Not Quite Dinner Time
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The glow he casts in front of him tells you that Remora has returned, the extremely faint scent of the troll you expected to be in his company and the distinct shuffling of not two but three sets of feet echoing against the caves walls tells you that for the first time in a while, he has failed you. He did not bring you what you asked for.
How disappointing.
He enters the cavern ahead of the others, wearing one of his more relaxed smiles. His tail swayed behind him delicately, indicating to you that he is well aware that he has let you down.
“My light, he was hidden from me before my arrival.” Remora’s words don’t upset you as much as you’d expected they would. Somehow, you are able to keep your expression from shifting to the excitement you feel building up in your hands and feet. A more widespread hunt? Your ears perk a bit at the thought. Remora says nothing, only mirrors your excitement with a broader smile. Ah, how could you stay mad at him? You couldn’t if you tried.
“You brought company.” A bit of an annoyance, but you manage to keep your voice level.
“They demanded a word with you.”
“Yes, well.” You angle your head as though you are making an attempt to look over his shoulder. He steps out of the way, it looks as though they were still steeling their nerves when he does. Lovely, this is going to be one of those conversations. “You have my attention.”
The irritation is becoming hard to keep at bay, but you manage as you fix your gaze onto Theoci’s face. He immediately begins to fidget under your scrutiny. Is the look perhaps harsher than you’d anticipated?
As you wait for him to find his voice, it proves to be more irritating than finding that your prey was not present. Your tongue clicks against the roof of your mouth and he looks to Hirsch instead for help.
So too does your gaze travel to meet his. Just in time to see his expression screw from one of fear into one that is determined.
“Gracious, this has to stop.” His voice is much more steady than you’d ever heard it before. He has found his resolve. You sigh. Commendable.
“Why, Hirsch,” You would pat yourself on the back for the amazing job you’re doing keeping your own voice in check, really. “Is that not what we have been attempting? But what life is Marqez living locked up in your hive every night?”
A flimsier argument than you were hoping for. Are you losing your edge, Redivi? You watch as Hirsch straightens himself out, now fully prepared to stand his ground.
“You can’t think that this is the only solution. That it’s one at all.”
“This is for the best, Hirsch. It is within everyone’s best interest.”
“Is it?!” He is raising his voice now, and the way that it bounces off the cave walls is liable to set you off. Your eye twitches. “Or is it something that is within your interest?”
As he speaks he takes a step towards you. Remora, who has since taken his place beside you, growls in warning. What a sweet, sweet protective man. The gruff rumbling is cut short when you wave a hand in the air. Hirsch is harmless.
Remora settles down.
“You can’t believe that. You’re. If you believe that you are a much more vile man than I thought!”
“Hirsch,” There is a desperateness to your voice that must have crept in there while you waited on your turn to speak. The sound rings in your head and, honestly, makes you sick to your stomach. Losing control are we? “Where is he?”
He flinches at the sound of your voice, Theoci does as well, but the apprehension only lasts for a moment. “It doesn’t matter.”
Aw, he’s steeling himself again. Not that it matters much, when his nerves can be heard in the form of his heart thudding against his chest. Like a bird fluttering against its cage. “You won’t be f… You won’t be hurting him today, Redivi.”
You feel yourself begin to grin, a motion that also bares your fangs.
“Very well, I will find him.”
Momentarily, Hirsch’s face drops and he looks to Theoci who was busy uselessly wringing his hands together. If it were you, and your backup was standing there offering no assistance, the frustration would be unbearable. Instead he just nods his head and swallows, his bravery returning to him. He takes another step forward.
“I’ve had enough of you! Of Remora. The --” His gumption wavers.”The lies you force us to tell and – And living in fear of a heartless monster that can’t keep its wicked teeth and claws to itself!”
Ah, that’s where he drew the absolute gall from. In his mind you are no longer Redivi Duxile, but a monster to be slain. Perhaps he is better suited to that fantasy life of his. That could be arranged. Though, Theoci will be upset if you do not hear more of what he has to say.
You crack your neck, he continues.
“Are you so heartless that you’re okay with hurting him like this? Time after time? While we sit at home, wondering if tonight is the night you lose what little control you have over yourself?!”
The space between the two of you is unbearably close, all you can hear is blood rushing through veins. Not just Hirsch's, though his is the loudest. Theoci and Remora as well. Blood rushing, hearts pounding. The throbbing of your own in your ears makes it hard to keep the handle you were already rapidly losing. Just as he said. This is signified by the growl that bubbles up your throat.
Theoci takes a step back, eyes wide in horror.
To your right, Remora practically vibrates with anticipation. He does not shift, or squirm. He stands there, his tail trailing behind him like a cat ready to pounce on its prey. Adorable, really.
Your eye twitches.
Still, Hirsch stands tall, even so much as puffing his chest out as he regards you.
Admirable. So admirable.
Realization etches its way onto his face, it takes the form of righteous anger.
“Why am I trying to reason with a monster? There is no reason for it. If you had any sort of heart, a bit of morality at all, you would see the impact you have on the people you’re hurting. There is no convincing you.”
You are baring your fangs again, this time with a hiss. Hirsch’s quickened heart rate, coupled with the faint scent of Marqez rolling off of him, and your mounting frustration. All fine on their own, easy to maintain. Combined? It does something to you.
He doesn’t flinch this time, another irritation to add to the growing pile.
“I’m sick and tired of sitting idly by while you trample all over the people I love. Redivi Duxile I am going to kill you myself.”
As he speaks, your attention is drawn to the poorly concealed weapon underneath his cloak. Is that what he would be doing it with?
Your gaze travels back up to meet his. He raised a valid point. Your hunger could not be reasoned with. As much as you hated to admit it. As much as it disgusts you. Briefly, the thought of sending him away crosses your mind. Really, you should have done that upon his arrival. Give him time to collect himself, it would have surely kept him from saying or doing something that he would regret.
However, the thought is quickly overshadowed by something a bit darker. Your need to tear into flesh. If you move another muscle there’s no telling what you are liable to do. You couldn’t possibly feed from both of his partners. Could you?
Though the hunger and rage settling in your chest make it difficult to breathe, forcing you to see red as you search Hirsch’s face for a sign that he plans to back down, you manage a sigh. No, you couldn’t do that.
It would seem that Hirsch’s patience has run out, though, and in an instant you see the glint of metal as he charges you.
A sword?
How archaic.
In another instant, the sound of metal echoes out into the cave.
It doesn’t take much for Remora to restrain him, just a solid grip around his neck. As he raises Hirsch to meet his eye level, you see Theoci bring his hands over his mouth. Can’t he see all of the trouble he caused?
Isn’t this your mess?
The scent of fresh blood washes over you, claws digging into Hirsch’s neck. The young jade is struggling for his breath, he thrashes uselessly in your matesprits grasp. The smell almost sends you into a frenzy.
A small act of manipulation on his part, just before he looks over his shoulder to grin at you. God, your partner has far too many teeth.
There is a small flick of his tail, and though you do not move, the distinct sound of bone crushing fills the air. It all happened so quickly.
What follows is a blood curdling shriek, from your son, as Hirsch’s body is dropped in a heap at Remora’s feet.
Theoci scrambles to the corpse as he yells.
“You killed him! How could you?! You killed him.” Remora says nothing as he returns to your side. Theoci locks eyes with you instead.
“How could you let him do this?” His voice is shaky, he is somewhere between a panic attack and outright passing out. An endless stream of tears cascading along his face. You are so hungry. “Why couldn’t you keep them out of it, Redivi?”
“Me? Is it not you who should keep your loved ones safe? Have you not let your family down?” He seems taken aback by your comment, or perhaps the impassiveness of the voice that carried the sentiment into the air. “Why did you bring him here?”
“You killed him! You killed him!”
“I am sorry, Theoci. He attacked me. Remora simply reacted. I am so sorry--”
“I have seen you send away more people for less! You wanted this to happen. You. You let it happen! Why were you feeding off Marqez in the first place!?”
His voice is a shrill thing, bouncing off the cavern walls, you didn’t think it possible for it to go any higher. And then it does. With each word that leaves his mouth.
It drives you up a wall, it does not mesh well with Hirsch’s blood permeating your senses. You are practically growling when you open your mouth again. “What did you think would happen when you allowed Marqez to manipulate you as he did? How could you let him do that to you?”
With his arms coiled around his late partner, Theoci starts. He shrinks in on himself. It would appear the resolve he came with was not nearly as strong as the dearly departed. “What do you think you’re doing right now?” His voice sounds so small now, so much smaller. It is hard to hear over the pounding of his heart.
You click your tongue. “Giving you the reason you were searching for to hate me, I suppose.” The words leave your mouth before you’ve even fully processed them. That is not what you meant to say.
“I.” His breathing catches. “No, I didn’t want to hate you... I just wanted to be certain about something. ANYTHING for one time in my life!”
You are hungry.
Your fangs are bared again in a sneer, he recoils away.
“Go be with Marqez. Remora will notify you if.” You cast a glance over Hirsch’s corpse. “If he comes back.”
“Remora? I.” Theoci stammers, clearly wrestling with trying to get something out. “Wait -- Wait.. Redivi. ” His voice drops as he stares at you helplessly.
“What do you need, Theoci?”
He swallows. “Nothing.. I.” He sniffs and stands, his eyes wide with. What is that? Uncertainty. “Very well. Go be with Marqez. Remora will keep apprised.”