“Good, good.” That was good. Patryk could follow along well enough but there certainly were parts that she was missing. “It’s right around this corner, right?”Patryk only roughly knew where the library was, just that it was right next to the- “Oh, Starbucks,” she stopped suddenly, “Hold on hold on let me get something, really quickly.” She shot him a quick smile before starting to head inside, “Do you want something?” 

Patryk Ralian | 22 | witch | taken | Imaan Hamman

"Whether or not you find your own way, you’re bound to find some way. If you happen to find my way, please return it, as it was lost years ago. I imagine by now it’s quite rusty."

Born to a wealthy politician father and a caring mother, Patryk was never one without needs, either in material possessions or familial affection. The city of Chester wasn’t the most interesting place to grow up in, but Patryk was never bored living within its walls. Patryk was never one to make friends easily, so most of her free time was spent playing with herself outside, exploring every nook and cranny the city had to offer. Sometimes it would just be around the block, but most days Patryk was drawn towards the outskirts, the park, the river, wherever she could go and feel untouched by the world.

She had all the time in the world, or at least it truly felt that way. Even at a young age the time would slow and she would have another moment, a dozen minutes perhaps, all to herself. It was hardly ever noticeable. When she grew older and her abilities became more apparent, her mother, Selene took notice and  started mentoring young Patryk into her full witch skills.

Time was a marvelous thing, with just a touch of a hand, a budding flower could bloom or an aging vine could wilt . It was something to behold, and it was all within Patryks untouched witch heritage. She was excited, to say the least, the very notion of what she could achieve if she worked on her skills left her delighted.

Unfortunately, none of their sessions ever went as well as Patryk hoped it would. It was as if Selene’s teachings were doing the opposite of helping, whether it be because of their different ability types, the lack of structure in the way Selene taught, or Patryk’s lack of respect towards her mothers abilities as a witch. The teaching sessions, training, whatever you could call it, always seemed to deteriorate into an argument and Patrky had just about enough of it.

When Selene could no longer provide the teachings and guidance that Patryk needed for her abilities to mature, she decided to seek it elsewhere. Selene had been against the notion of going back to America, the covens she was from had originated there and truth be told Selene was ashamed at the notion of her daughter rejoining the coven she had left years before.

Patryk’s mind had already been decided, whether Selene had consented to it or not, she was going to America. Without so much as a moments notice, Patryk’s plane tickets were booked and there wasn’t much either of her parents could do to stop her.  

He felt better now, at least. There was less adrenaline than he remembered, after falls like that, now that he was a vampire. She had a pleasant accent, reminded him of some of his parent’s friends, from trips when he was too young to actually appreciate going abroad.

“I’m afraid you’ve made a mistake,” Teddy said crisply. “I realize that my youthful appearance may have misled you, but I assure you that I’m not one of your fellow students. I teach Ethics among Supernaturals. Professor Theodore Aynesworth.” Now that he’d cleared that up, Teddy couldn’t help but curiously glance at the sheaf of notes. “What class is this for, might I ask?”

“Oh,” she didn’t realize she was keeping her notes so guarded, lowering her notepad for a better view. “It’s for making moon and daylight charms.” Part of the problem for her lack of understanding of other supernaturals in general and, well, taking a class specifically for witches didn’t really lend itself to much exposure. “One of the only ones I’m taking this semester, and probably the more involved one.”

With a sigh, left class, trying to make a beeline back home–no eye-contact, no pausing, no nothing. But, life had a way of making her own choices. This one came with forced social interaction. Not Cyan’s favorite thing. But, he answered with a nervous smile anyway, and cleared his throat.

“Mm? Oh, ah,” he laughed a little, feeling as if his anxiety was being displayed on a huge freakin’ jumbrotron above his head. “Sure,” Cyan said, immediately thinking: Why the hell did I say that? “I haven’t… You’re… New, right?” The girl was pretty, and it was a little nerve-wracking, and not only because he hadn’t mentally prepared for this.

But Patryk seemed pretty coherent, asking pretty reasonable questions - so Hana relaxed a bit more and offered a sheepish smile.  “No….but I was just curious.  And I suppose you are too.  Heard all the rumors and urban legends about the Sumner catacombs, huh?  I know I have.”  She paused, because she didn’t know how to answer Patryk’s other question - blowing it up because of the ‘scary things’.  “I…don’t know.  I just took the job, it’s from the township, sooooo…” She gave a slightly nervous laugh.  “No, that’s ridiculous.   It’s probably dangerous is what it is.  Rock slides and long slippery drops into abyss’ and getting lost in all the catacombs.  It’s probably to prevent kids like you from getting to far in and going missing.”  

When the small voice spoke again, Hana froze.  She was far more terrified than Patryk, she wanted out and quickly - but the young woman seemed to have a gleam of excitement in her eyes.  

Patryk couldn’t help but laugh “Yeah it’s definitely scary, no doubt about it.” The words were sincere but Patryk just wasn’t sure if she was actually scared. She couldn’t pin point why exactly that was- maybe it was because she wasn’t around when the disappearances happened, maybe she didn’t think anything bad could possibly happen, maybe it was that she had never been in a perilous situation. Or maybe because she just genuinely wanted to know what was down there. Either way, she noticed Hana was genuinely anxious and that made Patryk more wary about the situation. They would have to proceed with more caution.

It was something of an empty threat, especially since they were many long hours until tomorrow morning.  “What the hell were you doing in the catacombs anyway?  You can get lost so easily in there, turned around or…I don’t know.  Things.  Scary things.”  Hana sounded a little petulant and stodgy as she said this.  Really, she was just sort of jealous of the young woman’s sense of adventure.  Hana had been like that once, when she was younger, but…things changed, caution grew.  Other priorities took precedence over having fun.  

“My name’s Hana by the way.  Do you go to the Academy? I was–”

But she was cut off again but a voice that came from deep inside the catacombs.  The voice was even higher this time, sweet and warbly.

“…atryk…” it said.  

Good thing Patryk came when she did, otherwise she would have missed her chance to ever look at the place. “No, I came here by myself.” Patryk hadn’t really had the chance nor the time to make some real ‘buddies.’ Fighting jet jet-lag and vying for the space in some later classes didn’t really leave her with the energy to go out and make any friends.

Instead of actually answering her question, Patryk simply deflected with one of her own. “What? You don’t have to explore the place before blowing it up do you?” Just because Hana had asked first didn’t mean that Patryk had to show all her cards. Not that she really had any. “Is it because of those ‘scary things’? That you’re blowing the place...” But the thing they’d heard before spoke again.

“Patryk,” she clarified right after Hana spoke, taking a moment to register the accusation. “What? No, really that wasn’t anyone I know.” It certainly wasn’t a voice she recognized. “Really, I-”

“..Ana..” came the low, creaking voice.

“Oh, your name really is Hana now is it..” She raised her brows, smile apparent on her face. “You think they’re following us?” Patryk questioned, genuinely interested. This could’ve been some sort of adventure, some sort of tale to be able to share and relive later, even if it was more than a little terrifying. That’s what made it exciting. “Well only one way to really find out.” He voice was actually slightly resigned, as if she didn’t have much of a choice. She did, but the intrigue was just all too much.

“Oh, and, yeah, I do. Go to the Academy, to answer your previous question. Just started,” she said it flippantly, as an after thought, as her mind had just jumped to the idea of exploration and discovery. “Wanted to know my school a little more intimately you could say.”

While vaguely cognizant of someone next to him, the tinnitus he’d dealing with for the last day-and-a-half elevated to a temporary roar drowning out their voice, only able to tune in for the last half.

After a moment to collect himself (and gather his courage because this was one of the most embarrassing thing’s he’s ever done, and he’d had a nurse help him to the bathroom for a straight year), he took a deep breath in, set his hands on his stomach, and let the the air leave his lungs slowly.

“I’m very— ah, sorry, but I didn’t catch all that.” He shrugged as best one can when they’re lying on asphalt, trying his best to look comfortable with making a fool of himself. “But, well, not my friend. Yet, anyways.” Anyone I get to feed from is a friend in my books, he thought to himself, realizing a second late he hadn’t actually retracted his fangs. Idiot. Well, ah. He rolls his head to the side, regretting it the moment he realizes he’s going to have to wash his hair that night, spying  a horde of bags next to the girl. Hopefully a local, in that case. His lips cover his teeth while he retracts his fangs, still not entirely used to it- it’s a novelty, even after a year.

She tilted her head to the side as he recomposed himself. Vampire? Well, it wouldn’t have been her first guess had his fangs not been showing. He looked rather pathetic and it wasn’t like Patryk to just leave someone hanging just because. “Oh, no not at all.”  She smiled, reaching down and clasping his hand in hers. 

When he came to Sumner, Theoderich was under the impression that there would be a blood bank option- and there was, of course. He just wasn’t really cognizant that blood banks could run dry. Busy season, maybe. In any case… He was going on day two without blood, and all he hoped to do was get ahead of that awful, bone-sinking nausea that sets in on day three.

It felt incredibly cliché to say that Theoderich was nervous. It was true, but still. It was his first…hunt? Can it be called a hunt, when you aren’t really trying to… bring something down?

“Just sink in your teeth and run,” he says quietly, to himself, bouncing lightly on his heels to work up to it. He’d realized early on at home that he wouldn’t have much idea what to do if he had to feed organically. He didn’t actually have a mentor to show him how this whole thing worked (is it alright to actually sink in your teeth so close to the jugular? And they don’t HAVE to die if they’re bitten? Can he just nick open their shoulder, have a sip and run; how much blood does he need to actually survive? How does this work at all?), which turned out to be the downside in paying money in exchange for vampirism. The price runs high, and he could always- he could call his parents. They could send money, knowing them they might just find some obscure, expensive blood delivery service. He wasn’t going to, but it was an option.

No. He could do this.

With concentration, his fangs detracted, and he bared them experimentally while a tourist walked by, headed away from the hotel he worked at. When they were a good ten feet ahead, he took off after them, starting to just break into a run, feeling adrenaline hit him full force when his foot caught a pebble and he skidded face first across the ground.

With bags filled with groceries in one hand and phone in the other, Patryk was just on her way back from main street. She kept her eyes locked on her phone the whole time, never bothering to look away until she heard footsteps coming towards her.  She look up just in time to see someone rush pass her and the end of what could possibly be the fall of the year. Damn. She really wished she had snapchat open just then. “Oh my God.” Putting her phone away she swiftly took his side.

True to gargoyle work ethic, Hana hadn’t been so impulsive in her move to Sumner to not secure a job beforehand.  And fortunately Sumner was in need of people of her skillset. Hana gladly took on contracts: nearby quarries, old buildings that needed demolishing - and of course, the catacombs.

Ever since Hana had been vacationing in Sumner, she knew about the catacombs.  As a child, they were used as boogeyman tales - ‘finish your gaji-naengguk or we’ll put you in the catacombs for the night’; and as a teenager, it was a place for dares, urban legends and stupid-wild parties.  Then as an adult, Hana had really just…forgotten about them. 

This particular job came from the Mayor’s Office directly, about one particular catacomb that was causing the Academy campus particular grief.  Hana’s duty was straightforward: take the construction crew at 9am tomorrow and obliterate the cave entrance.

But Hana didn’t like that.  She was no longer a gargoyle, but the nymph-gift her mother passed to her compelled her to understand the rock.  It was an unfamiliar yet oddly comforting urge for the newly-minted nymph. So that night, armed with a flashlight and a large vanilla latte, Hana headed to the catacomb’s entrance near the pebbly beach. The nymph wrapped her coat around her tighter as she took a few steps in. Not too far, or you’ll never find your way out!  There were things inside the catacombs that wanted you. - or so the urban legends went.  Hana snorted.  Ridiculous silly teenaged nonsense.

“Hello!” she called in to the darkness of the cave, enjoying the way her voice echoed back. Hello…ello…lo.

….“hello?”

Or so she thought it would be, turns out you couldn’t just waltz around the town as you please, especially since a lot of place were considered private territory by certain groups. It was the first time Patryk had ever been around anything other than humans and witches (or just witch, really) so she had a lot of adjusting to get done, and this was simply part of it.

She had manage to find a couple places under no one’s jurisdiction, and with no rule stating she couldn’t explore the cave (it was only highly suggested) her it was just- highly suggested) the stone chamber was free to probe. Going about her business through the rocky halls she saw a light coming up ahead. Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden voice- Patryk jumped back reaching her hand out behind her, catching what would have been a fall on the wall of the cavern.