Rushing through the wood, the brush crunching beneath her feet. Threading her way through bushes, around trees, hearing the rush of water.
I'm coming. Her statement rushes towards the voice beckoning to her. Her pulse begins to surge as the excitement whirls within her. She doesn't know what to expect, where she is headed, or whom she shall happen upon. Such fun, she muses.
Finally she reaches the river, looking left and right, she searches the area. Her eyes seeming to scan over every rock, root, seeing nothing yet. Taking a few steps forward, she spots just a hint of movement. Pausing she, she stares at the area wondering.
"I'm sorry about this Sancti, I really am. I must not let you interfere anymore". A sinister voice spoke to itself in the middle of a dark room. A few rays of light shone through the boarded windows. He was gazing into a shard of glass, observing the battle between the possessed plant, and the cleric. Waving his hand, the image dissapeared. His room was filled with a stench of evil, and chaos. His red flashing eyes being one of the most visible things in this shadowy room. From the boarded window, a thin ray of light passed by his neck, revealing a priests collar.
As the narrator of Brother Sancti, I can only say this... Who the fuck is this guy!!!
Even having seen a lot of strange things at the Knight, watching what is happening to Sancti is stunning. My initial response is to laugh, How has Sancti managed to get himself tangled into the plant? Even though it's clear that the plant itself is moving, the notion of it doesn't register. It is only when Felicia moves toward it and tries to grapple with it that the seriousness of what's happening catches up with me.
Snatching Felicia back from the writhing tentacles, and from what I can now clearly see is a mouth filled with teeth, I yell at her to tell Cook to bring water - lots.
Racing out to the front porch to seize a pair of oil lanterns, I return to find Sancti still frantically waving a pair of rods which seem to hold the vines at bay. As he continues to do so, I hurry to the clay pot holding the roots of the thing, kick it to shards, and shatter both the lamps over the exposed root system. The oil, now freed, immediately ignites and the plant begins to burn. I jump back as a tendril whips around toward me and continue staggering backward while several more thrash toward me, the flames crawling up the entire mass of the plant.
Behind me I hear the kitchen door bang open followed by Cook's heavy tread. Turning to look, I see he carries a bucket of water in each hand; Felicia is behind him with the same.
He takes one dumbfounded look at the chaos of the room before crying, "What are you doing to Audrey?"
I'd forgotten that he took it on himself to take care of the plants in the place - and at that moment, watching this particular plant writhe, teeth snapping, I don't much care.
"Jack! Watch out!", he yelled, as he lept in just in time, intercepting a flaming vine that almost whipped across the side of Jack's face. The lash of that thing could have taken off half of Jack's head. The vine wrapped around his rod, but Sancti bashed it into a green pulp. Obviously the plant was dying, and writhing in agony. It wasn't a pretty sight. It was time to put the water to use.
The sinister figure crushed the shard of glass in his hand, as soon as he sensed the failure of his trap. Brother Sancti was very much alive, and breathing. The broken glass in his hand simply fell to the floor, his hand not even scratched. He stood, and peeked outside a crack, in one of his boarded windows. It was time for him to take a more... direct approach.
As I follow the cook out of the kitchen I see Sancti yell out a warning as one of the vines narrowly misses Jack's face. Jack grabs the bucket of water from the cook and dumps it on the plant. The vines seem to go limp and Sancti is able to get up. Jack says something to him before he comes over, "Are you ready to go for that ride now?"
"Yeah I guess so." I said with one last glance at the plant. As we get outside I'm relieved that I didn't bring a coat. Reaching the stable we head inside. "So which one is General?"
The damned thing had nearly taken off my head.You were a fool to get distracted by Cook and the girl, I chastise myself bitterly. To come through the Mexican War only to get killed by a plant...
Walking over to Sancti, I nod, "I owe you one, padre. Be sure I'll pay it back."
Sancti.
Felicia.
Seemed like I was collecting debts, and I'd come to the Knight those eight years ago to get away from owing anyone anything, to find a way past the give-and-take of a world which seemed to be mostly "take." Now I seem to be getting dragged back in - and I don't know how to stop.
Sighing, I turn and walk to Felicia. "Are you ready to go for that ride now?"
We walk to the stable, and when she asks about him, I introduce her to General. He's a Morgan I "liberated" from the Army when I left. Only a colt when I took him, he's still hale and powerful and cavalry-trained not to panic. At anything. I stroke his flanks while Felicia feeds him some oats, delighting in the way he nuzzles at her hand.
After saddling him, I go to the back of the stable and return to Felicia leading a young bay mare. "This is Ophelia, Felicia. She belongs to Chuck Donnelly, the marshal you met earlier, and a sweeter more reliable horse you won't see."
It's clear Felicia is delighted with the animal, and so I decide to tell her even if it open wounds a little, "Jimmy was going to buy her, so it only seems right we take her out. And Chuck won't care."
Walking towards the wall to collect some riding tack, I look over my shoulder to see the girl hugging the horse's head closely to her own. Clearing my throat loudly so she won't think I was spying, I call from the back, "Do you ride side-saddle, Felicia?"
Hearing Jack clear his throat I turned as he said, "Do you ride side-saddle, Felicia?"
"Yes I do. It's been quite a while since I've ridden though but I don't think I'll have any problems with Ophelia. The people we met at dinner, how do you know them?" I asked as I continued to admire both horses.
"You don't owe me anything Jack. I'm a cleric, its what I do", he said to Jack, before he left. When Jack and Felicia left, he grabbed a seat at the empty bar. Luckily, there were no bystanders where the whole plant incident happened, or someone would've gotten hurt. He got himself some water, blessed it, then chugged it down. Something big was happening. Something that would make Fenris look like a wee puppy. Something that makes Sancti look like a choir boy. Something that makes Jack look like a mere cadet. Something making Maj look like small stone pebble. Something making Osmond's vampiric abilities look like cheap street magic. Something making Gabrielle's magic look like cheap coin tricks.
To Sancti, this situation is almost... scary.
OOC: I hate to cut the stable scene short but I know I'll be too busy to post tomorrow and then we'll leave until the 24th so I better do it now. I hope this doesn't cause any problems.
IC: As I waited for Jack to answer I continued to pat Ophelia. She began to nuzzle her head up against my face and I began to understand why Jimmy had been planning to buy her. All of a sudden I felt depressed, lonely, and tired. I knew I would be nothing but bad company for Jack right now and I had already put him out enough for one day. Turning to him I said, "I'm really sorry Jack but I don't think I'm up for a ride right now. It's just been a long day. I really would like to stay around here for a while though so I'm going to head up to the city tomorrow and take care of arranging some things at home so I can extend my stay. I appreciate how good you've been to me so far and hopefully I can make it up to you when I get back here." Walking over to him I saw the dissapointment on his face. Looking in his eyes I leaned forward with the sudden urge to feel his lips against mine. As our lips met I felt him tense up and I quickly pulled back embarrassed.
"I'm sorry, uh I really need to get to sleep." I muttered before hurrying back to the hotel. As I got into my room I was shocked at how I'd acted and wondered how I'd explain. Knowing I couldn't do anything about it now I got into bed. I was planning to leave early in the morning and I was pretty sure I wouldn't see him before I left. As I fell asleep I hoped maybe he'd get used to the idea of me kissing him before I returned.
I find what I need among the harnesses halters and reins, gather them up and flit back to the loft. Phillips and Sanchez come in and I pause, curious.
It is obvious that the Sanchez woman is interested in Phillips but he seems oblivious. I look at her and wonder. Is it different? Would a human woman please me as a vampire the way they did when I was human?
I certainly enjoyed Rhiannon, a vampire, as a human. But how much better it was as a vampire. Would Sanchez be better too? Or would she seem dull to my vampire senses. If I had the time, I might have wanted to find out then and there as she left the stable and returned to the hotel.
The hotel! Rhiannon should be ready by now and I don't want to leave her alone too long. She might try to take a meal.
As I flit ahead, I see Gabrielle making her way into the woods. Now what is she up to? Another puzzle thatI would like to solve. And I would like to know how or if she had anything to do with my change or was it a coincidence. I'd never had a vampire before Rhiannon. That could have been the trigger. Or maybe it was the combination. Not that it matters. It is done and I am happy that it happened. I barely remember what it feels like to be human anymore, and it's been not even a whole day.
The enigma that is Gabrielle, too, will have to wait.
I flit back through the window into Rhiannon's room. She is just finishing puttin on the clothes I chose. She is stunning. She will be the perfect queen for our clan. If she survives.
I walk up to her and slip the restraints I fashioned over her wrists. Rhiannon's blood fever is high and she does not resist. I close the cloak to cover her. She would look dramatic to a passerby but not terribly unusual. Should anyone see us, no one would suspect how lewdly dressed she is under the cloak.
The place I have chosen will be perfect. And it is time to go there. I gather Rhiannon into my arms. The moon is full and midnight is a scant few hours away.
Speaking aloud now, not worried so much about the others hearing her, "Of course, I will help you! You've drawn me way out into the forest!"
Wandering around a bit, she follows her emotions, letting herself connect with this person, creature whomever is calling to her. Her hand lifts as she turns to the right, seeing a large of tree, looming just a few yards away from her. It's branches immense as if they mean to reach out and snatch her into their embrace. She lifts up her skirts and tramps towards it, her flesh crawling with sensitivity as she reaches the trunk.
Seeing a bit of moment, Gabrielle quickly darts forth, digging through a pile of dead leaves and other items, till she unearths...a..a..small creature.
What was this? She peered at it curiously. A bear, a dog?
Then she realized, her smile creeping upon the luscious curve of her lips as she carefully cradled the creature within her arms, turning to head back towards the Knight.
The sinister being appeared from behind the bar counter, dressed like a bartender, and already cleaning a shot glass with a towel. He had neatly combed blond hair, his eyes were as dark as night and much like Sancti's they were pupiless. He had a smile on his face, with the cleanest set of teeth ever seen.
As soon as Brother Sancti sensed his immensely evil presence, his head rose from the table, his two rods already in hand. The evil thing chuckled, and said, "took you long enough. Your good and evil sense seems to be dulling Sancti. I told you holy magic was total weak, but you didn't believe me, and I doubt you'll believe me now". Sancti stared at him for a few seconds, then finally said, "... you".
Maj exits the dining area before the plant actually attacks the clergymen, she heads to her room and goes out the trap door to the roof, and perches on the railing, looking down on the world for a bit.....as she is currently bored out of her brain......She sighs a bit, folding her wings over herself and looking off into the night....looking out into the darkness.....the world she only knows.....
Definitely not the mothering type, Gabrielle looks upon the little creature with interest. Her fingers touch the slightly damp fur, the large eyes peering at her as if it knows who she is.
"Well, what do you eat? I'm sure I can get some things at the hotel for you."
Gabrielle wonders how this one came to be within the forest. Hoping it's mother wouldn't leave it within such a place. She thinks of the Captain for a moment, her lips pursing into a smile.
Quietly she moves through the back way into the Knight, taking care not to seem suspicious to any of the staff. She curls the creature into the warmth of her cloak, bidding it to be silent for a moment.
I feel very safe with Osmond, it's the first time I've felt this safe with anyone. I'm also weak with hunger, I must feed soon. Actually, Osmonds neck is so close, and I can smell the copper tang of the blood singing through his veins. "I just want a little", I think as I slowly stretch my neck to lay my lips on the vein I can see strongly pumping his vampire blood through him...
Sancti: Y-Your that... thing thats been killing everybody? What the hell have you done Brother Karnal! First you dissapear from London Shadow mission, and now... this!
Karnal: Don't call me brother, Sancti. I'm not in the brotherhood anymore. I've become more powerful than any brotherhood of... anything.
Sancti: Dear God Karnal, what have done to yourself! I can see right through that disguise of flesh of yours, and your hideous... how the heck did you-
Karnal: I'm not here to chit-chat Sancti. I'm here on a mission, a personal mission. Drink Sancti?
Sancti: No.
Karnal: Hmm, more for me then. I'd put those rods away if I were you. I'm not really here. I'm just controlling a fire elemental thats been magically altered to look like me, and to send you a message.
Sancti: Fine, fine, I'm putting them away. Now, what the hell do you want?
Karnal: Believe it or not my mutton-headed friend, I'm here for the greater good. I'm going to kill every living and unliving creature in the hotel. The brotherhood never understood, and I doubt you do either.
Sancti: Your right, I don't. How are you going to pull that off?
Karnal: HA! Your the last person I would tell. Besides, its for the greater good Sancti. Sure, a few innocents will suffer, but think of all the demons, undead, and monsters that would perish in the process. The ones that deserve to die.
Sancti: That was always the problem with you Karnal. You always hated creatures that you never understood. I guess you'll never see that not all creatures of the night are evil.
Karnal: Your WRONG! ALL creatures of the night are nothing but demonic cock-suckers, who have nothing better to do then to live for the existence of evil. ALL of them have to die Sancti, I don't give a damn how golden their heart is.
Sancti: Its not true Kar-
Karnal: Shut up Sancti! Again with your ethics... I'm prepared to make you an offer you know, something I don't do too often. If you leave this hotel by tomorrow, and never come back, then you will be spared. You can go on with your life, and do whatever you want. Heck, I'll even throw in a spell to make everyone you come upon listen to you. I don't care if you use it for getting a cat out of a tree, or use it to just fuck women, I don't care alright. Just leave by tomorrow, and I can give you that power Sancti. Think about it.
Sancti: I have a different proposal. I say, YOU leave the hotel, walk to that hill on the outskirts of town with those ruins. Then sacrifice yourself to god, for the "greater good". If you don't like THAT proposal, then I guess I'll have to stay.
Karnal: *sigh* the typical Sancti answer. Well, its your choice, don't say I didn't warn you though. Just know this, I'm going to personally make sure that your stay at the Knight Hotel, is a living hell!
With those words, the image of Karnal dissapeard. The fire elemental that was being used came into view. It was a human shaped thing, but covered with hot flames. Without any second thoughts, the blazing beast lept at Sancti.
I have no idea how long or how far Osmond and I travelled. I lost consciousness after a while. When I came back to myself, we were in a secluded grove of oak trees that was centered with a cleared area. It kind of looked like an old Druid ceremonial place and quite possibly that exactly what it was. We needed someplace that was Magikal to carry out our ritual, and this place definitely fit the bill. I could almost hear voices chanting some sort of incantation as the light breeze swept across my body. The voices swelling and fading on the strength of the air.
I was suspended from two of the trees, one on each side of the clearing, my body forming a giant X about two foot above the ground. In front of me was an outcropping of stones that looked amazingly like an altar of some kind. There were some articles strewn across the flat top of it but from this distance I wasn't able to make out what they were. There was also a giant fire pit in between the altar and I and the fire was blazing brightly. It was still nighttime but I was not aware if it were the same night that we had left the Knight Hotel or not.
I tried with all my might to free myself from the restraints but to no avail. I quickly sapped myself of what little strength I had in reserve. I was stuck here until Osmond decided to free me... speaking of... I wondered where he was... Trying to focus my eyes, I began to scan the ground area. Not finding him, I lifted my eyes to the trees and began to search for him, he must be here somewhere. At least I had hoped he was.
It took about 15 minutes of scanning every leaf and branch but I finally spotted him crouched on a limb about 20 foot off the ground and directly across from where he had me tied. He was looking intently at me as if he was trying to decide whether or not I was worthy of the task he was setting before me. Which in a way, is exactly what he was doing.
I must be worthy or I would die. If we were to actually follow through with the plan, we would create a new race of Vampire that would be invincible. There would be no more hiding from the daylight, no more deadly silver bullets, and no more stakes through the heart to kill us. Not even fire would destroy this clan of people. We would be indestructable.
The thought of that alone gave me a measure of strength that I hadn't known I had. Osmond must have sensed it because I caught movement out of the corner of my eye and the next thing I knew he was standing right in front of me. I had never seen him looking more magnificent than he did at this moment. He looked like a God.
Looking me up and down, he leaned in and asked me, "Are you ready to begin Rhiannon?"