Daniel Middleton

She laughed again at his apologetic nature, “Please, don’t worry, for it is not a personal question… at least, to me it isn’t.” Daniel watched her for a moment as she removed a ring from her finger, a diamond sparkling on it as she tossed it casually in the air and caught it again. Up…down…up…down..He wondered how she could just throw it into the air so carelessly…he knew a lot of people that wouldn’t have dared to toss their rings around. He hadn’t decided if he liked that or not…right now it was just…interesting.

“I remember feeling confused, which was to be expected, I had no idea who he was. And… I felt scared, I don’t know why… it was simply a feeling.” He nodded in understanding – a lot of times he felt scared without knowing why. It was probably why he was so clumsy all the time…he was afraid of screwing up something. “There was something in his eyes… he seemed so sad. I still don’t understand.”

She gave a little shake, and Daniel wondered if she was chilly, or if it was because of the memories that she shivered like that. “Wow, that was so long ago, I’ve never truly thought about it until now.”

He offered a timid little smile. “Weird that we don’t think about some things very much…There are a lot of big things that happened to me that I don’t remember very well….” he nervously played with the now-becoming-shaggy hair draping down the nape of his neck. “Eh…mostly periods when I injured my head, apparently.” He let out a nervous laugh….then felt a shiver down his spine that he couldn’t explain. He turned to look all around them, his breathing quickening as though he was running, even though he clearly wasn’t. What is it? Why do I suddenly feel like I need to go?

His eyes wide, Daniel looked at Amara. “Do you feel something…I mean..something weird going on?” I feel like someone just dumped ice water on me and I’m still dry… He looked down at the goosebumps. Something weird is going on..

Daniel Middleton

“Yes,” Amara said in a hollow tone that Daniel found slightly frightening. He shivered at a sudden chill up his spine, and they both peered at the deepening shadows around their little pile of rubble. “I’m not sure what it is… but I do not intend on staying here long enough to find out.”

Amara shot Daniel a calculating look, and he realized what she was thinking. She could probably use her super-banshee powers to get out of there, pronto, but he was the slow, weak, dork of a human. Amara put her ring back on her ebony-hued finger. Man, why can’t I be awesome and powerful and graceful like her? Or Kip? In the recent days, Daniel had decided that something was very special about the Hawkins. Overheard phrases, shared looks. Weird happenings when they thought he wasn’t looking. There was the same feeling around Amara as he had experienced with the Hawkins — they were one in the same. That was why he was quick to believe that this banshee was for real. There are…magic-people here…in this time…does that mean… Daniel took in a sharp breath. Does that mean that there are Vampires here, too?

He looked up into Amara’s shimmering eyes, and he saw the streak of fear there. “Run, I’ll be right behind you.”

Daniel shook his head, determination and resolve peering through the wave of fright. “No….I… I don’t feel like I should run.” He blinked, hard. What am I saying? Why don’t I get the heck out of here? Something is coming!

But that’s the truth. he realized. I don’t feel like I should leave.

He turned to Amara with a solemn expression, whispering in a weak voice, “Would you stay with me? You…you don’t have to…” A pleading look came to his eyes, hopeful but not hoping too much. After all, there was no clue as to what was coming…

A high-pitched scream rent the air for a long time, and Daniel covered his ears as the screaming continued. Far off in the distance, from the shadows of the trees that made the Helvaband forest – which he had walked in many times from boredom during the last few days – came a long line of shadows. They walked slowly, all cloaked, shrouded by the mist that hung onto the trees, after the humidity of the day gave away to the cool night. Daniel squinted so he could see them clearer, but couldn’t make out any features. It looked like they were all carrying something heavy, though. Like a little caravan heading off to some distant world. Daniel looked around for Amara, wanting to take a step closer to her (after all, a banshee is a banshee, and she was likely to have more defensive abilities than him.) but he couldn’t find the strength in his feet to move. Man, I feel like I’m a new character playing D&D way above my level. He almost laughed at that thought – almost.

“What are they?” he breathed, watching as the group – innumerable, it seemed – slowly made a circle around the pile of rubble that Daniel had been drawn to before. Whether it was because they always met on Wednesdays around this particular rubble, or they had noticed the strangers and come to investigate, Daniel couldn’t tell. But he didn’t know what to do.

One of the figures spoke then, with a voice that sent tons of shivers up Daniel’s spine. “You don’t belong here, foreigner….”

Daniel looked at Amara for a moment. How dare they tell her to bugger off? Amara needed a place like Helvaband. He could tell that this was important to her…having someplace to go. Someplace where she wouldn’t be booted out. Should he have just told her to leave and go into town? Would they have still come and bothered her later?

He couldn’t just sit there and watch Amara leave, though. “She has every right to be here as anybody!” he shouted, in a voice that didn’t sound like his own, “Helvaband is a sanctuary!”

Was that a chuckle renting the air. “Not her….you.” The cloaked figure in front of them raise one arm, revealing a pale blue hand that pointed at Daniel accusingly. Wait…what? He hadn’t done anything! Sure, he’d fallen out of his own time and landed, like, two centuries earlier…but that wasn’t his fault! Right?

Right?

“What are you talking about? I didn’t —” the blue hand was suddenly enshrouded in flames, first green, then a deep orange. Daniel stepped forward, mouth agape in surprise. They’re serious…are they going to kill me now? What will being dead be like? Will I become a banshee? Is it like being a Vampire? Would Amara have to bite me or something?

The hand reached out and grasped his wrist, sending a coldness up Daniel’s arms. “What do you want here, Tzigane?” Daniel looked up into the dark face of the being, stupefied. What is he talking about?

What did I do to make a bunch of ringwraith lookalikes interested in me?

He looked over his shoulder at Amara. I can’t get her in trouble for this. What if they don’t like banshees, either? He glared up at the shadow, murmuring. “Leave us be.” his brow furrowed, his lips turned downward in an intense frown, he shouted, “Go away!”

A blast of violet light flew up between Daniel and the shadow, and he fell backwards, bumping into something – or someone. Ouch…what happened? “Amara? _Amara?!” he jumped away from whatever it was he fell into.

Daniel Middleton

He was enshrouded in impenetrable darkness, stumbling blindly along. Was he going towards Amara, or away? Which would be better for her? Should he draw them away instead of looking for her? There wouldn’t be much he could do to help her, considering she was a banshee and he was a clumsy but otherwise ordinary human. But what about that violet light? He looked down at the dim outline of his hand. It felt…tired now, where the ringwraith thing had touched it. I don’t think he sent up that light…wouldn’t it have injured me or cursed me or something if he had? But I don’t know if Banshees have powers like that..maybe that’s all it is…But it doesn’t seem like all that light would just make it feel like I’ve been holding something heavy for a long time…ouch…like a cramp…

“What did you do to him! He was just a human!” Daniel looked up sharply, turning in all directions, trying to find the source of Amara’s voice. It sounded like it was echoing. Like they were both in a canyon or something. “Bring the human back.” Amara said in a strange tone that sent Daniel stumbling stupidly through some underbrush again. A horrible laugh rang through the night, fading slowly away into nothingness.

“Or what? What shall you do, Amara Fae?” The figure said in a whispery voice that somehow was very intimidating. Daniel’s mouth opened in shock, and he took in a mouthful of leaves, which he promptly spat out. Snap…they know each other?

“Or I’ll kill you.” He heard Amara say. Daniel felt something tug in his chest at the commanding tone he heard in her voice.

“Amara! Amara I’m here! He doesn’t have me!” he called out, then paused. “At least, I don’t think he has me…”

More laughter. Daniel froze as he realized it was much closer now. “You can try, Banshee.”

Daniel shivered as the vague outline of a cloak passed right by him. Following it slowly, he heard the figure he was following demand a ring from Amara after having some sort of hissing fight with the figure that stood in front of Amara — was that the one that had grabbed his wrist? He slowly started for the figure he had followed, able to get close because he was preoccupied with taking Amara’s ring. What would he want with that? Anyway, it’s Amara’s ring…she shouldn’t….oh…why is she giving it to him? I’m right here! That’s not right…

Suddenly, the figure that now had Amara’s ring turned, and Daniel was right behind him. Daniel felt his knees start to shake as he caught a glimpse, a mere hint at the face beneath the long hood. Oh my god… He raised his hands up defensively as the cloaked being started closer, and the violet light flashed all around again. “Augh!” Daniel fell backwards, and so did the figure, who had the ring grasped tightly in one hand. “Give that back to her!” He jumped as the figure started to get up, snatching the hand with the ring. More purple light. God, what is with all the freaking purple tonight? A violent scream, and Daniel’s head started to pound. “Give…it…back!” He arm-wrestled with the being until he could pry the bony fingers apart, and the ring fell to the ground between them. Daniel leapt for it, and a laugh rang out. More hisses, and Daniel was thrown backwards — not for the first time that night, he thought with a groan.

“I want that ring!” He heard dimly, his mind clearing from the dizzy haze as the taller one led the now ticked off ringwraith away, a golden and green glow between them.

But it’s Amara’s ring…

“Leave it alone tonight….there is not much time left.” More hisses and a snarly sound. Daniel sat up and looked around until his eyes found Amara. They were alone. He crawled over to her, eyes wide and hands beginning to bleed with how tightly he was holding the ring in his hand, though it was momentarily forgotten. He thought he’d seen her being choked by the taller of the ringwraith-dudes.

“Amara? Are you okay?” He shook his head slowly. “I’m…I’m sorry. You didn’t…you shouldn’t have…”

Daniel Middleton

Amara’s pale hand was across her throat, and Daniel’s brow furrowed as he tried to imagine how much she must hurt. It just wasn’t fair. Whatever had just happened. Daniel knew she wasn’t the one they came to threaten now, though he didn’t know what he had done to get them on his tail. But either way, Amara hadn’t done anything to them either, and they had just…

Well, he was trying to figure out what had happened, but everything was pretty much in a blur. And now he was sore all over, and his right hand felt very, very tired. Like it had fallen asleep and refused to wake up. The weird pains shot up his forearm as he tried to ‘wake up’ that hand in vain by balling his fist up and then letting go repeatedly.

“I’m…I’m sorry. You didn’t…you shouldn’t have…”

“No…” Amara said breathlessly, her voice sounding broken and beaten up to Daniel’s ears. “You shouldn’t have. He could have killed you! And you just…” She shook her head, a few diamond teardrops falling down her pallid cheeks. “Why would you…do that?”

Daniel didn’t know what to say, so he just kept his mouth shut for awhile. It was definitely a first. A response was inevitable though, and as he tried to place his thoughts into words he began to shift from nervous energy. Or lack thereof. “Um…I..I don’t really know. It didn’t seem fair for them to pick on you and I hate that. I guess it was just a flashback to my school years…” his lips twitched into a nervous smile that turned into a pain-ridden grimace as he shifted his sore hand. “I was the dorky kid everyone bullied, and when I got older I kind of took the blows for the little kids. The fact that I was naturally clumsy didn’t help, but it made a good excuse for any cuts or anything.” he shrugged, “Mom thought nothing of it, and somehow it seemed to help the kid, so…. I guess it’s just an instinct now. I don’t like it when people don’t play fair. And it wasn’t fair for them to grab you when you had nothing to do with it…” he frowned, “Besides, I asked you to stay, and you did…I shouldn’t have asked in the first place. Then you wouldn’t have gotten hurt…” he leaned forward to peer at her neck for any telltale marks. “Is it bad? Or just very sore?” Another shrug and a slight smile played at his lips. “I once made this huge bruise on my neck that looked like Africa. That was pretty cool. Mom made me wear a scarf so she didn’t have to look at it, she said it was so ugly and green. It wouldn’t have been a problem to wear it…if it hadn’t been August…”

OOC: Short post? Me? Naaaw…OH LOOK SOMETHING SHINY! [throws L out in the midst of posting to distract everybody] BIC:

Daniel Middleton

She smiled grimly as he mentioned the scarves in August, then slowly removed her hand from her neck. His eyes widened, and he leaned closer to inspect the wounds. “I can’t see, are there any marks?”

Daniel’s frown intensified, and he gently brushed his fingers across the marks of various widths and lengths on her pale skin. “Yeah…I’m afraid so. It looks pretty bad.” He wished he could do something to just take them away at a moment’s notice, so she didn’t hurt when she turned her head – as he knew would happen – but there wasn’t anything…..unless…

No! That’s impossible! He refused to bog down his already-confuzzled mind with what events had just passed. He stood up, sore but ignoring that. “Amara…I know a place you can stay, if you want. They’re a family not too close to town, and it’s a..a big place, so we won’t be bothered.” he smiled sadly at her, “What do you say?” He held out his hand to help her stand up. “Let a friend keep an eye on you?”

Daniel Middleton

“Amara…I know a place you can stay, if you want. They’re a family not too close to town, and it’s a..a big place, so we won’t be bothered.” he began with half-hearted smile. “What do you say?” He held out his hand to help her get to her feet, “Let a friend keep an eye on you?”

For a moment there was no reaction except for Amara’s eyes widening, then she beamed up at him. Her chilly fingers entwined with his own, “I accept your offer, and I am forever grateful for your kindness.”

Well, that’s a fancy-smancy way of saying it, I have to admit. He grinned at her, and pulled her up. Sheesh, she’s going to be a fun guest at the Hawkins’ place. I probably should have asked if it was alright with them before inviting her, but c’mon..how could I leave her out here alone after all this stuff happened? I would earn and deserve a rolling pin to the head for that, and I know it.

“Forget it,” he said with a shrug at her being ‘forever grateful’, “I’m just glad you’re relatively okay. If it had been me alone, I’m sure I would have been pulverized by those guys.” he looked across the moor with a frown, then looked back at her to smile, “Shall we go? The sun’s going to be coming up soon.” He hadn’t realized how late – or early – it had become, but a faint pink hue was rising across the moor. He didn’t know what Banshees thought of day-vs-night, but he figured her being out here at this hour had a lot to do with her lack of popularity.

Daniel is leaving the Moors with Amara at his side…heehee

Adrian Kyles

The cool evening breeze whispered through Adrian’s hair, making it dance and twine with Ambrose’s like sunshine and moonshine courting beautifully. They stopped and the wind became slightly harsher, bringing with it the smell of cold, clear water, signaling another rain was on the approach. The darker man reached out and placed his hand on Adrian’s shoulder.

“Adrian, I fear for you, when he comes. Something in my instinct says that he will target you… though I know not why.” Adrian shivered lightly, and it wasn’t from the cold. Come after him? Why? “I am asking that you do not attempt to associate with anyone who comes into Helvaband from this point on, for the reason that he is incredibly talented at manipulation. It is not because I do not trust you. It is for your own safety.” Ambrose turned to gaze across the moors. The blond man struggled with his friend’s request. As a doctor he was naturally curious and strived for knowledge, but Ambrose was serious, and he would try to keep to the older man’s wish. “Even I am not strong enough to hold out long against his will. That is why I flee. It is not because I am not strong… I have worked long to fight against him, to no avail. You cannot outsmart him, for he is a genius, but his appearance is far too fair in such a way that he could be mistaken as….” It seemed it was hard for Ambrose to talk about this subject. A beautiful man? And old lover perhaps? Whatever the case was Adrian knew very well the effects of a lovely face. Ambrose’s next words almost knocked the breath from his breast, so close were they to what he had been talking about with another earlier that evening. And the feeling in the darker man’s voice concerned the doctor greatly.

“As a god. An evil god, nonetheless, a god. He has worked his entire lifetime to gain the power he has, though much of it is stolen, and not earned by skill, though his own magyk is powerful.” A god-like man. How many were there in the world? The other took a step back. “Do not fall prey to him, for he can use a being to do the most horrible things, once he has them under his control. Like me.” A sigh. “Most of which I cannot forgive myself for, is because of him. Do not be deceived by his charisma… it is a practiced art, and nothing sincere. He cannot feel love freely, and that is for many reasons I hope you never understand.” No love, a hollow shell. So many people broken and shattered by so many things. Ambrose turned. “Much of the magyk he stole was my own, and though I seemed to have had control over it, I did not.” Ambrose looked back. . “Do not forget what I have said, Adrian. It is not well that you disregard or misuse the knowledge of one who has walked this dying earth for as many centuries as I have.” A rare smile surfaced. “And remember that life is a gift that you will miss when it is gone, and should hold very dearly. I would give… I would give all my strength to have life again, if that was what was required of me. But I would not give life. Life is something that should never be taken, without the cause of the Queen. Farewell, Adrian Kyles. I take my leave.”

Every step Ambrose took, brought him farther away, and every step looked like it weighed a thousand pounds to the man’s soul.

“ Good-bye, Ambrose. My friend.” His voice carried away on the wind and he hopped it reached the other man, so forlorn and grief stricken he seemed to be. He wanted to help so much, but though he could patch a mind, the body was his real art. And Ambrose’s wounds were not of the physical kind.

He watched until the other was out of sight, breathing deeply and sadly.

He was not a religious man. Adrian was a man of science, of facts and truths.

But for the first time in years he found himself falling to his knees with his hands clasped together in a complicated but remembered pose, his face to the rising moon. Prayers for his friend’s safety going from silently moving lips to the Seven Immortal Gods of his homeland.

The setting sun caused the moors to look more ghostly and unreal than usual as Patrick wandered aimlessly through them. It was a new moon that evening, and since he wouldn't be Transforming that night he knew he ought to be resting, but for some reason Patrick felt the need to go to the moors. Since the departure of Ambrose he had become very restless, feeling the need to patrol the borders of Helvaband--in Wolf form or otherwise--to search for not only the dangerous man Ambrose had mentioned but for the female Wolf as well. He couldn't explain it fully, but he couldn't ignore it either. And so here he was, night after night, watching and waiting.

He walked along, whistling a tuneless song softly, hands in his pockets. While he would have looked carefree to any passersby, his eyes were alert, his ears and nose ready to pick out the tiniest change out on the moors. He was poised, ready for whatever could be out there.

Not watching where he was walking, he stepped on a small twig that lay forgotten on the ground, forsaken by it's home in the trees. He cursed softly as he felt it break under his boot. Fantastic, now whatever's out here knows I'm here too. Some Wolf you are, Patrick. At times like these I really wish I was Transformed, because as a Wolf I would have been able to see that blasted twig...

He froze as a large shape beneath the tree suddenly whirled around. There a man sat, eyes staring intently into Patrick's through the fading light. Even though he was crouching Patrick could tell he was tall, taller than him, although seemingly just as surprised of Patrick as Patrick himself was of him. Who's he, then? he thought, half amused and half suspicious. Not many locals would willingly come here...I wonder...

No.

He couldn't be the man Ambrose spoke of, could he? Ambrose said we would know when we met him...and yet I don't feel fear around this one, only a bit of suspicion as to why he's here. If it was really him, wouldn't I feel it, somehow?

Patrick narrowed his eyes. "Just who might you be?"

The man stood up and turned to face Patrick, stern brown eyes meeting ice-blue ones. Patrick tried to think if he had seen him somewhere before, but came up with nothing--the man was completely unfamiliar to him. Suspicion flared inside him again, but he pushed it away. If it really was him, I would know it. Ambrose said so. I would feel fear, dread, something...and something else tells me that I wouldn't be suspicious of him. If it really was him, he would probably look...fairer. Easier to trust. Someone who wouldn't necessarily arouse suspicion in someone. Or something like that.

“My name is Dimitri…" the stranger said in a thickly accented voice. "Dimitri Svidrigailov. I am sorry if I surprised you. I haven’t been through this area in quite some time. Am I trespassing?”

Patrick almost laughed, but managed a wry smile instead. "Trespassing? Hardly. Please forgive me for that, but..." he trailed off. "I have reason to believe that this town is not as safe as it once was. I have been told there is an evil lurking about somewhere, and this part of Helvaband has always been considered to be more...dangerous...than others. Please forgive my suspicions, but in these times I cannot afford not to be cautious."

He held out a hand. "Patrick Mahoney. I don't believe I've seen you around town, Mr. Svidrigailov...you visiting Helvaband?"

The man--Svidrigailov--looked rather shocked at Patrick's grim news. I don't blame you, mate...it's almost impossible to believe something like this could happen in Helvaband, of all places. But that's also what makes it so easy to believe...

Svidrigailov shook Patrick's hand firmly, saying, “Nice to meet you Patrick. I only stayed for a couple hours about a year ago. I felt myself getting attached to this place so quickly that I decided to move on before I was too attached. I had been searching for a new home for many months and I needed to know that I wanted to be here because of the town itself or if I had simply gotten weary of travel. I’m hoping I can make a new start here.” Patrick nodded. "Understandable. I wouldn't know, as I've been here all my life, but I've heard that Helvaband is just the place to do that sort of thing...start over." He shrugged half-heartedly. "I'd be willing to bet over half of our newcomers arrive here to do just that. “About this evil… what can you tell me about it? I may be able to help.”

Patrick gave a weary sigh. "I wish you could...but unfortunately I'm not sure what I'd be able to tell you. In truth, I don't know much about him at all, only that he's here, and that he's not to be taken lightly." He trailed off, trying to recall everything Ambrose had said regarding this strange new enemy that night at the square. "All I know for certain is that he is dangerous, even to the few Magyckals among us in town. I'm sorry I can't tell you more...lord knows how I wish I could..."

Dimitri gave him a quizzical smile. “I’m sorry, but did you just say Magyckals?" he asked. Patrick nodded. I haven’t heard that word since my mother used to make up stories about my great-grandmother being a fortune teller. You are telling me that there are actual Magyckals… here? And this evil, is he Magyckal too?”

Patrick sighed heavily and looked away, letting his gaze skim across the vast moors. And here we are again. I'm in the same position I was when I told Drake my secret...how will this one react, then? Will he believe me, or will he call me crazy? Will he still want to help this town he says has enchanted him so much, or will he leave in fear the minute I reveal what I am--what other inhabitants of this town are? Am I willing to risk it?

Wearily, he looked back at Dimitri. "There are a number of ways I can answer your first question. I can lie, or I can give you the truth, which will be difficult for both myself to tell and you to hear. I will also need to know you can be trusted with the truth...although I think you do seem rather trustworthy. However, when confronted with such information, there's no telling just what a person will do..." He trailed off. "It's your choice, but if you want to help Helvaband as much as you say you do, I think it should be clear which you want to hear.

"As for your second question, that I can answer right away: Yes. To my knowledge, this enemy is, in fact, a Magyckal."

After Patrick finished speaking, Dimitri was silent for a moment. Patrick thrust his hands into his pockets, glancing around the fog-drenched moors once more, his eyes watchful and his ears pricked for the slightest noise. He is here...I know he is. But where is he hiding, and what does he want? And...how can I protect my city from him? What must I do?

The foreigner spoke, and Patrick turned towards him. “Patrick,” the man said with a small laugh,“I have nowhere else to go. I will do whatever must be done to secure my new home. If that means dealing with a Magyckal, I will do what I can, but I will need all the information you can give me.” Good. That's all I needed to know. We could use him on our side...we need whatever help he would be able to give us. "What about that officer or at least he was law enforcement a year ago… Drake I believe was his name. Does he know about this Magyckal?”

Patrick smiled, and nodded. "Drake is a friend of mine, for my part. Yes, he knows of this Magyckal--I was the one who alerted him to his presence. I'm not aware if he has been able to obtain any more information than I have about this mysterious enemy, though...although knowing him, he might have."

He took a deep breath, preparing to answer the rest of Dimitri's questions. "I wonder if you've been in Helvaband long enough to notice this, but we as a community seem to be obsessed with stories of Magyck. The wonder and curiosity the world of the Fey strike within us is a characteristic we all seem to share. My childhood--and adulthood--was filled with these Magyckal tales, used as bedtime stories or entertainment at parties or what-have-you. But what most of the citizens of Helvaband do not know is how true some of these fables actually are.

"Yes, there are Magyckals in Helvaband. They are everywhere, it would seem, hiding among us, leading seemingly ordinary lives. The man I obtained the information about Helvaband's new enemy was, in fact, a Vampyre. Do not be alarmed--I assure you that you have nothing to fear from creatures of the Vampyric sort, as several of them are my friends. Just recently I made the acquaintance of a Banshee, living on the outskirts of Helvaband. She, too, is friendly, as I believe most of the Magyckals you will meet are." He paused. "I too, am one of these Magyckals.

"I am a Werewolf, Transforming every evening after the sun sets, unless it is a night with a new moon such as this one. I am slightly more dangerous than most, I'm afraid--I have very little self-control when I am Transformed, although with the help of a friend I am becoming better at controlling my Wolfish instincts. To my knowledge, there is at least one more of my kind out there, a female that I have only recently met in her human form. I have been this way since I was seventeen years old--it is a curse, placed upon all the male descendants in my family by the witch Aerona Wyn. Yes, even witches, it seems, can be found in this seemingly ordinary town.

"So there you have it--an answer to your question, but I'm assuming one that will in turn only raise more questions."

He stopped, thinking. "Perhaps it would be wise for me to give you the names of the Magyckals I am aware of that will be on our side, against this monster? Such knowledge will most likely prove useful to you. Heather Fleming is my fellow Werewolf..." his voice trailed off, and he smiled slightly. "My dear friend Lilith Eytinge, along with a relatively new acquaintance Ambrose Vorassi, are both Vampyres...or, at least, Miss Eytinge was one. The...affliction has since left her, due to circumstances I still do not understand. Amara Fae is the Banshee, although I'm not sure if you're likely to run across her unless you deliberately set out to find her. There are non-Magyckals, as well, who are aware of the man...Drake is one, as well as Miss Narcissa Dayton, Adrian Kyles, and Nicolas Dubon...I believe that is it. They will be more than willing to help in this situation, if they can. There are more Magyckals in town, of course--Drake Dekker has a more complete list, but I haven't met everyone personally, so I'm not sure whether they are allies or not."

Patrick took careful note of Dimitri's reaction as he spoke, realizing that the man seemed more confused and surprised than scared of what was reaching his ears. That's a good sign. He won't flee as Drake did, running from the unknown as if that alone will protect you from it. Not that I really blame Drake for having that reaction to such news...after all, didn't I do the same thing when Mum told me all those years ago? I didn't want to face what I truly was, I didn't want to believe it was real...so I ran. And ran. Worried Mum out of her wits, too...Kathleen eventually found me, so far out into the moors I was surprised she was able to. I couldn't tell her what was the matter, but some way or another she convinced me to come back home...but Dimitri doesn't seem like the type to just run away. I think he'll be very valuable to have on our side against whatever this is, should it ever come to such a confrontation...

“This is a lot of information to take in all at once…” Dimitri said, sounding slightly weary. Patrick gave him a sympathetic smile. I know what you mean...believe me, I do. “Do you know where Mr. Dekker is by any chance? Maybe that more complete list will give me a little better understanding of the situation we are dealing with.”

Patrick nodded. "He lives in town, and you can usually find him if you look hard enough. Just tell him I sent you and you should be fine. We can trust Drake completely, as we can with all the others I have mentioned. Whatever this new evil is, we may be able to defeat it if we can just gather our allies and gain more information about what exactly we're dealing with. It won't be easy, but I think it can be done. No matter what, we must think of all the innocent people in town who are oblivious to all this...who have no idea of what's lurking just out of their sight at this very moment. They will be hurt, maybe even killed, unless we do something."

He looked away for a moment, musing. "You know, it's amazing how much this sort of knowledge can change a person. I was perfectly content to live the life I thought I was meant to live before I learned of my curse. I had it all planned out...marry my childhood sweetheart, start a family, live out the rest of my days in the house I myself had been raised in....I really was content to live 'happily ever after', if you'll pardon the expression. I never dreamed that something so unbelievable could happen to me, but it did.

"So I put some of my dreams on hold. When my mother told me of the curse she informed me that it could be broken, somehow. All of my energy then went into finding some way to break the curse, to resume and reclaim the life I thought I had lost. But it wasn't to be...Kathleen saw me for what I truly was and left me. Another dream shattered.

"I thought I had found love again, in the Vampyre Lilith Eytinge. But that, too, was not to be, for she has found happiness with another, the Unmagyckal Nicolas Dubon. Another dream.

"With this new information about our enemy I have all but forgotten about finding an end to my curse. Protecting my city and it's people are all I care for now." He paused, sighing and shaking his head. "But I ramble. Forgive me. I'm sure you're anxious to go find Drake."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OOC: Planned Becki/Elred interaction! BIC:

Rebecca Appleton

After her first disastrous trek to the Moors, Rebecca had waited a few months before venturing to explore them again. She was still intrigued by them--their sheer vastness, the fearful way in which the people of Helvaband regarded them, the old shack that Haine Hughes had told her to use as her landmark should she ever become lost out in the emptiness, the whispers of tales of long-lost explorers and the mysterious 'Tower' that was supposedly somewhere in the ever-present mist. All through the winter Rebecca had been restless, wanting to go out and prove herself worthy of a brave heroine like Catherine Morland or Jane Eyre. With the first of the warm weather pushing through, she had figured now was as good a time as any.

Rebecca was prepared this time, bringing with her in a basket a scarf in case of a sudden change in the weather, a candle and matches, and a light lunch in case she became hungry. She was determined to be brave on this expedition--she still became embarrassed and angry with herself when she thought of how Mister Hughes had had to rescue her the first time she had ventured out to the moors alone. That's not going to happen this time. I can take care of myself, can't I--haven't I proven that already? Just look at how long I've been in Helvaband all on my own. Father hasn't tried to contact me yet, even though it's been months, but I haven't given up. I'm different than who I used to be. I've learned to stand on my own two feet. I'm braver and stronger than I used to be. I can handle the moors on my own. There's so much I want to know...so much I still don't understand.

And so, basket tucked under one arm, Rebecca had set off for the moors on her own, humming under her breath as she walked along the path that led out of town. Dove-colored clouds covered the sky above her, but every so often the sun would shine through, illuminating the world around her and showing off the eerie beauty of the outskirts. Rebecca sighed contentedly. See? It's not so bad, really.

Rebecca walked on, her eyes scanning the horizon for anything out of the ordinary. She didn't exactly know what she was looking for, but neither had Catherine Morland when she had explored the mysterious Northanger Abbey. Jane Eyre had ventured into the unknown, as did Alice when she had fallen down the Rabbit-Hole...They only knew they were on an adventure. That's what I want now. I want my own adventure.

A crisp wind blew her hair away from her face as she looked around, her mind filled with the snippets of the stories she had heard the townspeople telling about the Moors...murmurs of unknown enemies and unexplained disappearances, stories told with a grin and a flickering candle after dinner at the hotel....Tales of the strange world of the Fey, the faeries, or of werewolves and evil mages. They fascinated Rebecca almost more than she could say. She had scoured the library for every book involving magyck that she could, hoping to learn more, but without much success--more often than not she would return, having found nothing of importance, to her old standbys of Jane Austen and her romances. She listened to every story she could, trying to put together the pieces of a world she could only imagine.

I know the odds of magyck existing are rare at best...I'm nearly sixteen and a half years old, I shouldn't believe in these things...Father would say I'm being silly. He would tell me to stop...but Mother wouldn't. I know it's ridiculous to believe that magyck really is here in our world, but... But what if it is?

“Who’re you, and why are you out here all by your lonesome?” asked a voice behind her.

Rebecca whirled around, her hand on her heart. A small boy stood facing her, large amber-colored eyes gazing unwaveringly into hers. Rebecca's mouth fell open slightly as she looked at the child. The confidence in his eyes seemed unsettling in one so young--he couldn't have been more than ten, but he looked to Rebecca as if he knew the world much better than she did at that moment. But what truly scared Rebecca were not his eyes, but rather his lack of an ear on one side. What happened to you? Why...I could ask you the same question...what's a child doing way out here? And...why do I feel frightened?

When Rebecca spoke, it was with a much stronger voice than she had been anticipating under the circumstances. I really have come a long way, haven't I? "I'm Rebecca. I'm here by myself because..." she met his gaze once again. "Because I want to be. And because I don't have anyone to come out here with me. Who are you?"

The boy looked around, those unusual eyes brushing over their surroundings as Rebecca's had done not so long ago. “Where is this place? Seems like a wretched place to me. Dark and musty and rainy.” Rebecca's eyes widened.He doesn't even know where he is? Is he lost? "These--we're on the outskirts of the town where I live now. Helvaband. And most people feel the same way about them that you do...I used to, but I don't want to be afraid anymore. I'm too curious to be afraid."

Dimly she wondered why she was telling this boy so much when she knew nothing about him, but she ignored the thought as he said, “I like places like that. Full of mystery and stuff.” Rebecca smiled softly at this, nodding. "I agree."

The golden eyes flickered up to her face once again, and Rebecca realized he was staring at her birthmark. She froze for a second. The people of Helvaband had more or less gotten used to her birthmark by now, and she wasn't used to it being noticed. “What’s that, some sort of tribal thing? This place isn’t at war, is it? I mean, I don’t like fighting.”

Rebecca flinched, memories of painful remarks about her face flooding back to her. She looked down at the basket in her hands, trying to think of a response. He doesn't mean it. He's just a boy--he can't possibly know how rude he's being. Remember that...

When she finally found her voice, it was more subdued than it had been before. "No, Helvaband's not at war. I was born with this--I've always had it." She looked up, locking eyes with the boy. "I used to hate it, but I don't anymore. It's part of what makes me who I am."

The little boy smirked up at her, looking both arrogant and slightly mischievous. “I’m Elred, and I don’t have anyone to come out here with me either!” he said, laughing a bit. Elred...what an interesting name...what is he doing out here all alone, though? Just who is Elred? “Well, I do have someone, but… see… she’s not here. Or anywhere around here. She’s at home. I don’t have a home now. I ran away from there.”

Rebecca nodded, Elred confirming her suspicions. "I ran away from home, too, if you can believe that," she said softly. "And I don't think I'll be going back." Because I'm not wanted...nor do I want to go back. Why would I want to be locked away from the world again when I can actually live here in Helvaband? I'm beginning to realize that part of the reason I was so shy is that I was never given a chance back home. I was kept from the world by those who thought it was best for me, and that made me fear the world far more than actually going out in it would have. I've changed now, and I don't want to go back.

I love who I've become too much to go back.

The child--Elred--asked where exactly they were, and Rebecca explained, giving him the name of the town and her reasons for going out and exploring. She was glad to see that the boy didn't find the moors at all frightening like other would...like she had the first time she had gone out there alone. She bit back a smile at how foolish she had been then, and how far she had come in the short time since then.

All was going well until Elred inevitably noticed her birthmark. Rebecca flinched, caught off-guard by the very question she had grown to anticipate. It's all right--he didn't mean anything by it, she tried to console herself. You don't have to be afraid of people noticing anymore. You're stronger now. I was born with this—I’ve always had it," she told him, regaining a bit of her confidence from before. "I used to hate it, but I don’t anymore. It’s part of what makes me who I am.”

“Well, I have this,” Elred said. Turning his head to one side and pointing, he revealed that he was missing one of his ears, only a small hole remaining where it was supposed to be. Rebecca stared at it for a second, wondering exactly what had happened to the child as he continued, “and I still hate it, and I don’t think it’s a part of who I am! I think it’s very bad, and it makes me look like a lizard or something stupid like that!”

It's unusual...I wonder if it impairs his hearing in some way...but I wouldn't call it bad... Rebecca gave a little shrug. "I don't think it looks that bad. It's just different. You wouldn't want to look exactly like everyone else, would you?"

“You’re silly,” came his response. He looked up at her, and Rebecca smiled. “But you’re pretty.”

Rebecca giggled at this, her laugh ringing about the empty moors. "And you," she said, ruffling Elred's hair, "are very sweet. Thank you."

"You wouldn’t want to look exactly like everyone else, would you?” she asked him. It felt strange to Rebecca to be saying something like that, when she had spent the majority of her life being told that she herself should want to look like everyone else. She almost felt as if she had traveled back in time and was giving advice to herself as a child. We're alike, this strange young boy and I...alone on the moors, each trying to live in a world that they don't feel truly accepts them, or will ever accept them...and both of us trying to make the best of that and pretend it doesn't bother us.

“Certainly not,” Elred said in such a way that Rebecca knew he was trying his best to sound grown-up. She couldn't help smiling at that, remembering a time when she herself had tried to do the exact same thing. Adults seem to take you more seriously when you try to sound and act like they do, because they don't think children can understand. They don't think children are as smart as they are, and that shows. But children can understand, and they do...more than grown-ups ever really realize.

“You’re silly. But you’re pretty,” Elred told her, earning a laugh and a ruffle of his hair from Rebecca. The laugh he seemed pleased about, the ruffle less so, as he gave Rebecca a look that clearly said he didn't appreciate that. “And you are very sweet. Thank you.” This prompted another grown-up remark from Elred, his “Much obliged,” clearly copied from parents or other adults he had heard in his life. “So…What you got there?” he asked, his attention falling to the basket Rebecca carried at the crook of her elbow. “That smells nice. What is it?” Without any warning, he stepped forward and removed some of the cloth that covered the top of the basket, trying to peer inside. “What is it, hm?”

Before Rebecca could tell him what she had in the basket, he demanded, “Lemme have some!” She felt her eyes widen at his boldness as he added, “Please?”

"Er...all right," Rebecca said, a bit unnerved. She removed the cloth on the basket, revealing the lunch she had brought with her--half a loaf of bread, some cheese, a few apples, and several cookies she had saved from dessert the night before at the hotel. "Help yourself..." Poor child is obviously running away from something, he must be starving.

OOC: Continued Drake/Daniel BIC:

Daniel Middleton

It was a serious walk from Helvaband to the spot where he and Isis had arrived in the past. But he was getting used to the strange higher level of exercise when there was no sidewalk, no adapted machinery, and most of all, no video games to preoccupy ‘one’s self’ with. Initially, Isis and Daniel had deserted their bikes where they lay, a strange track in the mud starting seemingly out of nowhere and leading to the toppled hunks of machinery. After several weeks of walking, Daniel had found himself wandering out here again, marveling over how long it had been since he had just eaten a good old, greasy hamburger in the diner and staring at the rain-drenched ground that hid the unexplainable traces of them ever arriving. Out of the blue. Completely unbelievable.

Daniel had moved the bikes a little deeper into the small gathering of trees, dumping on piles of brush to hide them from anyone. They weren’t supposed to be here, but it wasn’t like he could push them one by one into town and ask the Hawkins if he could park out in their garage for who knows how long. We really need to get back now. He thought darkly, as he felt Drake’s presence. He couldn’t resist an envious scowl. The guy is quiet as a freaking squirrel in the underbrush. He couldn’t hear Drake behind him. He just felt him. It was really creepy, actually. Daniel wanted to joke aloud about hobbit-lessons and thumping like elephants, but it would have been lost on the pitiably pre-Tolkien genius trailing behind him. “I hide them here…” he told Drake, hopping down into the small ditch and prying off the pine branches with his bare hands, leaving a layer of sticky sap on both hands. He ignored the way his fingers stuck together and revealed to his companion the tired-looking vehicles, one all black with brilliant purple flames painted on them – that was Isis’ – that he pulled out with a groan by its handlebars.

“Okay, so this one is for Isis. If you tell her you touched it, I was nowhere near here and had no idea, okay?” He held it up and smiled weakly at Drake. “It’s a motorcycle. Like…a motorized bicycle. And you just…” he lifted one leg and straddled the heavy machinery, taking a moment to precariously reposition himself. “Sit on it like this…and start the engine like this…” He turned the key and the engine began to growl, clattering to life. He had to shout to be heard now. “And gun the engine like this!” He revved the engine until it lifted into a roar. Daniel beamed at Drake.

Daniel Middleton

Daniel began to explain, demonstrating as he spoke. “It’s a motorcycle. Like…a motorized bicycle. And you just…” He clamored onto the contraption. “Sit on it like this…and start the engine like this…” He turned the engine on, making Drake move back several steps looking like something had just ate its own head in front of him. Daniel grinned merrily. He shouted over the roaring machine, “And gun the engine like this!”

He held the bike still as Drake stepped forward, reaching out almost fearfully, his fingers experimenting the feel of the different parts and gears and buttons. The entire thing vibrating with energy and power, Drake looked up at Daniel, an amazed look on his face. Daniel supposed this could count as his Christmas present to Drake, and that made him want to laugh. He was suddenly so much more confident, now that he felt something from the real world – well, just his world _ beneath his fingertips.

“How does it work?” Daniel worked his lips, trying to find the words to explain. With a slight frown he killed the engine, sitting on it a moment longer before finally getting up, still holding the handlebars.

“Well…um…you see…it’s kinda like an explosion. A controlled explosion. In there,” he pointed to the main engine. “You use gas and..I’m not exactly sure how, but when you turn it on, it starts burning off the gas. And that powers the wheels to push you forward.” He shrugged, “Sorry, but I’m not really sure about the technical bits of it. I just got mine, like, the day we came back. In fact, it was my first ride and we went through a tear in the universe.” He sighed, rolled his eyes and shrugged, looking depressed, “And that, my friend, is just my luck.”

Daniel Middleton

“Sorry, but I’m not really sure about the technical bits of it. I just got mine, like, the day we came back. In fact, it was my first ride and we went through a tear in the universe.” He sighed, rolled his eyes and shrugged. “And that, my friend, is just my luck.”

“Luck,” Drake echoed quietly. Daniel looked up to see a strange, sort of creepy smile on Drake’s face. He should have known Mr. Awesome was too logical to joke about luck without using multiple-syllabled words and twisty phrases with it. “You want to rest your fate on luck, then? A tear in the intangible universe can only amount to luck? I might be able to swallow the existence of magyck, and even of time traveling, but do you really wager that everything you are experiencing now is fate? That’s a very strong coincidence.”

Daniel wondered if he could count the amount of big words Drake used, but figured it was pointless. Instead he tried to piece together what he’d said. He definitely caught that Drake didn’t think very much about Daniel’s intelligence, especially when it came to the awesome futuristic gear he’d managed to bring with him. Instantly Daniel began to wish the motorcycles had been left back in the future. There was no way he could hide the disappointed look on his face, and he stared stupidly at the handlebars. After a moment or so, he gave a shrug of his shoulders, mumbling. “I was just saying that this kind of thing doesn’t surprise me very much. Not the time-traveling thing. But me ending up someplace I don’t belong, with no idea how to do anything right. Fate or talent or whatever, it doesn’t really make a difference, does it? Not to me.” His hold on the handlebar tightened, and his frown deepened. He felt like a lump in his throat, and it showed in his voice. “Yeah, I know. It’s too bad you didn’t get to see some genius guy from the future of the earth. You just got a clumsy airhead magyck freak.” He lifted his gaze to offer Drake a weak, plastery smile, then got off the bike, not meeting his gaze again.

“You can keep my bike. I don’t want it anymore. Take it apart if you want.” He shrugged, pulled his bike out from under the brush, and started carefully covering Isis’ bike back up again, taking pains to get it completely, “It was stupid to think I could have one anyways.”

Daniel Middleton

“I was just saying that this kind of thing doesn’t surprise me very much. Not the time-traveling thing. But me ending up someplace I don’t belong, with no idea how to do anything right. Fate or talent or whatever, it doesn’t really make a difference, does it? Not to me.” It was so stupid. Why was he almost crying over something as stupid as this? But he couldn’t help adding in a bitter tone, “Yeah, I know. It’s too bad you didn’t get to see some genius guy from the future of the earth. You just got a clumsy airhead magyck freak.” At least you could have gotten Marty McFly, right? Too bad for us..

Drake, however, turned stony on him. The whole gargoyle face thing was really rather irritating. But despite the cold sound to Mr. Awesome’s voice, Daniel found a little comfort in his words. At least he tried to cover up the fact that he thought Daniel was a wussy from the future who didn’t know anything. That was kind of nice of him. “I’m afraid you have put words into my mouth, Mister Middleton. I was not expecting anyone from your… your time, much less a so-called genius. I have, however, met someone with an extraordinary story and fascinating abilities that I am sure can be tamed, though from this display of yours I wonder if you will continue trying?”

Daniel just watched him, his face more drawn and blank than he had ever felt it. The expression felt stiff on his cheeks, like some sort of mask. But his eyes sparkled with a little amusement. Yeah, he was totally trying to cover for Daniel readily admitted the wussy factor. Mr. Awesome and even gone sofar as to offer an oddly spoken compliment. Even if Daniel didn’t quite yet see them as ‘fascinating abilities’, it was nice for someone to at least try and cheer him up once in awhile. After a long pause, his usual smile began to break across his face. “Sure, I’ll keep trying! I want to know what I can do as much as you!” His smile went a little crooked, and a little blush started across his face, as his eyes fell to the ground. He kicked at some leaves gently, sending them twirling off in the light breeze. “It’d be nice to be able to do something right, you know? And it’s important to know how to control something like that.” He frowned, “Unlike today. That was a big mistake, though I’m kind of glad to finally get it off my chest to someone besides Isis…it’s kind of a weird thing to keep secret when you randomly send stuff off shelves and things like that.”

Maybe a little out of his element with the whole be-nice-to-the-new-guy routine, Drake exhaled slowly, his hands in his pockets. “Well. I feel as though we’ve had a very fulfilling afternoon. I am sure you are in want of rest.”

Daniel nodded. Though not as enthusiastically as before, he was getting there. “Yeah, it’s kind of a lot to take in, huh? I guess we should head back.”

Daniel Middleton

Daniel kicked uncomfortably at the ground. “It’d be nice to be able to do something right, you know? And it’s important to know how to control something like that…. Unlike today. That was a big mistake, though I’m kind of glad to finally get it off my chest to someone besides Isis…it’s kind of a weird thing to keep secret when you randomly send stuff off shelves and things like that.”

Drake gave a curt nod. “I would imagine so…. I think, though, that you aren’t alone in your struggles, as fathomless as that may seem.” Daniel looked up in askance, studying Drake’s face for confirmation, and only got a little hint of a smile that was veiled and teasing at the corners of Daniel’s mind as it was on Drake’s lips. Before he could ask for more information, however, Drake continued, “Well, I feel as though we’ve had a very fulfilling afternoon. I am sure you are in want of rest.”

Daniel nodded, his mind swimming, “Yeah, it’s kind of a lot to take in, huh? I guess we should head back.” In silence, and with none of the previous energy or excitement of the day, they did so. Daniel felt Drake’s discomfort, and after a moment the older man said, “You will learn to use your skills, Daniel. If you will have it, I will do my part to make sure of that.”

He offered Drake a little smile, “I appreciate that, Mr. Aw—erm..Dekker..” The smile broadened, and he gave a nod, his feet lifting a little higher as they headed back to Helvaband. Sure, this could have been a stupid mistake of his. But for the momentary lift off his shoulders, Daniel was willing to take that chance. He was, in that moment, positive that Drake could find a solution to the problem Isis and him faced. He just has to find a way…

Daniel is done here