Toemi's Tale . . .

[Toemi]

It is said, that if you are brought to stand face to face with death, your life flashes before your eyes. The memories are played back in rapid succession in the moments before you are taken . . .
Well, I would have thought that such a thing would happen in the very instant of my making, in my transformation from human to . . .vampire. However, I could recall no such instance.
Perhaps it is because I had no memories that were particularly worth remembering before that moment.

Ah, but after . . .

There were so many things that I had seen, had felt, had done. . .
In all my long centuries of life as a creature of imortality, I now stood again in the face of certain doom. And this time, I knew that there would be no escaping my fated destiny. . . .not this time.
I stood in the center of a horde of screeching demons, their blood red eyes seiring into me as if I were nothing more then a stray scrap of paper that could be burned to ash under their gaze.
My enemies clawed the air in angry anticipation for my demise. They screamed and scraped their blackened nails against the wet city streets. And each face that appeared out of the black, was more hidious then the last . . .
I was alone, my sword drawn, fangs bared, and my magic ready and waiting. I was out numbered, outdone in strength . . .there were far too many for me alone . . .far too many.
So, I whispered a prayer under my breath and gripped the hilt of my sword.
It was then that my life flashed before my eyes. I saw old friends that I had made on my many journies, I saw faces of enemies, places that I had once lived, had once traveled through . . .but most of all, I saw his face . . .
I saw the face of the one and only person that I trusted with all my heart and soul . . .he was the only one that held my love. Oh if I could tell him one last time that I loved him more then life itself, if I could hold him in my arms and kiss him as I had done so many times before . . .I would.
. . .and in this split second before I became lost in a battle that would surely be my last, I whispered his name onto the dying wind . . .
"Ridaim"

[Toemi]

. . .I raised my sword . . .drew one breath . . .met the eyes of the first demon that would taste my blade . . .

And then, out of nowhere, a dark figure imposed! He leapt out before me, his sword drawn, an impossibly large sword, and he met the oncoming demons in a rush.
A flurry of a red cape told my mind that it could be . . .might be . . .
But then, a horde of demons came at me from behind and I was forced to defend myself.
I threw myself into the battle, my own weapon cutting at the creatures and bringing them down as if they were stocks of wheat.
Dark blood rained on me, as one after the other, the creatures fell. And all the assurence that I had of the stranger's condition was the screeching of dying demons behind me.

The battle lasted for no more then two minutes, and then, all that had come to destroy me, were gone. Their bodies lay on the ground for moments . . .and then, disapeared into ashes and smoke, as if they were never there . . .

Breathing heavily, I sheethed my sword and turned to find out who the strange rescuer had been . . .he had his back to me, but I knew him all the same.
The long red cloak, the midnight black hair . . .that weapon of inpossible size . . .
" . . .It took you long enough!" I said rather playfully.
The stranger turned, staring at me with those eyes, those unforgettalble eyes . . .
"Sorry to worry you, my love, but you would have scolded me if I hadn't let you have a little fun. I know you too well . . ."
He smiled at me and I could take no more. I discarded the false provado of indifference and ran to him, wrapping my arms about his waist and holding him tightly.
"Shut up and hold me, Ridaim. You've been gone too long! Be lucky that I don't hit you myself!"
Tears of joy ran down my face as I heard him chuckle and fold his arms about me . . .

[Toemi]

When at last I drew away from him, I gave him a look that suggested I was most upset with him.
"Where have you been, Ridaim. It has been so long . . .I thought that you had forgotten about me, its been nearly twenty years."
Ridaim simply blinked, looking rather surprised at my reaction. But then his smile returned and his hand came to the side of my face. He carressed my cheek with his thumb and I couldn't help but lean into his touch.
"I am sorry, Toemi. I'm afraid that a warrior's life is anything but steady. I was drawn away . . ." He brushed aside a strand of my hair "but I am back now . . .and I would never think of forgetting you."
As I looked at him, Ridaim leaned close, his lips only an inch or so from my own.
"And besides, I know all too well what you would do to me if I did such a thing . . ."
His lips brushed gently against mine, but, just as I thought he would kiss me, he spoke once more, a devilish smile on his face.
"But then again, I know what you would do to me if I stayed . . ."
I grinned and wrapped my arms about his neck.
"Ah yes, there are so many things I could do . . ." I then pressed my lips to his and ran my fingers through his hair.

And then, suddenly, the shadows wrapped around the two of us and we were gone from the dark streets of the city, and in my home, standing in the center of the vast polished dance floor.