(Forest) Show me what?

[Joshua Rivas]

Joshua's mind was a chaotic jumble, the vampire's presence confusing him. He knew he loved the woman who beckoned him, that was a certainty. She was beautiful, perfect and would protect him. From what? He thought to himself. It was true, there seemed to be no need for protection. Perhaps the woman herself....

There was a girl beside him. A friend, he believed. Perhaps more than that. She was looking at him like he was an idiot, her scolding biting deep into his mind. Why should he stay with her? All she did was insult him, call him crazy. Couldn't she see he wanted to be happy? The woman could make him happy. Take him away and strip him of pain.
Then Erys challenged the woman, hurling a spell in her direction and trying to pull Joshua to safety. He followed her because he trusted her. Yes, that was the difference. He trusted the girl but he loved the woman. Seeming to break out of his trance somewhat when the vampire was thrown from her feet, Rivas could feel a friendly hand holding his and he followed.

"Come to me Joshua."

The woman said, as if whispering into his ear. He groaned and couldn no longer help himself. Joshua pulled away from Erys, knowing it was wrong but completely unable to control himself. Entranced, he walked towards the woman and took her in his arms, holding her close and only realising at the last moment his mistake. He had known it was wrong, but not why. Something about his lineage had always made his family susceptible to the seduction by vampires, something likely in his blood. It was the reason his Auror mother hunted them so ruthlessly and one of the few weaknesses in the Rivas line.

There was only one thing to do. It was pure instinct and he followed his gut, pulling out the only weapon he had left. Despite himself and his confused mind, he flashed the woman a winning smile. He looked her right in the eyes. Christ, her beautiful eyes... Combining a great desire and likely the only thing he held in reserve, Joshua brushed back a strand of her hair and kissed her softly. He fervently hoped that his seduction was at least a fraction as successful as hers was. Rivas felt a pang of guilt and emotional pain as he slipped an arm around her back, thinking of somehow betraying Erys. He realised it didn't matter. He doubted this would work, and that meant he was about to be bitten by a vampire.

[Erys Grace]

Crying out as the vampire's claws slashed her shoulder, Erys looped an arm over, feeling the blood bubble up hotly. It was coming out too fast, her attacker had scored too deep. All she could do was clutch tightly to the wound, watching hopelessly as Joshua approached her. "What are you-" She broke off, her mouth hanging open slightly as he kissed her. Shouting every curseword in her vocabulary, the Slytherin reached for her wand which had fallen somewhere nearby. With it in her hands now she staggered to her feet, licking blood from her lips.

"What the hell are you doing?" Erys hissed, still pressing down on her shoulder to feel blood welling up underneath her fingers. Raising her wand towards the two, she prepared herself to mutter a spell only to pause. I cant do anything.. I could hit Joshua. She realised weakly, lowering her weapon with an enormous amount of reluctance. Charging forward instead, her fingernails pointed into claws now, she whipped her hand forward to hit the vampire's face. Punching at it repeatedly. Looking into her friend's eyes now - her own desperate and angry, a steel color - she once again tried to tug him away. The only problem with that was the embracing pair wasn't that injured, and she was bleeding profusely from the shoulder.

Quiet now, Erys backed away, staring into his eyes. "Look what she did to me, Joshua. Do you still love her?" Turning so her back faced him, she twisted her neck to watch him. Delicately sliding off her jacket, she didn't have to stretch her shirt some to show him the three gashes on her shoulder blade. That same tank top was almost completely soaked with blood. Breathing shakily, she fell to the ground, trying to still herself. If she moved anymore, the blood would be pumped faster throughout her and towards the cuts. Then even more would be spilled.

With the pain she was experiancing, and the issue with Joshua being bitten, Erys could no longer fully control the animal within her. She needed complete concentration, and with that broken.. Her skin broke out in exotic spots, growing fur before drawing it within herself again. She moaned, scrabbling at the ground with her claws. Her bones were shrinking and growing, rearranging and straightening. As if each side of her was trying to gain control. Closing her eyes now, the animagus breathed deeply, eventually settling the beast for now. With a few side effects, some being the cat's eyes and claws. Not to mention the faint splotches of color on her skin, and the fangs. I look like a freak.. And Joshua's dying. "If you kill him.." She threatened savagely, wildly. If you kill him, you wont like what happens to you.
[/color]

[Cessily Monroe]

Angry at the girl's insistence that they leave, the vampire growled, a sound menacing and low at the back of her throat. It broke off however, when Joshua kissed her. This hadn't been part of the plan, but if it pained his companion, then she was all for it. Snaking her thin fingers around his neck, Cessily pulled him closer to her, opening her eyes only to watch Erys as she continued to weaken. If I keep this up for long, she will bleed to death. She thought gleefully, her eyes now a deep red- ready now to bite him and suck him dry right infront of his little friend.

Men were so easily seduced, the poor suckers. He thought she loved him, could save him and protect him, when the very person who could do that was draining a few feet away. Cessily could feel Erys' strength ebbing, but she couldn't prepare herself for the immense furiosity that hovered around the sixth year like a cloud. It burned her. She could tell this girl would not give up this easily.

Recoiling only as the chick's fingers - which were suddenly claws, imagine that - met her cheek, the Ravenclaw snarled, the recipient of more than a few punches to the face. Forcefully trying to shove Erys back, she'd jerk Joshua towards her again, grinning viciously. Moving her lips towards his neck, Cessily pressed them to his skin, piercing a vein in the process. Starting to drink healthily, she was overcome with a sudden wave of relief. Satisfaction, that finally she wasn't starving anymore. It was so good.. There was so much of it.. He didn't need this much. Mouthful after mouthful, the vampire continued, aware she might kill him but confident he'd live. He needed to, or she'd get kicked out of the school. Knowing when to stop, Cessily kept going, drinking.. Drinking..

Watching Erys bleed, moan, and do some wierd changing thing, she then figured the teenager was an animagus. No wonder she couldn't control the animal while being this injured, there were too many distractions for her to concentrate. My, if she lost her mind and changed into a cat, Cessily just might keep her. Torture her to such an extent no one could tell what species she was anymore. The idea caused her to laugh, a bit of blood dribbling down his shirt as the result. "I wont kill him, deary. I cant. You can have him."[/color]

[Joshua Rivas]

The vampire's fingers snaked around the back of his neck and Joshua almost cried out in pain from the sharp claws. He was ready to die then, in the girl's embrace. As expected, only moments later fangs sunk into his exposed neck and he felt his strength draining quickly. Feeling his legs fail, he held onto the vampire tighter, trying to remain standing.

The spell was broken. His only lucid plan had failed, not realising that Erys couldn't attack the vampire without hitting him too. With his mind in it's current state of confusion it was no surprise. Blood dripped from Erys' shirt and guilt overwhelmed him. Joshua hadn't been able to devise a working strategy and because of his failure the girl he....cared about....was badly injured. If she lost enough blood, possibly fatally so.

"I'm sorry." Joshua said, looking over at her with shame in his eyes. It hadn't been his fault entirely, but he had still been the cause of her pain.

She was changing but Rivas was too far gone to care. An animagus, it made sense but no longer mattered. He was almost sure he was dying and finally he sunk gratefully to the ground. There was no strength in his body but his mind had not completely faded.
He retrieved his wand from his jean pockets and aimed it towards the vampire. Unsure what spell to use he hoped what came to mind was enough.
"Expecto patronum..." Joshua incanted softly, the image of just a few minutes before, of holding Erys beside the Shining Pool dominating his mind. A silver wolf exploded from the tip of his wand and advanced towards the vampire, growling.

Joshua was unsure whether it would work, though patroni were generally considered a powerful anti-dark charm. It was all that was left in him, and at that last attempt to protect Erys he dropped into unconsciousness.

[Erys Grace]

"Joshua.." Erys whispered weakly, clawing her way towards him as he tottered to stay on his feet. His strength was ebbing right infront of her, and she couldn't do anything to stop it. Think, Erys, think. Her mind was on fast-forward, with images and words rocketting by. There was no way she could find an answer like this.

Erys was too much of a fighter to die. She would take him to the hospital wing, however she planned to do it, but decided to clean herself up in the common room. The nurse might have to hog-tie her to get her in there, the Slytherin detested hospitals. Already devising a plan to get him back - as she clearly didn't have the strength to carry him herself - Erys then heard his apology, her eyes flickering between a shade of gold and gray. "Its not your fault, Joshua. You're a guy." Laughing at this and spitting out some blood, she was surprised to see him cast his patronus. Weren't they only useful against Dementors? It could work, but not on its own.

Pointing her own wand at the vampire the sixth year locked her jaw in concentration, and at once the shaking of her fingers ceased. "Expecto patronum!" Seeing as her memories with family sucked, and she didn't have many friends, there was only one other option. Closing her eyes, Erys thought back to before, at the beautiful pool. She held on to the image of their hug, which had made her the happiest she had been for a long time. It was enough to draw forth her jaguar, which launched from her wand to land at the wolf's side. Together the animals advanced, snarling and hissing, to fight the woman back. This would work, she was sure of it.

Crawling closer to Joshua, Erys gathered him in her arms. "Wake up." She ordered, her voice higher from the anxiety. Pressing her ear to his chest, she listened for the faint heartbeat. Relieved to hear the thumping, she tore a large section of her shirt off - the area below her stomach, of course - and pressed it to his neck. "If you wanted me to rip my clothes off, you should have just asked." The animagus joked, despite him being unconscious and not hearing it.

With the evil creature gone, it was just them again. "Lumos." Erys murmured, aiming the tip of her wand at his neck to inspect the wounds. It was gruesome, there was so much blood.. "Wake up, damnit!" Gently slapping his face, she hugged him, wondering how on earth she might lift him up and take him back to the castle. If he didn't open his eyes or try to walk, she'd just have to levitate him there.

[/color]

[Cessily Monroe]

Recoiling, Cessily threw an arm infront of her eyes, abandoning the human to back away from the light. "How dare you!" She spat, slowly retreating back into the shadows as the wolf advanced. Stupid creature! Licking blood from her lips and squinting her eyes, the vampire tripped over an uprooted tree, stumbling in the dirt. Cursing now as a jaguar joined the forray, Cessily took one last, longing look at the pair of humans. She was full however, so there was no need to get the girl as well. Her throat was hot with the taste of Joshua's blood. Having taken this much, the vampire didn't need another drink for another week or so. Excellent! No more mistakes. Making the decision to leave was quick, and she was off like a shot in the dark. The blinding light from the creatures were still on her heels, snarling at hissing and clawing and biting.

Confident they didn't know she was a student at Hogwarts, or her name, Cessily managed to escape from the pair of patronus animals once further into the forest. Resting her hands on her knees, she laughed suddenly. "That girl wont be able to carry him back to the school. They'll get eaten by something, I just know it." Or rather, hoped it. No witnesses, no persecution. Removing all traces of blood from her face now, she swallowed the last drops before starting to make her way back to the castle. With her speed, it took minutes. Seconds, even, to make her way to the Ravenclaw common room, speak the password, then hurry to the girls dorms.

Now safely sitting on her bed, Cessily rubbed her lips giddily. "He was so pretty." She drawled, hugging herself. And he kissed her too! Maybe she shouldn't have taken so much, to keep him alive. Or! She could change him, next time she saw him. Decisions, decisions..[/color]

[Joshua Rivas]

Joshua stirred. Someone was speaking to him in an urgent voice. Something was wrong. Probably the blood sporadically spurting from the bite marks on his neck. All he felt was pain and weakness, he couldn't think of any reason to stand. Except for her voice.
"Wake up."

He moved. Not much but he was able to twist his body to a more comfortable position. He felt something press against his neck and almost smiled at Erys' joke. His eyes opened and he gasped. The pain was excrutiating, yet that was nothing compared to the slashes along her torso. It was his fault, too.
"You look good." Josua smiled weakly, "The blood contrasts nicely against your eyes." It was a poor attempt at humour and now he was almost on the verge of tears. He had been weak and she had paid the price.

Joshua forced himself to stand. His legs felt like jelly as he fought to remain standing. He toughened up.
"Let's get you back to the castle, little lady." He said, trying to sound macho.

[Erys Grace]

Relief washed over her as Joshua managed to move a little, and, hugging him closer, Erys felt tears spring to her eyes. The main portion of the danger was over, and they weren't out of the woods yet, but she felt that everything was going to be okay. "You idiot." She muttered, sounding playful yet angry all the same, "You could have gotten yourself killed!" He looked like he was in pain. Sure, this would hurt like hell once she was cleaned up, but all Erys felt now was numbness. Cold, even, with her bloody body and tattered shirt.

"Not the best compliment right about now, due to your gaping neck wound and all.. But I'll take it." Winking with a shaky laugh, Erys didn't know how she would take all of this. Did she forgive him, or what? The sixth year hadn't any idea of what she should be towards him. Angry? Depressed? He'd nearly gotten drained of all his blood, and got her slashed up too. She couldn't blame him about the enchantment and the like, since guys were prone to that kind of thing. Especially if it ran in the family, which was likely the case with Joshua.

And again with the macho-ness! Flashing a small smile, Erys helped him stand, looping his arm around her neck and on her shoulder. Now it was her turn to be the big strong person and save the damsel in distress, only he wasn't a chick, and she wasn't a dude. "Lets get each other back to the castle." The slytherin corrected him, as he was the more injured one. Or maybe her, she couldn't really tell. Being completely numb and such, it was like her whole body was asleep.

Hobbling a bit as she lead them back to the castle, she glanced at his neck every so often, not bothering to clean her fingers of his blood. Erys wanted to say something around the lines of DONT EVER DO THAT AGAIN, but she couldn't find it in her to be pissed off at a time like this. Maybe after he was set up in the hospital. Again, the nurse would have to strap her down to get her in there. She'd get Joshua set up and all, and visit him, but had already vowed not to stay. She hated hospitals. "I'll get you into the hospital wing and I'll visit every day." Trying to cover up the fact that she wouldn't be staying, Erys glanced up at him with a pleasant smile. Hoping he wouldn't notice. Truth be told, if he wanted it of her, she might convince herself to stay, that is if she wasn't forced by him or the nurse.

Remembering suddenly how she looked at the moment - somewhere between a cat and a human, with fangs, claws, eyes, and faint spots - Erys turned her face away from him, her gaze glossy. "Dont look at me." She murmured, knowing it was pretty much useless since he saw her already. I probably look hideous. Like a monster. [/color]

[Joshua Rivas]

"It's alright, I could have taken her." Joshua said, punching at an imaginary foe., then swinging a wild kick. He was becoming delirious and the pain had forced a fixed smile on his face. Somehow it was all so damn funny. "How come all the girls gotta get violent when they fight over me? It's bloody mental!"

Joshua felt drunk. His head was swimming and he was leaning against Erys as though she was a fellow drinking buddy. He felt bad about what he had done but that faded into obscurity over how funny it was! "Bitten by a vampire..." He said with a smile, "Mum will give me a violent kick up the..." He was cut off as he coughed violently, blood disappating in front of his face. He had almost no blood left and his lungs saw fit to cough what remained into the air. Damn lungs, always so selfish. Joshua would give them a stern talking to when he felt better.

"Wow, every day? Cool. That means I get to see you a lot, hey?" Rivas said with a grin. "Oh yeah and you're an animagus! Wow. Wish I could turn into a cat. I won't be making you cranky again any time soon though. I've had enough of hot, angry chicks with long teeth." Joshua continued to walk, leaning heavily against Erys. The castle was coming into view and the way the moon was set behind it made Hogwarts look like a giant yellow birthday cake.

Joshua was suddenly very hungry.

[Erys Grace]

Fixing him with a wierd yet amused look, Erys glanced up at him with an arched eyebrow. "Yeah, you just keep believing that." She added in, her voice high as it tried to contain her oncoming laughter. He sounded really, really drunk. That was probably due to the loss of blood, which, believe it or not, would hit her the moment she entered the hospital wing. Only further preventing her escape from it.

"Quit talking so much! You wont have any blood left." Erys scolded, wincing as he belched up some more of the crimson stuff. Steadying herself for him to lean on her more, she wondered why they both weren't falling over by now. Besides that, the numb feeling was beginning to leave her body, and the pain took its place. Resisting the urge to scream, the sixth year bit her lip, disgusted as more blood bubbled up from underneath her teeth. They were too sharp, and non human.

He'd been too high to notice her not staying there, good. "Yeah.. Alot." Staring at him now as he rambled on about attractive girls with long fangs (not necessarily in that exact wording) Erys broke into a grin. "And yeah, I'm an animagus. Are you okay, Joshua?" Dismissing the animal part quickly, as she looked positively atrocious, she reached a stray hand up to press it against his forehead. Either he was burning up, or freezing.

Thank goodness Hogwarts was closer now, as they kept walking over to it and inside. Stumbling against the wall, Erys regained her balance, hurrying the pair of them to the hospital wing. She was going to get him into a bed, then healed, and then she'd visit him. She couldn't stay. The nurse wouldn't strap her down or anything, right? Of course not. The slytherin knew her injuries were severe, but she just hated hospitals. Okay, now to find the nurse.[/color]