The Crossroads Tavern (Hunters ONLY!)

[Madame Tamassa]

POSTING AS EBONY SNOW

*With eyes as dark as coal, Ebony thanked the truck driver for getting her here in one piece before sliding off the seat. Expertly avoiding his hand as it reached out to grab her ass, she smiled as she climbed down from the big rig and slammed the door shut. ~Dirty bastard..~ she muttered as she hoisted her army green duffel bag over her right shoulder and watched as the truck drove away. Glancing around her, she saw a bus stop, a telephone box and not much else. Her black Doc Marten boots tapped on the tarmac absently as she studied the phone box. It was a small metal box that would provide shelter should those ominous clouds overhead decide to unleash their rain, but apart from that, it offered little help. The bus stop seemed unused and she doubted any busses used this route anymore. The horny truck driver from hell had dropped off her in the middle of nowhere, though he had assured her she was only half an hour from the tavern she was looking for. Dropping her bag back onto the road, she bent over and fished out her phone. Sitting atop her bag, she folded her long jean clad legs in front her as she checked Google maps. The tavern was called The Crossroads Tavern and although it wouldn’t be on any map, the road it was on definitely was. Acording to Google maps, she had a half an hour drive North to reach her destination.

~Okay…so…~ she muttered to herself, sliding her phone into the pocket of her jeans as she stood up. ~Just need to get myself something to drive then…~ She cast a dubious glance at the bus stop before hoisting the bag back over her shoulder and started walking. After what felt like an hour and several intersections later, she was picked up by another truck driver. This one had more in common with Santa Claus than the last driver and she was feeling in good spirits when he dropped her off at the corner of Main and First Street. Calling her thanks, she climbed down again and watched him drive away, her dark gaze falling upon the almost decrepit building that stood before her.

The Crossroads Tavern appeared like a dive from the outside, a small, faded sign reading “PUB” being the only indication of what lurked inside. Ebony had been here before, she had even worked behind the bar for a summer when Sebastion had first gone missing. It was teeming with Hunter’s, the perfect source of information she desperately needed if she was ever going to find her brother. Considering its reputation, it wasn’t that much of a surprise that Scar had arranged to meet her here.

Walking up the litter strewn walkway, she reached up to yank the black baseball cap she wore down further to cover her fair features. Her long dark hair was worn in a braid that fell halfway down her back and was hidden underneath the black tank top she wore beneath a battered army jacket (her brother’s). Apart from the double D’s that she just couldn’t hide, Ebony Snow looked just like any other Hunter as she pulled open the door and crossed the threshold.

The usual moment of silence ensued, wherein the Hunters currently holed up in the bar took notice that someone new had arrived. She held her head high as she walked directly over to the bar, ignoring the glances that her impressive chest always drew. Gradually the background din resumed and Ebony released a breath she hadn’t been aware she had been holding as she approached the bar. The man behind the bar was burly and gruff and seemed to have aged ten years since she had last seen him. As his cloudy grey eyes fell upon her, his face broke out into a grin of broken teeth as he wolf whistled and whooped his rag above his head.
~Well, well, well… if it aint the prodigal child returned..~ he called, hollering out for Danny to come up from the cellar.

~Ha, freakin ha.. Johnny.~ she laughed, walking over to the corner of the bar so she could hug the man that had been a surrogate father to her as well as a boss. He squeezed her hard enough to break a few ribs before letting her go and pouring her a shot of bourbon before she could even blink. Grinning from ear to ear as he poured himself another one, Johnny raised his glass as Ebony raised hers. ~CHEERS BIG EARS!~ they laughed as they spoke in unison. ~ALL THE BEST HAIRY CHEST! THAT’S THE WAY IT GOES BIG NOSE!~ She downed the shot and slammed the glass back onto the bar just as Danny appeared from the cellar. He had a strange yellow goo on his shoulder that seemed to be bubbling when he tried to lean forward and give her a welcome home hug.
~Ebs! Been too long babes! How’ve ya been? Any word on your brother??~

Ebony greeted Danny like the old friend that he was before leaning over and quietly whispering in his ear that he might want to check his shoulder. Glancing down, he grimaced and whispered back ~Gylock blood… we had a fight break out downstairs.. system was down for a nano second and one went apeshit.~ Ebony raised a dark, slender brow as she stepped back, surprised that the downstairs department of the tavern was still operational. She had expected the many Hunters who frequented this haunt to realise they were drinking above the heads of over a thousand demons and monsters. Apparently this was not the case and she smiled as she accepted a second shot from Johnny. As he handed her the glass, he echoed Danny’s enquiry. ~Any word on Seb?~

Ebony winced, wishing she had better news. ~No unfortunately… though I do have a lead. That’s why I’m here actually. An old friend contacted me last week… said he had something to show me.. told me to meet him here. So… here I am. ~ Her dark eyes scanned the crowd as she slipped out of her jacket and draped it over the back of the chair she was standing next to. ~Question is.. where is he?~ *

[Ty Burna]

Shit....Ebony's going to kill me for being late. 

*Scarabus peers out at the road behind the wheel of his matte black 1964 Impala, his left hand resting on top of the wheel as his silver chain bracelet hangs down low off his arm. The car continues to fly down the highway as he punches it, sliding around vehicles with ease before braking hard and pulling off towards The Crossroads Tavern. It had been a few years and a few dimensional jumps since he had seen her at another infamous tavern, but he was certain she would not appreciate him being late. He gazes down at his phone at the time before drifting hard into a parking spot, the dust kicking up behind his vehicle into a large cloud. He shrugs his shoulders as he opens the door and slips out, his black heavy boots leaving a thudding sound as he looks up at the tavern. Rain begins to fall as he grabs a large bag and his trusty sword, strapping the blade on his back and throwing the bag over his shoulder. He wears black leather pants and a white wife beater, his arms covered in tattoos as his long black hair is tied behind him.*

So this is Crossroads Tavern....I can smell the blood from here. 

*A grin forms on his face, flashing his fangs briefly as he reaches up and takes his sunglasses off, revealing his golden irises. This was a Hunters hot spot, he hadn't been here before but he made some good money clearing out a few vampire dens among other odds and ends jobs. Most Hunters didn't seem to care for him, he chalked it up to professional jealousy that he did his job far better than they could. Having to spar, if you want to call it that, with his brother Melfice sharpened his skills to a fine point over the past few years. After the debacle in his original dimension of getting stuck fighting in complete darkness for days on end, he knew it was time to get serious about this endeavor. Still, he wasn't one for taking part in such a search, but the fact it involved the culture he adopted made it more enticing. Or perhaps it was just to help a pretty woman, his reputation was not just given to him after all.*

Well then...let's get to it. 

*He walks into the tavern, his eyes instantly adjusting to the dim light inside as he notices all of the other Hunters looking up at him, a few snarls and looks of disdain being thrown his way. A smirk forms on his face as he makes his way towards the bar, his boots once again leaving heavy thuds in his wake. He keeps his head held high, scanning the crowd for Ebony when he finally notices her up at the bar. His smirk changes to a wide grin, his fangs revealing as he hears weapons being draw behind his back. He looks back over his shoulder and shakes his head.*

Ease up fellas, I ain't got a bounty on my head and my Hunter's license is in my pocket if you need any further proof. Unless of course y'all wanna throw down, I'm willing to make a wager.

*Silence replies back to him as weapons are sheathed. He shakes his head and chuckles at the big show of it all. Doesn't matter what race, everyone thinks they're the baddest until someone steps up. So much for the big bad Hunters around here. He slides into the chair next to Ebony, setting his bag down next to him as he reaches back and unties his hair, letting it flow down around him before turning to Ebony, the wide stupid looking grin on his face still.*

Damn girl long time no see Ebony. Sorry if I kept y'all waiting, I had to finish up a job in the area, took a bit longer than I thought. Ain't seen those type of monsters since Mystic, must have followed me when I jumped over here.

*Just then the bartender interrupts Scarabus with a clearing of his throat, though clearly the man did not care too much for the boisterous half vampire.*

What'll ya have half breed?

Oh just a whiskey sour if ya can sir. Thank you.

*The bartender growls a bit at Scarabus before goes about making his drink. Scarabus reaches into his pocket and withdraws a white envelope full of money before setting a hundred dollar bill down.*

Still ain't use to having to carry this around, though it's a hell of a lot easier than carrying gold coins I suppose. If you could sir, keep that tab open for Ms. Snow here and myself on that. 

*He holds his arms out as he looks to Ebony, his eyes taking her in.*

So.....can I get a hug? It's been a few years after all. 

[Madame Tamassa]

POSTING AS EBONY SNOW

*The arrival of Scarabus was announced by the silence that ensued the moment he walked in the door. She heard the telltale snick of metal against cloth as various knives and pistols were either drawn or made ready to be drawn. Although it appeared that the other Hunters relaxed after Scarabus’ introduction, she knew all eyes were on him as he approached the bar. Knowing what he was, Ebony had been surprised when Scarabus had suggested they meet at the Crossroads Tavern, considering it was well known as a Hunter’s bar. Now, as he strut confidently towards her despite the underlying threat of being in such a place, she was reminded that he was more than capable of taking care of himself.

As Billy asked Scar what he wanted to drink, Ebony arched a slender dark brow as he called her old friend a half breed. ~Billy..~she admonished gently under her breath, dark eyes flashing so that he would know she was serious despite her gentle tone. He merely grunted and set about getting them both a drink and Ebony offered Scarabus a crooked smile as she turned her attention to him.

It had been almost two years since they had last met at a tavern very different from the one they were now in and she cast a quick glance over him as he asked her for a hug. His hair was a little longer than she remembered and he seemed older somehow, but it was still the same Scar. Her friend. Wrapping her arms around him, she squeezed him tight, breathing in the smell of him before letting go and climbing onto the stool besides him.

~It has been far too long Scar! When I hadn’t heard from you for so long, I must admit I feared the worst.~ She took a pause, to sip the bourbon that had just been placed in front of her. ~Your phone call was a nice surprise… and we will definitely catch up. I have SO much to tell you… But first..~ she leant forward and rested her chin in her hand as she met his gaze intently.
~You said on the phone that you might have a lead…. About Seb?~ she asked, hopefully. *

[Ty Burna]

*As the two embrace he squeezes back just as tightly, her scent just as intoxicating as it once was. He flashes back his own smile to her as he sits down and takes a long drink from the whiskey sour set in front of him by the bartender. He nods his head in appreciation which is just replied back with a grunt.*

I really do apologize for going dark for the past few years. After my whole ordeal with the near week long battle in that vampire den I got stuck in, I got serious about my skills and got put through the god damn wringer by my brother. After I felt good enough about that, I had Melfice send me off through different dimensional portals to go looking for clues about Sebastion. I figured since we found that glyph on the back of that stone, and were attacked from within a different dimensional portal, that would be the ideal way to start. Once I got back after a few.....rather interesting hops, I couldn't find you. I fired up a locating totem and found you were in this world. And so I got here, but found all my usual supplies pretty much useless here. After I was attacked by a few Hunters, I found out what they were all about and figured it was going to be the quickest way to get a lead on you, as well as make a quick dollar. Got your number, got a car, and here we are.

*As she asks about the lead Scarabus nods his head as he leans down and pulls his bag up, withdrawing a leather bound book and a few other stones that should look familiar to her. He sets the book on the counter, a large Egyptian Glyph covering the front.*

About Seb, I found something that would interest y'all. Turns out that glyph we found on the original stone was a long forgotten symbol for the Egyptian God Ammit. Ammit was the Devourer of the Dead, she wasn't exactly the ancient Egyptians were real fond of. She's more demon than god but she's the one that eats your internals before you face Anubis. If your heart is not lighter than a feather, you are judged to be impure and Ammit would devour your heart and soul. Normally she isn't a very well regarded deity, but it seems what the archaeologists won't be able to tell you is Ammit plays a shadow game, even more sinister than Set himself. She grew hungrier every day, and so she tries to set in motion to release the waters of Nun, or complete and utter Chaos. It seems she has succeeded, and somehow Sebastion became almost a catalyst for her plans to take hold. But it's not just on this world she hungers for, in fact it appears she's spreading her influence to other dimensions, thus why I found these.

*Scarabus picks up a couple of the stones and flips them over, revealing the same glyph as the original stone they had found behind Mystic. Though nothing seems to be out of the ordinary aside from the glyph, Ebony would be able to see a small glint of energy as the stones draw near one another. He slides them over to her, his eyes meeting hers as his smile had faded to a more serious look.*

I think I've collected enough of these that we could open a portal to wherever Ammit may be at, but there's not a ton of energy in these things, at least to even the most studious of sorcerers. I can invoke Set and utilize my Coldfire abilities from what I've been able to gather, but it's a risky play at this point. What I'm not understanding though, is what is Sebastion's role in all this. I believe him to be the catalyst but what capabilities does he have that would get Ammit's attention like this? I've gotten some strands of thread sewed together on this, but not enough to make a jump blind into the very waters of Chaos and take on something like that. 

*He keeps his gaze locked onto Ebony, a sigh escaping him as he leans back a bit and takes another drink from his whiskey sour before brushing his hair back out of his eyes.*

I'm down for whatever you wanna do Ebony, my sword hand belongs to you.

[Moridanu]

*Sipping her drink while he spoke, Ebony listened carefully, acutely aware that most of the background noise in the tavern had disappeared. She arched a brow in surprise but sat there listening silently as he spoke of dimensional portals and his journey of looking for clues about Sebastion’s disappearance. She was instantly touched by his efforts and reached out with a slender hand, grasping his arm for a moment as she thanked him silently while he continued talking. Her thoughts turned to their last encounter and she remembered the glyph on the back of the stone they had found at the Mystic Tavern. Her attention was brought back to the present as he spoke of all the hassle he had gone through, just to find her again.

“Once I got back after a few.....rather interesting hops, I couldn't find you. I fired up a locating totem and found you were in this world. And so I got here, but found all my usual supplies pretty much useless here. After I was attacked by a few Hunters, I found out what they were all about and figured it was going to be the quickest way to get a lead on you, as well as make a quick dollar. Got your number, got a car, and here we are.”
~Wow.. ~ she breathed, more than slightly overwhelmed by his little speech. ~That was quite a catch up…. I.. I can’t believe you went to all that trouble for me… for Sebastion?~ Genuinely touched by his concern, she asked Scarabus about the lead he had called her about. He nodded, leant down and pulled his bag up, withdrawing a leather bound book and a few other stones that looked familiar to her. He set the book on the counter, a large Egyptian Glyph covering the front.

“About Seb, I found something that would interest y'all. Turns out that glyph we found on the original stone was a long forgotten symbol for the Egyptian God Ammit. Ammit was the Devourer of the Dead, she wasn't exactly the God ancient Egyptians were real fond of. She's more demon than god but she's the one that eats your internals before you face Anubis. If your heart is not lighter than a feather, you are judged to be impure and Ammit would devour your heart and soul. Normally she isn't a very well regarded deity, but it seems what the archaeologists won't be able to tell you is Ammit plays a shadow game, even more sinister than Set himself. “

Ebony nodded slowly. ~ I know that Sebastion had discovered Ammit. I remember him mentioning her during one of our rare chats during his last few days at home.. she sounded pretty scary..~ Scrarabus nodded.
“She grew hungrier every day, and so she tries to set in motion to release the waters of Nun, or complete and utter Chaos. It seems she has succeeded, and somehow Sebastion became almost a catalyst for her plans to take hold. But it's not just on this world she hungers for, in fact it appears she's spreading her influence to other dimensions, thus why I found these.”
She watched in fascination as Scarabus picked up the stones and flipped them over, revealing the same glyph as the original stone they had found behind the Mystic. She recognised it instantly and her pupils dilated in shock as she noticed the energy build up as the stones drew near one another. Scarabus slid the stones over to her, his eyes meeting hers as his smile had faded to a more serious look.*

“I think I've collected enough of these that we could open a portal to wherever Ammit may be at, but there's not a ton of energy in these things, at least to even the most studious of sorcerers. I can invoke Set and utilize my Coldfire abilities from what I've been able to gather, but it's a risky play at this point. “

Ebony shook her dark head. ~I don’t know if we should go that far, when we aren’t even sure that Sebastian is wherever Ammit may be.. I don’t want us turning up in front of some Ancient Egyptian Demon that is the walking, breathing form of Hell itself and Sebastian is sipping a Latte somewhere in Paris, ya know?~

Scarabus continued “What I'm not understanding though, is what Sebastion’s role in all this is? I believe him to be the catalyst but what capabilities does he have that would get Ammit's attention like this? I've gotten some strands of thread sewed together on this, but not enough to make a jump blind into the very waters of Chaos and take on something like that. “
She nodded, deep in thought as she sipped her drink, processing what he had just told her. The silence of the tavern was now almost deafening and her back stiffened as she realised she wasn’t the only one listening to Scarabus. He kept his gaze locked onto Ebony, a sigh escaping him as he leant back a bit and took another drink from his whiskey sour before brushing his hair back out of his eyes.

“I'm down for whatever you wanna do Ebony, my sword hand belongs to you.”
Nodding her appreciation of his words, her voice was barely a whisper as she leant in closer to him.

~Thankyou… I’d love to hear what you’ve come up with but I think we need to talk somewhere less… public.. Come on..~ She slid off the stool and picked up her duffle bag, leading Scarabus to the back of the tavern, ignoring the glares from the Hunters as they walked past. Here, a narrow staircase led up to the second floor where ten small rooms were rented out to various Hunters. Ebony’s was the last door to the left and although it took her a few minutes to find the key, the door swung open easily despite getting little use. ~Come in..~ she called back to Scarabus, not sure if she needed to invite him in or not. Shrugging, she walked in and cast a perfunctory glance around the small room. A single bed filled up most of the space while a small dresser, sink and chest of drawers competed for what little room was left. A large, beaten up old trunk was still sitting at the end of her bed where she had left it and she dropped her duffel bag on top of it now as she walked over and sat on the end of her bed. Patting the space beside her, she shrugged again.

~Room aint much but if you close the door behind you, those guys downstairs won’t hear a thing. Why don’t you tell me about this idea of yours?~ she asked, happy that she finally had something to hope for again. Her search for Sebastion had proved fruitless and although she knew deep down that he was probably dead, she could not shake the feeling that he was alive somewhere… just.. stuck. Determined to find her brother or die trying, Ebony leant back on the bed as she waited to hear what Scarabus had to say. *

[Ty Burna]

*As he finishes talking, he too notices the silence that had come over the tavern. He looks over his shoulder as it seems every Hunter had suddenly piled in, all ears pointed directly to their conversation. He wasn't ever one for.....discretionary tactics or conversation. Honestly he didn't care all that much if they knew about him, but Ebony and her predicament was a different story. He nods his head as Ebony tells him to follow her, grabbing the books and stones and quickly dropping them into his bag as he slings it over his back, though there was a slight unnerving feeling as he looked over his shoulder one final time at the other Hunters. His eyes flickered ice blue for just a moment before turning his attention back to Ebony as they come up to the last door on the left. As she enters the room Scarabus stands outside, chuckling at her invitation to enter.*

Old habits die hard it looks like. Normally you gotta get permission to enter or you get a nice fireball to the face, at least back home that's how it went.

*He walks in, looking around the small room as he slowly slides his bag off his shoulder and sets it down. His broadsword slides off as well and sets that down, though still within arms reach. He closes the door as he turns back towards her, quickly reaching back and tying his hair back once more, letting the tail fall down behind him. As she invites him to sit, he happily obliges as he sits on the bed next to her, his left arm reaching behind him for balance as he folds one leg on top of the other.*

Cozy room ya got here Ebs, didn't know you stayed here. I swear it was pure coincidence I suggested this place. So what I got in mind is, I've been chasing for answers by flying through different corners of various planes of existence, when in reality we haven't even bothered looking in the one place that we probably should have started at. Ammit is the embodiment of all that Egyptians fear, so I think we need to take a red light over to Egypt and see what we can dig up over there. Like I said earlier, she wasn't exactly a celebrated god, and though I'd love to just show up on her doorstep and rattle the cage a bit, I don't think that would work all that great if she's got Sebastion under her control. Add in I've never actually been to the place I adopted my culture from....I mean it makes sense that we start there.

*He looks down at Ebony as his loosely hangs his arm over his leg, the grin forming on his face once more. It felt good to see her once more, ever since they had met and this quest to find her brother had brought meaning and purpose back into his life. He had drifted from tavern to tavern, getting drunk and getting into fights with beings that didn't give him a challenge. Now he was focused once more, and it was all thanks to meeting her that one night. Of course he'd never say it out loud to her, he was truly grateful for turning him back around.*

So there is one little problem to this plan however, I don't exactly have the funds needed to get out to Egypt. Maybe one ticket but that's not gonna do us any good unless you wanna share a seat. It would probably take a good number of hunts to get the cash, so I'm all for it, but I assume time is of the essence since we're a few years behind the ball already.

*Suddenly he looks towards the door and narrows his eyes briefly, prying ears on the outside, even if the Hunters in the tavern couldn't hear he wasn't sure if the same thing could be said right outside the door. He lifts his hand up and moves his fingers in a well defined motion towards the door. Though they couldn't see anything in the room, they could hear a yell of pain outside the door as he smirks, laughter escaping him a bit as he shakes his head.*

Hunters.....they can never just keep to themselves can they?

*He holds his hand out as a blue and white flame comes slithering from under the door, moving across the floor and up into his hand again as it dissipates. His eyes flash the same ice blue again before returning to normal*

Don't worry, it wasn't lethal, just more of an attention getter than anything. So, I think Egypt should be our next destination. What do you think?

[Madame Tamassa]

POSTING AS EBONY SNOW



Sitting on the bed next to Scarabus, Ebony nodded her dark head as he spoke about heading over to Egypt.

~Makes sense to me..~ she said, shifting her weight so that one of her long legs could slide under the other, her foot tucking under her butt. ~I mean, I figured I would end up there eventually, I just wanted to make sure Seb was over there before I made the trek.~
She grinned back at Scarabus as he smiled at her, happy to have someone finally on her side. The search for Sebastion had consumed every facet of her life and she had lost what few friends she had had along the way. It had been a lonely existence, at times the loneliness had been almost crippling but now she finally felt hopeful again and she basked in the presence of her last remaining friend.
~It is so good to see you again Scar..~ she purred happily, leaning over to wrap her arms around him and squeeze him tight before letting him go. ~I’ve missed you.~

Although he didn’t acknowledge her words, the look in his eyes told her he felt exactly the same as he continued.
“So there is one little problem to this plan however, I don't exactly have the funds needed to get out to Egypt. Maybe one ticket but that's not gonna do us any good unless you wanna share a seat. It would probably take a good number of hunts to get the cash, so I'm all for it, but I assume time is of the essence since we're a few years behind the ball already. “

Suddenly he looked towards the door and narrowed his eyes briefly, before lifting up his hand and moving his fingers in a well-defined motion towards the door. Though they couldn't see anything in the room, they could hear a yell of pain outside the door as he smirked, laughter escaping him a bit as he shook his head.

“Hunters.....they can never just keep to themselves can they? “

Ebony watched as he held his hand and a blue and white flame came slithering from under the door, moving across the floor and up into his hand again as it dissipated. His eyes flashed the same ice blue again before returning to normal.

“Don't worry, it wasn't lethal, just more of an attention getter than anything. So, I think Egypt should be our next destination. What do you think?”
Laughing, she shook her dark head, her lips curved into a smile. Although she had seen A LOT in her time hunting for Sebastion, Ebony was nothing more than an ordinary human being. She still got a kick out of seeing any kind of magic or paranormal abilities, a fascination she clearly shared with her inquisitive brother.

~I forgot how entertaining you could be..~ she stretched and arched her back before sliding off the bed and standing up.
~Don’t worry about money.. I can work that out. All we need is a set of wheels. If we have a little road trip on the way to the airport, I’m confident that we will have the money by the time we get there. You still got that sexy Impala??~

Without waiting for an answer, she crossed to the small sink and splashed water on her face before cleaning her teeth and checking her braid was still intact. Smiling at her reflection in the mirror, she was delighted to see her dark eyes were shining once more. Anticipation and hope were wonderful emotions and she felt her whole body tingling with excitement as she picked up her duffel bag, swung it over her shoulder and led Scarabus back out into the hallway. Pausing to lock her door, she made her way back down the hall, down the stairs and out into the noisy tavern. Without a backward glance, Ebony left the Crossroads Tavern and cast a curious glance around the carpark. Spotting the Impala, she beamed at Scarabus.

~Damn, that’s a good looking car! Let me in!~
Once inside, she settled herself on the passenger seat, running her fingers over the upholstery while casting an appreciative glance over the car’s interior as Scarabus climbed in and got behind the wheel. As the car roared to life, Ebony whooped in excitement before turning to Scarabus, her dark eyes gleaming.
~Head to the nearest gas station… I’ve got an idea… I hope it works..~
While he drove, she pulled the duffel bag up from between her feet to work the zipper. By the time Scarabus pulled up outside a run-down gas station/diner, Ebony had a small grey box in her hands. Grinning at him, she laughed.
~This place is perfect.. wait here.. but keep the engine running. We might need to make a quick getaway. ~

Sliding off the seat, she closed the door and made her way over past the bowsers to the front of the gas station. The Impala was the only car parked outside though several trucks were parked around the side. Ebony could see the truck drivers seated in the small diner on the side of the gas station, drowning themselves in large cups of coffee and copious amounts of pie. Humming to herself, she yanked down her baseball cap so that her face was hidden as she stepped through the automatic doors and crossed over to the left side where the convenience store was set up. Consisting mainly of potato chips and girlie magazines the three shelves offered nothing to Ebony except for a perfect barrier from the prying eyes of the 17 year old behind the counter. Although he was consumed by the game he was playing on his phone, Ebony was grateful for the barrier of shelves as she made her way to the ATM.

Holding the small grey box in her left hand, she leant against the machine as she slid the metal box up an under the ATM where it attached itself magnetically. Although she hadn’t made the device herself, she had watched it being used several times by a Hunter friend who had sadly died months before. Praying she remembered the code, she took her wallet out of her pocket, sliding the nondescript grey card out of its place and popping it into the machine. The grey box under the ATM started to hum slightly and Ebony hummed louder as the ATM asked her to enter her pin code. Punching in 7456, she held her breath as the ATM processed her request. It seemed to take forever, but soon the flashing green letters were asking her to choose her amount. Considering this ATM had a maximum withdrawal of $500, Ebony pressed 5 0 0 and OK. The grey box hummed a little louder as it worked its magic and soon ten 50 dollar notes were dispensed into Ebony’s waiting hands. Grinning like a loon, she put 9 of the notes into her wallet before unclipping the grey box and collecting her card. Heading back to the shelves, she chose some packets of food at random, collecting some chips, candy and soft drinks before making her way to the kid at the counter. He looked up barely long enough to ring up her items and put them into a carrier bag, before giving her change and going back to his game.

~Have a great night!~ she sung out, before turning on her heel and heading back outside. Once inside the Impala, she put the carrier bag on the seat between her and Scarabus before pulling her wallet out to show him the money.

~All done.~ she beamed. ~ I got 500 bucks.. so if we stop at a few gas stations on the way, we should easily have enough for first class tickets AND spending money once we get to Egypt.~ She patted the grey box, grinning at it approvingly. ~I don’t know how this thing works, but it’s pure genius! I got it off a dear friend who only used it sparingly and only in case of an emergency. ~ She slid it back into its protective case in her duffel bag before zipping it closed.

~I call this an emergency though, don’t you?~ she continued chattering away as she reached into the carrier bag and pulled out a packet of chips. Ripping open the bag, she popped a handful into her mouth, crunching away as she looked over at Scarbus. ~Want something to eat? I didn’t know what you liked.. if anything… so I grabbed a few different things. Every good road trip needs junk food, right?~
Settling back in her seat, munching away at her potato chips, Ebony grinned up at the night sky through the windshield of the Impala.

~Let’s get this show on the road!~ *