Hunt and Be Hunted

He was in the worst mood; the worst that I had ever seen.

He was furious, probably because of me needing to turn those two fillies into one of our own kind.

I was doing my best to keep him for striking out; he was extremely mad "why would you go and do that?"

I side step a strike quickly, in short order I also blasé a wave of magic at his head; I may have powerful magic but it was subjective at best when brother is in this mood.

He slumped forward a bit but ended up just turning around; fury was burning in his eyes; the worst thing though was the voice- "you ruined their lives" -a voice that wasn't his own; all rough edges.

I wince but force myself to shove magic at him; one that is so strong I fall forward.

He falls forward; at least that's what he should have done; instreaed he charges straight at me his head down.

I try to jump out of the way but my legs won't work; I'm stuck between a wall and my breath.

Crack!

I feel my rips brake and my brother's horn through my lung.

I coughed up blood but wouldn't scream; I knew better when he wasn't in control.

I bucked forward glancing his head.

I bucked again knocking him back and out cold.

I fell to the ground gasping.

I felt like my chest was on fire as I healed my wounds.

I was able to get up thankfully; the wound was still tender.

I forced some magic into my brother so I could be sure he wouldn't suffer any more mind damage.

When he gets back up I can see anger is still in his eyes.

Then his eyes saw me panting; and the blood.

He looked away at that moment; ashamed of what he had done.

"Crimson Ink, w-we have two new hunters…" he looked mad but he couldn't bring himself to yell at me.

"How could you do that twice, in the same day?" -I knew he was made, he just wanted a good reason- "they're just fillies" -his voice was soft like velvet despite the anger- "why must they share our curse?" I knew he was sad, his voice was laced witht he emotion.

I had to laugh; it wasn't strong though "a curse is better than death dear brother," -I took a deep breath- "a manic pony had shot the first…" -I motioned my head to the door way where the cream colored earth pony was just walking through- "and her…" -I let out a frustrated sigh- "she panicked seeing the first one's first feeding" -my body was quivering as I spoke- "a knife was on the ground and when she…" -I had started to sob- "she…" I just couldn't finish the thought; she had been covered in blood.

Even when he was enraged his voice was gentle "I understand Verse" -as long as it was actually him in control- "you know I…" a pause for thought- "change, around new vampires" -his voice had a tinge of malice in it; he was trying to keep it out.

"I know brother," -my voice is meek- "we shall see you in a year then?" -he wasn't answering me- are you going to go back to that antique store?" I could feel how hallow I was starting to become.

"I won't, there is no plan" he seems distracted by something, I knew this sign and just step towards him "I will but you can't come around, but after they have been for a month send them to the store" I nodded having no clue what he was thinking; that was sooner than the last ones.

"Of course dear brother" with that he left me to help the little filly who had wandered out on her own "come o little one, let's go and meet your new sister" she gives me a soft smile; she was probably able to tell that mine was fake.

I spent a long time getting to know these two; they weren't quite sure of me at first.

I wake with a start because of a sudden pain; when I could see what it was Vinyl was on top of me, gasping for air "what happened…" something tells me that I shouldn't say her actual name "Crescendo?" she gets up and then helps me up in return, we both turned to this unknown threat; a Discordling, this one was different somehow but I can't quite but my hoof on it.

"Well this thing tried to kill us but" -I could hear the smug tease coming- "it didn't count on somepony being so squishy like you Tenor" I felt my jaw nearly drop; she actually took the hint for once.

It started to walk towards me; I had my back against the door ready "you two are lucky to be alive" I flashed a wicked grin with a plan forming in my head, I could tell Vinyl was thinking along the same lines "whatever should I do with the two of you?"

I kicked off from the wall in a dive at the discordlingj; it dodged me but it wasn't expecting Vinyl diving at it with her horn.

She pushes, struggling to press it against the wall; when she hit the wall I bucked straight at it's head, after a bright red splash covered the wall.

We both back up with slight smiles seeing this corpse "we did it! the final one is dead!" we started to dance around like foals.

"Dead?" we both freeze hearing the voice "I think that's a bit of an exaggeration. At the most I would say injured" -we are both nervous exchanging glances- "now was it Tenor?" I could only nod dumbly "would you come her a moment?" -I just stare at him- "hmmm stronger than most are" -an idea came to my mind- "come her Tenor."

I walk forward as if I'm on strings "yes sir" I make my voice seem forced.

I'm look straight at him "you're a good looking mare" -a shiver goes down my spine- "now Crescendo, I need you stay still" -she nods dumbly; still taking way to many hints- "now how about a kiss Tenor?" my eyes went wide as he leans forward.

I'll give him a kiss just not the kind he wants; I bite his neck hard and shaking him around a little bit before throwing him towards Vinyl.

He flies through the air directly at Vinyl, she has her horn ready to meet his chest.

Vinyl lifted and then slammed it down onto the ground.

I jumped up.

I came down on it's head; hard.

A sharp crack and then a gasp of shock.

Not taking any chances now.

I check behind Vinyl's ear and smile softly "glad you kept it."

I grabbed the syringe that was there.

I took it and drived it down into it's eye.

I push the syringe letting the fluid enter it's body.

It starts to convulse under my hooves.

I start to trot away leaving the wreathing creature behind.

"Vinyl?" she made a grunt for me to continue "how did you know I didn't want to use are real names?" she just smiles at me.

"Oh you know me Octi, I'm just perceptive" I had to laugh at that one "what's so damn funny?"

I looked her straight on "you didn't know did you Vinyl Scratch?"

She shied away so I decided to hug her.

Pain shot through my side, it was so sudden I had to cry out in shock.

She was to my side quickly.

Then everything was black.
*****

It rose up from the ground as if nothing more than a husk.

It was only able to take extremely weak steps; they were lurching steps.

It was slowly making it's way to a room.

The evil glen in his eye could have been in part of the liquid still dripping from it.

"If I must leave, I'll give them an early birthday present" a glass plane in it's sight.

Behind it a green button.

A punch.

Crack!

Laughter brakes out as the button is pressed.

The last laugh for once was the one of evil.