Home... (OPEN!)

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Kayen had been gone from this god forsaken city for a long time. Longer than he cared to think about. Everyone and everything he held dear was probably gone, or worse yet, dead. He was happy with Ravina, they had been expecting a child, an unbelievably rare pure blood Vampire child. That was when his World shattered. He couldn't remember exactly what happened, he had gone to sleep with his love and woke up in Austria apparently, but he thought maybe he could begin to put things back together by coming home.

His mansion had been destroyed. He had gone there first and searched for anything that may have been useful. But he found nothing but destroyed stone and ash. He could only hope Ravina had gotten away. As the former lord of the Vampires made his way through the outskirts of the city, he decided to seek shelter in another old castle.

He was dressed in a pair of tattered, faded blue jeans and not much else. His long blond hair was matted and dirty. He had been through hell. The only weapon he had was a small dagger in his pocket, and he was walking with a sharpened spear of wood. Bracing himself with the makeshift walking stick, Kayen climbed over a piece of debris and made his way into the castle just as the sun started to rise... he was safe, at least for the moment.

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Ravaged, desolate and chaotic. The city had fallen into disrepair since the lord vampire's demise, though that had surely been the plan the Lycans had devised. The minuscule forces that made up his own kind had been useless in preventing the destruction of the Lord's Manor, though he knew little of what had happened afterward. Orion had been awaiting a new leader, not altogether impressed by the last publicized speech from the creature he now at the very least understood why Kayen had been so desperate to attack first.

There was no order here. No spearhead for the war now in full swing, the vampires had all but gone into hiding. The Lycans currently ruled the city to some extent controlled by the Psychic Vampires, the very thought brought forth a bitter taste from the depths of his stomach... Traitors. They were supposed to be somehow related to those evil otherworldly creatures, Orion would have rather cut his heart out and stood in the sun till he burnt to ash than be considered part of their heritage. He himself had gone into hiding, having found all that he was looking for and having completed his original purpose, Orion had been seeking something more to fill the void that had obsessed him. Possessing every inch of his core, revenge had driven him to the edge of insanity and back again though he had barely a scar to show for his efforts it made sense to continue along the same lines.

He had decided that with Suriel's help something could be done about this mess but lacked the leadership skills and motivation to convince the others that they needed help, it seemed without Kayen the world had fallen apart and yet what fate was this that smiled so kindly? As he'd arranged to meet Suri here earlier he was currently lurking in the shadows like a sleeping cat awaiting some ray of sunshine to predict the morning. When who should appear but the very creature he was cursing, if only the Lord vampire had never left what would have become of this place? He shifted lightly almost lazily announcing his presence so that the other would not be offended when Suriel surely not too far away landed.

"You look like crap..." Orion muttered in a low growl, just in case Kayen had somehow missed his earlier announcement. Shaking himself loose of the pile of rubble he'd just settled down in like an awakening gargoyle, Orion stepped further across the floor removing his hands from where they lay roughly shoved into his pockets for a moment so that Kayen could see he meant no harm. He didn't bother crossing the room entirely as a section of the ceiling and roof above had crumbled leaving a gap large enough for his beloved to enter. "I remember you from awhile ago... it's not quite been the same since you left." He had trouble recalling the man's name, not through the expanse of time he'd been absent but more due to the fact that they'd never been formally introduced. Frowning with concentration as he placed a hand to his temple in effort to locate the vampire's name Orion racked his brain, a century and a half of memories and he could still only remember faces.

Aligning herself with the newly formed sunrise, Suriel made haste. The city had become a plague of enslaved screams, painful cries of terror and confusion interrupted her every thought and action as what must have been a thousand creatures every day lost their souls. Their cumulative life force, their energy was ripped from their flesh the very vessel god had created for them to reside in. It felt like a poisoned arrow had pierced her heart, an injury she couldn't heal without another's help. She needed to locate Orion quickly, only he seemed to be able to relieve her suffering if only for the short time they spent together everyday. He could not sleep safely without her watching over him and she could not live without knowing there as at least one creature alive who was not possessed or tainted by the slavery that continued here.

Eventually through her love alone she sensed him somewhere below, focusing her thoughts and feelings on the warm glow that filled her completely whenever she was near him, she alighted on the rooftop of the old castle. Looking down below and all around for any sign of danger before folding her cloak of pure white feathers and leaping through the small gap in the roof. As she landed on all fours she was sure by Orion's surprised smile that she resembled something of a pet cat returning from on high to visit its lowly master. "Are you well?..." Suri asked cautiously her white wings still partially unfurled as she stood up again straightening a crease that had formed in her delicate blood-stained dress that had once not too long ago been as blindingly white as her angel feathers.

Orion none too casually, gestured with a nod of his head at the visitor he seemed to have acquired since the last time she'd saw him three days ago. She guessed by his uncaring attitude to the situation that the new comer was of little to no threat in the broad scheme of things and was probably more likely a friend. It amused her as she spun around to acknowledge Kayen that Orion seemed to accumulate the most unusual of creatures to entertain in this way but then again he was younger than she was, perhaps it was merely an age thing. "H-hello...?" Suri smiled as warmly as she could manage, her three day journey had drained her of alot of her usual powers and she felt almost useless in comparison to her normally cheery demeanor. Moving to support or otherwise catch her in case she should fall, Orion had stepped forwards. Suri was barely aware of his muscular arm wrapped protectively around her middle as she stood there wavering slightly.

"Please forgive me... I've just returned from a very tiring journey." She apologized slightly confused as to why Orion had not supplied her with a name for this creature. Kayen appeared to be quite strong though obviously lacking a decent weapon and proper nourishment, she looked him over carefully wondering with all possible curiosity if he was leaning on the sharpened sliver of wood because he was injured but too shy to bother voicing her concern. Leaning into Orion's chest she let herself be washed away in his happiness, the link they had formed in the mere decade of bliss they'd been together seemed to be the strongest link she had ever been able to form, whether or not it was because theirs was a forbidden love or not she did not know but she was enthralled by his very nature and would have gladly traded their relationship for any place in heaven.

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Kayen had started to settle down when he heard the rubble moving. His senses were weak as he had not fed in a few weeks, except for the occasional rat. If this man were an enemy, Kayen would have been dead. He quickly spun around and lifted his spear in a defensive position. However; when he realized that he was in no danger he returned to using his spear as a support. He grinned weakly at the man's greeting. "I look better than I feel... I assure you of that."

When he had heard the statement about the city, Kayen's eyes seemed to brighten slightly. He had been recognized. That meant that there were still a few individuals around who were on his side. "You know me... Kayen Storm?" He didn't get a chance to say anything else before the female dropped in. He instinctively raised the spear again until he was sure she was harmless and then he finally dropped to his haunches and sat with his back to the wall.

As he laid the splintered wooden spear across his lap, Kayen's green eyes studied the two people. They were apparently lovers, which brought back memories of his love and a tear rolled down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away and then he spoke once more. He decided that he would need allies and these two looked suitable. "As I think you've realized, I am Kayen Storm, former Lord of the Vampires here, Grand Lord of The Storm Coven. I don't know what happened to me. I went to sleep with my love and I woke up in a dungeon in Austria. I fought my way out, through Lycans and a few of those Psychic Leeches, bloody traitors! Since then I have been traveling back here... and here I am......"

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Ooc: Suriel's Profile is done...

"Not personally... I've heard of you. I was there the night you declared war on the Lycans" Orion replied calmly, almost with an uncaring attitude as though he'd seen it all before. He wasn't the same being since Suriel had died, though she'd returned now and explained everything. The experiences he'd endured without her had left emotional and mental scars where once none had existed. He no longer cared for this world or the insanely suicidal creatures in it, he'd grown selfish in his wants and desires and merely wanted an existence without the violence that now plagued this city and every other he'd been to before. He would have left to find another undiscovered by war and violence but he couldn't his daughter Charlotte had been sold to slavery by Suriel's brother before they could end him and he doubted such a place existed in the first place.

A soft nudge in the ribs from Suri indicated he was spiraling out of control into a brooding black hole of despair yet again. He couldn't help it, he listened to Kayen's story and it sounded so much like his own that Orion wished he had some piece of good news to give the exhausted and clearly underfed vampire but he didn't. "Unfortunately... the news does not get any better here either." Orion trailed off for a moment wondering if Suriel wished to add anything as she shifted in his arms getting better acquainted no doubt with his unusually cold touch. When it was clear she was not going to introduce them to Kayen he made an effort to do so instead "My name is Orion Night, formerly of the Rivermount Coven... and this is Suriel, my wife... though as you can see she's not of our kind." He added albeit gingerly, as he knew Suri's type wasn't exactly welcomed by everyone. He subconsciously tightened his grip around her middle for a moment, before he remembered he had a pack buried somewhere nearby with supplies.

Leaving Suriel for a moment, he turned his back on Kayen and walked back over to the pile of rubble he'd emerged from earlier scattering rocks and debris aside in his search he quickly found the old duffel bag that contained his blood pack rations, Suriel's holy water and his ancestors silver swords. Tossing two of the slightly dusty, three day old blood packs over to Kayen. "You may as well eat, we're not going anywhere anytime soon. Those of us that are left hide from the majority of the Lycan army, the 'Psychic Leeches' as you so eloquently put it have captured and or enslaved just about everyone else. Humans are hard to come by so we've been living off whatever we find in the city, luckily Suriel was a nurse so she was able to gather more than enough supplies for our trip out here..." Orion continued sounding as though he had been condemned yet again for a crime he had never committed in the first place.

Crossing the floor once again to stand beside Suriel who was only just now making herself comfortable on the floor by sitting much like Kayen was, Orion reluctant to release the full torture of his information remained standing. As he went further, Orion's tone evolved from that of a depressed criminal and into that of a war-torn soldier informing his general. "The 'leeches' have begun targeting children more specifically, something about a greater food source... anyway, the rest of the Lycans for whatever reason hae formed a rebel faction destroying the slave rings from inside, whether or not its for their own benefit we're not sure. To tell you the truth we're more interested in the slaves..." He was cut off then as Suriel began her own secluded history, silently passing her a silver flask of holy water to drink as he helped himself to a blood pack and sat down where he'd been standing up until this point.

Suriel watched and listened as her other half struggled to find the words to explain their current situation, as Suriel took a seat on the floor though she couldn't help but feel his pain, his above all at having lost their daughter Charlotte to the slave trade was almost destroying both of them from the inside out. Not only that but she now had Kayen's distraught and confusing emotions to contend with as well. Sometimes she prayed to god that he'd do something about her empathic ability and ease not only her suffering but everyone else's as well. Sighing heavily as though with a great burden she closed her eyes for a moment taking a well deserved moment as Orion continued to speak of what happened since he'd last the former Lord Vampire of the Storm Coven.

Suri always found official titles strange, though she could think of no better name for her Lord she did not abide by the earths numerous lords and ladies, no she had a free will to choose who and what she prayed to and god above all else seemed to have the best idea so far. Besides how could she not love and obey her creator? suddenly Orion paused indefinitely and she realized it was her turn to fill in the gaps left behind. Sensing Kayen's hurt at having lost his family she knew exactly what to address first though not quite sure how to go about it. He also seemed concerned quite naturally for the other vampires in the city and although Suriel had no new information to share she thought it necessary to try and console Kayen in some way before moving on.

Settling back into Orion's arms once more, now that he too had settled on the floor she made sure not to get tangled in the mess of dirty blue denim jeans and smelly overused shirts that seemed to make up his everyday wardrobe, it would have been a whole lot better she supposed if they hadn't been out here for weeks trying to locate the particular slave ring that held their daughter. Or if they'd chosen somewhere else to hide from the throng of werewolves, lycans and Psychic vampires now hungrily combing the city for survivors but they hadn't. "I'm sure your love is safe somewhere... hoping you are well. Unfortunately, I doubt I can say the same for the others of your coven. It is most likely that a few have already died if not been enslaved by one or more of the groups currently moving about the city." she answered, these concerns where not the only ones Kayen in mind surely. For now though they were all she could muster the strength to find, her empathic abilities and the long flight home had only drained her powers further since the last flight several days before and although she had energy to drink and sleep any more effort on her part would likely result in more confusion than necessary. So she left the majority of the talking to Orion, drifting slowly to sleep in the safety of his arms as she wondered what they would try and attack next so far they'd had no luck in chasing the Psychic vampires and the Lycan army was too big and definitely to strong for them to take alone.

Perhaps if they had a few more vampires and humans to fight or another Angel such as herself? then maybe things would change but for now things seemed rather bleak. Slightly aware that Orion had covered her with the old grey hospital blanket they used to keep warm on cold nights, Suri let their voices drown out the pain and screaming slaves from inside her head. The world could be such a cruel and unwelcoming place sometimes... she just wanted to be together again happily content with Orion and Charlotte as they'd once been. The grey blanket did little to hide Suriel's blindingly snow white angel wings and she didn't bother trying to conceal them from Kayen either she had learnt long ago that most other creatures except humans of course could see the delicately laced frame of feathers upon her shoulders and so she felt almost comforted by the fact that she did not have to hide here, not from Kayen at least.

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Kayen listened silently, occasionally nodding his head to certain parts of the story. As Orion retrieved the blood packs, Kayen started to realize that he had walked into a war. Things were becoming clear to him. He whispered a soft "thanks" and then he tore into the first blood package. His fangs were visible and blood ran down his chin as he consumed the life giving serum ravenously.

When his stomach had been satiated, Kayen was much neater with the second packet. He finished it off and then he tossed the plastic away with an agitated grunt. He found his mind returning to his roots and strategy started to come together. When the stories were done and the Angel had fallen asleep, Kayen leaned forward on his hands to whisper to the other Vampire.

"I take it you can fight? And you look like you're as pissed off as I am... no one expects me to be back. I'm a dead Vampire as far as the fleabags and leeches know. If you can get me a sword I can fight, and then I say we start raiding these slaves, freeing them... some are bound to join our cause and then, my friend, we have a rebellion." The Vampire grinned slowly. He was back to his old self. This was about to get interesting...

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"Believe me when I say, no-one can understand what you're feeling better than I... " Orion answered just as quietly though for several different reasons, trailing off as he remembered with flashes of intense anger what he'd been through the ten long years he'd been imprisoned for the murder of the same person that lay perfectly asleep in his arms this very instant. Pausing for a moment as he decided whether or not to tell Kayen of his entire ordeal, he wished Suriel had seen fit to tell him of all her secrets as he had done with his but he understood why she had not. It was just a pity that he'd had to endure so much to eventually be reunited with her, now with the loss of their daughter he felt even worse knowing she was being traded like a regular commodity and it sickened him. No longer feeling hungry he put the unused blood pack back into the duffel bag, sliding out his most treasured possessions. The twin swords had been a gift from his father and although he hated to see them parted he knew Kayen needed a weapon as much as he did.

"A decade ago a great evil came into my home and killed Suriel... the creature stole our daughter and fled to the rooftop as I entered, I was... unable to exact my revenge, although I am a great swordsman as is my entire coven it escaped. Leaving me behind to be imprisoned for its terrible crime... I still have not escaped the hatred and the great darkness in my heart from this torturous event. At the time you see, I did not know Suriel was an angel. She concealed this fact from me for her own reasons and although I do not regret or despise her for her actions, it has been a long and arduous journey to find her... and I won't be separated from her again."

He added, solemnly stating his terms as he lay the leather bound scabbards across the width of his shoulders strapping them in place with the belt-like buckles. The intricately carved hilt of both gleaming in the soft light provided by the blindingly well lit doorways, the sun was now beginning its own journey to the otherside of the earth in amazingly good fashion. The scars left behind on his soul where untreatable according to Suriel, she could do nothing erase them and as much as he wished he could be free of them Orion also fed off them like a blood thirst, ravenously hungry for something to fight. For something to kill and torture to release his own pain, it didn't matter that together they'd killed the Black Angel who'd caused the unjustifiably cruel incident. He like so many others before, could not escape his demons but perhaps he could help Kayen with his. Carefully sliding the right-hand blade from its resting place so as not to wake Suriel he passed the sword over to Kayen holding on to little more than the tang of the blade itself.

"As much as I wish to maintain my own weapons, I believe you'll need this before tomorrow night is over..." Orion continued albeit reluctantly, as he held the sword out hilt first for Kayen to take a hold. "Though I do expect it back in one piece at some point" he smirked mildly amused by Kayen's facial expression at receiving something so valuable. "They're made of almost pure silver so very effective against those Werewolves and Lycans roaming about... as you'd no doubt imagine" Orion continued looking now about as tired as Kayen looked though he would take the first watch, Suri was exhausted beyond belief and no doubt Kayen wished to sleep after his long and tiring journey here. Besides, Orion had been asleep half the night. As much as he loathed to do so their guerrilla style information raids were really only useful if they survived being out here in Psychic Vampire territory. True they had mostly moved into the City now but still Orion found it difficult to sleep well here knowing they couldn't be that far from home.

"you'd better rest now... Suriel and I have plans to leave shortly after sunset" He advised, finally closing the conversation though he left a small window of opportunity if Kayen should have anymore questions. Orion had all but drifted away, stroking Suri's delicate golden hair as she slept his senses warily alert for any outside noise or danger. His dark stormy blue eyes fixed on the only doorway that lead outside for the eventual darkness that he knew would follow only hours later. He had no desire to kill in these moments, finding himself torn between reminiscing about his past happiness and the moment he was currently in. He'd always dreamed of finding Suriel alive though he'd never fully comprehended how she managed to survive he doubted she knew either. Lost in a whirlwind of memories both sad and content, he sat and waited the ever protective gargoyle once again.

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Kayen looked at the sword for a few moments, thoughtfully and then he took the hilt in his hand and nodded. The sword felt perfectly weighted to him as he swung the blade a little bit. "You will get it back, I assure you. And yes... sleep sounds delightful...." He shifted back across the floor until he was sitting with his back against the wall right next to the only door. The sword was rested across his lap so that one quick swing would take the legs off any intruder.

He closed his eyes and laid his head back on the hard wall. A few minutes later, he was fast asleep. As his chest rose and fell in a smooth rhythm, the Vampire Lord's senses remained alert for anything out of the ordinary. It was a skill he had developed over the years and it had saved his life many times. His hand rested on the hilt of the sword just in case it was necessary and he mumbled before he was fully asleep. "Wake me for second watch..."

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As much as Orion wished to disobey Lord Kayen's request to wake him for second watch he nodded in agreement, answering with only his body language as he continued his dream-like attentions. It was never wise to piss off of a vampire Lord, even a seemingly weak and tired one. As Orion found himself going over every word of their conversation, he woke Kayen sometime near nightfall for his watch with a question. "Was there any place your coven might hide other than the mansion?" It seemed prudently obvious that he and Suriel had missed something on the way having not known the local inhabitants very well before the full-scale assault on the city and all the vampires in it.

Though Orion had come across a few of his own kind in this desolate chaotic destruction, they had all either been mortally wounded or too close to death for Suriel to heal and as much as it wounded him so to see them die. He knew it hurt Suri more not being able to help them and yet feeling their fading, panicked life-forces leave this earth. They needed to fight back now or else be lost to the ensuing madness the Lycans and Werewolves were not only fighting each other but the vampires and Psychic vampires as well. It almost seemed as though every species in Noctum was out to get the others everyone at each others throats enslaving, beating and murdering till there would only be bloodshed and gore left in its wake. Orion had never been apart of such a grisly ordeal as a war of this magnitude before, he had no hopes for the future because as of now there was no future it was completely shrouded in mystery just beyond his grasp.

They needed to survive this by whatever means necessary, if they wished continue their existence in this place. Too worried about the state of things and his current lack of any exercise Orion found it almost impossible to sleep so instead he merely sat by Suri's slumbering form, huddled beneath the blanket he'd supplied her with as it too rose and fell softly with her breathing. It was a restless sleep for her he could tell, each whimpering flutter of a dream contained something of a horror for her, being so close to a group of Neko Slaves was all but traumatizing. They felt, lived and breathed emotions and only saw with the illuminating glow of aura's. Something Suri seemed particularly in tuned to, there were humans mixed in with the Neko's but nothing else. They'd been tailing the group for almost a week as they were constantly shifted about the City by a group of lowly Lycans seeking some sort of a counsel with the Psychic's Orion doubted they would get one with the paltry offering they had brought but eventually he knew the Psychic vampires would grow interested enough to make a deal.

When nightfall eventually arrived, Suri far from being refreshed shook herself free of the debris of the castle and lifted the blanket up and around her shoulders. Enveloping herself in its warmth as Orion packed her belongings away in the duffel bag and slung it over and around his already tightened sword casings. She was slightly alarmed to see one of them missing, Orion quickly nodded in Kayens direction as she glanced at him with a rather shocked glare. She did not like him going alone when he could so very easily become as violent as an enraged beast, though one look in Kayens direction showed that he had given the use of his sword to the Lord vampire for his own protection easing Suri's fears somewhat.

Handing the blanket reluctantly back to Orion as soon as he'd finished packing her flask, she walked slowly but calmly outside where she immediately unfurled her enormously large wingspan to take flight as Orion joined her, standing in the last of the twilight shadows of sunset. He seemed concerned as he always did that she could so easily be seen from below with her snowy white feathers blindly obvious to anyone who saw her. She didn't care, that was the mark of who she was a White Angel a good and just presence it gave the slaves hope above all else that someone was still fighting on their side and she did not wish to hide that fact from them. Besides who else was going to keep an eye for danger with his recklessly fast speeds it was easier for to keep up with him and to scout ahead.

"Be safe... and fly high" He ordered her, feeling somewhat anxious to get going herself. Suri merely replied with a gentle nod as no doubt Kayen joined them, leaning further towards Orion she kissed him lightly on the cheek in farewell before adding "And you as well..." before in a whirling vortex of dust, debris and the occasional white angel feather she took off. leaving behind her love and circling higher and higher overhead awhile, until she could feel him moving across the landscape below at an alarming rate. She smiled warmly, Orion was never one to wait around for long when something urgently needed to be done. Suri didn't know where they were going, what little she could extract from the shadowy haze of Orion's mind did little to quench her thirst for knowledge. So she flew a little lower hoping to strengthen the bond between them by getting slightly closer, big mistake. Narrowly dodging collapsing run down buildings and trying her best to keep pace the incredibly fast vampires Suri was unable to sense the presence of five Lycans quickly closing in on her until it was too late.

Pouncing on the walls of a nearby building and scrambling their way to the rooftop where they had somehow managed to collect a large gun of some sort. It was only once they'd fired the weapon that Suriel realized it was hurling a massive net towards her, fear of being captured and imprisoned suddenly overcame her. Paralyzing and stunning her into silence as the whooshing sound of rope and clinking weights surrounded her wrapping her up tighter than a caterpillar in a cocoon. The gravitationally sick reassurance that she was now falling, falling without a means to keep herself adrift frightened her even more as the Lycans began firing other weapons of choice at her also. Handguns, grenades and spears all came flying at her out of the darkness. What were they trying to do kill her yet again? Struggling viciously against her bonds, Suriel was unable to escape the finality of having being caught and the overwhelming pain that suddenly washed over her as a grenade exploded somewhere to her right was deafening her blood curdling scream.

Would Orion ever come and save her? Or had he been attacked as well? Yet another sharp shooting wave of pain enveloped her entire body as she finally hit the ground the sudden loss of weightlessness crumpling her wings and body over a mound of shattered and decaying debris. As the panic and fear from her mind started mingling with another she lost consciousness, drifting into a deeper sleep she did not want or need as her human body shut down for repairs. Still screaming of overwhelming pain and panicked fear with her last thoughts, she hoped the Lycans did not wish her harm and that only wished to imprison her like the slaves because she did not wish to die again. Not when she'd lost so much the first time...

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When Kayen was awoken for his watch, he was instantly on his feet with the sword in his right hand. He listened to the question and then he shook his head sadly, wishing he had something else to say. "Unfortunately, no. My clan was small and if Ravina is gone, I fear none of the others would have fared any better..."

He shifted to sit in a better position to keep watch, and although he looked like he was asleep, he was totally alert. The blood and the rest had done wonders for him. When the other two started to move around, Kayen used his spear to push himself to his feet and then he walked out shortly behind Orion. Leaning on the wooden spear, he watched as the pair said good-bye.

As the Angel took to the skies, Kayen chuckled slightly and then he whispered a little bit ashamed of himself. "A few months ago I would have killed her for no reason other than she was an Angel... now I guess my perception has changed. Oh well, what's the plan for us two?" Kayen asked as he stepped up to Orion's side. He used the spear as a walking stick and kept the sword in his other hand as he prepared for the journey ahead, wherever it would take them.

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"Well, if you have no other choice... I'd say we'd better try and free some of the slaves first. They travel in small heavily armed groups but with Suriel watching from above we should be fine..."

Orion answered, he was slightly puzzled as to why Kayen would even suggest killing an Angel then remembered his own experiences at having first realized what she was. He'd been outraged she'd hidden something so crucial from him, selfishly wishing she'd told him earlier so he wouldn't have had to suffer unbearably without her. Though thinking she was mortal he should have expected her death but it had come far too soon and the added effect of losing his daughter at the same time whether or not he had been the murderer was enough to send any creature completely insane. He took one last look at the night sky now an empty black expanse as Suriel had since moved on, before taking his first few steps down the debris strewn road ahead of them.

"One last question... how fast can you run?" Orion grinned, playfully issuing a challenge as he took off at full speed. He could run faster than most ordinary vampires even when they ran at super-human speeds, though he doubted Kayen would have any trouble keeping up he looked like a decent runner if not better through years of experience. Orion, although he liked to run had always been deprived of opportunities to do so. Being in prison for a decade hadn't helped either and he was unusually out of practice. As he sped across the war torn landscape following Suriel's blazing trail of white above, he couldn't but help noticing the chaos and destruction left behind. It seemed the derelict buildings were now spreading into the rest of Noctum, or was it that because of the war the whole city was slowly becoming derelict itself? He'd clearly overtaken Suri now not that it really mattered he knew were the group in question often camped.

Leaping, running and climbing over every kind of man-made obstacle now broken into smithereens and scattered across the path ahead. Orion was all but enjoying his free running, when all of a sudden a deafening scream broke the eerie silence. Breaking out of his break-neck speed mid leap over a five story apartment block broken in half and tipped on its side he slid to a halt scrambling over the rough surface of broken building materials. Splinters of wood and broken bricks dug into his right palm as he extended it in an effort to slow himself down. His blood had turned cold, colder than the mid-winters night in his home town a place buried in the edge of a cliff it snowed there three months of the year and the coldest temperatures were enough to freeze your very blood if you didn't stay warm. He felt like that now frozen with fear, his ancient heart pounding like a thousand stampeding elephants. What was wrong? why had he been torn from his place by a mortal scream?... It didn't make any sense.

He scanned the skies, searching for the tell-tale sign. Those white wings blinded him, they should have been easily identifiable even from a mile ahead of her. Where was she...? Where was Suriel?! Then it sounded again, that bone chilling scream of panic, fear and agonizing pain. Then there was nothing only silence, deadly earthbound silence. Orion came to a halt at the very tip of the apartment building's roof, the edge of life itself. His heart and mind racing as he frantically searched the skies, he couldn't see her anywhere... Suriel. Then he noticed something else, the usually cheerful tingling inside his head was gone leaving him feeling completely and utterly alone. He hadn't noticed for a long time that Suriel's connection with his mind had made him so much more cheerful for just being around her. Surely she was only playing a trick on him, perhaps she'd noticed some Psychic Vampires lurking out here and had cut herself off from him.

Desperately probing the blank expanse of landscape for any sign of Suriel's touch, he couldn't sense it if she was out there and in trouble he wouldn't be able to find her... Fuck it. He hadn't condemned himself for ten years, punished himself so harshly for that night or gone to hell and back to eventually have found her again just for some soul sucking jerk to enslave her. Taking off back the way he'd come, he hoped to run into Kayen if not pass him completely but he had no time to stop and chat about what he was doing. He had only one option as stupidly idiotic as it was, he had to announce to the wasteland before him what he knew in his heart to be true and as much as he hated to declare it or his current position he didn't want to leave Kayen out here alone. The lord vampire was probably their last hope to reunite whatever was left of the coven and rebuild this god damned city...

"Suriel's down!..." he roared into the darkness, as angry as his feet hitting the ground one after the other, pounding like his heart filled with an uncontrollable rage. The words echoed across the broken buildings, shattered shards of concrete and rusty cars as it made its way hopefully to Kayen's ears. As Orion fueled by his great loving vengeance picked up the pace, the landscape becoming a blur a whizzing blender of gray, shades of other colors thrown in here and there as he began to slow once more near where he thought the scream had come from. Stopping suddenly as he noticed a trail of blood, the trickling expanse of dirt from an overturned landscapers truck had scattered patches of the crimson liquid all over it as well as bullet casings, shattered fragments of wood spears and frayed links of rope half buried as though there had been a vicious struggle here. "That's my girl..." Orion whispered to himself, with a slightly pained smirk. So she had been captured and also badly injured by the looks of it, searching the clearing for anymore clues to as who might have done this as well as any definitive answer as to what race.

It didn't take him long to locate a set of paw prints leading away from the scene, followed by several others. Hmm... so the Lycans were hunting for slaves outside the city now? they must be getting desperate. Probably trying to appease the infuriated Psychic's they'd bargained with for the rights to the city when they'd cleaned it out of all human life. Crouching down to sit on his haunches Orion investigated the dirt further, lost in thought as he wondered if it was the same group that they'd spotted three nights earlier before Suriel had gone to investigate from on high. They must have seen her and knew she'd be back, that was probably the only flaw of being an eternally obvious immortal everyone knew what you looked like and what your weaknesses were. For White Angels it was always humans and their suffering that drew them in like fish to a baited hook.

"... Don't worry Suri, I'll find you again..." he thought bitterly, waiting patiently for Kayen to catch up or to find him as he sat there watching the glittering night sky longingly. If only things would return to normal, this had once been a lovely City. The flowers all but crushed underfoot now as the armies marched towards a dangerously sharp spearhead. However it seemed that it was now the vampires turn to be annihilated, he couldn't let that happen not whilst there were others here. Caught somewhere in the middle of his overwhelming sorrow and bitterly violent outrage, Orion sighed heavily wishing he knew exactly which direction they had taken. When he noticed a single solitary white feather, gleaming ever so perfectly in the pale half-moon's dusty yellow light and he could only smile.

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The Vampire Lord had no trouble keeping up with the other Vampire and he was with him when the scream echoed. He snapped out of his flitting run and quickly looked around through his enhanced eyes. When Orion started to run again, Kayen yelled as he jumped across the rooftops of the buildings quickly. "Take the streets! I have wings of my own!"

He bolted up the wall of a tall, heavily leaning building until he was at the top, some hundred feet over the streets and then he jumped. His arms outstretched and suddenly a puff of smoke enveloped him. A large red and black bat emerged from the smoke, wings flapping rapidly. The Vampire Lord had a gift from the Ancients, although he rarely used it.

He flew quickly through the city in between the buildings, diving low underneath fallen light poles and the like. Large, red bat eyes darted side to side as he looked for the Angel. He reached the signs of the struggle a split second before Orion and he circled through the air quickly, finally landing on stubby little feet to examine the blood. He sniffed at the blood and then hissed softly as the scent burned his nose. "White Angel blood and Lycan blood. She wounded at least one... now we have a trail to follow. I hate the smell but it's impossible to miss..... let's go!"

Kayen, in his bat form, again took to the air and started to follow the fumes of the blood. They were like arrows painted on the ground to the Vampire, and he followed the trail perfectly.

[Deleted]

Orion yelped, jumping in surprise as the bat-like Kayen landed somewhere to his right. He had been too wrapped up in Suriel's disappearance to hear Kayen's earlier warning that he had other transportation methods and quickly drew his sword in defense. It was only after Kayen had spoken of the pungently acrid Lycan blood that he withdrew the sword from infront of him and sheathed it silently. Feeling somewhat foolish both for having not anticipated anything like this and for having ignored Kayen for the most part so far, he hung back letting the Lord vampire access the situation for himself. Though the blood made an equally acceptable trail, Orion noticed as they continued after Suriel that he could spot several more glimmering Angel feathers as he continued to run across the arid landscape following the wing beats of Kayen's Bat form.

For the first time in his life he found himself praying, hoping that Suriel would be alright and that they wouldn't kill her outright as Kayen had so pointedly suggested he would have done if he had not known who she was. As the trail abruptly ended near the small slave camp, Orion noticed the tantalizingly different smell of other wounded creatures. Creeping up towards an enormously large pile of cars, that had either collided with one another in a horrendous crash or had been stacked and placed there by some bored Lycan individual. Orion silently and somewhat stealthily, scaled the wreckage in an attempt to get a better view of the encampment. The filthy flea-ridden Neko section, mutilated corpse-strewn Humans section and the disgustingly vile stench of rotting vampire bodies filled the air, as Orion eventually reached the top of the scrap heap he lay down on his stomach dragging himself and his freshly drawn sword to the nearest edge. Surveying the scene below, the imprisoned slaves looked ten times worse than they had only a few days ago and Orion wondered if it had been result of the Lycans treatment or the fact that they seemed to have acquired several vampires on less than peaceful terms.

Four out the seven captured were quite clearly dead, dragged around and viciously brutalized as Lycan trophies. Some were missing heads, limbs and the occasional hand or eye. Whilst most of those still alive had deep gashes, scars, bite marks and disgustingly infected cuts. Unable to heal themselves for whatever reason the three left almost appeared half mad with hunger, only yards away from the Humans and even closer to the Nekos they were heavily bound with iron chains welded to their flesh and bones one in particular looked quite mean, he was huge easily seven or eight foot and was bound by iron links bolted directly to his forearms. Orion doubted it would have stopped the man who was clearly distraught at having lost something and if not for the fact that he had yet to spot Suriel he would have jumped at the chance to free them all. As it was though there were only four heavily armed guards standing nearby two at either end of the camp as scouts and the other two in between, keeping the unruly ranks of filthy slaves in line.

Savagely struggling against ropes, chains and bitterly bile induced suffering. Overwhelming pain and grief stricken slaves hit her at every turn their exhaustively hollow eyes devoid of hope was shattering her even and uncaring resolve. She pitied them but worse than that she was being dragged out here, paraded in front of the slaves like a priceless artifact recently stolen from its original owner. The Nekos were the worst, amplifying everyone else's traumatizing experiences at the hands of these murderous Lycan slave traders. It made her feel physically sick, too weak to stand or think and she buckled at the knees. Jerked harshly back to her feet by the nearest of two guards as four stood infront or around behind her as they walked her to the center of the encampment.

Suriel tried to be strong for them, lifting her head high and steeling her jaw in defiance as she was brutally back-handed and stood in place by the very Lycan who'd picked her back up earlier. Her wrists had been tightly bound by a golden chain high behind her back, as well as up her forearms and suffocatingly surrounding her elbows so she could not use her wings as they lie harshly folded and pinned to her back. From there the beautifully golden yellow links led down her back and into the hands of a dirt-encrusted sweaty Lycan wearing a devilishly cheeky grin as though he'd just heard a terrible secret and knew something she did not. All the Lycans looked about as run down and raggedy as the slaves, no doubt from months or years traversing this deadly arid wasteland searching for more victims to add to their gruesome collection.

Viciously struggling against her bonds once again, Suriel noticed a numbingly sharp sting erupt from her left forearm as the golden chain cut into her delicately soft skin, scratching and marring her otherwise flawlessly perfect skin as the Lead Lycan probably the biggest and ugliest of the entire pack stepped forwards to interrogate her. Suriel spat at his feet with bitter resentment, if there was one thing she disliked above all it was anyone who did not value the free will of others or himself. It was not generally in the nature of an Angel to hate but she found herself perilously close to labeling this Lycan one of the very few privileged enough to still be considered a living being after pissing off an Angel of the lord almighty.

"Set them free..." Suriel demanded violently, with a stamp of her unrestrained foot. The Lycan slave trader only sneered at her, stepping over her unusually rude gesture to grab her jaw harshly. Lifting her slightly off the ground so that her feet barely touched the blank, useless earth below. Suriel could only match his sneer with a vicious snarl of anger, lifting her knee quickly and violently slamming it into the Lycans chest in an outrageously crude attempt at exacting some retribution for the slaves now avidly watching the proceedings. As the Lycan trader dropped to his knees Suriel fell down with him, she could sense Orion's anger building somewhere nearby. God he was close, like a burning rage filled inferno as he patiently waited for his opportunity to strike. His rage fueled her furious sense of injustice, how could these Lycans be so cruel? They had once been tortured and imprisoned like this by the very vampires they now despised.

It seemed the entire world was on fire and she had nowhere to hide from the pain and suffering it wrought in its own wake. She couldn't speak the soul-shattering screams of those that suffered blocked out all else, she couldn't see the overwhelming smokescreen of the evil hatred that now plagued the earth was blinding. Every effort she had made to prevent this outcome inevitably had failed, as even now the Lycan traders infuriated by her absolute defiance turned on the slaves injuring them, mutilating and mauling them as she screamed for them to stop. Their pain, her pain there was no difference because god had given her the blessed ability to feel anothers suffering so she could better understand how to help those now afflicted by the harsh cruelties of war.

[Deleted]

The large red bat form of the Vampire Lord landed on the top of the car next to Orion. With a little fog, he turned back to his normal form. The sword he had been given was once again in his hand and the spear was in his other hand. As he peered at the slaves, partially hopeful that he would see Ravina but he didn't. After a few moments, he pointed toward the Lycans which had surrounded a female and whispered softly "It's your girl..."

He watched for a few moments and then he looked at Orion and whispered again. "Stay here until you see me attack... it's time for a little mind fuck..." Kayen grinned and then he shut his eyes and his entire body faded into the darkness. He was nothing more than a shadow as he moved towards the Lycans.

A few moments later, Kayen's voice boomed from the shadows but he was not visible. "Guess who's back in town, fleabags!" The Lycans immediately looked around but the smell of the slaves kept Kayen's hidden. "Awwww, what's wrong puppies? Can't see me??? Don't worry... you will!!!"

"Right now!" Kayen yelled as he seemed to jump out of the blackness. The sword was in his right hand and the spear was launched from his left, directly into the eyeball of one of the Lycans who screamed in pain. The Vampire Lord spun away from the Lycans and slammed his sword into the chain that held the gigantic slave to the ground. As the chain shattered, Kayen yelled "RISE BROTHERS AND SISTERS!!! HAVE YOUR VENGEANCE!!!!!"

The Vampire turned to look in the direction of Orion, his green eyes now glowing red in the night. He was back to his old fighting self...

[Deleted]

"It's your girl..."

"...Yeah, it is." Orion thought sadly, not voicing his concerns to the vampire lord as he silently lay there in wait for the perfect opportunity. He barely heard anymore of Kayen's comments or suggestions as he glared darkly at the lead Lycan that had just back-handed his wife across the face. Snarling viciously like a feral dog as he lifted his body upwards into a crouch in preparation. Then seemingly from nowhere Kayen appeared, taunting and ridiculing. Teasing the Lycans as if they were little more than tame house pets, Orion growled in a low tone like a caged animal. Like a lethal predator ready to pounce and strike, there would be no quarter given. No life spared...

The pained screams and torturous blows were drowned out as his heart took on a rhythmic beating pattern, breathing heavily as every muscle in his body tensed ready to run, ready to strike with deadly force. Suddenly, the large vampire was free and Kayen was looking at him to lead the next wave of attack. "Gladly..." Orion muttered to himself coldly, launching himself out of hiding like an arrow fired from an otherworldly crossbow, straight and true. He ran so fast it was almost impossible to detect his movements, as he sprang across slaves and debris alike to reach Suriel and her captors. Suddenly, reappearing along with his half-buried sword, his fangs fully extended in a maliciously feral snarl. As Orion brutally twisted and then reefed his silver sword, the exact twin of the one he'd lent to Kayen. Out of the now dead Lycan's heart, the same Lycan that held Suriel's golden chains.

Before turning on Suriel herself, with an almighty howl to rival that of the angered Lycan slave traders. Orion slashed at the chains tightly binding Suriels wings and arms together, with surgical precision the chain links snapped and divided. Raining to the ground with a soft clinking sound, illuminated by her divine light renewed by the slaves' suffering. Suriel immediately leapt into the air, taking wing as soon as she was able. She flew straight up into the air and then like a suicidal stone plummeted back to earth. Before she could crash heavily into the roughly debris strewn earth however, there was a bright flash of blue light and then she was gone... disappearing without a trace like some phantom ghoul.

Orion didn't seem phased by this sudden lack of courage from his spouse, infact he almost seemed emboldened by it. Racing over to the Nekos whom he quickly and politely greeted with a small short bow before slicing their chains as well. Both the silver swords seemed almost built for this, breaking chains and carving lycan flesh from bone. They didn't blunt or chip at the task before them, as Orion once again on the run headed for the large group of sordid Humans next. He was promptly cut off by a Lycan, the lead lycan slave trader standing nearby issuing orders in a rather harsh manner as he began fighting the other two smaller Vampires Kayen had freed. The large vampire was on the move, bewildered by all the fiercely defensive Nekos as they ran by hissing and ducking for cover as the massive brute picked up a nearby burnt out car shell and launched it at a pouncing Lycan scout who'd come to join the fray. Crumpling like a misshapen melon the Lycan was squashed from existence, as Orion now cut off from the Human horde battled three Lycans at once.

The ground rippled, crumbling beneath their feet as an awakened Leviathan made its way to the chaotic surface. The Nekos running wildly for safety, took no time to figure out who they were knocking over in their attempts to flee. Their loyalties with no one group, each and every being for itself as they scrambled. Hissing and clawing at each other, the lycans and vampires as well on their way to higher ground, as the ground water once buried deep beneath them shattered the earth into a fragmented armadillo shell. Suriel infuriated by their actions, poisoned by their words and outraged by their carelessness drew an unfathomably large amount of water up from the depths of the earth in an attempt to wash away the evil now plaguing the surface of this once beautiful earth. The cacophony of panicked yowls, worried howls and surprised faces whipped past. As Suriel, along with the enormous load of water she carried erupted from the surface of the earth and shot skywards. Illuminated a bright iridescent blue, her wings appeared as though they were made in the untamable ocean a raging sea foam of white water as dark and mysterious as the color of her angry eyes. The battle below no longer concerned her, she only cared about the freedom of the slaves and the death of those responsible. For only that end could be considered justice.

Water rained down upon the small group of assembled forces, every drop hardening into icy snowflakes as Suriel's crystal clear blue eyes turned their original soft slate gray shade once more. Dumping the small underground lake full of ice and water upon the collective horde. "ENOUGH!..." She screamed, the rush of water as it reclaimed the earth drowned out all else washing away everyone not on higher ground. Her attempts did little to stop the fighting the Lycans assumed she was only helping the vampires. Which was partly true at least, she chose no side for this war. As neutrally inclined as a ant farm in the broad scheme of things, she would help and do her work as best she could but would neither enable this war nor take part in it unless she had no other choice. The Lycans were the first to restart the fight closely followed by the defending vampires as the remaining five wolven beasts started massacring the helplessly chained humans one by one.

Orion was the first to reach them, having already made an effort to kill the three attacking him he'd skillfully dispatched them with merciless cruelty. Making a small note to mention their last suffering moments to him later so that he could fully understand the extent of killing another creature. She leapt into action as two of the remaining Lycans cornered him against a pile of crumpled in SUV's. Landing next to the largely immobile vampire, who dtill had chain links bound directly to his bone. Suriel began speaking to him, asking him where he hurt and if there was anything she could do. It was the large brutes turn to politely decline her offer, as he picked himself up and made a dash for the two Lycans attacking Orion. The vampire affectionately known as 'Gore' seemed more interested in fighting than being helped by the frustratingly annoyed angel. Following Gore, Suriel was quite surprised by his strength as even shivering with the cold he picked up the two snarling snapping wolves and looked like he were going to crudely smash their heads in at any second.

"No... Wait!" Suriel yelled at him, all but a little too late for the Lycans as their heads met together and mushed like overripe grapes underfoot. Splattering blood, bone and brain fragments all over the ground and Suriel's upturned face. The unbelievable levels of panic and outrage from the remaining three Lycans including the lead slave trader who'd back-handed her and generally treated her with as much hatred and loathing before as she'd ever felt in her life was amazing. As Suriel once again took to the skies, to reach Orion who had now set about freeing the other mortally wounded Humans. She couldn't bare this much raw emotion, it was literally tearing her inside out as every dying soul hit her like a sledgehammer might hit a piece of stone. The cracks were only now just becoming visible as she landed just short of Orion's location and ran to catch up to him. Freeing slaves from the opposite direction as she went, they quickly met in the middle as two of the remaining Lycans began attacking Gore and the other two rescued vampires Suriel had yet to find names for.

The lead Lycan seemed wrapped up in trying to find and destroy Kayen, before anymore of his comrades were killed. "I can't stand this... please take me away from here..."She begged Orion as he drew closer, at first he seemed unable to hear her as he quietly freed the last of the human slaves that immediately ran out across the icy, puddle riddled wasteland to their own sanctuaries. Orion's only indication was a slight nod in her direction, as he finished his task and swept up the weakened angel into his arms and began running in the direction of a small group of curious Nekos who watched from a towering stack of mini buses and hybrid cars. He seemingly didn't need any further explanation, as he eventually reached the happy cat-like people who bowed their greetings and softly issued their many thanks as Orion set Suriel down again. Suri was not feeling well though, weakened by all the physically morbid violence and the unwavering levels of cruelty. She could stand it no longer, every dying life force whether Lycan, Neko or Human took an incredible toll upon her as she could sense their every dying thought. Whether fear, pain and cruelty alone could have killed her again she did not know but the Neko's overwhelming gratitude and Orion's mellowed rage seemed to soften the effects it was having upon her as she sat observing the fate of the last Lycan with Orion hovering somewhere above her conversing with a male Neko who seemed to have lost something important down there.

[Deleted]

The Vampire Lord didn't miss a beat as the water poured from the sky. In fact, he opened his mouth and drank a mouthful. He watched as the large Vampire smashed Lycan skulls together and he actually laughed and yelled across the battlefield "NICE ONE BIG GUY!" He seemed to be taking pleasure in the death and fighting around him, just as he always had. He grinned as he twirled around with his sword to face the lead Lycan.

"Hello fleabag..." Kayen grinned arrogantly. He glanced backwards quickly to see Orion and Suri fleeing and that was when the Lycan attacked. Kayen went down to his back as the Lycan tackled him. Powerful jaws snapped at Kayen's throat but he quickly rolled away and the beast got a mouthful of mud. Kayen quickly rolled over and kicked the Lycan in the back of the head as he found his footing.

He quickly swung the sword up and slammed the blade down through the back of the Lycan's thigh. The beast howled in agony as smoke flowed from the wound thanks to the silver in the blade. The Vampire's eyes flashed and he hissed loudly as he stabbed the sword all the way through the arm of the Lycan, severing it above the elbow. The Lycan screamed as he shifted Human and Kayen held the sword to his throat.

His voice was low and menacing as he spoke. "I'll let you live... but you're going to return to your Alpha and you WILL tell him I'm back! You will tell him I'm coming for him and when I find him, I'll drink from his still beating heart!!! And then you're going to deliver the same message to the Mind Leeches..... GO BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND!"

The injured Lycan crawled away slowly as if he was horrified. Kayen grinned and watched him, the bloody sword still in his hands. As he started to walk towards Orion and the Angel, Kayen passed a Lycan who was on the ground dying. He nonchalantly stuck the sword through his heart to finish him off and then he stepped up to Orion, nodding at the Angel. "She gonna be okay?" He looked around cautiously as he wiped the sword on the ground trying to get the blood off.