NationStates Jolt Archive

R-Rated Private RP

The child was thrown across the room, and through the wooden doors. He turned, and tried to run. The youth was too fast, though. With a lunge, the sword was through his lungs. A terrified scream erupted from the hill as a man ran down from the village square. "What is it you want? Money? Gold...? Please!"

The young man met the older man's eyes. "I want nothing save for my quarry to come. He was last seen here."

The older man looked shaken. "But... why are you...?"

He said no more as the youth shot a ball of energy into him, then marched up the hill. This village would soon be no more.

<=========>

A shattered, burnt husk of a township was all that remained. And sitting in the centre, amidst the bodies of the townsfolk, was their killer.

One of the dying men looked up. "Who... are you..."

"I am Damien." The youth kicked forward, and slammed his boot into the man's face. "And you are dead." Soon, Maximus would come. He was sure of it.


OOC: Pictures aren't working for some reason...

Maximus sat crossed-legged upon the cliff overhang within the western mountain range of Tarlachia, his eyes closed as he meditated upon the last 1316 years of his life...

Blood...

Maximus's eyes shot open. He carefully smelled the air again. He was right, blood was in the air. And if it had reached him all the way up here, that meant one of two things.

Vampires were killing needlessly...

...or...

Someone else was killing needlessly...
***************

CLICK FOR MAXIMUS'S PICTURE (http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0VAAUAyobUK0s1dfdenE3IkimfPVZ0iBn*rCc!VoBRPafwwaqb4xbtoIJbMlDGjnnoh3mM!3hE!xmcektlWibi3Tl!M1FkKoRqhz GpSt4tf9rcQS96lHiWTxaadOlAJg1/Maximus-final.bmp?dc=4675466041060314159)

***************

Standing, he looked down the mountain, tracing the blood trail. The murders had been done nearby, near enough to carry the scent of the sweet blood upon the wind. Maximus stepped off the cliff, but instead of hurtling downward, it was as if he were walking on air. He moved into the fast travel position and shot forward down the mountain. His passing shook the small rocks and the trees slightly as he blew past at high speed, keeping onto the trail of the blood. Finally, he landed upon a slight hill, looking downward into a village. He heard nothing, not even the barking of dogs. The smell of fire lingered in the air as well.

Something wasn't right, and this place was central to it. Maximus drew Glamdring holding it close as he walked silently down the hill toward the village...

Damien sat in the town square, facing away from Maximus. "So, you have come. I knew you would." The youth didn't even move, not even to look at his opponent. "I suppose you're wondering what's going on..."

Now he did move, standing up and facing down Maximus. "All you need to know is that I will do to you what I did to these people."

Maximus snarled. Not another one of these zealots bent on the world-wide purging of his kind...

However, when Maximus spoke, he spoke with an incredible calm, soothing voice:

"There were easier ways to call your attention to me. You did not have to kill these people. Now tell me your name, and why you desire my death."

Maximus remained where he was, over thirty feet away, yet his voice was heard loud and clear.

Something's different about this one. he thought to himself as he looked about at the mutilated and bloodied corpses that filled the street.

And all to get my attention...I wonder what he holds against me? Such hatred is obvious to see..."

Damien smirked. "My name? My name is Damien. And you are Maximus. At last we meet. For the first time. For the last time."

He drew his sword. Blue fire licked it's edge. "Your death will be swift, I promise you that." He held up his left hand, facing his palm towards Maximus. A bolt of deadly energy shot forwards.

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RwDRAg8WqSY8Co5f4DFZAVFuIWbwNXzq1iviMKpYx5r16hLN0SCvGAABtvpcCz4ANHheQT2CR3esGrR4i4h5IEbbrNunoDR7U5V hFTSX*d0/Damien.jpg

Maximus growled, baring his fangs at Damien. This youngster dared to challenge an ancient?! And somehow...Damien knew his name.

How did he come to know me?

lietha guldur!

The energy shot from Damien's hand disappated into the air, no longer a threat to Maximus.

Maximus snarled at Damien. This kid was irritating him already with his pompous attitude. Not a good sign.

"Do not be so full of yourself, young one! You have much to learn about the world! I have been on this world far longer than you can ever imagine. I have killed many like you, and even those worse than you. You will soon see the foolishness of angering me!"

Maximus rose off the ground and called out in a loud voice:

Tintila, kemen!!

Suddenly, the earth under Damien began to quake greatly, shaking the village with considerable force. A large fault could be seen tearing open the ground and headed straight for Damien from behind. As it raced jaggedly toward him, it began swallowing some of the murdered villagers in its gaping fault, sending them to the bowels of the Earth.

Damien's form flickered, and he appeared on the roof of a nearby building. "Hiya, indeed." The youth smiled. "I know exactly who you are, Maximus." The young man leapt down from his perch, and faced Maximus down.

"And I assure you, your threats are meaningless, old one. You will die. And you will die here." Damien held his two hands together, starting to charge up more chi energy.

Maximus couldn't help but laugh in Damien's face.

"You are an arrogant one aren't you?!"

Maximus could see the forming chi energy in Damien's hands.

The earth continued to rumble below them loudly, strongly. Maximus was about to start incanting his next spell when all of a sudden, the earth below the two of them suddenly gave way and collapsed into the interior of the planet, sinking into the abyss below quickly.

For once, Maximus was glad he had fast vampiric reflexes. He leaped for the nearest building, quickly scrambling to the rooftop. Once on top he began bounding quickly from rooftop to rooftop, each building below him collapsing into the ever widening crater, its center where Damien had been first spotted sitting among the dead.

Soon, Maximus had made it far enough from the village that the ground below him ceased disappearing under him. He turned and watched in awe and shock as the entire village continued to completely collapse and disappear under the surface of the land, leaving an enormous crater.

"Damien...we have only begun..."

Maximus turned and diappeared, moving at vampric speed toward his unknown destination.

Damien shook his head, and stepped into view behind where Maximus had been standing. "You're right, fool. This has only just begun." He leapt into the air, and faded out of sight.

Maximus passed through the forests with relative ease. Here, he felt at ease within the trees. Making his way deeper into the forest, he soon stopped at what he judged to be the center of the forest. He activated an invisibility cloaking that hid him from any detection, magic or otherwise.

Damien...a youngster that is weilding power that is under control. He will be a dangerous enemy, maybe even as bad as Kazar-Tiyon was 19 years ago.Yet, something about this child keeps bugging me. I feel like I should be knowing him, but I cannot figure out how...or why.

Maximus needed to consult his ancestors. They would know what to do...

Damien walked up the path, calmly. As he walked, he idly shot balls of chi into wildlife. Everytime there was a shriek of pain, his steps became lighter.

All of a sudden, he narrowed his eyes. He could hear singing. The youth drew his sword, and moved closer, spying a small glade. A woman walked across it, dressed in a simple peasant's dress.

Damien stepped forward, his sword before him. She shrieked. "What? NO!" She turned and ran. With an almost idle gesture, he followed after her, walking as fast as she had been running.

She ran, and shortly, tripped over a branch. She looked up at him, and, with a resigned sigh, smiled wanly. "Well... it's a fair cop... do what ever it is you want."

Damien stared down at her, and sliced his sword through the air. She stifled a scream as he stuck it into the ground. "Madame, I was wondering if a vampire had passed by here...?" He said, all smiles now.

She nodded, weakly. "Two of them... a man and a woman... why?" He didn't answer, instead following the path. After a moment, he turned, and threw a purse to her.

"Here. Get yourself someplace safe. And if you see a vampire wearing a brown cloak, tell him that I am meeting some relatives of his." With a curt laugh, he turned, moving forward.

Maximus sat cross-legged and was completely motionless. In one aspect he himself was not where his body was, yet one the other hand he was. His body was there, but his mind was elsewhere, almost quite literally. His body remained in its invisibility state, undetectable by any means.

_________________________

Far away, Maximus sat in astral consult with Elrond, King of the Elves of Lothlorien Forest...

Mae govannen, Maximus. Gwennin en enninath.

Elrond, mellon, it is good to see you again, but I'm afraid under grave circumstances.

Speak, I am listening.

Recently, I have come across an individual who worries me greatly. He knows of me, and who I am. I know nothing of him. He has professed his mission to kill me, a threat that I fear may be possible for him to pull off. He has displayed control over chi that bring concern to my mind. Something I have not had the magnitude of since I battled Kazar-Tiyon.

That is most interesting...And what is this one's name? Has he told you?

His name is Damien. Somehow, I feel like I should know him, but I'm not sure how. He looks familiar, but I cannot place the face...

Are there any particular characteristics you can see that can easily distinguish him and identify him?

None that I could see.

And what of his accent?

I cannot say for sure, but I think I have heard the accent before. One thing is for sure, he's not from Tarlachia.

Have you directly or deliberately offended anyone?

I'm a vampire, there are countless possibilities to offend anyone.

That is true. I will talk to Galadriel on this. Maybe she can tell me of this mysterious and obviously dangerous nemesis of yours. The answer shall be given in two moons' passing. Take heed, Galadriel may not be able to uncover everything you wish to know.

I understand. Hannon le Elrond. Namarie.

Namarie Maximus.

__________________________

The touch of the cool air of the Mountains brushed down upon Maximus's skin, reawakening his senses as he returned to physical consciousness with his body.

It was time to see what he could find about his enemy through other means...

___________________________

Damien was easy to follow. Everywhere he went, he left a trail of death. A massacred calf, dead birds, slaughtered horses, and even a wolf. Soon, he found himself in a large field. The moon hung low over the horizon, struggling to raise itself higher into the night sky.

A woman was the only one working in the field, picking at some of the crops and placing them in a basket. She looked up and Maximus instantly caught the look of fear upon her face.

One moment, Maximus was nearly a full field away, the next, he was standing in front of the woman.

"Excuse me, why are you afraid?"

The woman looked at him in a bizarre way. A real vampire, standing right in front of her. Never had she been given the direct attention of one.

I'm going to die...

"No, you will not die miss. I assure you of that. I am seeking information as to the whereabouts of a young youth. He has white hair, is strong, and is wearing black and silver clothing."

The woman gasped, and raised a pointed finger in the opposite direction.

"He went that way. Said he was going to see some relatives of yours..."

Maximus growled. He had no relatives...well...that was if you weren't counting his vampiric relations, which he doubted.

"Thank you ma'am. Have a good night."

The woman looked at him with an astounded look. She had survived an enounter with not just one possible strong and hostile individual, but TWO!

She needed a vacation. Hell, she needed to get out of Tarlachia. This place was just too spooky for her.

Damien picked the vampire up by the neck. "So be it. You won't help me?" He threw the vampire into a tree, and shot an energy burst. The neonate's head exploded. "Tsk. What about you?"

The other vampire was trying to run, but a short blast took care of that. Scorched skin and blood scattered across the clearing. Damien moved to the other side of the glade, preparing to leave.

Maximus watched as Damien was 'conversing' with another vampire, complete with hostile activity. He growled silently, baring his fangs. For some reason, Damien was not killing the vampires as Maximus had expected.

Probably going to try to bargain with me...

Damien suddenly and violently killed the two vampires, as they had refused to assist him. Maximus did not flinch at this, he had done that kind of thing before, killing other vampires. After all, the two that Damien had killed were only young vampires. If they couldn't stand for themselves, they didn't deserve to continue living. It was how he himself had survived so well...

Or not...

Maximus drew Glamdring and held it at the ready.

"Damien! Face me!"

Damien turned, suddenly. "Ah... Maximus..." The youth made no hostile movements. "What a pleasant surprise..." He gestured to the ground. "Please, take a seat."

Maximus squinted his eyes. He didn't trust Damien, not after what he had seen already, both the massacre in the village and the murder of the two vampires behind Damien right now.

"I don't think I will. I don't trust you Damien. If you want to talk, then talk, but I'm not letting my guard down with you."

To make that point clear, he held Glamdring up higher, making sure Damien saw his message.

Damien smirked. "My, how violent... very well." Damien rolled forward, and sprang into a standing position, his sword in hand. "For your crimes, today you will die!"

Damien leapt into the air, blue fire crickling along his sword's edge. One cut would burn and fester, blocking any magic attempts to heal.

One slice would kill.

Glamdring instantly came up and blocked Damien's attack, emitting its own magical glow as it came into contact with Damien's sword.

Strange...Glamdring only glows when orcs are nearby...

Another swing was blocked easily and Maximus then went on the offensive, sending wave after wave of attacks. He was sure and precise in his movements, as he moved about, leaping over Damien's head and landing behind him, only to have a thrust diverted by a parry.

Unless he's killed orcs with his sword, then their blood would be on it. And murder with a swrod could never be forgotten, especially not by Glamdring...

"Damien, we can keep this up all night, we are both equal in our sword skills...[/i]

Damien laughed as their swords met. Neither of them would win this way. All of a sudden, the man raised his hand, and shot a ball of black energy into Maximus's shoulder. The vampire stumbled back.

That was all Damien needed. With a sinister cackle, he warped away. "I'm far too tired to deal with your kind of nonsense. Once I'm rested, then will come your reckoning..."

Maximus growled slightly as Damien slipped away to wherever he was now hiding.

I guess I better get my rest too. I'll be damned if I am caught fatigued...

Maximus looked down at the two dead vampires remains and shook his head. He reached down and opened the one's intact head and with a supernatural strength, yanked the fangs out. A quick search found the other vampire's fangs lying bloodied on the ground.

Maximus had shamed and disowned their existence. They had run from Damien, a mere mortal. Thus, they did not deserve to have the honor of being called one of his kind. He pocketed the fangs, with the intent to sell them to his friend Whiptail the Dark Argonian who sometimes hunted for vampire fangs. A strange relationship the two had, but one that was of understanding and respect. Whiptail would know what to do with these fangs, for he knew others who valued them greatly. Maximus did not care what happened to them. He had done what he wanted, what the two young vampires deserved.

Maximus turned, keeping Glamdring in his hands as he walked back down the road and keeping a wary eye all about him. Tomorrow, Damien would be ready again, and so would he...

Maximus grinned to himself as he set the scroll down upon the rock and bound it to the rock with a quick spell that held it in place and would not be able to be taken by any stray travelers, nor blown away by the winds. The spell would dispel when it recognized Damien as the rightful audience.

You want me Damien? Then prove your worth... Maximus thought to himself.

With that Maximus disappeared from the area.

Damien slid down into the enbankment. He walked along the river, ensuring he would leave no tracks. All of a sudden he spotted an envelope. "Hmmm..." He picked it up, feeling the magic dispell. "What do we have here?"

(ooc: It's a scroll not an envelope)

IC:
The scroll opened to Damien's fingers, revealing the cryptic handwriting within, scribed with a careful hand.

[code:1:0c3a5f9f59]

Damien, sworn enemy of mine. You have declared your desire for my death. Very well then, I shall place before you a number of puzzles for you to solve. The directions to the next clue will be given within the answers required. Should you solve all the puzzles, you will earn the right to challenge me once and for all, a battle to the death!

Your first puzzle:
There are four brothers in this world that were all born together. The first runs and never wearies. The second eats and is never full. The third drinks and is always thirsty. The fourth sings a song that is never good. Who are they?

Your hunt:
Maximus Destroi
[/code:1:0c3a5f9f59]

Damien rolled the paper up, and tore it to pieces. "Water, fire, earth, wind. Simple, really." He moved on. "Very well, Maximus. We'll play your game."

The next scroll was in place, magically activated upon Damien's spoken words of the correct answer. It lay within the river a mile downstream, buried partially under the rocks along the bed...
_______________________________

Far away, Maximus sat still, hearing Damien's voice emanate from the magic of the scrolls as he figured out the first puzzle given.

So, you have taken the challenge...

Within an hour, Damien was resting in an inn, looking over the scroll he had taken from underneath the rocks. The bartender was... around and about. Certainly... hanging about the place.

"Dare to ask me to pay... do these fools know who I am?" Shaking his head, he unrolled the scroll.

The scroll opens up to another riddle scribed on the parchment:

[code:1:bf0f2c94f9]
If you're reading this, then you're one step closer.

Maximus

"What goes into the water red and comes out black?"[/code:1:bf0f2c94f9]

Damien sighed. "You'll regret the time wasting..." He sat back, kicking up onto the counter. A mug of ale floated to him. "Hmmm... such is life... now, what is it that goes into the water red and comes out black?"

As Damien sat and pondered the riddle, a fire nearby crackled in the fireplace. An employee saunters over to the fire, and grabs the firepoker and begins to reshuffle the wood, bringing the blaze back to full strength.
___________________________________

Maximus remained where he was, telepathically watching Damien's every move, listening to his thoughts.

Only a matter of time before he figures it out...

Damien sneered at the attendant, an expression which froze when he saw the poker suddenly glow red-hot. Of course... "The answer is poker, you diabolical scroll." He said, through gritted teeth. Then he ripped it to pieces, gathered his cloak, and, with a dramatic swish, walked through the door.

Maximus released the pigeon, watching as it took off into the air and swooped on the wind to its destination.

Almost there, dear enemy of mine...

**************************

The bird flew low over the rooftops darting in between the chimneys before it finally found its target. With a soft cooing noise it swooped and circled Damien, until he realized what it was and held his arm out. The pigeon landed gracefully upon it and was soon released of the third scroll attached to its leg. Once this was done, the bird took off into sky.

Damien quickly opened the letter, revealing the text within:

[code:1:ca9c3a92ec]

Am I pissing you off yet?

Maximus

Your next riddle:

What belongs to you, but others use it more than you do?
________________

When you answer the riddle correctly, think of the one thing relating to the riddle that you think of...
[/code:1:ca9c3a92ec]

Damien sighed as he read the message. "More than you know..." With an almost non-existent gesture, he pointed a finger at the bird, and shot a bolt of energy towards it. "While I'm sorting this out, I might as well practice..." He crumpled the scroll up, and walked ahead, towards a distant roadhouse.

Undetected and far away, Maximus stood, sensing that Damien was about to solve the answer to the riddle. And once he did that, he'd have to solve the final portion of the riddle, a trick question almost.

Maximus drew Glamdring and faced out to the lands that lay stretched before him, large expanses of the Earth lying out below him as he sat upon the same ledge he had been at before. His eyes narrowed to a point along the surface of the Earth far below, barely able to see the small point that moved along the road, yet he didn't need to know who it was.

He already knew.

Damien.

Come on Damien, don't disappoint me with your stupidity. I look forward to this battle with you, when I can wipe that smile off your face as you lie before me, surrendering all you have, just before I kill you.

Yet, even as Maximus thought this to himself, he couldn't shake the strange forboding feeling from the back of his mind...

As Damien entered, he was immediately accosted by the owner. "I haven't seen you in these parts before. What's your name, stranger?"

The young man turned, about to deal painful and agonising death upon this interloper, when all of a sudden a light appeared in his eyes. "Of course..."

He laughed diabolically. "OF COURSE!" The owner scuttled away as Damien pulled out the scroll. "The answer to your blasted riddle is 'your name'. Now, Maximus, show yourself!"

From behind Damien Maximus spoke softly.

"It's about time you figured it out...I was beginning to think you were too stupid..."

Maximus brandished Glamdring in front of him.

"Now, you've earned a fight to the death. Let's see if you're as good as you say you are..."

TAG

Damien laughed. "Let us see if you are as good as you believe..." He drew his sword. His eyes narrowed. "But... things are a tad cramped in here..."

Chi energy flashed around him. The roadhouse owner backed away, trying to escape. The entire building suddenly exploded around Daniel and Maximus. The vampire winced, but then looked shocked as pieces of building and denizens stopped a few metres short of his body.

Damien shook his head, and waited for the debris to clear. "Now, shall we dance?"

Damien laughed. "Let us see if you are as good as you believe..." He drew his sword. His eyes narrowed. "But... things are a tad cramped in here..."

Chi energy flashed around him. The roadhouse owner backed away, trying to escape. The entire building suddenly exploded around Daniel and Maximus. The vampire winced, but then looked shocked as pieces of building and denizens stopped a few metres short of his body.

Damien shook his head, and waited for the debris to clear. "Now, shall we dance?"

Maximus snarled in response, exploding into movement toward Damien with Glamdring swinging rapidly toward his foe.

At the same time, he muttered a few words quietly in Sindarin:

"Neuma en' templa!"

All about Damien, snarls of vines quickly wrapped themselves around his legs and moved quickly up his body, binding him, constricting his movement. And at the same time, Glamdring still sung through the air, aimed to slice off Damien's head!

Damien... blurred. That's the only word for it. When the sword-stroke fell, he wasn't there anymore. Instead, he was behind Maximus, bringing his own sword down. Maximus rolled forward, and spun up, looking at Damien shocked.

Damien smirked. "Prepare to die, demon..."

Maximus quickly moved once again, bringing his sword to parry Damien's. With a snarl his eyes turned crimson in color, a fearsome sight to see, something that surprised Damien. Maximus spoke in the same cryptic tongue once more, at the same time he was moving upwards and away from Damien.

"Hyandae en' luhta!"

The whine of distant objects closing in quickly drew the attention of Damien as they neared closer with incredible speed. Damien's eyes went wide as he realized what they were.

Blades...

Large, circular, razor sharp blades...

Fifteen in total...

Approaching from every direction, aimed directly at him!!

"Let's see you deal with this, Damien..."

Maximus immediately swung Glamdring downward at Damien at the same time.

What would Damien do? Would he be able to handle the multiple threats??

Damien held up his hand, with a curt smile. A glow extended from it, rounding into some invisible energy field. At the same time, he stepped backwards suddenly. Maximus's sword cut through empty air.

The 5 blades coming from the front ran through the air, and stopped. Just stopped, and fell to the ground. Damien brought the shield around, drawing it closer to him. 5 more stopped, then 2, then... "Hmmm?" Damien looked around, amused. "Must have..." he felt his left hand suddenly go icy cold. With a slow turn, he glanced at it. The blade had shot from above, and directly through his palm. He tried to move his fingers, but he couldn't get the energy to flow. He glared over at Maximus, and drew his sword. The blue fire coruscated once more. Damien spun the sword over his head, leaving a trail of fire that deflected the two remaining blades into reversing towards Maximus.

"You will pay for that indignity, Maximus..." Damien pointed his katana at the vampire. Blue fire shot from it, blasted from it. The smell of ozone filled the air. "Your only future is the grave!" He finally managed to regain a form of control of his hand, and held it up towards Maximus. Chi energy shot from it, crashing through the air like a tidal wave, towards his opponent.

"Hiyah!" Damien leapt up into the air, letting his attacks spiral towards Maximus. The deadly katana flashed above Maximus.

The spinning blades Damien deflected toward Maximus caught him by surprise, and viciously buried themselves into Maximus’s chest, and shoulder. Both were halted in their paths by his strong bones. But it was enough…

One day I woke up
I woke up knowing today is the day I will die
The dogs were barking, went to the park and enjoyed that one last time
I called my lover told her I loved her and begged her not to cry
I wrote her a letter that said I'd miss her and signed that goodbye...

Maximus’s eyes stared blankly forward as he stood there. Damien’s katana suddenly ran through Maximus’s chest, through his heart, and out the back slightly. The sounds of the world around him suddenly grew in clarity. He could hear the chirping of the birds far away in the forest. The soft whispers of the wind made itself known to him as it rolled across the plains, gently swaying the grass. The clouds floated gaily across the sky, finally revealing the sun. A single ray of light encircled Maximus, seeming as if it were light that shone from the heavens themselves. In a seemingly slow motion, Glamdring slipped from his hand, falling to the ground below, the soft thumps heard clearly to Maximus.

You know the happiest day of my life
I swear the happiest day of my life is the day that I die

Maximus fell to his knees, his eyes now upon Damien, who stood to the side, his left hand bleeding profusely. Damien looked somewhat shocked at the hand’s injury, but when he turned his attention back to Maximus, he straightened himself and slowly approached him. Damien’s good hand reached out and gripped Maximus’s chin, forcing Maximus to stare blankly at him.

Can you feel the cold tonight?
It sets in but it's alright
Darkness falls I'm letting go
All alone but I feel fine

“A truly noble fight, Maximus. Look me in the eyes, for I would have you know who it was that took your life.”

Damien released his grip upon Maximus’s chin and pulled the sword from Maximus’s chest. He leveled it upon Maximus’s shoulder, but hesitated momentarily. Maximus looked up at Damien. His eyes did not register anything but Maximus immediately saw who Damien was. Damien Black was his name, son of one of Maximus’s sworn enemies: John Marshall-Black…

So, you do get me in the end John…


“You have given me a fight I’ll never forget. Especially so because of this.” Damien said as he held his left hand up, revealing the gaping hole in his hand. Maximus’s eyes lazily floated over the hand, but he wasn’t seeing it. Instead, his mind was elsewhere…

We took a drive and we drove thru E.C. (Emerald City, Assington)
To see the places we lived,
Long conversations we talked of old friends and all the things that we did
Summer nights, bloody fights
Mistakes we made...did we live it right?

Faces flashed quickly through Maximus’s mind as he rushed through his memories of his life…

You know the happiest day of my life
I swear the happiest day of my life is the day that I died

Skadi.…Hondur.…Alexander Kelsing.…Drirethlen….Kain….Ravelyn….Genesis.…Omnus.…Whiptail.…Sapphire... Shado...Angel...Kenja...Zodiac...Qui...Katarina...Xyorph...Daniel Able... Ayane...Izual...Balthar...Elrond...Galadriel...Arleni…

An explosion of psychic waves emanated from Maximus. Yet, Damien did not detect it. In time, all his friends would hear his message and realize the truth...

Can you feel the cold tonight?
It sets in but it's alright
Darkness falls I'm letting go
All alone but I feel just fine

Skadi…

Farewell, my love. I’m free now…My curse is broken…A curse you made as my blessing…Namarie, cormanin niuve tenna' ta elea lle au (Goodbye, My heart shall weep until it sees thee again)…

You know the happiest day of my life
I swear the happiest day of my life
I know the happiest day of my life is the day that I died

Damien looked down at Maximus, allowing him to think to himself, knowing he’d be thinking of his past. Finally, he noted Maximus blinking slowly once again.

“Any last words?” he asked with a sneer upon his face. Maximus looked up at him and whispered quietly:

“quel fara, Damien, quel fara.”

Damien scowled, “What the hell is that supposed to mean vampire??”

Maximus sighed with a grimace upon his face. In a final look at Damien, he bared his fangs, now coated in his own blood, “It means ‘Good hunting’…”

“Indeed…” Damien replied, and finally, drew the sword back, and sliced it sideways, cleanly decapitating Maximus’s head. The body fell forward, lying completely still, never to move of its own accord again…

Can you feel the cold tonight?
It sets in but it's alright
Darkness falls I'm letting go
All alone but I feel fine

Did I live it right?
I hope I lived it right
I hope I lived it right, I know I lived it right
Did I live it right?
I hope I lived it right**

** song is a slightly altered version of "The Day That I Die" by Good Charlotte...

Arleni Greenwood gasped silently as she watched Damien's katana deliver the final blow that forever took Maximus's life. The forest around her silenced as she screamed silently to the Earth.

She watched as Damien lifted the head of Damien off the ground, and turned and walked away, with the head under his arm. Her eyes fell back to the decapitated body and the belongings of Maximus Destroi, descendant of the Elves of Lothlorien Forest.

After waiting some time to make sure that Damien was gone for good, she quickly made her way to the body, slumping to her knees as tears of woe fell from her eyes.

Her best friend had just died...

"Namarie Maximus, Aa' menle nauve calen ar' malta" (Goodbye Maximus, May the paths be green and the breeze on thy back)

She slung the weapons of her friend upon her back and lifted the body of Maximus slowly. She turned to the forest once again and began to walk, carrying Maximus's body.
_______________________________

Elrond stood at the edge of the Elven palace. With him stood Galadriel. Down the path, on both sides, stood numerous Elven warriors and hunters, all paying their respects to the deceased vampire with honor.

Elrond took Maximus's body and spoke to Arleni softly in Elvish:

"He is home now in Valinor..."

Arleni nodded solemnly, before asking, "If it is all right, I would like to return his belongings to his sire, Skadi..."

"Of course, and give Skadi our condolences..."

:TAP:

:TAP:

The footsteps echoed throughout the hallways of the Palace. Servants panicked, nobles looked askance at eachother.

I feel the dark side crawling in
I suck it in with joyful grin
I breath inside and keep it there
this darkness I will not share

Damien paid them no heed. Those who called themsleves his friends looked upwards at his approach, but fell silent when his baleful gaze fell upon them. He had no need for their pathetic arguing and toadiness today.

Were you with the ones who left me here with nothing more to fear
I sense the pain and taste the blood I yearn for pain that leaves no scars

The young man smiled at their terror as he showed them the object he was carrying. "What is the matter, fools?" He showed them his other hand, the one with the hole through it. "It is all even."

Deep down in my darkness
unrighteous dimension of despair

I hit myself against the wall

He smiled, as he swept past them, going towards the office of the man who had sent him after that pathetic weakling. He slammed his fist on the door. "Father?"

John Black jumped slightly as he heard the pounding upon his door. He looked up as he heard Damien's voice call out to him.

What is he doing back so soon?

Somewhat reluctantly, he called out, "Come in son."

Damien swept inside, exuding an aura of casual menace. "Why, father... one would almost think you didn't wish me around... And to think, I brought you a present..." He lifted up the bloody head, and threw it onto the desk.

He held up his hand, revealing the slit. Through the hole in his son's hand, John could see a flash of light from the hall. "And it was expensive..."

John gasped as he reeled back in his chair away from the head now staring at him calmly.

"Maximus..."

I had hoped that Maximus would kill Damien...but, alas, this was not so, and so Damien has killed Maximus, my enemy...

He looked up at Damien's exposed hand, and widened his eyes in shock.

"How...how did you manage to kill such a powerful vampire?"

Damien laughed. "With great ease... and a rather hefty cost..." he glanced at his maimed hand. "I hope you are pleased, father..."

John got up and went around his desk, approaching Damien. He pulled him close, hugging him and whispered:

"Of course I'm pleased, my son. You have killed a powerful enemy, one I have been hunting for a long time..."

Damien pushed John away, and stepped back. "Oh, please... yeah, you're happy. But, of course, you'd be even happier if I had been killed, wouldn't you? Don't think I didn't see the surprise on your face when I entered this room." He stepped even further back. "I assure you, the feeling is mutual." He turned on his heel, and moved for the exit.

John stood there in shock as he kept hearing the repeating of his son's words.

"I assure you, the feeling is mutual."

He fell to his knees, suddenly feeling weak. His own son had declared his open discontent with John, his own father...

I was only trying to protect the family from the...the...the curse...

______________________________________

Arleni looked up from the street at the apartment of the one known as Skadi. Silently she made her way around to the doorway and up the stairs. She stood there momentarily, before she knocked upon Skadi's apartment door and stood back as she waited for Skadi to appear...

Upon hearing the pounding on her door, Skadi quickly withdrew her sword. No one visited her, save for Maximus, and he didn't knock. Sword in hand, Skadi swung the door back to see a sad looking elven woman standing in front of her.

In her ice cold voice, Skadi inquired about her business.

"What brings you here elf?"

Arleni looked up into Skadi's eyes, with a sadness that was not hidden.

"May I come in? I have something important to tell you..."

With that, she held out Maximus's pack, one she knew Skadi would recognize.

Skadi could see the despair within the elf was true and honest, she was in quite a deal of pain. Upon seeing the pack, Skadi's heart began to race. Although her expression didn't change, she could feel a deep sadness creeping upon her heart.

The vampire nodded and stepped back to allow Arleni in.

"Come in."

Arleni walked slowly into the room, not really noticing the details for her mind was still in shock, in mourning.

She turned to the Ancient vampire next to her, and waited until the door was closed. She set Maximus's pack upon the table nearby. With some hesistation, she looked over at Skadi, just before pulling the scabbard holding Glamdring and placed it down next to the pack. Last came the bloodstone necklace, gently laid down as well.

Arleni looked back at Skadi and broke into tears, as her emotions welled up inside herself.

"He...he...Maximus...has died...was fighting...his own attack used against him...and he......I'm sorry..."

Sobs could be heard coming softly from Arleni as she looked back at Skadi, feeling great remorse and pity for Maximus's sire and lover...

Arleni walked slowly into the room, not really noticing the details for her mind was still in shock, in mourning.

She turned to the Ancient vampire next to her, and waited until the door was closed. She set Maximus's pack upon the table nearby. With some hesistation, she looked over at Skadi, just before pulling the scabbard holding Glamdring and placed it down next to the pack. Last came the bloodstone necklace, gently laid down as well.

Arleni looked back at Skadi and broke into tears, as her emotions welled up inside herself.

"He...he...Maximus...has died...was fighting...his own attack used against him...and he......I'm sorry..."

Sobs could be heard coming softly from Arleni as she looked back at Skadi, feeling great remorse and pity for Maximus's sire and lover...

Skadi couldn't believe it. Maximus.... dead? He was such a skilled warrior and was an ancient vampire himself. How could he die.... it wasn't fathomable.

Sitting down, tears began to roll down her pale face, pouring out of her dark eyes. She knew this woman told the truth, she too was grieved of such events.

For minutes Skadi said nothing, she merely stared at Maximus' belongings. Finally, she spoke, barely above a whisper.

"How...... Why, who was he fighting?"

Arleni sat down next to Skadi, unsure if she should wrap her arms around her in understanding. Finally she decided against it, for this vampire just seemed like she wasn't the hugging type...

"He had used an elven spell, calling up a powerful attack, using spinning blades that come from many directions. Most of them, Damien knocked to the ground, but the last two, he deflected with his sword, catching Maximus by surprise and burying into his torso, but not deeply. If it hadn't been for the katana thrust through the heart as well as the decapitation, he could have survived the incident, with the help of his vampiric properties, and my Elven magic...

I wasn't able to find out much, but I did hear Maximus call his name. Damien...whose clothing and insignia I noticed was from the nation of Roania...

I'm sorry, he was a highly honored warrior in our homes. He died with honor... I have brought you his belongings. I felt that you would wish to keep his sword for yourself as well as his other things."

Arleni looked back up at Skadi, waiting for her response she knew would come...

Skadi continued the cry, the tears now pouring freely out of her eyes. Her eyes..... they had changed. No longer were they emotionless walls, they now displayed the true pain Skadi was experiencing from such news. Her grief began to flow out as she picked up Glamdring.

Determined not to start sobbing, Skadi looked up at Arleni.

"Thankyou for bringing these to me. You have my eternal gratitude. However, I do have one more question. Where is his body?"

Skadi couldn't believe she was talking about Maximus, her true love. It had been centuries since she had lost anyone, not since the days of Ancient Assington. It was so hard to come to terms with, an imortal dead.

Arleni nodded in understanding. She had expected Skadi to ask that question.

"His body is back in Lothlorien Forest, to be torched in honor upon the Misty River, in the direction of Valinor. Valinor is our name for what many mortals like to call 'heaven'. This ritual is the highest honor any warrior can recieve upon death. If you wish, you can accompany me to see him off. It will be another day before it is done."

Even though Skadi was trying hard to keep herself composed, Arleni could see the waves of pain that fell across her eyes. The eyes were the windows to the soul, or so the ancient saying went. Nothing could be hidden completely because of the eyes...

Skadi nodded as she struggled with her grief.

"I would like to attend if that is acceptable."

The shock of Maximus' death had really dug deep. It reminded her that no one is safe from death. Skadi had never really given death much thought, especially since her birth into darkness. It reminded her, that even a vampire such as herself could die. Skadi didn't know what to think about death, it was never an issue until now.

Rising to her feet and sheathing Glamdring, Skadi slung the blade over her back and dorned her trench coat. Within a few minutes she had gathered what items she deemed necessary and moved for the door.

"If it does not trouble you, perhaps we should leave now?"

"Of course, give me a moment here, I have a fast method of travel for us."

Skadi nodded and watched as Arleni turned to the wall next to them and began to run her hands along the wall in strange patterns as she chanted.

"Lema ed' ando en' templa!!"

Behind Arleni's hands, the wall suddenly began to appear as if it were tearing apart, slowly revealing a portal gateway. The interior looked to be like a wormhole, swirling with what appeared to be leaves and many other things that Skadi couldn't recognize.

Finally, Arleni stepped back, and looked at Skadi.

"We're ready to go now."

With that, Arleni demonstrated how to enter the portal and momentarily had disappeared from the room. Upon arrival at the other side, she stood, waiting for Skadi to come through. She was inside the Elven Palace, in the main hall. She heard Elrond coming from a side room.

"Arleni! It is good to see you again. Tell me, is she coming?"

"Yes, she'll be here momentarily."

Elrond nodded and stood next to Arleni as the two waited for Skadi...

Skadi raised her eyebrow as she watched the elven woman step through the portal. She had seen Maximus perform magic on several occassions, yet she still wasn't comfortable with it. Skadi prefered to deal with the certain, the physical and the mental.

Pushing down her distrust of magic, Skadi stepped forward until she finally passed into the portal. Upon opening her eyes, she discovered she now stood within a large, elaborate palace. Arleni and another elf stood nearby, awaiting her.

The vampire remained silent as she took in her surroundings.

Arleni smiled as she saw the raised eyebrow on Skadi's face as she looked about the palace. Obviously she had never seen elven structures before.

"Welcome to Rivendell, Skadi. This is King Elrond."

Elrond stepped forward, and bowed slightly.

"You are welcome here in Rivendell. Unfortunately, you are not here for a simple visit, but rather a last farewell to Maximus."

Skadi nodded, but said nothing. Elrond continue speaking.

"I understand you will wish to see Maximus's body right away. If you will follow me..."

Elrond turned and led the way down the hallway, and finally into a dimly lit room. All around the room, stood candles of many sizes, and elaborate designs of natural objects such as leaves. And in the center of the room, lay Maximus, headless thanks to Damien, but dressed in Elven clothing that had replaced his own bloodied and torn clothing which lay in a neat pile on the side of the death-table. Elrond and Arleni stepped to the side, once inside the doorway, and waited for Skadi to enter.

Skadi nodded in acknowledgement to Elrond as he spoke. It had been a long time since she had seen elves. Not since her days as a mortal had they been present within Assington.

Silently following the elves, Skadi finally entered the room holding Maximus. Her boots echoed around the room as she slowly stepped forward, drawing closer to her beloved. Tears began to flow once again as she noticed the bloody wound where his head should have been. Decapitation, another weakness.

The ancient vampire dropped to her knees as she looked upon the still form of her fledgling. It was still difficult to take in that her Maximus' was gone. But such are the risks a warrior takes. Skadi wouldn't pursue the killer as Maximus died in a honourable battle, they way he would have liked.

Saying her last goodbyes silently, Skadi grasped Maximus' hand one more time before turning around and facing the elves.

Arleni walked forward toward Skadi and stopped before her. She cast her eyes downward momentarily at Skadi's exposed bloodstone then looked back into Skadi's eyes.

"Skadi...Maximus was a dear friend of mine, and as such, I consider you a friend as well..."

Arleni lifted the bloodstone off Skadi's chest and held it up. Her other hand lifted her own necklace, an elegant green leaf that was soft to the touch, yet strong in its properties. She spoke softly:

"Yala onna lema ed' ando en' templa."

Arleni's eyes looked back up to Skadi once more as she explained what she had done.

"I have established a method of connection between the two of us. Should you ever need to call upon my assistance, I will come. You may use this for communication methods as well, for advice, or whatever you wish to talk to me about."

Arleni released the two necklaces, letting both fall softly against each other's body.

Skadi looked into Arleni's eyes, tears still filled her own. After a brief silence, the vampire spoke.

"Thankyou for all you have done. Maximus spoke of you as a true friend and so I would be honoured to call you such as well. When shall the ceremony take place?"

Skadi was struggling to keep herself intact. She didn't want to break down in front of Maximus' elven friends or anyone else. There would be time for such, private time.

Arleni saw Skadi struggling in her emotions and felt great sympathy for her once again.

"It shall be tonight, in an hour. Normally we send the deceased off at sunset, but considering that he was a vampire, we decided to allow it to occur later on, to symbolize the hours of his dominance."

Skadi nodded appreciatively.
_____________________________

Arleni stood by Skadi as the two looked mournfully upon Maximus's body upon the small raft that would carry him downstream.

"You will be given the first torch to begin his journey into Valinor by way of the Misty River."

Just as Arleni spoke this, an Elf walked up to Skadi, holding the torch out to her in offering.

Skadi accepted the torch and slowly stepped forward to Maximus's body, touching her hand for the last time upon his own, now deathly cold and rigid. She lowered the torch and lay it down upon the wood pile that lay beneath the body, instantly catching fire to the wood. A second Elf lowered another torch on the other side and all stepped back and watched as the raft was released and tugged by the currents into the mainstream. Soon enough, the flaming raft passed out of sight.

With a sigh, Skadi turned back to Arleni once more.

"Thank you. I would like to go home now, if that is all right."

"Of course, Skadi."

Arleni turned and recited the same spell she had used back in Assington, opening the portal to Skadi's apartment once more. She looked back at Skadi, indicating that it was ready, and watched as Skadi stepped forward into the portal.

In the apartment, Skadi stepped forward from the wall, opening her eyes to the room once more. A voice came from the portal. It was Arleni's.

"Namarie, mellon, remember the link."

The portal closed instantly, leaving Skadi alone once again. She made her way to her bedroom, where she fell upon the bed and buried her face into the pillow, sobbing somewhat loudly in mourning, with her hands clenching the comforter and pillow tightly.

Never had she felt so alone...