Night Walker War

[psychotic__Gal]

Kitten Time!

Imperatrix's ears twitched as the two spoke. She didn't quite care for the girl...though all at once hoped the girl would lean down. The blond locks were tempting. If she could just reach--

The boy left suddenly. Ah, good boy. He would no doubt bring a better offering. she sat, bringing a paw up to her face, flexing it slightly before licking it. Her ears twitched every so often, her tail swished.

The girl beast moved to stroke Imperatrix's body. While the kitten was not appreciative of the girl's attitude, she also knew that slaves had different jobs. Perhaps this one would be a better scratch giver.

At some point the scratches became annoying--All good things must come to an end. Imperatrix placed a paw on Daisy's hand and pressed it down, staring hard at her with a swishing tail.

The boy beast had impeccable timing. He would be the favorite of the smaller beasty slaves then. The kitten approached the dish, ears and eyes alert. A small meow left her mouth as her nose caught the scent of tuna and roe.

This, this was acceptable.

Imperatrix didn't bother to look up, didn't bother with thanks. She just began to eat.  

[psychotic__Gal]

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

Eydís hummed from the back of her throat, ”Ask my children.” she voiced, the airy tone returning after its absence, ”They find that I am a fair and just judge. After all...the eyes watching are not only those of the living or walking dead.” That stated, Eydís clapped. Her children began to get to work. Areas were set aside, certain children were relocated elsewhere to make room for their guests.

Some time passed and Eydís led the beautiful one and her people to an area of Eydís’ homestead. ”Your people may set up here.” She waved a hand, gesturing toward the building and the area surrounding it. ”Don’t hesitate to let your needs be known.” Eydís’ turned and began walking away, her movements echoing the fluidity of her voice.

 

[psychotic__Gal]

Cian’s lips turned up just slightly. Veni would be an interesting chess opponent. He had countered every thought that had entered Veni’s mind when he had posed the question “What if I want to swipe at something just out of reach and let’s pretend I can’t get closer?”

Still, Veni made a very apt comparison; If he could exert control over his fangs, his claws really would invoke the same principle. The vampire mage drew up his hands, his focus intense upon them...This feeling was familiar. As if it played some role in some war past. Too many memories with too clear of focus were brought forward. Perhaps he had used this skill in the past but the vampire could not recall. He actively tried to avoid thinking of the warring periods after all.

These thoughts whipped through Cian’s head faster than the speed of sound--faster than a blink.

Cian’s claws extended.  

[psychotic__Gal]

Present Day (or perhaps a day or two before…)
Hungary

At a roll top desk in a dimly lit room somewhere in the middle of Hungary, a brunette child with bright red eyes sat. Her body was still, unnaturally so, and her eyes...they held a wisdom that didn’t quite fit her tiny body.

A lean Korean woman in a pencil skirt and a button down shirt stood at attention behind the child, a leather padfolio in her arms. There was no genuine smile on her face--the expression that usually accompanies an interaction with a child. This was not a school. This was not play pretend.

This was business.


The scene persisted as such for two complete minutes. The passage of time was noted by the antique gold clock on the mantle.

“A flight I think.”

”Yes.” The woman agreed.

“Oh. I can hear the question in your voice. Out with it.”

”Your letter, mistress.”

The child sighed, “A lioness can’t help but worry about her cubs--or so I’m told. The letter was sent and I feel it has been received. Yet, my telephone remains stubbornly silent.”

”Yes.” The woman agreed again.

“Do not start with me. That son of mine prefers to write, yes. But the urgency...no. I will say it again. A flight, I think.”

”Commercial or private?”

“Yes, I know he will be surprised--perhaps, angry even but I cannot help but worry. We must leave at once. ”

”Yes.” The woman agreed, she had already opened her padfolio and had started typing on the iPad resting there.

“A flight I think.” The child repeated firmly.

”The flight is scheduled for tonight.” The woman nodded, ”You will fly private. We will need to leave in several hours. Will you be packing or would you like me to do so?”

“I will take care of my own luggage thank you.” The child stood from her padded chair, her eyes glowing, “You must pack your own bags.”

With that the child and the woman left the office, the woman clicking off the lights as she shut the door.  

[psychotic__Gal]

Eastern Europe
106-275 AD
Late Summer/Early Autumn
Nearing dawn

Eydís frowned up at the sky though she hadn't needed to in order to tell the time of night. She heard the faint stirring of the forest around her. She hummed an old tune and made her way to her own home without another word. She folded her arms behind her, clasping her hands. What a strange night it had been...a strange night indeed. What would the morrow bring? Bendis protect us if it compares to this night.

Eydís entered her home, glancing down at the hole in the ground. Deep below the hole, her parents were together. She would never join in their immortality. She was banned from Zalmoxis' realm and forbidden from seeking his promise of immortality. For one who could access the spirit realm though...she could accept that she could never enter Zalmoxis' kingdom. She had had millennia to accept it.

With thoughts of old gods and death, Eydís folded her body into her her burial site. Her body seemed to melt into the familiar soil. Her eyes closed briefly. Indeed. What a strange night it had been.


 

[psychotic__Gal]

So that was it for the night.

Cian was silent, processing the information he had heard, combining it with what he had already known, turning the information together to create some sort of digestible stew. As the matriarch had spoken of his maker’s home, he could see it though he knew it had advanced in technology, masonry and building by the time he had actually been there. Hundreds of years would have passed by the time Cian would have seen it. The Greek vampire couldn’t recall the year he had first gone to the homestead...What had been happening in their world at the time? There was no historical frame of reference for him to consider.

Those thoughts aside, he was able to imagine how it might look utilizing his first-hand knowledge of his maker’s geography and his knowledge gained via academia. Nefretiri’s explanations regarding his maker’s abilities echoed remnants of his own memories of her displays of her abilities. Of course he had only seen her spirit guides a handful of times. His lips even upturned slightly when Nefretiri spoke of Eydís’ frustrating vagueness. That had not changed at all.

Cian glanced toward Veni very briefly during the Egyptian’s description of Rome. How would this story reflect upon Veni--a Roman? More importantly...given the difference between the years Nefretiri was describing now and Veni’s rebirth as a vampire...Why, in the name of all things holy, did Nefretiri go to Rome? Would she not have wished to avoid it after what had happened?

Cian didn’t dwell for long upon those thoughts...it would come out through the story. He could afford to wait to hear it; he was a patient man after all.

Cian stood, ”Thank you.” He murmured to the matriarch, ”I look forward to the continuation of this tomorrow. He nodded his head to Ma Jianshen before leaving the room, his mate trailing behind him.
 

[psychotic__Gal]

The story kept Daphne in rapt attention. Unlike her mate, she had no frame of reference. She had never been to the matriarch’s home in Eastern Europe...Daphne was also ashamed to say that she had never actually been to Romania or Hungary. She realized she needed to remedy this. In the early years, she had traveled a great deal. And yet…And yet She needed to travel even more. Nefretiri’s descriptions of Eydís’ homestead were good. They allowed the blonde’s imagination to take action but it wasn’t enough. There was still a hard ball of discomfort in the pit of Daphne’s stomach. Some sense of unease drawn from not being able to relate.

Perhaps she would ask Rosemary for pictures --if she had any--of Romania. Perhaps she would ask Cian for books. Her lips twitched down. But, ah, it wouldn’t be the same. She wished to see it. Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do about it now. She was exhausted. As one of the youngest vampires in the home, her body was becoming heavier and heavier as dawn neared. Her blinks were becoming longer, her joints were stiff.

“That should be enough for tonight. I am sure you want some time before sunrise. We will be able to begin earlier tomorrow night?”

Daphne uncurled her body from where she had drawn her feet up and stretched away from Cian. The movement was so free, so trusting, her neck bared to the entire group. She noticed her mate flinch out of the corner of her eye and sheepishly dropped her arms from the stretch, bringing her shoulders up in embarrassment.

Daphne stood. ”Thank you, Mistress, for sharing your story.” she could not stop the bright smile, ”I appreciate the time and energy you expended to tell it. I am very eager to hear more!  

[psychotic__Gal]

KITTEN TIME

Some time passed and the kitten woke. With her side flat against the bed, she rubbed her head and that side against the fabric before standing. She let out a small mew before stretching. The kitten's claws retracted from her paws while in the stretch. They snagged the fabric but didn't rip through it or destroy it.

With that finished, she took in her surroundings.

There was much to explore in this room. So much to see. So much to smell-- It smelled of her favorite servant. The cat hopped from the bed with a light ppfph as she landed gracefully on the floor. The main door was closed but...ah. What was through that door?

When the twins found her, she was nuzzling a long black dress, having already rubbed her sides along a row of other black clothes. Cat hair now lightly covered the pieces. She left her soft side room.

What had the small beasties brought her? They were holding a small bowl....she stood on her hind legs, trying to see it. Finally they set it down. She smelled it, her nose halting just before hitting the water. Oh. She lapped it up with quick strokes of her tongue. Alas. It would be better if it was moving.

After the children left, she was alone. And bored. So bored. And alone. She sat on her haunches, her tail flicking. She meowed loudly, crying out her boredom. Finally the door opened. She was mid-complaint but she still attempted to shoot out of the room before noticing it was her favorite slave. He was quick enough to pick her up.

After she noted who this was, she headbutted his hand with a soft purr. There was much action and talk between the slaves. Too much. But... her slave made her feel at home. In his arms she didn't feel the need to hide under the bed.

Hmm...soon she would explore more yes. But she mustn't attempt to wake them or stand on the beasties. No. No. That might be bad. She was a gracious master. She would not wake her slaves.

((The ending paragraph is in response to Veni's power of suggestion))