|
|
Post by AzuraGallu on May 31, 2010 20:47:10 GMT -8
Azura dropped the head of the last human, sending it rolling across the floor the the fashion of a classic macabre. His giddiness at the chance to work himself had died with the realization that he hadn't gotten the drop on this organization. The man upstairs was proof enough of that.
Licking his fingers, clean, much like a cat would clean his paw, he ascended the stairs a final time. Hopefully he'd live through this encounter, though one human was hardly enough to kill him...unless he had a silver stake on hand.
Though he boasted a slight resistance to the caustic metal, having it permanently affixed to his person was not his idea of a good time. But as he opened the door, all thoughts of his death went scattering about like shadows from a night light.
A weathered old man sat before him on the opposite side of a large oaken desk. It had been eaten out, worm holes riddling its surface.
Azura could smell the death on him, and he realized this being was close to leaving this world. A shiver skittered up his spine at the thought of a final death, as a vampire, he escaped such worries, but they were not entirely out of the realm of possibility.
"So," a dry voice beckoned. "You've finally made it Prince Azura."
He raised a brow at the human, impressed. People rarely spoke to him directly, and using his name in such a manner was grounds for death. He smiled instead, humoring the man.
"I've been watching you for a time. You remind me of your late father."
Azura's attention immediately focused, growl rising in his throat.
"Don't you ever threaten my father," he warned, fangs bared.
"A threat would be the correct word, if it wasn't already so. I'm a bit disappointed that I couldn't do the deed myself, so I settled for getting you. My measly group of outlaws, of course, failed."
The old man's breathing grew labored at his extended speech, and Azura just stood there, utterly befuddled.
There was no way his father was dead. He'd just spoken to him not three days ago. He had the sudden urge to get the quickest flight back home.
"I was hoping," the old man continued, pulling the prince from his thoughts. "that you would grant me the privilege of dying at the hands of the newly crowned Gallian King." He said, old face cracking nearly in two with a smile, wrinkles pulling the skin over his eyes.
"Such a death would be too much of an honor for a human like you. I'm afraid you'll just have to suffer, old man."
Letting out a slow breath, he turned and exited the room, taking the stair all the way to the ground level without a word, completely absorbed in his thoughts.
|
|
|
|
Post by MeloraBelikov on May 31, 2010 20:57:17 GMT -8
Melora followed him down the stairs, silenced by the exchange she'd just witnessed. She noted everything there was to note about the old man, planning on taking this information to the Banglaire for obvious reasons. If the man had the power to kill the Gallian King....no, that had to have been a bluff only. Melora continued to follow her target, keeping only a few short paces behind him. She was tiny compared to him, and he took one step for every two that she made. She had decided that she would wait for him to address her before speaking, the silence of which was nearly unbearable. Thoughts rang in her mind about the fact that she was following a vampire, a pissed off one, and a noble to boot. This was a call to death if Melora had ever made one. A shiver rose up her back like it did the first time they had encountered each other. His power as a vampire was probably unrivaled, and she could feel that power seeping from him. A dulled headache began from it, starting at the back of her head and coming round to the front slowly. The pair seemed mismatched completely. They only thing that matched about them was the blood they were covered in and how well known each of them was for being dangerous.
|
|
|
|
Post by AzuraGallu on May 31, 2010 21:06:35 GMT -8
Azura's eyes flicked to the side, looking out his peripheries at her.
"Do you know anything about this?" he asked. She was a direct source of information and a Hunter, if anyone on the face of this earth, would know if the King of the Gallu had died.
No, vampired didn't just die. They were murdered.
A growl rose in his throat once more as he thought about it, squelching the desire to punch something. Rash behavior wouldn't help him now. If the man was correct, his people needed him. But why hadn't anyone contacted him? Furthermore, why didn't the safe house have any notion of it.
Something didn't smell right.
|
|
|
|
Post by MeloraBelikov on May 31, 2010 21:16:22 GMT -8
"No," she answered, "I know nothing of this, though I may be able to make a few calls to gather information if you would like me to." Why would she offer him any sort of help so willingly? Melora looked him over without expression. This was the first time she was ever able to relate to a vampire, even slightly. He had been told his father was murdered, and, despite the fact that his reaction was much different than her own, she imagined he felt the same emotions. Sorrow, loss, anger. The only way humans could relate to the vampire world was through emotion. Melora stopped short to think. The Banglaire surely wouldn't have sent her to aid Prince Gallu knowing that his father would be murdered? No, in fact, they barely knew about the mission that he was on, and wouldn't have even known that if they hadn't let a few vampires off easily in their trial. This was too much information for her to process all at once, even as an experienced hunter. Melora's eyes flickered around. Being covered in blood in the middle of the city would draw полиции if anyone saw them. As she scanned the street she began mentally mapping out their get-away if anyone were to see them.
|
|
|
|
Post by AzuraGallu on May 31, 2010 21:28:04 GMT -8
"Come on, human. You're moving slower than a gestating camel." He was already twenty feet or so ahead, looking back at her with a perplexed expression. Did humans often stop moving when their brains were working?
He snorted, deciding it was just something her kind did as he led her back to the safe house. Though she was a Hunter, no one would harm her there, especially if she was a member of the Banglaire.
Despite their sordid reputations, the Gallu were good people, as far as vampires were concerned. They just enjoyed their blood more than most, perhaps relished in the gore to an extent, but they were far from homicidal maniacs. That label was best left on a werewolf.
He'd made it back to the house, slipping inside, leaving the door open just a hair for the woman to enter. He didn't bother to look and see if she was following, but simply kept walking until he was at the far end, near the kitchen. There, he ran into a man who looked a bit older than her, who was actually that facilitator of the place.
Azura asked if he knew anything, and the man looked as shocked as he felt. Soon, the entire house was in whispers, and the prince had two tickets back to Ankara.
|
|
|
|
Post by MeloraBelikov on May 31, 2010 21:37:28 GMT -8
Melora entered, tensed. No assignment she'd ever had prepared her to be this outnumbered. From the stares of the vampires to the cold blood staining her clothes, she was completely uncomfortable with this situation. She followed close behind him, close enough to smell him over the blood. He was her best bet of all of these creatures anyway. Would he let any of them hurt her? They obviously knew exactly who she was. She even saw a few familiar faces from her travels into vampire clubs to draw out hapless criminals. Almost every one of them towered over her, making her feel even more human than she had before. Melora's head was pounding now and she had trouble focusing her vision, but she continued to follow the prince despite this. Melora felt entirely unsafe and unsure of the entire place. Did the Prince wish her to accompany him? Did the Banglaire demand that she do so, on account of her mission not being finished? Melora's heart sank, knowing full well that the answer to the second question was "yes, of course". She stayed silent through their entire walk, waiting for the Prince to address her. Despite the fact that he was a Prince and she was on the same level as a Princess, she felt completely beneath him, a humbling experience. She'd never felt beneath anyone since her father.
|
|
|
|
Post by AzuraGallu on May 31, 2010 21:48:30 GMT -8
Once Azura had assured everyone, the panic had dimmed and things got back to normal fairly quickly. At least he still had his title and way with people. That went a long way in securing peace.
He noticed then that the Banglaire was actually rather close to him, and had been following along this entire time. She was rather determined. Most Hunters would have run from this place.
Slipping the second ticket out from behind the first, he handed it to her as if it were nothing.
"For you. I figured since you're supposed to be following me, it wouldn't be proper to lose sight of me."
His eyes ran over her again and he scowled. While he generally appreciated a woman covered in blood, this one was not naked, nor was she up for a fun romp between the sheets.
He sighed, taking her by the shoulder, steering her toward the rooms. His own was on the upper floor, rather large and complete with its own washroom. By using his, she was less likely to be cornered by one of his own and less likely to become lunch.
"I'll be downstairs if you need anything. Oh, and just use one of my shirts until you can pick up your own things." With that he left her, expression still a sign that his thoughts were with his father.
|
|
|
|
Post by MeloraBelikov on May 31, 2010 21:57:33 GMT -8
Melora jumped beneath the weight of his hand, adjusting herself. She raised her small hand to her forehead to soothe the ache as well as she could. Being this close to a vampire made her think that she might act ridiculous or show some sign of weakness, something she did not intend to do. But...she had to say something. Even if she was forcing herself to be friendly, even if she was controlling her face and tone down to every detail, acting with everything she had in her, she had to say something. He was right, she could not let him stray from his sight, simply put, she must do everything she could to relate to him. A vampire. Melora barely kept herself from shuddering at the thought. But....through emotion they could relate. So rather than think of him as a blood sucking demon creature, she offered him kindness through shared emotion. When he turned to leave her, she looked up into his eyes and said the only words that came to her mind. "I am sorry for this. I know how you feel, I have lost my family as well. However, I hope that your father is alive and well and that the man was spitting nothing but lies." Her mind strayed to how she really did feel when her parents were killed. He must have the same sense of loss, the same sense of worry and denial, the very same sense of helplessness. Melora could never imagine what it must feel like for a vampire to feel helpless.
|
|
|
|
Post by AzuraGallu on May 31, 2010 22:05:05 GMT -8
Azura actually had the good grace to offer her a smile.
"Thank you, I feel the same. let me know if you're hungry when you're finished." he paused, placing a finger to his chin in thought. "Or rather, we should just go get your things. That's ok?" He had asked her, but it was more of a rhetorical question.
Deciding to make himself busy for a moment while she thought on it, an action of patience practically unheard of for one of his kind, he walked over to a dresser and pulled out an old shirt he'd left here from his last visit. It was a simple, white dress shirt, but it would do for an hour or so. He lay it out on the bed before simply leaving the room without any more words. If she were to have a problem of some sort, she could come find him.
He grinned to himself.
She was a Hunter after all.
|
|
|
|
Post by MeloraBelikov on May 31, 2010 22:15:27 GMT -8
Sensing that his kindness to her was an act of diplomatic politeness rather than a heartfelt desire not to make her into a meal, she felt that her best course of action would be to do what he suggested. "Yes of course, though my apartment is right downtown, so you may find it advisable to change yourself." With that he left the room. Melora sighed heavily and slipped the shirt from her shoulders, wondering where to place it. The blood had almost completely dried by now, though if she happened to stain anything in the room she would feel terrible, for it seemed her host was trying very hard to make this assignment work in her favor. She smiled to herself as she slipped his shirt over her petite frame. First time wearing a man's clothes and I didn't even have to take my own off in front of him. And a vampire's no less. What would they think of me now? Melora was a bit amused by this whole thing, wondering what would happen next. She'd never had an adventure quite like this one. She knew the Prince would not make her job as easy as he seemed to be making it, but for now she could at least relax in the fact that he showed her no hostility. Well, as relaxed as a hunter could be in a den of vampires, anyway. Her sense of relaxation dwindled down to nothing very quickly when she caught the view of something out the prince's window. It felt menacing, and it had been watching her very intently. Melora left the room, feeling a sudden need to find the Prince. Not because she needed a protector or anything, she had reasoned, but simply because he deserved to know that he had a peeping tom.
|
|
|
|
Post by AzuraGallu on May 31, 2010 22:24:35 GMT -8
Azura was just coming out of another washroom from the downstairs, very near where the rest of his clan in this area were speaking. He'd washed out his hair, the one thing he hated about blood, in fact, the only thing he hated about blood was that it got in his hair. Something about it just drove him up a wall.
Blissfully running his fingers through the now clean strands, he spotted the human woman coming down the steps. She had yet to wash her face, he noticed, and seemed to smell...uneasy.
As she well should be in his home, but there was something else wrong with her.
"Ready to leave so soon?" He asked, pulling his bloodied shirt over his head, heading up the stairs to replace it since she had so kindly vacated his room.
|
|
|
|
Post by MeloraBelikov on May 31, 2010 22:32:20 GMT -8
"Um..." she extended her hand to touch him, them thought better of it and drew it back instead, following him. "Sorry, I suppose I do not look ready. There was someone in your window, I thought you should know. I did not notice before because I cannot sense anything other than you and your people here." It wasn't until they had reached his room that she noticed that he was missing a shirt, a realization that instantly turned her face red. "Um...I guess I am to wait next to your door for you to change?" Her voice became small and awkward against her will, accent no longer sexy and confident, but more of a bother than anything else.
|
|
|
|
Post by AzuraGallu on May 31, 2010 22:38:37 GMT -8
Azura caught her tone and turned on her with a sly, predatory smile. "Someone looks a little embarrassed." he said, having noted the odd presence, but he hadn't seen anything near his window. He'd look into it after his father was contacted.
His smile widened as he caught the color in her cheeks and, finding it rather cute, decided to play the part of the vampire. Leaning close to her, he brought his face inches from hers, their noses barely touching.
"Now," he said, tone low, almost a whisper. "What did you see?"
|
|
|
|
Post by MeloraBelikov on May 31, 2010 22:49:43 GMT -8
Melora's face turned an even deeper shade of red, her eyes meeting his directly. She turned them toward the window then walked towards it, turning her back to him and raising a hand to her head, inserting her long slim fingers into the tangles of her hair. "Um, I saw the face of someone peering at me through your window." His scent came from his old shirt and into her nose, leaving her nearly breathless. Azura's shirt floated around her tiny body, long enough to be a dress on her and making her look even smaller than she already was. It didn't feel like he was controlling her into acting like a shy subdued woman, which is what scared her. Melora drew herself closer the the window, squinting to see if anyone was still outside. She inhaled and held her breath, ready to react as if something would pop out at her and attack at any moment, but after a few seconds of silence, nothing did. What a shame as a hunter, being drawn in by this vampire's games. Even if he was an attractive one at that. Melora would never admit that the only men to ever get that close to her had been threatening her life. Though, the Prince could very well be threatening hers without vocalizing his intentions.
|
|
|
|
Post by AzuraGallu on May 31, 2010 22:54:57 GMT -8
Azura laughed, walking over to his luggage and donning a new shirt. His jacket had been ruined, but in his closet there were several more.
He picked out a dark blue naval style jacket, something which he though always look rather striking on him.
"Don't worry. I'm not trying to woo you, Hunter. I'm just never around people who blush, it was new to me."
He finished fastening the buttons to his coat, hair nearly dry as he regarded her turned form.
"And I can feel what you mean, but let's just be careful until we reach my father. Come on, get your jacket on or you'll freeze to death and the last thing I want is to explain to your benefactor why your corpse resembles a Popsicle treat for lions."
|
|
