The Mistress of the Damned

The impulse was one hard to control. Seeing the weak flesh begged to be cut. Pulsing veins she wished to split open, as if examining them from the inside. How could it be weeks, almost a whole month after losing her hand, that she could still find an attraction to blood. There was a habit, forged in almost fourteen years of wear that had seeded into her own sinful blood. Old habits could never truly die and forever temptation was a beast that gnawed hungrily at her stomach. Once a murderer, always one. However, Valeria was so much more than that. She was a woman who guided souls to Hell, Charon to the River Styx. How most unfortunate that the ways that she asked payment was in blood and screams. Satisfaction was hard to claim most times and how displeased she could spend nights. Morals were wasted on the beast. It simply laughed at her attempts to tame him. As he growled for more in the pit of her stomach, her head burned with the longing of ignorance. How blissful it was when she didn't have a conscious, the holy angel that constantly had war with the demon in her being. She was being torn in half, two forced opposites touching and fighting until the hands that held them together broke and the pieces split. Not even powerful adhesive would last long. Her greedy need would grow too much and a sinful weapon, Satan's Hand would be pulled from the hidden crevices.

What stopped her, she wondered to herself. A month ago, she wouldn't have even bat an eyelash at MAKING this man do something death worthy. Soil his name and then effortlessly cut him down, but not before the torture. That was what got her off the most. Agonizing screams of pain, begging for mercy and freedom begging for death. How much power could one, simple body hold? Eyes peered into her mind, those of Lucian Diablos. How desperately he pleaded with his eyes while he choked, bloodied and dying by his little sister's hand. Valeria loved it. Such control was fueling her demon and the angel hesitated, leaving her in the fleets of something she could barely resist. Would he taste good? Just what WAS his blood type? Chills rolled over her body briefly before she grinned as a sadist in a doll's skin. That precious woman had nothing more than a cocktail dress and the bow around her neck. Indeed, she'd been invited to his place, but the man was knocked out before any real fun could be had.

A hand traced his cheek, nails sinking hard into the flesh and leaving scarlet scratches. Beautiful marks. In older times, she may have returned to kill him, but something nagged her. It wasn't right. The voice in her head claimed. Who was that man that flashed in her head? She couldn't be sure, but her hand retracted and Valeria took a slow breath. This wasn't her anymore. At least, not what she needed to be. Every actress had a part and for now, this was not the role she needed. By far Valeria was no known actress, the slip of her name might bring the whole of Esparia back on her tail end. It was unlikely, the case being dropped almost ten years ago, but that never stopped her sneaking paranoia. Then there was.. HIM. Her nostrils flared and rage slipped down her spine. Her hands moved, one to the man's throat, as if picturing the white haired assassin. Slowly, she began choking him. Breathless sputters wheezed from his throat. She didn't stop.

How badly Valeria wanted to ruin the man. He was a traitor, treacherous and lecherous all wrapped in one. He had been false, a liar as all others. He deserved to die. An unpleasant noise filled the room as the man whimpered like a defenseless puppy, staring at her softly. Disgusting how quickly the alcoholics begged. This wasn't the man she wanted anyways. The one she wanted, the one whom ruined her perfection, was not near, as far as she knew. The pink-haired slut had felt a taste of her momentary wrath, but had she been permitted more, that child would have been far more scarred than she probably was. A job was a job, she did what she needed to do, but how she wished she could have slipped a slight more salt into the wounds. Somewhere in her head, she felt her friend frown. Yes, a friend. She had one of those now, how odd that was. It was as if he wanted her to change and yet, he wasn't trying to change her. Slowly, she slipped away from the slightly battered man and an irritated sigh befell her lips. She grabbed her undergarments from a nightstand and her boots, as well as jacket at the door. Once dressed, she checked herself in the mirror before walking out, of course with the man's wallet. He needed to pay her for sparing his life after all.

A pang of guilt spoke to her in the voice of a familiar friend. Words weren't there, but a silence and the feeling of watching eyes made her shiver. So, instead of taking the WHOLE wallet, she snuck what he had on hand (A good 100 dollars) and placed the wallet back through an open window. So what if she didn't kill him, the weather sure would. Thus, Valeria found her way wandering through the snow with only the tiniest bit of blood on her hands.

The night was young. Yet, there was never a wrong time for blood to flow. Sitting upon a roof with his raider on his shoulder as he held it with one hand, another hand guiding a cigarette to his mouth to breathe in its toxins. Every now and then, he would peer out into the street through the 2x scope he had mounted. He loved to watch people walk by, to judge them even though he didn't know them at all. He wanted to kill. But tonight, it seems he caught one particular woman out on a stroll. Looking at her exit her place of living through the scope, he let out a small whistle to himself, as she was quite attractive. He would begin to stand as he vaulted over the edge of the building, grasping the rainspout that was attached as he shimmied down it, as he slide the other half down. Landing with a soft thud he placed the rifle down against the brick wall out of sight. He might need it later.

He quickly peered out of the alley at the woman walking at a distance from him. Reaching into her pocket, he pulled out a picture as he made a comparison. The image and the woman looked similar. It appeared as if she was today's hit. He loved money, it was a shame he did.

Stepping out from the alley, he approached the woman casually as he dropped the cigarette on the ground behind him. He was gonna play it casually, for now. She didn't look like she was drachman, which was good, since he didn't know the language. As he made his was towards the female as his small smile faded as he made a keen observation of the woman. Being an assassin meant one had to be observant and be smart. Two things struck him as odd about this woman.

First off, she was missing a hand. By the look of the stump, it appeared recent. Not many people lost a hand by going about their lives. And second, there was a small patch of blood on the cuff of the coat. By the color, he could tell it was recent."Are you hurt?" He stopped next to her as he noticed something else strange. There were no physical distinctions of harm that could cause the blood. Looks like Shinku was in for fun."Sorry for intruding. I'm Shinku by the way. You look like you aren't from around here, and I don't speak drachman. I saw you leave your place and it looks like you fucked up your hand" He would play dumb, for now. Resting his thumbs on the waistband of his jeans, he was preparing himself to draw his Dual Talons underneath his duster in case she was hostile. It was a shame some people got contracts on their heads. Some people.. he didn't like to kill.

Tick tock, tick tock. The gears in the machine were not working. Sometimes change was too much work and when pieces were not working, well things were broken. "Are you hurt?" Her eyes snapped to the voice. Just who was speaking to her? It seemed a man was addressing her. Most amusing, however her paranoia flared easily. This man- he noticed the blood from that far away? He was no mere man, it seemed fates had a way of twisting fears. Valeria didn't fall prey to anyone's mind games, because she was a queen at it. Years it had been in practice, sweet smiles, correct words and yet, she didn't need them. "Sorry for intruding. I'm Shinku by the way. You look like you aren't from around here, and I don't speak drachman. I saw you leave your place and it looks like you fucked up your hand" Thank you, Captain Obvious. Her outwards expression was a blink and a gentle smile. After all, she knew well her hand was missing. It only hurt more to notice it.

He knew what he was looking for. It was obvious in his eye, the way he noticed only certain features on her. No one in Drachma pulled a stranger aside and spoke in such a way and instantly a game was being played. He spoke in Amestrian which she found as even odder. "I'm more concerned about you." She gave a soft laugh. "Speaking Amestrian in this country might get you killed." With a swift step, Valeria pressed her body against his. Her natural charisma and charm almost flowing as usual for her. "However, it's getting dark and I'm a bit scared to walk home on my own. Care to accompany me? I promise, I can give you SOMETHING for your troubles."

Her lips never stopped smiling as smoothly, she pulled some money from her pocket. She kept a good grand on hand, but only 'fifty' to show. "I won't keep you too long, so you can carry about your night as if we never met." It might have seemed a bit forward, but she felt lonely anyways. Should this man be some sort of threat to her, this whole moment would only further dig her hole. At the same time, she had a tenancy to decode a person's personality. It wasn't acting, it was adjusting and how natural it felt. Softly she laughed at him. "Tag along and maybe I'll give you some answers. That's if you rub me the right way." Flirting, another ability that just leaked so easily. It wasn't like he'd be getting anything, it was merely Val's natural reaction to duck around and toy with the new playthings she was given. Hopefully this one would be more entertaining than the last. "By the way, do you know Cretan, perhaps? It is a lot less shady around these parts."

Shinku chuckled at the woman. She was quite a charmer. Too bad she had to kill her at some point. Feeling the warmth of her body against his, as he nodded towards her. "I'll accompany you for the night, sweetheart."This was too good to be true. He'll be able to strike when she is most comfortable? This was great! He couldn't tell if her flirting was genuine or not, which made him uneasy, but whatever this woman had in store for him, he could handle. Placing his arm around hers, he began to walk with her as he smiled a bit.


Acting was a was a big advantage to him. He could manipulate anyone to help him achieve his goals, just like he was baiting her to let him kill her. Looking down at her by his side, he smiled. "So, what's your name name, miss?" He wanted to get to know her before her untimely demise. It was fun to do this. The last time he was with a woman was when he was in Edo back home, and he can't remember even half the night.

He could feel the snow falling on his skin made him shiver some. He camped out most nights while he traveled, not bothering to get a hotel unless it was required in his ploy. The money not wasted went to better gear, better cars, and better living arrangements at home. In the future, he planned to have his own base of operations set up in every country, to ease the process of killing. Drachma was by far, the coldest place he had ever been. He wondered how this woman was handling it, as she didn't speak Drachman either.

"So, what's your name name, miss?"

Oh dear, the dreaded question. What is your name? That was the one that could probably doom her, should she answer.. 'correctly'. Her lips foiled into a beautiful smirk and her eyes closed gently. There wasn't a thing wrong with telling a little white lie, was there? "My name is Stella Goncharovich." It was spoken with such eloquence, it was hard to even tell she wasn't of Drachman descent. For a moment she wondered how Zabulon would feel, with Valeria snatching his last name. Not like it would bother him much, or at least she hoped not. Her violet eyes moved to meet his, kindly. "I am visiting with a close friend here." So that part WASN'T a lie, but it was still mischievous as ever.

Her arms laced on his. He wanted to be out to get her? That was fine. Valeria's natural paranoia armed her well. The man just might taste death tonight, or maybe, a bit of poison? If he were lucky, he would appeal to her better sense and she just might torture him for a few hours. She WAS quite the Mistress, after all. Toys that malfunctioned were toys that either shaped up or were tossed aside.

"What about you handsome? What is your name and what brings someone like you to Drachma?" Her voice drained into a coy and shy giggle. Not a droplet of evil slipped into her words. Only a genuine interest in this man and what he was about. "I seriously doubt you're just here for sight-seeing, because by now you've seen all of it. Just the snow for miles." As they walked, her arms both wrapped about his. Her bosoms pressed lovingly against his biceps, straining slightly beneath her jacket. Nothing like a little touch to get the brain buzzing.

More oddities. This woman was out of place, yet he couldn't pin the nail on this obscure person. Her name was drachman, yet her accent wasn't of snow covered origins. Name or not, he would figure her out. He cursed in his own mind as he could feel her bosom pressed against him. He can't kill while aroused, although he has never had the two cross. He had no idea what this woman was capable of, and it jabbed at him. The money on her was high, so she must have been tough to find, or deadly. It didn't matter. He supposed he could enjoy this woman's company.

"I like to travel a lot. Never been to Drachma so here I am."He put on a face smile, a facade to hide his frustration. This damn woman was toying with him, he could tell. She had the vibe that she took money from you while you slept, or opened credit cards in your name. Tonight he planned to be in control. The man with the most firepower always was."So what was a lovely woman like yourself doing out here all alone?" He continued in stride, the woman in tow as he ran scenario after scenario in his head of how things could play out.

He had never cancelled a contract no matter how stupid it was. But it was hard to kill people he thought were nice, even though he loved to see another's blood. Was he a bad person for playing the hand of god and judging the souls with bullets? It's a shame God couldn't speak, since he wanted answers, like who this woman really was. It was also a shame that the woman was attractive. Too many times he had killed people for his own gain, but in the end, he didn't give two fucks.

Well he was okay with the name. it threw him off, judging by the somewhat awkward look in his eyes. Sometimes she made games too easy. How far would this man go? How much would she end up giving to keep her own life? She wondered momentarily, before passing it off. No shame in enjoying herself, right? She could find no reason why she shouldn't. A smirk played at her inner mind. How wonderful it felt, to have some sort of control over the situation. Valeria felt good, to play her hands so easily. Games were always thrilling with such high stakes as well. One wrong move and she could lose her life. It went for the both of them. A slight slip up would lose the game and in result could lose a life. She lived for things like this.

"I like to travel a lot. Never been to Drachma so here I am." She nodded. Of course, she would let him continue. "So what was a lovely woman like yourself doing out here all alone?" Momentary laughter fell from her lips. It was a good question and casual at that. Her lips pulled into a soft smile. "A boring place to tour, but it's a nice home." She said, before turning, leading him down another lane. They were headed to one of the places Val had a tenancy to stay. They were close, but still not yet in sight. "As for why I was alone, well.." How to describe this one? It had to be thought up off the top of her head. "My escort fell asleep." It wasn't a lie.

Her head rested on his shoulder, legs still moving towards the place. It was oddly comfortable. Even though this man was trying to kill her, she found solace holding onto his arm. Her eyes looked up at his, devilishly, playfully. "What about yourself? Surely, a handsome young man, like yourself has a date for the night?" She winked once at him before slipping one hand onto his rear, followed by a gentle squeeze. "We're almost to my place. If you want, I can show you around~" Flirtatious intent was covered with her natural charming tone. She was having fun.

"As for why I was alone, well..My escort fell asleep."
He would have thought that the woman should have stayed at her original place. It made no sense that she left one building, and was leading him to her 'supposed' place of stay."This other escort as you call them, are you with him as a lover?" Why did she have multiple places? and if she had a so called 'escort', why was she leading him there? Unless she had another woman with her, or the man was just a friend, it was strange that she was leading him to her humble abode. It also didn't explain the blood on her hand. The automail hand also threw him off as strange.

When a person lost their hand, the cut wasn't always so clean. In fact, most people lost a portion of the forearm as well. But this woman's fake hand connected perfectly at the beginning of the wrist, metal meeting life. He wondered how she lost the hand, and who did it.

Her arm on his shoulder made it seem like he was on a high school date rather than out for blood. She was awfully touchy to a stranger she just met. It was a surprise she hadn't felt the guns on his back by accident. So far he was diving down the rabbit hole on this one. He couldn't find a single bit of intel on this woman, not even a name. Only a picture was provided, which made him question his intelligence gathering. Or maybe she was really good at staying under the radar.

"What about yourself? Surely, a handsome young man, like yourself has a date for the night?" Shinku chuckled as he shook his head. He didn't have much luck with women. It was the personality that killed the mood, not the looks. But then again, this chick didn't even know the true Shinku. "Unfortunately, I don't have a significant other at the moment. I'm just a single man."
Shinku couldn't wait to put a bullet through this wo-

And then it happened. Did she.. Did she just grab his ass? He was somewhat taken back. She was seducing him alright, and slowly but surely, he was falling in the hole that was manipulation. He couldn't have this happen, but for now, he would have to play along. He didn't want to throw away his facade. Besides, she was attractive, after all.

We're almost to my place. If you want, I can show you around~

The tone in her voice.. He KNEW what it meant. It sounded like a cry for attention, a request for comfort. Whatever comfort she intended, however, he could not say. She already had an escort as she so put it, so why bring him? He was getting sucked into the sea of deceit on this one, and Shinku had to start swimming, or drown and die. "If it is okay with you, babe. It IS kinda freezing out in this damn place." All he needed to now was play dumb and fall for it. Sooner or later, a bullet will be guiding her teeth through her brain.

"Unfortunately, I don't have a significant other at the moment. I'm just a single man." Most unfortunate. It seemed to happen when you went around and KILLED people, or at least that's what Valeria thought. Well she had a significant other during her time in doing that, but now it was nothing. Well, she was fairly certain this man was someone out to kill her, because normally people asked the cost for coming into a stranger's apartment.. or this man had really good manners and knew better than to ask such a thing. It didn't matter, for now the cat was playing with another cat. Of course she could eel the guns on his back and she wondered what torture he had planned. What sort was he? Dd he make it art or just make a mess? She'd probably find out soon enough.

He jumped when she touched his rear, obviously not expecting it. Val found so much fun in playing her games with people. Maybe t was symbolic that she died playing one? Oh, she hoped not. "If it is okay with you, babe. It IS kinda freezing out in this damn place." Haha. Well that was very true. Drachma WAS freezing and covered in snow. As they reached the door to a hotel, she slid her card and tugged open the door. A click sound delayed after, while she slid her arm off of him and motioned for him to come inside. After he had stepped inside, she walked her way to the door and slid the key once more, before placing it in between her bosoms, because that was the logical place to place key cards.

"Well, this is where I'm staying, for now." It was only half true, but that was better than not true at all. She smiled warmly at him, wonndering just what he'd do to her when he came inside. Her hand switched the latch, propping the door open so that he could get in with ease. Her body then shed her jacket, revealing yet another of her cocktail dresses that reached only to her thighs and clung tight to her body. The black bottom was met with a lighter black trace and the strap tied around her neck, a bow in the back, with a low dip in the fabric, showing off nearly all of her back. A slew of ties laced it up, to keep it from falling off and keeping it tight to her body.

Long white boots laced up to her knees. Delicately, she folded her jacket and put it away, before turning to the door to see if the man had come in yet or not. Her face was gentle and genuine. There was no escape at this point, she had led herself into a corner, and for once she didn't have her scythe. It was terrible. Nevertheless, this was her world, her game and he was allowed to play if he so wanted. "Anything to drink? Or are you hungry? You look like you've been out there a while." It wasn't accusatory, but he WAS kind of pale for a man. The cold did that, no matter how one dressed.

They had arrived. She watched the woman slide the key card through the slot as a click resonated in the hall, as she entered. She propped the door open for him, as through the crack she had revealed her true attire. Shinku blinked a bit, then shook his head a bit to snap out of it. With her back turned for a moment, Shinku reached into his pocket and took out a metal canteen and took a sip, as whiskey burned his esophagus. Quickly screwing the cap back on, he entered the door slowly.

""Anything to drink? Or are you hungry? You look like you've been out there a while."

Shinku chuckled at the offer as he proceeded to walk quickly to her, his feet stamping their way towards her as he drew a pistol, already chambered. He had pressed her up against the wall, as he towered over her, the gun digging into her chin."Thanks for the hospitality, sexy. But you're worth a lot of money."Shinku pressed up against her as he began to nip at her ear some, speaking in a malevolent whisper."But I'll play with you a bit. Sounds fun, doesn't it?

Shinku propped himself over her with his hand on the wall as the gun pressed into her windpipe, as he began to drag his tongue down her neck. This woman was his for the night. Tonight, she'll be his toy..

There wasn't much surprise as the man marched straight up to her. His lips held a questionable look and she had turned to see the gun pulled to her throat. So it was an assassination attempt as she had suspected. How terribly dark and ironic. Her eyes closed as she laughed softly, something dark and stuttered. Soon, her back was to the wall and she could only feel her head move a bit with his roughly placed gun. "Thanks for the hospitality, sexy. But you're worth a lot of money." Something of a dark smile came onto her face. "A lot of money, huh?" She asked, trying to resist the feelings she got from his mouth biting at her ear. "But I'll play with you a bit. Sounds fun, doesn't it?"

Her breath shuddered as his tongue roamed down her neck. The whole situation was symbolic in a way. She was placed in a situation she had often put others in. Karma had decided to take a stab at Valeria Diablos and yet, the woman could only enjoy herself in these moments. His mouth felt like heaven on her neck. "I see.." Her voice droned into the soft song of her moan. "Any money on me isn't hardly enough. Make it worth it, okay?" She smirked a bit, her left leg wrapping around his waist and tugging him closer. "Maybe I'll give you my best, neh?" Her voice whispered on his ear, despite the gun pressing to her throat. Adrenaline pumped into her veins and she bit her lower lip, wondering.

What would it feel like? The feeling had washed over her before, drunk off of whiskey and sleeping pills. The embrace of death.. how cold would be? She imagined it through a bullet though, to be more hot than cold. Her heart skipped a beat, almost eager for it to happen. A blush rolled onto her cheeks, inviting the heat of blood rushing through her. It was easy to tell what he wanted, and in her position, she had no right nor way to decline even if she had truly wanted to. Protesting was for cowards, she might as well accept and even enjoy the inevitable. Suddenly she could only laugh.. there were always those fake innocent women who would beg him to be gentle with them, but Val couldn't stand pleasure. There had to be pain to be real, to be truly alive before someone died involved such excruciating feelings. Her voice was but a heated sigh, her fingers dragging up his back, scraping lightly at the skin.

Shinku had this woman in the palm of his hand. Backing away from her, he would keep the gun aimed at her, a stern look on his face. He wasn't joking. Not tonight. Gesturing with the gun, he spoke harshly."You're one fine piece of ass, aren't ya? Why don't you take off the dress, dear." After a few seconds of no movement, Shinku decided to raise his voice." Are you fucking stupid? OFF WITH THE DRESS!" Shinku slowly backed away, catching a glance of a phone on the end table.

Shinku reached behind himself and drew the other pistol, firing off a round as electronics splintered and frayed as the round buckled the glass end table, the shards glittering as they blanketed the carpet. He didn't care if anyone heard the shot. He was in control. No amount of cops could stop that. Holstering the extra pistol, Shinku chuckled as he kept the gun downrange at her."Oh I'm one sick fuck to be doing this aren't I? But this so much fucking fun, ya follow me?"

Shinku hadn't been able to get frisky with another woman for quite some time. The phone he had seemed to buzz with work like an incessant drone that wanted his fun to be sucked away. But the heat of this moment he thought, was enough to turn this icebox into a lake. Shinku shrugged off his coat as it landed with a thud, as he fell lazily back into the chair behind him, slouching as he inspected his prize of the night. He had tracked her this far, he deserved to live a little. He was going to hell anyway..

"You're one fine piece of ass, aren't ya? Why don't you take off the dress, dear. - Are you fucking stupid? OFF WITH THE DRESS!" The smile on her face was false as always, but there was no point in telling the man. It wasn't as if he would care to begin with. It was a situation she could almost remember before, but at least she wasn't bound this time. then again, in a way she was, but these binds were invisible. They grasped at her in a different form as the man fired shots into a phone and end table sending crackles and fizzes onto the wires. Valeria looked at him darkly; ex assassin versus assassin. She was moving almost slowly, just watching the sick pleasure on his face. It made her sick and excited all at once. This was the world she hated, the world as she had seen it before and that made her want to kill them all. All of them had to be cast away and thrown into the fires below, but for now, she let her rage hide away. There was no fighting this and she wasn't exactly ready to die. How cowardly she felt.. if only for a few minutes.

"Oh I'm one sick fuck to be doing this aren't I? But this so much fucking fun, ya follow me?" Yes.. he was, but she would neither confirm nor deny that. She acted a mute, simply smiling darkly and laughing inwardly at the irony of the situation.

She shed her dress with any thoughts that lingered. In fact, she became rather blank, as if she'd flipped a switch to turn on only pleasure receptors. Her boots were kicked off briefly, before she sighed and made her way over towards him, not waiting for his call.

~~

She'd barely had enough time in the bathroom to wipe her legs off, fix her hair and slip her boots back on. Once they were laced, she ran her brush through her hair. The smile in the mirror was that of a faulty woman, a cowardice. She should be ashamed of herself, but alas it was all repressed into her memory. The moment didn't happen, the choice didn't have to be made, it was a simple business meeting almost. Her foot stepped out of the door and she peered into the room, spying him not far away from her. What would he do next, she wondered. Her head tilted, letting her brown tresses fall over her shoulders.