Walking Circles || Jackie

[alexander jay garcía torres]

It'd been a long day, an exceedingly long one. Summer seemed to make the days drag on to painful lengths that left Alex feeling more than just worn. It was as if his exhaustion was eventually going to seep into his very bones and make them ache and groan. Perhaps he was just exaggerating how tired he felt, wallowing in a form of self-pity since he'd woken at another ungodly hour so he could go training. Times like these, as he traipsed almost lethargically home, his thoughts usually circled around how maybe becoming an Enforcer trainee wasn't the best idea and how he should maybe look into driving lessons. Tonight, they were hanging around the latter.

Again, for the third night in a row, Alex had missed the last bus back to the castle and, again, he was walking it, not having the money to fork out for the short taxi ride. He wasn't too tired, if he had to be truthful, but by hell he was looking forward for a warm shower and his warm bed. Mmm... the other guys in his dorm were probably already tucked in their blankets and fast asleep. The air faerie honestly couldn't wait to join them. But not before prodding Zephyr a few times in his face to... to just be annoying?

The thought of annoying his dorm mate brought a cheeky grin to his face though; not too large a smile, mind. A stranger walking down the street at night and with a mischievous curving of his lips wasn't the most normal sight.

Alex tugged his leather jacket a bit closer around his body and his chin dipped into his pale grey scarf wrapped around his neck. For a summer night, it was proving to be a bit nippy compared to the last few and he thanked his random impulse to snatch a jacket before he'd headed for the compound that morning. His iPod had died while he'd been running track so he was treated to the eerily quiet lull of a sleeping town; the occasional car would hum down the road by him and a gentle wind could be heard as it pushed cans and other garbage down the road's gutter and whispered through the trees that lined the pavement. It was quiet, but not the cliched 'too quiet'. It was a night like any other.

About those driving lessons... Alex had been giving it some serious thought. A little car of his own would cut these walks home out of his schedule and, c'mon, having a car would be pretty awesome. He'd probably get something small and cute, something easy to keep clean and easy to park. Yeah. Something easy to park definitely. Or... if he was going down the 'parking' route, perhaps a scooter would be best. A little red Vesper. Now, those things were adorable. Perhaps he was getting a bit ahead of himself by thinking of what vehicle he'd like to invest in but... it was keeping his mind occupied and, thus, making the walk home seem shorter than it already was.


outfit
words: 528

[jackie damiano piazza]

Night had settled just an hour or so before and the skies were washed with an inky black flecked with white pinpricks. I'd only woken for work a short while ago and, as I walked, the air still seemed dirty and laden with the smells and activity of all the diurnal creatures that lived in this town. It wasn't a pleasant smell. The air tasted used, as if it'd all been already sucked into someone's lungs and breathed. I couldn't wait for the air to be cleansed by the crisp freshness the nighttime hours bring.

I was walking to work. I no longer had a car - it'd been burned to its metal skeleton when those faeries torched my home - and I was forced to walk like the common folk. The only positive thing that I could pry from all this would be how I had a nocturnal work shift, something that I hadn't had in years. It was, with no doubt, a pleasant change, albeit not all that welcomed considering that my work consisted of. Bartending was below me.

In among the sullied feel of the air, a faint, sweet smell tickled my nose and I passed it off as one of those boreai or even a faerie wandering home. So, for a few minutes, I gave it no mind. Silly me.

It started to grow in intensity as whoever it belonged to grew closer. Soon it was certain that it came from a faerie - their scent was easily distinguishable for me. And then... I recognized it.

And when I did, my stomach did a somersault. An excited drop. The blood I'd gorged myself on before leaving for work surged and coursed faster in my dead veins, my heart was a flutter with emotion. I was feeling something magnificent.

I knew who it was. I knew. Alex's scent was one of the ones better ingrained in my memory. I remembered how it'd followed and haunted me like a cotton cloud for the next two weeks after I fled Northvale. Like a sickly reminder of what business I'd left unfinished. And he was coming closer.

It took me a moment to realize that I was no longer walking and my feet were firmly rooted on the gritty pavement. My fists were clenched at my sides as I stared with wide eyes down the road. I'd always planned to run into him again but not this soon. I hadn't planned anything. I was still repairing my life! But I chose not to turn the other way, I simply couldn't, and I stood there on the street corner, waiting, just waiting, like a friend for another friend, for him to finally reach me.

[alexander jay garcía torres]

After much deliberation (the time it took him to walk along the main street), Alex had came to his decision: he was getting the Vespa. Either in sky blue or cherry red. It was small, cute as a button, easy to maneuver, easy to park and great for cutting in traffic jams. Seriously. It was all pros! Okay... fair enough... there wasn't exactly any room for good old car sex on its small, leather seat but Alex was sure he could see past that minor fault. A Vespa was the vehicle of choice for him without a single doubt.

So immersed in his though, Alex never really bothered to check the man that loomed up ahead on a street corner. What? It wasn't like he'd expected to be the only person wandering about at his hour because, after all, it wasn't even that late. And even if he looked at the man, it wasn't as if he'd be able to make out his facial features... it was dark and the streetlights were partially plotted out by the trees. Alex would've wished he'd checked though if he knew who was skulking on the street corner.

And Alex walked right by. Didn't bat an eye at the guy. He didn't even blink in his direction. The air faerie's mind was set on getting home and on his future Vespa.

Alex treated the vampire just like he would every other faceless stranger you'd encounter in any nameless street. He paid no attention to him and no warning bells sounded as he breezed past. Past that monster who even to this day plagued at times his sleeping hours; not that he worried anyone with that anymore. When you pretended something never happened, no one else bothered it, and eventually... you could kid yourself into believing it'd never happened. It was much easier to live if you never addressed your issues. So much easier.


outfit
words: 319

[jackie damiano piazza]

Gone was that grimy feel in the air, it'd be replaced by the delectable fragrance of fae. If I had to put this scent into words I'd be incapable of doing so, it wasn't something I could put into such superficial things as words. It was sweeter than a flower and tastier than any meal. It was breathable ambrosia.

I could feel my discomposure building inside of me with every small step the faerie took in my direction, it was growing and growing to an undeniable climax. My breathing was even becoming more shallow and my nostrils flared. I hadn't felt excitement quite like this in a long while, it was like an untamed and fervid fire licking my insides and spreading throughout my body and to my limbs.

The boy was a mere couple of meters away from me and he kept walking, as if he were some dopey animal plodding right into a trap. Why wasn't he reacting? I was right here! I wanted the fearful recognition in his eyes, I wanted him to freeze, I wanted him to do something which would make this moment worth every millisecond of it! Where was it?!

And Alex walked right past me.

As if I were as meaningless as the fire hydrant jutting out of the pavement a few trees down.

All that excitement that'd built up to an overwhelming level fizzled down slightly and anger replaced the space it left. The little bitch hadn't even twitched. He just walked on, step after step, as if I were nothing.

My teeth gritted and my nostrils flared again. How dare he. I'd put fear right into his very heart! And he had the nerve to sail right on by me. I wasn't having this. I just wasn't. So I stole the couple of steps behind the slim boy and my hand came down on his shoulder with an iron grip to steady him. My teeth flashed a bright alabaster in the dim lighting but my eyes remained dark as the street and as dark as I felt.

"Aren't you going to greet your old friend, Alexander?"

[alexander jay garcía torres]

Having not expected for the man he'd just walked past to reach out for him, Alex startled slightly; his shoulders jerked up and his stomach did an unpleasant flop. He sucked in a steadying breath, filling his lungs, and readied himself to give the stranger a piece of his mind. Because, like, you didn't do that! You just didn't grab people so suddenly at night! And especially not so hard... Alex's shoulders were thin little things, not exactly made to carry a man's rough hand. The faerie scowled to himself and rolled his shoulder; a clear hint that whoever it was should let the fuck go. Friend, stranger or nobody; it didn't matter to Alex. You didn't do shit like that. He loathed being spooked of a night.

And then Alex's stomach turned to ice. He hadn't turned his head the full way around yet but he recognized that voice too well, it was unforgettable, right to the foreign accent that'd first lured him in. Alex's whole body tensed and his breaths froze in his chest. A slight feeling of nausea was quick to catch up to him as the adrenaline seeped into his limbs. He didn't dare look back. He didn't need to. He already knew who it was. He didn't want to see his face.

Old friend. Old friend. Those words rang in his ears a bit. They were mocking and cruel. A flood of memories crashed into him and made the muddy-haired boy even a little bit dizzy. The weight being applied on his shoulder felt more than what it was, as if it were pushing him down, down into the pavement by his hand. That same hand that'd done horrific things. Fight or flight kicked in. And Alex chose the latter.

Pale, shaky and vainly trying to fight back the fear creeping into his bones, Alex jerked around, his arm slid under the vampire's swiftly to shove it off his shoulder; he moved quickly, hoping to use his sudden movements to counter the vampire's superior strength. It was a basic personal defense move he'd picked up in training. Alex tore away from the larger man, spurred on by the adrenaline buzzing in his stomach without a second thought. This guy was bad, bad news. The fae wasn't about to foolishly stick around.

Alex knew he'd never be able to outrun a vampire but seconds were all he wanted. He couldn't think; as if someone had stuffed his head with cotton. All that filled his mind was a mix of fuckfuckfuck and the incredible need to get away, to put as much space as possible between him and Jackie Piazza. Alex's footfalls came down heavily on the pavement as the rubber soles of his shoes pounded while he sprinted. Training today had worn him out but the air fae pulled energy out from where there was none. Fumbling in his pocket, Alex ripped his phone out and his thumb blindly dialled the number he last called.

words: 500+.

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[jackie damiano piazza]

There was the reaction I'd been craving. All I'd had to do was speak and the undeniable piquant scent of fear was quick to be smelt. Alex remembered me, no doubt about it, and just by my voice alone. That fact amused me greatly. It seemed as though the faerie had just accidentally not recognized me before. I suppose I could let that one slide.

But, oh, what was this? He was running away? Was he actually deluded enough to think that I'd just let him run away like that? That he'd even be able to? Because I know for a fact that faeries aren't as deft on their toes as us vampires. But, I supposed, I could entertain Alex for a little while if a futile chase on his behalf was what he wanted. Old habits, like playing with your food, died hard, even for me.

So I let the small fae get a bit of a head start, just a few yards or so, until I spotted him pulling a wretched mobile from his pocket. Urgh. That wouldn't be good. The second the screen lit up brightly, I sped off and shortened notably the small distance between us both. There really was no challenge in catching up to him. Should a faerie ever outrun me I think I'll drink my own blood out of humiliation.

Just before reaching the back of the fleeing teenager, I bent my knees in a crouch and sprung up, jumping. I aimed for my feet to land square on the boy's upper back and tackle him to the ground as I leaped once again. There wasn't much thrill in this chase, sadly, but this fortuitous meeting was pleasing enough. I'd get some fun out of it. Perhaps even a bite to eat.

"My, my. That is no way to greet someone you haven't seen in so long, little fae." I said with a slight sneer, landing lightly on my feet. "How have you been? What have you done? Have you missed me?"

[alexander jay garcía torres]

Shit.
Alex knew he wouldn't get far running but at least he'd tried? Jackie's feet falling heavy and sudden on his back sent him tumbling and sprawling forwards. His hands flew out in front of him in a bid to catch himself but it'd happened so fast that his palms just skidded across the pavement, grating his skin over the coarse asphalt. His phone, which'd reached Zephyr's voicemail, went falling too and skittered off into a gutter, its pretty colourful leopard print case getting scratched to hell.

A bit stunned, Alex rolled onto his back and sat up shakily. The knees to his jeans had gotten scuffed and tiny beads of blood appeared on the nasty grazes on his hands. He didn't feel any pain just yet; the adrenaline had rendered him numb to any hurt for the time being.

"I-I... uh..." Alex garbled out, finally lifting his head and looking away from his hands. The moment he saw Jackie though his jaw clenched as did a horrid feeling in his gut. Seeing him in person and so close made him feel sick, panicky and it filled him with slight dread. Why had he even came back?

"Fuck you." The faerie hissed out. Pfft. Like he was going to actually talk with the vile creature. He knew that the vampire was toying with him, like he had done before. Fear had Alex tightly in its bitter grip but he attempted to swallow it down. That last time he'd been weak and no way strong enough to take on a fully grown vampire. But this time could be different.

Before he even registered himself what he was doing, Alex's hand flew up and sent a strong pulse of cool night air aimed for Jackie's chest. And then he was back up on his feet and legging it down the street once more, leaving his phone neglected and forgotten by the roadside; its screen still shone brightly as a voicemail on Ze's phone was recorded.

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[jackie damiano piazza]

Oh, my. The slight fae had done some damage there, hadn't he? Probably grated his hands to hell on the coarse pavement. Poor thing. Poor, little thing. My eyelids flickered of their own accord as the delectable scent of fresh, faerie blood mixed into the air. That stuff was a drug, a powerful and toothsome drug prohibited by strict law. The smell alone filled my chest with a giddy feeling and stirred an awesome hunger in my gut. I'd only eaten a mere hour or so before but for faerie blood, there was always room. Like human kids and their desserts or puddings. There always was a greedy amount of room.

But, instead of letting me savour the sweet aroma, the little bug-eyed bitch attacked me! Now that was just rude!

The blast of air had been strong enough to send me careering backwards and slamming into a cherry red post box on my back. The wind was knocked right out of me and, for a moment, my eyes widened in unmistakeable surprise.

As I took a moment to recover, I spied the insect's spindly legs dashing away as if hell was on his tail. No. He wasn't going to get away. I wanted a mouthful of his life before he escaped anywhere. I'd missed out on the last good chance I'd had. It wasn't happening again.

My fangs slid out and rested menacingly on my lower lip, the sharp tip pressing gently enough to be felt. An angered and raspy hiss, a ravenous and almost primitive noise, left my throat and I leapt to my steady feet. I could feel bruising already blossom on my chest from the sudden and sharp blow Alexander had dealt. But, if he wanted to play hard to get, I'd catch him.

To my right was a car. Not a massive car. Just a small Seat Marbella that, honestly, no one would miss. It was rusting at the corners and had more dents and pings than should be allowed.

"Don't you run from me!" I roared. Stooping over, my rough fingers slid under the car and gripped it. One thing I pride myself over is my strength. It comes in handy for moments like these. Puffing out my cheeks and the veins in my neck bulging and turning an angry bluish purple, I strained my arm muscles and heaved and heaved and heaved, heaving the car slowly up with a groan of its suspension being relieved of its weight.

I might be strong but lifting a car is still no easy feat.

A bead of sweat rolled down my temple and disappeared into the neck of my shirt, my face turning beetroot and generally not looking very attractive. My teeth were gritted so hard that I could feel my jaw throb but... it worked.

With an almighty bellow that tore from my throat, I hurled the large piece of metal junk straight for the fleeing kid, looking with eyes wide enough for the hazel centers to be ringed with white. This better fall him, or at least hurt him in some way. Anything, really. I just needed one chance to get my teeth in, that was all I needed.