War of Darkness (Closed)

[Shoty98]

OOC: Please do not post in this thread unless you have been invited to do so.




McKayla sat before the hearth watching the fire light dance to a rhythm all it’s own. Would he complete this task or would he fail? She couldn’t help but question his loyalty even though he had never given her reason to doubt him. It was just her nature with the events of her long life.

“It’s done mistress, just as you ordered.”
“No one suspects anything?” She asked her young servant, as she swirled the fresh blood in her glass before downing the last of it. McKayla set the glass aside and let her fingers glide along the smooth velvet of her armchair.


“No mistress, it was an act of the war and so it is stated. As you taught me, I moved like the wind and no one was the wiser.”
A smile graced her lips at the tremble in his voice. She knew it had been quite a task she had set him to this time, but knew well that it was crucial, as was the timing.

“Very well Bryant, your reward will be great.” She rose from her chair and turned to him. The devilish grin that tugged at her lips sparked one in him. For her there wasn’t much feeling, but she knew what to do to create sparks in him, knew how to keep him in line and interested at the same time. It was her little game and by god she played it well.

Grabbing him by his shirt collar she pulled him to her pressing her lips to his. She felt him shiver beneath her touch and deepened the kiss. She found herself moaning softly, not from the kiss itself but from the rush of blood and endorphins that raced through him.

“Not quite yet my love” she whispered as she broke the kiss. “We have some preparations to make for tomorrows tasks, you do remember the plan don’t you?”
He shook his head and looked a bit disheveled “Yes mistress, I do remember and it won’t take us too long if we work together.” He seemed to sigh, not out loud of course but his body language spoke volumes.
“Indeed Bryant you are quite right, so lets begin and see how quickly we can get to your reward. There isn’t much time before she will be no use to us.”
“Yes mistress…”

The planning and preparation went well, and just as she promised, Bryant got his reward. It hadn’t been exactly what he had in mind but she had a way of making him feel like it would one day come.

She sat upon her perch, where she had sat the previous two nights, on a giant limb of an old oak. It was a perfect spot, the view she had was that of the Queen’s bedchamber. In those days she had learned the schedule of the comings and goings of the maid and knew that she had a pretty good amount of time between each visit. Her only hope was that the timing would be right.

McKayla watched with interest each time the young girl came in to bring fresh blood. The queen acted more like a child throwing a tantrum each time, knocking the blood to the floor and yelling at the girl to leave her be. “Yes indeed leave her be…” McKayla thought silently. It bemused her to see the transformation of a once vibrant queen, into a skeleton of a woman. How could she refuse to live, refuse to feed, refuse all that she knew because her mate was gone, was a question that infuriated McKayla.

“In two thousand years man has evolved, they drive cars, have microwave ovens and talk on phones with no cords and yet Darkaydians call humans stupid.” She mused quietly.

McKayla’s body ached, with the power and strength it took to stay in her hawk form, she hoped that her opportunity would come soon. She took note from her perch that the young girl came less often and the queen’s deterioration was coming faster.

"Bryant, go to the records hall, look for documents of an old age."
"I am there now, mistress."
"Good man...I'll let you know were to go from here......."
"No...I'll not...cannot...My son?....Where's my son.?" He should be here..."

Mckayla was cut short by the ramblings of a woman. She turned her attention back to the queen in time to see the young maid leave once more. The woman tossed and thrashed in her bed, the painful look upon her face told McKayla that her time to go in was now.

She spread her wings, pushed herself from her perch and headed for the open window. As she reached the balcony she transformed herself back into her human form and masked her presence.
"Please calm yourself M'Lady, all is well..." McKayla cooed the woman in a soft voice hoping to calm the queen. It did little good but make her fuss some more.

“Time...it’s time...the guard....oh my the guard...my son...” The queen’s voice held an urgency as did her look. McKayla hurried to her side and sat upon the edge of the bed. She could smell the foulness of the queen, the stench of her death working it’s way through her body. It was pitiful to say the least, but McKayla put the thought past her and focused on her mission.
“Can I get you anything M’Lady?” Mckayla spoke gently, with her most soothing voice. It seemed to help calm the queen.

“Water.....please. I need water.”
“Yes M’Lady...just a moment” McKayla thought for a moment, Darkaydian’s don’t drink water. “Who I am I to refuse a dying woman?”[/] She smiled and poured the water for the woman. Carefully she held her head and helped her to drink. The queen coughed very roughly, spitting the water everywhere. McKayla waited for a scolding from the woman but it never came just more incoherent rambling.

McKayla surveyed the woman taking in her features, taking notice of the way her skin seem to sag, as if her muscles were completely gone. Her skin was pale and clammy, her hair clung to every inch of skin it came in contact with and her eyes voiced a wish of death so strongly. It was so absurd to McKayla that someone would put themselves through this that she shook her head and pushed on for the answers she had come for.

“M’Lady.. You are so distraught, how can I help you?”
“My son...the time.....must change....”
“Your son is coming, I am told this by the messenger, he should be here soon. What is it you must change? Did you fight with your son?”
“No..no..no... the guard, he needs to know....”
“Tell me what it is he needs to know and I will make sure he knows all that he must do in your place.”

The queen began to get a little frantic and McKayla knew that if she got much worse she wouldn’t get anything more from her. So McKayla took the washcloth and dipped it into the basin of cool water, wringing it out some she began to bathe the woman’s forehead and neck. It seemed to settle her some and she began to be more coherent once again.

“Tell me M’Lady...I can get your son the message...I swear it.” McKayla spoke softly, hoping that she could encourage the woman. It seem to work, the queen took a shaky breath and her voice trembled softly.
“In a far away land....there is an evil...an ancient evil. It must forever remain there...and someone must stand watch at all times.....” The woman coughed roughly again and McKayla thought it might be the end of her but it was not yet her time, she merely took a shallow breath and continued.
“There is a log of those who have served and those yet to serve on the duty. The time has come to relieve the current guard.....Someone must tell my son, he will know what to do....”

McKayla was growing more excited by the minute “Bryant, I think your looking for an old book.....maybe unmarked....thick, very thick.....a log of some sort, probably with names and dates of service.”

“Yeah well these people ought to take a giant leap into the twenty-first century...it would make this a lot easier. But there is only a small amount of actual books in this place so maybe we’ll get lucky..”
“Very funny Bryant...back to work.....time is running out.”

McKayla turned her attention once more to the woman, “Calm yourself M’Lady I will make sure your son knows what he must do....you musn’t worry yourself....it will all be over soon......” With that McKayla reached for the dagger in her boot, she could end the woman’s suffering here and now, very easily in fact but she wasn’t sure she could bring herself to do it.

All it took was for McKayla to look at her one more time, and the whirlpool of emotions took over within her. McKayla felt like she was moving in slow motion, each slight movement took an eternity to complete, but really it was only seconds before her hand grasped her dagger and the queen’s throat was slit wide open.

McKayla let her masking go, it wouldn’t be needed now that there was a death in the place. She took one fleeting glance at the queen and shook her head, the expression of shock and gratefulness that played on the queen’s face was a wonder. McKayla thought no more of it and turned to leave the room the way she had come in, via the balcony...

“Bryant the time is short, get a move on it!!!!!”
“Oh yes piece of cake, just hurry and find something I have NEVER seen before, in a mountain of shit. Damn I wish they had a computer.....Oh wait...I think I have found something.....this is it! I found it get out!!”
“Tisk, Tisk...sarcasm will not get you whipped, so just get your ass out of there PDQ while I draw attention away...”

McKayla knew that once it rained it would pour, and not so much to her surprise she heard the door creak behind her. She turned slightly to see the young maid standing in the doorway a look of shock played over the girls face. McKayla could have made it to the girl, killed her easily, but that would have detained her longer than she wanted. She turned back and transformed herself into her hawk form once again as the girl let out a blood curdling scream.

“THE QUEEN! SHE’S MURDERED THE QUEEN, CALL THE HUNTERS!!!!!!”

The words resounded in McKayla’s mind over and over as she flew toward home.
“You best have what we need Bryant!!! Or there is going to be hell to pay!!”


(Somewhere in the records hall)
Bryant didn’t’ think that he could scramble any faster than he already was until he heard the distant scream of a woman. He knew his time to get out was now! He made quick work of stuffing the book he had found into his duffle bag and headed out the way he had come in. Something that had been bothering him since his slower searching effort came back fresh to his mind. That name, he had heard her speak it before, Zyriel was definitely not a common name. Against his better judgement he stopped at the file cabinet he had found earlier and grabbed the file and pushed it into his bag as well. His hope was that he could now manage to get himself out alive and more so that his mistress wouldn’t kill him for what all he brought her....


(In the village of McKayla’s home)
A lone man walked the streets of town, he had heard his call, and knew of the turmoil within his masters village. He was to be on the look out for what his master believed was a vampire, but what would they look like?
He was roused from his thoughts and wondering by the sound of wings and a rustle in the brush. It drew his attention because he was on the edge of the village where no one ventured often not since the death of the O’Donnell’s. Sheer curiosity kept him where he was, peering into the darkness, trying to see what caused the noise. Carefully and quietly he stepped behind a near tree and watched as a small female form emerged from the underbrush. He relaxed considerably when he saw that she would be no threat to him. He watched for a moment longer when more rustling resounded through the still night, another form slipped through the blackness to follow her. A rugged smile crept over his aging features as he remembered a forbidden love.

 

[Shoty98]

McKayla

OOC. Finally I finished......at gun point!!!!!!!!



McKayla sat on a crate in the middle of the box car within which they traveled. The only light came from the flicker of a single candle as she checked over their supplies. Two years of planning made all of this run more smoothly than McKayla could have imagined. It hadn’t taken Bryant too long to decipher the log book to find the coordinates for their exact destination, nor for her to call Frederick, to wire her funds.

McKayla had spent the better part of the morning on the phone tying up the loose and making the arrangements for the boat that would take them across the ocean to Antarctica. It sat waiting in the harbor with an eager crew, they had not been excited about having to wait for the remainder of their payment for when they safely delivered McKayla and her guests back to civilization. But McKayla was no idiot, she knew better than to give them the full half million up front.

The days to come would test McKalya’s patience, Bryant was so eager for his reward, and both were about tired of being on the ship. McKayla and Bryant went over the plans again and again, not only to pass the time but to make sure that everything would go smoothly. They took walks on the deck at night, sometimes gambled with the crew members, and sometimes joined in on their festivities. McKayla had forgotten what it was like to dance and sing and just be normal. To not have to look over her shoulder at every moment, just let loose, it brought back happy memories from long ago.

“Land Ho!” McKayla looked to Bryant and smiled the time had finally come and they were just hours from reaching their goal, away from the possibility of a safer future. All McKayla needed was some patience with Bryant and time to work in her favor. As she pulled on her arctic gear she watched the crew members begin to scurry about preparing to unload when we reached land.

The hour crept by at such a pace it felt more like two days to McKayla, anticipation was swirling with a powerful force within her. Finally the boat docked and Mckayla was the first to step on to the icy tundra, called Antarctica. It took everything she had to hold her tongue while the crew slowly hoisted the crate on to the dock.

After an hour everything was unloaded from the ship, the crate and finally ready to go. McKayla spoke with the captain briefly to give him further instructions and to synchronize their radios to the same frequency. Bryant and McKayla would be going alone to retrieve the ancient while the crew stayed on alert and prepared the ship to launch. Snow mobiles blaring they raced across the snowcapped ice.

As they reached the base of the mountain their paln was now in effect. Mckayla stopped her snowmobile and climbed off, Bryant headed south to go around the mountain. They only had one day left before the shift change and in all reality it wasn’t really the much time. McKayla changed into her hawk form and began to fly up and over the mountain. It wouldn’t be long before Bryant reached the cave and became the bait to distract the Darkaydian, and quite a distraction he would be to a man who was on the verge of breakdown. Lack of blood, lack of civilized conversation makes him an easy target with little control.

Perched on a rock near the cave entrance McKayla watched Bryant put on a magnificent performance and draw the man out side to the cold winters night. McKayla jumped from her perch and began forward to the man changing her form once again as she reached him. Since she had no weapons on her with which to kill him she did the next best thing, she sank her fangs deep into the flesh of his neck and tore it wide open. The Darkaydian gurgled a little as he fell to the ground , his life force flowing thick and red onto the white snow.

“Alright let’s move, time is limited....” This man was of little interest to her now, she only cared about getting the ancient and getting the hell out again before the replacement guard came. Working quickly, they moved through the cave and into the tunnel that had been shown on the map. It took them little time to make the fifty or so feet to the smaller chamber where they found the coffin. The coffin rested on a raised platform and was sealed and locked, none of this would be an obstacle for McKayla since the coffin was man made and didn’t seem to be protected by magic.

Working together it took little effort to get the coffin out of the cave and loaded onto the sleigh. Once it was secure McKayla changed to her hawk form again and headed off over the mountain while Bryant made his way back around. Within two hours they were safely back on the ship, with the ancient and their lives and headed out for sea.

McKayla took some time to open the coffin, with Bryant’s help she forced a tube down the skeleton looking creatures throat and began the process of bringing her back to life, well as close as she could get anyway.

 

[Paendragon]

Darius

He sniffed the air but caught no scent.

The Queen's death had caused a stir in the village . . . much more so than he would have imagined. Enough that every hunter had been summoned, and sent out.

But he had something others had not . . . he had felt the vampire.

It was quite accidental. He had been waiting since his arrival in the village to pay his respects to her, but had been put off. This night was like every night since . . . he would wait, crouched in the shadows, awaiting a summons.

It was there that he felt her flee the scene, and he pursued.

The vampire had taken wing, and moved quickly. Moreso then he would have imagined. He would have attempted to follow, but thought caution was warranted. Now, he was having second thoughts.

The area was still unfamiliar to him, and the terrain could hide bands of the enemy easily. But his caution may have allowed his prey to escape.

"Damn," he muttered, looking at the sky. "I'll find you, dear . . ."

He set out again.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Zyriel

Slowly sensations began to come back to her while she lay in the wooden box. She could feel continuous motion, as if riding on the back of a mule, but it was larger than that.. these movements.

Slowly voices came too, as well as the rushing of blood through her system. It caused a great amount of discomfort but she was too long imprisoned not to appreciate the sensation.

Now! Now I will seek my vengence. Those who had enslaved her in this box would pay with their lives for daring such a thing! What gave them rights to lock a rightful Queen away in some dark smelly box? She groaned when the voices grew louder, but it never came from her throat. Something was there, blocking it, but it was feeding her the life giving strength she needed... And so she rested some more.

Time would come and when the time was right, no mortal and no Darkaydian would be safe...

She came to some time later, again voices were aggitated and angry. Some yelling, but the accent was strange. She recognized the words having heard them before she shut down her system to sleep once again.

It was amazing what she could hear inside her prison, and how often she had woke only to sleep once more, unable to escape the box.

Where was she?

When was she?

And who was screetching like a wounded bird?

She shut down once again, not wishing to listen to such offending noises any longer.

It was night when she awoke for the first time, when she truely could open her eyes and there was no longer something sticking down her throat. She longed to move from the box, the lid thankfully removed, but she found she could not move. She was as weak as a newborn babe.

The Indignity! She fumed silently, her eyes flashing with anger as an unfamiliar face came into her line of sight. A young man.. Had this mere mortal rescued her? Impossible! Mortals were stupid creatures who wouldn't help a soul, let alone themselves. Surely this was not who woke her?

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Jerris

I sat still, watching the sky as the moon rose into it, but it wasn't truly the moon that I saw. Not just the moon, that is. I could see the inside of the club, bright flashing lights, a spinning strobe in the center of the room, sending sparkles of those bright lights everywhere with each turn. A haze fell over this sight, but it wasn't one that truly hindered my sight.
I'd felt something, though what exactly was a mystery still. I was bound by duty to make certain however, even this far from our own territory. I'd been here four days now, and it was only last night that I found my first clue. A body, in an alley near the club in question, with two puncture marks on the neck. Another body had to be nearby, but I hadn't found one. All I had truly found was a reason to stay, not a target, or another victim, or the ever more helpful chain of victims, leading me in a particular direction, but a single victim, a single reason to stay. Well, a second reason, when coupled with the odd sense that evil lurked here, hidden among the mortals and feeding upon thier liviness.
The dancefloor of the club gave way to the sight of the bar. A drink was being ordered, something that would hinder my hunt, but whatever she did while she was there. They were her eyes afterall, now weren't they?
The moon was glowing down, the brightest it had been since my arrival, and fuller too I was fairly certain, noting its continuance in the cycle of time. Soon, it was be full, then it would wane back toward New moon status. Time marched on. I'd seen so many strange moons (they were all strange when you weren't home, it seemed, even if it were the same moon) that it seemed at times I could feel them carrying time forward, making me older, bringing me ever closer to deciding again.
No time for distraction.
The bartender had offered her the drink on the house, with a wink. How sweet. She was headed back toward the dancefloor again, and I saw what might have been the fourth possibility then, leaning against a near speaker, his face grim, unsmiling. A quick study of him by the girl, no doubt a bit unnerved by his presence there, made me second guess. his nose was raw, and he was fidgety. His eyes might have been blood shot, though I didn't have time to see for certain before she was walking again. A junkie, eagerly awaiting his next fix it seemed. No sense for any alarm. Common everywhere, bu tmore so, it seemed, in larger cities.
Come on, I thought. I haven't got more than five hours before the sun comes up...
But I sat still, eyeing the moon as it reached its apex in the sky. I would stillbe visible in the morning I was certain. I'd never seen the sun rise, needless to say, but I knew that, often enough, the moon was still present when it did. Tonight would end that way, with the moon still trekking across the sky as the sun trailed it.
The girl moved across the dance floor. I saw bodies moving in sync with one another, or at least close to it. SOme were moving almost mechanically, as though they had nothing else to do. Some gyrated together, as though mating on the floor while clothed.
Come on...
I was getting impatient.
There...
The fifth candidate for the evening. This one a taller man, with blue eyes and long red hair. No smile on him either, but he had a way about him I couldn't quite pinpoint. He looked around, amid the dancers, not eyeing anyone as a normal man would do in a club, with so many scantilly clad men and women around. He was a predator in that sense, but he was watching, seeking out a candidate of some other sort.
I stood, ready to drop off the building, but halted as the man vanished into the crowd again, and didn't resurface. It might have been a false alarm, some angry boyfriend searching for the girlfriend he suspected had come here with another man.
It didn't feel right, not given the circumstances, but I needed more than to suspect it was him. It'd be a fight afterall, and I couldn't be killing humans off in search of a vampire I couldn't identify, now could I?
I sat again.
As the moon neared the opposite horizon, and the girl met up with a shy guy who'd been at the bar and smiled at her several times as she'd gone for drinks, the man had resurfaced only once, still looking the same, not drinking anything, not being social, others giving him a wide berth that I doubted they realized they were giving him as they passed by.
If I waited longer, the sun would rise before I could finish my business anyway, so I watched as the girl left, moving passed the building I was perched atop with the shy boy at her side, then decided it was time to turn in for the night. Another body would be found tomorrow, I had no doubt, but not here, not this close to his stomping ground. He would come back, I felt certain.
I stood, stepped off the edge, and fell, arms out to either side, soon collecting air in the feathers that came became there and drifted off toward the girl's apartment. The building was large, with storage spaces in the basement that were seldom visited, which suited me fine, given I'd been sleeping there, in the windowless, subterranian level, amid old stored boxes and file cabinets and other things that did nothing but collect dust.
Tomorrow, maybe then, I'll get a better chance to find this vampire. Perhaps a binding with some other human might be more beneficial, even, though I felt the girl had done well for me, all things considered. She'd even tasted good, though she'd never know either fact.
I settled in among the stored items and slept soundly.
Somewhere, out in the city, a mortal soon slept a deeper slumber...

 

[Shoty98]

McKayla

She sat with her feet propped on her make shift desk, finally the hardest part of the plan was over with. The ancient was in safe hands, the rejuvenation process was underway and they were all safely passing over the calm seas.

Sighing heavily, for the first time in many days, she thought that she was now to a point in which she could be more at ease and slow down just a bit. Not too much though for she knew full well that someone would be in pursuit to try and stop them, that fact was inevitable.

Placing her cigarette between her lips , she closed her eyes and took a long deep pull from it. The cigarette it’s self meant nothing to her, like everything else, it did little more than make her smell bad to the people around her. It was something she did just for the sheer vanity of looking cool and sophisticated, as well as the fact that it seemed to be a calming action for her.

Things had gone so smoothly to this point that she couldn’t help think for a moment that they had gone too smoothly and some catastrophe was in the mist. She chuckled softly to herself and shook her head, pushing the thoughts from her mind and going over what was next.
They would steam north and make two stops along the southeastern tip of South America before docking at a small town on the northeast coast. By that time the ancient should be full strength and ready to begin a plan, for now they would follow her plan.

A smile came to her lips, the captain had been reluctant to take them any further than the southern most tip of the country. For some reason or another he didn’t want to be in their company any longer than he had to be. But, with a little red dress, a little leg, a kiss and a little mattress rumba she had had him purring like a kitten and willing to do anything for her. She shivered slightly at memories of the night, the disgusting little cretin was foul smelling and his hands, she imagined, had the same feel as sliding down a sand covered slide...naked.....

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft rustling in the corner, and she couldn’t have been more happy about it. Looking about the room she caught a glimpse of Bryant rummaging in his duffle bag. How that boy found anything in there was beyond her. He pulled something out that looked like a file of some sort and turned to her with a half sheepish, half scolded child look on his face as he started for her.

“There is something that I found that I think you should see....I have been waiting for the right time to give it to you and now is probably good...seeing how the ancient’s rejuvenation is well under way and things are going smoothly. It might give you a better understanding on some things.”

“What is this about Bryant...” she asked him as he set the file before her. She caught the slight glimpse of fear in his eyes and heard his heart racing. This couldn’t be too good a thing if he was showing fear? Could it? Maybe he was just afraid because he had forgotten about it in the rush of everything. That was it she concluded as she reached for the file and pulled it closer to her. She didn’t want to believe that it could be anything else.

Her good mood vanished the moment she read the name on the file, what was the meaning of this? “Why do you have this Bryant? I thought I told you...that..that I was done with her. Done thinking about her, didn’t want to hear her name, or know anything more about why...” she sneered as she hit the table with closed fists.

“You thought?...you thought it would give me a better understanding huh? Fuck that, I doubt that there is a dam thing in here that would give me a better understanding of her or anything, and how this shit pertains to our current situation I can’t fuckin figure....” Her hand hit the desk hard, sending shit scattering upon the floor and with her other she threw the file at Bryant. He cringed slightly as it hit him and then the floor, but stiffened then with his own anger. She knew he was losing control of himself and quickly.

“Why....why are you so self centered that you can’t see beyond yourself mistress....why is it that you can’t open your mind see another point of the story?.....” His words trailed off as McKayla rose form her chair and started for him. Her anger was so strong that she thought that she might explode before she reached him.

“Self centered you say? Were the fuck do you come up with self centered? And how is it that you have come up with a set of brass balls that obviously makes you think that you can speak to me in such a way. A self centered person sure in the fuck wouldn’t keep you alive for a decade, a self centered person wouldn’t have been done with you a long time ago and moved on with someone else.......” She reached him but not before he began to back up himself, words flowing from his mouth like machine gun fire.

“Mistress please forgive me, I for...forget myself. I only read the information while I was searching the records hall.....and..and, the ancient and Zyriel are one and the same. I waited to show you because I knew if I showed you too soon, you would forget your plan and goal and kill her while it would be easy, and if I didn’t tell you before she became recognizable to you, you again would forget and kill her....I...I was only thinking of you mistress....please...” Bryant stammered the rest as he dropped to his knees.

In the mist of his ramblings McKayla had stopped just short of him and watched him...baffled and amazed at just how much fucking thinking he had done. Was she losing her grip on him or was he just becoming the perfect slave she had always hoped he be? Her certainty was not clear. This did however put a very large damper on her plans, how was she to trust and plan with some one that she would rather kill than be near? Someone who had betrayed and abandoned her?

“Shit.....you are in a world of shit right now Bryant, I am leaving before I just go ahead and do away with the both of you. You are not to leave this room for any reason, you’ll stand guard.......”

When he said nothing and just shook his head on acknowledgment she turned and left the room, locking it on way out. As she stormed down the corridor, she closed of her link with Bryant, and thanked god that they were in the deepest depths of the ship. It gave her the ability to walk the daylight hours and stew over her situation, without being interrupted.

In two days time she had only gone back to the room twice, both times to give Bryant food and to switch out the empty blood bags for full ones and to retrieve the file. In that file she learned of some very interesting things that may just help on this quest , so to speak, but there was nothing in there that impressed her too much. It merely verified the fact that the woman she had known had turned into the most self-righteous woman the world had ever known, thought of herself as a queen and all.....

In that time she had also opened back up the link to Bryant, knowing that any day now Zyriel would be coming to. There would be a lot that Zyriel didn’t know and would need to be clued in on, a lot that she would need to learn because so much had changed in a thousand years. As the list of things continued to get longer, Bryant chimed in and interrupted...

“Mistress our guest is awake and looking at me as though I am her first dinner....could you please?”
She laughed aloud because she was a lone and it felt good “Hmmm....I should let you sweat it for awhile....it would be only deserving....” she mused at his dismay “I’ll be there in a minute don’t wet yourself Bryant...”
In minutes she was back in the room and standing over the coffin, the woman that lay there was both familiar and alien to her and only time would tell how this would go.

“Welcome back Zyriel, I venture to guess that you thought you would never see me again? Well I thought the same about you...funny how fate just fucks things up like that isn’t it. Anyhow, that’s beside the point, we have work to do and you have been lying about for a thousand years, and there is a lot that you must learn.....” She spoke to Zyriel in a long ago language that Zyriel had taught to her, not fully able to hide the anger and disdain from her tone.

She rummaged through a large suitcase that she had packed with all sorts of different clothes, unsure when she had done so who and what she would be rescuing. She threw some to Zyriel as she went on. “This is Bryant, he is my slave and property and is, in no way in your control...got it?” She eyed the woman for only a moment longer before she went in search of the fresh meal she had acquired for Zyriel.
In a short time she returned to the room with a young maid, bound, gagged and blind folded strung over her shoulder. She plopped the young girl down on the bed beside the coffin and went to relax in her own chair.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Zyriel

The noise was too much, it stung her ears to hear the constant steady hum of whatever was making that noise. The pitch of whatever they were on was also worrisome to her. Why were they constantly rocking? Who was the face?

A thousand years? Surely McKayla was jesting! Impossible, really.

She sat up slowly, flexing her muscles, her neck and wiggling her toes. She felt tired and very weak. Both were problems that needed rectified sooner more than later.

The ringing in her ears slowly went away, it just took all her concentration to block it out. And McKayla had brought her a little snack as well, she actually had a faint smile on her face as she rose from the box and stood on the hard cold floor.

She gripped the edges of the coffin tightly, knowing that she hadn't yet the strength to walk very far. With the recognition of her weakness came the resentment. Her mind cleared slowly, and she had to admit that McKayla's approximate time of captivity had been accurate. She could not see the lid of the coffin, but she remembered trying to carve into it, tear through it as it was loaded onto a longboat.

They had tricked her, lied to her, brought her gifts and promises of peace only to betray her! She would get revenge, eventually.

Her eyes turned, narrowing in on the slave hovering just out of reach. He held the stench of McKayla on him, that is how she knew McKayla owned him. Pity too, she would have loved a sample or two. But the calling of fresh pumping succulent blood called to her, wooed her craving and teased her hunger. Her fangs lengthened further than natural as she zeroed in on the tied maid.

"Give her to me!" She hissed in the ancient tongue. She ignored McKayla's complaints, knowing that all the chit needed was a roll in the sack to sweeten her tongue. Besides, what matter was it to her what McKayla thought?

The maid fought the hands that pushed her, the slave bringing the young maiden nearer but the fear in his face was growing. Was he worried she would bite him? She would have laughed if she but had the strength.

"Hurry it up, boy!" She spat out the word 'boy', the insult of the term not going unnoticed by any in the room. With a quick shove, Bryant delivered Zyriel's meal and made a hasty retreat.

Her fangs sank deep, her jaws clenching and tearing open the maid's throat. She was of no mind to be neat, her hunger made her gorge much like a pig might in it's sty. Blood ran down Zyriel's chin and chest, it spurted out from the raw open jugular to coat grasping fingers and wrist. Her mouth opened widely and covered the weeping hole, swallowing gluttonously.

And when done, she simply let the corpse fall where it may.

"Mmmmmmm.... sweet.." She ignored Bryant's green edged face and sucked each of her fingers clean. Power pumped through her, by far not enough, but she could stand now without holding onto anything. It was a rush, a natural high that she never grew tired of. She only wished she had more at hand.

Glancing down at herself, she did gape in wonderment at her nudity, and of course the mess on herself. "I need a bath! And proper clothing." Picking up the rough material McKayla had tossed her, a shade of yellow something, she began to wipe the remaining mess off of her torso.

"I am sorry dear. What did you say?" Idle banter, she really had no wish to hear what McKayla had said repeated to her, but she could not completely dismiss the glowering woman neither. "Your.. slave.. Bough was it? Brian?" She remembered something about being asked not to touch McKayla's slave..
"Of course I wouldn't touch your little man servant dear... He reeks of you!... Why that would be like.. biting one self! No?" She flashed a little grin of tolerance and eyed the heavier material McKayla had tossed at her.

"And what is this?" She held the offending material between two fingers, wondering why the arm holes were nearly four feet in length? And then she let her eyes roam over McKayla's form.
"Surely you're kidding with me? A prank? Breeches?!" Her nose wrinkled in distaste as she tossed them behind her. "No silks? Perhaps some of the Egyptian cloth? Surely you are not comfortable wearing that.." her hand moved up and down to indicate McKayla's apparel. "Concoction?"

She moved around the room, trying to adjust her stride as the thing beneath her toes kept pitching to and fro. Particular thing they were on.. A boat of some kind? But it was made of stone.. How could it float? But then again, she was afloat. She stopped to tap her foot against the cold hard floor. "Floating stones?" muttering to herself.

"Curious.." And she was, very curious. She wanted to peek inside the round containers to see what was inside. Some were smooth like clothe, only rough like the breeches McKayla wore. A square thing caught her eye, but she dismissed it for junk since it was naught but silver. Gold would be of more value than a thin little silver item. She tapped her fingers across the picture of a bitten apple, tempted to pick it up and inspect it closer.

If it weren't for Bryant's hurried hiss of displeasure. Her hand snatched back, eyeing the silver thing with a little mistrust. Would it bite at her? He surely thought it was something to avoid, or he was afraid of.. Well it did not matter, she was still hungry.

"Surely there is something I can wear in that... which you pulled those from?" She gave McKayla a sweet smile, but she wasn't asking, she was demanding. Eyeing the silver flat thing with one eye, she gave it wide berth as she made her way around to McKayla. She bent forward a little, peeking into the blackness of the bag. "Something befitting a queen?"

 

[Shoty98]

McKayla

Sighing inwardly, she folded her arms over her chest. How could a woman of Zyriel’s age behave in such a manner? It annoyed and beguiled her at the same time. Maybe the woman was delirious, she had after all been locked away in a box for a thousand years, no... no she was normal, like all the rest of the vampires that she seen in her years.

She watched Zyriel’s antics for a moment longer before she reached down into the suitcase once more. Pulling out more clothing for Zyriel, she made a wide mocking bow for the woman before her and handed her the clothes once again.

“Many pardons...Had I but known that I would be saving a “Queen” I’d have brought more proper attire. But it seems to me in all my studies no one thinks you a queen but you. Again this is Bryant...” She said as she swept her hand toward her servant and his table of things. “He is here to serve and so are his gizmos, though they might be difficult for you to understand they have helped greatly in getting us to you and will help just as greatly in the future, so let’s not break them...Ok? Now if your quite finished with your dramatics, get dressed and let’s get started, we will be docking in two days time.”

Her voice was mocking and she knew it but she didn’t care, the ungrateful woman had been saved and it was though it didn’t occur to Zyriel to appreciate the hard work they had gone to. Well appreciation worked both ways and she certainly didn’t appreciate the thought that Zyriel was a Queen. Shaking the thoughts from her head she went about cleaning up after her new charge.

“This...” she thought “Is going to be more like taking care of a child than I bargained for.”

She left Zyriel to her ranting and with Bryant’s help went about wrapping the young girl up in the extra bed linens. After dark when all the crew members were drunk and sated they would carry the body down to the boiler room and dispose of it in one of the furnaces, easy disposal indeed.

The rocking of the boat was rather calming to her nerves, it soothed some as she began to unpack books, different computer programs and audio CD's from a chest. This would surely be a long process to teach Zyriel about all the things that had happened in the years of captivity.

"Bryant, please calm yourself and be careful....she can't and won't hurt you. You are protected by me and your blood is poisonous to her...." She spoke softly as he fumbled books to the floor. She could feel the fear in him, his heart raced like the wings of a humming bird and his hands trembled like that of the ground when a freight train rolls by.

She gave him a gentle kiss as she set down her pile of things. "Now Zyriel...where would you like to start. I have books, computer disks that go in that little machine right there and I have what they call CD's that go in this little machine...." She picked up the disk man for Zyriel to inspect

 

[Sweetp4u]

Zyriel

Her eyes narrowed as her dander rose up, "I AM QUEEN!" She fumed, her nose shooting into the air as her body straightened ram-rod stiff.

"I created you..I created them all! I am, in a way, their mother.. your mother! By that right alone I am Queen. Do not think you can alter that fact my dear.." Her eyes flashed with her temper, if it weren't for her weakness right now she'd make sure McKayla knew who was Queen and whom wasn't!

"....she can't and won't hurt you....." She thought about telling McKayla that she had understood some of her words to the servant, but she thought it was best not to let on to that fact right away, and so she bit her tongue. Her little mating slave wasn't as safe as McKayla lead him to believe, but it amused her to let them think so.

She was Queen! She was also a might mad at the moment too.

She studied the clothes a moment longer and then dismissed them. She'd rather go around bare as the day she was born than wear that common garb. "Peasant's are dressed thusly, I am no peasant." She stated it as sweetly as she could, walked around McKayla and sat on one of the two beds in the room.

"And what is this.." She tried the odd word, "Dickman?" She held it up, peering at it closely before her finger hit a button. When it opened wide, she flipped it over to peer into the round opening. "What does it do? It's purpose?" She ran her finger over the jewel in the center, curious how they got a diamond flat?

Her features screwered up, her irritation growing. "I want to know everything, I do not like this.. unknowing things.. What year is it? Who is their King? I have but three nights to learn what I need to know, so do not waste my time with idle threats and childish trantrums McKayla." She looked at Bryant a moment, wondering if he could speak their old tongue? It did not matter, if he betrayed her in any way, or she thought that he might, she'd kill him. Regardless of what McKayla wants.

"Show me." It was a command, but she understood whatever these things were would further her education. Then she would begin questioning McKayla further, once she had a firmer grasp on the modern world.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Jerris

Three nights; three different victims.
Just from one club. I had picked up more information, however, from a goth-boy who frequented the club. he was talking to Dana, who'd been my own personal spy the night before. She'd known the boy, and he'd heard of bodies being found at a club on the other side fo town. After a littel investigation, I found that these bodies were suspected dead earlier than those found after leaving here.
Two clubs, both with similar victims. One earlier in the night and the other later. Morning and evening meals in a sense.
I sat atop the same building, watching through the eyes of a brunette named Cindy.
Last night, I'd seen the red-haired man again, and he'd appeared equally suspicious, and I was fairly certain I'd found my prey in him. But for certain proof...
It was later when he came into view, and I took hold then, digging my mind's will into her's and moving her toward him, stopping her in mid-sentence as she talked to some guy.
I moved her a little to his left, making her smile at him, lock eyes with him, then move slowly away.
Bait, I thought, There's nothing more effective than bait.
About half an hour later, he approached her, eyeing her carefully, his eyes not stopping at her breasts but settling on her neck, taking note of where the pulse would be.
I had him.
I stood and dropped over the edge then, letting myself fall until my feet struck the ground and hurrying around to the front of the club. Even then, at nearly 2 o'clock, there was still a line, though it was a short one.
I was inside in minutes, still watching the man through the girl's eyes as they talked. I'd let up on my control some, and she wanted to move away, but I didn't let her just yet. I had to know he'd follow her.
So I could follow him to be sure.
It was a dangerous game, with few rules, but I had to know for sure, and I had to try and stop him from hurting her all in the same process.
I moved toward them, finding them near a table in the back, and leaned against a wall, pretending to watch the girls as they passed.
The man was strongly focused, eyeing her hungrily, making her more uncomfortable.
It wasn't long before he suggested they go somewhere together, and I made a quick judgment and allowed her to say no. She walked away as I let go my hold.
I glanced over, using my own eyes to watch him grin, watching her go.
He'd pursue, I thought. Her disgust was part of it, like he wanted to watch her suffer instead of luring her in with sugar and being done with it.
I bided my time as he hung around, watching her from across the room as she spoke with other men, possibly asking them to walk her to her car to avoid risking the man following her, but in the end, it didn't work. She left on a whim, sent across the club from her unseen witness, and I exited the club first, waiting in a darkened corner of the alley I'd landed in not long ago.
As she left, not informing anyone of her departure, she turned and moved slowly and carelessly away from the lot along the sidewalk. I watched as she came into view, looking in the opposite direction and unable to see him as he moved up behind her.
He grabbed her, and in a quick movement, was in the alley, not by his own choice, but because I moved quickly myself, grabbing him and drawing him out of public view, him pulling her in turn. She stumbled, my hold released fully again, but the vampire, unsure of what was going on but already baring his fangs, had trained his attention on me, perhaps realizing who he'd come to meet. I threw him against the wall, drew the daggar from my sock and thrust it forward in one quick motion after another, digging it into his chest repeatedly. I coughed as I did this, unable to do much to defend himself just then.
A young one, was my guess.
I dug the weapon into his throat, letting his blood spill in thick gushes onto the asphalt, then let him fall and turned to the girl. She stared at me with big eyes, disbelieving what she saw. I took advantage of the binding to still her, to keep her from screaming.
It had gone easily enough, more so than I'd expected. This vampire had hardly been a challenge at all, which I should have felt lucky for.
An hour later, the girl walked out of an alley nearly three miles away, trying to remember how she got there. I went back to the apartment building, having dispensed of three fair-sized garbage bags in as many dumpsters and left a fist-sized secret on top of the building I'd spent the last few nights perched atop.
When the morning sunlight struck it a hour or so from then, the last ight's work would be complete. Tomorrow night, I would be headed for a new city.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Lyssa

The gavel pounded heavily on the desk as the chaos of the room continued to be out of hand.

“Silence!” One of the elder Darkaydians barked out the command as all eyes swung to the front of the grand hall. Seated from left to right were the four counsel members, Petora who was an Aunt to the deceased queen, Jaque who was an old retired warrior, Miguel who was a distant cousin to the deceased king, and Sven who was a healer and teacher. It was Sven who had rapped the gavel to gain attention.

“We must find answers!” someone in the back of the room hissed out.

“The heir is still missing as well counselor.” Another spoke up.

“We will see to these things, but first we will question Lyssa.” All eyes turned to look at the young companion to the queen.

“Now we know there is troubles, and yes we know the queen was slain. As well as the library was broken into and a book stolen. But until we have some idea of whom to track down for this, we can not proceed with success.” Sven’s judgement had never proven them wrong in all the years he served under his King, it wasn’t likely to start now.

“Counselors..” Lyssa was exceedingly nervous with all eyes on her. It had taken her two days just to calm herself down enough to even begin to explain what she had witnessed. Healers had some in just to help Lyssa meditate, learn once again to control her overly sensitive emotions. “I left the queen’s side for no more than a few minutes to see to some herbs that would help ease the queen’s pain…”

“Yes, yes. We know.” Petora was impatient and wanting answers, not details.

“Well when I came back into the room, I caught sight of this.. woman.. She changed forms ..”

“Into what form did she change?”

“A.. A hawk.. I think.”
“Think?” Miguel did not like that word and it showed clearly on his face. “One must be certain, think harder Lyssa.”

“I am sure it was a hawk sir..” She flushed, nervously her hands began to twist in her robes. “It had to’ve been a vampire Counselors… I have never seen her before, nor since. She had the scent of a vampire, but I believe able to mask it for it was only a brief moment I could smell her scent. But she did not drink from the Queen. Merely slit her th-throat and left..” Tears once more made a path down Lyssa's weary face.

“And you did not give chase? Why?” This was from Jaque. “Did you attempt to heal the queen?” Petora demanded in anger, the elder woman’s hand fisting on the table top.

“She was gone Counselors.. Her spirit had departed almost instantly..” Lyssa knew why, the queen wanted nothing more than to be with her spouse, she did not wish to linger in an empty broken hearted world.. Not that this would matter to the Counsel. The queen did not die naturally, she was stolen from them.. their heir still lost as well, things weren’t looking too well for Lyssa.

“Did you get a description?” Sven’s eyes watched and studied Lyssa closely for any false statements would show on Lyssa’s face, in her heart rate changing.. Any lies would be dealt with swiftly.

“I saw.. She was wearing dark clothes. Had dark hair and sharp features. She.. She was young in appearance.”

“Anyone else?” Sven spoke up so the people in the back could hear him.

“I.. I saw someone lurking outside the O'Donnel's home not far from here..” A portly man stepped forward, one of their servants, his hand clenched in his hands before him. “This woman I spied, met a man and entered the home. She too was wearing dark clothes, but I thought nothing of two lovers meeting.” Marcus halted in his path, watching all the eyes now focus on him. “I thought nothing of it until after I heard of the queen’s murder. The girl appeared to be no more than a child and harmless.”

“Have you gone back to see if she was still there?” Sven’s steel gray eyes didn’t even blink as he stared at Marcus.

“Yes, I went back the next evening but the place was empty. I did find evidence someone was there .. there’s that and also reports of two bodies discovered in the woods outside the home.”

“All the evidence points to a vampire, we know this much. But we do not know why nor whom.”

Petora stopped paying attention as a stooped older woman came into the room through a side door and whispered something into Petora’s ear. With a nod, the old woman left , Petora’s attention turning back to the assembly. “We have found out that the missing book… “ She turned to look at Sven with a very unhappy face. In a softer tone, “They’ve taken the log book. Not just any log book, but the one that tells the schedule rotation and where abouts of an ancient.” Sven’s eyes darkened as did many men’s in the room. “They’re trying to free Zyriel.” A few sucked in their breaths as they heard this news, a few remembering quite clearly just whom Zyriel was.

“We need volunteers to go, as soon as possible to Antarctica.” Sven cursed fluently in the old language. “We need to know if Michael is still alive and the ancient still entombed.”

The clamor in the room began once again as some asked who Zyriel was and what this meant while other’s instantly started telling the tale of the would be vampire Queen.

“Silence, Please!” Miguel banged the gavel this time as a few men stepped forward to volunteer. “We also need some to find the Heir.”

 

[Shoty98]

McKayla

McKayla knew that she couldn’t change any facts, but it didn’t mean that she had to like it. “You would do better not to command me like one of your servants, like it or not I am nearly an equal to you...”

Her tone was a little gruff as she went about putting the first disk in the disk man. That woman could push her buttons so easily that it infuriated her, she had to find a way to let things go in one ear and out the other....at least the unimportant things.

The next days went the same each throwing little barbs in between lessons. She was even more irritated because she had been confronted by the captain more times than she could count on one hand.
”Kayla! I can not run my ship properly when my men are distracted by a woman who insists on parading around naked all the time.....!”
She had apologized to the captain each time and had had words with Zyriel a number of times about this, however it did little good. The woman would only blow her off and fiend interest in the clips she had watched three times already.

This evening she had searched out the captain to find out how much longer until they would hit land. What she found should have made her completely angry, but had somehow amused her a little. The captain had no complaint for her about a naked woman running around his ship distracting his crew, on the contrary he commented on how beautiful the evening was and what a pleasure it was to have them on board.

She laughed as she left the captain, finding herself in a new dilemma, she had but four hours more to figure out how to get clothes on Zyriel before they docked. Only one idea came to mind that she hadn’t tried already....force... She had tried convincing Zyriel, pleading, rationalizing so far to no avail. It looked like she would in fact have to use her last resort.

She rubbed her hands together and grinned ever so slightly, “After all these days of sheer boredom, I will in fact have some fun.” She put her sweetest smile on and headed back to their quarters.

Quietly she entered the room and lock the old door behind her. Slipping the key in her pocket she headed first toward the trunk which held the clothes she had brought. She skimmed through and found the most appealing pair of black jeans, a gray baby-tee that said bite me and under garments...that could hardly qualify as garments.

“Oh Zyriel....” she said sweetly. “It’s time to get dressed, we will be docking shortly.” The snort Zyriel gave her, made her nearly slip up with giggles. This was definitely going to be fun. She started towards Zyriel with determination set hard in her face.

Zyriel waved her off with some vague comment about she was too busy to be bothered and that she was not going to have this argument about clothing and nudity once more. “Oh I am afraid you are highly mistaken this time. You see you have distracted the crew, done something to the captain I can’t quite put my finger on and possibly blown our cover. You WILL NOT walk off this ship in a few hours butt-ass naked.”

At that point Zyriel finally turned from the computer that she has had so much interest in and looked at her with amusement clearly written. It was evident to Mckayla that Zyriel thought merely that she was playing with her.

She smirked at Zyriel as she rose from her chair and turned to face her. McKayla read in her face and stance that Zyriel did not believe for a moment that McKayla would or could force the issue with the ridiculous idea of clothing.

McKayla knew she stood some chance of coming out on top because the fact that her opponent was not at her fullest and much smaller than herself. But she would not delusion herself to think that she would come out of this unscathed.

“We can do this the easy way Zyriel or the hard way the choice is yours....” Zyriel’s amusement seemed to be fading at that moment, the tick in her jaw gave it away.

“Bring it off...” A little scowl marred her face.

She rolled her eyes “It’s bring it on!! You twit!” The words slipped passed her lips as a snit, this woman! Couldn’t even remember a simple phrase correctly.

“Yeah whatever...” Zyriel ground out with a little smirk. The words were hardly out of her lips when McKayla lunged for her. An audible gasped resounded in the room as McKayla grabbed a hold of Zyriel’s arm and pulled her close. McKayla was stunned when she found herself flying backwards over the trunk, her face stinging from a very well landed and powerful back hand. “That bitch just hit me!!!!!!!?” She looked up to see Zyriel’s smirk growing into a full fledged grin, dusting her hands off as though she had just hit the most disgusting thing in the world.

“How dare you touch royalty in such a manner!? I’d had hoped you’d be smarter than a door post.” With that she turned back on her foe and went strutting off toward the door.

At this point McKayla was infuriated but also amused by the fact that Zyriel was heading for a locked door through which she could not escape. McKayla gathered her strength, her temper and Zyriel’s clothes and bolted after her. When she reached Zyriel she made her own remake of the humans “Slam dancing” and threw her whole body into Zyriel’s sending her crashing face first into the door.

McKayla let up for just a second to flip Zyriel around to face her. “You are getting dressed....like it or not!” she huffed as she held the woman to the door. Without batting an eye Zyriel’s right heel came down hard on McKayla’s foot causing her to cry out in pain. Not once though did McKayla let go of her, she merely looked at Zyriel with an annoying look of amusement. “That all ya got all mighty queen!?” That proved to be the wrong thing for McKayla to say and she found this out as Zyriel head butted her sending her sprawling backwards on to the floor.

For another few minutes the two women wrestled around the room, sending things crashing to the floor and each other into the walls. McKayla could sense that Zyriel was weakening with every blow. Her time was coming and soon she wouldn’t be a problem for McKayla to deal with…at least for a little while.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Zyriel

Her eyes were narrowed in on her would-be target, if only she could draw strength from some where and kick that little pain's butt! Her hand brushed irritably at her face, feeling something sliding down her cool smooth cheek. Her hand came away from her face and her eyes glanced down, wondering what could be bothering her there?

"You... YOU cut me!" She hissed at McKayla who was equally bruised and bleeding. "You best hope this does not scar!" She really wished she could get off that damned floor and hit McKayla just one more time.. that's all she needed, or so she believed.

"Yeah, well you hit me first." McKayla growled back with equal menace. "I told you, we're docking. If you want to leave this ship..."

"I HEAR YOU!" Zyriel barked right back, all that was left with any amount of energy to function. She really hated being this weak... Grugingly she could admit that McKayla packed a punch (she was loving the new language cd's she was listening to) that would fell anyone. She hated that fact too, which made her glare more at McKayla.

McKayla held up the clothes she still held in her hand, her brow cocked slightly. Like it or not, she was going to have to give in.

I hate those things already! Resigned to her fate, she did not put up a fight any longer, but stood up and thrust her chin stubbornly into the air. "Fine." Her face stung, sulking about it wasn't going to make it better, but she still would not forgive the impudence of McKayla's actions.

She stood stone still and silent as McKayla dressed her. Much like a little child would do with a doll... This is so demeaning! her eyes narrowed again, tempted to punch McKayla just for the hell of it.. No, another brawl wouldn't solve anything.. But once she had power and gold again, she could do as she damned well pleased.

"It itches.." She whined, her nails digging into the cup of.. "What is this evil contraption?!"

"A bra."

"It itches.."

"I know. you've said that already."

"Well I don't like it." Zyriel knew she was wearing McKayla out, she just knew it.. It made her grin sadisticly. Next came the shirt and jeans. "This material leaves something to be desired. Are you certain people wear this?" Her haunty tone could not have been mistaken, she was implying McKayla was dense upstairs in the thinking department.. Really, who would wear such garments willingly?!

Dressed and pack, she followed McKayla and Bryant topside, her fingers constantly scratching at some part of her exsposed skin.

"The sun is set, yes?"

"Yes!"

It should have been obvious to Zyriel, for she was awake and walking around, but she kept having this nagging feeling inside that McKayla wished her harm? She did not understand why she felt this way, but that look McKayla kept giving her was a small sign of unhappiness.

Should she play nicer?

I am queen! I don't have to be kind to servants.. But still, she was without her home and her guards.. Perhaps it would be wise to not antagonize McKayla for awhile? "Gods, things are going to be boring that way!" She sighed heavily and let them lead her around like some misbehaved child.

"Where are we?" Her curiousity was aroused as she took in the new sights, smells and sounds. Everywhere she turned she could hear the hard pumping sound of fresh living bodies. A soft groan escaped her lips as her pupils dialated slightly.

"Do not.." McKayla warned softly, but with clear instructions. She could not feed yet, and that too made her sulk. Almost tempted to tell McKayla to stuff those orders up her eye, she kept in step instead. "I am hungry..." She moaned, her voice husky and seductive sounding. Although she spoke the broken language of english several men near by heard her purr and turned to smile. Their dark skin always interested her, but it was their blood she wanted more.

Bryant told her where they were, pointing to a map and explaining a little how Zyriel had been captured not far from this location thousands of years ago. Once she learned of this, she had no choice but to play by McKayla's rules. It took convincing but she finally managed to get Mckayla to agree to go to Zyriel's old home. It halted their trip by a few days, but arrangements were easily made.

Zyriel gloated while McKayla groused about altering their plans until Zyriel told her why they were going.

"My Palace has many secrets to it. If it has not been laid to waste? Or been.. what is the words? If it has not been raped, there is much wealth there." She jabbed her finger in Bryant's direction, "If what he claims is truth, I have.. piles of gems and gold hidden there."

That alone was interesting, but McKayla was a little doubtful it would still be there if it were true. It took only hours to arrange a guide and trucks. They found sacks and protective gear incase they were there beyond sunup. They would only spend the day in the ruins if they could not make it back. It wasn't a long drive and with it being a tourist attraction, they easily gained entry.

True to her word, Zyriel lead them through many catacombs. "I have a.. disguise? on the door.." Between Zyriel and McKayla they got it unlocked and entrance to the vault. Gloating, Zyriel pointed out all her gifts from her people, and the stories carved within the old room. "These tell the.. story of my life here. How important I was.."

"Yeah yeah... Help get this out of here." Bryant grumbled as they filled three sacks with treasure. They fell into silence as they worked, resealed the door to keep humans out and made their way back to the village. It was close to sunrise when they finally were beneath the decks of their new transportation and heading towards Paris.

IN the days of sea travel, Zyriel continued to watch movies on dvd, read the news or current events and learn more of the english language. Not willing to take on french and english, she passed on the second language and stuck with learning slang.. which Bryant was all too happy to help her with..

Confined below decks, the tension was building more and more as Zyriel was forbidden from mingling and suffered through detailed lectures from McKayla to their purpose now that she was free. Admitting that McKayla was right was as bad as sucking on sour lemons.. Bryant told her this expression when she faced off with McKayla yet again. By the time they docked in Paris, things were finally understood... McKayla was organizing the vampires to prolong their lives and Zyriel was determined to have her Kingdom and title back.. and not to mention, ignore McKayla's wishes unless she fully agreed with them.

With a little grin and two flustered companions, they stepped onto the dock to rest as Zyriel stared at all the lights shining over the night sky.
"This is where we shall have our .. what's the word Bryant?"
"Base?"
"Yes, base. There are many here! Can you not feel their life's pulsating around you?" Zyriel's face was lit up with pleasure but Bryant was really in agreement with Zyriel's view of the new city.
"It smells like sewage, can we go now?" Bryant's complaints were wearing on Zyriel's nerves, she longed to bite him.. just once to shut him up! Damn, another new 'rule' she wasn't allowed to do.

"We need to discuss these rules McKayla.." She grumbled in the ancient language. She really really wanted to teach that boy some manners!

 

[Light Ice]

Meanwhile, in Paris

The differences between London and Paris were fairly distinct, and fairly few. While the last century had certainly brought a miriad of changes upon the landscape, the 'City of Light' still held many roads that were yet paved with the heavy coblestones that had been cut from the Siene's bed almost a hundred years ago. An archaic maze of sewers and crypts stretched out beneath the French Capital.

When the river swelled parts of the city stunk, a musty stench loosed by the water that seeped into the nitre lined caverns. Some said the stench could be partly blamed by the methane trapped in those dank caverns, methane that had built up slowly over the years when the crypts were still filled with decaying corpses.

Cross knew, vaguely, of the difficulties between the Darkaydians and the Vampirics. In truth, it hardly mattered. The bad blood between them had been birthed long before his time, and would sustain itself long after. He was a mortal, and by this, he had almost immediately come to realise he had no true business in the matter.

Or rather, he had no business if he picked a side. If he kept an open mind to whatever proposals came his way, he had business indeed. Lucrative, to say the least.

And while the money had proven tremendous, he'd learned that he'd never be able to really enjoy it. With both sides not exactly keen on his escapades, on his work, a low profile had been adopted and held. He certainly didn't want to end up like the majority of mortals that leased themselves to the immortal industries. This was about business, and money, and neither served you in the afterlife.

So he was told.

And so, while he had indeed escaped London's SoHo streets and travelled across most of the known world...

Rarely did he ever venture on the more pleasant sides of town.

Making Paris his home had proved more difficult than he had imagined. At first, the size of the city had attracted him. He'd assumed, incorrectly, that the population would help mask his identity. The truth had made itself known the first night he'd arrived. The same reason he had travelled here, others had travelled here. Over time he'd learned how to tell them from others, subtle hints in their features... the way they looked at you. Vampires, they were enigmatic creatures, and that was being generous. In Paris, they were downright bold. Whether it was the 'target rich' environment, or the thrill of teasing the Darkaydians who kept a half-interested eye on the area... he was alarmed at how many and how proud the dark ones were here.

Most vampires were not organized, and certainly not social. Years of hunting, the need to hide during the day, had left most with a feeling of vulnerability. And while ferocious, they were equally cautious, and Cross had adapted strategies depending on this in the last few years. Now, and here? Well, as he eyed the streets that lay before him, casually walking through the Art District, he was currently attempting to rethink his approach.


Flicking his cigarette with the pad of his thumb, sending a cascade of vermillion embers that flickered and danced as they fell to the ground, he was left perplexed with the attitude of those around him. And, more importantly, he could feel something. Something was building, even now, and it could be felt through the air. A vibration, an anxiety. He wasn't very intouch with any of the more mystical properties of the immortals... but he was certainly able to read the 'people' in them. They were waiting for something.

And whatever it was, it was sure to bring violence. Tension always did. And with that tension came opportunity.

Opportunity, he liked that word, it went well with 'money'. Smiling now, he took a long drag from the Marlboro, eyes flicking over the pubs as he passed them. He couldn't risk going inside, not until he found an 'in'. Always armed, walking into an establishment with firearms wasn't exactly easy, or safe, unless you'd managed to earn that privledge with the club owners. Just in town, he hadn't yet, but it was a priority. Besides being a steady supply of liquor, and women, pubs were a hotbed for information.

That's alright, he was still feeling this city out. And he was pretty sure it was still trying to get a feel for him. So far, he'd managed to survive all of the troubles and jobs he'd found himself.

Without a focus, and without a job, Cross found himself out of ideas or motives. Aimlessly, he walked the darkened streets while the artists hawked their works. They'd abandon the benches soon, night was peaking, and it'd be too dangerous to remain out. And when they did, he'd take up the vigile, watching the quiet underbelly of Paris. Waiting, like the vampires he'd encountered here, for the tension to find a breaking point.

And when the tension broke, he'd be there, like a good little soldier. One hand on the pistol, the other on the blood money that got him from one week to the next.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Zyriel

It didn't take long for Mckayla's contacts to pay off, by the end of the night they had aquired a building and lands, passports and identification for safe passage. Zyriel took the top floor for herself and left the rest of the three floors to McKayla and Bryant to deal with.

She was given a magazine to go through and pick what she wanted, being told Bryant would go and secure everything that she would require. All she had to do was circle the picture and the rest would take care of it's self.

She was given a homeless man for a meal and then left alone to wander the empty rooms. She was also under orders to remain up there, the sun would be rising soon enough. Workers were 'bonded' into doing labor at a very rapid rate to secure all windows and sunproof everything.

And still she yearned to go outside, to see the world and hunt. Soon enough her powers would be at full strength and then no one would stop her.. Her eyes narrowed a little as she thought about all she had lost and now had to regain yet again. She missed her servants, her lovers and most importantly she missed the devotion she was shown by all her 'pets'. Loyal because of fear, true.. but they loved her.

She curled up inside that aweful box for the last night, tomorrow she'd have a bed and she'd burn this thing to the ground... but until then she had to be safe.. The soil within the coffin would also need to be transfered to her bed, but that was a small task compared to what the coffin they locked her inside did to her mentality.