NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: If you want to join this thread, please TM me first.
Kade...

Kade wake up....

Kade...

"Wha?" A woman rolled over from her back on the hard cement ground. Her cheek was caught in the coldness of the floor as she pushed herself up on her elbows. Her moist skin was fair, ill illuminated by the dim light that barely cut through the boarded up windows. Her slender hand brushed away her tangled hair from her face, revealing two deep hazel eyes, lighter toward the pupil. A ring of black lined the iris as if looking up from a well. Her eyes flickered open to meet a man standing at the crumbling doorway with skin so pale that it was as if he had never seen the light of day before.

She looked up to him momentarily, her thin black shirt pulled up a bit by her hand as she met his piercing. The soft yet sheer cloth fell in layers over her. Her black jeans fit loosely around her waist. Yet for her unkempt appearance, one thing could be most noted. There was some of this material wrapped around her neck loosely, falling just above her collarbone. His eyes shifted toward it, and caught a glimpse of a metal.

A thick gold necklace was displayed upon her neck, tight, though not enough to be considered a chocker. It was unmistakably old, as it was tarnished in a few places. It was concealed by the fabric that she wore like a scarf, however, only in a few places as she was caught unaware.

Strips of leather were wrapped around her index and midle finger once. It travelled up to a thick gold bracelet, more like a shackle than a peice of jewelry. The leather wrapped around half way up the forearm. Both arms seemed mirror images of each other, except for a deep gash upon her upper arm on her left.

She peered through the darkness until her eyes finally settled upon the identity of the man in the doorway. She got to her feet, and tilted her head. Before she could say a word, the man spoke. "Kade," he said, his voice deep and commanding. His straight white hair fell over the corner of his eyes, but they were still unmistakably scarlet. "Quite a place you have here." He placed his hands on one of the shelves lined with old tattered books. The weak wood snapped and it collapsed. If it hadn't then, than maybe the next day. "Looks more like a crypt than a home, wouldn't you say?"

The woman turned her gaze upon the books. "I would, for a crypt is like what it has become. Harboring the wicked for many sleepless nights." She walked toward him slowely, her hand passing along a pillar that looked as if it had gone through three wars.

"You're the only one whom dwells here," he returned with a half-hearted smile. "You're far from the title of wicked, and it is doubtful that you should be labeled that. You find in this place?" He chuckled to himself, however his laughter was stifled by her words.

"There is no rest for the wicked," she replied, drawing nearer. "And I suppose a demon would be more accomadated to such a place." She taunted him, her eyes delving into his.

"Half, mind you." He said, tilting his head down and looking toward her from the top of his eyes. "And I don't prefer to live in places such as this. I make my home at the mansion."

"And you're welcome there?" She scoffed, knowing very well that he was considered a tool, and nothing more. "And why bother me now, after all these years no one has disturbed this place."

"Because, I come on anothers' business..."

"Like I didn't realize that? Your the masters' bitch. He could snap you in two if he wanted to." With that he stepped toward her, his figure towering over her. Rage in his eyes, but which soon dimmed.

"No," he replied, with a slight twinge of fading anger in his tone. "He has given up the rule to her." He smiled slightly. "She needs you."

She laughed at his words, and placed her hand on his chest, pushing him back slightly, for he did not resist. "And what do I owe to her? Nothing! And I'll give her nothing in return. " She turned from him, and began to walk away until his hand stopped her.

"You owe her life," he said, his demeanor darkening. "Wouldn't it feel good to get rid of that old debt yet to be repayed that weighs so heavily upon your shoulders?"

The woman paused for a moment. Various thoughts ran through her head, until finally, she turned around. "What does she need me for?" She walked back toward him, still by the doorway. He ripped the fabric from her neck, exposing the necklace. His crimson eyes peered into hers.

"Do you need an explaination?" He asked, running his hand along the gold. He turned, and went through the doorway. Kade followed.
http://hometown.aol.com/kattsmm8/images/kade.jpg

Kade followed her guide briskly, but many questions sparked her curiousity, and she had to press on. "Where are we going?" she asked lightly, as the man began to pick up pace.

"We are going to Melnor," he said with a slight hesitation, picking exactly what words to spay as if the wrong one meant death. "I need to meet someone there---"

"The city of darkness?! Are you mad?" She asked, stopping immediately. The man in front of her whirled around as he noticed her reaction. She stepped toward him, her sharp nail pressing straight on his chest, blood trickleing down from his exposed skin. "You know how heavily guarded it is? Now I may dwell in a place as dark and dank as a crypt, but going straight into such darkness is not a task that I plan on executing."

"We must go," he said forcefully. "I must meet someone there. I can't leave you alone. There are many whom would like to get a hold on you, and whom easily can if I am not around."

"What are you going to do?" She asked, taking her hand away from his chest, and watching the wound close up. "Bleed on them?" She pressed the matter to no end. "What protection could demon...no not even a demon, possibly give me?" Her hazel eyes burned with seeming dominance over him.

He cast her glare a side, his eyes now flaring with a deep red. "Demonic blood runs through me strongly...whether it be only half of me, it is more than you know." His mood softened. "Trust me. I won't let anything happen to you."

"I'm not going there just for her." She said, folding her arms in defiance.The cold wind swept past them, the sky darkened with ominous clouds and the sea crashed up against the rocks.

He looked at her, then continued. "Do you ever want to be able to rest? Receive the rest from the world that you crave so badly?" He paused momentarily. "Then you'll go..." He walked toward the edge of the cliff, looking down at a terrifying drop over the ocean.

"Alright..." She followed him, then looked over the cliff. "Well, we certainly can't go this way." She looked below. Jagged rocks emerged from the icy water. At this altitude, it may have proved difficult to breath. The man didn't seem phased, and Kade had gotten used to it. She looked at the man before her. He placed his hand on the side of her face.

"You must trust me. I swear on my life, I will not let anything happen to you."

"Well, that's not a lot to swear on." She retorted, his expression darkening once more. He froze suddenly as thunder roared through the sky. He listened intently. "What is-----"

"Shhh..." he quieted her. And looked around. Suddenly he heard a cry through the sky. He looked toward her, and brought her to the ground as a ferocious looking creature swept down over them.

"Griffin..." she said softly. "What? They are not present in this land!" She exclaimed, as both struggled to their feet.

"Unless someone sent them..." he replied. He watched as two more emerged from the sky. The three circled over head, preparing an attack they couldn't escape. There was only one option that lay before them. "Jump, Kade."

"Wha---" before Kade could protest, he had pushed her from the cliff. The deformed creature swooped down, seeking the falling girl. The man, however, had jumped after. In mid air, he turned around, falling head first toward the ground like an eagle. He twisted around and removed two guns from underneath his trenchcoat. He immediately fired at the nearest one, rapidly firing. Feathers fell from the griffin as it wing was shot by numerous bullets.It hit the side of the cliff, unable to control it's flight anylonger. He reloaded, his action almost too fast for the eye to see.

The second lunged at him, it's beak trying to grab his neck. It's tallons sliced through his chest, one claw embedded in his side. He shot up toward the griffen's head as it released it's grip in pain.

He fired with one gun as he holstered the other and threw his lighter up toward the bird, firing a shot. The lighter exploded, setting the beast a blaze. Apparently that wasn't an ordinary liquid. He dropped his gun, and unlatched a sword from his back. He hurled it through the air sending it screaming through the griffin's heart.

He turned to see Kade, just hundreds of feet away from the ground. He dove towards her like a hawk, catching her in his arms, and landing hard on a small bit of flat ground between the jagged rocks.. This was followed by enormous waves as the creatures screamed as they were thrown into the ocean. Water swept over them. The dust cleared, and the man remained standing, with Kade in his arms. She opened her eyes, and he set her down quickly. His sword fell from the sky, slamming into the rock. He pulled it hard, and relatched it to his back.

"Will you come with me?" he asked her, raising his eyebrow. A large gash seared across his chest, his trenchcoat open and revealing the gash. A sharp talon was embedded in his side and he pulled it out, grunting in pain. He quickly closed his trenchcoat, so as not to worry her as pain swelled through his body.

"Will you be alright?" She asked, looking somewhat concerned, though she attempted to hide it.

"Will you come with me?" he repeated, not answering her.

"Lead the way." she said, finding new confidence in this stranger. She, however, still remained skeptical on how much protection he could provide in Melnor. So he's a good shot and he could on the ground from heights. Big deal. What good would that do her?

They hiked along the thin line of jagged rocks on the coast line. The man occasionally looked back to the woman, making sure she did not fall, nor ran off. Eventually, after a long walk, they reached flat land. His boot settled on the firm, nutrient draind ground as he offered his hand to help her. She refused, jumped from them and onto the ground. He shrugged and continued on.

Who is this man? Really... She thought to herself. He doesn't seem like the type to hang around with the likes of [i]him. Nor even to be a messenger of him... Her pace quickened. She then realized that after all this time, she had no knowledge of his name...yet he knew hers...

"What is your name?" She asked, now walking beside him, her shirt stained with blood from the wound across his chest when he had caught her. "You know mine...but I've never met you before?"

"My name is of no importance." He said, looking up at the sky momentarily. "I know yours very well indeed. I've heard the stories of you. I've heard of what you have done, and I was sent to find you...as well as two others. Now, how did you label me a messenger in the first place, as well as my heritage?"

"You've heard the stories," she replied. There was something about him. Something blocked. She couldn't put her finger on what it was.

"True," he said, then continued walking. "But you'll have to do more than guess professions." He said softly.

"You're a bounty hunter, aren't you?" She asked, slowing. Her soft pink lips were parted slightly, taking in a light breath of air.

"I am," He replied, cleaning off the blood from his sword as he walked with a small rag. "But not today, nor the next. Possibly in a month or two...but not now."

In the distance, across the ocean, there was a dark cloud and presense gathering over an island. Lighting crackled as both the hybrid and Kade looked toward the land. Melnor She thought to herself, and shivered. He removed his trenchcoat, and placed it around her shoulders.

"Won't you be cold?" she asked. He looked at her, and smiled. The gash had healed over, but the skin was red an irritated.

"Most probably," he replied. "Yes." He looked off in the distance. "But that is of no importance right now." Melnor

Kade looked at the man before her as if he were crazy. How did she play into all this? Sure...she did have her "abilities", but how could they ever be useful unless..."Who are we meeting at Melnor?" she asked, looking out across the ocean at the distant land to which they were destined.

"We are meeting someone, and that is all you need to know," the man replied as he followed her gaze to the island. "Come on..." He said, and began walking toward the shore line. Kade followed reluctantly behind him. He stopped at the edge of the water as the waves stole the sand to harvest it in the ocean. He paused for a moment. "There is a ridge, a series of rocks running from here to Melnor underneath this pane of water. It's a three hour journey until we get across. It is not dangerous unless you disturb the water more so than walking, so don't do anything of the sort."

"I know of the ridge," she replied hautily. "You don't have to tell me about danger in this area."

"Times have changed since you went to sleep Kade. You never thought you'd see a griffin here...don't you wonder what else has awoken."

"No." She replied. The man turned with her with a sigh, grabbing her wrist tightly to start her along the journey.

The sun was covered by dark clouds, and the further they traveled, the more vicious the sea became. It's waves reached out like bony hands to seize them in their icy grip. The air tore past them, trying to cut their skin. Kade pulled the trench coat around her tightly, and looked at the man in front of her yet again in amazement. He must be so cold... She thought to herself, and continued on.

Melnor... the name repeated in his mind over and over relentlessly. Melnor: A city hungry for death. If they see her...how eager they are to get one of them. Anyone with even foresight...but her. I must protect her at all costs... He continued on, trying to ignore the restless wind.

Kade followed closer to the man in front of her as they approach Melnor. They were but a few miles away. "Won't they see us?" she asked, a slight bit concerned.

"No," he replied sharply. Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled. He held on to her, steading her so she would not fall. He looked toward the sky, and heard a familiar cry ring out. "Shit...there's more. Kade, dive down."

"I can't breathe!" She said, tearing away from him. "And I don't need you're hel---" Kade fell unsteady, and fell from the ridge, plumeting into the water. The man turned directly after her, but the griffin caught his eye. It's feathers were badly burnt, and he realized it was not another, but the same as before.

"Don't you ever die?" he asked, immediately taking the sword from it's sheath upon his bare back. The two sized eachother up. His blade against the creatures tallons. It swooped toward him as he leapt into the sky, over it, and landed on it's back. He stood perpendicular to it's spine, riding it as it gained altitude. He thrusted the sword through it's spine and pulled it out. The griffin spun, throwing him into the restless sea. He latched it to it's sheath underwater. Then, only one thing came to mind. Kade.

He dove down deeper. It seemed to take forever for him to reach the bottom. His eyes glowed red, and his demonic heritage became aparent. Kade's vision was fuzzy, and all she could see was someone coming towards her. The man lifted her from the bottom, bringing her to the top.They surfaced as he hoisted her up upon the ridge, pulling himself up too. Of the griffen but two feathers remained, floating on the surface.

"Kade..." he said, looking her over. He ran his hand through her hair, placing it then upon her forehead. There was still a pulse...there was still hope. Hesitantly, he placed his lips to hers, breathing within her hope of life. There was no response. He did it again, and pulled away as he felt her heartbeat slow. "No..." He looked toward her. Suddenly, she coughed, and he helped her sit up. "Kade..."

"I don't need your help..." she looked toward him, her hair in tossled strands matted by the water across her skin. His trench coat was still around her, yet soaked, and most probably ruined. He didn't seem to notice.

"Are you al---" before he could ask her, he felt the warm sensation of her lips upon his, now alive with life. She pulled away, and looked at the hybrid, whom stood up. "Come on..." he said, turning from her.

That's it?! she thought to herself in utter amazement. She followed, regaining her dark demeanor. Such nerve...

The man continued on, shifting his thoughts from her as best he could.

(Well written.)

It was nightfall by the time they had reached the outskirts of Melnor. Kade stood in awe of the darkness. Never had she seen a place like this before. She had gazed at it from a distance before, but she had never been on this land. The man in front of her did not seem worried. his sword was gripped tightly in his hands. It would seem that he would belong in this place. While Kade was accustomed to darkness, nothing could compare to this. Before them stood a citadel, though not crumbling like the crypt she had called home.

"We must be quick and unseen. If you...if we are seen we will most likely be taken, tortured, then burned alive. Any questions?" He asked, looking toward the citadel.

"I have no weapons..." she said softly. "How am I supposed to defend myself if the worst happenes?" She shifted towards him.

He turned to face her, no smile upon his face, but a look of scorn. "First of all, you have means enough to defend yourself, so don't come over all weak on me. Second of all, you could have breathed underwater, you wouldn't have drowned. Third off all, you could have landed that jump off that cliff without me having to catch you. So when you play games such as the one you are now, it makes me think how twisted you really are. I need to meet someone. Let's go." He began walking toward the dark city The outer walls were black like hardened lava. No one stirred outside but an occassional guard. Inside the citadel screams could be heard as well as a variety of others mixed in the smell of rotting flesh.

Kade followed without hesitation. "I would have survived that fall..." was all she said.

(ooc: I feel tiny)

The raven had been following them in a secure distance since it had seen them beeing attacked by the griffins. It's black feathers shone dark blue with the gloomy light of the setting sun.
The deep, black, intelligent eyes were focused upon the the two beeings entering Melnor, the place were all the good smellings came from.
The raven's instincts screamed to land and eat, the last meal had been too long ago but it's mind told it to be carefull. This was a dangerous place and the raven surely was not the simply animal that it seemed to be. It wouldn't listen to it's instincts, not yet.

And still there were the two beeings. They would be a good meal if they finally died. So the raven continued following them; soundless it hovered high above their heads, it's instincts waiting for the chance to taste their flesh while it's mind waited for the chance to taste...something different. This surely was not a simple animal.

The man lead the way glancing back behind him with a feeling that someone...or something was following. He hesistated, then continued on. "Speak to no one...be seen by no one Kade. You're too important to lose." He glanced at her, running his hand along the gold necklace upon her neck. The details were of high quality, and it surely wasn't a peice of costume jewelry. Both knew what it was...and it would forever belong to Kade until the time came that she would give it up to her. "It would be in both our best interests if you do well to cover that...now."

She pulled the long sheer black strand of fabric around her neck once more, and his trench coat around her even closer. She looked at his back, seemingly flawless, but there was a marking running across his back, a tatoo of somesort... she had seen it somewhere before, but couldn't recall where from. "Where do we go from here?" she asked. "Where are you supposed to meet this person.

"Into the North Tower up ahead. That is where we meet them." He said, continuing on. He paused for a moment, stopping suddenly, and looking around. "Kade...hide." He said to her, and pointed her in the direction of a small crevice shrouded in shadows. She immediately was consumed by the darkness, and watched.

"What the hell is he doing?" She asked as he looked around. She felt something to. She placed her hand to her temple, then in a flash screamed out to him. "Look out!"

The man's eyes widened, and he took heed to her warning, unsheathing his sword. Not a second later did a round of arrows soar at him as he deflected the first three with his sword. Two peirced through his chest, then there was a slight break. He gripped the arrows and tore them out. He snapped them in his hand and let them fall to the ground only to bring his sword up to slash one of his assailants. Seven...no thirteen...no twenty... They surrounded him in a circle as he was forced to the ground. His hand were bound as he was hauled up by two holding him.

His crystal-ice eyes looked up to meet the dark cold eyes of another, whom seemed to be of high rank amongst the group as dark lines seared across his blackened skin. "Well well well." he said in observance. "What do we have here..." He observed the captive man, then finally reached a verdict. "Of no use to us." He unsheathed his great sword from his side, the blade rusted and dull. He tore it through the captives chest, as the others dropped him. He watched to see the pain invoked by his blade.

The man looked up from his knees, the blade through his chest. His short white hair blown back by the wind. He gripped the blade, and removed it from himself, looking up defiantly. His eyes flashed red, as he begun to stand up, but they were already on him.

"My...such power. And that wound on your chest healing quite quickly. Those eyes..." he circled him, then took immense note of the tatoo on the back. "Demon, if I'm not mistaken." He looked at him, folding his hands across his chest. "Why are you here?"

The man did not respond right away, but stair his captor down, his eyes returning to their natural blue state. "I will rip out your heart and feed it to the birds by the time I'm on my way off this island."

"That doesn't answer my question, nor are you in a position to be making threats."

"What about promises?" He retorted, narrowing his eyes. He received a strike across his face for the retort.

"Take him into the dungeon...chain him there to die, whether hunger or torture kills him first...I don't care. He will never see the light of day again." The elder turned from him. As soon as he turned around, the man's eyes came up momentarily to meet anothers. There was another amongst the crowd, with a scarf pulled around their mouth, and their identity concealed. Only a pair of violet eyes shown back at him, blinking once. With that he hung his head...and was taken by five of the guards toward the north tower...then followed by the stranger.

The elder looked around. "Someone called to him. A female..." He looked toward the darkness. "Find her..." The guards searched. Kade watched her guide being taken away... The sword did not kill him...he...seems so confident. That tatoo...

"Gotcha!" A voice declared as she was pulled from her hiding place. She received a blow to the abdomen, but did not hesitate to place her hands on the man's head and sending him searing in pain to the ground. The elder rushed to her and caught her hands.

"Well," he said. "To whom do I owe the pleasure of restricting?" He cackled, his eyes looking Kade over. His eyes soon fell upon her. Then sudden pain...then darkness.

The last thing that she saw was the darkness behind them, and the North tower ahead.

The raven watched the scene from his position high above their heads. Soon you can taste their flesh it's instincts called in anticipated joy. At the moment the raven's mind was silent, there was no need to control the instincts. Soon it would change.

In extensive curves the raven descended from the sky down to the roof of the tower.

The man was chained into a cell, brought into the deepest dungeons reserved for the most wicked. The shackles upon his hands constricted his wrists so much that it pained him. The bars slammed behind the guards as they exited. He waited until the guards left. His eyes glowed a deepened red as he kicked off from the ground and began his work on the chains.

A quard came by and opened the door. He stopped momentarily, watching the guard come in, with seemingly no weapons. He recognized it to be the "stranger" he had seen when he was taken. He smiled as the stranger removed the scarf shrowding her identity.

"Aurora," he said with a smile. "It took you long enough."

"I enjoyed seeing you finally taken out by someone," she said. her violet eyes looked into his as she began undoing the shackles.

"You know they wouldn't have if I would have put up a fight..." he said lightly in a casual tone.

"I know, but still amusing." she undid the last shackle, and he landed on his feet, rubbing his wrists. "So, Mr. Versai. What do you need me for other than rescuing you?"

He paced around her as he had done Kade, and held up her wrist. A gold bracelet lay across her wrist. "Because she needs you." He looked at Aurora. "Did you get my weapons?"

"Yes," she handed him his two pistols as well as his sword. "I'll wait for you on the eastern coast."

The man smiled in reply. "You're way ahead of me." He paused for a moment. "Kade!" he remarked. "Where is Kade, Aurora?" He asked.

"Kade?" she questioned. "They have Kade here? Who the hell dragged her here?" She looked at the man, whom flinched slightly. "If they find out who she is..."

"I know, I know." he replied. "Now what if they find out whom you are, get out of here!" He commanded.

"If you think I'm really going to leave and go off to the eastern coast without helping, then you're crazy." She said, crossing his path to prevent him from exiting. He looked at her, and smiled.

"Old memories are hard to forget," he said moving toward her. He placed his hand on the side of her face. "Aurora...wait for me. Please." he looked down at her, her violet eyes met his ice blue, and slowely she nodded.

"Alright." She silently made her way out the door, followed swiftly by the man. He rushed up the stairs, and reached a window half way up. He looked out upon the citadel, and jumped.
____

Kade woke up with her hands bound, voices could be heard. The elder stood in front of her. When he noticed that the girl had awoken, he smiled. "Have a nice sleep?" He questioned, his smile black and decaying.

"Wonderful," she said, looking at him, concealing her fear.

"You did something to one of my men," he said, pacing back and forth. "He's still in pain, not able to tear his hands from his head. Who are you."

"My name is of no importance." she said softly. He brought the sword to her throat, and grinned.

"You're no demon, are you?"

"No."

"Then this will surely kill you, won't it?" His eys caught the scarf around her neck, and slowely he undid it, reavealing the gold neclace. "No one, eh? Kade, we've been wanting you for quite a while veruki."

Her eyes widened, and something flashed before her. "What do you plan to do?"

"Well," he said. "When your foresight is mine, and that glorious peice of jewelry is around my neck, you will be dead my dear."


http://hometown.aol.com/kattsmm8/images/aurora.jpg

The raven, sitting on the roof of the tower, saw one of the two it had been following, the man it recognized, jumping out of a window.
Parts of the raven’s mind wanted to follow him; this was it’s prey. Other parts told it that the woman still was inside of the building she had been brought to* and that the man would surely survive for some more time (at least he had managed to escape from the tower) while the woman would die soon. So the raven had to hurry if it wanted to get what it needed.
With a sound of displeasure the raven spread out his wings and swung itself down into the deepth.


*[she isn’t in the tower, is she?]

[Yes she is.]

Kade watched as they gathered around her, the elder still holding the knife to her throat. Her hazel eyes glanced at the window...then a vision. She looked at the door. "Are you ready to die little one?" the elder asked her, savoring every moment of this.

"Are you?" She asked almost inaudibly. She closed her eyes, keeping her head straight forward.

"As I told your friend," he said firmly. "You're not in a position to be making threats."

A loud crash was heard as glass shattered down from the ceiling. The man landed on the ground, unharmed. He slowely brought his blood red eyes up to meet the elder. "What about promises?" he asked.

"Kill him." he commanded still holding the knife to the girl.

The man looked around him. In his right hand he weilded a blade that she had seen before, the one he had used to destroy the griffin. IN his left hand, however, was a blade that she had never laid her eyes upon...something no one had. He brought both blades around, cutting the air. Then, it began. He brought the blade around to slice at the stomach of one, whom fell easily. They're....human... He though to himself, then immediately dropped his right blade and removed a pistol from his belt. He rapidly fired...and none was left alive save the dying, and Kade...and the elder. The man looked toward the elder holding Kade.

"Who are you?" he asked. The man walked toward him, and looked directly into the eyes. "You're...." The man snapped his neck before he could answer, the knife realeased from his hand.

Kade looked toward him. "I didn't need your help...."

Then, something was heard at the door, and voices could be heard. The man grabbed Kade into his arms, and crashed though the glass window. Looking back, more had burst into the room...all but to late.

The raven, unaware of their escape, entered the building through a small open window high above the ground. It landed inside and looked round as if to make sure nobody else was there.
Then something happened to the raven; it grew and while it grew the wings became arms, the claw-feet became legs and feet, the beak disapeared and was replaced by a human face. Only the black eyes stayed. After a few seconds the raven had turned into a woman with short black hair and dressed in a long black coat.
She listened to the sounds in the building and again followed her instincts leading her to a corridor at the next level.
She moved carefully, this was a very dangerous place, even for her. When she reached the corridor she peeped around the corner to see a man guarding a half opened door. Behind this door she heared the sounds that had attracted her.

Now or never she said to herself, her black eyes turned to a light blue, her pale lips became red before she entered the corridor.

As she had expected the guard ordered her to stop but she continued to approache. She didn't do this in an aggressive way of course, she knew how to disatract a man from his duty.

"I sayd: Stop!" the guard repeated but this time much less convincing than before.

"Why so aggressive, my handsome boy? I won't do you any harm," she smiled seductive, "...unless you ask for it."
The man swallowed and stared at her. "I ..erm...you..."
"Don't say a word." the woman whispered. Finally she had reached him and placed her hands onto his cheeks. "Don't say a word."
She pressed her lips onto his. He shivered slightly and fell to the ground when she retreated her hands.
She spat out. :? "It's currious what you all do when you are hungry." she murmurred, then she stepped over the dead body on the floor and opened the door.

"Shit!"
The ones she were facing now were not the ones she had been looking for.

Kade looked up at the man as he dropped to the ground. He set her down. "Come on," he said to her. "We must hurry. My friend is waiting on the eastern bank. Run, Kade." The two ran as fast as they could, the man looking back occasionally to make sure that she was keeping the pace.

"That man recognized who you were..." she began, pressing the subject of his identity even more.

"Must have heard of me..."

"So you're some type of legend?" She asked.

"No," he said simply. "I am just a person...a messanger really."

"Messenger?" A voice was heard from ahead of them. Aurora stepped out of behind a tree. Her violet eyes mimicked him as they stopped, just reaching the the end of the trees and the beginning of the coast. "You a messanger? Honestly, Dante."

"Dante?" Kade asked in suprise. "the Dante? The slayer of his own kind with a reputation to match. The living ledgend..."

"Well you are a ledgend yourself, if you think about it enough." Dante said with a smile. "And I am far from a ledgend, and don't value anything in becoming one. That is not one of my asperations in life. Now you Kade, we must get out of here..."

"To where do we travel," Aurora spoke up. "You know the reason that I'm going with...both of you." Her lavender eyes toward to the demonic hybrid whom note her with a slight nod. Kade saw this, and fire burned within her, though she could not grasp the reason why.

"We travel to a place you all know and love...and have not seen for quite some time. It is a place where we will find the last that dwells out of our reach;for the moment. The anceint ruins of Opira."

"Well what are we going to do there? Who could possibly complete the triad. It's not yourself, is it?" KAde chimed in.

"No," he replied. "As I said..." he looked directly at Aurora. "I'm just the messenger."

(no reactions :( ? )

(no reactions :( ? )
?

On this:
"Shit!"
The ones she were facing now were not the ones she had been looking for.

(only controlling Dante, Aurora, Kade...and...??? The NPC's are up to you for a reaction...how about a twist?)

"Miss," a man said, kneeling before her. "I'm sorry...they've escaped us." He bowed his head in shame, his black hair shortly fell over his eyes, one battered and black. "The one with foresight was here...she escaped with a demon; hunter of his own kind."

( :shock: :o :) :D :lol: that's a twist of a twist!)

She stared at the man, obviously surprised.

"Umm..." she decided to make the very best out of this and made an angry face."That's bad. It would be better for you if you get them back." she shouted. "And now..go on!" she turned around as if she were frustated and left the room. Once she was outside and had closed the door she began to run. She only stopped when she reached a window and tried to open it.
When they left the room the would find the dead man in front of it. She didn't want to wait untill this happened.
The fourth window was not locked, she opened the wings of the window jumped out and turned back into the raven while she fell.

The "one with foresight" (what ever this meant) and the "demon" had escaped. This didn't mean more than a delay, sooner or later she would get them. And at least this made the hunting interesting.

While the raven flew through the dark sky looking for it's prey, the woman asked herself what this "the one with foresight" may mean. This would defenitely become interesting.

There! A movement caught the raven's attention. Two persons, running towards a small forest at the coast. Again the raven followed them, it's black feathers merging in the darkness. Then a third person stepped in their way.
Soundless the raven landed at the top of a nearby tree. This seemed to be some kind of a planned meeting. The raven decided to sit and listen...perhaps it would hear something interesting; the meal wouldn't run away.

It was there that they stopped for the night. Kade had fallen asleep, and Dante sat nearby, watching the crackling fire. Aurora looked at him, and slowely stepped toward him, her hand caressing his shoulder. Her long brown hair fell sick straight behind her. At first sight even, it was easy to tell...this was not their first encounter.

"What troubles your mind?" He asked her, slowely turning to face her. His natural blue eyes countering the violet within hers.

"You..." she said softly. "You plague my mind every day of my existance. What we had so long ago---"

"Is past," he cut her off. "Over, Aurora. It has been for five years. Things have not changed." She said nothing more, broken by his words, but what could she expect from him. She laid down and went to sleep, but he stayed awake...

The women slept - this meant that there wouldn't be anything interesting to hear this night. The raven thought about the options; wait and follow them to see what or who they would meet at the ruins or to have a nice meal tonight.
Finally the instincts -and the hunger- won. With a slight rustle the raven left the tree and landed on the ground where it turned into the woman. To finish the demon would be a bit tricky but not impossible and then...

She aproached the fire and Dante from behind, trying not to make any noise. Then a 'crack', she looked down and cursed her carelessness, she had stepped onto a dry twig.

Dante stood, but did not turn around. Kade gently awoke to see Aurora asleep by the fire, and Dante as well as another woman adressing him. She remained silent, and watched. The tatoo on the man's back seemed to haunt her. She had seen it before...but where?

"Now tell me," he began. "What kind of bird follows me from the straight to the tower....and now all the way out here. A raven? Very doubtful." His sword gripped tightly in his hands as the flames reflected off the metal surface. He slowely turned around to face her.

http://publish.hometown.aol.com/barbizonmodele/images/dante.jpg

She looked at him for a moment to gather herself before she anwered. She had missed her chance for now.

"I'm here to offer you my services. I heared you are traveling to Opira. You know that it is a dangerous way?"

Dante chuckled to himself. "I don't need your help." He looked directly into her eyes...he knew at that moment, something was a miss. "Opira is a dangerous journey of two days ahead of us. I need no guide...I meet my guide there...and you are not him."

"Obviously I am not 'him'" she answered. "But the reason why I'm here is that I would really like to join your journey. I can go with you or I will follow you; and I can't guarantee that I won't make anything that could be... bad for your plans if I'm not with you. " she looked at him innocently.

He returned the innocent look. "You can join us..." he moved closer to her, his lips inches from her ears, and his voice no more than a whisper. "But if you attempt to hurt either one of them," he said, referring to Kade and Aurora, "You will meet your end by my hand and I will break every bone in your body. Savvy?"

"Sure. I never intended to hurt one of them." she said and didn't even lie. To get what she wanted she wouldn't have to hurt them; not physically of course. But she debarred herself from even thinking about this, it was obvious that this might have ... bad consequences.

Dante pulled back from her. He laid down before the fire, placed his hands behind his head, and closed his eyes. He could defend himself...she knew that. She didn't know of Kade's abilities, nor Aurora's. Hopefully, she wouldn't find out about them...

She followed him and sat down at the fire.

"You are Dante? And you," she looked at Kade," are Kade?" she formulated it more like a statement than a question.
"I am Riccar."

"I am Dante, she is Kade, and you are Riccar." he thought for a moment. "That isn't the first time I have heard that name." His eyes remained closed, but he was awake.

Kade looked at Riccar. "Yes...I'm Kade. Don't mind him. He is just...Dante."

Riccar smiled at Kade, then turned her head at Dante.

"And this is not the first time I hear your name. So we have something in common."

Dante rolled his eyes then closed them again. Kade looked at Riccar. "He's a ledgend..."

"A messenger," Dante corrected, to which Kade rolled her eyes. She had heard the stories...she knew better than that.

Again Riccar smiled and looked at the sleeping woman.

"Her name is Aurora?" this time she really asked.

"Yes," she replied. Kade wondered what the link between her and Dante was. "I think it is... I don't know much about her, except that bracelet she wears..." she exposed the necklace around her own neck. "Is a match to this. She's part of the triad." She said in explaination. "We are needed for a restoration...of her..."

"Yes," she replied. Kade wondered what the link between her and Dante was. "I think it is... I don't know much about her, except that bracelet she wears..." she exposed the necklace around her own neck. "Is a match to this. She's part of the triad." She said in explaination. "We are needed for a restoration...of her..."

"Restoration of her?" Riccar asked. This sounded interesting.

"Well, I never wanted to help her...except she...helped me out one time, and gave me my power. Foresight, you see. I guess I must help her...it isn't the most pleasant thing being in debt of a vampire...let alone her. She is a good person though...I just wish she didn't...help me." she replied softly.

(ough..mist your post)

"What a ... curious wish. Although I can somehow understand it." she sighed," Had some similar problems in the past.
But that's the second time I hear you beeing called 'the one with foresight'. What does this mean?"

"Well," she said. "It means a lot of things it means that if I---"

"Let's go." Dante said, interrupting them. We must reach the ruins by sundown. Aurora sleeply stirred, and stood up, she nodded her head in agreement.

He pulled Kade to the side. Do not tell anyone of what you can do, clear?

Crystal. she replied. But why?

He didn't reply.

Riccar sighed inwards. Why did this always happen when she was listening to something interesting? It wasn't easy to be with living ones...but sometimes the dead were even worser.

All I need to have is a bit of patience. Wether I get to know what 'the one with foresight' means or not is not as important as not to loose them. They will be tasty.

"So, lets go."

Dante lead the group, followed closely by Kade. Aurora stayed back slightly, making sure that they weren't being followed, both of Dante's pistols within her hands. They came over a small clearing, and were by a half days journey from the ruins.

Dante didn't like Riccar to say the least. He should have left her, he didn't want to be responsible for another.

Riccar followed Kade and Dante though she didn't like to have Aurora behind her where she couldn't see her. She didn't know anything about Aurora, but this was something she could deal with later, at the moment it was more important that they, more or less, trusted her.

There was only one thing that really made this march uncomftable: her feet. Damn, she wasn't used to walk such a long way. But could she leave the three? What if they decided to do something against her when she couldn't listen?
Then the fate desided for her: She oversaw a small root, her left foot was caught by it and before she could regain her balance she painfully hit the ground with her knees and hands.

"AHH!!! Shit!"

Aurora looked at the woman, her violet eyes passing over her. "You should be more careful," she said in a cold tone. She looked toward Dante, however he kept going, followed closely by Kade.
"I'm sorry, I can't help you up." she simply said, and made no effort too.

Aurora looked at the woman, her violet eyes passing over her. "You should be more careful," she said in a cold tone. She looked toward Dante, however he kept going, followed closely by Kade.
"I'm sorry, I can't help you up." she simply said, and made no effort too.

Riccar looked at Aurora's back and her whole eyes changed to black for a moment.

"No problem." she simply said, using the same cold tone Aurora had used.
She tried to get up but soon realized that she couldn't walk anymore.

So that's the answer to my question. Flying is the best way of moving

Behind the others the woman turned into a raven and swung herself with a scream up into the air.

Aurora continued on, but Dante was the one to notice the raven, and he made great note of it. She moved ahead of Kade. Dante... She placed her hand upon his shoulder, but he shrugged it off.

"Don't touch me." he said.

"You're able to handle the---"

"Don't touch me. I don't know what I can handle, and what I can't."

"You touched my skin and were unaffected, so were the elders." Kade chimed in.

"You were in a hypnotic state, and the other two times you were nearly dead and passed out." he turned around and continued on.

Riccar/the raven couldn't understand everything Dante and Kade said - and she/it cursed her/it's bird-ears - but even some words were better than nothing.

Dante seemed to be angry about Kade touching him though Riccar/the raven couldn't determine why exectly he didn't want her to touch him.

Just another secret she/it had to solve. This would become one of the most interesting experiences since .... she/it couldn't remember when something like that had happened before.
If the raven would have been able to smile this smile would have crossed it's face from ear to ear.

The party reached the ancient ruins. There were great stone buildings that lay in shambles; stones crumbling to the touch. Dante looked around...and slowely walked into the center of the former city. Aurora looked around, stretching her arms out in front of her.
"So...we gonna find him?" Aurora asked, looking at Dante. Kade placed her hand on the wall as images flashed before her. She turned left, and looked up.
"Hello Kade..." A voice said. A man with short black hair and pale skin looked down from the top of one of the buildings. "Dante...and Aurora...what glorious occasion brings you here..."
He jumped down. "My how you've grown..."Kade smiled in reply, and her hazel eyes scanned his white; without a pupil nor iris. She had seen him before.
"Zodiac," Dante said, shaking hands with him; grasping at the forearm. "She's alive."
"Is she?" Zodiac laughed. "Seems there is always someone whom needs her.
"A restoration of her....Zodiac."
"Well, I suppose I can push back my list of things to do..."

"Craa!" it sounded from behind Zodiac where the raven sat on a broken column.

"Craa!" it sounded from behind Zodiac where the raven sat on a broken column.

Dante grumbled, and grabbed both his pistols from Aurora. he glared at the bird, and rapidly fired toward it...
As the shots ended, he reloaded, and turned back. "I hate birds"... he said in explaination and cracked his neck. Zodiac had an amused expression on his face.
"you haven't changed much have you..."

Dante shot him a glare.

"Hey...respect your elders..." he said with a smile.

"Great...an anceint saying from an anceint pain in the---"

"Guys..." Aurora interrupted them. "We should get to her as quickly as possibly..."

(OOC: Maybe I should have brought Riccar into the acadamy thread? Could have been interesting lol)

The raven lay at the ground behind the column, covered from their looks. At least five bullits had hit and penetrated its body and dark blood was forming a growing viscous pool around the black feathered corpse. The black eyes stared dead into the sky, now only reflecting the light of the sun but soon they dried out and even this last bit of live seemed to leave the small body.

(*takes long stick and pokes thread* Hello? You're still alive?)

(*has no pulse*)

(Oh my God, call the writer! We need a writer here! Maybe its not too late yet!))