Spirits of the Earth

Bella Debouchi was sitting under a large willow tree, near a crystal blue lagoon. She had been sitting there for about two hours, trying to draw the lagoon. Oh, but there were so many details! She had to draw the wild flowers that grew near the water's edge. The water, how it rippiled and streamed away into a small river. The rocks, and the slightly small waterfall, gushing down in a steady rhythim. She was a very good drawer, and a wonderful writer, and she hoped that someday she could fulfil her dream of becoming a professional and work for someone. At this thought she could only scoff. No one would want her to work for them if they really knew what she was. She tilted her head to the side, trying to make out a detail of a rather large flower. After she was finished drawing it she would probably shade it in with various colours of her choosing.

She closed her eyes for a moment and laid her head back against the damp willow. She could feel the soft much earth beneath her. Hopefully it wouldn't ruing her floral dress. Her dress was a simple white that had a floral design upon it. There was a large purple flower, a large pink flower, and a large green flower. It was simple but yet it made her frail figure look positivly pleasant. She breathed in and out, feeling the warmth of the sun, cascading through the leaves, prickle her skin. Begin an adaptaded vampire had it's advantages. Like for instance, SUN! She smiled, her rose petal red lips curving into a slight arch.

Suddenly a slight wind blew and it knocked of her matching sun hat. Her emerald eyes sprung open as she quickly stood up, trying to catch the hat as it drifted lazily upon each wind currents. Her blond hair blew in front of her as she quickly chased after it. The hat landed upon the top of the crystal blue water. She frowned as she quickly pulled it out, before it got lost in the current. This thing seemed to always cause her trouble. She padded her way back towards the willow tree and slumped underneath it. Her hand hurt from drawing and writing all day and she was slightly tiered from being up at 5 each morning. She sighed and clsoed her eyes again, basking the warm sun and listining to the soft ripple of the laggon water. The birds chirping over head...the-

She was soon fast asleep.


OOC: Okay, I think it was slightly crappy but give me a break its my first one. Any one would be greatly appreciated. LOL

((It's a fine post! Don't doubt yourself!))

His sneer was only faint as he kept his balance on the thin branch of the tree. He had been tracking this one bird for about four days now. Why? No reason at all. He just wanted to follow the bird, see where it would take him. He had grown bored of the little creature, and now was intent on trying to catch it. Charcoal eyes with pulsing red veins sat in contempt, surrounded by the black cloth of his face mask. The long scarf was tied up around his head, hiding himself from the world, and the sun.

Though it couldn't really hurt him, he hated having it on his body. It just made him feel odd. His body suit was silk mostly, meant for maximum manueveribility. Overtop of that was a simple chest plating of armour, thin scale mail to allow him to move but be protected from attacks. The same type of design was laden over his slender legs and arms. Each piece was held in place by a belt of leather, or a tight clip of some sort. Around his waist was a normal belt which carried his weapon sheathes, the two skinny daggers sharp as ever nestled in their confines.

Soft padded shoes inched their way along the branch, as he approached the small bird. Quick as could be his silken wrapped hands latched around the bird, which began to cry out out. Underneath the scarf wrap he was smiling as he held onto the bird which was sure of its demise. However it never came as he simply let it go, which it took flight very quickly. Now the best question was...where was he? He had come to this strange realm not long ago, and found himself bored. The only entertainment was stalking the local mortals. Moving down from branch to branch he landed on the ground with little noise to him. He was a quiet person, and he liked it that way. Less people would see him that way.

There was something though, an offending smell that entered his nostrils. Pulling down his mask just a little bit so his cute almost button like nose could escape, he took a deep whiff of the air. Something...someone...was about. He was sure of it. The smell was familiar almost...it was...he coudln't quite tell. Pulling the mask up over his nose he began to run, to find the smell. He found the offending presence, as he hid behind a tree near a rather nice looking lagoon. It was a person! How interesting! She was asleep too, which seemed like a bad idea around these parts. That was okay by him, some blood would be appreciated. He began to get closer, moving to another tree...then to another...There was something odd about this one though...he couldn't put his finger on it, and so caution would have to be taken. He began to watch, crouched low, his eyes unblinking. Somethign was very off.

With her accute hearing and sense of smell she could sence something or someone was around. She had heard the bird cry out and then after a few moments there was all but silence. The sound had awakened her and her emerald eyes flickered open to look around. She could smell something different about this place, but couldn't quite put her finger on it. Something about it was different, oh yes no doubt about it, but it was also vagualy familiar also. She shrugged her shoulders. No matter, if it was someone pesky she could just bite them to death. It wouldn't take long. She was getting hungry anyway. She streched and yawned, then resumed her slumped position in which she had fallen asleep. She closed her eyes and breathed in and out, smelling the precesence getting closer and closer, and then.... it stopped. It had stopped moving and she could only smile. Whatever it was she knew that it was probably intimidated and taking caution.

That was her mistake, for after that she let her gaurd down.

She lost track of the precense and started to listen to the sounds of the lagoon once more. Feeling the soft wind ruffle her blonde hair and caress her frail figure. She breathed in deeply, smelling the strong perfumes of the wildflowers and the musty smell the lagoon gave off. She leaned back a little further, becoming incerasingly relaxed. She let the rays of the sun soak into her pale skin, making her feel warm and sleepy. The lust for blood slowly ebbed away as she once again became increasingly relaxed and almost dozed off. She awoke the first time. *I can't fall asleep, there's something out there...* However at this thought she couldn't help but feel the darkness slowly invade her, number her sole and pierce her mind, making it incabable of thinking.

For a second she was somewhat worried thinking that this was the time that vampires became into a dead sleep. She tried to stay awake, shake herself in order to do so but her mind and body, and even soul, simply gave way to the darkness and soon she was fast asleep. The only thing that could probably wake her would be her self defense and survival modes.

Why was the smell so familiar? He didn't know this woman, but she had this air about her that just screamed of familiarity. What was it? What could it even be? There was something...it was in the back of his mind almost, yelling at him, but he couldn't hear it. He decided not to care for the time being, to just...continue on with his plan. Though he wasn't eagerly wanting to kill this woman, blood would be needed.

A quick burst of energy sent him speeding to the tree she was laying under. Sinewy legs bent for a moment and pushed him upwards to the trunk of the tree. When he landed, his hands gripped onto thick bark, while his feet planted firmly against them. It was a very noisy procedure that had shook the tree, but he was going to take a different approach to this.

"Greetings." It was the only thing he said, his voice was a harsh whisper almost, deep but obviously of a foreign nature. His black eyes stared at her as he firmly pushed himself off from the tree trunk to land in front of her. One hand went down, placing on the spherical hilt of one of the thin razor daggers. He didn't draw the weapon, but it was for caution. Before he killed her, or tried, he would have to know what she was. He just...he had to...it was starting to irk him.

"Fine day isn't it?" It was a soft question, his voice becoming less of a harsh whisper, just to a soft and calm voice. He couldn't let his emotions get the better of him and control him. Ask first, kill later, not murder and desecrate, then think about answers later. The smell about her, it was maddening to not know it. He wondered idly if she had expected such strange behavoir to happen, of course, he was used to people calling him...odd...eccentric...crazy...whatever synonyms they could think of for 'Insane.'

She awoke with a start, once again, as the tree was being shaking. She heard a frim harsh whisper pierce the silence she had been enjoying so much. A rather tall man appeared in front of her. He placed his hand on the hilt of a dsagger that was hiddin on his hip. At first she felt a little panicked for she had accidentaly left her dagger at home, but then as the man spoke she could only smile and remember that she had been in certain situations like these before. No biggie.

Again a mistake, she let her gaurd down.

She listened to him speak, and at first she thought she could hear a quick qauver in his voice, but when she thought about it she couldn't be sure. "Yes, a very fine day it is..." Her voice was smooth and clear. It sounded like crystal bells ringing. A smooth and soft voice. It was the best voice to lead someone to their demise. That lead them into a false sence of security. She sighed and closed her eyes, still soaking in the sun in which she hadn't gotten lately, for it had been raining for a couple of days.

She sighed and stood up, feeling her floral dress ruffel underneath her. She streched and yawned, brushed off the dirt that had colected on the snow white fabric, and then sighed again. The man obviously wanted something from her, but what possibly could it be? She stared at his featurs, taking in his posture, and every little detail about him that she could store into her brain. She crossed her arms, making her look somewhat childish, and asked with a cute pout, "Is there something you want?"

"Careful how you pose such a question. There's no teling what my intentions are." He replied evenly. Cat and mouse...or was it cat and cat? Slowly he pulled down the part of the scarf over his mouth, letting his pale lips, somewhat tanned skin, and those elongated canines of his be exposed the air.

"I promise that it will hurt, but since I'm so nice  I'll even give you a chance to run." He said with an impish smirk, the lengethed canines poked well out from under his top lip to move over his bottom lip. He had noted though that she really didn't seem all that worried, and she was studying him...as if sizing him up. Maybe he was a little out of his league? Maybe...or maybe...it was something else. That didn't matter all that much though, he was going to enjoy the hunt for this one. Perhaps she woudl even scream as he slowly sunk a dagger into that elegant flesh of hers.

"Now, I would start running if I were you." He told her calmly, slowly he brought the dagger from the sheathe. The wicked hiss of metal on metal filled the air as he held the dagger like an expert. The thin black blade seemed to absorb the light that hit it, no gleam on its dulled finish. The blade was rather long, the flat of it was curved sligtly, a cruel design. All these theatrics though, something told him that this was probably going to be a little bit of a let down for him. It was that same thing about her that gave it away, that something was different about this woman. Something that he should have known, but failed to realize.

She watched him with her green emerald eyes. She listened to him and for once she somewhat became slightly fearful. But only for a moment, a moment and nothing less. IN the blink of an eye her features changed. Very dramatically at that. Her blonde hair had turned to long midnight black while her eyes changed from the dark emerald green to a firey red. Her fangs pointed out from her upper red rose lip. Her voice, usually clear as bells, was somewhat darker, more demonic like. She was a beauty with bloodlust. There was no doubt about it. "Why would I want to run?" she asked her voie sounding much darker than before. Her red eyes flickered for a moment and then fluttered open. She stared at the dagger, unfearful if it might press against her flesh.

The only way for an adaptaded vampire to die was basically the same for a usual vampie. Something in the heart, a bullet through the head. Everything else bacially healed quickly and she would only feel a small ounce of pain, if there be any pain at all.

No longer afraid she walked up to him, straight up and grabbed the dagger, feeling it pierce the flesh of her hand as she began to bleed. She smiled as warm crimson blood trickled down her pale arm, catching in the snow white fabric of her floral dress. Now she knew what she was senceing before. That familar precence that she couldn't put her finger on. He was also a vampire. She should've guessed! But I guess she was to sleepy to realize.

She gripped the dagger even tighter, feeling slight pain tingel her arm. The smell of blood lingered in the air, and even if her own, she became hungry. Truth be told, no matter how much of a concealed vampire she was, she sometimes couldn't control her bloodlust, and it sometimes got the best of her... and others. She siled, showing him her pearly white teeth, her pointed fangs. It made her look even more beautiful, for truth be told she was a beauty when in both human and vampire state. The only thing odd was her voice, which sounded complete opposite of each other. "I'm not going to run..." She smiled again, making her look somewhat physcotic. For a moment she felt invinciable. Would this man step up to the plate? Her plate?

OOC: This is getting good.. LOL.. don't hurt her yet because somebody else is going to jump in and act like her saving hero. LOL.. You should try to stab her in the heart or something.. that would be so dramaie!!

((Heh, no killing here! What a twist!))

That was it, that was the familiar smell. Another vampire. His features changed to one of disappointment. Feeding off another vampire, it would be like drinking from an old corpse. It was a disgusting habit and it did nothing for the vampire. He was surprised when she had gripped the dagger, and his own eyes hardened as he smelled the blood in the air. Disgusting smell, one that he didn't like all that much. There wa s quick movement, and suddenly the dagger was sliding back into its sheathe.

"Dammed...bloodsuckers." Technically he wasn't far off from behind a vampire. Vampire was such a broad term. Now, he wasn't territorial by nature, not a bit, this wasn't his area, for all he knew this was hers, but he was vexed by the outcome. Another vampire! What were the odds that this would happen? Astronomical no doubt, and inconcievable. His disappointed expression stayed as he took a step back from her, and his face promptly contorted into a slight sneer.

"No point on trying to kill one who is already dead, or to feed on someone such as yourself." He concluded verbally, his eyes staying level with hers. He was memorizing the scent though, his nostrils flaring as he made sure he would know the next vampire he came in contact iwth. He couldn't have something like this happening after all.

"One question, you got a name?" He asked bluntly, his arms crossing over his chest. The smell of her blood was invading his senses, but he pushed it away, reminding himself that she would offer no sustenance or revilizing power. No, he'd have to find a mortal for that, something with a heart beat to pump blood. Even a deer would do at some point in time.

"Or would it be customary to tell you my name first...If it is, then you may call me Zek." His voice was low and soft, his senses working overtime. He studied her, memorized the scent of a vampire, watched how she had moved, and listened carefully to her. She was a bold one, an admirable quote, but had he been in a sour mood, he might just have stabbed her.

She smiled as she watched the dissapointment fluttered onto his features, etched in the lines of his face. She knew that drinking from anoter vampire was a gorey(sp?) experience and most vampires did not do so, it was only if it were a matter of life, and bloodlust. Blood lust is a very horrible thing in which a vampire doesn't know the events going on around them. They would become vrazy for blood and might drain from even their loved ones. She had experienced once. After that moment she vowed never to loose control again. In the blink of an eye her features changed back into that of a human. Her blonde hair reappeard, as gold like and shiny as ever, and her red eyes turned back to their original pure emerald. Her voice was as smooth as glass and it rung out like gentle bells. "I can see you're dissapointed...but it is your own fault for not sniffing me out sooner!" Her voice was not at a high pitched yelling but rather a stern pitch, as if one might tell a child to be quite. " It seems it is not customary to do anything around these parts, don't you think?" she asked smiling, her rose petal red lips curving into a slight arch. She yawned once more and then smoothed out all the wrinkles and creases on her floral white dress."My name is Bella Debouchi, famouse writer and drawer extrodinare!" Her voice was over dramatic and she had to admit that it would probably put even the sternest people smiling. She knew she was cute, funny, and sweet, and  yet bold, harsh, and if felt like, icy.

She moved closer to him, somewhat circling him as if a shark might circle it's prey. She eyed him down beedly, taking in every feature, every scent, every detail she could possibly register in her mind, and store it. She had to admit.. this man was preety handsome. Then again what vampire isn't? After she was done circling him she went in front of him again, maybe a little to close for comfort.

She put her pale hands on her hips and stared at him with mock curosity. "What did you think I would do?" she questioned. She put her hand on her forhead and somewhat bent a little forward, almost in a crouching state. She looked up towards the sky. "Oh please, no, no, don't hurt me, please don't hurt me, I'll be good, I promise!" her voice was of mock baby tone and she couldn't help but laugh quitely and slighty at how funny the situation would have been if that was how she reacted. She looked back at him and then did it once more. " No, no please, please don't, that would hurt!" She knew she was probably making him angry, but hey, who cared, it was true that this was her territory and he couldn't possibly bite her. She really had nothing to fear.

Except maybe thoese daggers.


OOC: Okay, we can't post until Small Wonder does, because she's going to have another vampire come in!  :o

[Hope this makes sense! I'm sick and blah. XDD]

"Aw, you guys are so cute together...!"

Standing off to the side in between two trees and leaning with his shoulder against the trunk of one of them, Jares watched the two other blood-suckers with his own elongated fangs bared in a grin. Yep. Another vampire. Guess this was a hot spot for them or something though Jares hadn't really seen any others. Not that he'd been looking. This was simply a favorite hang out spot for him as it had lots of pretty trees, plenty of nice little ponds with cute fishies and turtles in it, and, of course, a lot of nice smelling berry bushes and even a few fruit trees. He liked those a lot for his own reasons. Oh, sure, he was also a city boy who loved hanging out in Ketra, but during the rare time when he just wanted a quiet moment, this was where he came to stretch out on the grass and cloud watch through the trees.

Yes, cloud watch. He wasn't effected by the sun and his skin was rather dark from it (then again, he had always been dark-skinned to begin with, which was good--he felt he would have looked terrible with that pasty pale skin), but...it seemed like these two weren't, either. That was interesting! And for the longest time he'd just thought that was a weird fluke of his, just like most everything else about him! Er...well...maybe he hadn't thought that for a long time. Actually, he'd thought that for a grand total of three days after he'd been turned, which was when he met the next day walking vampire. And how long ago that was, he had no idea; he'd lost track of time after the first few centuries, but even before being turned he'd always been pretty forgetful.

He preferred absent-minded. Made him sound all eccentric and stuff.

And that, perhaps, suit him. He was dressed in fairly bright colors in a short-sleeved red, lace-up shirt and a pair of baggy black breeches with colorful patches sewn along the knees and down the pant legs here and there. Whether those were there for decoration or whether they were actually needed for mending was anyone's guess. The pants almost covered the slightly heeled black boots he wore completely, and his bare, toned arms were practically covered up his forearms with an assortment of carved, wooden bracelets, all painted different colors. He really liked his colors. Black was such a boring color on its own. He was already dead, so what need had he for dressing like he was going to his own funeral all the time?

Smiling and tossing his black bangs out of his bright orange eyes--the rest of his waist-length hair was a sort of auburn color--he tilted his head to the side a little and gave a happy sigh, pressing one hand to his heart. "Vampires in love...aw...it's sure not something you see everyday! I'm sorry if I've intruded; I'll let you two get back to your elusive little mating ritual."

Of course he was kidding, but he found the whole thing pretty amusing. A cute little girly vampire trying to intimidate a big male. Or...visa versa. That's what was really going on, he knew. But still, the way they were sizing each other up, the way the girl had been circling him...c'mon, it brought to mind the odd mating situals of different birds and...like...cats or something. Aw, hell, he didn't know, he was no bird or cat watcher. He was just pulling stuff out of his ass.

"So keep it up. Don't mind me. I'm just an observer." He made a little shooing motion with his hands. "I'm just curious to see how this works." Then he grinned.

Yay! Two new vampire buddies to play with!

If he didn't piss them both off and end up getting drawn and quartered or something. Not that he was worried.

She smiled as she heard another voice speak up from to the side of her. She had senced his precence long before he had even announced himself and she couldn't help but smile even wider as he spoke aloud. She turned, placing her pale hands upon her hips once more to stare with curosity. That was always the problem with her. She had always had to much curosity for her own liken and sometimes it got her into some serious trouble. "Mating ritual?" she asked sarcastically, smiling and crossing her arms over her small chest. "Whatever gave you that idea?" She un-crossed her arms and heaved a sigh. She hadn't realized that her own front yard would be a faveriot hand out for vampires. Turth was her house was just up the hill to the left, a grand house at that.

She smiled again, staring at the both of them, liking what she saw. "You know, you two are exactly what I would love to draw, or maybe add in my on coming story. You two would be perfect characters or portraits. So how about it? Why don't you come to my house just up to hill , have some tea and a bite to eat, and we can discuss.....some things.." Her voice sounded decieving but her thoughts were as clear as glass. She had no real intention of tricking them unless they themselves wanted to trick her. It wasn't like she could drink from them.. no no.. that would be nasty.. vampires only did that in the heat of the moment. "If you want to come you should foolow...." her voice fluttered off into thoughts as she began walking back over to her willow tree in which she had left her things.

She had a black bag with a white symbol upon it. It held her books and her drawings, her sketch pad and papers. Anything possible that she could fit into that bag would go. She packed up her finished drawing of the lagoon, putting it into her black sketch book. She put the sketch book into the bag and then finally picked up the pencil and put it in. She stood up, and just as she turned around, an arrow came flying out of no where, landing deep within her shoulder and pinning her up against the tree. For a moment all her mind could do was completly stop in shock.

There were shouts up ahead as more arrows came flying by, landing on the ground. She reached up with her free hand and tried to pull the arrow out, but it was deep within the tree. It didn't hurt at all, oh no, it was just a slight tingel, but god damn! She didn't want to be pinned to the tree! There were more shouts up ahead as some men came into view. Their clothes seemed old and patchy, and even had some holes in it. Many were wearing straw hats and overalls. And many had handmade cross bows. *What in the world?* she had to ask herself. After all the years of living here she had never had a problem with the locals.

One of the men saw her reaching to pull out the arrow and quickly shot another into her other shoulder at close range, making her arm go totally limp. At this she somewhat hissed, that one somewhat hurt. She changed into her vampiric form, feeling her hair grow longer as it became midnight black. Her eyes turning from emerald green to firey red. "What the hell do you thik you doing?" she screamed in a loud shrill voice. She looked over towards Zek and the new vampire. A man from the group came forward, brandishin his bow near her heart as he began to spoke. "We know you're the culprit for the town murders!" (Is there even a town around here? I"m not sure, probably not and if not I will edit it! LOL) "What are you talking about!" she screamed again. She struggeled with all her might to get unpinned from the tree with no avail. Stupid locals, always had to mess a good gathering. Hmmph, if they  weren't the ones with the cross bows she would be feeding by now."We let you live here for a good couple of years, but now it's gotta stop! WE keep finding people dead with two marks in their neck!!" he shouted, his voice rising slightly. If she could she would cross her arms at this point. She had vowed never to give into bloodlust again after what had happened, and now they were accusing her! "I didn't do it!"

"Yeah, well even if you didn't we've got orders to get rid of ya'". He pointed the crossbow against her chest. God! Stupid mortals, everything would just go fine and dandy until they showed up. Now everything was choase! Now she had to think of something, and quick! The man straightened his grip and-................She pushed out and kicked him as hard as she could.

Whoops! Bad idea.

With that the other men reacted and started shooting with no valid direction, almost like a chicken with it's head cut off. A couple landed in her sides and legs as she tried desperatly to push off this god damn willow. She haden't drank all day and she was loosing some vital blood. GOD !#$!#$, MOTHER !%#$%#%! Why did everything have to go wrong in her life.


OOC: *smacks head* god, I can't seem to help but make over dramatic posts, I'm going to have to learn to stop that! Lol.. I love being over dramatic. If this totaly doesn't fit with Draconi Forest then I can totally change it. I'm not even sure if there are houses here!!

If one bothered to look at Zek, the red veins of his eyes were starting to pulsate, to glow slightly as he looked over at the offending voice. Another vampire? Now that was curious. His left eye was twitching as his hands stayed on the pommels of his weapons, then he slowly drew them from their sheathes. Zek had decided that these two were tiring, and he didn't much feel like dealing with them. He was going to kill him. Plain and simple. It would be an easy task, they didn't look much, and besides, he was a seasoned fighter. Ever so little his foot moved until he was in his fighting stance.

Thens something happened. The first vampire...Bella wasn't it? Said something...about wanting to draw them, or perhaps write them into a story? Zek had a feelings things were goign to go awry with this, but just nodded once. Keep your mouth shut, don't let them suspect a thing. His mind began to wander to things of death and destruction, and to the gory violence he could incur upon them. This worked out a little better, she was inviting them to a private place. Not a smart move overall, but it was a movei none the less. He followed after her, keeping a good distance between them. Zek knew he could always fill the distance later on, surprise attack with a dagger in the back.

That was of course, when someone had beat him to the attack. His eyes simply followed where she had gone to, an arrow, or what was noted to be a cross bow bolt maybe, had pinned her up against a tree. How unfortunate...The smirk under his scarf was invisible as he just looked back to the people who were yelling and shooting bolts at them. They didn't seem interested in himself, or the other vampire that had suddenly appeared. Nothing wrong with that of course.

so, she had been accused of killing locals and draining their blood? Well, he hadn't fed recently, and had just arrived in this area not long ago, it couldn't have been him. It might have been that other suspicous vampire, or indeed just Bella. Zek kept his hands firm on the hilts of the daggers now, his eyes watching each of the locals.That's when he mentioned orders to kill her. How tragic, sent to die by the orders of another. Zek had a few choices to make. He could help Bella, he could simply cut and run, or he could betray the vampires and help kill them before dashing off into the shadows.

So many choices which to make? He finally decided that helping Bella would work over all, because killing these fools would mean there was free blood.

"Tick tock, tick tock. Each second marks your death." Zek said finally, the two weapons were removed from their sheathes, and that was that. The question was, which spell should he use against them first? He hated having to make a choice, more so at a time like this.

"Darkness comes for us all one day!" With that being said, he raised one hand, the dagger clenched firmly in his grip. Thick black fog began to spew from his hand, travelling down the sides of his arms, passed his torso and legs, and then onto the ground. The inky darkness began to rise, began to engulf the area as best it could. To most, it would seem like night had fallen, and someone had blotted out the moon. Then it was Zek's time to shine. FIrst thing he did was allow his vision to switch. His pupils grew, and magic began to pool in them. Perfect. Feet shuffled on the ground as he spun back to find that other vampire, this fog wouldn't last all that long. He skidded to a stop in front of the vampire.

"Two choices. Help me kill, or free Bella, what say you, and say quickly, this fog isn't going to last forever." Zek hissed to the vampire. Zek could see perfectly, whether this other vampire could or not was a different story. He didn't even know if this vampire was a very good fighter for that matter.

Jares' grin only broadened. "Yeah, it's just you two reminded me of a pair of rutting deer. Oh...wait...it's only the guys that rut with deer, ain't it? Er...well, ya get the picture. I think it's adorable!" He shifted his shoulder slowly along the bark of the tree, scratching it like that because he was too lazy to reach up and do it himself. Then he blinked at the rest of what the girl said. Oh? Portraits and stories! How nice!

Pushing off from the tree and standing up straight, he clapped his hands and grinned. "Oh, sounds like fun! Count me in!" And with that, he trailed on after her, nodding once to the other vampire and winking at him as well. Nah, Jares wasn't stupid. He knew this could end very, very badly given he was basically agreeing to go to some strange vampire's house with another strange male vampire (who seemed kind of cranky), but he didn't care! He'd lived a long time, but he never got sick of taking risks. Besides, wasn't like he was without his share of tricks. You didn't get to be over four-hundred years old without learning something, and people had tried to kill him before! It was great fun, actually...

But maybe that was just him.

That was when everything suddenly went crazy. Arrows flew, voices shouted, and Bella got pinned to a tree by an arrow. Ouch. Jares only blinked and looked over at her as she was confronted, and as she denied attacking villagers, and then his orange eyes rolled over to consider the other male. Well, Jares certainly wasn't responsible! He hadn't fed off of any villagers. He sighed and yawned a little, watching Bella kick at the mortals and...get stuck by more bolts as a result. Leave it to humans to spoil all the fun. He wanted to get his portrait done, damnit!

He was on the verge of going on over to help her when darkness suddenly covered everything, and for a moment his vision went dark until his eyes quickly adjusted. Then the other vampire was speaking to him, and he glanced back at him briefly.

Hmmm, the choices! Kill or help, kill or help. Such a hard decision. Not.

Jares only gave an overly dramatic sigh and rolled his eyes skyward. "Killing is such a messy business..." he murmured with a shake of his head before trotting off to find Bella. He didn't know her name, but given she was the only girl among them, that had to be Bella! Unless the other fellow had cruel parents. That would suck for him.

Vision perfectly adapted to the darkness, he soon found the girl pinned to that one big tree, and in a flash he was before her and flashing a charming grin her way. "My my, you sure are popular, little Bella," he said as he reached out for the arrow lodged in her shoulder and gripped the shaft firmly. Without preamble, he yanked it out of both the bark it was lodged in and her flesh before discarding it to the ground, ignoring the the scent and sight of blood that would make most vampires go mad. Then he went for the others that were sticking her like a porcupine's quills, ripping those out as well. He wasn't exactly being careful, either, but he knew she'd live. If they could go in without her making a fuss, they could come out just as easily, after all! Kind of weird if you asked him; he would have been making more of a scene, but then again, old as he was, he still had the capacity to feel pain just as vividly as when he was mortal.

He kind of got screwed there.

Pulling the last one free of her leg, he suddenly simply bent and scooped her up into his arms, carrying her bridal style. "So, where's this lovely abode of yours, again?" he asked conversationally as he took off through the pitch black fog, moving with an unnatural speed. The humans likely couldn't see him, but he could see just fine, and he was heading up the hill Bella had pointed to.

Poor humans...he felt kind of sorry for them. But, hey, he also had to look out for number one...and two and three in this case, and he wasn't really too crazy about getting stuck by arrows. Kind of hurt and all. So, he'd just let the other blood-sucker have his fun.

She was getting lightheaded when suddenly the vampire from before had suddenly appeared in front of her, her eyes making him out perfectly in the dark fog. "Popular my ass, now get me off of this thing!" She knew she should have been nicer but right now she was feeling slight pain and irritation from all the chaos that had broken loose. Very harshely he ripped out the arrows and with each one she let out a yelp of pain. God, even if she was going to live from them it still hurt and he could have been a little more gentle. Once the last arrow was out she somewhat slumped down the tree, feeling very lightheaded now. She should have drank before she left, now look what was happening, she was having to rely on someone else! She never liked to do that. The vampire scooped her up bridal style and at his question she could only help but smile as she closed her eyes. "Mmmm....it's right up that hill, the big yellow one, you can't miss it..." She was becoming sleepy but she would not dare let herself sleep! Not in god's name when she was around strangers and people who had tried to kill her.

She could actually feel her wounds start to heal. The skin starting to close up around the holes. She knew that she would always have the scars but at least she would still be alive. Most people wouldn't be able to live after all thoses arrows. She yawned, feeling darkness cloud her vision. Or was that just the fog that the other vampire had created? She spoke, her voice more like a meek whisper than it's usual boatsful and bold self. "I don't know how much longer I can stay awake....I didn't eat anything before I left.. just, please, get us to the house... and I'll draw you you're portrait....". Wow that was a first! She had actually said please to someone. She must have been delusional!

Or was it just a kind hand for a kind hand?

She closed her eyes again, hearing with her accute hearing most of the men screaming down the hill. She could smell the blood. The smell made her want to stay awake but even if her mind wished it her body betrayed it, as it always did. Even if she was a vampire, and healed quickly her body now ached and she tired and very hungry. From loosing to much blood she soon passed out.


OOC: Sorry, I have a tremendous headach and I can't concentrate on what I write. And I keep writing dramaticy stuff even though I don't mean too.. It just flows right into my fingers and out onto the key board... I should leanr how to stop... Really sorry about that... :oops:

((No worries, everyone has a head ache or is sick or has their wisdom teeth coming in and is chewing on their cheeks. Ahem.))

Zek was graceful, elegant, powerful, almost like a dancer. He was moving through their ranks, his daggers were no longer things that were clenched in his hands, but had become an extension of his own body. Each knick or slice brought forth his medium from them, blood, in which he proceeded to paint the landscape with. Screams echoed around him, arrows whizzed about him, some even managing to stick into his side, or into an arm. There wasn't much pain, his eyes glowed intense red, the black disappearing from the deep sockets. Then...laughter. His laughter. Haunting, insane, far from subtle.

"Dance! Dance with me to your deaths!" He could hear his voice bellow as he plunged a dagger promptly into the eye socket of a farmer. The only man who was untouched so far was their leader. He would be last. The daggers moved with grace, almost beautiful to watch, for those who could at least. His vision had changed once more, he could see the heat signatures, and loved it. Every slice he made, every gush of blood registered, not only with his eyes, but with his other senses. He could hear men gasp as their lives were stolen from them, the rushing of blood and the cries of confusion.

Zek shuddered in excitement, one hand moved to pull the scarf from his mouth. An unway farmer, reloading his crossbow never saw Zek coming. Large fangs sank into the man's neck, piercing the juggular. Blood bubbled to the surface, and the man was unable to breathe, mostly because Zek had put a dagger through his throat. The dying gasp of the man was music as he let the man slide from the dagger and die.

He turned his focus to the last farmer, who was in the laboured process of trying to escape. Zek of course was faster and strong. Legs bent for only a moment as he pushed himself forward into the farmer. Zek decided that the person who should get the honour of the kill would be Bella, it was only fair. Zek's daggers moved quickly, slashing the man's hamstrings. A very audible scream was something that was issued from his lips. Reversing his grip he drove the pommel of the dagger into the man's back. There was a loud crack, and he fell forward. His eyes were open, looking about, his face had a permenant expression of fear. The fog was gone, disappated into nothing, and Zek's eyes had returned to normal. His daggers were sheathed, and he turned to begin his new business.

First thing to do was to remove the crossbow bolts from his body. After that had been accomplished, he grabbed the paralyzed man by the scruff of the neck and pulled him along with him, heading for the hill.

"Your death will be magnificent." Zek said simply as he started up the hill, after the two other vampires. His wounds had already begun mending, and his strength had returned from his feeding off one of the farmers. Still, his senses were driving crazy, and he noted that his clothes had recieved alot of excess splatter, which only make him smirk. His free hand travelled up and pulled his scarf about his mouth once more, completing the mask to hide everything but his eyes.

Perfect.

"Big yellow one! Got it!" Jares said with a nod and a grin, picking up the pace. Hm...was it really a good idea to go into a closed environment, though? The humans might follow them and try busting the door down or something, and then the poor girl's house would be absolutely devastated! That would suck! And then they'd all have to help clean up...man oh man.

Yet something told him that those humans would not be following them.

...Like the screams and yells that were carrying through the space, some of them cut off abruptly or turning into wet-sounding gurgles. Pleasant, that. Jares twitched a little, but didn't look back; he stuck to his course, dashing up the hill, and nearly jerked in surprise when the dark fog ended and there was nothing but clear forest around him. And...heh, lookit that. A big yellow house right in front of his nose. Obviously, he'd just reached the edge of that other vampire's spell, and to confirm that, Jares finally looked back over his shoulder. The black fog was still there, spread out ominously through the forest, hiding the blood and corpses that were no doubt lurking beneath it. He could still hear the screams, though they were fewer, now.

Ick...he wasn't all too sure he liked that other vampire too much...

In any case, it seemed he reached the big yellow house just in time, because that was when Bella murmured something about not drinking and being unable to stay awake. And about drawing a portrait.

Wow...who thought about drawing portraits in the midst of disaster...?

Erk, wait, he'd kind of thought the same thing, actually. Oops. Well, that didn't count!

"No worries, dear, we're already here!" he announced as he carried her up the pathway and to the front door, though by that time she was already a dead weight in his arms, passed out. Tsk. That wasn't too good. Oh well, no matter, she was still alive and...that other guy seemed to be having a ball taking care of the humans and succeeding, because the yells were practically non-existent at that point. All was well again! He guessed. Though if the villagers had ever had any doubts at all that she'd been responsible for the deaths of their kin, well...chances were, all that was wrecked now.

Especially with three vampires now lingering in the same area. Much less the same house.

Oh well!

Shiftng her around in his arms, he checked the door, clicked his tongue softly when he found it unlocked--tsk, leaving it wide open for thieves!--and nudged the door open with his hip before carrying her inside and heading over to the nearest sofa he saw. There, he deposited her easily before going back and shutting the door, though he kept it unlocked. After all, it wasn't his house and she'd invited the other guy, so he had no right to lock it! That would just be rude. Heading back over to the sofa, he plopped down beside her, crossed one leg over the other, and stared consideringly at the veins of his left wrist. To feed her, or not to feed her...

Then again, truth be told, he wasn't quite sure how she'd react to his blood. He wasn't exactly an orthodox vampire, and he couldn't say he'd ever fed another his blood. He didn't exactly hang out around many blood-suckers.

But...his blood was still red and metallicky to him! He guessed that counted for something! Still, he didn't know...it might be too sweet, have too much sugar in it.

Finally, he just shook his head and sat back, then randomly poked the girl in the cheek a few times with a finger in an effort to get her to come back to the conscious world. Nah, he'd just wait. It would hurt to bite himself, anyway, and he didn't really know what he was doing. Besides, it wasn't like she'd die or anything. She was technically already dead...

Besides, poking her was kind of fun. In a weird sort of amusing way that was probably only funny to him.

He was easily entertained, to say the least.

She slowly awakened as she felt soneone touching her cheek. No, not touching...poking! With super fast reflexes she grabbed the pokers hand and pushed him away. She sat up and saw that it was the other vampire. What had happened? Had she fallen asleep? She must have because she was in her own elegant home. They were in her living room... a grand place with a marble hearth, chestnut wood floors, crimson painted walls, and white pannaling. She had left some candels lit, so the room was tinted with a sweet tardiness of vanillia cinnamon. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. She looked over at the other vampire. She put her arm on her sore shoulder and said "Well....um.. thanks... thanks for getting me here.. um.. where's the other guy?" She stood up and streched, feeling achy from the arrows all over. "I should get a quick bite to eat before I attack somebody... you know, those villagers have a lot of nerve accusing me of something I didn't do! " She crossed her arms and pouted. She would never give into blood lust, not after what had happened.


Her and her lifemate were sitting by this exact same fire, drinking some wine and cuddiling up with each other. She kept telling him that he should leave soon, that she had things to do and that she would be  here all day tomorrow. He laughed and kissed her, telling her that he never wanted to leave her side. The hunger for the crimson liquid immersed and after that she couldn't remember what happened. When she woke up she saw her lifemate lying on the floor. Blue and very, very pale. She would never let that happen again. Never. Nor would she drink a human to it's death unless she was really hungry, which almost never happened because she always kept a steady flow of her victims. What would happen now?

Coming out of her revear she suddenly stared up at the vampire. "Oh, right your portrait and something to eat...... OLLETE!" No sooner had she called out an somewhat middle aged woman in a maids workshift outfit came from a door that was not seen. " Yes Ms. Debouchi?" she questioned, smoothing down the plain, light blue skirt down. " I would like three glasses of blood and a penicl, and four canvases, right away!" "Yes Ms. Debouchi, right away!" The maid quickly hurried off.

She turned back to the vampire who was still sitting on her midnight black couch. " May I aquire your name?" she asked crossing her arms in a playful way. She would like to name the drawing after. "I've got a glass for each of us, Zek also, and I want four portarts for I will double each of yours so I can keep them." she explained as the maid came back in with a handful of the items. Bella quickly took them off her hands and gave to woman some money. "Take the day off, but becareful, the locals are, in my opionin, going crazy!" The maid laughed and gladly bowed as she accepted her sum of money. She left the room leaving Bella and the vampire. Bella set the cavasases on the floor and handed one of the fine crystal glasses to the vampire.

"Now, where is Zek, I simply most draw him too!"

Zek had decided to take his time going up the hill, dragging the man across any bumpy terrain, through any bush that look liked it might hurt, anything to increase his pain. Of course, the man would eventually die from the deep cuts on the back of his legs where his hamstrings had been evicerated. He finally spotted the house that Bella mentioned and smirked. Getting to the door he pushed it open, noting that it was unlocked. They must have expected him then, that was kind of them. Striding in side with the man in tow, his eyes wandered and he took a deep whiff of the air. They were this way. Following the smell he dragged the paralysed farmer with him into the living room they were occupying, blood dripped from Zek, well, a lot of it did. It was drying up where it could not drip from, as it had soaked some of his clothes.

"I brought a friend." Zek said as he pulled the man up so Bella could see his face. He was locked with eternal fear still, his eyes darting from one corner to the other,  hoping that something might save him.

"I apologize for your floor." Zek noted as he let the man fall to the ground with a thump, his neck twisting as he looked at the trail of blood and dirt the duo had made. His attention returned to Bella, his face somber as he shrugged. He didn't think it would be a good idea to sit down anyways, he was pretty messy as is.

"Anyways...This is their leader, I thought to be fair if you had a go at him. After all, he attacked you several times and brought an angry mob with him. It's only fair that you would be the one to deal with him." Zek said as he nudged the man with his foot.

"He can't move, a shame, you could hunt him like the animal he is. Well, no matter now though." Zek says as his arms cross and he looked to each ot them.

"It's funny...what the odds of a vampire that can day walk...One in ten thousand? What are the odds that three of them converge in the same place?" Zek didn't even want to think about those numbers. They were a little too...high no doubt.

Jares actually jumped when she suddenly snapped back to life and pushed his hand away, not really expecting her to come to so soon after passing out cold, vampire or not! Hey, she'd lost a lot of blood, after all. Even if it wasn't technically her blood, but the blood of whoever she'd drank from last. She sat up, and he watched her curiously, one eyebrow arching; she didn't even seem all out of it anymore. But, then again, they weren't the same type of vampire, either--that much Jares was positive of. So, things probably worked differently with the usual blood-suckers...

"Not a problem, Bella. Um, the other guy...?" He lifted his shoulders in a brief shrug. "Probably still killing people outside." He gave a sage nod and stretched his arms over his head before flopping back against the couch and getting comfortable. As for the rest of what she said, he could only smile wryly. Poor girl. If she thought she was in trouble now, he could only imagine what was going to happen when the rest of the village learned of the recent slaughter. Of course, he kept that little thought to himself and simply relaxed back against the couch, making himself at home. Ooo, it was so nice and squishy.

"Nice pad ya got here, by the way. You rich or something?" he asked absently, running a hand up and down the arm of the sofa. He would not mind living large like this a bit.

That was when Bella called for a maid. And Jares gave a little involuntary jerk.

...Three glasses of blood? Uh oh...something told him that maid wouldn't be having a drink with them, which meant, yep, he was being offered some blood. Jares chewed on the inside of his cheek and glanced over at Bella briefly. Oh man...how to explain this one? Well...he'd just say he wasn't thirsty! It wouldn't be a lie since he'd fed only an hour or so ago. Hopefully she wouldn't think him rude...

Jares was so busy thinking about how to explain himself that he hardly caught what Bella said next. "Hmm? Oh, I'm Jares! And you're Bella, right? Such a cute name. That must make the other guy must be Zek, I'm guessing?" That was when the maid returned with the canvases and glasses. Crap. And Bella handed him one of the glasses as soon as she'd excused the maid. Jares took it slowly, glancing down at the red liquid that filled it, and swished the blood around in the glass a little, trying not to wrinkle his nose like he wanted to as the coppery scent filled his nostrils. "Oh, thanks..."

Luckily he was saved when that other vampire, Zek, arrived, opening the door and...dragging a half-dead human in with him, blood smearing across the polished floor. Jares set the glass down on the table across from him and turned, blinking and watching interestedly with his arm propped on the arm of the couch, and he suddenly felt kind of sorry for the maid. Poor thing. She'd have one hell of a mess to come back to when she returned...

Oh, right, wait, maybe he should feel kind of sorry for that dying dude, too.

Except, he'd be dead and wouldn't have a huge ass mess to worry about cleaning!

Jares shrugged and sat up. "Should I get a towel? Your dripping all over," Jares said calmly with a small smile. "And blood's such a pain to get out of wood..." He tsked again but didn't make any move to find a towel, partly because he didn't know where any were and partly because he was comfortable and, hey, it wasn't his place. Instead, he just looked at Bella curiously, waiting to see if she was going to finish the guy off, then turned back to Zek when he brought up the whole day-walking thing.

Jares only chuckled and shook his head. "Like I said...this place must be like a vampire's mating grounds or something..." Hey, that explained it in his head!

No sooner had she said that Zek had turned up in the doorway, soaked in blood and dragging a paralyzed man behind him. She smiled with glee as Zek spoke aloud, telling her that she should be the one to kill off the man for what he and his little freinds had done to her. Her red rose petal lips curved into an arch again as he apologized for the blood soaked floor. "Oh it's no problem, my house keeper will take care of it!" she exclaimed handing him the gllas filled with crimson red blood. She took her glass and set it down on a oak side table, it clinging with a soft thud. With incredible strength she pulled the paralyzed man up above her, lifting him up so she could see him right in the eye. His brownish-gold eyes were stone cold with fear, it shined perfectly in the gold tints. "I have to say... you put me through hell.. I did not kill those towns people..." as she spoke this she couldn't help but glance at the other two vampires. Had they done it? Had they murdered and drained all the towns people? She shook her head.. It wasn't possible. She stared back at the man, her features begining to change. Her long golden blonde hair was suddenly turning to midnight black making her pale skin look even more white, while her pure emerald eyes changed into a fierey red. Pearly white fangs spurted from her red rose petal upper lip. Her fingernails now grew, not grewsome like, but longer, and she could feel them peirce the man's chest.

"I will enjoy this, you have only brought this onto yourself..." she somewhat screamed in his face, even though it was only barely a whisper on the wind. She pulled him in closer and bit deep within his neck, feeling the warm irony liquid seep onto her tongue. Slowly, but hungerily, since she hadn't had anything to eat, she drank every last drop, until the man was stone cold. She opened her eyes. She hadn't realized that she had closed them while she was feeding. I guess it was just a natural habbit. She sighed as she heaved the man up upon her shoulder. "That wasn't as enjoyable as I thougt it would be..." he said as she began taking the man down the ornate hallways and then, reaching to her kitchen and reaching a grand oak door she opened it and placed the man outside on the wooden back porch. She would deal with him later once her guests were gone.

Now, time for some drawing!

She opened the door and came back in, closing it softly behind her. She traveled back thorugh the ahllways until she came back into the living room, the two men still standing there. Had they been talking about her? Oh well, she didn't care. "You know, what you did, I'm very greatful, but I have to admit Zek, I'm a little nervous now, soon the whole town will end up on my front door step!" she sternly told him, making er way over to her black baby grand piano. Her living from was filled with many furnishings. A Black leather couch, and love seat, a gold grandfather clock that chimed at every hour. A couple of candles that tinted the room with a sweet tardiness of sweet vanilla and tangy cinnamon. There was a couple of rugs that were an odd color of white. Bad color for a rug, especially when you were a blood sucking vampire. Could get stained very easily.

She sat down on the stool of the baby grand piano and began to play a very morbid song, once that she herself had created. She was a very artsy person and it shone whenever she did something creative. "Sorry, but I want to make sure I'm in the creative mood.." She continued to play, her music becoming more morbid and depressing. "So...she started to speak as she began to play, what position would you want to be in for your portraits, or would you rather be in my story? And do you want to be nude or clothed?" she asked with seriousness written all over her face.

Little did the two vampires know was that, other than her, the piano would make them sleepy.

"Vampires don't mate, they have sex. We don't reproduce through sexual means, it would be a physical impossibility." Zek said suddenly as he turned his attention towards the other male vampire, Jares. He wasn't so sure about this one...he didn't seem to want to drink the blood laid out for him. His eyes quickly moved to the piano, watching Bella for a moment. Something was off...maybe the piano? The tune just didn't seem...good...it was...morbid. Not to say it wasn't a good song how ever, it just sent a shiver to his spine though.

"I'd rather not have any painting, drawing, or story written about me thank you." Zek said to her as he looked at her, his arms crossing. He wasn't going to model for her, nude or otherwise. He didn't even want to be in a story...what was the point? The things he could say though as he took a seat, one hand on his neck. With a quick twitch left and right, he cracked his neck, popping the joints and such back into place..

"Who knows what the young one wants." Zek said as he jabbed a thumb in the direction of Jares. He could have made a remark about the nude part, but he thought it was best to keep his mouth shut for the time being. He didn't know these people, and didn't feel all that comfortable with the idea of stripping naked.

What the hell was up with that stupid tune anyways?! It just seemed....it kept invading his thoughts, but what it wanted, he didn't know. There was something though...he felt...he felt sleepy? Was that even possible? He only tranced, not slept...this was...this wasn't very good. He couldn't help it though...his eyelids started to droop, but the more he fought, the more it seemed to hit him. No something was off indeed. His hand fell to his lap, to rest on the pommel of his dagger.

"Stop...stop playing please." Zek said as he looked over to Bella. He couldn't be sure that a spell was being palced on him. There was a good chance that he was simply entering a trance state because of the energy he had exerted in the fight...but...he had fed. He had fed! It had awoken him, and yet here he was almost nodding off to sleep. There was foul play in this room.

Oh my...Jares had really found himself a dramatic duo! He watched as Bella drained the paralyzed man of blood after going through that rather interesting transformation, and he didn't make any effort to stop it. Hey, the guy had it coming and besides, his back was broken. If none of them had killed him, he would have done it himself--even if he wouldn't have drank a drop--just like he would put down an animal that had been crippled too badly to survive on its own. It was a bit of a shame, but hey, the human population was already large enough and it wasn't like the guy hadn't provoked them first. Huh. And then there was still the grand mystery of who had sucked the necks of other villagers. Either one of the other two were lying, or there was a fourth vampire out there.

Huh.

Jares snorted a little when Bella reprimanded Zek like a child for slaughtering the other mortals. Still on the couch, he yawned a little as Bella went over to the piano and, couch all to himself, he sprawled out fully on it, back against one of the cushiony arms and one leg thrown over the back of it. Yep. He was quite at home here, now, but he could make himself at home in the middle of a swamp, too. It didn't take all that much to please him. He turned his head over in Zek's direction and gave a wry, toothy smile, both long fangs bared. "My, my, so <I>literal..." Jares said, snorting at the other vampire and rolling his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I know it's sex. Yay, great fun, that. That, buddy ol' pal, was what is called a joke. A lame one, I know, but still a joke."

He folded stretched his arms up and folded them under his head, and then his grin got just a bit wider when Bella went on about portraits and stuff. Ooo. A nudie picture, eh? He gave a little yawn as the girl played piano, not really finding anything odd about her playing yet. Sure, it was depressing and he rather hated depressing music, but he didn't yet notice that it was the cause of his sudden drowsiness. He just thought that was because, well...he could be a lazy bastard and this couch was comfy. Jares only gave her a lazy smile, then flashed a rather devious one Zek's way.

Ohh...he didn't want any pictures or stories written about him, eh? Did it make him uncomfortable? And what was with the "young one" bit? Oh well.

Jares smirked and brought his left hand down to cover his mouth as he yawned. Zek may have kept his mouth shut about the nude part, but that didn't mean Jares was going to! "Hmm...I'd like a portrait. A nude one. And I'll pose...right here...like this." He swept his left hand through the air, emcompassing the area where he was currently sprawled out with one leg flung over the back of the couch. Not really the most modest pose, so say the least. "Only without my clothes." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively and yawned again, then tapped a finger to his lips. "I'm afraid I'm a bit too comfy to move at the moment though...heh...at the rate I'm going, you may just have to undress me..."

He only keeped on grinning sleepily.

That was when Zek told Bella to stop playing, and he blinked over at him again. Eh? What was up with him? Sure, it wasn't the greatest--yawn--but...it was...kinda pretty...

It was working. The piano was starting to put them to sleep and once they were asleep they wouldn't wake up for about two hours, giving her just enough time to draw them on her canvas, whether they wanted to be drawn or not. She knew that she only had to continue playing for a moment longer and soon they would be out cold, especially with the blood. The blood she had given them was a very sweet blood and would probably put the most persistant to sleep. The only trouble was that Zek had had none, but all the same he had fed before he came up, making his stomach full and his mind weary. A comfortable position. She listened to Zek's words, but dared not stop playing. Her fingers graced themselves along the white and black ivorys as the tune of the piano became softer and softer. It did sound depressing, but at all the same a very good tune. One of those morbid kind of tones. She loved to sit on hours end playing the piano for no one in particular. But today it was put to good use, seeing as how she would at least haev two new museses. She continued to play, her hands moving down the keys to the very bottom, making it sound like she was playing the basemnt, while her other hand was up and above, playing soft high A# notes.

Once asleep she would undress the Jares. She would leave Zek clothed for that's what he had chosen, but just a little secret, she wished she could at least undress him this one time. At least put it down on paper, but no she would at least repsect one of his wishes. She looked over at him, seeing him sturggle to stay awake. It wouldn't take long, for the piano was a very powerful instrument. It was given to her by an old sorceres, but more like an old friend. She had given it to her because she knew that Bella was an artistic person and that this piano would be put to good use.

And it was.

She looked over at Jares, almost smiling her pearly smile as she listened to him, telling her that she might have to undress him, which was what she was going to do anyway! She must have stared at him for the longest time, getting lost in his delicate features....his beautiful black hair...his...

No. She shook her head. She musten't talk about him like that. She only just met him and she didn't know anything about him! But still, she couldn't help it.

She looked over at Zek. He was also very handsome. Oh how she wished she could draw him nude! That would be an experience he would never forget. It wasn't like she was going to draw it, she wanted to draw mostly his upperbody. Maybe she would at least just take off his shirt. She deepened the tune of the piano, now adding a pedal. The pedal made it sound weary and even more morbid, and she also knew that it was an extra boost to the sleeping aid. They would be out in no time.

It had to be that blasted tune...he knew it was. He had to get angry. He had to get the rage that came with his people. What would get him angry? Well...this woman was trying to put him to sleep for one. Yes, that was a good start...she didn't stop playing either, that worked.   The dagger slipped from his sheathe, but his movements were starting to become sluggish. He couldn't think of a better thing to do than to just fall asleep right here, but he knew he couldn't. It was survival after all, and despite this Bella woman seeming nice, she could just as easily kill him if he fell asleep.

The bloodrage wasn't there however, he just couldn't muster it properly. His head turned to look at Bella and that piano. He could easily put the dagger into her neck, but maybe just damaging the piano would work? Letting his fingers move to the pommel of the dagger, he kept his focus, knowing that he had to block out the sound of the piano some how. It was the only thing his mind wanted to focus on.

Zek knew he couldn't go feral in this place. If they thought he was mean as a sentient being, then one bent on destruction and pain would just be worse. He had to get her stop. Pushing off the chair, he now stood, dagger in his hand, facing her with a glare to his eyes.

"Stop playing." Zek said, his voice firm. His eyes softened for a moment, his mind was starting to shut down. He had to do this quickly. One step forward...two steps...then three, and four. Getting a better grip on the dagger he took another step forward. His legs gave out, and he fell to one knee. No. No he couldn't let this happen. He was right there! Right at the piano! The dagger raised, and fell with a thud into the side of the piano. The tip barely went into it, sliding down the side slowly. Unless the piano could be  hurt with cosmetic damage, then Zek had failed to stop the piano.

HIs eyes closed, his shoulders slumped, and he fell over, onto his side. The dagger in his hand however he did not let go, he kept that firmly in his grip. His mind was still awake how ever, still thinking, still aware of the danger. This had been a bad idea. Wake up. He had to wake up. It was so peaceful though, wasn't it? There were no troubles here, no worries....no...he had to wake up. He couldn't let this happen. For all he knew she was going to stake them right there. The scale armour he wore would protect him...but...if she removed it, there would just be the silk body suit that covered his entire body left...and his scarf mask...she would...she would take that off before she killed him wouldn't she? He hated people seeing his face...He didn't know why either.

He had to wake up.

[Heehee, Jares told Bella his name. ^_~ And he hasn't drank any blood!]

What was up with the other guy? Jares watched him through half-closed eyes as he told Bella to stop playing, as he staggered over toward her with his dagger out. Yikes. Not his type of music, he took it? Well, it wasn't his either but he didn't get all huffy about it. That guy just needed to relax. Yeah. He needed a big, comfy sofa like this one--but not this one because there was no way in hell Jares was sharing!--and to just...relax. Chill. Take of his clothes and just...hang. Yup. Then he probably wouldn't be so stressed out and freaking out over a little music. Huh. This situation could probably end badly...somewhere in the back of his mind, Jares thought that maybe, just maybe, he should get up and go over there in case Zek tried to stab Bella.

But then he reconsidered, because he was too comfortable. The girl could fend for herself; she had nifty vampire powers too, didn't she?

Yeah. She could.

Well, in any case, the guy fell over, but Jares was only aware of that because he heard the thump of something landing on the wooden floor. Yeah. He definitely needed a nice, comfy sofa. The floor couldn't be that great and he had looked tired. After killing all those people, it seemed only natural.

Maybe Jares should have been a bit more cautious, but the thing was, well, he had always lived rather dangerously, and he had more tolerance for various things than was probably healthy. Hey, after four-hundred or so years of living, there really wasn't much he minded anymore! Some people might get more uptight and bitter with age, but Jares had only gotten increasingly laid back, so while the whole nudie thing had really, truthfully, been just a joke and an attempt to make everyone else uncomfortable, well...if Bella stripped him, she stripped him! He had no issues with his body, or with other people seeing his body. He just...really didn't care. It was that whole tolerance thing.

Of course, he also didn't know that she had taken him seriously.

But, oh well!

Just as Zek was soon asleep on the floor, Jares drifted off as well, one arm beneath his head and the other flopping over the side of the couch, making the many colorful, wooden bracelets clack together.

She continued to play when she noticed that Zek had suddenly stood up and announced in a firm voice to stop. At first she was a little nervous, thinking that the piano spell had brooken loose on Zek, but then she smiled seeing his eyes falter as he came crashing down toward the floor. She looked over at Jares and noticed that he was also finally asleep. They were both out cold. Exactly what she wanted. She played for about twenty more minutes, making sure that they wouldn't wake up, and then.. very slowly stopped, ending the morbid song that had put them both into la la land. She came out from behind the piano, grabbing her canvasas and pencils o the way, and plopped a seat in the love seat, next to the couch. She would draw Jares first. She first situated herself, making sure that all her supplies were there and ready for use. Then she stood up, making her way over to Jares to start undressing him. She figured she would only take off his shirt for that was what she liked to draw best. The upper part of a man's body. With great ease she lifted him up and pulled off his shirt, revealing his musceled tan chest. She stared for a moment, looked him up and down, and smiled, laying him in a position that she thought would be great to draw. She looked down at Zek. She just had to draw him.. she just had to! His form and body was so perfect that she just couldn't pass up the chance. That was why she had used the piano spell.  She sighed, smiled again, and then turned back to Jares.

She had placed Jares into  somewhat innocent position. He was laying on the couch with his one hand under his chin, his fingers pointing out. HIs other hand was near his middle chest, his fingers slightly curved into small arches. She watched his chest rise up and down, rhythmatic almost. She smiled. It was the most beautiful sight she could have ver seen, she had a good eye for men didn't she? She lifted up a pencil to the snow white canvas, now ready to begin. She would have to make haste, and then play the piano for a second time, to keep them asleep so she could also draw Zek. She began doing the shaping and outline of his body, amking every little detail seem almost exactly like it's original. She started to draw the details of his eyes and nose, his perfect curved lips. The way he looked so peaceful, it was so unbelievable. She stared on his black locks of hair, shading in and making every little strand look exactly the same, or almost as much as she could. Her eyes would dart to and fro between him and her drawing. Now she began to shade, show in the small shadows that were casted by his own features, such as an arm or hand. In about an hour she was finished with the drawing part, now for the colouring. Her couch was black, and so that was what she shaded it in, making some spots lighter than others to so creases, or where wight was and weight wasn't. She started to shae in his skin, a perfect blend to match his, making sure to get every shine of light on his face, and every dark markt that his body with held. She started to color in his hair, making it look more exact then the shading had. AFter she was finished, she noticed that he was a little blah, so she decided to quick add a crimson red dhaw that would drap across it. After a few more touches she was done. She smiled and signed it on the bottom. That was finished.

She stood up and streched, being in the same position really put a crick in your neck. She walked over to the piano, cracked her fingers, and began to play again, the same soft morbid tone. Even if they were stilll asleep she wanted to maek sure that they would stay asleep for a couple hours more so she could draw Zek and then also make copies for herself. It was going to be a lot of work but she knew that in the end it would be worth it. She played for about thirty minutes, feeling the soft notes of the piano linger in the air. AFter she was finished she stood up and quickly lifted up zek, putting him on the love seat now. She breathed a sigh of relief when he didn't awaken. She started to take off his shirt, exposing his raw pale chest to her. Fact was he was very handsom to and she could not help but stare. She figured that she would leave his scarf on, for it would probably add to the portrait. After she had put him into a position that she liked (hands laying softly by his side) she sighed and sat down in a chair, starting the process all over again. It took her about another hour, but soon she was finished, making every detail and color exacltty the way she wanted. She got up, played the piano again, for about thirty minutes, and then sat down, taking the two portraits too her, examining them. She sighed, now she was geting bored of this.. but if she wanted to keep one for herself she would have to copy it. And once again she started the process all over again, twice actually.

It took about four hours but she was finally finished with all four portraits, all looking like the other. She smiled at her greatness and then quickly set them down. She put her penciles and colors away and then moved quickly toward the two men. She put Jares shirt back on and then Zek's. She put the chair she had been sitting on back into the other room and then quickly sat on the edge of Jares's, well actually her, couch.

"Hey, hey wake up... I'm finished..."

Wake up

"I can't!" Though his body had shut down, entered a trance state, his mind was fully awake still, and it was arguing with itself. This was often the reason that Zek opted usually to drink blood to stay away, rather than to enter a trance to sleep.

If you don't wake up you will die. The voice told him. Zek struggled, his mind reeled to try and wake up the body, but it was no use. He remembered something though. Weaker minds would be affected by his psychic powers, but stronger mind...vampire minds...they would not...they wouldn't even feel it. His mind lashed out around it, trying to find the thoughts of Bella. It found them.

I must draw them. I simply must. What did it mean? Was she going to bleed them? Draw their blood from them? His mind raced with questions, until a more rational voice made itself known. Had she not indicated she simply wanted to draw a portrait of them? Would that not be what she was doing then? True, Zek didn't enjoy the idea that she had to put him to sleep to draw him, and that even after his refusal she still did.

No, that didn't impress him, and as his mind talked amongst itself, it grew a bit to hatred, to wipe her from this land with a quick motion of his daggers.

Wake up.

The words echoed as Zek tried to stir himself. That melody. It was...it was playing again. She was going to keep them asleep them. Just ensure they never woke up. He felt something, like...like things were moving. Was he being moved? Perhaps more townspeople had come? Who knows. Zek was terrified, terrified that he didn't know what was happening around him. He hated the unknown, it scared him.That melody had stopped thankfully.

It wasn't before long that he...heard it again drifting through his thoughts. That damned song! He was going to break her piano after this. He was going to smash it, remove each one of her fingers, and then light the whole mess of fingers and piano on fire. Right? That's what he was going to do...yes.

"Hey wake up...I'm finished... That wasn't him...that was someone else. Someone female. Zek's eyes snapped open, focusing on Bella. There was a hatred in his eyes, a burning rage. He was on his feet before he even knew it, his other dagger in his hand. He noted his black dagger had been left by the piano. He began to spin the dagger in his hand, weaving over the palm and through his fingers.

"Ten seconds. You have exactly ten seconds to tell me why I shouldn't kill you. After ten seconds I will plunge this dagger into your neck and remove your head from your body." HIs voice was firm, commanding as he kept his focused gaze on Bella.

"Ten seconds."

Jares slept like, well, the dead through the whole thing, hardly even twitching when Bella shifted him around and rearranged his position. Nope, he was totally out of it, having slipped off into a nice, deep, dreamless sleep, totally oblivious to everything that was happening around him--and to him. His lip twitched a little when she removed his shirt, but only because he was ticklish and that sensation was able to permeate through to his sleeping brain, but other than that, there was nothing. No reaction or anything, not even any yawns or shifting in his sleep. He was perfectly still for the four hours or so that it took Bella to draw everyone.

And then, finally, sensation began to return to him. He could feel the soft couch beneath his arms, and his fingers flexed slightly against the fabric. Eh? Hey, wake up...I'm finished... A female voice. A familiar one. Oh...wait...finished with what?

His eyes clenched shut tighter, as though fighting against consciousness for a moment--because sleep, after all, was good--before they opened, and he blinked tiredly for a moment before sitting up a little and spotting Bella sitting at the edge of the couch. Goodness...he hadn't fallen asleep, had he? He gave a loud yawn and ran a hand through his black bangs and over his face, trying to wake up. Wow, that was totally unplanned, he swore! It wasn't like he was narcoleptic or anything, after all! He liked sleep, but this was ridiculous, keeling over in a random stranger's house two seconds after laying down! Especially given that the two seemed to have...a bit of a reputation going for them. Sure, Jares wasn't all that worried or anything (it was probably amazing that he'd lived as long as he had given he had this annoying habit of throwing caution to the wind) but he also didn't want to end up as somebody's dinner.

And, to be quite honest, vampire though he was, he really wasn't too up to date on vampire etiquette. He didn't hang around many vampires, if any.

It was a nice couch and all, but man...stop falling asleep in random places, Jares! Bad vampire!

"...Oh dear...I fell asleep again. So sorry! That musta been rude; I wasn't trying to say your company was boring or anything!" he said, sitting up completely and swinging his legs over the side of the couch. "I didn't snore or anything, did I?"

That question would have to be answered later, because that was when he noticed Zek. Who was on his feet with a dagger in hand. And, yep. He sure looked ready to do exactly what he said he did.

...Somehow, Jares had the strongest feeling that he'd missed something terribly important when he fell asleep.

"...Wow. You two really are like an old married couple," he murmured, glancing from Zek to Bella. "I don't know what I missed, but...now, now, mister Zek...sir. I think you should put the knife down. It's bad form to kill the hostess when you're a guest. Everyone knows that. That's why you shouldn't kill her." He leaned back against the couch, watching him and smiling a little. He wouldn't do anything just yet.

OOc: okay I'm really tiered and the thread in the general discusioons board has got me wacked so sorry if this post is crappy.

IC:

She quickled glanced over at Jares who told them that they really did quarrel like an old married couple.. Well he wasn't helping much! "Ten seconds? Okay." She quikclyed walked over and picked up the two portraits of both of them. Showing each to their origionals. She kenw that it was a masterpiece and that they should be proud that she had captured them so well instead of butchering them. She stared uneasily at Zek. She had to admit.. he didn't want his portrait done, but come one! He had to admitte, even to himself, that he was a beautiful thing when asleep. "I only put you to sleep because I thought it would make the portrait look more dramatic.. what do you guys think? I think I captures you well!" Truth be told she didn't like to brag or anything but she thought that she really did do a fine job, better than she usually did. She moved back towards the piano and picked up the dagger, gripping the blade with her hand and not the handel. She raised it, wanting to give it back to Zek. It was his dagger, she had no use for it, even if all her might that she didn't want to give it back, fear that he might actually chop her head off, she reamined brave and handed it back calmly. Oh how she hoped that they liked their portraits! She had worked really hard on them just to get every detail! She went over and took a seat on the couch, next to Jares. She sighed, exhaling a large amount of air. She knew Zek meant business, but could he really be mad at a wonderful portrait like that.

She had to admit, even if that portrait cost her her life, it was worth it.

" Seriously Zek, I didn't mean to scare you or anything but come on, look at that! You are simply one of a kind that no one would want to pass up upon!" She had to admit she was a little dissapointed that he had acted the wa he had. He shouldn't have been all angry and ready to chop her head. Why did he have to be such a cruel person when all she tried to do was give him something, a mini him on a canvas. For once she almost felt like she could cry! But only for a moment, a moment and then she was back to her peppy self.

"I'm sorry, if you really want to chop of my head, then so be it..." She knew she had betrayed his wishes and she guessed that it was only fair that he kill her. She stood up and walked straight up to him. She grabed part of his hand and purposly brought the dagger up to her neck, then she let go, letting him choose. She closed her eyes.

"Go a-ahead". Her voice qauvered for a moment, fact was she was scared, but she would never tell anyone, for as long as she lived. Which was, I guess, not long!!

The daggers were precious to him. There was no question of it. When she handed it back, he held it against his chest for a moment before returning it to the sheathe. His eyes were still glaring. Paintings and songs, what good were they? He had no use for them after all. They were just canvas and paint.

"Keep them both, I have no use for a painting of myself, and where would I keep such a thing?" It was a good point after all. His clothes had no pockets, and his armour had no hidden slots. He wasn't simply going to wrap it up and keep it in his bodysuit, it might...it might get ruined.

"You could have said something. Something to convince me to make me stay. Instead you play that...that piano and PUT US TO SLEEP." It was rage, but he was keeping it in check.

"If we want to talk about bad manners, let's talk about putting a spell on your guests so you could...what looks like take their shirts off and paint their portraits." She...she painte dhim well...but...in his weakest state. Sleep. That's one thing that really bothered him. He liked to appear strong, to appear deadly and deceiving...and yet...he was asleep. He cursed himself for not realizing it was the piano. Zek did admit he had trust issues of course, but that was besides the point. She approached him, and brought the dagger up to her own neck, letting his hand go. He had the dagger hover there, his eyes narrowing. He had his chance. The killing blow! A vampire who would openly let him steal their life away.

"My question to you is, what would anger you more? If I ripped up the portraits...or..." His free hand went down to his side, to grab the dagger he had sheathed. Pulling it free he began to twirl it around his hand.

"Or if I broke your piano." He wasn't going to take her life. That was obvious as he lowered his dagger. Though, with a quick slice across her shoulder, he drew a small line of her blood. Pulling the scarf down with the dagger tip he extended his tongue and licked the blood from the cold steel surface. The dagger went down, back to the sheathe, and his arms crossed over his chest. He let the scarf hang for a moment before retying it up, remembering he had left it down.

"Why though...why did you have to paint up shirtless?" Zek knew he was athletic, didn't look all that muscular, and he had a sort of paleness to him, yet that didn't seem to matter to her. It confused him, but...somewhere, it interested him. What the hell did she see that he didn't. He pushed those thoughts away from his mind, and he returned to his seat.

"I never did catch your name." Zek said finally as he turned his attention to the other vampire in the household. He still found it amazing there was three vampires all in the same area. Maybe it was some sort of invisible, unknown pull on all of them...or the Siren Call of Bella perhaps.

Jares blinked and took the portrait as she handed it to him, and soon he found himself looking at a topless, sleeping version of himself. Aha! Guess she must have drawn him when he'd fallen--wait, shirtless? He glanced up at Bella, then snorted and shook his head, an amused grin replacing his sleepy smile. Had she seriously taken off his shirt, or had she just guessed? Heh, if she'd just guessed, it was a striking resemblance; he guessed she really had taken him literally about the whole undressing thing! Even if she seemed to have chickened out and hadn't done a full nude. Er...then again, if he hadn't even woken up to her taking off his shirt, who was to say she hadn't stripped him completely and just hadn't drawn it! Interesting. "Ooh...I look hot," he said with a playful wink Bella's way, puffing out his chest a little. "Of course, I already knew this. Thanks."

Zek, however, didn't seem too happy about the whole thing. Okay, that was an understatement, he was pissed--because, after all, he had threatened to remove her head. And Bella was, in Jares' opinion, being a bit...foolish. C'mon, the guy had just threatened to stab her in the neck and saw her head off, and she was handing him one of his daggers back! Still a little confused, he listened in, and then...wait, put them to sleep? The other guy had passed out, too? And...it was the piano? She'd seriously put a spell on them?

Tricky, tricky girl...all right, he had to admit, that was a bit creepy. After all, he knew that at least on his end he'd been perfectly willing to pose all on his own! No convincing was needed on his end, and he had to say, he didn't really like the idea of being, well...put to sleep. She could have killed them or drained their blood or molested them or something, and he wouldn't have felt any of it because he slept so deeply! Could have, but she hadn't; she'd just drawn them, and it had been kind of his own fault if anything went bad for letting his guard down. Still, creepy as it was...the bad things that could have happened didn't, and Jares had lived too long to worry about the past. Instead, he had a tendency to just...forget it. Let it slide.

That was just because he'd always been forgetful, though.

He did, however, sit up straight when Bella went and...put the guy's knife against her neck and told him to go ahead and do it. What. The. Hell? Slapping the palm of his hand to his forehead and groaning, Jares was about ready to get up and intervene--what was wrong with her?! It must be some vampire thing he hadn't caught onto--but instead Zek went on about breaking her piano and instead just cut her shoulder. Jares relaxed again and stared at the two.  This was so weird...both of them were so...dramatic, with all the killing and whatnot. Kill mortals, kill each other, kill themselves! Yeesh. Never mind how he had managed to live as long as he had, how did they make it through each day alive? Or...moreso...how did Bella make it through each day alive, since she was the subject of all the current death threats.

Oh well...none of his business!

Turning his attention over to Zek, he nodded at him. "I'm Jares, and...you're Zek, right?" Poor guy seemed so worried about the whole shirtless thing. After all, that's what he seemed to bring up the most! Maybe he was self-conscious. In any case, Jares took it upon himself to soothe his fears! "By the way, I don't know why you're so worried. For what it's worth, from what I saw of the portrait, you have a nice chest. Though..." Here he turned his attention to Bella and narrowed his eyes a little at her, frowning and waggling a finger at her like he was chastising a child. "It's still rather naughty to put sleeping spells on people so you can strip them." He gave a firm nod, then smirked a little. "Though, of course, some people are into that kind of naughty. Still, that's beside the point, right?"

OOC: I'm pretty tiered so this post will be crappy sorry!

She had to sigh in relief as he only sliced across her shoulder instead of cutting her head off. She listened to his words, asking her what would make her more upset. Ripping the portraits or breaking her piano. Fact was both were very precious to her and she knew that deep within that she wouldn't be able to choose, which seemed like a good thing because Zek seemed to have forgot all about it as he sat back down and asked the Jares his name. She breathed a sigh of relief and then quickly made her wy over to the couch naxt to Jares. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys that I was puting you to sleep, but come on, really, what could I have said Zek that would have made you stay here? Do you really thing you would stay if I said Hey I'm going to paint you topless! No, you would definietly leave.."She wasn't angry, she was just telling the truth.  She looked over to Jares who was admiring his portrait, saying how he was hot but he already knew it and gave her a wink. She couldn't help but laugh and smile. She listened to him tell Zek he had a nice chest (YEAH HE DID!!)  and then told her that she was naughty in puting them to sleep. "Yea, I know I was... but they're nothing you can do about it now!" she exclaimed, a little to happy. Then with that she stood up and walked over to Zek and sat next to him on the black love seat. " I can see that you're really not happy with the whole sleeping, shirtless thing, but in my opionion I think it makes you look fiersom, you know why?" she questioned him, her features only now starting to change for she realized that she had forgto to change them.

" I think it makes you look fiersom and mystierious, almost like they don't know what you're thinking. Are you really asleep? Are you about to lash out at them with all mighty power? In my opinion it makes you look pretty strong!" Then she herself did something she couldn't even believe. She leaned forward and pulled him into a hug, a warm embrace from a friend to a friend. She noted that they were the oddest bucn hever. One minute he was going to cut her head off and she would allow it, the next she was giving him a hug to make him feel better. What was up with that? She pulled back and smiled, her pure emerald green eyes looking into his. Then she turned over to Jares and smiled at him. She quickly got up and hugged him too, not wanting him to be left out. "Thank you guys so much for letting me draw you, I have to say it was all worth it, becuase you two are simply a masterpiece! You guys can stay for dinner if you like.. I promise, I won't pull any more tricks!" she exclaimed raising her pale arm up in pure honesty and commision. "Or if you like, you can....leave..." IN all honesty she hoped that neighter of them would leave and both would want to stay, for at least a couple more hours. If they stayed she would make a wonderful feat for them, and they would dine like rich folks.

She got up from the comfortable couch and was just about to make her way over to get her glass of blood when there was a bump upstairs. She looked up toward the ceiling and then at Jares and Zec" I'll be back in a moment..." she said with a fake cheeriness. Who in gods name could be at her house at night bumping around upstairs. How did they even get up there? She set down her back down her glass on the oak side table and quickly made her way out of the living room and into a hallway. She traveled down that and quickly made her way up to a set or large marble steps. With a click and clack for each step she made she finally reached the top and stood there. Silent. Bump. There it was again. She quickly made her way down the ornate hallway and towards the last door. Her bathroom. Very slowly she opened the door and then, when it was all the way she flung it open. There were two men standing in her pure white bathroom, eaching wielding a badly made sword. They looked fearful at her. The one whispered to the other. "I told you we weren't ready for this! How could I have let you talk me into this! We're gonna die!!" She only leaned against her door as she stared at them both. They're knees were trembiling and their swords were shaking. Hmm.. should she drink them, should she get rid of them.. decisions decisions.

"Let's get out of here!" said the other starting to head for the window in which they had climbed in upon. She moved in front of them quicker than a flash. By doing this one of them lashed out in fear and slid the sword across her side, making a thin line of blood. Oh, she as pissed now. "Quick, get it out, get it out!" the one had said quickly motioning to the other as Bella was about to lash out at them. The one man pulled out a somewhat small vile filled to the brim with emerald liquid. She stopped, staring cautiosly at it, afraid of what it contained. One of the man uncorked it and through it at her, making it land on her chest. The thing exploded and she was thrown back in mid air, hitting her head hard agasint the wall, knocking her unconcious. The green vile had left her chest somehwat in a very small (very small) green fire. God damnit! One minute she was so strong and the next she was supper weak!

OOC: So tiered....need coffee....*drinks some coffee* IS AWAKE!! :shock:  :shock:

Zek wasn't too sure how to reply to Jares compliment. So he just kept a level gaze on the man for a moment. That's when Bella excused herself, his attention turned to focus on her as she left the room. She said they had a choice, they could stay for a feast, or they could leave. Zek stood up, one hand moving to dust himself off. He was starting to dry off thankfully, but his clothes were still soaked with blood. It was time to do something about that.

With eyes closed he held his arms out, focusing his magic. He had learned this trick a while ago, and even though his area of expertese were in dark magic, he was pretty sure this would still work out. That strange darkness fog seemed to appear around him again, but this time it stayed about him, as if it were becoming his clothes. In retrospect, it was simply weaving through his clothes, sucking up the moisture from the blood. It wasn't until long that the fog had a crimson tint to it, despite being a midnight colour to begin with. When the fog disappeared, his clothes were dry once more, and he seemed rather pleased with himself.

Then...he sat back down. He would stay. He didn't know why, but he would stay and see what happens. That's when he started to hear the faint sounds of yelling. HIs ears began to focus, and he started to hear things. People...that didn't sound all that good. That of course got worse when a small explosion filled his ears. That wasn't something he expected. He was already on his way upstairs, his feet moving in rapid succession as he tracked down the source of the noise. His weapons were out, the daggers gripped by the pommels. When she got to the bathroom, he saw a bit of a horror scene.

Two men were fighting over who climbs out the window, while Bella was on fire and unconcious. The daggers left his hands, the men barely had time to turn around as the whistling blades sunk into their necks. They wouldn't die just yet, but they wouldn't be able to escape out the window now. He knelt beside Bella, watching the fire on her chest. Choices...choices to make...He grabbed a nearby towel and began to smother the fire. After all, fire couldn't breathe without oxygen. Zek was very unsure about the green fire, but it seemed to be working, as smothering the fire had apparently put it out. He kept the towel over her chest though, just in case. Besides, she might be a bit burned. Burned? She would need to heal. His eyes shifted to look at the dying men and he smiled.

Dragging one of the men over he removed the dagger from the man's neck, and held the man in place over Bella's mouth. He figured if she drank, she would get her strength back, and no doubt wake up in the process.

"Come on, drink." Zek muttered to himself, his free hand moving to lightly slap her cheeks. Hadn't he just cleaned up all the blood from earlier? Now it was staining his hands and sleeves. Well, that was discerning then wasn't it?

[Sorry this took so insanely long. o__o I couldn't think up a reply for the life of me, so forgive me if this is lame, not much I could do anyway. XD I just...didn't wanna hold it up any longer. *feels bad*]

Whoa, hugs! And...she had hugged mister Anger Management, too! Wow. She...really was pretty forward and fearless, he guessed. Or just oblivious. Though, the two were a bit interconnected in a way, weren't they? Oh well, no matter! In any case, he got a hug out of it, and Jares rather liked hugs. They were awesome, though, unlike her, he didn't think he'd want a hug from Zek...because...well...the guy would probably take his head off as he'd threatened to do with Bella but hadn't carried out. That was interesting, the fact that he hadn't done it. And fortunate, too, because Jares didn't like the idea of someone he actually knew being offed. Not that he actually knew Bella, but she'd painted his portrait! Same difference!

Still pointedly ignoring his own glass of blood, he nodded as she promised not to pull anymore tricks before she left to...get something he guessed, leaving him alone with the violent guy. He looked over at him boredly as he got up. Oh? Was he going to leave? Pity...the guy was scary (then again, Bella kind of was, too--must be a vampire thing, he must just be some crazy fluke because he was the most not-scary vampire he knew, not that he knew many) but he was kind if cool, too. In a scary way. He could do some pretty cool things, like that fog thing...though...what the heck was he--oh. Jares blinked, watching the fog turn crimson, and then it disappeared and the guy, once covered in blood, looked perfectly clean again.

Jares smirked. "Nifty trick, there."

And that was when the yelling began. Followed by the sound of an explosion.

Oh, for the love of--! Bella sure was popular.

With a sigh, he also leaped to his feet and bolted after Zek, and the man was quick to take care of the situation. More people? Jeez. But Zek was already on it, taking the men out, putting out the fire on Bella's chest, and dragging a dying man over for her to drink from. Good thing Zek knew what to do; Jares probably wouldn't have. Well..he would have known to put the fire out of course, but he wouldn't have killed any of the guys. He had no weapons on him, anyway. And he wasn't so certain his blood would work for a vampire like any of them.

So, he was content to stand and watch from a bit of a distance, not wanting to get in the way but close enough to offer assistance if it was needed. Bella would be fine, though, he figured--she'd taken a ton of arrows just earlier! She could pull through a little fire, right?

Right.

"Maybe she should think about moving," he muttered more to himself than anything as he watched.

(No problem.. I figured that you had lost you're muse as I sometimes do.


Ic:

At first there was nothing.. nothing but cold darkness. And then There was burning hot.. painful hot.. where was it coming from.. and then it wasn't painful hot... it was ..stinging, burn, hot. What was this? And then she heard something... yelling and screams... man screams... and then she heard... "Drink" She mumbeled and opened her eyes, slightly opening her mouth to obey. She could see a human man in front of her, blood all over his neck, spurting from the freshly made wound by Zek. It took her a few minutes to realized what he wanted her too do and she quickly followed his orders, leaning as far as she could so she could drink the man's blood. Warm irony liquid filled into her mouth, seeping and lingering on her tongue. She could taste the warm crimson liquid and felt it burn down her throat. She could feel her strenght coming back to her as she drained the man of his life source. Once he was drained she sat up and licked her lips, changing back into her human figure, not realizing that she had changed into her vampire figure while drinking. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. She looked down upon her chest to notice that it was crimson red and in the spot there was a large scar. She had healed but not completly. That scar would never go away.. and the crimson would heal normally in time. Right now she was done drinking.



She sat up.. "Wow... you came to my rescue once more..thanks" she looked down upon the two dead men and then back at Zek and Jares. "I don't know what I'm going to do anymore... they're probably going to keep coming at me.. but I can't leave my mansionn.. it's the only place I got to go.." her feelings were that of turmoil. She didn't know how to feel about the whole situation. She had used to be a strong cunning vampire who did not need the help of anyone. She used to be reclusive and used to not see anyone for months on end. She would always stay up in her mansion and draw. But now she was getting attacked from left to right and was always having to lean on the shoulder of Zek and Jares. Even though she secretly didn't want them to leave.  She looked back up at Zek and Jares said "Come.., she said with a smile curving onto her pale pink lips,... you are probably famished from all this fighting.. my house keeper will take care of them.. now.. we feast!" She opened the white door only to see her house keeper. "Ahh, just the person I was looking for! Please clean this up! I will raise you're pay!" her housekeeper smiled at this and quickly went to work, taking care of the gorey little deed.

She continued to walk downstairs, making her way toward the kitchen. But then she stopped. Was that.....was that the piano? If she would play it than she wouldn't fall asleep.. but if someone else did... a same morbid tone.. then.. She turned to Zek and Jares, wide eyed.


(My muse died!)

"Good girl. Drink deep." He watched Bella latch onto the man's neck and suck up as much blood as she could. He stood up, brushing what splatter and gore he had gotten on himself. His eyes lingered to outside the window, to check for anyone else. Striding to the window now, his eyes shifted, turning to their heat vision. There was no one outside...no one had come for these...men. This was a good thing. With eyes returning to see the physical world, he heard Bella's comment. Kneeling down he slid his second dagger from the man's neck, making sure he sheathed it.

"I have a hero complex, love to save damsels in distress." There was no amusement in his voice, no mirthful tone or anything. It was hard to judge whether the vampire was being serious, or was making a joke. Quick strides led him back to Bella and Jares, as they were led into the hallway.

"I do feel sorry for that house keeper." He knew he had been pretty messy, he could have been messier of course, but he had to also put a fire out that had taken to burning on Bella's chest. Sure, he was a little disappointed that he hadn't been able to finish off the men as he wanted to, but sometimes you just had to grit your teeth and play through it. A smile actually passed onto Zek's face as he followed Bella now down the stairs.

It wasn't until Bella turned around, wide eyed like a spooked deer did he hear the melody...it was a piano. Not just a piano however...but the piano. Instantly his hands travelled to his daggers, gripping the pommels. He was quick to get down the stairs, literally jumping passed Bella to dash into the main room. Wild eyes scanned the room, looking for the piano. His eyes settled onto it, locking onto the wood and ivory music device. Who was playing it though?

Oh boy...

Jares shook his head at Bella, a wry smile on his lips. She'd almost been killed twice, a large chuck of village men had been wiped out, and...she still wanted to stay here? There would only be more attacks now, and likely fiercer ones; if the villagers were angry before, they would be livid now. Staying...really didn't seem like the smartest idea. Sweeping his orange eyes about the room, he finally looked back at Bella and shook his head. "You're rich, aren't you? Just high tail it to some other city and build another mansion there--only...don't...like...kill off anyone there..." He raised an eyebrow pointedly, then shrugged.

"Unless of course you like being hunted. We all have our kinks, I suppose!" he added in his usual, light-hearted way. "Since you seem to like being rescued and lover-boy there seems to like rescues, I guess it all works out, eh?" He smirked over at Zek and gave a wink at Bella. Yup, perfect indeed--even if he assumed the guy was kidding...or something. He wasn't even going to pretend he understood him or his motives anymore.

As if he had to begin with.

And as for Jares? He was just tagging along for the ride. It wasn't everyday you found a group of instable crazies to hang around.

Bella, in any case, bounced back fast, and that poor house keeper was put to work again as Bella was back in "feasting" mode, acting for all the world like her mansion hadn't just been broken into and she hadn't just been attacked. Twice. Maybe this was a daily occurrance? Shaking his head, slightly amused, he followed after Bella and Zek and...then blinked and paused. Piano music? The stuff that had put them to sleep? He glanced over at Bella, but she looked as surprised as anyone else...and then Zek was going on ahead, daggers ready.

What, was he going to kill the piano, now?

"...Does your piano normally play randomly...?" he asked Bella, staying right where he was. Hey, he wasn't the one with the weapons!

Bella stayed where she was, wide eyed and full of surprise. The only one who she knew to play that same morbid tone was her and the sorceress. And she had gotten the piano in the Will! Who was playing it? And how since she was the only one? Had some other vampire licked at her mind and found the right keys? She could feel the soft melody penetraiting her mind..her thoughts. This was not good. She turned to Jares. "Yes.. I guess leaving would be a good idea.. but.. this...is..my...home.." This wasn't good. She was becoming sleepy as the melody continued to play. *Hurry Zek!* She stood in silence for a moment, watching Jares intently but he seemed to be showing no signs of falling asleep. She did realized however that it had taken a long time for her herself to get them to sleep, so the melody wouldn't put them to sleep.....yet. "I don't like being hunted... it's just..." she couldn't think straight and the words just seemed to stop. With a frustrated sigh she threw her arms up into the air. "Oh for god sakes! Come on!" She siad grabbing Jares by the shirt and pulling him down the steps with her. If something had happened to Zek she wasn't going along to defeat this mysterious enemy. She got to the bottom of the steps and then traveled down the ornate hallway in which it led the front door, the piano, the living room. When she got there.. she couldn't believe her eyes.

The piano.... there wasn't anybody there! Or at least nobody she could see! It was playing the soft melody all by itself and the closer she got toward it the more sleepy she felt. "This isn't good...I don't know what's going on!" she said slightly panicked, moving toward the piano to try and do something. She didn't want Zek to destroy it for even if it was a troublesome thing it was still a pretty good instrument. She sat down on the stool in which it creaked and moaned under her weight. She sat down and tried to push some other keys only to have them be as hard as wood. Well, they were wood but she couldn't push down upon the ivorys to make differne't music. IT was as if they stayed locked except for what keys the mysterious player wanted to play. "God....damnit..." She said trying this time to pound against the keys. It wasn't working and she was slightly getting worried now. With what strength she had she changed into her vampiric form. Her blonde hair turning midnight black, her pure emerald eyes turning firey red. She would stop this piano before anything would happen. And after stopping it she, Zek, and Jares would feast. Then she would let them do whatever they want while she packed, getting ready to leave this house.

She loved this house. She really did. IT had so many memories in it, and she truely didn't want to leave. But if these villagers kept showing up then she would have too! It wasn't safe here anymore, and it was also slightly annoying. She couldn't even sit down with her cup of tea without having sombody trying to plundge an arrow through her chest! This was the hosue she had moved in when she was about twelve, deciding to buy it for herself since she was an orphan and had lots and lots and lots of money. She needed a place to live right? Well.. that was beside the point... actually that was beside the whole situation. The keys stil continued to play, even with Bella's constant banging upon them. Soon she got fed up and she lifted the lid. The music began to play, and soon it was the only thing she could hear in her mind. Even if the music was the only thing in her mind her body did the total opposite and continued to search for the mysterious player. WAs it possible that a piano could randomly play at times when it wanted? Well that was all fine and dandy for other pianos but it was surely not good with this one. The sorcerss had warned her a long time ago to not let anyone else play it.. for it could be deadly. These words fluttered into Bella's mind, and she know became a little bit more panicked. She looked over to Zek and to Jares.

"Jares, Zek, you must leave right now! Right now!" she warned, her voice firm and still even though she was falling asleep standing up. She wondered if they would listen to her.. and she even doubted it.. but it would be worht a try.. and it would be better to listen to her, this could possibly just mean their lives. It wasn't the sweet king Bella playing behind the ivorys.. it was someone up to someone, in which she didn't know what. Outside, since all three's sences were dimming, neither of them could sense the strangeman, aiming his wand upon the piano to make the key's play. His plan was starting to fall into place. His golden eyes, that of a cat's, flickered to and fro as he watched each one struggiling to come up with a solution. He smiled, revealing long sharp teeth. But they weren't thatof a vampires.. but one of a dog, or a lagre cat. He had dark brown hair that was shadowed by his black hood. He peered through the open window. Watching. The other goofs he had sent earlier had worked as perfect bait.. and when they had all left he had cast his magic upon the piano, giving it a soft green glow before it dispersed and then began to play. He had been watching them. More importantly he had been watching her. Watching her longer than the rest.... Soon... Soon it would be time.


OOC: Okay.. I created this creepy guy.. but I have absoloutly no idea what I want him for. I'm going to make a thread for us to discuss our plotline in the GD Board okay?

You didn't have to tell Zek twice. Well. Maybe you did. His weapons were sheathed, and he glared at the piano. It wasn't having that same sleepy effect on him, but...who knows what was happening to Bella for that matter. He turned his attention to the vampiress, and then to Jares. Well, they had to silence the damn piano first didn't they.

"Just break it already!" Zek said as he approached it, his eyes watching the keys play themselves. He wasn't too fond of this piano, so there wouldn't be any loss, but who knows what Bella felt for this large instrument. She seemed very worried that it was playing on its own, and the fact she had to go into her other form meant something more. Zek didn't much care for all this, and figure they might as well destroy the enchanted piano anyways.

His hand went to his side, to the sheathe, pulling out one of his weapons. He wouldn't destroy it himself, that wasn't up to him anyways, but Bella could rightly destroy the infernal music intstrument.

"What are you waiting for? Destroy it!" After all, no matter how much he despised Bella or Jares, or how angered he might have gotten, these two vampires offered amusement and excitement to an otherwise boring life. That's all he really needed, was to be amused...this was sort of working really. He was amused, but also recognized how serious this probably was.

His eyes turned back to the piano, gripping the weapon in his hand tightly. Fingers drummed along the hilt as he waited. He was in a qaundry really. He wanted to get rid of this piano, but didn't want to have any of the repercussions of it all. Finally he let his blade sheathe once more, his now free hand going to grip Bella by the wrist.

"Let's all just get out of here." He said as he started to tug her away from the piano. If he had to, he'd grab Jares on the way by, but was pretty sure the man knew it was safer if they all went outside...right?

Destroy it? But she didn't want to destroy it. It was one of her most prized possesions! Well, maybe she should say that.. because.. the fact was that most of her paintings she would call her 'most prized possesions'. She looked at Zek, her eye lids somewhat like slits. The sorceress had told her not to let anybody else play it but her for other than that it would be Bella's turn to go night night. She grapsed onto the piano for support as she became even more sleepy, but that's when Zek had said that they should leave. That woke her up a little. "Leave! But where would we go? This was her home! The home she had grown up in... her memories, her paintings, everything was here. She didn't want to leave... not at all! She looked around, biting her lip, her vampire tooth piercing it's rose pink flesh so that it bled. Zek started to lead them away.. away from her home, away from her life... away from everything. He was leading them outside and for some reason she just didn't want to go.. she had a strange feeling that outside would be worse than inside. "No Zek! No! Don't you sense that? I'm...I'm falling half asleep...and I..I can sense it.." her voice was slightly slurred and her eyes became somewhat glazed and unfocused, but with an amazing will she stayed awake.

She just had this feeling.. This feelings that outside would definietly be worse...that something,or someone, was outside and that it would definietly be bad. Something would happen outside and she didn't want it to happen to Zek or Jares. She looked at Jares who stayed still. How come the affect of the piano wasn't working on them? Was it only when Bella played that the affects would get to them? Was it because the Sorcess had given it to Bella, and if Bella didn't choose someone it wouldn't work? She was very confused, and her face showed it. Bella bella bella...One who knows nothing can understand nothing. She raced with Zek, but almost tripped as one of the house keepers were laying on the floor, dead alseep. She quickly realigned herself and then said. "Well, if we leave, we shouldn't....should'nt...."That melody, it was so pretty... she couldn't think of anything else but that melody.. Oh how bad she wanted to sleep... that melody...so nice.."We- we shouldn't..." she couldn't think...she didn't want to think. She grapsed on to Zek tigher. "Go!" Now she couldn't even think about what might happen outside... all she wanted to was to get out of there and sleep. Hopefully Zek would know not to use the front door, but the secret door in the basement.

The man outside cast a very powerful spell on the piano...and so he wouldn't have to stand there anymore. Her looked over his shoulder toward his minions and royals. "Surrond the house...they must not escape!" He moved from his spot, toward the door of the basement.. Oh yes.. he knew all about that... Bella, the little blabber mouth. She could never really keep a secret. Upstairs the piano played louder, harder, but with the same sleepy melody. Bella was really struggiling but she would not be dead weight again.. She would not be the damsle in distress once more. She would proove to Zek and Jares that she was powerful. She would proove it. But that melody is so pretty. She couldn't help but think that. She turned to Jares. "B.....Basement.." was the one word that slurred out of her lips. The man with the cat like eyes, stood, waiting.

OOC: This was my faveriot topic and I wanted to bring it back to life. Did you guys get my message about the plot?