We're all rotten, buried and forgotten,

Living it up underground

She hated how there were villains in every concealed corner, that there would always be a part of her that forced her to keep her eyes wide open. Yet the dangerous part of her finds a game in it, welcomes it. She is torn between two worlds. She couldn't remember the last time when she could just walk down the street without wondering what kind of clusterfuck waited for her, watched her with hungry eyes. After all, they were all just walking blood and meat bags, the city was a proverbial grocery store so they could merely pluck what they wanted from the shelves. After all, humans were defenceless against a predator designed to be the ultimate hunter against man. In a way, humankind deserved it, they have been the top of the food chain for too long, they did heinous things and deserved to be picked through. But why her? Why did Harley have to be the central hub for supernatural bullshit? She would never understand and yet she peered at the monsters, slowly but surely becoming one.

Isolt laughs and her friend's demeanour shifts into something shy as she spoke about her fiancé. She was surprised that Isolt didn't blush crimson like she used to. This guy must really be something special. "Damon..huh?" She frowns slightly trying to make sense of a man she had never met and yet, he was such an important and vital part of her cherished friend now. Yet she cannot help her mind twisting and wondering. The name Damon sounded awfully close to the name Damien and he was an antichrist. He wasn't going to bring the end of the world, was he? She had to stop watching so many damn horror movies so late at night. She couldn't help but be sceptical and wonder if he was good enough for one of her favourite people in this whole rotten and crusty world. "If he makes you happy.. then he is alright by me." She admits softly, looking down at the bar table as if looking for answers there. She hated how she wasn't even there to size this Damon up like previous suitors of her friend. Hell, she felt so out of the loop it was devastating.

However, she couldn't help the dark turnings of her mind, leading into something else. What if he had been their demise? She couldn't stop the words from falling out of her mouth, the hurt far too deep for her to ignore. Her friend uttered Harley's name and it was enough to pull her gaze upwards once more. "If not him, then what? Come on, humour me, Iz. You know me." She wanted those answers, no needed them. She wanted to make sense of something and yet no matter how hard she tried to put the pieces together she is running completely blind.

It was difficult to even speak the name of Ryker, that vile man that had always seem to find her no matter where she roamed. He snatched her up, literally stole her away and caged her like some feral animal. He fed on her and took until there was nothing left to take. She hates herself for not actually finishing the job when she created her chance to escape, even though he looked dead when she escaped she knew he wasn't, it would always be one of her biggest regrets. She doubted she would ever get such an opportune moment again. But it was in her nature to act out quickly, and too rash like always. So desperate to escape toward the taste of freedom. She destroyed all that there could be so she could escape like a bull in a china shop, there was not a single thing left whole. Except for the fact, vampires had a crafty way of healing horrible wounds that would bring a human to death's cold embrace. Perhaps she would never understand.

Harley did not see the lines of worry etching within Isolt's angelic face, she missed it entirely, too swept up in dark thoughts stirred up by Ryker and the man who had put him in his sights. Harely was not sure if she could continue running forever. This was it. If he found her again she would fight him until she couldn't and she had decided this was where she would take her final stand. Her raven hair fell into her face as if using it as an iron barrier to hide these tumultuous thoughts. Those violet eyes peek through her raven locks at those resolute words, seeing that steadfast resolve upon Isolt's kind and familiar face.

Did Isolt really mean it? Hell, she looked like she did and she had seen that look in her eye before and knew what it meant. "I will hold you to it." She pauses, trying to stifle that warm and comforting feeling knowing her friend was once more at her side. She tries the mask that small weary smile that formed upon her lush lips. "Besides, don't you need help planning for that wedding?" Oh hell, she hadn't the first clue when it came to event planning. It scared the living shit out of her almost more than Ryker and that said something. The whole idea of dresses and fanciness and finger foods and all that attention. Her eyes widened, her heart racing feverishly. It freaked her the fuck out.

She hardly noticed the drinks that waited for them, the bartender was awfully quiet, perhaps she had pissed yet another off. She could add it to her long list. "I think I owe you a congratulations. I'm happy for you Isolt, despite everything I am glad you have found your one." Slender fingers find that glass filled with amber liquid, she lifts her drink so they could clink together in that unspoken ceremony. She brings that liquid to her lips, tips her head back and let the amber contents slip down her throat. It was good and a whole lot smoother than she thought it would be. Damn that shit must be expensive. Hopefully, she brought enough to pay the check when the time came, after all, she was in no rush to leave.

Harlequin Ray Westward