NationStates Jolt Archive

Beautiful, pale skinned, dark haired, with eyes the color of dark crimson blood, I entered the arena with a prideful roll in my hips. Long jet-black boots trailed up my calves, hugged my knee and traveled up to the middle of my thigh. There was a crescent of alabaster white flesh between where the boot end and my bloodlust armor began, though most of it was covered with a dark charcoal cloak that trailed upon the ground. The skirt was a “sanguiore” color, a color which was normally only worn by anguisettes. The dye was expensive to make, but it brought the scarlet in my eyes out so dramatically that it looked that my own eyes bathed in blood. There was black fabric at either hip in a gold detailed silk that was strategically placed and flowed around the scarlet fabric. The belt was of the brightest gold metal with ruby gemstones set into the precious metal. The top was black with gold and flecks of crimson on the side. The gap between my shirt and the belt which sat upon my full hips was covered with a sheer black nylon fabric. It was so sheer that one could see the definition of the muscles which lay underneath. Upon my shoulders was crimson and gold plated dragon leather matching the bracers on either wrist. It truly was exquisite armor, fit for royalty.

At the end of my bracers were the shackles I had come to both cherish and despise. They were long adamantine chains with briars which could prick and rip the flesh from the body like a barbed whip. As I walked they dragged on the ground. Despite the curse they gave me, they were powerful weapons. If someone should grab a hold of them, the briars and rivets can easily dig into their skin. They would lengthen to a maximum of eighteen feet and a minimum of two. These were the chains that had bound me to the hell I so well knew. It was in that time which I had become comfortable with demons, and how I understand them so. My platinum blond hair was down and cascaded over my shoulders like a pale waterfall. My eyes were outlined in black and the sheer sanguine color of them made them look as if they glowed. They reflected any light which entered the room. I undid the platinum clasp about my cloak unhooking the two snakes which were entwined together. As it fell to the ground, my ebony wings expanded to push off the fabric and fanned out to either side like some ethereal raven. I was of true angelic blood turned by vampirism.

I parted my lips already stained with blood, and a small trickle of the life-giving substance trailed from the corner of my lush lips to drip slowly thrice before my tongue exited its cavern to taste the sweet nourishment. I had fed in great feast, and it would be quite the task trying to bring me down. My voice was rich and breathtaking; swimming in the blood of innocence. “Who wishes to challenge me?” I questioned, not paying attention to anything in particular rather than observing the red lacquer upon my long, sharp nails making sure it was still intact. I let out a wicked laugh. It was one that haunted the mind and enticed you to come closer and taste pleasure, and sob in anguish just the same. It troubled the thoughts with a ghostly imminence of wickedness.

I woke lazily, my eyes fluttering at the dim light which sifted through the curtains. I knew it was day outside, but I was far too tired to even care. I turned my head and looked at the clock beside me. It was nearly three in the afternoon. I had been sleeping for over a day. My skin was still as pale as it had been, though my wings were gone, most of my abilities stripped from me just at a chance to get him back. Vaughn was the only person I wanted, and whom I had shed many tears over. As much as I loved him, it had been two hundred years since I last saw him. I was not sure if he was still alive. It was time for me to move on and stop sulking about the shadows. I had lost my kingdom, my land, my love; all wrought to the devastation of war. Even Haraki’s whisper couldn’t soothe me. Tarlachia, Earth II, Haraki, and so many more, all nations who formed alliances with the great Ravelyn Shentavo had known me to be dead, and my world destroyed. I let them. With the death of Michael Vaughn, everything had pretty much gone to hell. I was not their angel any longer.

I pushed myself up from my bed in my deserted mansion, and walked toward the mirror. Blood-red, sanguine eyes stared back at me. This beauty which I once coveted; my long auburn hair and flawless form, I cursed. There was no one to enjoy it here, nor my company. I needed to stop brooding I knew. I had set a white rose above the grave underneath which no body lay just yesterday night. I had worn the dress that I was supposed to be married in to death, and removed it from my body. Instead, I pulled on a pair of dark wash denim jeans and a black halter top. Black boots completed my outfit. It was strange to see myself looking so…so normal. So plain save for my ethereal features. I was broken, and I wanted to be repaired.

I walked into the reception room and remembered how guests used to dance and sing. Now out of my 3.5 billion population, 5 million remained, and I cared naught for them. (And yes, that is my story because my old account is no longer accessible for some reason). I sent out a transmission, to my former allies, to anyone who listened.

“My name is Ravelyn Shentavo. I have been dead for over two hundred years and have emerged from my ashes. Please…anyone…find me.”

“Damn it,” I cursed softly under my breath. My lips were excessively pale and nearly colorless. I had not drank nor moved myself from this mansion except to lay flowers on his grave. I couldn’t even get a signal for anyone to respond. They probably had removed me from their list of contacts in my death. I leaned my head against my high backed chair and looked up at the ceiling. Out of my entire empire all that was left was my self and random civilians scattered about the country. Who was I to help them when I had forsaken my strength to save him, all proving to be futile attempts? I would leave this nation to ruin, but I needed for someone to take me in. Isn’t it sad how far we can fall? From being able to take on the gates of hell to not even having the strength or drive to get out of bed in the morning. I had simply lost the will live, and even now death had evaded me. I was not the person I had been before. I was normal, with sharp canines. I couldn’t even defend my own nation against the likes of Yakori. I failed all of them, failed myself. Stripped of my pride, my wealth, my title, my friends, my family, my son, my would to be husband…everything I had was gone. My last attempt was to get through to someone. Anyone…if they still would listen.

I looked as I did back then still, but the fire was gone, the weapons were gone, and my heart had fled me. I was a walking corpse, beautiful to look at, but the strong fortress I had been now resorted to a simple glass rose. Beautiful to look at, but if you would touch me I would shatter into a million little pieces. I tried the communication again, my image broadcasting to who it may. “Please…my name is Ravelyn Shentavo, empress of the three united empires. Please…come find me

OOC: Truth be told, I can't remember the names of any of the characters I used to use when RPing with you. I believe they have all been lost over time, I believe the file I used to use back in '03 has been deleted, and anything that remains is inaccessible on my new computer. So... If you remember, please let me know, either here or by TG.

Also, I take it from the writing above that Ravelyn herself is now a human?













The message reached a lonely operator, sitting in the dead of night playing on a handheld game system. His tongue stuck in the corner of his mouth, he tried vainly to beat the last level, the last boss, only to be squished once more under its giant fist. Relaxing and leaning back in his chair, muttering a small noise of disapproval at this fighting technique. Technically he wasn't supposed to play games in here anymore, but the nights were long and boring, and his partner was off sick. 'Sick', in this case, meaning 'getting laid by his girlfriend'.

The red light beneath one of the buttons for communication lines lit up suddenly, with a small buzzing noise. he was glad he had stopped playing for the time being, as usually when the buzzing happened he jumped out of his seat if not paying attention.

He hurriedly wheeled his chair over and flicked the switch up, transmitting the feed onto the large monitor embedded into the wall in front of him. A stunningly beautiful woman appeared in front of him, uttering a plea for help. “My name is Ravelyn Shentavo. I have been dead for over two hundred years and have emerged from my ashes. Please…anyone…find me.”

He stared for a moment, then the screen flickered and she spoke again. “Please…my name is Ravelyn Shentavo, empress of the three united empires. Please…come find me..."

He leapt up, leaving the haunting image on the screen, and rushed to the emergency phone on the wall. Picking it up, he heard a few clicks and whirrs, before a tired, begrudging voice on the other end answered. A military policeman elsewhere in the building.

"Hello?"

"This is Monitor Room Two. I've detected an incoming transmission from one Ravelyn Shentavo, asking for our help."

"Never heard of here."

"Still, it seems pretty important. Get somebody. The Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, somebody."

"The PM's in Allanea on diplomatic business. Most of the ministers are asleep. I think I'll call ... No, he'd probably shoot me or something."

"Dave!" The monitor room cut him off. "I know you're talking about Neavins. Call him. I'll take the blame if something goes wrong."

Dave sighed. "Fine, fine."

Fifteen minutes later, dressed in little more than a loosely and hastily done up white shirt and black suit pants, Victor Neavins, the Chief of the HIA, stood watching the same message, his hand on his chin, his mouth contorted into a twisted frown.

"You were right to call me," he mused. "This is important, but you understand that everything that comes through this room is classified, right?"

"Of course," the operator said, nodding his head vigorously.

"Good. Don't mention what's on this tape to anyone. I'm going to handle it."

He grabbed the copy of it which had been hastily recorded and rushed out of the room. The operator was left blankly staring at a fuzzy screen, his one brush with the message little more than the high point of his night.

*

One hour later, Neavins, cleaned up, was greeting a friend of his in his office.

Of course, in this sense 'friend' is a very loose term. He was a subordinate, and one Neavins did not like very much. His unorthodox methods and long history of field work did not lend well to Neavins' grasp of intelligence operations. Still, he was by far the best man in the Harakian intelligence business, and had risen through the ranks under Neavins' predecessor until he was the chief field operative.

"Kulikan," he said, his hands steepled in front of him, leaning his head on his hands.

"Yes, sir," Kulikan said with a slight nod.

"Watch this."

He played the tape, and both men watched in silence. When it was over, Neavins flicked the lights back on. Kulikan was yawning, the fact that it was three in the morning and he had been awake for only forty minutes taking its toll on him.

"What do you think?"

"I reckon we should help her."

"How?"

"She says find her. That probably means she's hidden. Or not. Since she used to be our ally, we can probably find her old location, or just trace the message."

"I've got a trace running already."

"The strangest thing I find about this message is that she mentions having been dead for two hundred years. I count two, maybe three since I last heard about her nation."

"Reading the files over the last hour, Kulikan, I read there's been a lot of strange shit going on in our relations with them. If I were you I wouldn't take it to heart. Some of these people can be a bit ... crazy."

"These people?"

Neavins waved a hand aimlessly, as if that explained everything. "Yeah."

Kulikan nodded, not truly understanding just what Neavins was trying to imply, but knowing that he was already on thin ice. "So what do we do, sir?"

"You're the field genius. You tell me."

"Is this a test?"

"I don't know. Is it?"

Kulikan let out a breath. It was a test. "I'll go. Once we find her location, I'll take a couple people and go see what's going on. In the meantime, I recommend you try and find anyone who knows here, or who's interacted with her before."

Neavins nodded sagely as Kulikan continued. "I'd start with Mr Wolfe if I were you, only he's in Allanea right now, for whatever political reason. But someone's bound to know her. And if they do, they're probably one of those..." He still didn't know what Neavins had been talking about when he said it, so he went with the word Neavins had used, "...people, or they're one of our government people. Intelligence agents, diplomats. Either way, they'll probably recognize something coded. In the newspaper, maybe. Giving them contact information."

"I see what you're getting at. Search out the contacts, who you assume will be skilled codebreakers, with ads in magazines and newspapers. In the meantime, I bother the Prime Minister while he's on a diplomatic visit, and ship you off to God knows where in a flying crate as soon as we know where you're going."

Kulikan grinned sheepishly. "It was all I could come up with on short notice," he said.

Neavins' frown broadened into a smile. If it worked, it worked. If it failed, maybe he could get rid of the younger man once and for all. "By God, I like it," he lied flawlessly. "Let's get on it!"

Kulikan knew he was lying from the first word out of his mouth, but did not let on. "Thank you, sir." He nodded, turned, and walked out the door.

Ravelyn Shentavo. Now that was a name he had not heard in a very long time.

The display on the screen revealed nothing but a wasteland that was being slowly rebuilt. On the ground, it could be seen that there were countless construction crews scattered across the vast nation that had once been Tarlachia. Nodding in approval of the statistics that were scrolling slowly on another screen overlaying that one, Aeris leaned back in the onboard office chair that was situated in the private communications room of the Rage of the Maiden intergalactic battleship. The ship was brand new in terms of military service, still a virgin to warfare. However, it was well suited to deliver a massive military punch to any target that befell the ill will of the Maiden's sights.

There was a flashing icon that appeared in the bottom left hand corner of the screen, causing her to sigh slightly and touch the airborne holoscreen to open the file. It took a few moments, but then a face appeared, her eyes filled with remorse as she recited firmly, yet quietly.

“My name is Ravelyn Shentavo. I have been dead for over two hundred years and have emerged from my ashes. Please…anyone…find me.”

Aeris frowned, pondering the woman's existence. In a few moments though, another message was blinking and so it too was opened.

“Please…my name is Ravelyn Shentavo, empress of the three united empires. Please…come find me."

Her head tilted forward, the expression on her face one of disbelief. Is she that desperate? Aeris wondered as she pulled up another screen to search the database for information on the Three United Empires. And what the hell is this 'Three United Empires'? The screen flashed a few times as several smaller windows revealed various categories of information. For an empress...she's in pretty shabby condition." she thought as she observed the information provided. Her eyes scrolled the data quickly until it ended on the last sentence. This she read aloud quietly,

"Like many other great empires and civilizations of the past, so too has The Three United Empires fallen into oblivion, all but forgotten in the annals of history. It is to my great sadness that nothing is known of the whereabouts of her last empress, Ravelyn Shentavo, a very old friend of mine..."

Scanning to the top of the screen, she saw the author's name, her own uncle, Sigrun Greenwood. Her gaze returned to the woman on the other screen, lingering on her face again. Well, Sigrun...it's a shame you're still not around to meet your old friend.

"Maiden, activate a communications response."

The ship's AI responded instantly, "Yes ma'am. Secure or open link?"

Aeris thought for a moment, "Open's fine. Nothing sensitive will be said anyway."

A moment later, a circular wall rose up around her chair, and a little light in front of Aeris indicated the link had been established.

"Ravelyn Shentavo. This is Aeris Greenwood, reigning empress of Tarlachia. My uncle, Sigrun Greenwood, aka Maximus was once a friend of yours. On the presumption that you two parted on good terms, I would like to offer a chance for us to meet in person and discuss...a great many things."

Aeris rose her chin slightly, as if to reveal as much of her face as possible to the feed. "This message will be relayed back on the same channel you used. It will allow us to locate your position for the aforementioned meeting."

She nodded politely, "Until then."

The light blinked off, and the wall disappeared. "Maiden. Track the message channel and manuever us in orbit over the site wherever it ends."

The affirmitive response was recieved. Turning to the other screens that displayed the reconstruction efforts, she sighed. Even with the help of the Tanaran empire, it didn't seem to move fast enough. Patience, Aeris. she chided herself. She recalled the Great War that had demanded the alliances placed down long ago by the members of the Fatal Terrain region, to be employed in bulk force against the terrible power and utterly countless armies of both Abaddon and Arithon. Abaddon had been the main instigator, the dark overlord of a vast portion of the region with Arithon providing the seemingly invicible armies of the Netherworld as support. For a long time, it had seemed that these two would overtake and control the region, casting all nations within into the darkest of all dark ages.

Fortunately, the allied nations had managed to pull themselves together and launch a massive counterattack, churning the fires of war back to an unreal strength. However effective the Allied response was...none were prepared for the demonic radiation that had been discreetly laid down in all parts of formerly held lands under demonic control. At first, rebuilding had begun immediately, people eager to rebuild their nation after the war. Then, in a week's time...they were all mysteriously dead.

It had taken many more years to cleanse the land of the impurities and make it safely habitable again. Now, they were only into their fifteenth month of reconstruction, and not even a third of the way finished with the work scheduled. She knew it would be a long time until all land-based Tarlachian infrastructure would be back to its former strength.

Rising from her seat as she departed the room, Aeris muttered quietly to herself, "Yes...much to talk about."

(And yes, that is my story because my old account is no longer accessible for some reason).

If I had to guess, most likely something to do with this:

The Three United Empires of Rave Shentavo
Last login: 169 days ago

So Sigrun is dead… I thought softly to myself as the transmission ended. I wonder if any of my other former allies had heard my called. I wished that all the friends I once knew were not already dead. My fangs rested on my pale lower lip fully extended. I also hoped that an old friend showed up so that they would lend me some blood. I remembered a time when many of them stood in awe of me, and now I was dimished to this. “How pathetic,” I said to myself, and rose. It was apparent I would be having visitors. I went into my chambers which had once made me late for a graduation ceremony of the Shentavo Academy many a times. When he was here. Strange how the mighty fall so far simply because they dared to love. I sighed softly and stripped off my common attire, and put on a long flowing crimson dress. It complemented both my eyes and figure. I took the bloodstone from my bureau and sank my fangs into it, draining what I could so that the dizziness would go away. My long nails were perfectly lacquered as they had been in a clear glaze. The shown like glass. If it seemed that the color had faded from my cheeks it had. I had not fed in a very, very long time.

My eyes, however, were the same. The brilliant sanguine color reflected the light in the room, and held whispers of secrets that it would take centuries to tell. While my body remained youthful, in my eyes you could see that my twenty third birthday had happened a long time ago. I was over a millennia old, and created this land, believe it or not. It had fallen to devastation when I took my absence to fly to Underaloz and search for Michael Vaughn and his recovery. At least we saw each other one last time before we were parted. At least we got to tell each other how we felt. I shivered. I needed to be stronger than this.

I walked back into the receiving room. Many people decide to land right at the mansion, hell there is enough room. I awaited them in the receiving room, standing by a large window looking out over the rocky shores of my once glorified nation. My dress tied around the neck and was backless, just meeting above my tailbone. It showed a long stemmed rose tattoo fully, as well as the dull scars from where my wings used to be. They were dull enough not to be noticed if you weren’t looking for them. And so, we wait. I wait.

The Rage of the Maiden moved so smoothly through space that it seemed that there were no movements. However, the planet turning away from them, their course leading them to the edge of the horizon and to the light side of the planet. On the three dimensional navigational chart situated in the bridge, there was a single red beacon flashing intermittently indicating the final destination of the exchange of messages.

There was a shuffle of feet as a young male voice barked sharply, "Officer on deck!"

Striding past the respective crewmembers, Aeris approached the captain as she called out, "Back to your stations. How long until we're there?"

The captain, Leinad Nillum, replied instantly, "Twelve minutes, ma'am."

"Good. Contact me via redwire when we have arrived." she instructed, then turned to observe the dark beauty of the universe beyond the shielded windows. Redwire was a revolutionary and highly effective communications arcane-technology that was implanted into the brain, connecting with auditory nerves and eardrums. It allowed the subject to communicate across vast distances without hardly a fear of interrupted signals.

"Maiden," she called to the ship's AI, "activate security protocols to scan the area for hostiles or tangos."

"Affirmative." the AI responded crisply, immediately setting to its task. Several moments later, it came back with the results, "Scan complete. No hostiles found. Diagnosis: Safe approach."

Nodding appreciatively, Aeris departed the bridge making her way to the transport room.

______________________________


There was a flash of light as the small Tarlachian deployment shuttle entered the atmosphere and quickly homed in on the preprogrammed flight. Within minutes, it had crossed the long extinct borders of the Shentavo empires, moving rapidly until it came within view of the Shentavo Academy. As it approached, the craft slowed, then settled down lightly.

A side door slid open, and Aeris stepped onto the ground and paused. Promptly behind her, the door slid shut, and the craft activated it's security protocols. Here, she observed the surroundings and smelled the air. Here, the air seemed stagnant, as if the winds refused to blow over this accursed land. Her eyes shifted pupils, and the world exploded in a variety of colors that represented the many arcane tendrils, both terrestrial and non-terrestrial.

A knock sounded on the main doors and Aeris took a step back to await someone to open the door.

A long shadow cast itself in front of Rave, though nothing was there to cause it. It stayed there for exactly ten seconds, then retreated.

The doors opened and a figure in a long coat and broad brimmed hat, obviously the source of the disconnected shadow, stepped inside and bowed his head slowly. "Azrael..." A whisper sounding much more loud than it should have.

He was not familiar to her, except maybe from the day she was freed from that stone in the church. The shadow was there, watching. Now the caster was here in person. He didn't state who he was, but to anyone even vauguely able to sense an aura, he had one hell of an evil streak in him. The body he was in was used for convieneance and his true self seemed like ice and like total darkness at the same time.

He eyed her almost lewdly, but his white, pupiless eyes held no room for lust. He was assessing her abilities and her aura. "Hell has not been kind to you, I see."

http://home.earthlink.net/~alpha_zero_usm/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/deltareturn1.jpg

“Hell stole my love from me,” I replied to the stranger, not bothering to look toward him in a taste of disinterest. I stood up and walked toward him. I may not be in my former glory, but I was still an intimidating woman. I passed by him, and opened the door. I looked at the arrivals from Tarlachia, and then looked toward the man. “You shall never call me by that name again, or I will rip your throat from your neck and sip upon your blood,” I hissed at him. “Believe me, I’m starved…and you are in my home.” My eyes flashed. Hunger could make a vampire do vicious things when they hadn’t the energy. I assessed him. “You think you know evil, my dear, when you did not know Daja. You are a failure…” I don’t think my words made sense to him, but they made sense to me. I turned from them, exposing the scars on my back from where my angelic wings once had been and the long rose tattoo which shifted down my back.

“Come,” I said to those from Tarlachia. “Sit. Tell me why you are here, and what happened to Maxi…Sigrun.” I went back to standing by the window and waited for them to be seated. The brooding one just stood there. I turned back toward him. “Don’t try to put on airs, my dear. I may look weak, and yes, I have been stripped of many things, but don’t threaten me even with your demeanor. You won’t last long in that body of yours otherwise. You know why they call me by that name, sir?” I questioned, the polite comment at the end said in mocking. With my voice it was honey coated and sweet to hear; like the sweet nothings one would say to a lover. “The angel of death, though her wings were ripped from her back…I still remain as she…have a damn seat as you are a guest in my house or leave.”

A message from the Prime Minister had stopped Kulikan in his tracks on his way to the airport. Although the Prime Minister, a good friend of his, had no doubt in his abilities, his message tactfully explained that even he would probably be in over his head in the domain of one such as Ravelyn Shentavo. He, like Neavins, did not elaborate, but Kulikan knew him well enough not to press the issue. He had been informed that a 'special ambassador' was being dispatched as they spoke, and that they were to leave the matter alone until his return.

So they did. Both HIA men returned to their regular offices and posts, Kulikan to relax, and Neavins to think about how to get rid of Kulikan the next day. The hidden messages were pulled from Harakian periodicals before they ever ran.

*

As Rave was greeting the emissaries from Tarlachia, and the newcomer was being scolded quietly by their hostess, one of the doors off the main hall she was greeting them in opened and a tall man stepped in. He was not shrouded in any cloak or special clothing, merely loose fitting black cloth, his arms swinging gently at his sides.

Although his face was familiar to her, his demeanor and mannerisms appeared to have changed. A benign smile ruled his face, seemingly bemused at the sight before him, although at exactly what part of it any observer would have been unsure. He quite silently walked over towards the small group by the door, making no attempt to mask his presence in any way except for his silent walking.

As he neared the group, undoubtedly attracting Rave's attention, he bowed low courteously, before straightening himself up to his quite full height. Nodding his head to Rave in particular, he opened his mouth to speak.

"My my, it has been quite a long time, my dear old friend. Quite some time indeed." He paused for a moment, looking her over in every way, much as one would inspect someone they had not seen in quite some time, although he was looking on many more levels than most absent friends. "I can see that there is much has happened to you since last we spoke, and I apologize both for my long absence and my lack of attempts to locate you earlier. Feeling news of your recovery was quite ... pleasing."

He was known as Tempest. Many other names had been his over the years, most prominently Corothisia, and he would assume many, many more before the end of his time. For now, though, it was short and simple. Easy for new acquaintances to remember, and hard for anyone he had interacted with in detail to ever forget.

If my jaw could have reached the floor it would have. I parted my pale lips staring at the man before me. For a moment it felt like we were the only ones in the room. This was the man who confessed his love for me and I had denied him for Michael Vaughn. I loved him as well, though Vaughn had gotten to me first, and Corothisia had taken up the status of my patron and a father figure in a certain manner, while I had still flirted at the time. When Vaughn proposed to me, he vanished. I took few steps forward, then quicker steps, nearly stumbling in my weakness. I wrapped my arms around his neck not bothering to hide it from the others. My heart ached terribly as I pressed my form to his, burring my face in his chest turned away from the others. “I thought you to be dead,” I said in almost a whisper. I wanted him to run his hand through my hair the way he used to and toy with the strands; to hold me tightly so that I would feel safer. I had already gone over my reacting as a host should have. I eased my grip around him, and settled.

I looked up to him with scarlet eyes. “I missed you,” I said in a breathless whisper once again. My god did I miss you terribly.. I said to him silently.

As she grabbed him around the neck and held herself tightly to him, he did not try to hide a slight feeling of surprise. He had been doing his best to remain out of her thoughts, out of anyone's thoughts, trying not to be intrusive, and trying to quell the deafening voices that sometimes afflicted his mind. It took him mere moments to get over the initial shock, though, and quite quickly reached his arms up, grasping one gently but firmly around the back of her head, and holding her tightly to his chest for as long as she wished to be there. His other wrapped around her waist for lack of anywhere better to put it.

As she loosened her grip around him and shifted her weight back slightly to look up into his eyes, he smiled gently, his eyes assuming a warmth that betrayed his feelings for her, yet with a sad touch to the look he gave her. With a twinkle in his eye, as though what he was saying represented much more than just the words he said, he spoke with a slight shaking of the head, his eyes never leaving hers. His voice was inflected with both joy and sorrow. "No, not dead. I was ... sleeping, I suppose, fits it as well as any other word."

But there was so much more to it. And I missed you so. Someday I'll have to tell you everything that has happened to me since I saw you last. Someday ... someday. Someday I'll tell you everything. And beg forgiveness, and a chance to recant what I have said, and what I have done. If I had known you were alive...

He guarded these thoughts carefully, letting none present or elsewhere into his mind. And, clearing his mind with the subtlest of physical movements, he was back, present in the great hall in body and in spirit.

I felt a pain within a stomach, and forced myself to turn away from him to face the others. “Wait here,” I said in a meek voice toward them. “If others come let them gather. I need private counsel with my old friend on matters which are personal, and have no worth to your ears.” I released Tempest’s hand and lead him out a door to the right into a private chamber which was my office. It looked out over the see. I turned toward him again. “I haven’t been near a person for years,” I whispered softly. “I’m driven to hunger,” I said to him quietly. He knew. He knew already. For how many times I had refused to take from him, I desperately needed to. Feeding for me is somewhat intimate. It’s like I feed off of their warmth to, and my soul brushes against theirs. There is a connection. Not wanting to second guess anything, and with a cautionary look in my eye. I stepped toward him. I looked in his eyes. I took an unneeded breath. “Out there I have to talk politics…and I need to be restored…in appearance.” I hadn’t changed, but you could tell that I hadn’t fed in a very long time. My skin was paler than the dead.

“Tempest,” I whispered softly like a brush of wind against his cheek. “Would you…are you strong enough to…” I looked into his eyes again, searching. Never before had I been cautious. I bent his head downward toward me, for he was a good six inches taller, and gently brushed my fangs against his neck. I bit into his skin slowly, and with the utmost care. I felt the liquid rush into my mouth and even though I was as starved as a kennel dog I controlled myself. I was not a fledgling at this. The taste of it was like ambrosia to a god, and I took three mouthfuls from him before half-sealing the wound and letting him straighten up. Color flushed through my cheeks and my lips became crimson once more. Even my hair seemed more lustrous and my eyes full of life. I licked the blood from my lips and ran my fingertips over the wound. Well, I was never really discreet about anything.

I smiled and kissed his cheek, then hesitated at the closeness. I froze there, looking up at him. Oh why did you leave me…I want to know. Thoughts tormented my mind. I took in a deep unneeded breath which sent shivers down my spine. I wanted to embrace him, but I had an audience, and I was unsure of his reaction. Was it in favor or disgust? What did he think of me when I was resorted to what I am now..

As she pleaded in her eyes and tone of voice with him to allow her to feed, his gentle smiled stayed on his face. Gently nodding as a cue, he allowed her to slowly lower his head and take what she needed from him, with only the slightest grimace as she began to do so. Straightening up, he slowly leaned his head towards the opposite shoulder, stretching out the neck, and reached up to gently feel the bite mark with his right hand. His gentle smile still remained, but still retained its hint of sadness. At wasted opportunities. An entire wasted life, and he viewed it as no one's fault but his own. His choices, his mistakes, his words, had made it what it was today. Made him what he was today.

"I haven't felt a touch like that in a long time," he said softly, slowly reaching out with his left hand and stroking her right cheek, his right hand still calmly massaging his neck where she had bit him.

Without breaking his vow of keeping others' privacy, he could still see the hesitation and conflict in her eyes as she stared into his. In such close proximity it was impossible not to notice. "It's okay," he said. "You have guests. They should be attended to. Don't worry," he said, a slight laugh affecting his words, "I'm not going anywhere."

“Good,” I returned, almost too quickly, then laughed for the first time in years. It was a soft laugh that made people lean forward to listen to it. I couldn’t suppress a smile. “We have much to speak about after this meeting, Tempest.” I stepped in front of him. The scars where my wings had been torn had completely vanished, and what remained was the smooth curves of my back and the rose tattoo amidst the satin crimson fabric of my dress. I opened the door and the candles in the candelabra in the room flickered at my entrance. I wasn’t fully healed, and probably would never be restored to what I was before. At least my fire recognized me again. I carried about me the same poise I had before, except now I had a bit of backing. I was more intimidating. I took a seat at the head of the table, my eyes never glancing back toward Corothisia. God I hated politics sometimes. They were so much like vampire politics except less blood.

“Tell me why you came,” I questioned softly. “You are not even of my knowledge personally, none of you. Yet you came. Why? When you don’t even know who you come to speak with.”

Nodding politely to the invitation to explain the whereabouts of her uncle, Aeris soon found herself alone, their hostess having spied another visitor, and by the looks of it, an old friend if not more than just a friend.

Rather impolite way to convey a listening ear. she thought to herself as she shook her head. I wonder what Sigrun would've said about that.

Turning aside to approach the table set off to the side of the room upon which there were a variety of drinks and appetizers, she soon had a glass of tea and was sipping it slowly as she surveyed the room. Sure enough, their hostess returned, her question prompting the congregation for answers.

After a moment of silence, Aeris cleared her throat and approached a few steps before stopping. "You knew my uncle, whom claimed you as a dear friend of old. Knowing my uncle as he was, he was very careful about whom he labeled as "very old friends." Unfortunately...it has been three hundred and fourteen years since he has last walked this world, before he disappeared. So, I came to see for myself the person whose cry for help appealed to the heart of one who is no more, and see really if you are all that he has written about you."

Finding nothing else necessary to speak, she fell silent with her eyes watching the hostess carefully, quietly wondering if this woman would even bother to listen.

A pair of bluish-green eyes stared across the table towards a man dressed entirely in black, his figure illuminated by a fire on the wall. The woman on the other side of the desk flipped the paper she held over and over again in her fingers. She looked at it briefly before turning back to the man. “This Rave Shentavo, what can you tell me about her?”

The man shrugged. “Not much Mrs. President, what I do know of her she is a mix of a vampire and apparently an angel...at least that is how my memory serves. How that came to be I am not entirely sure.”

President Casey Valentine looked up at her expert on the supernatural, the Golden Simatar’s first vampires Stephen Malone. For several centuries he had been living under cover in his homeland after his discovery, acting as an aide and advisor on various subjects regarding the supernatural to countless Presidents. But he had not been alone during the years, after his discovery and imprisonment inside a research facility, he found himself falling in love with one of the assistants, a woman by the name of Nicole Patterson. Strangely enough, during his two months imprisonment, the pair slowly fell in love and when he was released, she came with him and he turned her on their first night of exile. But, some years later, they were allowed to return, their existence known only to the President, head of the Vampires Bureau of Investigation, Internal Bureau of Investigation and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Valentine looked at the paper again before looking at the vampire. “So is she dangerous or…?”

“I doubt dangerous unless pissed off, the whole “Respect Me and I Respect You” scenario. I personally never met her though.”

“Your wife did though apparently.”

Stephen shook his head. “She just went to the Shentavo Academy for a time when she was younger and wanted a bit more experience. So she knows the way there and hopefully can remember some stuff from that or if anyone she met is there…that would be better. She is more than capable at hand to hand combat and with firearms if anyone else there decides to act rough to her. Though with a large dragon I doubt anyone will tangle with her anyway.”

Valentine nodded and leaned back in her seat. “Alright, I leave it all in your wife’s hands. I hope that you tell me anything that she sends you right away.”

Stephen smiled, his fangs glistening in the firelight. “Don’t worry, everything will be fine.”


A large, snow white animal flew only meters above the earth as it raced across the landscape. The size of a fully mature horse, the female dragon moved smoothly over the ground, remembering the terrain from when it first flew over this land. It spotted a large building up ahead and pumped its wings, giving it some lift and speed as it covered the last few miles within a matter of minutes. The dragon landed smoothly outside of the building and waited as its passenger slid down. The woman smiled and rubbed the dragon’s muzzle.

“You’re a good girl Cassandra, sharp as a tack. You can go girl.”

The dragon let out a series of chirps, clicks, barks, and low vibrations. The woman understood draconic perfectly and bid her friend farewell as the dragon took back off again.

Nicole Malone ( http://jamesbond.ugo.com/girls/rp/pike.jpg) turned back, her pale green eyes flickering over the structure before she started walking towards the building. The vampiress was dressed entirely in black from her boots to her leather trench coat. Her light brown hair was tied back into a pony tail and she whistled softly to herself as she moved up the stairs.

Knowing full well of any hostile action towards her, even if it was nothing more than a blade pointed at her, the vampiress had her husband’s Wolf Knife attached to her right leg. She wore a pair of black leather gloves as the black handle of the combat knife had two intertwining bands of silver and a small silver Wolf’s head on the top. She would not have had any sort of weapon for this sort of event on a normal basis, but knowing that most people got jumpy around vampires, it was best to have a little more force than just hands and fangs. But, she doubted she would use it, as she recalled Rave was part vampire so things should be calmer.

Nicole felt inside of one of the pockets of her coat, feeling the dragon shaped bloodstone. She smiled, at least she wouldn’t have to worry about being hungry. And if Rave desired, she could offer it to her.

When she was finally let in, Nicole walked down to where she sensed others were. As the vampiress entered, an elf caught her eye and it took her a few seconds to recognize Aeris, she had bumped into her once back in Tarlachia before the great demon war, Stephen had known her for a longer time and briefly introduced them before she and her husband left.

Nicole watched as Aeris spoke to another woman. So that is Rave Shentavo, very interesting. She remembered meeting Alira Shentavo during her stay at the Academy, it was from her she got the blood that allowed her to be out in the daylight, which took Stephen by shock when she returned with a tan.

The vampiress stood off by herself, deciding to let Aeris and the woman she believed to be Rave finishing talking before formally introducing herself.

The tall, mysterious man relegated himself to watching and observing for the time, allowing himself a very cynical smile at her words to him.

He looked to the others gathered. "Well, let us dispense with pleasentries. I am Delta, deposed ruler of Crimmond..." Despite whatever time had elapsed, he looked as if he had not aged a single day... though his scarred and scowling face wouldn't change much even on a full human.

Whenever Rave returned, he removed his hat and set it on a nearby hook... he aged almost a decade without it's forboding shadow. "Forgive my earlier.... familiarity. I trained Domino and Goor... two of many that have died more than once after coming in contact with your lands."

“You may have trained with them,” I said to the one from Crimmond, “But I knew Goor personally just as well as I knew Sigrun. I knew them both very well. Goor and I were different in many ways, but we were both skilled fighters, and we both taught each other a great deal. He liked my…pyrotechnics. Sigrun was a son to me at one time, though his path broke away from mine in the end, and he had his own to attend, but I knew them both. I do not know what it says in your chronicles or what you have heard. The only real truth lies within myself, but I am not sending out a call to answer questions about my life.” I brushed a stray strand of auburn hair away from my crimson eyes with my fingertips. I looked toward Nicole. “Have a seat…I apologize the academy is no longer running my dear. Things took a turn for the worse. Apparently the only ones who can survive the apocalypse are cockroaches and myself. Scary thought, eh?” I chuckled a bit, and looked at Corothisia with quite a bit of loss within them.

I looked at those who had gathered. “I know there will be more to come yet,” I said softly. “But none of you had answered my question. Why are you personally here? Why answer me? This deserted land holds nothing from you to benefit, nothing for you to gain, but would you form alliances with me despite it all simply based on the stories you have heard from your relatives? Everyone I had save one person has been taken from me that I knew back then. All that remains are stories. I will not prove myself to you so that you may find comfort in the fact of what is true and what is false. I want to know what internally motivated you. Was it curiosity, compassion, need for intelligence, what?”

And why did you come, Corothisia? I asked silently, meeting his eyes momentarily. Please tell me... the question was a sincere one, that i waited with anticipation as i did the others. Goor and Sigrun may have been my allies and fought beside me many times, but these are different people, no matter who they are related to. I looked to Nicole. I hadn't seen many of my students in the last three years of the academy. I was only really around the first and half the second year, and then the clock started ticking toward my downfall.

The region known as Fatal Terrain had been some focus of Izual's observations over the past one hundred years or so. It appeared Arithon had made his move and the nation of Tarlachia had suffered the most. The demon/angel had sensed a significant change in the region once Arithon had permanently established his gateway, something he'd been attempting for thousands of years. Alas, it appeared the angelics that guarded this place had failed.

Whilst never directly involved, Izual had been watching Tarlachia and the other assorted nations surrounding it. Some prospering, unaffected by the demon hordes whilst others lay in ruins, held together by mere threads. Whilst the happenings of the mortal world weren't the most important issues according to Izual, anything that involved Arithon was worth noting as he presented a true threat to the very existence of life within the region and even the planet.

If it hadn't been for his presence within the region, Izual may not have heard the message broadcast by a Ravelyn Shentavo.

“My name is Ravelyn Shentavo. I have been dead for over two hundred years and have emerged from my ashes. Please…anyone…find me.”

“Please…my name is Ravelyn Shentavo, empress of the three united empires. Please…come find me."

Shentavo...

Izual did not know who this Ravelyn was, but she shared a name with a very good friends of his, a friend he had been unable to locate for quite some time. Kane Shentavo. Izual's path had been intertwined with Kane's ever since he had been a young demon himself, back when he called Arithon, master. The fact that Kane had been missing for longer than he could recall and presumed dead was of course unsettling. Izual possessed few friends within this world and the demon/vampire had been one of them.

Perhaps this Ravelyn knew of Kane's whereabouts, or could at least confirm his status. With no obligation to continue lingering in the shadows around Tarlachia, Izual took to the air, his large black wings flapping constantly as they carried him upwards. Whilst he didn't actually need his wings to fly, Izual figured it would be best to keep them in good use.

Within the hour Izual landed outside a rather large building, this Ravelyn character allegedly inside. Altering his appearance, Izual's skin took on a slightly tanned tone and his wings shrunk into his back. Short black hair was usually present upon the demon/angel, a style that looked appropriate for a man that appeared to be in his mid twenties. A bland robe of grey covered Izual from shoulders to ankles, revealing a pair of common boots encompassing his feet. Fashion was never an issue with Izual and he wore what he felt comfortable in.

Moving up to the front door, Izual decided to open it manually and step inside, immediately noticing the large table off to the side where everyone was seated. Within a second he'd picked out Ravelyn. A woman seated at the head of the table, her manner strong and commanding of attention. There was more to her than met the eye, yet Izual felt it rude to pry into a person in order to satisfy mere curiosity.

"Greetings."

With faces turned upon him, Izual's striking blue eyes returned a calm gaze to everyone.

"May I join this gathering?"

Delta chuckled humorlessly. "Goor was a Brute who used a blade as long as your arm, fist and foot, firearm and crossbow. He died many years ago, in relative peace. Domino... I believe you were the one to finally kill her off. Incinerated on the ground of the academy, if the reports stated it correctly. She was uncontrolable at the end. She defied even me."

He paused to consider her question. "Ravelyn Shentavo... fallen Seraphim... I have known of your existance since Alexander the Great was still building his first army. I won't prove what i am to you, as parlor tricks are beneath both of us. Let it be simply said that I have personally endured what you have endured... and subjected others to it."

Silently, using a technique he had not used in nearly a century, he spoke directly to her, mind to mind. Others from Hell like myself would want you dead. I want you aliive... there is nothing more valuable in this world than a live Shentavo.

“And you I don’t know either,” I said sighing softly. “The only one of you whom I knew from before is that man,” I said, looking toward Corothisia. “Nicole was a student of mine but I do not know her.” I looked at the man who just walked in. He did not state where he came from nor what his name was. I shivered. There were many from the dark path as well as enemies who were open to the transmission as well. As many allies as I had, I made twice as many enemies with my quick tongue and rebellious nature. I glared at him. With Tempest’s blood my vampiric abilities strengthened. I would never be the angel I once was, nor would my wings grow back. I would not be able to enter the dark path nor command anything else but my flames which were the only things that were connected directly with my vampirism. I was a great warrior, but now my physical state had diminished, but my mind was still as sharp as it had always been.

I looked toward him. “You enter with no name, no place of origin, and I have no time to risk a threat…” I said to him, and with that, I delved into his mind. I would have lied if I said it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was like a stinging pain to whichever memory or thought I wanted to reach. The thoughts I needed were at the surface. I withdrew my presence. “You see I am of physical weakness, but I can still mind rape you…” I said calm, cool collected. Without Tempest’s gift I would have not had the strength. I parted my blood red lips. I used to be known for torturing people with it, but not as much as my son Quissera did. He was the master of it. Still, my defenses were impenetrable by this man, and I sat at ease.

“Izual, I know nothing of Kane’s whereabouts now. If you aren’t aware simply by your surroundings, my nation just went through an apocalypse a good time ago, and I’ve been preoccupied with mourning.” I didn’t mourn for my nation, I mourned for him. He had taken priority in my life. We had gone to hell together. I lied if I didn’t miss him. I would have also lied to say I hadn’t missed Tempest. I took my time in mourning him in my own way when he disappeared. “You apparently didn’t know him well if you didn’t hear my name from his mouth. I was his sire. I made him.” I looked into his eyes. Kane was like a son to me, albeit misguided sometimes but he was still my creation as far as I was concerned. I couldn’t help but to feel compassion towards him, and when I turned him it was for him to avoid his death. He stayed with me for a long while, even as a student of the academy. My personal protégé. “Kane Shentavo…do you ever wonder where the last name came from? He had a different last name before I turned him, and he took up mine. I am the origin.” I stretched my arms above my head, and stood up, my beautiful crimson dress flowing with my every movement. My long chocolate brown hair cascaded down my shoulders like a water fall in soft waves toward the bottom.

“If the only reason you came was to find Kane, then go home. I am merely his maker.”

Nicole gave a bow of respect to Rave along with a smile. "It is quite alright about the Academy, I learned a great deal while I was there. Though I do wish my daughter would have had the chance to go."

She turned and smiled at Aeris as she sat next to her. "Its a been a while, Stephen hopes that you are doing alright and if you need anything don't hesitate to call."

The vampiress turned and looked at Rave as she asked a series of questions. She knew she didn't have the authority to answer for the President, but at the very least she knew what the government wanted and knew what was best for the country.

"I know my country is eager to establish relations with you. Grant it the humans have heard little if any, but I know they want to do whatever they can to help get you back on your feet again."

She paused. "As for me, I attended your Academy when I was very young and come back slightly out of curiosity having only met Alira Shentavo during my stay there. I would also like to help if I can with anything."

The vampiress sent a brief mental note to Rave, hoping that she would take it. "If you ever feel hungry and don't have any donors or blood packs lying around; I have a bloodstone with me you are more than welcome to use."

Nicole turned her head as a man entered the room. Though he was dressed rather oddly, she could smell and sense that there was something very different about him though she couldn't single out exactly what he was, probably a mixed breed.

She stayed quiet, knowing it was Rave who would make the decision. When she began to speak about someone named Kane, Nicole could only guess it was one of Rave's fledglings. Then this fellow is definatly an immortal of some sort, possibly part demon or vampire or something different. But, play it safe and go with demon.

I looked toward Delta and smiled. “Well then, you are a very intelligent and honest person, at least to me. You are welcome here, Delta, and free to ask any questions you want of me and have them answered sufficiently enough to suit your needs. I will provide you with whatever you want. Killed Domino…” I chuckled. “Incineration is a painless way to die once you burn all the nerve endings.” I looked toward one of the candles in the room and it flared up. I needed more time to let this blood course through my veins. Nothing more valuable than a live Shentavo, indeed. That is why so many want me dead. Unless Kane has any surprises, which I doubt, I am the last one left, but what doubles it is that I am the origin from which the others came. I smiled at him.

“Tempest, Delta, Nicole…anyone else want to tell me who they really are, why they are here?”

I have a bloodstone too Nicole. After so many years I cannot drink any longer from it for it has lost its taste. I have never drunk from blood packets either my dear. I only drink directly from a person, for I need their warmth as well… I communicated silently to Nicole, and her thoughts brushed against my mind, though I don’t think she was meaning to. When you have someone in mind very close of my age and race, and you think ‘towards’ them, it’s hard not to listen. “He is the hell spawn of both a demon and an angel, nothing pure, nothing to stir me by simply the race as he was born and not created. He is not one of mine though, Nicole, no. All of mine died when the apocolypse came..”

Nicole gave a brief nod as Rave declined her offer about her bloodstone. Despite living off mostly packaged blood, Stephen and her usually went out once or twice a week to the capital city of Clarence to feed upon a few humans, draining only a little out of each.

She looked in surprise as Rave seemed to hear her thoughts. Though Nicole usually kept them guarded, she never really met a vampire of a highly advanced age or extreme power outside of the last Assington vampire original Skadi and her fledgling Hondur.

Still, at the mention of demon, Nicole instantly turned and stared at the man behind her. It was demons who had destroyed Tarlachia, killed millions of innocent people and thousands of Simatarians during the Simatarian offensive to help purge Tarlachia of them. Nicole eyed him coldly, she didn't know if he was a servant of the monster Arithon or that other monster Abaddon. But the the mention he was a mix of an angel and demon completel threw the vampiress. Whatever the case, she wondered how Aeris would react to this.

Nicoel turned to Rave. "I am sorry about your family ma'am. Those I met during the Academy were a very nice group of people."

I sighed softly, not out of frustration, but just because I had no more tears to cry. She had known Quissera, saw of Vaughn and I. “Yes, I’m sorry too…” I told her. “I sent out the call so that my nation might live again, so that I might find a family again.” My own words startled me. I traced my fingertips along the edge of the table. “They were good kids. I’m glad they were able to get out of this land before it happened.” I walked around the table, all of them seated except for Tempest who stood like the guard of a royal family. I didn’t turn my eyes toward him. This meeting was of politics and more, and most of the personal aspects had to come after. “So The Golden Scimitar has formed an alliance with myself, I see. Haraki?” I asked questioning. “There is only one I really need the support of. What about Crimmond, or Tarlachia…what of you demon boy?” I said with a hint of spice in my voice. I was getting back to my normal personality at least. I grinned, exposing my fangs.

“Boisterous, vicious, quick-witted, silver-tongued devil of an angel,” I laughed. How many times I had been called that, by more than one party with slight variations. I recalled the old nickname with pleasant memories. Too bad for whispering voices I was a boisterous, vicious, quick-witted, silver-tongued devil of an angel. I bet they are still pissed off about not killing me in that church. Inquisitors; thorns in my side.

As the others talked to Rave, Tempest himself walked around behind her, admiring the hall he was standing in and not occasionally glancing through the open door behind him and the window to the sea. As Rave talked politics and history, he admired the flames of the candles, and the paintings on the walls, the finely-carved stonework and elegant pillars. The United Empire may have fallen, but this one part of it remained regal.

He knew that of the ones there, he was considered the exception. Treated differently. He was the one there that was familiar to Rave, and seemed to have taken up a position of support for her. The others could most likely tell that any trouble caused at this moment would be resisted not only by the re-empowered Ravelyn Shentavo, but also by him. He doubted any of the more sensitive visitors could not tell the power he contained within him. At one point, it had been enough to humble entire nations, and at one point Rave had considered him the most powerful vampire in all of existence. He wasn't sure if he would still count himself as that powerful. Nevertheless, he was a quite formidable opponent, even when in such a benign state as he was in now.

As she mentally asked him a question, it appeared in his mind clear as day. He blocked his thoughts from her, but allowed her to read one of them. How could I not? he replied softly, letting her know he would elaborate more later, in private, free from prying eyes and minds.

As she asked him a further question, out loud, about diplomacy, he answered in turn. "I cannot speak for the Harakian government, although I have met several high-ranking official at certain points." There was much more to that story. "I believe they will most likely send a representative to meet with you if they wish to propose something. I do not speak for them. I do not believe they would let old friends down, though."

He was not affiliated with the government, although he made his home in northern Haraki, on a section of cliff overlooking the ocean. A peaceful, quiet place, and one he dearly missed whenever he was away from it.

Delta nodded. "I know to respect those that are more powerful than I... Though you seem weaker than you have in the past. That will pass, though. Angering you now will only serve to bring wrath on my head later."

He looks at the others, as if seeing that there were others there for the first time. He removed his coat and place that on a hook under his hat, leaving him in a black tanktop that let his demonic looking tattoos(which almost glowed) show, along with a scarred and well formed body of a soldier out of time. Heavy boots clunked dully on the floor as he stepped back over. "I have no need to ask you questions directly, Ravelyn. I have need to observe you."

He glances towards the gardens and hmms. "There's another arrival lurking in your garden. Probably inspecting how well you care for your plants." Says this as if he's absolutly sure.

“Please…my name is Ravelyn Shentavo, empress of the three united empires. Please…come find me."

Dominic played the message over and over again, the laptop he was using hooked into his vehicle. He sped down the highway of whatever the nation he was in called itself, exceeding the speed limit quite excessively and weaving through traffic like the deadly assassin he had long trained to be. And here, the woman who was the first to train him outside of his nation, calling for him and any others, while he was wasting time who knows where.

He picked up his cell phone and dialed ahead to the airport he was rushing to, chartering a flight to where he felt Ravelyn would be.

"I'll be there shortly," he spoke to no one,"I just hope everything's all right..."

His already crimson eyes flickered slightly as he remembered better days, spent in the Academy, learning to utilize his natural talent for fire magic and sharpening his fighting skills.

He slammed to a halt in front of the airport and ran in. In twenty minutes (and several hundred of whatever monetary unit this place used) he flying the jet himself, taxiing for a takeoff.

(ooc: Cookies for rave. Missed your RPs. Dominic's been sorta a nomad for a long time now, having a point of focus in his life will do him good.)

I felt dizzy for a moment. I had exerted myself too much for show, but I didn’t let it show in my demeanor. I was steady and alert, but inside the world felt like it was spinning. “Please, stay the night if you wish. We will speak more in the morning. It took a lot of effort to get the signal out when I have no electronics to actually do so.” I half smiled. Yes, I over exerted myself. “Walk out of the door on the other side of the room, down the corridor and up the stairs, you will find many rooms in which you have your choice to stay. Don’t go to the third floor, or I’ll kill you.” I said it simply, not in a threatening voice but simply a matter of fact. I looked at Delta and chuckled at his comment. “All Crimmond wants to do is put me on an examining table and dissect me bit by bit while loving me just the same,” I commented, and walked out a separate door.

Tempest, I sent to him. Follow. You know I can’t even make it up the stairs right now, but I must put on show… I walked through the door and when I was out of sight I rested my hand on the banister of the winding staircase. I was so dizzy.

Morning?!

Nicole didn't like the sound of that. But, as long as she stayed inside she knew she would be safe from the deadly rays of the sun. If there were any open windows she could easily use her mental abilities to shut them so that point she was in the clear.

"Good night ma'am." She said to Rave as she departed.

The vampiress leaned back in her chair and sighed. She felt her stomach growl and she pulled out the bloodstone and bit into the dragon shaped object. To anyone who didn't know what the crimson colored stone was it looked strange to see a vampire sucking on it. Nicole pulled back and licked the blood from the stone, her lips and teeth before slidding it back into her coat. The blood gave her a boost and calmed her hunger, though it did lack the warmth and flavor of fresh blood.

Nicole looked over at Aeris. "So how have things been going for you?"

I looked at Delta and chuckled at his comment. “All Crimmond wants to do is put me on an examining table and dissect me bit by bit while loving me just the same,” I commented, and walked out a separate door.

"Crimmond has no interest in you, Seraphim... after all, you prove there is a Creator. Can't have that... interferes with their fragile secular society. If anything, they want you to die and stay dead. I am here on my own behalf, as is the one tending your garden. He will be content to stay there until sunrise, for sure."

He takes a seat and looks towards the window as the mists roll in, despite conditions being wrong for mists to settle. A dark form moves among it for a moment and is gone in the cover the water droplets provide.

Aeris growled silently to herself at how their hostess seemed to disregard the fact that she was there to see how wonderful her uncle had made her out to be. Turning to Nicole, she allowed a brief flash of anger to cross her face before it was gone in a millisecond. Smiling to Nicole, she nodded, "Things have been going well since then..." she began, knowing that an explaination was unnecessary, "though, not as quickly as I would have liked." It was then she turned and directly stared at the mysterious creature whose demonic presence had set off warning bells in her mind. Switching her lenses to her alternate state, she saw the demonic blood flowing steadily through the creature's veins, the dark black aura that indicated such as well. Suppressing the itching that struggled to penetrate her backside, she instead merely continued to stare.

If Izual made any indication that he felt her eyes on him, he made an effort to suppress it. Finally tiring of this, she watched as their hostess disappeared through a doorway.

"Come Nicole. You and I have much to talk about." Aeris stated quietly as she turned and began to slowly walk to the doors that led outside to the gardens. Upon opening the door, she noticed the mist, and instantly knew something was amiss. Being part elvish gave her the innate sense with the conditions of the earth and its workings.

The wind blows ill. she thought guardedly to herself, carefully scanning the mists. It was a fine mist that mimicked the real thing, but it was just that, an imitation, a cover for something that did not wish to be seen.

Feeling a sense of running out of safe options to conduct a private conversation with her friend, Aeris turned to look at Nicole, her eyes locking with the vampiress's own. The guarded thoughts followed a moment later, Don't look, but there's a presence in this false mist, watching silently. I don't trust the security of the rooms of this establishment, and now due to the mist, I don't trust the outdoors much better.

She turned and began walking along the exposed lands of the Academy, following paths that led through the gardens that were not covered in the mist. So, let us walk side by side, converse over the beauty of this place, while talking about what I wish to speak to you about by mind-thought.

Kneeling to gently lift a flower, a blood-red rose with sharp thorns of which she was careful to not pierce her skin, she inhaled its scent and smiled. "Blood rose...a rare breed." she complimented softly, every indication showing that she was a master of appearing sincere.

"Come Nicole, smell this." she offered to the vampiress with a warm smile. You saw the half-demon earlier. I noticed your tension. What do you think of him? A threat perhaps? Is he really here for a Kane Shentavo or is he trailing me...us?

Nicole nodded to Aeris and followed her outside. She felt better being outside in the dark, the vampire's natural element. She noted the mist and though she did find it odd, the world was a vastly different place in terms of climate so conditions here would be different than that of the Golden Simatar. Still, during her stay she couldn't recall mist in the middle of the night.

The vampiress looked at the elf and she controled the urge to look around when Aeris mentioned there was another in the mist. Nicole couldn't hear anything nor smell anything, but she knew the elf wouldn't screw around with something like this. As such, she put up more guards around her thoughts. "Alright, let's go."

The vampiress took the rose from Aeris as the pair began their walk. She smelled it and smiled. "Smells very nice though I must admit it doesn't smell like the real article. I never bothered keeping a garden, felt it was too much work...and the fact everything I planted ended up dying. So I gave up on it, besides...hard to tend to a garden when you are a creature of the night."

As she talked, she sent her response to Aeris. "I can only think of him as a threat considering what happened to your country. Despite Rave saying that he was half angel I do not trust him one iota. This Kane Shentavo he seems to be looking for may be his mission or it maybe be a cover. I do think that there is a good chance he is an agent of Arithon or Abaddon sent to trail you and if at all possible...kill you. Trailing me I doubt that, but then again my country helped purge Tarlachia of them so he may be looking for a way into my land to see if there is any threats that might hamper them. Though I say until we know otherwise we should keep our eye on him and even if he is only looking for Kane Shentavo and is not trailing you...should keep him under close observation just in case."

Agreed. Aeris replied as she straightened up and turned to gaze upon a lake that was barely visible in the new moon filled night. She strode quietly down the path with the vampiress by her side, her hands clasped behind her back. She could feel the presence watching them, and inwardly felt uneasy about it. Remaining as discreet as possible, she tried to discern the true nature of the presence, but even then it was near impossible. That was the thing about passive scans, they weren't very reliable if the object or persons being scanned were defensively indiscernable.

"Gardens can be a finicky creature of their own. The proper seasons, the proper neighboring plants, even the quality of the water and soil will have an effect." She turned and looked at Nicole, "Perhaps sometimes, if you would like, I'll have you observe some of the gardens I've been tending to in Tarlachia. Despite the previous illness the earth was under, the gardens are thriving." She shrugged and smiled, "Who knows, you might just pick up a few things about gardening?"

And what are your thoughts on our hostess? Seems to me she's got A.D.D. or something of the sort. Not exactly a good thing for a hostess and especially not a good thing for one who used to control a vast mega-empire. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that it was the cause of her downfall in the first place...

"Or kill every plant in the gardens." Nicole laughed.

She could feel something watching them and she wondered what was out there hiding in the mist. Whoever or whatever it was it was good at keeping itself descret, from and elf as well as a vampire. Nicole kept herself at the ready to pull the knife from her leg out at a moments notice and at a time like this, she wished that she packed some sort of firearm.

The vampiress continued. "But that would be nice, should do that sometime after this. And if you know any anti-dragon runt spells or anything that would keep a small dragon out of the garden that would be nice. Ours usually tore up and froze what I didn't kill."

"I do not know about A.D.D, possible a little after apparently coming out of some sort of hybernation after two centuries. I never met her, I only met her daughter or some other realtive Alira Shentavo during my stay at the Academy and she had her head on straight. Her blood allowed me to stay in the daylight...should have seen Stephen's face when I came home. For Rave, I think she might just be very tired and a little overwhelmed from what has happened and what is going on. She seems to have her head on, but probably needs a few hours of sleep in bed, a little fresh blood, and a little time reading up on what has gone on in the world before she is back to normal. Did Sigrun ever tell you much about her?"

Aeris gave a laugh, "I'm sure I could come up with a few hinderances for your dragons. Hardly a difficult task, simply a matter of finding out what they don't like, and utilize that."

No, Sigrun never told me of her. In fact, he never really told me of anyone else save for those whom I met. That was his way of doing things. If you didn't need to know, you didn't know. Perhaps why I once thought he was treating me like a child and not giving me the benefit of the doubt that I could deal with it.

She took a seat upon a bench near the lake and inhaled the air carefully. Despite the mist, the air was fresh, although it still had the lingering effects of a nation in decay slowly returning to life.

"So tell me, how is Stephen? It's been a while since I've seen or heard from him."

As she finished up her speech and turned to leave, Tempest gave one last look around the room. Those gathered there did not seem openly hostile to Rave, but there seemed just as much chance they could become that way to him. She seemed unfamiliar with them, but they seemed familiar at least with the setting, or some part of the situation. Several, he believed, were ex-students at the Shentavo Academy. He believed a Harakian had gone there once. Name of Adrian, or something like that. It was a long time ago, he couldn't quite remember straight.

As she walked through the door he turned and followed, his hands clasped behind his back and his head held high. He knew the others didn't know who he was, and might even think him some servant of Rave's, and he didn't really mind. It was enough that they know he was not one to be on the wrong side in a fight, and provided that he didn't care much what they thought he was. He was not there for them. He was there for Rave, and for Rave he closed the door they had walked through behind him, shielding them from prying eyes.

As she rested her hand on the banister, he could see the weariness in her demeanor, the way she was standing, the way she blinked her eyes. He quickly crossed the short distance between them, grabbing her quickly with his right arm across her shoulders, and steadying her against him. He was fine, despite the lessened amount of blood in his system, and he let her know through physical contact that she could use him for support, however she wanted. "You're not okay," he said sadly. "You need rest, and a lot of it."

"Tolkien is a little monster, he eats almost anything that smells good and outside of strangers for the first few minutes I don't know if there is anything he doesn't like. Give me a minute on that."

Nicole slide onto the bench next to Aeris, the rose still in her hand before she set it on the bench. She sighed as she looked across the lake again, remembering only a short distance away she had witnessed her first sunrise since she had become a vampire. She smiled as she remembered watching the sun slowly creep above the horizon and the warm beams washing over her body.

She turned to Aeris. "Stephen is doing fine, he's back at home...probably training new VIB agents or cops in the art of hunting vampires. Needless to say even after knowing of us for many years some humans have pulled a cross when they get cornered.

"Either he is doing that or he is at home with Amara. After centuries of being terrified of vampires spare for Stephen and I, I think she is finally starting to calm down and might actually get over it.

"We haven't had much of a vampire problem in our country, maybe half dozen or so deaths reported a year...mostly due to vampires passing through. So things are really quiet. I know he wanted to come here, but I convinced him that since I went to the Academy I would probably be better...plus he probably would have attacked that demon fellow once Rave said what he was."

Aeris shook her head, "No, Stephen wouldn't have attacked. He's been around the block a few times, and therefore, he would wait, gather all information necessary, and then plot his moves."

Rising from the bench after several minutes, she looked down at Nicole, "It's perhaps time for us to turn in. We wouldn't want to be tired in the morning."

She looked down at the rose that Nicole held for a moment, then continued their silent, guarded conversation. Whatever the case, we'll need to keep an eye on all suspicious types here. Beyond you, I trust no one else. If you run into any problems or whatnot, give me a call if you need me.

She watched as Nicole rose and began to walk beside her back the way they had come. Never let your guard down, especially around Ravelyn. There's something about her that gnaws at my thoughts, as if I should be paying very close attention to her and her actions. I'm still curious to see how Sigrun considered her an old friend worthy of being written about in the archives.

Nicole nodded as Aeris said her husband wouldn't attack. Course it depended on the situation, but if the demon seemed to be a bit of a threat, she knew he would have his guns out in a flash.

The vampiress stood and took the rose, it was a thing of beauty and she would put in a glass of water when she could.

"A nice bed sounds good, my butt hurts after sitting on a dragon for a few hours. Oh, I must ask...is it possible for you to do some spell or something that makes a filter that would the sun from killing me but still let it or make a sheild or something that moves over the rooms I am in tomorrow?"

"Right, I have only heard mostly positive things about Rave, but one never knows now do we? Still, there must have been something in her that would make your uncle have her written down. Does any bit of the archives still exist that might hold any info about her?"

“I’m fine, Coro,” I said in a dull whisper, and then gave into leaning against him for support. My actions betrayed my words. I let out a feint laugh. It was comforting to have his arm around me; it was something familiar. It made me feel like I was at home. I walked up the stairs with him, using him for support. “It is ironic how one of the most feared women in history is now having dizzy spells and needing support to walk. You know I never used to accept help from anyone. There was a time when I would have crawled up these stairs even if help was offered.” My crimson eyes flashed at him, and a strand of long dark hair fell over my left eye and touched the edge of my crimson lips.

I opened the door that lay beyond the top step of the stairs into a large room. It was circular with windows making up all of the walls. You could see out onto the crashing shore below of the ocean, though if one was outside they would not be able to see in. The ceiling was a deep, unyielding black darker than the night sky. On one side suspended from chains was a bed with crimson quilts, silken black pillows and black embroidery of a rose on the sheets. The floor mimicked the ceiling with a get black carpet. There was a sword encased in glass by one of the windows; an ancient weapon which Quissera had summoned that was now retired. There were many bookcases that rotated around so that one may walk around them or turn them as they like as there were no sharp angles in the circular room to be placed against. There were massive volumes of text; most of it ancient with hardly any modern literature as well as some of the scripts I had written. There was a fireplace which connected through the ceiling and two black leather couches on either side. The fire started the moment I entered the room.

And there were pictures. Upon the two small tables to either side of the fireplace were pictures, and out of all the people in them I was the only one still alive. There was one of Genesis with her long blond hair and vibrant purple eyes, nearly strangling Quissera with a hug. She smiled as he grimaced. Brother and sister. There was a picture of Vaughn and I with his arms around me and my crimson eyes gleaming toward the camera. Chains hung from my wrists in the picture, and my wings fanned out to either side. I was wearing a black dress and he an Armani suit as he normally did. You have no idea what it took to get him to wear anything but. He was a professional, and deadly. There were pictures my students had given to me from year to year. There was a picture of Joshua and his older brother Phoenix. I still had a plate of Sigma Octavus’ cookies upon the table which had never gone bad, but I could never eat. I think that nation just keeps sending cookies to either tease me, or they really don’t know I can’t eat them. Either way I am thankful for them.

My engagement ring was also on the table, not on my hand any longer. The diamonds seemed to have dulled overtime but it was none the less beautiful. There were also small circular orbs on a velvet open case resting on the left table and a small metal projector. They were memory spheres, and to view one you would place it into the machine and the image would appear above it. Dust had collected on the small amber marbles as I had no wish to see some of those memories. However beautiful some may be, they still brought me pain. I dragged Tempest over to the couch and I dropped onto it in a state of fatigue. My grip was still strong and I pulled him to sit down with me as I used his chest as a pillow. It made me laugh a bit for him being taken so unaware.

“It was my fault this happened to my nation. When Underaloz needed help I went to their aide and ended up in hell. When I returned, I brought hell back with me, and it ravaged the lands. I took what souls I could, billions of them. I will forever be Azrael, Coro. Their deaths rang out to me, and I offered them salvation. Their pain, their suffering, combined with everyone I had already lost wore me down. Sometimes I still hear their whispers. And there was no one left, Coro…there was no one left to help me. I couldn’t move for months and just lay here on the floor, trying to store them away within me. I started using more energy than I should have, which is when I started sacrificing abilities in order to do so. It’s been such a long time, and I don’t have the strength to release them. The ones I didn’t save are far from here but still in my nation. There are a small number of them, and they are brutals, inflicted with hell’s wrath. You can’t talk to them, I can’t deal with them, but it wont be for many years till they reach here and try to destroy the creator.” I nuzzled my head into his chest. “I thought I had lost everyone…I thought you were dead. I didn’t care if they came and killed me for there was nothing left for me to live for. I rose though still, and gave one last attempt…and you came back.” I shifted the strap of my crimson dress back up over my shoulder as it had fallen slightly. The silk was a vibrant contrast to the black leather of the couch.

Tempest lay there and closed his eyes, his right hand absentmindedly reaching up and stroking Rave's hair repeatedly, as if it comforted one of them. Which one was unclear. As she spoke, telling him about her downfall, he almost shivered, thinking of what she had gone through and how he had not helped her. How he had left her where she was. Unknowingly, but still. At that time he would have had the power to save her, and ... he shook his head for a moment to clear the thoughts. Beating himself up over the past would not solve anything.

The Rave I knew is gone, he thought absentmindedly, still hiding his inner thoughts from prying eyes. Her pride, her power, her friends ... They're all gone. The only thing that remains is the woman herself.

"I never stopped looking for you," he said at last. "When I left it was because I had to. I hope you can understand that. But as soon as I knew you were in trouble, when I felt the ... I tried to look for you. For two hundred years I've been trying to find you, but I couldn't."

They say it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. I suppose they say the same thing about friends. You were my only friend, Rave. Friend ... and so much more. But you, you had many friends, and now they are all gone. You had Michael, and now he's gone. We both lost all our friends. The difference is that now I've found mine again.

"You cannot even imagine how I felt. After two hundred years of searching, after exhausting every possibility, looking in every place, through heaven and hell and everything in between, I had given up all hope. And then, suddenly, there you were, looking a little worse for wear, but alive. And then, here I was, and you know the rest."

I spent so much, and lost so much, trying to find you. And despite my best efforts, I couldn't. It scared me and saddened me to know that everything I expended, everything I tried to use as a lead, was not enough to find you. But maybe, jut maybe, it was enough to help you come back.

I looked up at him, my crimson eyes smoldering between charcoal outlined lashes. We both had changed, but I was on the greater end of it. For what power I had in comparison now I was nothing more than a fly on the wall. The power was still locked inside of me somewhere, but with my heart torn to pieces and scattered to the four corners of the earth, it wasn’t returning anytime soon. I knew that if I could expend these souls within me, if I had strength to create life for them again, I would have much returned from me. I had limited myself even further by not feeding, and the brief reprieve from Tempest at least left me appearing as I had before with my flush cheeks and flawless complexion. I was still 5’8” with the same auburn hair which curled at the bottom in soft waves. What was broken was on the inside, and it made me physically weak. I had never been weak before in my life. I was always strong and prideful. I still was prideful perhaps, but I was humbled by a lot of things. Without the people I held dear to me in my life before the war, I was nothing, or at least my heart couldn’t handle it. I looked up to Tempest.

What does he think of me? Is that kindness in his eyes or does he pity me. I hate pity. My powers have diminished so drastically to save what I could of my nation, but could he still feel for me as he did if I never regained my former self? Does he still love me? Hell I asked him to give me away at my wedding and he disappeared. There was no ceremony to miss though. How could he ever feel that way again after asking him to do that? After asking him that when he was still competing for my heart? Thoughts swamped my mind. He was the only person that was still alive. He was the only friend I had, and the only person that I had grown to love that was left in this world. It would take a long time to repair the broken pieces, but would he help me pick them up?

“I’m glad you found me, Coro,” I whispered softly, and sat up. I observed the cool look in his eyes analytically. How many years had he waited? Before he disappeared, how many times was he at my side, and how many times did he take care of me, spend time with me, laugh, cry, smile…How long had he waited? I leant forward and kissed him gently upon the lips; the softest of touches.

The kiss took him by surprise, that much she could tell. He did not resist it, though, but when she drew back again she could see a deep look of longing in his eyes. Longing and sorrow. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again, looking down at the floor as if ashamed, unable to find words to tell her what he needed to tell her. He deeply wanted to lean in and kiss her, she could tell that easily, but something was holding him back.

He stood up and walked over to one of the windows in silence, looking out at the ocean as waves crashed against the shore. "Rave, I..." he began, then stopped. He stood there for a short while more, watching the endless waves smash themselves against the land. "I don't know if we ..."

He sighed and looked down at the floor again before turning around and looking up at her, the deep feelings of sorrow and longing in his eyes even more accentuated. He could not find the words to say what he wanted to, and if he exposed his thoughts to her he did not even want to think of what would happen, how she would react. Finally, in lieu of finding something real to say, to speak of something important, he finished lamely, looking at the floor to avoid making eye contact for fear of seeing what she thought of his actions. "I think ... you need some rest. We can talk more in the morning."

“Coro,” I said in reply, finding the strength to stand with my back straight. My posture eased and I went to sit on the edge of my bed. I sat there for two minutes in silence. “I’m sorry. I just thought that…I mean, its foolish for me to think that, after all these years you…I mean, I guess I…” For the first time in a while I was the one that was stumbling upon my words. What an idiot I am… I thought silently. Now he’ll probably leave by morning. He probably has someone else back home anyway. How could I have been so stupid? I didn’t think he would have recoiled from my kiss. There was a deep sadness in my eyes, like a kitten pushed off a warm bed onto the cold floor. I didn’t know what to say. What was I supposed to say? See you in the morning? I didn’t want him to leave. After so much time without him I wanted him close by for fear he would slip from me again.

“I came out of hiding after two hundred years because I am finished morning. You once said that crying doesn’t ameliorate my features. I am ready to start over again, to rebuild it all. You are the only one who knows me, Corothisia,” I had used his full name. I was serious. “I want to rebuild my empire; I want to regain control over my abilities. I want you to be with me again, laughing, crying, and hell even sparring against me again. I want you to be a part of my life after what time was stolen from both sides.” I tilted my head the way I used to with inquisitive eyes, always searching. “I’ve rested for two hundred years. I don’t think I could bare sleeping twelve hours until the next sunrise.” I shifted my posture, and became more assertive, even if my body was weak my mind was gradually gaining strength, which in turn made me stronger as a whole. Please don't leave... I thought silently.

[*maniacal laughter* my old nation has returned finally. =)]

OOC: Gratz. :)











As she spoke, he slowly crossed the room back towards her, and as she finished talking he slowly sped up until he was standing in front of her. He bent his knees until his face was around level with his. "Rave," he said softly, "you don't need to stay awake on my account. I'm not going anywhere for a while." He moved around her slightly, and sat down on the bed beside her, his hand reaching forward and finding hers, clasping it tightly, his fingers interlocking between hers. He turned his head to look into her eyes, and a slight grin crossed his face again. "I'll be there with you." It can be like old times, he added to himself. "I'll help you with all that. I'll help you with whatever you need."

He turned his head to look out the circular room's continuous windows, in time to see a flock of birds fly past in formation, their wings beating in unison. "You do need rest, though. No matter how awake you are, your body is still tired. I advise sleep." His voice took on a more serious tone. "Ravelyn, I'm not going to abandon you. You don't need to worry about that. I have some things I need to sort out, though, so I advise you sleep while I do that. Recover physical strength to match your willpower. I'll still be here when you wake up."

As he finished talking, he raised her hand and gently kissed the back of it, as if to seal the deal.

You surprised me, Rave. Not that I wasn't expecting it, he thought cynically. It's just ... She's dead because of me, because of you. And I have to live with that, forever. I don't know if things can ever be the way they were. I hope they can, I wish they can, but things have happened that the memories of which will never leave me. I think when I can tell you this you'll understand. But not now. Later. Not now...

I took in a deep breath. There was more which happened to him which he did not tell me. I could see it behind my eyes. I moved from him and slipped beneath the scarlet covers of my bed. I was cold, but it was a natural thing for a vampire. It was a natural thing of being alive. I looked at Corothisia, and managed a half smile before closing my eyes. They are all dead because of me; all of them. They needed me here and I was getting into trouble with another nation. He was the one that saved me, and the reason I was gone, and during that time my nation fell into oblivion. When I came back hell followed. And they are all dead because of me. These voices which will never leave me. I shivered and gradually shifted into a light sleep.

An hour or so passed, and one of the orbs on the table started to roll down the side of the projector and into the viewing slot. The video turned on and projected above the small contraption effortlessly. There was Ravelyn; in her black dress with her hair down and students crowded around her. She had white wings which fanned out to either side beautifully, and crimson eyes which scanned their faces. She leaned in close to them and ignited a small flame within her hand. Chatter spread amongst them as they watched. She grinned, exposing two refined fangs before throwing the fire up into the air and casting a semblance of a burning phoenix in the great hall. Quissera; whose black hair fell over his vicious eyes and whose one wing was not only tattered but pierced walked over and whispered something in her ear. The students were afraid of him, and with good reason. Poor Joshua.

Her face seemed to darken, and she ushered them away. They went obediently to their rooms. She had always had a gift for teaching. She observed Quissera’s face. “When did it happen?” She questioned her voice faltering.

“Not but fifteen minutes ago. They are coming for you as well, Rave.” His voice was dark but loyal. She studied him for a moment.

“I can’t have them here. It isn’t safe for the students. I’ll leave the nation, as you may have expected. I won’t return until…”

“I know you won’t, but are you sure you can handle this alone?”

“I can handle anything. Nothing has killed me yet. I have to be doing something right. Tell Genesis to still prepare the armies, just in case we have to bring war to them…”

“Time passes differently in hell, Ravelyn…”

“Yeah, I’ve been there. Let’s hope mine is not an extended stay…”

The projection flickered, as if parts of it had been cut out. There were flashes of a demon; Mephistopheles. The battle of the century. There was blood; a lot of it, and heat. There were chains and swords, all to which came down to lord against lady. Ravelyn Shentavo left with her sword stained in Mephistopheles blood, but had lost so much more in the process; time. She had gone, as prideful as ever, and won, but one should choose their battles carefully. One day in hell can be over one hundred in real time. When she was alone, the ones she cared about weren’t by her side, so how could she protect them.

The projection flickered again, seeming as if it were broken. On a beach, clawing her way out of the water with blood trailing down her scalp and abdomen. Looking up toward the blue sky to see Yakori’s face.

“Look what we have here…” Yakori said in malice.

“Ah, Yakori. Come back later, I just went through hell and have no desire to see your ugly face anytime soon. Go home…” she snapped with a stinging smile upon her face. He kicked her hard in the head, and the vision faded to black. The sphere dropped down from the projector and slid back in place. There was a larger orb across the room from which shadows stirred within. Voices whispered, and even shadows from the room seemed to shift over Ravelyn’s face as she slept. The fire roared, but she still remained sleeping, wincing ever so slightly from time to time; her dreams plagued by the shadows of the souls locked deep inside of her; whose prison was her body, and whose death was her fault for not being there.

My eyes fluttered open, and the shadows crossed the room back to their original position. Shades from the dark path; now harmless to me. They wanted what’s inside of me, but they couldn’t get to it. They wanted to observe though. I looked about the room, my eyes looking for any trace of my companion. I looked at the fire and it flared up once more. Without me willing it to consciously.

As she drifted off to sleep, Tempest smiled. He waited a few minutes to be sure she was asleep, so she would not suddenly wake and think he was abandoning her, before he stood up, bent over to kiss her forehead gently, and silently walked out of the room. In the back of his mind he kept an eye on it, an eye on her, to protect her should anything happen.

He walked down to the seashore, avoiding contact with the other guests, and he walked along the shore, waves lapping at his ankles, and he thought. He thought about himself, and about Rave, and about someone else. Someone he felt responsible for, someone he had to take care of. Someone he had failed. He thought of two hundred years of searching, and the ways it had torn his old life apart. He thought about what he was and what he had come to be. But most of all, he thought about Rave.

When she awoke, he was sitting beside the fire, leaning his back against the fireplace, his head resting back and his eyes closed, occasionally twitching to betray the fact that he was having a dream, and an unpleasant one at that. The grimace on the left half of his mouth showed that much. In his mind, someone was burning, and screaming, calling his name and begging for his help. But he was not there, and could not be there. Her screams of pain followed him as, in the dream, he saw her in the distance, and ran, his legs moving as if encased in treacle, first towards her, and then, with no transition, as is the way with dreams, away from her, and towards a different figure, far off in the distance, which would dissipate into smoke whenever he got close enough to see who it was.

In the real world, as the dream woman's screams of pain grew louder and closer together, the fire beside him, too, began to flicker and move with the thoughts racing across his head. And his eyes seemed to move back and forth, his eyes and mouth occasionally twitching. He was clad in the same clothes as before, but from his ankles down were wet with seawater, rapidly drying in the heat of the fire, but now a worried expression crossed his face.

I stirred and slipped out from underneath the covers and placed my feet on the floor. My pupils were dilated, and the room swam, but came to a stand still. I felt heat swell within me as the fire rose, but I drank it down until it simmered to be non existent. I consumed its energy. My eyes were alive with fire. As I spoke, it was coated in velvet. “Corothisia,” I said softly. What had happened to me? He stirred in his sleep, dreaming. No, he was having a nightmare. I sat by his side and placed my hands on either of his shoulders, shaking him lightly. “Wake up…” I said in a honey-coated voice, masking the strength behind it. “Coro, wake up..” I sighed a breathless sigh. Why had this sleep made me feel more like my old self than anything? I cut my wrist with my fangs and held it to his mouth. Hours ago I was in no position to make such an offer. Now, my body throbbed with it.

“Wake up…”

He started as he sat up suddenly, his head nearly colliding with Rave's as he uttered a low snarl, his eyes looking like he could kill something in an instant. Blood from Rave's wrist spattered onto the floor as his advancing head knocked it aside. And, as quickly as it had begun, it ended. His eyes opened truly, the kindness associated with them returning, and he quickly leaned back against the fireplace, letting out a long breath of relief. "I'm sorry, Rave," he said quickly. He reached out, taking her cut wrist and closing his palm over it to stop the blood from flowing out. Looking down at it and then up at her, he smiled weakly and did his best to reassure her. "I'm fine. It's nothing. Just a dream."

Just a dream. Like hell it's just a dream. Like hell, indeed. Dear god, what have I done?

“That was no dream, you didn’t respond to me. You’re not a deep sleeper, Coro…” I looked at him with intrigued eyes and sat by him, this time wrapping my arms around him as to comfort him. “Tell me what happened to you. You know what shattered me, but what of you? Where have you been all these years? You know nothing you can say will scare me…and nothing that has happened will change how I view you.” I took both his hands in mine, and a heat emanated from them. My body was at peace for the time being. I traced my fingertips over the side of his face. I had no idea what had happened, but he had yet to tell me, so I figured it was either long, complicated, or emotional, or quite possibly all.

“Tell me.”

"It ... will take a while to explain," he said, trying in vain to work his way out of having to tell her now. Looking up pleadingly into her eyes, he saw she was not willing to wait any longer, and somewhat sheepishly launched into his tale.

"When I left, it was because I had to. I needed time away, to make my thoughts straight, to decide what to do once and for all, to see just what I could or wouldn't, what I would or wouldn't do. But before I managed to figure it out, you disappeared too. By the time I knew I had to be with you, no matter what, no matter how you felt about me, to be whole and to be myself, you were gone and I couldn't express these feelings to you, I couldn't tell you that.

"I started looking for you, in all the place I thought you would go if you were defeated and weakened in such a way, I spent decades searching for you, fighting my way through anyone trying to stop me, and I never found anything. Eventually, I lost all hope, which is when ... A woman found me, and I suppose in a way she saved me. She was a human, but she loved me no matter what I was or what I did, a love I suppose I couldn't really return. While I was with her, I never forgot about you, and I never stopped hoping you would turn up, but I stopped actively looking. I spent years with her, and I grew almost happy again. I wasn't whole, but I could spend time with her and, for some time at least, forget that you were gone.

"Then one day we had a visitor, who told me that he had seen you, far, far away, and suddenly it all came back to me. The hurt, the longing, the need to be with you. She felt betrayed, and she tried to convince me not to go looking for you, but I was too stubborn to listen. I didn't even take a good look at the messenger who said he had seen you. Eventually, when she realized I was going no matter what she said, she resolved to come with me. She said she loved me enough to help me find what I wanted, even if it would lead to her hurting. I should've known it was a bad idea, but I was too blind with hope. She came with me.

"It turned out it was all a lie. The man claiming to have seen you tricked me into a trap, some of my most ancient enemies captured both of us, and killed her agonizingly slowly in front of me. They didn't even have anything against her, they killed her solely to make me suffer. They chose not to kill me, instead locking me in a cell deep in the earth to replay that over and over in my head. It drove me mad. When I finally escaped all I could think of was killing all those men, and I spent years hunting them down and making them pay for what they did. I saw it as my fault. My blind quest to find you led me into a trap that made the one person that truly loved me die, and all because of me."

He broke off his talking, looking down shamefully at the ground, as though replaying it in his mind again. "I have to live with that every day, that if I had said no, or if I hadn't been so blind in my driving search, she would have lived so much longer, and wouldn't have had to go through that."

With that he stopped, still staring at the ground. He felt as though Rave already knew the rest. Truth be told, there wasn't much more to tell.

I parted my lips slightly. “You can’t keep beating your self up over the past. If I did that I would still be on the floor right now, waiting for death to come for me.” I knew it was hard to loose someone all to well, and he had lost someone because he loved me. I hadn’t made the decision to go through with Vaughn until he vanished. When he left me, there was nothing left for me to do, and my heart was open and vulnerable. He loved me, while he brought chaos to my life he still loved me. I loved him back. I paused for a moment, letting everything sink in. “If I had said no, if I hadn’t been so blind in my driving search, he would have lived so much longer, and wouldn’t’ have had to go through hell. We both lost someone, Corothisia, and our actions led to both of their deaths. It is something that can be forgiven, even though we will never forget.” I moved closer to him. “We made terrible mistakes on the past, and time has moved on.” I looked at him intensely, my crimson eyes sparkling.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. It wasn’t gentle or soft; it was passionate. I never gave up searching for you, Corothisia. I did things to keep my mind off of it, when you disappeared. But I was always searching for something more. I was always searching for you. As I kissed him the flames reignited in the fire, and I felt the heat rise within me. I bit down carefully upon his lip and grazed my fangs against mine. My originally angelic blood was sweet and euphoric while his carried spice, between us, mixing as I kissed him. Warmth flooded over my body.

Nicole nodded as Aeris said her husband wouldn't attack. Course it depended on the situation, but if the demon seemed to be a bit of a threat, she knew he would have his guns out in a flash.

The vampiress stood and took the rose, it was a thing of beauty and she would put in a glass of water when she could.

"A nice bed sounds good, my butt hurts after sitting on a dragon for a few hours. Oh, I must ask...is it possible for you to do some spell or something that makes a filter that would the sun from killing me but still let it or make a sheild or something that moves over the rooms I am in tomorrow?"

"Right, I have only heard mostly positive things about Rave, but one never knows now do we? Still, there must have been something in her that would make your uncle have her written down. Does any bit of the archives still exist that might hold any info about her?"

As the two rise, a distinct shape steps between them and the lights of the mansion, looking the picture of Death himself. Tall, wearing armor decorated with bones, holding a battered scythe. It lets out a low, annoyed sound. "Destroying a living thing because you find it beautiful... how you modern creatures disgust me." he says in an oddly accented voice.

Before either could respond, Delta's voice floats past them. "Stand down, Executioner. One rose is not worth starting a battle over." The being turns towards the voice and bows it's battered helm and steps back into the mists a Delta approaches.

"Don't mind Gar... he has a deep connection to plant life and anyone who disrupts it annoys him. I wouldn't pick any more while he's around, though." He chuckles and looks to the side, head moving slowly as if he knew exactly where Gar was. "He won't harm anyone here unless I order it. And that is not likely." Another annoyed sound from the mists. Apparently Gar was sworn to serve Delta in some way.

Izual didn't show any physical reaction to Rave's probing. It appeared after all these years she hadn't learned anything about manners but at least it got to the point rather quickly. Noting to keep his guard up around the vampiress, Izual took a few steps foward as Rave began to speak of Kane.

“You apparently didn’t know him well if you didn’t hear my name from his mouth. I was his sire. I made him.”

Izual sighed, she had been his only lead in many years.

"He did not openly speak of that aspect of his past due to the curse. I did not pry."

Gazing around the faces once again, Izual noted the presence of a Tarlachian elf, Aeris to be precise. Ever since the death of her mother, the young woman (at least in immortal terms) had taken charge of the ruined nation. Whatever was going on here seemed to be of some regional significance.

“If the only reason you came was to find Kane, then go home. I am merely his maker.”

Returning his eyes to Rave, Izual spoke in a calm tone, not allowing her manner to bother him.

"If it does not cause bother, I would wish to remain present. The happenings within this region of the planet are of some significance to me."

“Please, stay the night if you wish. We will speak more in the morning.

Taking that as an acceptance of his request, Izual merely nodded to no one in particular as those seated around the table began to move off on their own paths. Izual caught the dark looks from one of the female vampires and Aeris without reaction. They didn't know him and had no reason to trust him, time would tell if they would cling to such prejudices.

Considering her had no slept in many weeks, Izual followed Rave's directions and took the first door on the right as he ascended the stairway. The room was more than adequate with a large, comfortable looking bed, amongst many other furnishings.

Removing his robe and boots, a shining chest plate was revealed upon the demon/angel. A symbol of his own design had been expertly carved into the metal and raised off the armour itself. It consisted of slither of black resembling the coil of a spring, twisting itself around another coil, this one a pure white. It represented his eternal struggle to balance his nature between that of the darkness and the light. Running his fingers over the armour, Izual willed it away and it simpled faded out of existence, revealing the muscled features of a strong and athletic human, skin that had never seen the light of day.

There was no true term for what Izual was. Created by Arithon, fused together from demonic and human sources and later augmented by those that opposed Arithon. Sighing in disappointment, Izual lay upon the bed and closed his eyes. Perhaps sleep would renew his hope.

Nicole turned as she felt a strong presence near and was taken aback by the figure before them wearing what appeared to be armor made from bone. But as soon as her eyes saw the blade, the knife rocketed from the sheath on her leg and was in her hand and was ready just as she heard a new voice.

She looked past the figure to see the man from inside, the one with no pupils coming out and ordering the thing away. Nicole just caught it sink back into the mist and disappear. She had seen dragons, elves, vampires, werewolves, demons, and many other creatures but never one such as that. It made her uncomfortable, something she didn't like one bit.

The vampiress turned back to him, it was obvious she was not happy and her fangs were fully extended as she talked.

"What, the fuck was that thing?"

Aeris watched guardedly as the dark creature emerged from the mists. I knew it... she growled to herself, allowing the creature to speak, only to be silenced by an apparent master moments afterwards. Despite the presence of the "executioner" as he had been labeled by the master, Aeris saw no direct hostile actions.

"Plant life is highly valued by my kind as well, although we are realistic at the same time." Aeris replied to the Delta. Hearing the question posed by Nicole, she simply replied without looking at the vampiress, "An executioner, a considerable foe, although not as fearsome or terrifying as say, Abaddon or Arithon. They are bound to a master, and must do what they say for fear of extremely harsh punishments."

Nodding to the Delta after this, she moved closer while still maintaining a guarded presence, for he was still a stranger, his true intentions unknown.

"I am Aeris, of Tarlachia. It would be wise for you to be aware that I am not all that you see here. Allow me to explain."

She braced herself, gritting her teeth as the iridiscent pearl-white wings emerged from her backside and spread outward to their fullest length before they folded behind her in a relaxed manner. Her hair blew in an invisible wind, its blonde strands turning auburn. Her irises shifted from a light blue to an emerald green, contrasting sharply with the flowing white robes that replaced her earth-toned elvish clothing. In mere seconds, she stood before them, her eyes watching them, the very energy that she harnessed seeming like an orb of condensed power about her. Even despite this, Nicole wouldn't notice this, but those that were sensitive to the weaves of arcane energy of the earth, they would notice.

"As you see, I speak the truth. Therefore, let's make a deal in recognizance of this land not being either of ours in earthly possessive terminology, I suggest we draw a truce here, bound to stand so long as nothing inherently severe will disrupt this balance."

Without breaking a moment's peace, she finished by returning to her elvish physical form. "Deal?" As a gesture of her sincerity, they watched as the flower slipped out of Nicole's fingers and returned to its place, the stem reattaching itself to perfection.

Nicole was gaping as she watched the transformation from elf to angel form. She had never seen this before and it was a very surprising thing to see. If her body was still alive, her heart would be fluttering right now, but being essentially dead she only felt her throat contract and her body freeze as she stared at Aeris now as her angel half.

Nicole didn't notice the rose leave her hand after Aeris turned back into her elven state. The vampiress stared at Aeris for a time before a single, soft word came out of her mouth. "Wow..."

Shaking her head, Nicole let go of the knife and mentally put it back into the sheath. She looked at the man.

"Since my friend has introduced herself, I think that good manners dictate I introduce myself. I am Nicole Malone of the Golden Simatar...obviously." She gave a grin, her fangs perfectly visible. "I am a vampiress, I hope that doesn't bother you any...I don't bite...usually."

Delta looks at them. "Gar is a warrior spirit. A gaurdian spirit of a place known as Gholgoth. He has slaughtered whole armies that defiled his lands, as warning to the armies of nations such as Pantera. He has killed dozens of top special forces in this century alone, with very little trouble. Bullets are the only thing he can't seem to dodge, though."

He looks at the elf turned angel. "Another servent of the Creator. Take your transformations and your parlor tricks elsewhere, for I am not impressed. My name is Delta only to those that do not know my true name." He switches to a language that sounds like dogs being tortured to death. "I am The Beast, exiled from Hell for crimes that would make thy wings shed their feathers, Angel." He switches back, for the vampiress' sake. "My name translates literally as 'The Beast' and I have been exiled from hell for crimes that make your curse of blood hunger look like a blessing. I have no grievance against vampires, but I have no use for them either."

The doors opened to the gothic style church as a man with peaceful blue eyes and unkempt blonde hair opened the towering door to enter. Candles were lit inside, and fresh food lay at the feet of the center statue of an angel. It was a place of worship to some, and to many it was a reminder of a creator. The man walked slowly forward. Despite the fact that most of the population had been destroyed, this temple was well kept. Many people of the empire had extended life spans simply because of the technology and their surroundings. It was created land, and unnatural. He slowly walked down the aisles towards the confessional, and slid inside. He waited for a long time, wringing his hands and looking at the grated window waiting for it to open. Eventually, the window shot open, and he stared through the elaborately entwined grating.

“It has been two-hundred years since my last confession…”

The sound of footsteps could be heard as more people started entering.

Aeris shook her head negatively toward Delta as he finished his monologue. "I serve no higher being, but rather I am neutral, only preserving the balance as necessary to keep this world from destroying itself. If one side or the other begins to take control in a way that will inherently destroy their holdings, it is part of my job to correct that imbalance."

Before Delta could get another word in, she waved a hand as if to dismiss the whole issue, "Enough of this posturing. It solves nothing except to inform each other of our positions and not to underestimate each other."

She turned to look at Nicole for a brief moment, "Let's go." Stepping past the two dark creatures, Aeris paused long enough to say one more thing to Delta.

"Remain out of my hair, and I'll remain out of yours. I shall assume the deal has been struck."

With that, she disappeared around the corner with Nicole, entering the Shentavo Academy once again and moving up to the second floor. Upon passing an empty room with an open door, she turned to her friend. Her palm opened, revealing what appeared to be nothing more than an onyx glob.

"Take this, toss it on your window, it will spread and cover it for your sake. I'll be next door if you need to talk to me again."

Once Nicole had taken it, she nodded and smiled briefly before turning and taking the next room over which also had remained empty. The door closed behind her with a light push, its lock clicking into place quietly.

As she embraced him, he lowered the mental barriers, slightly, allowing her to read his more open thoughts, racing quickly as his pulse quickened and he embraced her, his arms grasping her around the torso as she leaned into him. Closing his eyes, he could still see her face, the face he had spent two hundred years with only memories of, right in front of him. As she pulled away for a moment, he looked her straight in the eyes. I love you, Ravelyn. I always have. Somewhere, deeper inside him, a hidden voice reminded him that she already knew that, and they had been effectively going through the motions, or that she could have manipulated him into this. The small voice, hidden from any outsiders, reminded him that she was quite good at that, and having known him for so long could quite easily pull off a coup d'etat in his head. The small voice went on. "You know how smart she is, and also how weak she is. She appears strong, but we both know we're still much stronger than she is. She needs our help, and she sure seems to know how to get it." His conscious train of thought, trying to remain idealistic, quickly silenced this small voice.

But still, in the darkest recesses of his mind, as he passionately kissed her, he couldn't help but feel that at least one of them had ulterior motives, while at the same time he hoped it wasn't true.

I felt a chill run down my spine and a sudden rush of energy, as if it had been released in that kiss. I felt my own blood flowing through my veins and smell the scent of roses in my long dark hair as it fell over my shoulder. He gave into the kiss just as I had, and I shivered again. I couldn’t help but to feel like something was happening. I held him close, digging my nails roughly into his shoulder. I dug them so hard that blood began to trickle underneath the fabric of his shirt in small thin lines. I shuddered, using him as a brace. I cursed as pain rocked through my body, and I threw myself off of him, onto the floor to my knees in the open space. The shadows in the room shifted as I tilted my head back and a dark whisper of shadows rose from my chest, then, like a flame became illuminated with white lights. They were like small fireflies, except merely small wisps of energy. They rose from me like a vapor, swirling until nearly the entire ceiling was lined with them. I felt myself taking over as this had made more room for just my own soul.

I looked toward the glass of one of the windows and reached my hand out. The glass broke, and like a vortex the lights whirred out of the room, trailing from me into the night sky. There were billions upon billions of them. I cried out as they traveled so quickly it looked like streams of light dispersing throughout the lands. The pain shot through my body once more, and the cold night air shifted through the room. Blood trickled down my back by the droths, spreading out and lifting from my back in black wings. I gripped the carpet as they spread out behind me at will, blood seeping in between the black feathers and disappearing amongst the soft wisps. I shuddered against the ground again, and stayed there for a long time.

I slowly rose from the ground with a languorous look I my eye, and I looked at Corothisia. I touched my fingertips gently to my lips. I let out a light purr, and felt the heat beginning to settle amongst my cold bones. Now that is interesting… I thought silently to myself. I smiled at him. “Come here…” I said in a satiated voice as my crimson eyes engulfed him like two black holes. I smiled delicately, and walked towards him.

Nicole twisted her face in disgust as she heard the noises coming from Delta's mouth. She found it far more unpleasant and slightly disturbing than anything else. She smiled, rather sarcastically at him as he spoke to her.

She didn't say anything to him as she followed Aeris inside and upstairs. Nicole smiled, remembering her first night here, back when everything seemed to be much brighter and then of course there were more people here. When Aeris handed her the glob, the vampiress gave a small smile.

"Thank you...good night and sleep well."

Nicole walked into her room and shut the door, locking it. She first didn't think she would need the orb for her room, but as she looked at the window, she noted there were no shutters. Fire in the hole. Nicole chucked the black muck at the window and instead of breaking through, just before it touched, the black material expanded and covered the window, making it impossible to see out, which was very good.

Smiling, the vampiress stripped and flopped on the bed. Much better after riding on a dragon for so long. Though it was strange for a vampire to sleep at night, she was tired.

Nicole wiggled under the covers and with a few minutes she was sleeping soundly.

As Aeris settled in under the covers and was about to drift off to sleep, there was suddenly a bright disturbance seen through her window. Rising to open the window and observe whatever it may be, she watched as billions of lights came from an unseen window and rose to the heavens.

Odd. she thought to herself as she walked to the door, I better check up on it.

Walking silently down the hallway, Aeris soon came upon a doorway that couldn't be any other than the hostess's own. Upon the heavy wooden door sat a rose engraving, stained with black ink. She knocked just loud enough for the hostes to hear, then lowered her hand in wait.

Inwardly, she hoped that the lights were not something that would threaten lives around here.

Delta remained in the garden with Gar for the remainder of the night, discussing old wars and the like, the mists slowly fading away until the two were walking in the clear night air.

Gar was meticulously examining each of the plants in the garden, while Delta just stood by, having no interest in the plantlife... which actually seemed to suffer a tad when he was around, much to the Executioner's annoyance.

If any were to approach, both would continue their conversation as if they weren't there, unless the one approaching was Rave or they had something important to say.

At the ground of a small depression, a few miles away from the Mansion, a fire was burning in a ring of stones. An old man sat next to it, holding out his hands for the warmth. He was dressed in nothing more than rags; though sometimes, when the shifting light of the fire fell on it, something metallic seemed to glitter underneath those rags.
His face was crossed with lines and an old scar ran from his forehead over the empty left eye-socket down to his cheek.
The man just sat there without moving, besides breathing and the occasional twitch of his right hand. Only when a stream of light erupted from where the Mansion had to be he looked up and frowned. Then he snorted.
“Not enough that she returns from the dead, again, eh? Now she needs a damn lightshow,” he said to himself and wondered if it had really been a good idea to return to this country after all this time and after all what had happened. But then, what else had he to do these days?

His look returned to the fire. He didn’t need much sleep, never had. But the ever present cold in his bones required him to sit close to the fire. It didn’t help of course but then again: what else did he have to do these days?

Tempest stood up hurriedly as she threw herself away from him, but simply stood there watching, almost in amazement, as all the fireflies broke loose of her body. As she stood up afterwards, her wings suddenly reappeared and seeming more like her old self, he began to hurriedly walk towards her before she even asked him to. Reaching out, he placed a hand gently on her cheek and gave a half-smile. It seemed more familiar, but different in some way. He couldn't help but feel this would screw something up, but what he couldn't quite place his finger on. She's like she was before, but ... at the same time she's not. Not quite. She's still changed. I thought I'd started to get to know her again, but now ... now I'm not so sure.

"Are you okay?" he asked incredulously, still feeling her cheek, the sudden warmth beginning to rise and meet his hand. It seemed ... odd to be with her when such a thing had just happened. But at the same time, he felt closer to her than he had in a long time.

“I’m…I’m not sure…” I said, exhaling slowly. “I feel relief, but I just need to get used to things again. I see though a different perspective. Who knows, this could only be temporary, or permanent…I honestly have no idea.” I gave him a reassuring smile then heard a knock on the door. “All will be answered in the morning,” I called out to whoever knocked. “Go back to sleep…” I don’t know if I could give them an answer, but some of them had seen the light which left the mansions; those oppressions on my soul. I looked back to Corothisia, and crossed the room to him. I hugged him. “I’m Ravelyn Shentavo,” I whispered to him. “I’m always okay.”

Indeed I felt more like my old self. I really wasn’t going to be able to test anything until I could spar someone and get some time. My back was sore and the skin was raw. It was not used to this transformation. My wings could be hidden in a form of magic but I had normally kept them on display because I was most often found at the academy. Things were happening too fast to think of reopening it just yet. Perhaps I would be able to. I looked out toward the sunlight and shivered. Luckily none reached this room. I wondered if I regained my immunity to sunlight, or would it forever plague me. I didn’t want to find out to day. I sighed my usual effervescent sigh and rested my head against his chest. It was almost morning, and we would all have to meet again. I needed to get ready, of course, for I was trained in a vampire court, and the customs were very much the same for me as the hostess.

I slipped from him. “I’m going to take a shower and get some of this blood off my back and yours out from underneath my nails,” I smiled. I walked to the door on the right side of the room, opened it and went inside. I left the door slightly ajar out of habit because I was the only one who was normally here. It was a rectangular room with the same windows as in the other, and you could also not see in from the outside. The floor was white marble, and there were large mirrors over a silver engraved sink. I peeled off my dress which had become soaked in blood and threw it in the trash can. There was really no way to repair the back of that dress, and I wasn’t going to spend time on it to save my life. I took off what lace I had and stepped into the shower. It was glass all the way around and a decent size. The glass was dented artistically across the center to twist and contort one’s image as a poor excuse for a censor.

I turned on the water and felt the hot beads rush over my skin. My dark hair straightened in the water, running down my back to nearly the base of my spine. The water turned a light pink color as it washed away the blood with it. It ran over my wings in pleasing waves and heated my chill, pale flesh.

"Go back to sleep." came the reply after several moments. However, Aeris knew that their hostess was not alone. She could hear the quiet whispers of another in the room, although they weren't terribly clear.

Pondering for a moment if she should speak a reply, she finally decided against it. As silently as she had come, she retreated down the hallway to her room, the door closing in quietly after her.

As she slipped under the covers, she couldn't help but wonder what the lights had been, why they had been flying out Ravelyn's window. All she knew though, was that it had indeed come from their hostess's room. Her curt reply without even bothering to answer the door in person indicated knowledge of the event.

At last, Aeris slipped into sleep with no dreams to come for that night.

[ooc. just a heads up, we aren't at the academy, never have been. Rave's mansion. The academy is dust.]

((OCC: >_> Not my week. Fixed it ))

Dominic had already been to the academy, to see if she had been there. Finding the academy not quite up to it's former standards, namely not being there entirely, he decided that Rave would likely be at her mansion. Despite never having been there himself, he knew where it was and had travelled there on foot.

He came upon the mansion, standing and in one piece, and knew he had chosen right. There were a few lights on, it appeared his teacher already had a few guests.

He sat down on a rock and sighed. This nation was one of the only places he could call home, but it seemed much lonelier than it had formerly been. Oh well, he thought to himself,I've been away from those I know so long now, waiting just a bit more won't hurt.

Early in the morning (in fact it was so early that one could barely call it 'morning') the old man extinguished the fire, took his walking stick and left the depression heading for where he knew the mansion, her mansion, was.

The sun rose over the mansion, and light sifted in through the windows illuminating the orange sky with splashes of gold and light blue. I turned off the shower and stepped out, wrapping a towel around my figure, and stepping out into my bedroom. I had not seen where Corothisia had gone. He could do that sometimes; and hide amongst the shadows. He had always been mostly an observer. Assuming myself alone I rummaged through my closet and took on a black lace top with hooks down the center. I was a bit old fashioned but who couldn’t be when it fit you the way it did? I slipped on a pair of dress slacks that I almost never wore. They were tight with a small pinstripe and quite suiting to my figure. With black heels and my wings protruding from my back, black feathers and all. I looked in the mirror. My hair curled as I did not blow try it, but it still was enchanting. My crimson eyes stared back at me. I walked out of the door, and gave a wake up call.

The wake up call consisted of me waking up everyone in the immediate area who was asleep. I tested my strength, going throughout the rooms and merely awakening them, calling them to convene in the same room they had before. I would await them there. I took the head seat and put my feet upon the table. The heels were sharp and stiletto. My wings fanned out to either side. It was quite a contrast to how I was yesterday. There was a fire in my eyes that had not been present the day before.

Movement inside jolted Dominic out of the trance like state he had let him slip into. Hmmm, sun's coming up. Guess I'll go in.

He entered the mansion and, unfamiliar of where he should go, decided to look around a bit. Not but a few minutes into his search, he saw a flash of black wings going around a corner and knew he had found his old teacher.

Pursuing, he saw her enter a room. Following, hearing movement as the others in the mansion woke up, he knocked and entered the room. Seeing Ravelyn seated at the head table, he gave her a little wave and sat down.

"Sorry I'm late, didn't want to wake everyone."

Nicole awoke slowly as she heard the pounding on her door.

"Go away Tolkien!"

The vampiress needed a few minutes to remember that she wasn't at home yelling at the Malone's pet minature pinscher sized ice dragon trying to bang his way into the room. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she sat up in bed, trying to think of what time it was as her room was still in darkness.

Her eyes turned to her watch sitting on the dresser next to the bed. Shit... Early morning, Nicole looked to her window and smiled. Aeris' black goo had done the trick at keeping out the light. She hoped that Rave blocked out some of the windows in respect to Nicole's vampirism.

She climbed out of bed and got dressed in the clothes she had worn the day before and slipped on her trenchcoat before heading out of the room. Things were going well for now, drapes were over some windows and no light could get through. But as she neared the meeting room, the vampiress quickly took cover in a small alcove in the hallway.

Sunlight was coming through the windows in the meeting room. Nicole stood there, knowing she would be inviting death should she enter. She sent a message to Rave.

"I am sorry I cannot come into the room at this time. Being still a vampire I have an aversion to sunlight. If you mind closing the drapes and shudders so no light gets in I'll be able to join."

I heard Nicole’s plea and had forgotten about the sunlight. I looked as the light danced across my skin unburning, and arched my brow. I had not been in the sunlight for many years, and it was the first time I had failed to notice. I then remembered the windows. This was not pure light. Just come into the room Nicole. The windows block out the spectrum that will burn your skin, I told her. You would think that a mansion that once housed twelve vampires, my kin, would have taken the necessary precautions. The windows her are quite adapt. I sighed softly, and watched at Dominic entered the room. I smiled. I had forgotten what year he had attended the academy, and if Quissera or myself was headmaster at the time.

OOC: I'm very sorry for being unable to post. I've been busy with stuff in real life combined with having to keep track of a whole bunch of stuff online, and it's been too much for me. Combined with some killer writer's block, I just didn't have anything to add. I'll try and get back into it soon.

Delta stepped into the room and stood near the wall, nearly perfectly still. A moment or two later, the smell of turned earth, plant materials and dried blood met the noses of those in the room as the Executioner stepped inside. "I am Gar, hunter of the Blessed Shores." he says and stands beside Delta.

"Manners, Garrond. I know you still have them somewhere. Make use of them from now on." Delta says firmly and Gar lets out an annoyed sound.

http://usera.imagecave.com/Alpha-Zero/executioner1.jpg
The Executioner (http://usera.imagecave.com/Alpha-Zero/executioner.jpg)
(click for full image)

Quiet footsteps approached from behind Nicole, only announced by the hand that touched the vampiress's upper arm lightly. When Nicole looked toward whom had done so, she saw Aeris standing there. Smiling at the vampiress, Aeris nodded toward the doorway, "Come. You'll be ok. I'll make sure of it."

Before Nicole could ask, Aeris's hand touched the woman's forehead and a cold wave washed throughout her body. Momentarily, it glowed a light blue, then turned back to normal.

"This will keep you safe in the rooms with sunlight. Just don't go outside until I've gathered what I needed for a stronger protection for you."

With that, she turned and walked into the room, nodding politely to those who were there, her eyes lingering over Gar as she got a better look at his features in the light of day. A polite nod to Delta, and she was soon sitting at the table not too far from him.

Nicole was about to move forward after hearing Rave's response before Aeris appeared. The vampiress was already nervous about even getting near the windows as being part of the Assington species of a vampires, she was different than whatever Rave and her kin were. So she didn't know if the windows were powerful enough to protect all vampire speices of just a few.

The vampiress shivered a little as she felt the cold wash over her. She trusted Rave, but what the elf did gave her a full sense of security. Tentivily, she reached out her hand into a beam of light. She smiled as she only felt warmth from the rays.

The vampiress strode out into the room, giving Rave a respectful bow as she passed before sliding into a chair next to Aeris.

Delta didn't make any move to respond to the nod. He was here to observe Rave, her actions and her return to her old power... not to socialize.

Gar, on the other hand, raised a gauntlet to his helmet and straightened it a tad. His face was hidden completely in shadow, but one almost knew when he was looking at them. Scythe blade rested over his shoulder, in the most non-threatening way possible. He still hadn't stated his reasons for being here.

“Give me the scythe, boy,” I whispered, and turned to look at Gar. “Or are you worried that you will be attacked here and now?” It was perhaps that this weapon was very appealing to me because I have used it before many times. I held out my hand nonchalantly, waiting. He did not move. “Should I take it from you?” I questioned, raising my eyebrow with my black wings shifting behind me.

There it was. He had never seen the mansion before but he had no doubt.

Early sunlight washed over the building creating deep shadows between the spots of brightness. Windows reflected the light like polished silver and he had to cover his remaining eye with his hand to avoid being blinded. He sighed deeply.
What ever it meant, he was finally here. And in less time than he had thought it would take.

Someone else was there, outside of the building. The old man watched the stranger approach the entrance and then step through it. After a moment of thought he followed. There was no point in turning around and leaving now. Even though he had no idea what he might accomplish here or why he was here for in the first place.
Nothing else was left to do so he might as well make the next step and follow that stranger into the mansion. maybe he would learn something in there that could give him a new task. Having nothing to do always left him mourning about what was lost.

He took a deep breath and stepped through the mansion’s entrance. There was no-one to be seen but he could hear footsteps ahead and voices. He followed those sounds through a corridor and finally saw someone else enter a room.
A last deep breath and then he knocked at the frame of the door to the room and entered.

“Give me the scythe, boy,” I whispered, and turned to look at Gar. “Or are you worried that you will be attacked here and now?” It was perhaps that this weapon was very appealing to me because I have used it before many times. I held out my hand nonchalantly, waiting. He did not move. “Should I take it from you?” I questioned, raising my eyebrow with my black wings shifting behind me.

Delta doesn't move, say a word, or even react as if Rave had done anything at all.

Gar, on the other hand, keeps his scythe on his shoulder and instead removes his helmet. What is revealed is a ghastly image of pale, almost dead looking flesh with moss and plant material growing out of it. Scars of the most severe variety crisscross his bald head. "I have not let this scythe out of my possesion for nearly two and a half milenia, fallen angel. Many, some more powerful than even you, have tried to take it. They failed."

Delta nods once and only once.

Izual had been up well before the sun, as was his habit. The demon/angel spent a lot of time meditating these days as he felt it aided in his quest to balance the forces that were fused together in order to create himself. Rave's summoning promptly pulled him out of such a state and so he rose, already clothed in his armour and robe once again.

Arriving shortly after Aeris and Nicole, Izual sat himself across from the Tarlachian and Simatarian as they were of more immediate interest to him than Rave. With the confirmation that Rave knew nothin of Kane's whereabouts, her significance became secondary compared to that of the Tarlachian Queen. Aeris had been battling the forces of Arithon for some quite time now and anything involving Arithon was of some interest to Izual.

Remaining silent, Izual merely watched the exchange between a now distinctly angelic looking Rave and a large brutish looking creature by the name of Gar. He couldn't help but notice everyone had a very inflated idea of their own prowess and importance, as if they had to prove something to everyone around them. It was quite silly in his eyes, yet perhaps the others saw some significance in such.

Continuing his silence, Izual merely waited as to see why the hostess would take things today, perhaps even disclose why she had wings all of a sudden.

Nicole scrunched up her nose as the head of the creature known as Gar. A hiddeous and grotesque thing that appeared to be some wretched Lovecraftian chia pet.

The thing that gave Nicole a bit of annoyance was the thing's complete arogance over a stupid scyth. Gar's attempt at intimidation didn't phase the vampiress, nearly all the times others displayed intimidation, it was all a show and they lacked anything to back it up.

Still, Gar was only asking for unnessiscary trouble should Rave take action. Nicole was quiet as she waited for a response from Rave. As she waited, she sensed the presense of Izual across the table from her and Aeris. The vampiress turned her head slightly, letting her keep one eye on the demon while another eye on Gar.

Hopefully the creature would give up his scythe and not cause any more problems.

“You are not Goor, my friend,” she said with a ineffable smile. “Give me the scythe. You are on my land…and if you do not wish to give it to me, then you can leave. If you do not wish to leave, it will be stripped from you.” I folded my hands in front of me and wondered where Corothisia had gone off to. I could use him here immensely. I looked at the creature intensely, set on my decision. This could be what I needed to test my abilities. I wanted to see what exactly I could do.

As the confrontation between Rave and Gar went on, Tempest slowly made his way back into the picture, back into the scene taking place in the room. One moment he was not there, the next he was. It was not teleportation, he did not simply appear. Rather, in a place where no-one was looking, there he was. One suddenly seeing him there would question themselves on whether he had always been there and they had simply not noticed, or whether he had only recently arrived. He made no noise with this entry, although the feeling of his presence could be felt by all in the room. Not specific, radiating from him - simply a feeling of him being there, somewhere. Had he said anything, it would have been silent, and without specific words, letting Rave know he had her back.

He was simply there, in a corner of the room, standing idly, leaning against a wall, watching the scene unfolding in front of him with interest. He wanted to see how Rave would handle this with her newfound powers. If worst got to worst, he would step in and see what he should do. As it was, he just watched, and waited.

It was a comfort to me to have him in the room, and even calmed me. If he could explain to me what he was doing with a scythe in my house, then maybe he could keep it. It just had reminded me so much of the one I used to use, it make me uneasy. I folded my hands on the table, and waited for a response. Suddenly, the monitor clicked on behind me, illuminating for the first time in years. I spun my chair around at the head of the table watching it intently. There was nothing for a bit; just a blue screen of death. Then, the image appeared. It was one of the broadcasts from Summerset; a neighboring city to the capital. The capital had been where most of the remaining population was staying, but not in summerset. The place was in ruins; well, not in ruins, but rather many had died there in their homes. Their corpses were still in the houses. Why would anyone ever go back there?

I watched, and the woman who was broadcasting was the same one as had been two hundred years ago. This was different than a nationwide broadcast, it was meant for solely my eyes, but there were others in the room, and I could see other switches in the room turned on to broadcast throughout the nation, I stood up.

“In recent news, people have been found wandering the streets of their towns and cities, returning to their daily work that was interrupted by a bizarre slumber. Churches and temples have been flooded with the masses, baring both gifts and tears. They claim that their lives have been given back to them, some say it was divine intervention, while a select few say that it was our empress herself. Cities once uninhabited are gaining power and people are returning from their mysterious absence. There has been no contact from the most western cities yet such as Absynthene or Baroke, but attempts are being made to reach them. Whatever the case may be, people everywhere are regaining their normal state of life.”

Ravelyn’s lips parted slightly, and her wings fanned out behind her as she turned around to face those gathered. She slowly sat down. “Questions?” she asked, simply, not knowing what to say about the transmission. She had spoke about her decline in the nation, but now people were popping up everywhere. It was certainly interesting, and she knew how they were, but she didn’t know why. She thought she had released the souls, and she hadn’t had the strength to put them back.

“You are not Goor, my friend,” she said with a ineffable smile. “Give me the scythe. You are on my land…and if you do not wish to give it to me, then you can leave. If you do not wish to leave, it will be stripped from you.” I folded my hands in front of me and wondered where Corothisia had gone off to. I could use him here immensely. I looked at the creature intensely, set on my decision. This could be what I needed to test my abilities. I wanted to see what exactly I could do.

It was a comfort to me to have him in the room, and even calmed me. If he could explain to me what he was doing with a scythe in my house, then maybe he could keep it. It just had reminded me so much of the one I used to use, it make me uneasy. I folded my hands on the table, and waited for a response. Suddenly, the monitor clicked on behind me, illuminating for the first time in years. I spun my chair around at the head of the table watching it intently. There was nothing for a bit; just a blue screen of death. Then, the image appeared. It was one of the broadcasts from Summerset; a neighboring city to the capital. The capital had been where most of the remaining population was staying, but not in summerset. The place was in ruins; well, not in ruins, but rather many had died there in their homes. Their corpses were still in the houses. Why would anyone ever go back there?

I watched, and the woman who was broadcasting was the same one as had been two hundred years ago. This was different than a nationwide broadcast, it was meant for solely my eyes, but there were others in the room, and I could see other switches in the room turned on to broadcast throughout the nation, I stood up.

“In recent news, people have been found wandering the streets of their towns and cities, returning to their daily work that was interrupted by a bizarre slumber. Churches and temples have been flooded with the masses, baring both gifts and tears. They claim that their lives have been given back to them, some say it was divine intervention, while a select few say that it was our empress herself. Cities once uninhabited are gaining power and people are returning from their mysterious absence. There has been no contact from the most western cities yet such as Absynthene or Baroke, but attempts are being made to reach them. Whatever the case may be, people everywhere are regaining their normal state of life.”

Ravelyn’s lips parted slightly, and her wings fanned out behind her as she turned around to face those gathered. She slowly sat down. “Questions?” she asked, simply, not knowing what to say about the transmission. She had spoke about her decline in the nation, but now people were popping up everywhere. It was certainly interesting, and she knew how they were, but she didn’t know why. She thought she had released the souls, and she hadn’t had the strength to put them back.

Delta looked slowly to Gar. "Let her try, Gar. It will be a learning experience." He moves away and stands on the other side of the room. Others might wonder if that was a good thing to emulate.

Gar swiveled the scythe's blade around and held it in a relaxed grip in front of him. "I will not relinquish my weapon. If you wish to feel pain of teh flesh and soulr, by all means... try to take the scythe from my hands." He chuckles and a sneer crosses his features, making a ghastly image turn into a disturbingly deathlike one.

Delta looks at the news reports. "It is an interesting event, to be sure. I assume that was all your doing somehow, fallen angel."

“All my doing, now what would make you say that?” I gave an impish smile to Delta, and stared at the thing with the scythe. My wings fanned out behind me in display. I’ve gone through trials in Whispering Voices, nothing could equal that physical pain, and mentally I was well aware of what suffering was. I eyed the scythe. The angel of death, Azrael, who I am, who I used to be. I took the hilt of the scythe into one hand, and upon contact my eyes glowed a deep crimson. It was like the weapon was meeting someone familiar. I looked directly into his eyes, and felt a great desire for this weapon. My wings contracted once more and fanned out again; and would resemble demonic wings had there not been sleek feathers. “Give me the scythe I repeated.”

The only light in the Silent Hall of the Shadow Palace is a single candle, casting its fire into the eyes of the woman who sits cross-legged before it. The flame does not flicker, does not bend; for the woman breathes slowly, slowly.

She hears the approach of the man behind her and does not stir. He is trying to be silent, and indeed his footfalls make no sound on the bare wooden floor, but she can hear the shifting of the air around him as he moves.

"Adjutant."

Her voice is dry, harsh; she has not spoken in many days. Nor eaten, nor slept, but her will remains strong.

"Lady Tenebral."

Like her, he speaks the shadow-tongue, a liquid, whispering language which slips silken over lips and tongue and catches, staccato, on the teeth. It is the only language spoken, here in the Shadow Palace, for the Ghostmasked sentinels who guard its gates will answer to no other speech.

"We have received a transmission," he continues, using the all-inclusive form of the pronoun; the Lords of Night, as well as the Lords of Shadow, have heard it. "From one "Ravelyn Shentavo" ... "My name is Ravelyn Shentavo. I have been dead for over two hundred years and have emerged from my ashes. Please … anyone … find me."

"Ahhh ..." the Lady Tenebral sighs, and the candle gutters. "The unquiet dead; my responsibility. Tell me what you know."

"We know little enough." This time, it's the group-inclusive we; the Shadow Palace and its officers. "An entity ... created over a millennium ago, from the Risen and the Forsaken. It's said that she was once the executioner of the Accursed God, now cursed with vampirism."

"Azrael ..." the word is a hiss. The God's executioner is no friend to those who bear the Shadow. "And a vampire; another of Inhatan's little punishments. The first murderer, and all his line. I have never much liked vampires; "O woe is me, I must drink the blood of the innocent!" And yet their souls can still enter into Heaven ... Inhatan, I think, likes overmuch the repentance born of despair. But not for us; how can we repent, if He will not forgive?

"The timing, though ... if she were responsible, it would explain much that is a mystery."

"The visitations, Lady?"

"Yes." Would that it be her, the Lady Tenebral thinks, A mere renegade among those who Serve. The alternative ...

The alternative is unpleasant to contemplate, though it is her duty to do so. To kill the Messenger of the Accursed God not once but twice ... even Adhrazal might not rescue the Shadowborn from Inhatan's wrath, if it comes to that.

"And so we must send an agent to find out more. One of the Ghost Moon Circle, I think, an Adept ... Meranthaiyet nar Sarathal. See that he is briefed."

"Yes, Lady."

The Adjutant leaves, the air falling back into place behind him. The Lady Tenebral turns her concentration back to her candle, and begins again to breathe slowly, slowly ...

And so it is that, the following morning, a craft appears sets down a short distance from the mansion by the sea. Matte-black, sleek and curved like something organic, it bears no visible insignia bar the wings of the national flag painted in silver across its nose.

From the belly of the jet four figures emerge. They are clad in black from head to toe, hooded and robed, their faces hidden from the light behind expressionless lacquer masks. Like the jet their cassocks are undecorated save for the silver wings forming a collar about their necks; in their hands are staves of ash, carved around with the sinuous glyphs of the shadow-tongue.

They make their way up the marble steps to the door of the mansion, where the foremost raps sharply with the knocker positioned for that purpose.

"I have the honor to present the learned Adept Meranthaiyet nar Sarathal, of the Ghost Moon Circle of the Shadowed Path," he says, when the door is opened. "The Master begs the indulgence of the Lady of this house upon certain questions of a theological nature."

The speaker's mind is open enough, should anyone care to look; he is a mere Adjutant, and newly appointed at that, knowing nothing of importance. But the minds of the two Lieutenants and the Adept himself are closed about with steel, walls of blades barring any unwanted snooping.

There was a sharp knock on the door, and without moving, it opened. My senses were rushing, softened by Tempest’s presence. I’ve never known someone who could soothe my rage, and I raged quite well. Fires of hell would be jealous. He, somehow, quieted me. I didn’t really care who it was, but I focused on the scythe in my hand, wanting to pull it away, but simply waiting for him to let go. I then focused on the new visitor. An adept, a rookie, then, I encountered walls. How I could tear those down, and licked my lips at the thought. Bringing chaos was my nature, and through compassion I most often went against it. I let go of the Scythe, and went back to the center of the table, running one hand through my hair. I looked at Gar. When this is over, I want that scythe… I communicated silently with a fierce look about my eyes. I folded my hands in front of me and sat with perfect posture despite the wings, and waited for the new arrival to enter.

From yesterday to today, my appearance had changed, my demeanor had changed, and my general aura changed. Personally, I thought I could just send them all home and be done with it. Many had questions they wanted answered. I just wanted to reform the alliances and be done with it. I just wanted to get to bed. I hadn’t really slept. I eyed Tempest momentarily, wondering what he thought of the whole situation. Then I looked at Gar’s scythe. I wanted the damn scythe. I then turned my attention to Delta. I want my scythe…I gave her a sad playful face, then resumed my normal demeanor, waiting for the new one to enter.

One by one the Shadowborn file into the mansion, the Adept bringing up the rear. The door shuts behind him, and as one the priests push back their hoods, remove their masks; safe now from the light of day.

Their skin and hair is uniformly albino white, their eyes a brilliant amber bisected vertically by catlike pupils; such are the marks of the Shadowborn. One of the Lieutenants is a woman, and the Adjutant seems scarcely an adult; but it is the Adept who holds attention.

Meranthaiyet nar Sarathal is middle-aged, although half his face is smooth as a statue. The other half is ravaged with scarring, the gift of a monofilament grenade rather too close for comfort; his eyes are milky white, blind.

Despite this handicap he turns unerringly to face Ravelyn; in the shadow realm there is no mistaking such an aura. Though there are many other auras worthy of further investigation here, they are not the purpose of his mission.

One mighty among the Forsaken, one who shines like the Servants of the Accursed God, and this one ... like sunlight through clouds. There is a great power there.

Finally he bows politely to the vampire angel, and begins to speak. His voice is breathy, and his lilting accent puts an odd timbre to his speech, but all in all he is understandable.

"My lady, a thousand thanks for your indulgence," he begins. "I am, as introduced, Adept Meranthaiyet nar Sarathal of the Ghost Moon Circle of the Shadowed Path, the faith of the Dominion of Midnight and all the Shadowborn. The Lords Tenebral of the Path have sent me hither with questions of some import, if you will permit me to present them ..."

"At Sanaissathel, at Ethainon, Enpheoran, and Asphelian - all cities of our Dominion - the faithful of our Path have been troubled by visitations of a divine nature. Rains of fire. Rains of salt. The Forsaken, immanent in such numbers as we have not seen in hundreds of years. The Servants of the Accursed God Himself, who have not dared to trouble the Shadowborn in over a thousand years.

"I hope - I hope very dearly - that these places and events mean nothing to you. But given the timing of your ... return, given these calamitous omens, my Lords have sent me forth to ask of you this; do you know of these events? Have you caused these events, directly or indirectly?

"If this is naught but coincidence, then I bid you all the greatest of happiness" - Meranthaiyet does not look at Aeris, who burns, beneath her elven shell, with the radiance of Inhatan's Servants, or at Delta, whose outward form is a shallow reflection of his inner nature - "And the Shadowed Path has no quarrel with you.

"Conversely, if these omens are your doing ..." the Adept gives a slight shrug. He can see Ravelyn's aura, and is not a man prone to self-deception. "Well, I think we all know how that would end."

"Oh shit..." Nicole muttered as the Lovecraftian chia pet refused to play ball and act civil.

The vampiress sat in her seat, but was ready to make for the door the instant the fireworks began. As she watched Rave's wings change from behind as she took hold of the scyth, Nicole waited as the staring contest began before a sharp knock at the door ended it all.

The vampiress could tell Rave was in a bad mood and would probably end up with the scyth at the end. But no doubt for now Gar and Delta would be pompous pricks.

Nicole swiveled in her chair and stared the entrance way, wondering who was going to come down the hall.

“Oh?” Ravelyn said in a melodious voice as she rose from the chair and paced toward them. Her great wings expanded out as she looked at their eyes. She used to have sight like that, but it hadn’t returned, and she was grateful. Her heart jumped. If the path they spoke of what Vaughn called the Dark Path. Both have them brought chaos there, the fires of hell and torment, because they were being pursued by shades among other things. Still, they had brought there apocalyptic war into the Dark Path, and it wasn’t until after Ravelyn emerged with Vaughn dead did the war spill over into her nation. Thoughts ran through her mind but she was not nervous. She laughed slightly, and looked toward Tempest, as if to say back me up if this gets rough…. She didn’t even have to ask. “I am Azrael, and you know this, or else you wouldn’t have come.” She folded her hands over her chest as she paused near Nicole.

“The places to not mean anything to me, as I had no name for them, nor did I care. The events though, are very familiar,” she paused, letting the words slide over her tongue and through her blood red lips. Her crimson eyes pierced through them. She pushed her dark hair from her face so that all of it trailed down her back curling at the bottom. “It is quite possible I caused chaos in your realm but it was in order to save another. The hell I went into was not supposed to come back with me…” She paused again. She didn’t want to think about it any longer. The loss. It was two hundred years, she had to stop hanging on to the past. She crossed over to stand at an angle from Corothisia, in reaching distance of him. She liked the proximity.

“If you wish to attack me, do so at your own risk,” she said with her fangs resting on her bottom lip. She was the vision of an ethereal beauty, but she was just as deadly as death’s scythe. If he attacked, it was over for him with Coro backing me up. If he didn’t, maybe I would offer my assistance in helping with the hell beasts. "but before you do that..." she continued, and glanced at Gar. "Give me the damn scythe."

Meranthaiyet is not cowed - the Accursed God's Servants are far more terrible in their wrath than this woman, who is no longer one of them, and both the Shadowborn and the vampires bear His curse.

"My lady," he says, "Never did I say I wished to attack you! As I did say - we both know how that would end. I am an Adept and not a Lord, and you were, after all, Azrael - although I think that the Accursed God has another as His executioner, now.

"Hell, though ... that could explain it, the Forsaken pulled unwilling from their realm. It could even explain the presence of the Accursed God's Servants; they have never been particularly concerned about ... collateral damage in the service of their God ... particularly when it comes to the Shadowborn. A mere opening in the gates of Hell would be far preferable ... compared to the alternative.

"I believe my Lords Tenebral feared that these events foreshadowed something far worse - that the Accursed God was preparing to send forth again His Messenger. But if that is not the case ..."

He smiles, briefly, although on the scarred side of his face it is more a grimace, and quickly quelled.

"If that is not the case, I may tell my Lords Tenebral that that fear is unnecessary. A thousand - a million - thanks, my lady. Hell is not so difficult as the Avatar of a God."

“Keep your theology,” Ravelyn said. “The only thing I really need to know is that there is a creator, many forms of heaven and hell, and that no matter how hard I try I will never get a tan.” Yes, she was very much back to her old self. “If there is this new ‘messenger’ coming, another angel of death, I’d like to meet them if they ever show up.” Hell, I’ve been dead before. Who knows that I am still alive? As far as theology goes, I don’t think about it much. I’m not sure it would actually be the same for me because I know things that they don’t, and worry about different things than what they are concerned with. I had not thought about it recently. As far as I’m concerned, any possible deity has abandoned me, and what good or bad happens, I make for myself.

The old man stood next to the door in the room though obviously no-one had registered him entering. Or cared about it.

Nothing of the things the others talked about meant anything to him. His own homeland was too far away and too occupied with it's own problems for anyone to care about the happenings in other places.
But it looked interesting. So the stories are true. One never gets bored around her. He smiled and fixed his remaining eye on the winged figure.
Interesting, indeed.

"As you wish. In like manner, you may keep your "tan", should you acquire it ... although I must, perforce, point out that our Lord the Angel of Death, Asrathanos, is not the same entity as the Accursed God's executioner. The former takes souls; the latter takes lives. And the Messenger is no Angel but the very incarnation of the God on Earth ... but, as you say, we may keep our theology.

"Our thanks again for your assistance, lady, in this matter ... it may be that we shall meet again, and I hope that upon that day our causes are aligned."

The Adept bows once more, replaces his mask, and, accompanied by his retinue, turns to leave.

OOC: I've just discovered that my internet access will be patchy until New Years' or so, so it's best to cut this short. Thank you for roleplaying with me, and, as Meranthaiyet says, hopefully there will be more in the future.

Gar growls as she releases the scythe. "Coward. TAKE IT if you want it. Prove yourself worthy to hold such a weapon... if you can."

Delta is apparenly ignoring his companion, for whatever reason. "You are responsible because you are the only difference that this nation has had in the past week. Whether directly or indirectly, you caused those corpses to awaken."

“Did I?” she smiled again, and looked at Gar. “I wanted to take it but was interrupted.” She placed her hand on the hilt again. Her eyes flashed crimson red and she gave it a light tug, wondering if he would release it or would she have to fight for it. “Give me the damn scythe…” Well, they were getting along great. Note: Putting a scythe in front of an angel of death is just asking for them to take it. Fights may ensue.

Gar smirks again and closes his eyes. Delta turns away and looks out the window.

There is a blinding flash of light, an immense rush of wind and the smell of burnt flesh. Through it, Gar's voice speaks loud and true. "As only Thor can weild Mijolnir, only Gar the Executioner may weild this scythe. "

Rave would feel a burning sensation that even her pyrokenetic abilities would not help against, smoldering her palm before a force unseen slams into her body with enough force to send a normal person into the wall and most likely knocking them cold.

If she did remain in contact somehow, the sensation would continue, her arm becomeing burnt with some form of unholy energy. Gar's eyes snap open and he cackles. "Not even in the bowels of Hell or at the gates of Heaven can this scythe be taken from me!"

Delta seems fixated on the view outside of the window, seemingly ignoring the goings on. He's seen this hundreds of times... it was boring and overly theatrical in his mind.

With her hand burnt and the flames crawling up her wrist, she did not let go, but eventually did for fear of permanent scaring, not from pain. She placed her hand over the numerous wounds, and watched it heal slowly. She would have lied to say it didn’t hurt. She was screaming in her mind, but wouldn’t let an ounce of it show. She held out the hand again. “IF there is no way I can possibly TAKE it from you, just give it to me as a gift. GIVE ME THE DAMN SCYTHE!” She growled. Delta knew that this was going to go on for a while. It’s like how some a.d.d. children are addicted to shiny objects, angels of death love scythes. Ravelyn was no exception. Someone should probably break this up, or buy her another scythe…things could get messy. Hell didn’t know Ravelyn’s pride, heaven did, and it sure, as hell, didn’t know her fury, nor fatal attraction, toward scythes, blood, and those she loved.

Nicole watched in silence the quick proceedings between Rave and the newcomers before they departed. Most of what they said went clear over her head and so the vampiress decided not to intervene.

She was about to ask Rave about what was going on in her country before the Lovecraftian chia pet began his talk about his stupid blade. She turned her head as Delta spoke up. Once again, the vampiress was about to speak before Rave took hold of the scyth.

She could sense the power and strength radiating off them both and she slid smoothly from her seat, deciding to go on the other side of the table for the moment to give herself some cover. She shifted a chair to protect herself just as a flash burst through the room, Nicole cried out and fell to the ground as she covered her sensitive eyes. Adapted for viewing perfectly in the darkness, any harsh or extremly bright light would give the vampire more pain than any normal person.

Keeping her eyes covered, Nicole opened them behind her hand and was happy to see she hadn't been blinded. But, for now she would remain behind the chair, deciding not to watch in case there were any more surprises like the light.

Izual observed the scene before him in a calm manner, giving no indication of the blade that had phased into existence within his grasp, under the table. Evidently Rave possessed an arrogance of no limits and Izual couldn't help but be thankful none of it had leaked into Kane.

The demon/angel was not about to intervene on behalf of either party but he would defend himself if necessary. No one was a friend here and their death would come if absolutely necessary. Of course that was only a last resort. Within seconds of Rave's hand grasping the scythe again, the stench of burning flesh reached Izual's nostrils and he reasoned this could only get worse.

Before he could do anything Izual was momentarily blinded by a bright flash, resulting in his eyes quickly being shielded by his left arm whilst the other held firmly onto his blade. With his eyes quickly recovered, Izual promptly stood and moved backwards, making sure he had space to use his weapon if need be.

No matter what Rave was these days, he was sure she felt the pain of the burn, even if she didn't show it. Whilst Izual could never claimed to be a seraphim, his time in the army of Heaven had provided him with significant angelic rank and despite the power such a being could accumulate, they were not immune to pain.

Keeping the weapon at his side, Izual continued to watch.

With her hand burnt and the flames crawling up her wrist, she did not let go, but eventually did for fear of permanent scaring, not from pain. She placed her hand over the numerous wounds, and watched it heal slowly. She would have lied to say it didn’t hurt. She was screaming in her mind, but wouldn’t let an ounce of it show. She held out the hand again. “IF there is no way I can possibly TAKE it from you, just give it to me as a gift. GIVE ME THE DAMN SCYTHE!” She growled. Delta knew that this was going to go on for a while. It’s like how some a.d.d. children are addicted to shiny objects, angels of death love scythes. Ravelyn was no exception. Someone should probably break this up, or buy her another scythe…things could get messy. Hell didn’t know Ravelyn’s pride, heaven did, and it sure, as hell, didn’t know her fury, nor fatal attraction, toward scythes, blood, and those she loved.

Delta turns as the show ended and looks at Rave. "Azrael, he cannot... only he can weild that scythe. He is the only one it will not harm... even the Creator and Lucifer are not immune to it's wrath, though it might be just an annoyance to them. Now stop wasting time or I will be forced to send Gar back to his caves in Gholgoth. This is unbecoming of a being such as yourself."

Gar says nothing, but puts his helmet back on. Scythe goes back over his shoulder.

“You don’t know what a scythe means to ones like me,” she said to Delta. It was true she didn’t know. “I am drawn to them like moth to a flame, considering mine was destroyed, my…worser half won’t be satisfied until I get one…he either looses the scythe, or leaves, for no matter how much pain it puts me in I cannot help but to covet the symbol of what I am. While it is unbecoming, I do have to have some unbecoming moments…life is no fun without them.” She looked at the creature. “I’m sorry if my actions are in distaste, but I am getting re-balanced to what I am, parts of me are stronger than others, and I need to find the balance again.”

She sat back down in the chair. “What does it mean to you, Delta, if I had anything to do with the …quite literally resurrection of my nation? Do you care?”

Tempest almost looked away during the brief but heated exchange, but forced himself to keep his eyes affixed on the scene unfolding, and had to restrain himself to stop him from rushing to Rave's side. Instead, he only watched as she was hurt by the attempt to take the scythe. Even through her mental roadblocks, he could hear her screaming inwardly. He knew the others could not, and had it not been so powerful even he would not have been able to. He was too closely attuned to her, paying too much attention. After two hundred years, he was helpless not to.

She sat down into the chair heavier than he would have expected, and left the desire for the scythe hanging in the air as she turned her attention, and her queries, to Delta rather than Gar. Deciding it was best if the entire exchange simply went away, he concentrated hard. Harder than should have been expected. He thought it would be easy to do such a simple task, but the emotion in the room revolving around this particular item was such that doing something which would have been child's play with any different item instead turned into a chore. Beads of sweat broke out on his forehead as his hands slowly balled into fists and his brow furrowed. He was glad he stood in the shadows and guarded his thoughts.

And, falling out of the ceiling, was a new scythe. A dark brown wooden handle and dull, almost tarnished, silver blade with no adornments of any kind, it seemed as if it had almost fallen through the floor of the level above. It fell much faster than an item falling such a short height should have, and hit the table without a bounce, rather with a dull thud, as if made of lead. Where it landed was on the table behind Rave, such that she was between Gar and the scythe and she did not see it fall. He felt certain she would know what it was anyway.

A gift... he thought, though it was broadcast to no-one, and the only one who could hear was Rave.

My eyes immediately turned toward the sound of crashing metal. I looked at Corothisia with my mouth slightly open. I could see the beds of sweat on his forehead. I picked up the scythe and rotated it in my hands skillfully, as if I had years of practice with it. I stood up and ran my hands over it again and again, as if it were the most precious thing on earth. The end of the wooden part spun into a dark steel, twisting to an intricate tear drop end. The black metal traveled up the shaft to the blade where it panned out into a large sweeping cresant. A skull formed on the top and enochial writing danced upon its blade. I swung the blade again as it infolded to my beloved scythe I had lost two hundred years ago. If it was not sharp I would have kissed it. My eyes darted toward the shadows, and a chill crept over me. I wanted to thank him, but now was not the place. I wasn’t sure if he wanted them to know it was him, or if he wanted to remain anonymous.

Thank you...Coro...

I sent him a mental image of the first time I had kissed him last night, so vivid, and so life-like that it might actually be real; and could have happened in that room right now. I kept my speculations to my thoughts, and a smile crossed my face. I lifted my scythe over my shoulder, which I thought to be more impressive than Gar’s, though, everyone is bias toward their own scythe. I was speechless. It felt so good to have in my hands again I could just kill something right then and there. Where were the threats when you needed them?

ooc: scythe and characters depicted in the link in my signature just added. Such a pretty scythe

Interesting, indeed. He had seldom seen something so ... funny. That wasn't the right word of course but at the moment he couldn't think of anything better. The scene was somewhat amusing. But he had to admit that he had weird sense of humor.
The old man kept on watching. The scythe out of nowhere was a nice little gimmick and he wondered who had created or brought it here when he noticed the short look Rave shot at the one standing in the shadows.
Hm...I wonder...
He hid a smile when a plan began to take shape.

Gar eyed the weapon. "A simple, yet devestating weapon. The blade is a tad longer than is normally weildy, but for one of your strength, I do not see that as an issue." Said with the same inflection that a mechanic would use when talking about an engine.

Delta sighs softly, "Distasteful and annoying actions are not the same thing. As for your nation, it is about to be thrust into a world that is quite different than you left. Alliances have crumbled. Nations have as well. More of both have sprung up. Now war is used as a sledgehammer to smash whole continents. Politics are more powerful weapons than ever. This is more than a fallen seraphim walking the Earth again. This is more than your old friends being dead... and reuniting all night with an old friend. This is the fate of a nation." Subtlety was a powerful tool, as was the lack thereof.

"My nation will follow me, even for what has happened," she said, strangely sure. "For they'll begin to remember why they are living, and who protected them for the two hundred years Miss Ravelyn was mourning." She had admitted it, subtly to Delta that she was the one responsible. She hoped that would suffice enough. "I can tell you that after the sacrifices I have made, it will take three months before the army has reformed and has just as many, if not more then before. It will be only a matter of time till they remember what I have done. My nation will ressurect itself as I have given them the life to do. They are debted to me, though I do not hold it over their heads. I do know what will happen though." I smiled. I had not told them of Hevn.

"Delta," she said in a melodic voice like the voice of an...angel. "Would you align your nation with mine as the pact held before? Or would you decline."

Delta tilts his head. "No. Crimmond is rulled entirely by mortals now. My influence there is nearly non-existant... if you wish an alliance with them, you will find that difficult. Every person that has gone to your nation from Crimmond has died extremely violent deaths, most of which were connected to your nation in some fashion. Goor, Domino, Reil Tian, Zed... Three of those were heads of state. Would you ally yourself with a nation that holds such a death toll of your citizens?"

Once everything settled down, Nicole slid back into a chair, grateful the little confrontation had ended. Now she hoped, they could start acting like adults. As Ravelyn discussed forming a military and after Delta had spoke, the vampiress talked.

"If you want help to form a military, my government would be happy to lend a hand to send fresh equpiment as well as advisors to help rebuild it. Be happy that you have come at this time, at any time before about fifty or a hundred years ago my country would have never heard of a vampires, demons, angels or whatever actually existing. Wasn't till my husband was discovered did our whole side of the world come into the light.

"If you also need help getting an economy up and running again I know Simatarian businesses would be happy to help out in that sector."

"Finances are not what i'm worried about, but military help, that would be nice," She said to Nicole with a smile, then looked at Delta. "All mortals?" she sighed. "Such a sad fate. Very well then." She paused. "You realize my empire extendes beyond these three nations into my former fiance's land?" She could see that they did not. It was like adding another empire. With her frequent visits to Underaloz, she had indeed a control of many of the people, considering what she had done there. It was like a silent hand, and let the figureheads do their work. When it all came down to it, she possessed the overall influence in that nation. She was clever.

"How about we reconvene in a few months once things have settled and my people have time to deal with the shock." And I have time to play with my new scythe... she thought silently. What had come over her? Perhaps it was just a angel's desire.

Gar speaks before Delta can. "The mortals of Gholgoth are not the ilk that you face in the rest of the world. They do not pay homage to the Creator and instead focus on the truely important things. Death is a moot point to them. It happens and it cannot be stopped. One must choose only how one dies. A reason they produce better than average militaries."

As Rave seems to dismiss the gathering, Delta looks at her. "I will remain here... in the shadows." He says, as if it were set in stone by whatever the Creator chose to be called today. "Seeing first hand what you are doing is more important than my other plans... for the moment."

Gar looks at him. "Fine decision, Delta... And what of the unholy clone of Damien Dreadfire?"

Delta pauses and considers for a long moment. "The Redeemer is not under my control anymore... I have let him go to wander the world."

"WHAT?!" Gar takes a step forward, in disbelief. "He's insane! And knows forms of combat and deathdealing that only you and her-" points at Rave "-know about! The Redeemer cannot be left to his own devices."

Delta shakes his head. "Damien is not much better. His blood has been cooled by power and family, but if angered, he can wreak havoc as his clone can. Perhaps The Redeemer will found a nation. That would be a sight."

"Just what the world needs... another Automagfreek." He nearly spits the words out, disgust filling them. Delta raises a hand and Gar is engulfed in shadow, roaring in protest as he vanishes. Within two seconds, no trace is left.

He turns to Rave. "Forgive that outburst. I have banished him back to his caves... I will not have a servent speaking ill of those I bear great debts to."

Aeris had remained silent, watching the events unfolding before her and mentally taking notes. Through other senses, she could tell that this Ravelyn character was strong, or at least had a history of arcane strength that rarely was matched by any other. Kind of reminds you of Abaddon and Lillit, doesn't she? Aeris thought to Nicole. Perhaps too eager to deal out death.

She looked toward their hostess neutrally, yet still continued her private conversation, But... despite what's happened in the past, I might approve military assistance to help her empire return to its former strength at the least. I would just like to get to know her a little better, perhaps some one-on-one time should the opportunity present itself.

"A little, very eager but I guess she might just a be a bit impatient to get her country back up on its feet again." Nicole spoke back to Aeris.

Nicole thought of military assitance. After purging Tarlachia of demons, the Golden Simatar completely revamped its Army. The Leopard 2E, which had served loyally and with great distinction, though one of the best tanks in the world simply could not stand up to the new threat of demons. The infantry weapons also used that were so effective against human and vampire targets were grossly underpowered for demons and other such creatures.

So the military phased out the Leopard 2E, selling off what it could to other countries or giving it to the National Guard as a temporary weapon till a new vehicle could be brought in. Now the Golden Simatar used primarly Metal Gears purchased from Tarlachia as well as the homegrown MV87 tank.

The infantry was also issued American M41A rifles that packed a far more powerful punch than the old H&K G36.

The Air Force and Navy stayed the same for some years before the A.F was updated with far more powerful jets and more advanced helicopters, the Navy with stealth ships would still be the same for many years to come.

Nicole knew the military had some of its old stock in moth balls, and this was probably gonna be part of the first shipment along with some more modern gear should a deal be inked.

"I agree, we should talk to her in private about what her intentions are."

“What questions gone unspoken,” She made an emphasis on the word, with a glint in her eyes. “…can be addressed openly. I do not like the thought of missing some of these concerns on your mind.” She felt a little dizzy, but didn’t show it. A lot had happened that day, last night. She needed to rest but managed to remain completely neutral. The voices which entered her mind took a lot of energy to block out. It was hard for her to miss their conversation, as one need not pry when a connection is open, and your senses are as sensitive as when you were first turned into this life. “Please decease in your conversations, as it’s doing my head in…” she commented, placing her fingertips delicately to one temple. “Anything you want to ask me or another say out loud. This form is once again new to me, and certain things have to be attuned.”

Delta leaned against the wall. He too, was thinking of military assistance. Crimmond was a powerful nation now, being a founding member of Gholgoth, allied with NATO and one of the few surviving members of the original GDODAD.

Politically, that held both great sway and large indifference, depending on who one spoke to. Militarily, that held one thing: The ability to, on a whim, mobilize, attack and defeat another nation, then bring it into the Empire. It had happened twice before. Would Crimmond decide to do that to the Ambrosial Coast nations? Or would it ally with them? Or would it act as if Ravelyn Shentavo never existed?

Delta dismissed such thoughts. While speculation proved to be a healthy mental excercise, it was also distracting him.

"Your form has not changed, Ravelyn. Your mind and soul have. There are two options to explain what we have witnessed. One... you have grown immensely strong, surpassing your powers the last time you set foot on Earth. Two... you have shed your self-imposed limitations and are working yourself up to your full potential." Delta pauses and eyes her for a long moment. It was a very methodical look, scanning her whole form. Somehow it avoided being sexual in any way and seemed more like he was judging her. Or scanning a battlefield for points of weakness.

"I am not sure which I would rather see be true." he finally says, quietly.

Who knows about shedding self-limitations? Without Vaughn…what do I have to lose? I mean…I had someone to lose, but it wasn’t how it was with Vaughn. He didn’t keep secrets from me, at least, I hoped he didn’t. I felt more confident in him to top it off. One... you have grown immensely strong, surpassing your powers the last time you set foot on Earth. Two... you have shed your self-imposed limitations and are working yourself up to your full potential. Self imposed limitations. Why the hell would I impose limitations upon myself? Surpass my powers? How could that be possible when my head felt like it was going to implode any time someone said something. “I honestly have no idea, Delta…what exactly is going on with me. If I knew I would share, but I do not know. I have been without my powers for two hundred years. Getting them back is overwhelming, and I have yet to test what I have acquired. I fear I will need more rest.” She tapped her nails on the table.

“Why I called you here was a restoration of my nation. My nation has been restored, but not my alliances. If you have come here to make an alliance or wish to discuss a matter with me alone…I will be in my office to the left. Come in one by one and I will talk to you. I don’t care in what order…the walls are soundproof and perhaps that will help.” She rose, and went to the door on the left. She entered the office and sat in the leather chair on the opposite side of the mahogany desk and felt another wave of dizziness. Oh god what’s happening to me…

Delta watches her leave and looks at the others. "Alliances with beings of her power are dangerous things. Be sure you wish to face Hell itself, should it decide to turn it's wrath on her. Unlikely as it is, it has happened before." He glances at the door and remembers the sheer power that shot from the Earth the day Mephisto broke free. He also remembers it was the day that his best student lost her sanity.

"The benefits of an alliance are great, but the cost is high, should something go wrong."

Izual certainly wasn't here to make an alliance with Rave, he didn't even have a nation to call home, let alone one to represent. Since Kane was no where to be seen Rave was no longer a priority and Izual would not be pursuing anything further with her.

Once she'd left, Izual seized the oppurtunity and spoke directly towards Aeris.

"I think it's about time we had a little chat. There are several matters in need of dicussing which involve myself and no doubt both your nations."

Nothing about Izual's manner revealed a single thing. Although Aeris and Nicole could no doubt guess it had something to do with Arithon considering they were already aware of his demonic side. As if reading their minds, although he was merely guessing, Izual answered their first suspicion.

"And no, I'm not an agent of Arithon or his companion."

Nicole sat quietly as Rave departed the room. She was about to get up when Delta spoke. She didn't pay much heed to his words and was halfway from her chair when Izual spoke. The vampiress stared at him, gave a quick look to Aeris before slidding back down in her chair and staring at him.

"Oh really? Not an agent of Arithon or Abbandon? Prove it."

Silence, as Ravelyn sat in her office, looking out the window. Their voices mingled back and forth and she put her fingertips to her temple. If anything right now she needed peace and quite, comfort, or even simple warmth. Their voices played in her mind as if yelled over an amplifier, and she cursed silently. Without realizing, she disembodied herself, and her eyes, taking up all of the window space glared in on those gathered. “If you are going to quarrel amongst yourselves, do it outside my house and let me rest…” she growled, and then the vision disappeared.

Inside the office, Ravelyn put both hands to her head. She felt like a damn fledgling again trying to control the voices. This, however, was different. Her mind ached. Just go away…go away…

Delta looked at the others and closed his eyes. Shadows consumed the wall behind him, the one between her and them. Nearly at once, the inner chatter of minds ceased, though directed thoughts came through as murmers. One voice wafted to her from the shadows. "I felt your pain... this will give you a brief respite."

He opens his eyes and looks at the others. "I must agree. Either act civily or leave. Or perhaps both would be good, if your business is completed."

She slammed her fist down on the table, rubbing her temple with her free hand and closing her eyes as everything died down to a low murmur. Still; her head ached. Corothisia… she called out silently, then felt a wave of dizziness watch over her. She fell to the ground from her chair and coughed up a splash of bright crimson liquid. She wiped the blood from her mouth and sighted. Must be a side effect of holding those souls within me for so long, she thought silently to herself, and laid down on the floor, with her wings out to either side and slowly fading into a pile of feathers.

She just wanted to sleep.

As she began to fall again, he was suddenly there with her, having once more done his trick of simply appearing where no one was looking. He caught her as she began to fall again, and slowly laid her head in his lap, sitting cross-legged on the floor. Stroking her hair, he whispered soothing words in her ear, bending his neck down to reach. "It's okay, Rave. You don't have to be the supreme ruler all the time. Just relax. I'll handle this for now. Go to sleep," he whispered, using his magic to soothe her, to try and send her into a dreamless sleep, that would allow her to truly rest.

Once he was assured she was asleep, he reached out and grabbed his jacket, which he had left in the room the day before, crumpling it up into a rough ball and easing it under her head as he slipped out from underneath her, giving her a semblance of a pillow. Standing, he smoothed out his clothes, put on a straight face, and walked to the door. Opening it, he took a step outside and faced the assembled company. "I am afraid Ravelyn will not be able to see any of you at this time. We will send for you once she is available once more," he said sombrely.

Before they had a chance to ask him any questions, trying his best to avoid politics, vampiric or otherwise, he shut the heavy door once again, stepping back inside the room with Rave. He put his back to the wall there, sitting down with his legs out and back against the wall, and he just watched her sleep, a wry smile on his face.

She slipped into a deep sleep with a light smile upon her face. She didn’t know why she was smiling; She was in pain, but slowly, it went away. She did not dream, but she was somewhere else when she ‘awoke’. She was lying in a field with sweet emerald blades of grass tickling her skin. She raised her head, and slowly stood up. The flowers that bloomed were not real, and she touched a few. They felt real, but were not. The sky was purple, and the clouds glided by slowly. She let herself fall back amidst the flowers. The ground was soft; as if it were a pillow beneath her. Swallowed up in the sound of her screaming, it is rarely she got to escape to this place. She used to be here all the time in her dreams, but ever since her life became more and more complicated, it seems she was denied into the gates of this imaginary realm. She longed for the deep sleep dreaming that you could only attain when your mind was blank, and your soul was happy, and this was it. She felt nothing but the warm sun upon her skin. The fragrance of the paper flowers filled the air with a sweet light scent, and soothed her.

Lost in her dream, she sighed softly, and though she was not aware of it, she grabbed edge of the jacket with one hand loosely, and shifted her body so that she lay on her side next to the piles of black feathers which had fallen around her.

Nicole heard Rave's message and simply thought back. "There won't be any fighting."

She turned her attention to Delta. She thought that his words were very odd considering he and his Lovecraftian chia pet Gar nearly caused a full scale battle only a few minutes before. But, Nicole kept her togune, though her eyes had an obvious you are full of shit look.

She turned back to Izual and offered a somewhat pleasant smile. "Do you have any memories that you could share to at least show you are on the light side?"

Delta looked back at her and tilts his head. "If you have something to say to me, child... speak." He seems to be in a constant state of indifference towards the others, as he did when Gar was causing trouble. If anything, he looked bored.

Nicole looked at Delta and shrugged. "I got nothing to say."

She then turned her attention back to Izual. "An angel-demon...seems a bit contradictory don't you think? Mind if I ask how it occured?"

Ravelyn’s eyes were half open. Get them out of here… she said silently to Tempest. If no one wishes to have alliance they have no purpose being here, send them on their way…just get them out… She closed her eyes. The pain was returning from that brief reverie. She had been gifted some reprieve, but it was not complete. No matter what they did, the voices returned. She needed rest away from them, away from all of it. No shield could help her; and that scared her.

Tempest nodded, gave his assent silently, and stood up, walking to the door again. He opened it quietly, but cleared his throat just loud enough to draw attention to himself. He knew they did not know who he was, and did not care. Many probably thought him an old friend of Rave's, some maybe thought him an old servant. In any case, they knew he spoke not for himself but for Rave, and any questions would have to be directed at her at a later date.

"I am afraid this little party is over," he announced, not loudly, but he knew they could all hear him. "Miss Ravelyn requests that you all leave, and wishes to let you know that she will speak with you each individually at a later date, provided you have something important to say, and not just a word of greeting. For the time being, please leave quietly, and be about your business. May you all find peace."

He shut the door again, before they could protest, and resumed his position sitting against the wall, this time tilting his head back against it and closing his eyes. A blanket of silence fell around the room, the inside hollowed out to allow them to speak should they desire, but no noise could be heard from outside, nothing of the people there, though he could still keep tabs on them.

Better, I hope, he said silently and empathically.

"What's happening to me, Coro?" She whispered softly, still laying on the floor and clutching his jacket. "What's going on...I couldn't control them...not even with shielding, I just heard them without wanting to. Not just surface thoughts, but deep whispers they weren't even aware of. I didn't do it purposefully...it just....it drowned me in that sound..." Her head was still splitting, but somehow his prescence made it dull. What the fuck is happening to me...

He opened his eyes. Once upon a time, he wouldn't have had to. "I don't know, Rave," he answered honestly. "With vampires like us ... not weaklings, false vampires, but ones like us, things come and go. Fluctuations. I think the strain of your revival and the release of all those souls has released power being held within you, keeping the souls in line, and preventing your innate abilities from harming them while they were in your body. After two hundred years of not hearing anything, even just a few thoughts are going to seem like deafening echoes. For a while, at least."

“This is worse then when I was a fledgling…before I ranked among the ancients…this is, this is torture,” she commented and rolled upon her back, still using his jacket as a pillow. She cringed, she could hear whispers, but it wasn’t as bad as before. “You are probably right though. It was a stupid move on my part to take on all of that. It’s like a mind-fuck morning after,” she said with a half smile, wondering if he would catch the joke, and knowing internally he would.

He smiled, looking across the small room at her as she looked up at the ceiling. "I didn't say it was a stupid move, and under the circumstances I don't think there was anything else you could have done. Still, I can understand it'll be like a hangover from hell for a few days, and even then it'll take a while to go back to normal. I know how you feel, really I do. Sometimes, this just happens. Nothing you can do about it. It's best to just let time take its toll, though if you know any good hangover cures..." he left the joke hanging in the air.

“I’ve never been hung over in my entire life. I don’t drink…alcohol.” Oh wow, Dracula movies made her laugh. If master vampires were like that these days, what a sad state the world of vampirism would be in. I mean garlic? Come on…it’s a bloody vegetable. Any person who thinks a vegetable will protect them is clearly mentally ill. Who the hell came up with that brilliant idea anyway? These horrible creatures of the night can be warded of with…hmm…garlic! I bet it was a turnip or something to begin with, possibly a carrot. People are idiots. She laughed at her internal thoughts, finding it rather funny, and sat up to lean against the wall and breathe in deeply.

“I think I must have gotten near some garlic or holy water…that’s what’s causing this. Damn vegetables and water molecules.”

He smiled. "By not drinking alcohol while alive, you missed out on one of the great joys of life. Truth be told, sometimes I miss it." He smiled nostalgically, then a grimace overtook his face. "Of course, I don't ever miss the night after. I sympathize with you, really I do. Accursed garlic. And stay away from churches, young lady."

“Young lady? Are you speaking condescendingly to me, old man?” She grinned playfully, then it faded. “I never got to [i]live[i] for very long. I was turned three days after I was created. I was created…well, in a lab. I wasn’t supposed to have a soul, but I guess things don’t always work out the way you think they will. It was never my choice to become a vampire…”

Izual turned to Nicole, his cool gaze sliding over her form as he guaged the woman before him. Whilst she was a vampire, it was pretty obvious to Izual that she didn't have a vast experience in many things supernatural, most likely just what her Elven friend exposed her to.

"Do you have any memories that you could share to at least show you are on the light side?"

The angel-demon couldn't help but smile at this question. His speculation seemed to be on the mark. Holding his hand out towards Nicole, a parchment covered in writing appeared within the open hand, close enough for Nicole to read. Nicole may have been somewhat surprised to find the words 'Izual is not a bad guy...', followed by the signature of the Golden Simatar's current President.

Flashing the young vampiress a slight grin, Izual spoke.

"Such 'memories' could be faked as easily as this document..."

As it appeared Aeris was deep in thought, Izual decided to continue conversing with Nicole, perhaps after a while she would learn to trust him somewhat.

"An angel-demon...seems a bit contradictory don't you think? Mind if I ask how it occured?"

"It's a very long story, spanning over thousands of years. Basically I began my existence as a creature composed of human and demonic properties. I guess Arithon didn't plan on me having a conscience and thus I didn't feel working under him would be appropriate. Skip ahead a while and I'm back in Arithon, my mortality robbed of me and a gaping wound in my chest. After escaping I was fortunate enough to be saved by a pair of angels."

Normally Izual wasn't so open with people he barely knew but he felt it would be necessary to gain the trust of Nicole and Aeris.

"And what of yourself, Mrs. Malone? How does one become the wife of the Golden Simatar's first vampire?"

Delta looks at the ones ignoring the commands to leave and shadows start to creep in on them. "If you did not hear correctly, let me put it more simply. She wishes solitude from untrained minds that shout incessantly... you were dismissed."

The shadows ripple at his words and cover everything. Furnature, art on the walls... even the windows are covered slowly. "Do not make me remove you myself... as being in such a void has driven many insane. Your business is through here, take these personal squabbles elsewhere." The shadows seemed darkest between them and Rave, probably to block most of what is ensuing from her mind.

All of this was done while he leans against a now shadow covered wall, still looking bored nearly on the level of falling asleep. Of course, facial expresions and tones of voice are always easy to manipulate.

The vampiress smiled as Izual produced a fake document from thin air. It was rather amusing and it did prove a very obvious point. Though for her, Nicole did not possess the ablities to create fake memories from her own.

"Cute..."

His creation seemed rather odd to her, but anything was possible in the world.

Normally Nicole would have thrown Izual to the wall and had a knife at his throat when he mentioned her husband, but Izual being immortal changed everything. If he traveled as much as he seemed and had ever gone through Emerald City, Assington, he probably would have heard of Stephen in the vampiric community. He had gained a small reputation and some status from his service in the Third and Fourth Assington Vampire War, as well as being the only one of the Assington Vampire breed to have been made without a sire, taking a thousand years to turn, being the Golden Simatar's first vampire, and with the largest coven headed by an ancient named Hondur, being trained by the feared, yet respected original ancient Skadi; who had sinced passed on with her lover Sigrun Greenwood.

Nicole sighed and leaned back in her chair.

"Well, heres our full history. Stephen was living in the Golden Simatar quiet enough...not killing anyone and minding his own business. One night Roman Cyrus Celadrin...of the Celadrin Clan from Tarlachia knocked him out and took him to the government. Up till this point my country had no idea vampires and what have you existed. So, he was hauled up to a small research station I was in...we mostly toyed around with new jungle stuff to deal with snake bites and stuff after the Rebecca program was halted.

"He was hauled up, unconsious and in a body bag. I was the first to examine him and being a vampire he had no pulse. Well, Roman got him tied down and then rammed a silver pen I had into him...woke him up right quick but without blood in his system for a time he wasn't strong enough to break through. Tell you I was glad I went to the bathroom before or I would have soiled myself.

"Over the next few weeks I did a few interviews with him...was the only one he talked to and I guess you can I say I got a crush on him. Weeks went on and we exchanged a few smiles and such. Then, some fucking reporter bugged a closed session of Congress where our President let on about Stephen. He let it out and all hell broke loose. Some terrorists stormed our little station in the mountains, killed two scientists....Stephen meanwhile busted out and saved us. Was enough for the President to let him go...I went with him. The night we left he turned me after I asked him.

"Fast forward some years, Golden Simatar gets attacked by a rouge bunch...they get wiped out. Then what made the news and you might have read about it, the battle of Clarence. Two nights of fighting, most of the attacking vampires die along with several thousand humans. Stephen and I were already living there so we could offer advice and training tips for the new VIB as well as police and such.

"So, thats basically it I guess."

Ravelyn put her hand to her head. “Coro…next time, be a little more threatening, wouldn’t you?” She gave him a smile and stood up. Slowly, she managed to get to the door, and put her hand on the handle. She opened it very slowly, and looked at them shouting at each other. Oh, god it was worse out here. She felt Tempest steadying her gently, but letting her make it on her own. She glared at them. Delta was trying to help, trying desperately to help. She appreciated it. “Shut the fuck up,” she growled. For all of her eloquence had left her, and all that remained was a deep anger starting to churn in her. Her head was screaming in pain. “Get the hell out of this room! GO!” As she yelled, the table caught fire with white hot flames and started to burn. It made her head hurt worse. “Or did you not get it the first time? My head hurts, and no, I’m not in a good mood, so either get the fuck out of this room or your life will be short lived. I don’t threaten people without reason to. Get the hell out. All of you.”

Delta's shadows retreated from the flames rapidly, as if harmed, in a few moments only stretching out around Delta. He wasn't desperately trying, if one judged by his face.

"Rave... shield yourself as best you can." He stepped forward towards the pair and held out his hand.... and clenched it into a fist. In both of the arguing one's minds, it would feel like a giant hand had just taken hold of their minds and started to squeeze them like a lemon. The extent of damage in a normal human is on the scale of defecation and whimpering like a whipped puppy... but in immortals it is much less. Painful and attention grabbing, but weak knees were not uncommon.

"Leave... before I turn the fist around your mind into a blade and rob you of he ability to walk for the rest of your lives. Which, for you two, is a very long time indeed." Irritation creeps into his voice.

Ravelyn sunk down to her knees and screamed. Her scream was like that of a banshee, like the furies combined into one voice the fire spread, and some of the windows started cracking. Her head throbbed as if it were a flame, and her own hands carried fire at her fingertips. She could not take much more of this. All of them, even Delta who was trying to help. This place was going to burn down.

Once Nicole had finished her story, Izual slowly looked up to the others as if he was noticing them for the first time. His thoughts were entirely his own and thus Rave could scream all she wanted, he had no part in her pain and to be honest he didn't really care.

Izual assumed Aeris had her own thoughts guarded but was not so sure about Nicole and thus reasoned it would be best to get her out of the room. Standing easily, his mind shielded from whatever attack anyone would attempt, Izual gazed at Delta.

"I wouldn't want you to break your fist..."

Taking care not to place his hands upon the flaming table, Izual indicated towards Aeris and Nicole and all three disappeared uneventfully, relocating to the garden outside.

"For each moment that passes I am thankful Kane was very much unlike his sire. I for one have no further business here, what of you two?"

Delta observed Rave carefully and did not lessen his attack on the others, but did not increase it either. Shadow engulfed his form, so that he became a three dimensional shadow himself... the flames approaching him having no direct effect.

It was almost as if he was... testing her. That or he enjoyed her pain and was trying to remain on her good side while doing it. A dangerous thing to try, either way.

Moving to her feet quickly as the table caught fire, Aeris shook her head negatively as she raised a hand and lowered it with her palm downward. The flames extinguished with a bountiful puff of smoke, and she turned away. Nodding to Izual, she followed him out, giving Delta a look that would've ran any recipient's blood cold. "Don't do that again to them." she warned, before following Izual out into the gardens.

Near Ravelyn, a note appeared with the simple sentence inscribed, Call for me when you'd like to talk in private about relations between your empire and mine. Her signature at the bottom was simple, yet spoke of plentiful education.

Aeris listened as Izual spoke, then replied. "I shall wrap up a deal with her and her empire, for she has asked for help, and since any hostile behavior I have observed directed toward me or otherwise, have been toward others, I will push a deal through. She'll get the aid she needs and perhaps more in time."

Looking to Izual, she frowned for a moment, "However...I don't understand something. Why appear here when it is mostly more important figures who have come? Why bother with one whom you care not for, and I suspect care very little for of her past offspring?"

As Rave dropped to her knees and screamed, Tempest stood up and rushed forward, crouching down beside her, calmly. The thoughts did not bother him. What bothered him was Rave's pain. He could feel it almost as much as she could, despite not being able to feel the cause of it. Ducking down, he put his let arm around her shoulders, his right hand interlocking its fingers through hers, his mind concentrating on quelling the flame that surrounded her fingertips. The other occupants of the room were gone, except for Delta, who was all-but there anyway, and he did not feel like extinguishing the fire. Wrapping his arms around Rave, he kissed her forehead and transported them both away from the room, to someplace safe. He did not concentrate on where they were going, simply stipulating that it be away from people while still being familiar to Rave.

"However...I don't understand something. Why appear here when it is mostly more important figures who have come? Why bother with one whom you care not for, and I suspect care very little for of her past offspring?"

"Kane is a good friend of mine and it has been some time since I have encountered him. Unfortunately her sire was of no use in that regard. Her plight is of mild interest as her ruined nation lies within this region but you are correct in assuming I hold no care for Miss Shentavo."

Through Izual's eyes, Rave's nation was simply that, another nation with it's own worries. The angel/demon was more interested in affairs involving Arithon as he was a direct threat of far great significance than any single nation or arrogant angel/vampire.

"Once you have completed your business, I would like to discuss a few matters."

“Well that’s a stupid idea,” A woman said, exiting the building with long black hair and piercing blue eyes that turned to emerald as if a switch had been pulled. She was light skinned with slanted eyes and a slender body. She held two rather large guns in either hand. She watched as the flames on the table reignited, with greater fervor in the window above them. “Damn, Ravelyn. You are going to burn this whole place down before you meet your prospect,” she sighed softly, then looked at those who had left. “WHOA, looks like someone’s got a fight on their hands.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “That woman brought back billions of people over night and you think you can just waltz in here the next morning, start fights, and not even care if she’s in pain. That woman… that woman saved her nation. She saved your little friend Kane from dying, and if it wasn’t for her, Kane would have been dead, as a mortal, a very, very long time on you. Read up on your god damn history and show the woman some respect. Your in her nation, you abide by her rules, and with what happened last night I would think ya fellows would have been a bit more considerate no matter who the damn hell she was.” Her eyes narrowed at them and she tapped her heel on the ground.

She was probably no more than nineteen; beautiful…human. “Well you stupid sons of bitches you’re hurting her,” she commented, her accent mildly somewhere from the south. They didn’t have accents like this in the empire; but they did have them in Underaloz. She clicked her guns. “Don’t think I’m not prepared to blow you away, fangs, wings, shadows and all, and don’t think that this round is standard.” She grimaced. It was an unappealing gesture for her, but she still managed to stay appealing. “When you carry souls within you for two hundred years as they tear out your insides, let me know. Then come back and I’ll yell in your ear for a few hours. We’ll see how you like it.” She glared. “Yea, I know. I was one of them. So scram. Go on now git. As far away as possible.”

Outside of the mansion, there were four people standing, two other men, two other women, simply waiting, not talking. The first had long blond hair, but her body was masked in black clothes. She was apparently mad at the silver-haired man with blue eyes. Wow, he was quite the sight. You could tell from his posture that he didn’t give a damn what the girl had said. Then, there was a short-haired red head playing with tarot cards, and a young man with bleach blond hair getting his fortune told with a serene smile. No one knew who they were, and by the lack of baggage and normal clothes; they were from this nation.

~*~

She was lying in a field with sweet emerald blades of grass tickling her skin. She raised her head, and slowly stood up. The flowers that bloomed were not real, and she touched a few. They felt real, but were not. The sky was purple, and the clouds glided by slowly. She let herself fall back amidst the flowers. The ground was soft; as if it were a pillow beneath her. She used to be here all the time in her dreams, but ever since her life became more and more complicated, it seems she was denied into the gates of this imaginary realm. She longed for the deep sleep dreaming that you could only attain when your mind was blank, and your soul was happy, and this was it. She felt nothing but the warm sun upon her skin. The fragrance of the paper flowers filled the air with a sweet light scent, and soothed her.

“So this is your sanctuary,” Tempest said, standing behind her. She turned around to face him.

“How…how did I bring you here?”

With a nod to Izual, Aeris then took her leave. "Then without further ado, if you'll excuse me, I've got some diplomatic things to complete." Looking to Nicole, she nodded and spoke in a secure mental link to the vampiress. Call if trouble arises for you and you can't handle it. I still don't quite trust this Izual, but I'm willing to give him a chance.

With a final nod to them, she smiled and returned indoors, moving past the various guests that were still indoors and making her way to the office. She heard the mocking speech about taking souls into oneself and dealing with them for a long time, and merely shook her head. It was in fact, a similar experience she had, and still held. The death of billions of Tarlachians under the terrorizing reign of Abaddon had caused those souls to constantly barrage her during the war for retribution, for justice to be dealt. She fielded the rage, the pain and agony of multiple races under one banner, and she had channeled all of it in her quest to defeat the greatest foe the entire region had seen come to power. Although the war was now over, she still suffered from time to time. In the back of her mind, she feared she would never escape that draining vice upon her own soul.

Entering the office after several knocks recieved no response, she seated herself in a chair and patiently waited. She suspected that the Empress would know someone was in here soon enough, if she didn't know already. Such was the way of vampires of old age.

Delta's shadow covered form dissipated... leaving nothing in it's place.

It reformed in front of the four people looking at the estate. He said nothing as the shadows vanished and his physical form reappeared, complete with hat and coat, speaking only when they were gone completely and he had a chance to look at each one. His eyes, seeming like an endless white void, starred at all of them and none of them at the same time. "Ravelyn Shentavo has not the time nor the inclination to speak with others at the moment. You will return another time to seek an audience."

Why was this being from Hell that was currently possessing a Sentinal from AMF, was once ruler of all of Crimmond and was known in many circles to be one of the most evil and tyranical rulers Europe had seen in centuries being so damned helpful? It was in his interests, apparently...

Tempest smiled. "Good question. I don't rightly know. I grabbed you and tried to take you somewhere. I didn't really know where, just somewhere the whispers would be gone and you'd be safe. I guess this is where it took us." He looked around at the beautiful setting of their conversation, and nodded his head in silent approval before turning his head back to Rave. "It's a nice place. What dimension are we in?"

"But I knew where I wanted to go," she whispered. "This place...I'm not sure where it is. I used to come here in dreams a lot, but for a while, I simply couldn't. I don't know why. It was as if this place disappeared."

"No worries." Nicole shot back to Aeris.

The vampiress stood and smiled at Izual. "Lets continue our conversation somewhere else and once Aeris is finished with Rave I'll talk to her."

Nicole went with Izual outside, she felt Aeris spell protecting her, but she flicked on a pair of pitch black sunglasses to protect her still sensitive eyes. She found it uncomfortable to be out, but she wasn't burning.

The vampiress stared at the girl looking armed with guns looking at her. So very young, it reminded her of her daughter. But in her case her daughter was a lycanthrope who had been bitten at eighteen.

This girl in front of her was young and Nicole knew she could easily dodge her rounds and bring her down. But, she wouldn't do that until the last minute. The vampiress stared at her, the girl could only see her reflection in Nicole's glasses.

"For your information I have offical business here from my government. Once Rave is ready to accept visitors I'll speak to her. Put those things away before you hurt yourself. Besides, I haven't killed anyone and it was indeed the fellow Delta and his Lovecraftian chia pet Gar who started all the fuss and got Rave so pissed off. Myself, my companion here and my other friend merely watched. You don't have anything to worry from me, I haven't killed a human for food in my entire life. Now, tuck those things away...lets try to be civilized."l.

“Well that’s a stupid idea,”

Izual gazed over to the woman that had just exited the building, not quite sure if she was talking to him and Nicole. As she broke into a lecture, Izual merely levelled his cool gaze upon her, seeming neither interested nor lacking attention to what she was saying.

"As I recall it, she was the one about to start a fight. We were merely spectators as she attempted to retrieve Gar's scythe so I suggest you cease with your ill informed rant.

I have had no interaction with Rave besides a few words so do not blame her current predicament on myself. And as for Kane... she's not the only one to have saved his life."

Despite that she continued to go on, as if she could possibly achieve anything, a human threatening an angel.

"Perhaps if you learned something about angels you'd realise threatening them with guns is an ill conceived idea, at best. We shall be leaving when Aeris finishes her business with Rave."

It was obvious Izual was becoming irritated with the young woman. Despite his calm nature there was no denying he possessed a sense of superiority towards mortals, especially humans.

Remaining still, Izual simply hoped Aeris could finish her business quickly.

[ooc: I have something to say... It's irking me that Arithon, The Golden Simatar and Tarlachia seem to have characters that completely ignore whole posts of dialogue from both Delta and Rave and whole actions such as a room being turned into a small inferno or occult driven shadows licking at their toes.

No offense.... but did you even read those posts before replying?]

[[OOC: Yes Crimmond, we do read them. If you've noticed, we moved our characters outdoors. Granted, TGS and Arithon seem to have misunderstood this and forgot to state they were outdoors, but that's a matter that can be dealt with via PM. I've moved Aeris in on her own accord, sitting silently in the office to await whenever Ravelyn would like to talk. The room being burned was noticed and responded accordingly. Granted, I've got my issues with other RPers on here with some actions I've seen, but I'm not going to name them because it is not worth ruining the thread.]]

OOC: As Tarl pointed out, our characters did move outside before most of the dialogue from yours. Looking back I see we missed that girl with the guns (it would help if the characters been spoken to were actually named).

I have edited to accomodate the gun wielding girl.

Also, TGS needs to edit his post.

OOC: Just in case it wasn't noticed, my last post back on page 11 has been edited.

Tempest shrugged. "It's possible the souls holding you in check also prevented you form coming here. I don't know, I'm not an occultist. I'm just guessing. Now that they're gone ... well, maybe the same way you can read thoughts better now, you can come here again now."

“An angel? Darlin’ if I went around totting metal bullets thinkin’ that anything that looks like a person will be brought down by some quick shooting, think again, I’m augmented,” she said with a clearly southern drawl. They didn’t have accents like this in the Three United Empires. She was from Underaloz, Vaughn’s nation…and her name was Navi LaFrazier. “I’ve been watching all of y’all through the systems of this mansion. When offered, ya’ll just went out and started bickering to each other. If I was her, I’d be pissed off. Good thing I’m not, the empress is in a great deal of pain.” She clicked the safety off both of her rather large guns. They were a strange black metal. She had crafted them herself.

“Now I could be wrong, but I could sure as hell kill any damn thing if I blow its head off, rip out its heart and fry the remains. Don’t kid yourself, darlin’. No one is invincible on these lands, haven’t you noticed your surroundings taking affect yet? Or perhaps you’ve been to busy to notice what the land is doing to ya’ll. Doesn’t affect me, hell, I’m just metal. 100% human.” She flashed a cheeky smile and her emerald eyes flashed. Her accent and her appearance didn’t quite match up, but the nation of Underaloz had many different phenotypes for their peoples.

...

"Maybe..." she trailed off slightly. "But i'm not quite sure how to get back. Maybe that would be a good thing considering I have a household and a nation on my shoulders. I can sense them, already waiting for me, calling me."

Who?

"My children."

He sighed. He would have enjoyed some alone time. But he had brought her here without asking her, and he supposed there would be pressing concerns back at the mansion. He stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder, muttering something along the lines of "This should work."

They were back, within the gates, but outside the main building, away from the fire, and not near the gate itself, where the confrontation was taking place between Navi and the guests. Tempest opened his eyes, and grinned slightly. "What do you know? It did."

Nicole raised an eyebrow, it was just barely visible above her eyeglasses. The gril seemed to talk in circles and seemed in Nicole's mind, a little mad. She had not noticed any affect on her as of yet, Aeris spell protected her from the sun's harmful rays and that was the only change she could tell.

A red object attached to a white gold chain emerged from her trenchcoat. The crimson colored, dragon shaped stone shined in the sunlight. The vampiress spoke, still very calm despite two very large guns aimed at her.

"You know what this is? Its a blood stone, very rare. Biting or slicing it produces blood and its good for centuries. I carry it as its my primary source of blood, humans are a once or twice a month treat and even then I don't kill them.

"Still, you apparently saw me bickering with my angel-demon companion here. Let me explain..but before that, what do you know of Abanddon and Arithon's takeover of Tarlachia?"

Delta looks at the group still watching the estate and growls in annoyance. Ignoring him was often a fatal mistake. He did not have time for this, though. "Fine... go and bother her. If you wish to burn, that is." He turned and walked away, shadows engulfing him. Tell her that Delta is still watching, though my presence is needed elsewhere. his voice rumbled from the mass of darkness.

Ravelyn left Tempests side and headed towards the gate. “This is revolting…there is no respect here…only power struggles.”

Navi laughed. “And who was the first one to bring bloodstones into this world? Flashing your damn vampire trinket at an ancient’s house…sure that’s a good way to impress a mortal.”

“Navi,” Ravelyn said quietly, and the southern girl stopped, and she knelt on the ground immediately.

“Empress,” she said respectfully. “How can you allow them to…”

“Get inside Navi…” she said plainly.

“Your bickering is apparently far more important then the fate of my nation, which population has just risen to 5.8 billion in this time. You want to discuss politics, come back another day, alone. Finish your damn fight; finish your own relations out of my nation.”

Her expression had darkened, as had her mood. The girl was compliant, and walked into the mansion through one of the side doors. The air seemed extremely calm. The voices were gone. The land had taken its sweet time to quiet them. She eyed the bloodstone and smirked. It was nothing of the original one Daja had given her long ago. Eternal ones were the ones that were rare, and that was not eternal. “I was ready to accept visitors. I told people to step into my office, one by one. I did not wait in there for my own health. No one entered, so I would assume that you all have no more business in my nation. With your threats, while subtle they lie, and remain as a direct challenge to me.” Her voice was unnaturally cold, as if something dark had just swept over her. She fanned her great black wings out to either side, and twirled the scythe once around in her right hand. The sky seemed to darken to a dull grey; and there was something in her eyes that was severely different. She was offended, and angry.

“You want to challenge my authority here, you want to challenge me as a vampire…then let’s go. Ready to finish this the way vampire politics intended. You were a former student Nicole, but it will chance nothing. As a vampire I would have thought you to be more respectful in my house. You think that flashing a cheap recreation of the eternal stone means something here. It doesn’t. All which has transpired, you know, has challenged me. So I accept your challenge with waiting blade.”

Nicole turned to Rave, surprised to see her. She had been rather preoccupied with the girl holding the guns at her face. The vampiress showed great shock at the fact that Rave stated that her threats to the girl were threats to her and that she was ready to accept a challenge. The vampiress' face moved just enough to let her glasses slide enough so Rave could see her full shock.

The vampiress felt the singed of the sun on her eyes and quickly replaced them and compossed herself. She noted the wings and the scythe, it gave Rave the apperance of Death as a fashion model. She spoke in a respectful tone to Ravelyn as she explained herself as well as apologized.

"I am truely sorry My Lady. Allow me to address the meeting first. I had thought Arleni was going to go in there and discuss with you and then I would or that someone else had gone in there with you. I am terribly sorry, I was too caught up with trying to figure out with Izual here had connections with Arithon or Abbandon...I am terribly sorry about that.

"As for vampire politics I must say I am not very well versed in it. Stephen and I keep out of it, though we help a friend's coven in Assington when it is needed. I meant no offense to you or anyone here, I did not think the young woman with the guns was a bodyguard for you. I have no interest in fighting you...rather stupid thing to do. I only fight to defend myself or family and friends...I never take the offensive unless I have been attacked first.

"For flashing my bloodstone, in the experiance I have had it serves in part for folks who know of vampires and who are regular company of immortals and other non-human creatures yet feel uncomfortable around our kind. It serves simply to show that I have a ready source of blood and I won't be bitting them and usually it calms them a bit.

"I apologize again if I have caused any offense and wish to smooth everything over. But if you wish me to leave and I can have my dragon here before nightfall and I will depart."

“People in this nation would willingly offer their blood up to myself or any one of my kin. Flashing that,” she said, motioning to the pendent, “will only be taken as an insult around here, as if human blood was not good enough for a vampire.”Ravelyn lowered her scythe. She was testy today that was apparent. It could have been the two hundred years without eating, or the fact that Vaughn was dead, or perhaps because of Corothisia, and the whirlwind of emotions she was experiencing all at the same time. “The young woman as well as the other four that are here are here for a reason. They are here to become part of my family. They are hardly my body guards. They are my children.” Her mind reached out to the two males and three females which were scattered about the mansion grounds, acknowledging each of them. She looked down at her scythe and sighed softly. She was tired. “I’m getting too old for this,” she murmured; the ancient looking only twenty five still after so many years.

“Sorry for snapping,” she said finally after several seconds of silence. She did owe Nicole an apology, even if as far as vampire politics go, Nicole would have been dead by now. Ravelyn wasn’t really all that typical. Testy at the moment, but not typical.

A low chuckle came from nearby Rave and Nicole. "Some things never change." a low, gruff voice said, sounding like someone had tried to eat sandpaper.

A figure in a dark cloak stepped forward slowly, using a bo as a walking stick. How in hell had he gotten so close without them noticing? "Always with the scythe. That or setting things on fire. And the rest of these young pups thinking their powers and guns and weapons impress you. I suppose I was like that once, wasn't I?"

The figure stops a few feet from Rave and from under the hood, twin golden eyes reflect light. "It's been a long, long time since I'd ever had hope of seeing you again, Azrael."

Her jaw dropped, and her eyes widened slightly, before she was able to maintain an indifferent countenance. Was it...was it him? First Tempest, and now…now ….? She smiled, flashing a rather unique set of double fangs, alabaster white and feminine. “I like my scythe…” she protested, as it vanished from her hand. “And I didn’t choose hellfire, it chose me.” She stepped towards him.

“It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? How have you been?”

He chuckles again. "I've been getting old. And it's been over two hundred and eight years, if I did my math correct." The figure reached for the fastener of the cloak and pulled at it, letting the dark cloth fall away, revealing a reptilian creature of advanced age. Once bright jade-green scales were dulled and patched with brown. Sharp fangs of the past now dulled or missing. Quick movements were slowed ever so slightly by age... but the eyes were the same ones Rave had looked into for years. It was Goor, but he looked decades older than he was the last time they had met. Added to that he was supposed to be long since dead...

"Am I too late to sign up for Year Seven?"

Rave smiled, and walked over to him. Screw formalities. She hugged him. “And I thought you were dead,” she whispered into his ear. So had a lot of people. Then again, a lot of people thought her to be dead for a very log time. “I can’t let you sign up for the seventh year, but I can let you teach one of the classes.”

"Oh I see..." Nicole said as Rave talked about humans offering their blood to vampires. It was a radically different thought process here than it was everywhere else. "Well, your country must be a sort of haven for at least law abiding vampires. To my knowledge this donor process does not occur any place else except under some strict circumstance or the donor is somehow the vampire's friend. Since humans in other countries seem rather obsessed with wipping us out, it doesn't happen."

Nicole blinked when she heard the people she had just met were Rave's children. Once one broke down an Assington vampire to the bare scientific basis...an vampire related or of the Assington speices was basically reanimated flesh that had a fully functional brain...but otherwise the body was dead tissue. Having children was out of the question for her kind.

But, Nicole and Stephen did have a daughter, adopted though. A girl named Amara, she was a lycanthrope, bitten at eighteen while she was doing a semester overseas in Assington during college.

The vampiress smiled. "It is quite alright. I understand..."

She didn't get to keep speaking as a new figure showed up. And after he had finished talking it was obvious Rave knew him and from his own words he was a former student. Nicole moved a few feet away, giving them some room while still being close enough to Rave so when she was done with the former student they could possibly get down to business.

Goor made an amused sound as Rave hugged him. As far as he could remember,she had donw that only once before and it seemed far out of character for her then. It still did now, but less so somehow. He patted her on the back. "Dead? No... more like retired from the world in general. I heard you were back so I came by to see if the rumors were true." He stepped back and stretched some. "Teaching? I'll need to get back into form, but I suppose in a couple months I can be ready to kick some upstart mojo-slingers right in the ass and show them that even us old fashioned mortals aren't obsolete." He grinned and looked at Nicole.

"Actually, the last time I was here... Qui, Rave and the rest of the dysfunctional Shentavo family had prices on their heads. Times change, I suppose." He bows his head. "I am Goor. Two 'O's and no 'E'. I hate it when people spell it wrong."

Izual was about to speak up himself once Nicole's long winded apology ended. Before he could speak himself he noticed a cloaked figure approach, his attention evidently directed towards Rave.

As the newly appeared lizard man was embraced by Rave, Izual considered his presence there. Whilst he was concerned about talking with Aeris over the threat of Arithon and Abaddon, he figured that Rave's nation would also be a prime target for Arithon's demon horde. Considering he was perhaps one of the most knowledgable beings around on such a matter, Izual considered offering a few words of warning to Rave in order go give some purpose to his presence.

As the one known as Goor spoke to Nicole, Izual contacted Aeris in order to bring her and Rave together so everything could be sorted out.

"Aeris... Rave is outside with Nicole and I."

“Whose family are you calling dysfunctional?” she questioned him with a bit of a smile. “Qui was my son, you know. Despite all of his drawbacks, he was my son.” That’s all she said, and started heading toward the main gate where Tempest stood. She wondered if Goor remembered Tempest, if he was at the academy when both Vaughn and Tempest were vying for her affections. He was. She figured he wouldn’t remember, or that it didn’t matter. Either way, her personal life did not get in the way of politics, though she would probably face teasing if Goor were to know. He wasn’t here for politics.

"You're a former student?" Nicole asked.

"I went here back when I was younger...oh where are my manners? Nicole Malone." She smiled and gave a slight bow and when she came back up, her smile grew slightly, just enough for Goor to see her fangs.

"I am no mortal..not anymore at least. A friend's little spell lets me move around in the sun and during my time at the Acadmey Alira I think her name was gave me some of her blood so I could walk in the daylight. My husband was green with envy when I came home. May I ask what you are? An elf, a vampire hybrid or..."

Goor nods at Nicole. "I was a student in Academy Year One and Two. But that's long since ancient history, eh?" He looks at Rave. "I was being polite by calling you bunch 'dysfunctional'. You're all borderline psychotic at times, especially your son."

As they start to walk, he looks at Nicole again. "I am a Brute. A species of humanoid lizards from a land called Argos. Long since conquered, ravaged, left for dead and long forgotten by this modern world my fellow mortals call 'civilized'. I served the Empire of Crimmond for many, many years as a Hunter Killer. Elite unit, all kinds of gadgets and suicide missions. I got good at faking my own death on missions to fool the enemy. Comes in handy when one wants a nice long vacation."

He looked towards the gate and squinted at Tempest. That one... he'd seen him before. Of course, he'd seen millions of people before. No matter, he'd get introduced in a little while.

Having recieved Izual's message, Aeris was momentarily gone from the office and within minutes outside where she had left the others. She scanned the others' faces, noting that Nicole was talking with Goor, and that Ravelyn was momentarily quiet. Striding forward with a measure pace, she neared the empress and bowed slightly in respect before addressing her.

"I apologize for the behavior exhibited earlier. It was uncalled for, although well meaning, especially after what's happened in Tarlachia not too long ago. I would like to discuss matters of trade and assistance with you whenever you are ready."

She glanced to Izual out of the side of her eye, noting he was sort of by himself, minding his own business and yet watching all around him. She would talk with him later, after this business between empires was settled and sealed.

“Okay, introductions,” she said in her usual soothing velvet voice. “Goor, this is Aeris, you’ve met Nicole, and this is Tempest.” She kept her voice the same, or at least tried to. If anyone would pick up on it, it would have to be Goor, and she wasn’t ready to let that happen. “I can discuss any matters you wish to now.” She said, directing her answer at Aeris to avoid looking into Goor's eyes.

Nodding to the other two in greeting, Aeris focused her attention on Ravelyn. She nodded again when Ravelyn indicated that now was a good time to discuss matters.

"Well, let's start off with what you need assistance with. Trade? Military? Education?"

"Everything," she said simply. "Billions of people come back overnight. Of course I'll address them tommorow, but I do need help with everything except a military. My children are already here so the crimson squad is accounted for. One of them will lead my armies once I evaluate them.

"I see." Nicole said. She turned as she sensed a familiar presence and she smiled as Aeris appeared. When Aeris launched into her discussion with Rave, the vampiress kept one ear in on the conversation. She would jump in on the conversation if she was asked or near the end of Aeris' time with her.

Goor moved away from the others and walked into the gardens, ignoring the looks that they gave his back as he did so. He moves out of sight for a time.

Walking along the path, he stops and kneels by a stone wall, and studies it. After a time he takes hold of a large stone and pulls hard. The heavy stone gives andslides out with some effort. He sets it down and reaches into the space it occupied and smiled as he takes out his most prized possession, right where he had left it a century ago, vowing to return to this place and retrieve it.

He discards his leather jacket and slides the four foot warblade into the sheath that was hidden under the jacket. He then replaces the stone and leaves the garden, walking back towards the group. He doesn't approach too close, instead he slowly walks around the whole gathering, studying them all with the eye of a hunter. He looks at Rave once and grins, looking almost like his old self for a moment.

Aeris raised an eyebrow at the mention of billions returning overnight. As she thought, her memories of the countless small lights in the night sky returned and she partly realized what had transpired.

"All right, I'll start having transports coming in as early as twenty four hours from now." Aeris replied, "Is there any particular place you'd like the shipments and personnel to be dropped off, perhaps an port or several ports?"

"The same here." Nicole said, deciding now was a good time to cut in. She knew the Golden Simatar had ample humanitarian supplies. A lot of the first bits of food would be militar MREs, pretty good from what Stephen said from his old army days.

"I can call my husband and he can get on the line to the President and have the major shipments by freighter arriving within a day or two. Cargo planes can also airdrop supplies and parachute in medical personal within tweleve hours if notified soon enough. They can also fly in a a M*A*S*H unit or two if it is needed within another day."

"Sounds good to me. And the ports would be a good place to start. We have over 400 of them..." She gave Aeris a smile. She didn't think they realized how large her empire was. She had indeed, three empires, with many oceans, seas, and lakes. Her nation actually had a lot of water; her mansion was on the ocean. She looked out over the waves in the near distance.

"After the population is comfortably settled, I must make a journey to the far south, and see what has become of the rubble; the focal point during the Great Wars."

"Settled then." Aeris replied with her own smile. Four hundred ports...holy hell...

As she listened to the next bit of information from Ravelyn, she mused over it and spoke up again, "Would you like company on your journey south? Might give us both a chance to learn more about each other."

"It's not safe," Ravelyn said turning away. "I'll go alone, only to watch...what has become of that region of my empire." She became quiet. "Let's go inside shall we? A storm is coming."

Goor stepped behind Rave and said a few soft words to her. "Safe is a rare thing. I don't intend to be told to stay here in a mansion while you go and have an adventure." He then moved off, looking at the sky for a scant moment and then walking inside.

"Might have to have Tempest stay here to keep you in line then," she said, her crimson eyes flashing at Goor with a pleasant smile. He knew that smile very well. She turned away from him and walked into the mansion.

"Bullshit," Tempest said with a grin, speaking up for the first time in a while. He had acknowledged the others as he was introduced with all the formal pleasantries a polite bow of the head conveyed, but had declined to speak up, lost in his own thoughts. "If you're going to the south, I'm coming with you. You yourself just said it's not safe." He kept the rest of his message private, hiding it from the others. He was fairly sure it was information she didn't want them to know. You're in no condition to be going somewhere you're admitting isn't safe. They might not be able to see it, but I can. Either you get a lot of rest before you go, or I'm coming with you.

She turned abruptly to face him, and he almost walked into her had he not the reflexes. She looked up at him with her deep crimson eyes. Are you my doctor now? she couldn't help but to smile, her fangs resting behind her full lips. Now, now, I need you here to stop them from going. Hell, if everyone goes... -_-; Looks like I'm not getting anywhere without bringing everyone along.

"Fine...everyone can come, but if you die...it's not my fault."

Once the okay was given by Rave, Nicole pulled a satillte phone from her trenchcoat and opened it and dailed home. She could call Stephen with her mind, but over such a large distance for any long time would drain her too much.

"Hello? Amara? Put Stephen on will you?" Nicole said as her daughter picked up the phone. There was a few moments pause before a smile flashed across the vampiress' face. "Honey, Rave says okay so you can call the President have them start loading ships and planes. Okay, thanks...I'll see you later...love you."

She shut the phone and turned back to Ravelyn. "He's calling the President. So if everything goes smoothly at least the first plane with supplies to airdrop should be lifting off shortly before dusk."

Nicole looked up at the slowly darkening sky, at least she would be able to take her sunglasses off. But not for now. She followed Rave back into the house.

"Might I ask why the south is so dangerous? Partisans, monsters or something worse?"

"Genesis," Ravelyn whispered in a way that almost seemed painful to her. The subject matter was not one to be taken lightly. "It doesn't matter. I want to see what's happened. All I know is that when hell gates open up, nothing good comes from them."

Izual merely remained silent and followed the others inside. He did not have the resources of a nation to offer Rave's fallen empire and thus could be of little help in such.

Taking an oppurtunity to speak with Rave, Izual approached.

"As you may know, I have no nation behind me to offer support. But perhaps I know something that may be of some importance to you. Are you familiar with the demon lord, Arithon?"

Izual was aware Kane had run into Arithon many times yet he wasn't sure if any of the other Shentavo's had encountered him. Whether they had or not, he did pose a very real threat to this nation and others within the region.

Aeris followed as well, listening in as Izual took his chance to speak up at last. As he spoke, she composed a letter, writing in the air in front of her with a finger and watching as the words formed upon paper. She left her seal, and snapped her fingers. It would appear on the desk of the one left in charge of affairs while she was abroad.

"I remember that bastard." she muttered to herself as she thought of Arithon's deceit and alliance with Abaddon. "Shame I didn't get a chance to try and kill him."

"No," she replied, but then smiled. "Let him come if he may, but he'll be walking into my nation, and on my nation, there are my rules. There isn't anything that isn't vunerable here," she absentmindedly took Coro's hand. "Besides," she said, looking into his eyes. "I'm always up for a challenge."

Goor growls, holding the side of his head suddenly as he glares at Rave and Tempest, moving further away from them, muttering something about 'damn telepathic mojo slingers'. Another quirk of his species. Awareness of telepathy, yet no ability to use it directly. It caused pain instead. He had no idea what the two were 'saying' but he knew they were saying it.

"Genesis? I remember her. She was the first Shentavo I ever saw. The one that compelled me to come here." he paused... he wanted to say more, but wouldn't in front of those he didn't know.

Instead, he asked another question. "Ravelyn... why are you here on Earth again?"

ooc: she spoke outloud =) you can hear...which would prompt something from Goor possibly, if he remembered =P

IC:

"Uh..." she was suddenly at loss for an answer. "I don't know. I was kind of created in a lab...so the intention of my being here was to be a powerful weapon used in war, however...they didn't think I'd have a soul...you know all this Goor...why are you asking?"

ooc: she spoke outloud =) you can hear...which would prompt something from Goor possibly, if he remembered =P

[OOC: I meant the earlier telepathic stuff. He spoke out loud at hearing Genesis' name.]

Goor walked towards Rave and placed a hand on her shoulder, turning her slowly to face him. Not something one normally does casually to a Shentavo. He looks into her eyes as he speaks, as if that would somehow make her more forthcoming. "You know what I meant, Ravelyn. I meant, why is Azrael back on Earth right now? Why did you come back from Hell or wherever you were and why was your nation brought back this way? There must be a reason and I want to know what it is."

"It's personal," she said, for the first time turning her shoulder from Goor and turning into Tempest, whose hand she still held. She closed her eyes.

Izual nodded, paying little heed to Rave's invitation for Arithon.

"I do not know the outcome if you two were to face eachother, but that is not the only threat he can pose. He commands a nation of demons and I think you'll find that a six billion strong demon horde can cause more than a little damage. Tarlachia faced only a fraction of his forces and it was nearly completely destroyed."

Taking a few seconds to consider his words, Izual continued.

"I doubt he would move on your empire unless there was something worthwhile involved for him. Tarlachia fell in order for him to establish an outpost in our region. Either way, I offer my knowledge of Arithon and his kind if he ever does present a problem to your empire."

Considering Arithon also posted a constant threat to Izual, any effort in order to crush his armies or even banish him was usually a priority.

Goor looks... somewhat annoyed by Rave's answer, but accepts it for now. He had known her long enough to know when to let things lie. He nods to tempest and moves off again, leaning against a wall nearby, letting the others speak.

"Well then," she said to Izual. "Let's hope he's not like my sire. He found a way to covet anything, not just power." The group walked into the main room once more, and followed Ravelyn back into the conference room, where part of the table was singed. She sat down at the head of the table. Back to politics.

Goor looked at the table and chuckles. "Someone made Rave angry, I see." He removes the long warblade and holds it tip down beside him as he sits, looking like a warlord without animal hides.

"I have no nation to draw on or resources to offer except my service as an instructor at your Academy and possibly as a surprise opponent for your special forces during training and wargames."

"Yeah, yeah," Rave said, dismissing Goor's first comment. "So why are you here rather than wanting to give me a hug?" She winked at him with a bit of laughter in her eyes.

Goor snorts. "Well, being dead for a couple centuries hasn't hurt your sense of humor." After a second, he decides to actually answer her question. "I'm here because I have no where else to go... no place where I can be useful to anyone. My people are just about extinct, my homelands turned into factories and condos, my traditions mocked and looked upon as barbaric." As he speaks, it's obvious he's getting more and more angry. "Here, though... things are different."

"Things never seem to change here do they?" she smiled softly. "Have I changed since you've met me?" She questioned, actually wanting to know the answer. She wondered, she truly did, if she had changed at all.

Goor just chuckled and leaned back. "Some things never change and some things do." Apparently he didn't want to answer. Odd.

"Afraid I'll bite?" she smiled revealing a double set of fangs. Oooo, that was new. She laughed. She had never asked Goor something she didn't get an answer of.

Nicole took her seat again next to Aeris as Goor and Rave caught up a bit. The vampiress arched an eyebrow as she saw Rave sporting two pairs of fangs, Nicole hadn't seen that on a vampire, she only had a single set of fangs with the teeth right in front of them only slightly sharper.

She sat quietly, waiting for Rave to open the floor for discussion.

Goor grinned right back at her, the teeth he had left(about two thirds) sharp enough. "No, but the answer I'd give you would distract you entirely too much. When things settle down, I might answer. Until then..." He motioned to the others and his voice whent from amused to... Commanding? "Stop playing verbal chess with me and get your nation on it's feet."