A World Beyond (IC)

[Nightkill the Emperor]

"Uh, look, Mr. Owl, I just want to find an old artifact. I promise I won't disturb you or your... Bodies afterwards. I'll even give you the location of a vampire, and some yummy humans. Just give me something I can work with here," Damien pleaded, backing away from the door. He was careful not to step on any bodies, because they were, well, dead bodies.

There was a pause.

The owl moved it's face close to Damien's, staring at the man.

The smell of rotting corpses came from everywhere. It was rather suffocating.

"Do go on." the owl said. "Lure them into Chinatown for me. Do this, and I will spare you."

[Norvenia]

Gabriel wearily set down the phone and moved to stand beside Mark's bed, standing over the lawyer. If Vernon has Hailey with him, there's a good reason why he can't come. She shouldn't be left alone. Still, Gabriel wished that there'd been someone else there. Somehow, dying unattended except by a lawyer and a priest seemed terribly lonely.

Looking down at the dying lawyer, Gabriel shook his head. Vernon's right, for once: a prayer can't hurt. He closed his eyes and searched the endless dark inside for faith. God? It was like reaching for a candle in the pitch-black night. Gabriel regulated his breathing - in and out, like falling asleep. He settled into himself. Lord. Gabriel felt peace spread through him, fill him, and he could weep for the joy of it. I'm not alone anymore.

Lord, you know this man better than I, and you know better what to do for him. Still, Lord, I think he has work to do here still undone; as much evil as he's done, he has at last the chance to do some good. Save him, Lord. Save him for the good he might yet do, for the chance You've given him to redeem himself. Save him for Your name's sake.

Gabriel heaved a deep sigh. Yet not as I will, Lord, but as Thou wilt. Amen.

Gabriel opened his eyes and the peace flowed out of him, leaving him alone and troubled and struggling once again. Maybe it did some good. To Gabriel's surprise, he found that he felt better too. Vernon may be wiser than I thought, he reflected with a wry smile.

And then Gabriel sat down beside Mark and waited for him to die.

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Frederick nodded at Hailey and then sat down on a chair that was just lying around nearby. "Well, thank you Mr. G." Frederick thought to himself as he sat down. "By the way, I found out a couple things about the Coiled Viper not too long ago, in case either of you would care to hear about them." He said afterwards.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

There was a miracle.

After Gabriel made the prayer, Mark's health slowly started getting better. The doctors were shocked, but took advantage and tried to help him.

Mark was unconscious, but now stable.

[New East Ireland]

"Uh, look, Mr. Owl, I just want to find an old artifact. I promise I won't disturb you or your... Bodies afterwards. I'll even give you the location of a vampire, and some yummy humans. Just give me something I can work with here," Damien pleaded, backing away from the door. He was careful not to step on any bodies, because they were, well, dead bodies.

There was a pause.

The owl moved it's face close to Damien's, staring at the man.

The smell of rotting corpses came from everywhere. It was rather suffocating.

"Do go on." the owl said. "Lure them into Chinatown for me. Do this, and I will spare you."

"Really? That's... Great. Okay, I'll get right on that," Damien replied. He walked away from the owl, and made his way back into the alley. Damn, he still smelt like death. Oh well. Anyways, he walked over to a pay phone. He put in a few coins, dialed in Vernon's number, and waited.

[Nationstatelandsville]

Frederick nodded at Hailey and then sat down on a chair that was just lying around nearby. "Well, thank you Mr. G." Frederick thought to himself as he sat down. "By the way, I found out a couple things about the Coiled Viper not too long ago, in case either of you would care to hear about them." He said afterwards.

Vernon shook his head, smiling at Frederick. It was kind that he'd try and keep them informed, but, much like Gabriel, he seemed to be under the impression that Vernon didn't know what he was doing. How foolish for him to believe that the star detective hadn't been doing some detecting in his free time. It's not like, ya know, that was the whole reason he hadn't gone back with the others.

"Don't worry about it Fred," Vernon said politely, "we already know."

There was a pause.

The owl moved it's face close to Damien's, staring at the man.

The smell of rotting corpses came from everywhere. It was rather suffocating.

"Do go on." the owl said. "Lure them into Chinatown for me. Do this, and I will spare you."

"Really? That's... Great. Okay, I'll get right on that," Damien replied. He walked away from the owl, and made his way back into the alley. Damn, he still smelt like death. Oh well. Anyways, he walked over to a pay phone. He put in a few coins, dialed in Vernon's number, and waited.

"One moment Fred," Vernon said, pulling out his phone and answering it, "hello. This is Peter von Streuben of New York City. How may I help you, mein child?"

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Frederick nodded at Vernon. "Alright then." He said, and simply stayed silent afterwards. "Gotta love Google, I guess." He thought to himself. "So, I take it we're going to wait until nightfall to reunite with the others at the hospital?" Frederick asked, though he already knew the answer to that question.

He then heard his stomack growl.

[New East Ireland]

Damien sighed, relieved. "Vernon, it's Damien. Damien Seward. Listen, I have a lead on the Coiled Viper. Get some people down to Chinatown. Here, I have an address," he said, before he gave Vernon his address. "Listen, bring Hailey. We might need her Vampire powers, because these are some tough sons-of-bitches. And hurry. I don't know how long before they find me."

[Nationstatelandsville]

Damien sighed, relieved. "Vernon, it's Damien. Damien Seward. Listen, I have a lead on the Coiled Viper. Get some people down to Chinatown. Here, I have an address," he said, before he gave Vernon his address. "Listen, bring Hailey. We might need her Vampire powers, because these are some tough sons-of-bitches. And hurry. I don't know how long before they find me."

"Uh... what?" Vernon said, doing a terrible Hitler impression, "mein friend, my name is Peter. Von. Streuben. I know nothing of a Coiled Viper, not of a Hailey, nor of any vampires other then Twilight. I love that movie. Silly werewolf, put your shirt on! Ha, ha, ha! A true marvel of satire. Uh... yes... you have a wrong number. Guten nacht."

He hung up, and slipped the phone back in his pocket. He didn't trust Damien much, and he figured it would be best he didn't know for sure if he was coming. Something about the abruptness of the call worried him.

"Alright then, Damien's in trouble. We've got to save him, but we can't go until tonight. Should I call Gabriel and send him?"

[New East Ireland]

"The... The fuck?" Damien asked. He hung up the phone, and went back into the alley. He walked into the door, and looked around for the owl. "They should be here. I'd wait awhile, because the Vampire can't come during the day. But don't worry, they'll be here. Then you can have 'em," he said, making sure to sound as calm as possible. The owl and dead bodies freaked him out a bit.

[Zarkenis Ultima]

"Well, it's kind of his fault for running off without me. He's probably being followed by the cops. He had someone in a bar think he was a psychopath." Frederick explained. "However, if we really have to go with him, then can't we shield Hailey from the sunlight, like her bandages shielded her hands from the silver of her weapons? She can have my coat if she needs it." Frederick suggested.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

"The... The fuck?" Damien asked. He hung up the phone, and went back into the alley. He walked into the door, and looked around for the owl. "They should be here. I'd wait awhile, because the Vampire can't come during the day. But don't worry, they'll be here. Then you can have 'em," he said, making sure to sound as calm as possible. The owl and dead bodies freaked him out a bit.

The owl grinned. Don't ask how an owl can grin, but this one did. And when you see it, you'll shit bricks. An owl smiling in a cartoon is almost cute, but one grinning in real life is just terrifying.

"Perfect." it chuckled. It slammed it's beak down on one of the corpses, and devoured it whole, gulping the dead body down it's throat. It had become massive in the time Damien was talking on the phone.

"Damien is your name, correct?" it asked.

[Nationstatelandsville]

"Well, it's kind of his fault for running off without me. He's probably being followed by the cops. He had someone in a bar think he was a psychopath." Frederick explained. "However, if we really have to go with him, then can't we shield Hailey from the sunlight, like her bandages shielded her hands from the silver of her weapons? She can have my coat if she needs it." Frederick suggested.

Vernon nodded. The suggestion was one of the dumbest he'd ever heard, something only a mentally handicapped newborn post-lobotomy could conjure up, and it made the intellectual part of him stab itself to death. Because of this, he knew Mr. G thought it was a fucking awesome idea and a great twist to put in his story. With that knowledge, Vernon slipped off his suit jacket and threw it to Hailey, pulling out his gloves and doing the same. Finally, with some remorse, he pulled off his straw hat and threw it to her as well.

"Put those on. I'm asking you to put your faith in me and Mr. G's horrible writing, and go outside wearing those clothes. Does anyone have an umbrella or will Mr. G just make one magically appear?"

[Metanih]

"For one, i cannot do shit in this outfit, so me leaving at all is pointless. Just leave me in the hotel, with all the foo- I mean people." Her laugh made it sound intentional, her use of the word food. "If I even feel a tingle from the sun, i am coming back inside, and hiding. Got it Vern?" Hailey said, joke over.

[New East Ireland]

Damien nodded, holding back a brick house of shit. Seriously, an owl can do that to you. At least, mostly. "Y- yes, that's my name," he replied. "What, uh, do you do here, anyways? I can see you've... Redecorated, since the last owners were here," he said, as he observed the bodies and blood. It was quite different from his normal hangouts.

[Nationstatelandsville]

"For one, i cannot do shit in this outfit, so me leaving at all is pointless. Just leave me in the hotel, with all the foo- I mean people." Her laugh made it sound intentional, her use of the word food. "If I even feel a tingle from the sun, i am coming back inside, and hiding. Got it Vern?" Hailey said, joke over.

"Understood. But test it out, alright? We're going to need you, I just know it. Damien needs us to save him, because Mr. G thinks that will make the story 'interesting' or something."

He removed his clown nose from his suitcase and popped it on. No point in blending in when you've got a beautiful girl completely covered in clothing. He pulled out his t-shirt and a single tear flowed from his cheek as he ripped the bottom off and tied it into a bandana-esque shape.

"Put this on around your face," he said as he threw it to Hailey. He grabbed his briefcase and reached into the jacket he had given to Hailey, removing the Bible and Koran. He stashed those in his pants pockets and checked the briefcase for a quick second, confirming that all was ready.

"Now!" he said, "Let's save our principal!"

[Metanih]

"Sounds fun. Of all the people in the group, i do think he would be the least helpful. So if we are all locked in a room, he is absolutely the one i am eating first." Hailey said, covering everything she could that Vernon could have missed. That meant covering her eyes, with a thin layer. She could see, almost perfectly, but it cast enough of a shadow to hopefully block the sun. "I will hate you forever if i get even a sunburn from this. You too Fredrick. You suggested it."

[Zarkenis Ultima]

"I also had everyone stop being unflexible idiots and let you out from behind that dumpster, but let's not get into details right now, the last thing we want is a discussion." Frederick said, replying to the comment about hating him for suggesting the whole thing.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Damien nodded, holding back a brick house of shit. Seriously, an owl can do that to you. At least, mostly. "Y- yes, that's my name," he replied. "What, uh, do you do here, anyways? I can see you've... Redecorated, since the last owners were here," he said, as he observed the bodies and blood. It was quite different from his normal hangouts.

The owl chuckled. "That is none of your business, Damien." it said, making an amused purring noise. It placed a claw on top of Damien's head. "Perhaps I should relax for the time being." it said.

Then the owl become black smoke, and it started to enter Damien's body through any entrance possible. Soon after, it was all gone, and inside him.

Ah. A nice home. You go ahead and do what you like, I won't bother you...for now.

[New East Ireland]

Damien looked around. Well, this is different. Normally owls don't inhabit my body. Well, normally nothing inhabits my body. Well, just make yourself at home. My thoughts might entertain you for a while, he thought. Well, actually he said it to the owl. Sighing, he walked out of the building, with thoughts of plague, murder and nuclear war running through his head. He bought a bowl of curry from a vendor, and ate it on a bench, waiting for Vernon and the others to arrive.

[Metanih]

"I also had everyone stop being unflexible idiots and let you out from behind that dumpster, but let's not get into details right now, the last thing we want is a discussion." Frederick said, replying to the comment about hating him for suggesting the whole thing.

(BTW, if i wait for you, waiting for me is bad. Just sayin'.)
Hailey responded, "I haven't sunburned yet. But i don't want to die. I appreciate the help in the alleyway, but causing my death is hardly equal to that. I hope you understand that they are not equal." Hailey said. She hoped it didn't come out sounding mean, that wasn't how she intended. She was aiming for a simple explanation, and couldn't find another way to put it.

[Zarkenis Ultima]

"Yeah, I understand that the two things aren't equal. I was just saying. Sunburns aren't equal to death either, but that's beside the point. Anyway, shall we?" Frederick said as he stepped out of Vernon's room and went down the stairs until he was in the lobby. He then proceeded to walk out of the lobby and try to hail a cab while waiting for Vernon and Hailey.

[Nationstatelandsville]

"I also had everyone stop being unflexible idiots and let you out from behind that dumpster, but let's not get into details right now, the last thing we want is a discussion." Frederick said, replying to the comment about hating him for suggesting the whole thing.

(BTW, if i wait for you, waiting for me is bad. Just sayin'.)
Hailey responded, "I haven't sunburned yet. But i don't want to die. I appreciate the help in the alleyway, but causing my death is hardly equal to that. I hope you understand that they are not equal." Hailey said. She hoped it didn't come out sounding mean, that wasn't how she intended. She was aiming for a simple explanation, and couldn't find another way to put it.

"Enough of this nonsense, let's just move along!"

Vernon rushed out of the room and out of the hotel itself. He turned to check if the others were following him, but truthfully, didn't care. He merely took off towards Damien's location, not knowing for sure if they were following.

[New East Ireland]

Throwing the empty bowl into the dumpster, Damien sighed, and leaned against the wall. "Alright, owl, hopefully they've improvised. We'll get them inside and then you can have your fun... But, before we do that, I need some information from you. If it's fine with you, of course. I am giving you humans and a Vampire, after all," he muttered, making sure no passing person could hear him.

[Metanih]

Hailey followed, annoyed. "I expect you all to find a combat zone inside a building if Damien is in that kind of trouble." Hailey disliked all the clothing. The temperature hardly mattered, but it was clumsy. I don't see why you don't just eat them all, instead of disguising yourself in this ridiculous outfit. I understand the whole sun thing, but G gave you free reign. One of the first good writing things he has done, you know, not railroading the characters. He almost would deserve applause, if it weren't for the rest of the bad decisions he has made. It is almost funny. It becomes drastically less funny when you are the character however.