Midnight Call^^

Fenedir

Fenedir almost burst into laughter at how the plan set down for him was coming into fruition. The door of the bar opened, and a cloaked man walked in - Fenedir recognised him immediately.

"Boss?" Fenedir got up and walked over to the strange man.

"It is me." The stranger rasped. "I see you have brought Luke here..."

"Yes, sir."

"Excellent." The hooded man hissed pleasurably. "Alas, regardless of your efforts, things are not going to plan. There has been a bit of a commotion. A certain...friend of mine has...well..."

The 'boss' was, of course, referring to the creature he worshipped as a god - the undead warrior, Amnash, who had rampaged through the city.

"So all that was for nothing?" Fenedir asked, somewhat disappointed.

"No. No, not at all. In fact, this may be an improvement. I believe my friend is headed this way. Keep Luke here until then, and everything should work out as planned. No, better than planned."

*I'll post for Amnash later*

Nightfall-

I backed up towards the horses. A strange voice was coming out of nowhere. It was a little alarming. A ray of light hit the creature.

I was scared back into my hybrid form. I gasped uncontrollably and continued to back up. It was crawling, really, because I hadn't bothered to stand up. It didn't seem to be paying any attention to me, but I didn't worry about that.

After a bit, I got a hold of myself and turned into a regular domestic cat and ran off to the side of the house. I noticed Daybreak watching me. She looked concerned, but held her post. Good girl. I knew right then in there that I had taught her well. I was worried about her, but I didn't interfere. It didn't sound like anything bad was going to happen anyway. Rest assured, if it did, I'd be right in between my sister and all danger until the bitter end.

---

Daybreak-

I squinted into the darkness, looking for the thing that was speaking. Maybe it was another person that I could meet. As a ray of light from the dawn hit him, I knew at once that it was not a person who I would be willing to meet. I'd be surprised if it was a human at all. I sat up fearfully. Much as I wanted to scamper away, I stayed. All the toughening up that Nightfall had been working on my entire life didn't go to waste. I saw her race away in her domestic form. I had to admit - I was surprised. Nightfall was the last creature I expected to see running away from...well, anything at all. Running was just not something Nightfall did. And now?

It gave me confidence, and I was as brave as ever as I sat there in between the two guards and their conversation with the bizarre creature went on. I knew that mine and Nightfall's bravery would switch, however, if a fight were to break out, and she would be between me and everything that could hurt me the entire time.

It gave me a warm and fuzzy just to know that she cared so much about me. I closed my eyes and wagged my tail as I thought about it. My jaw involuntarily dropped and my tongue hung out like a puppy dog. My eyes opened as I sat there, panting happily.

One of the guards looked down at me. He cautiously reached down and stroked my head. My eyes popped and my mouth snapped shut. I stared into the distance, completely awe-struck. What was this feeling? This feeling I had never gotten before. I wanted so badly to keep my vicious nature, but his rubbing of my ears felt so nice.

I licked his hand happily. He looked confused, but there was a twist of triumph in his face. Like he had found my weakness. A weakness I didn't even know I had. I sat back on my haunches and lifted my paws up in a begging pose, like I was begging him not to stop.

Now I knew how pampered house dogs felt. I liked it.

---

Haha... Daybreak can't be tough, much as she tries ^^ She likes being a house pet

~Rayne

Peter

"No, Daybreak." I pretended to scold her, I hoped Nighfall wasn't near or else she'd beat me down for talking to her sister like that. Daybreak looked at me and then stepped back a little, trying to look fierce.

"Look, Your Highness." I spoke up. I was tired of there being so many people on my land and I wasn't even getting to be a part of the conversation. "I have never in my life met this 'thief prince" so I suggest you go looking somewhere else. All I have in my house is my sister, her two friends, and a bunch of animals like my dog here.

Prince Marten smiled devilishly. "Prove it."

"If you insist, but my sister can be rather grouchy when she is woken up." I said. At this point I didn't really care if these men were in my house as long as I could undo the damage Ana had done and get us out safely I was fine. And if it got everyone off of my land faster then all the better.

Prince Marten's guard pushed me aside and let him enter first. The strange man was abandoned on the road but I had a feeling he wasn't going to be leaving, which bothered me. I didn't have a good feeling about him.

"Come, Daybreak." I urged her inside before I closed the door.

Prince Marten stood and looked around the kitchen, seeming to scrutinize the fact that it wasn't a palace. I tried not to let my disdain for royalty show through.

"Make yourselves at home, I'll go fetch my sister." I said as I left the room.

I found Ana, Sophia, and Melody sitting in Ana's room. Ana and Melody were fine and chatting quietly, whereas Sophia sat stiff on the bed. She looked terrified.

"The prince requests my sisters appearance, as well as her friends." I said.

"But I can't go out there!" Melody insisted. "He'll recognize me!"

"Here." Ana said. "Hide in the closet, I'll cover for you."

Ana covered Melody with cloaks and left the room to go appease out guests. Luckily she had managed to change in to a dress that made her look like much more of a farm girl.

Sophia remained on the bed.

"Hey." I sat down next to her and put and arm around her. "It'll be okay, just come out so they can see you. You don't even have to talk to them."

She nodded and I led her to the kitchen.

Ana

I walked into the kitchen and nearly collapsed at the table, pretending to be half asleep. Peter and Sophia joined us soon enough.

"I thought you said she had two friends with her?" Prince Marten questioned.

"Yes," Peter said slowly. "Where is that other friend of yours?"

"Penelope?" I said sleepily, "She wasn't feeling well and went home quite a while ago."

Peter nodded. "See?" he said. "Nothing out of the ordinary here."

Prince Marten leaned in close to Peter. "I saw you at the inn tonight."

"We had a meal there in town before coming here, you must have just noticed us."

"Where is the rapier?" he insisted.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Peter said.

I hoped he would belive us. If he did and left without any more questions I would give up theiving forever....maybe.

Mikael

I watched as the guard roughly forced his way in, followed by the prince.

That hardly seems fair, i thought. Walked closer to the barn and sat down, just inside the light from the doorway. I began peeling of my armour and cleaning it peice by peice with my crimson rag.

I unclipped, my right shoulder pad and laid it reverentially before me. I looked at the symbol of my ancient order. A sword point down wrapped in a deep crimson cloth. Ireached into my bag and took at a small paint set and brush and began carefully repainting my beloved orders symbol.

Marten

Marten looked around the kitchen, before his eyes settled on Ana, "And where is your servant?"

"Servant?" Peter frowned a little, "Ana, what is he talking about?"

Gesin leaned forward, putting his hands on the table. He growled a little as he spoke, "We caught a girl today stealing from the prince. You arrived, and assured us that it couldn't have been her, as she was your servant and would never dare steal. What do you have to say to that?"

Marten gave his guard a reproaching look, "I'd like to say again, I'm not going to prosecute you over anything." He ran a hand through his hair, more than a little frustrated. He didn't like having to disclose his family's dirty little secret to anyone, but he just couldn't see himself getting his rapier back without levelling with them.

"Alright." He said, "Let me tell you why I need to know. My family, as you know, rule the eastern kingdom. Magical talent of any kind has not appeared in any member of my family for four generations now. That is because the last to show talent went rogue, so to speak. Samuel Lafavre was, and still is, possibly one of the greatest naturals at sorcery that has ever lived. But that wasn't good enough for him. First he wanted eternal youth, which he has managed by feeding on the souls of others. He looks no older than me now. Now, though, he wants to be a god, so he travels the world and takes the secrets of people's magic from them. He believes that by learning everything there is to know about it, he will unlock some kind of divinity."

"Interesting story," Peter said, "Why does it concern us? No one here uses magic that I know of."

"It concerns us," Marten said, "Because he also wants to rule the world using his divinity, which I assure you would be a lot worse than life as you know it. My family, however, swore to kill him a long time ago, and had a rapier made that could protect a user of Lafavre blood from the effects of magic. I need to find the thief king, because he's the most likely person to know, or know someone who knows, of Samuel's whereabouts. I'm here because I know that you were at least vaguely connected with whoever took my sword."

He looked around them, "Please, help me here. If it is reward you're looking for, I could offer numerous workers to help run your farm. If you don't need my help, at least consider helping me. All I need is my rapier, and some help in finding the thief king. Then I'll deal with Samuel once and for all, go off and marry the princess I've been arranged to, and then I swear you'll never hear from me again."

Samuel

The trio paused just outside the bar, see a man stagger out, his arm around a scantily clad, giggling woman. They paused at the sight of Amnash and Servant, the woman visibly paling, while the man barely registered their presence. But it was Samuel who stepped forward to speak to them. "Dear friends," he said, sharing a wan smile with them, "I trust you're having a pleasant evening?"

The man nodded, slurring his speech, "Yeah, and it can only get better from here!"

Oh how wrong you are... Thought Samuel, but naturally didn't voice his thoughts. "Good for you. Would you have happened upon a prince this night? I wish to speak with him, and heard tell that he was in town.

The man grunted, "Yeah, he's around. He left in a hurry not half an hour ago, though to where, I'm not sure."

Samuel nodded, "Thankyou, sir, you've been most helpful. I'll continue my enquiries inside." He walked past the pair, Servant trotting after him. He paused at the door, turning to look at Amnash, "They're all yours, but give me five minutes before you come inside, let me find out where Marten has got to."

Sophia

I was sitting on the bed staring at nothing, when peter cane in and told us the prince had requested to see us.

That couldn't be true.

My eyes widened with shock.

While Ana hid Melody, Peter sat down on the bed net to me.

I was still really scared, but it helped.

There was something about Peter that gave me the feeling that whatever happened, it would be OK as long he was around.

I stood up, knees shaky.

Peter led us into the kitchen, his arm still around me.

The entire time Ana and Peter were talking to the prince, I stood there quietly next to Peter keeping my head down.

My hair fell into my face. I hate that.

I didn't quite get what the prince wanted.

I wasn't listening.

I was thinking about other things...

So... are Amnash and Samuel outside the bar then? *gasp*

Yeah. I think so...

Fenedir

Fenedir's 'boss' left the bar. A few minutes later, a supposedly-young man walked in and approached Fenedir and Luke.

"Good day." He greeted them. "I am searching for Prince Lafavre, and I am told he was here earlier. Might I ask if you know where he went?"

Fenedir shrugged drunkenly and turned to Luke.

"Ahh..." Luke scratched his head. "I'm sorry, I can't help you."

The stranger thanked them and moved on to someone else, when they heard a series of screams from outside.

"What was that?!" Fenedir asked, falling off his seat in his attempt to get up.

Amnash

Amnash imagined a grin as he stared at the pair. The man stared at him, suddenly noticing his lack of skin, while the woman was paralysed with fear. He clutched his sword, and raised it above his head. But his arm moved no further. The Destroyer was losing control.

"Your time has ended!" Champion growled, certain that he had succeeded in taking back his body.

The woman thought he was talking to her, and ran away, screaming. The man, sobered with fear, added to her screams.

Amnash writhed as his personalities fought with each other. One leg wished to move one way, the other attempted to walk the other. Eventually, the Champion took full control, and stood up. He entered the bar, and Samuel walked towards him.

"Damn it, I thought I told you to wait!"

Amnash pushed him away, and moved next to Luke in one movement. Luke stood up, ready to fight or run. Fenedir vomited in shock.

"You are Luke, the thief king?"

He nodded.

"I am Amnash the Champion. I have a number of followers, though I despise them all. They are practicioners of ritual magic, and they wish to use your blood. Trust nobody."

He turned to Samuel.

"You are a powerful man, and I do not wish to fight you. So I shall be merciful and forgive you for your crimes earlier today. But if you continue to practice your evil ways, I shall slay you."

Peter

"Listen." I spoke strictly, even though I knew this was not a tone to speak to a prince with. "We do not have your rapier or any knowledge about the thief king. Please leave our farm."

"I will not leave until you tell me what I want to know." The prince said. "I know you know about it. I saw you and your sister here several times in the city today. Do not lie to me!"

I felt the anger boil in me. I did not need my family put in this sort of conflict.

"I'll tell you." Ana spoke up.

"Ana, don't say anything." I told her.

"Peter, be quiet." she said. "Listen, the girl I told you was my servent is not my servent. But you will not be speaking with her tonight. The man who took your sword ran off as soon as he took it. He is likely in the city somewhere. And we do not know anything about the whereabouts of the thief king."

Prince Marten nodded, but still looked aprehensive. "Thank you."

He turned to leave the house, but turned back before he stepped through the door. "Do not leave town, if what you are telling me is a lie I want to be able to find you again."

He finally left and closed the door behind him. I turned to Ana.

"Anabel." my voice was still shaky with anger. "Go get Melody out of the closet and go straight to bed. I don't want you going to the city or even leaving the farm for the time being. We don't need any more trouble."

Ana opened her mouth to protest, but upon seeing the seriousness on my face turned and went to her room.

I looked to Sophia, her hair covered her face. I pushed it behind her ear. "I'm sorry." I told her. "It usually isn't this bad around here."

She looked up at me, blushed, and turned her face away. I sat down at the table and rested my head in my hands. "What am I going to do about Ana."

Daybreak moved next to me and nudged my side with her nose. She was still in her wolf form. I instinctively placed my hand on her head and began petting her.

Ana

I got Melody out of the closet. "The prince is gone." I told her.

"Thank god." she said. She went and laid down on my bed and closed her eyes. "I've had about enough trouble for one day."

"Oh really?" I said, that put a damper on my plans.

Melody sat straight up. "What are you thinking."

"Prince Marten is looking for Luke and Johnny. We should warn them."

"Oh no, no, no, no." she insisted. "They're big boys, Ana. They can take care of themselves. Besides, didn't Peter tell you to stay here?"

"Were you listening in on our conversation?"

"It was boring in the closet." she confessed.

I laughed and sat next to her on the bed. "Fine. I guess they can fend for themselves."

Daybreak-

I sat with my chin resting on Peter's leg while he stroked my head. I recognized his emotions. Nightfall got them a lot. He was stressed, beyond all comprehension. I understood, though. The ordeal with the Prince was undeniably nerve-racking, and Ana was being...well, difficult. I didn't know how it felt not to have someone obey you, as I had never ordered anyone to do anything before. But just watching, I knew it must be annoying, and no doubt stressful. I closed my eyes and relaxed completely, taking in the experience of being treated like a regular house pet.

Nightfall-

I was in the barn for only a few minutes before the satanic creature came in and sat down. I cocked my head curiously and watched him. He was just...sitting there. He didn't act fearsome, or ferocious.

After a bit, he took out some painting supplies and began renewing a picture on one of his shoulder pads. He acted like a regular guy, but his appearance told me otherwise. However, it wasn't like me in the slightest to run when faced with danger, and I didn't want to give that signal. That I was a scrawny coward that ran in the face of danger. So, head held not-so-high, I stalked out from behind some bales of hay and approached the creature.

He stared at me for a couple seconds as I sat down in front of him. My hugely thick tail swayed gently from side to side as I watched him. He went back to painting, but it was clear that being watched bothered him a little. I wasn't surprised that he was uncomfortable - especially since I was no ordinary cat. It took him a few seconds, but he put his stuff down and watched me right back. I couldn't help but notice his eyes shifting between mine. I could read his face: 'Yellow, green. Yellow, green. Tattoo. Yellow, green. Yellow, green. Yellow, green. Tattoo. Yellow, green. Tattoo.'

I smiled. "Curious?" I asked.

He jumped, clearly surprised. "Um...yes?"

I smiled again and morphed back into a hybrid. He watched me, awe-struck. I stared at him.

"Never seen a hybrid change before?" I asked. He shook his head without a word. "Haha, very well then," I said with a laugh. "Well, you know what I am. Might I ask what you are, exactly?"

"Vampire," he replied bluntly.

"Ah... I see..." I said. He continued to stare at my ears. I raised an eyebrow. "You've never even seen a hybrid before, have you?" He shook his head again. I exhaled deeply. "Alright then. I'm Nightfall. Who are you?"

"Mikael," he responded.

I nodded in acknowledgement.

---

I figured that, as they're both dark creatures, they might have something in common

~Rayne

Mikael

"Mikael Eisenstein, Iron Knight of the Sanguine. Pleased to meet you Nightfall." I continued painting the symbol.
"So whats that?" Asked Nightfall.
"It is a symbol of honour. It marks me out a mighty knight, a defender of justice and a symbol of hope to all those without justice." I replied. "Have you heard of the phantom knight or the wraith."
"No, i'm afraid not."
"That is me. For years i have ridden around this land defending the week and helping those who are are badly outnumbered or are in hopeless situations."
"So why are you here?"
"I thought this was one such situation. Guards and a prince against a farming family. Does that seem like a fair fight to you? I feed on humanity and i save humanity. Only then do i have a chance of enlightment." I reattached my shoulder guard and began dissassembling and cleaing my equipment.
"So why are you here?" I asked. "What are these people to you?"

Luke

I raised my eyebrows at the deluded skeleton as he marched from the bar, leaving me with the odd looking stranger. Dakota hissed on my shoulder, ruffling her feathers at the man.
"Wants my blood?" I said incredulously, shaking my head in confusion. Who the hell would want my blood? I sighed when I realised basically everyone in the kingdom did. It got a little irritating sometimes, being the most wanted person in the kingdom.
I shot a hard stare at the man, has Dakota was definately sensing something about him. Her claws where kneading into my shoulder with strengthening force, and she repeatedly made little clicking noises with her beak. Of course, if she spoke it would reveal me as the Thief King to the others in the bar. There was nothing more conspicuous as a talking bird on your shoulder.
Then suddenly, something clicked. I did know the man... I had come across him before in the capital during a raid. The name... my mind grinded in thought.
Ah! Samuel Lafavre. I nearly grinned when the name came to mind, but then I remembered how notorious this man was. Evil, as Amnash had said...
Trying to keep my cool, I said in a calm voice, "Ah... sorry I couldn't help you with that. I haven't seen the prince today. Been in here with my... friend," I gestured to Fenedir, who gazed up woozily, wiping his face with his sleeve.
He didn't seem convinced. He stepped back slowly, as if waiting for me to attack him in some way.
"No matter. Enjoy your night." And with that, he slipped out the door.
Immediately, Dakota exploded noisily on my shoulder into sentences that made no sense whatsoever. I turned and looked at her. "Was it me or did you just coin that whole sentence?"
"I didn't! Look, don't you see who that is? We saw him before-" She cut off her words as someone turned and gave as a suspicious look. "We should go and find Marten, and ask him what the hell this is all about," she finished in a hushed voice, sliding off my shoulder and down my arm, resting beside my wrist so she could look me in the eye.
I had saw the prince leave with the two girls from earlier. They could be in trouble too.
I nodded with a mirthless smile as I grabbed Fenedir by the scruff and pulled him off the floor.
"C'mon, let's go," I said, dragging him out the door and into the inky darkness outside.
Dakota glided slowly beside us, sighing at our slow progress through the city. "Can't we just get rid of him?"
"Not when he's like this," I grunted, now dragging his body by the wrist towards the gates. "He could get robbed."
"Ahem... Luke? You are a thief, remember?"
I rolled my green eyes. "He's a peasant, 'Kota. He has nothing of any worth."
"Yeah and you blew a weeks worth of raids on his apparent alcohol addiction," she said haughtily with a sniff, turning her head away.
We finally managed to make it out the city, to the stables. Summer was going nuts, rearing and whinnying with joy as I lead her out of the little stall she was being kept in.
"Easy does it, now stand still," I warned her, before throwing Fenedir's drunken body up onto the saddle, then pulling myself up and grabbing the reins.
I dug my heels into her side, and she took off, jumping over the fences of the stable as the owners shouted after me, demanding livery fees as I laughed jocundly into the night.
We galloped towards the little farm. I knew the path well, I had broken into the little house before, even spent a night in the little barn.
I pulled back on the reins and Summer dug her hooves into the ground, coming to a halt. She tossed her dark head and whinnied. I shushed her, jumping off and leaving Fenedir snoozing on the saddle.
I crept in absolute silence, but stopped suddenly as the prince himself emerged out the door.

Nightfall-

"What are these people to you?"

I cocked my head and my ears twitched slightly. "Nothing, really. I guess you could call them friends. Except my sister, Daybreak. She's the reason we're here," I said, a little bit of irritation present in my voice. I shook my head and continued. "She followed them here from that inn in the middle of the town. Curiosity is supposed to be my weakness, being that I'm the cat, but we've lived in the forest for...well, her whole life, and she's never been around any action or humans before."

"Humans?" He asked. I nodded. "So she's a hybrid as well?"

"Yes," I answered. He nodded in understanding. "We wouldn't even be out of the forest if it wasn't for her and her curiosity. She has an unusual amount for a wolf..." I said thoughtfully. "We had a little bit of an...intrusion earlier this afternoon, and Daybreak just had to come. We went into the inn earlier this evening, and when the group in this house went running out in a rush, she followed. I couldn't leave her, so I went with. They caught us. You may have noticed that large white wolf sitting outside the house?" I asked. He thought for a second, then nodded. "That's her."

"I see... So your lives were dull until you came here?" He asked.

I stared at him. "Not really. The forest certainly keeps you on your toes," I said, wiggling my paw toes, deep in thought. "Not that it's a problem, with the tiny bit of magic I've got in me."

"Magic?" He asked curiously.

"My ability to change," I told him.

"Ah..." he said, nodding.

"And..." I began to speak, but stopped when another sound came to my ears. It was familiar. I had heard it less than an hour ago.

Horse hooves. I turned my head towards the doors of the barn. Sure enough, far in the distance, a big dark horse was standing a ways off from the house. One man stayed where he was, but another dismounted. The figure of a bird flew next to him as he crept slowly towards the house. I morphed into a domestic cat again and made my own way towards the house. As I got there, I saw the royal man coming out of the house. I sat by the door and continued to watch the approaching figure.

---



~Rayne

Johhny

Now that I had been walking with Mike for even a few hours I had picked up two things. One he was an idiot, two he was a very well off idiot. He wore fine shoes and expensive clothes and had a selections of items that were suppose to kill vampires and other mythical creatures. He had a silver cross with a Rubie in the middle, if it worked If worked I wasn't so sure but it would sell for a high price especially if I kept the Rubie in. He had a wooden stake with fancy engravings, it would never sell but it would make a nice ornament.

"okay the vampires trail ends their" Mike said pointing to a small house at the end of the field. Mike took out his stake but I put my hand on it and shook my head.

"Mike I told you too bring me to the Vampire not kill it" I said but Mike shook his head.

"when I became a hunter I took an oath to kill all vampires I encounter or die trying" Mike said and I understood why their were so few hunters left.

"okay heres what were gonna do" I said starting to scheme.

"hey do you have a pistol" I asked and Mike happily nodded he took out a silver revolver, it was very new technolegy but some people had it. I nodded happily and took it from him.

"okay now listen you can use these as clubs as well. watch like this" I said and hit Mike across the face five times until he was unconscious. I changed clothes with him after all mine were all bloody. I wraped the red scarf under my colar and pulled on his brown leather shoes. I placed the revolver into its holster and grabed the small box of bullets I let Mike keep the cross but I took the Rubie.

"how you doing" I said as I walked past the two strange people one was cleaning armour and the other was listining too him.

"Peter" I said surprised as I walked into the houses kitchen.

"Johhny" He said quickly and with a hint of remorce.

"how the hell did you find us, did you follow us" Peter said.

"no I didn't follow you" I said opening the cubord doors looking for something to drink.

"oh yeah Peter is the prince here" I asked remebering that a wizard was probably in the process of hunting me down.

"no he left, he was looking for you, do you still have his sword" Peter asked.

"no" I said plainly.

"why not did you sell it already" Peter asked thinking that that was the kind of cheap scape I was.

"no its a long story beter told over a glass of beer,.. or scotch" I said sitting down across from him.

"sorry but no, I don't drink" Peter said with a emotionless face. I laughed across the table.

"haha your a funny guy, don't drink, next you'll be telling me you don't have a girl" I said and Peter face stayed hollow.

"oh right" I said feeling uncomfertable.

"you must be board out of your mind no drinks no girls, christ I'd kill my self" I said.

"I wish you would" Peter grumbled to himself.

"but their is this one girl that I kinda like" Peter said, I shook my head.

"their about fifty girls I like mate thats I why I'm succesful you have to broaden your oppertunitys appeal to a wiide range" I said and Peter smacked me across the face.

"I mean like like not nice body like" Peter whispered.

"hey is Ana in" I said changing the subject as I heard a thump from upstairs.

"yes but she should be going to bed" Peter said but I was already half way up the stairs.