Author Avatar Association "The Little Victim's Play" Written by Kenny Blackwell Author Avatar Association is created by Tim McLees & Alicia Ashby Foxglove is (tm) & (c) Disney, Inc. The Revenant is (tm) & (c) Kenny Blackwell All other characters mentioned are (tm) & (c) their respective owners. Neo-Tokyo at night... the bright lights of the neotropolis was nothing short of impressive, especially from the vantage point of one of the city's tallest buildings. Strangely though, its sole occupant wasn't interested in any of that. She was more concerned with her next meal. Wolfsbane crouched down from the ledge of the building, gazing down upon the street with enhanced vampiric vision, looking for a suitable victim. As she licked her chops in anticipation, her mind thought back to her past... and how ridiculously weak she was. But Kefkain came into her life... her master opened her eyes and her veins to a new experience. How delightfully morbid to think... I feel more alive now that I'm undead...! she found herself thinking. Freezing, she spotted her victim... a girl with short blue hair having fun with her four friends... what was her name...? Ah, yes... Ami Mizuno. Wolfsbane's glowing red eyes narrowed as she grinned, flashing her fangs. I can snatch her away from her friends and sink my fangs into her before she has a chance to transform... plotted Wolfsbane. Maybe I'll eat her heart too, while I'm at it...!! Yes, and lick the hole I'll make clean...!! Her plan made, Wolfsbane hopped off the building and spread out her wings... the bat-morph swooped down, heading straight towards Ami... her mouth watering in sweet anticipation of tasting the young Senshi's blood-- Abruptly, she was tackled from her quarry by a black and gray blur, the wind knocked out from her. Ami turned around... she swore she heard something behind her... shrugging, she rushed towards her fellow Senshi to catch up with them. In an alleyway nearby, Wolfsbane coughed as she laid on the concrete, trying to regain her breath. "Wha... WHAT THE HELL?!" Wolfsbane got up to her feet to face her attacker. "Just who the hell do you thi--" She faltered, staring up at the man before her; he was human (or not... there was something... strange about his aura), his 6 foot two inch frame easily towering over her 4 foot body. He was clad in black jeans, boots, a leather trenchcoat, and a gray dress shirt... he stared down at Wolfsbane with almond brown eyes which seemed to show... pity... "... I... I've seen you before..." Wolfsbane muttered. "You... you attacked that furvert and his friend...!" "That's right..." the man answered, his voice distinct with a foreign accent the anthropomorphic vampire couldn't place. "... Shaed Bloodgrave... yes, now I remember..." Wolfsbane got up to her feet and stared at the half-demonic immortal. "So why did you stop my hunt? I need to feed! I thirst--" Shaed rolled up his sleeve, prompting her to hesitate. "... What are you...?!" "You want to feed, feed off of me..." Shaed told Wolfsbane. Wolfsbane blinked, staring at Shaed's outstretched wrist in near disbelief. "... What if I DON'T want to feed off of you?" she retorted. "Oh, come now..." Shaed offered. "You're not going to pass up a free meal, are you?" Wolfsbane just stared at Shaed's wrist... her stomach rumbling. It had to be a trap... why else would he be so nice to me...? She sensed nothing else wrong around her... and her stomach... the thirst needed to be quenched... Wolfsbane seized Shaed's wrist and sank her fangs in deep, cutting the vein and letting the blood flow. Keeping her fangs in to prevent the healing and drinking deep, Shaed only watched on as Wolfsbane quenched her thirst... enjoying the unnaturally rich taste of his blood. She felt her body grow warmer as she continued sucking... savoring the unusually rich flavor. Having drunk her fill, Wolfsbane dropped to her knees and giggled a little, virtually drunk off of Shaed's blood. Shaed sighed, his wrist wound already healed, as Wolfsbane let out a pleasured sigh of her own. "Was it good for you, too...?" the bat-girl mumbled before dropping on her back and giggling a little more. "My blood has an almost intoxicating effect on fledgelings..." Shaed explained. "It'll pass in a little bit." Wolfsbane sat up... staring up at Shaed. "What do you want from me?" "Your past..." Shaed answered. "How did you become a vampire?" "... And why should I tell you...?! What's in it for you?" "Nothing..." Shaed leaned against the alley wall, his eyes still transfixed on Wolfsbane. "After all, I did help you... your thirst has been quenched. All in all... humor me. Tell me what happened... that's all." Wolfsbane rose to her feet, looking curiously at the man before her as the effects of drinking his blood began to wear off. She wondered why this "Shaed Bloodgrave" was so nice to her when he could easily stake her through the heart as she was recovering. Instead, he asks her how her master Kefkain embraced her into the fold... that was it...! I suppose it couldn't hurt... Wolfsbane decided. The vampire bat-girl walked over and hopped onto a garbage can, sitting upon the lid and bowed her head for a moment... recollecting her memories. "I'll tell you, Bloodgrave..." Wolfsbane said, looking up at the half-demon. "I'll tell you how my master freed my soul from mortality..." *** Foxglove didn't realize how late it was... Having just gotten off from a date with Dale, the young bat failed to recognize the time... she glided over to a tree and touched down upon a branch. She couldn't help but yawn a little as she stretched her wings out... tonight took a lot out of her; dancing, socializing... heck, just being with Dale can be a little tiring...! But it was worth it... all for a peck on the cheek from him... she was content. Foxglove sighed blissfully... then looked up at the starry night sky, wondering if Dale was looking upon the same star as she was... Smiling to herself, she spread out her wings and jumped off the branch... "THERE you are!!" .. and was abruptly seized by a human-sized white furred claw. Foxglove let out a cry of surprise... before her eyes was some sort of human/wolf mix... wearing white fur and clad in a red and black costume, his glowing red eyes glared into Foxglove's soul. "I've been tracking you for a while, now..." the wolf-like creature growled. "And now I finally have you..." Foxglove squirmed in the snow-furred monster's hand, trying and failing to free herself from his grasp. "Don't struggle..." the monster told Foxglove. "You'll only hurt yourself, and I don't want that." Foxglove blinked... the monster only grinned, his eyes glowing bright red. "Sleep, Foxglove... tomorrow night will be a new beginning for you..." The helpless bat felt her eyelids getting heavier... desperately fighting this wolf-like creature's spell... Foxglove's body eventually went limp... her brain shutting down as she drifted off into a deep sleep... --- .. Foxglove's eyes fluttered open as she awoke. Very quickly she found herself in a precarious situation... she was in a dank, dark dungeon, her wings chained to a wall. "No...!" she mewed, futilely trying to free herself. She then noticed something... different about her. She was bigger now... and taller...! Not only that, but SHAPLIER...! She suddenly had a body Gadget'd be envious about... and she didn't know how she got it...! She noticed the dungeon window... it was still night out... Looks like I wasn't out that long... she reasoned. Good. Maybe I can find a way to escape from here. Her time to think was cut short as the dungeon doors audibly unlatched... she turned to the doors as they opened with a creak, her eyes like those of a deer caught in headlights. The white-furred wolf clad in red emerged into the dungeon... he was now around her size now (or was she HIS size...? She still couldn't figure that out) ... Foxglove shook her head, visibly frightened. "No... NO!" she shouted. "You... you said... you said tomorrow night...!!" "It IS tomorrow night, Foxglove..." the wolf corrected her. "And since I know YOUR name, it's only fair you know mine." He bowed to the bat-girl. "I am Kefkain." "Yeah... nice..." Foxglove shuddered, still scared to death... when it hit her. "Wait a second... Kefkain?" The wolf nodded in acknowledgement. "THE Kefain who's fighting Wolf?!" Kefkain nodded again, smiling evilly. "Oh, NO!!!" Foxglove shrieked, trying in vain to escape. "OhnohnoohnooGOSHPLEASEdon'teatme!!" Kefkain snickered at the bat-morph's frantic screams. "I have no intentions of eating such a lovely creature as you..." he explained simply. "You're far too valuable... far too precious to be devoured by the likes of me." Foxglove blinked back tears. "Wh--what...?!" "If you want to know the truth, Foxglove..." Kefkain leaned in close enough for the captive bat-girl to smell his breath... which was strangely sweet, like cinnamon. "The truth, Foxglove... is that I love you." Foxglove's eyes went wide. "You... l-love...?" "Simple, isn't it?" Kefkain said. "You see... I am deathless... I shall live forever, and I see you... a beautiful creature as yourself... it pains me that you will grow old and die like everyone else... "But I can fix that," Kefkain said with a smile. "... What...?" asked Foxglove. "I can make you as deathless as I am..." Kefkain said. "You would have nothing more to fear... and you would have power beyond your wildest fantasies... your darkest fantasies. Come now..." Kefkain gave a dramatic pause. "Surely you must be curious..." Foxglove adamantly shook her head. "No. I'm a Rescue Ranger. And I'm not gonna give in to the demented offers of a... a... whatever you are...!" Kefkain snickered deviously. "It wasn't an offer," he said dryly. Foxglove whimpered, her resolve shrinking, as Kefkain leaned in closer, baring his fangs. "Please... I... I don't want to die..." she pleaded. "Don't kill me..." "You won't die..." Kefkain whispered softly. "Believe me when I say... that dying is the last thing you'll ever worry about." Kefkain brushed his lips against the soft-furred skin of Foxglove's neck... she tried to wince away, but the wall against her back kept her from moving any further. She began to cry when she felt the soft pin-pricks of Kefkain's fangs... her mind focused on her friends; Chip, Gadget, Monty, Zipper, Dale... oh, Dale... I wish I can see you one last time... and Wolf... Kyle, I'm so sorry... whatever happens to me, please don't forget I'm your friend. I-- Her thoughts... and tears... suddenly stopped as Kefkain began to sample Foxglove's blood... strange how it didn't hurt... it was quite the opposite, actually. Foxglove let out a blissful cry of pleasure as a sense of euphoria washed over her body... unimaginable pleasure stretching out from Kefkain's dark kiss, from the tips of her ears down to the soles of her feet. Kefkain pulled away... licking the bitemarks closed. Foxglove moaned in ecstasy... her body pale from loss of blood, it would only be a manner of time before she would slip into death's cold embrace. The vampiric white wolf knew what had to be done next... reaching from behind him, he extracted a ceremonial steel dagger... its hilt adorned with a red ruby and its pommel taking the shape of a wolf's skull. Kefkain stared at the dying Foxglove... hesitating for a moment... Kefkain slashed open his own jugular, the vein in his neck quickly gushing with blood. Once more leaning in close, he reached for the bat-girl's limp head and held her face to his wound. The burning draught that was Kefkain's blood flowed into Foxglove's mouth... her primitive feeding instincts triggering, she became enraptured... sucking hungrily at the wound. Abruptly, Foxglove broke free from her chains, her strength greatly enhanced by the very taste of Kefkain's blood... spearing Kefkain to the ground, she straddled the wolf-morph, voraciously draining him of his own blood...! Kefkain was weakening... his own blood loss and rapture of Foxglove's dark kiss contributing, Kefkian did his best to fight off lustful thoughts and attempted to pull Foxglove away from him... if he was unable to prevent her from overfeeding, she would be driven insane and die...! With the last ounces of strength he had left, Kefkain managed to throw Foxglove from himself. The bat-girl landed on her shoulder... the high from drinking Kefkain's blood quickly wearing off, she lay on the dungeon floor, shivering and moaning in withdrawl. "In mere hours, Foxglove... it will be complete..." Kefkain muttered as ge struggled to his feet. "Your mortal life will end... but your immortal unlife will soon begin." He rubbed his neck, already healed. "You'll be quite the bane against Kyle Hawkins... hm... Wolfsbane..." Kefkain smiled to himself, and turned to leave the dungeon. "...no..." Kefkain hesitated... turning back around, he looked down at the severely weakened Foxglove. "... don't... don't leave me..." she mewed, as she raised her wing towards Kefkain. "... please... don't..." Kefkain looked into Foxglove's tear-filled eyes... he knew what going through her mind... she was afraid; the transition from life to undeath would involve death itself... and Foxglove didn't want to die alone in a cold, dingy dungeon. "please don't leave.. me..." she weakly called out. Nothing would stop Kefkain from leaving... she would be a fledgeling in mere hours... his work was done... but why...? Why would he remain...? Could it be possible that somewhere deep down... he actually... cared for her...? Kefkain gazed down at the dying Foxglove... her fragile willpower all but keeping her from slipping into a coma as she called his name. "... Kefkain... please..." .. She's my responsibility... Kefkain realized. I must teach her what it is like to be a vampire... our powers, strengths and weaknesses... how to feed and what to avoid. She is my bride... I have embraced her into the fold... I must let her know she isn't alone. Kefkain approached Foxglove... kneeling down, he took her into his arms, cradling her in an almost loving embrace. "... I knew... I knew you wouldn't leave me..." Foxglove whispered. "Ssshhh..." shushed Kefkain, as he gently brushed the side of Foxglove's cheek. "Rest now... you'll feel better later... my bride." The bat-girl nodded slightly... then her eyes closed... her body going limp in Kefkain's arms. In a matter of minutes, Kefkain waited patiently... hearing Foxglove's breathing becoming shallower and shallower... feeling her heart beat slower... then stop... her breathing ceasing. Kefkain kept the lifeless Foxglove in his arms, staring down at her face... so beautiful... peaceful. He found himself smiling... a surprisingly warm smile... For about an hour and a half, Kefkain stayed with Foxglove's corpse... waiting... holding her close... until the changes in her body ran its course. Then, Foxglove's body began to twitch, her arms and legs going through muscle spasms... Kefkain watched in anticipation as her eyes slowly opened... her irises glowing an eerie scarlet hue. "Welcome back, my bride..." greeted Kefkain. "... I... I feel so different..." Foxglove said. "Is this... is this what it's like to be you...?" "It is..." Kefkain paused to stroke the bat-girl's blood-matted fur from her chin down to her collar bone... Foxglove purred upon the white wolf's touch. "I have much to teach you about how we live. Once you know... you are guaranteed to live forever... like me." "I might get to like living forever..." Foxglove said with a giggle. "Maybe you can teach me... other things..." Foxglove brought Kefkain's face closer to her, kissing him passionately. Kefkain broke the kiss... staring down at Foxglove. "You are my bride... but the choice is yours to make," he said. "... Do you wish to take this next step...?" Foxglove responded by sitting up to her knees... then lowering herself upon the dungeon floor on her back, inviting Kefkain to her. "I am yours... body and soul..." whispered Foxglove. "... I wouldn't have it any other way," Kefkain said. Kefkain crawled up on top of Foxglove as the bat-girl accepted his kiss... *** "That's what happened..." Wolfsbane concluded her story. "That's how my master embraced me... in more ways than one..." she giggled dreamily, but then noticed Shaed... his arms crossed, a stern, almost stoic look on his face. "... What?" she questioned. "... I don't blame you for being so naive... fledgelings are like that," Shaed responded. "... and Kefkain REALLY did a number on you... but you should know. He is using you as a weapon against Wolf." Wolfsbane giggled. "I know. My master told me! He told me everything. He trusts me... I trust him..." Wolfsbane sighed happily, hugging herself with her wings. "We're in love... he and I." "Foxglove, Kefkain is leading you on!" The vampiric bat-girl shot back an evil gaze at Shaed. "How DARE you!!" screamed Wolfsbane. "You all think my master is a heartless monster... he told me you'd all think that!! But I know better... he sees me and he sees the love of his unlife!! You don't even KNOW what true love is, you bastard!!" Shaed winced... his strong martial arts disipline and his chivalrous nature keeping him from striking Wolfsbane in anger. Instead, he changed the subject. "I can help you..." Shaed said. "I know how to bring you back from undeath... Foxglove , I--" "Let me guess..." Wolfsbane ahemed, and recalled what she learned from Kefkain. "The only way for a fledgeling vampire bride to be restored is that the vampire who created her is destroyed, right?" Wolfsbane laughed. "Well, you've just lost there, Bloodgrave!" she taunted. "I've read the 3A Rulebook thoroughly before I became an Avatar. And the one rule that comes up a lot is... 'killing is NOT allowed!!' Looks like I'm gonna stay this way for a while...!" Shaed remained stoic. "Finshed?" "Quite," Wolfsbane said with a smile. "I'll find a way to save you, Foxglove..." Shaed vowed. "That's another thing... I'm NOT Foxglove... not anymore..." Foxglove retorted as she hopped off the garbage can. "Foxglove was timid and shy... a milksop of a girl..! She's dead now... I'M sexy now... uninhibited and unafraid to do the things I've always longed to do!! I don't WANT to be saved!! And this talk is done..." Wolfsbane backed away. "Cross me or my master... and you'll regret it...!" "Foxglove, wait...!" Shaed rushed towards Wolfsbane, but to no avail... she had already assumed her mist form and dissapated away. "Dark mist!!" cursed Shaed, turning around and striking the alley wall, making a fist-sized crater in the brick. "I take it ye'er meeting didnae go too well..." Shaed turned his head, gazing upon the unearthly beauty of his wife... Morrigan was clad in a black leather tank top, mini-skirt, high heels and purple pantyhose. "I couldn't get through to her..." Shaed told her. "Kefkain's hold on her is too strong." "I know, I heard..." Morrigan hesitated briefly. "She really does love him... ye think Kefkain feels the same?" "... Probably... I don't know," admitted Shaed. "Vampires usually take a bride because of lonliness... borne through lust of actual love. I don't pretend to know how Kefkain thinks..." Shaed leaned back against the alley wall, brushing back his bangs. "... History is repeating itself, love..." he stated. "... My first love, Aneene... she was transformed into a bride by an elder vampire... I was too young... inexperienced... I destroyed her... and I never knew... I could've saved her..." Morrigan sighed... approaching Shaed and embracing him closely. "We all make mistakes, Darling..." she softly said. "Ye'er nae the first..." "... I have the sinking feeling Kyle may be in danger of making the same mistake I made so long ago..." Shaed said as he held Morrigan. "I have to tell him everything Foxglove told me... and tell him what NOT to do..." "I dinnae think he'll appreciate ye crashing his celebration party like this..." Morrigan advised. "I know... but what choice do I have...?' Shaed kissed Morrigan's lips tenderly. "We have to go now and tell him." Morrigan nodded. "Aye, very well... after all, the worst thing he could do is kill ye." Shaed smirked. "Right. Let's go, love." Morrigan opened a glowing green transportal under her and Shaed, and the eternal couple passed through to deliver the dark news to the new Moon KIngdom Champion... --- I will promise you You will stay as beautiful With dark hair And soft skin, forever Forever Make up your mind Make up your mind And I promise you I will treat you well My sweet angel So help me Jesus. --Toadies, "Possum Kingdom, from the album "Rubberneck" FINIS.