Night Walker War

[psychotic__Gal]

“Ah poor Charon,” Cian said with a small smile, “I wonder how he felt about his missed coin.” Cian was glad that his friend’s family had had closure. It was one of those things little thought about but it could cause great anxiety…if one still thought about his or her family. Zeus only knew Cian hadn’t for a long time. And yet here he was now…remembering sweet Kallope’s hair and scent and his own adolescent idolatry of the woman.

Cian’s eyes went blank as he remembered the foolish reason he had left Daphne to her own devices soon after her making…He would always blame himself in part of that massacre. If he had been there, he could have prevented it. If he had stayed, he could have taught her about herself. He could have preserved that part of her spirit. He could have helped to make her less fearful. “I left her soon after she was reborn.” Was what he said to Veni now. He assumed Veni could fill in the blanks. Cian would not tell Veni everything as that was Daphne’s story to tell but he could at least give him some insight. The vampire smiled at the blond vampire’s next statement, “I’m always willing to practice and learn.” He explained, a courtier’s expression on his face.

Cian watched as Veni’s eyes moved from their conversation…Perhaps some ghost or critter that Cian could not see. There was a rune he knew to bring more…spiritual clarity to his eyes but it both took too long to draw and it was hardly necessary in this case. Cian also knew it would not bring whatever being into the full sight of his vision. For all his knowledge, the only thing with the ability to do that without the spirits’ consent was his maker.

 

[psychotic__Gal]

Eastern Europe
106-275 AD
Late Summer/Early Autumn
Evening

Eydís nodded with the Egyptian one’s statement. Though she was curious about what creatures most foul would be drawn up from the terrors the other woman might bring, she was more than grateful that the beautiful one chose not to do it here.

Eydís hummed a “no” when asked if one could teach the magic. “I suppose you might be able to.” She offered after a brief bit of silence, “You would not be able to teach the spirit though. You must teach the spirit.” Otherwise, it was like teaching a person to dance with no partner. It could be done, however, one would not know where to place his feet as there would be another to glide across the floor. Eydís giggled suddenly at the thought.

“No Trees?” Asked Eydís in wonder, “Oh. You are from a larger town then. There are trees that surround your town.” Still, the little goddess smiled with glee and pride as she overlooked her kingdom, “You will stay in my home.” She added, in a singsong tone.

Cotiso and Rescuturme went as quickly as they could. There were not so many to gather but there were enough. There were many still out in the night, hunting. Still, as the call to gather was sounded, several more of her children appeared around the fire. Interesting to note, there were no other children.
 

[psychotic__Gal]

The gray and white striped tabby cat wandered the streets of Gaia. His friend should have joined her by now. The cat meowed her complaint to the night sky. She sat on the sidewalk, bringing a paw to her face to lick. Once. Twice. Wash your face, clean it off. She sniffed the air.

Still, no friend approached. He did not appear.

She walked a bit, then stopped again, meowing. Demanding.

The kitten grumbled. Usually her blond friend brought her snacks.

She sniffed the air again. No, she did not smell him. She sighed. Would it have been easier to seek a new slave?  

[psychotic__Gal]

Cian tried not to wince. He did not succeed. “Your leaving and her misfortunes are Rosemary’s and my boon because we may have never met otherwise or at least formed a companionship.” The Roman vampire’s words echoed in his mind as he mulled them over. They had hit him where his still heart had once beat. He did not like to consider Daphne’s trauma as a boon. It really wasn’t. What she had done left scars on her soul that were so deep that even for all the time she had been…reborn, she had worn those scars. Cian knew she didn’t let it show, though. She kept it hidden. She kept it locked up tight. Did Veni understand that he could never say those words to Daphne? Did Rosemary understand how much they would wound the blonde? In the end, the Grecian vampire let it go. He did not press his feelings on the matter. Veni said them in his confidence. He meant them to be a compliment not a lethal jab. That counted for something.

”I...caution you to not use those words with Daphne. I do not believe she views the trauma as a boon. I think she feels she would have ended her journey here one way or another. As would have I as I would follow her to the ends of the earth.” Cian mentioned mildly, his voice not unkind.

The subject of magic then was addressed. Cian’s own magic was language and hand based. He knew Daphne’s mostly seemed based on soul and mind and touch. His maker...well, he believed hers to be different. He understood the principle that Veni seemed to be explaining; it reminded him of Aristotle and the idea of the perfect idea of an object.

As a trained soldier, Cian found the idea of turning off ones extremities difficult. He was aware of each of his parts. He stood still for a few moments, concentrating. He was a statue as he thought about how to do it.  

[psychotic__Gal]

Eastern Europe
106-275 AD
Late Summer/Early Autumn
Night

“Mmm be wary of the fruit some plants produce.” Eydís intoned cryptically, “But yes. Yes. I will teach you. You will learn. So will your priest. I will teach him.” Her otherworldly eyes took in the priest, staring again as if she could see his soul.

Eydís nodded with the darker one’s statement regarding her generosity as if it were expected and already known.

Eydís’ children began to fill the clearing, began to gather. Eydís hummed a song from before --an old lullaby. The childlike vampire only stopped when the other began explaining her town and the sun’s heat.

Hm.

The sun’s heat…

There were few times Eydís missed the sun--this was one of them. The moon was pleasant but so distant. So cold. A pale companion for the sun. A pale reflection of the sun’s might. The sun represented life and growth...The moon represented death to the makeshift guardian goddess. It was when the demons, specters and spirits could come out to walk the dark soil. The night of the soul.

It was times like now that Eydís could not remember how the sun felt. She could not remember the warmth caressing her cheeks nor the way the light shifted during certain times--from the colder winter sun to the brighter summer heat. It was almost as foreign as the idea of Egypt.

Sometimes in the spirit realm, the sun made an appearance...it was rare though. The spirits enjoyed the stars, the feeling of the moon. The sun sometimes burned the spirits.

“Some are not satisfied with what they have. They feel it is within their right to reach for more and more without heeding consequences.” Rare bitterness seeped into the childlike vampire’s tone. Her maker had paid for his filthy sins. He received his consequences when his progeny became a lethal huntress. “Their time of ruin will come. The consequences for one’s action always have a way of coming back.”

Eydís turned from the other vampire and to the small group that had gathered. Eydís dipped her hand into her herbal satchel once more, she smudged the rune from her neck, then redrew it, altering it slightly. Her voice would reach everyone’s ears now despite the language barriers.

Around the edges of the clearing, Eydís’ lieutenants’ gazes shifted from the family to their matriarch.

“My children, my friends…” she spoke, a queen holding court.

 

[psychotic__Gal]

Kitten Time!

The grey and white stripped tabby let out another plaintive meow. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement. Her ears and nose twitched. Her tail swayed.

Friend?


Two hunters appeared in the shape of the only slave the kitten feared: children. Children pulled your tail. Children teased string just out of your reach.

...but children also dropped the best snacks. Her eyes watched them carefully, her body low to the ground.

"Imperatrix," Her ears and nose twitched again. That word was meant to call her, no? It was what her light-coated friend called to her when he saw her.

Imperatrix shifted her weight and rolled to her side to the ground. She rubbed her head against the sidewalk with another meow. It wasn't for long--the children brought food. Imperatrix was soon on her feet again. She took wary steps toward the children before winding in between their legs.

The kitten looked down at the food they brought. This was to be their offering to her? Imperatrix looked up at the fiends. She let out a loud complaint--a loud meow. Her friend brought much better food. She ought to wait for him.  

[psychotic__Gal]

Eastern Europe
106-275 AD
Late Summer/Early Autumn
Night

Eydís had intended her pause to be brief--enough to gather the attention of her visitors, her family, and her supplicants. Her shoulders tensed then shrugged with the foreign queen’s introductions. Her airy nature allowed her to ignore the looks of confusion that spread across her flock--her lieutenants saw the confusion but did nothing but stare at their queen.


A cool wind blew across the community. Eydís closed her eyes, around her the spirits’ voices rose (silently save for the Spirit Walker’s ears) with the wind.

The foreign queen finished. It was twenty long, silent seconds before Eydís’ eyes opened to her subjects once more.


“Take note of these names.” She called out suddenly. She repeated the names as the foreign queen had stated them--her accent only slightly off, “Memorize these faces.” Her eyes roamed her flock, making her intent known, “The spirits call for action this night. They mention change--collaboration, unity. They whisper of a Southern threat.” the childlike night creature holding court, paused, “My family, these strangers now bear my claim. You will bring them no harm.Memorize their faces, their names because if you bring them any harm, my judgment will be swift.”

Eydís turned to her guests, “My eyes will also be trained to you. Should you test my hospitality, the same consequences will be dealt. The same judgment must be given to all.” The spirit wind blew again, a small, eerie smile rose to Eydís’ lips as her hair was lifted gently. The smile fell away as her hair came down once more. She met the eyes of all of the foreign vampires, then those of her lieutenants.

“Do not test me.” She warned. She did not dare say that her word was like that of a god’s. To do so would place her at risk in the spirit realm. It would not due to anger the primeval nameless gods.