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Post by MeloraBelikov on Jun 3, 2010 22:20:03 GMT -8
Her hands fell slowly to her sides. Anshel always was bent on making an entrance, and despite knowing her task and having her contact information, of course there would be no reason for him to contact her. Still, he was a judge, and thus she was forced to show him a bit of respect at the very least. "Judge Lochem, it is a surprise to hear that you have come here. My apologies for making a scene. I trust you are well?" Melora clicked her heels together in annoyance, but didn't show it the least bit in her manner or her voice. She was nothing if not an actress. "This is indeed a terrible mix up, as you know I was instructed to seek out Azura Gallu and accompany him as far as he saw fit as a mission of good will, I met with the appointed contact, who I regret to inform you attacked me not a full day later. Now I have come here with King Gallu, who has not instructed me to leave his side. I have completed my task." Melora's eyes met Anshel's briefly, then settled at a point directly past him. She could only stand to make it look like she was looking at him.
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Post by AzuraGallu on Jun 3, 2010 22:27:14 GMT -8
Azura regarded them both, expression serious when a slip of a breeze made its way into the room from the open doors.
He tensed, head snapping in the direction of the newest Hunter.
"Why were you in my father's room, Hunter?" he growled, then decided he'd had enough. It was irritating enough that a Hunter was made to follow him until he attended some kind of fucked up meeting with the Banglaire, but it was even worse that they'd sent two in the wake of his father's death.
He had a fucking clan to run and he wanted both of these strangers out.
Not waiting for the man's response, he appeared before him, wrapping his clawed fingers around his neck, slamming him to the marble floor.
Azura had bent to a knee to increase the impact, and he thought he heard the crunching of bone. He would have smiled at his success had it not been completely inappropriate.
"Speak," he commanded, eyes shining gold, fangs peeking out from beneath his upper lip.
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Post by Doctor on Jun 3, 2010 22:52:16 GMT -8
Flashes of lights burst behind his eyes as Anshel felt the familiar ringing pain and blood rush of a cracked skull. He shifted his head slightly to the left, aiming the curve of his Adam’s apple into the softer flesh of Azura’s palm, hoping it would yield more room to breathe. The section of floor that cushioned his head was wet and warm. Fuck.
There was a struggle against the pull of unconsciousness.
“King Sargon’s death-” he choked in another breath. “It was unnatural in every sense of the word.” A gasp. “A murder! I was investigating its scene.”
Anshel fought every instinctual queue that demanded he wrap his own hand around the wrist that pressed into his throat and wrench it off. He kept them planted, however, palms down on the marble.
There was a danger that threatened this vampire’s clan as well as his own. This judge would not allow this principle alliance to crumble. If those cold, dead hands wished to crush his windpipe into dust, well, that would just have to happen. Being an ambassador fucking sucked sometimes. Melora had no idea how easy she had it, no idea how smart of a decision it would be to turn down a council position. The things you had to do...
“Proof.” He held the King’s gaze, imploring him to listen and acknowledge the words he attempted to form. “Front pocket.” He coughed sharply, tasting the metallic of his blood. “Left one.”
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Post by MeloraBelikov on Jun 3, 2010 22:59:56 GMT -8
"King, I ask you, please," Melora breathed "Review his evidence, you and I know that there may have indeed been a murder, so please," head pounding from his display of power, the English words struggled their way to the front of her mind, "do not kill a member of the Banglaire council." It sounded crazy to be defending Anshel, and she wouldn't have if she hadn't remembered the old man from the building. Azura had been so quick to brush him off, but did he in fact play a role in the murder of the king? In either case, Anshel was to be defended, as he was a judge. If Anshel was killed, she most undoubtedly would be as well, and a trip to whatever afterlife was awaiting her right now wasn't on the schedule.
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Post by AzuraGallu on Jun 3, 2010 23:06:50 GMT -8
"Quit calling me King unless you want me to start calling you Hunter again," he growled, not taking his eyes off of the man.
He was laying completely still, not fighting back, only trying to plead his case. If he were to kill this man here, then what would that say of his self control. What Melora said was true. They did have some evidence, of whatever caliber, that pointed to his father's death being a murder.
However, it was still too strange to assume that the Banglaire hadn't had something to do with it.
After considering him a few more moments, he lifted his hand from the man's neck with a heavy sigh and slipped it into his left pocket, but found nothing.
Growling, he checked the other left.
Bingo.
Sitting back on his heels, his eyes skimmed the paper quickly, but he didn't miss a detail.
"What the hell is this?" he ground out between clenched teeth.
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Post by Doctor on Jun 3, 2010 23:29:56 GMT -8
It felt like the breath of life, that first gulp of air that soothed the burning in his lungs. Asphyxiation outside the bedroom was one of the worst feelings Anshel had experienced in his better part of a millennia.
The pain had gone from excruciating to almost total numbness. That was never a good sign.
Heaving himself onto his side and then to his hands and knees, he attempted to hold back from vomiting.
“I’m going to need, like, a minute,” he informed his company. Anshel felt that familiar prickling sensation, like hundreds of spider crawling underneath his skin, that accompanied accelerated healing. It worsened exponentially as he healed inside. Fusing bone was always the worst.
“That," he answered after finding a decent level of composure, "is a letter from your father to Bartholomew, High Judge of the Banglaire.”
He sat up on his knees and touched the back of his head, feeling no lacerations, only copious amounts of dried blood caking his hair. He had to hide the frown that formed as he looked at his ruined sleeves. If he’d known things would get this heated, he would not have worn silk.
“As you can see, his suspicions matched our own.”
Anshel moved now to his feet and looked to the group.
“Psychic warfare. The new frontier.”
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Post by AzuraGallu on Jun 3, 2010 23:41:28 GMT -8
Azura stared at the paper a moment longer before turning his gaze to Anshel.
"The Blackravens? I didn't know they were this power hungry. Topple us, and there's nothing standing in the way, even the Vhamphir would cave to them. It makes a lot of sense."
He turned toward Melora, questioning eyes seeking hers. "Maybe this is what they wanted to speak to me about."
He sighed again and stood, running a hand through his hair as he closed his eyes to think to himself.
Seconds later his eyes snapped open and again he was staring at something that wasn't there.
He seemed to calm down greatly in just a matter of seconds, but his shoulders still held the tense lines that this type of stress would inflict on someone.
"Alright. I believe both of you. But you need to tell me exactly what your clan wants from me and mine."
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Post by MeloraBelikov on Jun 3, 2010 23:50:57 GMT -8
"I'm sure the Banglaire want to work with you to bring down the threat. The Laws of Neutrality allow the Vampire clans to have disagreements, but the concern I'm sure is with this psychic warfare Judge Lochem mentioned earlier. If the Blackravens have harnessed such a power they could become a threat to the Laws of Neutrality. He would know better than me, being a part of the council," noted Melora, motioning towards Anshel. "He'd be your best bet for information, as the council no longer sees fit to include me on such matters which seem to be increasingly linked to my tasks." Annoyance mixed with her accent in a display of lack of self control, a rare and out of place one. Had she been a vampire, this is the part where she'd no doubt get all growly voiced and intimidating. Straightening her shirt she stood up straight, returning to her normal light way of speaking, weighed down only by the heaviness of her accent. "It would seem as though you have much to discuss with the council. Also, you noted that I am no longer to call you King, so I would like to ask how you would prefer I address you in the future."
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Post by Doctor on Jun 4, 2010 0:04:29 GMT -8
"Yes. It was agreed upon by the authorities higher than myself to leave many in the dark. However there is not much I would have done different. The death of King Sargon was a tragic casualty, but this plot has been in the works longer than even I know. I don't believe his passing to have been a misstep, but an inevitability. There is much I need to discuss with both of you," he slid a narrowed glance at Melora, "unfortunately."
He turned to Sabeen and then to Azura, astonished at how quickly compliance was established.
"Where would you like this briefing to take place... Sir?"
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Post by AzuraGallu on Jun 4, 2010 0:15:10 GMT -8
Azura pinched the bridge of his nose, grinding his teeth together. "Just call me Azura, both of you."
He chanced a glance at his aunt, who looked worried and confused despite his careful consideration of the things he happened to know thus far. He wished he could allow her to hear everything. Unfortunately, that wasn't a possibility. To keep his family, and clan, calm, he'd absorb this information on his own and divulge to them what wouldn't cause them to run in panic. Though most here would take it in cautiously and look at all angles, there were many who would take it out of control and perhaps do something that would reflect poorly on all of them. It was best for now that he appoint his aunt to take care of things while he was discussing matters with the Banglaire.
It was a risky move. His father had only just passed an yet he was going to take a trip many miles away from where he could help any that needed it. it made him feel immensely guilty. But what else could he do? He needed the Banglaire as allies at this point and would do just about anything to secure the safety of his people.
"Let's discuss this when we visit your home. I'd like to mitigate panic as much as possible."
He nodded to his aunt, who inclined her head back, understanding what he was trying to do.
"We need to leave quickly. The sooner we go, the sooner I can get back."
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Post by MeloraBelikov on Jun 4, 2010 0:27:16 GMT -8
Melora caught that glance that Anshel had given her, it was enough to send bad vibes and a wave of nausea through her entire body. Unfortunately? What could be so unfortunate? By this time her headache had dulled and was replaced with worry. Psychic warfare was only something she'd ever heard of. It wasn't a large concern when she was training, mainly because it was unclear whether or not it could be used past the ability to mentally communicate and influence someone. Somewhere, distantly, she her a woman's voice talking low about the subject, but she couldn't make out the words. It was a faded memory that she no longer had access to. Her hand came to her forehead and stayed there for a few seconds as she put all of her focus into making out the words, but no success was found in that, so she gave up. If only she had the ability to have a chat with Azura in private, she could voice a few more concerns about the whole situation that perhaps it was best the council didn't know. After all, they were so bent on keeping important information from her, so as far as she could see, doing the same to them was entirely justified. Melora hoped with everything that she had that the group might part ways or that Azura would ask her to speak away from everyone else, but it was unlikely at best.
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Post by Doctor on Jun 4, 2010 21:39:26 GMT -8
"Then we should be off." He nodded to Azura shortly, his usually effervescent disposition dampened by both the hot stickiness that ran down from his head and the disquiet he buried deep inside his gut where it would not scrape at his resolve. Human plots were so much easier to deal with. People were predictable, their warfare not complicated by supernatural talents. The Blackravens were a mystery unto their own kind, much more so his. Anshel was a one-eyed man, leading the blind into an obscured void.
A one-eyed man at the moment covered in coppery filth.
"While we prepare our leave, Azura, could I trouble you for a change of clothes and access to a lavatory? My current appearance won't be well received at the airport." He motioned to the evidence of the new King's handiwork, hiding his unhappiness at having another outfit ruined, the good ambassador he was.
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Post by AzuraGallu on Jun 4, 2010 21:51:19 GMT -8
"In any case. Before we go, I need to prepare. I don't want to let the Banglaire think we're all a bunch of uncivilized brutes and that we have no taste in fashion." He looked at Anshel, raising a brow. "Though you are supposed to be my enemy, you won't get very far covered in blood. I'll get a change of clothes for you from my rooms. Follow me." Looking behind him in Melora's direction before walking through the doors and down the hall toward his father's rooms. He veered to the right, leading them down another long hall before stopping in front of a door, motioning Anshel over with a hand.
"You may use my brother's room. It's empty except for the closet which is full of my clothes. Choose what you like. I'll be over here," he said, gesturing with his thumb to the room across the short expanse of marbled tile.
Giving one last look to the Hunter, he turned on his heel and made way to his own room, opening the door and leaving it as such before shirking his clothing. Unfortunately he had to present himself in the Gallu's royal attire instead of his preferred loose cotton.
He sighed.
This was the second time this week that he'd wished for such a freedom. Those doors were closed to him now.
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Post by MeloraBelikov on Jun 4, 2010 21:58:14 GMT -8
Lingering in the hallway between the two rooms Melora had a chance to take in the decor of the manor. It was all she could do. Her mind was reeling, fingers numb, unable to feel the cold of the hall. Vampires and more vampires. Normally by now fate would have thrown in a human to keep her sane, or at the very least a werewolf she could taunt. People walked by her in the hallway, giving her lingering looks, likely curious about what had just happened in the throne room. Melora's green eyes wouldn't meet any of theirs. Pushing herself from the wall she walked to the door Azura had disappeared through, slipping in silently and watching behind her. No, Anshel wasn't following and wouldn't make a scene out of behaviour he would have loudly deemed "naughty" in front of everyone within earshot. He was too busy getting naked, like he did whenever he had an opportunity. Perhaps that was why he let Azura bloody the back of his skull. Melora began to wonder if getting naked in every single country was Anshel's ultimate goal.
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Post by Doctor on Jun 4, 2010 22:12:36 GMT -8
Anshel was good at his job because he found an appreciation for many unconventional things - vampires, for instance. Yes, they were a terribly reclusive bunch who ate people, but by Satan, sex and fashion were his two favorite things in the world. And damn, were those pale sons of bitches exceptional at both.
After taking a moment to admire the craftsmanship of the wardrobe and the tailoring of the garments, he pilfered one of the few trousers that weren't drab loose cotton, pant-legs narrow enough to stuff into his boots. And it was only fair that Azura replace his ruined silk shirt with one of his own, right? It was only fair, Anshel thought. And hell, why not just take that glorious waist long, triple-stitched, velvet cape he could not for anything tear his eyes away from? Fuck, sometimes he did love his job.
Laying out one of the best outfits of his life on the wide king-bed, he quickly stripped, ready to venture to the bathroom and wash the crusted blood off himself.
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