Curse of the Fallen Quest: Ring Bearer's Trilogy

[nightray]

Ray

I turn as I feel her hand on my shoulder. I look down at her seeing a strange hunger in her eyes. I shrug “I don’t really need help just making sandwiches. As for fruit I point at the frig I’ve got strawberries cherries grapes.” I pos thinking and then shrug “Look for your self I’m not sheer what I have in there.”

I pick up my sandwich and watch her move over to the fridge her hips swaying seductively. I swallow my mouth full of sandwich. I force my self not to look at her like that and I walk back in to the living room sitting on the couch eating my sandwich slowly glancing at Kat occasionally wondering what has changed about her.

 

[poohlive]

Keith made a disgruntled face, but kept his own anger to himself. He didn't want to remind the man that there might be something to fear of these creatures if they have hunters after them, but the entire argument grew weary to him. The truth was in the eye of the beholder. Some people wanted it hidden away from the idiots of the world.
While others needed to know, at what cost.
He wasn't sure which one was right, but he knew people should be given their own choice to decide whether or not they live in their illusion of safety.
People lived in an illusion of safety now. Knowing vampires wouldn't change that. It would change the way they kept the illusion, but the very concept would still be there.
"How did you figure it out? How did anybody? I mean, not everyone gets a first hand account from someone who knew of experience like you. Have you always known? How secretive are they? From what I've seen they don't cover up all their tracks, but enough to leave doubt in anyone's mind. They do this on purpose, don't they?"

 

[poohlive]

"Thank you, "Lance said, taking the small bottle. He let it come to rest beside his lap. Too soon with the silver to drink. It would only hurt more. Silver and fresh blood didn't mix very well. It fed the vampire within, which is trying to fight off the effects. He remembered a few times puking up fresh blood against cobblestone streets.
Not a pretty site.
"For later," He assured the man, sighing as he said so. His strength was returning, slowly but surely. He didn't see himself running in the near future, but if worse came to worse he could stand on his own two feet.
"My name is Lance. Thank you, for all your kind hospitality."
He wasn't sure how long it would last, but for the time being, he did feel gratitude. A lot better than anyone else he had happened to meet in the last few days.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

Sitting silently, I had noting of importance to add to the conversation. I knew we would be landing soon, but also knew Willow would be coming. They wanted Lance, they wanted the page as well. Again I opened a can of worms, well more like vipers than anything.
Adjusting in my seat a little, I tried to think of something else, but it wasn't working. Another damned fight on my hands and I still had to get clear of Lance as well. Come to think of it, I doubted I would be hunting for answers any time soon. If I wanted to stay alive as well as the rest of us, I had a sinking feeling we would have to remain together.
Turning to watch out the window, I tried to lose the gray mood I was in.

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Vladamir Trepes

He turned to look at the man, then made his attention go back to how he was flying the plane. He sighed. They were always so full of questions, humans. Until they'd learned too much. They all they did was cry and scream.

"Not all vampires kill when they feed. In fact, few do. And more people know then you'd think. Take America for example. Thousands of homeless living on the streets. If they get attacked, what would anyone say? People would think they were drunk or on drugs. And there are certain people, even a few cults, of people who are attracted to vampirism, and let themselves be considered a foodstuff. But really, vampires try very hard to blend in. The doubt people have is because of newly changed vampires, or ones that feel they're superior to humankind. They crop up enough to keep the stories of vampires floating around. As for myself,.....vampires,....they are the reason my parents are dead. They were murdered, brutally, before my eyes."

He glanced over at the man. "And something else. There was anpother thing, that made my faith concrete. It's what makes most hunters what they are. All the successful ones, anyway. But that, that's something I think you should hear."

 

[poohlive]

Keith let the gun sit heavy on his lap, unsure if he wanted to touch it. Silver bullets. Silver bullets in that gun, able to kill a vampire, or wound him enough to get away. It was something out of a bad horror movie, and not even for vampires.
Wasn't silver something for werewolves?
Yeah, at one time.
Of course, werewolves don't exist. Vampires do.
What would a wooden stake in the heart do? He had heard awful stories of lore that said a vampire needed to be struck in the heart with a stake, and then decapitated, and then the head to be placed in holy ground before a vampire were to truly die.
So much for lore.
Hell, so much for everything he had ever thought about the mysterious species before. A forgotten memory, something abated in the minds of all humans. A key they wished to drop down a huge well, and pretend didn't exist.
It might be down the well, but it sure as hell exists.
They exist.
Vampires exist.
God, why couldn't he get a handle on all of this? He had been trying to prove this point for years and years, above all superstition and clouded doubt, and then, when it is practically handed to him on a silver platter, all he could do was complain about how it takes silver to kill them.
"So, what sort of hunt are you on now? Do you just go from town to town and sniff them out, or are you looking for someone specific? Maybe the ones that killed your parents?"
He had no revenge here, only a mild curiousity. He thought that might hurt him in the end. Curiousity killed the cat.
In the land of the undead, death was never too far away.

 

[Sweetp4u]

A.B.

"Anna! Pay attention!" The voice rang out in her head. Eyes flashing a little, she glanced up and looked around the room. Sitting amoung 'theives' and not paying attention was not a good thing.

"Yeah?" The cockiness in her voice could be heard clearly as she turned to gaze at Jordan. "What?"

Sliding her small form off the crate in the corner of the warehouse, she stealthly moved towards Jordan.

"I have a job for you."

"How much?" Her shrewd business sense always put a frown on his face.

"The regular."

"Alright a grand.. We'll banter after you tell me what needs done.."

"No, a grand or forget it."

"Alright, forget it." Turning she moved towards the back exit, dinner would be more appealing than these jackasses.

"Anna!" Jordan's voice rang across the room. Smirking a little, she turned back around and purred, "Yeesss?" A false sweet tone that spoke of cockiness once again.

"Alright!" He ran his fingers through his hair, shaking his head as he picked up an envelope.

"Deliver this to Amber at her penthouse."

"That's it?" She glared a little. "An errand boy could handle that!" She laughed at him. A cold mirthless laugh. Condensending tone.

"She's guarded by her clan.. It could prove to be dangerous."

Walking over to him, she yanked the envelope from his hand and looked at the front of it. His bold handwriting could be seen through the white front.

"I am delivering a love letter eh?" She smirked again.

"Just take it to her, make sure she gets it and no one else."

"Alright, two grand for the demeaning job. Up front, now!" She held out her hand and tapped the letter against her leg while waiting.

"Cold little bitch aren't you?"

"Ive been called worse, just give it over so I can get out of this filth." He pulled out his bilfold and began counting bills. Handing them over to her, she smiled and winked.

"Pleasure doin' business with ya.."

"Wait! What if you fail?" He asked, he knew the answer to that, he just wanted to put a little doubt into her over bloated head.

"That has never happened and never will.. Thanks for the vote of confidence." Turning back to the door she was out and moving. Keeping to the shadows and alley ways, she hid as she moved. A figment of people's imaginations, a ghost almost. She kept herself free of entanglements and being seen. She still could recall the terrified screams of children ring in her ears now and then.

No, she wouldn't go back to exsisting beyond the shadows.

Checking the adress, she knew she would have to go through the other clan's territory before reaching Amber, she hoped this bitch was worth the effort.

 

[Sweetp4u]

A.B.

Coming up to the top floor of the hotel, she made her way towards the fire escape and up onto the roof. Having seen the bulking guards outside Amber's door, she knew she would never get in that way.

Taking out a long length of rope, she secured the climbing hooks and safety harness. She had enough scars, she didn't want to add more by falling. Slowly worming her slight frame over the edge, she lowered herself down to the balcony. Having been here before, she knew Amber's routine almost perfectly.

Many times she had been tempted to open the letters and read, see what it was Jordan was sending to Amber, but knew she would be found out. She needed this job too badly to screw it up, even though he did not like her much, she liked Jordan more than she should have.

Crouching down beside the double glass doors, she peeked through the sheer curtains and watched the statuesque beauty sitting before the vanity mirror. The brush moving through Amber's flaming hair and back up to repeat the strokes. Flinching a little, she wished she had worn her mask, it would have at least hid her face from the woman's view.

She couldn't help but feel inferior to the beauty inside. It was no wonder Jordan kept in touch with this woman, she was cover girl material. Shaking herself out of her thought, she watched as Amber left the room.

Now was her chance! To be unseen and get out of there. Slipping the lock pick between the doors, she pushed it silently open. Slipping inside, she moved towards the bed. Breath held, she listened for any sounds of someone returning. As quick as a blink she forced the envelope under the pillow and vanished back out the way she came.

Once on the roof, she sighed, thankful she made it. Jealousy ate her slightly, wishing she was once again the beauty.. The one attracting Jordan's attention. It wouldn't happen, he himself said she was just not the type he was used to working with. She knew he did not like looking at her anymore than she liked showing herself.

Forgetting the stupid infatuation with an unreachable man, she made her way down the stairs and towards the Bronx. At least there she was safe, and alone. Both words echoing in her mind, tensing her up a little.

After this many years, she should be used to this. Used to being alone, used to Jordan's parade of women, used to being sneered at. She needed a tougher hide is what she needed.

Moving quickly, she entered her basement room, throwing the bolt, the lock, the chain lock and the kick bar against the door. Checking her only window to make sure it was locked as well, she fed her pet snake and crawled into the coffin shaped bed. No light eminated into the room, no sounds from above either. Here in the dark, she could relax.

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Vladamir Trepes

"The ones who kill my parents died long ago. They are but ashes. I watched the last of them die. Dust in the wind. And actually, I am looking for someone specific. And no, you don't just 'sniff them out'. You have to be careful. Vampires are hard to find, but they always know another one. They take comfort in their own kind. Misery loves company. If you go about it well enough, you can always get a name before you have to move on."

He glanced at the man. "But this time it's special. I used to work with a guy. But we split up. He gave up the life, settled down. But someone wouldn't let it end. Something big's been building up lately. Real big. His wife stumbled across it. His family didn't make it. He's barely alive. I'm hunting down who's behind it."

 

[VandalHeart]

Gumo looked at Lance and then Aria before sitting down.
"Now that we're all awake and doing," he glanced at Lance, "well, better, if anyone has any answers for why I have a ring on and she has a ring on and no one but Lance here is rumored to have any clue as to what is going on. So, if one of you would care to enlighten, I would be much abliged."

 

[poohlive]

Lance tried to look behind him, but his neck strained at it, and in the end he just half turned, looking at distant figures in the corner of his eyes. Another ring bearer. Of course. It would be one of them who would try to think they could help Aria, or find a way out of Mongrel's path.
He loved the new ones, so full of life and have no fucking clue what is going on.
"It's a ring of destiny. You wear it because someone before you died. It always finds a suitable wearer. One of its undying properties. She has one... to tell you the truth I don't know why it's still on her finger. It should have found another a long time ago. These things are stubborn though, as is much in life. She's wants to help Mongrel as much as defy him. I think maybe it's just a deathwish on her own part. Try to find the easiest way to die."
He laughed at that, one of his own jokes,w hich ended in a coughing fit that took him several minutes to calm down from. After he regained himself, relaxing back in the chair, not bothering to turn his head over to them anymore, he went on.
"The ring bearers, a bit of a nickname, are destined to defend the earth from an evil that has been born over a thousand years ago. You get the ring, you protect the innocent, you kill the bad guys. Typical comic book type stuff, except when evil finally catches up to you and kills you. In which case, the ring finds another."
He raised his hand, flicking the one finger where a ring would have been. A little smile on his face, despite the fact that no one could see it.
"Other than that, there's much to tell. Right now you shouldn't concern yourself with it. You should worry about finding the rest of the ring bearers. Once you're all together, the answers will become more clear. And you can begin where the others failed."
The fallen curse, about to be picked up again. A vicious cycle, threatening to repeat itself just as the moon revolves, fattening each day it rises off of the horizon.

 

[Firegirl976]

Kat

Reaching in the fridge I grab some strawberries and take a quick tally of what is there and what is needed, I close the door and turn to see Ray looking at me a peculiar expression on his features.

what has changed about her?" I can sense his curiosity and take heart from the fact that he has not figured out my secret. Rinsing the berries I put them in a bowel and walk over to to where Ray is and sit on the couch, taking a bite of one of the strawberries and licking my lips at the juice. "You know it has been so long since I had these I almost forgot what they taste like." I smile a bit and drop the rest of the strawberry in my mouth again turning my now Violet gaze towards Ray....."So Ashke'.......mind telling me what you are doing here and why you called me?"

 

[nightray]

Ray

I look at Kat as she eats the strawberry’s feeling some thing difret in her but I can’t put my finger on it. “I didn’t call you sis the rings call each other.” I look at the ring on Kat’s finger before looking back up at her. “I guess sins the rest of the ring bearers are dead the ring’s fond new bearers to complete the quest.” I lean back in the chair looking out the window at the city.

“As for why I’m hear…” I pos thinking “Well this is my quit place sort speak I com hear when I need to relax and sort out things...” I look at Kat a slight smile touching my lips. “Congratulations sis you’re the first to see it. I didn’t get a chance to bring Maggie or Aria her.” My face darkens at the memories as my throat catches slightly the lights in my eye’s swirling faster and brighter briefly before the darkness engulfs them agene and the cold shields me from the pain.

I look back at the city trying to find baleens to find the path knowing that one way or another my preppies didn’t go down with that ship and the thought of that exits me and scars me especially not knowing witch path to take.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

Not paying attention to his cold tone or smart ass remarks, I sat back in the chair and glanced out the window. A little ding was heard, We're landing apparently. Taking the seat belt, I fastened it half assed and sat back once more.

Thank god! Once we are landed I can get the fuck out of here and away from that asshole once and for all! I just hoped Sumo did not tell Lance who saved his worthless ass, I wanted no credit in that moment of stupidity!

"You should sit Sumo." I said rather quietly, but given he was seated on the floor, It was good enough.

The plane taxied in easily enough and moved off the run way, my hands began to tingle and sweat a little. I almost felt a happiness come over me. Here was my chance to figure out who I was and get on with my own life! If it took my death to get rid of this ring, too freakin' bad! If it wouldn't leave on it's own, it'd be with me for life then.

I had things to do that were important to me, not bother with this raving looney's issues. Unfastening the belt, I rose from the seat and picked up my bag. Without a single word, if possible, I was getting out of here for good.. and hopefully wouldn't lay eyes on these two again!

 

[VandalHeart]

Gumo listened to Lance's seemingly short and edited explanation and found it extremely wanting, but it would do for now. Why me? was the only question that popped into his head, but he did not voice it, because not once in his experience had he liked the answer to that question, no matter the incarnation it took.
As the plane descended, Aria got Gumo's name wrong once again, and he looked her in the eyes, a cold killers' half-smiling gaze. He could see how adverse she was to the idea ofnot only being around either of them, but also of them in general. He needed to keep both of them nearby to gain more insight.
"I only have three questions. Lance, where is your ring, and Aria, do you in fact have a deathwish, and if so, why?"
Here goes nothing he thought, always the pessimist.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

ooc: lol that typo wasnt intentional Vandal lol Sorry

IC:

Smiling, I moved towards the door handle and began to pull it open. "I have no death wish, and I have some things to do. Ask him all your questions, I have no answers as I said. Thanks for the lift Gumo." Pushing open the door a little, I waited for the pilot to put the stairs down.

 

[VandalHeart]

ooc: s'ok, it's still funny

Gumo struck on a possibility...and she fit the personality type too.
"You're an amnesiac, aren't you?"

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

"Pardon?" Turning, I glanced over to where he sat wondering what the hell was he talking about?!

Shaking my head, I glanced at the ramp then back at Gumo, "And what makes you think that?" I asked calmly

 

[VandalHeart]

"Because you are behaving in a very sociopathic manner, doing a job you obviously don't want to do, which I am guessing from your muscular build is assassination, and you're behaving as if you're doing it for someone you don't particularly like. At the same time and somwtimes not at the same time, especially with your reaction to being thrown from the plane by that unfortunate excuse for a man, Willow, you seem to do things which confuse you. Take Lance here. Why did you feel the intense need, if you hate him so much, to go through all the time and trouble to save him? And please do not waste my time with trying to throw Mongrel off; first off you're working for him and will prove my point, and second, if that was your aim, why not simply kill him and burn the body."
He blinked for a moment, catching his breath.
"Honestly. Westerners."

 

[poohlive]

Lance gave a hearty laugh, beginning to clap his hands.
"Bravo. Bravo. This man knows you for only a few hours, and he has come to the same conclusion I have. I like you, I really do. You remind me of my son, very incitive and ambitious. I can see why the ring picked you."
He turned back to Aria, still giving off a laugh from time to time.
"Aria, you won't find any answers in New Orleans. I'm sorry I brought this old town back to whatever memories you have, but the only thing you'll find out there is an empty house with empty memories. You have nothing left, Aria. Everything you ever had, or cared for is either gone or destroyed. Your husband, your son, your life. All of it, taken, by the ring on your finger, and the promised book that Mongrel is probably reading this very minute. I didn't want to kill you for some personal reason, I wanted to end your suffering. You've been through so much, and this undead torture only adds to it. You act life your old self because you don't know how much you've sacrificed just to be standing where you are. Mongrel didn't take away your memories Aria, with the ring on your finger he could never do that. You took them away yourself, you stopped yourself from reliving all the lives that were close to you that died, and you unable to stop any of it."
He saw the disbelief in her eyes, or maybe it was just sheer stubborness. She heard him, but the words didn't hit anyplace inside her, only slid down her brain, desperately searching for a nook or cranny to grab hold of, and sink in.
"Look inside yourself, you'll know it's true. Don't go chasing another empty dream. It'll only hurt worse."
(This is the kind of drama stuff I wanted to happen before the big landing battle. If you all don't mind, I'd like to continue for a little bit, before I have to end all of this high drama with a big ole giant)

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

"Because you are behaving in a very sociopathic manner......." Listening to his words, I wanted to laugh and at the same time rip his head off.

"Oh really?" I quirked my brow a little and gave a 'tollerating you' smile.

"You have it all figured out dontcha?" I asked sarcasticly. Opening my mouth to speak more, I was halted by Lance's little tirade as well.

Stunned wouldn't begin to describe the reaction I had. His words were heard and sunk in, but not a sliver of reaction came from them. Well other than being irritated with him yet again, he did love to be an annoying man. He seemed to really enjoy hurting people. And if those things had been real, I knew it would hurt deeply the way he just blurted them out as if it were nothing to be of concern about. Cold, very cold.

Looking between them both, my mind was totally blank. No smart comebacks, no memories of any of that, I was beginning to think they knew nothing of me more so than ever before. I tried to search my mind, find something to grasp onto, perhaps a face to go with the wild tale he was spinning, but nothing happened.

"Well.. It is aparent to me you both enjoy making someone feel small and insignificant as well. Thanks for the sweet walk down memory lane Lance, commendable speech." Shaking my head, I turned back towards the door, but didn't walk out just yet.

What if the things he said were true? Aside from the bullshit of me burying my own memories, could that nightmare really be true? It sounded too far fetched to me, but in the few short months of being able to move about, I had seen some weird things.

"The only reason I know my own name is because Mongrel told me it was Arianna. And even that could be a lie. And then I meet hardass over there and he calls me Aria. Says he knows me, but hey! wants me dead." I chuckled softly but it lacked all humor. "I don't recall a husband or a child, and not sure I believe I had either. Vampires can't have children!" I stressed that point.

"Mongrel lies easily, Lance could lie just as well. He is a little spiteful since meeting up with me." I turned back to face them both, "When you are done playing saint and savior, I'd like to go now. I dont trust anyone, especially a cold ex-friend and some stranger with an ego issue." I tapped my nails on my hip as I waited. Having no idea what I was waiting for really, I just had a feeling something was coming.

I had to admit he was good at what he did. His spiteful little remarks and mocking laughter almost managed to piss me off and cause him some harm. But I realized he wasn't worth it. Neither of them were. I was tired, I was hungry and I was sick of not knowing anything important about myself. He almost broke me down with that little sob story, almost. I knew I had to just blow it off and forget about it. Nothing that terrible could be true.

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Vladamir Trepes

He started the plane toward it's descent towards the airport closest to the the area he beleived Mongrel was in. He should find out about that address the guy had. Might lead him closer.

"What about that address you got? It may be a trap. If that's true I've got to clean it out. either way you should look into any leads, right?"

 

[poohlive]

That was why he never felt she deserved what was on her fingers. Such a rash and inhumane woman. Able to just kill, or forget as easy as if nothing happened. With just a flick of some fucking little switch she would be absolved of anything she had ever done.
The world was against it. Everything was everyone else's fault except hers. She was the princess on the pedastal, while everyone else moved through the blank fog of sin.
"Yeah, I knew you would react that way. It's the way you always react. Like water off a duck's back. Nothing gets to you, nothing phazes you. You run away whenever there's any sort of confrontation. Always running Aria. Always running."
Lance stood up, despite the dizzy motion that went up to his head the minute he did it. He had to hold onto both of the seats just to stand up straight.
"You ran away from me when things got complicated. You ran away from Mongrel when his truth got complicated, and now, now you are running away from yourself. From the truth. How long are you going to keep running? How long must you feel that you are the only one able to take the burden of life by yourself before you will ever let anyone help you?"
He took a step towards her, still holding onto the seats, his grip white with desperate strength.
"I can't force you to do anything, and believe me I don't want to. If chance ever came up, I would just as easily never see you again. That ring made a promise with me though, even if you didn't. It promised to help and protect me, to keep me in times of solitude and sorrow. You know why you couldn't kill me back in Melbourne? Why even after the run down with the police, you couldn't put a fucking bullet in my brain? Because there's still that promise running around in your brain. It's still there, unknown to you, but running just the same."
He grabbed onto her shoulder, hoping to turn her around, "Don't believe me? Try to kill me. Put a bullet in my head right now. Save yourself another assasin after your head, or whatever excuse you need to give in order to pull the trigger. Stand up for once in your pathetic life and do something besides running the fuck away."

 

[poohlive]

Keith

A slight concern crept over his face. He looked at the man with a sort of honest earnest that one didn't find much in this day and age. He was trying to judge him, judge his intentions, his motives behind all of this. He could be some sort of vigilante out for blood, or just a vampire killer with no remorse at all.
Keith didn't know. This man wasn't telling him everything. A selective truth. Picking and choosing facts to dangle just out of his reach, while he continued to follow the man, right off a cliff.
Then again, he was the only clue that Keith had to any sort of facts in opening this case. Thie man knew everything, and on top had killed vampires. This was a secret ace in his pocket that he had been looking for.
Could he trust the man?
Did he really have a choice?
Fuck, what a question.
"Let's go together," He offered, "I need your help, you need mine. It would seem beneficial for us to team up, at least for this little excursion. Maybe you could even show me a thing or two along the way."
He buckled in, dreading the landing they were about to endure.

 

[poohlive]

(I'm doing this for several reasons. One, let the people know just what it outside, despite the fact that it won't attack for a little bit. I'll make up some excuse to hold them off, I'm good at that. Two, I need more bad guys that aren't just one dimensional npc's. More meanies to take in the fight, which will be a big factor later in the story. And three... I need a spy in Mongrel's group, and since as of now, I only have Willow in there, it would seem pretty obvious who it is. This way, no one really knows for sure. Just like me to be dubious isn't it... Well, at least I told you there was a spy. Take what you can get... Jeez. So ungrateful. Normally I don't say a thing. Whatever)

Hee hee.


Sebulba's flash of razor sharp bone white teeth glinted off the incoming moonlight that splashed over the eastern seaboard. It danced in his canines like nothing ever had before, making crazy swirls that caught anyone's attention. Children began crying whenever he flashed that smile, women suddenly finding themselves uncomfortable, men stirring in their seat.
It showed all his teeth. All the way to the back, the molars shone just as white and pretty as the incisors. Each and every one as deadly as the next. That smile showed he wanted to rip your heart out and eat it, watching as the blood dripped done bone white gleaming teeth, still caged inside that smile.
The cheshire smile.
The cheshire moon.
"Sir, it's here."
Sebulba couldn't help but turn to watch the helicopter lower down a crate big enough to hold a piano. It rocked back and forth swaying as it's descent to the runway came to a close. It came down with a final bump, as the cable slacked and someone ran over to dismantle the cable.
The wood bent, threatening to break. Something inside pushed out, causing the wood to splinter and break in two. Sebulba cracked one of his insane smiles, watching this.
"The collar."
It looked more like a belt than a collar. Metal in design, huge strap of metal that formed around in an open circle, handed to him. A little insurance policy just in case Robert decided to tear one of the little hostages limb from limb. A dog leash, with a little eletrical shock.
Although, when dealing with Robert, no one ever used the word little.
No one.
The top end of the crate seemed to explode, as shards of fresh pine scattered about the pavement that encompassed them. Sebulba jumped into action, flying high into the air, the collar in both hands, waiting for the perfect time.
He reached out with a leg, kicking the thing square in the jaw. He winced at that, slightly. It felt like hitting a piece of rock. The thing staggered back, but as Sebulba fell back down to the ground, he was almost positive the stagger was more of surprise than actual pain.
His legs caught on the side of the box, where a jagged edge caught him from falling into the crate with the monster, or back down to the pavement, as useless as before. He thanked himself for being so lucky. He was now eye to eye with the beast, lunging out with the dog collar, and in the moment of confusion, wrapping it around the beast.
A tremendous arm came up, hitting him. He felt as if a car had crashed into his side, falling several feet before landing hard on his ass in the runway below.
Grimacing, he gave as light thumbs up for the process to commence.
Robert crashed through the minimal side of the crate, lunging after the man who had given him a swift kick, but the collar gave a slight buzz, weakening the beast. He bent down to his knees, as his hands flailed about the piece of metal to no avail.
"You do listen, I take it," Sebulba rose to his feet, brushing off the pieces of wood that had come across his dress.
Robert stopped flailing, the buzzing only an echo at the airport. His eyes, now filled with tears, looked back up at Sebulba.
A whipped pup. Very good indeed.
"We have a bit of a job for you. I do trust you'll be as helpful as you can."
The beast just lowered his head, the collar now heavier than it had been before. It took all his strength to keep it up, mental emotion running through him. A sense of adrenulin wanting him to do more, rage needing him to excuse the pain, but he knelt beside Sebulba, still taller than the vampire, obeying his command.
For now.
"Not as stupid as you look. I thought it would take two or three shocks to get you in line."
The beast grunted. Sebulba gave another razor sharp smile. The very kind that seemed most appropriate in times like this. A smile of chanced opportunity, and ritualistic humiliation. What a time to be alive.
Or undead, if that's your choosing.