Lore:(Mature)To fetch some clothes...

Post by **Emora Deen** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:42 am

Tenele sighed, a slight smile coming to her face. "I guess you're right," she said softly, leaning down to kiss him one last long time... She sat up over him and put her hands on her hips. "Well, I'll be back tomorrow, I promise... Hopefully tomorrow we can get you out of here!" she said as she got up and walked towards the door.

She opened it up, looking at him one last time for the day.

~

Sekushi stopped, narrowing his eyes for a moment. "Sure, what is it?" he asked, looking at Crackers oddly. "Er... do I know you?"

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:01 am

Vlad nodded and watched her go to the door, biting back the impulse to ask what time she'd be back, and then wondering where that impulse came from before passing it off as impatience to get out of here. Maybe he just wasn't used to not being able to go anywhere he wanted, whenever he felt like it. "See you tomorrow," he said casually.

* * *

"No," Crackers answered, "but I have a prospect that may be of interest to you. You are acquainted the the young woman who comes here to visit a slave she contracted here temporarily?"

Post by **Emora Deen** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:04 am

Sekushi smiled darkly at him. "I'm familiar," he said and folded his arms. "What about her?" He asked.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:16 am

"I understand her servant's been quite an assett to your establishment," Crackers continued, "The word on the street is he's the best in his 'class'. It seems like it would be a shame to give him up again, but then, you have a contract. However, contracts can be voided in the event that the signee goes missing." He watched Sekushi's expression grow skeptical, but curious.

"However, not even you can just make someone disappear without attracting attention. People are kidnapped all the time in this city, but not by the brothels themselves. I, on the other hand, can. If I sell her to you as though she were my own slave, no one will think twice. She's alone here, except for me. Let me set you up, and in exchange pay me 200 gold. It's an extremely cheap price, for a woman of her caliber. If you have her transferred to Claw's service, she'll be gone in a few weeks, and no one there will even recognize her." He met Sekushi's stare evenly. He had to do this.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:22 am

Sekushi smiled sinisterly. "Hmm... interesting. That's all you would want for her?" he asked again, but before Crackers could ask more he changed the subject. "Turned over into Claw's care she would die in a few weeks... Such a waste," he muttered. "But, I'll work something out."

"Deal," he said and held out his hand for the man to shake.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:32 am

"Excellent," Crackers said, returning the handshake firmly. "Excuse me. She'll be expecting me up front," he said, and went back to the desk where they'd come in.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:37 am

Tenele came down the steps and walked towards Crackers. She felt a strange since of being watched and when she glanced around she spotted Sekushi standing in the corner with his arms folded and he was watching her with a all-knowing sort of smirk.

She wondered why Vlad warned her so much about staying away from him...

"Crackers," she said softly. "Let's go..." She walked out the door and out into the road. "So... where can I find out about Claw's spies..."

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:04 pm

Crackers nodded. "There's a place where we can see where they are brought in, but it may be dangerous."

Post by **Emora Deen** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:10 pm

Tenele nodded and smirked. "Danger is something I do best," she said. "Okay, lead me to this place..."

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:27 pm

Crackers led Tenele back through a series of alleys into what was undoubtedly the most hostile and depressed section of the settlement. He paused at the mouth of the alley and looked out at where a few men were knocking at a closed door. "There," he whispered to Tenele, gesturing for her to come forward where she could see. As he watched, a barred window opened and the men exchanged a few low words with the person on the other side. They each held up what looked like a model of Arken's insignia cast in silver before they were given entrance.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:40 pm

Tenele came forward and looked at what was going on. She watched closely, looking at what they were showing to the men at the door. "Well, where can I get one of those...."

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:06 pm

"I'm sorry," Crackers said under his breath, pulling his dagger out of its place on his belt. Clenching his eyes guiltily, he struck her soundly in the back of the head with its hilt.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:11 pm

Pain struck her in the back of her head and dots exploded in her vision. Everything turned black and Tenele's knees buckled as she fell hard onto the ground with a thud, landing on her side.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:36 pm

Crackers caught Tenele by the waist before she could fall to the ground and managed to get her over his shoulder, carrying her swiftly into an empty shed at the side of the alley. He removed some cord from the inside of his coat and bound her hands and feet, then tied her arms at her sides. He also tied a cotton gag around her mouth. Removing his black coat, he wrapped it around her so she would be less recognizable. He couldn't just bring her straight through town to Sekushi without a disguise. When his work was done, he sighed and sat on an overturned pail near the door, watching her to wait for her to wake up. He felt he should at least explain what was happening. Not that it would justify his actions.

* * *

Vlad wasn't left alone for long. Soon enough the order came for him to visit another patron. The vampire stretched his neck and followed behind the escort, hanging his thumbs calmly in his pockets. He could deal with this, if it was just for one more night. The humiliation bothered him more than anything else, but Tenele didn't think less of him.

The no life king paused as a crash sounded from down a hallway branching to their left. Vlad walked to the entrance of the hallway and looked in, ignoring the impatience of his escort.

"You pathetic fool! Quit clumsing around and do your job!" barked an older woman to a girl half-lying on the floor surrounded by broken dishes. Vlad recognized her as the girl who had come to his room the night before. "Ooh, I can't wait to be rid of you. Get up! You slacker, up!" the woman scathed, slapping her hard with a crop she was holding. The girl struggled to rise, but shuddered and kept falling back to the floor. Vlad recalled her saying something about being in poor health.

After a few more moments of hesitation, the woman lost her temper and bent over the girl, beating her without mercy. The girl didn't make a sound.

"I've heard that positive reinforcement always works best," Vlad said with dark sarcasm from the end of the hallway. The escort and the old woman turned dire glares on him in sync. THe young girl stared at him in astonished recognition.

"Betsy, control your slaves while you're escorting them," the woman snapped, turning back to the girl. Vlad felt a stern hand grip his collar and tug him toward their destination. Without thinking of the consequences, he threw out his arm, grabbed the escort's shirt collar, and pinned her to the wall, her feet dangling a foot above the floor. 'Betsy' panicked at the vampire's strength and promptly fainted.

Vlad turned a sly, half-crazed smile toward the woman. "Oops," he purred pointedly.

As expected, the woman forgot about the girl, running toward him with her crop. "Why you shameless dolt!" she seethed, smacking him across the face with the crop. "I'll see that Sekushi hears of this." Vlad shrugged, dropping Betsy in the same motion as the woman tugged at him to follow her to his appointment. Her tugging hardly seemed to affect his pace; he was in no rush to get there. He cast a smirk towards Lydia as he disappeared down the hall. The girl just sat there, too astonished to even give him a sign of thanks.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:41 pm

Tenele groaned as her head rolled from side to side. Her eyes fluttered open slowly and she glanced around wildly, unable to see anything at first. But, soon her vision cleared and she saw Crackers in front of her. She tried to move quickly, but she found she was bound. She tried to scream, but she was gagged.