Aggrieved the Wolf Part 5

Aggrieved the Wolf

Frau Hunter Ash

www.hunterash.com

Part 5

* * *

Case opened her eyes and moaned at the sunlight creeping in the windows. Thankfully she never positioned her bed where the sun could hit her directly, especially in the morning. Her head would not like that, thank you very much. Getting hit by sunlight in the morning was an open invitation to a hangover-like headache that she had long since stopped wanting to deal with.

Case sighed at the comforting sensation of having a warm body next to her; Nikki was snuggled in her arms. The elf slept with her head nestled on the redhead’s shoulder, one arm draped over the Case's ribs as well as a leg casually over her. Case started to move slightly and the wolfling whimpered in protest but rolled over on her back. Her hand seemed to be searching for something. Case smiled and silently leaned over to reach under the bed. She was absolutely grinning when she rose back up and placed the stuffed teddy bear into the dark haired girl’s arm. Nikki curled around it with a sleepy and satisfied smile.

“She looks so young,” Case muttered. Her experienced eyes began to explore the young body in front of her. The night before Case wasn't in any condition to make any kind of assessment of Nikki’s body other than it was beautiful and that she needed to touch every inch of it. Case's assessment of the young woman’s weight the night before had been correct, Nikki’s ribs showed too easily and it was a leanness not of a wolf but of too little food and too much stress. Several scratches laced across the ribs and looked infected.

‘Claws,’ Case determined with a shudder. Several wounds were healing, turning into scars along the arms and hands. What drew her immediate attention was a very mean looking half-healed wound that went from the side of the knee almost to the ankle of the wolfling’s left leg. It was ragged and had been stitched, badly.

“This should have been stitched better,” Case muttered.

“I didn’t say I was a seamstress,” Nikki muttered, opening her eyes with a slight smile.

“You sewed this up?” Case squeaked. The wound had been bad, ripping muscles and who knew what else apart.

“Yup. It healed,” Nikki shrugged.

“With a limp,” the vampire added with a frown. Then she smiled at the surprise on the elf’s face as Nikki discovered the teddy bear in her arms. Case laughed as the young woman began blushing.

“I remembered your fox at the apartment,” Case answered the unspoken but obvious question.

“Some warrior I am,” Nikki groaned with a smile.

“Yup. You take on multiple Kin at a time, slaughtering them all," Case laughed. "Sew up your own wounds and then sleep with a teddy bear.”

“Arrrrggghhh, there goes my rep,” Nikki covered her face with the teddy bear. She grinned as Case leaped on top of her, straddling the young Were. The werewolf moved the teddy bear aside and sighed.

"Why are you so thin?" Case asked, leaning forward and kissing each rib that she could see.

"I could ask you the same thing." Nikki commented, pointing out the weight loss the redhead herself had gone through.

"You first, little one," Case urged, kissing the neck in front of her.

"I didn't want to exist without you but the hunt gave me purpose," Nikki said calmly. "I ate and slept enough to survive; the nightmares never let me sleep for long."

Nikki attempted to shrug but it was impossible with Case's lips sending shivers from her neck to her toes and back again. Case sat up and looked into the piercing blue eyes.

“Gods, you are so beautiful,” Nikki whispered.

“What gods do you believe in?” Case asked, beginning to trace patterns around the younger woman’s breasts but not touching the nipples.

“Ah .... what? Ah, I’m Asatru,” Nikki gasped and responded with a jerk of her hips as a finger lightly brushed across her nipple. “Woden, Thor, Frigga, that lot,” Nikki stammered, her own hands seeking out Case's lovely breasts in return.

“That makes it interesting, I’m Greek pagan,” Case moaned as Nikki sat up.

Nikki cradled her lover and began nibbling on Case's nipples.

“With a name like Quintanius, I figured Greek or Roman.”

“Don’t .... talk with your mouth full. Oh gods!”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dancer grinned at the two women and merely pointed to the table where bagels, fruit and other assorted foods waited. "I thought about making steak and eggs but didn't know if they'd get cold or not," he said, trying for an innocent look as he read the morning paper. It was already 11:30 in the morning.

He was pleased when both women blushed and grinned at each other.

Nikki walked over and hugged him, nuzzling his neck as he nipped her ear. He looked over at Case. "Nice bite pattern, Mom."

Nikki laughed, "Case, I didn't know you could blush so well."

Case began to fill a plate of food, muttering something about getting both of them

* * *

An hour later Dancer once again found an excuse to go out for a while. The women took advantage of the quiet time on the sofa, lying in each other's arms, each content to snuggle.

"How did you live?" Case asked, interlacing her fingers with the wolfling's. Nikki pulled the fingertips to her mouth and kissed each one.

"Off the streets," Nikki said softly and shrugged. "Most of the government types I took out would have pocket money on them. I survived."

"Werserkers, such a talkative lot," Case teased, hugging the elf closer, wrapping her arms around the younger woman. Nikki settled even further back into her lover's arms.

"I ....I became that monster you warned me about," Nikki whispered, fear tightening her throat.

"I know, Little One," Case said softly, not letting go. "It's alright, it happens to most."

"What do we do now?"

"We bring you back, put some weight on you and I intend to drive you crazy," Case said simply, her hands playfully tugging at the other woman's shorts. The older woman was rewarded with a comfortable laugh.

"You already do that," Nikki protested, playfully slapping the hand away. "That big vampire is still out there," the Were said, turning serious.

"I know, we'll find him or he'll find us," Case answered, "He usually does."

"Who is he?" Nikki asked, her voice reflecting her puzzlement.

"My brother."

Nikki waited, her eyes wide in surprise.

"The name he was born with was Samius," Case said calmly. "Our mother was, is, Lilith, our father was human." She wasn't surprised when Nikki sat up and looked at her lover, a stunned expression on her face.

"Lilith? Lilith? You mean like Adam and Eve, Lilith?" Nikki questioned.

"Sort of," Case smiled ruefully. "Adam and Eve are a myth, Lilith is real. That's why I've never feared the sun or any 'holy' objects. I was born before a cross was holy, or the Memorah or even the Star of David." Case smiled but struggled with her words. This was difficult, she had never told another living soul about her true origin.

"You're the daughter of a Goddess?" Nikki shook her head in disbelief.

"Sort of," Case smiled. "Mother is one of the original vampires."

"Wow," Nikki leaned against her lover's hip, caressing Case's hand. "Your brother; what about him?"

"The blood lust hit us at fourteen," Case said softly. "Mother and father expected it and taught us to control the urges. Or so I thought. There was a girl in the village, Myatt, our age. Both my brother and I wanted her; she wanted me. Our relationship was intense and true. My brother was furious but didn't say anything."

Case's eyes had a faraway look, lost in memories. Nikki stayed quiet, waiting patiently.

"Because of who our parents were I wasn't married off at an early age and Myatt's family accepted our bonding. They had other daughters to continue their line," Case continued after a moment. "We even had a bonding ceremony. That night of the celebration we went into our room and ... and Samius was waiting."

Case's face was pained.

"The look on his face . . . he was beyond sanity. He shoved me aside and attempted to kiss Myatt," Case's voice dropped with emotion. "He and I fought but he hurt me, I was holding back and he knocked me out."

Nikki gently stroked Case's hands, wishing she could help soothe the memories.

"When the villagers and our families found her in a hillside cave the next morning, we discovered that we had the ability to change humans into something horrible," Case whispered. "The sun burned her skin. Her gentle eyes, once brown and filled with dreams, were now red and filled with hunger. Myatt killed her own father on the spot; she ripped his throat out. We managed to restrain her but didn't know what to do with what she had become."

Nikki, having seen blood crazed vampires, nodded her head in understanding.

"Father and mother offered to teach her how to control the bloodlust," Case continued, her voice firmer. "My father offered to work their farm in exchange for her father's death. We waited until dark and took her to our home. She wasn't the same girl I had married, Myatt screamed and fought against the chains they placed on her. My mate's fangs ripped her lips apart, sending blood splashing all over her. Her eyes held nothing but madness."

Tears began to flow from Case's eyes.

"What about Samius?" Nikki whispered.

"We didn't know," Case said slowly. "It was obvious that he had brutally raped Myatt and then drank her life from her but somehow he had known instinctively how to change her. Sam came back that night."

Case shuddered and Nikki reached out to hold her, drawing Case against her.

"I was sitting with Myatt, talking to her, trying to get through to her when he crashed in through the window," Case continued. "Sam hit me again and snapped Myatt's chains. I screamed as she dashed out the window and grabbed him. I was enraged and we fought again, only this time I became insane too."

Case hesitated a moment.

"I ripped his face with my claws. He still carries a scar along his jaw from that encounter."

"I remember it." Nikki said.

"We fought to a standstill and he escaped," Case snuggled closer to Nikki. "When I found Myatt the next morning she had returned to her family home and killed the rest of her family. She was drenched in the blood and was laughing, tossing the body of her infant sister around the room like a ball." Case closed her eyes.

"Oh gods," Nikki whispered.

"I didn't know what to do except I couldn't let her continue," Case said softly. "I smashed a chair when she came for me and impaled her with one of the legs," Case laughed bitterly. "I had found one of the traditional ways to kill a vampire, sever the spine with wood. Myatt's eyes cleared and she looked at me in confusion. She called my name and then died."

"I'm sorry, Case," Nikki whispered.

Case switched positions and took the young wolfling in her arms. "It's okay. It happened a long time ago."

"When did you see Samius again?"

"Centuries later, in Rome," Case said thoughtfully. "I ran a gladiator school and he was a gladiator from another school. We've fought over the centuries, neither of us permanently winning or losing. Sam blames me for his fall into the darkness and fears me because I know the secret to his destruction."

"You're not like normal vampires," Nikki stated the obvious.

"No," Case agreed with a smile. "Sunlight, crosses, running water, none of that can hurt us. No stake can take our lives either, only those who are 'turned' can be killed with a stake."

"What can kill him?" Nikki asked and then realized the weight of her question. Not only was she asking what could kill Samius but she was also asking what could kill Case. She looked up into the red head's green eyes, panicked.

"No, I didn't mean....."

Case smiled and placed a finger on the wolfling's lips.

"I know, Little One," Case said gently. "I know you never would. I believe our bond."

Case kissed the inside of Nikki's palm, her tongue trailing down to lick the nerve centers. The smaller woman shivered, her breath suddenly rapid.

"Fire is the only thing," Case whispered.

"What happens if your head...." Nikki couldn't even finish that thought, let alone the sentence.

"I'd get really, really pissed off," Case smirked. "If the body and head are buried together they will heal again."

"That is a really weird fucking scene in my head, thank you very much!" Nikki suddenly sat up. "What happens if the head isn't buried with the body?"

"Then you have a talking oracle on a shelf," Case tried to grin but that was definitely one of her worst nightmares.

"Like that Celtic myth? What's his name..... uh Bran!" Nikki snapped her fingers.

"Yes, just like that," Case smiled.

"How many of you are there? I mean your type of vampire," Nikki was suddenly curious.

"Quite a few actually," Case grinned. "Mother gets the nurturing urge every few hundred years. We don't advertise though."

"Naturally." Nikki nodded, still feeling like everything had turned suddenly very unreal. Then again, what could be 'real' with a vampire and a werewolf as bondmates?

Nikki was about to change that train of thought to focus on the incredible body next to her when a knock caused both of them to stiffen and frown. She went to the door, careful to grab a pistol off the table next to it. Nikki didn't see anything through the peephole and cautiously opened the door, pistol cocked.

The dark haired woman stood in the doorway stunned, barely registering the screams behind her as she looked down into the eyes of Dancer. His body was missing.

· * *

Images kept flashing through the young woman's mind: Dancer, the wolf, lightly leaping through the air as Nikki nipped at his flank, playing in the clearing behind the house; Dancer moving around the gym with techno dance music blaring away; Dancer wolfing down a hamburger, rare with no pickles; Dancer cursing both of them when they forced him to get clean before joining them; Dancer and Nikki coming in from the clearing, both wiping blood from various wounds on their bodies, Case demanding to know what the hell had happened, both Nikki and Dancer looking at each other and shrugging. Nikki mentioning something about alpha status finally being settled. Dancer on a video tape, dangling from a meat hook, unable to reach around and remove the hook from his back, blood streaming from his mouth; Dancer, watching the video camera and begging through the blood for Case not to listen, not to do anything the bastard said; Dancer flinching back from a figure that stepped in front of the camera, the figure moving away showing Dancer trying to keep his intestines from spilling out from his cut stomach; the light dying in Dancer's eyes. The video tape having accompanied his head to torment the women.

Then a voice telling Case to meet in a rundown part of town, that it was time to play again.

Nikki sat staring at the TV as the screen turned blue when the tape ended. She only looked up when she noticed Case digging through a hall closet and pulling out something that looked like a billiard case. The young Were drew in a quick breath when Case pulled out a very wicked looking sword, lightweight but it appeared to be very sharp.

"We find that swords are the best," Case said calmly. "The fight lasts longer and swords cause more damage."

The vampire's eyes were unnaturally bright.

"You're not going," Nikki said firmly.

"Yes, I am," Case said, equally as firm. "This has gone on long enough. Sam will be able to sense our bonding and you'll be next."

Nikki grinned a very unpleasant grin.

"Let him try." She whispered.

"No, Little One," Case said softly. "I'm not going to lose you to him like Myatt and others after her. Oh gods, Dancer," she whispered as tears began streaming down.

Nikki stood up and took her lover into her arms. The werewolf had to step over several broken pieces of furniture and glass.

After sweeping Dancer's head and the videotape into the apartment, Nikki had leaped over to her bondmate, stifling the vampire's screams. Then the world went red for Nikki when she looked back into Dancer's eyes. When the red cleared, the apartment was trashed and Case was explaining to two concerned police officers that her sister had just learned someone close to them had died and was grief stricken.

Nikki had managed to regain enough control to talk to and assure them that she wasn't going to harm anyone, including herself, and would apologize to the neighbors for the noise. No, Case told them, she didn't worry about the damage, she would replace everything and take care of her younger sister.

Nikki didn't even want to ask where Dancer's head went when the police had pounded on the door.

"We're going to face this together, damnit. If you fall then I fall with you," Nikki stated simply.

"Oh gods," Case let Nikki hold her.

· * *

Somehow Nikki finally convinced Case to let her go out for a while before they left for the deserted warehouses on the other side of town. It had been quite an argument but Nikki's logic had won out. She had pointed out that no one would touch her, Samius wanted them both there that night and no one would dare harm either of them until then.

Nikki had a shopping list in mind and a very short time to fill it she told a puzzled vampire.

· * *

Case reached out and touched the other woman's arm, stopping Nikki just short of the alley leading to the warehouse. Nikki looked slightly irritated at the delay and Case could see the battle frenzy already built up in the wolfling's eyes.

"I love you, my werserker," Case said softly, as she drew the smaller woman into her arms.

Case knew they were probably being watched but didn't care. For the first time in centuries she thought that maybe this night might be the end of the game between her and Samius. The vampire knew better than to hope that Nikki might make it out alive, she had no doubt that even if Samius fell that his minions would still try to kill them. Nikki wasn't as difficult to kill as Case, either.

The demi-goddess also knew Nikki would go down fighting, especially if Case fell. The Were would probably die calling to Wodan and Valhalla with a laugh.

I wonder if we'll be together on the other side? Case thought.

"I love you, my Queen," Nikki said softly, nuzzling Case's neck.

"Queen?" Case drew back, catching the elf's eyes with a question.

"You were the Ice Queen," Nikki said softly. "But I think that's behind us, so now you're just my Queen."

"Gods, werserkers! A romantic werserker."

Nikki merely nodded with a charming small smile and held the taller woman close. After a moment she pulled back, her face serious.

"It's time, my Queen."

Case nodded and sat the case she was carrying on a trashcan. She withdrew the sword and took a couple of practice swings with it.

"Did Xena copy your moves?" Nikki asked with obvious admiration.

"Who?"

"Right. Not one for TV, eh?" Nikki grinned; dropping the satchel she was carrying and beginning to rummage through it.

"Not since Star Trek," Case admitted.

Nikki was busy putting things in pockets and strapping on things as well and so merely nodded at Case's comment.

Case tried not to let tears escape from her eyes when she noticed the wolfling had one of Dancer's bandannas tied around her upper arm. The vampire took this moment to appraise her young trainee.

Nikki was dressed all in black, of course. The werewolf zipped up the leather jacket and stuck a switchblade in an outer pocket. Case knew that knife was coated with silver. Specially made black cammi trousers were tucked into boots; in each boot was a pistol with silver loads and a wooden knife. Strapped across the young woman's back was a shotgun, also specially made to carry 16 shells, each a mixture of silver and wooden pellets. Up each sleeve was a knife, Case knew. At each hip was another pistol and in her hand Nikki carried a Viking war ax.

"Gods, you must double your weight with all that," Case commented.

Nikki merely grinned. A black bandanna around her forehead completed her outfit. Case also knew there were hidden surprises from her young warrior. The leather jacket had small metal plates sewn inside the back, along the ribs and sleeves. The metal wouldn't stop bullets but they might slow down knives and claws.

"I figured I'll drop weight as I drop weapons," Nikki smirked.

Case also had a shotgun across her back in addition to several knives on her. She had her auburn hair tied back and braided, warrior style.

Nikki thought Case looked good in black as well.

"Turn around, my love," Nikki said softly.

Case turned and watched the alley entrance for any unwanted company. She knew that Nikki was still uncomfortable with anyone watching her change, including Case. When the vampire turned back she felt her breath catch in her throat.

The result of the change was always startling. Instead of a small elf-like woman a taller and vicious looking creature was staring at her.

The best description Case could ever come up with was an upright wolf, a mixture between wolf and human. The horror movies had done the best job with "The Howling", she thought. The elongated jaws and powerfully long arms ended in claws but with the upright ability of a human. Strength, speed, intelligence – man's worst nightmare.

Case also knew that the pistols and shotgun had their trigger guards removed to accommodate the larger werewolf hands of Nikki. She wouldn't have a problem firing a weapon, even in werewolf form.

Case reached out and touched Dancer's bandanna. With a nod they went to the door and Nikki kicked it open with a growl.

· * *

They worked their way towards the center of the cavernous room. Crates were scattered everywhere, making the place a maze and both of them knew it was probably intentional.

Case knew that Samius wouldn't attack until he had a chance to confront her, to brag, and try to psyche her out. It was a familiar game, one that Case had tired of centuries before.

Nikki was moving with absolute silence and each of them could sense others around them, moving quietly but moving in closer. Nikki brought up a pistol in her other hand and kept her sword at the ready across her chest. Her fangs glistened in the moonlight.

Then Nikki was gone.

Case blinked, she hadn't even seen the wolfling melt into the shadows. She continued on after a moment and a quick prayer to forgotten gods. The vampire walked around a packing crate and found that everything had been cleared out of the center of the warehouse, forming a rough circle.

Case didn't flinch when floodlights from the overhead catwalks filled the area and highlighted her. She stepped into the circle and waited.

· * *

Case kept her features calm as Samius walked into the light. Her brother was dressed in black trousers, a white shirt and tennis shoes. He carried a very large two-handed sword.

“What happened to the military look?” Case asked, bringing her sword up in a defensive move.

Samius shrugged and moved into an aggressive position with his own sword. He reached behind him and threw something metallic into the center of the area. Case didn’t even blink when she realized it was Dancer’s Walkman. She reached down with her sword and flipped the machine out of the way. Samius smiled at her control.

“So you can kill youngsters? How about someone your own age?” Case taunted. Samius grinned and moved forward, sword at the ready.

“Where’s your latest plaything?” he asked as they began to circle each other.

“Around," Case answered calmly. "Probably making sure that we have a fair fight and your toys don’t interfere.”

Case twisted and bent at the waist as Samius rushed her, he recovered quickly and they began circling again.

“You’re still quick and in shape,’ he commented.

“So are you, Sam,” Case nodded. Again she twisted as he rushed forward but this time she wasn’t as quick and she winced at the sting along her thigh. The vampire knew it was a light wound but it was bleeding.

“First blood to me this time,” Sam grinned.

Case dived forward with her sword when a shotgun blast caused Samius to glance up to the catwalks. He managed to parry the blow but it was clumsy and Case left a trail of blood along his left bicep.

Case, instead of backing off as they had before, continued the attack and the two immortals became a blur of flashing metal. Another shotgun blast followed by several pistol shots rang out but neither looked up this time.