1The Traveller

Disclaimer: That I am aware of, I do not own any of these characters, places or events. Please give me some slack, this is my first fanfic and it is something I've been mulling over for some time. Hope you enjoy, or at least get a kick out of it.

The Traveller

I walk in the full sunlight. Looking up, I smile at my own private joke. A young child, all are young to me, brushes my arm and trips over the upturned corner of the sidewalk. I catch her arm before she could fall, her eyes went wide, "You should be more careful," I let my voice be light, motherly toward the child. She seemed to relax because of that and smiled at me. 'Poor twit, if only she knew what held her.'

"Thank you," she glanced at my hand, still holding her arm and I let her go to run back to her mother. 'Humans are so fortunate to have such... happiness.'

I walk down, yet another, nameless street. I smirked as I heard footsteps follow me. "You have picked the wrong partner, my friend," I say once we reached a deserted alley.

"Don't think so," the fool actually caught me across the shoulders, quite a feet since I'm taller than most women, and pushed me against the wall.

"Is this where I scream?" My innocent question seemed to startle him, I smiled. "Rapist, not my favorite meal but you'll do," I laid my hand on his chest and pushed him across the alley, into the other wall. "A feisty one?" The man had started getting up and I was suddenly at his side. "I wonder if you taste the same way," I grabbed him across his shoulder and bury my fangs in his throat.

Normally I would kill my prey, but somehow this one had not killed, his blood was far too sweet to be a murderer. Then again, I could just be getting use to the tangy taste of evil. When I hear his heart start to weaken, I let go of him as the wounds heal and a thought takes me to the roof next to the alley. If you haven't guessed what I am yet, it wouldn't surprise me. I've don't far worse things in front of Humans and they didn't even acknowledge it.

"Knives! I turn to see the young boy happily rushing over to me. I absently muss his hair as he looked down at my unconscious meal. "You let him live?" Yes the boy knows but he's in the 'See no evil' phase.

"He wasn't a murderer," even though I could care less, I try to 'behave' in the boy's company. What can I say; Crow's a bad influence on me. That's not his real name, mind you, but he's always got that damn... I heard a 'Caw' as a large crow landed on the ledge, bird with him. "Good afternoon Ka, any luck with your meal?"

Butcher threw out scraps, tasty. I smiles when Crow looked at me, to him all he hears was cawing. "He did," Crow smiled at me and scratched Ka on the head. "That reminds me, why are you here? I was going to meet you back at the house."

"Ka led me here."

I shook my head, "I should've left you in the NeverNever."

"You wouldn't be the first," Crow smiled but I knew he was only doing that to comfort me. His parents had left him in that baron land to starve. By luck alone, Ka had found him and helped him find food and shelter.

"Yeah, well," I frowned in mock annoyance, "Too late now. Looks like I'm stuck with you. Have you eaten yet?"

I heard his stomach growl at the thought of food and smiled. "No, not yet," he held his grumbling stomach.

"It's still early, we could get something from a pub. Maybe beat the rowdies."

"You really need to work on that Knives, it's called a bar and sounds good to me," Crow gave me a hug and I thought of the small pub I use to visit back in the 50's.

"Not where we are," I opened my eyes and glanced around at the moors. Here it was drizzling and foggy, I always liked this place. I spent nearly 40 years here as proof.

"You did not just poof us out of the country," Crow looked around in disbelief.

"Aye," I left out the accent but what can I say, you stay somewhere long enough and it'll wear off on you. "Sorry Ka, you'll have to stay out here."

He dropped his head and flew away from my shoulder to perch on top of the door.

"Nevermore," Crow smirked at me.

"I knew I shouldn't have left you at that library," I curled my hand around his shoulder as my clothes changed to light blues and yellows. "Call me sis while we're here, you're my little brother, " I let my form compress until I was only a foot taller than him.

"Alright sis," it always amazes me at how quickly he picked up the acts, a natural, and he never slips up. "Coming Sis?" I blinked at Crow holding the door open for me and smiled.

"Coming Brother," I put on an innocent expression and took his hand as we entered the pub. 'Too bad I can't get a whiskey chaser in this form but I could be remembered in my true one.' The place fell silent when we walked through the door and I smiled to sooth the hard gaze of the patrons.

"Sis," I blinked down at Crow's whining voice, "You promised we'd eat before we went back to town."

"I know little Brother, but I don't think we're welcome here. We got a little lost on our walk, do you serve meals?"

"Yee're lost?" I gave an embarrassed nod, "Aye, we serve meals. But na beer fer yee."

"Far enough," I led Crow to a seat. When the server came over I met the face of an old friend. "The u..," I almost slipped into the past and looker at Crow, "Young one here is starving. Could we have a couple of house specials?"

"Aye," the old voice shook me back into the present. "Is yer mum from 'ere?"

I blinked and realized my form was younger but still my own. "No," Crow's voice snapped me out of it. "We're visiting a friend and ended up lost. Dad won't let me anywhere without Sis."

Crow asked for a couple of cokes and I tried to lay low. That man had been an admirer of mine and I hadn't acknowledged his advances to the point where I had to leave to keep from being found out. "Be careful around here. I stayed too long last time and I haven't let that generation die out yet," I whispered to Crow and leaned back, act resumed, as the man brought our drinks. "Thank you," I said in a sing-song, girly voice and smiled as I took mine and set it on the table.

"I can drink some for you," I could barely hear Crow's voice and knew he was worried for me. I smiled and swigged half the glass at once, not my first choice but it'll do.

The server walked away and I scooted closer to Crow, he had a confused look on his face, "I've walked with you in the sun and you're confused about my drinking soda? I can take nutrients like a Human, I just lose my energy if I don't feed."

"It's still odd to see, that's all," he wiped the look off his face but I could still see it in his eyes. 'I wonder if I should tell him my story. I know he would never ask without cause.' When the food arrived I smiled as he dug into his meal. 'No, far too young for such a tragedy.'

I was so content with watching my Human companion eat that I didn't notice the room had gone silent again, "Lass, you 'ad better eat and be on yer way 'fore night comes. They've been 'earing the Banshee 'round 'ere."

I couldn't help but smile up at the man that had said it." 'oo's she been callin' fer?" I automatically fell back into the old ways in speaking. "I 'adn't 'eard 'a any dead out 'ere."

"Yer mum is from 'ere, I knew she 'ad ta be." I dropped my head, so easily was I riled up that I had forgotten the act.

"Yee… You finished?" I shook myself from the past, yet again, and turned to Crow. He looked at me with concern, but nodded as I threw some money on the table. I signaled Crow to go on ahead and glanced at the man I had remembered from the last time I was here. "I know for who the Banshee cries. Herself," I let him alone see my true self, he stared at me with the same admiration he had so long ago before I left the pub that had once been my second home.

I stepped outside, it had started to truly rain, and saw Ka perched on Crow's head with his wings held out as an odd umbrella. "You're going after the banshee?" I nodded and let my form return to normal.

"Here," I took off the fabric choker that I always wore and, as I moved to put it around his neck, it lengthened into a hooded, black cloak. "Keep him dry and warm," I whispered and ran my hand across it, it shimmered as if reaching for my touch when I pulled away. "You can ride on my should Ka, the rain won't touch you there."

Thanks Knives. The half-soaked bird fluttered to my shoulder and puffed out his feathers in hopes of drying out.

"I'll get you two somewhere safe before dark. Until then, do you want to sight see? We have three hours until nightfall," what can I say, I have an excellent sense of time.

"Why can't I go with you? I've never seen a Banshee," his curiosity was getting to him.

"You should know it's not a Banshee," he nodded, "Besides, a Banshee's scream is known to kill," I brushed my finger across his too long ear, "It makes your brain bleed out through your ears."

I walked away, but not before I saw him shiver, "Then how could the locals hear her scream?" I couldn't help but smile.

"Someone's been reading too much Nancy Drew."

"Try true crime," I looked to see him scratch the half-point of his ear.

"I've offered time and again to make those normal."

"And time and again I've declined," he smiled and rushed to catch up to me.

"Like it or not I'm going to hide them," I cupped my hands over his ears.

"Ouch," he batted at me as I took my hands away. "What was that for?" He ran his hand over his normal-shaped ears. "Hey!" I let him hit me and just smiled.

"The locals are over superstitious, can't have you running around like a leprechaun now can we?" I laughed as he gave me an angry look. "Nothing personal," I lifted my hand and the hood floated up to cover his head.

"It's as bad here as there, a Halfling can't even show his ears for fear of being killed by humans and elves."

"There are no elves here but you can't show them here either." I dropped my hand onto his hooded head, "You are far too young to worry about such things, lighten up," I walked on ahead of him. "Your father's elven pride is getting the best of you." "Bite me," I turned back at his modernized phrase and clicked my fangs in reply. "You know that doesn't scare me."

"I know," I couldn't bite him to save his soul. "It was worth a try," if only to remind him what he travels with.

Why do you always push him away? Ka shifted on my shoulder and scooted toward my ear.

I slipped into the birds' language with ease. Would you willingly travel with one that would kill you if it got hungry? He is too young to understand what I truly am and no matter what books he reads he will never have all the answers. He views me as a mentor, a friend, and I need him to see me as I really am.

Then why not leave him somewhere he will be safe?

What would be safer than being protected by me? I've come across no other that can match me.

And if you turn rabid? Who would protect him then?

You. I placed a finger in the center of Ka's breast. If I should turn rogue, take my heart. I pushed some of my power into the frail body, enough for it to overpower me but just once. Once is all you get. Would you die to protect this abandoned child?

Without a thought.

I'll hold you to that. I could hear Crow walking behind me, he kept his distance as he kicked a rock down the gravel road. "The wind's picking up," the rain had started to slow, though the sky still warranted storms, but I could hear the cloak I had given Crow flutter and whip as the wind started to howl. "Stay with Crow," I had to raise my voice but Ka had heard and fought against the wind to have Crow hide him beneath the cloak. "Protect them," I whispered and the fluttering stopped as the cloak wrapped itself around them. Then the screaming started.

"The Banshee?" Crow ducked his head against the screaming but I could still hear him.

"SHOW YOURSELF!" I pushed every ounce of power into the summons. When it comes to bloodlines, if mine calls you answer.

"Who be you to command such power?" The winds died as the 'Banshee' showed herself.

I felt one of my many knives shift beneath my forearm s it slid down my arm through the skin. "No one," in less time than it took to answer I had already taken care of her and turned to hide the scene from Crow as her head fell away from her body, turning to ash before it hit the ground. The blade shifted back to its original position beneath my skin as I wrapped my arm around Crow's shoulder. "Let's go home."

A thought took up back to the closest thing I have to a home. Normally it was shut up tight, dark and dreary but I made sure all the windows were open to allow the last of the sunlight into the rooms. Ka flew out from under the cloak up onto the mantel of the fireplace. "Crow? Are you ok?" He looked up at me with far away eyes and nodded. "Would you like me to turn your ears back to normal?"

"No, not yet," he let the cloak flutter onto a chair next to the door. "Are you going to be hunting tonight?"

"Most likely, Ka will be able to find me it you need anything," I started to worry when he just nodded and headed for his room. I looked at Ka and he lowered his head before flying after Crow. "No wonder I stayed away from Humans. Damn emotions, such a nuisance." I headed to Crow's room.

Before I could knock I heard his voice, "I didn't know that she hunted her own kind. How could she do that?" I bowed my head and turned to lean against the wall next to the door. "Every night. I thought she went out to feed. She always telling me she only kills those that have hurt the innocent but she let that man go earlier," his voice sounded tired and started to become softer. I could hear his soft, deep breathing when he fell asleep.

"The rule doesn't apply to just Humans," the day must've been longer than I thought because my eyes drooped shut and I fell into a dark dream.

"Knives?" Crow's voice roused me from my sleep and I opened my eyes just as the door stopped in front of my nose. "Knives, I heard a noise at the window!"

"It's probably Ka," the bird flapped its wings from its perch on his shoulder. "Wait! Was the window open?"

"No, why?"

"Go downstairs, my cloak will protect you." It's night and I hadn't closed up the house before I had fallen asleep.

This one was toying with me but why? I waited for Crow to go down the stairs before I spoke, "Must I summon you or will you face me on your own?" I could sense him now, young and high off his so called immortality. Take it from me, if it exists it can be destroyed, immortality is a concept for the self-thought fearless.

"What makes you so special?" His voice came in hisses and I smiled as the end came with a lisp. "Why does my kind fear one that can't even secure her resting place?"

"Only one so young and stupid would ask such questions," a thought took me in front of him, my hand around his throat, lifting him off the ground. "You've reached a new level of both by coming to ME to ask them." I laid my other hand on his shoulder and pulled his throat until his spine separated from his body, as if it was an unsheathed sword. The blood and flesh exploded into a fine ash as the wind blew through the house, taking with it any sign of my unwelcome guest.

I let my body become particles, of much of the same, and let the wind carry me down the stairs to reform at the foot of them, "Knives!" Again I ended up with Crow in my arms, this time he had my cloak thrown over his shoulders and Ka came to rest on mine.

I smile and affectingly rub my hand over his hair, "It seems I've outstayed my welcome in this dimension, I should go."

"Please take me with you," this scared little child confuses me so, "I'll be your brother, child, cousin, anything to stay with you. You're the only family I have, please don't leave me ... alone."

"You wouldn't like me as your family, after all, I've sworn to destroy mine." The sorrow filled eyes of this child stared into mine, for a moment I could almost believe he was looking into my soul. I smirked at the concept and finally gave in, "I've never transported Humans through the portal before, it could kill you or worse."

"I don't care," he held me tighter and I had to relax, or else pierce him with the blades residing just beneath my skin. "As long as I stay with you."

"I have done everything I could to push you away, why haven't you run from me? I have done much less to strangers and sent them straight into the naive arms of the church. What makes you so different?" A thought opened a red-tinged doorway and Crow's eyes lit up.

"You're taking me with you?"

"Only if you play by my rules," he nodded and I smiled. "Wrap him up good and tight. Relax Crow," his eyes looked panicked as my cloak crept around his body, limiting his movement until all he could do was breath. "It'll be over in a moment," Lead the way, my friend. Ka flew through the portal as I picked up Crow and stepped through to stand on the roof of a skyscraper. My cloak unwrapped itself from around him and settled around my throat, back to being the fabric choker.

Crow's fist shot up and, I let him, hit me across the jaw. I had to give the little Halfling credit, my fangs slid down as blood welled up from the cut on my lip, that hit had shaken me. "You could've warned me! Trying to kill me?" He threw up his hands in agitation and turned away from me. I smiled as the wound healed and, my fangs retracted as, the blood seeped back into my skin. 'Anyone else would be dead after a stunt like that but somehow this one had escaped my wrath, yet again.' "Let me make it up to you," I rushed at him, scooped him up and let the wind carry us up over the rooftops.

"Where are we going?" His voice kind of cracked as he held on tighter.

"I have a house around here, if they haven't condemned it by now," it had been nearly two hundred years since I'd been in this dimension. I set down on top of a building that had once been a large aristocratic home and let Crow down. "I knew I should've placed servants at this residence.

"Knives? Where are we going to stay?"

"I won't be hunted here. Unless things have changed, I'm the only one. We can stay as long as you like, wherever you like." I had no need for such comforts and knew Crow would be just as content with a blanket in the middle of the forest but I like seeing that smile on his face.

Crow chose a high rise hotel and I just stood by his side, as all his requests he asked for or about, signing for the room and paying the bill. On the elevator ride up, I leaned against the mirrored side panel as he smiled and stared out of the back glass window at the city below. He was so excited that, when he looked at me, he didn't even notice I leaned against an empty mirror. What can I say, I'm one of the only ones that willingly cast no reflection. My reason is far different than the legends though, I don't like the reminder of my parentage, as for the no soul thing, the jury's out on that one. 'Can one be born without a soul?' I'll have to remember to ask. "Knives. Earth to Knives," I blinked and saw Crow waving a hand in my face. "Finally, this is our floor."

I held out the key and he bounded ahead to see the room. Smiling, I followed after. Noticing he was having trouble I took the key out of the lock and shook my head, "You'd think they'd have keycards by now," I tried the lock and this time it worked. When the door swung open I bowed my head and sighed, "I'm back in the Renaissance," the room was all frill and fabric draped. I absent lee ran my hand across my neck and frowned at bad memories. I would much rather sleep in a cave somewhere but once I went to sleep, I told myself, everything will be fine. Which comes to the next thought, yes I do tend to sleep in a coffin, it's a casket really. It's the only thing given to me by my father I still have, besides the blades I use to destroy others, and the only reason I have it is because it's a reminder of the prophecy I was born to bring about.

"Isn't this wonderful Knives?" Crow had flung open the balcony doors and was leaning over watching the traffic below.

I mentally shook myself. I'm being such a space case lately, ever since I took in Crow, I've been around far too long to let my defenses grow so lax. Hearing a knock, "Enter," I walked back in from the balcony as a man rolled a cart into the room. "Your food's here," Crow flew past me and started in on his early breakfast. "Thank you," I handed the server a fifty, "What's the chance of getting a bottle of wine earlier than 1900's?" He shot me a startled look, "Put it on my tab."

"Yes miss, when would you like it?"

I wasn't expecting him to ask that, "When I order dinner, have it then," he gave me a nod and left noiselessly.

"Let me guess red, right?" Crow smiled and ate another bite of pancakes.

"You need to get your head out of those books and pay attention, you might learn something." I grabbed a piece of the bacon he had ordered and ate it.

"All the others you've told me about are in the books, but you're different. You can go out in the sun and you've taken me to holy places before, even introduced me to the minister. He knew what you were, didn't he?" I smiled at the question, truth be told I didn't know, he probably thought me a fallen angel trying to redeem myself. "How are you so different?"

"My parents asked the same question when I was born," I could feel the sun starting to rise and lack of sleep was getting to me. "Take the bed, order anything you want, I'm going to sleep," a thought brought my coffin to me. It came to rest in the corner of the room beside the bed, out of view of the door.

I affectionately run my hand over the carved wolf that adorns the lid. 'With each day that passes my army grows stronger.' Until I fled from my dimension I had no knowledge of what this creature was, and after I found that the return of them was to bring the freedom back to Humans. "Knives?" I lifted the lid and looked over at Crow. Smiling I let it rest against the wall so that he didn't need to worry about getting to me, should anything happen. "Pleasant dreams."

"You should get some sleep as well," I laid in my... bed and let the darkness take me as I felt the sun crawling into the room. Normally I only sleep a Human sleep, able to wake and move should anything make a sound, but this time I let myself be drug down into the death-like sleep, dreamless, knowing we had no worries of attack.