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

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:46 pm

Dalan and Lydia walked silently through the halls as they made their way up toward Vlad's room. Thanks to some tricks he'd learned trying to raise his sister's bail, he was good at lockpicking, and that had luckily gotten them through the back door without being noticed. Lydia led the way toward where she knew Vlad was kept, and wondered at the dread in her brother's face. Even if he had wronged Vlad, how dangerous could be possibly be. She remembered the intensity in those red eyes, and considered. He might be dangerous indeed, but they were rescuing him. He wouldn't harm them. She wouldn't believe that.

They paused and hid against a wall as a servant walked by. They weren't noticed, so they continued on. At the end of the hall, Lydia led them left and they came to a door set off slightly from the others. "This one," she whispered.

Dalan tried the knob, but it didn't open. Lydia stared, surprised. They never locked the doors from the inside. Normally anyone could go in. Dalan shrugged and dug a pick from his pocket, setting to work on the lock while Lydia looked aroundnervously.

Vlad strode from one end of the room to the other, turned and strode back. He was beyond denying it; he was completely worked up. It was far beyond frustration that they were failing their mission, and that he'd have to report a casualty to Sinead. What was it? And why at this of all times, was the only focused thought in his mind the image of Sekushi and friends pulling Tenele down into a bed. Was he that territorial? Did he hate Sekushi that much, or did she matter to him that much? He was being dangled like a puppet, and he knew it, and he hated it.

He halted as a soft metal click sounded at the door. He stood still, eyeing it warily. A moment later it swung open, and the last two people he expected to see again ran in. "What the hell?" he said, relief seeping out of his voice. He wanted nothing but to run out that door that was finally open before something could shut it again, but he waited for a response.

"My sister wanted to get you," Dalan said, sounding nervous.

"Sister?" Vlad eyed them both, and understood. "I need to find Claw."

"We can take you to him," Lydia said, drawing a critical glance from her brother.

"First, get this off," Vlad thumbed the collar on his neck.

Dalan cautiously nodded and came up to stand in front of the vampire, carefully touching his neck and trying the lock with his pick. Vlad's unblinking crimson stare was locked on him, and he did his best not to meet it.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 1:28 pm

He tried to kiss her, so Tenele bit his lip. She struggled, but her hands were tied o tightly to get loose. Sekushi hit her across the face. Men always hit across the face... They always did it because it was a sure enough way to get a girl still for a few minutes. Tenele groaned, her head rolling to the side as she tasted the bitter taste of blood.

Vlad was going to walk through that door any minute, she told herself. He was late sometimes... but he never failed to save her. How come she was always in trouble. Though, she had saved Vlad, numerous times too.

Sekushi grabbed the strings that held her top on and ripped it completely off. Tenele came back to attention, trying to buck him off or something. She was throwing all her energy into getting him off of her. She was panicking to the point she wanted to scream but couldn’t.

He grabbed the skirt and ripped it off to the side. Outside her door you could finally here the screams she wanted to make, but they were muffled by the thick stone walls.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 1:49 pm

Vlad struggled to be patient as Dalan fiddled incessantly with his collar.

"It's a very strange lock...I can't figure out how it works. We might really need the key," he said.

"I might be able to sneak into the main office," Lydia said.

"There's no time. We're going now." Vlad's voice was tight with urgency as he half-shoved Crackers toward the door. The man took the hint and ran, leading Vlad to the exit. "Faster," Vlad ordered as crackers kept pausing to look for guards. Soon they were running full speed around halls and down stairs. Lydia struggled to follow behind them, but halfway down the stairs she stumbled and fell. Vlad recalled what she said about her body being weak.

"Hang in there," he said quickly, lifting her up into his arms like she was a leaf. She was astonished by how much strength was in the man's lean arms. He hadn't eaten since he came here, and hadn't healed from his sessions...how?

One man spotted them as they ran outside. Vlad's heel cracked his skull before he could call to the others, hardly breaking step in his pace. When they were outside the building, Vlad set Lydia down in an alley and turned to Dalan. "Show me where he is."

Dalan nodded, hoping Lydia would stay put, and ran with Vlad down the road to the building where Claw kept his associates. "In here," he said, gasping. "Their security will be tight."

"Good." Vlad's eyes narrowed and glowed as he ran straight toward the front door. Dalan's mouth fell open; it wasnt a subtle approach. However, a minute later, all five men who had guarded the entrance lay dead, the door kicked open and Vlad out of sight within.

Vlad ran down the corridors, kicking in doors. Even without his magic, his body moved incredibly fast, and his fists and claws did what his magic couldn't for now. His movements were vicious and powerful. The first floor smelled of blood by the time he'd finished searching it, only a few stunned maids remaining to stare at him in terror. Vlad met the stares with approval. They ought to be terrified. He wanted to scare the shit out of the whole building. As his adrenaline built, he wanted every bastard here dead until he found Tenele.

He was growing impatient and more and more angry. If he'd been completely honest with himself, he'd have noticed he was panicking. He ran to a different level of the building, though it seemed much less inhabited. He kicked down doors and more doors, most of the rooms empty bedrooms. Damnit. Well, his cover was well past blown anyway. "MAIDEN GIRL!" he roared, knowing that without his powers even he couldn't fight off Claw's whole staff. He had very little time.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 1:59 pm

Sekushi stood. There was a man standing in the door way, he had come to tell Sekushi that Claw was ready to speak with him about the terms of the slave he wanted.

Tenele pulled herself into a sitting position, getting under the covers and using the fact the bar her hands were tied around could allow her to raise and lower the fabric. She managed to get the covers to where they covered most of her body.

She sat side ways, her bare back to the door. She had given up all hope... until.

"MAIDEN GIRL!!!"

Tenele's heart stopped in her chest.

She had to be imagining it... But, now, she had heard his voice.

Sekushi turned around to glance back at Tenele. "Don't..."

Tenele growled. "Vlad! Vlad!"

Sekushi ran back to her and climbed onto the bed to where her back was pressed against his bare chest. He covered her mouth, but it was too late.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:08 pm

Vlad could hear men gathering and shouting at the top of the stairs as Tenele's voice rang out, calling him. His precise hearing told him exactly where she was. He ran down the hall to a door near the end and kicked it in, splintering it into three pieces as it slammed to the ground and he stepped in over it.

"It was unlocked," said a stunned guard that had been standing next to the door.

Vlad looked at him crossly for a second, then struck him firmly in the neck with the side of his hand. He didn't watch the man crumple to the floor, turning his attention instead to the rest of the room. There was a bed. Sekushi's nude form lay there, chest pressed flush against Tenele's bare back. This position...he'd been too late.

And it pissed him off. A lot.

"Sekushi!" he snarled, lunging toward him like a cobra.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:16 pm

All the sudden Tenele felt this wave of emberassment fall over her. She tried to jerk away from Sekushi but her hands were still tied.

Sekushi rolled off the bed and grabbed the guards sword. "How the hell did you get out? No matter... you haven't got any powers..."

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:19 pm

"You're not worthy of my powers," Vlad said darkly, anger creeping like flames from his eyes. He thought he saw and opening and leapt at Sekushi, long claws ready to shred his throat.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:25 pm

Sekushi ducked. "Considering how well I took your bitch she might think I'm worthy of anything..." He held the blade out in front of him.

Tenele didn't say anything in defence of herself, she was still trying to keep from crying in relief. Vlad just saved her from a horrible fate.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:34 pm

Normally a silent fighter aside from snide comments, Vlad roared furiously as he leapt in on Sekushi and hit him full force. They flew backwards and Sekushi landed hard on the wooden floor, Vlad's menacing eyes glowing above him. His powerful hand closed over Sekushi's neck and squeezed, claws drawing blood from the compressed flesh of his neck. He had the man right where he wanted him. There was just one problem; the sword that was sticking up from his back. Sekushi had managed to maneuver it up through the side of his chest while they were falling. Vlad grinned darkly down at Sekushi and squeezed tigheter as the man's facial color began to turn, pondering whether he wanted to strangle him or just crush his neck like a worm. It made no difference in the bastard's fate.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:40 pm

"Vlad!" Tenele screamed when she saw the sword protruding from his back, she jerked and pulled until her wrists bled.

He couldn't heal with that collar on, what if he bled to death?

Sekushi smiled. "See she doesn't want you to kill me..."

"You're back, Vlad..." she muttered. For some reason it was as if Sekushi had some hidden power over her all of the sudden... Like she was too afraid of him to talk back.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:50 pm

"Not just kill you. Destroy you," Vlad said breathlessly. He could feel the blood filling his right lung. He yanked Sekushi up from the ground like a rag doll and slammed him into the wall headfirst. "Now you get to die," he smiled darkly. It was a handsome, but frightening smile without a shred of humor in it. The hand that wasn't wringing Sekushi's neck pulled back, claws fully extended, and struck into the center of his chest, found his heart, and crushed it.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:56 pm

Tenele had never before seen Vlad kill someone in such a way. Sure she had seen him kill someone, but never so ruthlessly. It shocked her.

She swallowed. She didn't know what to say. She wanted to saw something... but had no clue what to say to him. "Vlad...."

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 3:06 pm

Vlad dropped Sekushi's body like a piece of garbage and turned quickly toward Tenele. She was still trapped in the bed. "Vlad..." she said quietly. He thought he heard fear in her voice.

He pulled the sword from his chest with a nauseous gasp and walked to her anyway. Strength was draining from his legs as he went. He didn't try to touch her. She probably didn't want to be touched at all right now, considering what he believed had just happened to her. He lifted the sword over his head and brought it down firmly on Tenele's bindings, splitting them in half. Then he found her eyes, and the murderous glow finally began to subside in his own. He just stared at her. He didn't know what to say. He'd been too late. It was his fault. As a quick thought, he untied his belt and pulled off his tunic. It was damp in two places with his lifeblood, but it would hang to her knees, better than being naked.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 3:10 pm

Tenele almost started sobbing. She flew forward once she had gained her thoughts and her arms went around once he had taken off his tunic. Relief flooded through her.

"I thought... I thought he was.... going to..." she sobbed. "Thank you... thank.... you..."

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 3:15 pm

Vlad was surprised by her embrace, but his arms were suddenly around her as well, holding her tightly. The blood on his chest dripped a dark trail along her cheek. A flicker of hope formed in him at her words. "Did he?" he asked quietly.