Nik Plushie Doll! + Nik and Alex Plushie Pair! art/doodle by me
Happy (belated) Birthday @ladylamrian! You're such a sweet person and it's always great to see you in my notifs/dash! TYSM for being a great friend and part of the fandom! <3 <3 <3
Here's a Nik plushie + him and Alex plushie paired together. They're such a cute pair! And they might go nicely with their Funko counterparts hehe :3
My Art Tag: @lover-also-fighter-also | @lilyoffandoms
Other tags: @choicesficwriterscreations
Below is pencil version + free to use transparent of the drawings, u can put them on top of somethng lol
The outskirts of Alexandria proved a safe haven to the downtrodden, the escaping slaves and those who didn’t want to be found. Kamilah knew the house was abandoned, her memories of her past giving them a desperately needed hideout, this is where Gaius waited for her, allowing Kamilah to pack a bag, a bag she would carry with her full of personal possessions, ones she still treasured and protected at all costs. Her mortal life packed away, like her heart for so long before Alice. Kamilah wiped the tears that pricked her eyes, her emotions weren’t so easy to hold back anymore, the love of her life softening her but she would never admit it. Not to anyone, except Alice. Who already knew. On the outskirts of Alexandria her life was altered for the first of many times, this is where she said goodbye to her mortal life, to her brother, to her family. Kamilah turned to see her brother, struggling to hold onto his. She had said goodbye once, she wasn’t sure if she could do it a second time. But she didn’t want to condemn him to a life in darkness. Kamilah walked back over to Alice’s side after her small break, taking over from Lily who went downstairs.
Kamilah slowly grasped Alice’s hand between her own, gentle with her wife, having pulled out every arrow in the brutal attack her wife defended her past mortal self from. She wasn’t sure whether to envy or scold Alice for her bravery. But she knew there would be more fights to come, and Alice would be in the centre of it once more. And she would stand at her side without any hesitation, facing it all. Her breathing steady compared to the struggled her brother faced, Kamilah squeezed her eyes shut and kissed her wife’s hand. “I need you to be okay. I can’t live without you.” She whispered against her soft pale skin. Dorian showed no mercy towards Alice and Kamilah would do the same, give no quarter. She would kill him for even touching her wife. Her eyes flashing red for the briefest of moments as her blood boiled at the thought of everything Dorian had done in her absence. How he had destroyed so much of her home. She didn’t understand why he went back to ancient Egypt but knew it didn’t matter, he would only fail once more and this time, his failure would cost him his life.
Alice shifted, slowly blinking as she went to move when Kamilah squeezed her hand. “I’m here.” Kamilah kissed her hand. “I’ve got you.”
Alice opened her eyes as she sat up, seeing her wife. “Kamilah...” she barely moved when Kamilah hugged her, pulling her on to her lap. Wrapping her up tight, in her arms, in the safety they offered.
“I thought I lost you.” Kamilah let her tears stream freely down her cheeks, not concerned for appearances. It had been too long since she held her wife, and every moment since. This was all she dreamed of. Her hand cupping the back of Alice’s neck. “I was so worried.”
“I’m here.” Alice buried her head in Kamilah’s neck, “I’m okay.” breathing in her lavender scent, trying to hold back a grimace when it hurt to breath, her ribs aching. “I can’t believe your here. How did you find me, is this a dream?”
Kamilah whispered. “This is real. I’m here.” Cupping the back of Alice’s neck. Holding her wife, at last in her arms. After what felt like years, her heart pounding, terrified of losing Alice for the first time since the Opera house. “I’d go to the ends of the earth for you. I love you Alice, so much.”
“I love you too.” Alice whispered back, a symphony to Kamilah’s heart. Her hands scrunching up Kamilah’s jacket. Her tears soaking Kamilah’s shirt.
Kamilah kissed the top of Alice’s head. Gently stroking her hair. “I’m not leaving your side again, god forbid anyone who tries.”
Alice softly chuckled. “I belong here. With you.”
“What happened when you landed through the portal?” Kamilah pulled back, caressing Alice’s cheek. “How did you end up with my brother?”
“I landed near his camp. Glad you taught me some ancient Egyptian.” Alice admitted, a little nervous when she realised she might have to explain she made out with mortal Kamilah. “It was enough to get me a meeting with your cousin Cleopatra. Your cousin is different.”
“My cousin has a flair for the dramatic.” Kamilah rolled her eyes, a small chuckle escaping before she stopped herself. “Nothing has changed in the two thousand years since I last saw her.”
“She hosted a b-”
“It was the last time I saw my brother alive before he died.” Kamilah remembered well. “We both laughed at our cousins attempt to marry Lysimachus off to one of the nobles.”
“Nothing like that. Though you should know mortal and immortal you are still similar.”
“We are?” Kamilah scoffed. “It’s been so long and I’m an entirely different person now.” Kamilah pecked Alice’s cheek.
Alice shook her head. “Not the point but your both intense and stubborn.”
Kamilah squeezed Alice’s hand, “stubborn runs in the family.”
“I know. Could tell that from the minute I met your brother. Who flirted every second he could until he knew the truth.”
“What truth?”
“Your awake.” Lily stepped up ahead of Serafine. Kamilah sighing when she couldn’t continue to press Alice for answers about what the truth meant with Lysimachus, she felt like it would effect her somehow.
Kamilah and Alice pulled away from each other. “Hey.” Alice sheepishly smiled. Kamilah shifting to grasp her left hand.
“How you feeling?” Lily asked. Pressing a hand to Alice’s shoulder as Serafine stood a few feet back, arms crossed. Her gaze fixed on Alice’s wounds.
“Sore but alive.” Alice touched her abdomen, gritting her teeth in pain. “I just remember getting hit by an arrow, Dorian talking about himself.”
“What did Dorian say?” Serafine asked.
Alice rubbed her temple. “About how I would watch Kamilah turn to ash.”
“Hmm...” Serafine glanced at Lily worriedly. “We don’t know where he is.”
Alice struggled to breath. Gritting her teeth. “Did I break my ribs?”
“You were in bad shape Alice.” Lily glanced at Lysimachus. “Between Lysimachus and you. I’m amazed your both alive.”
Alice saw Lysimachus, laying on a bed of his own. Bloodied and bruised. Struggling to breath, his breath shallow. She could feel how his heart struggled to keep up, “does he have long?”
“We don’t know yet. He needs a hospital but we can’t do much but monitor him for any changes.” Serafine answered. “I’m sorry Kamilah. I know how hard this must be.”
“I’m doing okay.” Kamilah smiled, glancing back at Alice.
“What’s going to happen?” Alice asked, rubbing her temple. “We staying here? I want to go home. I miss my bed. No offence Kamilah but your beds suck here.”
“Nothing quite beats our bed at home, the comfort zone we’ve worn in.” Kamilah gently rubbed Alice’s lower back. Sighing slowly when she realised they couldn’t leave yet, they needed answers and a solution to the problem. “We’re not going anywhere until we’ve found Dorian and put an end to his schemes.”
“I don’t know where he is.” Alice rubbed her neck. Feeling a spider scratch at her mind. Unsure what to make of it but remembering the times Rheya tried to enter her mind and how it felt similar.
“Let’s leave you to get some rest.” Lily said.
Serafine agreed with a curt nod. “We’ll need you Alice at full strength to find Dorian and his followers.”
“His followers?”
“Gaius is helping-“
Alice interrupted. “Gaius is missing an arm. I cut it off.”
“Nice.” Lily squeezed Alice’s shoulder.
“He could sense I was a vampire and it confused him.” Alice shrugged.
“He hasn’t turned anyone yet.” Kamilah knew. She was the first person Gaius turned.
Adrian walked up alone. “We’ve spotted scouts on the horizon.”
“Do they know we’re here?” Kamilah asked.
Adrian shook his head. “I think for the moment Lysimachus and you should stay inside. It might buy us more time.”
“Sounds like a plan for the moment but we should make this place more defensible.” Katherine appeared beside him, offering some food. “We managed to get some fruit from a local market.”
“We need blood.” Adrian insisted. “Specifically. Alice needs blood. I doubt your wounds have healed by the way your grimacing every time you breath.”
“I hate to admit it but he’s right.” Alice sighed. “I need blood.”
“What if Alex and Adrian jump back to modern New York and bring back more blood?” Lily suggested.
“That will work. And in the meantime. The rest of us can prepare for whatever is coming. Dorian will know we’re here and it won’t take long for him to find us.” Kamilah suggested. She caressed Alice’s cheek before smiling. “Why don’t you get a bit more sleep in the meantime?”
“Okay.” Alice nodded. “Can you stay?”
Kamilah nodded. Everyone leaving them. Alice snuggling into Kamilah’s side as they laid together.
——————————————————————————
Gaius stared at Cleopatra and Dorian as they discussed battle plans, glancing down at his missing arm, unable to fathom how he was so easily defeated. But not fearing the next encounter, wanting blood for what had been done, for the injustice he felt was given. “Whoever they were. One of them was a vampire. But she was not of Xenocrates or my blood. Whatever she is. She possessed abilities even I do not have.”
Dorian uncrossed his arms as he stepped over. Putting his hand on Gaius’s arm. Healing the wound. “She is of Rheya’s blood, far beyond anything you can imagine and not the last time you will face her.” He spoke calmly, not afraid of the young vampire, not concerned about her abilities. “She has been a vampire for little over a decade. You will defeat her next time because we will not be alone.”
“What is your means of defeating them?” Cleopatra asked. Staring at Dorian. “My cousins can raise an army against me if they desired. It’s why my parents organised the death of their father. He was plotting to take the throne of Egypt, and my mother was the reason why Kamilah and Lysimachus survived the attempted coup.”
“It does not matter. I will kill Kamilah. She will die at my hands!” Dorian slammed his hands into the table, his eyes narrowing at Gaius. “You will simply be a distraction. a means to an end.”
“To what?” Gaius stood, walking over.
“To Octavian.” Dorian straightened his clothes. Opening a portal behind him. “I suggest Cleopatra, you prepare for war.”
“Against who?” Cleopatra asked.
Dorian spoke calmly, they will simply be a distraction for When my men attack,. “Your cousins will not be an easy fight, we will need an army to defeat them.”
Cleopatra glared, crossing her arms before approaching Dorian and poking his leather jacket. “Your men? You mean to tell me you’ve had more men but have failed to let them intervene? Pathe-”
Dorian gripped her chin tight, squeezing. “We let Kamilah and her friends think I’m alone so when we attack. We will overwhelm them.”
Gaius growled. “Let her go. This was not part of Octavian’s agreement.”
Dorian released Cleopatra, letting her hit the ground in a flurry. “You don’t know what Octavian wants. You don’t even know what you want.”
Gaius glared before feeling a hand pressed against his chest, Cleopatra doing enough to stop him for the moment. “Not yet. We need him. Whether you agree or not.” Dorian departed through a portal. Leaving the duo alone. “I want you to kill him once he’s done his job.”
“Kill him?”“ Gaius scoffed. “Octavian wanted him alive.”
“And I want him dead. You would rather serve a general or a Queen?” Cleopatra asked. “I won’t make you bow before me, make you lesser than what you are.”
Gaius stepped away, rubbing his shaven jawline as he thought over Cleopatra’s words. “Octavian wants Egypt. I agreed to help him. He offered me a sanctuary.”
“Do you really think Octavian wants to offer a sanctuary to a man who is more powerful than him and could easily take his place. He is like his father.” Cleopatra didn’t mince words and did what she was known for. Bewitching men and she was tying Gaius around her little fingers, like she had done to Anthony and Caesar before him.
Gaius sighed. “What do you want of me? My Queen?” He turned, fangs bared, his eyes red as the blood in her veins, his nails scraping her skin as he could feel it pulsing, hot and fiery.
“I want you to make me your Queen.” Cleopatra didn’t hesitate for more power, to seize Egypt and the world. Gaius smiling wickedly before approaching, pushing some jewels aside from the veins coursing through her body, sinking his fangs into her and turning her into a vampire.
Tags: @cheeto-choices, @wildsayeed, @made-me-deep-blue, @thequeenofbaddecisions, @iam-the-fuckin-queen, @witchesplayatnight, @belvoiresqueenbee, @kamilah-sayeed-let-me-love-you, @h-doodles, @playallthechoices, @kamilahforever, @kamilahsayeet2063, @kamilah-the-bloodqueen, @helpconfusedpersonhere, @scarlet-letter-a0114, @nydeiri, @tigerbryn11, @lifesadance96, @justastranger-passing, Let me know if you want to be added!
Anything (Chapter 6, Final Chapter) - Nik Ryder x f!MC
Summary: After surviving an attempt on her life, she discovers there are worse fates than dying. And they’re all ice cold.
Warnings for this chapter: implied (off-screen) N*FW, discussions of trauma and therapy, a short tid bit at the end involving animal violence/death, and plenty of fluff and other domestic stuff
Links to previous chapters: one // two // three // four // five
One year later…
Nothing.
Nothing.
‘Everything.’ Leah thought fondly as she sleepily stared at the man sleeping next to her. Thin rays of golden light trailed through the spaces between the blinds of the window facing the bed, making the man in question flutter his eyes open. She smiled brightly and moved closer until she was snuggled close to him, and he lazily wrapped an arm around her.
“Too early…” Nik grumbled, pulling Leah closer to his chest with both arms. “Go back to sleep.”
“I don’t wanna get up either, but we gotta,” Leah said with her voice muffled against his bare chest. “We have things to do today.”
Leah giggled as Nik groaned, releasing her and rolling over on his other side. She learned quickly in the past year that he was not a morning person due to the frequency they have to take down the things that happen to go bump in the night. So she, who happened to be a morning person and seemingly full of boundless energy, became the default alarm clock (and a damn good one if she said so herself).
“Come on, sleepy head! Time to get up!” she declared, sitting up and letting the cool morning air hit her own exposed chest. Nik rolled back over and let his eyes trail appreciatively over her form.
“Well damn, you’ve convinced me.” Leah blushed at his comment and his eyes glued to her body. Besides the night she came back, only a few months prior she wouldn’t take her shirt off in front of him, self conscious about her scars being examined so thoroughly by someone she actually cared about. She briefly recalled the night she let him see them intimately, and the memory of him being so patient and tender with her made her melt. Leah playfully nudged him.
“Now is not the time for that; we have quite a day ahead.”
“I know, I know. But can’t a guy appreciate his woman on a fine sunny morning?” Nik grinned innocently and propped himself on one elbow, completely scarred abdomen in full view. Leah ran a hand through his soft but sticking-out-in-all-directions morning hair, smoothing it back into place somewhat.
“You can appreciate me as we get ready to leave.” With that, Leah jumped out of their bed and began looking through the closet. Nik got up after her and wrapped his arms around her, and Leah sighed, pretending to be exasperated.
“You’re gonna have to stop touching me, babe.”
Nik glided his rough, callused hands on her skin, and he nipped at her neck not-so-gently. “Not what you said last night, babe.”
Leah felt a shiver run up her spine as she turned around so they were face to face. She rested her arms on his shoulders and gazed up at him, a challenge in her eyes. “Oh yeah? I don’t recall any of that.”
“Need me to remind you, huh?” He pulled her even closer by the waist and brought his lips down to hers passionately, and she enthusiastically reciprocated. They kissed freely because there was nothing stopping them; that little apartment was their place. No monsters, no ghosts, nothing trying to kill them. And she relished these moments of peace.
“Mmm, I might remember something…” Leah pulled away slowly. She turned around with one of her hands grasping his behind her, leading him to the bathroom. “But we’re on a schedule. Come remind me in the shower?”
When she turned around to look at him, his face was split into a bright smile as he hurried after her.
==============================================
Half an hour later, the two Nighthunters sat at the small kitchen table, both dressed and ready for the day. In the past year since Leah moved in with Nik, the apartment had changed significantly. Besides the fact that Nik was more motivated to do upkeep on the place, Leah put her own touches. What once were stacks of potentially cursed books and tomes scattered on the floor were now neatly placed in a modern glass bookshelf and organized alphabetically. All of the weapons were cleaned and polished and displayed neatly. She even found pictures of Nik and Elijah from when he was younger and framed them, and the misty eyes she got from him when he saw what she did was all the thanks she needed. He would freely admit that she made everything in his life better, and she could finally say that she was home. That place was now their home, warm and welcoming.
Leah hummed contentedly as she stirred the cinnamon in her coffee like she usually did, and Nik perused the newspaper casually.
“I still don’t see the appeal of cinnamon in coffee,” the man next to her said, looking at her cup. “It doesn’t even dissolve all the way.”
“That itself adds to the flavor,” she replied, taking a sip. “I don’t know why you like yours black; do you have to be so dark all the time?”
Nik rolled his eyes, sipping on his own cup of black coffee. “What can I say, darkness is my one defining personality trait.”
“That, and running away from unicorns, ya giant softie.”
“They’re vicious!”
“Vicious and adorable!”
Leah laughed, and Nik couldn’t help but chuckle with her. “Vicious and adorable, huh? Now those are your defining personality traits.”
“Aww you think I’m cute, Ryder?” Leah cooed, smiling coquettishly at him.
“Why you think I keep you around, Mendoza?” Nik replied, using her last name instead of the usual nicknames (rook, babe, sugar, darlin’, etc.). It was rare that he’d use her first name, and Leah was used to responding to a variety of pet names.
“Wow and here I thought you liked me for my mind,” Leah teased. “Or my magic glowy hands.”
At the mention of her powers, the atmosphere suddenly became more serious; they both remembered why it was a special day, besides it being the anniversary of her return to New Orleans. Nik reached over and intertwined their fingers before speaking. “Are you sure you’re ready?”
Leah squeezed his hand and nodded. “Yes. It’s been a year now and I’ve made a lot of progress and stayed away for too long; it’s time.”
“Say the word and we’ll go.”
==============================================
After putting on their signature jackets (and sneaking a few kisses here and there), the pair got into Nik’s car and drove off. They held hands the entire drive and the entire walk through the woods and the open field, and Leah took several deep breaths to calm her nerves. She felt like a specimen on a Petri dish again under the scrutiny of the cathedral guarding Lamrian.
“Hey…” Nik began, bringing their intertwined fingers up to his lips to kiss her hand. “Just remember, I’m here for you. You don’t have to do this alone.”
Leah smiled radiantly. “I know. Thank you.”
A Fae guard approached them from the shadows, and he was as dutiful and tight lipped as Leah remembered from the year before. She waved nervously at him.
“Uh, hey, I know it’s been a while but I’m—”
“I remember.” He bowed deeply and stepped aside, gesturing for them to walk into the cathedral. “Welcome home, daughter of Lamrian.”
Leah and Nik walked into the cathedral, which promptly turned into a familiar grand throne room. Leah could see Lady Thalissa writing on an ornate ledger. She turned back to Nik, who gave her an encouraging nod.
“Go on, then. I’ll be here.”
Leah steadied her breathing and stepped forward towards her stepmother. At the sound of her footsteps, Thalissa looked up from her work.
“Leah…” she whispered, surprise on her Fae features. She immediately cast aside her quill and dashed over, wrapping Leah in a warm hug. Leah breathed in her sweet-pea perfume, instantly feeling comfort.
“I’m sorry I was away for so long. After everything...I needed some time,” Leah apologized, looking her stepmother in the eyes.
Thalissa squeezed her hand. “Do not apologize, my darling. I understand the need for solitude in the midst of grief. Losing my greatest love, losing my son...I could hardly speak to another soul for months.”
Leah looked down in shame. “I hope you and the citizens of Lamrian got my apology. I never meant to disrupt your lives so much.”
Thalissa tilted her chin up, and she smiled softly with tears shining in her eyes. “There are no apologies necessary. Even though we are not bound by blood, I consider you my daughter. Oh how I’ve missed you; the sun is now shining on my heart.”
Leah smiled back, her eyes also filling with tears. “I missed Lamrian and everything in it. I...I was actually able to access my magick a year ago and can do a few things.”
“My dear Elric wanted to teach you Fae magick,” Thalissa began, her expression betraying the scantest hint of surprise at hearing that she could use magick in a significant way. “I would keep that promise for him, should you wish it.”
Leah smiled impishly. “Will you teach me how to make grimfire?”
Thalissa let out a surprised laugh, pinching her cheek affectionately. “Let’s begin with the basics.”
She turned and drew a glowing portal into the starry fields of the Fae Realm. She stepped into the portal and gestured for Leah to join her. Leah looked back at Nik, hesitating for a moment on the border between her two worlds. He gave her a small wave.
“Don’t be gone too long, all right? You and I have a date with a rampaging ghoul later.”
Leah visibly relaxed, knowing that her home in the mortal world wouldn’t leave once she stepped into the Fae world. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Taking a deep breath, she walked through the shining portal, joining Thalissa. The portal closed behind them as she inhaled the smells around her.
“Maybe Cal was onto something...it does smell different than the human world,” Leah mused, taking in everything around her as they walked.
“I take it your friends have been helping you adjust to your new life?”
Leah grinned. “Definitely. You remember Cal, Katherine, and Vera? And that man with me was Nik, my partner.”
Thalissa smiled genuinely. “Of course! Such a nice group, and that man is clearly enamored with you.”
“I don’t know how I got so lucky,” she replied, shaking her head in disbelief. “After Elric died, I just...I ran away. I couldn’t take it and I was destroying myself. It took a friend flying all the way to Wyoming and my father to appear to me for me to come to my senses.”
“Ah, yes. My darling also came to visit me shortly after he passed,” Thalissa said, a dreamy look on her face. Leah took a good look at her and noticed even more fine lines on her face in the starry lighting of the open field. “I could hardly function, but remembering that he was always watching me helped. And your message gave me hope that you would one day truly return.”
“And I’m here,” Leah corroborated. “It took a lot of group therapy and grief counseling with my friend Katherine, who’d also lost someone. Things weren’t suddenly all better just because I moved, but they’re getting there. I got a new life by giving my old one away, and I don’t regret that for one moment.”
Thalissa squeezed her hand. “Wise words from such a young one. You’re right; it will take time to heal this hurt, both personally and for our people. But I’m happy I can have my daughter with me now. Oh, and I almost forgot: Cassie will be so happy to see you too.”
“She’s been with you this entire time?” Thalissa nodded and Leah smiled radiantly, remembering her perrikin.
Leah’s heart had never felt so full that day as they continued to talk and Thalissa taught her the basics under the magickal sky. As she said her goodbyes later with promises to return for more lessons and to engage the people of Lamrian at a later date, and as she and Nik (and Katherine) hunted that night, Leah took it all in with a huge smile on her face. To think that she was once stuck in a dead end job in Wyoming and no knowledge of who she truly was. It had been a life-changing year, but she wouldn’t trade it for anything.
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In an unnamed part of the bayou, two female figures cloaked in black hoods stood side by side. Fireflies buzzed around, the only source of light in the night. The one with many faces and even more memories of time spoke first.
“The thrice-cursed son finally figured out it was I who hired him. He was not pleased when he confronted me today. Shame it took him so long; mortals are unfortunately so slow.”
The woman next to her, who did not have quite as many faces, scoffed in response. “You think that’s bad? She still thinks it was a coincidence that her dimwit friend and dead father showed up on the same night!”
The Fate turned to her, her face suddenly wrinkled and full of anger. “What did I tell you about using your magick for things like this?”
The woman rolled her chocolate brown eyes. “Cassiopeia did a real number on her by sending that monster. Things were going to get worse if I didn’t step in!”
“You forget, Jacqueline, that I am the only one who can foresee. This is my final warning not to meddle in which you do not know!”
With that, the Fate evaporated away, leaving her alone with her thoughts. The witch silently walked away eventually, and in the process walked by a giant dead alligator. She shook her head at the site and disappeared into the shadows.
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A/N: Anddd that’s it, folks! At least for this story. Surprise, I managed to finish it within 2019! I’ll see you all when I’m well under way my next Nightbound series. Thanks again for reading and I hope you have an amazing start to the new year 💗💗💗
My tag list will be in a comment because I had to bring my laptop in for repair, and my iPad makes it too difficult to do the tags in the post itself.
