I'm in chains...cause i'm only skin deep. (Phay)

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Phay groaned slowly lifting her head up from the white tilings of her bathroom floor. She lifted an eyebrow how had she gotten here? Before she could even begin to think of any possible answers a heavy blanket of dread reached in around her it felt almost as if the empty hole in her chest had frozen over. Lifting herself up, her legs wobbled underneath her as she opened the door of her bathroom fully intending on heading to bed when the faint sound of screaming caught her attention she turned her head towards the thick heavy door that connected Orion to her room. An unnatural light peeled outward from the small hole under the door it was almost as if Orion was watching a movie. Unlocking the door she quietly stepped inside and what she saw made her freeze in fear. Countless bodies littered the streets all mutilated in some form or other. Children crying for there mothers before Orion appeared out of no where silencing them for good...Why was he doing this!?

"I'm sorry Mistress... I did as you asked me to..."

Phay blinked whirling around upon hearing Orion mumble out in his sleep. She walked over to his bed his face was distorted with pain as he continued to udder under his breath. She didn't understand what he meant when he had said he did as she had told him but not even two seconds later did Phay get her answer as she turned at the sound of her own voice staring up at the dark projection as she order him to slaughter. She turned back to look at him, he didn't need to tell her anything she knew that he had never wanted to hurt those people...he had only done because he thought it would make her happy. Not long after she had seen the results of his obedient act and it made her sick to her stomach...All those veil undeceived things she had said to him how could have let herself hurt him like that...Phay looked down at Orion sniffling as she tired to sooth him, tired to mend the damage she had done. “No Orion...it's okay, you didn't do anything wrong...” She took his hand into hers hoping that her warmth would give him some comfort as he battled with his nightmares. “You're not the murderer Orion...I am...” She was she had given the order Orion had only followed it she was to blame for this crime. Phay wanted nothing more then to just curl up next to him and help him fight off his inner demons but she couldn't she didn't deserve to touch him, to even be in his presence and she most certainly did not deserve his love. She gave a sad smile...at least he never wasted his affection on her.

Backing away she ran back into her room slamming the door behind her. Looking down at her hand a steady boil of udder hatred for herself began to grow mess together with a deep bellowing sadness for what she had down to Orion. How could she ever apologize for what she had done? Phay could feel herself beginning to lose touch with the world around her but she didn't care as far as she was concerned Orion was free and she knew it wouldn't take long for him to figure it out on his own. She slumped into her chair her eyes fixated on the sky but she wasn't looking at it, she was lost inside her own mind and it would take a lot for her to respond to anything. She felt tired and spent as the day past and nightfall came Phay had fallen into a heavy depression. She had barely noticed Orion coming in at some point that night but she had only told him to go find something to do and leave her alone. This continued for days, Phay stopped eating, stopped sleeping stopped everything she just stared out the window all day and all night. Her power had decreased to nothing and the vines that guarded her manor disappeared.

The third night had finally come and nothing had changed no one could through to Phay anymore, she wouldn't even give those small two worded answer so giving up everyone went to bed leaving Phay the only one awake in the manor. The forest surrounding the manor was quiet, which was out of the norm seeing as there where nocturnal creatures that lived in there. During the months Phay had become The Red Witch she had unintentionally made enemies, people that feared her but also people that wanted to control her if not put her to death. One group never seemed to quit and usually Phay could ward them off with ease and usually they would never attempted an attack her at her strong hold but tonight was different. Unknowingly word had gotten of the witches weakened state taking in this opportunity they broke into the manor with ease killing anyone before they could raise any alarm.

Phay was standing still staring out her window when they entered her room. She had felt them but only barely enough to know that they were coming. The leader took a stepped forward while the three others stood behind him. “Good evening dear Red.” Phay said nothing as she continued to stare out the window. The leader chuckled pulling a long harpoon gun along with a long sliver arrow that was sharp to the touch. “Awww got nothing to say today?” Snapping the arrow into place her lifted it up aiming it towards her, Phay gave a solemn glance behind her before turning back toward the window. “That's fine...” He smirked pulling the trigger, the arrow shot forward sharply sinking to Phay's back, the force pushing her up against the glass, the arrow had gone completely through her and was now jammed into the window. Giving a choked gasp Phay managed to pull herself off the metal arrow blood dripped heavily to the ground as she slid down to the floor.

It didn't take long before they were on top of her, the two biggest of the group grabbed her arms forcing her to her feet. Phay let out a painful groan she had never felt this weak before she would have been fighting back if she could but she couldn't seem to will herself to do so. Grabbing a fistful of her hair they slammed her head onto a near by table holding it in place as the leader grabbed an ax from one of the other group members, grinning with delight as he lifted the weapon up over his head. The moments seemed to stretch as looked over towards the door that lend to Orion's room she figured he was gone by now seeing as he wasn't here to save her not that she blamed him she didn't deserve to be saved. Phay smiled slightly after all these years of running and hiding death had finally caught up with her but she didn't mind...Phay welcomed it.

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Shattering the already broken glass, a black bolt of lightning shot through the window, a tiny glint of silver within it was the only indication that this was something more than it appeared to be. Circling the room, shrouding it in a suffocating darkness filled with frightened screams, Orion’s nightmarish visions appeared. They were randomly chosen for effect this time, blinking blindly across the void between the confused minds of the men, the one holding Phay down on the table seemed to be his main target. Already the man’s head looked like it might explode at any moment, Orion didn’t seem content to leave it at that though, he knew even his bewildering visions would not distract them completely if they focused on the red witch alone, her own powers seemed to weaken his at a moment’s notice. With a reassuring glance and a charming smile in her direction, he quickly focused his attention on the brutes keen to have their way with Phay in her weakened state. He snarled ferociously, baring his fangs in a fearsome display of just how dangerous he could be, showing them images of just how many people had fled before him in the past and died as a result. Most of them were quivering in their boots by now and a couple had even wet themselves in a state of panic, unsure of themselves, they all looked to their frightened leader, the one currently holding the Red Witch to the table. It was then that Orion spoke, his voice dripping with a venomous anger delivered so icily it made them all shake in unison ”I don’t believe you’re welcome here… “ The leader shivered slightly with the pure malice in Orion’s eyes. His warning glares and visions were enough to make the man want to turn tail and run but for the sake of his men and the fact that Orion was still greatly outnumbered, the man decided to fight. Orion hissed at them knowing full well by their stances, that the men had chosen to fight, he knew only too well every possible method of attack they could have chosen, it was drilled into his survival training, present in his every fiber as a vampire, present in every articulated second of his horrendous life. He just knew the leader would strike first, they always went first. Suddenly before anyone could move a brilliant strand of silvery gray light arced its way around, carving its way through the black mist to the leader ‘s agonized face cutting his skull clean in half, before moving onto the next man and the next. By the time the brutes realized it was Orion’s powers attacking them, the remaining troops flew forwards no longer held in the vice of fear at such an unexpected surprise attack. Still snarling as ferociously as he had when Orion had started this mess, he lunged forwards to collide with the first of the bulky men now charging him, kneeing the man roughly in the stomach, Orion moved to the next. Not bothering to check the body count, not bothering to see who was dead and who was not, he moved to kill. His lethal blows to the mortal men did little to diminish his fearsome appearance though and before long the half still alive decided to retreat scampering away as they lifted themselves up off the floor or dragged their mates out the door, the only things left behind were corpses.

”Are you alright Mistress?...” Orion asked tentatively taking a step towards her, he didn’t want to get too close in case she beat him again for displeasing her, he had no idea of how much she remembered of the last few days, she had appeared to be lost inside some sort of deep dark thought. He hadn’t dared to shake her out of it, he had visited her frequently though, the old leather bound journal he’d salvaged from the graveyard now lay on the floor, walking over he picked it up, placing the book carefully on the desk beside her head, exactly in the same spot it had been previously. Being so close to his mistress made him shiver slightly with expectation and anxiety, he wasn’t afraid of her now though, it just seemed that every time he got this close to her… Well, he wasn’t sure what it was but she seemed familiar, she seemed… safe to him. Already though that thought, that downtrodden feeling had been crushed once before, would she do it again? Could she do it again?... those two questions seemed to drown out all else, that and the fact that he’d actually killed a man with his new powers, a feat he’d had yet to accomplish and was still stunned to have finally realized that he could. Orion stood there for a few moments just examining his hands, there wasn't a drop of blood on him this time, the need to feed though had grown stronger everyday Phay had neglected him, he was too worried about her to leave the mansion for food but he had managed to bathe and clothe himself without her, he'd even been outside. Infact he'd been lingering in the garden just now whilst she stared blankly out the window, lost in the deepest parts of her misery, he wasn't sure why she seemed upset, it appeared to have something to do with that night, the night that now haunted him for eternity... all those new faces that now added to the others since dead and buried, circling around in his worried head. He supposed he should say something else, she still hadn't answered his original question. Whether that was because she was frozen in fear of a different kind or just as angry at him as before, he wasn't sure. So he tried diverting her attention, from the mound of bloody corpses, now staining the floor. "I made you something to eat... are you hungry?... are you hurt?" he added still confused as to why she hadn't said anything he glanced at her sideways indicating the food now spoiled and slightly moldy on silver platters that littered the desk, it looked like someone had been eating it but he was sure it wasn't her, perhaps rats or other vermin... he wouldn't be surprised if the small chunks now missing, had been taken by that evil buzzard that usually followed her around.

With some sort of confidence he walked around to stand directly infront of her, checking her over himself as lightly as possible when she yet again provided him with silence, he was worried about her but not enough to do something about it, not enough to try and escape. "You're okay..." he muttered slightly relieved, he picked her back up carefully and set her back down beside the window, waiting for her to gain that blank look again so that he could leave her in peace but it never came... "Do you want something?... " he asked slightly confused, in his confusion though he sounded more annoyed, not bothering to call her mistress as he usually did. He smoothed out his long dark coat, it was getting quite cold outside the last few days, an even blanket of snow now covered the entire garden in white. He didn't need the coat to stay warm, technically he wasn't alive but the icy touch of the silver collar irritated him no end and he'd already tried numerous ways to remove it. His usual black steel capped boots gleamed like they were freshly polished but already they were covered with gray slushy snow, now melting into the carpet as he stood there awaiting some sort of reply from the apparently muted red witch. Running a hand callously through his slightly dampened dark hair he asked again seemingly more agitated as though he were supposed to be somewhere else by now. "Do you want something Mistress?... " He tried to sound more polite about this time, making sure to add mistress for effect, he wasn't sure what good it would do but maybe she wanted to thank him. pfft, he somehow doubted that...

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Phay didn't understand, looking down at the bodies that littered the floor there blood merging into the old lush rug that was under both there feet but Phay wasn't worrying about that, no she was still trying to process the now looming vampire that had once again somehow managed to save her life. "Why...?" It was barely a whisper as she stood up sharply though never taking her eyes off the fallen men. "Why are you still here...!?" To Orion it probably sounded more like an order to get out of her face but she was more so asking to the fact of why hadn't he left when he had the chance? Phay suddenly became very distressed herself in her visible weakened state as the walls shook when the sudden rush of icy chill of her power inhuman like cries could be heard from every shadowy corner in the room. "Why did you help me!?" She was backing him up to the middle of the room to where he was almost tripping up over the bodies. Phay hated it he was always like this, pretending to care about her always at her side but never actually wanted to be there... "JUST LEAVE ME aLoNe!" Her voice was laced with Zenocide as her power rushed forward sinking underneath Orion's feet.

A pool of darkness opened up pulling Orion fast down through the darkness. Phay watched him disappear she knew he would only be sent to another part of the manor but if he was smart he would catch her warning and stay away for to night. Phay waiting till the portal had closed before resting her back into the wall a broken sob escaped her lips as she slumped down to the floor. Orion still running around in her head on top of everything she had to deal with of every second of her life how her past would never leave her alone even how her old self always smiling face and cheerful emotions often replayed in her head even when she was sleeping...whether it was from lack of food, blood loss, sudden over rush of power or a combination of all three she found herself slipping out of conscience the lingering thought of her old self was all that remained as she let herself pass out.

The next day it was like the nothing had happened Phay's room had been cleaned and the window replaced Phay was back to her usually self making her rounds around the manor Artemis once again perched on her shoulder, she had been looking around for jobs that might be suited for Orion when she was not around or when she didn't need him to be around. She had found a place for him in the kitchen seeing as he had been the one to make her all the food she had later noticed on her desk. She would probably find some other chores but for now that would do but she needed him for other things tonight. That attack on her part would not go unnoticed not to mention she needed to get something important and tonight was going to be the only time for a long time she could acquire it.

When night had fallen she made her way into Orion's room Artemis had left since then having something important to do. Phay kicked one of the legs on Orion's bed. "Get up..." Phay was speaking back in her old monotonous voice. She waited for Orion in the room as he rushed off to get ready she was beginning to get annoyed when he had finally reappeared clothed and ready. Opening up a portal Phay walked through ushering Orion to do the same the cold blackness of the Zenocide felt welcoming to Phay as she had long since been use to it. They finally reappeared into an ally way somewhere in the heart of the city the buzzing noise of life could be heard faintly in the distance. As Phay leaned back against the wall, folding her arms and looking almost bored. "Go eat..." Phay needed him at full strength and that was something refrigerated junk just wasn't gonna do. "But be back within the hour...do not make me come look for you..." Phay made sure to display the glinting silver band that had now taken permanent residence on her wrist."Go your wasting time..."

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Well, it was better than nothing, though to be honest being unceremoniously dumped in another part of the mansion wasn't his idea of an apology or his idea of a thank you, he still let it go. Unsure of exactly what this meant to the Red Witch and what she seemed to be going through, he left well enough alone, he didn't need to be beaten silly or locked away again in that tiny space between two walls. Instead he sat there sulking on the concrete floor, sat with his legs crossed and his arms folded, if she going to treat him like a child then he'd act like one. He sat there for as long as he could, eventually though the cleaning ladies grew tired of him in their way and grudgingly after being poked and prodded with broom handles and mops for a few minutes he wandered back towards his bedroom. By now he knew most of the staff by name, he knew who was hired for what and exactly what it was their jobs entailed, he knew whose job it was to clean the rooms and the carpets and who's job it was to stock the kitchen full of food. He'd had whole conversations with the dungeon staff, most of them cheerful and a few that weren't quite so nice. It seemed everywhere he went he made a friend or an enemy and as hard as he tried to stay out of the way he always stood out amongst the rest. The next days events seemed only to highlight that aspect of his life, as yet again he was woken by the witch, at first he was annoyed to be woken yet again so early after sunset but as he got dressed he realized it had been the first night since the death of all those people that he'd been woken for anything and he was almost grateful. Almost that is, until she decided to open one of those dreadfully cold solid black portals, Orion didn't feel the cold, he didn't feel much of anything but the sinister amount of dark energy swirling all around him was unnerving. What frightened him most though was the fact that she might just ask him to do something unspeakable again, that she might ask him to kill.

When she asked him instead to go and feed he was slightly relieved, killing for a reason was better than killing for no reason at all but he was tired of killing, he'd done enough of that the last few nights. So instead of arguing he anxiously set off, worried about leaving the Red Witch for long by herself, he made sure not to wander too far. He didn't intend on doing as she'd asked instead he figured he'd roam free for awhile but as the night dragged on and his hunger increased, he realised his time was growing short and this might be his last chance to feed for weeks, as the mansion was a great distance from the city, it was also s good distance from any source of food, the kind of sustenance he required to survive wasn't around there. He needed to feed here, or else risk forfeiting his own life and possibly the Witch's life as well. Sighing in defeat to himself he scanned the crowd of people before him, sitting on a park bench as he watched everyone moving about in the crisp night air, they didn't seem too bothered by the fact it looked like snow. Orion doubted they would even notice if it did, everyone seemed to be having too much fun, the children quickly started home all of them had just about disappeared in the last few minutes. That made Orion slightly more comfortable, he hated to think the kids would see what he was about to do, he hated to think of anyone being caught up in what he was about to do. He even contemplated just returning to the Red Witch empty-handed again, he hated feeding off people, killing them in such a brutal fashion was hardly his idea of simply living. Suddenly, he noticed an old man take a rather bad tumble down a snow drift, with a small growl at himself he lunged into action, leaping off the park bench he dashed across the snow at a blinding pace. Whisking the man up off the ground Orion ran out into the street and around the corner into an alleyway before anyone had noticed, leaving behind only a bloody puddle where the man had split his skull open on the icy pavement. Orion wasted no time in draining the old man's veins, the quicker he died the better, he wouldn't feel the burning venom now coursing through his veins, he wouldn't feel the chunks of ice now embedded in his brain, in fact if all went well Orion doubted he would even know what was happening before he died.

It wasn't much to fill him, the man was half dead before Orion had even reached him, placing the old man's body back in exactly the same position with as much speed as possible was a slightly more challenging task. Returning to his seat on the park bench Orion made sure his family eventually noticed the old man was dead before moving on, the bad weather though made sure he had very slim pickings in the measly hour the Witch had given him to feed. Usually it took him a whole night to feed properly, he needed the right circumstances to feed unnoticed, to feed unobstructed, uninterrupted on a whole body was nearly impossible in such a short space of time. Suddenly his luck seemed to change, after having been seated at the park bench now for over forty minutes, when out of the blue a hooded figure jumped another on the walkway and they began fighting. Stabbing at each other with knives and fisted punches until one of the men fell down cold, the other quickly run off before anyone noticed what had happened, injured and bleeding it was only too easy for Orion to find him. Sense of smell was one of a vampire's strongest senses in the absence of proper sustenance, he knew where the man was hiding how fast he was traveling and roughly in what direction he would go, all before the man had figured it out himself. This alone made Vampire's stealthy hunters, a dangerous force to be reckoned with on any given night they were more unpredictable, more lethal on the night they chose to feed. Twitching now, like a nervous rabbit in the jaws of such a terrifying enemy, the man was dead. Unable to struggle or fight for his life any longer, unable to even tell where he was or who had finally caught him as Orion drained every last drop of blood from his lifeless body. At this point he didn't care who was the criminal and who was the victim, he needed food and the likely hood of another lucky break striking twice in the same place before his hour was up was almost certainly never going to happen. Ditching the body somewhere inconspicuous, Orion made his way back to where Phay had left him, arriving ten minutes early and well within the hour, he waited for his mistress to return. Orion was the master of coming up clean after a feeding session, so violently bloody as they often were, he was one of the few that appeared to have nary a mark or scratch to show for it.