coming at you fast, midnight

[cosmiccon]

Comments

[maleficum]

[The vampire twists away from Allison (13), but that causes the machete to slice through, spilling blood. It doesn't matter that it's it's blood, rather than human blood - the scent hits him and he goes into a frenzy, twisting around to grab at Allison and bite into the nearest part of her he can find (16).

Sam knows that his position to Allison means he can't just slice clean through. But he holds his attack, flipping the machete down in his hand if he can get a clear shot.

David tries to duck out of the way and attempts the noise spell again (20 vs. 15) but while it angers the vampire, it only seems to feed the frenzy, doubling his efforts to get his fangs into Allison.]

[matriarchate]

( Allison isn't fast enough, too close to the action to avoid being bitten (4). She cried out as his teeth sink into her flesh. She tries her best to stab at him again, flying blind (7). )

[maleficum]

[The vampire doesn't dodge (2), but he also doesn't seem like he particularly cares, given that he's now being fed. He's just going to sit there and drink, completely oblivious to the boys behind him.

Sam's jaw sets and he glances over at David, and David nods. The witch charges forward grabbing the vampire by the shoulders and yanking hard (13 vs. 7), pulling him away from Allison and flinging him back towards Sam. He moves to then catch her, placing a hand over the bleeding wound, trying to keep her blood in her body.]

Easy. I got you.

[In the meantime, Sam's hunter reflexes are ready, and he slices the machete across the vampire's neck, severing it's head from it's shoulders (16 vs. 6), before tossing the head and the body into the swamp.]

[matriarchate]

( This is a familiar feeling, the damsel in their arms, substituting a sword for a vampire's fangs - but it's not nearly as fatal - just painful.

She seethes, sucking through her teeth. )

I'm okay.

[maleficum]

[Sam's panicked face relaxes some when she speaks, but there's still worry there, watching as David's hand remains clamped over the bleeding wound. "Is there anything I can - ?"]

In my bag. Peppermint and lavender, make a paste.

[He glances down to Allison as Sam obliges.]

Not only will it prevent infection, but you'll also smell great.

[matriarchate]

Just what I was wor-worried about.

( There's something about being bitten so deeply and violently that really brings body temperature down, but, she's not going down without a fight - or apparently peppermint. )

[maleficum]

[Between the two of them, they will get the wound cleaned and dressed and wrap her in a blanket. David then fishes out juice and a cookie, because he likes to be prepared, especially in the case of blood loss. He doesn't think that the vampire drank enough to be too dangerous to her if she's still conscious but shock could be a problem.]

Sip slowly, and let me know if you think you're going to pass out or are feeling woozy.

[Sam will just keep an eye on the rest of the swamp, trying not to hover, but also aware that something else could easily come out of the water. They're not safe yet.]

[matriarchate]

( Allison doesn't try to move, sips at the juice and holds the cookie limply as she sits against the edge of the boat. )

That was not my best display.

[maleficum]

We all have our bad days. I'm sure Ezra would delight in telling you the number of times I've opened a door to his office at work bleeding profusely.

[Mostly so that Ezra would have someone to complain to.]

We knew the vamps would be tough. I think you held up well, regardless.

[matriarchate]

I've done better favors.

( Or, she's done them better. He gets it. )

[maleficum]

Far as I'm concerned, you're still holding up your end of the bargain.

[Mostly because she's the one bleeding, not him.]

And we're in the home stretch. As soon as you're solid enough to walk, we'll head in there, get what I need and get the fuck out of this swamp of misery.

[matriarchate]

They should advertise that on the brochure. -- Sam? ( A beat. ) You okay?

[imnot_likeyou]

[He glances back to her, and he nods, putting on that Sam Winchester smile that means he's not okay, but he's saving the panic attack for later.]

Yeah, I'm good.

[Please stop almost dying, he would really like to have a girlfriend who lives.]

[matriarchate]

I'm okay, too. And so's David. His peppermint is going to kick in and then we're going to kick ass. And we'll find whatever maguffin he's after. Okay?

( BUCK UP! )

[imnot_likeyou]

Okay.

[HE'S DOING HIS BEST. Sorry, Allison, you got the Winchester with Feelings^TM.]

Everything seems pretty calm, so things should be pretty straight forward from here.

[matriarchate]

OK. Start the boat up.

( She winces as she pushes herself to her feet, but manages to balance. )

[maleficum]

[David nods and they gently coast the boat the rest of the way to the island, pulling it up on shore and making their way to the door. David holds a hand over the lock, beginning to chant a spell and the ancient lock begins to slowly rotate, pins sliding into place and the door pops open.

He pulls it out of the way, revealing the hallway within. Sam goes in first, scouting ahead to make sure there isn't any trouble.

[matriarchate]

( Allison has recovered enough that she's walking fine, only hesitating with her shoulder movements, but she is back in action. Allison follows Sam, crossbow now in hand.

Is there another vampire inside waiting for them? )

[maleficum]

[There is not. The worse they'll run into here is some Colony witches, but David thinks the odds of that are low. He closes the door behind them and lifts his hand to turn on the lights:]

Lumnos.

[As the lights come on they'll see a spiral staircase centered around a series of doors that spiral upwards into the towers. David steps back, scanning over the doors until he points to one of the ones several floors up.]

I think that's our door, there.

[matriarchate]

You think?

( She stays at the ready, letting Sam take up the rear. She's used to playing through pain, being a young gymnast, so she's quickly adjusting to the pain she feels every time she moves even an inch. They're so close. )

[maleficum]

I haven't been here in a while and they might have moved some stuff around. I'll have a better idea when I get a look at the door.

[There is a method to the madness, he just has to get closer to verify, so up the stairs he goes.]

[matriarchate]

( She touches Sam's arm and encourages him to follow. She's okay. Not almost dead. Feeling even better. He can breathe now. )

[maleficum]

[Sam nods and follows David up the stairs, watching him as he squints at the identification plates on each of the doors. When he's been searching juuuuuust long enough for Sam to question if he really knows what he's looking for, David snaps his fingers.]

There you are.

[And he'll start doing some magic again, looking for any traps and alarms that he might have to worry about.]

[matriarchate]

You're kind of eccentric, you know that?

( But, also impressive in a savant way. )

[maleficum]

Eccentric is just a word applied to people who don't play along with society's dumb rules. Once you realize the rules are made to make you easier to control, they seem a lot less important.

[The door thunks open, and he pulls it open and reaches into the vault door. When he emerges, in his hand is a collection of vials, each sealed with a different arcane symbol. David handles them delicately, slowly shifting off his backpack so that he can store them inside.]