NationStates Jolt Archive

Katrina sat at the local pub, sipping on her beer. She watched the liquid perspire down the frosty glass and settle on the wooden table.

This town was just like the other. They were all the same and she was growing bored. I wonder if this is how my sister feels about life in general that causes her to do those horrific things.

Mercedes was the exact copy of Katrina. They were twins and looked identical, right down to thier weight. One difference was tattoos. One of the chinese symbols on Katrina was different than Mercedes. Katrina's read serenity, while Mercedes read chaos, which really fit.

Katrina raised the mug to her mouth and let the cool liquor fill her mouth and she swallowed. It seemed like ages since she left, but she realized it was only days. She had followed some rumors that her sister had moved to this town. Katrina could only follow.

I have just arrived to this place and I feel like I know it. Another day another place. Katrina's slim shouders rose with her deep breath. I just am growing too tired of this. It had been a year since her husband and family's death and a long year of following her sister around hell called earth. I thought I was close and realize I am so far. Her sister always seemed to slip through her fingers at the last moment.

An young man, gulping his beer, kept his gaze on Katrina. She rolled her eyes, I think I would still attract men even if I was wearing a parka. She looked down at her clothes. A light blue colored jeans and a yellow "wife beate" tank top. Her long dark hair was pulled up into a ponytail. She meet the man's gaze and he looked back at his drink.

Katrina thought, my sister brings me to this places to see my life unfold into small pieces infront of her eyes. She sees me waste away on alcohol and she loves ever moment of it. She felt heavy around her eyelids and she swallowed hard. No, I mustn't let her get the best of me that is what she strives for. Katrina flipped her hair back and smiled at the man.

Opportunity that is what she needed.

OOC: This is a continuation of this story... http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=328328
but anyone can join if they want because it can involve a whole new plot line.

Bump...

He was growing bored here. Well, here, there, everywhere, really. He had been told to wait for the call, and then to report to the Emperor's side. He was sure that "pilgrimage" didn't mean "sit around in bars and wait for phone calls." He sighed.

"Bartender, another glass of water," he spoke softly. And then, as an afterthought, "and please make sure the glass is somewhat clean this time, eh?"

He was tall, but the movements of his arms denoted a grace not really befitting a man of his size. He was not skinny, but lean and muscular. His gray, almost white, hair stopped at about the bottom of his ears, but slightly pointed tips poked through. Only a fool would call him an elf to his face, though. His skin was tanned only very slightly, and his cold blue eyes contrasted strikingly to his seemingly cheerful face and demeanor.

His clothing was not formal by any means, but was enough to make him seem slightly out of place here. The Imperial Crest blessed both his blue shirt and the black vest he wore over it, and his black pants had the Crest on both outside ankles.

The boredom overtook him and he grabbed at a nearby stack of napkins, pulling about twenty off the top of the stack. He took one in his hands and crumpled it with one hand. At the same time, he pulled a small lighter from one of his side cargo pockets and lit the crumpled napkin on fire. He did not drop it or even flinch when the napkin was reduced to ash in the palm of his hand.

What excitement, he thought, as the bartender placed the glass of water in front of him. Hopefully he'll get the call soon.

"I said a clean glass!" But the bartender had already turned away.

((Amanda, I hope you realize I didn't leave the first Hunger thread because of any fault on your part. I just don't like it when there are too many people in an RP, i makes the reactions to others impersonal. I learned something as well, and that's that taking an observer role doesn't bode too well with character RP. I think that at least partially led to my getting confused early on, the less-than-fleshed-out backstory I had and my eventual leaving. I'd like to give it another shot, if you can forgive me for leaving before.))

A familiar figure took the seat next to Kat and sighed.

David seemed especially lethargic tonight. "It's taking you apart, piece by piece, I see. It'd be more interesting to watch you if you'd at least fight it a little bit."

Cain, that was his name, that was the name that had been given to him at birth. Though, wich of his two birth's he couldnt remember.
He looked into the mirror in the restroom while he washed his hands. Red blood coloured the sink. Cains reflection stared right back at him, licking of the last drops of blood of his teeth, he washed of his face and mouth.
Cain threw a last glance at the dead man who layed beside the toilet. He shook his head and walked out from the restroom, he hurried out of the pub into the night.
damnit!, not again.. not in a public place..

In the pub, the smell of the dead body was noticable for all of those who wasnt human, to them, the smell would come a day later.. but for others, the hunger was awaken..

OOC: Sorry about the short post and the lack of description, but its 02,37am here 'n well.. Im just to tierd. I'll try to get a picture of him to the next post (to lazy to describe him with words :P)

Sitting quietly in the back of the bar, cooly eyeing the other occupants, James Allard, a recently discharged Five Civilized Nations Air Force Captain, sat quietly, fingering his ring signifying his achievement as an ace. Taking a short sip of the beer on the table before him, James sneezed. Pulling out a handerchief from his pocket, he swiftly wiped his nose. Shaking his head, James attention turned back to the paper he was reading. With shock, James read the heading on the frontpage. "Five Civilized Nations Prince Hamilton Crusade to Court Canan's President." Shaking his head with barely contained amusement, James remembered back to the days he had spent with his friend, the Prince of Atreus. Sitting back quietly, James muttered a quick prayer to his friend, someone who had not possessed real love for many years. "May you find peace and love, my friend..."

A man with a curly black ponytail entered the bar... The newcomer stood around 5'11", with a very athletic-looking build. Cold green eyes flicked from side to side as he made his way to the bar, a nickel-plated Berretta M96FS clearly visible in the waistband of his pants...

"Vodka. The good shit."

The man ordered as he seated himself. He seems un-naturally steady of hand, as he lifts the shotglass to his lips. The fingerless tactical gloves on his hands add to the mystery. His dress is very unusual, consisting of a pair of grey fatigue pants & a tapered black T-shirt, showing off a pair of toned, muscular arms. Combat boots with an external knife sheath rest on the foot-ring of the barstool...

"Two more."

The man threw back the shots in quick succession, the followed them with a Baccardi Triple Black, sipping on the bottle a bit more slowly...

He took a drink of his water, then lit another napkin on fire, watched it burn into ash in his hand, then dumped the ash onto the bar.

Drink, light, burn, dump. Drink, light, burn, dump. He'd been doing this for the past 20 minutes. And then his phone rings.

He quickly drops the still-burning napkin that he had been holding onto the bartop and scrambles for his phone. He flips it open and holds it to his ear.

"Mm hmm... Mm hmm... Oh." A disappointed look crosses his face. "I, uh, understand, sir. Yes, sir. I'll return in the morning, Your Excellency. Yes, have a good night, sir." And he flips the phone closed, replacing it in his pocket.

"Bartender! Give me a whisky sour! And if the glass is dirty, your life is forfeit." And for emphasis, he flattens his hand against the smoldering remains of the napkin he'd dropped.

Father Borski was not an happy man, he silently cursed the fact Katrina's sister ever came to his parish and he had been dragged out of retirement. Here he was near seventy and he was out chasing an killer after the same order retired him saying he was too old to be hunting down monsters, evil spirits and demons. He really wondered sometimes just what was going though the heads of his higher ups at times but then again he also didn't really want to know anymore than anyone really wanted to know that the Vatican secretly waged war on the forces evil like something out of an movie with an variety of secretive reglious orders.

He shook his head as he entered the pub and went to an table near Katrina not that he really noticed at the moment and ordered an drink of the strongest wine they had.

OOC: Hey MS, not come off sounding like I know my stuff ,but baccardi is rum. Vodka would be like smirnoff. What can I say I work in a resturant that serves alcohol. Just for your information.

Cyber it is great to have you back. I can understand why you would do that, it is perfectly acceptable. We just do things differently I guess. I feel I shouldn't exclude people that is all. If you want to do a story together just you and I and maybe a select few others let me know.

IC: If Katrina was human she would have almost choked on the liquid, but she had felt his presence. I thought he would come around, a slight smile edged across her face. She continued to look straight ahead. The nerve, to pick me apart or even try to. My sister would love this guy. Oh what they did already meet and she tossed him aside. A small giggle escaped in her head and that is why she let him stick around her. David. The last time she saw him was at the police station. He did get to see many sides of her, a student and then a profiler/lawyer. Maybe he was tearing her down piece by peice, trying to figure her out.

She turned to him, meeting his gaze. "It is nice to see you step out of the darkness and into the dim for awhile." She wiped some of the liquid from her glass on her thighs and said, "I should have known it was you when I smelled that god-aweful decaying smell." She smiled. "Seems you have toned it down a bit, eh."

A nearby cell-phone blares in the already noisy pub and grabs her attention. Hmmm an elf. I have not seen or talked to one in ages, brings back dear memories. She had befriended and loved one ions ago. Seeing one always brought back those uncontrolled emotions, which she tried to block out with alcohol. She grabbed the mug again and took a larger gulp and let the mug slam down on the counter, spraying water everywhere. A few drops landed on David's cheek.

As almost an impulse she lifted her hand up and wiped the liquid away. Her hand stayed there for moments that was way too long. Her eyes widened and she pulled her hand back as if it had betrayed her own mind and body. What the hell am I doing? Must be the alcohol. She brushed it off.

Then came a smell, a smell quite familar to her. The smell of death and it was not David. Mercedes? Is she here? Katrina jumped up and looked frantically around the pub. No signs of her here. She looked at David. "hold my spot. Ladies room is calling." It didn't matter if he would believe her or not, he will watch it till I come back, there are things we need to end tonight.

She stood up and took a long way to the bathroom. She past many people and different conversations they had.

"Daddy let me take the caddie tonight. Won't be drinking that much."

"So, she did have an affair that whore worked her way up to management."

"I am going dumpster diving tonight. Are you in?"

"Hey hottie in the yellow! You want some real good times tonight?" The nerve of guys. Katrina rolled her eyes and made sounds as if she was puking.

"So, when I nibbled on her throat and drew blood I had to continue." Giggling to follow.

"Bartender! Give me a whisky sour! And if the glass is dirty, your life is forfeit." The elf stays for awhile. Katrina raises her eyebrows.

The smell was getting thick now. Her hormones were in full speed. She looked at the door it read Men's. She stepped in and saw feet comming out from under one stall. She opened the door and saw blood and the unimportant man. This was not her sisters doing. Katrina left the stall. Her eyes narrowed. All that work for nothing. I will let the authorities take care of the mess. He will be found soon. She took her set next to David and smiled. "Miss me."

OOC: I will try to find a way to get us all involved together that will be my next one.

A young woman stands up and moves toward the restrooms. He allows a brief glance, but does not pay her much notice.

He downs the whicky sour much faster than he should. Alcohol was never his thing. While the others would use the drink to loosen up and have fun, it was never necessary for him. Usually a calm, relaxed, and fun-loving fellow, the news he had recieved on the phone was obviously troubling him.

He shakes his head and blinks his eyes two or three times. Now what? That... that traitor was edging in on his territory. He was the Emperor's Personal Assistant, dammit! Why wasn't he by the Emperor's side? The obvious answer was that the Emperor told him to be here. The other answer was because that elder bastard was scheming to remove him from favor in the Emperor's eyes.

"Bartender! Another whiskey sour!" He lowers his voice, "Oh, and thanks for the clean glass." A smile crosses his face.

David's eyes flickered to her hand, and he opened his mouth to say something before Katrina rushed off, but shut it slowly.

"I don't miss anything." The vampire remarked with a smirk. "I've decided to make it simple this time, I was trying to be too serious before. That sister of yours has to die. Tonight. And you know how to find her." His gaze returned to the far wall and he chuckled a little. "You two make the most confusing pair ever."

Cain walked into a back alley and levitated to the roof, the roof above the pub. He stood on the edge, looking down on the street. The hunger never rested, his thirs for blood never quit. Some years ago, he could control it, eat when I wanted to. But nowdays, only a few hours between each meal. He'd heard rumours about other Vampires who developed this hunger when they grew realy old. Cain was old, that he knew.. to old.. this new society wich had developed the last houndred years.. well, it wasnt his favourite.
In the distance he could hear sirens. Someone had discovered the body..
damn.. He needed advice from the councill, though, they had relocated their head quarters a dozen of times since he left the brotherhood.. or whatever they called it these days. He needed help.
how ironic, a vampire that needs help..
He continued to observe the street down below as the police arrived to the pub.

tag

Katrina just starred at her mug. Why always her sister? Well, the answer was her sister caused a lot of problems. "If I knew where my sister was I wouldn't be here right now."

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The tingle of her skin increase with each moment. God, I love this, daring to speak directly to the lord. Her breath sped up and her eyes rolled back.

The boy means nothing to me, but yet can drive me wild. Mercedes was topless, while the boy was naked. Men's body is so foreign to me and that is why I thirst for it. Nevermind my hormones. SLowly she glided her hand up to his neck and pressed down. The boy thought it was a game. Fools they all do. It was not fun anymore to her. He let her do it. He asked for it. She pressed down on his carotid arteries cutting off circulation to his brain. She released and all she did it appeared she literally sucked the breathe out of him. This one didn't even fight. He was willing to give me is soul, well, it is his own fault then. Mercedes dressed the boy and put her own top back on.

A smile crossed her face. My sister is in town, let the fun begin. Mercedes walked down the street to where her sister was at the local pub. Mercedes had on a short black skirt and a black tube top. Her feet were in black stilleto boots. She opened the door and walked in. She spoted her sister at the counter next to the foolish silly vampire. Her mind hissed with the word. I love them and I hate them at the same time.

She scanned the room, looking for prey or even just play. her eyes fell on the man in the uniform and curly hair. Ohh! Military...looks to be a mercenary. The night is looking better.

Mercedes walked over to where the man drinking the vodka shots was at and slide up next to him. Her bare thighs touched his hand. She smiled viciously, "Hey sugar, the war is beginning now. You think you might have a chance at winning?" Her eyebrows raised in a dare and that smile got more demonic.

Father Borski stared in shock before leting lose an curse in latin. He thought wrly. Well Mercedes indeed looked like her sister. As he checked for the silver bound one handed black staff he always keep with him he wondered what was going on. He serious doubted she was throwing herself on the mercy of her hunters. He edged his chair away from the table so if he needed move quickly he wouldn't hampered and then he watched Mercedes carefully.

He glances around again, the girl who had earlier gone to the bathrooms had apparently changed clothes and was talking to the man farther on down the bar. He glanced her over. Attractive, yes, but women tend to be nothing but trouble. That's a lesson that only experience will teach. Heh.

He smiled, his second one of the evening. There, that was the old Kr'ailen, the normal Kr'ailen showing through. Perhaps a conversation would cheer him up more, or a game of darts, or something. There had to be something to do in this bar, or if not in the bar, then in the city...

But for right now, a glass of water to take the edge off of the alcohol, and a relaxed demeanor. He sighs contentedly and spins his stool around so he can lean back against the bar, glass in hand.

He hadn't brought his firearm with him tonight, but had his special-made lighter (complete with engraved name piece) and his qu'abel knife in a sheath on the small of his back. Otherwise he might have suggested a sporting contest between himself and the military type... but he seemed to be occupied at the moment.

OOC: Hey you all out there. I am going be to out of town this weekend. So, if anyone feels up to acting out my two characters feel free too try. If not it would be great if you just chilled out till I go back. Heehee. Will post as soon as I get back.

OOC: Hey MS, not come off sounding like I know my stuff ,but baccardi is rum. Vodka would be like smirnoff. What can I say I work in a resturant that serves alcohol. Just for your information.


OOC: I'm well aware. After three shots of Stochlinalya (or however those commie bastards spell it... 100 proof, smells a lot like rubbing alcohol... Good shit...), you're going to want something a little softer. Like myself, Zion enjoys mixing booze, which isn't a good idea. Personally, I prefer bourbon & have something of an addiction to it.

Katrina just starred at her mug. Why always her sister? Well, the answer was her sister caused a lot of problems. "If I knew where my sister was I wouldn't be here right now."

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The tingle of her skin increase with each moment. God, I love this, daring to speak directly to the lord. Her breath sped up and her eyes rolled back.

The boy means nothing to me, but yet can drive me wild. Mercedes was topless, while the boy was naked. Men's body is so foreign to me and that is why I thirst for it. Nevermind my hormones. SLowly she glided her hand up to his neck and pressed down. The boy thought it was a game. Fools they all do. It was not fun anymore to her. He let her do it. He asked for it. She pressed down on his carotid arteries cutting off circulation to his brain. She released and all she did it appeared she literally sucked the breathe out of him. This one didn't even fight. He was willing to give me is soul, well, it is his own fault then. Mercedes dressed the boy and put her own top back on.

A smile crossed her face. My sister is in town, let the fun begin. Mercedes walked down the street to where her sister was at the local pub. Mercedes had on a short black skirt and a black tube top. Her feet were in black stilleto boots. She opened the door and walked in. She spoted her sister at the counter next to the foolish silly vampire. Her mind hissed with the word. I love them and I hate them at the same time.

She scanned the room, looking for prey or even just play. her eyes fell on the man in the uniform and curly hair. Ohh! Military...looks to be a mercenary. The night is looking better.

Mercedes walked over to where the man drinking the vodka shots was at and slide up next to him. Her bare thighs touched his hand. She smiled viciously, "Hey sugar, the war is beginning now. You think you might have a chance at winning?" Her eyebrows raised in a dare and that smile got more demonic.

Peter Zion slowly shifted his eyes in her direction, bringing her under his cold emerald gaze... Something wasn't right about this one... Too classy for a hooker, and too eager for some horny bar-fly...

"Ain't interested..."

Zion's right hand shifted closer to the grip of his handgun. He was a sniper by classification, but his custom-built WA-2000 wasn't ideal for close-up work... The K-BAR in his boot would work better, but he wasn't as good with it...

'Better stop drinking... Try some charm, get a good look at her teeth...'

"On second thought, what makes you think I'd lose?"

He flashed a smile, displaying a hit of his off-white teeth. Zion was attractive by anyone's standards, earning him the callsign of 'Posterboy'...

Many smells hung heavily on the thick air of the pub... Alcohol... Sweat... Tobacco... Ash... Ozone...

Fear...

Something more peculiar caught the attention of a cloaked figure sitting in one of the poorer-lit corners of the bar...

Gunpowder... Blood... Vampire...

Death...

Clawed hands drummed on the pitted surface of the worn table, clad in fingerless tactical gloves. Black scales covered the hands, matching the claws that ended each finger. A long, dexterous tail sat curled under the chair of the figure, near the sheath of a rapier that hung from its belt...

'There are things not of this world here... I detect vampiric beings, and another I have not encountered yet... This will get interesting...'

"Really?" The vampire murmured to Katrina. "Wouldn't that just be foolish? I would prefer to hang close and attack at the opportunity."

He brought his deadened golden eyes up to peer at Mercedes as she walked in, and gave her a sneer as she passed by. The calm neutrality the weary hardwood top of the bar held in this whole matter drew his eyes down to it again.

"I guess it's your call."

Mercedes looked at the merc. and cocked her head to one side. She laughed, but it was a low laugh. "It is not that I think you would lose, but that I know you would lose." She twirled one strand of hair and with her other hand ran her fingers down his bulging bicep. "So, what kind of fun would I have?" She tossed her hair back over her shoulders. Her eyes shifted and spun, "Or unless you have a better game?"
-----------------

Katrina jumped up at David's side and clutched on to his arm. Her fingernails digging into his skin. They dug in deeper, "How dare she come and taunt me here. Do you think we should approach her?"

"No, not now. That merc she's flirting with has guns, and guns are loud. Self explanatory. Maybe after he's dead." He looked down at the fingernails imbedded in his arm, which was beginning to spawn a few drops of black blood. "Um, I know I can't feel it and all...but that's still a little hard."

Is completely lost in his own thoughts when, by chance, his eyes fall upon Katrina and her companion. Hrm. She must've lost interest in the man she was flirting with before. And a new man already? Bit of a slut, if you ask him. And she changed clothes again? Women.

He turned to look at the merc she had been flirting with. And she was over there, too. A quick glance confirmed back to the table confirmed it, there was two of her. Twins, perhaps? Or something altogether more sinister?

Well, whichever, as long as they didn't cause trouble.

Katrina laughed. She didn't realize she was applying so much pressure to his skin and she then saw the blood. She raised an eyebrow at David. She brought her finger up to her mouth and smeared over her bottom lip. Then she licked her lips.

Mercedes saw her sister and almost broke her concentration on the man in the uniform, without a name to her. Her sister was playing games and with the one from before. She narrowed her eyes. David. She needed to take him out of the game, he would only distract her sister. She paused maybe she could use him because her sister being distracted would only benefit her and that was all that mattered. She knew her sister knew she was watching so she winked at her and leaned in closer to the man and whispered words in their tongue, knowing he wouldn't understand, but be drawn in closer to her. Her soft moist lips touched his bare neck. She raised her eyes at her sister and David and smiled showing her teeth. It was a dare. She wanted her sister to take the bait.

A glass fell nearby and shattered into a thousand pieces. Katrina looked at the ground where the glass had seperated and sighed. Somehow that is how she felt, spread out and broken.

She turned David. "I can't stand around watching anymore. Once he is in, he never can escape. I can't stand to know that he will die if I don't do anything. I don't know about you, but I need to do something. He mustn't touch the flame. If he does he will be engulfed by it." Her eyes shifted down and when they came back up, they had changed, they were more brillant. Something behind them that could bring anyone in them and get lost in them if the owner wanted them to. A flame grew and was almost out of control. Katrina reached out to David with one hand. Her fingertips floated to his chin. "I cannot do this alone." Her voice soft and grave and her eyes almost as intense as the soon during midday.

David let a long stale breath out. "I don't care about what happens to him, neither should you. He's our chance to keep your sister distracted until the time when we can strike, and that time is not here, and not now. We're outsiders, can't you see?"

The vampire caught Mercede's taunting glance and his eyes flashed for a second before dying again.

"Should never have existed." He mumbled to himself.

Katrina's voice raised a bit, "Well, don't you realize she is not distracted by him. She does this to get me to react." Katrina stopped and listened to what she was saying. Dammit. Why do I let her get to me like this. She glared at David, "Why did he always have to be so God damn right and so annoying at the same time?" A red and hot flush came across as she realized she said it out loud. "Dammit." She slumped onto the barstool. "Sometimes I wished I didn't exist either, but she would run chaos everywhere if I wasn't here. Plus you are beginning to remind me of her with that attitude."

"Good, then maybe you'll kill me and I'll get some rest." He quipped dryly. "If you'd calm down and stop reacting so violently, maybe you'd have gotten somewhere by now."

Father Borski stared intently at Mercedes, this hostis humani generis, not really caring if she noticed or not, studing her every move. She was coming onto the soldier rather like an drunken hooker but he wasn't certain what she was up to. What he did know was that he wasn't stand by if it looked like she was going to kill him. If it looked like was going to come to that, he would take action to stop her.

"What?" Katrina was getter angrier. "I am not violent." She stated matterafactly. "I am just stubborn. Besides, don't you think maybe death is more violent than me." She crossed her arms and dared David to speak more.

"No, death is a very serene state, believe me." He said, turning to look at her. "Everything is inherently violent, though your sister seems to have taken that as a blessing. Are you done arguing yet? I've got plenty more little snippets of wisdom, if you're not."

Mercedes looked at the merc. and cocked her head to one side. She laughed, but it was a low laugh. "It is not that I think you would lose, but that I know you would lose." She twirled one strand of hair and with her other hand ran her fingers down his bulging bicep. "So, what kind of fun would I have?" She tossed her hair back over her shoulders. Her eyes shifted and spun, "Or unless you have a better game?"


Something triggered Zion's suspicion... Intense green eyes narrowed... Something wasn't right... This bitch was something bullets wheren't going to kill, at least not the Hydra-Shok hollow-points currently in the clip...

"I got a good game for ya... It's called 'Step-the-fuck-back-before-I-put-three-in-your-chest-an'-two-in-your-head' It's a lotta fun, especially for me..."

The Berretta was out, held low like Zion's voice, the barrel barely three inches from Mercedes' stomach. Zion kept a quick eye on her hands, any sudden moves & he'd open fire. His shots might not kill her, but they'd put a pretty big hole in the soft flesh & muscle of her abdominal region...

OOC:

Hydra-Shok: Special hollow-point rounds with a 2.5x expansion.
i.e. .40cal + Hydra-Shok = .42cal

The cloaked figure at the back of the bar heard the exchange between the mercenary & the woman... The insignia on the sniper's pants was the same as the private military corporation his friend Dekker Bray was a member of... This man would need some assistance.

A handgun appeared in the shadows under the table, aiming at the woman. From this range, he was more likely to hit the bartender than his target. Hopefully the mercenary's first shots would knock her back far enough to present a better target.

His weapon was an old Colt M1911A1, loaded with .45 caliber silver-jacketed rounds. Perhaps they would have greater effect...

David heard the low, drawn-out rasp of a gun being slowly pulled out to avoid detection. His hand disappeared with equal speed under the flowing black cloak he wore. His ears caught the same rasp echoed further away. Two guns out.

"Looks like you may very well get our wish, Katrina." He murmured. "Tell me, what exactly kills your sister?"

Katrina's heart pumped harder and louder and she was starting to perspire. She noticed the mercenary was holding a gun at his sister, she knew that her sister also knew and Mercedes didn't look happy anymore. When her sister wasn't happy things didn't look good. She heard what David said, but just did not want to listen. What would kill her sister? Only she knew and could she have the guts or even the ability to kill her? Could she kill her sister? Tears began to well up on her lower eyelids.

Chokedly, "David, I know how to, but we have a problem."

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Mercedes glared at him now. Great, now I can't have any fun. Now, she needed to finish him before he harmed her. She laughed out loud. More inhuman then human. "Well, really I don't like that game, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve, sir." So, he thinks he can play hardball. She could deal with him, but it was her sister she was worried about. Only she knew how to kill her and would she? The laugh came again,but directed towards her sister, her sister was too chicken shit to do it. Back to the man. "Now, let me just warn you sir. If you fire that gun in here, you will not kill me. Yes, you will harm me and maybe stun me, but you will not kill me. In fact you probably will get yourself killed. I have made some friends here and they have been in prison and don't mind to go back. Plus, these men don't care how much a person screams and well I live for it." Mercedes remained motionless, while several large men walked and circled the table, creating the rest of the bar to take notice of them. "Now, do you really want that? Let's take this outside and make it less noticeable."

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My sister is up to something. She needed to think quickly and fast. She up and ran over to the table. She easily moved the large men out of her way.
"Excuse me Mercedes you and I need to talk. NOW!"

As it was like a scene from a movie the crowd gasped in shock. Twins.

IC: Father Borski cursed rather loudly in latin at the latest development, in fact he would have done an roman sailor of the anceint world proud with some of the curses as he rose to his feet pulling out his hidden staff and keeping it just out of sight in his robes before muttering about the situtation. "Furor."

The katana came out of it's scabbard with a cold ring. David could only hope Katrina was going to do whatever she needed to in order to end the threat of her sister. The thugs might try to stop her, and she would need his help to keep her safe. He laughed at that thought, a low sardonic cackle.

'Keep her safe...what have you become, you pathetic being?' The words echoed in his head and felt like lead.

The cloaked figure rose, bringing the handgun into full view, his aim switching alternately from David to Mercedes. The tail tugged lightly on the hood, bringing the identity of the hunter into full view...

Whiptail...

"Somehow I knew I would find you here..."

The comment was directed more at David than either of the twins... Whiptail's usual gravelly monotone was rife with annoyance...

"And you... Step away from the human..."

Whiptail's aim shifted again, Mercedes' head was between the old-style blade & notch sights of his weapon...

David chuckled as he saw Whiptail.

"Were you looking for me? I'm flattered." He replied sarcastically, keeping his eyes on the thugs.

Whiptail and the vampire had a bit of history, and they always seemed to wind up more or less on the same side, though whether enjoyed such coincidences was left to speculation.

OOC: Haven't seen a post from MS, so I just going to assume he lets Mercedes go with the twin Katrina.

IC: Mercedes stands up and flings the table over. Several bottles of beer splash and crash to the ground. The men grab the soldier and hold him, while Mercedes starts out the door. She pauses and blows him one kiss. "Later babe." Just before she gets to the door she is ripped backwards by a strong hand. What the f-ck! Who the hell is grabbing me? As she is spun around her eyes widen and then narrow.

"Well, hello sissie."

Katrina's hands are shaking as she holds her sister tight, "Hello."

"Why do you always go after my men."

"Guess I like sloppy seconds."

"Honey, mine aren't sloppy, I am pretty clean."

"Well, you do leave things behind."

"I need someone to chase me right?"

"You have people that chase you."

Batting her eyelashes, "Like who?"

"Boys and..."

"And?"

Katrina was tired of her games. She picked her up slightly, enough that only her toes touched the ground, and slammed her into the wall.

"No more f-cking around."

"Oh, I don't do that. I don't want any diseases. You know how guys are these days and not protecting themselves."

"You don't have to worry about that, you have to worry about me." Katrina meet Mercedes gaze.

Mercedes started to laugh. "You can't kill me. You are not strong enough. You always were the weeker of us two."

"You are right, I can't. But I know someone who can, if I tell them."

"I dare you."

"It's done."

Katrina shifted her head to were David was and without saying a word, she knew he would know to come here.

David grinned sadistically. He stepped very slowly and very deliberately up to Mercedes, and his sword poked painfully at her stomach.

"So..." He began in a very unnatural voice, "can I play with my new toy?" One long needle-thin blade slid out from inside his wrist and danced lightly along her neck, sending a small stream of blood down her chest. "I always wondered what you really were. Do you want to tell me, or do I need to dissect you?"

Whiptail followed the trio out into the street, leaving the mercenary to deal with the goons on his own. The hunter had much bigger fish to fry...

Father Borski walked over to the thugs holding the mercenary and spoke in an calm almost errie voice. "Have you concidered the state of your immortal soul. I would suggest you release the good sir before you reget it."

They would soon know how right the priest was... Zion's reaction to being grabbed was nothing short of violent...

He stomped down hard on the right foot of the man holding him, using the momentary stunning effect of the blow to wriggle free & deliver a sharp upper-cut to the man's torso, followed with a knee to the groin. He finished with the opposite knee crashing into the man's face...

There where four more left.

The first threw a powerful haymaker, which Zion nimbly ducked under & countered by wrapping his left arm under the man's left, bringing his right arm up to wrap around his assailant's chin. With shattering force, Zion wrenched the man's head in the opposite direction while pivoting his body in the same direction. The man's neck snapped like a dry twig & he fell like a muscled rag-doll.

Three...

Number two had better luck, swinging in with a roundhouse kick that caught Zion across the back. The sniper stumbled forward, turning around in time to get clocked with a sharp jab. Zion returned fire with a series of quick jabs & crosses, ending with a body uppercut to the man's chin. The sheer force brought his victim off of the floor about an inch. A second after the uppercut landed, Zion hauled off with a forceful knuckle-strike to the throat.

Two...

Number three was a bit bigger than the other two. He menaced Zion by cracking his knuckles & flexing his heavily muscled torso. Zion simply fired a lightning fast straight jab into the man's cyphoid process, shattering the lower portion of the sternum & skewering the man's heart with his own broken ribs.

One...

The last thug threw a fluid series of jabs & kicks, three of which caught Zion on the chin & face. He landed on a table, smashing it into a dozen pieces. The mercenary snatched a shot from the bar, flinging the alcohol into his opponent's face & following the dirty trick with a beer bottle to the head. As a finishing touch, he rammed the jagged portion of the bottle into the thug's chest.

Zero...

The sniper cracked his neck a few times, then his jaw, spitting a bloody stream of saliva onto the barroom floor...

Father Borski noted dryly as he watched the mercenary's reaction to the thugs. "Lowlife thugs, I think they somehow manage to get stupider as the years go by. I can tell I don't need to ask wither you are alright though the police will likely have headaches later, if they bother to show up before morning that is." Looking around for Mercedes he muttered his breath. "Goody I get to track her down again. Hopefully before she kills anyone."

ooc: Hmm...I like this thread enough to join. Hope you don't mind...

IC:
Rikan Tansho heard the gunfire across the street from her. She stepped out the door of the weapons shop and eyed the bar. Outside, several individuals were obviously being hostile to each other. Two were twins.

She sighed. Women...always seeming to get in the middle of the retarded confrontations of men.

She flicked her wrists ever so slightly, causing her dual-arm blades to protract from their casings and lock into position. She walked across the street, toward the others, keeping her eyes on each of them.

I sense a vampire... she thought darkly to herself. How she abhorred vampires...they had killed her parents when she had been but a young girl. Thankfully, a mercenary group took her in and trained her in combat. In time, she ascended in rank in the group, and took leadership. Ever since, she had taken them on successful hunts...hunts of the darkest kind... A fellow mercenary once coined a name for her brash, yet deadly method of killing of her foes: "Viper". Since then, the name had stuck.

And ever since, she continued to prove her prowress in battle...

"I suggest you leave these women alone." she called out to the one slicing ever so slightly the skin of one of the twins. She raised her arms slightly, bringing into clearer view of her weapons...


Click for Rikan's profile
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0UADrAtgZ5j8f2CrpaMV24TwbuxvybmCuhZfO8UMvUDkngmytJmQQJdIML9NBZQyHuTG80yXwz5IhLXDSGzuf02R!KAwXz6YbhDZ 3v9Zzg!Yk9bW8ADg8oXSCqxgAcKsY/deistyina.jpg


OOC: Does anyone know the new scripting for linking photos? I seem to have some trouble with what I know already...they're not working for this site...

David grimaced at the sound of an interloper's voice. His firey eyes remained fully on Mercedes. Katrina was right, she could not get away another time.

"This matter is beyond your understanding, mortal." He hissed to the new woman. "It would be best for everyone's health, especially your own, if you were to let us exterminate this scourge without irritating delays."

Rikan snarled at the mention of 'mortal'. She had been correct in her guess on whom was the vampire.

"I will not step down. But first, tell me why this one deserves to die? Maybe then, I will allow you to proceed unhindered. Mind you, what you say will determine the outcome of this..."

She shifted only slightly in her stance, now that her arrival had declared her armed. Rikan looked briefly at the woman whom the vampire was closest to. Her eyes bore into the woman's own, and she saw some clues of this woman's history simply by this. She had an uncanny ability to percieve a stranger's personality, character by a simple look in their eyes.

Hmm...interesting...

Mercedes did not return any type of reaction to David's warning or thereafter procedure. Her eyes narrowed. She looked at the woman approaching, possibly bait, a smile flickered on her calm face. This woman would only serve for distraction and it seemed she was on her side. I hate any of those humans that try to help me. "I don't need your help, especially from your kind."

She spat on the ground just before the newcommer's feet.

What? She thinks that he is a harm to us. This is pretty ironic, if she only knew. Worried brows rose a bit, "He is not the problem here, miss." She shifts her hand towards David, "He is right you should leave, we will handle this."

A low cruel laugh came from Mercedes. "Don't be stupid sister. He," comming out now in a hiss, "can't help you. This is all on you."

"True."

"But you won't do anything about it. You never will cause you can't get rid of me like you wish, or like how I got rid of your man."

A impulsive slap cracked against Mercedes cheek, it glowed a bright red.

In turn Katrina raised her hand up to her own cheek, it too was red. A small clear tear formed on her lower lid of her eye and threatened to spill over the edge and fall.

"You can't," taunted Mercedes. "You won't."

Katrina remained silent for what seemed ages to her. Memories drifted in and out of her head. I can't do this anymore. Out of her purse she slipped out a silver metallic knife, about the size of her hand. The handle had red jewels encrusted in it. At this time they glowed.

Mercedes saw the knife and recognized it. "You can't kill me. You can't kill your sister."

"You are right, I can't kill you. But I will." Katrina's eyes bright, but wet with tears. This was for all the families of your victums she thought. She raised her eyes to the sky. Why had the lord forsaken her? Then she realized the lord had not and would not. This was what she was and she would deal with it.

She raised the knife to her neck and sliced a bit into her soft flesh. The knife soon was stained with ruby blood.

Mercedes cut began to flow with more blood. What the hell was she doing.

"You are right I can't kill you, but I can kill myself and you will still die cause we are connected. You knew that, why forget it. I may not have the conscience to kill you, but I will not live with any more deaths that I know you cause. Your guilt is mine."

A smile came across her face. "David."

The vampire didn't expect this woman to acquesice so quickly, so he plotted to take advantage of that.

His voice lost some of it's edge. "She is a rampant killer and seeds chaos in the cities she stalks. This seductress sucks the breath from innocent men after wooing them with false promises and leaves them cold. I've watched her for years; I can't let it go on any longer."

Katrina cut herself across the throat, and David stared at her. She had not just...but it was all to real. The vampire understood, and yet he did not want to understand. The fire died from his eyes, the psychosis left him. He looked down at Katrina with an impassive stare as she beckoned him. In reality, he was too fearful to say anything.

Rikan stared in shock at the two women. It...was impossible to have this sort of...unholy separation, wasn't it??

"They are one and the same..." she muttered as she overheard the explanation from the vampire a moment later, "but, to have both sharing the same thread of life...such I have never seen before...my God, it's a physical display of the eternal battle between Good and Evil..."

Such a revelation of thought brought to mind the moral question of whether either deserved to exist, purely to only be taunted, tortured by their equal but opposite nemesis...

Rikan looked at the vampire and blinked, before composing herself. "Well, not something I expected. Yet, I find it interesting that neither is allowed by the Fates to kill the other, nor themselves. An interesting predicament, which leaves them with only one option: an outsider to commit the act, thus freeing both... and now, I understand your position here, vampire, go on, do it for the sake of their damned souls..."

With that, Rikan took a deep breath. Sometimes, the world presented quite the situation in which it was clear of the solution. And if the vampire failed in what it was about to do, she would instantly move to complete the task.

Such irony I hold...a vampire hunter assisting her general prey...

Mercedes continued to laugh, but it became more chaotic. Then just as she had started laughing, she stopped. Now, there was silence. She looked at her sister. She can't do it, she mustn't do it. That damn vampire. He will pay. He influences my sister when I should be doing the influencing.

Blood seeped out of both wounds of both of the twins. They were connected. They couldn't kill the other by physicall attacking the other because then they would be killed. Yet, Katrina knew if she killed herself, this would mean her sister would also have the same fate and die.

Morals spilled into Katrina's mind. Suicide. Selfish means. Was this really selfish though? She was getting rid of a sour apple in the bunch. Or was she also being selfish herself. Conflicting ideas caused her to question herself and those around her. Who exactly was this Rikon? Was she there to distract them and actually aid her sister? She had no idea. Her eyes fell on David again. She noticed his "spark" had left his eyes and he appeared to her even more sober and almost like the moon, meloncholy. You must always have faith in something, the thought replayed in her head, pushing all negative ones out.

Her eyes changed once more, not anything like hers, but someone from the past, present, and future; one of those looks only David would remember.

"You must have faith in something, eitherwise there is nothing to live for. I live for there to be people save from her." She pointed at her sister. All anger flowed out of her and evaporated into the open air. She continued to lock eyes with David. "This is the only way that I know." The knife sunk deeper into the raw wound, but she still fought internally onward.

Zion stumbled through the front doors of the bar, Berretta in hand. His left eye had started to blacken & swell, and stream of semi-dry blood trickled down his chin. Numerous cuts adorned his face & his shirt was slightly torn...

"I ain't through with you yet..."

The sniper raised the handgun, bringing Mercedes' head into his crosshairs...

Father Borski went outside following the merenary and then stopped as he stared in shock what what was going on and what Katrina was doing. "Blessed Mary." He headed over to Katrina and began speaking. "What in the name of God and all his saints in heaven do you think you are doing? What sense in stopping that Hostis Humani generis." He pointed at Mercedes. "If you damn your own soul in the process. There must be another way."

David forces a small smile onto his face, and he sheathes the katana. The one blade hovering near Mercedes' neck retracts, and he places his other hand over the cruel woman's heart. The intensity of his stare burns into Katrina.

"I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord..." He began slowly, closing his eyes.

"...he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall live..." A tiny tear trickled from his serenely shut eyes.

"and whoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." His eyes shot open. "Thus I spill this unholy blood and end your pain."

The thin blade bolted from his wrist into Mercede's heart, piercing it neatly.

He looked down at Katrina once more. "You were the closest thing to a friend I ever had, thank you. Good bye, Katrina."

She felt it, she needed to believe she felt it. A feeling reach words would not give credit to, but she knew. Once the knife struck Mercedes, she felt all of Mercedes hatred and anger and mostly just demonic tones spill out and be smoothered by her own light. She had thought she hated her sister, but she knew she loved her because she could have attacked her sister, but she took responsibility on her own. She had no idea why she was still awake, maybe it was part of a dream when she was in heaven. Heaven sure seemed a lot like earth and that was almost disappointing and amazing at the same time. Her throat was dry, but she knew she could speak.

"Father, it was the only way I could think of, but it seems solved now." She choked on some blood and then swallowed hard. She grabbed for David and brought him closer. "Never lose faith in me. I don't want to die. Please, let me be here forever." She stopped with tears running down her face, it glistened from the wetness. "I am so scared. Scared I won't make it. Please help me." Her voice was getting weaker and her breaths more labored.

OOC: Cyberutopia seeming your character is a vampire he could turn her. Or he could not. If he doesn't the story will be ended, which is fine by me, but if he does then we can turn this storyline in a different direction. I will await anyone else's further post.

Hey can you all rate this thread...I am just curious how my writing is. Thank you.

OOC:double post, sigh it had to happen sooner or later.

Father Borski spoke as he examined Katrina. "Your losing too much and damage, at this rate even if we could get you to an doctor, they would hard pressed with state of the art training and equipment to save you, you need an healer and healing is not my specially. At best I could stabilize you in a near death state for a time. I don’t suppose anyone knows of any around here.” That part spoken wry on the part of the priest. He was trying to keep an grim look from his face but was failing.

OOC:Your writing is quite good. your one of the better RPers I've worked with.

((I like the turning idea, actually. Hadn't thought of it before.))

David sighed and stoicly bit his lip, feeling cold blood trickle into his mouth and he gasped. His blood. If she wanted to stay...he could turn her with his blood.

He reached for his katana and pulled it out. It was stained black with blood, much like his soul. With impeccable calmness, he drew it down the length of his arm, and blood that was of such a dark crimson it could have been black trickled out from the vein.

He spoke slowly. "Drink this. I suppose it is the only alternative."

He held his wrist, soaked with the foul blood, to her lips.

Katrina's eyes widened and filled with tears once more. Yet, these were tears of happiness and hope, well, that be it in a different sense.

I never thought of that option. I would be even more than what I am now, I would have their qualities and mine. What would I be then? This was the only logical answer. She would do it and she was happy to. I have no regrets.

She said, "Thank you." Took one deep breath and brought her soft lips to his arm. She closed her eyes and began to suck at low suction. His blood mixed with her own blood in her mouth. It seemed that they were combining as oxygen and hydrogen would to create water. It seemed as if a perfect match. The liquid was thick, but an enjoyable consistancy. It was much sweeter than her rusty metallic tasting blood. She opened her eyes and looked at David. I don't know how much to take in. I am not like my sister, I never feed on those around me. She looked over at her dead sister and a sigh of mourning and relief escaped and she stopped. She backed away from David and wiped her mouth of the blood, not sure if it was her own or his. She crept over to her sister and placed her hand over where her sister cold heart was. She used her other hand to close her sister's open eyes.

"May you find rest and peace in your sleep. My heart will still remain with you and I do pray that some day God will forgive you for your actions." She began to cry once more. "Only God knew how long it took me to do such a thing."

She looked at the others. Hopefully this woud be the last thing she would have to deal with, I know otherwise. Evil could not be totally withdone with, but it was good to know the goodness was winning now. She stood up and walked over to David. I know he won't like this, but this is all I know what to do at this time.

She placed her arms around his neck and brought his face in closer to hers. There was a slight pause and then she kissed his check softly and whispered in his ear. "Thank you in so many ways, but most for the faith."

She turned around to the others. "And now it begins again."

Katrina would feel the sensation as if her veins had been injected with napalm. The burning went up and down her limbs, through her neck, and back down to her heart. It focused there, and beautiful golden light spilled forth from an unseen gap in her chest. She could feel her canines elongate and become needle sharp, and something brooded deep within her back. From between her shoulder blades, a piercing pain welled up, and two crimson wings – resembling those of a bat – burst from her back, soaked in her blood. David stared at her.

"That's...interesting." He muttered. "I would have expected you to die first, in all honesty. But either way...you are the only other of my kind, now."

He couldn't help but smile a little.

Rikan scowled as she watched the turning of Katrina. Now...she was one of them...and that made her even more likely to be an enemy. She would be watching this one carefully...

"Now what?" she asked with trepedation. Her eyes never left either of the vampires. She couldn't trust them.

"You leave, human. I have no reason to harm you. Why are you so hostile towards us? We have done nothing against you, and I have no intention of pursuing such a course." He growled, matching her scowl.

The change and experience had happened so quickly and so strangly. One moment she was herself and now she experienced all that within seconds. She felt the wings as if they were foreign to her own body.

"What do you mean by another one of your kind and the only one?" She frowned. Not that I don't want to be what he is, but I am completely something different from what he was originally. How could I be molding into this. "I don't understand. My heritage is not of yours and I can't see how we would be the same. Please, explain to me."

Rikan was not impressed by this vampire. She had met many like him, some even worse, more powerful.

Now they were dead.

"It's not what you have done to me that pisses me off, bloodsucker but rather what you live for. Murder...of innocents...someone needs to stand for them and claim justice."

With that, Rikan took a couple of steps backwards before turning and walking down the street. Soon, she disappeared around the corner, checking behind her to make sure she wasn't being followed. She would have preferred killing those two before another life was lost to their hunger. However, their time to die would come, and when that time came, they would see an enemy worse than they had ever met before...

Justice will come...that I promise you...

David smirked. "You go beyond yourself, human. You don't know me for what I truly am." His face dropped into something far more sinister. "And I would suggest you never, never make the assumption I kill innocents."

His eyes narrowed, and he took a small step foward to punctuate his point, but made no lightning move for his weapons. The mortal retreated, and he hoped the last he would see of her was her back as she turned the corner.

He turned, more serenely, to Katrina. "You took a part of me, of my essence, into your body, so you are a combination of my breed and of your former self. From what I can tell, my heritage has nothing to do with it, other than that I died first. I hope that makes some sense." He shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know exactly how I was created, so I don't have that many answers, and those I do have I'm not certain of."

He smiled and closed his eyes. A ripple travelled up and down his back before two great ash colored wings tore from his back, and through the –supposedly – nearly unbreakable armor there. He opened his eyes and stretched his wings to their full length, a span of about six meters. The bat-like wings were ragged by comparison to Katrina's, and full of gaping holes. The wings slowly folded up behind his back, contrasting with the dead black of his armor.

He noticed Katrina fingering her own wings. "I suppose you took a little bit of the demon within me as well, so you have those. They should dry – like a butterfly's wings."

Father Borski spoke calmly but dryly, no expression one way or another on his face has he took in this latest. "Well this is different and a little unexpected. The Order will have a field day and the Order of St. Adius is going to have a collective Epileptic fit over this. Not to mention the Holy Order of the Knights of St. Vernsi and other such orders.”

Zion opened fire on the twins, a combination of alcohol & a mild concussion seriously affecting his sense of timing & aim...

Rikan heard the gunfire from one block down. Immediately, she turned and began to retrace her steps quickly. She wanted to see who was firing and at whom.

As she neared the initial corner of which she had disappeared around out of view of the others, she slowed down and hugged the wall. Her head slid sideways as it peeked around the corner and assessed the situation.

Drunkard shooting my prey. Hmmm...

As the drunkard spun about momentarily, she managed to catch his eye and beckoned briefly, before disappearing back from sight. She moved farther down the street and slipped behind a pile of cardboard boxes and waited.

Hopefully, the drunkard would come. And hopefully, she'd be able to make an ally out of him, assuming he wasn't drunk all the time...

The vampire merely stood there as random shots wizzed past him. He held his hand for an instant in front of Katrina's face, and his hand came back with a bullet buried in it. He held his hand up to the mercenary, and the bloody bullet dropped out as the destroyed hand melded itself back into it's original form.

David smirked. "Done yet?"

ooc: Sorry, I have a new nation and I didn't find this until today, but I can explain my absence. First, we must go back in time...
IC:
Katrina did not trust this newcomer.

"How were you able to realize Mercedes was my twin and I wasn't her. People never know unless I point out the differences. The real only way is if she told you, which I doubt, or you know us. Well, I know I don't know you and from what I gather she doesn't know you. So, I suggest you start to spill your beans now, or I will enjoy doing it myself." She would not take some pompous male coming in on a investigation like this and she had no idea who this fellow was, but she would call someone soon and find out. He, obviously had some idea of what they were.

She smiled at the fact he was struck twice. Served the bastard, but maybe he could be of some use to her. Bait?
"I can tell you two apart because-" Talshi gasps, another dark pulse, this one much stronger than the one before, cuts through his soul. "I'd love to stay and chat, but I've gotta figure out where those pulses are coming from." With that, Talshi leaves.

A man in a business suit sits in a park reading aloud from a large book. A voice speaks from behind him:
"Bashido."
"Talshi," the man stands and smiles, "So glad you could make it." He turns and his magical disguise falls away. Before Talshi now stands a tall demon with a rag tied over it's eyes. In one hand it twirls a thick quarter staff and in the other, it holds up the book. "I'm sure you recognize this."
"The Book of Shadows? But I personally destroyed that thing!" Talshi's eyes focus on Bashido and narrow. "I will enjoy cutting you to ribbons, just like I did to the rest of your family."
Bashido just laughs as he unties the rag over his eyes. Talshi lunges for the Gorgan...

Some time later...
In a park at the far side of the city, a statue of a cloaked man with an outstretched katana stands. It after a night people could only call strange. There had been inhuman bellows, someone yelling, and singing. In the morning, they had found the statue, it's sword dripping a thick, black substance, and a large, bloodstained book. The book disappeared shortly after the discovery and no one was sure were it went. Around the statue's neck hangs a dull, gray crystal. Suddenly, it ignites with blue fire and begins to slowly spin. The light blue flames shoot across the katana and the sound of a woman singing is heard. Cracks appear along the statue and the stone falls away, revealing a very disoriented Talshi. He stares at his singing sword for a moment, then yells, "Bad sound, NO!"
The song continues and Talshi begins to run up to trees and slam his sword against them, yelling, "Bad sound! Bad sound!" Finally, in a fit of rage, he slams the sword into the sheath at his side. The singing stops. "No sound?" He cautiously pulls the sword back out and the singing starts anew. "Sound! Sound!" The katana goes back in, "No sound?"
Sound...
No sound...
Sound...
No sound...
Sound...
No sound..."
This goes on for the better part of an hour before Talshi suddenly stops and looks around.
"Where am I?"
He looks down at himself.
"Who am I?" He runs up to some people who happen to be walking by, "Who am I?" But the people just run away. Talshi wanders over to the pond and looks in. The man in the pond has a scar which runs through his left eye. The eye itself is a blue white orb. Talshi asks, "Who am I?" As soon as he asks it, the man in the pond asks it, too. Taken aback, Talshi wanders into the city, asking anyone, everyone, "Who am I?"

ooc: If anyone wants to humor me, The Book of Shadows is somewhere in the city. It is a large black, bloodstained, book with gold embroidery which possesses the power to make mortals into demons and to give demons near limitless power. Oh, and it also details the ritual to release the Demon God of Destruction and bring about Armageddon. Nothing special...

The bark of Whiptail's .45 punctuated the end of Zion's shooting-spree...

"I am not..."

The hunter lowered the firearm, reguarding Katrina with an odd combination of disgust & wonder...

"What have you done?"

Whiptail faced David, his golden eyes narrowed in annoyance. His tone was that of a disappointed parent...

Talshi hears the explosive gunfire and wanders tword it. Now madend by his lack of understanding, he mutters continously under his breath. He stagers down an allyway and is suprized to find a woman there behind some boxes. He leans in close to her.
"Who am I?"

Rikan heard the gunfire from one block down. Immediately, she turned and began to retrace her steps quickly. She wanted to see who was firing and at whom.

As she neared the initial corner of which she had disappeared around out of view of the others, she slowed down and hugged the wall. Her head slid sideways as it peeked around the corner and assessed the situation.

Drunkard shooting my prey. Hmmm...

As the drunkard spun about momentarily, she managed to catch his eye and beckoned briefly, before disappearing back from sight. She moved farther down the street and slipped behind a pile of cardboard boxes and waited.

Hopefully, the drunkard would come. And hopefully, she'd be able to make an ally out of him, assuming he wasn't drunk all the time...

The sniper slowly made his way over to the strange woman...

"What?"

David's hand crept to his side, and came back coated in sickly black blood.

He looked with irritation upon Whiptail. "Aww, you shot me. Pity." He glanced over at Katrina, before his own golden gaze returned Whiptail's. "I have done nothing she didn't want me to. I saved her."

Talshi is startled by the presence of the sniper. He pushes by him and wanders further down the street. He turns the corner and sees man and a woman with wings and another man with a tail. There is a body nearby, but Talshi stagers his way over to the group and looks at them for a moment before asking,
"Who am I?"

David's hand crept to his side, and came back coated in sickly black blood.

He looked with irritation upon Whiptail. "Aww, you shot me. Pity." He glanced over at Katrina, before his own golden gaze returned Whiptail's. "I have done nothing she didn't want me to. I saved her."

Whiptail's ocular expression didn't change...

"Get over it, you will live..."

The hunter snorted in dismissal...

"Yes, but I fear you have damned us all... How will we dispose of her twin?"

Rikan watched as the sniper came closer.

A man of death...

Her arm blades remained retracted and safely in their sheaths as she addressed the sniper.

"You want to kill the vampire too, am I correct? So do I. I hunt them for a living, and I kill them without regret. I suggest you and I team up against these two vampires. Also, the scaled one...I think he's a possible ally, do you not think so?"

Rikan reached up with her hand and brushed her hair away from her face, which blew in the wind. She eyed the sniper, and took particular interest in his weapons, before returning her gaze to his face once more.

The vampire looked back upon Mercede's body. The Argonian was right, it wouldn't bode well for anyone to call this much attention to themselves. He stepped over to the bloody corpse and picked it up by the back of it's shirt.

"We take her body somewhere, where it can't be tapped." He told Whiptail. "As for myself, I plan on leaving this urban wasteland soon. It holds no importance to me. Whatever the aftermath here is, I do not care."

When the vampire picks up the courpse, Talshi's eye widens.
"She is she!" He yells, pointing between Katrina and Mercedes. Talshi takes a stagered step back as a single memory breaks through the fog. One of these women... laughing... then... lightning? Talshi grips his head in pain as his mind returns. He shakes himself, stands, and mutters:
"Damn, I hate Gorgans." Looking at the bullets scattered around, the gun in Whiptail's hand, and the body in David's, he asks.
"So, which one's dead? The good one or the bad one?"

David is taken aback by this strange man, before he regains himself and his eyes narrow into slivers of gold.

"What does it matter to you? And how do you know of these two?" He slowly asked the disoriented Talshi.

Father Borski spoke, his pressence haven been forgotten. "He would be that hunter that showed up at the Police station in the last city. Evently Mercades struck him with lighting an few times when he tried to kill her."

"You know my sister. Well, then you shall know who the good one is and the bad one is." She glared at all surrounding her, but not making any connection to David. They all pissed her off, getting into her business.

"I really don't care about any of you," pointing her finger at Rikan, Tashi, and Whiptail. "You have no idea who I am. Besides what makes me is not my race, but who I am. You of all people should understand that, Rikan. I was you before. It was a matter of life or death decision. It does not change who I am. If you want to get down to specifics then I should kill you because you endanger my life."

Father Borski spoke rather loudly and sharply to the assembled group. "Nobody is going to be killing anyone this night if I personally have to knock some sense into you all. There has been enough death tonight. It is time to dispose of your Katrina sister's shell where nobody will disturb it. Let things lie until tomorrow." He glared about with a serious presence and more than a hint of power behind his words. "The monster in human form is dead and will claim no more victims this night. That should enough."

David turned to Borski and gave him a rare smile that was reflected in his eyes.

"Thank you, Father." He placed a hand on Katrina's shoulder. "We should go. Or...I should go...'we,' heh, sorry."

Whiptail nodded...

"Spoken as a true man of the church should..."

The hunter made a dismissive motion with his scaly hand...

"Begone, troublesome being... Your kind are the only reason I stay in this buisness..."

Whiptail's comment betrayed his true alliance... Do-Gooder vampires where not his targets, he remained a hunter to protect those worth protecting...

The touch of David on her shoulder made her insides twirl and get a warm fuzzy feeling. She couldn't describe, but brushed it off. A smile mixed with nervousness came across her face. "Sure. Let's be gone. I guess my education never will end. You need to teach me how to bite."

Rikan snarled in response to the indicated threat by the woman.

"You better watch your own back...no matter who you were before, you're now one of them...you're now a goddamn bloodsucker!

The pair of arm blades slid out with hardly any noise as Rikan held them, ready to use if necessary...

David still made no hostile move towards the vampire hunter. He trailed his hand along the edge of one of Katrina's wings.

He smiled at her. "You should be able to fly, if you just think about it. You'l get the hang of it, I promise."

He turned to Whiptail. "Fair enough. I predict I'll be seeing you again before long."

He turned to Whiptail. "Fair enough. I predict I'll be seeing you again before long."

Whiptail nodded...

"The Law of Averages dictates such things are inevitable..."

The hunter glanced at Rikan, his old .45 still in hand...

"Let them go. The odds are not in your favor... It is best to divide & only then conquer. David is a fine bladesman. He will occupy your attention long enough for his new partner to close in for the kill..."

He pauses for a moment...

"As it stands now, Mr. Zion might actually shoot you on accident. I would suggest you escort him to the nearest hospital, lest he do some accidental damage..."

The dull black finish of the well-worn Colt glimmers in the moonlight, Whiptail's clawed finger still sitting loosely on the trigger...

"Your choice... As an expeirenced hunter, I would engage them another time..."

Father Borski pulled out the blackwood, silver bound short Staff that he always carried he spoke slightly annoyed. "There is still matter the Mercades body needs to be taken properly taken of to insure lets some sorceror doesn't come along an make some type of undead out of her, or that her mevolvence binding her to his mortal plane or some other unpleasantry from happening, I am an little old to disposing of bodies by my self and we don't need her running around after death being possibly dangerious than in life. I think that happening would be bit more dangerious than two unusual vampires and any other fighting, like I said there has been enough death this night, some thing can wait, tomorrow is another night."

Zion pulled a small flask of bourbon from a cargo pocket, took a deep swig, then dumped the rest of the contents on Mercendes' body. As a final touch, he removes a stainless-steel Zippo from his right pocket, blowing on the flame...

A gout of fire shot from his mouth, igniting the booze-soaked clothes of the dead she-devil-thing...

David held onto the flaming corpse and tossed it into the nearest alley.

He patted his hands together, smothering the fire that had engulfed them. "Yeah, that works too."

"What do you mean just think of it, I don't think I can fly." She stared at her wings and nothing happened. GRRRR!

Rikan listened to Whiptail's advice. It was sound advice, advice she often lived by. It was exactly what had kept her alive so long against the immortal freaks of the night.

"Agreed. I guess I let myself get flamed up too easily sometimes...Come, let's go have a drink eh? I'd like to learn more about you, and where you are from."

Rikan beckoned with a tilt of her head toward a side street that led to a bar. She turned her gaze to Mr. Zion, watching as he occupied himself with igniting the corpse.

"I think Mr. Zion is going to be all right, not that I give a damn about him."

Talshi's eyes narrow at Katrina's wings. "Well now, this changes everything, doesn't it?" He mutters. Then he jumps up, scaling a nearby wall and landing on the roof.
"There's a small matter I must take care of. Once that is completed, be assured that I will not rest until the two of you lie in bloody pieces at my feet." He runs off across the rooftops.

OOC: Mageddon, which two are you talking about? The two vampires or Rikan and Whiptail? Sorry for the confusion.

ooc: I'm refering to the vamp and the hybrid vamp (at least, I think she's a hybrid). Sorry for the confusion.

The vampire sighed at Tashi. "I had better start keeping a list of people who want to kill me; I'm going to lose track."


He chuckled a little at Katrina.

"You're trying too hard." He told her calmly. "Relax, and then flex them as if you would flex your arms. It's nothing exotic, just another part of your body."

Rikan listened to Whiptail's advice. It was sound advice, advice she often lived by. It was exactly what had kept her alive so long against the immortal freaks of the night.

"Agreed. I guess I let myself get flamed up too easily sometimes...Come, let's go have a drink eh? I'd like to learn more about you, and where you are from."

Rikan beckoned with a tilt of her head toward a side street that led to a bar. She turned her gaze to Mr. Zion, watching as he occupied himself with igniting the corpse.

"I think Mr. Zion is going to be all right, not that I give a damn about him."

Whiptail nodded slowly...

"Indeed. It is always good to speak with a fellow hunter... Lead on."

Rikan smiled a disarming smile to Whiptail as she led the way down the street. Yet, her training and distrust of vampires in general kept her on guard and her senses alert, knowing that they were in the proximity.

The two hunters approached and entered "The Condemned Tavern", as stated on the swing sign over the door. Inside, there were a number of patrons talking amongst themselves. Rikan searched each of their faces as they looked to see the new arrivals. Most were not worthy to be considered a possible threat, but the ones who sat alone and in dark corners she would keep her eye on.

"Barkeep, get me a 'Flaming Bastard', and my friend whatever he wishes. Make it right, or I'll be having a new tongue to my collection..."

The barkeep startled slightly. Rikan watched as the barkeep pulled out the Amaretto Di Saronna and Southern Comfort, mixed the two, then lit the top, creating a flaming inferno drink. Rikan smiled as she glanced over at Whiptail, and took it all in at once, flames and all. A moment later, she opened her mouth and a puff of smoke escaped from her mouth.

"My favorite." she commented as the barkeep waited for Whiptail to order his drink.

"Now, why don't you tell me where you're from and what you do? Why are you here?"

OOC: I'm gonna be away for the next couple of days b/c of Hurricane Frances (evacuation is mandatory), and hopefully, my dorm will still be standing after it passes over...

Talshi's recovery of the book went well, despite the fact that the young woman in possession of it had already begun the transformation into a demon. Talshi now sits, watching the blue-white flames lick across his katana, burning off the dark crimson blood.
"It's always best to decapitate them," he mutters to himself. Sheathing the sword, he pulls The Book of Shadows from his cloak. Staring at its bloodstained black and gold cover he feels his mind drift back...
It is dark in the middle of the day. Mystified, I look up. The sun is gone, the sky is dominated by a demonic hole. I hear a voice, it is Umogris. He chants from Farseer Judas' tower. Dark beings descend from the hole. I run, hurrying home to protect my beloved Felicia. I enter the door and hear her screams of pain. I run up to the bedroom and she is on the floor. A slender being with red glowing eyes holds her down. It pulls its hand out of her chest, ripping out her heart. It raises the dripping organ to its lips...
Talshi shakes himself, tears running down his face. Returning the book to his cloak, he whispers, "I will destroy these vampires in your name, Felicia. May their flowing blood ease your pained memory." He stands, hops off the roof, and walks back toward where he last saw the vampires.

"Oh okay." She closed her eyes and thought about how she learned to snowboard and this could just be the same thing. Just try and repeat. She sighed and her small wings fluttered and then she opened her eyes. She was several feet above ground. Her heart, or what used to be it, fluttered along with her wings. Her eyes wide at the new experience, sent her body into uncontrollable happiness. "A new type of endorphin, huh?" She laughed and then second later slided through the arm and fell to her knees. "Landing not so hot."

The vampire hoisted Katrina back to her feet.

"Excellent. Now get yourself into the air and try longer, powerful strokes." He told her.

A low scuffling reached his enhanced ears, and he spun around to find Tashi before him.

His eyes narrowed to daggers of gold. "You again..."

"Having fun with your new playmate?" Talshi chuckled slightly as his hand strayed into his cloak. "Isn't she a little young for you?"

I would just like to say that I am enjoying the story. It's very good.

David merely kept his neutal, nonhostile posture as he faced Talshi completely, arms at his sides. Talshi could clearly see the dull glint of the metal grafted into the vampire's arms.

"I'm not a big fan of clichés, sorry. You're not amusing me. I will give you a last chance to leave." He snarled, showing one pearly fang. His mottled wings twitched, themselves irritated at the intruder.

"Thank..." interrupted by Tashi.
"Playmate? I highly doubt that I would be one of those, maybe if I lost a few more pounds and got myuy boobs done. As for age. It is not the years that you live, but how you live those years. Maturity is not granted by time, but by experiences."

Again Talshi chuckles as his eyes turn to Katrina. "Funny. You remind me of my student back home. She, too, could make light of a situation like this..." His eyes turn back to David and the faint kindness they once held is replaced by raw, unrelenting hatred.
"And you. What will you do to me if I don't leave? Slash me with your sword? My flesh will heal as soon as it is cut. Will you bite me? My blood is full of so much holy magic that it would be poison to you." He draws his hand out of his cloak. In it is a small burlap bag, its bottom stained dark black. He opens the bag, his eyes still focused on David, and points the opening toward the two vampires.
"Now then, in this bag is a Gorgan's eye. If you two would do me the favor of simply looking at it, it would make my job much easier. I'll just grind your petrified bodies into powder and scatter you to the winds. Then I get to return to what's left of my home and you two get to return to whatever twisted realm you were conceived in."

A sly smile pass along the vampire's lips. If Talshi had expected any form of psychological torment to take hold of David, he had severely underestimated him. The golden eyes remained locked on his enemy's own eyes.

"Keep talking..." He urged quietly. "I dare you."

"Dam," Talsh mutters, closing the bag and returning it to his cloak. "I was hoping this could be easy." He brings his hand back out of his cloak and holds it up between him and David.
"Multitos Duplicos!" From his sides, two more Talshis step. Then, from the sides of the new Talshis, two more Talshis step. The five images stand, indisinguishable from one another. The real Talshi, however takes a step back, leaving the five copies as a wall between him and the vampire. The real Talshi reaches into his cloak again.
"Let's see... Banshee, Werewolf, ah yes, Vampire." He draws out a few rectangular slips of paper with strange characters on them. He turns back watch what he can of David.
It's a weak illusion, he'll probably see right through it, he looks down at the spirit tags in his hand. Alright, David, let's see how strong ypu really are.

David's eyes underwent a strange change, and they appeared to be possessed with black fire which blotted out the light around him. The stained scarlet silk that wound around his mouth and down his back also began to become possessed with shadow, forming into a long trail of pure darkness. He swept his hand before him, and the copies collapsed inwards from an unfelt gale. A powerful unholy aura became suddenly noticeable to Talshi and anyone else near him, and the creature took a step towards his foe. The blades slid out from inside of his wrists again, extending to their full length. David held one of the sinister blades, barbed it's entire length and covered in arcane incantations, towards Talshi.

He spoke in two voices at once that echoed around Talshi. "Continue to treat me as a vampire and you'll find yourself in a very difficult position."

"Yes, I was conceived in a twisted realm, called earth, but I really don't think you know who you dealing with. In fact I am beginning to wonder who I am dealing with." Katrina looked at David, or who she thought was David.

"I treated you like a vampire because you acted like a vampire." Talshi says, returning the spirit tags to his cloak. "Again I tell you that your blades cannot hurt me, so don't try to intimidate me with them." Talshi's own blade, the Moonsinger leaves its sheath. From it, the sound of a woman singing sounds.
"I am suprized you have not heard of me. Talshi the Omnipotent: where I come from the very name sends beings of darkness fleeing back to their infernal pits screaming like schoolgirls. I have slain more of you horrors than anyman could count." Talshi brings the katana up... and vanishes. The singing intensifies, seeming to come from all directions. Talshi voice can be heard from above:
"As such, you'll find your party tricks and toy blades to be useless. I give you one chance for a quick and relativly painless death. I advise you to take it."

"I am no being of darkness!" The creature howled. "Your kind sicken me, those that cannot even see what stands before you."

It sprung with a single powerful leap to the side of a building, and the warping aura of darkness around it blossomed, plunging the area nearest him into pitch black.

The darkness is pushed back by a blinding wave of light. Talshi voice can be heard, laughing.
"Is that all you can do? You are almost as pathetic as that one-armed hag who spent her dieing breath trying to convince me I had turned into a demon myself." There is a pause and Talshi folds out of reality in front of the creature.
"I've never be good at guessing. Are you tryng to tell me that you are a demon? You had better hope not because there is nothing I hate more in this world or the next than a demon." The singing voice intencifies to a shriek and searing white flames dance across Talshi's sword as his eye fills with sheer loathing and spite.

The echoing voice haunts the air once more. "I am no demon either. You could never understand what I am."

The creature made a lightning thrust with it's palm to Talshi's chest and twisted, slamming him hard into the brick wall David was poised against a moment ago. He followed with a deep thrust through his enemy's stomach, shattering the wall behind him. As more of an insult than anything, he elbowed him in the nose before pushing off from the wall and hovering in the air, flapping his wings occasionally to stay aloft. The neat impalement caused by the thrust became occupied by a tiny blob of shadow that burned Talshi's body from the inside out.

Father Borski pulled out a silver cross just in case while keeping a hand on his staff. He knew the cross it self would only ward off most breeds of vampires and hurt vampires as an holy symbol, what made a cross truly dangerous was when it was wielded by a person of faith and especially dangerous in the hands of a churchman like a church knight or a cleric to but in the hands of an person without faith it of little use except against lesser demons and evil spirits, an few breeds of undead and vampires. He spoke with an hint of more than an little hint power behind his voice, if one could see it the elderly priest was glowing with holy power. “Enough, both of you stop this at once. I will have no more violence this night” He turned to the self proclaimed hunter. “Talshi the Omnipotent, huh, a bit arrogant and conceited name, I certainly hope you didn’t give your self that name. I have heard of you but little of it good. If you wish to hunt this people you will have to do it another night. Besides what foolish hunter charges in without attempting to study their prey and assume what they are facing.”

Katrina ran up to David, grabbing and pulling him backwards. "Stop please David." Tears running down her face. She never saw this side of him before.

~Jyai, you must stop this pains, I can help if you call of me~ the wind carried this message to David from Rashel.

The creature struggled against Katrina's grip, but she had grown exponentially more powerful now.

"No! Unhand me, or I'll smite you myself!" It growled, turning blackened eyes on the woman.

A meek voice called out to Rashel through the possessed David. 'Rashel, you have to stop me, before I hurt her...'

"You calling me foolish, church man?" Talshi stands up from where David's blows knocked him, fully healed. "The title of Ominpotent was granted to me when I recived the blessing of the Sacred Moon on the day my home of Burdigull was destroyed." Glaring at Father Borski, he adds, "My fiance was also destroyed that day; assalted by a demon who ate her heart before me."
He returns his sword to its sheath and hops onto a rooftop.
"I will return for the two hellspawn later. When I do, Father, I advise you to stay out of my way." And then he vanishes.

Father Borski shook his head. "A every dangerous and foolish man, he does not understand nor see. It is not common to see an regenerator though. He will be an dangerious foe for who ever he targets." He turned determined, now glowing with enough holy power that its noticable to those that could see it, and held out his cross towards the possessed david. "Back there shall be no more lives claimed this night. Back and release the one called david, creature in the name of that is holy all that is holy, in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit."

"I..." The creature started, and then it's eyes met the cross.

Everything about David reverted to it's usual form, the golden eyes returned from the darkness that surrounded them. They turned with pinpoint pupils to Katrina. He fell limp in Katrina's arms, and a small sob escaped him.

Father Borski sighed wearly as the aura disipaited and he put his arms down to his side. "I am seriously begining to miss retirement from these types of things."

Rashel dipped backwards with his weight and then regained her stance. What is going on with him? And who is this Rashel...

Just as Katrina asked who Rashel was an angelic figure came before them. What the fuck is going on? Who is this...Rashel? The angel stepped forward with a soft smile on her face. She nodded to the Father and continued forward to where Katrina was holding David. She meet Katrina's eyes and without having to ask Katrina, she had David in her arms.

Rashel glowed a bit brighter. Her angelic voice sounded out, "So, we come to meet eachother again. We always knew we would be reunited." Rashel patted his head with the tips of her fingers sending warm sensations all over David, or at least she hoped he would feel them.

"Father Borski, it is not David who is possessed, but David is the possessor. This is my old good friend Jyai." Crystal-like tears formed in her eyes and splashed on David's face. She whispered close to his face. "You have asked for help and here I am. DO not leave me alone out here."

ooc: Wait... WHAT?

The angel's tears glistened as little crystalline beads upon the scarlet veil around David's lower face before being absorbed fully into it. His eyes flickered open to find Rashel's flawless face close to his, and a smile free of cynicism peeked around the veil.

"There's an angel above me." He murmured to himself. "I must be dead. That was an extremely violent transformation, after all." His eyes shifted, and he caught a glimpse of crimson. "Hello Katrina. Did you die too?"

Something occured to him. He could actually feel a warmth spreading throughout his body.

He turned to the strange angel, who must have an answer. "Why...why can I feel?"

Rashel laughed and the whole world seemed to laugh with her. "The same old Jyai that I know. No, you did not die and Katrina is still there, " She pointed to Katrina who watched in amazement.

Rashel, smiled more at his comment of warmth, just maybe, maybe it was true. "Well, it seems you finally let me in and are allowing it to happen. You are letting yourself feel again." With that Rashel embraced David with all of her body and soul, it appeared as if a mother had found her lost son, or a woman seeing her husband who had been overseas for a war and she did not loss him, or just the love of finding someone lost in their own ways.

Again she cried, but for happiness. She whispered so that only he could hear, "I thought it would be awhile before I found you, but it seems Katrina helped bring you back to me. Did you not see me in her?" She paused and hugged him tighter, "I will not let you go once more. The times were hard for me also."

"I did see you in her, I saw you all around me." He wiped the wetness from her cheek. "And now I see you before me."

His wings folded themselves neatly behind him, and they reflected his contentedness. The blades retracted back into his wrists, and as they fully disappeared, some of his skin's former luster returned to him, and he suddenly appeared much more human.

"I am finally here, flesh and blood. But do not forget your duty to Katrina. And now that you see me before you, what shall you do?"

"I do not know the answer Rashel, I am sorry. I am still not free from the duty that I have bound myself to, the effects of which Katrina saw, and you felt." He smiled softly at Katrina. "I still need to train Katrina, she is my fledgling now. She has a lot of potential, an intense hybrid indeed."

Rashel stepped back. She knew it was supposed to happen this way and she wasn't going to stop it. Her smile was replaced with a blank stare. No emotions would seep out, she would not let them affect Jyai to not do his duty. "I shall return." With that she disappeared before their eyes. Leaving him with the image of empytiness in her eyes.

Katrina stayed still and quiet for awhile, "So, what do we do now?"

Talshi paces furiously in an alleyway.
"How dare that church man get in my way. I was just about to finish that thing off."
You hardly even fought that thing, A voice booms in his skull, You weren't even close to being ready to "finish it off".
"You stay out of this," Talshi mutters.
You are pathetic, The voice continues, You disgrace the name of all who died in- The voice is cut off as Talshi draws the Moonsinger. Its song drowns out the voice. Struggling, the voice shouts over the song, Enough! I will leave you to your business.
"Good." Talshi sheaths the sword. He is suddenly thrown back by an unseen force.
Fool, I will deal with these hellspawn myself. Energy pours from Talshi's false left eye. Muscles ripple across his frame and Talshi's hair grows long and white. His finger nails also grow, sharpening and curling until they form claws. Overhead, black clouds cover the sky. Talshi hunches over, his teeth sharpening. From the bottom row, two teeth grow up. From the top, two more fangs grow down to meet them. The transformed Talshi throws back his head and bellows forth a dragon's roar. The heavens answer with white lightning.

David didn't hear Katrina, he weakly held his hand out to the patch of empty air where the angel stood a moment ago. Her impassive stare turned what was left of his soul inside out.

"Why do you do this to me..." He hissed quietly to himself, before it occured to him Katrina had asked him a question. He turned around slowly. "I need to teach you some things. I have a lot of enemies, and therefore so do you."

Katrina reflected on what he said. Those things won't be a problem. I can deal with enemies, but it is things like that angel I am worried about. She seems to have some sort of thing with him and that bugs me. I need to figure this out so I don't lose what I have with David. At least she is not his fledging like I am. Hmmm. I can't believe I am jealous of an angel, well, of course, angels have it all don't they. She remained the look of upmost sadness on the angel's face and the reaction of her departure on David's and it sent chills up and down her spine. What an odd couple...

"So, teach me how to fight."

"There's a lot more that comes before fighting, Katrina." He managed a smile, though his eyes were still as cold as steel. "Come with me, I know somewhere that is safe."

His great wings stretched out, and he flapped them once. He landed upon a rooftop with a sort of wing-assisted jump, and waited for Katrina to follow.

"It's time to leave your past behind." He whispered, half to himself and half to his fledgling.

Katrina followed. She landed beside him, but not as gracefully. "I agree there is more to learn other than fighting, but I am not quite sure what it is. Surely, I know more things then you would ever think I would. I am a fledging of you, but I have qualities that you don't have. As for the past, somethings need to be left behind, but others will haunt you for a good reason." She swallowed hard, she didn't want to ask this, but she was blunt and why not.

"What exactly is that angel to you, David?"

David smiled to himself. "I realize these things. Surely one day you will surpass me, and then...I will have no further purpose. You are right, especially about the past. You know me better than you think, it seems." He sighed, and the smile faded. "Rashel...she meant everything to me once...sometimes I wish she still did. I've broken her heart more than once, yet she persists. Like you said, some parts of your past haunt you for good reason. But I'm dead, Katrina, inside and out. When she held me, though...I felt human again."

A sigh escaped through her lips, "David, she was with me sometimes. I felt her and I knew her. She knew me so very well. She had been with me through the hard times dealing with my sister. Maybe that is why I am the way I am because she was my guardian angel. Who would have thought that she was the one I would despise out of jealousy, but everytime I think about her my feelings aways change from jealousy to love. I never knew how she felt about, obviously, she never shared that part of her. I never once felt her pain, but when I did finally meet you in my lifetime I felt a jump in her heart and it began to race. Never pain though."

She stopped. Pausing in reflection of the things she was saying it just made sense to her. "How did you break her heart? 'Cause I think it wasn't for she would not return. Also, what was so bad about feeling human again in her arms? I think she would be able to help you do that again being an angel of God anyway."

David allowed himself a smirk. "Jealousy? I thought you despised me for tracking you and your sister. I broke her heart because she loved me...still loves me...but I could not return her feelings. Do not think I didn't want to, I simply couldn't. I can't imagine anything better than being in her arms again, though. I enjoyed feeling human again, I want to feel human again."

Katrina shuddered at his raw emotions spilled over and around her. She couldn't imagine not being able to love. "How can you not be able to love? It was given freely to you, did you not accept it, did you deny its existence?"

David held his hand up, and the sadistic blade slid out of his wrist. Black blood streamed down his wrist in a brooding river. The vampire didn't wince.

"I simply cannot feel. But I did not deny anything, that would be cruel." He sighed heavily. "I guess neither of you can understand, I did not expect you to."

An Van pulls into the area and out comes four monks who go over to mercedes body and precide to put it into an body bag for removal followed by two priests who began to cleanse the area. The last two people out of the van were oviously knights of the church decked in armor and armed to the teeth, they were to deal with any trouble attacted by what was being cleaned up. The frist was an rather tall young man who began to patrol around the area, his right hand on his sword and his sheild ready to defend and an average elderly man who went over to Father Borski and spoke. "Well you seem to have gotten into some interesting times Patre. Its been some time sense we last meet." Father Borski who was leaning against the wall nodded. "Yes Sir. Marus, it has. I see they haven't sent you to pasture yet teaching new knights of the church yet. Be careful there seems to be one of those crazy hunters in the area. Worse it seems he's one of those regenderaters." Sir Marus rolled his eyes and sighed. "Goody, its never dull with you is it." Father Borski merely grinned.

The transformed Talshi shakes his head, his long white hair flowing out behind him.

"Ah, sweet freedom." He pulls the sheathed Moonsinger out of his cloak. "You are the power that kept me back all these years. Now be gone." He chucks it into the alley behind him. Then, he leaves the alley, keen to enjoy the pleasures he had been sealed away from...

------------------------------------------------------------------------
On The Other Side of Town
In the restroom of a small bar, mist pours out from under one of the stalls. The door to the previously unoccupied stall opens and out steps a young woman in a white robe. She carries a staff topped with what looks like a golden soulcatcher, minus the feathers. Without a word, she hurries out of the bar and down the street.

Soon she spots a van with a bunch of men loading a large bag into it. She walks up to a couple of men and happens to overhear something about a crazy regenerating hunter.

That would be him, she thinks. "Excuse me, sirs, I'm wondering if you could help me."

"True, I may not understand, but why not test me? Plus, Rashel is wise before me and I am sure she would. I only ask this to figure who I am dealing with because if I don't know who you are, how am I supposed to know who I am?"

The vampire sighed. "We are phantasms of a past no one wants to remember. I have told you before, I do not truely know who I am. Everything about me is artificial, an apathetic replacement for everything I've lost. You have seen this, you know this." He took her hand lightly. "We are leisurely biding our time here when we have no more to spare. You will find answers through yourself, not through me."

Rikan smiled a disarming smile to Whiptail as she led the way down the street. Yet, her training and distrust of vampires in general kept her on guard and her senses alert, knowing that they were in the proximity.

The two hunters approached and entered "The Condemned Tavern", as stated on the swing sign over the door. Inside, there were a number of patrons talking amongst themselves. Rikan searched each of their faces as they looked to see the new arrivals. Most were not worthy to be considered a possible threat, but the ones who sat alone and in dark corners she would keep her eye on.

"Barkeep, get me a 'Flaming Bastard', and my friend whatever he wishes. Make it right, or I'll be having a new tongue to my collection..."

The barkeep startled slightly. Rikan watched as the barkeep pulled out the Amaretto Di Saronna and Southern Comfort, mixed the two, then lit the top, creating a flaming inferno drink. Rikan smiled as she glanced over at Whiptail, and took it all in at once, flames and all. A moment later, she opened her mouth and a puff of smoke escaped from her mouth.

"My favorite." she commented as the barkeep waited for Whiptail to order his drink.

"Now, why don't you tell me where you're from and what you do? Why are you here?"

OOC: I'm gonna be away for the next couple of days b/c of Hurricane Frances (evacuation is mandatory), and hopefully, my dorm will still be standing after it passes over...

Something flickered in the back of Whiptail's mind...

Anger...

Not his, it belonged to someone else...

'David?'

Whiptail's golden-hued eyes fluttered closed as he reached out with his very limited telepathic abilities...

He snapped back to reality as the bartender looked his way...

"Two shots of your finest vodka..."

He looks back at Rikan...

"I am from a land known as the Black Marsh, the name is self-explanitory. What I do is much similar to what you do, save my discriminating target list. David has proven himself a decent being in the past, and for that I spare him any annoyance... The same is true for Kain Irencius, Shentavo, or Brightblade, whatever he calls himself these days... I was here for the purpose of disposing of Katrina & her sister, yet again she poved herself a decent being, and I spared her further torment..."

Whiptail thinks for a moment...

"I believe I have heard your name somewhere before... You are aquainted with Shadowscale Swiftblade, a blademaster of my homeland?"

Something echoed weakly in the back of David's mind.

'Whiptail...' The vampire retorted, his mental voice tinged with irritation.

Rikan looked up with a slight jerk of her head.

"Indeed...the name sounds familiar, though I cannot place where I have heard of him. It may be possible that I have met him at the Gladiator Arenas Tournament a few months ago, if I'm not mistaken..."

Rikan watched Whiptail's face and actions as he seemed slightly bothered by something. However, she wouldn't know what it was unless he told her. She would let him tell on his own time, if he decided to share the issue.

"I only discriminate particularly against certain species and characters. For the most part however, I seek to establish justice and peace where it belongs, within my means. I do not seek to change an entire nation or whatnot, but merely to allow worthy individuals the right to live as they should."

In the far side of town, a young woman screams. The transformed Talshi laughs as he grabs her.

"Ah yes, fear. There's an emotion I haven't felt in a long time... Actually, I don't think I've ever been afraid." He runs one clawed finger down the side of her face, his pure white eyes widening with glee as blood trickles from the side of his face.

"What do you want from me?" The woman ask.

"You don't know who I am, do you?" The woman shakes her head. "I am Changorigo, Dragon of The White Tempast and you should be honored to be in my presence, you unworthy mortal." Then, in one swift movement, her rips out her throat.

Something echoed weakly in the back of David's mind.

'Whiptail...' The vampire retorted, his mental voice tinged with irritation.

Whiptail focused a bit harder...

'Do you need assistance?'

Simple messages where best, there was less confusion...

The vampire thought for a moment. He noticed a woman dressed in all white, wielding some form of staff. He inspected her for a moment. Interesting, but no threat. Then his eyes involuntarily widened as he felt a minute shift in the world's energies.

'Someone just died, right near here. I don't think it was a natural death at all. I may need help later, but you do not need to bother yourself with it for now. We were just leaving anyway.' He sent back, the annoyance in his voice gone as he realized Whiptail had no malign intention.

David gave Katrina a strangely human smile.

"I once tried to run from my past, now it's time we got going back to the beginning." He nodded towards her brilliant wings. "Ready?"

She cocked her head at David, not completely understanding, but she nodded in agreement. "I don't think I have been more ready until now."

David smiled softly, and wordlessly launched into the sky.

((http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=7027118))