Gaining Strength [Part 17]
Aug. 5th, 2020 12:09 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
esp_dragonv2Fandom: Noblesse
Summary: Frankenstein needs to gain strength to protect humanity; the werewolves might hold the key to that.
Notes: Frankenstein decides werewolves are the bigger threat AU.
Rating: G
Genre: General
Word count: 2,916
Total word count: 36,546
Status: Work in progress
"Wait," Frankenstein said, backing up a step, trying to see more of the rock face.
"We're wasting time-"
"And there are other ways to enter a building than the one everyone else does," Frankenstein said. "If they have windows to light their corridors then maybe... There." He pointed to the rough circular holes above their heads. Two, three... More than that, and they were in a line. It didn't make sense to light a corridor so...
"What do they mean?" Garda said, squinting.
"Rooms. They might be rooms where werewolves are being kept." But if that was the case, then why didn't the werewolf inside just climb or jump out the window?
Unless non-warriors weren't only being used to barter with humans.
"...Are you sure you want to continue?" Frankenstein said. To see what her people had done?
"Of course. I'm not running away from what's been done, or what has to be done."
Like he had.
Had there been anything else that he could have done back then? Those people had already died.
But he'd done nothing to help those who had come after.
Stopping his research from being found only meant more people were hurt as Osbern used his old research. If he'd stayed, maybe he could have mitigated the damage, found out what was wrong and more people wouldn't have died.
"Frankenstein?"
Right. Frankenstein shook his head. "Sorry." He had ran before, but this time he wouldn't. "Would we be able to enter from the higher rooms?" If the rooms had been created with werewolf claws, then they could take down the walls to enter as well. "That way we should be able to find the werewolves they'd taken faster." Hopefully there would be some that were still alive.
Garda frowned, her eyes going towards the front entrance.
"I know you want to fight," Frankenstein said, "but our priority is finding anyone who is still alive right now." Fighting would prolong the abducted werewolves getting help and who knew how much time they had left.
She growled low. "Fine," she said. She hopped up, peering into the closest window as she held onto the edge.
He was going to have to teach her about sneaking around, quickly.
"It's empt..." She trailed off, looking to her left.
When Frankenstein jumped up, he could smell the familiar scent of rot.
Again. Finding out far too late again.
Garda leaped to the next window. As soon she looked, she snarled, tearing a chunk out of the rock face before diving in.
Frankenstein winced and leapt to catch the rock before it smashed to the ground. ...There was never a chance they would have gone in stealthily. He set the rock down and scrambled in after her.
Three bodies slumped against the wall, their eyes staring at nothing. The bodies were clothed in multiple layers. Non-warriors.
They were still transformed and was that normal? The corpses at the Union had been the same, but now that Frankenstein knew more about the transformation, it was off. The transformation had to be consciously maintained, through thought and with energy. The transformation was always let go before it drained the person completely.
Was whatever they were doing locking the transformation into place until they died?
"They just...left the bodies?" Garda said, staring at them. "They didn't even-" She was shaking, fur flashing up over her skin as Frankenstein felt a weight grow on his shoulders.
"We need to keep moving," Frankenstein urged her, eyes darting to the door. If her anger was sensed throughout the lab, it would alert the others they were there.
"I'm going to kill everyone involved with this," she said, a growl reverberating through all her words.
Dammit. "We need to save those we can first."
"And we can save them by killing those involved so they won't be hurt again," Garda snapped, glaring at him.
Well, that was another way to look at it.
"There's nothing we can do for them right now," Frankenstein said, holding her gaze. "We need to go now."
She growled and stalked towards the door. It disintegrated into ragged pieces before she reached it and Frankenstein winced as he followed her.
It...could have been louder. Not by much, and Frankenstein glanced around when he stepped into the corridor, though it wasn't necessary: if Garda had seen another werewolf, he was certain she would have attacked them already.
Garda broke the door to the second room. She stared in for a second and then stalked off, growling.
Frankenstein peeked in and his heart grew heavier, seeing the four bodies there in the same state as the previous three.
Garda tore off the door of the third room.
"Ah!"
Frankenstein froze at the cry and rushed forward.
Two bodies curled up on the ground. One werewolf huddling in the corner, staring at them. Alive. Pale and sweating, looking as if she hadn't had a meal in a week, but alive. She wasn't transformed like the others.
"Hey, hey, it's all right," Frankenstein said, slowing down when the werewolf flinched back. "We're not here to hurt you."
"But you're..." The werewolf paused to take a breath, shaking her head, dark curly hair moving in clumps.
"I think most werewolves before us arrived by opening the door," Frankenstein said wryly. That was one positive of Garda tearing through the lab.
The werewolf looked behind Frankenstein, presumably at Garda.
"Do you know if there are any others?" Frankenstein asked softly. "Any who survived?"
The werewolf shook her head. "They were all-" She shook her head again, her eyes squeezed shut, shuddering.
She must have seen them die in front of her.
This was the pain and suffering his research had wrought.
"What's your name?"
The werewolf didn't say anything for a few seconds, before she opened her eyes, looking at him. "Langrol. Why?"
Frankenstein smiled at her, holding out his hand. "Let's get you out of here, Langrol." Before someone came back to do tests on her again.
Langrol opened her mouth but before she could say anything, Garda growled.
Frankenstein sucked in a breath, becoming aware of the werewolf presences approaching quickly from inside the lab.
"Good," Garda said, grinning as she transformed. "I get to kill them and you get to save Langrol." She swung at the outside wall and it crumbled to pieces, letting in the sunlight. "We both get to do what we want."
"Come on," Frankenstein said, pulling Langrol to her feet. "We'll escape this way."
Langrol pulled away, her eyes wide. "I can't make that! I - I'm not a warrior!"
Oh, dammit, of course. "I can carry you," he said, holding his arms out.
She peered at the drop and then looked behind her. She closed her eyes and then nodded.
Frankenstein carried in her arms and as he jumped he heard Garda's slash crash into something, a howl accompanying the scent of blood.
"Oi!" Garda yelled out. "With your claws so dull, I can take on both of you at once!"
"What?"
Frankenstein smiled tightly as he landed, jumping forward. It was good to know his conversations about insults had been listened to and remembered.
His smile faded. But even after all this time and everything he'd learned, he couldn't rely on his own strength to protect himself or others...
He looked down at Langrol, who was clutching his tunic, her face buried in his chest. If he could save her, then... That was something.
They landed on the forest floor and Frankenstein looked up, dust and debris falling from the hole in the mountain. Damn. He blinked, trying to clear his eyes.
"Can you stand?" Frankenstein asked.
"Yes," she said, "but I wouldn't be able to keep up with you, even if I wasn't...this."
He nodded, running again. "Gather your strength for now." He had no food or water to give her. Hopefully she would be able to last until he found something.
He would be able to carry her for a while yet and by then it should be a safe enough distance from-
Frankenstein sucked in a breath, skidding to a stop.
The slash whistled past, toppling the trees beside them. It was still strong enough to knock him to his feet, dropping Langrol. If he had kept going, they would have been sliced to pieces.
Damn! Frankenstein strained his senses as he scrambled to his feet, trying to find where the werewolf is.
There-!
He jumped back, avoiding another slash.
Frankenstein narrowed his eyes when a werewolf jumped into view. Short brown hair, sharp features. It was the black, fur-lined jacket that Frankenstein remembered most.
"I thought I sensed your detestable presence," the werewolf -Maduke?- said, his lip curled. He snorted. "I should have known I can't rely on humans to kill you."
Frankenstein pursed his lips. So it went as high as Muzaka's inner circle...
"Run," Frankenstein muttered, and he breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the rustle of leaves, Langrol's presence fading.
"What do you think you're doing here, human," Maduke said, glancing behind Frankenstein for a second. "Do you think she'll get far like that before we catch up?"
He needed to stall for as long as possible to give her the biggest chance to reach the werewolf territory. Frankenstein curled his lip. "I kill you now, and she'll be free to take as long as it takes."
Maduke threw his head back and barked out a laugh. "You? Kill me? Lord Muzaka isn't here to protect you here - I'll deal with you in one slice and collect her afterwards."
Maduke was still talking. Good. "Or was it your own cowardice that stopped you?" Frankenstein said. "You didn't dare to attack me or challenge Muzaka's title to change things to what you wanted it to be - instead you made deals under Muzaka's nose, hiding away from your territory to work and steal werewolves from their homes."
Frankenstein touched his lips, pretending to think. "Oh, that doesn't sound like a very werewolf thing to do, does it? Not very direct. One could say that was a human tactic."
He sucked in a breath, a weight pressing against his shoulders and he gritted his teeth, keeping himself upright.
"You compare me, a werewolf, to one of you?" Maduke snarled, tearing off his jacket.
Scars marking a werewolf's body wasn't surprising, especially after getting used to seeing Muzaka's deep scars, but Frankenstein's gaze was drawn to a scar on Maduke's side. The original wound was a small neat slice, but around it, the skin had mottled and puckered. Like it had reacted with whatever had caused the wound.
Frankenstein recognised that scarring.
He'd seen it with the werewolves he'd captured. It was the reaction from silver.
And he knew that scar, even though he'd never seen it like that. "You're the one I stabbed," he said faintly. All those months ago. The first werewolf he'd ever met.
Maduke sneered at him. "Seeing you walk up to the throne beside Lord Muzaka was almost enough to reveal myself. You were lucky to survive our first encounter, but you won't this time."
It was unlikely he would survive, but that wasn't important. He had to stall for as much time as possible.
He could fight this like a werewolf, but he wasn't one; he would need to make as many advantages as he could. Frankenstein pulled out his dagger. It still felt good in his hand even though he hadn't used it much in the last couple of months.
"Tch." Maduke bared his teeth at Frankenstein. "You take out a weapon before taking off your jacket?"
Frankenstein smiled. "At what point did I suggest that I would take it off?" Removing the cloak was a sign they had agreed to fight; he didn't know quite what it meant to refuse to remove it, but from how Maduke bristled, it looked like it was insulting. Good. "Since you seemed so inclined to fight like a human, I thought I should indulge you."
"You think not removing your jacket will stop me from attacking you? I am not bound by that warrior tradition."
"Or honour, clearly," Frankenstein said. "Since-"
He tensed, the air growing heavy with Maduke's aura.
That would hopefully be enough stalling.
Maduke transformed, fur sprouting up his arms.
Frankenstein staggered, trying to breathe. Damn. He hadn't fought anyone fully transformed before and the difference was obvious. He'd felt Dorant's transformation, but Dorant's aura hadn't been directed at him.
Frankenstein had just enough time to see Maduke lunge towards him before throwing himself to the side. The spot he'd been standing exploded in a cloud of dirt.
Every single second counted. If he hesitated, he would lose. Not just the fight, but his life.
Maduke span around and as he leaned forward, Frankenstein transformed, jumping out the way.
He jumped twice as high as he expected, the fur up his arm ruffling in the wind.
Dammit, this was not the time to finally get a full transformation! He stumbled as he landed, legs moving faster than his brain could understand.
He was overflowing with power, everything sharper around him.
He could see Maduke chasing him, hand raised as he slashed down. He could see it all, but it was too much, too fast for him to take it all in at once and understand.
The extra burst in speed kept him out of Maduke's reach, but it was only just, Maduke's claws sometimes catching Frankenstein's tunic.
"Is that all you do?" Maduke snarled. "Run away?"
Frankenstein let go of his transformation as Maduke talked, jumping away to keep as much as distance between them as possible. "It seems all you do is talk," Frankenstein said, grinning, trying to keep his words as even as possible as he panted. "You're the werewolf and yet you can't even hit a human? How embarrassing."
Maduke slashed up with a roar, a flurry of dirt arcing into the sky, claw marks deeper than Frankenstein's forearm gouging the ground. Just how much energy did werewolves have to keep this up all the time?
Maduke didn't seem to be stopping any time soon, charging at him again.
Frankenstein transformed, and right, what had Garda done with him when he just attacked head on? What had he done to Muzaka?
Frankenstein grabbed Maduke's left hand as it arced towards his head, digging his claws into Maduke's flesh.
Maduke pulled free as Frankenstein jabbed with his dagger. Close. Not fast enough.
"Shame," Frankenstein said, grinning as he adjusted his grip on his dagger, letting go of his transformation. "I was hoping to give you another scar to match your first one. I'll take...the first to draw blood, however."
Maduke shook his hand, glowering at him. "It'll be the only time you draw blood." He dashed forward again.
There was only a few more times Frankenstein could transform. Less. He was working from what he knew of his partial transformation.
His legs trembled from trying to keep him upright but he forced himself to transform again, everything a little brighter around the edges. He didn't have much time left.
He didn't jump as far as he wanted when he dodged Maduke's slash. Damn, he was already-
Frankenstein had enough time to raise his arms to protect himself from Maduke's slash.
He was still blown off his feet and he landed heavily with a grunt, losing his hold of both his dagger and his transformation.
No. He didn't have the energy to lift his head, seeing Maduke's feet approaching. He had to move. Get up. Get up.
It was as if he was still transformed, seeing everything happening slowly, but his body wouldn't listen to him.
Step by step, Maduke came closer and all Frankenstein could do was pant as his blood roared in his ears. He couldn't force any part of him to move - it was as if he was being held down by the air itself, and maybe it was Maduke's aura that was pinning him, now that he didn't have the strength to fight against it.
Maduke reached down and wrapped a hand around Frankenstein's throat, digging his claws in as he squeezed. He yanked Frankenstein up and slammed him against a tree. Frankenstein struggled to get air back into his lungs through Maduke's grip, but he could barely move his hands, let alone bring them up to do anything.
"This is familiar, isn't it?" Maduke hissed, pressing in. He looked down at something for a second. "Since you were so insistent on using it..." Frankenstein saw the gleam of his dagger in Maduke's hand. "And I should repay you for our first meeting."
Maduke stabbed Frankenstein in the gut.
Summary: Frankenstein needs to gain strength to protect humanity; the werewolves might hold the key to that.
Notes: Frankenstein decides werewolves are the bigger threat AU.
Rating: G
Genre: General
Word count: 2,916
Total word count: 36,546
Status: Work in progress
"Wait," Frankenstein said, backing up a step, trying to see more of the rock face.
"We're wasting time-"
"And there are other ways to enter a building than the one everyone else does," Frankenstein said. "If they have windows to light their corridors then maybe... There." He pointed to the rough circular holes above their heads. Two, three... More than that, and they were in a line. It didn't make sense to light a corridor so...
"What do they mean?" Garda said, squinting.
"Rooms. They might be rooms where werewolves are being kept." But if that was the case, then why didn't the werewolf inside just climb or jump out the window?
Unless non-warriors weren't only being used to barter with humans.
"...Are you sure you want to continue?" Frankenstein said. To see what her people had done?
"Of course. I'm not running away from what's been done, or what has to be done."
Like he had.
Had there been anything else that he could have done back then? Those people had already died.
But he'd done nothing to help those who had come after.
Stopping his research from being found only meant more people were hurt as Osbern used his old research. If he'd stayed, maybe he could have mitigated the damage, found out what was wrong and more people wouldn't have died.
"Frankenstein?"
Right. Frankenstein shook his head. "Sorry." He had ran before, but this time he wouldn't. "Would we be able to enter from the higher rooms?" If the rooms had been created with werewolf claws, then they could take down the walls to enter as well. "That way we should be able to find the werewolves they'd taken faster." Hopefully there would be some that were still alive.
Garda frowned, her eyes going towards the front entrance.
"I know you want to fight," Frankenstein said, "but our priority is finding anyone who is still alive right now." Fighting would prolong the abducted werewolves getting help and who knew how much time they had left.
She growled low. "Fine," she said. She hopped up, peering into the closest window as she held onto the edge.
He was going to have to teach her about sneaking around, quickly.
"It's empt..." She trailed off, looking to her left.
When Frankenstein jumped up, he could smell the familiar scent of rot.
Again. Finding out far too late again.
Garda leaped to the next window. As soon she looked, she snarled, tearing a chunk out of the rock face before diving in.
Frankenstein winced and leapt to catch the rock before it smashed to the ground. ...There was never a chance they would have gone in stealthily. He set the rock down and scrambled in after her.
Three bodies slumped against the wall, their eyes staring at nothing. The bodies were clothed in multiple layers. Non-warriors.
They were still transformed and was that normal? The corpses at the Union had been the same, but now that Frankenstein knew more about the transformation, it was off. The transformation had to be consciously maintained, through thought and with energy. The transformation was always let go before it drained the person completely.
Was whatever they were doing locking the transformation into place until they died?
"They just...left the bodies?" Garda said, staring at them. "They didn't even-" She was shaking, fur flashing up over her skin as Frankenstein felt a weight grow on his shoulders.
"We need to keep moving," Frankenstein urged her, eyes darting to the door. If her anger was sensed throughout the lab, it would alert the others they were there.
"I'm going to kill everyone involved with this," she said, a growl reverberating through all her words.
Dammit. "We need to save those we can first."
"And we can save them by killing those involved so they won't be hurt again," Garda snapped, glaring at him.
Well, that was another way to look at it.
"There's nothing we can do for them right now," Frankenstein said, holding her gaze. "We need to go now."
She growled and stalked towards the door. It disintegrated into ragged pieces before she reached it and Frankenstein winced as he followed her.
It...could have been louder. Not by much, and Frankenstein glanced around when he stepped into the corridor, though it wasn't necessary: if Garda had seen another werewolf, he was certain she would have attacked them already.
Garda broke the door to the second room. She stared in for a second and then stalked off, growling.
Frankenstein peeked in and his heart grew heavier, seeing the four bodies there in the same state as the previous three.
Garda tore off the door of the third room.
"Ah!"
Frankenstein froze at the cry and rushed forward.
Two bodies curled up on the ground. One werewolf huddling in the corner, staring at them. Alive. Pale and sweating, looking as if she hadn't had a meal in a week, but alive. She wasn't transformed like the others.
"Hey, hey, it's all right," Frankenstein said, slowing down when the werewolf flinched back. "We're not here to hurt you."
"But you're..." The werewolf paused to take a breath, shaking her head, dark curly hair moving in clumps.
"I think most werewolves before us arrived by opening the door," Frankenstein said wryly. That was one positive of Garda tearing through the lab.
The werewolf looked behind Frankenstein, presumably at Garda.
"Do you know if there are any others?" Frankenstein asked softly. "Any who survived?"
The werewolf shook her head. "They were all-" She shook her head again, her eyes squeezed shut, shuddering.
She must have seen them die in front of her.
This was the pain and suffering his research had wrought.
"What's your name?"
The werewolf didn't say anything for a few seconds, before she opened her eyes, looking at him. "Langrol. Why?"
Frankenstein smiled at her, holding out his hand. "Let's get you out of here, Langrol." Before someone came back to do tests on her again.
Langrol opened her mouth but before she could say anything, Garda growled.
Frankenstein sucked in a breath, becoming aware of the werewolf presences approaching quickly from inside the lab.
"Good," Garda said, grinning as she transformed. "I get to kill them and you get to save Langrol." She swung at the outside wall and it crumbled to pieces, letting in the sunlight. "We both get to do what we want."
"Come on," Frankenstein said, pulling Langrol to her feet. "We'll escape this way."
Langrol pulled away, her eyes wide. "I can't make that! I - I'm not a warrior!"
Oh, dammit, of course. "I can carry you," he said, holding his arms out.
She peered at the drop and then looked behind her. She closed her eyes and then nodded.
Frankenstein carried in her arms and as he jumped he heard Garda's slash crash into something, a howl accompanying the scent of blood.
"Oi!" Garda yelled out. "With your claws so dull, I can take on both of you at once!"
"What?"
Frankenstein smiled tightly as he landed, jumping forward. It was good to know his conversations about insults had been listened to and remembered.
His smile faded. But even after all this time and everything he'd learned, he couldn't rely on his own strength to protect himself or others...
He looked down at Langrol, who was clutching his tunic, her face buried in his chest. If he could save her, then... That was something.
They landed on the forest floor and Frankenstein looked up, dust and debris falling from the hole in the mountain. Damn. He blinked, trying to clear his eyes.
"Can you stand?" Frankenstein asked.
"Yes," she said, "but I wouldn't be able to keep up with you, even if I wasn't...this."
He nodded, running again. "Gather your strength for now." He had no food or water to give her. Hopefully she would be able to last until he found something.
He would be able to carry her for a while yet and by then it should be a safe enough distance from-
Frankenstein sucked in a breath, skidding to a stop.
The slash whistled past, toppling the trees beside them. It was still strong enough to knock him to his feet, dropping Langrol. If he had kept going, they would have been sliced to pieces.
Damn! Frankenstein strained his senses as he scrambled to his feet, trying to find where the werewolf is.
There-!
He jumped back, avoiding another slash.
Frankenstein narrowed his eyes when a werewolf jumped into view. Short brown hair, sharp features. It was the black, fur-lined jacket that Frankenstein remembered most.
"I thought I sensed your detestable presence," the werewolf -Maduke?- said, his lip curled. He snorted. "I should have known I can't rely on humans to kill you."
Frankenstein pursed his lips. So it went as high as Muzaka's inner circle...
"Run," Frankenstein muttered, and he breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the rustle of leaves, Langrol's presence fading.
"What do you think you're doing here, human," Maduke said, glancing behind Frankenstein for a second. "Do you think she'll get far like that before we catch up?"
He needed to stall for as long as possible to give her the biggest chance to reach the werewolf territory. Frankenstein curled his lip. "I kill you now, and she'll be free to take as long as it takes."
Maduke threw his head back and barked out a laugh. "You? Kill me? Lord Muzaka isn't here to protect you here - I'll deal with you in one slice and collect her afterwards."
Maduke was still talking. Good. "Or was it your own cowardice that stopped you?" Frankenstein said. "You didn't dare to attack me or challenge Muzaka's title to change things to what you wanted it to be - instead you made deals under Muzaka's nose, hiding away from your territory to work and steal werewolves from their homes."
Frankenstein touched his lips, pretending to think. "Oh, that doesn't sound like a very werewolf thing to do, does it? Not very direct. One could say that was a human tactic."
He sucked in a breath, a weight pressing against his shoulders and he gritted his teeth, keeping himself upright.
"You compare me, a werewolf, to one of you?" Maduke snarled, tearing off his jacket.
Scars marking a werewolf's body wasn't surprising, especially after getting used to seeing Muzaka's deep scars, but Frankenstein's gaze was drawn to a scar on Maduke's side. The original wound was a small neat slice, but around it, the skin had mottled and puckered. Like it had reacted with whatever had caused the wound.
Frankenstein recognised that scarring.
He'd seen it with the werewolves he'd captured. It was the reaction from silver.
And he knew that scar, even though he'd never seen it like that. "You're the one I stabbed," he said faintly. All those months ago. The first werewolf he'd ever met.
Maduke sneered at him. "Seeing you walk up to the throne beside Lord Muzaka was almost enough to reveal myself. You were lucky to survive our first encounter, but you won't this time."
It was unlikely he would survive, but that wasn't important. He had to stall for as much time as possible.
He could fight this like a werewolf, but he wasn't one; he would need to make as many advantages as he could. Frankenstein pulled out his dagger. It still felt good in his hand even though he hadn't used it much in the last couple of months.
"Tch." Maduke bared his teeth at Frankenstein. "You take out a weapon before taking off your jacket?"
Frankenstein smiled. "At what point did I suggest that I would take it off?" Removing the cloak was a sign they had agreed to fight; he didn't know quite what it meant to refuse to remove it, but from how Maduke bristled, it looked like it was insulting. Good. "Since you seemed so inclined to fight like a human, I thought I should indulge you."
"You think not removing your jacket will stop me from attacking you? I am not bound by that warrior tradition."
"Or honour, clearly," Frankenstein said. "Since-"
He tensed, the air growing heavy with Maduke's aura.
That would hopefully be enough stalling.
Maduke transformed, fur sprouting up his arms.
Frankenstein staggered, trying to breathe. Damn. He hadn't fought anyone fully transformed before and the difference was obvious. He'd felt Dorant's transformation, but Dorant's aura hadn't been directed at him.
Frankenstein had just enough time to see Maduke lunge towards him before throwing himself to the side. The spot he'd been standing exploded in a cloud of dirt.
Every single second counted. If he hesitated, he would lose. Not just the fight, but his life.
Maduke span around and as he leaned forward, Frankenstein transformed, jumping out the way.
He jumped twice as high as he expected, the fur up his arm ruffling in the wind.
Dammit, this was not the time to finally get a full transformation! He stumbled as he landed, legs moving faster than his brain could understand.
He was overflowing with power, everything sharper around him.
He could see Maduke chasing him, hand raised as he slashed down. He could see it all, but it was too much, too fast for him to take it all in at once and understand.
The extra burst in speed kept him out of Maduke's reach, but it was only just, Maduke's claws sometimes catching Frankenstein's tunic.
"Is that all you do?" Maduke snarled. "Run away?"
Frankenstein let go of his transformation as Maduke talked, jumping away to keep as much as distance between them as possible. "It seems all you do is talk," Frankenstein said, grinning, trying to keep his words as even as possible as he panted. "You're the werewolf and yet you can't even hit a human? How embarrassing."
Maduke slashed up with a roar, a flurry of dirt arcing into the sky, claw marks deeper than Frankenstein's forearm gouging the ground. Just how much energy did werewolves have to keep this up all the time?
Maduke didn't seem to be stopping any time soon, charging at him again.
Frankenstein transformed, and right, what had Garda done with him when he just attacked head on? What had he done to Muzaka?
Frankenstein grabbed Maduke's left hand as it arced towards his head, digging his claws into Maduke's flesh.
Maduke pulled free as Frankenstein jabbed with his dagger. Close. Not fast enough.
"Shame," Frankenstein said, grinning as he adjusted his grip on his dagger, letting go of his transformation. "I was hoping to give you another scar to match your first one. I'll take...the first to draw blood, however."
Maduke shook his hand, glowering at him. "It'll be the only time you draw blood." He dashed forward again.
There was only a few more times Frankenstein could transform. Less. He was working from what he knew of his partial transformation.
His legs trembled from trying to keep him upright but he forced himself to transform again, everything a little brighter around the edges. He didn't have much time left.
He didn't jump as far as he wanted when he dodged Maduke's slash. Damn, he was already-
Frankenstein had enough time to raise his arms to protect himself from Maduke's slash.
He was still blown off his feet and he landed heavily with a grunt, losing his hold of both his dagger and his transformation.
No. He didn't have the energy to lift his head, seeing Maduke's feet approaching. He had to move. Get up. Get up.
It was as if he was still transformed, seeing everything happening slowly, but his body wouldn't listen to him.
Step by step, Maduke came closer and all Frankenstein could do was pant as his blood roared in his ears. He couldn't force any part of him to move - it was as if he was being held down by the air itself, and maybe it was Maduke's aura that was pinning him, now that he didn't have the strength to fight against it.
Maduke reached down and wrapped a hand around Frankenstein's throat, digging his claws in as he squeezed. He yanked Frankenstein up and slammed him against a tree. Frankenstein struggled to get air back into his lungs through Maduke's grip, but he could barely move his hands, let alone bring them up to do anything.
"This is familiar, isn't it?" Maduke hissed, pressing in. He looked down at something for a second. "Since you were so insistent on using it..." Frankenstein saw the gleam of his dagger in Maduke's hand. "And I should repay you for our first meeting."
Maduke stabbed Frankenstein in the gut.