Hierarchy of the Night

[Chadwyck]

Chapter 1:

The chill in the air clung to everything, the chill of the English winter. Freshly fallen snow lay on the ground and rooftops, newly formed icicles hung from the awnings and ledges above the city streets. With every breath exhaled you could see the moisture escaping from your body, and the only sound in the night was the crunching of the snow with every step taken down on the city streets. The pale glass moon hung high in the sky; it was close tonight, so close that everything was illuminated. There was a mist hanging in the air and the possibility of the snow beginning again was high.

The piercing, pale blue eyes, so pale they were almost the color of ice, were surveying the area from on a higher of the cities rooftops. "Where is it?" The calm, indifference of the voice had a hint of hostility behind it, very nearly hidden by the purity of the deep voice; it was a voice that always sounded composed, a voice that belonged to someone who was proper; respected. The voice belonged to one, Rein Lyon, and he‘d been sent to investigate a series of disappearances in the city.

"There should be a trail somewhere, I just need to…" His voice trailed off; movement, it was quick, almost imperceptible, but his eyes didn't easily miss much. It was a few rooftops over from where he was perched; he stood slowly, never taking his eyes off of the location the movement had come from, his long black coat swaying slightly in the chilling breeze. Suddenly, he appeared to have simply vanished into thin air, into the mist that surrounded everything.

In the blink of an eye he was where the source of the movement had been; had been, it wasn't there any longer. Now, here he was, trapped in a game of cat and mouse with something; only, who was the cat and who was the mouse?

He quickly surveyed the immediate area, listening, watching, waiting for anything out of the ordinary, anything that might give away his opponents location. Nothing broke the silence of the still winter's night, nothing was around him but the mist clinging to the air. The snow began to fall again, lightly at first but then it began to fall steadily. That's when Rein noticed it, something was disrupting the fall of the snow on the rooftop across from him, whatever he was hunting had been right in front of him all this time; watching.

It was yet to realize that he'd seen it, still believing that it's camouflage was hiding it's presence. It was a phantom, and now that Rein had found it his eyes were able to detect it's features clearly, the ghostly pale glow that had made it appear to simply be more mist, it's nearly transparent skeleton like face hidden beneath it's robes created from the shroud surrounding it.

It was a dangerous creature of the night, no wonder the Order sent Rein to cleanse the area. But first, he had to figure out what it was doing here.

"You know, for a moment there, I actually thought I'd lost you. The winter air hides your kind well." Rein flashed a smile that showed his fangs protruding from his mouth.

"Fool," The phantom seemed to speak in a whisper, and spoke with both a high and low tones mixed into one, as though two voices spoke from a single entity, "You won't be cracking jokes when you're laying in a puddle of your own blood," It was holding a dagger that resembled it's body, nigh transparent surrounded by the same pale glow.

"Now, before we get to that I have one thing to ask: Why are you here? And, for what reason are you attacking humans? You should have known the Council would step in."

"Exactly the point, Vampire, my master wishes to get the Council's attention, so he may deliver a warning." The phantom's skeletal face twisted into a mocking smile.

"Which would be?" Rein reached slowly for the hilt of his katana that hung at his side.

"The fall of the Council, and of all Vampires!" The phantom hissed the words and flew forward holding it's blade at the ready to kill, it's shrouded robes thrashing in the wind.

Rein drew his katana, avoided the blow and took a slash with his sword that would have severed the phantoms head. The response was only laughter, "You think that your pathetic weapon can harm me?! You may as well slash through the air." More laughter as the phantom readied for another strike.

Rein readied his sword as well, keeping eyes fixed on his enemy, as it rushed forward for another attack on Rein. Once again the sword slashed through the phantom, striking the ground, as Rein barely avoided another of the attacks. The blade of the phantoms dagger tearing through the right sleeve of Rein's coat, and blood began to run from the cut.

Each time the phantom repeated it's deadly attacks, Rein would manage to avoid, circling his prey, barely escaping death, slashing in vain at his foe.

"Fool! Do you still not understand, you cannot harm me!" It flew high up into the air and thrust downward at great speed aimed for Rein's heart. Rein smiled as he slammed his blade into the rooftop and jumped several yards back with barely a second to spare.

A circle of white light surrounded the phantom melting the snow within it, revealing a symbol carved into the rooftop of the building, Rein's sword stuck fast in the center of it. "I never said that I was aiming at you." The shrieking pierced the stillness of the night as the phantom dissolved into thin air, each strike that Rein had seemingly missed had carved another piece of the symbol.

The light faded and the stillness returned, Rein drew his sword from the ground and in it's reflection shown the phantom still shrinking into oblivion. Rein had sealed the phantom within his own blade and it's existence was now an eternity within the void between realms.

As he sheathed his blade, Rein faded back into the mist, he knew that soon humans would come to investigate the noise that had broken the silence only moments ago.

He appeared within an alleyway and began his walk towards the docks, he had to return to the Council with his findings. He had seen a cargo ship docked at the harbor that would be departing for New York Harbor within the hour, he'd sneak aboard and let them deliver him back to the Order's base of operations.

Whomever the phantom had referred to as master was planning to annihilate the Council and all Vampires. And whoever it was had help from other night creatures, an uprising was inevitable.

Rein knew the importance of this information, and he also knew that without it the Order would be caught completely unaware of an attack. He could only hope that he'd arrive with the news before it was too late.

OoC: This is an idea that I've been mulling over, I decided that it wouldn't hurt to post it.
Even though it feels super short...

 

[Psycho Monkey]

Short but sweet ;D. That first chapter was enough to get me hooked. I can't wait to see how this unfolds Chadwyck.

 

[Secad MS]

This sounds good. It sounds like a counterpart to my Kitha story. I do love vampires.

I do have a question, though.

Are these going to be god-like, beautiful vampires, or chilling bloodsuckers? I do love chilling bloodsuckers.

 

[Shiny Motley]

Or are they a mix of the two? It is possible, you know.

But good first chapter, Chadwyck. I can't wait to read more of it.

 

[Chadwyck]

OoC: Well, what I'm aiming for is that Vampires are really similar to normal people just with not-so-normal attributes. So what I'd say is that it's a mix of the two, there are vampires that are ruthless killers and vampires that are not. It all depends on their place in the Order. Anyway, hopefully most questions will be answered through the course of the story but if a question you have is not then feel free to ask it and I'll most likely have an answer. Well, into the abyss then?

BiC:

Chapter 2:

The ocean spray fell lightly upon the deck of the large cargo ship as it cut it's wake along the waters of the Atlantic, bound for New York Harbor.

The waves crashing up against the ships hull, creating a serene rhapsody in collaboration with the many other, various ocean sounds, almost as though it were foreboding the approaching storm. As the sun was sinking lower and lower into the horizon, Rein felt his thoughts begin to drift through his memories.

The ship wouldn't arrive in New York City for another day so Rein had kept to the shadows of the ship, staying hidden amongst the various containers scattered across the ships deck.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Rein thought back two years to the first time that the Order had called upon him.

It was the middle of the summer months in New York and Rein had been at his families estate and the laid back vacation was beginning to take it's effect on him, he become bored as any teenager would at home alone, he was only sixteen.

The only company he had was his families faithful servant Geoffrey.

Rein's mother had died in child birth so he'd never even had the chance to meet her, and his father left frequently on business. Not to say that he and his father weren't close, on the contrary, they spent much time together throughout Rein's childhood.

The one thing that Rein had always been bothered by is the fact that his father had to leave unexpectedly, with little or no warning at all, for his business trips.

Rein had asked his father if he could accompany him on one of these trips, and his father had told him he wasn't ready. When Rein had asked his father what he did, he had answered that Rein would know when he was older, afterwards he walked out the door with a faint smile.

Rein remembered, during another of his father's surprise trips, Geoffrey had walked into the room with an envelope addressed with Rein's full name, which no one except his parents ever used. Only the return address was non existent and where it would have been was only stamped with two words: The Council.

Rein asked Geoffrey what it was all about, but Geoffrey only insisted that Rein read it as soon as he felt "ready." Only after Geoffrey left the room and his footprints echoed away through the empty halls of the huge mansion did Rein open the letter carefully and read it's contents.

"Greetings, Rein Hunter Lyon. We are afraid that the circumstances of this letter are a special case. Let us begin by extending our most sincerest of apologies to you, your father was a good man and his loss is as painful as the deepest cut."

Rein paused for a moment and re-read the sentence multiple times, thinking it a joke, he nearly put the letter aside. He would have until he thought of the formality of the letter, and he continued reading the rest of the letter, a solitary tear rolling down the side of his face.

"Allow us to inform you as to who we are exactly, we are known as the Council of Nine and we represent the Order of the Night-Bred, and under normal circumstances this letter would have been delivered to you on your eighteenth birthday, unfortunately this is not a normal series of events, you have no remaining family members within the Order and we find ourselves in need of your services."

"Regrettably, we are unable to elucidate all the necessary information to you at this time, please report to Club Red in Manhattan tomorrow at five o'clock post-meridiem time and present them with this letter to gain access. All your Questions and more will be answered then."

The letter was ended with another formal stamp that read "Council of Nine" in Old English lettering.

The impact of the message seeped into the depths of Rein's mind, his father was dead? The Order of the Night-Bred? So many questions filled his mind and this Council promised answers tomorrow, but he thought he knew where to find some now.

He walked down the empty halls of the house his footprints reverberating off of the walls and into the many empty rooms. He found Geoffrey sitting in the family room, with a fire burning in the marble fireplace. "Geoffrey," He still clutched the letter in his hand, "Did you know?" The look on Geoffrey's face indicated that he knew exactly what Rein was speaking of.

"Yes, master Rein, the Order notified me of your father's death yesterday. I was not permitted to tell you, it was the Council's place to inform you, not mine." Geoffrey's eyes were glistening, he'd served the Lyon family for many years and was treated more like Rein's uncle than a servant.

"The Council," Rein paused and looked down at the stamp at the end of the letter, "Who are they? What do they want with me?" Rein sat down across from Geoffrey and looked him in the eyes, a mixture of pain and confusion visible within his own eyes.

"The Council of Nine lead the Order of the Night-Bred, of which your family is a member. The Lyon's are one of the oldest, most powerful families within the Order."

"But who are they?" Rein opened up the letter again looking it over, "Why didn't my father tell me?" Rein felt a mixture of anger at his father for keeping secrets from him, and sadness that he'd never get the chance to ask his father himself.

"He couldn't, master Rein, the Order forbids it, your powers aren't awakened yet, they'll have to forcefully awaken your powers tomorrow. You would awaken on your own on your eighteenth birthday, then your father would take you before the Council, but this is a special case."

"What powers, Geoffrey? What are you talking about?" Rein stood up and walked over to the fire place.

Geoffrey walked up behind him and placed his hand on Reins left shoulder and looked him square in the eyes, "Master Rein, you are a Vampire."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A flash of lightning and the crash of thunder awoke Rein from his memories, the rain began to fall hard and the winds ripped at the water which rocked the ship, the storm approached faster than he'd expected.

He sat up straight against the container he leaned upon and felt the cold water drop onto his face, in a matter of moments his black pants, boots, his dark red shirt and his black overcoat were all soaked through.

Rein was suddenly aware of something, in a storm, the crew would be running about trying to keep everything fastened down, and yet, the ship was dead silent. The haunting silence was only broken by the sound of the crashing waves and the raging storm.

Rein instinctively reached for the katana hanging at his side and waited. Knowing that something must be wrong, he began to walk, stealthily, out to the middle of the ships deck.

Rein reached his destination. Standing in the middle of the ships deck, his suspicions were proven true, there was not a living soul left on the ship. The crew that had been so willing to sail, working hard and long, so full of life only hours ago, now litter the ship as corpses within puddles of their own blood.

The systematic killing of the crew could only mean one thing, something had boarded the ship, something had snuck aboard just as Rein had done only days ago. And whatever it was it managed to kill every human on board without raising alarm, which also meant that it was intelligent.

Suddenly, as if out of thin air, a flash of white light as something came crashing down causing the ships hull to impress into a crater of twisted metal.

In the center, stood a monstrous figure, "Damn you… How did you know I was even here?" The huge eight-foot-tall monster growled, its arms were as thick as steel poles with long, razor sharp claws protruding from the ends of its fingers, it's head was that of a wolf.

It stood on his hind legs and had the upper body of a man. It had a wolf's tail and when it spoke it had a growl in it's voice. Its eyes were bloodshot and its pupils were the deepest black. Its gaze pierced through the rain and darkness and Rein felt it fall directly upon him.

"I've known you were here for a while," Rein flashed a pearly white smile showing off his prominent canines, "Who could miss that awful, wet-dog stench?" He drew his katana flashing another smile, the werewolf's eyes filled with bloodlust.

"Whelp," The word mixed into the irritated growl that escaped the wolf's muzzle, "I am going to end your pathetic life! As my master commands, you will die!" The attack came at blinding fast speed, Reins eyes followed the attacker as he launched another furious assault aiming his claws of his right hand directly for Reins heart.

Rein barely managed to avoid the attack by jumping into the air and came down with a slash that would halve the wolf in two, the wolf's left hand caught the blade and he flung Rein across the ships deck toward the piles of scattered containers.

As Rein collided with the steel containers he heard the sound of the deep laughter, the resounding footsteps of the giant lumbering toward where Rein now lay. "What's the matter? Were you hoping that sword would save you? My skin is like armor, what will you do now?" The monster let out another laugh as he walked closer to Rein, who was now on his hands and knees slowly getting up to resume the fight, it took an amazing amount of strength to even remain conscious after the force of the impact.

The wolf bent down and reached for Reins throat, Reins hand shot up and caught the wolf's, the two remained deadlocked.

Rein looked up into the werewolf's eyes, Reins eyes had turned blood-red, a look of animosity filled his usually calm, proper countenance, and his finger nails grew out into long, sharp claws. Rein slashed at the beast as it leapt back to avoid the attack, only it wasn't quick enough, Rein had left four deep lacerations along the wolf's chest.

"What's the matter?" Rein repeated the wolf's sarcastic question, a mocking smile on his face, "Were you hoping that armor would save you?" Rein's primal side had awakened, to save his life his body reacted in such a way that allowed the darkness that dwelled in his heart to take over, the vampiric powers within him took complete control of him.

The werewolf felt fear, fear in its purest form, the unforgiving eyes that looked upon him with such animosity, such bloodlust, they gave the feeling that they were peering right through him, but the pride of his kind would not allow him to give up.

"I don't care how strong you think you are, the fall of the Order is at hand, and you will die by mine!" The werewolf rushed forward against his fear and prepared to attack Rein again, Rein matched the wolfs movements and rushed forward as well, interested only in killing this beast and nothing else, darkly laughing at the wolfs attempts on his life.

They circled each other launching attack after attack each one not giving any headway, each and every attack by one was countered or dodged by the other.

A slight pause in the fighting, each opponent breathing heavily, each bleeding from various cuts made during the fight. Suddenly, Rein leapt up into the air, coming down fast at his enemy.

In that instant, time seemed at a standstill, yet lifetimes seemed to pass. Reins attack had connected with the wolf and he had severed the beasts head from his body, but in that same second, the wolf's claws pierced through Rein's stomach and blood came flowing out of the wound and his mouth.

Rein stumbled to a darkened corner and collapsed on the ground, his eyes returned to their usual pale blue color, as he slipped in and out of consciousness, his mind returned to the past.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Welcome to the Order of the Night-Bred, Rein Hunter Lyon," the voice that spoke was wise and solemn, it originated from behind a high desk in a darkened room, seated behind the desk were nine men, "Now, first, the Council must apologize to you Lord Lyon, not only for the loss of your father, but for calling upon you in such haste."

The other eight men bowed their heads in reverence to the elders words, "I'm sure you have many questions for the Council, young lord, speak your queries and we shall answer them." The Council leader folded his hands on the high desk and closed his eyes in thought.

The Council consisted of nine vampires, the elder was a level one vampire as was the second in command. Level one vampires were the highest power, pure blooded and powerful, but had also proven their worth to the Order. Then the Council consisted of three level two vampires, also pure blooded and powerful but yet to achieve the notoriety that level one vampires had earned. After that there were three level three vampires, level three vampires were not as powerful as the higher levels and what really set them apart was the fact that they were half-blooded, they had a human parent. Finally, there was a single level four vampire, level four vampires were former humans, changed by the Vampires Kiss, the Unholy Contract of the Order, and they were severely looked down upon by the other levels.

Rein took a deep breath and looked up, scanning the entirety of the council. "What am I?" The council looked up with a sort of alarm, as if he should understand exactly what he is.

"You are a Vampire, Lord Lyon." The elder spoke matter-of-factly and the others nodded in agreement, no other explanation was offered Rein.

"I understand that, but what does that mean?" Rein had a look of complete confusion on his face.

This time the second level one vampire spoke, "It means, dear brother, that you are one of the great protectors of humanity. Since the beginning of time the Order has prevented the downfall of human kind, protecting them from the shadows from the evil that dwells in the realm of the night." The elder raised his hand and the second stopped.

"Every time that man has faced a great downfall it was the cause of another rogue creature, and every time the Order has stepped in and quelled the uprising. This remains true to this day. And this is what you are meant to do,"

The elder stood and the others followed his example, "We must awaken your powers, under normal circumstances you would wait until your eighteenth birthday and they would manifest themselves, however, seeing as you must continue your family's service and you have no remaining relatives to temporarily take your place, we must make do with what we have, come." He turned to step down from the great desk.

"Wait!" Rein spoke instinctively and the Council members and bodyguards alike all glared at him, "Forgive my outburst, masters, just one more question." Rein stared at the elder waiting for reply.

"Very well, speak your final question." The elder was seated again by the end of his sentence.

Rein sighed and looked down, taking a deep breath to work up courage he finally asked, "What really became of my father?"

Rein was awakened by the sound of a ships horn, pain shooting through his entire body, The sun was sinking below the horizon. He'd been unconscious for nearly an entire day and his wound still hadn't healed.

He struggled to sit up and fight his way over to the ships guard rail, police ships were coming to board the cargo ship from the shore. The cargo ship had nearly arrived in New York Harbor, it was still a few miles off, but when the ship hadn't replied to radio communications the police mobilized immediately.

Rein was in a weakened state and needed, desperately, to feed, unfortunately he had very little chance of making it to the shore, let alone the Order headquarters. He'd have to break one of the Order's rules and feed on one of the police officers, he had no chance to make it to the blood stores within the Order, and the Council would understand when he explained his struggle with the werewolf.

He faded back into a shadow in a secluded spot and waited until his prey ventured close, the familiar, primal shade of red filling his eyes, only this time, with hunger.

OoC: Okay there it is Chapter two, hopefully that answered some questions and kept you interested in the story enough to look forward to Chapter 3.

 

[Shiny Motley]

Can't be on long, so sorry if this is choppy.

But that was so cool. I liked seeing what had happened before the story, so that some points may be cleared up. Interesting, and quite unique. I really enjoyed this chapter, Chad, and I can't wait for chapter 3!

 

[Chadwyck]

OoC: Okay, not as much action in this chapter so much, but next chapter will pretty much be all action, just about anyway. I may end up editing this post before moving on to Chapter 4, I think that there's a lot that I can edit and improve. However, for lack of time I'm posting it now and improving it later, different than my usual method of not posting until I'm at least 95% happy with it. Right now it's at about an 85-88% approval. Anyway sorry about my rambling....

Chapter 3:

The busy, Manhattan sounds of people going about their everyday lives mixed into a dull roar of nothing more than a mess of indiscernible noise to the normal person, but to the enhanced ears of a vampire, it was a symphony, an orchestrated song of life unfolding in the city.

To one of the Order, it wasn't unheard of to know the approximate location of all the people within a few blocks radius. However, with so many people in the city, it was difficult to get an idea of anything.

The fewer the people the better their hearing was, when stalking prey it made for a perfect weapon, following the victims panicked footsteps with their acute hearing or using the other enhanced senses.

There, in the heart of Manhattan, was the Order's base-of-operations. Where the orders went out to operators all over the world, disguised as a prestigious club for the upper class citizens.

Rein walked up to the six foot eight inch bouncer, still a little weak from his encounter with the werewolf only hours ago, feeling almost no remorse for feeding off of a police officer.

The bouncer took one look at Rein and stepped aside, much to the displeasure of a would-be patron of the club standing in the long line to enter, whose arguments were silenced with a single glance from the large guard.

The lobby of the club was very posh, expensively designed, complete with a huge crystal chandelier hanging in the middle of two spiraling stair cases leading up to the various rooms, bars, dance halls and restaurants. Formally dressed patrons were roaming around various areas of the lobby, asking for reserved tables at one of the various restaurants.

Rein passed people in various stages of intoxication without a second glance or a word to anyone and walked straight to a service elevator, guarded by another two bouncers both of whom were equal in size to the one at the clubs entrance. And both of whom stepped away at the sight of Rein.

The elevator went down, underneath the main club, into the darkened halls whose only light came from the dim lights on the ceilings every few yards. Figures in black passed by Rein this way and that off to various wings of the Order, all performing their various tasks assigned them.

Rein walked into the Cleanser Wing, where all the vampires assigned to hunt down threats and eliminate them gathered. That was what Rein's family had done since the foundation of the Order, they used their powers to destroy the enemies of vampire and human kind, all the other unruly night creatures that killed with no remorse and no reason.

This was the way to the stairway that led to the Council Chamber, put at the end of the Cleanser Wing so that in the event of an attack the attacker would have to pass through countless waves of the Orders top assassins.

Amongst the top of the Cleansers was Rein, in the two years he'd been in the Order he had proven himself time and again. He killed because he had no other reason to live, his only purpose was to eliminate his targets for the good of all. That was all that he could do.

Upon reaching the stairs two level one Cleansers approached from either side of him and took his arms, he shot a glare at both of them, but before he could ask the purpose of their actions he guessed, "I see the Council heard about what happened on my return trip…"

There was no reply, he was led up the stairs and placed before the Council to answer for his actions the previous night.

"Rein Lyon! You have broken the code of the Order and fed off of a human host. What's more, you failed to protect the crew of the ship that you had chosen to be your return vessel." The Elder was infuriated, the wise old man seldom raised his voice, but he quickly regained his composure, "It was by your doing that the crew met their untimely fate, the beast was stalking you and you allowed it to kill everyone on board. What do you have to say for yourself?"

The Elder folded his hands on the desk in front of him and waited for reply.

"Masters," Rein spoke with his usual, proper voice, his sincere respect for the Council was the cause of the humble tone mixed into it. "There is no excuse, I was caught unaware and I did not save the humans aboard the ship." Rein bowed his head, he knew that he could forever undo all the work his family had done for the Order if he didn't explain his actions precisely.

"The werewolf was sent by the one who has been orchestrating these attacks against us, it was this same person who was responsible for the disappearances I was investigating," Rein looked up and scanned the faces of the Council members, "The disappearances were due to a phantom, whose mission was to get the Orders attention by murdering whomever you sent to investigate, and the werewolf was sent to kill me after the phantom failed."

"So your claim is that the creatures of darkness have been united in a front against us?" One of the level two vampires asked.

"Yes, Masters, whomever is leading this uprising wants only one thing. The fall of the Order itself, brought forth by the eradication of all of our kind."

"That is impossible!" A level three Council member shouted, "The other creatures know that we rule the night. Aside from a few rogues here and there they all remain quiet and out of sight. They know that an uprising would lead to their eradication, there is no night creature that can stand against the Order."

"At least not alone," The Elder spoke again, interrupting the level three "But if what Lord Lyon states is true, then they are being united into one army. Striking at the human world, inciting fear, and luring the Order out into the open."

The Elder looked at Rein, "This news is most troublesome, however it is still unproven until we determine whether the Order truly is in danger you are continue your duties with the utmost caution. You are freed from the charges you faced and will continue to investigate and eradicate all threats as they arise. Is that understood Lord Lyon?"

"Yes, Master." Rein turned to leave, but was stopped at the door.

"One moment, there is the matter of your next assignment." Rein turned about to protest, but stopped himself from bursting out. "One of our Cleansers has gone missing in a small town in the Midwest, you are to uncover his fate."

The Council was testing him, to see if he was still loyal, after all, if the news of the collective uprising was true it meant that a full scale war could ensue. "Understood, Masters, I shall leave immediately." He turned and walked down the steps out of the chamber.

"Can he be trusted?" The level one vampire asked.

"It's too soon to tell if he spoke the truth, keep a wary eye. If he indeed spoke the truth, then the fall of the Order may be at hand," The Elder stood and walked to a door in the back of the room that led to the Councils private quarters, "I must meditate on this, inform me of any new information that arises." He left the room with the heavy wooden door closing behind him.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Rein pulled on the black suit jacket over the white dress shirt he had left un-tucked, and sat down to put on his black leather boots with the steel over the toe as Geoffrey entered the room. "Master Rein, leaving again so soon?" Geoffrey asked.

"The Council has given me another mission, Geoffrey, I'm to leave immediately." Rein stood as he finished buckling his boots. He walked over to his katana and placed it into a long traveling case to avoid suspicion on the train.

"A new mission after you've just returned?" Geoffrey walked over and took over Rein's job of putting the katana away.

"A sort of way to punish me," Rein paused before continuing his sentence, "For feeding on a human." He spit the last few words, they seemed to disgust him.

"Master Rein, you didn't?" Geoffrey came over to Rein's side, abandoning his job of packing Rein's belongings.

"I had no choice, I couldn't make it back to the Order. I was attacked by a werewolf, I would have died." He spoke as if he were trying to convince himself more than Geoffrey. "The Council doesn't trust me." He said at last.

"That's not true, sir, you are one of the top Cleansers within the Order after only two years. They have no reason to doubt you."

"Well, that's not stopping them." Rein stood and grabbed his bags and the case his katana was in and walked towards the door.

"Master, you know that you could have a place on the Council yourself in a few years, they can't deny your loyalty."

Rein stopped at the door and said without turning, "I have no interest in joining the Council and it's secrets, Geoffrey." He looked down at the katana case in his hand, clenching it tightly, and stated, "I'm nothing more than an assassin." And he left out the door into the darkness that was the night without another word.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Rein entered the small town in Arkansas, the town had a population of only about two hundred, the perfect setting for a haunting. Spectre's, Phantom's, ghost's they all chose small, out-of-the-way places like this to prey, and most of the time it would simply be written off as urban legend.

This town, however, looked absolutely normal, it had a single road through the town with old, wooden buildings on either side, and only a simple three way intersection in the middle of the road that led to a handful of houses.

Not a single person that Rein passed on the way to the hotel looked to be frightened or upset in the least. Yet, someone had been sent to investigate and had also gone missing, something had to be amiss.

"Hello, I'd like to check in," Rein said as he approached the counter in the hotel lobby. It was a small building that had only four rooms, the town seldom had visitors, so four rooms was more than enough.

The woman behind the counter didn't even look from her up from her newspaper at Rein's statement. "My name is Rein Lyon," He looked around at the various people who were seated in the hotel lobby, they were all giving him dirty looks, "Excuse me?" He said looking back to the woman.

"Yeah, yeah, I heard ya, young man." The woman spoke with a raspy voice, no doubt the effect of many years of smoking. "Here's your key, room four." She handed Rein a key and went back to reading.

Rein turned to leave but then turned back and asked, "Have you had any other visitors recently?"

"No. We don't get many visitors around here, as you can see." She waved her hand at the people around the lobby without looking up from her paper.

"Any strange happenings?" He asked after taking another look at the people in the lobby.

"No." She said sounding slightly irritated.

"Nothing at all, no ghost sightings or anything like that?" He was beginning to become irritated himself.

She put down her paper and looked him in the eye, "I said no."

"I see, thank you." Rein turned abruptly and walked away annoyed, not as much at the woman as he was at the apparent waste of time the Council had assigned to him. He went up to his room to set down his belongings. He decided that someone in the town must know something about the missing Cleanser, there had to be clues somewhere.

Out in the street he was still getting the same dirty looks from the people who were passing by and no one seemed like they'd be willing to talk. He decided to try the bar at the end of the street.

It was an old style saloon that looked like it came right out of the old west, this town obviously preferred to remain more traditional than catching up with the times. It was a dusty old place that many of the townspeople seemed to like to spend time, Rein discovered upon entering that it also doubled as a restaurant.

Rein walked up to the counter, eyes fixed upon him the whole way. Every man, woman, and even every child stared at him as he walked up to the bartender. "Hello, sir, what can I get for ya?" The bartender asked in a husky, jovial voice, cleaning out a glass.


"I'm looking for someone," Rein said shedding his jacket and slinging it over his shoulder, "A friend of mine passed through here not too long ago, did you see him?"

"'Fraid not, young man," The bartender said after a second of deliberation, "I know just about everyone in this town and I didn't see anyone I didn't recognize." The bartender picked up another glass.

"He would have been here up until about a week ago, and as you said he would have stood out. Are you positive you didn't see anything?" Rein asked as he leaned against the counter.

The bartender squinted one of his eyes in thought, "Nope, like I said, I didn't see anyone."

Rein placed a hand against his head and closed his eyes, "Alright, can I ask you something else then?"

"Of course, young man, hopefully I got an answer you‘ll like."

"Has there been anything strange happenings in town lately? Anything at all. Any unexplained phenomenon?" Rein guessed the answer before he even finished his question.

"Not that I know of, everything ‘round here's been right as rain," The bartender set down another glass and looked at Rein, "You gonna buy something or not?"

Rein put his jacket back on and turned toward the door, "No. Thanks for your time," He said coldly as he walked out the front door, patron's eyes still fixed on his every move.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Everywhere that Rein asked he received the same story, and the same suspicious glare. No one had seen the Cleanser and nothing supernatural was happening in the town, at least that's what everyone had said.

The sun was sinking rapidly into the West and the town was entering a quiet time as the main street was abandoned and the people all headed to their homes. The lights in all of the buildings darkened except the ones belonging to the hotel where Rein was staying.

Rein entered the hotel and the lobby was abandoned, even the woman behind the counter was missing. Rein went up to his room, wondering what could have happened to the Cleanser. No one had given up any information, Rein had decided to use the cover of night to go search the empty buildings for any secrets that the townspeople had kept hidden.

Rein went for his katana he had kept in the long case in his room, and tied the sword to his side and went to the window and looked down at the darkened street. For a brief moment he thought that he saw someone moving quickly between the gaps in the buildings, he opened the window ready to leap down to the street and see who or what it was.

Then as he was ready to leap there was a knock at his door, "Who is it?" Rein questioned eyeing the door suspiciously. The only reply was another knock, this one was rapid, panicked. Rein moved quickly to the door and opened it only to be greeted by a pitchfork poised to impale his heart.

In an impulse Rein threw his hand up and the pitchfork pierced through his hand, blood gushed from the wound. The wielder of the weapon was the woman who had been behind the counter, only her eyes had been glazed over, and her skin was pale.

It was then that Rein heard the hurried footsteps of the townspeople hurrying to the hotel, they all crowded in and around the main door. Rein pushed the woman back out the door, slammed it closed and locked it. It wouldn't hold her for long in her present form, but it bought him a few seconds to think.

The woman broke the door down with the aid of a few other villagers, all armed with crude weapons; pitchforks, hand-scythes, and torches. The room was occupied by only darkness, Rein had disappeared, "Find him," One of the villagers growled in a demonic voice, "Our masters said to kill, we shall not betray them." The townspeople all dispersed to search the buildings and surrounding areas.

Rein had managed to make it to the roof of the hotel without being spotted but he had to move. He could hear the footsteps coming up the stairs to the rooftop and the street below had too many people searching to slip by, but he couldn't kill the humans, he was trapped in every possible way.

The door burst open and four of the possessed people stood in front of Rein, who was standing with his hand gripping the hilt of the sheathed sword. "I don't want to hurt you," He threatened, slightly drawing the katana from it's sheath.

"But our masters want us to hurt you." One of the men laughed, holding a hand-scythe in above his head prepared to strike. He rushed forward and took a swing at Rein who managed to dodge the attack, but didn't counter, "What's the matter? Afraid to kill us?" The man mocked taking another swing.

The other three men surrounded Rein and walked forward with the intent to kill. "You can't kill what's already dead, boy," Another man laughed as he moved forward slowly.

"Already dead?" Rein whispered the question to himself, "So it's the undead?" Rein drew his blade and pointed it at one of the men, "Just what in the hell are you?" Rein asked him.

"Our town was attacked, and the whole town died. Our masters brought us back to life, and in exchange we are their humble servants." The first man said watching Rein with an evil glare.

"And who are these masters that turned you into undead slaves?" Rein asked as the men all closed in around him.

"Not to worry, you shall meet them soon enough, when they bring you back as their servant as well." As the man finished his statement, all four of the men jumped at Rein who managed to avoid the attack and take off one of the attackers heads. The decapitated body turned to nothing more than a pile of bones and a puddle of blood.

"So you really are nothing more than moving corpses." Rein raised his blade again and looked to the three remaining men, who were looking to the remains of their fallen comrade, "I shall free you from your imprisonment." And he rushed forward at the men who all raised their blades ready to attack.

After he dispatched the remaining attackers, his gaze fell upon the rest of the town. The moonless night would hide him well, but not forever, the town was two hundred strong and each and every one of them stood between him and his prey. He had to find the creature that had managed to slaughter an entire town and bend them to its will.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Sisters, the slaves are no match for the Vampire's strength." The voice sounded smooth as silk, and full of malice. The voice belonged to a woman who looked to be in her twenties, and she spoke to two others, one looked young around the age of seventeen. The other older, probably in her mid-thirties.

"Not to worry, my sister, soon our song with be for him and he shall join the masters legion of undead slaves." The oldest of the three said. They were standing above graves of fallen villagers, and they were wrapped in robes of pure white. In the human world they were Fallen Angels, within the Order their true name was used; Banshees.

"Even if our slaves cannot kill the Vampire, they will wear him down. Then we can unleash our newest servant." The youngest laughed as she stared down at a body, wrapped in a torn cloth, lying upon a stone tablet within the graveyard the Banshees had made their home.

"Come, my sisters, join hands. We shall repeat the enchantment and return this being to life under our command. The Vampire will die as the master commands." The other sisters came to their younger sister's side, all three of them joined hands, "Remember, we must speak the words exactly as the master taught us. No mistakes my dear sisters."

The trio chanted into the night, wind stirring ever stronger, the darkness that surrounded the world; absolute.

 

[Chadwyck]

Chapter 4:

"Let's go this way!"
"Where'd he go?"
"Find him!"

Rein heard the cries of frustration from the now undead townspeople who were searching the town for him. Rein had reverted to avoiding them rather than attacking them all one by one, the odds were against him. Even though he was a Vampire, his skills alone couldn't defeat the number of enemies he now faced alone. Especially since he needed the strength to defeat whoever was behind the slaughter of this entire town.

Rein turned abruptly, and without warning with his katana drawn and held it up to the throat of the villager who had managed to sneak up behind him. "Wait! I-I want to help y-you," The man's voice sounded strained, like he was struggling just to speak. "I don't have m-much time…. My will is.. deteriorating rapidly… The ones w-who d-d-did this to us… Are in th-the graveyard outside of town."

"Who did it? Did you see them?" Rein lowered his sword and placed his hand on the mans shoulder.

"I'm sorry." The man's voice became dark and menacing like all the other townspeople and he attacked Rein. Rein closed his eyes in remorse and struck the man down.

"I'm sorry too. Thank you." Rein shook the gore from his blade and sheathed it again as he snuck around the back of the pub and headed toward the graveyard. As Rein turned toward the front of the street, he came face-to-face with a group of the townspeople. All of them were grinning an evil grin as they rose their makeshift weapons.

"He's over here!" One of them yelled as they all rushed forward, Rein heard the hurried footsteps approaching from all around the dead town, he drew his katana and fought past two of his attackers and ran out to the main street.

Rein stood in the middle of the street, a hundred strong surrounded him on every side within seconds. Each and every face filled with bloodlust as they looked upon him. "Okay, are you guys sure you want to do this?" Reins answer was a mixture of snorts and laughs. "Well, I'll take that as a yes." Rein held his katana at the ready as the circle around him slowly shrank.

One after another the townspeople jumped at Rein and it was all Rein could do to keep moving. He would turn and take a swing of his sword at an enemy, and jump away as quickly as he could.

A group of four attacked Rein simultaneously, Rein managed to kill two of them before launching himself into the air to avoid the other group that had come up behind him.
Rein was utterly outnumbered and completely overwhelmed within a matter of seconds. Every one of his enemies attacked without pause, countless attacks coming at him simultaneously.

Rein jumped up out of the crowd, but as he pulled away from the undead horde a hand-scythe split his leg open at the right ankle. As he landed he collapsed to the ground, the wounded leg gave out under his weight and he was grounded until it healed.

Within seconds he was surrounded again, a circle of townspeople enveloped him and he barely managed to avoid a pitchfork that had been meant to decapitate him, instead it merely scratched the side of his face.

He used his sword to get to his feet and faced the enemies in front of him, "If I am to die," He raised his sword in a battle ready position, "I will die with honor."

"Well spoken, Brother!" The voice came from the back of the horde in the direction of the cemetery. All eyes turned to the interloper: a tall, thin man dressed in all black, his shirt sleeveless with a high collar and a zipper down the front. He had long, blonde hair and icy blue eyes, his skin was discolored, his complexion was sickly. He walked into the crowd and all the townspeople backed away.

"Ares? I don't understand, you were sent to help me?" Rein clenched his fist as he steadied himself on both legs, his wounded leg beginning to regenerate.

"Not exactly, Rein," The man, Ares, stopped five yards from where Rein stood, "You were sent to help me, I was sent to this town two weeks ago." Rein looked at the townspeople all backing further away.

"Why did they stop their attack?" Rein looked at his friend, a strange sense of suspicion enveloping him.

Ares smiled an evil smile that showed off his protruding canines, "They are simply giving us some room, I stopped them because I wanted the pleasure of killing you myself."

"You too, Ares?" Rein already raising his blade to fight, his leg completely regenerated, now the cut on his face began to fade.

"As my masters command," Ares reached into the sheaths that hung on his side, the weapons that he produced looked like normal daggers until, with a twist of his wrists, the blade seemed to multiply and form a circle around the handle of the weapons, forming a sort of intricate chakram. "Don't worry, because we were once brothers in the Order, I will give you the honor of a quick death."

"Spare me your pity, Ares. I will free you from your imprisonment." Rein glared at his former friend and ally, a red hue reflecting from his eyes.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Above the street the three shadowed figures of the three Banshee sisters were on the roof directly overlooking the battle about to unfold below, the white shrouds they wore as robes flowing and they themselves floating centimeters above the ground.

"The master will be so pleased, my sisters," The oldest of the three laughed, "The vampires will destroy each other and we shall be one step closer to burning this world." The last words were hissed in a whisper of malice.

"Yes my sister," The middle sister agreed, "Though the masters fascination with this vampire Rein," She struggled to remember the name, "Is most disquieting, if we had focused our powers on lashing out at them all we could be ruling by now." She sighed.

"All in good time my sisters," The youngest of the sisters spoke and immediately silenced the two elder sisters, "The timing is not yet right and the master knows this, he is simply toying with the Order, making them squirm," The overwhelmingly dark aura that poured from her every word sent chills down even her fellow Fallen Angels spines. "Now be silent and enjoy the bloodshed."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Rein dove left to avoid the chakram that Ares had let fly from his left hand, but as he landed and rolled upright Ares was staring him in the face. "You're in a whole different league now, Rein, this isn't some sparring match." He took a swing at Rein with the chakram in his right hand as the other returned to his left. Rein blocked the attack and leapt back ten feet only to be greeted by another thrown chakram by Ares.

Rein knocked the chakram away with his katana but the weapon seemed to know exactly where it's owner was and returned, as if guided by an unseen hand, to Ares' outstretched arm. Rein knew that if he kept the battle at long range eventually Ares weapons would meet their target it was only a matter of time. Rein decided to bring the fight to Ares and rushed forward, katana raised, and attacked head on.

The speed and efficiency with which Rein's opponent wielded the circular blades was unbelievable. His arms seemed to disappear at the speed they were moving and before long Rein was sent reeling back, his body covered with deep slices and blood flowing down from each one.

As Rein crouched on the ground, wincing in pain, the weapons flew at him again, only this time he was ready and he leapt into the air after knocking away both chakram and attacked when Ares was most vulnerable, before his weapons returned to him. "Smart move, but not fast enough." Rein brought the sword down, but Ares evaded.


As Ares took his step away from the attack he caught one of his blades and slashed at Rein's left arm. The resulting wound was a slice that ran down the entirety of Rein's arm, from the top of his shoulder to the beginning of his hand blood was seeping up through the cut.

"It's over Rein," Ares said as Rein took another futile slash at him, "Just close your eyes and it'll be over in a second." He laughed as he readied himself for another attack.

Damn, he‘s too fast. There has to be a way… Ares rushed forward at Rein with his usual speed, but when he came close enough, Rein slid his hands up to a point on the blade of his sword, a slight grunt escaping him as the blade cut into the palms of his hands. The shortened length of the blade made Rein's increase enough to land a blow into Ares' stomach, but at the cost of defense and Ares' blades sank into Rein's stomach as well.

Both stumbled back and were greatly wounded, Ares pulled the sword from his stomach and tossed it aside, "Lovely trick," He laughed as the bones in his arms grew and extended out of his wrists and formed a sort of blade, "How do you like mine?" He mocked as his eyes turned blood red.

Every vampire had something about their primal state that was unique, some vampires grew wings, some grew claws and blades, others grew larger and more powerful, and still others developed multiple traits.

Rein reached down and pulled the chakram from his torso, nails growing into long, razor sharp claws and he looked up at Ares with his eyes filling with the blood red color. Both vampires stared into the eyes of the other, blood dripping into puddles from their fresh wounds, the intent to kill filling each of them completely

It happened very suddenly and without warning, each of them seemed to move at the exact same time, their movements so quick that the average eye would hardly be able to keep up. They attacked each other in the center of the street, hacking and slashing away at each other, Ares blades slicing the air as Rein dodged and swiped with his claws.

Ares attacked with a powerful downward slash of his right blade as Rein jumped and landed, momentarily, on top of his left blade then sprung off and landed behind Ares. And it all happened within seconds.

Ares turned quickly and stabbed at Rein with his left arm, Rein side-stepped the attack and let out a loud battle cry as he brought down his claws and snapped off his enemy's bone-blade. Ares panicked and began slashing at Rein wildly with his remaining blade, a look of malice covered Rein's face, the pleasure of causing the fear Ares was now feeling shone in his eyes.

Rein laughed as he reached out and caught the flailing arm of his prey, with a twist of his wrist and another slice with his claws, he snapped off the remaining blade. The icy-blue gaze of Ares returned, Death's crippling grasp was upon him and he was truly afraid.

Rein laughed as he ran Ares through with his own blade with such force that Ares was pushed several feet back. "Just close your eyes, Ares, it'll all be over soon." Rein walked slowly toward Ares, "I release you now, Ares."

Ares fumbled about on the ground and his hand found one of his chakram, "Not quite yet, Rein," He spat as he threw the weapon, intending to decapitate Rein. Rein ducked down out of the chakram's way, threw up his hand and caught the blade and turned it on it's master. Ares body fell limp to the ground, a puddle of blood rapidly growing around the corpse, and a chakram protruding from it's forehead.

Rein knew his battle was far from over, he walked over to where his sword lay on the ground, as his features returned to their normal status, and prepared to defend himself from the remaining fifty or so villagers that had not yet been dispatched, breathing heavily from the pain of his wounds and the exhaustion of his body.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"No! This cannot be," The eldest Banshee hissed as she watched the life they had bestowed upon Ares' corpse be stolen away, "How could this Order Dog defeat our dark magic?" She was furious.

"Silence," The youngest sister hissed in her dark indifference, "The vampire we awakened did exactly as expected," At this remark the two eldest sisters looked at each other questioningly, "The Order's pet has been wounded, now we shall greet him with death's cold embrace."

She moved to the edge of the building's rooftop and peered down at Rein, who was standing ready for another wave of attack, her sisters fell in step behind her. "Remember sisters, make him suffer." She said darkly as her and her sisters leapt down from the rooftop to the street below.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The villagers did not make any attempt to attack Rein as he stood ready to face them, they remained where they were staring at him with vacant looks on their faces.

"They won't attack unless they are ordered to," A female voice caused Rein to turn on the spot and he saw a trio of women all wrapped in white shrouds standing before him, "They won't do much of anything unless we tell them to."

"You must be the ‘masters' these people keep referring to." Rein made no attempt to move, he had to stall for time until he could at least somewhat heal and his body wasn't so racked with pain.

"Yes we are," The youngest of the three said as she looked at Rein with her head tilted slightly to one side, "But that's all the information you'll get from us, I'm afraid we can't allow you to stall for time and regenerate your wounds," She smiled as she formed her next thought, "Though, I'm sure that your body has just about reached it's limit anyway, shame there's no living blood for you to feed on." The other two simply smiled an evil smile in agreement.

Rein knew what creatures he was dealing with: Banshees. The humans had called them Fallen Angels, although these creatures were almost as far from angels as you could get.

Rein focused himself and raised his blade, the effort of doing so sent a pain through his arms, fresh blood still seeped from his wounds. The Banshee's laughed at his pain as the two eldest flew at Rein, "Soon we shall sing a song for your death," One of them had mocked as they passed right by him. They were toying with him, they knew how weak he was.

The air around Rein chilled as they circled him. Banshee's had strong connections with the dark art of magic, that's how they had brought an entire town back from the dead as their slaves, and Rein knew not to expect them to physically attack him, they would rely on the elements.

Rein watched as the two encircled him, the youngest was watching what was happening like a spectator at their favorite sporting event. Suddenly, the ground beneath Rein shot up into a spike that meant to impale him, he evaded just in time, his reaction time greatly suffering from his aching body.

As soon as he had left the ground, however, the air around him began to swirl forming a cyclone that trapped him in it's clutches. They were trying to wear him down until he could no longer fight back, he had to think of something quick.

The ground beneath where the cyclone dropped him opened to form a pit with spikes of earth jutting from the bottom, he twisted his body and managed to avoid the pit by inches. The two that had him ensnared laughed at his attempts to survive.

"You can't avoid us forever, vampire!" They mocked.

Rein stood up and quickly threw his katana at one of the Banshee's, disrupting their field around him and he leapt after his sword. It stuck fast into a wall after the middle sister avoided it, and he grabbed hold of it's hilt and jumped away from the wall.

He landed a few yards away from one of the shops that lined the street and dove through the display window and hid within it's darkened interior, trying to find a back door.

"Stop him! Villagers, smoke him out, set the town ablaze." The youngest sister laughed as she gave the command and the remaining townspeople all set off igniting buildings with torches.

The darkened streets were lit by the flames, it was as though the town had been fast-forwarded to midday. Rein had no choice but to come out of his hiding place before he was devoured by the greedy inferno.

"Now then, where did he go? Sister's go and find him." The youngest made a shooing motion with her hand and her sister's made no attempt to argue.

Rein had snuck around to the back of the building he was in and used the smoke cover to move from building to building, now that the trio was separated all he had to do was strike from the shadows.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Sister's did you find him?" The youngest asked at last, it had been an hour since she ordered them to look, how could it take so long in such a small town? It was then that the Banshee realized that her sisters had not replied.

"Sisters," Her voice became hostile, "Did you find him yet?"

"Looking for me?" The youngest turned and her eyes went wide when she saw the sight, Rein stood in the midst of the flames that engulfed the town holding in his hand her sisters disembodied heads.

"What have you done?" The voice that was so hostile had a hint of sorrow within it, which vanished as quickly as it appeared, "Mark my words, vampire, you will rue this day." She said at last, rising off the ground mixing in with the smoke from the growing fire. She looked to the East and saw the sun glowing beyond the horizon, "We will meet again, and you will die. For now, my master needs me at his side." She faded away into the smoke as she said the last words.

Rein waited unmoving, ensuring that it wasn't a trick, and when he was sure that she was truly gone he distanced himself from the town, making his way to the outskirts. The townspeople that hadn't already perished in the spreading fire had returned to being corpses, the spell had broken when the Banshee had fled.

Once he made it to the outskirts of the town he fell to the ground, exhaustion and pain flooded into his body now that the adrenaline was wearing off. He had to return to the Council, but not before he regained his strength.

He found a barn that had belonged to one of the townspeople who lived away from town and found it's darkened room most inviting. He dug himself a grave in the dirt that served as the barns floor and laid himself within it, pulling a loose layer of the earth on top of him and entered into a deep sleep.

 

[Chadwyck]

OoC: This isn't a full length chapter. It's been rather slow lately, what with rehearsals for my play and the show performs this week. So I've been unable to sit down and write a full length chapter. I pray forgiveness from you all. And I will get to writing chapter 5 as soon as humanly possible.

Chapter 4.5

Consciousness slowly crept its way back into Rein's mind, the loose dirt that covered him shuffled slightly as he awoke. It was late into the night, and the smell of fire no longer lingered in the air. The town was no longer burning, and it took a moment for Rein to realize exactly what that meant: people. They must have seen the smoke from another town, which meant that they found the bodies of the dead townspeople and the whole town burning. On top of everything, he was yet to distance himself from the town, which meant he could be discovered at any time.

As if summoned by Rein's train of thought, footsteps could be heard rapidly approaching the barn that Rein had taken refuge in. He stood and shook the dirt loose from himself, and soon became disoriented, he was still weak. Too weak. The last things he saw before losing himself to unconsciousness were the silhouettes of police officers opening the doorway to the barn.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Rein awoke in the back of a heavily armored transport vehicle, strapped down with chains, an officer with a shotgun on either side of him. "Look who's finally awake." The look the officer gave him was so hostile that Rein half suspected him to open fire. "What I want to know is: what did those poor people ever do to deserve what you did? A whole damn town, dead!" The officer hit Rein on the back of the head with the end of his shotgun.

Rein released a low sigh of irritation at the blow, so he was being blamed for the death of that town. What else did he expect? He was the last living thing left in the whole town, after all. "If you would allow me to explain, officer." Rein began before another abrupt blow to the back of the head.

"Look at that, John," The hostile officer spoke to the other officer, who was still yet to say a single word, "The freak can talk, and so nice and pretty, too." Rein became agitated, he had to suppress the urge to break free of his pathetic bonds and slaughter the fragile human where he stood. It had been a long time since Rein had fed, and it would do him good… No, Rein fought back the thought, It‘s bad enough that I‘ve allowed myself to be captured by human authorities, no need complicating things further.

"Please, just allow me to speak in my defense." Rein began again, shooting the hostile officer such an intimidating look that he hesitated before striking Rein again. Rein released a malice filled growl as his eyes briefly flashed the crimson color of blood, before he suppressed his primal instincts again.

"That's enough, Dean." The other officer spoke finally, making the hostile officer, Dean, freeze as he was about to continue taunting Rein. "And as for you, shut the hell up," He said indicating Rein, "You can explain yourself in due time, not that it will do you much good. We have you at the scene of a mass murder, and we even have the murder weapon, still covered in blood from your victims." He said with a grin, the kind of grin that looked like it belonged on the face of a child who just gotten a younger sibling in trouble.

"However, I'm sure that you have an explanation for that, and I'm looking forward to it." He said, causing Rein to look up questioningly, "I could use a good laugh." He finished with a laugh.

Rein hung his head trying to figure out how he would get out of this predicament. As the transport vehicle wheeled along with grinding parts toward Rein's destination. A trip that Rein could only hope would last long enough for him to find a way out.

 

[Chadwyck]

OoC: Wow, it's been too long since I actually wrote a chapter, and this one isn't exactly the greatest. I apologize that it's a little on the shorter side, and also for the quality. Hope you enjoy the latest installment none-the-less ^^;

Chapter 5:

The darkness filled every corner of the room, no outside light was allowed to enter unless it was time for Rein to be fed. Human food, the guards looked so much more appetizing than the slop they brought him to eat once everyday. After five days in this place, his hands and legs bound by the straight jacket the human authorities had confined him to, his urge, the desire to feed, was nearly overwhelming.

Rein felt his will deteriorating, every moment his sanity slipping away, soon he would succumb to his primal side. Then his bindings would be broken and every person unlucky enough to cross his path as he carved his escape through destruction would be killed…

The judge he had been brought before said he was too dangerous to keep with normal prisoners while he awaited his execution. However, that judge did not know how right he was, Rein was too dangerous, too dangerous to be around anyone, so far lost to his desires that his eyes pierced through the darkness, even from the other side of the pitch black room you could see the red emanating from them.

Luckily in this, an asylum for the criminally insane, he was confined in a room by himself, all alone he couldn't hurt anyone, but that would end soon enough. Once Rein gave way to his basic instincts he would break down the door as easily as if it were made of cardboard and slaughter every one of the eight guards assigned to his room. Only it wouldn't end there.

If a vampire fed in the full primal state, got the taste of human blood, they would go rogue. Their sense of right and wrong would disappear along with their sanity and none would be safe. Those are the very same kinds of vampires that Rein himself had been sent to dispose of. He wondered now that if that were to happen to him, who would the council send to dispose of him?

Rein calculated that he had about eight more hours until he could no longer control his hunger, so now he had a choice: either wait to be consumed by insanity and become uncontrollable, or kill the guards outside now, feed and be done with it. The Council's punishment would be severe, even in this most dire moment, they would expect him to find another way out. Without harming a human and making it back to the Order. For that to happen, he needed a plan.

A hospital. There was a hospital within the asylum, a medical wing. He had seen it on his way in, they would have blood. It was a great risk for him in his current state, but that was the only choice he had.

He pulled at his bindings, almost instantly breaking the buckles that held the straight jacket in place, the ability to move his arms freely was something that he had missed. He flexed his hands and fingers, and then he broke the bindings on his legs.

When the time came for them to feed him, he would incapacitate the guards and try and make his way to the medical wing. If he remembered correctly, that wasn't too long from now. He waited. An hour passed. Then two. Nothing. Had they given up on feeding him? No, they couldn't, something must have happened.

He moved to the door and banged on it as hard as he could, which left a large dent in it. If that didn't get their attention, nothing would. But still, silence. No one opened the door to see what had happened. There was nothing. Rein banged against the door again, knocking it off of its hinges as it fell to the ground with a loud crash that echoed through the building.

There were no guards outside of his door, and he heard nothing from anywhere in the asylum. He stumbled out into the fading light of twilight, the sun was low on the horizon. There was no one. No. There were people, he heard them, he listened more intently. Frightened, cowering somewhere. He rushed down the hall and entered the main corridor, greeted by a horrific scene.

The walls, the floors, the desks, the rolling beds, all of them were covered in blood, bodies of nurses, doctors, and patients strewn all about. "What happened here?" Rein whispered in a rasp, the result of not having spoken for days. He crouched to examine one of the bodies, "Claw marks." He stated looking at the deep gashes down a doctors front. "Not again… Werewolves," He sighed, "Didn't I already show them what happens when they send those stupid dogs?"

Rein heard growling from the end of the hall, and the sound of bodies being dragged. He ducked around the corner, staying in the shadows. "I suppose that's why they sent two," He spoke under his breath: defeated. He swore quietly to himself. Here he was with no weapon, and two Werewolves that were probably sent to tear him apart. To make matters worse, they were standing between him and the medical wing: the blood was so close, yet so far.

He heard the sobs he had heard earlier, survivors. He now had three objectives to accomplish: get to the blood stores and feed; find a weapon; and rescue the survivors. All had to be done with his enemies bearing down upon him. Luckily they had yet to notice him, he stuck close to the wall and went back toward his cell, he would try to circle around behind them.

The most important thing now was to ensure he wasn't spotted, a fight now would result in his death, that much was certain. Fortunately for Rein, the werewolves hadn't thought about the hindrance that the slaughter they had committed would cause them. The heavy smell of blood filled the corridors more and more as time passed, making it impossible for them to sniff Rein out.



However, it was also a great risk to Rein, since the overwhelming smell filled the air it made it much more difficult for him to control himself. He could feel his cold veins pulsing with desire to feed, creeping its way up his spine, he gasped for air and shook his head in an attempt to wake himself from his subconscious. No time for that now, he thought, focusing his eyes, have to remain in control…

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Where is he being held?" The larger of the two asked in a growl, judging by his size, he must have been the leader of the pack.

"I'm still not sure," The other growled his answer, taking a bite out of the security guard he was dragging behind him, "Why did the master want us to kill everyone anyway? Now we have to track down the humans hiding away as well as the Vampire." He growled in irritation.

"Do not question the master," The larger snapped, "We are to cause as much mayhem as possible, it is only a matter of time before the master launches his plan and exposes that blasted Order and reveals the existence of our brethren and we rule this world." The monster said proudly as he approached the entrance to the hall Rein had been in only moments ago.

"But why bother so much with only one of the Vampires?" The second asked.

"Because this particular Vampire is the only thing in this world that the master fears, the only one who can stop his plan." The leader said raising his nose in the air, a wicked smile playing across his face, "Come, the others will take care of hunting down the surviving humans, I believe I caught a scent." He said as his eyes narrowed.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The hallways were all darkened by the blood that was spread across nearly all the halls, Rein stuck to the shadows and the darkness from the flickering fluorescent lights. He reached a hallway that also led to the medical wing, Rein could tell the werewolves had already been through here by the bodies spread about.

He heard footsteps from a hallway in front of him and quickly ducked out of the way, fading into a shadow: watching. A black-furred werewolf stalked out of the darkness and looked around him, raising his nose and sniffing about. Just how many of them are there? Rein thought.

"Damn humans," The werewolf hissed. "Where are they? Most likely hiding in some hole like the pests they are." He stalked off down another hallway in the opposite direction of the medical wing, luckily for Rein.

"Great," Rein growled taking off toward the blood that awaited him at the medical wing, "I have even less time than I thought. They must have come in their pack." Rein kept going, staying as quiet as possible, but going as quickly as he could. He listened for the frightened breathing of the surviving few as well as the footsteps of the werewolves. He heard the survivors easy enough, but he couldn't hear the werewolves, they were keeping quiet. He could only hope he wouldn't be too late.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Rein arrived in the medical wing without further incident. He had managed to avoid the werewolves easily enough, luckily for him the smell of the blood covered his scent. He tore apart the med-wing as quickly as he could: opening up everything that would have blood stores in it. Finally, the fruits of his labor paid off, and he found a refrigerated room that held numerous packets filled with blood.

The first part of his search was over, the blood he needed to feed he had finally found, now he needed his weapon before he could face the werewolves. He had little time to search, however, the werewolf pack could discover the survivors at any moment.

He decided that he would have to try his "Ace in the hole" so to speak, and attempt to force himself into his primal state. Not many Vampires could force themselves to tap into the power sleeping inside of themselves, it only happened when their lives were in danger, or they needed to feed…

Rein knew that he had found his answer. He looked at the packet of blood he had torn open in his hand, then closed his eyes and listened to the frightened sounds of the survivors. He knew that those people's lives came before his own. He was nothing but a damned soul bound to the Earth, forced to live on the blood of the living: cursed forever. The Order's purpose was to protect the humans, and Rein knew what had to be done. He had little more than five hours before he would be unable to control himself. He would have to kill all of the pack and make it back to feed in that time or else he would lose control.

He threw the blood on the floor and closed his eyes. Seconds later his claws began to grow and his eyes filled blood red.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The lead werewolf stopped sniffing the trail and stood still in the hall.

"What's the matter?" The second one asked, nearly running into the leader from his abrupt stop.

"The scent has changed somehow, it's the same scent, but not the same scent…" The leader said slowly.

"What are you talking about?" The other asked, confused by the hesitance in the leaders voice.

"We have to hurry!" The leader took off running down the hall and burst into the room that held the blood packets. The only thing in the room was a puddle of blood spilling out from a packet on the floor.

Rein had disappeared again, and there was no telling where he would strike first.