A (brief) Vampire Civil War [2]

[Miko's POV]

Miko chases Catherine through the woods, both vampiresses running swiftly, dodging branches and roots. Catherine weaves between the trees, helter skelter, and it is hard to stay on her tail. Elizabeth gave them everything Miko thinks angrily, and they betray her?

"Come on, this isn't even a jog" Catherine taunts. "Is this really all you've got, whore?"

Miko sees red. Catherine has only ever saw me as a whore who got lucky Miko thinks bitterly. She pushes herself, running faster, feeling the gap between her and Catherine closing. The terrain is shifting, and Miko feels her footing becoming more and more uncertain. Catherine abruptly turns, running off and disappearing behind a hillock. Miko loses her, and pauses to get her bearings.

"Mikoooooo" Catherine calls out, but Miko has trouble sensing the direction the voice is coming from. "Mikooo. You love the thrill of the hunt more than any of us. Why would you choose Elizabeth's sterile vision?" Catherine asks, the voice sounding more and less distant.

Miko shakes her head. It doesn't matter what I want. Elizabeth saved me. She gave me eternal life.

"Miko. I am older and stronger than you" Catherine taunts. "You can't win." Miko hears leaves rustling and twigs snapping to her left, then rapid footsteps on her right. It is disorienting. Miko searches for some sort of comeback, but comes up blank. Catherine is stronger. Miko does have reservations about Elizabeth's agricultural vision.

"Do you remember that night, Miko?" Catherine asks. "When we first met? When your whore friend fucked you for me?"

Miko remembers that night well.

"You know, I told Elizabeth that we shouldn't have turned you. I knew that you'd be a massive disappointment. Gifting immortality on some dumb prostitute..." Catherine sneers. It sounds like it is coming from behind Miko, but she isn't sure.

"Then how sobering it must have been for you when Elizabeth completely ignored your advice, Catherine" Miko yells, finally finding a retort. "You can bitch all you want, but deep down, you just resent that Elizabeth has more fun with me. Is it any surprise that Elizabeth tired of your constant bickering and discontent? Elizabeth is a Queen, you think she has time for your sour moods and your incessant whining?"

Catherine goes silent. A hit Miko thinks, smiling to herself. Catherine has always been a colossal bitch, even when we were having fun together Miko thinks. Miko hears more rustling behind her, but turns to see nothing. Fuck, Catherine is quick Miko thinks, her head spinning.

Miko feels a sharp pain on her bicep, like someone has cut her. She sees a claw mark on her arm, dripping blood. Miko regrets pursuing Catherine into the woods, and feels totally lost. There is a second breeze of air next to her, and she feels another sharp pain, this time in her hamstring. Miko collapses to her knees.

Tears well in Miko's eyes. Well, at least I'll die young and beautiful Miko thinks, laughing to herself at her own vanity. Miko doesn't even feel the jagged branch when it pierces her heart.