Curse of the Fallen Quest: Ring Bearer's Trilogy

[Sweetp4u]

A.B.

"I am simply called AB. As for these ring bearers, I can find what you are looking for. I just need some more information. Perhaps you'd like to meet me to discuss things?" She had to think of a location where it was dark and secure, she certainly did not want to meet him in a busy place. Perhaps the old coffee shop down on 5th?

THERE! I found it! Pulling the paper from the sticky surface, I read it over again. A picture of a woman who went nuts in Australia. They had a close up of her with her hand before her face and she wore a ring. Now this looked like the ring Christian wore and perhaps something to send the new comer after?

"There is an old coffee shop on the corner of 5th and Battlerow. Meet me there, I will be in the back corner booth." I hung up, not waiting for a reply and tucked the paper into my pocket. I would call Christian later once I had an idea of what this guy's motives were.

Heading out the door, I had twenty minutes before I reached that cafe and enough time to think over what I wanted to say..

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Vladamir Trepes

He let the phone hang up, and then slowly got dressed. He pulled on some shoes, and a nice shirt. He tucked it in slowly, and then grabbed the keys. He left the apartment, locking up after himself, and moved down the stairs before hailing a cab.

He'd meet this 'A.B.', see what she had.

After a while, he stepped out of the cab, and paid the driver. He looked at the coffee shop a moment before moving in and heading towards the booth with a yawn.

 

[Sweetp4u]

A.B.

Arriving at the cafe, I sat in the corner booth and ordered a cup of joe. Tugging the hooded cloak around me, I avoided eye contact and strange glances at my attire. Screw them.

This was a waiting game, I wondered who would come and what he looked like? I should have waited for his name? All well, such is life. I hated meeting strangers. Be it a job or not, but this I had to know.

I wasn't going to delve too deep into why I needed to know, I would just gather the information and see where it led me.

I heard the door chime and glanced up enough to see a man enter in clothes much too exspensive to be a patron of this establishment. There he was.. I didn't glance up, merely sat and waited for him to come into view and sit.

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Vladamir Trepes

He didn't look at anyone, he didn't say a word, he simply went to the booth and sat down, staring at the hooded women. He leaned back, and yawned again.

"Hello. I'm Vladamir. If what you have here today is of any value, you can call me Vlad. If it's not,...."

He looked over at her.

"What are you hiding?"

 

[Sweetp4u]

A.B.

"Hello Vladamir.. And I am hiding nothing of importance to you or anyone else." I spoke up with more confidence than I felt. I hated prying eyes and his were certainly prying. He could see enough.

Reaching into my pocket I pulled out the photo and pushed it across the table to him.

"This was taken yesterday in an airport in Australia. The ring look familiar to you?" I tapped the paper with a fingernail and said no more.

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Vladamir Trepes

He looked at the picture, and blinked. He sat up, picking up the picture and staring at the woman more than the ring. Why did she seem familiar?

He shrugged, and looked at the ring. He set it down, and nodded.

"That's one of them." He looked at her. Like the stereotypical informant. Meeting him in some run down location where he stands out like a sore thumb, and hiding her face.

It was just so odd. He laid a hand down on the table, resting his head on it and watching her.

"So, what do you know of them?"

 

[Sweetp4u]

A.B.

"I know only that she's reported to still be on the loose in Australia. I have heard of none in New York with a matching ring, but my sources are looking as we speak. You wanted a meeting to see if you could deal with me, not information. If I hda the information completely, you wouldn't be sitting here now would you?" She sipped her cofee and smiled faintly. Lifting the hood a little more, she revealed more of her face as her eyes met his across the table.

"Depends on whether or not you can trust me to deliver the information you pay for." Some of the scars were visible to him now, but I didn't let it bother me. He wanted to know whom he was talking too. Not the information first but who she was. She was used to the curiousity and then the repulsion in their eyes when they seen her.

She averted her eyes, not wanting to see it come as she knew it would. It was pointless to go over a few piddly scars.

"So? Are you interested in hiring me to find out this information or not?" I pulled the picture from between his fingertips and pocketed the story.

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Vladamir Trepes

He looked at her. He could see some of her face. She was an attractive woman. Then, he noticed them, the scars. He reached out, and ran his fingertips across her scarred face.

"Is this what you were hiding?" He asked her. He could understand why. Not everybody was comfortable about some things. But he really didn't notice them that much. He dropped his hand, watching her.

"I happen to know there's at least one of them here in town. And yes, I'd like to hire you. But I'd also like to know a little more about you, like your whole name, not just initials."

 

[Sweetp4u]

A.B.

"Don't." She moved back away from him and his touch. Why he felt he could take liberties like that was unknown to her, but she wouldn't hesitate to remove his arm if he tried it again.

"I prefer to be called Ab, knowing my name won't change that but if you have to know and can't possibly get along without it. Ab is short for Anna Belle. As you can see, it isn't a suitable name, so don't use it." She was making alot of demands, but she could get work anywhere and wouldn't break down walls she kept up for some stranger.

Her eyes narrowed a little as she thought it over. "I will see what I can find." Taking out a card with her number on it, she handed it across to him.

"Now as to payment...You don't need to know much about me, you don't trust me, feeling is mutal. This kind of thing takes time to build trust, especially with our kind.. That won't happen in the few days, so I will accept payment upon delivery. Fair enough?" She sipped her coffee again having nothing more to add until he decided where he wanted to go from here.

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Vladamir Trepes

Vladamir stood up, and reached into his pocket. He pulled out his money clip, and pulled all of the hundreds off of it, dropping it down in front of her before putting the rest back into his pocket and sitting down.

"I trust the people who protect me, and I trust the women I sleep with. I don't see why trust is an issue here. I simply don't pay for things in advance. Ensures things don't get lost in delivery if I only pay cod. That should be about two grand. That's enough for doing your research and showing up, I should think."

He looked over at her, and then stood up, stretching. He heard the delightful popping sound and looked back over at her. "We can discuss price when you bring me what I want. You already have my number, and since you're doing all the work, I don't see the point in calling you up and being a nuisance."

He turned around, waving at her from over his shoulder as he headed to the door, yawning again.

 

[Sweetp4u]

A.B.

Rising from the bench, I pocketed the cash and followed him out.

"I will contact you as soon as I have something. In the mean time don't go nuts with hunting people in this city. With all the clans around, you'd be in danger." The warning given, hoping he used his brain as much as he appeared too, she tugged up her cloack around her and walked off into the shadows.

She'd find Christian, tell him what was going on and let him know about this guy looking for him. Perhaps it would be a much needed key to finding an answer?

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Vladamir Trepes

He looked after her, and smiled. Then, on a sudden decision, he raced after her a short distance, and began walking next to her. He looked at her a moment, and then leaned back.

"Didn't tell you much, did they? About who was employing you? Trust me, I'm not the kind of person to have to worry about the sorry little clans around here."

He looked at her a moment, and licked his tongue across one of his fangs. "So, Anna,...what else do you do? Besides hunting up information for people? What do you do on your off-time? Got a boyfriend?"

 

[Sweetp4u]

A.B.

"Don't you have something interesting to do?" She felt like laughing, it was funny in a way he came after her to social. He must really be bored... that or lonely?

"No boyfriend. No job other than getting information. I don't go out much as you can see the reason why. I like to stay to myself." Stopping in my tracks I turned and faced him with a mild curiousity.

"You never told me the purpose of bringing this ring bearer to you.. Why?"

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Vladamir Trepes

He smiled at her. "That would be because, like you, I'm just working for someone. My powerful employer would like to speak with a ring bearer, and heard of one in the area. So he sent me. I couldn't tell you the reason, because, like yourself, I'm simply looking for the person for somebody else."

He looked at her, smiling. "It's just that you know the area better than I do. But, let's get off the boring discussion of business. Let's talk more about you. You know, I don't see the reason why you don't go out. Is it because of those silly things?"

He motioned towards her scars. "You're really a lovely woman. Pity you like to stay to yourself. Are you sure you wouldn't mind spending a little time with someone who doesn't know much of the town?"

 

[Sweetp4u]

A.B.

"I really do hope you aren't seriously thinking I am remotely interesting?" Her brow cocked a little, the mirth hard to hide from her gaze. He certainly was a piece of cake this one. She leaned back against the building and eyed him up and down.

"You are obviously wealthy, a natural born so I am told and I can't help but wonder why you would bother with someone like me?" Pulling a cigarette from her pocket, she hunted for her lighter as she spoke.

"What would you like to do? I am not a tour guide if you think I will show you the sights and such.." She chuckled at the idea of visiting the statue of liberty (again).

"Lovely?" She laughed out right with that one and shook her head. Tossing back her hood, she revealed more of her face. One side perfection the other lined with scars. "Some how I dont think this is lovely Vladamir."

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Vladamir Trepes

He reached into his pocket, and pulled forth a lighter. He clicked back the cover, and struck it. He held the flame out for her cigarette, letting it go and clicking the cover back into place when she was done.

He smiled, and reached out, running a finger down across the good side of her face. "You are very pretty. Just because you've got a few scars doesn't change that. I've got a few scars of my own. And wealth is easy to amass when you've lived as long as I have."

He leaned against a wall. "And what do you mean, people like you? You seem to be your own woman. Strong, independant. Or do you mean because you don't flaunt wealth everywhere you go?"

He chuckled. "You're my type, babe, whether you want to hide behind yourself or not. And as for the sights, I might be interested in a few of those, but not any place a tourist would get to go."

He ran his eyes across her. "Perhaps you could show me where you call home? Or what else you try to hide from the world?"

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Christian

The girl felt us coming. I could sense that, even as we neared, without either of them glancing up. The man I wasn't sure. I noted her words as she turned back to those they spoke with.
"They react to blacklight," she stated, her hand moving upward as she pointed toward the cieling. Her ring glowing?
I glanced down, feeling the burn of the ring against my finger and seeing the light that it emitted as well.
I stutter-stepped, not realizing I had done so until Leona turned to me, her eyes surprised, seeing the ring glow on my own finger, then glancing toward the girl ahead of us, now only a few feet away.
She stopped and turned to me, reaching out with one hand to stop me, her eyes wide and focused on the ring on my finger.
"WHat's going on?" She whispered. "What's...?"
I shook my head. "I don't know. But we can't force them out, not these two, not when they might have answers."
SHe looked me in the eye for a moment. I looked back, unblinking. I knew she trusted me; she wanted to know if, at that moment, I trusted myself.
She nodded. "I'll motion to Kavak and Mikael and tell them to hold off for a moment. Hopefully, this works out in our favor."
I nodded, thinking hopefully, yes.
After she'd made the gesture, subtle, but clear to those who knew it, she turned to me and motioned for me to lead.
I stepped forward, trying to fake a smile as I nered the two couples.
"Hello, everyone," I said, wanting more than anything else to sound human, as the other couple present seemed oblivious to who they were speaking to, as only humans can be. "What's going on over here? My girl and I are looking to meet some new people."
I glanced between the four, folding the ring, now seeming as though it would burn a hole in my skine, under my other hand, hoping the glow was out of view of those around us.

 

[Sweetp4u]

A.B.

Thuroughly insulted by his inuendo, she glared at him. Blowing out her smoke, she just stared hard at the man. He had some balls or he was very stupid to think that kind of thing really worked?

"How about you return to your own room and wait for the information because you certainly are not going to my place." She said softly, carefully as well. She didn't want to anger him but she was not a piece of meat either.

"I have some contacts to make, if you will excuse me now. I will call you as soon as I have some information. Alright?" She backed away from him, not turning her back to him just yet. She would have to entertain him for a little while, at least until she got some answers, but tonight was not that time.

Show him her place, indeed! God this man was cocky.. He reminded her of many she had met back in the days. She moved to the street edge and hailed a taxi.

"Dont vanish, I will contact soon Vladamir." Hopping into the cab she gave the cabby the address to the club she knew Christian to be in. He had a ring much like that woman in the photograph from Australia. Perhaps there was a connection?

Arriving at the club, she paid the cabby and used some of the cash Vladamir gave her to gain entry. Finding a bouncer she asked if he could help her locate Christian and deliver a message? He nodded, said he'd try and melded back into the crowd. Sticking to the darkest corner and away from the blaring music, she watched and waited.

 

[VandalHeart]

"Am I? And why do you say that?" Gumo asked wile accepting the toast.
"Honor and pride are indeed great things, but a strong survival instinct will always win out over them all. My survival instinct told me to get in the car, else risk being caught in a quite perfect crossfire."
Gumo set back after sipping his drink and centered on Willow.
"What does your survival instinct tell you, Willow?"

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Vladamir Trepes

He laughed to himself in the empty streets, and turned, heading back to the apartment he was using. He hoped the woman would be able to dig up the information he wanted. She'd certainly get paid well enough for it.

And that reminded him. He should check up on the clan he was a quiet backer for. See what they were up to, and of course, collect some money to pay her.

He smiled to himself, and whistled as he moved on his way through town.

 

[Firegirl976]

Kat

"Hello, everyone," I said, wanting more than anything else to sound human, as the other couple present seemed oblivious to who they were speaking to, as only humans can be. "What's going on over here? My girl and I are looking to meet some new people."

I looked up into his eyes and a small smile touched my lips, (A game of Cat and mouse, but the mouse has special jewlery too) I thought glancing at the hand covering the ring on his finger. The pull of this man was unbelievable and after looking at Ray and seeing his interest was also caught I look to the humans that had joined us earlier and with a small nudge convince them that these are old friends of ours and we would find them later. As they leave I turn back to the new arrivals a sensual smile on my lips. Allowing my brogue to slip into my voice I looked into the eyes of the male standing before me, "You are most welcome to join us.....although I dinnae understand what you could want with us." I glance to the attractive warrior woman standing next to him and stand my full 6ft, "You or your lady." I smile offering them a seat and seemingly relaxed I feel the ring on my hand heat up to an almost unresonable heat. (3 of us now ) I think to myself.

 

[poohlive]

Willow seated himself in a comfortable position, awaiting the long flight back over the Atlantic. He had been flying for nearly two days straight, and would be glad to finally deliver this package and be done with the whole thing. Let him relax a bit, so to speak.
Have a vacation, with his earned winnings. Someplace nice, like Jamaica. Mongrel would let him go, once Lance told of the page. Willow could leave and live out the rest of his days in peace.
"My survival instinct? I follow orders. Mongrel says something, I do it, if I do it well he doesn't kill me. I have yet to see anyone cross Mongrel and live to tell about it, save Lance. Although, looks like his time is about up as well."
Such a sad end. Willow would have thought the man to give up a greater fight. Both of them, to tell the truth. He would like to send Gumo back to Mongrel bloody and bruised, daring to defy him, but the man was smarter than he looked.
Most fools are.
"Those survival instincts might yet have failed you. I am sure a quick and painless death might outrule a slow and torturous one, but in the end it's all the same. I don't know though, maybe he does want you alive. Maybe he thinks he can get you to work for him..."
Mongrel took a closer look, eyeing the man with a stiff sort of reconiscence.
"No, I don't see it. You won't break, you'll fall before you break. A do gooder till the end. Maybe though, if Mongrel hits the right string. Depends on the person, I suppose, and how moral those survival instincts of yours are."
The plane took off.
"There's a cot there, if you wish to sleep. You can do what you want, guards will eye you carefully, but unless you try to escape, I doubt they'll impede you. Just think of yourself as an honored guest... it's not true, but it might help."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Christian

I glanced toward Leona, who looked calm, more so than she felt I was certain. What had started with a quick talk and leave was turning into some sort of palaver, something that wasn't often wise among our kind, especially in the metaphoprical trenches, clans waging against clans.
The girl's height didn't scare her one bit, nor would she back down if push came to shove, I knew. But the female strange's stature was noted, I saw, as she most certainly had when I'd first spied the man with her. Too much strength to have gone unnoticed as members of an enemy clan, though possibly a new clan was entering the area.
But two vampires was not a clan, and both wore them, I saw then, the large one and the woman.
The man was silent as we sat, following the female's gesture.
Both bearing rings that glowed in the "blacklight" and burned thier skin I had no doubt.
Once seated, I lay my hand flat on the small round table between us, deciding then that others can watch if they chose, as they probably couldn't hear us over the music anyway.
The ring glowed up at them, and I looked the girl in the eye, certain gaining a response from the man wasn't likely. He was silent, and his mannerism showed no yield. Two traits that showed a fair amount of danger behind them.
As my eyes met hers, I saw movement behind her. Locke was coming closer. I locked eyes for only a moment, knowing that a confrontation would make it necessary for Locke to face the man down (sheer size demanded it be him, the only one of us who came close to the man's size--and Locke did nearly match him in terms of mass), but also knowing that a percieved threat could send this situation to hell in seconds.
I glanced to the girl, knowing she knew what was going on, and hoping she read my intentions correctly.
I smiled, the half-hearted smiles that were all I had these days.
"I need to know where these come from." I said simply, and waited for a response.

 

[nightray]

Ray

My eyes narrow slightly as the humans get up reluctantly and leave. I look at the new comers my black eyes hidden behind my dark glasses. My eyes then flick to the mans finger seeing the ring glowing on it. I smile slightly as I look at my own ring watching it glow softly sending heat up my arm.

I glance at kat watching as her eyes look over the man as she makes room for him and the girl. I move my self feeling Kats warmth pressing up agenst me. I shift adjusting my swords hidden under my trench coat. My eyes look around the room then searching. I smirk as I see other vampires drifting around watching use seemingly nerves.

They’re easy enough to pick out as there not hiding there graceful movements the tell tales of a vampire if you new what to look for. Most of use new how to hide this to make use look more human when among them and hiding from others of are kind. But this is there territory it seems and there ether to nerves or just confident enough in there home to not care. I smirk wondering if there were so nerves just because of us or was there some thing ells happening.

I look back at the man ignoring the woman for now. I tilt my head slightly keeping silent for now wondering if I would have to start killing soon. Apart of me is egger for the battle another hoping to avoid it knowing we need this ring barrier for witch ever path my feet filly land on.

I lean back in the cushions seemingly uncensored at the tenchin in the air my eyes seeing nothing and yet seeing every thing as I don’t focus on one thing alone reedy for any thing. I lesson to the man speak wanting to know about the rings. I smirk slightly thinking if he new all of it he would most likely throw the ring out a window if he was smart that is. Throe that I some how new would not get rid of it.

 

[Sweetp4u]

A.B.

"Just go out there and look Dammit!" Her mind wouldn't leave her alone. The corner in the club was starting to get hotter and hotter by the minute and the bouncer hadn't returned to say if he found Christian or not yet.

"Chicken shit!" She cursed herself, glancing around and seeing a few curious glances at her attire. How many people wore a hooded cloak in a dance club?! She knew she stuck out like a sore thumb, this wouldn't help her find Christian either.

"Fuck, I don't want to do this.." Her mind again telling her seperate things. Run, stay, look and stop being so damned sensitive. Squaring off her shoulders, she straightened up a little easier, determined to find him at least and talk about this Vladamir character, she moved to the coat check.

The lady asked twice if she could help her, thinking her mute or deaf the young assistant rolled her eyes and ignored her for a moment. Sighing, she pulled off her cloak and handed it over. Taking a chance, she glanced up at the assistant but the young woman wasn't looking at her. Handed her slip of paper, she was relieved to see the assistant give her attention to someone else.

She wasn't dressed in the typical clubbing clothes but that didn't really matter. At least she wouldn't stick out so much now. She shook out her long hair and let it come to rest against her bottom. She knew she looked different wearing black jeans and a matching t shirt, where as most were in skirts and heels. She ducked away from the counter, tucking the paper into her pocket as she moved towards the upper stairs.

Hopefully up there she would get a better view and locate this illusive male? Vladamir might have answers to what the ring was and it's purpose, Christian might be interested in meeting him. She wouldn't know until she found him and asked. It was that simple.

She could hear her heart pounding with each step and the noise of her hiking boots as well. She was nervous but with each passing body who didn't take notice of her, she felt a little better no one would say anything to her.

Clearing the stairs, she moved to the railing and looked down over the sea of bodies writhing on the dance floor and moving around the tables. She paused a moment, knowing Christian probably wouldn't recognize her without the cloak, this might pose a problem and it might not?