Forsaken {open}

[TINNY KYLA O'NEILL]

Tinny O'Neill was used to digging up graves. She'd done it countless times but never on her own. Her brothers were perhaps trying to give her a taste of what life on the road alone would be like and she was willing to prove that it wasn't going to be that hard. Besides, it wasn't as if she wanted to be 'alone' per say she just wanted to get away from their over-protectiveness. She wasn't even able to step in line to shoot something with out of one of them shouting directions at her.

Working in a group, or at least with one other person made things a lot easier, and certainly faster. One on look out while the other dug was the safer option, or as it usually was with the three of them together, her on look out while they both dug up the bones. It had been about a half hour of digging and she was surprised she hadn't gotten caught yet. Her bow and arrows were slung around her back, which made digging that much more difficult but anyone with any sense would hand her those weapons over a gun. Her brothers joked that they were 'old school' and 'ancient' and she simply schooled them with her skills. They could tease her all she wanted but at the end of the day she always hit her target.

Her dark jeans were black with dirt and her long dark curls cascading around her shoulders. She rarely wore her hair up, which was probably impractical but she like the feeling it gave her of being able to hide behind it like a curtain. As she ran her hand across her forehead to wipe ahead the sweat that had beaded there she inwardly cursed her brothers. Right, they had chosen tonight to teach her a lesson, it couldn't have been a haunted house or a vampire hunt, but digging. She knew that really it was just their way of getting out of work. They claimed to be staking the house they were trying to rid of the bloody ghost but she knew full well they probably weren't far off from there, not trusting her to take care of herself.

Tinny kept on digging and digging until she hit something. " Please God don't be concrete" she begged as she began to scrape away the dirt hitting the surface repeatedly with the shovel. A smile crossed her lips as she saw it was simply wood, rotting wood at that. The smell had become some what second nature to her, and it really didn't gross her out or anything. No more than having to behead a vampire and watch blood go everywhere. Those things she had learned to deal with, this ...was a little bit different.

"Deus tecum" she stated for a moment. 'God be with you', even after all the years of digging dead people out of their graves she hadn't been able to desensitize herself from it completely. She was still aware that no matter how bothersome of a poltergeist or God only knew what else, they were still at the end of the day human, sort of. They had been at one point at least and probably had people that cared about them. She was pretty sure she didn't want anyone digging up her parents remains from their place in Boston, so she tried to pay a little bit of respect before she torched them. She would want the same done for herself. She froze suddenly thinking she had heard something. Within a matter of seconds she had arms herself with her bow, iron tipped, just in a case and waited. In the grave she was a sitting duck really, which was why she would have appreciated the back up. She held her breath as to not give herself away any more and focused her dark eyes on the dimly lit area above her.

[Gabriel Black]

Gabriel lifted his pale hand and watched the grains of sand run through his finger in a glittering rain of tiny gems. Glinting from the sun’s bright reflection, the granules appeared as insignificant treasures. It was warm here on the sand on some remote island, a good time of day and a good place to escape all the shadows, save the one underneath him on the shore; it was licking at the back of his bent legs like some dark pet eager for attention. The eccentric demon ignored that darkness for now; while he had the sun and the warm and the ocean before him was calm and singing him a lullaby. Squinting his eyes, the dark eyed male could just make out a storm from afar. It darkened the sky to an angry purple, and the clouds sizzled with pent up frustration; impatient to rupture so that they could weep into the sea below. The demon could fairly taste the coming storm on the back of his tongue. He smacked his lips and the corners of his lips tilted down just slightly; the flavor was somewhat bitter. Storms, though beautiful, always tasted pungent and sounded like misery. Just like the shadow clinging to the back of his legs and reaching across the shade like and inky puppet, the far-away storm was forgotten. He had the golden glow from that fiery orb and that was good enough for now. Dusting the remaining sand from his palms Gabriel stood up, stalking slowly towards the waves that were just barely kissing the shoreline. The rippling upsurge was shy and quiet, just like the demon, and he laughed quietly like a child when the wintery kiss met his bare toes. This is where he stood, for the better part of an hour; waves licking at his feet, black eyes closed and face upturned to the warm rays. Until the wind became just a little more persistent against his creamy skin, until the waves kissed with just a little more fervor. Gabriel could feel the rise of the fine hairs on his arms, where he had his black cotton button-down rolled up to the elbows, as the lightening had begun dancing from one storm cloud to the next. Eyes still closed, he sighed quietly, feeling not only the hum of the on-coming tempest but the drone of the shadows forming all around him. They were everywhere on the golden speckled sand now; everywhere that the clouds shaded the sunlight from the ground. Finally lifting his lids Gabriel took one last look at the ocean before him; focusing on where the sun peeking from behind the clouds painted the brewing water with brilliant gold instead of the black oozing depths. He would turn from this secret place of calm until another time, for at this moment somewhere else in the world it was bright. But he faltered, just barely, but enough that the heel of his foot caught a darkened place in the sand behind him and he fell backwards, fell into that silhouette, fell through the otherworld where the higher demon that had made him lived until he landed somewhere else; somewhere dark, a moonlight cemetery. From the dampened ground Gabriel heaved a sighed, his onyx eyes dancing over the silvery illuminated faces of stone angels; peering down at him with empty white eyes. ’You don’t belong here.’ They seemed to whisper; accusing, for the demon had no more right in the sacred place than he did in heaven amongst his long lost brethren. Still, this always was a place he found beautiful; quiet and among the dead. Even though the darkness all around him stretched their leaching blackness in order to touch him; to feel the manipulative power that flowed through him; drawing them like oily magnets, the demon found the silence breathtaking. Music to his ears. Rising from the moist ground, Gabriel reached an arm toward one of those accusing concrete angels and let his fingertips run along the smooth cool surface. This one was not so condemning. He perched on the edge of its rectangular base watching; listening to the night. His porcelain face never lost its mask of detachment even as the sound of the woman’s voice echoed like a chorus in the symphony of night. Gabriel blinked, tilted his head slightly as they took in the seraph above him, and then he rose; drawn to the sound. The chocolate haired woman was illuminated by the silvery glow of the moon a moment before the buzz of something splitting the air tickled his ears. The noise was followed by the sensation of something biting at his chest, and glancing down, the demon found the arrow sticking out from his right pectoral. His lips came open and a quiet sound escaped, and then he lifted eyes to the woman, voice sounding like heart break. "You...shot me?" [bg=black][atrb=border,0,true]

[TINNY KYLA O'NEILL]

Tinny hadn't even realised what had happened it had all happened to quickly, she'd already been on high alert and seeing the guy well, it had freaked her out! That was something wasn't it? She was so used to ghosts, and the like appearing out of nowhere but a man appearing so suddenly while she was alone in a graveyard had been the one thing to spook her? Yes, she had shot him, somewhat accidentally and somewhat not. She'd been preparing to shoot of course just in case but the action had been so natural, so effortless that it had just happened before her mind had even wrapped itself around the idea that she'd let go.

Part of her had to admit that she was distracted by his appearance. He had been so...pretty? No, that wasn't the right word obviously, but she couldn't think of a word that would fit. Handsome wasn't right either, mysterious was better but still didn't quite fix. In her line of work she didn't really get much time to observe men, especially not with her two brothers looming around every corner, practically breathing down her neck. That, along with, well obvious time restraints and lack of social skills was one of the reasons she was still a virgin among other things. She couldn't believe she'd let one cute guy distract her that she'd shot him. Great first impression really. It had been the mix of being spooked and the distraction of his appearance that had simultaneously mixed in effort to release the bow. She'd lost control, concentration, which was why she hadn't hit him where she'd been initially aiming either.

The sound of his voice instantly let a guilty feeling settle in the pit of her stomach. He sounded so, hurt, betrayed? No, she couldn't put her finger on the emotion but it was nearly heart breaking to hear. But why? She didn't even know him, sure she had general empathy but it felt deeper than that. He had a look on his face that mimicked that of loss, or emptiness.

"Yes! Shit! I'm sorry..." he didn't even seem to have flinched or shout out, just state the obvious, which made her wonder if she was sorry? Was he human? He looked it, sort of. He physically resembled someone her age, but what on earth would a guy her age be doing hanging out in a graveyard at night. Oh I don't know Tinny, maybe the same thing you're doing here her thoughts reminded her. Doubtful, where was his shovel, or weapon. What would have happened if the boys had been there with her? In all actuality, she probably would have ended up doing the same thing. It was better safe than sorry. Her aim was unfortunately a little too good, it seemed driven for the chest area where the heart lie.

In all actuality she generally would have shot a stranger somewhere less...lethal. Between the panic and the distraction "damn it" she muttered. She couldn't believe she had allowed herself to be distracted, maybe Jake was right she was too immature to be on her own, too unprepared. "I'm sorry... are you okay?" she asked. Was he okay? That was a stupid question, so stupid. Wait what about her digging? They were waiting for her to finish, if she didn't burn the remains then it delayed the whole process. She wrestled with her conscious for a moment before she began to pulled herself out of the grave. They could wait she had a social responsibility to help. Being smaller than her brothers also meant she had more difficulty getting herself out of 6 feet under.

As she pulled herself out onto the ground she hated to think what she looked like. She knew she was covered in dirt, but to what extent? She was digging a grave why wasn't that the issue of the situation. He wasn't writhing or screaming, nor had he vanished so she sort of assumed that meant she was safe? It was stupid but she needed to get that arrow out. She'd never had to pull one of her arrows out of a living being before. " I can... get it out?" she said the unsureness in her voice. She hadn't used her full force or concentration so maybe it wasn't in that far. Was he dying and this was just one of those delayed adrenaline shock things that she'd heard about happening. Her brown eyes were wide, worried, betraying herself, they always seemed to show her real emotions no matter how hard she tried to hide them.

[Gabriel Black]

After the initial shock of being shot faded, the black eyed demon became aware of a slow sizzle coming from the wound, followed immediately by the acidic burn of the iron poisoning his blood. Gabriel gasped and fell back on his palms against a nearby above ground crypt; his dark eyes glued to the arrow sticking out of his chest with an expression of wonder. So…this was what it was like to die. He lifted a pale, trembling hand to wrap around the protruding shaft and then lifted his eyes to the female. Where his visage had just been surprised and reproving; his face was now blithe and sympathetic. She was guilty of nothing save being caught off guard and defensive. As well she should be. His kind lurked in places like this, their intentions less blameless than was normal for this particular demon. Perching upon the corner of the crypt Gabriel drew the arrow from his breast; slowly, and quietly wincing the whole time. He was not used to pain and did not understand his fading strength. The chocolate haired human offered her aid but the demon suddenly became aware of the shadows. They were writhing around him, underneath him, behind the woman; worried for their master and eager to steal the human to the underworld where they could digest her soul. Gabriel’s dark eyes grew black as obsidian and wide, though it was doubtful under the dim silver light of the moon she would be able to see that. “No…” The demon flinched and finally pulled the arrow out of his body, casting it aside. “It is done.” Clutching the side of the above ground tomb to steel his back Gabriel flattened his other hand against the hole in his chest. It was no longer sizzling but the damage had already been done. The tip of the dart was a toxin to his kind, and thus, he was becoming ill from the poison. Reluctantly wrenching his eyes from her guileless and cherubic visage Gabriel forced a careless smile. He could not look at her without seeing the shadows inching closer, and the concern in his face would surely frighten her more than she was. He meant to flee this place as fast as he could so that the darkness could not take her in its bitter embrace. Only…that was a hard thing to do when you had no strength in your limbs. “Please, do not be afraid.” His voice was low and husky, but so sincere it could not have been a lie. “I will survive this lesion, but you should find sanctuary from the darkness.” [bg=black][atrb=border,0,true]

[TINNY KYLA O'NEILL]

Tinny wasn't really sure where the initial panic was coming from. Other than she had initially assumed she'd shot an innocent bystander. Her grandfather had always taught her to shoot first ask questions later well, here she'd done that. If that was the right thing to do then why was she feeling do damn guilty about it.

As she moved closer she heard it, the unmistakable sound and her eyes widened. Sizzling maybe she hadn't done the wrong thing? Had she just saved herself? Strangely enough he didn't seem threatening. What was going on? Why was she questioning this? Wasn't it black and white? He was a demon, she was a demon hunter what she should have been doing was pulling out another arrow and finishing off the job.

Why then was she frozen in place. She wondered if her face was depicting how confused and torn she felt in that moment. Then he told her not to be afraid. "I'm not" she said before she even thought about it, he didn't frighten her, there wasn't much that did, except maybe people sneaking up on her unannounced. What he said next was the final nail in the confusion coffin, find sanctuary from the darkness? What did that mean? What was the opposite of darkness.

"Light?" she asked suddenly, more to herself than to him, then what she'd been doing there suddenly clicked in her mind. "Oh shoot" she turned around and looked down, there was no way she was going to get that up in flames unless... A mental lightbulb seemed to go on as she reached behind her and finding the right one she loaded her bow and with quick and careful precision aim to the bow at the coffin. She kicked what little lighter fluid was left in the bottle into the hole and holding her breath for a moment she released her fingers allowed the explosive tipped bow to make contact with the coffin and watched as it went up into flames.

Her phone dinged a merely few seconds after she'd done it that indicated that her brothers knew she'd done it, which meant they were more or less finished. A smile of accomplishment covered her lips before she remembered again what she'd been doing before that. Too much was going on in her mind to keep any of it straight or rational. Her brown eyes settled on the demon and she knew what she was going to do. If her brothers ever found out they'd have her head but her conscience wasn't going to allow anything less. Usually she enjoyed killing evil sons of bitches but, he didn't seem evil. Course, wasn't that exactly the point. "shut up Tinny just do it" she muttered to herself.

She walked right up to him ignoring his warnings. Instead of finish him as would have been expected of her she offered her hand. "If I need to get out here then we better get going" she stated. She couldn't leave an injured man behind. After what had happened with her Grandfather...well she felt responsible for his death and since then she'd had extra guilt in everything that she did.

[Gabriel Black]

Gabriel did not know one human from another. He had been familiar with one for a fleeting moment in time; a kind and beautiful human that had faded in his arms after he had mistakenly taken her there. Those memories burned within his brain like the iron in his chest. He hadn’t had such reveries in so very long. Since that ephemeral point in time the black-eyed demon had separated him self from the species and thus, he had no clue that there were humans out there such as this one; humans that hunted his kind as sure as southern men hunted the buck. He winced slightly at the female’s harsh response to his simple request. There had been so many before that had seen him for what he was, through mistake or at the whim of his master, which had fled screaming so loudly it threatened to make Gabriel’s ears bleed. She really should be afraid, though at the moment he did not feel the hungry pull of that higher demon from the Twilight. The human seemed to heed what he had told her however, for suddenly her attentions were lost to the hole in the ground where a coffin was laid. Gabriel watched with guileless fascination as she shot an arrow down into the grave and the night became alive with brilliant fire. Hues of warm yellows and reds filled the darkness with illumination and the encroaching shadows seemed to hiss and sliver away. Still leaned against the above ground tomb and holding the slow healing wound in his chest, the black-eyed demon’s russet eyes widened in surprise when the female climbed from the hole and came back over; her hand held out in assistance. His own digit moved of its own accord as it lifted to accept the palm, and with his head tilted side-ways like an innocent canine would do, he asked in a heart-breakingly child-like voice. “But where are we going?” [bg=black][atrb=border,0,true]

[TINNY KYLA O'NEILL]

"Out of here was sort of as far as I'd gotten with the plan, after that your guess is as good as mine" she admitted helping him up. His hand hadn't felt like she'd expected. Not that she had been exactly sure what to expect. An electric shock? A burn? Maybe a ice cold chill running up her spine. Luckily, with her shooting skills she didn't generally get this close to demons and the sort. It was probably a good thing, meant she was doing her job properly.

"Any suggestions, because I'm completely open to them" she assured him. This had been a gut instinct moment, and god only knew that she never had any idea what she was doing when it came down to those. Instead she just went with the flow, something that drove her eldest brother completely insane.

"Is there somewhere that's..." she trailed off not really sure how to ask what she had in mind. "Safe? for you?" she asked finally. It sounded stupid. She was asking if they could get him safe when in reality she generally was trying to keep others safe from things like him. What exactly was he? His eyes had been dark...did that make him a black eyed? and if so why did he sound so... innocent.

Most of the ones she had come across had been hateful and liars, nothing good to say. He had warned her for her safety, what was that about. "What are you?" she asked finally unable to hold the question in any longer. She needed to know what she'd just gotten herself into and why she had bothered.