THEY SHOOT VAMPIRES, DON'T THEY?
Chapter 11
Disclaimer: Raziel, Kain, Nosgoth: belonging to Silicon Knights, Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Interactive. Kurt Wagner (Nightcrawler) belonging to Marvel Comics. Legolas the Elf and related MiddleEarth references – belonging to JRR Tolkein. Rat is the property of The Deville's Dog – Lupa & Vladimir belong to me!
Yes, okay. I was playing Silent Hill. ;)
Kain and Vladimir are washing up in Vladimir's kitchen: Kain has his claws deep in the soapy water, while Vladimir is wringing out a soaking tea-towel and eyeing his help-mate suspiciously.
Kain: *turning a ghastly smile on Vladimir* See? I'm helpful around the house. Clean and tidy. Good with children.
Raziel: *popping his head into the kitchen* Me and Lupa are going up to sort out my room…
Kain: *roars* Oh, is that what you young people call it these days? I didn't bring you up to behave like that, young man…
Raziel: No, you brought me up to be a blood-sucking psychopath. But I'll let that pass.
Kain: Why you little –
Raziel vanishes back into the lounge in a huff.
Vladimir: *flatly* Why do you really want to stay here?
Kain: *scrubs at a frying pan with sudden intensity…his claws scratch through the non-stick coating and Vladimir clicks his teeth in disgust* I'm just affronted that you gave my black sheep a room and didn't even think of me.
Vladimir: *who is harbouring serious doubts that this is the real reason at all* To be honest, Mister Kain…you were threatening to kill us.
Kain: *shrugs* Oh, you don't want to mind that. Ask Raziel. It's just my little way.
Vladimir sighs. As he well knows, the Nexus has a strict policy – all are welcome, until they start behaving in any manner which would threaten other inhabitants. Kain tries the friendly grin again. Vladimir flinches.
Vladimir: *reluctantly* There's always the Silent Hill Room. In the basement. But you can't leave any of your stuff there. And no guests after ten.
Kain nods eagerly.
Vladimir: And no hanging dead bodies from hooks on the walls.
Kain: *cheerfully* I promise.
Vladimir dries his paws and brings out the floor plans of his house. The Silent Hill Room is marked by a splotch of what could possibly be blood.
Vladimir: *pointing* That's the Devil's Room – Kurt's. That one's Lupa's. Was called the Pendulum Room – now known simply as The Pit. That one, the Dark Star Room, that's mine. No-one goes in there, this includes you. The Frost Room, Raziel's, as you know, and the Evenstar Room is Legolas's, when he's here. Vacuum cleaner in the utility room, weapons of mass destruction in the cupboard under the stairs –
Kain grins.
Vladimir: *seamlessly* - which are out of bounds to you.
Kain sulks. Vladimir gives him his most penetrating stare.
Vladimir: Why do you want to stay here, Mister Kain?
Upstairs, in the Frost Room, Raziel and Lupa are moving the bed.
Lupa: Left a bit.
Raziel, who is holding the bed in the air above his head, sidesteps to the left.
Lupa: Now in to the wall…then drop!
Raziel lowers the bed as gently as possible. Downstairs, in the lounge, Rat, Kurt and Legolas look up in alarm as dust spirals gently down from the ceiling.
Rat: *innocently* That sounds very energetic.
Kurt sniggers and Legolas taps him on the head with the end of his bow, scolding.
Upstairs, Lupa bounces on the bed in its new position under the window.
Lupa: This is so much better!
She pulls the curtain back.
Lupa: Look, Raz! Snow!
Raziel sits down next to her to watch as the snow begins to blanket the garden, covering Vladimir's purple Beetle, the warp-gate, the trees…
Raziel: It's beautiful.
They sit there in silence for a while.
Downstairs, Vladimir is leading Kain to the Silent Hill Room.
Kain: Is that halogen flashlight strictly necessary?
He brushes aside a huge, dangling cobweb and stares at the stone walls.
Kain: Wasn't there wallpaper on the walls a few minutes ago? And net curtains?
Vladimir: Sssh.
He stops by a large, drab door. There is a note tacked to it, written in blood, (Aren't they all?!! – V.A.) which reads: "The Wounded Bird cries in the Night. Two Beds. No Waiting."
Kain: The Wounded what now?
Vladimir: *shaking his head* You think that's bad? Last time I came down here it said: "An Old Man Despairs of his Fate. Please Recycle."
Kain: Who built your house, anyway?
Vladimir: *snidely* Apparently the same people who designed your clan castles. Now…
He leans forward and stares at the door.
Vladimir: It's never simple, opening this door.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper, on which he proceeds to draw a key in black marker.
Kain: Oh, come on.
Vladimir pushes the paper into the lock. The door swings open with possibly the most stereotypical eerie squeal that you can imagine.
Vladimir: *chirpily, giving Kain a push in the back* Enjoy.
He dives back up the stairs, carrying the torch.
Kain: Wait a minute -!
Darkness. The door shuts.
Kain's voice: *from the pitch blackness* Great. Just great.
Silence. Then the sound of someone rattling a stubborn lock.
Kain's voice: Hellooo-ooo?
Vladimir comes pelting up the stairs, hoarse with laughter.
Kurt: What did you do?
Vladimir: *between cackling* I gave him the Silent Hill Room!
Lupa: *from upstairs* You what?
She thumps down in a hurry, closely followed by Raziel.
Lupa: Oooh, you're pure evil, you are.
Vladimir: *bouncing* Oh, but it's funny, isn't it? Come on, admit it, you're amused.
Raziel: Is there something wrong with the room?
Kurt: Hah!
Lupa: *searching for a good way to explain* See, if we were to make two lists, one of things that are wrong with that room, and one of things that are right…ah, screw it. There'd only be one list.