A World Beyond (IC)

[Zarkenis Ultima]

"Ah, you're awake. I'm glad. That was a nasty injury you got, and nobody would carry you to the hospital. Be glad Hailey called the ambulance for you." Frederick said to Mark as he woke up. "Gabriel's probably going to get here sometime soon. We just went through quite an adventure. Damien... Damien kind of flew away. Literally. No, I'm serious."

[Nationstatelandsville]

"It's personal," Vernon grumbled, obviously enraged, "legal trouble. My wife crashed her car into someone else's, he is, or was going to before the incident, gonna' sue. I was going to ask Mark for advice on this, seeing as though I'd never get another chance with all of this going on. But with all of you showing up and just dicking it up in here, never mind. Never the fuck mind."

He pushed his way past Hailey and unlocked the door, barging out and walking through the hospital, exiting it. He hailed a cab and had it go back to the motel he had been staying. On his way, he calmed himself. It was never good for a manipulator to get angry, and even though he had been acting when he made his furious exit, he was still mad. He had to get control of himself and fast, or everything could go south.

[Hardened Pyrokinetics]

Mark chuckled. "Remind me to teach Vernon the art of lying." He said to no-one in particular. "He tried to pinpoint Hailey through his blurred vision, but couldn't. Instead, he held up his left hand. "Hailey, if you're here, grab my hand. I have something I need to say to you."

He didn't have much time left.

[Metanih]

Hailey complied, grabbing his hand, and sincerely hoping he wasn't going to try and break it or do something equally nasty to it. He had shot her, after all. A little fear and apprehension were to be expected from any sane, and most insane people. "I am here, Mark. Please don't die. I would feel guilty forever."

[Nightkill the Emperor]

"I think I have a way to help you with the were-hawk problem," Damien replied. "You see, there is an item called the Coiled Viper. It's an ancient thing, and I've been searching for it. From my guess, it has some ancient magical powers. If you can help me get the Viper, I can help you use it to get the sky from the were-hawks."

The owls stared at him.

"Do go on." one said. "We'd do anything to get rid of the werehawks." It stared at Damien. "What are you, exactly?" it asked.

[New East Ireland]

"I'm the result of a human being possessed by a Strix. It left me, and gave me some of its powers," he replied. "Using these powers, I intend to help you get control of the sky, which will help me get the Viper. But, we can't do it alone. We need another faction to help us. I know a group who can help me, but I'll need you to do something for me first."

[Hardened Pyrokinetics]

Hailey complied, grabbing his hand, and sincerely hoping he wasn't going to try and break it or do something equally nasty to it. He had shot her, after all. A little fear and apprehension were to be expected from any sane, and most insane people. "I am here, Mark. Please don't die. I would feel guilty forever."

He roared with laughter at that, although only for two seconds before coughing up blood again. His hand squeezed Hailey's gently. "It's alright. You were reacting to me. I shouldn't have tried knocking you out, or shooting you myself." He coughed a couple times. "Doctor's said I should be okay, but if I don't make it, or even if I do, I want you to promise me one simple thing: Don't let Mr. G control you. Don't let the vampire instincts control you." He coughed again, this one accompanied by the sound of bubbling. "Promise me."

[Nightkill the Emperor]

"I'm the result of a human being possessed by a Strix. It left me, and gave me some of its powers," he replied. "Using these powers, I intend to help you get control of the sky, which will help me get the Viper. But, we can't do it alone. We need another faction to help us. I know a group who can help me, but I'll need you to do something for me first."

The owls shrugged. "Fine, we'll try to get this Coiled Viper for you. You know where it is?" the owls asked.

[New East Ireland]

Damien shook his owl head. "No. But, this group can help me. While I'm getting them together, I need you all to get other owls from places across the globe. If we want the sky, we'll need an army. The army, with the power of the Viper, could destroy the were-hawks. While you're gathering an army, me and my group will secure the trust of another faction. They will help us in getting the Viper. Until then, sit tight and wait. Patience will bring you the assistance of the Coiled Viper, and the skies with it. Does that sound good?"

[Metanih]

"I... I will do my best." Hailey said to Mark. And she would. Hailey always did her best to respect promises, and vows. "You should promise me something too. Do your best not to die. I know it sounds a little much, seeing as you hardly have control over it, but please, for me?" Hailey said, looking into his eyes. It was hard to see him as the jackass he had seemed at first, with all of the oppressing life-and-death stuff happening. He seemed calm, nice. It suited him better.

[Hardened Pyrokinetics]

"I... I will do my best." Hailey said to Mark. And she would. Hailey always did her best to respect promises, and vows. "You should promise me something too. Do your best not to die. I know it sounds a little much, seeing as you hardly have control over it, but please, for me?" Hailey said, looking into his eyes. It was hard to see him as the jackass he had seemed at first, with all of the oppressing life-and-death stuff happening. He seemed calm, nice. It suited him better.

Mark smiled. His first genuine smile to anyone in the group. "Thank you." He said weakly, before closing his eyes. His hand went limp, and he seemed to melt into the hospital bed.

Then he flatlined, and everyone but Earl were quickly shoved out of the room while doctors scrambled to save him.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Damien shook his owl head. "No. But, this group can help me. While I'm getting them together, I need you all to get other owls from places across the globe. If we want the sky, we'll need an army. The army, with the power of the Viper, could destroy the were-hawks. While you're gathering an army, me and my group will secure the trust of another faction. They will help us in getting the Viper. Until then, sit tight and wait. Patience will bring you the assistance of the Coiled Viper, and the skies with it. Does that sound good?"

"Sure." the owl said. "Now go away, we were sleeping in preparation for tonight's hunt. We're nocturnal, not diurnal."

[New East Ireland]

"Happy hunting," Damien replied. He climbed down the tree, and walked a bit away on land, before turning back into a human. "Now," he began, "I should get back to the hospital," he muttered to himself. He got onto the street, and called a taxi. He got in, and closed the door. He gave the driver the address of the hospital, and told him to hurry.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Mark was moved to another room, the PCs having no knowledge if he was dead or not.

Outside, it began to drizzle, clouds covering the sky. It was 2:30 PM.

[Metanih]

Hailey went outside, as the drizzle began, the rain clouds blocking the sun enough for her to not become a crisp. Mr.G, i know you can hear my thoughts, you have done it before, and i would love to talk to you. From recent adventures, i learned of different vampire clans, and i think it would be a neat plot device if i were to meet the clan that created me. Hailey baited him with the promise of a good plot device, hoping he would react as she planned. Of course, it could end in disaster, but that was a risk.

[New East Ireland]

Damien had arrived at the hospital. Yeah, it's short, but it's not like I have anything else to say. Tacos... There, it's two lines now.

[Rupudska]

Catrin was outside the hospital when Damien arrived. She noticed there was something different about him. Something more different than you would expect from someone going into Chinatown, and it wasn't the Coiled Viper. She walked towards him. "So...." she said, unsure herself of what was wrong, but knowing that something certainly was. "What happened in Chinatown?"

[New East Ireland]

Catrin was outside the hospital when Damien arrived. She noticed there was something different about him. Something more different than you would expect from someone going into Chinatown, and it wasn't the Coiled Viper. She walked towards him. "So...." she said, unsure herself of what was wrong, but knowing that something certainly was. "What happened in Chinatown?"

Damien shrugged. "Nothing you need to worry about, yet," he replied to Catrin. He didn't need her yet. "Now, girl, show me where everyone else is. I have important information for them, and I'm sure they'll want to know that I'm one step closer to helping find the Coiled Viper. Now, show me where they are."

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Hailey went outside, as the drizzle began, the rain clouds blocking the sun enough for her to not become a crisp. Mr.G, i know you can hear my thoughts, you have done it before, and i would love to talk to you. From recent adventures, i learned of different vampire clans, and i think it would be a neat plot device if i were to meet the clan that created me. Hailey baited him with the promise of a good plot device, hoping he would react as she planned. Of course, it could end in disaster, but that was a risk.

For a moment, there was nothing.

Then Hailey heard a dark, familiar voice behind her. "How's your diet?" asked the pothead with a chuckle.

[Metanih]

"Distinctly less human oriented than when you first spoke to me. Honest, my last meal was a supernatural owl-demon, and totally not human. Tasted amazing, by the way." Hailey said to him, showing no fear outwardly. Of course, even while drunk, the Beast could feel fear, although at least he wasn't spamming Hailey's mind with repeat messages. Repetitively. Again and again. Instead, he was muttering softly, the words to a popular Christian hymn. It was very creepy, actually.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

"Distinctly less human oriented than when you first spoke to me. Honest, my last meal was a supernatural owl-demon, and totally not human. Tasted amazing, by the way." Hailey said to him, showing no fear outwardly. Of course, even while drunk, the Beast could feel fear, although at least he wasn't spamming Hailey's mind with repeat messages. Repetitively. Again and again. Instead, he was muttering softly, the words to a popular Christian hymn. It was very creepy, actually.

"A medic named Marshall Williams was found dead, drained of blood, in his apartment today. I assume you know nothing about this?" Sachin asked casually, walking closer. "I assume you know nothing though one of my Anvari saw you get into a cab with this Williams, and then saw you go to that same hotel today?"

[Metanih]

"I have never heard of a Marshall Williams." Hailey said, defiantly. It was actually the truth. She had never bothered to learn the man's name. It had never occurred to her. "So, since there are plenty of other vampires in the city, you could blame one of them. I would have at least tried to disguise the body. I went to that hotel to meet one of the people in my little party. His name is Vernon, and he is in room number <Insert the room directly above Marshall's>. You can check that out, thank you. He gave me a ride, since he was staying there too. I didn't need to feed, so i didn't. Until the owl. The owl was excellent."

[Nightkill the Emperor]

"I have never heard of a Marshall Williams." Hailey said, defiantly. It was actually the truth. She had never bothered to learn the man's name. It had never occurred to her. "So, since there are plenty of other vampires in the city, you could blame one of them. I would have at least tried to disguise the body. I went to that hotel to meet one of the people in my little party. His name is Vernon, and he is in room number <Insert the room directly above Marshall's>. You can check that out, thank you. He gave me a ride, since he was staying there too. I didn't need to feed, so i didn't. Until the owl. The owl was excellent."

Sachin chuckled. "Yes, there are. And I have a friend who can force people to tell the truth. He's also an Amara Havana, but they don't like him anymore. So you'll be coming with me..." he told her, grabbing her arm.

[Metanih]

"OR... You could believe me. I am distinctly not in the mood to talk to any other vampires, particularly your friends. I am not your problem. I am not your responsibility, and I am not someone you need to be concerned about. I am doing just fine on my own. There is no reason you should have for stalking me, no reason you should have in mucking with my affairs. It doesn't affect you in any way! So just leave!" Hailey used the last word as a command, well aware that it would be ineffective. It was worth a shot, she supposed, to avoid things like spending more time with the vampire.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

"OR... You could believe me. I am distinctly not in the mood to talk to any other vampires, particularly your friends. I am not your problem. I am not your responsibility, and I am not someone you need to be concerned about. I am doing just fine on my own. There is no reason you should have for stalking me, no reason you should have in mucking with my affairs. It doesn't affect you in any way! So just leave!" Hailey used the last word as a command, well aware that it would be ineffective. It was worth a shot, she supposed, to avoid things like spending more time with the vampire.

Sachin briefly shook, as though he was almost about to leave, then shook his head. "Afraid I can't do that. You're a liability right now, with things so shaky here. The whole mess in Chinatown did not help matters." He said.

"So come." he commanded, his command more much powerful than her own.

When she did, Sachin took her to a small worn-down car, with her riding shotgun, and he drove.