Hunger of the Faithful

"Could you leave me here for a quick moment, you know; to think about your generous offer." Pleaded Imogen while wriggling her toes nervously in an attempt to relieve some stress.

"Sure, but you'll have to hand over your friend; we don't want any escape attempts after all." Smirked the rich man as he scratched his bald head, before suddenly turning his attention to a far away table.

"Fuck!" "You couldn't have found us already, we haven't done anything to warrant the sending of a royal guard!" Cried the rich man while drawing a sword from the immaculate sheath hanging on his side.

"That is correct, I wouldn't have even found you if not for the fact that you've captured my target." Smiled Elora as she threw her gilded sword right through the rich man's gut.

"Clarence, let's go; it's the perfect time to escape." Whispered Imogen while picking up Clarence, and jumping up onto the next floor.

"What have I gotten myself into, the royal guard is even after you." Whined Clarence as he tried to worm his way out of Imogen's grasp.

"Just shut it Clarence, I don't even know why the supposed royal guard is after me." Hissed Imogen while charging into a wall with her fist swinging madly.

"Ugh, you're making me sick; I'm going to throw up all over your feet if you don't stop." Threatened Clarence as he swung around like a rag doll.

"Please stop complaining Clarence, I'm trying to save your life... remember." Requested Imogen while leaping through the final wall and dropping out of the sky.

"Are you sure you're trying to save my life, because it looks to me like you're trying to take it!" Screamed Clarence as he flailed his arms about.

"You'll be fine Clarence, it's only a minor fall; I think!" Yelled Imogen just before they hit the rocky soil below.

As the cumbersome pair hit the ground, they found that they had not struck dirt; but a spiraling stone that Impaled Imogen right through the gut. The stone was wicked, and seemed to glow ecstatically in the evening shade as blood dripped down its oh so hungry sides.

"Don't look at your stomach Imogen, it's just fine; stare into the sky for now." Ordered Clarence while rolling down so he could attempt to push Imogen off the rock.

"Wait, why!?" "Oh my fu- AGHHH!" Shrieked Imogen as she stared at the bloody stone impaling her.

"Just sit still, I'm going to get you off it!" Hollered Clarence whilst he jumped up and barely hefted Imogen off the blood stained stone.

"Oh... maybe I should have thought about that first." Decided Clarence as he watched Imogen tumble down onto another rock.

"I hope that one day this'll happen to you, so I can push you down a cliff and into a rock as well!" Raged Imogen whilst she mustered up enough strength to flip him off.

"I'm sorry, it was an accident; I'll make sure I get you off correctly this time." Apologized Clarence as he felt a cold sweat drip down his neck.

"I'm afraid that you won't be able to do that, you see; I have a favor to fulfill." Stated Elora while suddenly appearing before Clarence, and pointing her sword towards him.

Elora Immediately got to work, and chopped the rock's tip off before pulling the leftover stone out of Imogen's chest; all the while keeping a close eye on Clarence. When she was done, she dashed off into the forest, leaving nothing but agitated leaves; and a frustrated Clarence.

"Well shit, the only good thing about this is that I can swear freely now; but even that isn't much of a comfort." Sighed Clarence as he sat himself down on a rock, and watched the blue sky fade into a rosy pink.

~~~

"Ah, I suppose I should get up now, it's morning; and I have to find Imogen." Announced Clarence while pushing himself off the mossy stone.

"Hmm... Well, actually, I don't have to find Imogen... but I sure as hell want to." Concluded Clarence as he jumped off the massive stone outcropping.

"Where do I even start... how am I supposed to save her when I don't even know what to do." Despaired Clarence while looking out into the forest, before running in after Elora.

~~~

"You know what'd be nice, if you untied the bonds on my hands, and let me go scot free; I'd be quite appreciative." Jested Imogen as she looked curiously up at the three moons that currently laid among the stars.

"I don't know how I offended you, but I promise not to do it again; I'm very good at keeping secrets." Hinted Imogen as she wiggled around, feeling quite restless.

"No." Responded Elora while leaping over a wide ravine without so much as a hassle.

"Come on, kidnapping me is a waste of time for the both of us; what could possibly be so important that you have to bring along my living body?" Questioned Imogen as she reluctantly looked up at the still silent Elora.

"You know... you don't talk very often, perhaps you should learn to be more socially adept... MAYBE then you'd actually be able to tell me what the frick I did wrong!" Fumed Imogen as she tried in vain to break from her bonds, almost dislocating her shoulder as the ropes got tighter.

"Be quiet, you're awakening the beasts." Growled Elora while covering Imogen's mouth with her hand, and slowing down their pace.

"If you try to mutter another word, I'll gag you, you wouldn't want that; right." Threatened Elora as she looked around, and spotted naught frilled with danger; before continuing on her trek with no further interruptions.

All was silent, the stars seemed to silently twinkle under the moonlight's gaze, the creatures of day slept in intonation; happily... and content. Until Imogen suddenly bit into Elora's hand, of which was jerkily removed in quick succession; and their peaceful walk was no longer peaceful.

"Has anyone ever told you how pretty you look, because you look-." Cajoled Imogen, but she was knocked out cold before she could finish.

Elora soon stopped at a nearby pond to rinse her hands clean, but she really couldn't do much fore It was dark out; so dark in fact that no one would be able to see the faint blush lingering on Elora's cheeks.

~~~

"Wake up." Commanded Elora while walking over to Imogen, and shaking her inhumanely.

"Uhh, No, I'm determined to make this as hard as possible for you; just in spite." Replied Imogen without even opening her eyes.

"Get up... right now." Demanded Elora as she dropped Imogen onto the ground, and started to drag her across the muddy forest floor.

"Aww, come on lady, just let me go already; I have nothing to give to you." Pouted Imogen while trying to slow Elora by dragging her feet hard across the muck.

"No means of anything works on you, compliancy doesn't work, insults don't work and even flattery doesn't do crap; are you even human?" Inquired Imogen as she dug her nails into the soft soil beneath in another attempt to stall Elora.

"Of course I'm human!" "Why'd you think otherwise; how could I not be human!" Exasperated Elora while purposely dragging Imogen over rock.

"And does that make you any better?" "It seems to me like creatures, and demi humans are quite a bit stronger than boring humans like you." Snickered Imogen as she reached her head over to try and bite Elora's fingers.

"... No" Whispered Elora while with each passing second, Elora griped Imogen's wrist tighter, and tighter; until it went numb.

"Hah, you really do have a thorn stuck up your-."

"SHUT UP!" Thundered Elora as she let go of Imogen's wrist and kicked her straight in the face.

"You don't know shit about me, so I suggest that you shut your fucking mouth before I break it!" Fumed Elora while kicking Imogen in the mouth, and then the stomach.

"So miss human has anger issues as well as the feeling of human supremacy... wow." Sniggered Imogen as she rolled out of the way of Elora's next kick.

"I'm not human you dolt, I fucking lied to you... did you know that you can't just go around saying you're not fully human next to a bunch of humans!" Shrieked Elora while stopping her foot just before it impacted with Imogen's face 

 "Doesn't seem too hard... like I'm not a creature too; you're pathetic." Spat Imogen as she glared at the fuming Elora.

"You may be a pure blooded creature... but what you're not is a fucking demi human living in a city full of humans that haven't entirely accepted the laws of their new queen!" Blurted Elora while angrily staring into Imogen's calm eyes.

"Do you know how hard it is to pretend, to wake up every morning feeling like you're less than other people; to feel the pain of knowing that your parents were burned at the stake years ago in Pyen Tyra!" Divulged Elora as she picked Imogen up by the shirt, and looked her dead in the eyes.

"Oh cry me a river, you're so fricking pathetic; what a waste of skin you are." Laughed Imogen while shifting her eyes to see the system notification that had just popped up.

*Negative Blood Count Reached: Using the creature known as Imogen's Life Mana instead

"Heha, well this is going to be fun... Elora, you better get me some blood; or else you're going to be in for a bad time." Chuckled Imogen while trying even harder to slip her way out of Elora's iron grasp

Or you could just let me go... save yourself the trouble of dealing with me, of which you're really not going to like." Grinned Imogen as she finally managed to wrest herself from Elora's grasp, and turned to run.

"I'm sorry, but I'm you're not going to leave, I don't fall for bluffs; and no matter what... you're coming with me to help save my godfather." Asseverated Elora while knocking Imogen out with a heavy punch to the back of the head, a punch so hard that it might cause some subtle brain damage later on.

"Fuck, I can't believe I have to find this prick some blood... Luther better have his reasons for requesting her." Grumbled Elora as she lifted the unconscious Imogen onto her shoulder, and headed east.

"I don't know what it is about her... but it makes me just want to tell her everything about me; the very thought chills me to the bone." Shivered Elora as she passed by a holy river birch.

"The feeling even persisted after I had told her things I'd never tell another soul, it's like she wanted me to say things I didn't know myself." Ruminated Elora as she felt herself grow more, and more curious of Imogen.

"It felt nice to say all those things I had pent-up for so long... but now I mostly regret it; someone, who I don't trust very much; knows all the things that could destroy my life forever." Suspired Elora while looking down to find Imogen's body spasming.

"Shit!" "It must be because of the lack of blood, I've been dawdling!" Panicked Elora as she quickly scanned the barren forest for life, but went without luck.

"... I'll have to give her my blood, how unsanitary; but I'm doing this for Luther." Smiled Elora while cutting her wrist to have blood drip into a somewhat pristine bottle.

"I really hate to give her my blood, but it's the only way to ensure her survival... I hope Luther was telling the truth this time, I don't know what this creature has to do with anything; but nothing else can be done except hope." Muttered Elora as she dripped the blood into Imogen's mouth, the thick liquid slowly sliding down the bottle.

"Well... that should be enough until I find another blood source, hopefully this will all be worth it in the end." Grumbled Elora whilst getting up, and brushing the slight film of grass off her tired knees.