[CR.Slyth] truth will out [erys]

[Ricky Daine]

A month had passed since the incident in the hallway involving himself and Girty and Ricky hadn’t been himself at all. He usually liked to wear low necked robes, but since she bit him in his left shoulder, he had begun to wear robes which pretty much covered up his neck. He had a tired look about him, especially since he had spent three nights this week living in the Forbidden Forest. It had been his first change and honestly, it was worse than what he ever could have imagined. It was painful, bones creaking and rubbing together, not to mention stretching and he had completely torn his best high necked robes. Ricky Daine was not a happy snake.

Due to Girty’s advice, which he never ever thought he would ever take, he had began to study Astronomy as an added course. That way he could keep his eye on the moon cycles and at least know when he would be doing a disappearing act. Not that he could just say to someone, ‘see you in three days I’m off to howl at the moon.’ No. That didn’t work. That would involve actually admitting to people what he was, a truly frightening prospect even for him. Instead, he took to the Library most nights to study up on Werewolves and their behaviour, in and out of the affects of the Wolfsbane potion, which thanks to Vaid, he was learning how to make. His nights were pretty much full, Astronomy lessons at midnight, making vials upon vials of Wolfsbane potion and spending night after night after night in the Library. He was now on his way back to the Common Room after being in the Potion Lab for over four hours making the Wolfsbane potion. He smelled strongly once more of musty books and potion ingredients, specifically Wolfsbane.

Once inside the common room, he was glad to see it was empty. Though it was now nearing midnight so he assumed everyone was safely in bed. He gazed above him, wondering silently to himself if anyone could cure his disease. He thought after god knows how long of people being bitten someone somewhere would have found a cure. He threw himself on the couch by the fire and looked above him at one of the green and silver banners. ”Salazar would be turning in his grave if he knew…” Ricky mumbled to himself. She could have killed him, torn him to shreds but no. She had to go about trying to ruin his happy little life. His father would never forgive him for this, he would see it as Ricky’s fault. After all, if something bad happened he usually had something to do with it, even if he was completely innocent. Which he wasn’t half the time but that was beside the point.

He had dark circles under his eyes, indicating he hadn’t slept much. His skin was looking quite grey now and many people asked if he was ill. Though he wasn’t, he just had a dog inside him now. A filthy mutt. Though when he thought of Erys’ cat form, he couldn’t help but smile. Nothing could make them more different than this, a dog and a cat. Like electricity and water. They didn’t mix too well, though he hoped in their case it could be different. However, he couldn’t tell her. Ricky was a coward when it came to this and he would openly admit it. Well, no he wouldn’t. But in all honesty, he was terrified of telling her in case she couldn’t handle the truth.

[Erys Grace]

Chaos. In the minds and hearts of the students, the school, and a girl. Whatever had taken ahold of Erys these past few months had not spared any inch of her prettily scarred flesh, where in the past everything from vampires to spiders to humans even had carved their presence in her memory. In her skin. Not even the strongest could escape it.. People were dropping like flies, the swatter in the grasp of an unseen enemy. The worst type of demons were the ones you couldn't even see, or touch; you are unable to fight them. You sit there and take it, and you can go down gently, or go down screaming. Neither of which she was particularily pleased to do, but she would fight till the end, if she had to. And judging by the startling news plastered painfully on the parchment in her tightened fingers, she would have to.

It was anonymous, but the paper smelt strangely of.. Hubbles. Never in her right mind had she ever expected to receive anything from those people, least of all from Girty. She was fairly sure it was from her, despite the failure of a name. Details were lost to her, but the message was all the same: Ricky was a werewolf. Had been long enough for him to tell her, which, strange enough, he hadn't. He doesn't trust me. Erys knew he had been sneaking around with her, even his own scent had changed. It didn't smell like her Ricky anymore, it seemed a mixture of Girty and.. Dog. Normally, if she weren't affected by some wierd curse thing and not slightly crazy from it, she would have handled the situation much more calmly, and only ripped Hubbles' face to shreds. But seeing as this wasn't normal, Erys wasn't about to go about this quietly. She had only been roused from staring--open-mouthed and shocked at the parchment, sitting on the windowsill for hours on end--by Angel, who had been worried that a fly was going to lay eggs on her tongue. Are you okay? Her best friend had asked her, worry flickering in her eyes. "I will be." Erys had answered calmly, stretching her stiff limbs and purring. It was more than easy to flip on the switch, make her look like she was okay. He doesn't trust me.

Night had fallen, and everyone minus those who had snuck out were already asleep. Time ticked on the grubby clock beside her bed, seconds passed, minutes lulled, but she couldn't go just yet. As the rank stench of dog wafted up from the common room Erys stood, reaching for the letter and rolling it up in her fist. It smelled like Girty herself was down by the couches, and the idea made her gag. As she bent low and fur sprouted from her skin, the Slytherin slipped the rolled-up parchment into her jaws, leaping down from her bed as her paws met the stone of the floor. He doesn't trust me. Hissing slightly at the ever-present thought punching its way through her conscious, the Slytherin silently stalked into the common room, hopping on the couch only to press the parchment into his lap, and scuttle away to perch on the arm of the nearest chair. Her green eyes flashed coldly, silently demanding to read what Girty had wrote. Only when his eyes finished scraping at the words of the letter would she change back, and let all hell loose. He doesn't trust me.[/color]

[Ricky Daine]

He had tried many ways to quench the stench even he could smell. The smell of dog. Not just dog, wet dog. It disgusted him let alone anyone else. Erys would find out about his defect sooner or later, but before he could even consider considering telling her himself, he had to get over the fact he was what he was and deal with it. How could anyone else deal with it if he couldn’t come to terms with it himself. He couldn’t handle anyone else but Girty knowing about it yet. Ricky had been a Werewolf now for just north of a month, he still wasn’t used to the idea of it, he couldn’t handle the fact three times a month he became a beast. He knew, by reading up on Werewolves there was so much prejudice against them that they were typically shunned from society, hell he had once been one of the shunners. Hadnt he made Girty’s life a living misery because she was something he couldn’t understand? She was something that was not her fault? She hadn’t asked to be bitten, she hadn’t asked to be cursed, it wasn’t her fault and now he was realising that. This was just something you couldn’t control. It happened to people and there was nothing they could do about it. Now it was happening to him, and there was no cure.

He had so many questions, he was confused. He couldn’t even think the word ‘Werewolf’ and half-breed seemed like a cruel name now. His outlook on Werewolves had changed now because he was one. He didn’t have to like it, he didn’t have to understand it. It was a fact. Ever since this year had began, things had spiralled out of control. Suits of armour, Portraits coming alive, Ghosts becoming solid and even the most hardcore Slytherins taken a turn in believing mud bloods were the best thing since slice bread. How sickening honestly. His eyes were closed, his head spinning, his clothes smelling of Wolfsbane and the Potion Dungeon, musty old books and god only knew what else. Everything had become so much hard work, and NEWTS weren’t too far away. Ricky didn’t know if he’d survive this year, everything was piling up on top of him and it felt as though the more he tried to get free, struggle against it all, the more he was pulled back under. He felt like just lying down and yelling ‘I give up’ at the top of his lungs. He was Seventeen, he couldn’t deal with this stress. He had never known stress, he didn’t know how to handle it. Though, the one thing he would admit he liked about being a Wolf was the heightened senses. Sense of smell, hearing and he noticed even his eye sight had improved. Though it was annoying how everything seemed louder and brighter. Even the common room looked brighter, and that was wrong on so many levels.

Something landed lightly on the couch and he felt something pressing on his lap. He lifted his arm up from off his eyes and looked across at the chair. His mouth fell open slightly as he noticed the Bengal Cat animagi form of his girlfriend. He couldn’t miss the cold look in her eyes, the dangerous look and suddenly Ricky felt a little cold. He looked down and saw a note, though he dreaded to think what was on it. Only one thing right now he thought could make her look like that, and he didn’t think even Girty was low enough to tell on him. Though as he lifted the paper, her smell, now very and quite disturbingly familiar to him, wafted from the piece of parchment. There were little teeth dents in it now where Erys had had it in her mouth. Unfolding it, slowly, quite obviously dreading what was on it, he gave another look at Erys before reading the words on it. ”Ricky’s a Werewolf. Thought you should know.” She did it. She followed through with her threat. Now he knew he was in trouble. He looked back up at Erys, his eyes not full of fear, but regret and a hint of sadness. He had not wanted her to find out like this. ”Erys…” What was he going to say? I can explain? How? He hadn’t told her and he had plenty of opportunities to do so. Im sorry wouldn’t cut it either. He wasn’t getting out of this spot with simple words. ”This… Is not the…” He looked back down at the parchment. So few words had done so much damage and it hadn’t even begun yet. ”I… I cant explain myself. I wont insult you to even try.” His voice was barely a whisper but she would hear him. What was the point in coming up with feeble lies or excuses? Besides, Erys always knew when Ricky was lying, one thing he couldn’t do was lie to her.

[Erys Grace]

His whispered words of confirmation were but a prick against the choked atmosphere, but she heard them. Oh, she heard them. "Wont insult me?" Erys murmured, downcast eyes burning holes in the floor before turning their flame on him once again. "Knowing you've been sneaking around with a Hubbles, Girty no less, insults me. Knowing that for all we've been through you haven't the slighest bit of trust in me for this secret insults me!" Her voice grew louder with the accusations, heightening to a point of near-hysteria. It didn't even occur to her that, any other day, she would have reacted much calmer, but the dark magic of the castle had wormed its way inside her head, and it wasn't letting go of her now. Its spindly black fingers twitched at her strings, tugging her to the way of madness. He doesn't trust me. Bile rose in her throat at the thought of Girty's lips on his neck, pressing into his skin, injecting mutt inside of him like the insect she was. Swallowing the hollow notch that threatened to creep its way up, she felt it sink down to the caverns of her stomach, ambling precariously there, waiting for another chance to meander up again. "You reek of her." Erys spat, laughing maliciously. "Or did 'The Great Daine' not notice?" Her use of the dreaded nickname he hated so much would only--she hoped--to make him angrier. It was easier to yell and scream and hate him if the feeling was mutual.

In less than a heartbeat she was on her feet, prodding a curved claw against his chest. "Thats it, isn't it? Why you didn't tell me. You dont trust me. You dont trust me." Erys repeated, the sliver of anguish in her eyes vanishing as quickly as it came. "You played me for a fool. How am I supposed to maintain even a semblance of authority in this house if my own boyfriend is betraying me? Next thing I know, I'll be getting dirt shoved up my mouth and my underwear shoved halfway up my arse." And everything from the pranks to the swirlies would only serve to remind her of how he did this to her. Shoving him away from her and slapping her hands to her temples, Erys squeezed her eyes shut, forcing the beads of watery tears away. She hadn't cried in a long, long time, and refused to do so now. That was only another weakness. He doesn't trust me.[/color]

[Ricky Daine]

As though this day couldn’t get any worse. Ricky had been through the mill and back and half the time he didn’t know whether he was coming or he was going. It seemed as though his life wasn’t his own anymore. Now, as he planned to sit and relax on the sofa, just let go of his worries and have half an hour of not caring, his girlfriend decided to come and have a crack at him too. Oh, he would kill Girty for putting him through this, he would get her where it bleedin well hurt the most for this. This wasn’t over, as though destroying his life wasn’t good enough, as though stinking of dog wasn’t bad enough, as though having her scent wafting up his nose twenty four seven wasn’t bad enough, now he had to deal with a slightly crazed feline who just happened to be his girlfriend. Well, as they say, it’s a dog eat dog world.

Ricky tried to avoid her eyes as he told her the truth. He pushed himself up on the sofa, the rustling noise filling his ears as he looked anywhere but Erys. Though, as he brought his eyes back up to Erys, hers were on him and he visably winced. The way she was looking at him was as though she was going to fill him full of silver bullets. Ricky felt like standing up and saying ‘it wasn’t my fault!’ Though he knew that wouldn’t help, though what she said next Ricky’s eyes widened at. ”Sneaking around? Sneaking around!?” He stammered, she made it sound as though he was having an affair. The thought made him gag. ”I. Don’t. Trust. You?” Each word was spoken carefully, but it was a question none-the-less. So now his loyalties were being questioned, and here he was thinking he was one of the few who were truly loyal to Slytherin, who was truly loyal to Erys. ”What was I supposed to say Erys? Honey I’m back but careful I might bite!?” He ran a hand through his hair, trust was never an issue with Erys and Ricky, they trusted each other with their lives… obviously not. ”I didn’t tell you because I hadn’t come to terms with it, Erys. I didn’t like it and I didn’t want anyone to know. This has nothing to do with you, I had to come to terms with what I was and think about my future before I could even consider telling you!” What about his future? What if he came home one day and had to say ‘sorry hunnie I bit the kids’. He stood up and began pacing, this was all becoming too much for him, he wasn’t like most people he couldn’t control his temper at the best of times, he wasn’t known for keeping his cool. ”Of course I noticed.” He spat when she used the nickname he detested. ”How could I not notice? I may be blonde but I’m not dense.”

They were back again, to the trust issue. As he turned around she was on her feet in front of him, poking his chest with her finger, he could see it in her eyes though she would never admit it, she was feeling pain. An emotion Erys Grace never felt. Though it only lasted the briefest of seconds. Catching her hand in his to stop her poking him he looked down at her, ”No, that isn’t it at all. Trust is not an issue here Erys.” Though she kept on saying it, trust this and trust that, it was the main ground it seemed for this fight. ”Of course I bleedin trust you. For crying out loud Erys I love you! I cant love you if I don’t trust you can I!?” Ricky had never told Erys he loved her before, but now it seemed as though these three words would be the only things that would calm her down. ”Of course, I’m the one whos betraying. Its always someone else, isn’t it? Did I ever once give you a hard time about you hanging around that kitty boy? No, I didn’t. I dealt with it. I trusted you.” He dropped her hand and strode away from her, venting as he went. ”Its always about you, about Erys Grace. Nothing else matters, it doesn’t matter that I’m going through the worst thing I can possibly go through, it doesn’t matter that I’m confused as hell and scared out of my mind, does it? The only thing that matters is that you’re being betrayed, you’re hurting and you’re feeling lost, confused and let down. For god’s sake. Not everything is about you.” He let his sentence go, forcing himself to stop. He already felt as though he had said too much as he leant his head on the cool stone wall.

[Erys Grace]

”Of course I bleedin trust you. For crying out loud Erys I love you! I cant love you if I don’t trust you can I!?”

Stunned into silence now the Slytherin froze, eyes wide, lips parted like two perfect halves of a butchered rose. Had his words ended there, she would have been startled into submission, simmering and sobering as quickly as her anger had exploded. Her mouth opened further as if to stammer a slight protest, but her voice fell short, and her jaw just hung there. For a moment everything was still; portraits covered their hushed mouths and watched eagerly, a few first years had crept nearby to play audience to this silenced chaos. Even the fire dulled its crackling, in case the quietest mistake was the one thing that could set her off again. But lady luck in all her fortuity wasn't vouching for Ricky now, and he kept the venting going, blabbering on about how it was all about her. Making her sound like she wasn't above the likes of a spoiled, six-year-old brat. Her eyes popped wider, the shock changing from that of an unexpected reverie to one of loathing. How dare him. It didn't even occur to her that he had told her he loved her, hadn't settled in. Or that he was going through a tough time and that he trusted her completely. No. "Love this." Voice low, in a fraction of a second she was beside him, claws with their intentions of burying themselves in his skin. Anywhere they could reach. Arms, chest, back. Particularily the ribs, that was painful.

Something closed around her wrist but she wrung it from his grip--at least she assumed it was his--using that momentum instead to bring it in an arc towards his face. Anger clouded her, even her eyes held a far-off look to them. Driven by raw, untamed, even feral rage, Erys felt a low hiss rip through her chest, as she kept hitting. Fighting.[/color]

[Ricky Daine]

Both Ricky and Erys stood staring at each other. Ricky thought for a brief moment he was out of the hot water. But as the saying goes, ‘out of the fire and into the frying pan.’ Ricky had once again landed himself in trouble. Ricky slowly became aware of people watching, portraits covering their mouths and hushed whispers of ‘what’s she going to do?’ Everything became quiet and Ricky’s senses kicked into overdrive. Seriously, he was going to kill Girty for a list that just right now, seemed never ending. Though he felt like this, here, right now, was the calm before the storm. He should have learnt by now, to shut up. Stop digging a hole, but as usual, his mouth worked before his brain did and through his frustration he didn’t shut up and so, resulted in this.

”Love this.”

Before Ricky could even think about reacting. Before he had a chance to even stop her from aiming… from almost ripping his skin to shreds, she was standing right beside him. Her arms flailing but connecting with his skin in sickening slaps and rips. Ricky could swear he could actually hear his skin ripping. Arms, chest, rib cage, back… Legs… Neck (not that he needed any more damage to this particular area of his body), she slashed him with her claws. What an end to an oh so perfect month. Another blow connected with the side of his face, his cheek was cut open and he could feel from each of the shreds, blood oozing from them. Well, Ricky did love her, but he wasn’t going to stand here and just let her put him through the blender so to speak.

”Erys-ouch-stop, bloody hell!” She wasn’t listening to him at all. Someone tried to pull her off him, but she struggled free and once more came after him. He managed to avoid some of her blows but not many. Another pair of arms grasped her waist but Ricky shouted to them over the panic in the room, ”Let her go! She’ll only shred you if you don’t.” and I deserve this. He thought to himself. His skin was throbbing and all he wanted to do right now was go to bed but this night seemed far from over. He ducked behind the sofa as Erys was set loose again, ”Erys will you just calm down!” The way she was acting you’d think he’d slept with Girty. He heard the hiss escape from her and then knew he was in trouble. Hiding, running… Talking… wouldn’t get him out of this one and as she came at him again, he tried to grab a firm grip on her, whilst staying out of her claws way. ”You’ll only tire yourself out!”

[Erys Grace]

His vain sputtering in hopes of calming her down did nothing but add fuel to the flame; she was completely out of control, but not so far as to be uncalculative with her attacks. As his fingers locked tightly around her wrists Erys snarled, raising her foot slightly to stamp down hard on his toes. Distracted by the pain of this recent attack, his grip may have loosened. If not, she would change her hands and wrists into little paws and slip them quickly and easily out of his grasp, before changing them back again for another strike. He was stronger than her now, with his canine-like title, and it frustrated her. Not only that, but there was some truth in his warning that she would drain faster; anger tended to do that to people, especially people who were fighting. Her strength was slipping, she could feel it.. Crying out in rage, Erys twisted away, pumping her hand forward to smash it against his stomach in a quick palm strike. The force of this might be enough to send him backward some, especially if he tripped over the table that was right behind him. All she needed was one hit.. Just one.

"Hit me." Erys spat, eyes wild as the pungent scent of blood hit the air like perfume, and her hands swept towards his arms. "Why wont you hit me?!" She screamed in frustration, arms shaking as she breathed heavily. "Why wont you hit me.." She whispered, voice cracking as her eyes squeezed shut. She didn't understand! Just one hit, just one. Thats all she needed. Thats all it would have taken. But he refused to strike her.[/color]

[Ricky Daine]

This was getting ridiculous now. Erys and Ricky had their differences sure, and the fact he hadn’t told her about this yet was a big deal sure. But she didn’t need to go off at the deep end like this, did she? So he hadn’t told her something, yes he deliberately kept it from her. Yes he hadn’t been completely honest with her when she asked him if he was okay. Part of him felt like he couldn’t tell her for his own selfish personal reasons, reasons which basically consisted of her not wanting to be with him anymore. Part of him didn’t want to incase it got out and the other part felt like he needed to protect her from his secret. She stomped down hard on his foot, his grip loosened as tears welled in his eyes from pain. It wouldn’t have bothered him half as much if she hadn’t been wearing heals. His grip loosened for just a second, a brief second but she took advantage of that and slipped her hands out of his grip. He barely had time to register what was going on before she smacked him in the stomach. As though he needed that. He hadn’t eaten all day so his stomach was paining him anyway but that, that was just cruel. He stumbled backwards slightly, tripping over the table behind him. He let out an “oomph” when his back slapped into the sides, but he was up again in no time. He couldn’t let her just walk all over him, he knew that but he couldn’t hit her. He wasn’t a woman beater afterall. He was many things, but a woman beater? No he wasn’t that.

”Hit you?” He spoke, his voice rose slightly as shock settled in. She wanted him to hit her? ”No, no I wont hit you Erys. God, what do you take me for seriously?” Anger was rising in himself now, he was annoyed she asked him to hit her, annoyed she was taking this so personally. Hurt that she thought he could hit her. Fearful that part of him wanted to hurt her. The wolf in him wanted to comply, wanted to hurt her. But Ricky, he wouldn’t let the beast in him win. ”Why wont I hit you? Because I might hurt you or worse?” He felt it stirring inside him, the raw power of the beast. The hunger of wanting to cause pain, the want to hurt. The beast wanted to hurt her, it was so strong Ricky didn’t know how long he could fight the two of them off. Erys and the Beast inside him. Slowly, his arms outstretched, blood pouring from his arms, shoulders, back and face, he walked over to Erys. Putting his hands on her as she struggled and pleaded with him to hit her. Her claws scratching down his arms, causing him even more pain, but something else happened then. He felt something, something that was not himself. He shuddered and became stiff, his eyes closed as he let out a slight throaty growl…

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(Purple post written by Liz, thank you!)

Meanwhile in another part of the castle…

If there was one thing that people should have learnt about Girty Hubbles was that she was not a woman to trifle with when she was in a bad mood. The days when she had been in this fowl state of mind had been increasing dramatically over the past few months so much so that it was more common for the frown to be found upon the Hufflepuff’s face instead of the trade mark Hubbles grin. It was this upside down smile that was now plastered across the pale skinned features of Girty as she walked down the fifth floor corridor tailing a group of male Slytherin’s.

“I ‘eard Hubbles was gettin da boot.” One of them commented, but his friend did not agree.
“Neh, dat minista is too in love wit him.” Girty could not help but roll her eyes at this point, not only where these Slytherin’s idiots they also lacked the ability to talk properly. “Dat werewulf siz of his is well fit though, I would tap tha.”

Oh no, that had torn it. First of all these neanderthal males clearly had not bothered to look over their shoulder, secondly their inability to use correct vocation and pure laziness to finish off their words had almost tore the line but to then accuses Dan and Mr Biggs of having a relationship was just too much. With every step that she had been shadowing these green robed students she had been feeling the urge the punch something welling up inside her, her whole body tensed up and, her fists clenched and she breathed in deeply to try and control the rage.

“But sez a ‘ufflepuff, dat iz mingin.”
“I iz better then dat claw. Hez a wank…”

Girty’s fist met the back of the black haired Slytherin head, the loud smack echoed around the corridor for a second before the cried of pain and expletives and an explosive argument. Great way to control a bad mood!

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Ricky felt every emotion course throughout Girty’s being. Though he didn’t know what she was angry at, or what she had done or what had been done to make her feel this way, Ricky felt it. A violent shudder went right the way through his body as the anger from Girty mixed in with his own anger and various other confused feelings. He didn’t need anybody to tell him he was losing control of himself, he could feel it. Like someone was pecking away his own sanity.

It all happened too quickly for him to figure out what was happening.

A loud earsplitting roar erupted from him, it sounded angry mixed with a little bit of pain. His hands gripped Erys’ arms a little too tightly. He couldn’t see properly, black spots were clouding his vision. The sounds from the common room dimmed, blood pounding in his ears was all he could hear. The thumping from his heart as it raced. Ricky was losing control. He lifted his left hand and thrust it outwards, not knowing what he was doing but his arm connected with something soft. He didn’t know if it was Erys or someone else, but he knew he had connected with someone. And hard. His arms flew around his head as his knees buckled from underneath him, causing him to fall from the floor. His breathing loud, rough and unsteady. Faint growls kept coming from his throat. It took a moment or so. His arms dropped from his head and he rose slowly, his eyes a little bit dangerous. His whole body was shaking with a rage that was not his own as he looked around the common room. People were edging away from him, trying to put as much distance between themselves and the abomination. Part of Ricky’s mind was panicking, what happened with Girty was playing in his mind again. How she had changed without the full moon because of the rage. The dark magic was all around the castle and he couldn’t be sure that the same thing wouldn’t happen with him. A dark rage was over him now, fuelled and led by it. He didn’t want to hurt Erys, but he already knew he had now.

[Erys Grace]

The earth-shattering bellow that tore from his throat hit her in such a way that a lullaby might comfort a child. Erys sighed with relief, closing her eyes and swaying to the beat of the rage as it echoed in the otherwise hushed atmosphere of the common room. They were alone now; the others having retreated in their haste to disengage themselves from joining this fray. His hands clapped roughly around her arms, squeezing tightly in a manner that wasn't far from bruising, and in that moment his fist connected solidly, and certainly, with her stomach. Her breath caught in her throat as she flew backwards, dropping like stone as her body met the floor, thudding loudly. Her vision blurred, but not thanks to tears. Perhaps it was anger, or black magic, but whatever it was her vision was as clouded as his was. Blood spattered from her lips, only a few specks, but few enough for her pupils to slit and fangs sprout from her gums. Her pace matched her sight as her blurred body rocketted towards him, hitting him in the stomach so they would both clatter to the floor.

If she did manage to get him down Erys would quickly wrap her clawed hands around his wrists, slamming them against the floor in her attempts to pin him. She leaned over, her heart pounding against her chest at the sight of him growling and breathing heavily beneath her. She paused then, staring with livid fascination, drawing a hand back to trace his jawline with an outstretched claw. The hairs at the back of her neck prickled, and she hissed down, smirking before shoving their mouths together. Her lips were hard and mean against his, fueled by rage and passion and animalistic instinct that only they could possibly understand. But understanding was nothing short of an overstatement; neither could describe what was happening except for an extreme need for domination, control. Erys' stomach ached but she kept going, perching on his stomach with her head bent low. She bit his bottom lip, her fangs digging into the fleshy skin there, smirking against his mouth when she tasted blood. It was familiar to her, this taste. Pain.[/color]

[Ricky Daine]

He managed to pull himself to his feet, anger and hatred welling up inside his chest. His arms around his head as though he was trying to keep the sanity in his mind, rather than letting it all slip away. Girty felt absolutely furious, he was confused. He felt something, an emotion that wasn’t his own and yet he knew it was her. He knew it was Girty he could sense it. He couldn’t see her, or hear her, there was no way to tell what she was annoyed about. All he knew was that anger from her couldn’t have come at a worse time. His arms dropped to his side, his chest heaving up and down, growls coming from his throat as he stood, rooted to the spot. He wasn’t even aware that everyone else had left either, but his eyes fixed on Erys as she pulled herself up from the floor. There was no coming back from this now, he had hit her. In a blind rage he had hit his girlfriend, something he swore he would never do, and something he would make damn sure he never did again.

She ran right at him, her body colliding with his in such a force that sent them both flying backwards. His head his the table legs causing it to crack as the table fell apart around them. Well, he wasn’t paying for it that was for sure. She slammed his wrists down painfully on the floor, another growl erupted from him. The untamed animal inside him was demanding for bloodshed, more violence and his mind was succumbing to its will. His chest rose and dropped heavily, his eyes focused on her and yet it wasn’t really Ricky who was looking at her… he would never look at her in the way he was doing now. As though among everything else, he resented her. As though he hated the very sight of her, which in his heart wasn’t true at all. Her mouth collided with his, he of course played along. Played his part without fuss or complaint for the moment, though when her fags dug into his bottom lip he let out another growl and quickly turned the tables on her, flipping her over with his legs so she was the one pinned beneath him.

The animal inside was enjoying this, a fight for control, for domination, he knew right now, like she before, he had domination of her until which time she turned the tables back around on him. He forced his mouth to hers, a violent and angry kiss, he was not being gentle at all. It was almost as though he had given up caring if he hurt her. His hands tightened around her wrists, it may have caused her pain if she was at all thinking about anything other than the fight for control. Yet something happened. Something came alive in his head.

What the hell am I doing!?

His eyes shot open, his hands relaxed as did his body. Quickly he jumped off Erys and shot as far from her as the common room would allow. The stench of blood hung thickly in the air, his mind was even more confused as he looked anywhere but at Erys. He had lost control, he had lost control of himself at that was dangerous of him. He could have seriously hurt her or worse! Now, he understood what she meant when they first got together. How she sometimes lost control and had hurt him… hell he had the scars to prove it. As his eyes drew up to her, a saddened pained look was in them. The heat of the argument and the fight was still fresh. Yet the same question burned inside him. Is this it, then? A question he would not speak, in fear of her answer. For the past month, she was the only thing that made sense to him in this crazy world… but even the sense of her, the sense of their relationship, he was losing that too. They hung on the smallest of threads now, which could break at any moment. ”Erys… I…”

[Erys Grace]

Her breath was knocked from her throat by the sheer force in which he flipped her, and she was underneath him again, their lips snaking around each other with as much grace as that of lions eviscerating their prey. Erys' eyes, were they opened, would have reflected the slitted pupils of a feline, as various parts of her body felled to the animal inside of her. Part of her enjoyed him on top of her, but the other? Absolutely livid at even the thought of being dominated, let alone by the likes of a mutt. Anger, unhealthy and tainted by the black magic running rampant in her blood, peppered her vision with black, and the Slytherin yowled, writhing underneath him as she tried to flip him back over. But he was stronger than her now. Digging her fingernails into the living manacles wrapped around her wrists Erys hissed defiantly against his lips, eyes open and hateful as they stared into his.

Suddenly though his eyes snapped open, the shadow vanishing from within them as he relaxed his hold and jolted away from her, across the room within seconds. Her responce to this wasn't quite as gentle, were she thinking clearly, as the words on her lips rang. Though they weren't words at all. A very feral snarl tore from her, slitted eyes flashing defiantly as she mocked his cowardice in a tongue he could never understand. Lowering into a hunting crouch Erys opened her mouth once again, taking a step towards him. But something was off about her. Ricky. The first untainted thought to echo in her mind startled her into freezing, and she gaped at him, torn between the two halves that made her whole: the animal, and the human, who was unconditionally in love with him. It appeared as if she wanted to advance but couldn't, as her body shuddered violently, struggling between instinct and intellect. Ricky. She thought again, desperately, against the animal, who roared in protest, egged on by the scent of blood that hung to her like smoke. Her clothes, ragged and tattered, were bloodstained. She could have been torn to ribbons--was, probably, torn to ribbons--but all she was, was numb. An uncharacteristically small and feeble kitten-sound inched from her lips, and she fell forward, her claws skidding against the stone as she collapsed at his feet.

He was at a loss for words now, trying unsuccessfully to repair the threads of which they were bound. However small, he hadn't realised they were irrevocably permanent. Their blood was each other's, their hearts.. Well, were they not thudding violently in their chests, would probably have been too. Smiling brokenly and stubbornly despite herself, Erys curled up, purring faintly.[/color]

[Ricky Daine]

By now, Ricky was giving in to his animal instincts and just letting them take complete control of him. For moments, his vision became blurred as he kept trying to pull himself back into reality. He didnt want to hurt her, but he was stronger than she was and even the slightest wrong move could really injure her, something he didnt want. When she was on top of him, a very low growl escaped him and, not liking not being in control flipped her over on her back with so much force it may have seriously injured her had she not been an animagus. He hissed back at her feeling her claws in his wrist, but he didnt relax his grip instead it tightened. He stopped kissing her long enough to look at her in anger. No, he would not let a female dominate him. Clamping down again, his mouth collided with hers with a force that could bruise. She tried to flip him over, but everytime she did, he pushed back keeping her exactly where he wanted her.

Something clicked inside him.
What was he doing?

Before anyone could say Slytherin, Ricky was at the other end of the room near the trap door. He heard her snarl and backed even further away from her. He watched carefully as she crouched and took a step forward. His hand was resting on the wall, ready to make a run for it if necessary. He never thought he would say this, but he needed Girty to tell him what the hell was happening to him. Why was he acting so brutally, or more brutally than usual. She was, in reality, the only one who could help him understand, who could actually help him. It nausiated him to think that way but it was true.

The smell of blood ran through the air, both of them looked like they had been in one brutal fight with something large and scary, rather than a kissing match with eachother. They had almost tore one another apart, he had almost torn her apart. He couldnt do this anymore. He watched as she fell at his feet, unsure of what to do he crouched down and looked at her. Placing a hand nervously on her back. He pulled her close to him in a gentle manner, unable to do anything else. He knew he needed to get away from her, before he did something extremely stupid, or rather, stupider than usual. He could spare a few moments to give her some security, before he tore it all away from her.

Minute.
Ten Minutes.
Twenty Minutes.

The silence continued, carefully, Ricky pushed Erys away from him and stood up, edging closer to the trapdoor. He wouldnt look at her because what he was about to say would break him. It would do nothing short of killing him emotionally as Erys was the only one now who kept him on a level field. Yet, even now he could see the hills rising, bumps forming as the threads which bound them began to slowly fall away. "I cant do this anymore." He told her, his voice quiet but it seeped with sadness. "I cant be with you if I cant control myself. I dont know if I ever will but I will be damned if I'm gonna let this... thing hurt you. I may never be able to control it. I dont know. But right now, I do know I cant... and..." He took a deep breath, telling himself to just... spit it out so to speak. "I do, and always will, love you but... It is over... with me like this there is no future for us. You deserve someone who can give you things you need, things I wont be able to now. I'm sorry."

With that, he kicked open the trap door and exited the common room. Knowing full well he would never do anything as hard as that again in all his life. Now, he was looking for Girty.

[Erys Grace]

Pain was what she felt right now, but exhaustion prevented her from clutching at her sides. Even her mouth was tired, bloody and throbbing as her palm swept the crimson away. Vision blurry now Erys chose to instead close her eyes, undisguised hate at what she had done rolling threateningly around her gut. She wanted to tear her own claws into her chest and puncture her lungs, listening as the air hissed out and her throat bubbled with blood. This was the world she made, carving up her best friend like a roast turkey at Thanksgiving before throwing him away. Ironic, considering he was the one about to drop her on her ass.

"I cant do this anymore."

His words were like a swift kick in the stomach, but she remained still, squeezing her eyes shut tighter as if it would take what he said away. She didn't want to see him anymore, no, not now. The Slytherin was instantly taken back to the time where he last boyfriend disappeared, vanished for probably the same reason. She had to go back to the shining pool now, if not to think, if not to prevent her from ripping her apart. After all those months of hardening herself to stand the pain it all came back now, and as tears threatening to spill weakness down her cheeks she bit her own lip, the pain sharpening her focus and hiding what she truly felt. No weakness. Erys thought determinedly, eyes holding a cold furiousity as they never had before. No weakness. She repeated, a psychotic little mantra that echoed in her head as she stared at Ricky from across the room. "always will," She heaved herself to her knees as he spoke, silent as the grave. "love you but..." Pushing up on to her feet now the Slytherin swayed, facing the realisation of what he was saying. "over..." Trust was a hard thing to earn, when it came to Erys, and it took lifetimes to earn it back. In the span of a minute and thirty seconds he had broken up with her, and any trust she had in him wrinkled, grinding itself underneath her foot as she planted them to steady herself. "Get out."

Watching as he took off through the trap door the Slytherin rubbed the back of her neck, withdrawing her wand to start cleaning up. A little bit of hell this time..[/color]