The Relic

[thisone]

"I'm just amazed he isn't wearing a flea collar." Nathan muttered, more to himself than anyone else, but he was sure Rory would have heard him. After that little quip he was rather silent, watching with a silent awe as everything transpired before them. It seemed almost too surreal to, in fact, be real. So it was more or less a relief to see a normal bus comming to pick them up, though the idea of a bus comming to the middle of the desert still resenated as a little odd. And it was only more strange when they were greeted by a cute blond, who seemed to give off the same strange arua as this Rory. He was begining to wonder if anyone involved with this was human.

The bus ride, to Nathan, ended all too soon. Atleast there he could lean his head up against the window and rest for a bit, let everything sink in. However, fate seemed to have a different idea, because before they knew it the bus stopped in front of the giant building of gleaming white. It was alittle disturbing to Nathan at how...white this building was, it seemed unnatural. That thought passed quickly when he remembered everything else that happened today. In all honesty, the building was the most natural thing of this entire ordeal.

As he was lead into the building, his attention was completely focused on the man that was before him, and once again this one didn't seem human. Then this man said something as he shook Nathan's hand that struck him as more than a little disturbing.

'I think it's time we had a long discussion about the world, he said, and Nathan couldn't help but wonder who's world he ment.

[Isabella Rastafari]

*Isabella waited outside the airport while an attendant loaded their bags into the back of the van that she assumed would be their transport to the village. Glancing back at the ramshackle tin structure that had barely enough room to house one plane in it, Isabella wondered as to the accuracy of naming the place an “airport”. Scowling in disdain at the dirt that clung to the legs of her skinny jeans, Isabella stared up into the night sky to gain some semblance of solace as the attendant chattered away with a stoned faced Rose. The sound of girlish laughter rang out through the night, and Isabella turned around to see Ciarnait saunter towards the group, her arm linked through Sanfords. As she felt Isabellas’ eyes upon her, Ciarnait casually removed her arm from Sanford and moved away from him, towards her boss. Squealing ~Ew!~ as she narrowly missed stepping in some recently deposited manure courtesy of the herd of goats that were currently being led down the same road their van was pointed towards.

~Nice trip eh boss?~ she muttered as she gave the attendant an arched brow. ~Who’s this git?~ she asked Isabella. The man glared at her with his one good eye, while the other stared up at the heavens with a milky white glow as he shuffled back and forth between the large pile of suitcases and the ancient Toyota van.

Isabella snarled at her before closing her eyes briefly to maintain her crumbling composure. ~He is our drive to the hotel.. though if this shack is what they call an “airport” around here, then I shudder to think what their version of a hotel is..~ she eyed Sanford and then smiled sweetly at Ciarnait. ~I see you and your charge have become better acquainted? ~ she rolled her eyes as Ciarnait fluttered her lashes at her. ~Just learn from your past mistakes Ciarnait.. ~Isabella murmured quietly. ~This is all I ask..~

Ciarnait nodded and muttered ~whatever..~ before she glanced over at Sanford, her gaze resembling the cat that had got the proverbial cream. Isabella followed her gaze and smiled broadly at him. ~Doctor Dennigan, I do apologise for our accommodation’s.. it appears that this is as “first class” as travelling arrangements get around here.~ She all but pushed Ciarnait into the open door of the van before she followed suit, gesturing for Rose to get inside also. Calling out to him as he boarded the van, Isabella laughed as she told him she hoped the hotel would provide more comfort than this van or the tiny tin cage that they had just flown in for the past five hours.

Fortunately the “hotel” turned out to be a modest homestead that had been converted to accommodate for ten people to sleep in relative comfort. After an hour of yelling at the deaf old woman behind the front counter, and using elaborate sign language, Ciarnait had been able to get their room keys as well as directions to their rooms. She turned around and jingled the keys in front of Isabella who was on the phone.

~Yes Ethan, we have arrived at this “hotel” you’ve booked for us.. … ~ she waved Ciarnait away and up the stairs before she gestured for the others to follow suit as she fell into line behind Ciarnait, still talking into the cell phone. ~Yes, Im sure it IS the best in town.. I have no doubt………………….. So, where is it now then?…… .. …. You’re sure?…… How long ago did they arrive?…….. What?? WHO??!!…………. That’s impossible…. .. What on earth is he doing here… he cant know about the Relic!~ Isabella realised she was practically screaming into the phone and she pushed past Ciarnait as the girl unlocked the door marked number 3.

~Rose and I are in here.. You and the good Doctor in the next one..~ She pointed to the next room and took the key from Ciarnait who glared at her before stalking to door five. Turning then to Rose, Isabella embraced her before whispering ~We got trouble sister..~ in her ear. Pulling away from Rose, she fixed a brave smile on her face as she glanced over at the Doctor and Ciarnait, who had now got the door of their room open and was standing in the threshold. ~I’ve got buisness to attend to.. Ill be back before first light. Keep an eye on these two for me will you, and check in with Seb to see how things are going in the Warehouse.~

Ciarnaits eyes lit up at the mention of Seb. ~Tell him I said hey!~ she called out to Rose as she offered Isabella a casual wave goodbye before she stepped into the room. Pulling the Doctor in behind her, she closed the door and clicked the lock into place. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Ciarnait grinned before she licked his cheek and began to purr.

~Big bad boss bitch wont be back till morning, and then she will sleep till sunset. We’ve got a whole night and day to do whatever we want before she even comes looking for us… what do you wanna do?~ Ciarnaits lips found his as her tongue snaked in and out of his mouth. Laughing, she pulled away from him and threw herself on the bed. ~I know what I wanna do.. but its entirely your choice… for now..~ *

[Rose Rastafari]

-The longer she spent away from her precious lab, the crazier Rose began to feel. Her anchor to sanity, Isabella, was preparing to ditch her…here…and all but shrieking into her cell, which miraculously was still picking up service of some kind, be it a donkey with a tinfoil wrapped branch strapped to its back as a tower. Ciarnet, the only werewolf she knew enough to converse with, was preparing to jump the good doctor one door down and well within earshot. Thousands of miles from the comfort of her own lair- the cool silk of her robe, the satin of her sheets, the spicy scent of her incense, the rich taste of her wine...no, she wouldn't think of it...- and alone, with nothing to drink or even to chew on and she was expected to cope. Attempting to calm her frayed nerves, which frayed further as Isa offered a parting embrace, she closed violet eyes against the reality of the situation and returned the hug somewhat stiffly. The doctor was important, yes, but couldn’t the furball handle it? Why couldn’t she join Isa on this mission and then grab a bite to eat together afterwards, if they could find anything but takeout in this dumpy hellhole. When her eyes opened to find her beloved Italian leather boots soiled with 100% Peruvian mud, Rose wondered whether she might cry for the first time in at least a hundred years. Instead, she huffed irritably, looked her sister square in the eyes and crossed black lace clad arms over her chest.-

You owe me. I love you, sister, but there are cases upon cases of Castelu waiting as a reward for me when we return home. I need my peace. I need my wine. Such simple things I need and yet so far away…..

-Pressing her fingers firmly against her eyelids to ease the approaching headache, she gazed miserably around the dreary hall in which they stood. She hated to burden Isa with any more, as she knew her sister was suffering under the intense weight of responsibility, but after that absurd flight and the gabby, little blood-bag at the “airport”, Rose was finding compassion just out of reach. Action was what she needed, not a babysitting detail. Ciarnet certainly would be watching the doctor closely. Too closely, actually, which served only to irritate her more. Why should the werewolf be getting laid by the only handsome man for thousands of miles when she would spend the night solo? Hungry for a number of things suddenly, Rose frowned deeply as an earlier request of Isa’s floated to the surface of her scattered thoughts.-

Am I still getting dinner? You know I’m picky when it comes to foreign food. Honestly, I could use the hunt, though it may take awhile to find just the right meal to fit my exquisite taste. Can I leave the bitch and her toy alone long enough to satisfy my cravings or need I wait?

-The pout that followed this request revealed Rose wasn’t in love with the idea of waiting. At all. Seb would be safer to speak to once she’d fed and wasn’t feeling so cranky. If she spent too much longer in this abysmal little shack without a glass of something red and not entirely tasteless and a bite to eat Isa may come back to find the entire staff dead, gutted and strung up. Boredom had never set well with Rose.-

(I was feeling inspired. So there it is.)

[delkaetre]

Desnischi sat alone in the crumbling manor. The vampire had not moved for over a year, and dust coated the near-skeletal form as thickly as it coated the furniture in the rest of the room.
All had been still for many, many nights. No rats or mice would enter this place or disturb the dust, no wind penetrated this deep into the labyrinthine corridors of the manor house, and yet a few crumbs of dust now fell.
A sound could be heard, dry and rattling. Desnischi was laughing, the faint shaking of the prominent ribcage just enough to unsettle the dust. Slowly, red eyes opened. There was only the dullest gleam, like dark, frosted glass- no hint of life, intelligence, power. Desnischi's laughter grew louder. The clanless thing began to quake all over, the hissing rattle turning into a richer and deeper contemptuous laugh. Desnischi had felt the awakening of the Relic, and remembered it all too well. The fighting between the clans, the oppotunism of the clanless, the power-bargains, the pleas, the race to have more resources, more warriors, more power... the race for the Relic. The dull eyes woke with a flash of electric blue, gleaming and glittering in a way that seemed to light the room, unsettling against Desnischi's dusty attire. Dry and brittle hair fell out in clumps, replaced by lustrous dark brown locks, bone-white flesh filling out into the shape of a slender, tall human. And still Desnischi laughed.
The tall, beautiful creature stood alone and proud, feeling the effect of the regeneration it had been saving for so long. In the last era of the Relic, many strange magics had been discovered, and Desnischi had been the proudest advocate of them all. With the relic gone, the magics had faded until only the single stasis was left to protect the ancient one from a true death. The artefact's return had triggered the slow return of the magics, and Desnischi had more experience of them than any other alive or undead this age.
For such power, all Desnischi had needed to trade was its still heart and its unused sex, the two parts of the body that most defined mortals and desires. Desnischi had never had time for concerns of gender, for worries of the heart and loins. It was glad to be free of such things, a gloriously inhuman unsexed thing, a beautiful androgyne.
This strange and wondrous creature was 'alive' once more, awakened by the call of the Relic as many others around the world no doubt had been. Though still limited by species and unable to travel in the daylight, Desnischi felt it would have no trouble making haste and locating the unearthed item. Who better to guard such a powerful thing than one who had known it before?
But first, perhaps, to make allies in this new world. Desnischi had heard of the new clans, called 'Annex' and 'First Blood' and others. Better to join the clans or the clanless? And which clan, at that?

[Isabella Rastafari]

*After a quick detour to Rose's room to drop off her "dinner" for the night, Isabella chatted to her sister for a few minutes, forcing her growing rage to subdue slightly.

~Here's your dinner..~ she purred as she dragged the elderly hotel receptionist across the threshold. ~Of course this is merely an appetiser, my sweet. The night is young, and I'm sure you will have no troubles finding yourself something younger and sweeter. The doctor is in Ciarnaits capable hands, so please don't feel the need to hole yourself up here all night. I'll be in that large white building we saw on the drive here.. if my information is correct.. ~ she kicked the woman in the side of the head as she began to groan and move slowly. ~Damn old bitch gave me quite a fight, so when you do kill her, make it hurt.. okay?~ With an evil glint in her eye, she kissed Rose's cold right cheek before turning on her heel once more. Taking the stairs three at a time, Isabella was soon outside, pulling the hotels front door closed behind her.

The night air was cool against her cold flesh, and her lips curled into an instinctive smirk as she faced into the wind. With her long dark hair streaming loose behind her, Isabella strode towards the large white building where Ethan had told her Perry had been spotted, her brilliant eyes squinted against the blaring gritty wind. With no time to form anything resembling a plan, Isabella was relying on her instincts as to how best to deal with this unexpected change of circumstances. As the dust and debris blew all around her, her anger grew as she approached her destination. Ethan’s spies had also reported of a werewolf that was working for Perry, but Rory’s scent was undeniable as Isabella approached the front entrance, convincing her that the reported werewolf was in fact one of her own Pack. Shaking her head in frustration, she took a deep breath more out of habit than necessity before she pushed open the door.

The men were sitting not too far from where she stood and Isabella watched them from the shadows of the entrance way as they discussed the Relic. Rory sat to the side of Perry, clearly relishing his role as the Enemy’s Leaders’ lap dog. Before things could get any further out of hand, Isabella stepped out of the shadows and walked towards the men until she was clearly visible. Once she had made eye contact with Perry, she smiled coldly before gesturing for the others to leave.

~You and I.. we need to speak.. human.~ she hissed, her nose wrinkling in distaste as she spoke of his species. Narrowing her eyes, she glared at Rory and growled ~Consider yourself fired from the Pack. And be warned.. your time on this planet is now marked. ~

Suddenly the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and her once dead heart began to beat. At first, there was one big thump, and then it began to thump repeatedly in a slow steady hollow rhythm. Isabella’s violet eyes widened as she realised that one of her children was achingly close, but the situation currently at hand had to hold her attention and she could not bare the time to find out why he was suddenly so close.

Refocussing her attention on Rory, Isabella clenched her hands into fists by her side in an effort to control the sudden urge to leap across the table and tear his eyeballs from their sockets, as she waited for an answer.*

[Talisen Phoenix]

Perry sighed deeply, Brant and Nathan; he had researched their history enough before he sent them out on their expedition. But we’re they ready for the truth? That was the real question.
This was not the first time he had introduced someone to the reality of life on earth, nor would it be the last. One thing he was certain about however was it never really went well.

‘This is going to seen... impossible, and bizarre and utterly insane...”

He said calmly in his unusual accent. (A mix of Australian and English) He flicked a strand of black hair out of his eyes.

‘As long as humans have existed... probably longer, so have creatures that feed on the human prey to survive, some have called the Demons, other theories are they are simply an evolved human being.
They’ve gone by hundreds of different names in hundreds of different languages, the Lamia; E’rsempia... the name you’re probably most familiar with is... Vampires.’

He paused, choosing his words carefully, he knew this was the moment they would begin to doubt him, look at each other and pass the whole thing over as crazy.

‘Over the hundreds of years they’ve plagued the earth, they’ve adapted, learnt. Once they were vermin killing and murdering where they could.
No longer, their powerful politically and physically, they’ve seeped into society in every continent; they have four major clans spread over the world. Each controls a different part of the industry. Weapon development, cosmetics, Law firms, Pharmaceuticals, you name it they have a stake in it. It may not seem like much but it gives them a huge slice of the pie....’

Peregrine took another deep breath; he watched their reactions carefully,

‘So I guess what it all comes down to is... Vampires are real, I’m head of an organization that opposes them, we’re warriors, archeologists, lawyers, teachers... our goal is to expose the vampire scourge to the world while battling them at the same time. My friend here used to work for the vampires; he’s what you’d call a werewolf.’

Rory looked up, he was busy picking at a claw, he smiled flashing his white teeth, and his yellow eyes glinted warmly in the shadows.

‘We’re called the Enemy, like the Vampires we have a legitimate front, I’ve been after you two and your team for a very long time, you don’t have to accept of course, but-‘

He was cut off, the doors to the building, slammed open, a woman walked from the shadows, Peregrine stood, as did every single man and woman around him, guns, axes, swords, stakes and crossbows were all pointed at her. They were all The Enemy.

‘Isabella...’

Peregrine said smoothly. He could hear Rory growling deeply beside him, his body was shifting, red shaggy fur was growing from his body and his face erupted into a snout.

~Consider yourself fired from the Pack. And be warned... your time on this planet is now marked. ~

Rory smiled, it was frightening expression on a Werewolf’s face.

‘Oh I consider it... I revel in it...’

He said in more of a growl than a human voice. Peregrine considered Isabella; He hadn’t been alone with her since he was 16, when she killed his father.

‘Everyone upstairs... now, Rory you stay with me, Lara take care of Brant and Nathan...’

Lara squeezed her crossbow tighter,

‘Perry I swear I can get her straight through the heart...’

Perry sighed, people had tried, a mere barrage of bullets and arrows would not be enough to end Isabella, hand to hand, was the only way to slay her... get in tight and fast, that’s what his father had told him, he wasn’t fast enough, but Perry was.

‘Lara...’

He said smoothly. She lowered her crossbow and placed her hands on Nathan’s and Brant’s shoulders trying to lead them upstairs, she was followed by the rest of the Enemy, Rory smiled next to him, it wasn’t protection he was after, Rory had the right to hear anything Isabella had to say.

‘So talk Isabella, and fast, the sight of you sickens me...’

If it was a trap, it was a good one... Peregrine had enough fire power to fight off an attack, but he didn’t for a minuet think that’s what Isabella was after, she didn’t know he was in the country. She was working on instinct and instinct alone, as surprised to see him as he was to see her.

‘Oh and Isabella... how’s Benito?’

Peregrine said with a smile.

[Tak]

His thoughts swam with the spoken words, the whole scope of the situation was brought into focus, and he stood there blinking like an idiot. He felt like he had been slapped in the face.

Vampires.... and werewolves? He thought that Rory was a little different, but a werewolf? And vampires, the bloodsucking fiends that haunted his dreams after watching Dracula? They wee located all over the world, and had a part in almost every industry? Brant couldn't help thinking about how the blood-suckers could have invaded the government. It was just too outrageous to believe.

A medley of hidden weapons rose when a woman walked into the room. She had a wild beauty about her, a majestic, something that enthralled him.

"Isabella..." Was the single word uttered by Peregrine. He told the others to stay back, not to attack. and Brant realized that this woman had to be a vampire, if not, than this reaction would not have made sense to Perry's speech about themselves, The Enemy. Why were they the enemy? It didn't seem like a fitting name for the opposing ... things ... that wished them ill.

Perry and Isabella stood there, across from each other, their faces etched with a shallow surprise. Like they weren't expecting each other. A woman pulled softly on his shoulder, her golden locks bouncing as she beckoned him to the stairs. He looked once again from Perry to Isabella, a doubt ran through his mind as he struggled in his mind. He wanted to see this, but he didn't think it would be good ... for himself or for Perry and Isabella. He walked towards Lara, turning around several times, hoping to catch at least a quick catch of words between them.

A large click sounded behind them as they walked into a small room. The walls looked like they could collapse at any time, Brant was reminded eerily of the tomb they were in hours previously. Stephanie's body chilled his thoughts.

Apparently the walls weren't very thick, accounting that he could hear Perry talking.

"Oh... and Isabella, how's Benito?"

[delkaetre]

Desnischi paused in wandering its dustry mansion. There was something- a gathering of powers- over to the ...east? Yes. To the east. The blood suckers, the flesh renders, and the humans, lost humans in a world that most of them didn't understand. The humans at this gathering, though, they were among those who were not so lost.
A gathering of powers indeed!
Desnischi brushed of its dusty clothing, enjoying the new power it felt as it moved its once-skeletal limbs. No doubt styles of clothing had changed since Desnischi had last walked the earth.
Hmm.
The earth could adapt. Desnischi had no intention of changing the elegant clothing in the ancient wardrobe.
Now, how did one go about travel? Ahh... yes.

From nearby, Desnischi listened to the events within the building. Isabella... a sharp, strident tone. Rory... arrogance, perhaps? Or merely acurate confidence? And there was one called Perry, known to the Isabella creature, surprised to see her.
It continued to listen, to learn of the powers and politics of this new world it had woken to.

[theblade527]

Maeniel had been following Rory ever since their first incounter at the inn which cost him a place to sleep. He had been following Rory to the desert and through it, but so quietly that he had no idea that he was present in any way. Now he had followed him to a building, of course he wouldnt even try to get in through the front door since it wouldnt seem like much fun. After all Maeniel had lived since ancient times, way before technologie had been created, instead of using the front door he would instead climb the wall. Slowly he walked over to the wall and taking his had he shoved it into the brick. Small bit of dust flew out of it as a nice size hole was made.

Quickly he took his other had and did the same then with his boots he started to climb. He kept on going until he found a window with a room that had quiet a few people in. This time he wouldnt care about trying to hide since it seemed that they were all busy talking inside to two of the people Rory had brought back from the desert. Holding onto the wall in full view from outside the window he sat, listened and waited to see what was going on. If someone were to walk by and look up at the building they would spot Maeniel so easily since he had the bluish-silver armor and the great big sword that hung on his back. The conversation was starting to get interesting when a new figure imerged through the door, which caused everyone to get up with their weapons drawn. Things were starting to get interesting, Maeniel just decided to sit, watch and wait.

[Zarick Gunn]

Only mere hours ago Zarick was following Isabella to this God-forsaken place. Now he found himself standing in what seemed to be one of the most poor civilizations on the planet. Dirt was the "town's" sad attempt at a road, animals nearly outnumbered people, and food was scarce. Cursing anyone who could hear him, Zarick was not at all pleased with the condition of his "travel destination" though it did make him much more curious as to why one such as Isabella would personally venture here.

All Zarick knew was that Isabella's plane was to set down here. For all he knew she traveled somewhere else by other means. This realization once again led him to curse those around him and the damned earth he stood on. This final point was showcased by him kicking a dirt clod, bringing forth a large cloud of dust. The dust clung to his baggy jeans, contrasting against his light blue pants.

"We might as well find some sort of place to stay, just be glad we cannot be diseased." Zarick stated to those few who he took with him. As though it was on cue the vehicle Zarick had asked for drove up next to them. The driver cracked the passenger window and asked, "Where to?" With plenty of disdain in his voice Zarick replied "The most expensive hotel in the area."

The time at which Zarick and his entourage arrived couldn't have been more perfect had he planed it. Just as his vehicle was pulling up he saw Isabella herself walking out. She was unaccompanied...strange. "I'm going to follow her, everyone else get our rooms and get everything put away. Do not follow me, or else you will die in this hell hole." Silently and with a good distance between him and his target, Zarick followed behind.

The only time he closed the distance between him and Isabella was when she opened a door to a large white building. As silently as he could, Zarick slipped in the door after her before it closed. While Isabella marched forward out of the shadows, Zarick was content to sit tight and watch the proceedings. Some of the people in the room were instantly recognized by Zarick, one was definitely a wolf while many of the others were human. One human was recognized as Perry, the leader of the enemy. At this moment Zarick was glad he always had his weapons on him.

[thisone]

Nathan had taken in everything in surprisingly for a geeky little scholar, but then again he had been studying such things for years now as something of a pet-project. Though when the vampire appeared behind them, especially when the room was filled with weapons, Nathan was taken aback. Then he felt the touch of Lara's hand on his shoulder, and he was already half way up the stairs when the conversation started. As much as he was interested in the situation, he was not about to get killed just yet. And it was obvious to him that this Perry, as well as the already-suspected werewolf Rory, had the situation well underhand. And when one can face down a vampire with only a werewolf at your side, you must be good. Just as the door to their little sanctuary closed behind them, Nathan caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye. There was a fourth in the main hall.

The door closing behind him, Nathan quickly pulled out his book and began looking over his notes, muttering things under his breath as he paced. He glanced over at Brant and tilted his head to the side. "My good man, where you so completely taken aback by this? No offense, but did you really think humanity was the driving force behind the world?" he asked in a mix of concern and playful mockery. In all honesty, Nathan himself was a bit worried when he first came of the news they would receive. He was just a bit more prepared to take it. However, now was not the time for him to worry. He turned back to his notebook and began reading again, memorizing a few lines for later use. Because God knows how useful a fireball spell can be in a tight situation.

[Isabella Rastafari]

*Isabella stood still, her cool violet orbs watching carefully as everyone left the room save for Perry, Rory and herself. She sensed another soul in the shadows, and a secret smile played across her dark lips before they settled into a smirk. ~Perry.. lets cut the shit. What the hell are you doing here?~ She stood with her right hip cocked forward and a hand placed languidly over it. As she awaited his response she was aware of another arrival who was hidden in the shadows also. Just as she turned her head to hear better, her heart gave another thump, this one deeper than the first. Isabella gulped visibly as the realisation of his nearness finally hit her.

[Peregrine Daniels]

Peregrine was no fool, true his senses were nothing compared to a Vampires, he may have been a blind Caterpillar scurrying through a birds nest. Never the less, he had trained long and hard as early as he could remember, he too noticed the new presence, It made things tricky alright, but he was quite confidant, Rory and himself could still handle an attack on their own, but Isabella was no fool either, she knew how many Hunters were in the room upstairs, she would also know and feel the men and woman start to surround the ancient hostel, she’d never make it out alive, even if she did manage to kill Perry and Rory.

Rory growled dangerously next to Rory, He had managed to stay half human throughout the process, his ears were long and shaggy, his teeth pointed and fierce, but apart from the hair, he was more or less human. His Black Claws dug into the old table savagely, the wood was soft under his touch. He made a strange half gurgle, half grow, His eyes on the shadows, following unwaveringly.

‘What, I can’t go on holiday?’

He said with the beginnings of a smirk, He knew what Isabella was after was safe upstairs, surrounded by Vampire Hunters.

‘This place used to be a haven for Vampires in the 1400’s Isabella... I was hoping for lead, as always... but the real question is... why does it matter?’

Perry said coldly, his blue eyes boring into the Vampires, the thing with Vampires that always unnervered him the most was the lack of soul behind they’re eyes.

[Isabella Rastafari]

*Isabella offered a dull, fake laugh in response to Perrys’ holiday quip before nodding as he spoke of his quest for lead. She had chosen to ignore his mention of Benito’s name. For the time being at least.

~Only you would come half way around the world for something that is produced in various quantities closer to home. Unless.. you need more lead for your pencil… ~ She grinned as she glanced at his groin area suggestively before his eyes locked with hers and she pointedly glanced upwards, towards the ceiling and the room that stood directly above her; the room that housed her most sought after prize.

~You realy want to play games with me Hot Shot? I suppose I shouldn’t be too surprised though.. children do enjoy their little games don’t they?~ In an instant she seemed to vanish before his eyes, though she did in fact remain in full view of him. A dark purple mist hovered in the air where she had just stood, before darting closer to him. Her voice hissed in his ear. ~ I don’t have time for games little boy…. ~ before the mist moved quickly towards the stairs and disappeared upstairs. She quickly slipped under the door of the room that housed the relic and headed towards where the bracelet was hidden. Drawn to it as a moth is to a flame, the mist began to hum and vibrate as it slowly began to solidify. Finally Isabellas form was visible as the last tendrils of mist vanished into nothing around her.

Chuckling softly to herself, Isabella grinned at Brant and stalked towards him, ignoring everyone else in the room.

~You have something that belongs to me human..~ she purred as her eyes locked with his. Glowing a deep feral amber, Isabella’s eyes were one of her most powerful weapons and Brant would surely struggle not to succumb to their deep hypnotic gaze.
~Now be a good little man and give it back, hmm?~

Instantly she was upon him, standing toe to toe with him, her nose touching his. As her eyes glared into his, she hissed

~Now.!~ *

[Peregrine Daniels]

Perry knew what had happened immediately, He had underestimated her... again, just like his father had, he slashed his arms through the air, trying to disperse the mist... He leaned behind him and pulled out a long curved samurai sword. The Sword gleamed soft silver, but the very tip of the sword as well as a good 6 centimeters off the top was wooden, seamlessly built onto the sword.

‘Stay here, nobody else gets up there!’

Peregrine roared at Rory, he used the Werewolf who was now full wolf, to pounce off, Australians would know it as a ‘specky’ He leaped off the Wolves back, and grabbing hold of the side of the staircase, he pulled himself up and in seconds was outside the door. He kicked it in viciously.

‘That was a mistake Isabella...’

Perry growled as he pointed his sword at the Vampires back, he would hit her heart if he plunged it into her. She was surrounded, there were at least 7 crossbows pointed at her, Two Uzi’s and 8 throwing axes, apart from that they were all armed with Stakes, an Enemy never left base without one.

Perry could here Rory Growl beneath him.

‘Look at me Brant... keep your eyes on me!’

Perry said deeply, he knew what Isabella was doing. He could end it all... one twist of his wrist... It would slide into her like butter... it would end her where she stood... but it wasn’t that easy. It was never that easy... not with her.

((Google Specky, it's an AFL thing. Australia Rules Football, the pics of the dudes jumping off other dudes backs!))