Curse of the Fallen Quest: Ring Bearer's Trilogy

[VandalHeart]

Gumo swung Lance over one shoulder and started walking off toward the small passenger jet the pilot told Gumo that Hiro had rented. When he couldn't find Aria, he left Lance on the jet and went back into the terminal where she was trying to buy a ticket.
"What are you doing? he asked. "The airport is on terrorist alert. And with the sideshow we just put on they believe it and security will most likely be here shortly. I have another jet ready to take off. Will you listen to me now?"

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

Grumbling I nearly turned around and punched him! He was worse than a fly!

"Look, I will try and explain this a little better to you. Lance.. Has.. All.. your.. Answers." I said each word slowly and clearly.

"I am not trying to be rude or mean but I don't want to be bothered with this. I need to get to.. Hell with it! Alright, let's go before security arrives or worse Mongrel!" I marched back outside and back towards the field.

"I need to go to New Orleans, no where else and I have No desire to be on the same plane as that man. He wants me dead so he can have this ring! Apprently I am not good enough for this 'holy' quest. Now, what is it you need?" I tapped my foot, waiting for an answer before I walked away again.

Pausing I heard sirens in the background. "Alright let's discuss this in the air." I hurried ahead of him and into the jet. I needed to get my ass to a safer country.

 

[VandalHeart]

Gumo got on the jet and ordered the pilot to take off without clearance. Then he turned to Aria noticing the more cramped disposition of the now stolen rental.
"First off, I apologize for our rude introduction. I am Okama Gumo. If you want you can call me Spider. That's what Gumo means. Second, I am to understand that this man here serves as a risk to you, so I offer my best intentions to keep you safe from him until we get some answers. Keep in mind the same intention goes for him against you, so do try and maintain civility. Third, I would like to know as much as you know before he wakes up."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

"I'm not going to harm him, you just keep him from killing me for no reason and we'll all be doing just fine." I sat in the nearest seat facing lance and buckled in.

"Since I have no choice but to go with you, could you kindly take me to New Orleans please. I have something I need to do." I adjusted the belt to fit snugly around my waist and reclined the chair a little as the jet began to move towards the runway.

"As for the rings, again you are asking the wrong person." I met his steady gaze with one of my own. "I have no memories and until I get to New Orleans and ask some questions and find someone who knew me, I am of little use to you in the answer department." I raised my hand to point at Lance.

"He knows what you need to know. All I know is it involves these rings, a book of magic and some quest to stop Mongrel from being God over this planet. How or why or what... Don't know those ones." I leaned back as best I could and waited with him for Lance to open his eyes.

"He might need to be fed inorder to regain strength."

 

[nightray]

Ray

I watch as Kat talks to some one obevisly there a mental link my hand moves to hers my eye’s locked on hers as my feeling for her over well the darkness with in for a time. I sense the one that had confronted her claiming to me her maker.

I shake Kat as I sense her anger boiling with in her mind. I keep shaking her until she blinks looking at me. I then take her right hand in me the rings growing hotter as such close contact. I concentrate not knowing what I was doing but knowing that it would help. I feel the warmth move from my ring in to her hand with the warmth of hers.

I look in to her eyes the lights in my own swirling madly growing brighter as I focus the combined energies crating a shield around Kats mind that the other could not get completely though he could still scents her and send words but he can no longer force his way so completely in to her mined.

My left hand moves to her cheek tilting it up so I can see in to her eyes. “It will be ok now sister.” I say softly my old self showing threw for those few moments.

I sit back then my hand leaving hers the darkness enveloping my mind once agene the cocky smirk reappearing on my lips. “So is the nasty old man gown now.” I say in an argent sarcastic tone. My left hand griping the dark sword tightly the cold sending sharp blades in to my bones and sole.

 

[VandalHeart]

"Hmm..." Gumo wasn't quite used to keeping blood around for running monkeys. What he could do was spotty at best, but it would work until they got him some blood. Laying a hand on Lance's side, he felt the balance of Yang begin to shift and dissipate and Lance's side began to reknit itself. Aria had no way of knowing that under the loose fitting black shirt, Gumo began to bleed as he took Lance's wound into himself.
"Well, the should help him a bit, but the healing will keep him sleeping for a while. There are two beds in the back, and I am now going to go use one."
He bowed to Aria, "good evening." And with that, he walked to the back.

 

[poohlive]

Keith


He walked up to the large warehouse, in the center of a deserted business district. Not another living soul for miles around. It reminded him of a drug house, or a gun runner place. Some place where the guys went so they could do business undisturbed from local people.
It was the last known address for the company. After leafing through dozens of pages in the folder, this was the only solid address he could find. Most of it went around in dozens, perhaps hundreds of circles. It reminded him of a man who didn't want to be found.
An enigma.
Willow. Very interesting indded.
Inside, the air smelled stale and stagnant. Windows all barred up, black spray paint letting anything but the tiniest of light to come through. Shadows laid about the empty warehouse like sunbathers on a particularly beautiful day on the beach. Already his senses were heightened. No sound, no one in sight. Nothing.
"Can I help you?"
A man, standing to the right. He looked out of a small office, the shades drawn. There was a look of cautious concern on his face. He may have said, "can I help you," but he meant, "What the fuck are you doing here?"
"I'm looking for your boss," Keith replied back. He stood up straighter, pretending to have more backbone then he actually had. No gun. They didn't allow it on the plane, despite his badge. He had nothing more than his ego, which he was going to throw around as much as possible.
"Who wants to know?"
"I do."
The man took a step forward, perhaps an old habit of wanting to bash in the face of a smart ass with his smart remarks, but Keith thought there was something in his face. A distant memory blurred up to the surface through some hefty concentrating. It stopped him in mid-stride. For a moment he stared at Keith, before nodding his head, coming to some sort of conclusion.
"Right. I don't want any trouble or anything. He said you would come."
He said Keith would come? Did they know he was following the woman? Had they been following him all the way from Australia? When he looked up the information, perhaps they had tracked him down, and were already waiting for him here.
The man reached into his pocket. Keith took a step back, prepared to duck for cover. A beretta, or a colt, something big and loud. Guys liked big and loud guns, those were just the kind they loved to have on the inside pockets for little rats who asked too many questions.
He brought out a pen and some paper, writing down an address.
"Here," he handed it to the man, giving a nod, "Just take it and go. We don't want no trouble..."
Keith looked down at the slip of paper in his hand. An address, someplace in the northern part of the country. He cursed himself, having to go on another plane trip. His ass already screamed at him for that last Atlantic Cross flight. He put it in his pocket, giving an offbeat look to the man, backing up slowly towards the office once more.
"Thanks," he didn't even want to try and comprehend what was going on. He left to find a cab to get him back to the airport, and to find out just who this mysterious woman was.
And why Willow was protecting her?

(Hey, GM, if you wait just a little bit, you could get a passenger, someone who'll have an address for you.)

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Vladamir

(I can't wait, as I already left where I was. But I can do better.)

Vladamir was not happy. A plane of this size was not good for cross-country trips. He had had to stop and refuel twice now. And again he had to clear his flightplan with the tower. Lucky for him, the the phone he'd used had a digital readout, one of those grand new inventions. He knew the area code, but it would be another hunt once he got there.

Finally, though, he had stopped in the airport for a good-sized city. Using the pay phone, he'd called a pocket of his own followers in the area of the gun-runners he'd taken over.

As soon as the other side poicked up, he heard the loud, blaring sound of the stereo. He gritted his teeth, finally remembering who was in charge of that outpost.

"Dilan, damn you, turn off that god-damned radio!" He didn't noticed the people staring at him, but he heard teh fumbling as the radio finally turned off. The youthful voice finally came over the receiver. "Yeah, dad?"

Vladamir gritted his teeth. He hated Dilan, which was exactly why he was posted in the god-forsaken outpost he was. Dilan Trepes was a normal human twenty-one year old. Vladamir had adopted him because he knew he couldn't retain control of his company forever. People would ask questions. He could easilly turn TrepesCorp. over to his adopted son and retain control.

But Dilan was not prepared for the responsibility. "Look. I've decided to give you a little present for lasting another year in college. You are still in college, aren't you? You are? Good. Letters? Yes, I'm sure I got them. No, I didn't read them. Look, send a few men down the highway, there's a dirt road,...umm,...Fog Street, or some such thing is the name. It's just after this billboard for chicken,.....yes, the one with the cows. Look, send some men out there. Dilan, I'm not in the mood for this. Just do what I said. And don't go there youself, you know you only have power because you're my,......You've been sleeping with who!?!? You little snot, what have I told you about sleeping with women like that! I don't care if she hasn't done anything to you yet! .......FINE! Just do what I told you to."

He slammed down the phone. It was easier to deal with hunters. He pushed himself away from the phone, actually more angry than before he made the call. He noticed people staring at him, and walked away. It was then he heard the arguement.

"What do you mean all the flights have been cancelled! I need to get there! Immediately! It's police business!"

He picked up the Australian accent, and rolled his eyes. Like anyone would care. How was he even allowed to take up international matters? Well, it didn't matter to him. He leaned on the counter next to the man.

"Hey, when do you guys have me scheduled to leave?"

The woman behind the counter turned to him, with a smile, obviously happy for any excuse to stop talking to him. "Oh, you must be the private pilot? You're scheduled to leave in,....let's see,...ten minutes. Is that satisfactory?"

"Yes, fine, fine. I wonder if I have enough fuel to make it the rest of the way north."

Suddenly, he felt hand ghrabbing his coat, and was facing the Australian. Almost immediately he knew in what direction the man had just been told all flights were cancelled to. He also wished he'd kept his mouth shut.

"Yes! Yes! That's where I'm going! Yes, you can come! Just stop yelling, okay??"

 

[poohlive]

Keith

Keith caught up to the man, shaking his hand as they walked down the airport ramp.
"Thank you so much. I have been trying to get a pilot for the last hour. There seems to be some sort of problem with the airports. Terrorists or something, they've closed most of the things down."
He gave a cough, holding the door open as they moved from one long corridor to another. Walking walking walking.
The airport, a wonderful experience of walking forever until you sit on a plane forever only to get out and walk again forever.
Life, in a handbox.
"I don't mean to intrude or anything. My name's Keith. I work for the police department down in Sydney. I'm only up here to track down a few people that escaped our grasp. You might have heard about it on the news, you know, the whole runaway woman thing. We're doing our best to get her. So far I have a few leads, hopefully something solid."
He grinned, showing more teeth than he probably should have, "Sorry, I'm nervous, and when I'm nervous I get to talking. I won't be this weird on the plane. You know, just some small talk."

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Vladamir the Fated

"No, I don't know. I don't have a lot of time for news. I've been,....busy. So, who are these people that you'd travel around the world to catch them?"

He glanced over, but didn't smile. Finally, the arrived into the daylight. He blinked a moment, and headed towards the small, single-prop plane.

 

[poohlive]

"A cessna? Nice. I always loved these planes," He got into the passenger side door, having a little trouble with the handle. It popped out, surprising even him, as he sat down. A small briefcase over his lap, which he had purchased just a few minutes ago. Something to keep all of his loofe leafed papers in.
It was becoming a bother to carry them all.
"Cop killers. The worst kind. Two suspects, but as I'vee been tracking down leads, I think there are more. Almost a dozen or so. Right now all I've got is a man and a woman, who are supposedly inside an aircraft that belongs to a man which I now have an address for. I know it's a rather roundabout way to find them, but this isn't exactly something of a normal case."
He shook his head, relaxing as much as he could against the semi-cushioned seat.
"Can I be honest with you? I really don't know what is going on. You see, the woman in question brutally killed five police officers without so much as a thought. That, to me says sloppy common criminal. She deserves the chair, but still, nothing more than your garden variety slug that you find in a garden. What I don't understand is why she has so much money and power? Limousine's, private planes, an entire enterage of people, warehouses. To me, that says a drug lord, or some kind of mafia ring. That doesn't make sense though. Why would a mafia ring care about just five or six xops in a small Australian town? If they were rich, a lawyers could have gotten them off like that. And the man, if there is one piece in this I don't understand at all, it's the guy. This guy, who just watches as the woman does all the killing, and then she kidnaps him. She kills all of them just to kidnap him. Clueless. I'm totally clueless about the entire fucking thing. All I know, is I want some answers, and hopefully I'll finally be able to get them."
He gave a cheeky sort of laugh, to break whatever tension had arose in the small airplane.
"sorry to trouble you with all my problems. Just one of those days, you know? So, what about you? What brings you to Belgium?"

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Vladamir the Fated

He turned to the man once they've gotten in the air. He grunted, and nodded to the back. His guns were newly cleaned and loaded, the swords polished and sheathed. He'd even purchased a small crate of hand grenades, which was lying opening.

"I know you'll probably find this silly,.....but I'm hunting vampires. Most people think they don't exist, but they do. I know they do."

He turned towards the man, and saw something odd in his eyes. "What about you, you believe in vampires?"

 

[Morgoth]

"Ahhh, so you don't even want me the least bit, do you? Well, well. I gave you a chance. You seem to be rejecting it! Now, make your choice!" he spoke calmly.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

The flight was quiet and uneventful, and so with little else to do, I laid back in the chair and took a nap. Sleep came easily and with it came flashes of that face once again.

Nothing pieced it together, just a face. Waking hours later we were heading into New Orleans area and my mind was still going over that dream, or lack of one. A haunting face, I wondered what it meant and was it a key to my past?

Sitting upright, I adjusted the seat belt a little and peeked towards the back. Was Mr. Gumo still sleeping back there? Not wanting to get caught snooping around, I sat in my seat and waited.

 

[poohlive]

Keith

A small sense of alarm rose over him, like a gentle wave not yet crested rocking his body back and forth. He didn't feel like he had been hit with the information, but lolled into it. The blow seemed burdened however, something that made him blush without even realizing it.
He gripped the briefcase tighter in his lap, unsure what he was even doing.
"As a police officer," He said, careful to choose his words. Something, a hunch perhaps, told him to keep cautious with him. It wasn't distrust, more like dangerous ground. Land filled with mines that if one wasn't careful, could be the last step he ever took.
"As a police officer I've seen a lot of stuff in my day. Guys take bullet after bullet but still keep going as if nothing happened. People falling from 4, 5 or 6 stories and landing unharmed. The girl, taking out several arme officers. I don't know if they are vampires, but it would explain a lot of things. Put some things in light, you know?"
He sighed greatly, as if adjusting a huge weight on his shoulders. Something that pushed down on him, just as hard as it pleased, trying to smother him in the plane. The air became too hot, he found himself taking in deeper breaths.
"I've thought about it. Never seen anything solid though. Just how a cop would answer, don't you think? I've heard stories, but don't know the facts myself. If I had some evidence. Tape, or something concrete, to believe me, and maybe show the world, then yeah, I would believe in vampires. Until then, I guess I'm just chasing a shadow."
No, that wasn't right. Trying to nail a shadow to the wall. That was more like what he was doing. Travelling hundreds of miles on a hunch, an endless circular trail of paperwork, and one seedy man's loopy handwriting on a used napkin. It would only fit the entire decorum to find the one person who was crazy enough to believe in Bram Stoker's vision of the undead.
He wanted some holy water. Something he could physically hold. Even if it didn't work, even if holy water was as useless to them as bullets were to Superman, he'd still want to hold it. Graps a shield that he could hide behind. Pretend he had some strength in his corner.
Right now he had nothing. A feeling of a thought, and a silent prayer on the wind. God help them all.
But somehow, he didn't think God was listening.
"How do you know they exist? " His voice cracked, as he heard it, coming from far away. He took in a deep breath, filling his lungs and repeated the phrase again, hoping it sounded better than before.
"Vampires, I mean. How do you know they exist?"
To his ears it didn't.

 

[poohlive]

(if you two have something important you want to talk about, better get it over with soon. Presents are waiting...)



"We're on their tail. About an hour or so behind. The trade winds haven't helped us much, but as we speak we're going as fast as they are. With a little luck we'll be right up their ass by the time they land."
Willow let his eyes turn to slits, glancing out the front window, as the endless sea and clouds that stirred up around them as they trudged forward.
On another god damned plane. He ground his teeth together, making an unnatural chalkboard screerching sound that both the pilot and co-pilot winced against.
A drop of blood fell to the ground. Remnants of a promise not yet kept.
He had gripped the broken shard of the tequila bottle. The one that had been raped into his arm the night before. He held it now, an empty memory waiting to be filled.
It was her shard.
She hadn't give him what she so whorishly displayed before, so he would have to remind her. He would have to give it back to her.
Not a threat. A smile, wide with rows upon rows of gleaming deadly teeth revealed.
No, sir. Not a threat. A promise. A promise above all promises. Something they would share. Better than sex. Sex shrouded itself in dubious pleasure. There was only so high sex could take you, but pain? Flesh searing pain could set you freer than any sex ever allowed.
She hadn't give him the chance to show her that.
He let the glass shard with his blood still dripping on the plane floor twinkle in the light, dance with the panes of vision around them.
She would know soon enough.
The phone rang, sending him temporarily out of his stupor. He looked down at it, for a moment unsure what the thing even was, and why it made such a distracting noise. But then a far off memory, almost like a foghorn in the dead of night echoed to him, and he answered it.
"How is it?"
"On schedule," He said, almost as a reflex, "We're right behind them."
"Good, airport has been informed of our unique situation, and their not going to let on anything will be happening. We'll have our people waiting on the ground. A full force unit, complete with Robert's aid."
Just the name of Robert satisfied whatever vengeance still lingered in Willow's heart. He could see it now. Clear as day, watching the sub-human ogre plow into that plane like it was a tin can. So much carnage. Such a shame he had to miss that.
"All three of them alive?"
"That's right. Lance first and foremost. If the other two give any unwanted trouble, make sure they are taken care of, but I woul prefer it alive. Not everday some little fuck busts up my business. I'd love to ask him a few questions."
Willow nodded, looking out to the sea once more, picking out nothing but clear horizon, he knew who was out there. Who they were going against.
What a day, what a fucking day.
"How's your ear Willow?"
He winced at that. His hand going up to his right side, where a bloody bandage displayed what should have been his ear.
"Fine, just fine.
"I'll cut off more if I am dissapointed again."
"Yes sir."
The phone went dead.
The shard twinkled in the light. It danced in the light.
Yes, danced. He liked that word better. A dance, between the two. Forbidden and lustful, a complete vision of what was to come.
He queezed his hand again, sending more drops to the floor. Another widening smile infected his face.

 

[poohlive]

(for good measure)

As he drifted back into the land of consciousness. The first thing that came to him was the over-all pain of his body. It tore through him, making him wince as soon as the black fog he had been swimming in lifted, jamming him back into his used and abused body.
It felt good though.
It was a healing pain. He knew it, knew it right from the start, as lightening bolt shot up his spine, and his vision doubled when he tried to open his eyes. Pain made him double over, but as soon as he felt it, as soon as it ran through his system, it dissipated.
Something that ran through him, then tapered off.
He liked that.
The silver was gone.
Before he looked, or even tried to feel his wrist he knew the silver was gone. It hurt like a son of a bitch, but when it really dug into it, there is always this numbing sensation. The pain was numb and sharp at the same time, as if to hide him from the real pain it caused. He looked down at his wrists. Both of them bloated, red welts that dug into his flesh could be seen. At times the skin broke, leaving unbleeding legions of muscle at open air.
The very sight did not please him, but in a way it did.
The silver was off. He could start to heal.
Silver wounds healed the slowest. He hated them. All other wounds, bullet holes, knife cuts, scratches, they left within a couple of hours. Silver? That stuff stayed on like a disease. It healed about as normally as a cut would heal for a person. The vampire blood didn't do a thing for it. How could it? Vampire blood was the reason it hurt so fucking back in the first place? It did no good.
He tried to sit up. The first attempt failed, miserably. All he ended up doing was rocking back and forth in whatever he was laying in. He hadn't bothered to use his eyes very much, although the usual drone of a plane came to his ears, sickening him.
After all of this, he decided he didn't want to go on a plane anymore. No more planes, no more boats. He would walk everwhere from here on in.
Walk or swim. The only way to travel.
The second attempt worked, and he managed a sitting position.
Not yet at Mongrel's. That much he knew. Had they stopped somewhere? Decided to make a detour?
They didn't already know where the page was, did they?
He looked out one of the windows, trying to get his bearings.
West? Yes, they were going west. Straight west.
He sighed, letting his muscles relax a little bit. No, they hadn't figured that out yet. He had thought maybe hypnosis, or possibly he mumbled something in his sleep.
Why would the chains be off though?
Had something happened?
He got on his feet. That was a bad idea. He almost fell, but he hald onto one of the seats, and instead he just sort of leaned heavily on it. It would appear to someone watching that maybe he was drunk.
Reminded him of a new foal getting to his feet right after birth. He was just getting his air legs, nothing wrong with that.
Not the same plane.
He didn't remember much of the first plane, but this didn't look right. Not a private jet at all. One of those smaller commercial ones. He didn't know much about planes, couldn't figure out anything.
Aria was sleeping, adrift. She wasn't chained up either. But why would she be? They didn't want her, they wanted him. He wasn't chained up though.
He held onto rows of chairs as he walked forward. They each acted as crutch, helping him. Sort of half walk, half drag his fucked up ass towards the front of the plane.
He knocked on the door, and a bright faced pilot answered it.
"Hey, how can I help you sir?"
He didn't recognize this guy, although that didn't say much about anything.
"Where are we going?"
"Our current flight pattern is..." He looked down at a fold of chart papers right next to his instrument display, "New Orleans. Something I can do for you?"
New orleans? Oh god. Aria. Fucking Aria. It all came to him now. Now a premonition. or some psychic shit. He didn't need that to understand the slow workings of her mind. She had found a way out of Willow's watch and hitched the first plane back to her home town.
God Damned it. As if they would just let her go? He wanted to turn around this very minute and just kick her as hard as he could. Kick her off this fucking plane, but he lost his balance just then and staggered. The pilot reached for him, but didn't get very far. He was still strapped into his own seat.
It was just out of luck that Lance landed in one of the seats, making a very huffed sigh as he did so.
The pilot unstrapped himself, looking at him.
"Are you all right? You need something? Water?"
He shook his head.
"No, just got a little weazy there for a moment. Never was used to flying."
The pilot nodded. He looked like a guy who had seen his fair share of passangers.
"Hey, here's something," He took out a little bottle of pillsfrom one of the small medicine kits that was strapped in over the cockpit door.
"Makes you go to sleep. By the time you wake up, we'll be on the ground, safe and sound."
Lance shook his head, waving it off, "Thank you, but I'm fine now. Just a little dizzy spell. It's gone. I think I'll just sit here for a little bit. Thank you though."
The pilot offered again, but he only refused. He put the kit back, and returned to the cockpit.
"You need anything, just give a knock."
Lance assured him he would.
He turned his head to the side, looking down at the sparkling water hundreds of feet below.
Temporary freedom. He sighed. Just hope they won't send an army as soon as they land. He supposed that was all they could hope for.
He wanted to go back to sleep, but refused to let his eyes close. The feeling of being awake was just too good to let go. He held onto it for a bit longer.
Just to look out at the water, watch it sparkle underneath.
What a beautiful sight.

 

[Firegirl976]

Kat

I stare into Rays eyes still caught between the stranger in my mind and rays power blending with my own creating a partial shield around my mind. I blink a few times, but the presence is still there. "If you want an answer stranger, meet me tonight in the park." THat said I break the connection and turn back to ray knowing he had missed the conversation and feeling the residual warmth that lingers where he touched my cheek. I watch his hand wrap around the handle of the dark sword and immediately know the partial cause of his cold attitude. "Gone for now....but not for good." I turn back to where I dropped my beer and picking up the crushed can walk to the kitchen and get some papertowels to clean up the mess. Suddenly realizing I"m still in nothing but a towel I turn to Ray after cleaning up the mess, "I shoudl probably get dressed....you don't want to see me in this getup." A naughty grin spreads on my full lips as I see his look and turn to grab some clothes out of my suitcases.

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Vladamir Trepes the Fated

He switched the plane to automatic, and sat back, turning to look at his passenger. He sighed, and shook his head. "Are you insane? 'Show the World'? You'd start up another witchhunt. Millions would die. Entire governments would collapse, the world would fall into a war so long and terrible, no one would survive."

He unhooked his seatbelt, getting up and moving into the back of the small plane. "And as for how I know vampires exist, I've hunted them all my life. Once you shoot someone in the head, or through the heart, and see them crumple into dust, then you know. You know what they are. So, you have any leads? I'm just searching the border, no concrete stuff, yet. What about you?"

 

[nightray]

Ray

I smile as Kat rummages threw her clothe. “I don’t now sis I kind of like what you’re wearing.” I chuckle softly at that as I take another sip of bear. “I hop that shield help some if not…” I pos a dark look coming over my face. “I guess he’ll just have to die wont he.” I chuckle softly at that.

I stand crushing the empty can in my hand and moving in to the kitchen. I throw the can in to the garbage and open the frig looking for some thing to munch on. I look over my shoulder at Kat. “Would you like a sandwich?”

 

[poohlive]

"It'd be worth it though," Keith defended himself, "I would rather see governments fall than to have it hidden in the back of society. People should know there is a threat to their lives. They should know there are things out there which consider them part of the food chain, you know? I would like to know, for whatever price it is, I'd like to know."
They say ignorance is bliss, and he would have to agree with them. Ignorance is bliss, because curiousity is a fucking bitch. It eats at you worse than any form of cancer. Infects your mind like nothing else can. Even fear isn't suseptable to its wim. People overcome fear, they never overcome curiousity.
No one ever has.
"All I've got is an address, and a shotty one at that. Some weird stranger practically gave it to me to get out of his sight. I think he was scared of me or something. It isn't a big lead, more like a half assed long shot lead, but it's the only thing I've got so far. I think I'm stuck in the same boat you are, just wandering the countryside looking for vampires."
He leaned back against the seat, watching as the man did whatever in the hell he was doing. Keith wanted to ask, but a part of him didn't. The man said he hunted vampires. Maybe he had some interesting tidbits?
"You've said you encountered them before? Is this true? Do you know any weaknesses? Or obvious signs? I mean like garlic or holy water or something. Something that tells me if I shoot this girl I'm looking for, I don't end up just killing some crack whore who shot up and got some amazing fucking high or something."
Which has happened before. He'd seen it. Women on daining cleaner breaking handcuffs and running for miles and miles. It's amazing what the body can do once the mind is turned off.

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Vladamir Trepes

He began checking over his weapons. He turned, looking at the man. "So you'd doom the world just so people could live in constant fear? You're suggesting a world in which people can get away with murder as long as they 'thought it was a vampire'. And then all Vampires would be hunted. Thousands of innocents would die. I've hunted vampires. They're as different people. I've run across vampires with more religion than the Pope, trying their best to live good, decent lives. Would you have them killed? People fear what they don't understand. If people knew about vampires, the killing would never end. The world would fall to tyrants. And as long as there were always killings related to 'vampires,' people would give up everything for the illusion of safety."

He shook his head, turning back to the task at hand. "There are plenty of hunters in the world. But none of us would ever come forward. Hell, we'd likely kill you before you could. You're suggesting that all humanity can go to Hell, as long as they know the truth. People need lies, because there's no 'true' safety. Only with the illusion of safety can people live. ......I'm sorry. But when you live like I have, you think a lot about the meaning of life. Anyway, as for how to tell a vampire, there are only two definite ways. Their healing powers, which can regenerate any nonfatal wounds in short periods of time. And then there's the fangs. But that's hard to see. As for weaknesses, silver is the only true weakness, as is stunts the healing process, and causes masses of pain. Also, vampires, like people, can have allergies. Due to the rate of metabolism in them, any allergic reations they have will be fatal. So only if they're allergic to garlic will it have any affect."

He moved back up into the pilot's seat, handing a gun over to the man. "Here. It's got silver bullets. I don't have many of them, but I've perfected my aim enough that I don't need that much. But trust me, vampires like to keep low profiles. So if this is the first time you've suspected they exist, it's likely true. I've learned to trust my instincts."

 

[VandalHeart]

Gumo stepped out of his cabin in the back, sleep filled and relaxed. As he closed the door, Lance turned from the window to look at him.

"I see we're doing better." Gumo bowed and introduced himself, "Okama Gumo, welcome to my new plane."

Gumo watched him for a moment and felt a breif moment of pity for him in the event that he attacked in his mangled state, but mostly just pity for his mangled state. "I have done my best to refine some of my pilot's blood for your hunger's sake, but I'm afraid it may only bide you till we land."

Gumo handed Lance a bottle, and sat down next to Aria's feet.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Intro

Summer of 1720, In the slums of London, England.

Annabelle Deveroux sat with her ailing mother, watching her struggle to breathe, to move. Tears streaked her young face, and hopelessness seemed to be looming in her mind yet again. A doctor wouldn’t come out here for two reasons. The plague and they were poor. Dirt poor, glancing around the one room hut, there wasn’t a scrap of food in sight. Old clothing hung over the windows to keep out the glares of passer-byes.

Anna knew her mother would need broth and food in order to live through this, without the aid of a doctor, there was little else she could think of but that. Decided she would once again steal something for her mother, she tucked her in tightly before heading out into the muddy stinking streets.

For days she hung over her mother, watching and hoping for a miracle. Praying to God for the recovery of her mother, she did not wish to be alone in this world. There were so many bad outcomes for a single and very poor young lady here. Nothing but whoring or service work. And it was nearly impossible to get into the service of upper crusts’. Tears and frustration marred her features as she trudged along through the disease infested muddy puddles. She hated this. She hated her life, her father and all those who kept them in this position. She wanted revenge on these people, though she did not know who fully was to blame for this situation.

Brushing off her tears, she waded through towards the docks, heading for some of the stalls that littered along the edge. They sold everything out there she could think of food wise, it would be perfect for snatching away a bit to eat. “No worries ma ma,” She vowed silently. She would be her mother’s savior for God was not listening lately.

Luck wasn’t with her this day, the words “Stop! Thief!” Rang in the air as she grabbed a chunk of beef from a stall. Hands easily enough picked her up and shook her. With a cry of despair, the beef fell from her numbing fingertips and into the dirty ground below.

“How dare you! Call the magistrate! We have a thief here!” A large man bellowed out to the others standing around the little display. “You know what they do to thieves dear!” He snarled in her pale frightened face. “We cut off their hands so they may never plague us again!”

“Arnuld! Stop making a scene and bring her here!” A fat balding, greasy man sat under a shaded cover, watching the going ons. Flinching back a little, Annabelle could do nothing being held aloft as she was. As she neared the man, the cruelties in his eyes made her instantly begin to cry and beg.

“Please sir.. M-my mother.. She is dying.. I only tried to save her! Please spare me! I won’t do it again!”

“ENOUGH!” He bellowed. “Take her inside my office Arnuld, you know what to do.” The tone was menacing, the words clearly spoke of her punishment. She prayed harder, hoping beyond anything God would answer her prayers and show them their faults. She prayed as he carried her inside the tall stone building. She prayed harder as she cried for mercy, she kept praying even after he took her into a smaller room and strapped her to a desk on her back.

“We have laws girly for a purpose!” He spat in her face, “And you can not break them at will! Tis’ heathen!” She flinched a little, unsure what he was going to do? Her eyes caught the sight of a long sharp dagger and her lips parted as she screamed loudly. She never saw the hand coming that knocked her nearly out. A sharp ringing sounded in her ears as her vision blacked out. His hands tore at her clothing, his words a mixture of things she did not understand. Crying out time and time again as his rough hard hands began to bruise her paler flesh. His knife trailed here and there, but she felt none of it. Her mind shutting down on her she cried for her mother, for God for mercy.

She cried out through swollen lips each time he flicked the blade into her skin. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut, her lips muttering the lord’s prayer as the thin shining blade came towards her eye. His breath was rancid and his weight on her made her feel trapped, he laughed hysterically with each new slash he made. “This is your fault! Thief! Whoring little trollop!” He sounded as if he was enjoying this and it sickened her further. She flinched away, fighting the restraints, which held her down, begging over and over for him to stop. The words fell on deaf ears as he moved over the left side of her body. She felt the burning sting everywhere, face, neck, shoulders and even down to her toes and thighs. He marked her with viscous little slashes, cursing her and rubbing against her the whole time.


That night she some how made it home, only to find her mother had died sometime between when she left and now. The bitter tears did not stop flowing, the anger in her heart made her blacken even further in her soul. The once beautiful girl was now hideous inside and out. She lay down next to her mother and stayed there. She had every intention of dying along with her resting mother, for without her, there was nothing left in this world.


Her cuts began to heal, against the laws of nature, against the beast roaming around and killing all, against her wishes.. She lived. She slept, weak from malnutrition, but her cuts kept healing. Her Egyptian and Spanish heritage shown in her one good side, but the other half of her face now had an angry red cut from hairline, over the eye and down to her chin. Other smaller cuts marred her face, chest and left side. He did a number on her, laughing about beauty and the beast. One half of her was beautiful, the other would be so disgusting people would run in fear.. Worst part was, she believed him.

When some gravediggers came around, someone removed her mother from the bed, and took Annabelle as well. Thinking she was dead, they made comments on her, about her. The sickening sight of her face due to the cuts and blood matted into her hair. No one cared how she got this way, they only knew she was a plague victim as well. She said nothing, too weak to even wake up, she did not know she was heading for the burning pits. Out in the country, a place no one cared about, nor wanted to visit. Near the graveyard of the poor, they began to heft bodies into a pile, stacking them into this pit for burning. They needed to purify the area and this was the only way to stop this ‘Black Death’.

Left there as they discussed their dinner break. The sun was setting and they were hungry men. Deciding to leave the bodies until later the two left without looking back.

Her eyes opened, with what little strength she had left she began to cry. “Why?” Croaked from her throat in anguish. Why hadn’t she died yet?! Why wouldn’t God let her die! He had forsaken her in her greatest hours of need, had done nothing! And now she lay in a graveyard, undead but might as well be, and no one cared!

“Why!?” She shouted a little louder, curling into a ball and crying harder. She had been living for a week on nothing! How? She was skin and bones, a walking skeleton, and still she could draw air into her lungs?

“Why indeed?” Came the soft purr of a voice behind her. She paid no heed to that voice, she was dying, it did not matter. But to the watching man, it did. He was alone, he had use of her. Although his motives were selfish and cold, thoughtless and determined, he picked her up and carried her with him. Noticing the scars that were healing slowly, the terrible state of her body and mind, he knew he could heal her enough to give her a reason. He knew her thoughts, he could pluck them out of the air, she wanted revenge, but lacked a way. He would give her a way, for no other reason but their common ground. God had forsaken him as well.

“Are you the devil?” She asked him as she first caught the sight of him. His features were pale, almost snow white, his fangs long and his eyes nearly black. His hair was long and also black, he carried her as if she weighted nothing and wore all black. He looked like her idea of the devil himself!

“Yes, I am a devil. Close your eyes and sleep, we’ll be there soon.” He walked for miles and miles, moving quicker than she could even understand. He carried her to the shore and scaled the wall holding her in his arms. He carried her into the cave and set her down on his pallet.

He was torn between many things, believing his blood was tainted, he did not try and heal her. Instead each night he would hunt and feed her, never knowing if he gained her trust or not, she stayed with him. Out of choice, she really had no where else to go, and he was helping her. Devil or not, he was her savior. She idolized him, she made him into her God. Someone who cared for her, for no reason she could think of. No reason he could either, but he did it.

As she grew stronger, her cuts healing but the scars staying, she asked him to be like he was. He didn’t try and talk her out of it, he too was lonely and thought of her as a new sibling. That night he changed her over, made her a night walker, a vampire.


She stayed as she was, 19 for life. Black hair, gray eyes barely five foot four inches, one hundred pounds, and scars that marred half her body. Her friends called her AB, though she had few friends. Thinking back over the time that had passed, she now had no one but herself really. Her maker long since dead due to the inquisitive minds of man, she walked the city streets alone, but well paid informant. Living in the Bronx wasn’t half-bad either, but her mind often went over little things, like her past.

 

[Firegirl976]

Kat

“Would you like a sandwich?”

I pause a moment recollecting my thoughts............."No thank you but if you have some fruit I could use it." As I stand there my clothes in my hand I wonder of he can sense the differences in me. I was always someone who had to feed to survive................but since my return I fed from a new energy.....not just a craving of the blood. I threw on the violet middrift and black leather pants, relacing my knives at various points on my body I walk slowly back over to Ray and small smile on my face. I walk up behind him and place a soft hand on his shoulder obiously surprising him.........."Can I help?" MY eyes have gone deep violet and my need to feed is begining to become obvious.