Pandora's Kiss {Mature} STARTS, LSUs welcome

[Drusilla]

Pandora's Kiss

The young man knew that he was in trouble the moment the door slammed shut behind him. Two tall men with long, black hair pulled back in ponytails and dressed in perfectly tailored suits fell into position, flanking his sides, as the woman who had answered the door lead the way into the huge house.

It was risky, and he knew it, but there was no where else to turn. All he could think of was the dark figure who had saved his life, her voice, and the one thing she had said to him...

A soft ding brought him back to the present as a concealed door slid open, revealing a large, dimly lit elevator. The technology was in stark contrast to the age of the house, and the young man's mind was blown by the very thought of the amount of money it must have taken...

The elevator door slid shut, and they began the descent. It felt like they were falling into the very depths of hell and all of eternity was passing before the elevator slowed and finally came to a stop. The door opened smoothly, revealing a dark, torch lit hallway, the walls interrupted sparsely by antique-looking doorways, some wooden, others metallic fit with bars. He tried to catch a glimpse of what lay beyond those bars as he passed, but they moved too quickly and nothing showed in the darkness. There was no sound other than the crackle of flame from the torches and the four sets of feet walking down the hallway. It was unnerving to the young man, how quickly and quietly these people moved through the gloom of the passageway.

He had to stop suddenly to avoid running over the guide in front of him. She reached in her pocket for an old silver key and unlocked the massive double doors before them. A slight sweat broke out along the young man's spine as he trembled slightly, fearing what lay beyond the doors. The woman knocked slowly three times, the reverberations booming beyond the closed doors, before she opened them...

A cavernous chamber opened before his eyes. The vaulted ceiling was decorated with black and white billowy drapes, which also hung along the walls. Candelabra were placed along either side of the chamber, providing the only source of light for twenty feet... everything else was lost in darkness. Luxurious couches were gathered around an empty fireplace, and a find dining room set took up the other near corner.

"Mistress, he has come," the woman's low, raspy voice broke the silence.

A slight stirring from off in the darkness made him jump as a figure materialized from the shadows. It was her, just as he remembered. The long, flowing hair, the perfect porcelain skin, the flawless lips, the full, voluptuous figure...

"You finally came." Pandora's voice rang out, smooth and serene. "This plague has gone on long enough. I see the people of this city struck down by disease, their minds destroyed so that their bodies may be used by this nameless force... This is no accident. Chaos is slowly taking over this city... my city. We will need all the help we can get, and I need you to act as my eyes. Are you willing to do this for me?"

Slowly, the young man nodded, wondering if he really knew what he was signing up for...
------------------


Name:
Gender:
Age: (or apparent age...)
Species: (human, vampire, lycanthrope, or other... any species of lycanthrope are allowed. Other species must be OKed seperately.)
Physical Appearance:
Personality:
History:
Powers/Weapons/Fighting Techniques:
Other:


Vampires: Under the leadership of Pandora, legal vampires in the city adhere to the laws that govern them, whether the laws are human-made or originate with Pandora herself. Drifters and outlaws follow their own rules, but must be careful; should they break code, they will be hunted down and exterminated, either by the human law enforcement or by Pandora's foot soldiers. Blood can only be taken from a willing donor, and may not result in death; use of vampiric powers against a human for any reason is also forbidden.

Lycanthropes: Each species has it's own social structure, but alliances between groups are not uncommon.
Pard (leopards), Lukoi (wolves), Rodere (rats), Pride (lions), and werehyenas are all tied together through pacts, and are allied with the vampire kiss.
Werehyenas are strictly matriarchal.
Other groups may or may not have alliances. PM for further details. I'd prefer to keep it to leopards and wolves, but I will allow the others.

Terminology taken from Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter novels. Listing found here... Yeah, I'm a shameless thief.

Post or PM any questions... I know that I'm setting things up a little differently, so don't hesitate if you're confused.



Name: While rather unoriginal, he's known as "Danse Macabre", or usually just Danse; his true name is unknown.
Gender: Male
Age: Appears to be mid-twenties; is really over 900 years old.
Species: Vampire, rogue; he's not one of Pandora's people, which marks him as an outlaw in her territory.
Physical Appearance: Aside from the stereotypical "tall, dark, and handsome" like so many other vampires, he has light green eyes, the color of budding leaves in the spring and long, straight, black hair that falls below his shoulder blades, which he normally wears loose. His body is long and slender, which is often mistaken for lack of physical power. He can put his fist through a steel wall without breaking a sweat anyway. His wardrobe is (you guessed it!) all black and very expensive; he stalks the night in style. Usually a flattering black suit set of jacket and pants over a black dress shirt. The dress shirt is never buttoned all of the way, giving a slight peek at his pale upper chest.
Personality: He's very quiet, which is sometimes mistaken for arrogance on his part. He prefers to watch and think before acting, if he even does get as far as acting. If one spends enough time around him, they will find that he's calm, collected, even-headed, and very dangerous. Mystery surrounds him, and he wears it to his advantage.
History: Mostly unknown. He is pure-blooded, meaning that both of his parents were vampires, and that he is an aristocrat. His mother was a very powerful elder, though she disappeared many centuries ago. He looked for her for many years, though he never told anyone what he found. His father was killed within a century of Danse's birth. He has come to Pandora's territory for unknown reasons, though all he seems to feel inclined to do for now is watch.
Powers/Weapons/Fighting Techniques: His telekinetic powers are through the roof, something that he gained from his mother. He's very quick; he can move so fast that he hardly needs to cloud the mind of his opponent to appear to move faster than the eye can see. Strength, he has plenty of, though he doesn't look it. He has no need for weapons, for he is one himself.
Other: He's quite the ladies' man around town, though the people who track him (mostly on the orders of Pandora) can never seem to catch him. His animal to call is unknown.


Name: Pandora
Gender: Female
Age: Unknown; like many vampires in positions of power, she doesn't let on to her true age
Species: Vampire
Physical Appearance: She's not tall, about 5'4, with hair that falls to her knees and is so black it is nearly blue. Born in a long ago time, she doesn't have the skinny, bony body that is so popular today; her figure is fuller and would have been the epitome of womanhood in her time. She is still beautiful by today's standards, though. Her eyes are a warm and rich brown, though when she is angered, excited, or uses her power, they darken so much that they become nearly black. Otherwise, she looks like a porcelain doll, perfect, beautiful, and immortal.
Personality: She can play the kind, benevolent leader when she needs to, but for all of her games, she is still a vampire at heart. She rules with a fair hand, and does care for her people, but doesn't feel much in the way of remorse when she has to make what would otherwise be a difficult decision. She tries to act for the good of all without undermining her power structure too much, because any weakness can and will be exploited by those who desire her position. She knows the reality of this all too well, and acts accordingly. Survivalist first, then protector of her people; however, she knows this plague will cut down any and all in its path, and seeks to root out the reason for it first.
History: She's a vampire from the Old World (aka Europe), and though her lineage goes back pretty far, it's obvious that she's come from a powerful line. She's head of her own line, meaning that she has power over any vampire that has descended from her, though that power is weaker over vampires that have pledged to different masters. Her line is marked by powerful telepathy skills.
Powers/Weapons/Fighting Techniques: Telepathy, which she uses to protect her people, though should she use it against an enemy, they'd best beware. She has the super strength, speed, and other such powers of a vampire in her position, and the more vampires she has blood-oathed to her, the more powerful she is. Her animal to call (an animal that a master vampire has power over) is the leopard; she has a special pact with the Pard in her city, which lends her one of their people to boost her power, and gives them special protection from the other lycanthrope groups in the city.
Other:

If anyone would like to be her animal to call, it's open to any character who's a wereleopard.


Vampires:
Pandora, Master of the City (Drusie)
Charles "Rudy" Rudolf Barton (Master Rudy)
Ahkruke (SmearGal)
Leonard (Not really SmearGal)

Danse Macabre, outlaw (Drusie)
Gael, unknown (Samchu)



Lycanthropes:
Lukoi
Ulfric (Male leader): Vincent Belkon (Mystic Clown)
Lupa (Female leader):
Note: there are other positions within the Lukoi; look at the link I provided above for more info...

Pard
Nimir-Raj (Male leader):
Nimir-Ra (Female leader):


Other:
Charlie Hazzard, Human (Charlie Hazzard)
Aias, Doppelgänger (Crystal Tears)


Reserves:
Asilynne (Lukoi?)



Feel free to post... I feel horrid that I can't muster the oomph to do so myself at the moment. I may attempt to do so later tonight, though I do need to get up even earlier than usual tomorrow morning (I need to be at work by 5:30 AM), so it's unlikely that I will be able to do so. I am checking messages regularly, though, so don't worry about me disappearing. And if no one wants to start things off... that's fine, too. I just didn't want my crazy schedule to hold anyone else back.

Haffun, kids... and remember, Drusie's watching you... XP

[Master Rudy]

[color=Orange]OOC-Hmm.....I'd like to get a start but I'm not 100% sure what direction you have in mind Dru so unless someone else has any decent ideas I think I'm going to hold off for the time being. Just wanted to poke in and say I haven't forgotten about this ^_~

[Crystal Tears]

Name: Aias
Gender: Male
Age: 24 (Though he is much, much older.)
Species: Doppelgänger
Physical Appearance: Aias is a very attractive evil twin, standing at six foot exactly. He has deep grey-blue hair that's cut shaggy in the front, the bangs closer to ears have grown down to his chin, and the back is spiky (Similar to Cloud's from Advent Children). Aias's eyes are a dark orange colour, and only seem to shine with any sort of life or emotion at night, especially when the sky is empty of stars or the moon. His skin is pale, though it takes nothing away from his handsome appearance; in fact, it seems to add on it. He has a nice lean physique. He wears a deep grey; almost black tank top, with black pants. He wars an overcoat much like Axel's from Kingdom Hearts II over top. Aias also wears leather gloves, completely covering his body in black except for his face. No one ever sees him not wearing his jacket, and it's hardly ever undone. Though most women wished they could get him out of it.
Personality: Aias isn’t a ‘lively’ person. He’s cold, which suits him fine. He usually never smiles, and never looks impressed no matter who did what and when. Aias has a dominating aura around himself that makes others get out of his way and just fearful of him. He likes this, his power grows the more miserable and fearful people are. However, even being cold, he will talk. Though you can’t count on him being particularly cheerful and seem interested in what you have to say. He only smiles when he is tormenting someone and bringing ill luck to that specific person or their family.
History: Aias had long tormented the wife of his ‘double’ with ill luck and what not. It’s rumoured that this was the last time he smiled or even laughed. He’d walk by her twice, and then disappear, watching from the safety of being ‘phased out’. Then the ill fortune would come, she’d hurt herself or become deathly ill. It was only when she turned to him and asked him why he was doing this that he turned even more sadistic. He looked at the portrait of his double, and smiled.
The man never made it home, people at his work said he had claimed his reflection was not him, but someone who was identical is appearance. He then had terrible luck with his car. The brakes failed, and he flew of the side of the bridge. But not before seeing his counterpart, watching with an empty stare as he tumbled to his death.

The woman then spread the word it is unwise to speak to a Doppelgänger, seeing what happened after she attempted to.

From them on, Aias has been tormenting various people: All human. As his ‘powers’ of ill fortune and certain death do not completely work (no death or terrible sickness for them, just mild nausea, and paranoia at most) on the Vampires, Lycanthropes, and other various species. However, he has never tormented a child before, but it is unknown why.
Powers/Weapons/Fighting Techniques: His most commonly used power is to ‘phase out’ of our reality. No one can harm him in this state, but it’s vice versa. It also makes people around him feel chilly and on edge. To most humans who see him when he feels like being evil; he appears a blurry form of a human. He can assume the shape and size of whoever it is, but past that is nothing. Aias can dramatically affect the feelings of others (both physical and mental), making them feel extremely cold, depressed, lonely, completely vulnerable, and very sick. He’s very strong, and pretty fast, though usually his ‘powers’ over people make him happy enough.
Other: Aias has no reflection in any surface that can reflect (water, mirror, etc.) and has no shadow. Most people who have encountered Aias have told the police, however, Aias is more of a myth or urban legend. Since there is never any evidence of Aias being there, they can only assume these people are hallucinating.

xX AIAS xx DOPPELGANGER Xx
Dream this moment as you run away
You will only separate me from
All I believe this moment
It will tell the way
You're the one who kept on pushing
Til I made you bleed

It was his house. An old house rumoured to be haunted by the notorious Doppelganger. But how was that possible? ‘Experts’ had proved that the Doppelganger was nothing more than the brain having a serious ‘malfunction’. Sometimes, it pained the man who lived in his house to think of the ‘Doppelganger’ status as just a mere diagnosis for the mad. How is it so many had seen it: the thing that had no reflection, no shadow, and most importantly; no soul.

Outside was particularly quiet. The wind was gentle, the sun had set, and night had fallen over the bustling city. It’s how he preferred it: Quiet, peaceful and dark.


But his house wasn’t quiet… No, someone was wandering its halls, glancing over his shoulder ever so often. He had pale blond hair and a complexion to match. Dressed in somewhat fancy clothes, he had no idea he was being watched.

“So this is the famous Doppelganger house… Huh…” He muttered, opening a door that lead to an abandoned and ruined kitchen. “Not much different from your usual haunted house…”

He moved from one room to another, eventually finding a room that had large, perfectly clean mirrors on every wall, floor, and ceiling. He closed the door, slightly surprised to find the back of the door also covered in mirrors.
He felt weird, uncomfortable with all the reflections of himself. Cautiously he stepped forward, eyeing the reflection in front of him. Something was different about it, something dark.

He approached it, leaning closer, so he was almost touching the reflection.

“Its said, if a man was to be locked in a room of mirrors… He would be extremely unhappy, yet it does not have the same affect on women.”

The man turned, looking around the room in bewilderment.

“Tell me Vincent Belkon, why have you come here?”

The answer was clear, there had been another murder blamed on the Doppelganger, and this person had been a good friend of the pale man. He had come to the house overwhelmed by curiosity; did the Doppelganger really exist? Or was it all a hoax, a myth that people used as a scapegoat for their own insanity or that of a friends?

“I’m looking for the Doppelganger.” He replied, turning in another full circle. “Where are you?”

“You’re trespassing.”

There was a pause. “I didn’t think anyone lived in here.”

The door of the mirror room slowly opened. “Leave.”

Vincent felt cold, as if all the warmth this old house could contain had been sapped from it. As he exited the room, he looked around; whoever had opened the door had vanished. Though being what he was, he had learned not to take anything at face value.

“Is the Doppelganger real?” He didn’t know who he was asking, only that he wanted the answer.

“That depends.” The door of the mirror room closed again, revealing a very attractive, yet cold man leaning against the wall.

Vincent stared at the resident of this god forsaken house. “Depends on what exactly?”

“On how you define real.”

“It seems to be real enough to kill people…” He stared at the darkly dressed man. Surprised to see every inch of him covered in black, save for his neck and head. “Who are you?”

“Aias.” He replied. “Haven’t you read the reports? The Doppelganger is a mental illness, those people killed themselves…”

“Some reported seeing a ‘double’ before meeting tragic ends they couldn’t possibly foresee.”

“Bad luck.”

“You don’t believe in the Doppelganger?”

Aias almost smiled then, amused by this man in every way possible. “I never said that.”

“… How did you know my name?”

“Do you know how you can tell a doppelganger apart from a normal human?” Aias mused, stepping towards Vincent.

Vincent had his back to the wall, his body felt cold and weak, not to mention the feeling of serious depression and fear that had suddenly set in. Aias looked into the half broken mirror still hanging on the wall.

“A doppelganger has no reflection;” he looked into the reflective device, and saw nothing of himself. Aias cruelly smiled back at the lycan. “Are you surprised?”

“Y-you’re…”

“Your friend was amusing. Quivering in fright when I appeared; merging out of the mirror. He nearly screamed, so desperately he had run down the hall and out the door, never wanting to see me again.” Aias chuckled, remembering how pale that victim had turned. “Do you know what he saw just before he died?”

Vincent was tongued tied in shock.

“The Doppelganger, right before the bus hit him.”

The pale man didn’t wait much longer, his anger and rage boiling up to the point where they overwhelmed his shock and terror. He lashed out at Aias, who in turned grabbed the lycan’s arm and threw him to the floor.

“You killed him, like he was nothing!”

Aias seemed darker than before, circling his challenger. He was silent now, letting the cold feeling of being completely alone seep into his next victim.

Yet, these new creatures weren’t like the humans. They were not meek, or completely irrational. This man was fast, almost to the point where he could keep up with the evil twin. Aias however, was still confident. He toyed with the monster, letting him nearly get a hit in before he stabbed the superhuman with a piece of the mirror.

He howled in return, taking a few steps back. Vincent glared at the doppelganger, and tore the shard from his skin without a second thought.

Aias tilted his head; the wound on Vincent’s arm was healing.

Perhaps Vincent had been testing the shadow stalker’s abilities. He attacked with more speed this time, surprising the Doppelganger and forcing him into a defensive strategy. Every punch and kick was blocked, and even some retaliation hits from Aias made it through, yet there wolf/human hybrid was proving to be a nuisance, especially when he landed a lucky blow and knocked the wind from Aias, causing him to stumble back and eventually get knocked to the ground.

“You will stop killing people!” the beast man roared, his voice nearly sounding inhuman. He picked up one of the chairs and swung it at Aias.

Aias disappeared, untouched by the attack. Vincent blinked, confused.

He reappeared behind his seeker, and didn’t hesitate to slam the monstrosity’s back with a chair similar to the one Vincent had attempted to thwack the Doppelganger with. Vincent yelped in surprise and pain. Quickly he recovered, turning around to see Aias standing by the table, not a scratch on him.

“You… How did you…”

Aias was silent, his body shifting from his human form into a shadowy figure that resembled Vincent, he stepped towards the wolfman, and just before they were about to touch, he disappeared.

TAG MYSTIC_CLOWN!!!

[Mystic_clown]

Name: Vincent Belkon.
Gender: Male
Age: unknown, though he looks in his twenties.
Species: Lukoi Lycanthrope
Physical Appearance: Judging from his human appearance, it’s hard to believe that he’s the strongest of the Lukoi. He stands at 6 foot with a lean, yet well toned build (you couldn’t tell this because his clothes hide it pretty well) and a pale complexion. His pale blonde hair falls down to the center of his back and is tied into a ponytail, framing his thin and handsome face. His eyes are a pale brown, almost gold in appearance. His outfit mainly consists of white, with a pale grey, turtleneck undershirt, a white formal jacket and a white overcoat worn like a cape over his shoulders, white pants and a pair of black Italian shoes. Is clothes are custom tailored, suggesting great wealth and a refined taste.

His transformed form as earned him the nickname, “The Albino Wolf”, as his hair is completely white. His form shows off his raw power, yet with a hint of grace to it.
Personality: Cultured, refined and for the most part, polite. He’s quite an easy person to get along with once you get on his good side. He demonstrates a great deal of intelligence, knowing how to negotiate and rule over his people efficiently. While he’s willing to be diplomatic in times of conflict, he’s a fierce ruler who will fight when his people, or his power, are threatened.
History: Earning the nickname “The Albino Wolf” due to his wolf form’s white hair, Vincent has been the Ulfric of his people for a good 300 years now, and has been defending his title fiercely. While Ulfrics before him tended to regard the other Lycanthropes as enemies, Vincent was willing to make alliances with them, as well as with the Vampires. He’s had a strong friendship with the vampire master Pandora for a few hundred years.
Powers/Weapons/Fighting Techniques: Even in his human form, Vincent demonstrates super human speed, strength, stamina, endurance and the heightened senses of a wolf.. He dispays some regenerative abilities, able to heal from injuries which would take a human a month to heel in a couple short weeks. In his wolf form, his strength and agility are doubled, making him truly dangerous.
Other:

Vincent Belkon
------------------------------------------------
The blonde lycanthrope blinked as the Doppelganger vanished. Where did he go?

A sharp pain to the back answered his question. Vincent howled in rage as he spun around, seeing the smug copy of himself holding a bloody shard of glass. Anger was dominating his senses as Vincent swung a fist at him. The doppelganger merely smirked before vanishing again. Vincent wasn’t going to fall for this trick again. He spun around, delivering a round house kick to Aias as he appeared behind him. The doppelganger grunt as he was sent flying into the wall.

Vincent was not going to let him have a chance to recover. Vincent howled as his body began to change. Muscles grew and skin tore away to reveal the pure white fur underneath.

The Albino Wolf snarled before letting out a howl and charging towards the Doppelganger. Seizing him in his large claw, Vincent snarled as he threw Aias through the wall, back into the mirror room.

Vincent leaped in after him, only to find the mirror room completely empty. The wolfman looked around, snarling, trying to find his enemy.

A bark from above caught his attention. A dark copy of himself fell from the ceiling, pinning the lycanthrope to the floor. Vincent howled in pain as he felt the doppelganger’s teeth sinking into his neck. He thrashed about wildly, trying to shake him off, effectively smashing a good number of the mirrors in the room.

Vincent swung an arm to throw the weight off of him and fell to the ground when he felt the weight instantly vanish. He saw the shadow appear at his feet, grabbing them and throwing him head first through the wall. Vincent slammed painfully into the staircase. He managed to regain his senses to see the shadowy wolf charging towards him. He rolled out of the way as Aias slammed into the stairs, the old wood breaking apart from the force.

The doppelganger snarled in rage before going on the attack, swinging his claws wildly. Vincent was forced to go on the defensive, taking a few of the painful blows. He yelped in pain when Aias delivered a painful kick to the sternum, sending him through another wall. The house groaned from the lack of support from his upper levels.

Vincent snarled in a homicidal rage. This thing was beating him, the Ulfric of the Lukoi Lycanthrope, with his own skills. Howling in rage, Vincent dove for him. However, like always, Aias vanished before the attack could connect, sending him slamming into the wall. The air was smashed from his lungs as the doppelganger slammed into the back of him, clawing and biting into his back. Vincent pushed himself off the wall, causing Aias to stagger back before taking a powerful blow to the head. Vincent charged, pinning the double to the floor. However, Aias kicked him off with great strength, slamming him into the ceiling. The house groaned and strained, barely able to keep its upper floors from falling in. Vincent’s body was heaving with exhaustion, wishing a thousand deaths upon that cursed copy.

In the darkness, he could have sworn that Aias was smirking. That was it.

Letting out a deranged roar, Vincent charged, swinging his arms wildly as the doppelganger vanished. He looked around wildly, trying to see where the bloody thing would reappear.

He didn’t anticipate him appearing from below. Vincent howled in pain as he hit the ceiling.

That last blow was all the house could stand. It groaned as the ceiling and walls began to crack, no longer able to hold itself up. The two combatants looked around as the building began to crumble. Vincent cried out as the roof caved in on top of him. He could hear the loud crash of the building collapsing in on itself, furniture breaking apart, glass shattering. With only loud crash, it was over.

--------------~*~--------------

The Doppelganger house was nothing more than rubble now. Very few people in the area looked at the destruction. They had heard the commotion inside and then watched the house fall apart. All was still as the dust settled.

Then he burst out of the wreckage, his body back in his human form, his clothes torn to shreds, his eyes wild with rage. He looked around wildly, looking for his enemy. However, the doppelganger wasn’t in sight. He couldn’t smell him amongst the rubble, meaning only one thing.

The Doppelganger wasn’t here anymore. He was gone.

Vincent let out a deranged roar. He would no be denied his vengance.

[Drusilla]

Pandora
A Promise Of Fever

"Will it be enough?"

I shrugged, not bothering to turn and face the speaker. I knew Rudy's voice well enough after so many years. His question was the one on all of our minds, and he was one of the few that I wouldn't have to spend a painful amount of time wording my response with.

"I don't know. What we need right now is information; what is this, what can be done, and how. Lycanthropes seem to be immune to this disease, unsurprisingly... at least, for now. If it mutates and is able to overcome the lycanthropy pathogen, then we're in serious trouble. Same is to be said for whatever makes us, us. The lycanthropes have the upper hand as far as mobility goes; they can keep going in daylight, while our people must die at the dawn. Has there been any word from Belkon?"

"Not that I know of. Last I heard, he was off taking care of some personal unfinished business. My... informant said that something has been bothering him lately."

I swore in Latin. The Lukoi were the largest group in the city; without their support, I was nearly paralyzed. I had the support of the Pard, but they couldn't act because of lycanthrope politics. As the largest group, the Lukoi were dominant to the others... If I let the Pard act as my agents, it would be seen as a power play in favor of the leopards, and the Lukoi would retaliate both against my cats and me. Shapeshifter politics were a constant thorn in my side, but there was no way around it. To go against them was to invite complete ruin. For such a hidden society, their influence spread far. While it was now illegal in most states to hunt them, it still happened, and shapeshifter discrimination was far from uncommon. To have it made public knowledge that you carried the disease was a social and financial death sentence.

My need to know about this new disease, though... it was nearly great enough to push the boundaries of my power. It had recently reached plague proportions, but little was known about it regardless. No one knew how it spread, where it came from, how to overcome it. Rumors of biological weapons were running high, though this seemed a little sophisticated for something like that. It attacked the central nervous system, drove fevers to the brink, and killed within a few days. I knew of no survivors.

The dead, however... the dead walked. Not like myself, a vampire, but more along the lines of a ghoul or zombie. So far, none of the reanimated dead had been studied closely, thanks to the human policy of shoot first, ask questions later. Initially, they were non-violent, but aggressiveness did manifest after a period of time. This period varied, but each time the corpse had been allowed to reach the early violence stage, they had been quickly destroyed. Therefore, we knew nearly nothing about this development, since corpses were now being burned once dead. My pleas had gone unheard by the human leaders, and I was ready to take matters into my own hands. I had the resources, so why not? If my people were immune to the disease, I saw no problem with it. I hadn't been told not to, in any case.

"I will wait until dawn for Belkon. If he does not respond by then, I will move forward without him. It will be a challenge to his power, yes... but I cannot afford to wait any longer. The humans are weak behind their laws and their morals. I will discover the reason for this plague, one way or another, before it's too late." I turned to look Rudy in the eyes. "I swear this on the Darkness: I will not be undone by this. I have overcome it's like in the past, and will do so again."
-------

Tag. >:]

[Samchu]

Name: He is known simply as Gael; a name which he rarely gives to anyone but one that is known by many.
Gender: Male
Age: Unknown. Though he appears to be only in his late 20s there is an aura surrounding him that suggests he is far older than many suspect.
Species: Vampire
Physical Appearance: Gael stands a towering 6'4 with broad shoulders and a well-maintained physique. He keeps his appearance hidden, however, behind a pair of loose black jeans, a black shirt, and a long black coat. He has short black hair that spikes slightly at the front and towards the side, bending at the back to make a small ponytail that ends at the point between his shoulders. His eyes are a dark grey, almost stormy colour.
Personality: To many who meet him he is both cold and mysterious. He says very little outside of that which absolutely needs to be said and to most he'll say nothing at all. He is the type to sweep in silently, take care of his business, and retreat again before anyone can notice. He true personality is hidden behind many walls and few, perhaps even none, have ever seen it.
History: Little is known of Gael's origins. He is a wanderer, slipping from place to place as casually as he wishes. No one can determine exactly when he came to America because he likes to keep his presence hidden wherever possible. Many rumours surround him. Some say he is a bounty-hunter of sorts, brought in to take care of those who stray too far from the code. Others, suspect that he is one of these very same vampires, and remains elusive to avoid Pandora's wrath. But which is the truth?
Powers/Weapons/Fighting Techniques: His weapon of choice is a sword hidden somewhere on his persons. It has a long, rigid blade carved with ancient symbols. It is believed that he doesn't carry it at all but can summon it at will. There are also stories, that the blade is tied to him and any who try to take it are struck down my dark forces. That theory aside, it is also rumoured that he has an alliance with the shadows and that he may pass through them at will. Either that, or he's just very, very stealthy.
Other:....................

Gael
~~~

I stepped onto the earthy mound before me and admired the dazzling city below. How long had it been since my last visit to the western land? - I couldn't remember. What's time to someone who'll live to see the end of it? I reached down and clawed a handful of dirt from the ground; raising it to my nose I let a million scents fill my nostrils. Many stories were intertwined here; old friends would cross paths would new enemies. My past was finally going to catch up with me.

I sighed. Perhaps those stupid stories those mortals told were right. Maybe things really did have a way of catching up with you.

Dropping from my mound, I let my body sink beneath the shadowed surface only to appear at the sight of a collapsed house. I grunted in frustration. The scent of blood was but a faint tingle in the air. I had missed the action. The monster had gone, it's target had escaped. "A shame..." I hadn't come seeking the creature that had haunted the now-wrecked building but my curiosity had drawn me to it first. It didn't though; the air was buzzing with the desire for vengeance. There would be many more battles to feast my curiosity.

Which brought me back to the matter at hand; the disease that had taken ahold of this seemingly innocent city. Word of the plague had reached beyond the western boarders and I had heard of it during my travels in the east - from the lips of those who made it the business to know such things. The rest of the world remained blissfully ignorant. The weakness of the human race. They would deny their own extinction until the day it claimed them. Pathetic fools.

They need to be protected. They don't don't know how to protect themselves from the evils of our kind and they don't understand those who are so different from their own. They're just children - afraid of the unknown. Someone has to watch out for them.

"It had to be you though, didn't it?" My first tightened around the black metal hidden in my pocket. "Protector of the feebile human race. Damn your self-richeousness. I'll never understand what you see in these creatures." I looked across the street at the crowds of people walking by. Few glanced across, noticing the house that no longer existed. Fewer saw me standing there. Foolish beings; only ever seeing the things they want to. They had no idea of the threat they were facing.

With a sigh, I stepped across the path and merged with the hoardes. "Let's just get this over with. I don't want to miss another fight with that doppelganger just to save a few roaches from getting squished."

[Drusilla]

Danse
Come dance with me

So it was true. A plague, the likes of which hadn't been seen for over a century, was sweeping through the land, and right under the nose of one of the most powerful of the American Masters. Unlike many, she played the power games of other groups within her territory, where most would just crush them underfoot. Indeed, many Masters wished to have the power Pandora was said to wield... Yet she didn't use them to her advantage, preferring to co-exist. She was a curious creature, no doubt about that.

For all her strength, though, this plague was moving at an alarming pace, unchecked. Yes, the humans would create a problem, but Pandora was letting them run the show, or it at least seemed so. A sign of weakness. Maybe there was something else going on under the surface here, something that ran deeper than anyone could imagine. The reanimation of the corpses was worrisome, even more so than the spreading of the disease itself. If she didn't act soon, Pandora was going to be a sitting duck in a ghost city. It might even now be too late for her to prevent her downfall...

For this was no simple sickness. Reanimation, not completely unlike vodoun gone bad, was a sure sign that there was some malevolent force behind it all. Why, though? To expose Pandora? That made little sense, because anyone who took over her territory now would in turn be weakened as well. It was even less likely to be some wanton act of destruction as well, the means were too sophisticated. It was possible it was some kind of spell gone horribly wrong, but still...

Danse chuckled softly to himself. There was much, much more than met the eye going on here, that much was certain. His only regret was his complete ignorance to the whole situation. He was intrigued...

Yes, there were powerful forces afoot here in this city. It would be very interesting to see where this went.

He lounged back in his corner booth, watching the rest of the club, eyeing the dancing, writhing women hungrily. In the old days, he would have taken his pick and done as he pleased with him, but now one never knew who was psychic or undercover. In some ways, there were more restrictions now than before vampires had become legal citizens. Still, they tended to flock to him anyway, his powers not necessary. So many mortal women were enchanted with the idea of an immortal lover, all he had to do was flash a little fang and they fell at his feet, begging. He rather liked it, though the power rush was different. Not so much 'look at my prowess over you', but 'look at how perfect I am, I don't even have to use my prowess'.

Which would it be tonight? All ready many eyes had rested on him, whispers between friends that were betrayed by furtive glances. He would have what he wanted this night, like any other. The only questions were which ones, and how many.

Such was the life of a rogue vampire.

[Shizo]

Yay for late sign-up!

Name: Moth Atergo
Gender: F
Age: Appears 17ish. Exact age unknown
Species: vampire
Physical Appearance: Here. She stands around 5'7" not counting the boots.
Personality: Um...she doesn't really have one?
She fairly quiet and stoic, telling either truth or lies in convoluted ways where words are replaced with those that sound or mean similar, turning her words into cryptic messages for anyone who doesn't know her "code words."
She's always looking out for her best interests, but not as a power grab. She tries to ensure she has a place to stay, a source of food, and protection from those she can't handle herself. To do this, she'll befriend almost anyone, but especially those who interest her or that she decides she likes. "Those she likes" usually includes dogs and, by association, werewolves.
Anyway, she remains one who will be blunt, who will usually take the literal meaning of something, and who might be slightly schizophrenic.
History: Before becoming a vampire, she only remembers bits and pieces of a family, a home in the country, friends and mentors. After that, her memory is twisted rather than shattered. She remembers being cared for by a vampire she calls God; he's probably the one who turned her. He left one day and never returned, so she's been wandering from place to place. Recently, she's wandered into Pandora's city.
Powers/Weapons/Fighting Techniques: She prefers using daggers, usually a silver Rondel dagger she picked up somewhere. She claims she got it from a demon.
Her preferred fighting style is to sneak up on someone, stab them dead, and leave. Barring that, she'll have someone else fight as a distraction, and get that dagger into a vital point when there's an opening.
As a power, she's able to see auras and read them, although the latter is usually of no interest to her. The auras can be seen up to a 200 ft radius through solid objects in her line of sight, and she usually has it on all the time due to either habit or paranoia.
Other: She hears voices, including God. She doesn't usually talk about that, though. It's not a great way to win friends and influence people, she learned.



Moth Atergo
**************
Living. Breathing. Pulsing. Bodies swaying and swinging with the walls; both were alive and moving. Which had begun moving first? She couldn't tell. Did it matter? Most likely not.

Moth slipped easily through the crowd, the collective aura of the club goers sparkling with a glow far greater than all the individual auras combined. This city had a strange life, but Moth had only seen the leaves, the tender stems, not that she cared much for the roots. She didn't feed from roots.

Yes, feeding. She hungered. It had been days since she wandered here, to this new city, but she had held off eating. But now...she needed something now. A sip. A mouth full of sanguine drink, hopeful fluid. She had long discovered the easiest way to aquire a meal. Go to a place such as this, where auras spiked and twisted with abandon into each other, find a man whose sky was decidedly fogged with the clouds of drugs, and lead him away with promises of the flesh. Humans were so easy to tempt. She even gave them what they wished for occasionally before having the meal she needed. She never killed, never sucked at the bottom of the glass for the last few drops hiding between the ice cubes. That would be foolish, leaving a corpse and questions. Not that she had never killed, though it was usually predators of the flesh who demanded more than what she wished to give. They were worthless and ill, patient zeros. Best to kill them before the infection spread.

She began sifting through the heady aura of group excitement to find someone, someone alone and willing to accept something too good to be real. She wound her way quietly around, a panther in a house of sleeping hens, violet eyes flicking here and there, a tongue occasionally slipping out and wetting her lips in anticipation. Here, a large bulky man, but he was already courting a woman. There, one with black hair flopped in his face, but he was too clear and intelligent to take in. Sitting there...

Moth paused one moment in her stalking to gaze at the man in the corner. He was black, his hair and clothes matched the lightless corner. His eyes were a bit too vibrant for his style, but it was his aura that struck her. He was a hunter as well, his aura separate from the crowd, at least to her eye. Unlike her, he did not stalk. He had spun his web of intrigue and charisma. The spider patiently waited in his web, waiting for prey to come to him. There already seemed to be some glittering flies waiting to buzz in and be caught. Moth didn't worry. He was no flame, and she was no fly. Their eyes didn't meet, but Moth had spent less than a second appraising him.

There. At the bar, on what was certainly not his first drink. He laughed with friends, male friends who catcalled the girls who wandered near, daring one or the other to go after different higher-classed women. Moth, however, had selected the human with blond spiked hair. Perhaps she reasoned that, though he was quieter, he was also more eager to prove his worth to his companions, and being the first one to "score" would help prove his status as a "manly man."

More than likely, she just happened to zero in on him first.

Taking off her black hoodie to reveal a creamy tanktop, she stalked her chosen prey with a cool saunter. She stood beside him, bent over and whispered quietly into his ear.

"Hey."

He turned and was afforded with a calculated view of her cleavage, the tank being large enough to allow quite a view if she didn't stand up straight. He was startled, as were his companions. She continued with a seductive smile.

"Fuck me sideways."

It was said low, but most certainly loud enough for the blond man and his friends to hear. The friends whooped and cheered Moth's prey on, unwittingly pushing him to the panther. He smiled and stood unsteadily. It certainly didn't seem to be his first drink. Moth had already decided to just take enough until he felt dizzy, then send him back to his friends, but first she wrapped a hand around his neck in a loving manner, feeling his carotid. Strong and sweet. She pulled him in for a kiss and led him away. If he had paid attention to his seductress, he would have seen an open smile that displayed, for a moment, sharpened fangs aching to bite.
**************

Yeah, so Moth has no idea who Pandora is or what her rules are or anything else on current matters. And that line works wonders.

[Master Rudy]

Hopefully Brandy will be making a profile soon for this. Been rather busy as of late.
Name-Charles Rudolf Barton (Prefers to be called Rudy)
Gender-Male
Age-185 (Appears to be in his late teens/early 20's)
Species-Vampire

Physical Appearance-Stands at 6'0" with blond hair. Originally had dark blue eyes that became much lighter, icy looking blue upon being turned. When angered or using his powers his eyes become a dark red. As a human and his early years as a vampire he would have appeared to be a 19th century British noble with the typical dress of the day. In modern times he favors a more laid back look that includes denim jackets and pants, t-shirts, ect.

Personality-Originally known for being slightly stuck up due to being a spoiled rich kid Rudy has evolved over the years into an extremely kind hearted person who takes nothing for granted. This is mainly due to watching his parents die in 1839 and his wife in 2000. Despite being a vampire he is smart enough to know his limits and backs off when he knows he'll be in over his head. Does not hate anyone at all and generally will try to get along with anyone that is not a threat to him, his friends or his master. Has a strong sense of honor and rarely take the first blow in an encounter. When he does get into a fight he will not hold back and tends be a bit on the destructive side.

History-Born to a British noble and a German woman in 1822. His family was part of a long line of royal guards in England. When he was 19 his father on orders of the royal family led an attack on a group of rogue vampires in London. While at the time it was believed that the whole group was taken out Rudy and his family were met with the consequences several days later. A few survivors got away in the confusion and eventually found and murdered both his parents. Rudy himself was badly injured and on the verge of death when another group of vampires that were tracking the rogues came in and killed them. This group was led by Pandora. For reasons still unclear to him she turned him. Since then he has been one of Pandora's most loyal vampires and is totally commited to hunting down any rogues he comes across. In moden times he works as a supernatural detective and an arms dealer to his clan. Operates out of an old two floor office building that has been modified to act as a safehouse for members of his clan.

Powers/Weapons/Fighting Techniques-Having been raised in the 19th century Rudy is adapt at using several different types of swords due to a childhood love of fencing. In modern times he's come to enjoy firearms and brags that his collection obtained through various means would make Homeland Security have a screaming fit. As far as typical weapons go he prefers German made pistols. Has said his three personal favorites are the SIG P226, Walther P99 and Springfield Armory XD-45. Rudy will usually be seen carrying one of these guns (with silver bullets of course) and a pair of silver daggers. As for powers since he's still pretty young by vampire standards he just mainly has strength, speed and basic mind control powers and tricks.

Other-Was named after his father and mainly goes by Rudy. Returned to England recently and found some very distant relations. As a result he's regained some of his family's money. He'll mainly pay for things himself but is sometimes also financed by Pandora if it's something that can help the whole clan. 10 years ago he was married to a human who willingly let herself be turned on the honeymoon but about three years later they were attacked by a group of rogue vampires wanting revenge on Rudy for some friends that were killed by him. This time he fought them off but once again he was severely injured and had his family ripped from him. Since then he will not allow any woman to get too close to him for fear of having another person he cares about be killed brutally. Due to his loses he has taken various means to safeguard his building (steel shutters on the windows, weapons only he and his partner know about hidden in every room, ect). Has an extensive armory with almost any kind of weapon you can think of and will provide them to his clan and their allies for a small fee refundable upon return of anything taken out. Will have a partner that is a Lukoi Lycan and be somewhat linked to her (Provided that's what Brandy goes with ^_~)

Charles Rudolf Barton
------
"So where are we going again?"

I took my eyes off the road for a brief moment to give a quick glance at my passenger. She was a 17 year old high school kid that had been recently killed and turned in a rather brutal way. I felt bad for her. After the attack she was shunned by her old family and friend. With nowhere to go she managed to find Pandora and was taken in by us. However one very apparent problem was the fact that her attention wasn't where it needed to be. Could have been youth. Maybe it was just being a bored teenager. Whatever it was however she'd have to learn quickly. I normally didn't mind bringing a freshly turned vampire with me but too much was at stake right now and I didn't want anything to go wrong.

"Well right now we're headed to a night club," I said starting to explain what Pandora wanted us to do. "Personally I wish it was for a fun night out. Smoke a couple of fags, have a few pints and hopefully not get so drunk and knackered that you wake up with some bloody poofter next to you. However apprently some of the people who have died from this thing were recently seen at the club here. If there's a connection you and me are going to find out." The girl nodded seeming to have a better understanding of why we were going to this night club. However the kid's face also seemed to show a bit of confusion as to what I said. I chuckled to myself slightly. It wasn't the first time I threw off an American with British slang and I knew it wouldn't be the last.

As we pulled up to the club I took a quick look around. There were no signs of cops around but it wouldn't surprise me if one was hiding. This place was a hellhole and it sure as hell wasn't on the good side of town. Drugs were common here as well as prositution. Those two things alone made some of the humans here extremely easy targets for rogue vampires looking for a quick, easy meal.

As I parked the car I glanced back at the kid as I reached into my jacket for my Walther. "No fooling around at this place. Weapons check," I said calmly. Out of the corner of my eye I caught a frown that showed the tips of fangs. She still hadn't gotten use to keeping them hidden yet. Normally I'd give a friendly reminder about that. While vampires in this day and age were able to live openly there were still times that one did not want to go running around advertising what they were. However that wasn't my concern right now. She didn't have to say a single word. I'd been with enough young vampires to know what her attitude was saying. "Go ahead and open the glove box," I told her. "Got a Beretta M9 in there. Not too fancy but it'll do it's job. I'm not expecting trouble but it's better to be safe than sorry. You tend to live longer when you play smart." I was hoping things would be simple. Go in, ask questions, take a look around and leave.

Of course things usually weren't that easy were they?
------

Oh no! It's an unnamed NPC! She'll be ok right?
*cough*CANNON FODDER!*cough*
Do with her as you please......muahahahahaha!

[Master Rudy]

It's been like two weeks since the last post. Everyone give up on this already?

[Drusilla]

I'll post this weekend... I've been working crazy hours and I've been sick for the past two days on top of that. If I can pry myself away from my new game (*huggles NWN2: Mask of the Betrayer* IT'S KICKING MY ASS! SERIOUSLY, I KEEP DYING! ;_; Nothing beats me this badly... nothing...), then I should get some stuffs together here... Brandy has my cell number. Call and bug me if I don't post by Saturday night.

[Mystic_clown]

Vincent Belkon
-----------------------------------
Anger still boiled within Vincent, yet it had died down severely from when it was after his battle. The xenomorphing freak had murdered a close friend out of a sadistic pleasure and had made a fool out of him, and then fled, leaving Vincent with several injuries, in need of a new set of clothes and a destroyed house.

He had managed to make it back to his home and find a change of clothes. Though the majority of his injuries had healed, there were still a few taking longer than others.

He was late. He had an appointment with Pandora, yet this business with the Doppelganger had complicated things. He was hoping the Vampire Empress would forgive him for his lateness.

“We’re here sir,” spoke his chafer as the white limousine parked outside her estate. Vincent had been here before. He and Pandora had developed quite a friendship (although, thankfully, not to the point where rumors began spreading about them).

“Thank you,” he replied quietly, nodding, “I will call you when I need you.”

The driver nodded as Vincent stepped out and the limousine pulled away. Vincent strode up to the large doors and knocked.

The woman, whom Vincent had met several times answered the door.

“Good evening,” he spoke in a polite manner. The woman nodded and returned the pleasantries.

“Could you please tell your mistress that Vincent Belkon is here to see her?” She nodded and offered for him to wait inside.

Vincent nodded and followed her in. He took a seat nearby as she went to inform her mistress and the large doors slammed shut.


Sorry for the shortness. Damn writer's block.

[SmearGal]

Phew, I'm finally here! Million apologies, my imagination has been drained and I had an acute case of writer's block.
Ehkru got his account sorted out, so he should also be posting sometime soon.

:3 Let's get this thing revived and going~

Name: Ahkruke (ah-kroo-keh)
Gender: Female
Age: Looks 18-23ish, though is actually around 200.
Species: Vampire
Physical Appearance: Ahkruke is around 5'7 with a somewhat muscular build for a female, complete with a little less than average female proportions. ( LOL) Her hair is a straight, deep brown that flips out a little ways past her jawline, and her eyes are a soft gray that turn into an inky, animalistic black when she's angry. Her skin is not pale, rather, it is quite tan for her kind. Her father was lukoi, so she also has some wolven tendencies; the only physical trace being her canines, which are a bit more pointed and menacing than a normal vampire's. She dresses simply, not really bothering with her appearance: attempting to blend in with the age group she looks like, she typically wears baggy black jeans, a tanktop, some dark-coloured jacket or hoodie bearing band or game logos (her personal favourite being a black and white striped one), and heavy boots since she likes the 'thud' they make as she walks.
Personality: With strangers she's not interested in, she seems cold and distant, and with the certain few that she has opened up to, she is very jovial and friendly and values their relationships above all other things. She is very cunning and deviant in her mannerisms, though doesn't always think things through when she is frustrated or angry. Around humans, she acts like the teenager she used to be, blending in with her wit and sarcasm. She also has a fascination for the things that make humans mortal. Being descended from a lycanthrope, she has a tendency to take this morbid fascination a bit farther than Pandora would allow, though craftily she stays within the boundaries of the Code. Though she is younger than some of the other vampires in her squadron, she is well versed in battle and is a respected individual.
History: Her mother a human and her father of the Lukoi, Ahkruke was born into a small, peasant family in a corner of England. They were soon driven out when her father's secret became a bit too messy to contain, and they boarded a ship headed for the new country of America. After a feud between the native lycanthropes, her father was killed. Her mother gave her to the local coven of vampiric guardians in exchange for her protection and soon after disappeared from the country. There, Ahkruke trained in using weapons and helping out where she could until she came of age and was turned in an elaborate ceremony by Pandora herself that instituted her into a small group devoted to the control of rogue vampires and lycanthropes. She was put under the guidance of Leo and soon after they became lovers and quite difficult to get one away from the other.
Powers/Weapons/Fighting Techniques: She can move incredibly fast, rivaling the speed of any alpha Lycanthrope with ease. She uses her speed to ambush and surprise what she is hunting, though she is subject to becoming tired very quickly. She never fails to carry around a trusty knife or dagger: she stalks, gets in quick for the kill, and is hopefully done with the fight before she starts to become exhausted. Along with her speed, she also has a rather good sense of smell, though not nearly as powerful as any of the Lukoi. She can handle most other weaponry, and especially enjoys firearms, and considers herself a rather good shot for the amount of time she practices (which, with guns, is practically zero). She prefers, however, to let others do the shooting while she provides the support and backup.
Other: She met Rudy once when she and other members of her clan teamed up with Pandora's in order to bring down a particularly troublesome pair of vampire rogues. (If that's okay, of course).


--------------------------------------------------------------
Ahkruke

"All aboard, hit the road, all the bullshit can't be ignored.."

The deep bass of the beat of the music buzzed outside the earphones of my iPod as I stood waiting at the bus stop. I had been sitting for a few hours, ignoring the bus, enjoying my favourite past time: watching the humans go about their daily business. People scurrying around, moving, frantic, eccentric, constantly in motion, going going..

".. problems make me wanna go, like a bad girl, straight to video.."

The bus pulled up, the squeaking of the breaks sending an unpleasant shiver down my spine. The doors swing open and I step on with a small sigh, knowing I could not put off the day's schedule any longer. My eyes dart to each of the occupants as I make my way to the back, sitting down across from a middle-aged woman and an angsty teenage son.

"I never noticed, no never not-- I turned the music off.

The bus eased forward and off, and I leaned my head back against the headrest, a dull, aching pounding in my head. How long has it been since I fed? I complained to myself, my eyes drifting from the window to the woman across from me. An alluring peek at the fragile, pale neck hidden away so tauntingly by a black turtleneck..

Maybe if.. No, no, no. My jaws were aching, my stomach twisted. I closed my eyes to keep from staring. It's Pandora's orders. Drinking from a random human on the street was too risky, now, she didn't want any of the rogue-hunting groups to be comprimised by the disease.

After a few stops, with mine fast approaching, and I stood and swayed my way through the freshly boarded tangle of businessmen to get to the doors.

Ahh, good ol' Carter Blood Care, I smiled to myself as I stepped off of the bus. Even from the street, a delicious trace of blood seemed to hover in the air. An intoxicating aroma.

I entered through the doors and had to freeze, the scent doubling and hitting me in the face. Shaking it off, I walked up to the young woman at the front desk.

"Hey, I'm here to see.. Dr. Nytt, I think it's his name." I leaned on my elbows against the counter. "I need to get my fix."

She eyed me suspiciously, completely lost. She must be new, her eyes still had that sparkle. She shuffled the papers in front of her before turning to look at a chart on the side. "Name?"

That, and plus, she didn't know me.

"I'm not on the list, I'm a drop-in," I stood up again. "He knows I'd be coming, just tell me what room he's in."

"I'll call him first, one moment please," She said quickly, turning away from me.

I huffed, turning my back to the counter and crossing my arms. The smell was driving me crazy. Let's not think about it. Instead, I turned to look around the lobby, eyeing the 'Donate Now' propaganda littering the walls.

I caught sight of myself in a nearby mirror and paused, looking closely. I hadn't seen myself for a few days, and I was quite pleased that I was not in too much a state of disarray. My skin, however, was too pale, my eyes too dull. I reached up and flipped my hair, trying to add more life to my reflection, but then laughed to myself. You're basically a walking corpse, no use trying to add life to that..

"Miss?" The secretary was talking to me now, covering the phone with her hand. "What did you say your name was?"

"Ahkruke,"

There was a silence after she relayed this to the doctor. She said a dutiful 'yes sir,' before hanging up the phone. "Just down the hallway, to the right. Room 304."

I thanked her, but no sooner than I had, my cell phone started a little jingling tune in my pocket. It's him!

"Heeeeello, oh Leo my daaaaarling?" I drew out my words as I made my way down the hall.