The Devil's Own: April 2008 - July 2009

[Angelique]

Infernal Bishop

Adriel coughed softly as some wind blew into the room looking down at the blood in his hands. Outside the window the darkness clouded all, save the yellow flames of torches that roamed the streets of Eastern Britain. He stood in a small room, though well built, a girl nude sleeping on the bed behind him, the sweat that covered her body dancing in the candle light. Adriel stared out the window his eyes a pure and deep emerald, though darker then their normal composure. His hair was dyed black, and he had untied his ponytail for the night. For all the innkeeper knew, and the tavern owner, he was just a traveler The Wayfarer’s Inn was built for such people, those coming in and out of Britain for whatever business they had, and cheep enough for commoners to afford. A bonus was that the tavern, the Salty Dog, sat across the street from the Inn, far enough for drunken lovers to stumble and purchases a room for the night. It was an ideal hunting and playing ground for a creature of Adriel’s status.
The air around the two buildings though had a strong presence to it, a heavy filling that diluted the minds of those whom traveled to and from. A strong urge that fall upon them to fulfill their earthly desires, each sensation gnawing at them till it was filled. It was his mistake, the slow break down of the area after the lore of desires drifted into the air one to many times. The training seasons over time placing only more power and potency to the break down. If it was not that the area was so close to the Chamber of Virtues, who could know how far it would spread into the city.
Adriel coughed again as the wind drifted from the direction of the Chamber of Virtues, with it the holy faith it carried burning deep into him a cold sweat breaking on his brow. He turned around closing the window looking to the beauty that shared his bed this evening, the girl he had meet not to long ago during his trainings, the hidden beauty. He had waited a long time for her to regain enough strength and faith for him to safely feed from her, and he had made sure it was a very good feeding. Slowly his mind raced the two sides of him clashing on conflict once more.

“It will only worsen the situation here.”

“I have to feed to live though…”

“I where ordered not to continue the training…”

“I am not training… I’m just feeding”

“And my orders not to continue my patrol of Britain..?”

“I am not looking for the Baali, simply checking in on my handy work…”

Adriel smiled softly, he closed his eyes letting the faith within him flow as he felt the air around him reaching out for the sensations it held, two… no three pairs of lovers where in the building not counting him and his pray, one married the sensations dulled threw years of uncreative sexual nights; two drunks their sensations heightened unnaturally by their drink, and a pair of men, the taboo and excitement in their faith indicating they must have been secret lovers, confining to this Inn at the late hours to fulfill their passions. He smiled softly filling the presence of those in the building with him, living to fulfill the desires within their hearts. Slowly though his mind grew darker, the face of the Baali within its background.

“The Baali…he is the one stopping me from obtaining more power…”

“He could be in this very city and I would never know…”

“…He serves my kin, another fallen… one whom fought with me in the War”

“Fallen commanding inhuman creatures for their ends….this reeks of atrocity that happened back then…

“The atrocity…something I can never allow to happen again…”

Adriel looked over softly as the girl on the bed yawned and looked up to him opening her eyes smiling pulling the covers softly over her nude body her blush only faintly showing in the room’s candle light. Adriel smiled softly as he moved to her side laying down next to her, no words need be spoken, only their lips where needed as the meet softly and full of passion, the hunger within him stirring.

“I can’t risk taking more.”

“Just a little…bit. More…”

He broke the kiss and smiled softly at her, his will pushing the hunger within him down, as he gazed into her eyes. He moved slowly in for another kiss, letting his lips hover a inch away from her own, the faith in him twisting the air as the girl’s eyes grew heavy and slowly closed in sleep. He watched her for a few moments, his mind thinking softly on the years he had fought for humans, standing with his kin in defiance of the creator for the freedoms of the human race, and now how he walked among those whom he had fought for and those who had betrayed him and his kin sending them into untold millennia of darkness. Now the same atrocity that had ended the War so long ago loomed in his mind once more, he knew it was not the same, this vampire was only a pawn, a simple thrall, but still the resemblance was disturbing.
The Baali had to be gaining power from the infernal princes some how, directly or indirectly didn’t really matter to him. The very fact the princes of the abyss were working in a harmful manner towards his family, the clan, filled him with rage. He bit his lip, he had visited the glass chamber within the abyss many times, whispering the nature of the Baali into the vast darkness which was the realm of his kin, hoping that a whisper of its master would reach his ear, as of yet none spoke of it, many not even knowing what a vampire was, even less of whom could gift the undead with such talents. Even the house of the creature’s master was in debate, it seemingly could be a thrall for a first or seventh house denizen, the voices of the abyss in the end knew nothing that could help him yet, many though the news Adriel had brought did stir a few in the abyss he hoped would find something out.

Adriel sighed as he stood slowly and made his way out, walking quietly across the street to the Salty Dog tavern, sitting at the bar among a few other late night customers, ordering a drink and breathing in with pleasure the smell of various smokes and liquors which filled the air. Someone had just stolen some coins from another, the excitement in his heart reaching into Adriel as he softly looked over to the thief as he walked slowly out of the bar. He thought for a moment to stop the man, but a seconded thought warned him not to cause a scene. The drink soothed him, calming him letting the urges within him dull slightly and the memories of his angelic state remind him of whom he really was. It all was crushed quickly as a deep sick filling passed over him.

The bastard child of lust and hate flowed into his blood, the pure desire of power sickly mixing into a dark thirst. Adriel leaned over putting a hand over his mouth his eyes growing dark as he once again broke out into a cold sweat, he knew what this was. The aspect of desire that made him into a true monster, the stain from the first time eternally stuck within his being, of when a man had forced himself into a woman’s bed. He jumped up quickly moving swiftly from the bar looking into the dark night sky his power flowing quickly now as he felt for it. The Inn, top floor…the room he had just left. He didn’t remember how he had gotten upstairs unseen but he had some how managed it. He forced the locked door open hearing the muffled screams for help.
He had slashed at her chest with a dagger, trying to silence her screams, she had fought back, and hard, nail marks lined the man’s face a back as he tried to restrain her. Thankfully he had not gotten far in his dread act, being to close to Adriel to hide his desires. The man looked as shocked as the girl did looking like a stunned deer at Adriel his hand trembling back to his dagger as he stood facing him.
The girl moved quickly to get behind Adriel hiding her face in his side crying softly in relief at her savior. He looked softly down offering her a comforting smile as he whispered softly, his voice now much darker then she had remembered it.

“Go on now my lover, I will handle this…”

With that she fled, he looked slowly to the trembling man, his presence growing darker as he slowly let his true form unfold his tail closing the door. The man turned to run, though here he would have run Adriel didn’t know, he did know he wouldn’t let this one get away, not one whom had threatened one of his vessels of faith. The man hit the floor hard, his legs gone numb, it had been no hard work on Adriel’s part to negate the nerve endings in his legs, nor was it a hard task to numb the nerves in his voice box as he man tried desperately to scream at no avail. The image of a demon advancing upon him claws like onyx flexing softly. Adriel’s voice pierced the man’s soul like fire, with it filling him with the faith needed for the night’s games.

The dawn had left no traces of what had transpired the room spotless, a girl with some gossip about her black haired savior she had bumped into at the tavern and spent the night with. Though if someone was to search the bottom of the ocean floor off the East Britain cost, they would only find the remains of what had once been a man, twisted by unnatural pains and nightmares. Only the fear of a demon’s wraith remained forever in his corpse’s eyes.

Adriel sat softly on roof of the watchtower of the clan, his eyes looking over the snow filled valley…

“Am I any better then the creature I hunt…?”

[Angelique]

Chapter 28: The Thief

Kraven stared blankly at the black king, the single chess piece standing alone on the game board. Suddenly he was called from his thoughts, the door to his office swinging open as a group Baali entered, dragging a nearly dead man behind them.

"We got him" one of them stated, releasing the man to the floor with a thud.

"You made sure to keep him alive, yes?" Kraven said, standing from his chair slowly and moving to them.

"Yeah, we made sure not to break anything vital, just took out the knee caps." one of the other Baali stated, looking down at the groaning mortal.

"I'm going to need a knife, and a cleaver capable of cutting cleanly through the wrists" Kraven said as he stared down at the dying thief.

"Where do you want us to leave this one?"

Kraven looked to them a moment then back down at the thief, before turning and making his way back to his desk. "I have no doubt Britain has increased their number of guards ten times over since the recent assassination. Take him to... lets say, Minoc." Kraven said, sitting at his desk slowly. "And we're not letting the traitors find this one... I'm going to let them start finding my bodies again when I'm ready to make my next move, but for now... Take him there a single hour prior to sunrise, then move to a dark location other than here." Kraven leaned back in his chair slowly as he eyed the black king on his desk.

Kraven narrowed his eyes at the chess piece, cursing Azrael in his mind. "I don't know how you managed to dispatch the prior Baali... but I assure you, I don't play fair... and before this is over, the little time remaining in your unlife will be warped into your own, personal hell."

[Angelique]

Chapter 29: Reports

Kraven snapped his fingers, a tiny orb of fire manifesting on the tip of his index finger. He drew the flame near his face, the glowing fire flickering in his eyes as he carefully lit the cigar resting between his lips. He inhales slowly, drawing the flame into the cigar before letting the fire orb at his finger tip die.

Kraven leaned back in his chair slowly and exhaled a thin cloud of smoke. The cigar had been found on the thieves person. An object of vice, bought with stolen currency; it tasted of sin. Kraven looked to the cigar with smirk on his. "Perfect.." he commented before inhaling from the cigar again.

"Mischief, Rumor..." He spoke mentally, donning a more series look upon his face. "Report. Rumor, tell me of the thief."

"Well..." Rumor said, speaking through the telepathic link. "He was left on the edge of town and found by some horrified farmers. They chose to hide the body rather report it, for fear of being accused as suspects".

"Mischief, have you seen any of our little friends snooping around Britain?" Kraven said, leaning back in his chair as he inhaled from the cigar casually.

"No, but there is something strange... A daemonic presence. I can always feel it in this one specific area around an inn. Humans around it act strange, sometimes they steal, sometimes they fight, most of the time they go to the inn and go at it like rabbits."

Kraven raised a brow slowly. "Good work. Now I want both of you to start breaking into inquisition offices and searching for any files mentioning the name 'Azrael'".

Kraven rubbed the lit end of the cigar into the table, extinguishing the flame. "What are the odds that sinners would be drawn to specific area after I have spent time searching that city for nothing other, than sinners...." Kraven rubbed his chin slowly as he pondered to himself. "I don't know what motive the shadow lords would have in this... It needs to be looked into...".

[Angelique]

Chapter 30: Questions

"Do you have the hostage?" Kraven asked over the telepathic link, sitting safely in some far off location behind his desk.

"Yeah, some young woman like you said" One of his childe responded.

"Here's what I want you to do... My imps have detected a daemonic presence in the city, around an inn and tavern. It is causing mortals to sin. This daemon is not an ally of mine. I'm sure any one of you can tell this is a trap, and a poorly disguised one. I want you to take positions within the inn. My imps have already sealed the windows from the outside. Make him talk. If he doesn't, injure the girl. If he still doesn't, kill her, and grab a new hostage from inside the inn. The building is just north of you." Kraven stated firmly.

He leaned back in his chair slowly, eyeing the chess board in front of him. Three pawns on his side of the board, and one on the enemies side. He was going to use three of his childer to question this daemon. He had received word from Rumor that the daemon had been spotted inside the town this very night. It was time to get some answers.

It was some time before one of his childe called to him mentally, asking what they should question the daemon about.

Kraven grinned slowly, they had subdued the daemon successfully, then. "Ask him why Azrael has betrayed our agreement..."

Kraven sat in his office patiently. He had selected these childer for their fighting ability and common sense, he knew they were handling themselves well.

"He's not saying much... he knew who we were right away, that’s for sure, then he started playing dumb. He claims daemons are just talking about us like random gossip, that he doesn't know anything about Azrael." The childe reported.

"Is he serious?" Kraven thought to himself. "Who the hell does the think he's trying to fool with this pathetic excuse for a lie? I spend months hunting liars.... to pick out the very best among them for my ritual, and he thinks I can't sniff out an obvious lie like this?" Kraven snarled to himself quietly.

"He just killed the hostage...!" One of the childe called out to Kraven.

Kraven narrowed his eyes slowly. "He's not going to talk... Take him outside, beat him senseless, offer him a final chance to tell us why Azrael had betrayed us. Leave him alive, though... Hm, and burn down the inn when you leave, it will offer a nice message to Azrael for his pathetic attempt to bait me with an even more disappointing, rotten excuse for a daemon."

Kraven leaned back in his chair slowly. "I'm calling you out, Azrael... You can't hide in the shadows forever if you want to play against me."

[Angelique]

Chapter 31: -- Broken Wings --


Adriel slowly drew in a deep breath from his cigarette, the smoke flowing into him the essence calming him, before he let it out in a jet of smoke into the night air of Eastern Britain. It had been a long few nights since he had returned from the Abyss, within him the hunger stirred driven not only now by need for survival, but annoyance.

“I am a demon, and I am treated like such...even by master..”

“Do you blame them?”

“Yes.”

Adriel sighed slowly, a long stream of smoke flowing from his mouth out and under from the
kasa he had just acquired. The two sides in him where restless, each with their own view and each fighting to determine which view was more suited for a demon. Adriel slowly looked up to the Wayfarer Inn and smiled. The felling of his energies within the air eased him, and slowly his mind began to forgot the troubles of home.

“It is to quite...”

“It is... and something...”

“Yes... something is off, the air is thicker with pain tonight...”

He looked into the doorway slowly, his face safely hidden under his kasa, his eyes settling on the empty desk where the inn keeper should have been. For a moment he hesitated to go in, something in his mind pulling at him to just go find sport and drink else where, but the pride in him would not allow him to flee from his own hunting grounds because a desk was empty.

“...”

Footsteps, Adriel turned to look down the hall way as a man approached him, a crossbow in hand. But it was not that which worried Adriel, he had seen many in this inn bearing weapons, most out of drunken rage or stupidity, but this was difference. Adriel studied the man, and the man studied him in return.

“The air about him...have I felt such sadistic tendencies before...”

“No... the pain in the air, this man, something is wrong...”

The man asked Adriel to remove his kasa lifting the crossbow a bit as if to say he meant business. Adriel refused the offer.

“This is my hunting grounds...do man will order me here... especially at bow point.”

He was getting annoyed now, he could fill the hunger within him slowly mold from longing to a painful heat of anger, his pride grinding in the back of his mind. Slowly he drew in another breath from cig before spitting it to the ground, the emerald crossbow appearing in his hand. Something was growing, some realization in his mind just out of his consciousness’s grasp. They exchanged more words, taunts and questions each yearning to control the air between them. That all stopped when a girl showed up, the begging of Adriel’s folly.

The girl approached them silently at first before speaking up to the man, asking him to let her go. Adriel watched as the man yelled at her to go upstairs, threatening her with her life. With another glance he told Adriel he was not worth his time, and followed the women up the flight of stares.

“What insolent...arrogance.. !”

“The girl..”

“I will not allow this, not while I hunt here...”

His anger was getting the best of him, he had for to many nights now been told of his status and weakness, he would not allow some thug to do so in his face. He followed the man stomping his feet his pride swelling with each step the demonic underflow filling his body. He kicked the door open they had entered and stepped boldly into the room.
The man stood his crossbow pointed to a young woman, a face Adriel thought he had seen before around the Inn, perhaps a worker. The girl that had came down the stares quickly got behind Adriel closing the door.

“Something...is not right here...”

“This man... seems to know to much of me by glance...”

That’s when it happened. The realization coming threw to his mind. Quickly he looked over his spirit filling the air for distortions in the fabric. There...one...no two traces beyond his own.

“Daemons...small, perhaps imps or lessor..”

“Daemons...this air of dread...the girl...the door..this man...”

His eyes widened, at the realization, both parts of his soul speaking in unision.
“Baali”

A figured advanced on him from the shadows reaching for the crossbow, Adriel moved swiftly backwards his wings and tail unfolding from him as the crossbow melted away, he grunted as he hit the wall.

“Shit”

The figure was clocked in dark garments, his face hidden, and the girl, who had asked to be let go from downstairs, now help him pin him in. Adriel growled softly, watching them, it was not fear that drove him now, only hate. The one holding the crossbow lifted the girl and threw her to the wall, the girl crying and whimpering, the emotions she felt flowing into the air and around Adriel. Adriel lifted slowly his kasa to show one pitch black eye to the vampires which now surrounded him. Slowly his hands moved down grasping something within his belt, but the dark figure moved quickly his weapon on Adriel’s neck before he had realized it, knocking the flask from his hands.

They asked him of Azrael, and of some pact or agreement he had broken. Adriel grew silent, his mind racing.

“They know of Azrael ... this is bad... I could..”

His thoughts cut off as the girl yelled in pain a bolt sinking into her knee. Adriel slowly looked to her, and realized what position he was in. His eyes settling darkly on the man with the crossbow.

“I don’t have a clue what your **** is spiting out.”

The man seemed amused as well as annoyed at that, but Adriel was determined now, it was a issue of pride and loyalty. No man would force him to speak whom treated him as such, and no man would make him hurt his family.

They exchanged more words, jolting back with more questions and more lies from Adriel. Each jest the man, or the girl would send bolts or magic into their hostage, the emotions of her suffering flowing into Adriel almost like a weighted cloth being tossed at him stinging him to his core.

“This can’t go on.

“No, it can’t.”

“The girl...”

“She has seen my wings, my form, she is to dangerous now.”

“I cant kill her..”

“I must kill her though...she is dead here...even if I speak they will only torment her to death”

“...”

The evoked crossbow was in his hand and fired before the vampires could have moved to stop it. Adriel was not yet a perfect shot, but at that rang and with that large of a crossbow it didn’t matter, the girls suffering ended quickly as the bolt hit true into her. Adriel smirked as he felt the vampire’s anger and annoyance as they jumped him. Their attacks where swifter then he had thought they would have been. The dark one’s blade, the girl’s magic, the man’s crossbow, all their attacks hit him at once like a great wave. Adriel coughed blood flying into the air as his body hit the wall.

“Heal..heal...”

He couldn’t, something of the attacks was disrupting the faith within him to flow into the wounds, Adriel’s eyes narrowed.

“How...?"

“They worship one of our kin...I should have thought he would aid them..”

They dragged him outside, throwing him to the wall. The man with the crossbow asking him once again to tell of Azrael. Adriel only smiled, asking his own questions, that in turn only pissed the man off.
Adriel’s body screamed in pain as the crossbow bolts entered into his wings pinning him like a bug to the wall.

“Kill one...do that for our family...”

Adriel lifted his hand slowly all the faith in him pouring into his fingers, blood running down his face freely now.

“One touch...that’s all I need..”

“I will tell you anything you want to know...for my life...” he spoke softly.
The man studied him for a moment and smirked, he wasn’t going to bite. He shoot him again in the knee cap, before telling the others to burn the building down.

They left soon, the building behind Adriel ablaze, the flames licking at his back. He reached slowly to grab the bolts, his hands felt like iron, his fingers reached the bolts and fell away as the pain shot threw him.

“I am going to die here... burned.”

“I can’t allow that.

“What must I do.”

“Survive, our family needs to know they are own to us...”

“But how...”

Adriel didn’t realize what he had done till his body hit the floor, the tail resting in front of his face showing the blood. The numbness of his wings removed filling his body.

“I had no choice...”

He crawled slowly, the heat of the fire reaching closer and closer to him, till he got to the girl’s body they had dumped. Grabbing her firmly before the spell took him away, back to the safety of the clan.

“I have failed... I was weak... I couldn’t handle three damn peons of the baali..”

“How could I have joked thinking I could kill its master...”

“I have..failed... I need..more..power...”

“I will...have revenge...”

As he hit the snowy grounds of the clan’s lands, a single word flowed into his mind, his name...

[Angelique]

Chapter 32

She lay floating in her tub in the Asylum. The water pink from washing the blood from her body that had stood out in deep contrast to her alabaster skin. The weeks events echoed her body, as if they were bits of floatsum and jetsum on the river of voices and thoughts that constantly ran through her head.

Murmered recitations from the recleuse reading in the cell behind her wall

Her familiar hunting and visiting with her shiny knight outside of Trinsic

distantly, quiet musings of her bee as it searched for a voice out in the world

Colette's disapproval at her lack of willingness to let go completely and fly over the edge

The Baali. One or many? Were these the creatures of her nightmares that stole breaths and blood alike in her dreams? Would they shatter the mask to bring about terror and chaos? Was the attack in Adriel circumstantial, or was he being followed in the shadows and selected specificly to try to garner more information. In his report to the sharp shadow they had asked about Azrael. How much did they know of the clan?

The unprovoked attack of her brother in Istas from two of the Tree Kings men. Is this why the man made items in the garden had turned to shades of death? Was it a portend- a sign she had missed in her wanderings?

The loss of Adriel's wings. Could he still fly without them, or would he wither in sadness at their loss? Did the injuries scratch the surface or were they deeply rooted?

The Clockmaker had made himself scarse. Did he still dwell there. Had he made time to garner permission to stay in Istas? What kind of clock would he make her? What made him tick? Did he have a spring loose or was he tightly wound?
These things and more filled her mind. Never silent. A cacophony of sound making it difficult to focus or even sit still. A symphony of whispers.

How does one remove a specific drop of dew from the river once it has fallen from the leaf?

[Angelique]

Chapter 33: In the Interest of Security [part one]

I was patrolling the city when I came across droplets of blood and the heavy sent of more being nearby. I followed the scent to the haven of Elsbeth, deeply concerned for the woman I pounded loudly on the door to get her attention should she be hurt inside. Relief and then cautiousness flowed through me as her voice rang out to enter. Inside I found her binding the wounds of Adriel. Taking a position near him as Elsbeth continued her aid to his wounds I began questioning what happened; while we spoke Amelia arrived and Marcus soon after.

Adriel had gone to a favourite stop in East Britain for a drink, The Salty Dog tavern. Later entering the Wayfarers Inn looking for a common prey, he sensed a lack of faith in a man there, and when another woman with a similar feeling mentioned keeping a woman hostage, Adriel followed them upstairs. Adriel was jumped in the upper hall and taken to the room where they had the woman. They began to question Adriel and with each lie he told they hurt the woman more. They questioned him about Lord Azrael, mentioning an agreement he had broken. Adriel used his own crossbow to end the woman’s suffering and her captors turned on him, his wings were pinned to the wall, he was shot several times with a crossbow before he was set on fire. I cringe to think of him cutting his wings off to escape the flames… Adriel took the woman’s body and managed to use his magic to escape his tormentors.

The Baali targeted Adriel, and they knew Lord Azrael’s name… I had a sick feeling I knew where they got it. There was much to clean up this night to maintain the Masquerade. Tension was running high and in the wake of what had taken place Marcus, who didn’t know I had already been in contact with Lord Azrael, started making uninformed demands. The Lord and Lady of Istas were not available, they would send word to me when they were. Marcus’ urgency was misplaced, as running to them would have him waiting out in the snow with no one there to speak to. In my frustration and concern for another of our clan, Aravis whom I had fought beside in the Hodja, who would be feeling similar pangs of distress as I did when I lost Dart to the attack of mortals; I lashed out at Marcus, behavior unbecoming my position. The lines between our two positions in the clan were becoming blurred.

Once satisfied with what Adriel could tell me, I knew he would need rest, he was property, and my concern for him lay in his Regnant, Aravis. We moved him to his room in her Haven and then clean up of the nights events began. Marcus, Elsbeth and I moved down to Aravis’ craft room where Adriel had left the woman’s body under an animal skin. The room would be cleaned of her presence and I gave Elsbeth a runebook of my own design, places marked specific to attend to tasks to maintain our anonymity, the Masquerade. I pointed her to a spot the body would not be discovered and instructed her on how to dispose of it completely, she was to report back to me when her task complete. While there Marcus and I managed to relieve some of the animosity that has been building. Apologizing for the scene in Elsbeth’s haven. While doing so Lord Azrael contacted me, he and the Setess were at Elysium and able to see us to hear what had taken place.

[Part Two]

The meeting didn't take long, Marcus and I detailed the events, the only interruption was Elsbeth returning my runebook and letting me know her task was complete. Our task in the end was to observe the remains of the Wayfarer Inn looking for any trail to pick up. Marcus and I didn't find one. Before leaving Elysium I spoke to Marcus about my suspicions regarding Father Valmar, and how the Baali knew Azrael's name. Once we were certain the trail in Britain was closed, Marcus and I headed to Minoc to check on the Vampire Hunter. I am comfortable with hiding in plain sight, being visible and behaving like I belong in a situation so attention is not drawn, I don't think Marcus is as comfortable with my methods... I walked up to the door to Valmar's cabin and knocked, if he was there he knew we were in the area before we approached his door, there was no point in hiding. The door greeted me with silence, Marcus and I slipped inside and indeed it was empty, though I could feel the priests belongings still in the room. The table made me uneasy, his ankh pendants... I told Marcus he could keep those. I did find a stash of silver stakes, and smiled greedily as I pocketed a few. The hunters hunted, Valmar would one day meet me at the end of his own stakes I thought to myself. The thin layer of dust on everything told us no one had used the room more than likely since Xander and I paid our visit a few short weeks ago. With nothing left to see in the Cabin, Marcus was growing weary, as the night drew on and left me to return to his haven. I wasn't satisfied...

Sol was drawing close, I could feel the beginnings of tiredness creep up on me, however there were a few farmers who had begun their day before dawn. I took some time to question them about Valmar being missing from his Cabin. The farmers grew uneasy when I mentioned a friend from the area was missing, even more pensive when I mentioned the time frame for seeing him last, something troubled them and I needed to find out what. I feigned distress over loss of a friend and the farmers finally caved, they had found a body... unknown to them a Baali victim. I had them describe the body, and what was done with it, the farmers had done our work for us, out of fear of being accused of killing the man themselves they destroyed the body instead of reporting it. They managed to remember the pentagram, the missing heart, the numbers 05/13 on the man's arm and that his hands were missing. To relieve them of their concern they had destroyed my friend when they mentioned his hair colour I feigned relief helping them believe the man they found was not my friend, but still having all the information of the fifth Baali victim... The Thief to take with me from the conversation.

It was going to be a race now between Sol and myself as to who would make it home first, one of these dawns I am going to tempt fate one too many times and get caught somewhere I can't hide from Sol's rays. On that fateful morning Sol will call out triumphant that he caught another night walker reducing me to a cinder; deep inside though I know it will be a glorious sunrise for anyone watching... anyone but me. Already growing weary, I recalled to Istas as the colour of the sky began to change running to my haven as fast as my feet would carry me sliding in the secret door, rounding into Penny's room and into my cell. I sat in the dirt of my cell grinning as Sol's fury breached the horizon, I could hear him now blazing his way into the day sky, almost instantly I fell asleep his sound ringing in my ears. When I awoke at sundown, I was greeted at the door to my cell by Efanor... his silent tirade about my lack of caution always stung, how a man could say nothing and speak volumes was a mystery to me, one I wished I could learn the secret to. We shared breakfast, him cheese and fruit, me a glass of his vitae and said more than nothing in the silence, even his mind was vacant in his tirade; I really pissed him off this time. Sorrian walked through and with his high pitched voice and knowing grin as his eyes settled on Efanor then back on me, mentioned he would laugh for days when I finally did myself in... I could sense from Sorrian his chest tighten, a fear inside even through his jest... feels good to be loved...

After eating Efanor cut my hair and dyed it black, Father Ashelton would get a visit from Paedoewyn tonight, looking for further information on her donations to Father Harron. In his office over a quiet cup of tea I broached the subject of Father Harron and was surprised that Father Ashelton readily told me about Valmar seeking him also. I wasn't sure where to turn to pick up Valmar's trail and guessed to start back at the beginning, it paid off. After tea, I slipped into the nights shadows and made my way to Father Harron's shack, the same place Valmar was sent. As I approached my instincts told me something wasn't right, and I discovered what inside. Blood... scorch marks... the Baali had been here... Valmar must have come out of retirement for them to bother with tracking him, cost him his life not to leave it to us. The dead can still talk, I knew that, but what did he say before he died? What tattletales did he leave behind? Softly the words escaped my lips,"Did you give them Azrael's name Valmar?" There was nothing left of Valmar in Harron's shack, I returned in the shadows to Minoc and Valmar's cabin taking the worn boots from under his bed, "if nothing else I can have your **** summoned and you can tell us what you said," I spat leaving for home. I shook my head finally reaching Istas, everything in the interest of security, everything to maintain the Masquerade... What would the world be like if we weren't here needing to protect ourselves, just how much would people suffer if those like the Baali were left to run free...

[Angelique]

Chapter 34

The wind howled incessantly outside, intermingling with the baying of the wolves in the distance. The combination of lack of heat, light, and the silence was enough to drive any sane person to madness.

She felt as if her flame was dying, withering away against the onslaught of sluggishness and the cold of the mountains.

In her mind she knew exactly the reason for her imprisonment, but it was disbelief that she had been caught. And deep down, the raw knawing was really the thought of being betrayed by Adriel.

An eye for an eye, supposedly - she had wronged him. It was only fair for him to do the same.

Where was her master? Kraven? Inside she longed for his blood, for the taste of power and unsurpassed ectasy he offered. But outside, she hated him for allowing her to be caught, to be locked away.

Curling up, she wrapped her arms around herself - longing for the warmth only her flame could provide her.

A flame that would soon be forgotten, lost in the verges of the bitter, winter winds.

[Angelique]

Chapter 35: A Glass named Brandy


The fireplace crackled lightly, in the dim warmth of the office of the curator of Istas Museum.. Xander sat at a small table, legs propped atop its surface, leaning back in one of the two chairs, facing the hearth. His hands were cupped around a shallow brandy glass filled no more than fourth of the way with freshly warmed brandy-wine, that rest in his lap, atop his legs where they remained propped, and the flames continued dancing in the hearthstone.

“How much time did they really have?” , he wondered.

The Baali was continuing in its painfully slow task of murder, with the most recent victim being discovered only a few nights ago by the team sent into Umbra, of which Mister Rayne had been a part.

Scourge Cane had received a tip from an informant that a body matching the modus operandi of the murder victims had been found in Umbra, and was taken to the healers.
Beyond that he had little else to go on , and passed the information along to the Essess for further investigation.

The Seti had sent in a small unit, consisting of Essess Do’Ghym, Tulia Nieves, and Xander, to act as forward scout. None knew what to expect , but with the recently bold attack on Aravis’s retainer in Britain, all assumed the Baali intended to use this opportunity in a similar fashion.

Xander breathed in slowly and took a long drink from the brandy glass before looking to the fire once more. He wondered how long they could keep this up, chasing after dead bodies always too late to do anything about it. He knew he would be the last to know of any plan, if ever. The Clan didn’t operate on anything but a need to know basis. But still, he wondered what the plan in all this was…what kind of game was being played between the Seti and the Baali?

“Is it a game?”, Xander wondered in a soft whisper aloud to no one in particular but the crackling fire. The thought sent chills through him. Every piece, one more life to be lost…
The worst part was the nagging feeling deep within him that both side’s pieces were painted as black as the cold night.

His thoughts drifted back to their arrival at the Umbra gate, where Lady Nieves stayed hidden with a vast and powerful array of magic’s ready, while he and the Essess scouted into the city. He entered the healers building first, creeping carefully through the shadows to the interior, and there he saw a man, with a black knife, standing over a body that had been quartered into pieces. Xander covered his mouth and shook his head, carefully maintaining his position as the Essess neared the building. Telepathically he communicated the scene to her, and curiously one of the Iron maidens opened. An odd looking undead creature began to step out, armed and armored, before quickly being bidden to return to it’s resting place with a wave of the hand of the cloaked figure near the body. Reluctantly it seemed, the creature did what it was told. Xander looked to the other iron maiden not far from the first in the corner of the room , and slid carefully through the shadows to investigate it. Within, he could hear the faint rustling of another creature, though he could not tell whether it was alive or undead like it’s counterpart.

Telepathically he said to his regent, the Essess, “It’s a trap. One of the creatures laying in wait, has already stumbled from its hiding place, and another waits in the iron maiden beside it, armed no doubt.”

Laeldril continued to scan the body on the table, noting the tell tale signs of the removed heart, though the usual numbers could not be seen from her vantage point as the forearm, or what was left of it lay number-side down on the table.

“Withdraw to the moongate, we will regroup in safety and report before continuing in the operation,” she said softly to Xander in his mind.

“Yes Essess,” was his only reply as both withdrew to the gate, and to the still wating Tulia. The trio moved quickly through the gate and to the city of Zento laying just on the otherside of the Tokunese gates. Laeldril withdrew a bloodstone and whispered softly their findings to Azrael who listened at his matching stone in his haven.

The information regarding the body, the description, and the waiting trap was relayed quickly, and for nearly a minute complete silence as the three waited from Azrael’s voice to reply from the stone with orders.

“Do any of you have parchment and pen,” the trio looked at each other a bit confused for a moment.
“No Ilharn, but we can get both in the city here,” Laeldril replied motioning to Xander, who left quickly for the provisioners shop.

A few minutes later, Xander returned and handed them to Laeldril who took up the stone once more and said softly, “We have the parchment and pen as requested.”

“Take a notation,” Azrael answered through the stone. Laeldril lifted pen to parchment and began writing…

“Now leave the note for the trio in plain sight, and make certain all of you withdraw completely. Do not engage. No one is to be left behind Essess,” Azrael replied.

Neither Xander nor Laeldril remained longer than it took for the robed figure to turn, noticing the note on the nearby table behind him, seemingly spurred on by some kind of communication from his allies lying in wait. Quickly they headed back through the shadows of the city, and with Tulia, made several untraceable stops before finally returning to Istas.

The note had read simply:

To whom it may pertain,

While we appreciate your interest in removing us, as your… ‘enemy’, I am afraid a less public display of your ‘handiwork’ is in order. The removal of the heart in this case, and it’s relative visibility, does indicate you are one step closer to completion and I commend your…tenacity.
However, my operatives are disinclined to walk into a trap. Perhaps the blue skulled creature, armed, in wait…should remain hidden in the future. It was a commendable effort however, …in the future perhaps you will actually live up to your predecessor.

Or indeed…hire more capable help.


Signed ,

- the man who “betrayed” you





Xander shook his head slightly finishing his drink and looking to the fire once more.
It was a game for the both of them. The Seti and the Baali. This was a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils…

Xander sat the glass on the table top as he wondered, which side any of them were really on. Before coming to Istas he reacalled being told more than once about Azrael. Listening to those speaking in Everthorne, and even the now closed Knights Rest Tavern.

The reply was always the same, “they call him the devil you know,… Azrael.”
For all the twisted truths about the man, there were underlying grains of fact. Reasons for the fears of those abroad.

Xander looked to the fire, left now with a simple question as the hours grew late in the dim glow of his office. “Is it against Devil’s we struggle…or are we the Devil’s own?”

Neither of the two disturbing possibilities would bring Mister Rayne sleep.

[Angelique]

added part two to chapter 33

[Angelique]

Chapter 36: Mercy is not for failures.

Kraven read over the letter a second time, snarling darkly. “I don’t know what’s more depressing… The fact that you failed me, or that you actually thought we wouldn’t find you afterward…”

The young necromancer coughed a bit of blood onto the floor of Kraven’s office, laying weak, half dead and surrounded by a small group of Baali.

Kraven narrowed his eyes as he looked from Azrael’s letter and to the necromancer. “I purposely didn’t sire you when you enter my employ. As a necromancer, I knew you would be able to use undead to aid you… Your aura is that of human, your dead minions, should lack an aura all together. I planned this so they could not sniff out a trap through supernatural means… I hadn’t counted on it failing simply due to your incompetence.”

The dying necromancer looked up slowly, half his body was covered in burns with various slash marks that had cut deep. “I… I used a spell that would make them more violent in nature… so they would be more effective for the ambush, but… they got anxious… the spell made one of them too thirsty for blood, it wouldn’t stay in position, it…”

“Enough” Kraven snarled under his breath. His gaze moved to one of the Baali standing over the necromancer. He nodded slowly before turning to his desk, a dying gasp echoing behind him.

“Did we underestimate them?” Rumor asked as he looked to Kraven, sitting at the edge of the desk.

“Not at all.” Kraven stated blankly. “Infact, Azrael has underestimated –me-. In his attempt to gloat, he has revealed information that was only assumptions before. He has outright stated that he is indeed the one pulling the strings. Also, if word has reached him that he “betrayed me”, then indeed, the daemon in Britain was his, and an attempt to bait and capture me. But, most of all… I never actually said anything to any of his agents about my predecessors that I can recall… At first I had thought that possibly the letter was meant to let me –think- that my assumptions are correct. But, if I have never mentioned my predecessors, and he claims to know about them…”

Rumor let out a bored sigh, looking around the room.

“Do I bore you, Rumor?” Kraven asked, his eyes narrowing.

Rumor looked back to Kraven quickly, attempting to appear more serious.

“Why am I ever sharing my more intellectual thoughts with an imp? Go search Skara again… see if you can find my daemon we’ve misplaced.” Kraven said in an impatient tone.

Rumor hopped from the desk and took off flying about half way to floor, flying out the open door as the group of Baali dragged the dead necromancer away.

Kraven sat at his desk slowly, narrowing his eyes at a candle flame. “Hire more capable help…” Kraven muttered to himself, quoting Azrael as he set the letter down. “Wish granted”.

[Angelique]

Chapter 37: The Council

Voices echoed quietly throughout the room. The chatter of various conversations between the seven Baali sitting at the table and their body-guards filling the air until all sounds were silenced by the creek of the main doorway, Kraven and several of his own guards entering shortly afterwards.

Kraven sat at the head of the table as his eyes moved from one Baali to the next, carefully considering each of the seven Baali who had reached the rank of his council. The seven council members sat upright, nodding to Kraven as their body-guards took a few steps from the table and took their place against the wall, standing motionlessly like statues.

“I see everyone is here… let us not waste time getting started, then…” Kraven said in a calm voice. “Perhaps the first issue we should discuss is the loss of our recent contact… As most of you may already know, some time ago one of my imps located a daemon in Skara Brae, upon questioning, she was revealed to be the mate of the daemon we attacked in Britain. Despite this, she seemed eager to aid us in our efforts to put daemons and vampires on top, and humans below, where they belong… She gave us a bit of information on Azrael, most importantly… that his town is located in a mountain, somewhere in Malas with permafrost covering the ground. However… she is no longer responding to any letters nor have my imps been able to locate her again.”

“You think she was discovered?” One of the council members questioned.

“Perhaps.” Kraven responded simply. “Which could be a problem. I should have dispatched her after gaining the information I needed… If Azrael has questioned her, then he has my face, name, and knows we have his general location. He may have increased his defenses, or in the worst case, fled and left a trap in his would-be mountain town.”

“Perhaps we could send scouts…” Another council member questioned.

“I have not decided yet…” Kraven said after a moment. “If Azrael finds a spy on his borders, well, if he wasn’t preparing for an attack before, the discovery of a scout will guarantee bothersome preparations to fight us off.”

“Another vampire is likely to be caught, as all kindred can sense each other’s presence, especially in their own havens and personal territory” One of the council members spoke out. “But perhaps your imps would have better luck.”

"I’m not sure how well such tiny creature’s native to fire will be able to hold together in freezing terrain…” Kraven said as he rubbed his chin. “They can’t confirm vampiric presence with complete certainty, either. But… I know they can spot out other daemons easily… Perhaps if the daemon we attacked in Britain spends time within Azrael’s borders, the effort might not be entirely fruitless.”

“There is another matter we need to discuss, Kraven…” A council member stated in a low voice. “You say they have your name and face… Perhaps it would not be unreasonable for you to finally name your heir to the clan should you meet an unfortunate end.”

“It is true, Kraven…” Another council member said, looking from the previous speaker and to Kraven slowly. “Everyone on this council other than you is of equal rank, power and standing within the clan. Should anything happen to you, chaos could erupt as no one will hold the right to take your place.”

Kraven’s eyes moved from one council member to the next, each staring at him in quiet anticipation. “I request from each of you a resume… and a vial of your blood… Have both delivered to me by week’s end, you are all dismissed…”

The seven council members looked to each other before standing slowly, their body guards moving from the wall and to the sides of their superiors. Various thoughts raced through the minds of the council, but every thought was based around one concept that intrigued each of them. One of the seven of them would have the opportunity to take control of the clan, and all it would take, is Kraven’s “unfortunate” demise.

[Angelique]

Chapter 38: Kraven's Will

Kraven drifted his stare from one map to the other, gazing at different mountains of northern Malas. “None of these have quick access to blood… Where the hell are you…?” Kraven looked up from his maps as a rather insistent knock began to beat at the door of his office. “What?” Kraven snarled loud enough for his visitor to hear.

The door swung open and seven Baali entered the room, Kraven’s council. “You’ve had plenty of time, Kraven…” A Baali at the front stated in an annoyed tone. “Who have you chosen?”

Kraven narrowed his eyes in an evil stare. “I’ve already chosen… it’s on the wall there” Kraven motioned to a large scroll pinned to the wall, a circle of strange runes carved into the wall around it.

The seven council members looked to the scroll quickly, their eyes starting to narrow into an irritated expression. “Do you find this joke humorous, Kraven?” One sneered as he looked back to Kraven.

“What ever do you mean?” Kraven asked, a small grin appearing on his face.

“We demand an heir… and you give us a scroll with nothing written on it!” Another council member growled.

“There is plenty written. Infact, the scroll is my will.” Kraven stated firmly. The seven stared at him with a mixture of confusion and impatience. “It is written in my own blood. The wording will only make itself visible… upon the event of my final death. It contains the one of you that will be my heir and the six that will be sentenced to final death…” Kraven said as he watched them with a calm gaze.

“WHAT!?” One of them shouted out. “This is an OUTRAGE, how DARE you think you hold the right to-“

“Protect myself from power hungry childe?” Kraven asked as he interrupted the council member. “If I state outright which of you is to take my place, I can assume that my heir will slay me to gain the position. However… now my death, is a gamble. You only have a one in seven chance of gaining my throne, and the losers will be treated to a blood hunt.”

“Oh really?” Another council member snarled as he moved for the scroll, reaching his hand out. “If you honestly think you can just- ARGH!!” The council member pulled his hand back, an unseen force burning at his hand and melting skin away as he touched the scroll. His eyes widened as he started at his hand, his jaw trembling slightly from the pain.

“The runes are marks of protection, I’m afraid… attempts to tamper with them or the scroll will result as such. Thank you for the demonstration, I’ve been meaning to test it for awhile…” Kraven said as he nodded to the council member with the burnt hand, receiving a hateful stare in turn. “Not to fear, though. In the event of my death, the will can still be read safely from distance.” Kraven stated as his gaze moved back to the main group. "I doubt my heir will be so unloyal as to not carry out my final wishes, but just to ensure that the blood hunts are carried out... the final details of the ritual are included in the will, written in a mixture of the blood of the six who were not chosen. This wording will only be revealed, once the blood hunts are completed, and all six have met final death. You are all dismissed.”

The council member with the burnt hand began to growl in a darker tone, moving closer to Kraven slowly. "I don't know where you got the nerve to do this, but if you think you can just-"

"And just what the hell are you going to do about it, hm?" Kraven asked with an amused look. "Kill me?" He stated with a nod to his will on the wall.

The council member looked between Kraven and the will slowly, withdrawing back to the group after a long moment.

"That's what I thought..." Kraven said calmly. "Now... You. Are all. Dismissed." Kraven snarled as he pointed to the door of his office.

[Angelique]

Chapter 39: Haste

Kraven gazed over files laid out on his desk a second time before looking up. “And the imps?”

“Almost ready sir.” The Baali replied. “Although their blood bond to you broke sometime ago, they have still been showing withdraw symptoms. Their behavior has improved tremendously, though. I believe the worst is over and soon they can be trusted for the mission.”

Kraven nodded slowly “I knew our blood was addictive… perhaps the blood of Baali is even more enticing to daemonic creatures like imps. Have they been too much trouble since I cut them off?”

“Well, keeping them locked up as you instructed wasn’t easy, given their mischievous nature and the unique talents they posses. Mischief of course relied on his shape-shifting ability and we had to construct a cage that he couldn’t slip out of by turning into a snake or mouse and flattening his rib cage; then he started turning into a slime, and oozed acid excrement to melt his cage, so we had to move him to a new one every night. Rumor took on your voice on several occasions and tried to “throw” your voice down the hallway, shooting orders to release him and Mischief.” The Baali said plainly as he kept eye contact with Kraven.

“I’m glad you kept them from escaping. Once they can no longer be detected as retainers I’ll send them into the mountains near Luna and hopefully confirm vampiric activity. You may return to your duties, now” Kraven said as he motioned to the door.

The Baali nodded once before turning and leaving the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.

Kraven looked down at his files again, scanning from one candidate for his ritual killings to the next.

“Kraven…” A voice echoed through the room.

The Baali nest master looked up from his desk and narrowed his eyes, eyeing around the room for the intruder. Suddenly his eyes shot open wide, a sensation of burning fire flowed through him. Kraven collapsed onto his desk and tried to let out a horrified, painful scream, but found his voice had been muted.

“Kraven…” The voice spoke again, louder this time.

Kraven’s veins were starting to bulge and turn black, the rest of his body going more pale than normal. “What is this pain?” His mind screamed as he writhed against the desk. “How is it I can endure this and not lose myself to the beast!?”

“Because there would be no point to punishment, if you could not consciously be aware of it.” The voice spoke out clearly now, deep and demonic.

Next Kraven was robbed of his movement. He could still feel the pain, like his flesh was being burned from his bones, yet he lay motionless in a limp heap against his desk. “Punishment… for what…?” Kraven thought in his mind.

“You have failed to complete the ritual. Your sacrifices must be fresh, Kraven. Yet you put priority aside to plot a feud against another clan of kindred.” The voice snarled to Kraven. The room seemed to become darker with every word the daemon spoke.

“He is the one that murdered of last clan of Baali; a threat to the ritual. If Azrael is allowed to live then…”

“Silence. A “threat” to the ritual? That “might” stop its completion? Kraven. You actually HAVE stopped the ritual. You DID prevent it from being completed and did Azrael’s work FOR HIM. Do not bother begging. I will explain to you how this works. The world is in a near state of chaos, we would prefer the ritual be completed as soon as possible, rather than take the time to find you a suitable replacement. You will complete the ritual. You will do so with haste. And you will offer yourself as the thirteenth victim, the soul stealer.” The voice said gravely.

Fear raced through Kraven’s mind. Even in his thoughts he couldn’t find anything to say.

“You are operating on borrowed time now, Kraven. Do as we wish, and your punishment may be lightened when you arrive down here. Start the ritual over again; complete it from start to finish on OUR schedule. Do not fail us again. You cannot even comprehend what punishment awaits your failure.” The voice slowly faded as it spoke, the room returning to its normal lighting and the pain vanishing from Kraven’s skin.

He stared at the desk for a long moment before slowly looking up, startled by an hour glass that had not been there before. Black grains of sand poured in a steady stream from top to bottom. Kraven knew what this meant. His immortal body now had a life-span. He guessed that the sands would be pouring for a few weeks time. Surely tampering with the hour glass would do nothing. The hour glass itself would not kill him; it was merely a message to let him know how long he had.

Kraven closed his eyes and spoke out to one of his council members through blood bond. “Bring me the old files for the ritual… we need to collect the second best for each category that we found… Be silent and do not question me. I need to think…”

Kraven’s jaw shuddered lightly with the current options in front of him. “But what of Azrael? He is not the prime concern, but his forces may still hinder what we plan to bring through the gate. I have only one option… the imps will be sent as planned and gather information while the rest under my control gather the victims I need. As the final stage of my ritual approaches… I shall send every available Baali I have in a direct attack, weakening his forces as much as possible so that what we bring through the gate has a head start against him… I regret that I shall die before you, Azrael... But I will see you in Hell none the less. By sacficing myself I will still bring forth a horror that will end this world and any pathetic control you had over it... Even after my death, you will NEVER be rid of me..."

[Angelique]

Chapter 40: Eye of the storm

Any new information on the Baali?

Marcus replayed the meeting he had just had with the Seti and Setess inside his head. He struck a match and lit a candle, dimly lighting the dark basement of his haven. Marcus shook the match to put it out and dropped it into an ash tray; his house was full of them. Reaching to his belt the vampire withdrew a pair of knives as he paced across the floor, stopping and standing at the entire rooms distance across from a training dummy. Thrusting a hand forward, he threw the first knife in a sharp motion, it sang through the air before imbedding itself in the dummies “heart”; staking the theoretical-vampire instantly. With the next toss he threw the knife with a heavier flick of the wrist, causing the blade to spin rapidly in a horizontal circle as it flew towards the target. The second knife decapitated the dummy as it sawed through the neck, clashing into the wall behind and bending the blade at an obtuse angle as it struck the stone.

None. No new bodies have been sighted.

Marcus withdrew a kryss from his side and looked to the clock positioned near his lit candle, scanning the exact time. Slashing through the air wilding, Marcus charged forward as he invoked celerity, cutting down some unseen enemy with a rapid yet elegant series of stabs and slashes. The blade cut through the dummies stomach as he made his final swing. His eyes darted back to the clock to record his time. In an instant, he began to drift backward, slashing at the air again as he ran backwards. Marcus came to a halt only inches from the wall behind him. He looked to the clock again with a frown; still a second short when moving backwards. Being able to fight and retreat at the same time would likely prove vital when facing multiple enemies. The technique still needed perfection.

Then either the storm has passed, or we are simply in the eye of the storm

Multiple enemies. The concept was Marcus’ greatest concern when hunting the Baali. What if, during a battle; all his blades were to find homes inside the hearts of Baali, and yet more enemies still stood? Marcus walked forward and stopped in place a short distance from the already slaughtered dummy. The Lasombra curled his hand into a fist and burned blood to manipulate the shadows inside his palm. A long black tendril slid a distance of six feet from his hand. Marcus grasped his makeshift-whip tightly and lashed forward with celerity and potence. The inhuman crack of the whip rang out in the basement like a blast of thunder, the lash slashing cotton flesh from the dummies wooden bones. Marcus brought his hand back and made another strike. This time the whip wrapped around its target on contact; Marcus tugged tightly and the dummy spun rapidly in place as the whip was jerked away from around its person. Marcus lunged forward before the theoretical enemy could regain balance; ending the spinning motion with an upper-cut slash of his claws that sent the broken piece of training equipment halfway to the high ceiling. What remained of the dummy landed back on the floor and its wooden frame shattered to pieces. Marcus stepped on a wooden splinter, crushing it beneath his heel as he released the shadow tendril and let it return to the darkness of the room.

Assume it is the eye of the storm. Always.

Marcus looked to his hand, curling his fingers back into a fist. It wasn’t enough. No matter how powerful or lethal he became, it was never enough to him. He was sired so late in history compared to his elders, his blood pool so thin compared to those sired into older generations. He had to be better. No, the best. Even if the Seti and Setess would always be more powerful, he at least had to know he could defeat any enemy outside the clan. That no force; among vampire or mortal could ever stand between him and the clan’s safety. He knew he didn’t have it yet. Not THAT kind of power, not even close. It was something that would constantly claw at the competitive vampires mind.

It is good to have you back, Scourge Cane.

Marcus withdrew another knife and tossed it with a flick of his wrist. It flew through the air and struck the flame of the candle, putting it out and leaving the vampire in that pure, black darkness that felt so much like home.

“Good to be back.”

[Angelique]

Having not seen Marcus since the meeting Laeldril sat at her desk and wrote quietly.

Marcus Cane,

The Lord Azrael and I met with your neighbour Paradox, and he had some interesting ideas about how to proceed with the investigation into the Baali. The first involving holy water, something we've prepared to employ before, but with a new twist, and a change in places to search using the Avian's we've trained. I've complied a report and can forward it to you securely when I hear from you.

Laeldril Do'ghym

Laeldril was the Essess and in this one investigation frustration seemed the only rewards for her efforts. Just where did the clan stand with regard to this threat, the Baali had been dormant for months... Had they failed and were licking their wounded pride, or were they building up to something unknown. Lael hadn't ceased her vigilance with regard to the Baali, any word about similar bodies turning up, was followed up. The Avian's trained to scout cities with com crystals had been sent out regularly, informants were contacted and kept on the watch. Everything Lael could do to maintain the flow of information about the Baali continued to be employed; with no end in sight...

Lael turned to her file cabinets and tucked her latest reports away, Sol would rise soon and render her asleep till another night of patrols would begin.

[Angelique]

The room was dark with no windows. A candle flickered bits of light against the wall and objects. Ramiro, the new Baali Hive Master, was seated and patiently watching his Hive Queen. The Hive Queen was a terrible sight for those of weak stomach. She lay naked in filth and dirt with insects crawling over her body. The conciousness of the Hive Queen existed between the mortal and infernal realms; she provided a vital connection between the Baali and their daemonic advisors.

Ramiro leaned forward as the Hive Queen started to stir. A dark noise echoed in her throat as her eyes glazed over and slowly turned black. Her gaze fixed on Ramiro and a sinister voice called to him from another realm.

"Why do you call on me?"

"I want to speak with you about Kraven..." Ramiro said firmly.

"Kraven failed us." The voice spat at Ramiro.

"He vanished without a trace. However, he left behind a will with text that would only appear in the event of his final death. We soon discoved his fate. He also created this will as a means to prevent treason against him... Now, the other six Baali who came second to Kraven are dead by his order. We also had two imp scouts bound to Kraven, only able to eat food from his hand. They have recently starved to death. Your action against Kraven has taken serious damage to us, you not only disposed of him but six of our best warriors and two imps."

"The six council members being killed was Kraven's fault, not ours. HE was the one who constructed that will, and not us. Furthermore, I have no doubt the Baali' who completed the blood hunts diablarized their targets, so do not speak to me about losing warriors, their talents and powers are still within your ranks. You truely dare to complain to me, when Kraven's death has put you in the position of Hive Master?" The Hive Queen's nails became talons and her teeth turned to fangs as she spoke. It seemed with every word her appearance became more daemonic.

"How do you expect me to complete the ritual when Kraven couldn't?" Ramiro asked with a bit of annoyance, but spoke slightly more hesitantly.

"So the issue is that you doubt your own power?" The voice snickered in the Hive Queen's throat with amusement. "We can help you."

Ramiro turned his head as he heard a strange noise. A scroll of paper that had not been there before was on the table. He stood slowly and picked it up, reading over it slowly.

"I understand now." He said in a quiet voice. "I have wondered why no actions have been taken against me, when I have yet to start the ritual. Kraven was certainly punished for similar actions. He signed one of these, didn't he?" Ramiro asked as he faced the Hive Queen. "By selling my soul for power, you will hold the right to dispose of me at any given time."

"If you don't fail us as Kraven did, that will not be an issue."

Ramiro turned and walked from the Hive Queen, a dark glare on his face. He shut the door firmly behind him as he left the room and locked the door behind him. As he turned and pressed his back against the door, he looked over the contract a second time. His hands gripped the paper on both sides, ready to rip it in half; but slowly he rolled the paper up and slipped it into his vest.

"Only as a last resort..."

[Angelique]

Lael sat on the roof of Runescape looking over the western canyon of Istas. The Essess had just fed the Avian's she'd trained and retained to her service, carrion tainted with her own blood. The three newest did their jobs well enough but Lexx was special. The albino raven anticipated her reagent, often aware of what needed to be done in a given situation, before instruction was relayed. After four years the Retainer and Kindred had formed a strong bond, with Lexx learning language slowly even the sign Laeldril used to communicate in silence.

Laeldril had called the avians back to Istas, a storm was moving into the canyons and she wanted them safe. The scouting missions the team has been performing had yet to lead to any sign of the Baali. Nine locations had been searched from the sky's with nothing to show of the demonic activity of the Baali. The last mission lead to New Haven and its surroundings along with Serpents Hold. There were indications of previous activity by Zealots of the past but nothing recent. After the storm, the scouting team would be sent out again, Laeldril would monitor what they observed via their bond, hopefully this venture would soon provide a lead to the Baali and the plans being developed to rid the Kindred of Istas from their threat.

As Laeldril headed down to her office with Lexx on her shoulder and Lightfoot at her side, pride swelled in her for the work she'd accomplished with the Ravens and Wolves she'd collected. Her pack was strong and had proven themselves worth the attentions the Gangrel gave them. The Essess had a report to write for the Seti before she could lapse into leisure with those she was most fond of. Laedril put duty first, but duty was more enjoyable after she had time to play.

[Angelique]

Laeldril sat softly caressing the feathers of her albino raven Lexx, the avian had become more than just a messenger for the Essess of Istas, Lexx had been trained as a scout and to use her retainer/reagnant bond to let Lael see what she saw. Lexx was part of the pack. Over the recent months between summer storms Laedril had been sending an avian scout team to scan specific areas for Baali activity. Tonight under the clear, crisp cold stars of night in Istas Lael sent them out again.

The first was sent to the Samurai islands, another monk temple just below the icy area of the Tokuno islands. This one believed to have been cleared out by the daemonic forces in the nearby fan dancer dojo. Other than known local denizens there was noting out of the ordinary there.

The island of Buccaneers Den, a building constructed in Buc's Den by healers who attempted to turn the community around by religious example. The healers were quickly captured by the brigands who ransomed them back to their families. This area looked to have been uninhabited for some time.

On a whim, Laeldril contacted Lexx via their mental link, a thought occurred to her while she went over the early missions in this investigation. A base once used by Valmar in his prime days, a good distance south of Yew, virtue symbols still decorate it but were all are covered in dust when Laeldril visited it last summer. It didn't appear to have been used in sometime, but the building was still listed in Valmar's name as the last owner. As Lexx swooped down into the area Lael caught movement in her minds eye. Cautioning Lexx the raven and master concentrated on the activity. Lexx alighted in a nearby tree and watched as two dark robed figures moved into the base... they dragged something or someone with them. Another robed figure joined them and as they moved the object the cloth covering it fell to the side revealing a human male... and a telling sign.

Laeldril took a sharp instinctive breath, the dead man's forehead was branded with an inverted pentagram, the first sign of Baali activity in almost a year. Once the robed figures were out of sight, Laedril called all her ravens back to Istas. Leaping from her rooftop, Lael took to the shadows and her office in Elysium, she'd a report to write and get into the hands of the Seti and the Scourge. Many plans had been culminating in wait of the first sign of Baali activity. Soon they would be put to the test... should this prove to be the Baali base, Istas would take its stand against the Baali threat.