Curse of the Fallen Quest: Ring Bearer's Trilogy

[poohlive]

One dagger wouldn't do much at all. She would get one shot, and not even in the heart would slow him down. He could tear her throat open, and watch the blood pour out.
Maybe even take the dagger out from his body, and use her as a pin cushion. It wouldn't be too hard. He'd had worse, much worse.
He ran for her, a full dead on bull rush to get her. The knife glinting off the sun's rays barely met his eyes as he ran for her.
But he stopped, just short of taking her head off.
A cop car barreled through the streets, its lights dead on, as two officers got out, their guns aimed at Lance.
"Stop right there," Australian accent almost made their threat seem funny, but Lance didn't laugh, didn't even break a chuckle.
More cops were coming, he could hear the sirens.
As he began to take in the picture, he realized they had drawn quite a little crowd. People standing in a semi-circle, watching as they had fought.
How long had they been there? Lance had lost all track when he knocked her down.
"Perhaps we should move this party elsewhere," He said, raising his hands up in the air, per shouting cops orders.
"I'll follow your lead."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

Jumping back, I heard the cops yell out to "Freeze!" And broke into a big grin only Lance could see. Backing up a few steps I turned and ran right towards the officer.

"Stop!" He shouted.

"Oh thank god! I was being attacked!" I even managed to look frightened and pale. Running behind the officer, I stood behind him and gauged the situation.

"Did he hurt you?" He asked over his shoulder as two others advanced on Lance to arrest him.

"Yes! He knocked me down.. and he hit me and kicked me.." My hand went down to the officer's seat where a fully automatic sat on the seat. My eyes narrowed a little as I spoke behind him.

"We'll need to bring you in with him, ask questions, take statements.. Damned yanks.." he muttered.

Pulling the gun up as silently as possible, My eyes narrowed even further as people stood gaping at Lance and the officer's nearest to him.

"I don't think that will be nescessary.." A bullet hole ripped through his stomach and two more as he went down. Instantly I opened fire, taking down two cops flanking Lance. Uncertain if he was hit or not, I shot a few more at Lance just to be safe.

A car was coming, another officer. Jumping into the police car, I scooted into the drivers seat and put it into gear, backing up, The car bounced as I drove over the dead police officer with the front wheel. Straight back I went as the other car came forward until I slammed hard into their front end. Aiming through the back window, I fired enough spray to take out this rear window, their front window and two more officers.

Laughing a little, I put it into park and jumped out. Ignoring the screaming and running patrons, I walked up to Lance and pointed the gun at his head.

"Get up and don't do anything stupid... We're going for a ride.." I could hear more sirens in the distance, more cops were coming. Glancing around, I needed to think of something and fast...

Taking a pair of handcuffs from one of the dead officers, I yanked Lance to me and shoved him around.

"Hands behind your back!" I shoved the gun barrel into the center of his back. I could leave and get away easily enough, but this little fucker was going to pay!

 

[poohlive]

Lance stood up, before she could see what he had done. He kept his hands raised, the entire time, watching as the officers went down one after the other.
"You weren't trying to aim at anything in particular, were you?" He said softly, watching as the crowd as they disappeared when bullets began to fly.
He turned around, his hands moving behind his back.
"Careful, please, the shoulder," Blood trickled out from it. A little red hotted souvenir from Gun happy Annie Oklie over there. He winced, feeling her pull on it.
"It's your show now," Down, but not out. He lowered his head, letting her think she had the upper hand. No need to delay this any longer, the sirens were getting louder.
"Whatever you had planned, you'd better do it now."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

Pushing him ahead of me, I ducked down a little as more bullets began to hail around my feet.

"STOP!" Someone shouted out as wheels squealed behind me.

"I'll SHOOT!" Came the hard sounding command. Ignoring it, I kept pushing him as we ran, a bullet wizzed by my head and one scraped my shoulder.

"Son of a.....!" I pushed lance through a building and out the back, down an alley and through two more buildings, not knowing what was going on, but could hear the cops running after us. Stopping before a laundry facility, I spotted the running jag and pushed lance into it.

"Get in!" I jumped over the hood and opened the door. Big mistake leaving this running outside, but it was a small town. Romping on the gas, I heard a few more bullets strike the back end of the car as I hunched down. Speeding through a few lights, I turned the car towards the outskirts of town, back towards Sidney.

I let lance take care of himself and getting upright in the seat. Driving with one hand, I tried to stop the little trickle of blood on my shoulder. It hurt, but it wasn't a big pain, it could have been much worse.

Grinning yet again, I had enjoyed that little romp.. now to get out of these woods and somewhere safe.. Another country would do me some good...

 

[poohlive]

Lance sprawled across the back seat, his face planted inside of the cleaned leather seat. His shoulder throbbed with fire, despite the fact that he could feel it healing. Bone and tendon binding once more to their original positions.
He figeted, moving so that he was on his back, and his shoulder didn't have to hold any pressure. It stopped throbbing, and for that, at least, he was thankful.
"A vigilante," He mused, poking his head up to look at the chaos in the town they had just left, "I didn't think you ever had it in you."
He fell back on the seat, sighing as the car continued to lurch forward.
"What now? We going to run as far as the car can get us? They already have an A.P.B. out, they'll be waiting wherever we go. I'm surprised they aren't following us already."
He looked at the back of the seat where she was driving.
"It's Australia, remember to drive on the left side of the road... I'm just curious, you know. You seem to have all the marbles, the gun, me in handcuffs, driving the car. I'm at your disposal."
His eyes lit up, as he raised his head just far enough to see the road before them.
"What are you going to do?"

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

"Hush, you aren't helping matters at all!" I ordered him, my eyes narrowing a little as I thought about cutting out his tongue for a second there.

"I need to call someone, do be silent!" I had to think on what to do now?

Did I call and check in with mongrel? Trust his word? Did I keep running and sign my own death warrant? If I killed Lance, would I ever find out the truth to who I was? So many things went through my mind, and nothing was helping. All I could do now was call and see what was brewing in Mongrel's head... Knowing that man it was world domination shit yet again..

I noticed the cell phone when I had taken off, a bonus since I hadn't a clue where mine had gone. It would work well enough. picking it up, I checked for signal and waited. When I finally had enough reception to call, I dialed the number and hoped for the best.

"It's me, checking in.." I spoke into the phone when he answered.

 

[poohlive]

"What did he promise you?" Lance said, putting his head back on the seat. He couldn't afford to waste the strength sitting up to look at her. the pain against his shoulder bore too much, a railroad spike continuously being pounded into him. Hot steel against flesh.
It burned, seared him to the point of almost screaming.
His eyes held their gaze on the ceiling.
"Why do you think you don't know your past in the first place? It's cause of him. I saw him do it, I saw everything. He doesn't care about you, he only cares about the page. Once he has that, do you think he'll honestly give you back what you want? You'll be torn to shreds, just like me... Just like the rest of us."
He kicked the back of her seat, unable to do anything else from this despicable position. It satisfied him for the time being...






"Sir," A tall rather staunt lady peeked her heard through the door. A master chamber filled with red velvet surrounding a four poster bed, one that covered in red satin sheets Mongrel yawned from. He rose up just long enough to recognize her.
"Yes?"
"A call, she says she's checking in."
Odd.
Mongrel picked up the phone. This bothered him. It didn't worry him, not yet. Nothing had worried him for thousands of years. He had grown accostomed not to being worried, and it had stuck. Things did bother him from time to time, however.
He did so hate it when that happened.
"My pet," He purred, wiping the sleep away from his eyes, "What are you calling for sweety? Where's Willow? This whole thing hasn't been boched, has it?"
His secretary turned on the television, the volume on low, but either way he could see the newsflash, and the apparent live coverage of what news reporters were calling a terrorist attack on a small Australian city.
"What in the hell did you do?"

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

His words played over and over in my head as I sat waiting for the maid to wake Mongrel.. Course this wasn't going to be pretty but, all well..

"Why do you think you don't know your past in the first place? It's cause of him. I saw him do it, I saw everything. He doesn't care about you, he only cares about the page. Once he has that, do you think he'll honestly give you back what you want? You'll be torn to shreds, just like me... Just like the rest of us."

How could I trust him after he tried to kill me?! Hell! I wanted to shout at him to shut up.. Problem was, how could he trust me? I was sent to kill him. This was becoming a viscious circle lately.

Hearing Mongrel on the phone, I tried to keep it brief and over with.

"Willow is in Sidney, trying to get the page." He didn't sound too happy with his next question.

"What in the hell did you do?" He calmly asked but I could sense he was boiling about now.

"My job is what I did.. I had no choice!" Speeding up a little, I could see the lights over the horizone.. Sidney was close.

Did I tell him I had Lance .. alive? Did I let him assume I finished the job? I was torn here with choices. Which were the best ones to make?? Lance knew me! He knew the real me.. So he said. Why would he lie? Other than to save his ass, he really had nothing to gain. But it wouldn't be a great achievement, considering Mongrel would be after him with someone else in five minutes.. So all I could conclude from this was he was my only hope in finding out who I was.

Mongrel had been speaking and I had been off in the ozone, flinching a little I knew this was going to be one decision that was going to get me killed..

"I'll return as soon as I can Sir." It was a lie, my hands were shaking and my skin felt paler as I said it. Pulling over to the side of the road, I stopped the car and put on the brake. I needed to relax a little and figure this out. And I best get my ass in gear before the police find me and Lance.

 

[poohlive]

Mongrel held the dead phone in shis hands, a grumble emerging from his throat. Now being a nuisance he could almost understand, she hadn't been under his wing as long as most, or felt much of his wrath. With her unique talent she had gotten off pretty lightly in most scrapes, but being rude.
This he could no tollerate.
She called to tell him she would return as soon as she could?
Mongrel killed the line, and waited for a dialtone. He pressed in Willow's number.
"Isn't that what she was supposed to do in the first place?"
She had become bothersome, and tiring. He could do well with lying back and letting her have her fun, but not at his expense.
"Yes, sir."
"Willow, where are you?"
"Sydney, sir. Don't worry, we're following Aria though. She's about to head into Sydney as close as we can tell."
"Is Lance with him?"
"The news says that they have two suspects, one male and one female. She left in quite a hurry, so I would assume yes."
"A little detail she forgot to mention. She just called me Willow, why is she checking in with me and not you?"
"Personally, I still think she has some of her memory. She isn't acting like the others at all, to be truthful, she's acting more like the old Aria."
Mongrel growled at that. He had hoped for a killing machine, instead he got a feral puppy.
"Must have been the ring, it left some sort of echo of her former self. Maybe it's trying to heal her."
"If she hasn't killed Lance yet, then they are talking... or at least Lance is. He'll try to convince her about the truth."
"Indeed. All right. Bring them in, as soon as possible. Don't kill either of them, for the moment I don't have the page, and I need Lance to tell me where it is."
"What about Aria, sir?"
"She'll be our little punishment if Lance doesn't cooperate."
"Yes sir. We're on our way."
Mongrel clicked the phone, looking as a news helicopter began to search the surrounding area. They said they didn't know where she was at the moment, but they knew in a general area where she was, so it was only a matter of time.
He hoped Aria had some intelligence left in that fucked up noodle of hers.





Lance kicked the seat again, "You are fucked up, you know that right? I mean, I thought I had screwed things up in my time, but I have to bow down to your stupidity."
He moved up into a sitting position, forcing himself to grit through the sparks of pain that came from his still bleeding shoulder.
"Bad enough you get yourself killed, but don't haul me into this. I didn't go on a fucking rampage with the police. They have guns, they have walkie talkies, they have fucking..."
A dance of light played outside as a thunderous wave overtook them. For a moment it droned out the world, and then moved away like some immaculate army. The sound, less dainful now, echoed in the surrounding hills.
".... Fucking helicopters and radar and millions of people backing each and every one of them up."
He reached down, straining himself as his cuffed hands moved from his lower back to his ass. He lifted himself up from the seat, again gritting as he stretched something that painfully asked him not to stretch it.
"What the fuck is all this Aria?" He grunted as the cuffs moved up to the back of his knees, "What are you trying to do? You pretend to know me, then you confess you'll kill me, then you feel fine with killing me, and now you want to bring me in alive? Tell me your on the rag, just pretend for a moment that this is all hormones and emotions that are waving over you so that you don't have much control over yourself. Cause that, at least makes sense. At least I can say, oh yeah, ok, she went nuts, I understand. Don't tell me this is a sane woman thinking all this shit at once."
He moved one leg through the little hand cuffed loop, and then the other, and his hands now sat peacefully on his lap. A happy display for him, and more comfortable. His shoulder, however hurtful, thanked him.

 

[nightray]

Ray

In side the elevator I watch the doors close my eyes move to the buttons to one side of the doors. I pos for a second then hit the button for the floor right below me. My eyes move to the door as I leson carefully as I move below the sound proofed floor. I frown as the elevator stops at the floor where kat must have gotten off at. I hear not one heart beat but two sensing two vampires on the other side of the doors.

My lips curl in to an evils snarl as the doors open and I see Kat facing a man her hand on a dagger. With out thinking I pull the dark sword out of its sheath in a blinding blur of movement the edge resting on the side of the manes neck the room growing notes ably darker and cooler. I feal the ice of the blade sinking in to my bones evin as it sukes the wormth out of the room.

I step out of the elevator letting the doors close behind me my eyes looking at Kat behind my sunglasses hiding their new aperients from her thou I know she would be able to sense a change in me. I then look at the man not recognizing him. I frone as I fight not to kill him and kat both right there and then.

As my eyes stay on the strange man I say “What are you doing her Kat I thought you were dead.” I say this in a low deadly town. I glance at her quickly picking out the ring. I shake my head slowly as my eyes move back to the man a twisted smile on my lips.

“So how do’s the cold feel my fiend?” I ask the man in a quit voice barley covering the rage boiling under the serfes at the intrusion in to my quite space weather intended or not. My right hand rests gently on the sword of troth the only thing keeping me from cutting in to them.

I look at Kat while still keeping the other man in the corner of my eyes. “Why are you hear sister.” I say in a somewhat calmer voice as I fight to regain control. “And where did you get that ring?” I ask before turning my head back to the man. “And how is this man?” My eye’s narrow as suspion floods my mind. I pres the razor edge of the sword harder agenst the mans throat all most cutting threw his skin but not quite.

 

[Firegirl976]

Kat

I gasp suddenly as Ray like a Dark avenging angel comes through the elevator doors drawing a sword the color of space and slicing it through the air stops at the strangers neck in front of me.

“Why are you hear sister.” I say in a somewhat calmer voice as I fight to regain control. “And where did you get that ring?” I ask before turning my head back to the man. “And how is this man?

My hand moves away from the dagger and I walk around the man Ray is holding to get closer to him. (Why is he wearing sunglasses?) "I came looking for you Ashke'...." I slowly allow my muscles to relax knowing Ray will react to my reactions. "I'm not sure what happened, one minute there was nothing and the next I"m in my families castle in Ireland with this ring on my hand and heat running up my arm every time I think of you." I hold my right hand up, the catseye and gold shimmering on my hand, liquid fire traveling up my arm at Rays nearness. I gaze at him searchingly totally ignoring the stranger a sudden saddness pulling at my eyes turning them a deep gold, "Have you not missed me as I have you blood of my blood?" My heart cries out to him both at the battle I feel within him and the urge I have to run into his embrace. I stand there to my full height, proudly and fearlessly........(he needs me...I can sense it.) Determination suddenly takes control as I wait his response.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

I ignored his mocking tones and little phrases of insults and just kept driving as I thought over all of this madness. A slight smile turned the corner of my mouth up into a smile, he was never ever a person who made you feel good.. Nope, he was a sexist selfish bastard..

Where the thought came from out of the blue like that, I didn't really know, but assumed it wasn't accurate in assuming that about him. I didn't know him, and I was beginning to think he didn't know much about me either.

"Stop fucking whining like a baby and shut up.. I am thinking." Yanking on the wheel, I took a secondary exit towards the airport. Mongrel wanted him alive, wanted something from him, so be it. At least I could get my memories back, or be dead and not have to worry about it any longer. Either way I was a sure win.

Turning another corner, I killed the car lights and drove as quickly as possible. My lip was starting to hurt from costantly biting it, worrying over many things. Good lord this was just screwed up! The ring began to glow and warm yet again, as if it wanted my attention for something, but what?

Barely giving in a moments glance I turned down the last street before the International Airport and my hotel room. I had to collect some things and I'd be on my way. Mongrel even thought ahead and provided his private jet. Now to get on it and get my ass back stateside. Decide from there what to do about all of this.

Pulling the car into the Hotel's parking garage I quickly shut off the car and turned in my seat to face Lance.

"I have a dilema... and no it isn't the freakin' cops.. Mongrel wants you alive, seems he didn't get his page. It's only a short matter of time before Willow finds me, some how he always manages to know where I am.. If I deliver you I can "A" get back my memories and finally know more than waking up in a dark room and being lied to for all these months.. or "B" He'll just kill me and I won't have to worry about it any more, now will I?" I paused a moment, mulling over my thoughts.

"Or I can sign my death warrant and just not return to Mongrel's or deliver you.. But what's in that for me?" it was a very serious question, I wanted to hear it from his lips what was in it for me? I didn't like having to watch my back twenty four seven and if he was to get away, he had to come with me to the states and even then his life wasn't safe and neither was my own..

 

[poohlive]

Lance leaned forward in the seat, looking her straight in the eye.
"If you want to die, fine. I don't have a problem with that, but don't let it be on Mongrel's terms. Let it be on mine. I don't care about you, I never did. You are about as important as a slug, except for the fact that you still wear a ring of promise."
He looked down and watched as it blinked at him. For a minute he thought it were trying to say something, but he decided against it. When magical rings bound by a quest to save the quality of life as we know it start giving secret decoder messages, he would call it a day.
"If I kill you, the ring goes to someone else. Someone who knows their past, and isn't corrupted by Mongrel's freak training, and who can help me. Four people have already died, four friends of yours, and their rings transferred to others. People who are right know searching for me, or each other.
"Mongrel changed you so he could hunt for me, and find this fucking page so he could take over the world. I've been trying to stop him for years, but stupid fucks like you keep getting in my way. You want to know what I'd do if I were you? Quite simply, I'd let me kill you, so I can get on with my own life."
He sat back in the seat, sighing as he looked out the window.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

I bit my cheek pretty hard to keep from hurting the little shit, I was so close to grabbing the gun and pulling the trigger, but I didn't let the annoyance show. He made it obvious to me I couldn't trust him, so be it. Besides, how could I possibly trust he told me one single shred of truth?

"I never said I was going to die." Opening the door, I picked up the gun and motioned him to get out.

"Come along, and don't make a scene." I glanced around, wondering where Willow was? If he'd just get his freakin' ass here I could turn this little... Lance, over to him and be done with it.

"And I never took training and I never did a job for Mongrel, well until you.. and who said I won't complete it?" I reached inside the car and grabbed him roughly 'helping' him out of the car. Pushing him forward I was still too tempted to hurt him. Lord he was a rude inconsiderate waste of space!

Killer or not, he was just.. I stopped the thought and grabbed him before he could take another step, "Hush!" My ears listened, hearing a motor running some where near by.. Not seeing anything around us, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the key to his hand cuffs.

"Move." Walking, I kept a fast pace and moved towards the doors and then towards my rooms. I needed my things and I'd be out of here. More thoughts went through my mind, mostly on my choices. Go to Mongrel or go to the states? Let him live or kill him now? My fingers kept caressing the butt of the gun, tempted to squeeze the trigger and get rid of one person I know wouldn't hesitate to shoot me in the back.

Pocketing the keys I grabbed the room card, opened the door and peeked inside. Seeing no one waiting, I made quick work of getting only what I needed and could easily carry on me.

 

[poohlive]

"Don't argue against things you don't understand Aria. I've worked with Mongrel for hundreds of years, your knowledge of him is limited to a few months."
He sat down, looking out the window as he saw nightlife emerge from the outer corners of the city. It was a warm night, bright too. With the full moon out and lights blinking on as the early twilight faded out of existance. A musky air of life swept through the land, one he could not ignore, despite his handicap.
"Mongrel doesn't let any of his property leave without stamping it with something. Subconscious instructions, planted beacons, little leashes so he makes sure all of his bitches do what he tells them. You think Mongrel trusts you? Mongrel trusts no one, not even Willow. Willow has been his loyal sidekick almost a thousand years now, and Mongrel still doesn't trust him."
A sigh escapes him, as he pulled apart at the handcuffs. For a moment he felt the metal give, beginning to weaken one of the chains, but then his arm exploded in pain and he stopped, wincing against his shoulder.
Damn her, fucking damn her.
"I don't expect you to trust me," He said, biting his lower lip to get rid of the bright fresh pain that stuck in the back of his mind like fresh paint, "I never did. But don't take Mongrel's word over mind. If you've been around him, you know what he's like. You know what he's planning to do. I know it's hard to understand, but if you were the old Aria, if you knew what would happen, you would never do this. This isn't you, this whole vigilante crisis thing, it's not even Erika. Mongrel made you into this to grab me. Don't let him use you, don't let him get away with this... please."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

Trembling a little at his words, I tried to fight it off and block him out. Block out the words I knew were true, some small part of me knew it as well!

"And what? Let you kill me?" I asked sarcasticly. "I have no desire to die, I want me! back dammit!" I struggled with the bags, trying to get everything into a small carry on. Tossing out a change of clothes, I knew I would have to buy some later, for now they weren't needed.

I turned to face him and stopped short, "We best get going before Willow finds us..." I stopped at the door, listening for sounds on the outside.

"I'm not killing anyone, I am going to go find out who I am.. And I am certainly not keeping you near me!" I hissed quietly at him. I didn't hear anyone outside the doors, thank god!

"Here." I threw the keys softly, coming to rest on the floor a few feet away. Have a good life, but don't cross my path again! I know you want me dead, and I won't let you do it." I kept the gun trained on him as I opened the door and backed out.

"I suggest you flee and hide again, before they track you down." I gazed at him, wishing I could remember him better, wishing I could recall everything but knew I had to seek out answers. Shutting the door, I made quick work of leaving Via the stairs. I had to get to that damned jet and get out of here.

 

[Morgoth]

"Enough of this", he snarled, flicking this new one's sword away with a mind-numbing speed. "If you ever lay a hand on me again, I'll shatter your body, destroy your mind, even feast on your soul. Never touch an elder! You should have been taught that!" "So you have forgotten me, have you?" he said, turning with building rage towards Kat. He noted to himself that he would have to control this rage. It was starting to dull his senses. "Well, I'll tell you! I am of the First Brood! Dren Vlargo, the Dark Baron. I was also known as the Duke of Hell. I was your maker. It startles me that a vampire could even forget her maker. I wandered for years, looking for you after I lost you. I finally find you, in the company of some upstart, not even recognizing me! Well, rest assured! I may be old and slightly out of touch with modern times, but I do have my resources! You have forgotten! I won't!" he spat. Then, looking at her with longing for a moment, he disappeared.

 

[poohlive]

Lance watched as the door closed. A sense of loneliness drug about his sides, holding close to him like a chilling lover. He shuttered against it, but it only held onto him tighter.
He cursed at himself.
Fucking bitch, she was always a fucking bitch. Always thinking of how things would be best for herself.
He wanted to run after her, but he couldn't make it. She would wait for him as he ran after her.
If she wanted to live, he could let her live. Maybe the old woman knew a way to transfer the power of the ring. Some spell or something that would relieve Aria of the responsibility. She would be lost without it, but alive, and able to find whatever shit fuck of a life that she wanted.
He pulled out his gun, a little present from one of the fallen cops she had slaughtered, shattering the only window in the drab hotel room, still holding that death draft.
Looking down with abhorished admiration, he realized just how high up there were.
"You only live once," He mused, jumping.
As he came down, he fired one shot, right into her shoulder. Near the exact spot that she got him, a little requieted justice, if he did say so himself.
He landed with a grunt, as he felt bones meander great pressure. He rolled to the side, unable to control that, but nothing broke. It all hurt like hell, including his shoulder, but thank God nothing broke.
His gun still aimed at her.
"I can let you go. Some pathetic truth about your life you are looking for, that is fine with me, but I need the ring. Like I said, I don't give a fuck about you sweety, only the ring. It's power belongs to someone who can help me."
He held out his hand.
"You'll go scott free..."

 

[Firegirl976]

Kat

I stared after him shock wiping my face of all expression. (Dren Vlargo???) I thought........(after all these years.....that is who made me?) My mind reeled and looking to Ray I suddenly realized that I was shaking, I denied the tears that longed to fall but I could sense the sympathy and surprise coming from Ray. Hundreds of years I had searched and never found my maker, the only good things to come from my searching were Ray, and Lance. My mind reeled again and I leaned against the door of my townhouse, suddenly remembering myself I snapped upright and tried to touch Vlad mentally but I couldn't sense him enough to track him, (blocking me hmmm?). I looked up at Ray knowing my face softened..."Will you share a cup of bloodwine with me, there is much apparently to discuss......This is.... I dinae expect to find you thus k'chara." I look Ray full in the face unable to see past the sunglasses and on instinct I Kiss my fingers then run the tips lightly from temple to jaw then a bit more roughly down his throat to his shoulder, waiting for my answer.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

Wincing as I tried to push off from the street light, the pain wasn't helping the ringing in my ears none. If I hadn't been in so much pain, I think I would have laughed at this annoying little shit!

"Persistant little piss ant aren't ya?" I managed to get it out between the clenching of my jaws, trying not to scream from the burning pain in my shoulder.

Ignoring him and his little toy, I turned my head to study the wound. Luckily it only passed through flesh and muscle, I couldn't feel anything shattered inside.. Lucky, he was damned lucky.

The demand caught my attention as I glanced down at my hand, the ring was faintly glowing and still warming. He was attempting to kill me over a fucking ring?!

Glancing up at him yet again, I did chuckle then. "Belongs to you does it? Then why is it on my finger?" I could tell from his cold gaze he would kill me over this little trinket, so be it. I had no use for the ring anyway, well other than to distract him.

"You want it?" I reached down, tugging at the ring, trying to get it off of my hand, and for a few seconds there I didn't think it was going to budge until more determined than ever I pulled. It came off, scraping my finger in the process. "Ow! dammit!" It hurt my shoulder to tug it off, and now my finger was bleeding! This just couldn't get any better..

"Fetch Fido!" I threw it with all my strength towards the street with an evil little laugh, watching it sail across the air. I noticed as soon as it left my hand the coldness that came over me, the loneliness as well. Odd thing to feel about a ring, but I felt even more drained that I was two seconds ago.

Watching the ring falling, it took only a second for it to vanish.

"what the....?" I whispered, thinking I missed the landing or hearing it due to traffic and blinking, but the second it vanished the warmth reappeared on my hand. Looking down, it was once again resting on my finger. Stunned I fell back hard against the street light post, unbelieving my eyes. My hands shook with a sudden unexplainable fear as I tried to reach for it again. Pausing mid-movement, I actually did not wish to touch it and try that one again.

Now what? I glanced up at Lance once again, debating whether or not he should come remove it when I met the barrel of his gun. Still packing my own, I tried to figure out what to do? Each slow second felt like an eternity, and each second the ring began to grow hotter.

 

[poohlive]

Lance shook his head. A deep feeling coming over him, something he knew would happen, but hoped that he could somehow avoid it. The ring was attached, there could be no spell, no simple throwing away of the destiny. It was hers, and hers alone.
Lance walked up to her, as she struggled against the light, pale shadows dancing across her face as a piece of auburn hair got caught between her lips.
He smiled, putting the gun agaisnt her head, "You'll be with him."
A shot rang out against the now empty street.
Lance fell down, fire erupting from his side. He pressed himself against the concrete as the unused gun fell from his fingertips.
"Son of a bitch," He winced, but then the pain really struck. The first hot flickers had only satiated some appetite deep within. It was as if the bullet were eating into him, grabbing at the very flesh it surrounded and sending a virus of searing pain through his body.
"AHHHH, FUCK!!!!" He screamed, his face against the pavement, pressing down into it. Hoping he could flee from the pain, writhing there on the street. Tears already dropped from his eyes, watering from the sickness invading him.
Willow couldn't help but laugh, "Interesting what a silver bullet can do, isn't it?"
Lance screamed in pain, unable to do anything more.
"Not just for werewolves," He put the gun away. As he held up his hands a limo came from down the street, screeching to a hault right next to them.
Two strong and able men picked Lance up, who offered little resistance. He jerked his body, but not against the restraint, just in general, to somehow leap from his body which somehow harboured all of this pain.
He screamed again.
"Don't worry, we've got someone on the jet, ready to pull it out." Willow offered his hand down to Aria, "Hey, long time no see. Mongrel's going to be so proud. Come on, the jet's waiting with a doctor aboard. We'll get you all taken care of."
Sirens could be heard in the distance, the english wailing of police, crawling ever closer to their position. Lance's cries of pain matched them.
"We should hurry."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

Too stunned to react the shot that rang through the streets made me certain I was dead. Sliding down the post, it took a moment to realize it was Lance withering in pain on the ground and not me!?

Blinking I glanced up as two of Mongrel's men took lance and a hand came into sight.

"Thank god!" I muttered as I took his hand. Cradling my arm, I felt shaken, scared and angry all at the same time.

"Yes.. Let's get the hell out of here!" I moved quickly to get into the limo, still feeling my heart racing painfully in my chest. Good lord! He meant to kill me! And like an idiot I did nothing to prevent this!

Shaken and confused, i said nothing, even managed to block out lance's screams of pain. I rubbed my palm against my jeans, my face devoid of any color as my eyes landed on lance's form on the floor of the limo.

I felt like kicking him in the wounded spot, I felt like shooting him again just to be even! A pain shot up my arm from the right hand. Glancing down the ring was glowing an angry red color. Flinching I quickly wiped the thoughts from my mind. They weren't me! Lance had said so.. So why would he kill me?

He wanted the ring.. And the ring wanted me. I had to do something.. but what? Torn, I sat in silence from the limo to the plane, not speaking until we were in the air.

"I will go assist the nurse.." why!??! My mind shouted at me. Why would I help someone bent on killing me? I had no answer, only questions. Walking back into the next room of the plane, I found Lance bound by heavy chains.

 

[poohlive]

Lance could feel his muscles tighten, and then fall limp. He stood there, being held up by tightly wound chains laced in silver. It burned where it touched his skin, as a gruff looking man stuck smoking pliers into his side.
Two men, the same big bulls that had thrown him into the car, held him so when he screamed, and thrashed about, it was a bare minimum. The bullet fell to the floor, much to Lance's pleasure, only to hang there, feet touching the floor as he suspended on this slow and steady road to death.
They had him. The final piece of the puzzle he had spent so many years trying to keep, now in their clutches.
He tried to look up, his strangth failing him. The silver coming so close to his body had drained much, both blood and strength. He could feel the black fingers of unconsciousness reaching out for him, and it took everything to stay awake.
Willow cocked his head to the side, admiring the pitiful sight, "You could save us a lot of trouble Lance. Tell us where it is? Make my job that much easier."
If he could gather enough strength to spit at the man, he would, but instead his head, resting at an odd angle against his chest, only moved back and forth once. All he could muster at the moment.
"Well, at least it'll be fun," He gave a big smile, patting Lance on the head, "Just like old times."
Willow turned to Aria, as the doctor finished with her.
"Nothing serious. A fleshwound, not too much blood. Here," He put a drop of something, that stopped the bleeding, and immediately began to fizzle, "Extract of vampyre. It should help the healing along a little bit."
He covered it with a bandage, "Just make sure to feed in the next few hours, and you'll be just fine."
Willow gave a sly smile as he leaned against one of the doorways.
"He's in the other room, in case you want to give him a nice swift kick in the head or something. He was going to kill you, wasn't he? No thought behind it, just pull the trigger and off on his merry way."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

The pain was minimal but my hunger wasn't.

"I need to feed now.." I muttered, wondering what or who I could feed from that did not distaste me?

"Yeah he was going to.." I smirked a little, hoping my doubts did not show. "But he will be changing his tune soon, won't he?" I growled low in my throat as I spoke, my eyes narrowing. It was too damned tempting to kill him but I knew I wouldn't.

Again the ring started to glow and I hurried and changed my thoughts. I didn't know what to do being so torn and confused. He was a key to my past, I knew that, but he wanted me dead. What could I do?!

I glanced at Willow, tempted to feed from the doctor a moment, i restrained myself. "How long til we land? I need something.."

 

[poohlive]

Willow waved his hand, brushing off her eager request.
"Don't worry about that," He pointed to one of the thugs, who went out into the back room and brought both a male and a female. Two of them looked a bit frightened, but not scared. Little gerbils that were weaned for just this sort of occasion, nothing more.
"Take your pick, I'm partial to the females myself," He gave a wink, sitting down on the plush leather seating that surrounded the jet's insides.
"Listen, Aria, you want to talk about what happened? I'm just curious, about the cops and all. Must have been quite a story chasing this renegade asshole down."
He took a glass of champaigne, offering her one as soon as she was done, and then poured one for himself.