Scarlet picked herself up and dusted herself off. Frowning she poked at the hole in the dress that she wore. Now that she was pregnant, and her breasts were getting bigger it was beginning to get harder to find anything that fit her well and in a way that hid the slight bump on her person. She could fix it, but it was still annoying nonetheless. “You coulda fuckin’ just tore my jugular and not ripped my clothes.” She muttered bitterly. He snorted.

“What was that thing you did?” Scarlet asked as she broached the gap between them. She pressed a finger hard in the middle of the brown haired man’s chest. “Did you just fuckin’ try to absorb me? Didn’t you hear? It’s polite to wine and dine a girl beforehand?”

“I killed you. Ate a bit of your Soul in the process. Tastes like a dark bitter chocolate, very filling.”

Did he just say….her soul tasted like chocolate? Scarlet furrowed her brows. Was that a compliment or an insult. “Before I became…*ahem* this corrupted I was told I tasted similar to ambrosia. Although, I suppose a tiny succubus has a warped sense o’ things.” Scarlet took a step back to get a better look at the man. He was tall, easily over six feet, and looked some kind of warrior priest. A light blue robe covered most of his body, obscuring the broad frame from sight, but when she had poked him she had felt metal underneath. On his his belt was a weird bell-covered cross, and a sheath for the sword still in his hand. Strapped to his left forearm was a small kite shield. Icy light blue eyes studied her, matching her gaze with one of his own.

Fuck...he was quite the sight, wasn’t he? She wasn’t sure if she was impressed slightly aroused, irritated or all of the above. Well, killing each other is a hell of a way to start an introduction.

“Scarlet.” She paused. “I am aware it’s a colour, cliche’d and ironic. That’s kinda the point. Now you.” She pointed at the man. “Have just killed two of my men granted, they were expendable but that’s an issue. You don’t look like a man who carries a lotta coin but it seems you may carry a bit o’ worth. What’s your deal beyond eating souls? Perchance we can work something out. Quite recently there has been a….ah….” Scarlet paused. “Cull in my organisation.”

Technically… it was still Lye’s but he had been so MIA of recent that most the men had defected (and were subsequently hunted down and killed) or had grown accustomed to calling Scarlet their new leader. Numbers were thin, numbers of members who could actually prove useful to her… were even thinner.

“Erik. I am - was, a Sage. Right now I fight, throw lightning, and heal.” His tone was clipped as he studied her.

“You have questions, or do you just like what you see?” Scarlet asked, catching his gaze. It was obvious he was warded. She supposed it was not everyday he came across someone who could up and revive themselves. Scarlet found it a little more common. There was her broken toy, Taka - of course...that was mostly the demon inside of him trying to keep its host alive. Then she was pretty sure Vincent had similar capabilities. Althanas was crawling with people like that. Unfortunately, most of them wanted her dead.

“I suppose yes to both. If I wasn't taken, you'd probably be my type. You're dripping Abyss, and it is rather intoxicating. But.” One shoulder shrugged. “I've not much to do in this world, so I suppose I could work with you from time to time if I'm not busy, Lady. Which I rarely am these days unless Camille needs me.” Another shrug.

“Camille?” Scarlet laughed. “That lil’ mutt werewolf? Damn…Master captured her and she was practically humping his leg. Come to think of it…” She paused as she tapped her chin. “I know of a vampire she also banged… she gets around...so she’s settled now? That’s news…” Scarlet grinned. “She likes being brushed riiight about here.” She pointed to the base of her spine.

Erik blinked, and shrugged. “I've lived for centuries. If you're trying to make me jealous, it won't work.” His voice was bland.

“No. Please. That’s a petty thing to do. If I want something I’ll be upfront. Mostly. You’re a looker I’ll give you that but I ain’t about to jump anybody. Frankly I think the lil pup is….endearing. Does what she wants. Never quite got her to cooperate with..what was it?” Scarlet tried to put a finger on the name of the ‘inner wolf’ inside of her.

“Nikita?” He tilted his head to the side.

“Yes. That.” Scarlet waved off the notion.

“I ain’t here to talk about your fuckbuddy...or lover or whatever...eons. Eh?” She narrowed her eyes. This was a bit of a gamble she could reveal more about herself to the man, but that could very well come back and bite her in the ass. She had far more enemies than she can count, and if he was romantically involved with the werewolf, mentioning that she had aided in Camilles capture probably wasn’t the wisest of moves.

Still..

Nothing lost, nothing gained.

“We have that in common.” Scarlet began. “Course, I got all those eons of memories locked away.” she tapped her head with a balled up fist. “Makes shit easier. I knew what I was who I was. I know I’ve lived countless lives, rebirthing from one body to the next - but I think I’m going to put an end to that this life. I got a lotta shit to do and all the time in the world to do it. So…. tell me Erik...what are you?”

The man turned and lit the fire before responding to her. He sat down, and gestured to a spot across the fire with his sword. Ignoring whether or not she actually sat, he started to speak as he pulled out a whetstone and began to strop his blade.

“Firstly, you're not the same as me, it seems. I do not get ‘reborn’. I, me, this very same body, mind and Soul, have persisted for eons. I've seen the rise and fall of my world over and over again, grand civilization rise and fall, and the desperate scraps of humanity clinging to life in the fall. I am, an Undead. So long as hate for the gods of my world burns within me I will never fall for good. And that hatred will never falter. I challenged them when they trapped my world in a cycle of death and rebirth, and I fought them every cycle thereafter, for longer than suns have burned.” He shrugged, examining the edge on his blade before deciding it was satisfactory. His blue eyes turned to the woman. “Then while I was recovering from being slain, they got tired of my rebellion and threw me here.”

“Never said we were the same, just somethin’ we had in common. Undead eh so you need to feed off souls to continue living? Or is that something you need to do only when you die?” Scarlet was formulating a plan, she wanted Erik. Needed him, what for yet she hadn’t quite worked that out but he was proving to be a useful asset. One that she wasn’t going to let slip through her fingers.

“I want you.” She stated matter-of-factly. “What for yet, I’m not sure. But you’ve proven yourself useful enough. You already owe me for killing two of my men. I think the exchange of information has been sufficient payment, but now - what would an undead man filled with hate want?”

Everyone had a price, everyone had a need a want… a desire to be filled and if it was mutually beneficial then ….who was she to complain?