Flash of Steel

Katrina sat, letting her legs hang off the edge of the cliff, her sword resting beside her as she nibbled away at her rations. She sighed, admiring the afternoon sun shining down over the valley below where she could just barely see her village by the river.

"Would that I could get this view all the time," She said, finishing her food and washing it down with some water, "and that this were under better circumstances..." She picked herself up, looking up to the peak of the mountain and the trek she still had ahead of her.

As Katrina affixed her sword back to her hip, she started on her hike again, reviewing her mission in her mind. Rumors from farmers on the edges of the forest had claimed that some sort of barbarous vagabond had been seen creeping around at night and attacking livestock. Not wanting things to escalate, Katrina had been chosen from the village guard to flush out this mysterious person.

With the sun slowly creeping through the sky, Katrina wipes the sweat from her brow, climbing higher and higher. She pauses to take frequent breaks, letting herself catch her breath. If there's to be a fight, she figures it won't do to arrive worn out from the climb. By the time she reaches the peak, the sun has already crept behind the mountain range, casting a long shadow over the valley below. She smiles, however, seeing clear signs of a camp leading into a small cave in front of her.

Not ideal fighting in low-light like this... Katrina surveys the small clearing in front of her, Though I suppose it's better than twisting an ankle on the wa-

"Ughhhhh finally you made it." A voice interrupts her thoughts as she sees someone step out of the cave. "I was beginning to worry I'd die of boredom before you got here."

Before her stood a mysterious woman, around half a head shorter than herself and adorned in what appeared to be some revealing battle clothes. She wore a large gauntlet on her right hand in which she carried a pale shortsword. Her other hand was, to Katrina's curiosity, bare save for a small fingerless glove. Small metal pauldrons sat loose on her shoulders framing her chest which was covered in a tight wrapping that left little to the imagination. A loose belt hung around her hips and a tight cloth covered her modesty (whether that was her own modesty or the woman's, Katrina couldn't figure). Around her ankles were large bracers, leaving her otherwise barefoot. Beyond that, the woman had left herself completely exposed, allowing her pale skin to breathe in the open air.

Katrina's first thought, in spite of herself, brought a slight blush to her face as she admired the woman's body. Something the warrior seemed all to aware of as she gave a slight smirk and shifted her pose, giving Katrina an even more teasing view. Once Katrina was able to snap herself from her indulgent thoughts, she too shifted her stance, ready to draw her sword should the need arise.

"Seems you've been expecting me?"

"Hmph," She propped herself up on her sword, leaning on it casually, "Hard not to when you're stomping about like that. God it's like your boots are made of lead."

For a moment, Katrina was taken aback, "Hold on a moment, I wasn't trying to be sneaky but I wasn't making an announcement of myself either."

The woman gave an exaggerated yawn, unphased by Katrina's complaints. It was then, stepping closer, that Katrina noticed oddities about her. She had long pointed ears, and on her hand and feet were sharp, claw-like nails. Just as before, the woman seemed to notice Katrina's eyes on her and flashed a toothy grin, revealing a set of sharp fangs.

"Like what you see?"

"You're... you're a vampire!" Katrina said, astonished and drawing her sword.

"Such an astute observer, I can see why they sent you," She taunted sticking her tongue out, "The name's Amelia, so glad to have some company up on this lonely mountain."

Katrina's eyes narrowed, watching Amelia closely, "I'm here to drive you out, there were reports of a strange woman attacking livestock and terrorizing the farmlands around the forest." She steadied herself, staring down the vampire from the edge of her blade.

Amelia grinned, straightening herself up, "Oh but I've just gotten settled in. And after all, isn't this such a cozy little place?" She paced back and forth, walking lightly on her toes, "And here I was hoping to set up here for a while. I mean... it seemed like such a welcoming village down there."

"I'll not have you terrorizing my people, demon!" Katrina inched herself closer, glaring at Amelia, "I'll drive you out of here one way or another."

"Demon?" Amelia feigned offense, "Now we're just being rude! A guest in my home and this is how she treats me. Well if the guest demands the first strike, what am I to do but oblige." She stepped back, opening herself up with an innocent smile, "Though the way you look at me, it seems you might be wanting something more than to strike me with that sword." She swayed her hips slightly for emphasis, enjoying Katrina's apparent distraction.

Katrina grit her teeth, forcing herself to avoid staring too long at the woman's hips. "Sh-shut up!" With a voice that was far less confident than she had hoped, she pressed forward with a practiced lunge, her sword aimed true for Amelia's navel. Amelia, however, hardly seemed bothered, letting Katrina close the distance before suddenly, with lightning speed, stepping to the side with an exaggerated twirl.

Before Katrina could collect herself and prepare a defense, she felt the tip of a sword poking into her back, "Poor choice of opening, do they teach you nothing down there? Look at this, you left your back entirely open!"

Katrina took Amelia's taunting to turn and smack her sword away, the impact echoing on the rocks around them. "At least pretend to take this seriously. I threaten your life and you hardly flinch? Do you wish to take that smile to your grave?"

Amelia laughed, "And what a corpse I would make then, eh?" She leaned on her sword again, her expression shifting slightly, "But if you want a serious fight, then we must make a wager."

Katrina cocked her head, never lowering her blade, "A wager?"

"A fight can only be serious when there's something to lose."

"Is your life not enough?"

Amelia laughed again, "Hardly. No I've no intention of losing my life so I won't wager it. I imagine you would rather not lose yours either so I'd not ask you to wager it either. Rather, I'd prefer something more... interesting."

"Speak plainly, I tire of your prattling."

"Hmph, well aren't we full of ourselves. Very well, I'll get to the point. I'll fight you, 'seriously' as you are so insistent on, but it won't be to the death. Neither of us may kill the other."

"And why would I bind myself so?"

"Impatient as ever. You should 'bind yourself so' because on my warrior's honor, I will leave this valley and never return should you win."

"Pah, what should I care for your warrior's honor." With that, Katrina launched another assault, bringing her sword across in a wide slash.

Amelia dropped into a low stance, letting it cut only the air above her head, then with a sweep of her legs, cut Katrina's balance, causing her to stumble and fall on her ass. Amelia stood and raised her pale sword to Katrina's throat, "That's twice now. Regardless of what you think of my honor, are you certain you wish to wager your life instead of what I might offer?"

For a moment, the two stared at one another, the first stars of the night beginning to peak through as the sun sank below the horizon.

"Fine," Katrina said, disheartened and frustrated.

Amelia withdrew her sword and gave her a few steps of space, "Very good. Without my life on the line, I'll be less motivated and you'll have a greater chance of victory. And without yours on the line, well, you're young, you're cute," She paused after the second point letting her eyes wander over Katrina's body, "and I'm sure you don't want to throw that away just because you're also stubborn and hot-headed, getting into more than you can handle."

Katrina grit her teeth but said nothing, picking up her sword and taking a defensive posture, but allowing the vampire to continue.

"Now, as I was saying, if you win this little duel, I'll leave this land and never return."

"... Wager implies I'll have to offer you something as well..." Katrina replied, hesitantly.

"Very smart indeed! If I win," She paused, letting her words linger as she once more looked over Katrina's body eagerly, "If I win, I get to do whatever I want with that cute little body of yours until dawn."

"... wh... what?" Katrina was stunned and felt a bright blush rise to her cheeks.

"Oh don't act so surprised. I see how you look at me. And I am quite curious as to what you look like under all that restrictive armor. And of course..." She grinned again, showing her fangs, "It has been a bit since I last tasted fresh human blood and that flush is... quite enticing." Katrina opened her mouth, but Amelia cut her off quick, "Oh don't look scared, remember, neither of us is wagering our lives and I'm far from starving to the point that I'd need to feed on all of you. Just a little taste..."

"You... you're sick! You're a monster!" She launched into an attack again which Amelia lazily dodged once more.

"Again with the insults." She said, raising her sword to the back of Katrina's head. "How about this then, agree to my terms or forfeit your life here and now. This makes your third loss to me so far."

Katrina gripped her sword tightly, clenching her knuckles in frustration before letting out a resigned sigh, "Fine. I'll play your stupid game." She turned, glaring at Amelia, "But you had best be true to your word."

Amelia smiled with an exaggerated bow, never taking her eyes off of Katrina, "On my honor as a warrior."

With that, the two assumed fighting positions across from one another as they circled the clearing, neither taking their eyes off the other. Katrina stepped heavy with a practiced balance, her stance grounded. She steadied her breathing and kept herself ready to defend, keeping in mind how easily she had been goaded into bad attacks. Amelia, meanwhile, stepped lightly as she seemed to bounce from one stance to the next. Yet even with her airy affect, she kept her sword tip steadily aimed at Katrina, watching her with a hunter's eyes.

Suddenly, Amelia launched her attack, bringing her sword close to her then around in an arc as she closed the distance. Katrina, stumbled back slightly as her blade caught her foe's, catching herself on her back foot and holding Amelia in a block.

"Good, seems you learned a little patience."

"I don't need you lecturing me. Shut up and fight!" Katrina shouted, pushing her sword up and opening Amelia's defense. With a move that seemed to catch them both by surprise, Katrina took advantage of the opening to land a kick square on the vampire's exposed stomach. The force pushed Amelia back a little, creating some distance between the two and for the first time, she looks at her opponent with fire in her eyes.

Katrina presses her advantage pushing another attack as Amelia recovers her guard. Yet as her strike comes in, Amelia reaches with her free hand and catches Katrina's wrist. With a triumphant grin, she pulls Katrina's sword arm up, forcing the two close together.

"I win." Amelia says definitively as she digs her claws into Katrina's wrist. She twists her hand, trying to break free of Amelia's vice grip, her hand trembling as she tries to hold onto her blade. Yet as Amelia digs her claws in more and more, Katrina can't help but let out a pained cry as she's forced to drop her blade.

Amelia releases her grip as Katrina's sword clatters to the ground, licking a few drops of blood from her fingertips, satisfied. Katrina, meanwhile, stumbles back, holding her wrist as she sees the few small scratches from where the vampire broke her skin.

"Fine." She mumbles, defeated, "Seems I'm not up to your skills with a blade."

"At last she sees what is clear from the start! Though if you really want a lesson to take away from this, it was not by the blade that you lost," Amelia grins, holding up her clawed hand threateningly and eyes Katrina eagerly, "Now for my prize."

Katrina stands, glaring at her as she feels the woman's eyes raking over her, "And what if I refuse?"

"Then you'll have violated your end of the wager and I'd be well within my right to kill you." Amelia glared sternly, her expression shifting to something serious, "The more egregious crime, however, would be your own cowardice. I despise cowards more than anything. If you want to leave with your life so badly, then do it and be out of my sight, disgusting creature.

"However..." She says after a pause, licking her fingers once more, "this does not taste like the blood of a coward. Besides," she says with a grin, posing to show off slightly, "I know when someone is looking at me with more than a fight on their minds."

Katrina glared at the warrior for a long moment, frustrated that despite herself, she knew everything Amelia had said about her was right. Her pride wouldn't let her leave, and her attraction to the woman was plain.

"Fine." She said, breaking the silence, "I hate that you keep managing to goad me but... fine."

Amelia clasped her hands together, throwing down her gauntlet, baring another clawed hand and jumped towards Katrina excitedly, "I knew I was right about you. Now... hold still... this part will only hurt a little."

"W-wait what?! Ahn-!"

Katrina winced as she felt Amelia pull her head to the side, exposing her neck to the night air. Before she knew what was happening, she felt the vampire's sharp fangs piercing into her tender flesh. As she feels the sharp points penetrating into her, a quiet, startled moan escapes her mouth betraying a strange ecstasy mixed with fear. In equal parts, she was terrified at the sensation of such a vulnerable spot being penetrated in such a way, yet the intimacy of the moment gave Katrina a surprising rush of pleasure that she didn't know fully how to process. Amelia's body pressed tightly against hers and her lips wet on her neck, even her fangs, as intimidating as they had seemed, felt strangely small and delicate as they entered her.

She squirmed at first, instinct demanding she fight or flee. But she could feel Amelia's sharp claws digging into her arms, and out of the corner of her eye, Katrina saw Amelia looking at her intensely. Her gaze held no anger or threat, rather simply, firmly telling Katrina to hold still, for her own sake.

Katrina swallowed nervously and closed her eyes, trying to calm her trembling body as she obeyed the silent command. Sensing her acquiescence, Amelia continued her work, sinking her fangs firmly into Katrina's neck before pulling them out once more. Blood dripped her neck, staining her armor, but Amelia was quick to act. With a swift lick, she placed her mouth around the wound and allowed the blood to flow into her mouth, nursing the punctures with her tongue.

As she felt the blood being sucked from her, Katrina felt a strange sensation of calm as her mind pushed past the initial panic. She basked in the feeling of her life fluid being drained from her, and a dizzy, heady feeling began to settle on her. She felt her knees tremble but just as she worried she might fall to the ground, she felt Amelia's arms reach under and support her. And as she felt her strength failing, she couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for the security Amelia offered. Certainly somewhere in the back of her mind she was aware that this was her own doing, but all her body could feel was that she was weak and the beautiful woman currently supporting her was strong.

Just as she began to feel the tips of her fingers tingle and her head begin to spin, she felt Amelia's wet mouth leaving her neck, followed quickly by the sensation of cloth being heavily pressed against the wound. She moved to turn her head but felt a hand in her hair as Amelia came into view, glowing with a newfound vigor and grinning ear to ear, her mouth stained red.

"Perfect," She purred as she kept firm pressure on Katrina's neck, "absolutely perfect. You were sweeter than I even hoped from that little taste before."

Katrina opened her mouth but Amelia put a finger to her lips to shush her. As she did, she noticed the woman had removed the wrapping around her breasts, using them as a makeshift bandage which she tied them tightly around Katrina's neck. In the pale moonlight, Katrina couldn't help but stare at the the vampire's breasts, so soft and pert, with small nipples that poked forward in the cool air.

"Ah-ah... no talking just yet, you need a minute to collect yourself while the wound heals. You'll regain yourself quickly enough, just let the wound close up. I took enough to leave you weak, however, so you'll be relying on me for the rest of the night. Though..." She smiled, seeing where Katrina's eyes were at and let her own eyes wander down to Katrina's waist, "I made sure to leave enough for me to have some fun as well."

She quickly tied off the bandage and reached down, letting her hand explore over Katrina's sex, easily pressing between her shaky thighs.

"Mmm... from the feel of things you liked that more than you'd want to let on," Amelia purred in Katrina's ear as she rubbed her sex with her palm over her pants, feeling the woman's excitement from the ordeal as she teased out more of her pleasure to warm her up.

With a grin, Amelia moved, pushing Katrina's legs out from under her and catching her in her arms, carrying her back towards the small cave. Even if Katrina had wanted to protest, in her weakened state the sudden shifting of balance left her head spinning and it was all she could do to keep herself from passing out. In desperation for stability, she wrapped her arms around Amelia, holding to her as if to her strength alone could keep her world from spinning.

"Eager little thing aren't we?" Amelia teased with a small giggle as she entered the cave, slowly, gently, setting Katrina down on the ground and positioning herself next to her, "First thing's first though, getting you out of these miserable clothes. You teased me so much swinging that sword that I've been dying to see how you look underneath it all!"

With grasping hands, Amelia eagerly works Katrina's shirt off, sliding it up and over her head. All the while, all Katrina can do is awkwardly fumble in her impaired state and let her work. What would otherwise have been a banal action, something done without even considering it, was a laborious ordeal, yet Amelia was determined and excitedly disrobes her prize, taking a breath as she admires her own breasts, soft and delicate and nipples perked hard from the excitement of Amelia's touch. The vampire gently ran her claws over the tender flesh, causing Katrina to shiver, giving her breasts an accentuating shake as Amelia admired her.

"So... tender and sensitive... mmm I see why you got so excited from my bite if this is how delicate your body really is."

"I'm... a warrior," Katrina protested with much effort, "protecting my village..."

"Oh and what a strong warrior you were, losing to me like that," Amelia teased her nipples, enjoying their stiffness on her fingers. "Maybe any other night that's what you are, but for this night, you're my prize. One I intend to enjoy to the fullest."

As she spoke, she lowered her head down, licking and sucking on Katrina's soft breasts. Katrina, tried to stifle a moan as she leaned back, barely able to prop herself up. Though she loathed to admit it, Amelia's touch was perfect, practiced and gentle, knowing how to please the woman in her arms.

Sensing Katrina's excitement, she nuzzled into her breasts more, pressing her face into the soft skin, enjoying their slight give. With a grin, she teased the delicate woman with her fangs, brushing them lightly on her breasts, just enough to elicit another tremble. With a long lick, she pulled herself to the front and placed her lips around Katrina's nipple, sucking gingerly as she groped her other breast with her hand, feeling the woman's nipple poking firmly against her palm in contrast to the supple tenderness of the rest of her.

Katrina's head was spinning from the conflicting sensations. The loss of blood and her weakened state leaving her entirely dependent on Amelia. Her frustration at losing and anger at the vampire for taunting her over it. And her pure ecstasy as Amelia worked her body perfectly. In the end, all she could do was follow her lead, too weakened to protest, especially in the face of her own bliss. She breathed heavy, pushing her chest out and into Amelia's touch, craving more, which the vampire happily obliged. As she continues taking pleasure in the shivering woman in her arms, Amelia slowly pushes back, lowering the two of them fully onto the ground and shifting to lay on top of her, straddling her thigh.

Amelia continues her work on Katrina's breasts, alternating which she was sucking and which she was groping. As she did so, Katrina felt Amelia's own excitement as her member pressed against the tight cloth that covered her modesty and against her hips. The combination of Amelia's weight on top of her, feeling her breasts pressed against her stomach, the pleasure she gave her own nipples, and the excitement she pressed into her waist all sent Katrina into a heady fugue of heat and arousal, desperately needing more of Amelia's touch as she felt herself leaking into her own pants, staining them wet with arousal.

Amelia took astute notice of her prey's excitement and slid her free hand down into Katrina's pants, rubbing her tip with her palm and letting her leak against her, coaxing her to grind against her. Katrina readily obeyed the prompting and began moving her hips, rocking her sex against Amelia's hand, leaving her wet mark in her palm. Amelia eased off on Katrina's breasts, letting the two of them focus on the sensation of each other's sex, Katrina grinding against her palm, and Amelia shifting her own hips to grind against her thigh, leaving her own mark.

As the heat built between the two of them, Katrina felt herself getting lost in the pleasure, the night air faded just as the memory of their battle drifted from her mind. All there was now was the two of them, bodies pressed against each other, both leaving their marks on the other as they sank into their bliss.

After an unknowable stretch of time, Amelia shifted, looking up at Katrina with a wide grin that showed off her fangs. Before Katrina could ask she felt her hand shift, gripping around and stroking the length of her sex. She moaned as she felt Amelia's soft hand, coated wet with her arousal, pleasuring her, slowing stroking and building her orgasm further. As she stroked, Amelia also accelerated her own pace, grinding faster and harder into Katrina's thigh, building her own heat all the same.

Soon, Katrina felt she couldn't take it anymore, her body shaking in Amelia's grip as her fingers curled into the dirt. Amelia could sense her prey approaching the edge and gave a long sensual lick up from her stomach to between her breasts.

"You can try to hold back," she said, "but I'm not stopping here, I want to feel you climax in my hand and ruin these cute little pants of yours. And when you do," she nuzzled into her breasts, slowly building up her pleasure even more as she stroked, "I'm going to cum on your thigh so hard as I feel you trembling and pulsing all from my touch."

With that, Amelia pulled her hand up in one fluid stroke, then rubbed her thumb just below Katrina's tip, squeezing gently. The sensation forced her to arch her back, lifting her hips off the ground as she came over the edge. Her sex pulsing as she came, leaking through the fabric of her pants and staining them through with her wetness. At the same time, Amelia arched her back, pushing her hips into Katrina's thigh, her sex pulsing against her leg as she makes her own mess, staining her pants with her climax.

As the two come down from their mutual bliss, Amelia continues to rub her hand between Katrina's legs, spreading her climax between her thighs and over her sex, marking her with her arousal. Similarly, she gently grinds her hips against Katrina's thigh, slowly rubbing her own orgasm deeper into her pants until it began to stick to her skin underneath. Katrina, breathing heavy and trembling, still light-headed from the blood loss, felt lost in a sea of hazy bliss.

"Hmm... such a fun prize you are..." Amelia said, absently tracing a claw around Katrina's nipple, "And I have you for the whole night still." She giggled as Katrina tilted her head looking at her with tired, fluttering eyes. "Oh don't worry, I don't mean right now. Though the night is long, I may yet find even more of a use for your body. And who knows, now that I intend to make my home here for a while, you may find reason to visit me again... maybe we can make another wager, though we likely both know the outcome already." She patted Katrina's sticky thigh for emphasis, "Though it seems you didn't mind losing so much in the end."

With a laugh she stood and walked to the cave entrance. Turning back and cocking her hip, letting Katrina enjoy the visage of her body silhouetted against the night sky, she smiled at the image of the proud warrior she'd brought to her knees before her.

"There's a stream nearby, I'll get us some water. I know you're lacking in fluids right now." She licked her lips, savoring the sweet taste from before, then turned and left, leaving Katrina to simmer in the aftermath of their bout.