A World Beyond (IC)

[Nightkill the Emperor]

The vampire entered. "We are the Calacas." he informed Vernon. "We would like to discuss something with you. The Coiled Viper, and the rest of your group."
----------------
Marshall glanced at his phone, an IPhone 4S. "Shouldn't take more than ten minutes to get there." he told her. "We can get a ride by taxi."

And so they walked toward the taxi, and got in. "So, Hailey, how long have you been in San Francisco?"

[Nationstatelandsville]

The vampire entered. "We are the Calacas." he informed Vernon. "We would like to discuss something with you. The Coiled Viper, and the rest of your group."

"Calacas?" Vernon asked, taking note of it. He vaguely remembered Carry talking about vampire factions, though it was entirely possible that he was remembering wrong. Either way, it made sense that the vampires would divide up into groups, or "tribes" perhaps, much as humans do. As it were, it would also make sense for them to be locked in conflict, of physical or political variety. That would certainly explain the airport massacre, one "tribe" was trying to kill Smokey, who was most likely an important member of a rival group. And of course, Mr. G being the terrible writer that he is, one of these "tribes" would have the Viper and would be guarding it from the others, as it has some kind of mystic powers that Carry was either unaware of, or was planning to use for his own nefarious purposes and didn't tell the group the truth so as to prevent them from figuring his plans out. Or maybe, this vampire was just full of shit.

"A faction of vampires, I presume. And when I presume, I'm always right. Say what you have to say, and say it fast, because I have to be someplace soon."

[Metanih]

"I flew in recently. From a town up north, called Jasper. How long have you lived here?" Hailey asked, feigning curiosity. She didn't want to make her food too suspicious. Oh, please don't show up. Please don't show up. Please don't show up. The Beast repeated, as a mantra. It was almost pathetic even, as the beast was so confident the rest of the time.
I hope so too. He was too fast.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Frederick sighed when both vampires, Hailey and the pothead, ran off to someplace, somewhere. Now he couldn't watch either of them and he didn't really have anything else to do. He decided that the best thing to do was go try to look for the Coiled Viper instead of wasting more time, but he didn't have the golden compass on him, and he didn't remember who had it.

"Oh well." He thought aloud. "I'll have to try something."

Finally, he went over to an internet cafe and began trying to search information about the Coiled Viper.

Some search results finally popped up.
The Coiled Viper is a mythological object that would supposedly amplify the powers and strengths of the user. The Coiled Viper was created by a Chinese mage. Myths date the object having been created in 700 to 1300 BCE.

The Coiled Viper was lost to history, during the Qin dynasty. The Emperor had taken the object, and after he died his son went to take it as well. To the son's shock, the Coiled Viper was gone.
------------------
"You are correct." the man told Vernon. "The Calacas would like to aid you in finding the Coiled Viper. It would aid us in defeating the Amara Havana."
------------------
But Sachin did not appear.

Indeed, the ride went smoothly, Marshall clearly wanting to get into Hailey's pants by the end. They stopped outside a motel. "Sorry for the bad state." Marshall apologized. "When I get the money, I'll move out to a better one." Though she was unaware, the motel was the same one Vernon was staying in...

The sun would rise in a matter of minutes.

[Nationstatelandsville]

"You are correct." the man told Vernon. "The Calacas would like to aid you in finding the Coiled Viper. It would aid us in defeating the Amara Havana."

Vernon nodded at the vampire. So, he was wrong genre savvy for once, but he was still right about the mystic power thing. Of course he was. Mr. G would never be able to resist such a tasty development, though to anyone else, it tasted like shit. And a little bit like chicken. But mainly shit.

"Yes, well," Vernon began to reply, "there are three details I must present to you first. One of my 'allies', Hailey, was recently bitten by a vampire and transformed into one. Now, based on what I know of Mr. G and his horrible plotting, she was transformed into one of the Amara Havana. When it does come time for you to wage war on them, you must spare her. If you do not, believe you me, the Calacas will see the light of day again, and it. Will. Burn. Secondly, we will require the Coiled Viper to be returned back to us within 29 days, lest the fires of a god's rage and the pun-filled wrath of myself rain down upon the Calacas. Finally, I feel some complication shall arise soon enough, and I have a feeling that Hailey will factor into it somehow. You do as I say when this happens, or I will do some other horrible thing to you and your people. Am I understood?"

[Metanih]

"Well, gentleman, lead on." Hailey said, smiling. She of course, had no clue of Vernon's whereabouts. Thanks the gods.Thanks the gods.Thanks the gods.Thanks the gods.
OH MY GOD! STOP REPEATING THINGS!!! Hailey mentally yelled at the Beast.
Fine. A moment later, Fine fine fine fine...

[New East Ireland]

Damien tapped Fred's shoulder. "Hey, uh, you," Damien said casually. Which was... Off, to say the least. "Do you mind if I have a word with you, about... Things?" he asked. This was also casual. Weird, right? For Damien anyways...

[Nightkill the Emperor]

The hideous man shrugged. "Very well." he grunted. "We will attempt to do our best. But the city will be very shaken up soon. So far, we believe you have only encountered the vampire element, but the city is much, much larger than that..."

The vampire growled. "The were-creatures, the Chinese, and the rest will not accept the Status Quo being shaken easily. We will be busy. But we will aid you.

"We have reason to believe the Coiled Viper is in a place we cannot approach...we believe it is in Chinatown."
---------------------
Marshall took Hailey to the elevator, and they went up. Not to Vernon's floor, but the one right below his, in the room right below his. "It's not much." Marshall apologized. "Would you like a drink?"

The sun was out now. Marshall started walking over to open the curtains.

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Frederick turned around, mildly startled by Damien's sudden appearance. However, seeing it was him, he calmed down. Not completely, what with Damien being somewhat crazy as showin in the airplane incident, but hey, at least it was one of his group.

Thus, Frederick stood up. "Of course, what is it?" He asked.

[Metanih]

"Hey, why open the shades? I like the dark much more." Hailey took advantage of him not facing her for the moment, and covered his mouth with her hand, while biting into his neck. Come to think of it, it was a good thing Awe was active, or he may be terrified of the weaponry she carried. Of course, he probably was terrified right now, seeing as fangs had pierced his neck, and were actively draining his blood. He would have to die as well, sadly. He was a nice guy, even if he didn't think with his brain.

[Norvenia]

Gabriel had stayed at the hospital. He had been a hospital chaplain while in seminary, and he knew enough to stay out of the way of the medical personnel while he waited for word on Mark and Earl. I really don't like either of them very much at all, Gabriel reflected. It's just about certain that they wouldn't wait for me. So why am I here?

Because it's the right thing to do. Gabriel smiled and shook his head at that simple realization. It's so rare, in this world of necessary evil and least bad options, to find something that is just simply the right thing to do. These moments of moral simplicity are to precious too waste.

So the priest sat by Mark's bedside, and rearranged the flowers, and watched the lawyer sleep, and looked at the dust motes swirling in the rays of light that slanted in through the hospital window, and he was as much at peace as it was possible for him to be. Gabriel smiled quietly, feeling the weight of the last twenty-four hours lift slightly. It is enough. Thank you, Lord. It is more than enough.

[New East Ireland]

Frederick turned around, mildly startled by Damien's sudden appearance. However, seeing it was him, he calmed down. Not completely, what with Damien being somewhat crazy as showin in the airplane incident, but hey, at least it was one of his group.

Thus, Frederick stood up. "Of course, what is it?" He asked.

Damien sighed. "It's the rest of the group... I fear that they have... Well... You probably don't want to know," he said, "It might... Make you think wrong of me to say it. I know it to be true, but... I don't think you'll believe me. That is, unless you want to hear me out. I promise not to waste your time..."

[Nationstatelandsville]

The hideous man shrugged. "Very well." he grunted. "We will attempt to do our best. But the city will be very shaken up soon. So far, we believe you have only encountered the vampire element, but the city is much, much larger than that..."

The vampire growled. "The were-creatures, the Chinese, and the rest will not accept the Status Quo being shaken easily. We will be busy. But we will aid you.

"We have reason to believe the Coiled Viper is in a place we cannot approach...we believe it is in Chinatown."

Vernon nodded. Yes, yes, of course it was in Chinatown! Carry had gone out of his way to stress just how dangerous it was there! Where else could it be but Chinatown? Vernon assumed that the others would be figuring out it where they should be going right about now as well, so that the group would meet there. He pulled out his cellphone, which he had not used previously to call the police at Carry's due to his uh... complicated past in Las Vegas. Caesar's Palace was full of cheaters, for the record.

"Right," Vernon said, dialing Damien's number, which he had taken the time to remember back when Damien was a suspect of his. The principal didn't even know Vernon knew it, and that was just how the clown detective liked it. That's the way, uh huh uh huh he liiiiiikes it.

"Now then," he said, putting the phone against his ear as it dialed, "Count Calacas, I'm going to talk to the others about Chinatown. Oh, I assume that soon enough, that complication will arrive. Don't worry, I'll handle it when it does."

[Nightkill the Emperor]

"Hey, why open the shades? I like the dark much more." Hailey took advantage of him not facing her for the moment, and covered his mouth with her hand, while biting into his neck. Come to think of it, it was a good thing Awe was active, or he may be terrified of the weaponry she carried. Of course, he probably was terrified right now, seeing as fangs had pierced his neck, and were actively draining his blood. He would have to die as well, sadly. He was a nice guy, even if he didn't think with his brain.

"Stop!" Marshall protested, trying to push the vampire away, but in her frenzied state Hailey was able to overpower him. He did manage to remove her bandages in the struggle, the already worn out bandages falling off her bloody hands.

Soon, he stopped protesting, and started becoming very still.
-------------
Hailey could hear the conversation upstairs...

The vampire shrugged, ignoring Vernon. "As long as we are agreed." he grunted. "Goodbye then, Vernon." He began walking away. "I will communicate with you later, and I will keep a watch on the vampire you told me about, Hailey."

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Frederick nodded at Damien. "Don't worry, I promise not to think wrongly of you after you tell me whatever it is you need to tell me. Now speak up, what is it?" Frederick said to the principal.

[New East Ireland]

Damien leaned in close, and began to whisper. "It's Vernon, and Gabriel, and Hailey. I've seen them... Plotting, with the Indian Vampire. They were talking about... The artifact we're here for; the Coiled Viper. They want it so that they can kill Mr. G... And us. I barley believe it, but I saw them talking not long ago."

[Metanih]

Hailey would have let Marshall survive, if she could have done it without potentially creating a new vampire.It was sad, really. It is hardly sad. We cannot draw attention to ourselves with that one vampire chasing us. I do believe that the Vernon one is upstairs. Time to pay a visit perhaps?
But not to feed. Not so soon. Not drawing too much attention, especially from Mr. G, who i still suspect would be upset if we killed a player in his story so early. And Mr. G is more powerful than the stoner for sure.
With that, Hailey went upstairs, to go say a friendly "hi" to Vernon. Or a less than friendly hi. Either worked.

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Frederick shook his head at Damien. "Don't worry. Vernon, Gabriel and Hailey have not been all together for the past couple hours. They couldn't have been plotting something like that. And if they have, well, I still have Carry's Kukri. That should be of some help." He told the principal calmly.

"Anyways, I think we should go elsewhere, maybe try to find the others. I have some important information. Where do you suggest we go?"

[New East Ireland]

Frederick shook his head at Damien. "Don't worry. Vernon, Gabriel and Hailey have not been all together for the past couple hours. They couldn't have been plotting something like that. And if they have, well, I still have Carry's Kukri. That should be of some help." He told the principal calmly.

"Anyways, I think we should go elsewhere, maybe try to find the others. I have some important information. Where do you suggest we go?"

"No, no, you don't understand," Damien interrupted, "I've seen them together. The Vampire said that he made illusions of them to trick us. Please, here me out. I know it sounds risky, but we have to go out alone, by ourselves, and find the Coiled Viper before they do. With it, we can stop them from killing the others. Please, you need to trust me. I know I've been... Difficult, in the past, but I know it's true. I already believe that the Vampire is affecting me with some sort of mind alteration spell."

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Frederick sighed as he heard out Damien. "Well, I don't really believe you still, but I'm willing to do what you say. I know that the Coiled Viper is an artifact that amplifies a persons' powers and weaknesses, and have strong reasons to believe that it is in Chinatown. Mr. G, however, stressed that Chinatown is a dangerous place. Should we still go by ourselves? We don't even have the compass." He said.

[Nationstatelandsville]

Hailey would have let Marshall survive, if she could have done it without potentially creating a new vampire.It was sad, really. It is hardly sad. We cannot draw attention to ourselves with that one vampire chasing us. I do believe that the Vernon one is upstairs. Time to pay a visit perhaps?
But not to feed. Not so soon. Not drawing too much attention, especially from Mr. G, who i still suspect would be upset if we killed a player in his story so early. And Mr. G is more powerful than the stoner for sure.
With that, Hailey went upstairs, to go say a friendly "hi" to Vernon. Or a less than friendly hi. Either worked.

"Hello Hailey," Vernon greeted her cheerfully when she entered, noticing the blood on her mouth. Now was not the time to start any sort of confrontation with her, so he slipped his Bible back into his pocket. Time for a diplomatic approach, and, by now, she was surely much calmer then earlier. He hung up the phone upon realizing that Damien had left it back in Jasper, devoting his attention entirely to the little vampire girl.

"I apologize about earlier, I merely wanted to put you to sleep so that we could get you back to the others. I thought the Doc might be able to help. I was about to call Gabriel, actually. A vampire just told me where to find the Coiled Viper, and we need to regroup and find it. So, uh... how are you today? I see you just ate."

[Metanih]

"Well the sun came out, so i am stuck in this building for quite a while. A rather old stoner vampire decided that he had to watch me, so i wouldn't eat too many people. He was scary... but not scary enough it seems." Hailey said, indicating her mouth. "I didn't come to fight though, notice the lack of a gun in my hand. But i think finding the Viper would be a good plan, and soon. Although i honestly am scared of what will happen after we find it. G is scary enough to make me reconsider eating people, and certainly scary enough to want to stall and have peace for a while." Hailey said, softly.

[New East Ireland]

Damien thought for a moment. "Compasses? No, we can find our way. We have our guns, so we should be fine for the trip. If the Vampire, or something worse, finds us, we can run. Or, maybe, we can negotiate. Either way... Well, let's head out. We'll see what happens. If we run into one of the group members, we'll just say we're going for a walk. We can't have everyone following us, unless we want the Vampire to find out and kill us."

[Nationstatelandsville]

"Well the sun came out, so i am stuck in this building for quite a while. A rather old stoner vampire decided that he had to watch me, so i wouldn't eat too many people. He was scary... but not scary enough it seems." Hailey said, indicating her mouth. "I didn't come to fight though, notice the lack of a gun in my hand. But i think finding the Viper would be a good plan, and soon. Although i honestly am scared of what will happen after we find it. G is scary enough to make me reconsider eating people, and certainly scary enough to want to stall and have peace for a while." Hailey said, softly.

Vernon nodded, rising up from the bed and stepping away from it. He gestured to the bed, suggesting that Hailey sit down. For, though she had tried to fight him and had undoubtedly been manipulating the others to hate him behind his back, he was not without sympathy and, quite frankly, did not care what the others thought of him. Sooner or later, they would come to hate him for what he was going to do. And they would be completely justified in it.

"Go on, take a seat."

He removed his phone once more and dialed Gabriel's number, which he had acquired in much the same manner he had gotten Damien's, though Gabriel had not yet been suspected of anything. Not yet, anyways.

"Hailey," he said, dialing, "I'll talk to you in a second. For now, I have some planning to do. Order some pizza on the motel telephone if you still feel hunger for food, I'm a tad peckish himself."

He finished dialing and hit talk, the phone beginning to beep.

[Metanih]

"I'll try to get you some food." Hailey went over to the phonebook, found a number for pizza, and called. "Hello? I would like to order pizza.... No, i have no idea what kind i want. Just throw something together... What size? Medium should work... Actually i have no idea where i am... NO! I am not drunk... NO! This is not a prank call. You offend me. I am going to- Hello?" Hailey stared annoyedly at the phone for a few moments, before telling Vernon, "Sorry, i have absolutely no idea why, but he hung up the phone up on me."