Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ A Matter Of Choice ❯ Painful Lessons ( Chapter 33 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Tegan is finally back out in the hunt and as planned, Torin is her prey. However the night does not going according to plan, and what happens neither of them could have expected.

Disclaimer: This is an original work that has been in progress for nine years. While I have taken inspiration from a number of sources, the characters and plot line are entirely my own. Anyone wishing to use my characters must contact me for permission FIRST.

In later chapters there will be graphic violence, gore and scenes of a sexual nature - both homo and hetero sexual. There will also be character death. I am not responsible if you do not read this disclaimer and do not like the graphic content.

Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Horror / Hentai | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 07.13.2007 | Pages: 6 | Words: 6.3K | Visits: 168 | Status: Work In Progress

Painful Lessons

Tegan woke as the sun was setting. She had been training for weeks, and had begun rearranging her sleep pattern a few days go to get ready to go back out on the hunt. She stretched her body out, making sure she felt at full strength. Though recently she had investigated some disturbing rumours, rumours about information on vampire genetics. She had made it to the lab in question to find a scientist dead, computers smashed. She had taken the motherboards home and worked on them all night. While the information was destroyed, there were enough traces to find out that the rumours were true.

Well there was only one vampire who could possibly have gone to a human like that. The rest of them held a disdain for humanity and generally viewed them only as food, no better than livestock. Just what the Hell was Torin up to? It was one of the many questions that were on her mind as she prepared herself for the coming hunt, so took a moment to collect her thoughts, schooling her mind into that focused, determined state she was going to need if she actually managed to face down her prey tonight. Her mind prepared she dressed for the night ahead, thin denim pants and a ribbed cotton vest. She pulled on her boots, tying her hair back in the ponytail that had by now become customary.

She sighed as she contemplated. She supposed she ought to eat before going out on the hunt, but she had given up on it now. She spent far too much time throwing up after a kill and so had decided that it was a waste of time, and an unpleasantness she could do without. With that thought in mind she crossed to the dresser in the lounge where her belt and blades awaited her. She took a moment to compose herself as a wave of nerves threatened to overtake her. You would have thought that she would be used to it by now, this feeling was almost routine, but it never changed. Swallowing it down she put on the belt, making sure the blades were comfortable, before heading out into the night.

* * * * *

Tegan walked down the alleyway, dark and misty as it was and felt a presence behind her. She felt a little jolt of triumph. Torin had remained elusive and out of her grasp, and yet she had finally found his favourite hunting ground. Following what had happened at the hospital, this encounter promised to be an interesting one. More so since it would be her first since coming so close to death. She had trained for six months just to get herself feeling ready again. As she made her way she thought about all she knew about him. He'd never tried to hurt her outright, but she was certain he was going to be strong. After all, he was Demetriov's fledgling, and one of the elders now.

She turned sharply as laughter echoed off the buildings around her. She pulled her blades into her hands, trying to steady her racing heart. Slowly but surely she backed up the alley, the shadows starting to close in around her. Her back met something hard, she jumped, turning and striking out sparks lighting the alley for an instant as the blades ground into the brick of the wall.

“Shit!” She admonished herself for being spooked so easily.

“Well, well, well.”

Tegan turned slowly, knowing full well who it would be. Torin was leaning against the alley wall, arms folded across his chest. He was dressed in faded jeans, a sky blue t-shirt, leather boots and his faded leather jacket which was a good cut for his figure. Without fail, he was the one who could pass most convincingly for human.

“So you finally found me Tegan. You'd been gone so long we had wondered if you'd decided to retire. Tell me the truth, did it really take you this long to find where I hunt or have you not really been looking?” He smirked.

“A bit of both I guess. Once you piqued my interest it took a while to find you, but I haven't been looking for too long now.” She replied simply.

“I'm glad you're candid. I hate a liar. Stuart wouldn't admit that I had been hard to find.”

“He was a very proud man, until Demetriov killed him. The trap was unfair.”

“Maybe a little.” Torin conceded. “But don't forget what I did for you that night.” He reminded her sharply.

“I haven't, but do you have too much compassion to fight me?” She taunted.

“So brash. What is the hurry? We could talk for a while, discuss politics.” He mused teasingly.

“We both know that is not what we are here for.” She replied evenly.

“Ah, so the hunter wishes to start the chase.” Torin smiled darkly, slipping off his jacket so that it would not impede him, letting it fall to the ground. “But the question is this…who is the hunter and who is the prey?”

Suddenly he was gone. Tegan's guard was up immediately. She knew not to be fooled by this trick, it being just one ability that the elders possessed. She cried out in shock as she was lifted off her feet as Torin threw her, appearing out of the shadows. She landed roughly on the sidewalk, the breath knocked out of her. Gasping for breath she rolled onto her side, she knew she could not remain weak like this, he was far too dangerous an opponent to give such a chance. She groaned, heaving herself to her feet, but when she turned he was gone again.

“You see Tegan you have to be quicker than that.”

Tegan circled slowly, listening, watching, and trying to gain any sense of where Torin might be concealed. This time she felt a tug from behind causing her to lose her balance before she was thrown against the wall. She cried out as she hit the wall hard, collapsing at it's base She lay in a crumpled heap, trying to catch her breath, her teeth gritted against the pain that radiated throughout her being.

“Torin, stop playing with me!” She growled, annoyed that he was toying with her like this rather than fighting her.

His voice echoed around the walls once more, circling with the wind and his constantly shifting position. The effect was unearthly and unsettling.

“Why should I when it's so much fun? “I'll follow you; I'll lead you about a round, through bog, through brush, through brake, through briar; Sometimes a horse I'll be, sometimes a hound, a hog, a headless bear, sometimes a fire.””

Tegan rose to her feet incredulous. He was quoting from fucking Shakespeare! She shook her head. “Where are you Torin?” She called.

““Here villain, drawn and ready. Where art thou?””

His voice came from behind her but when she turned there was no one there.

“Is this how you fight Torin, by running away?” She shouted, almost laughing at the absurdity of the moment.

““Thou coward, art thou bragging to the stars, telling the bushes that thou lookst for wars, and will not come? Come recreant, come child; I'll whip thee with a rod.”” Watching Tegan from his vantage point on the fire escape he pulled a piece of pipe away from the plumbing on the wall behind him. ““He is defiled that draws a sword on thee.””

True to his word, Torin appeared beside her the thin length of pipe in his hands. The first blow he aimed across her legs, sweeping her feet from under her, the twin blades clattering to the sidewalk. Pain scored the tender flesh of her thighs, Tegan rolled onto her front to push herself up, the pipe crashing down on her thighs again, catching her left buttock. Tegan yelped in pain and indignation as he pinned her down with his foot on her torso and he brought the pipe crashing down again and again on her thighs and buttocks. Blood rose to the surface of the welts, her thin denim pants offering little protection from the onslaught.

For fuck's sake, what the Hell did he think he was doing? This stupidity was going to end and it was going to end now! Placing her palms firmly on the floor, Tegan pushed upwards with a mighty effort that had her breaking out into a sweat. This dislodged Torin, Tegan rolling over and grabbing hold of his foot. She twisted the ankle joint forcing him to the floor, the length of pipe flying from his hands, clanging against the sidewalk. Scrambling to her feet she dived for him fists balled, but he was gone again. She limped in a slow circle, aware of blood trickling gently down her legs, the flesh a grid of red-hot pain. She was fuming with humiliation, and let out a scream of frustration.

As the sound left her throat she heard his footfalls beside her, turned and slammed him into the wall much to his surprise. She brought her knee hard into his crotch Torin bending double at the sudden flash of pain. She grabbed his shoulder and slammed the heel of her hand into his face with all the force she could muster. His head hit the wall with a dull thud. Before she knew it she was flat on her back on the ground, pain blossoming through her chest, barely able to draw breath. He stood above her, one foot either side of her waist, tutting gently.

“That was good Tegan, but not good enough.”

She dived for him but could only watch as he jumped onto a fire escape above her. She sat on the ground, hands supporting her, semi laid back, panting for breath. He grinned at her laughing, before melting into the darkness once more. She hauled herself to her feet, slowing her breathing, trying to concentrate on the sounds around her. She closed her eyes her muscles tense and her body ready for the approach that she knew would come. She heard his quiet approach from her left and swung out a punch that connected with the soft flesh of his stomach, catching Torin off guard.

She threw all her energy into punches that connected with his jaw, chest and shoulder, but found herself parrying blows all too soon, she had lost the momentum in this battle. Instinctively she kicked out at him, the blow strong, forcing him away from her. But the relief she felt as she gained space did not last long. She cried out as she followed the blow through, the tension on her skin ripping the welts open further in a surge of white-hot pain. She felt her leg buckle beneath her, collapsing on the sidewalk as Torin disappeared once again. She lay panting, waiting for the pain to abate. This was getting her nowhere. She needed to buy time, to give her legs time to recover. She decided to change tactic.

““Either I mistake your shape and making quite…”” She called out as she reached for her blades that lay on the concrete. ““…Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite call'd Robin Goodfellow.””

Her voice echoed off the buildings as she slowly got to her feet, hands tensing around the blades.

““Thou speakest aright: I am that merry wanderer of the night.”” Torin jumped down to stand beside her with a smile. ““What wouldst thou have with me?”” He asked with a smirk.

Torin gasped as Tegan struck out, trying to swing away from the blade. He found himself pinned to the wall; his neck trapped between the blade's handle and inner curve, the tip embedded in the brickwork behind him. He swallowed hard; feeling Tegan's knuckles digging into his throat.

““Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives.”” She growled, her tone dripping venom. Oh payback was so delicious.

It was Tegan's turn to smirk. She let him sweat a minute, if he tried to escape he would behead himself, and she could do the same in a moment if she so wished. Shit! Torin had let his guard down and in that one slip it seemed she was determined to make him pay for it. Oh boy how the fuck was he going to get out of this mess?

“A life you may have if you will permit me the other eight.” He spoke carefully looking her in the eye.

“A truce then?” Tegan offered, knowing that was her best option under the circumstances. Her legs hurt like hell and she had little chance of beating him in this state.

“Certainly.” He took the offer eagerly; he was rather attached to his head after all. Note to self, never let your guard down round Tegan, next time it could be lethal.

Tegan stood directly in front of him to get better leverage and yanked the blade out of the wall.

“I shall have to get the plating redone.”

Torin breathed out heavily, the relief he felt palpable.

“You know Tegan, to look at you, it is very deceptive. I thought I had you beat. Then you pull that out of the bag. It's no wonder we all keep underestimating you.”

“Why is that?” Tegan asked sweetly, not really caring about his opinion.

“You don't look dangerous, you siren you.”

“Hah!” Tegan laughed out loud. “A siren, me?”

“It's so hard to believe that the predatory genes are behind a pretty face.”

Tegan sat on the ground, resting her aching muscles. She sighed rubbing her legs to soothe them, though she had to be careful to avoid touching the welts directly. Any pressure on the open skin stung like hell. Damn she was going to be aching next evening.

“I had little choice when it came to my career.” She half growled as a twinge of cramp coursed through her right leg. Fuck that hurt!

“I know.” Torin replied softly. “I was there when you started down this road.”

Tegan turned sharply at that little admission. So he was watching as Demetriov took hold of her mind, while Demetriov fought Stuart and did nothing? Though what would have been the point? And when she thought about it, it was only logical that he tried to protect her after Demetriov had made his intentions clear. Though she couldn't say that the knowledge didn't bother her.

“I was trying to keep tabs on Demetriov that first night, when he tried to make you one of us.” Though his mischievous mood from earlier had not dissipated. He decided to tease her a little. “Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a vampire? You have all the right talents.” He asked slyly.

“No. Not really, I've never given it a second thought.” She replied sharply.

“Not even after Demetriov's promise? He is perfectly serious you know.”

“Of course I know. He was perfectly serious the first night too. I've never wanted to think about that eventuality.” She thought about that first night, the arousal, and the desire. She blushed at the memory, wanting to banish it from her mind.

“I guess I'd better get up. Would you mind since you're the one who made this so difficult?” Her tone was sharp, but mockingly so as she held out her hand for some help.

Torin pulled her up a little too quickly, Tegan losing her balance and falling into his chest, his arms closing round her gently to steady her. Tegan caught her breath as she took in his scent. Earthy yet spicy, it reawakened memories of Michael. She stepped away hurriedly, smiling sheepishly at him. She groaned as her thigh muscles cramped, doubling over.

“Let me see.” Torin said looking a little concerned.

Torin looked over her thighs, blood having seeped through the fabric, invading his senses. The blows had ripped her pants, raw wounds visible through the tears.

“I think I've made a bit of a mess.” He chuckled.

Tegan laughed. “A bit! I probably look like a piece of rare steak under these jeans.”

“Oh stop tempting me.” Torin teased.

Tegan burst into laughter; the whole thing was hilarious. Tegan could barely move after the fight, but how they had ever ended up fighting they would never work out. They just couldn't fight each other seriously. In the little time they had spent together a friendship had begun to grow, a fact that they were both beginning to recognise.

“So you know Shakespeare?” He questioned, offering her an arm for support until the cramp eased.

She took the proffered arm gratefully. “Used to have a copy of all his works. Don't get much time to read these days though.” She replied regretfully.

“I understand. And your favourite?”

“A Midsummer Night's Dream.” She sighed happily as a muscle relaxed. “Ah yes, that's a bit better. Well it's one nil to you. Care to choose a prize?” She smirked, well if he really wanted to be playful two could play that game.

“Let's test your memory.” He grinned. ““Ill met by moonlight proud Titania.””

Tegan laughed. This was too easy.

““What jealous Oberon! Fairies skip hence. I have forsworn his bed and his company.” I wish.”

““Tarry rash wanton; am I not thy Lord?”” He was well into the part now.

“No chance! “Then I must be thy Lady: but I know when thou hast stolen away from Fairy land, and in the shape of Corin, sat all day playing on pipes of corn and versing love to amorous Phillida.”

Torin laughed. “I guess it is an appropriate choice. I did have an amorous past, but long gone are those days.”

“I don't know. I'd say I'd just been expertly harassed.” Tegan muttered, grumbling as she shifted her weight painfully.

“Are you feeling any better?” He asked diplomatically.

“A little.” She conceded reluctantly.

She caught him looking her up and down as she held onto his arm. Not as an enemy, but as a woman, his eyes sliding over her curves. She let go and stood on her own two feet as the cramp left her. He looked her in the eyes smirking, he obviously liked what he saw.

“And you can stop that. You can't have me.” She groused, not actually thinking about what she was saying.

“Now don't say that. Now you've made me want you.” He teased.

Tegan caught the tone in his voice and it was only half joking. She felt her heart start to race and she could smell his scent again, the earthy scent of sweat awakening sensations in her groin. She chided herself mentally. This was no time to be thinking about that sort of thing especially not with someone she could barely trust, even more so because he was a vampire. Torin smiled, breaking the tension.

“You really are a breath of fresh air. You are the first to hunt us that I don't want to fight. You are an attractive young woman, but the first I have met with any real intelligence. In all my years on this earth I have never met anyone quite like you.”

“I should hope not, there is only one of me.”

As he looked at her his eyes were drawn to the pulsing at her throat. Although weak now he found the idea of sating his hunger with her blood distasteful.

“I have to feed, so I will cut this audience short. But first I will release the fairy queen.” He started to circle her slowly, his fingertips trailing across her back, making her shiver. ““Be as thou wast want to be; see as thou wast want to see. Dian's bud, over Cupid's flower, hath such force and blessed power. Titania wake you my sweet Queen.”” He purred from over her shoulder.

““My Oberon, what visions have I seen!”” She exclaimed, stretching as if she was waking.

Tegan turned to face him, a mischievous grin on her face. Well lets see if she could make him feel as uncomfortable as he had just made her. She placed a hand on his cool cheek, the warmth of her skin transferring to him. Torin closed his eyes at the gentle touch. She leaned in close to whisper, rising to her toes so their lips were almost touching, her breath hot against his face.

““Methought I was enamour'd of an ass!”

As she lowered onto the soles of her feet, Torin held her hand to his face looking into her eyes, his emerald eyes mesmerising her. Damn, this little tease was backfiring. Torin pushed at her mind gently, just wanting this contact for just a moment more. It had awakened memories and emotions that he had forgotten. Tegan on the other hand was a little confused. She knew she should leave but found she didn't want to. She felt his hand slide into the small of her back. She pulled her hand away, breaking eye contact and tried to step back to find Torin holding her firmly but gently.

“Torin, we shouldn't…”

“Shh.” He placed a finger to her lips. “Just close your eyes and enjoy the moment. The chance doesn't come often.”

Her heart was pounding, the look in his eyes intense. It made no sense and yet she felt herself give in and closed her eyes. It was a feeling she had felt before, almost as if she was no longer in control of herself, and she wondered if he had slipped beneath her defences and exerted some control over her. Damn, how had she left herself open to that? Torin too closed his eyes, the two breathing deeply. This gentle intimacy was amazingly sweet; sensations and emotions long forgotten swept over them. He knew he shouldn't, but he just couldn't help himself.

Tegan gasped in shock as his cool, silken lips pressed against hers in a gentle kiss. He kissed her slowly parting her lips with his, the kiss deepening, tender and sweet. He sought entry with a gentle tongue and Tegan willingly gave, her mind lost in a whirlwind, responding with forgotten need. He sighed at her acquiescence with no nudge from him, withdrawing his influence entirely, Tegan unwittingly giving in to desires that she had forgotten, all common sense lost in the heat of the moment. They pulled themselves tight against each other, the kiss growing more passionate, tongues entwining, both needing this forgotten physical intimacy more than they had admitted to themselves.

Their passion grew hotter, their embrace become fierce and intense, Torin drawing the heat from her. He tangled his fingers in her hair, the heat more delicious than blood, a fire beginning to burn in his veins. It pulsed through them both and for a moment she wondered what it would be like to take him as a lover. He slowed their embrace, forcing a measure of control over them both as the need for air began to be an issue. He ran his hands gently down her back before ending it with a soft chaste kiss. She stood passive and breathless in his arms, his hands gently massaging the small of her back, willing to let anything happen. She looked into his eyes, looking up through her lashes at him as he smiled and kissed her forehead.

“So warm.” He whispered his voice hoarse with the need she had evoked in him.

He bent to her once more, heading for her tender throat. Tegan, now completely lost in a fog of her own making, rolled her head back for him, ready for the inevitable. She felt his lips caress the tender skin, his tongue soft against the warm flesh, Torin drinking in the feel and taste of her. His loving caresses made her shiver and she braced herself for the bite she was sure to follow. Suddenly he wasn't there anymore and she almost lost her balance as he disappeared. She stood bewildered and ran her fingers over her lips, amazed by what had just occurred. She heard his laughter on the breeze.

“Womaniser.” She replied, pouting at his sudden departure, it might even be considered rude.

Again the laughter, this time a little more distinct. She bent down slowly and painfully to pick up the blades from where she had set them on the ground. She holstered them both and limped away to the sound of his laughter, fleeting and distant on the breeze.

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Author's notes:

And so it begins. My dearest darling Paniwi I could not have done this without you. This has been through a serious re-edit because of our RP. I understand that after this you will probably want to kill the bastard but hey, I am expecting it. Till next time!