Embers

[Seeing the policemen, Mikus let out a painful shriek. The sight must have been horrifying. The spike through his chin could be seen when his mouth opened, blood tripping more rapidly. It hurt. Everything hurt like hell, but he played it up. Putting on a show for the scared public watching them, forcing Elias into a even worse situation. Mikus’ eyes gathered with tears, adding more blood to the scene. He knew he was not going to die. A vampire could not die simply from blood loss, but Mikus could feel his contentiousness slipping away. The satisfaction however was so good. Black eyes flashing over to where Elias was hunched over, Mikus couldn’t help but gloat on the inside. He was able to push Elias this far, and it was magnificent to watch. ]

[The scene unfolded, and beyond his own intense douse of pain, Eli knew the satisfaction he gained from doing this wouldn't last as he might have hoped. Not when the town turned against him like this. It had been the same in Seattle. He shouldn't have done this. Given in. The world saw him as weak before, but now he truly was, publicly shaming the demon above him. Getting even? Nothing good ever came from that. He'd always known, better than any witch in this cursed town, and how ironic that out of all of them he'd have to pay the punishment. He could feel the glee radiating off of Mikus. Always. No matter what you did. Mikus always got the better. He didn't allow the dread he felt show on the outside, he lay there, strong. Eli didn't speak, He went through the motions he knew to hold his wounds best he could, but the shock... it was setting in. He almost died, just like his dad had, maybe it would be better if he had died like Daniel Matrim. The police came in dozens, pushing away the crowds, and Eli heard countless slurs towards him. The ambulances arrived and they were moved, Elias lost consciousness from blood loss as soon as they were moving.]

[Eli's eyes were fixed on Mikus' now, his nostrils flaring with each inhale, and he cut his own palm by squeezing tight to the rock. It would be so easy. It would be over. He couldn't-- Goddess. HE COULDN'T KILL. A shout from a cop behind him brought him out of his adrenaline nursed rage, but the stone found a new target. He pushed his left palm and the rocks imbedded into Mikus drove through, strained in the slightest as the ends were thick. Eli drove the earth forged stake in his right hand through Mikus' lower chin, through his mouth, before a bang. Bullets flew through him. He hadn't expected it, but maybe he should have. Elias fell on the pavement, his own blood swelling, then pulsing out, but he looked up at Mikus. He looked at his artwork. It took a stake through the mouth to make him shut up.]

[Looking the warlock dead in the eyes, Mikus took a few steps forward. Inching the stone further through him.] 

[The eyes pierced through him, and he didn't release his control of the dagger like stone, fighting the temptation to drive it completely through him. The darkness brewed inside him, because he was asking it too, to give him the potential to follow through with such an offer. Here he was again, caught in Mikus' endless game, being driven deeper and deeper into a part of himself he never wanted to know existed. But it did. He opened his right hand and a spare stone fit in his grasp, sharp as the rest, and he pressed the end to Mikus' beatless chest. The crowd around were either silenced or panicked and there was only so much time to hesitate, before the oppressors would step in and stop him.]

[He'd never wounded anyone--well... he'd never seen it first hand. Real blood spilt because of his magic. Because of his will. It didn't feel good but because it was Mikus' corpse, the vampires, it did not feel bad in the least either. Then there was that slight hesitation, sight of the blood dripping out, coating stone, the elixir that he once was stuck upon. Despite the mixed reaction, his spirit remained steadfast, on making sure Mikus would know the fury he'd have to face if Kurtis was harmed like Aya was.]

  Empty threats. 

[with a twist and swing of his arm the ground shakes and bursts, jagged ends aiming to pierce through Mikus, the passers-by gasping and falling from the tremor in the earth]

I can use him however I want. Where is that lil’ husband of yours? I owe him a bashed in skull. Does he also need to be pushed, or does he make a habit going around torturing vegetable state vampires? 

... If you lay a finger on him, I will open the earth and burn you in the center of it.

You're not Kurtis, and you cannot use him as an example, what happened to him was not of his freewill. That's more than you could ever say.

  You know what, Elias? I disagree. 

Of course you would.

It was the least you deserved.

  You could choose to do whatever you want to, and you know that. Avoid me forever if you want. But you still come near me, now what does that say. Elias?

You harmed Aya. You have a brother. You can't pretend that what you did to her doesn't effect me. That I'll just let it slide.

Well, I had to, eventually, didn't I? You don't give me much choice. 

The Bahamas was awesome, such a shame I can’t get tan though.

I thought you'd be smart enough to not come back. My mistake.