him as a wolf, but it would be so much more fun to end it with her bare hands. When she made contact her jaws wrapped around his throat, crushing his windpipe as she bit down. Murphy stopped short of removing their head from their body. She didn’t want them dead, she wanted them to know the strength that rested here. To go forward and warn others who may try to pass.
So instead she shifted and hands wrapped around his shredded throat. A flash of movement later and bones crunched. His head flopped to the side and she withdrew. Murphy stood over them, her front dripping with black blood. The triumphant air to her was palpable in the way her nostrils flared and chest heaved. She had won.
Eloy didn’t have a chance to scream in agony as his neck was snapped and his body went limp for a moment. When his bones shifted back together though, he groaned and then yelled. With each second, the decibel rose and rose and then it stopped suddenly. Everything was back in place and healed. He was angry, no, ferociously irate. “You fucking b—” Eloy began to lose his composure, but halted and got up slowly. With his muscles taut and aching. “Almost lost it. Didn’t feel too great having my neck snapped, but a win is a win.” Teeth resisted to grind as fists squeezed closed.
Blood, both red and black, was smeared on the ground and on his flesh. Trying to keep with his plan, he reached a hand out, tense and shaking, in an attempt to show peace. He felt none, only feeling like he should’ve just killed the wolf instead of mucking around. Despite this, he smiled and kept his hand offered to Murphy. “Should we continue this fun with something different?” There was a smile on his lips now, not genuine, but believable.
A smirk curled up blood-stained lips. Murphy found the way he had begun to yell rather telling. Anyone with any true skill would have taken the fall in silence, calculated their mistakes, and tried again. The way his muscles coiled taut did not go unnoticed, and her own stance shifted to match his. Green hues followed down muscled arms until they rested on closed fists. Her head cocked to the side mockingly. “Sore loser, are we?” She laughed. “You should be grateful. I chose to let you live.” The hand he stretched out was eyed distastefully. “Now is not the time for supplication, you had your chance.
Slowly she stepped forward until their faces were mere breaths apart. Both of her hands reached down to grab and hold his arms in a vice-like grip next to her eyes. A hunger now reflected in the green orbs, though she made no move to act upon it. Murphy would let him make the advance on her. Let him submit because she refused to give up her position. One of his hands was released as she reached up to grip his chin and dug nails into his skin with the fierceness of the hold. “Are you sure you’re man enough, Cabrón?”
A laugh was bitten back at the sheer irony of Murphy saying she let him live. If anything, he let her live. To do what he needed, Eloy needed her alive and there was no changing his mind on that. “Thank you so much for your mercy.” He felt Murphy’s lips hover over his and he grinned. The game she was playing was one he knew well, and it meant his plan was working.
Surprised laced over his face though, hearing Murphy speak Spanish and enjoying her rough hold. Her accent was even pretty decent. Eloy just assumed she picked that up from Metzli. His little toy had gone and made some very real connections. A big mistake on their part, truly. His next move was going to hurt them. Badly. “Let’s see,” he answered, moving his face forward and crushing her lips with his. The two fell to the ground in a flurry of limbs and the contact made his skin crawl with lust.
Murphy was far from sated. The encounter had merely sharpened her desire for one vampire in particular. She had not realized until now but she had come to crave the passion, the closeness that was apparent when they joined together. With this man it had been void, empty. A simple need is being met. Once the deed was done it was clear that there was no further interest in him. When she stood liquid dripped down the inside of her thigh and her nose scrunched in distaste. It just wasn’t the same.
A hand ran through wild hair as she took in his appearance. Wounds that had been left on his body rapidly healed. Some marked her own skin but they were few and far between. Only those she trusted got to truly mark her and he fell quite short of that requirement. She had been in control of the entire encounter and had used this opportunity to simply take what she had wanted. One hand tugged gently through long brown tendrils as it combed out the knots left by the fight and subsequent aftermath. A mere glance of green flitted in his direction. “You can go now.” When the movement wasn’t immediate a low grow rumbled. “Leave. Now. I won’t be kind enough to let you live again.”
Smiling from his victory, Eloy rose to his feet and took his time getting his clothes together and dressing. “Oh, I’m heading out, chulita. Don’t worry. You know,” he slipped his shirt on and began to chuckle, putting his legs through his pants and sauntering over to his shoes. “When I got here, I thought I was only going to do one thing and head back home.” Feet slipped into shoes, and hands laced the strings together. “And then I had the fortunate chance of meeting not one, but two extra people to help me with my fun plan.” Patting his jeans, he sighed and smoothed his hair next. Confidence emanated from him and he began to laugh harder. The suspense was rising and only he knew it.
“I turned a woman once. She fought so hard to live, and I thought, ‘Maybe she’ll be valuable. She’s strong as a human, so maybe she’ll be useful as a vampire.’ Turns out, I was right. Little did I know though, that the little bitch would betray me. Do you understand yet, Murphy?” Hands rested at his waist and he laughed again as he continued, “Tell Metzli, Eloy said hi.” With a final word in, Eloy dispersed into mist and bellowed away with the wind before Murphy could physically retaliate.
Murphy was too stunned to speak. To think. To breathe. Every muscle in her body was coiled and tense and she stayed that way for hours. She was both hyper-aware of her surroundings and unfocused, green hues stared into the place where the other had disappeared. Eloy. A snarl came and went. All she had needed to do was finish the job when she had the opportunity and they would have been safe. Metzli would have been safe. Then, unbidden, a sob choked its way to the surface. Their name ran over and over on a loop through her mind. She had to tell them, there was no choice. It had to come from her before Eloy could use it to his advantage. Still, she could imagine the look on their face, the pain, the betrayal.
Slowly she sank to her knees, numb to the cold wind that had picked up. It whipped the branches of the tree and stirred the leaves. Almost as if it was already punishing her for her mistake. Bile rose in her throat. No part of her wanted to tell them, afraid of losing someone so close. But the alternative was unthinkable. On slow feet, Murphy made her way back home. Once she came in through the back door her hand immediately went to the phone that rested in its cradle next to it. Normally steady hands shook as she picked up the receiver and cradled it to her face. The line on the other rang shrilly in her ear. A noise of dread. Ring. Ring. Ring. When there was a lull and click on the other side and her eyes closed, all she saw were stars.