Deep in the forest, atop a massive cliff, two sets of gleaming red eyes open. Alice move on top of Ezekiel, her hands holding his arms. "You mustn't lose control." She snarls lightly, her fangs gnashing in front of his face.
He snarls' back at her instinctively, his hands gripping hers as he flips them over. Pinning Alice to the ground, he whispers in her ear. "I'm still quite fulfilled from last night, however you seem quite eager so early in the morning." His teasing tone fills her ear, as he looks down at her. Pressing his forehead against her lightly.
Alice turns her head to the side with a pout, "I just didn't want you to kill your friends, how rude of you."
He kisses her cheek with a light laugh, "Thank you for your concern, that scent was startling, but I should be able to adjust with time." he takes a deep breath through his nose, lowering his face to her ear once more. Lightly nibbling on it, causing Alice to squirm a bit, lightly rubbing her feet along his legs. "Stop teasing me and drink what you need," she says pulling his face into the nape of her neck.
"Ah where's the fun in that?" his voice muffled and mirthful, he softly bites down, drinking slowly as she does the same.
As they seperate, he lays back on his elbows, "Say, what are we going to do about this lack of clothing?" Ezekiel shudders lightly, "I smell Rani, Elaine and 4 other different scents." He smiles awkwardly.
"We'll have to hope they have clothes, and whose fault is it our clothes are in tatters?" Alice raises an eyebrow as she cuddles up to him poking his chest.
Ezekiel laughs, "I believe we both did equal amounts of tearing," he shrugs smirking down at her.
"Hmmph, I suppose you have a point there," Alice smiles up at him. "We'll have to fashion something from the forest." She points at a tree with large leaves and vines.
Ezekiel widens his eyes at the tree, "I suppose we'll have to work with what we have." he laughs walking to the tree, jumping up and slamming a foot down on a branch. With a large snap it plummets to the ground pulling vines with it.
The duo each sit on the ground slowly pulling vines and weave them with leaves into makeshift clothes. Alice fashions a vest that exposes her from her sternum to her lower back as well a makeshift dress. Ezekiel sets about a similar skirt for his lower half, decidedly leaving his upper body bared.
Freshly dressed in their makeshift, Ezekiel smiles lightly, "I feel like Taz, a man from a kids tale." He jumps into a tree leaping from branch to branch with a laugh.
Alice follow him smiling, "Tell me the story while we move then."
"Okay, if you're sure you want to hear it." He says as they whip from tree to tree, "In the story, a group of explorer's of the jungle go with a newborn child. While their surveying they get attacked by a tiger, a feline creature. The group dies except a few, and they abandon the child in their camp. Later on that day, a gorilla. Basically a hairy human, that can't speak finds the child while it's crying. The gorilla takes it back to their home and they raise it as one of their own. The child turns out to be a boy and grows up in the forest. Learning how to walk and move like the gorilla's and monkey's he travels and hunts in the forest for food among the trees." Ezekiel pauses in his movement, Alice leaping to a branch beside his. "I forget how, but the tiger find out about the boys existence, and fights the apes before fleeing. Finding more people in the forest it starts to attack them again, but this time Taz helps the people. In the end he defeats the tiger by kicking it from the branch of a tree to it's death." Ezekiel smiles lightly before beginning the rest, "The group of explorer's now protected, stay, among them is a breathtaking beauty. They grown a relationship together, in which tarzan learns to speak and about humans and what he truly is. At the end he leaves the forest, and integrates back with humans."
They pause at another tree, fairly close to the clearing where their friends are eating. "It's a happy ever after story, with a good end for everyone." Alice smiles, "It's amazing that the woman expended that much effort on him."
"I wouldn't know much about that, but I can understand why she did it. At the end of the day, it's a fairytale." Ezekiel sighs sitting on the branch.
Moving next to him on the thick branch, Alice leans her head against his shoulder. "You're hesitant to meet with them?" Ezekiel nods, gazing at his hands in his lap, when Alice places her hand on his. "Do you fear their reaction?" Alice asks in a soothing voice.
Ezekiel closes his eyes clenching his jaw, "I... I fear their ridicule, their judgemental eyes. I killed someone, on the other world. He took my mother from me and all I remember was the pity and fear in everyone's eyes." He signs looking through the canopy into the brightening sky.
"Fear can be good and bad, it can spur you to move away from danger, but if you always move from danger you will never outgrow your fears." Alice smiles cupping his face in her hand. "My master, devourer of all, even if they fear the new you. Weather they turn their backs on you or remain by your side. I will always be here, someone to lean on, someone to use, someone to support you through everything. I say again, I owe my freedom to you for saving me. I will freely live my eternity by your side. No matter what may come."
Ezekiel's places a hand on her thigh, squeezing lightly, "Then no matter what may come, I will lean on you," He smiles down at her.
"Come on," Alice grabs his hand tugging him to his feet. "Let's introduce the new you to the world."
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Isabella and Isaac sit in silence around the small campfire, slowly eating the food they were given. Rani sit's across from them, an occasional worried glance at the two's depressed state. She sighs heavily, "Do not worry, we will do everything in our power to bring him back." She puts on a bright smile. However, her eyes gleaming with a slightly distant look.
Isaac looks up and returns her smile, "Thank you Rani, we're just worr---"
"Quiet!" Johnathan barks, his eyes lock on the forest. The sound of branches rustling filling the area. Johnathan dons his short sword and dagger, as his gaze flits along the treeling. Raphael stands in front of the group, his Long-sword drawn, beside him Valeria pummels her gauntlet into an open hand taking a ready stance on the opposite side of the group.
"Oh my, what a hostile welcome you've raised for us," a girls giggling voice teases from within the trees. "How very scary they are."
"Who are you?" Raphael calls out, gripping his sword.
"Why I'm but a humble little girl," a voice giggles from behind him.
He turns swinging his sword, only for it to be caught between Alice's two finger's. "Careful where you swing that, it's quite sharp." She teases lightly, with a twirl she spins around a punch aimed at her back, "That wasn't a very nice greeting either, what is with everyone today?" Alice slapps Valeria on the back sending her reeling into Raphael. "You're quite literally hundreds of years too early to get me."
"Careful now, you'll wear that line of yours out in due time." A blur leaps from the tree landing between Johnathan and Alice. "Long time no see, Johnathan."
Johnathan sighs' lowering his weapons, "Welcome back, Ezekiel," He sighs heavily. "That was quite the performance."
"Yes, well it's a bit easier to break up the nerves this way." Alice smiles skipping to Ezekiel's side.
"...Zeke?" Isabella asks, timidly stepping forward.
"I'm back, Bella." Ezekiel looks over his shoulder, "Thank you all for coming to find me." his eyes flicker to Alice. "As you can see I've changed a bit, Isaac, Bella, Rani." he turns to face them. His makeshift clothing flutters in the breeze."
Isabella starts running towards him, before being stopped by a solid hand on her chest. "Do not move any closer." Alice snarls up at her, "He still needs time to adjust, foolish girl."
Ezekiel looks away, "I'm sorry, but please do as she says." he swallows against the dry sensation in his throat, his teeth clenched against the urge to drink. He shudders lightly. "Alice, Come here." He says in a strained voice.
Alice silently appears, turning him to face away from the group. He buries his head in her neck, slowly drinking. His hands tight on her waist, as he stops he licks the wounds closed. "Sorry, this is worse than I'd thought. That story kept my mind off of the urges." He says softly.
Jonathan's eyes widen behind them for a brief moment, before he regains his composure. "I see," He sighs lightly. "As long as you learn control, this shouldn't be a problem."
Alice ignores his words placing a hand on Ezekiel's chest. "Remember, what I told you." she says beneath her breath.
Ezekiel nod's, the strain gone from his face for the time being. He turns to the group, "After swallowing the artifact, I turned into a Vampire. For the time being, none of you should approach to closely." His gaze drifts from Rani, to Isaac, to Isabella, and Elaine.
Isaac's jaw drops for a bit, "You mean...Like drink blood, die to a stake through the heart, bon-a-fide immortal vampire?"
Ezekiel laughs, "Not quite, a stake through the heart won't kill me, but decapitation will. Nor are we weak in the sunlight, as Alice has proven. However the whole thirst for blood, and going into a frenzy is a thing. As long as Alice is here she'll keep me from harming you all."
"Hmph, That's if I want too, for now just keep from physical contact or overly close proximity. Especially Isabella and Rani."
"Don't be difficult, Alice," Ezekiel smiles lightly.
"I'm not being difficult, the more potent the magic, and spiritual energy, the more alluring they become." Alice shrug's, "That's why you chased me for an entire day and night." She sighs dropping her shoulders to feign exhaustion.
Isaac laugh's lightly, as Isabella and Rani glare at Ezekiel. "Ahem," Ezekiel scratches the back of his head, "Moving on from thaaaaat matter," he chuckles akwardly.
Alice straightens up, turning to face Ezekiel, "Why so shy, Master?" She trails a fingertip along the underside of his chin, with a teasing smile. "I've yet to receive my rewards for the forest, and just now." She says innocently.
Ezekiel snarls lightly at her, gnashing his teeth by her ear, "All in due time, Alice."
"Oooh, so scary," She teases as she prances away. Her sharp gaze on his state, "Watch carefully everyone."
Isaac's eyes glimmer, as he watches his friend struggling, as Isabella grabs Isaac's arm. "What's wrong, Ezekiel?" She asks in a timid voice
Ezekiel's jaw twitches, as he hears her voice. "Maaaster," Alice flicks her blood towards him, "This way." She coaxes as she moves closer.
"This is a dangerous game," Raphael motions the other's behind him.
"What is she doing?" Isaac asks as his eyebrow twitches.