{Death in Black}

[Jisanna Elizabeth Taylor]

It seems that everything in life is... temporary, and I am not entirely sure how permanent my friendship with Stella was. We are quite the same, of that I am quite sure, but I am not an everlasting type of girl. I had been running from my past for four years, and the one time I had finally faced it, I had become what I hated the most. It's a fitting punishment I suppose, for all those I had killed- murdered. These thoughts were going through my very dismal mind as I rested in the sun, in the heat of the day. This was not usually the time I would be out, I was not a vampire, but the unforgiving heat did irritate me as I was a panther shifter. As usual I was clothed in black, a constant sign of grief for my old life and family. Tragedies of this magnitude were mourned forever, and I was no one to go against that. The smell of damp foliage was intoxicating, and to me it did not smell all that great. Yet I could deal with it, after all I had lived out here alone for a considerable amount of time. I could scent and taste the days of sunshine ahead, which might be a good thing, but not for Stella it wouldn't be. Stella. Just her name brought all sorts of problems onto my shoulders; I was not used to the feeling. The only worries that had been on my shoulders since my family was murdered, was that I needed to find that Shifter and kill him. Now, however, I was taking care of a pregnant vampire. I did still hate supernaturals, and I held the hate for the Shifters more than other species, but I was not going to leave her with her Hunter lover. Call me crazy but I was leaving both of us with Stella's Hunter lover. Smart right? Sometimes I regretted decisions, especially when I had suspected that I knew the Hunters sister, yeah the bitch who hated me for no apparent reason at all... or maybe because I had told her the truth, a truth that she had not yet been ready to hear. Nevertheless it was done, and I couldn't care less about what she thought of me.

The day had been distastefully uneventful; I had purposefully stayed away from the Hunters house. I did not trust him with a penny, so I would not trust him not to murder me in my sleep, or try to at least. A smirk spread across my full red lips at the thought. It was kind of hard to kill someone in their slumber if they did not sleep. I did not. Perhaps it was because I was used to the life of a teenage Hunter, school by day and hunting supernatural’s by night. I'd sleep whatever was left in between. These habits were annoying but useful; I could help Stella at anytime she needed me. Shielding my eyes from the blinding rays of light with the back of my hand I squinted across the river, my river. Maybe I didn't own it truthfully, but I inhabited it and did quite rightly guard it. Raising myself to my long legs, I stretched luxuriously. My sharp eyes scanning the forest around Flint River for anyone spying on me, it didn't quite often happen but I still suspected it did. Graceful strides brought me to the edge of the river. Crouching down nimbly, I stared at my reflection, it was the same as always except I looked kinder than normal and slightly happier. I could not guess what had made the change in me, but it didn’t matter as long as I still looked like I could take anyone on- which I could. Standing back up I glanced around suspisciously, I had the uncanny feeling that someone was watching me; it sent shivers up my spine. I did not see anyone or anything, so I assumed I was being paranoid, which wasn't a lunatic assumption. Shrugging, I tied my hair up carelessly if only to keep it from suffocating me. Being bored wasn't something I particularly enjoyed. It turns out that I didn't have to put up with it for much longer.

Just as I was about to enter the forest and leave Flint River behind me, a menacing growl erupted from the deep undergrowth. Freezing, I gave the landscape a quick check, but alas I could not see anything. Fear froze my heart as I wildly scrambled for a visual on the creature, and I still could not find it. In the heat of the moment I had forgotten to guard and watch my back, that was my worst mistake yet. The mass of a gigantic mammal knocked me down with so much impact that the breath was blown straight out from my lungs. The weight was raised and I bolted to my feet, still trying to regain oxygen. I had expected to see the creature waiting to attack me again, but it had vanished again. This time I kept my senses wide open and I found that my opponent was a Shifter of unbelievable proportions and skill. After a minute or two of silence, my nerves had frayed and I could no longer stand it. My breath was loud and my heart was in my throat, later it would register that I had a broken rib that was restricting my breathing, right now my adrenaline was shrouding the pain. Another moment passed and I did something that might save me and might kill me.

"Come out you coward! If you want to kill me, then you might as well take me on!"

I knew that offer was too much to give up, especially for an enraged Shifter that wanted my head. Another slight stretch of silence and a snarl ripped from the trees behind me. Leaping to attention I watched a massive canine charge toward me. It was then that it registered to my memory, this was what I had been waiting for for four years! This wolf was to die today, and if I passed with it then I would be content. I wasn't supposed to be alive, and he sure as hell wasn't going to survive if I could help it. Instantly everything slowed down, as it always did for me when in battle. No matter how skilled he was, he was too eager for the kill and went for the obvious; a big mistake on his part. His muscular legs lifted him from the ground as I leaned back, my back bending as well as my knees. His stomach fur brushed me, soft and comforting but I couldn't be distracted as he missed his target and surged over me. As I sprung upright my right hand grabbed the silver stake that was hidden in my black boots and slid it out. Finally upright, I turned to face him the lethal weapon gripped in my hand methodically. Enraged by his failure he launched again, more careful this time, but not careful enough. Just as he was about to crush me, my left leg snapped forward; hitting him flat in the chest. The dog tumbled backward and I leaped forward, the meticulously fashioned dagger aimed for his heart powerfully. He saw me too soon and rolled out of the way, my silver stake drove down into the ground... and I couldn't yank it out.

At this moment I could not concentrate on bringing my weapon above ground, but I had for just a second too long. Just as I was about to jump to face him once again, ivory teeth grabbed the scruff of my turtleneck and shook me violently before the sweater slipped off of my body and I soared into the air. Only airborne for three seconds, I began my descent and slammed into the ground with a thud. Pain shot up my shoulder and dark spots clouded my vision. Rolling from the force of the throw I fell into the river, that one thing snapped me out of my shocked state. The cold water numbed the pain as I shot out of the water and smirked at the Shifter. I did not like being remotely damp at all, and he had crossed the line.

"You've officially pissed me off."

Sharp acid tinged my usually beautiful voice, my blue eyes became as dark as a storm plagued sea. This time, to the wolf's surprised, I made the first move. I sprinted toward him with obvious force and my last step sent me sailing toward him my arms outstretched, I hit him with such force that we were both thrown back into a great oak, but he got the worst of it. He slumped down to the ground with a pained yelp as I backed off and looked at his eyes. They were so pleading and familiar, I couldn't help but feel some remorse. It was too late when I remembered where I was and what I was doing. By that time he had already recovered and had hurled himself at me. The back of my skull hit the ground as his teeth arched above my neck, I could barely see through the invading blackness. All I knew was that I could not go unconscious just now. My senses reached out wildly for some form of help as I flailed and struck him, but nothing worked. I could feel his teeth pressing on my throat when my hand hit something cold- my stake. Pure adrenaline gave me the strength to unearth it and maneuver through his fur, the stake sank in and the jaws released me. Shaky breaths racked my exhausted body as I shoved the deadweight off of me.

I walked toward the river, trying to catch my gasping breaths, I just couldn't get enough air. Turning back I saw the body of a boy my age, the wolf I had killed. As I glanced at his face, reality hit me. That was why his eyes had seemed so familiar. This boy, he was my first love. I didn't know why he'd want to kill me, but he had wanted to, and that was all that mattered. All of my assumptions about love were true. I had been beginning to think that maybe love had value and maybe it made life better for those without hope. It might just do that, but it was the ultimate illusion, to distract you from your real goals in life. I would never again doubt these notions. Striding back to the dead boy I lifted him from the ground and slid him into the river. Wherever the river took him was not my concern, it wouldn't be pinned to me and that was for sure. I was legally dead to the world for all they knew about me. Once he had floated away in silence, I once more crouched by the river. The reflection was as it should be, a spiteful sarcastic Jisa stared back at me. Her eyes were haunted and angry, guarded. That was the me I knew. Getting to my feet I glanced around one more time before heading deeper into my forest. It was there that I would rest and get rid of the pain in my ribcage, shoulder and skull. It was there that I would remain.

Solitarity was my friend. Enemies are friends who cannot expose you or use secrets against you. I realize it was better this way.

On the eighteenth year of her existance, Jisanna Elizabeth Taylor killed the boy she had once loved.



Muse - Great
Word Count - 1, 945
Tagged- Closed
Note- Craziness word count.

[/size]