Void of Paradise

CHAPTER ONE

The sky, a murky mix of purple-black, not a single star in the sky. Over the years, the sky turned from its once brilliant pastel lavender to the abysmal color above. Neir peered up toward the darkened sky and blew out a tired sigh. All too often she found herself like this, alone, discontent and searching for something unknown to her. This world, DeOh, was home yet it was foreign to her. Something inside was scratching for the surface, something that terrified her.

Times certainly had changed on DeOh, beings from a realm completely different from any place or planet she knew had decided to call DeOh their new home. They called themselves Nexians, wearing human-like skins to fit in among the "normal" people. Where Neir stood five foot nine, they easily towered over her or any human for that matter, in their true form. The Nexians were considered a savage species and no matter what the Elders of old tried to do to appease them, their bloodlust was simply uncontrollable. History was littered with the bloody tales of the Nexians first coming.

It had begun with a single Nexian, their king of sorts. His name was in the ancient texts and was forbidden to speak. He had slain the Elders one by one until DeOh was in chaos. That only paved the way for more of them to come. Citizens were terrified to walk the once peaceful streets now roamed by the sinister creature. There was an uprising, in the lands, a vigilante group calling themselves H.A.N.G (Humans Against Nexian Garbage) formed to exterminate the intruders.

Christopher Leiko was the leader and even though he was against those who killed mercilessly, he didn't falter when it came to shedding vast amounts of blood. Now every night was like a clash of factions, revenge kills, lust kills, no one was safe. Even with all this, Neir hadn't made up her mind on the Nexians. She did know that she wasn't a true believer in the vigilante group's cause.

Sitting on the stone steps of her apartment buildings steps, Neir pulled out a cigarette, lit it and took a long drag. There was no point in getting involved in the chaos of DeOh.

“I thought you quit.”

Neir's lips curled into a smirk, she ashed onto the littered sidewalk and cocked her head towards the voice.

“ I thought I asked you to stop sneaking up on me, Ahouji.”

Neir raked a hand through her short, ebony locks and stood. Ahouji rounded the side of the building and walked over, she was short for a Nexian. Dressed in tight, black leather leggings, blood red corset with matching black leather waist jacket. Her boots jingled as she came closer, chains clinking together.

Ahouji and Neir had become friends one awful night when H.A.N.G was out on one of their hunts. They had cornered Ahouji and assaulted her with their Electro-prods. Neir heard the commotion from the park she smoked at. She wondered why the female Nexian didn't attack the humans and found she was intrigued enough to help. After Neir helped Ahouji escape her would be captors, they were stuck like glue ever since.

Ahouji, sauntered up to Neir, her body all seduction. It couldn't be helped, Nexians were slaves to their lusts. Ahouji was no different, yet, she tried to keep it in check around Neir. Neir looked her up and down.

“ Looking good, as usual, Ahouji.”

She complimented, brushing Ahouji's dark red bangs aside to plant a kiss on her forehead.

“Come on Neir, you know better than that. I'm trying to be good here.”

Ahouji lightly brushed Neirs' hand away. With a chuckle, Neir flicked the cigarette away and stuffed her hands into her empty pockets. Her loose fitted jeans rode low on her hips, a well-worn band tee revealed a pierced navel. A particular gem Ahouji tried hard not to star at.

“ I know, I'm just messing with ya. So you're a brave one, a night like this, the group is bound to be out looking for your kin.”

Ahouji sucked her teeth at Neir then added an exaggerated eye roll for extra effect.

“ Such the lady.”

Ahouji poked her snake-like tongue out at Neir and hissed. Neir reciprocated making smooching noises.

“ I know how to keep my distance from them, I'm here with you right? The only human I can actually stomach.”

Ahouji crossed her arms over her breasts and raised an eyebrow at Neir. “ You know they've changed tactics? Now they're trying to catch one of us alive. Alive.” she reiterated.

Neir knew this was gonna get worse before it got better. Hunching her shoulders, “ Ahouji what can we, or, you guys do? I mean I'm not exactly in a powerful position to initiate change all save-the-world like.” That was the truth, she worked at a bar, served drinks, kicked out rowdy drunks and paid rent for a crappy apartment on the bad side of town. What does she expect me to do? Start a revolution?

“ Look, I'm not asking you to do anything, but it's not like this doesn't affect you too. Sooner or later you'll have to pick a side or get caught in the middle.”

Neir's brow furled, she hated that part, Ahoujiwas right, of course. This wasn't the first time Ahouji had brought this to her attention, they had plenty of late night arguments about that one simple fact. It was beginning to affect her sleep as well.

“I'm well aware, Ahouji, thanks for the reminder.” She snapped, she wasn't mad at Ahouji just because life couldn't be simple. What happened to people minding their own business? Ahouji must've picked up on the tension in the air and let the conversation die.

Suddenly, her head snapped to the side. “ What is it Ahouji?” Neir looked around but saw nothing on the street but trash caught on a breeze. Ahouji took a few steps back putting enough space between them for the sudden intrusion. The Nexian hit the pavement hard enough to crack the cement, forcing Neir to lose her footing. Ahouji quickly whipped her tail out, the subtle transformation barely noticed as she wrapped her tail around Neir, catching her.

“ Oh, so you don't hate your Nexian skin that much, or is it you'll only use your abilities to save your precious meat bag?”

Dominick, the worst or most offensive of the Nexians Neir had met rose up to his impressive six foot six height.

“ Seems to me you favor this meaty toy over you're own people. When are you gonna get it through your head that they'll never accept the real you? “ He said sneering. Ahouji's tail slipped softly away from Neir and vanished in the next moment.

“ Meat bag? Because that's original.” Neir dusted off her jeans and pulled out another cigarette to which Ahouji plucked from her fingers and crumpled in her hand. Neir stuffed the pack back into her rear pocket.

“I don't think people will ever learn to accept your type, Dominick. You know, obnoxious, oversexed, ignorant, delinquent wastes of time? Sucks right, I could almost pity you if you weren't already so pathetic.”

Ahouji cut her eyes over to her, she knew that look. Ahouji was ready if Dominick decided to attack, he had quite the short temper. His reputation was well known on this side of town. He bedded as many women as he desired, leaving them crazed or in a disfigured mess. He fought any and everybody, even his own kind if they found themselves in his way. He was the self-proclaimed heir to the Nexians throne, Ahouji had mentioned.

None of that mattered to Neir, she hated the superior types, those who crushed the meek to feel better about themselves. That was any species, not just Nexian. For all of her passivity, she knew when a cause was worth fighting for.

“ You caught me on a good day, pet. I don't feel like breaking Ahouji's special toy, what kind of leader would that make me? “ He barely held back his laughter. “ As for you,” he bridged the gap between them.” I would love to show you how to accept yourself.” He slid his hands around Ahouji and cupped her backside, squeezing. “ I've heard you're a virgin to our kind, though not to the tastes of humans.” He looked back at Neir.

Neir felt the heat rise to her cheeks but stood her ground and glared right back at him. Ahouji was as still as a stone statue, the only clue to what she felt was the crimson seeping into the whites of her eyes. Dominick noticed but played on, undaunted by what it meant. He pushed further, saying things in their native tongue and Ahouji's pupils turned black. Dominick pulled her closer, his lips a breath away from hers. He was moving closer and closer...closer....

Neir's temper surged to life, she grabbed the only thing within reach that she could anchor onto, the collar around his neck that read MASTER. With all her might she took hold and jerked him backwards to the cold ground. The darkened night matched his cargo pants, he dressed like a kink house mercenary, with matching thick-soled combat boots. He was shirtless, the shadows played across his well-muscled chest, something the women on DeOh went crazy for, but at this moment all Neir wanted to do was rip every tribal braid out of his head.

“ I was waiting for that.”

Dominick rushed at Neir but Ahouji was quicker. Neir was shocked at her speed, Dominick on the other hand, read the move and brushed her aside as if she were nothing. Ahouji hit the side of the apartment building, adding more damage to the graffitied exterior, her body left an imprint in the brick. Dominick grabbed Neir up by the neck and she felt her air supply cut off immediately.

“ Does she mean that much to you for you to gamble with your life so carelessly?! Who do you think you are, human?! I'm the prince of my race and you think to possess what was never yours! “

Dominicks' skin was peeling away, his true form was showing piece by piece. His eyes grew crimson, the pupils as Ahouji's were. His feature's slowly turning from human to something more sinister.

Neir started to see black speckles at the edge of her vision. Air! I need--.Her mind began to go blank, consciousness fading rapidly, Neir felt something rising within as her eyes rolled back.

“ Pathetic! “ Dominick hissed.

“Let her go!” Ahouji launched herself onto Dominick's back. Holding tightly to his collar her claws grew long and razor sharp, she began to tear chunks out of the enraged Nexian. When her claws weren't persuasive enough she allowed the change to take her and fangs jutted from her lips, she bit into his neck getting his attention.

“ Yes! Embrace who you are! “ Dominick was crazed within his bloodlust, the very reason the vigilante group wanted all Nexians dead. Dominick's elation was evident as Ahouji fought for control, blood sprayed, streamed down her lips and she growled for more.

Dominick was no ordinary beast, he healed as fast as she tore into him, still she wouldn't let go.

*

Neir felt cold. She opened her eyes but there was only darkness, in the darkness she heard the grumblings of an animal. It grew louder as if coming closer to her. Fear streaked up her spine as she grasped at nothing, it was totally void wherever she was. The grumbling turned into snarls, dark gutteral growling of something inhuman and angry.

She knew it was close, it was going to kill her. Her head filled with the sound, she became dizzy and then she saw it, glowing red eyes searing into her own. She let out an echoing scream as those eyes took her soul.

*

Ahouji had tried everything to stop him and still he held Neir. Her heart was beating out of her chest, half-crazed from her lust the other half fearing Neir to be dead. I can't lose you Neir, I have no one else!

Ahouji went flying across the empty street, going through a lit streetlight and crashing into another building. Coughing and brushing the dust from her eyes, she couldn't believe what she saw next.

Neir was seated on top of Dominick hunched over, both Dominick's arms in each of her hands, splayed out to either side. A look of pure confusion on Dominick's face as he looked at the woman above him.

Ahouji's mouth opened and closed several times as she took in Neirs features. Her eyes were blackened with yellow pupils, her skin scaly and red. Claws dug into Dominick's forearms, mouth open snarling with fangs dripping with saliva, Neir was poised above Dominick.

“ What the sweet hell?! “

Ahouji heard Dominick yell. She couldn't think, didn't know how to react, she was lost. Neir? Her eyes widened as Ahouji watched Neir rip Dominick's right arm from the socket.

“ Neir! “