[R]eflection of Self [Julia]

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..am I really a monster?

The question had been in her mind for days, just what was she? Why had she done such terrible things to Renee, how had she been unable to stop herself? The answers to these burned within the back of her mind yet she was unable to truly collect any real closure or justification for what she had done. She had raped the poor Neko girl, all because of the pain and feral nature enhanced her sex drive. Even as an Ancient Vampire she felt guilt, sorrow -- perhaps she felt it more so then any other creature alive. That was the price to pay as a Vampire, mess up and you'll be forced to live with yourself for the rest of eternity, until Fenrir swallowed this world whole, assuming the warriors of Valhalla could do nothing.

Setting her cell phone next to her, she'd keep it on hand in case Mr. Erif or James decided that they'd call or need her. She'd sit at the edge of a dock, wearing a plain white sundress as she dangled her toes into the water and played with the rippling surface. The water was cold, colder then she had imagined for such a decent evening. What she would have given to see these waters as a bright shining blue instead of a dark abyssmal raven color. The waters mirrored her very soul or so she imagined, after such acts could she really even believe she had one any longer? Saving a life only to take advantage of it was not the way she wanted to be, but it was how she went about it. The price one paid for Immortality she supposed.

Katia would hum softly to herself as she leaned back onto her hands and looked at the stars. She knew that there were Humans about the peer, she could feel them as they went about their passions believing they were well hidden or their secrets were safe. A deep sigh escaped her lips, however she was only just beginning the deeper stages of her anger -- anger with herself for what she had done. As she clenched her fists, she'd feel a familiar Human presence, one that she'd felt before and had harsh feelings towards in the past. What was she doing her, the girl who had tried to burn her in the sunlight and kill her for being nothing more then who she was. Her blood boiled, however she'd wait to see if the woman would come to here, her voice singing on into the windy night.

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Free time was something that Julia rarely had. Even so, the mark of her slavery stayed around her neck. The stupid silver chain that served as a collar reminded her that while she had this bit of time to herself, it was hardly free. And she wouldn't be able to go back to doing what she loved, hunting down and slaying the monsters that were in control of her now. Maybe her master had enemies, maybe her trust would build enough that he'd put her to work as some sort of assassin... She could only hope. Few would think that the young blonde woman was a well-known slayer, she had been a prodigy; her family had been feared in the community that Julia now held quite a deal of fear against. Even with the protection of a master, the young woman was paranoid, checking herself around every corner.

But she wouldn't dwell on those thoughts this day. No, she needed to relax. If her master was giving her this small amount of trust, she wouldn't waste it on worrying about something she could deal with when he was carting her to and from the desert. The evening was nice enough for Julia, who was just glad to not be attached to something for the evening, dressed in a pair of dark jeans and a green tank top. The long scar tracing her right shoulder blade was barely visible at the top of her shirt, one of the very few times that a run in with one of the creatures she hunted had left her permanently marked. But she didn't need the scar to remember that run in, where she learned why her parents had always made sure that every creature was gone for good...

Julia walked down the pier, glad that the crowd was beginning to thin out. She needed alone time. And Gunnar would probably want her back soon anyway. No doubt he'd come up with some way to tell her. Hell, with what she'd seen the chain do it would probably just extend back to him and drag her. For some reason, the thin scar on her shoulder blade throbbed, as if it were some sort of warning, she ignored it. That side had given her quite a few problems since she had been taken in; ignoring it always seemed to be the best solution. And then she saw something that made her blood run cold. From the back, the woman at the end of the pier looked just like a vampire who had gotten away on one of the unsuccessful slaying attempts. Julia's hand shot to where her gun once was, forgetting that it wasn't there. No silver bullets or stakes this time... But maybe she was just being skittish, afraid now that she was away from the protection of her Lycan master. She sat down on the side of the dock, just a bit away from the woman. Julia drew her cross necklace from its place in her pocket, holding the object by the chain as she looked out across the water.

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Something about the dock stunk -- someone present reeked horribly of Lycan. A little alert in her mind went off sending her on the look out, her mind growing somewhat colder and her instincts kicking up. She would be on edge, her aggression rising alot faster then normal. 'Can I 'ave no break? They're everywhere.' she whispered to herself as she threw a rock into the waters. Things would have even remained fine, until she sensed a sudden flash of Mal-intent. Where had it come from? Katia would shift cautiously in her seat as he golden eyes scanned the Pier, they were slowly filling up with a black colour showing just what kind of mood she could easily be pushed into. Thats when she finally felt that someone was near her, perhaps even right behind her on the Pier. How had she gotten so worked up? It mattered not.

"Come to try and kill me again, silly girl." she spoke suddenly as she kept facing the waters. She had figured out who it was, she could tell now that she had clamed down and focused. The Mal-intent she had felt reminded her of that time, a time when she had been alot more careless and selfish. What did this woman want? Had she truly come back to finish the job? But if that were so then why had she not simply finished the job while Katia was not looking? At this point, now that she was aware the chance for a victory narrowed down quite a lot since it was a mere Human who sought to do so. "I thought I told you last time, do not look for me again. You 'umans do not listen so well." she spoke softly as she giggled. Even when annoyed or threatened she was always giggling, it was just part of who she was.

"You're different from before however, you reek of Lycan. Are you a dog now? Do they keep you on a leash now?" she purred softly, taunting the once Hunter with cold words. Katia could never forgive her, she was the reason her maker had perished. The young Hunter here had managed to hold him into the sunlight, Katia had just barely escaped the suns rays as she turned one last time to watch her mentor burst into flames before her very eyes. As a Vampire however she harboured her hatred and anger over the years, she was not one to settled old scores unless they affected her on a deep emotional level. After that day, Katia had become a little more cold, quite a bit more untrusting. This human had taught her that not all of the fraile counter parts could be trusted.

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Even as Julia tried to relax, to just get a moment to herself, the thought wouldn't leave her that the woman was that vampire; she'd be pouncing on Julia at any moment to end things. And a part of the young woman didn't mind that at all. After all, if the vampire just killed her, she'd be away from all of this, away from slavery and masters and all the crap she was sick of dealing with. But she wiped those ideas from her mind; she was stronger than that. There was no way Julia would just give up and die if it came to it. Julia just continued to look out over the waters, fiddling with the silver of the chain and the cross.

The woman spoke, pulling Julia out of her thoughts. So it was the vampire from before. Her voice sent a shiver down Julia's spine, but the young woman wouldn't show it. She might have been terrified of these monsters, but she sure as hell wasn't about to let them know. "I wish I'd come to kill you." Julia smirked, though she couldn't help but wish she had a gun with her. If she could just shoot one of these freaks now, just end their existence, she felt that she'd be a bit happier with her lot in life. It just relieved so much stress when one of them went down. "I didn't come looking for you. I'm just trying to relax a bit."

The vampire was right, Julia was different from the last time they had met. She was a bit more submissive than she had been, her spirit had been knocked down a few pegs from where she had been. That fire wasn't all there anymore. "A dog? Hardly. You know as well as I do that I'd rather die than be one of them." Julia didn't comment on the leash question, but the chain around her neck felt far too heavy now. The vampire was just taunting her, Julia knew it. She probably already knew Julia was a slave. "And you? How has life been without your sire?" Julia knew it probably wasn't wise to tease a vampire when she was unarmed, but she couldn't help it. She hadn't gotten much of a chance to taunt anyone recently, and the vampire was good enough for her.

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Katia giggled softly, she had to admit this human had a brass bunch. To even think she'd show such back talk or insult to such an ancient and powerful being showed her courage. With just a simple thought, an exaggeration, she could snuff out Julia's life. A delicate smile curled across the womans lips as she adjusted herself on the dock. "If you could not do it then, what makes you think you 'ave a chance no, hm?" cooed Katia as she laughed at the Hunters expense. So many had tried to kill her over the years, most of them even being her own kind. Were it so easy at this point she most likely would have already been a smoldering pile of ash upon the floor. "If it were so easily done, I would not be here now." she added with a grin.

"Relax? Oh -- less fun for me then I suppose. If that is what you 'ave come to do then I won't bother starting with you." she spoke softly as she stood and turned to face the ex-hunter now with Golden eyes baring down upon her. Katia would tilt her head to the left and examine her, yes she did have the look of servtitude about her now -- the broken spirit and the collar said it all. When last they had met, she had been extremely over zealous and confident in her own abilities, rightfully so. She had managed to kill Katia's sire, who at the time had been a great deal stronger then any vampire a Human should have been able to handle. Her sires age contributed greatly to Katia's freakish strength, even by her own peoples rights.

The last bit struck a cord within the woman. Taking a powerful fist she'd slam it down into the docks and split it in half. With an angry snarl she'd then flip the entire thing, most likely sending the girl into the lake. With a devilish look on her face she'd scowl. "Hold your tongue, bitch. Next time I will not give you a warning." she scowled as she crouched down. "Where is your master, puppy? Surely you're not allowed to be in this big old world on your own now hm?" she cooed with a grin full of malice. She wanted nothing more then to feed on the Human and be done with it, however that would not yield much satisfaction, having this ones blood in her body sounded sickening.

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Julia had to admit, the giggle creeped her out. Any sort of laugh from one of these creatures generally wasn't a good thing. But when the creature didn't attack her right after the laugh, the hunter calmed down a bit. Her pulse was still a bit faster than it would be if she was totally relaxed; she'd never manage to completely calm herself around a vampire, especially without her weapons. "If I hadn't been too busy getting rid of your sire, you'd be gone instead of him." Julia's fists were clenched at this point; the young woman did not like being laughed at and would like few things more than to take a swing at the vampire.

She felt the vampire's eyes on her and stood, turning to face her as well, wishing that the chain wasn't around her neck. It was rather embarrassing for the hunter, being so close to the vampire and not being able to attack her. Well, she could attack her, but that probably would end rather badly for Julia. Her fists were still clenched, but itched to grab a weapon of some sort and attack the vampire in front of her. Pushing that thought out of her mind, Julia looked the vampire over, trying her best to look like the slayer she had been just a little over one week prior to this little meeting.

Julia nearly lost her balance when the dock was split, and let out a shout as it was flipped and she flew into the lake with a splash. As she was making her way back to the shore, she almost missed the vampire's warning. The young woman just rolled her eyes, pulling herself out of the water. Great, now she was wet and cold. It seemed she had struck a nerve. Well, she'd use that later if needed. At the vampire's next comment Julia's hands clenched into fists again, nails digging into her palms. Master. She hated that word. "He gave me some free time. I have no idea where he is. And frankly I don't care." She answered, her voice holding a bit more anger now as she squeezed some water out of her hair. Having done that, she crossed her arms over her chest and shot the vampire a glare. "I can take care of myself in the world. I've managed to do so thus far at least."

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The woman seemed to have quite the spirit in the face of complete annihilation -- the feat it's self was more impressive then she was. The look on Katia's face however suggested a sort of boredom, she was never one for such harsh verbal spats. Giggling softly she'd toss her hair gently and smirk down at the human. "If I had not done to him what I did, you'd have gotten neither of us." she added with a twisted smile. The smile however was a mask to cover the real pain, that statement ate her alive inside. She'd roll her eyes to keep the tears from coming, she had almost just toppled over her own emotional mask right there, not such a smart move here and now.

It had to be quite hard to be there and unable to do much -- being a hunter and having to have fallen so far to the bottom. Katia tried for a moment to imagine the situation the woman was in, yet she could not truly grasp it. Sympathy was never something she could show too well, especially when she barely had any for something. "You've fallen pretty far Hunter, but at least it wasn't that bad of a fall.. you weren't exactly on the top of the food chain anyway." she purred lightly as she smiled down at the woman swimming to the shoreline. It made her laugh, what she had done soley reacting to her anger without any subconcious thought. The woman was all wet, just like her act.

A loud obnoxious laugh shot out now, he gave her some free time? The sentences it's self almost knocked the Vampiress off her feet from the force of her laughter. She was right this whole time, the woman was nothing more then a dog with a really short leash now. "Awww poor puppy." she cooed softly as she sat down and went back to swinging her feet through the top of the lake gently. "I don't think you've done a very good job friend. You are a slave, no? That doesn't look like taking care of ones self to me." she said with a tone heavy with a mocking sing song voice. "Perhaps it'd be a mercy killing to just off you here and now and save you from your fate.. you've become pathetic.."

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"The fact of the matter is that I got him. One less vampire in the world." A smirk creeped onto Julia's face, a nice mask to hide the fear she was feeling. She had been fortunate enough so far to have not run into any other creature that had gotten away, so she hadn't had to worry about fighting one of them. Sure, she was still in great shape, but the lack of weaponry gave her quite the disadvantage compared to what she had been before. She took a few breaths to calm herself, not wanting to do anything stupid or irrational and get herself killed.

It hadn't really registered with Julia how much she'd lost until Katia's comment. She had been a hunter, someone who could easily take down many of the creatures that stalked these streets. And now? Now she was the one who was afraid, worried that Gunnar would just get bored with her and sell her or kill her. And there was the possibility of him selling her to someone who wanted her sexually, which Julia wouldn't be able to stand. She'd kept herself pure for eighteen years, and there was no way in hell she would let some freak force themself on her. She might not have a huge say in these matters, but she'd fight like hell if anyone tried to force her into something she didn't want to do.

Julia's eyes narrowed a bit at Katia's laughter, not really seeing what was so funny. "I'm nobody's puppy." She spat, crossing her arms over her chest in a defensive stance. "Well, I'm not dead. Most hunters who are caught don't live very long, friend." The last word was just dripping with sarcasm. "I might be a slave, but it won't be for long. Trust me. And as soon as I find a way out, I'll be back to what I love. Getting rid of you freaks." When Katia mentioned killing her, Julia took a step back. Her cross had long since been put back in her pocket, but her hand darted in there now to grasp it for a bit of courage. "I don't need you to save me from anything."

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Katia opened her mouth to reply, but for once she actually didn't have anything to say. The humans words had rung a truth within her, however she would not admit that she had lost out loud. Her sire had been like the father she'd never really had, the only man she trusted as much. Her golden eyes would begin to become a dull black as they glazed over, her more tempermental side exposed now. "Did I not tell you to watch your tongue? Is it death you seek tonight, hm?" she asked with a cold tone that was chilling to the bone. Her fangs would seemingly grow as they became visible each time she opened her cherry red lips.

Her Dress would flutter softly in the gentle breeze as she stared down now at the wet woman. "You are as I said, a puppy. Wether you'll admit it or not your foolish pride looks terrible. The sooner you give in and accept your place the easier this life will be for you." she glared coldly. "You'll never be a Hunter again." she spoke in an angry tone that suggested she was on the verge of making the choice to tear the womans limbs off. "You must not have been a very good hunter as you are still alive. Does that not sting when you think about it?" she'd ask in a gentle whisper. For some reason it sounded more like curiousity then anger or spite.

"Trust me, you won't escape him anytime soon." she added with a glare that suggested that she was aware of which Lycan she belonged to. Gunner, there was no way in hell she would escape that man without a hell being unleashed upon her. Even Katia was quite aprehensive to try and start anything with this man. Sighing she'd sit down and look out over the water with a zoned out sort of look. "That may be true, you may not need me.. but that does not mean that it would not be in your benefit to accept what little help you might be able to get." she spoke in a more serious tone now. "If you truly care about getting away.. even I do not like to see Slavery.."

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Another smirk made its way onto Julia's face. The vampire was at a loss for words, at least for the moment. And however small a victory it was, it was a victory in Julia's eyes. But Julia was knocked down a peg or two at Katia's tone when she did speak, and the young woman took another step back. Like two steps would do anything if the woman wanted to kill her. Julia's eyes flashed to the fangs in the vampire's mouth, sending a chill down her spine. "Death is the last thing I was looking for when I came out tonight.."

She clenched her jaw, glaring at the vampire. "I'm barely an adult. If I ever lacked anything it was because of age. And I know, just like everyone who saw the way they presented me at auction, that I'm still alive because they thought that I would sell for a high price. I've taken great care of my body, never drank or did any sort of drugs, and they thought that a virgin would be a nice little selling point." Julia seemed seconds away from throwing a punch, and was rather glad that the vampire moved back to looking at the water.

"Help? What kind of help would you killing me be?" She laughed. "If that is your idea of helping me, I'd stick with Gunnar. I'm sure he has some enemies that he'd want help offing at some point. Maybe not now, it might even take me a few years, but I'm going to hunt again." Like hell she'd never be a hunter again. Providing no one had found them, Julia had stockpiles of her old equipment hidden throughout the city and outskirts, she had friends, she would get out of this.

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A sign of fear; that meant she was smart. Watching the Huntress take a step back, Katia could feel a small bit of respect for the woman. They were afterall fellow Huntress' in the sense they both understood how to get under the preys skin, making them screw up, and ultimately end their lives. A smile graced her lips as she nodded in acknowledgement of her fear. "..and death is not really something I came out here to give tonight either. I simply wished to the serenity of the sea and some good company." she added softly as she stared out over the sea once more. "I don't know if I can call it good, but you can join me for now, you'll do." she added with a teasing tone, why was she being so nice all of a sudden?

By the way the woman carried herself she could tell the latter was true indeed -- her body was in amazing condition. She made an excellent selling point there indeed as well as being untouched by any male or female in her womanhood. A soft chuckle escaped Katia as she thought of violating the woman herself just for the hell of it, but it was quickly pushed away from her mind for now; spite could come later. "You know you have a good point there, yet I do not really care for the sad story Human, you all seem to have one." she groaned in an annoyed tone as she rolled her eyes. She was just kidding, but it would take someone who knew her to truly tell this.

The human was slow as well? She had never specified that she would end the woman as her form of help at this point; perhaps before. Shaking her head she would toss her long silken hair and giggle. "Silly girl sit down. I did not mean to kill you, I meant I can help you free yourself of Gunner but it will take some time." she added with a nod as she patted the spot next to her. Of course there would be a price to pay once all was said and done, a price that might have been too steep for anyone. For now however she would conviniently neglect that part. "He's a foul man even to his own kind, I'd love to see him die.."

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"Well then, we'll get along just fine." Julia smirked, shivering slightly as she spoke. She was through trying to get under Katia's skin for the time being, not really wanting to experience what happens when a human angers a vampire. She'd seen that before, and it wasn't a pretty sight. "To tell the truth, you wouldn't be my first choice for company either. But I guess it's good enough." She smirked again, trying to keep her comments as light-hearted as possible as to not upset the woman in front of her. Julia stayed standing for a bit, looking out at the ocean and taking a breath.

"We only have sad stories because other people make it that way." She pointed out, though Julia usually hated complaining. She didn't do sadness. That was one emotion she just kept bottled up inside and let fester until it just exploded. But this wasn't one of those times. No, she wouldn't be the sad, pathetic human. Julia would much rather just joke and tease with the vampire. "But really, I don't like sad stories." She chuckled, running a hand through her hair before letting out a sigh. "They're just annoying."

The vampire's giggle sent a chill down Julia's spine. Whenever one of those creatures laughed, it just creeped Julia out, no matter what. She slowly moved to take a seat next to the vampire, raising her eyebrow in question as Katia spoke. "Free myself from Gunnar with your help? Why would you want to help me?" She asked, rather confused now. "He's not been cruel to me, other than the cruelty that comes from me being a slave. I have no reason to kill him. Flat out run from him? Maybe." Julia looked the woman over, trying to figure out why she was offering to help all of a sudden, there had to be something else in it for her. "What's in this for you?"