Chapter 2.
~*Silas Gerard*~
Silas paced back and forth in his over sized office, eyes fixed on the masses beyond the glass. They couldn't see him of course, just their own reflections. Several vain humans had used the false mirror to preen themselves while he'd been watching; now they were beginning to leave as dawn was coming in a few hours. He was nervous, 'she' had been there watching the whole spectacle involving Isabelle. 'Her' with that curious stare singling him out, and then his friend and the mistake with the hunter. Now he had a problem. Worst still he didn't know how to solve it.
Izzy had just left when 'she' decided to approach, out of the night 'she' had been there - in his club - after so many long lonely years.
"Silas." She had whispered his name in the same old seductive yet playful manner, good humour twinkling in those sapphire blue eyes. Taking up both his hands in hers in a gesture of kinship. Even in that simplest of contact he could feel the incredible power flowing beneath her icy skin.
"Oh it's been so long my sweet heart, where have you been all this time?" He sighed; it wasn't the right question for all knew where she had been as gossip travelled fast and thick in the Kindred community via the Elysium's. Many vampires had heard of the notorious Sevinna the Raven and her many antics; no other Ventrue vampire has ever defied so many and lived, let alone prospered from it. Yes she had a reputation; she had made a laughing stock of the inquisition on many occasions, sent the Arcanum packing in several cities and risen through the ranks with such speed all continued to be in awe of her. And now she had surfaced here, in his club, so perhaps the question was not 'where' but 'why'.
"Why now, Sevi? Why here of all places?" Unfortunately the empty office held no answers for him and he was left to continue his trouble pacing until the threat of the rising sun forced him to seek his shelter.
* * *
He woke with a start, his limbs still felt sluggish and heavy because the sun was only just beginning to fall from its zenith. Although his room was sealed and pitch black he could sense the sun was not yet lost on the world outside. Something had disturbed his slumber; he never just awoke for no reason except for the arrival of the night.
He thought he had heard a loud noise but in the haze quickly became just a fleeting memory. It was a great effort to open his eyes, but he could listen even if he could barely move his fingers. He could detect no movement from the other Vampires that shared this luxurious haven with him; they were no doubt still sleeping as he was one of the oldest and therefore an early riser and lightest sleeper if such a thing existed among the Kindred. Using his keen sense of smell he could tell that no mortal was in the room, nor had one been in a long time, so what had woken him.
Concentrate Silas, He silently ordered himself. It could be trouble.
Then came the sound again, yes the loud roar as an engine begrudgingly started, followed by many more of similar size. The purr was too low to be a small vehicle, these were big and they were very close, perhaps just outside his window. Movement, he heard the heavy petrol powered creatures lurch forward, coming closer, what ever was happening. Then the horror of it all struck him hard and he felt the sickening dread turn in his useless stomach.
Bulldozers!
Panic tingled through him and slowly his body began to awaken as the first bulldozer slammed into the front doors, followed in seconds by its companion behemoths. All around the haven began to shudder violently as they withdrew for another pounding, splinters and glass ripped away from the bite of the machines. The plaster began to fall in on his face, still he couldn't get up. Another charge and the painted glass from his window shattered, leaving only the wooden board for protection against the suns harmful rays.
This continued for several more minutes as he desperately tried to move himself, to escape. He could now clearly hear the screams rising from his brethren on the ground floor, and could only image their pain as the bulldozers came again. There was a tremendous crash and the left half of the house caved in, a supporting wall had been rammed through and as more wailing broke out he knew the slide of debris had to contain more then just rumble. His mirror crashed to the ground in the bathroom and large chunks of plaster fell from the walls and ceiling and the dust lay thick on the ground and hung heavy in the air.
Quiet.
A brief rest-bite.
The attack had stilled momentarily, with immense effort Silas managed to roll from his mattress and landed painfully pinning his arm between himself and the floor. The engines revved again and he braced himself for another cracking blow, the entire structured groaned and the floor boards broke loose beneath him. They creaked and jerked up and down leaning ever more to a slope into the lounge.
The bombardment paused again and Silas had no choice but to lie very still as the floor of his bedroom complained and threatened to tip him downstairs should he move to fast. Slowly Silas freed his arm and reached out for a splintered board to haul his sluggish corpse away from the edge, the sharp wood embedded itself deep into his hands and fingers, finally his energy was returning slightly. He inched forward barely thirty centimetres when the final blow for the old vampire came, in one deafening crash the flooring came free of the only wall holding it up. The entire of Silas' bedroom landed in the lounge, with him still clinging to the large splinter, the bed and mattress came down and smothered him, thrashing as best he could it wasn't long before the ceiling joined the rest.
Trapped, no longer able to move his legs or twist his body he rested his head on the pillow and waited for the inevitable. If the sun couldn't reach him a worse fate certainly would.
* * *
~*Nathan Shore*~
A team of men shifted the corpses of the ghouls that had once guarded the rich haven, so loyal to their master were they that it was necessary to cut through them like dogs. The thought of such an existence made Nathan Shore sick with disgust. The entire building had fallen easily enough though, like all havens the inquisition discovered; the only problem now was the possibility of survivor's amongst the ruin. But his men were fast, the ghouls carcasses were being heaped on the carnage with great dexterity. This would all be over in an hour and it would just be another unexplained chaotic event in the cities violent history.
"That's the last one Nath!" His companion and best friend Alex shouted.
Nathan, Alex and Michael had grown up together, inseparable as boys, flat mates as teenagers and now brothers in adult life. Each knew the other would die for them so strong was their bond, but now was not a time of sacrifice but revenge. He watched with immense pleasure as Alex and the others scurried across the rumble, soaking it in gasoline. When all his men withdrew to a safe distance, his sandy haired brother threw the empty can to one side and snatched up his home made torch. Nathan liked his friend's sense of respect for the old ways of doing things, and he had created an old style torch consisting of wood with material soaked in pitched wrapped around the end. Removing his lighter Nathan lit this end and watched in delight as the flame soared up to kiss the sky.
"Nathan?" Alex studied his face for a sign to begin.
"Raze it!" A slow wicked laughter bubbled up from inside him until he was cackling uncontrollably as the building was consumed with the cleansing fire.
* * *
~*Alex Billingham*~
The smoke was thick and rancid from the plastics that were once part of an expensive haven behind a night club renowned for disappearances. His best friend Nathan sat beside him on the curb watching the flames reaching higher and higher. Both of them wore expensive suits as the traditional robe of the inquisition was saved for special occasions within the organisation.
Both were smart, but only Nathan was beautiful with his feathery soft dark brown hair and ocean blue eyes. He was the tallest of the trio at 6'4, but he could be both intimating and charming using his abundance of charisma.
Right now though he was frightening, a fit of madness seemed to have gripped him when Michael had returned badly wounded. His right eye had been taken out and not recovered, through his painful gasps they were able to discover it had been destroyed in the struggle and he had only just escaped. Both men knew their younger brother had gone after the vampire he'd been trailing the past few weeks, but neither imagined he would confront it.
Enraged Nathan had summoned his squad and pulled all the strings in getting the haven bulldozed and razed. It was their way of avenging the evil done to poor Michael, and the only way of ridding the world of the murderous creatures that stalk the streets in darkness. But now the smoke was beginning to make his throat and eyes burn and many vampires had burnt when the sunlight was let into the building. He pushed his glasses back up so he could read his watch, the day was almost over and they certainly couldn't stay when the sun went down.
"Its time we got moving." He announced standing and brushing the city filth from his suit. The others rose at his order and climbed back into the monstrous vehicles, Nathan however remained where he was.
"Nath please, it'll be dark soon and we can't be here then, you know this."
He was like a ghost, stoic and lifeless; Alex crouched down beside him and tried a different approach.
"We should be getting back to Michael it won't help his recovery if he thinks we've met with a worse fate." His ploy worked and Nathan got up to leave. They had left their friend in the caring hands of the doctors who also worked for the inquisition.
"Okay let's get going." The squad may listen and obey Alex because he was Nathan's second and they had to. But when Nathan himself gave an order they gladly fulfilled his every wish. In a few minutes the only sound that could be heard was the crackling fire, shortly the evening was shattered by the screeching sirens of fire engines.
~*Silas Gerard*~
Silas paced back and forth in his over sized office, eyes fixed on the masses beyond the glass. They couldn't see him of course, just their own reflections. Several vain humans had used the false mirror to preen themselves while he'd been watching; now they were beginning to leave as dawn was coming in a few hours. He was nervous, 'she' had been there watching the whole spectacle involving Isabelle. 'Her' with that curious stare singling him out, and then his friend and the mistake with the hunter. Now he had a problem. Worst still he didn't know how to solve it.
Izzy had just left when 'she' decided to approach, out of the night 'she' had been there - in his club - after so many long lonely years.
"Silas." She had whispered his name in the same old seductive yet playful manner, good humour twinkling in those sapphire blue eyes. Taking up both his hands in hers in a gesture of kinship. Even in that simplest of contact he could feel the incredible power flowing beneath her icy skin.
"Oh it's been so long my sweet heart, where have you been all this time?" He sighed; it wasn't the right question for all knew where she had been as gossip travelled fast and thick in the Kindred community via the Elysium's. Many vampires had heard of the notorious Sevinna the Raven and her many antics; no other Ventrue vampire has ever defied so many and lived, let alone prospered from it. Yes she had a reputation; she had made a laughing stock of the inquisition on many occasions, sent the Arcanum packing in several cities and risen through the ranks with such speed all continued to be in awe of her. And now she had surfaced here, in his club, so perhaps the question was not 'where' but 'why'.
"Why now, Sevi? Why here of all places?" Unfortunately the empty office held no answers for him and he was left to continue his trouble pacing until the threat of the rising sun forced him to seek his shelter.
* * *
He woke with a start, his limbs still felt sluggish and heavy because the sun was only just beginning to fall from its zenith. Although his room was sealed and pitch black he could sense the sun was not yet lost on the world outside. Something had disturbed his slumber; he never just awoke for no reason except for the arrival of the night.
He thought he had heard a loud noise but in the haze quickly became just a fleeting memory. It was a great effort to open his eyes, but he could listen even if he could barely move his fingers. He could detect no movement from the other Vampires that shared this luxurious haven with him; they were no doubt still sleeping as he was one of the oldest and therefore an early riser and lightest sleeper if such a thing existed among the Kindred. Using his keen sense of smell he could tell that no mortal was in the room, nor had one been in a long time, so what had woken him.
Concentrate Silas, He silently ordered himself. It could be trouble.
Then came the sound again, yes the loud roar as an engine begrudgingly started, followed by many more of similar size. The purr was too low to be a small vehicle, these were big and they were very close, perhaps just outside his window. Movement, he heard the heavy petrol powered creatures lurch forward, coming closer, what ever was happening. Then the horror of it all struck him hard and he felt the sickening dread turn in his useless stomach.
Bulldozers!
Panic tingled through him and slowly his body began to awaken as the first bulldozer slammed into the front doors, followed in seconds by its companion behemoths. All around the haven began to shudder violently as they withdrew for another pounding, splinters and glass ripped away from the bite of the machines. The plaster began to fall in on his face, still he couldn't get up. Another charge and the painted glass from his window shattered, leaving only the wooden board for protection against the suns harmful rays.
This continued for several more minutes as he desperately tried to move himself, to escape. He could now clearly hear the screams rising from his brethren on the ground floor, and could only image their pain as the bulldozers came again. There was a tremendous crash and the left half of the house caved in, a supporting wall had been rammed through and as more wailing broke out he knew the slide of debris had to contain more then just rumble. His mirror crashed to the ground in the bathroom and large chunks of plaster fell from the walls and ceiling and the dust lay thick on the ground and hung heavy in the air.
Quiet.
A brief rest-bite.
The attack had stilled momentarily, with immense effort Silas managed to roll from his mattress and landed painfully pinning his arm between himself and the floor. The engines revved again and he braced himself for another cracking blow, the entire structured groaned and the floor boards broke loose beneath him. They creaked and jerked up and down leaning ever more to a slope into the lounge.
The bombardment paused again and Silas had no choice but to lie very still as the floor of his bedroom complained and threatened to tip him downstairs should he move to fast. Slowly Silas freed his arm and reached out for a splintered board to haul his sluggish corpse away from the edge, the sharp wood embedded itself deep into his hands and fingers, finally his energy was returning slightly. He inched forward barely thirty centimetres when the final blow for the old vampire came, in one deafening crash the flooring came free of the only wall holding it up. The entire of Silas' bedroom landed in the lounge, with him still clinging to the large splinter, the bed and mattress came down and smothered him, thrashing as best he could it wasn't long before the ceiling joined the rest.
Trapped, no longer able to move his legs or twist his body he rested his head on the pillow and waited for the inevitable. If the sun couldn't reach him a worse fate certainly would.
* * *
~*Nathan Shore*~
A team of men shifted the corpses of the ghouls that had once guarded the rich haven, so loyal to their master were they that it was necessary to cut through them like dogs. The thought of such an existence made Nathan Shore sick with disgust. The entire building had fallen easily enough though, like all havens the inquisition discovered; the only problem now was the possibility of survivor's amongst the ruin. But his men were fast, the ghouls carcasses were being heaped on the carnage with great dexterity. This would all be over in an hour and it would just be another unexplained chaotic event in the cities violent history.
"That's the last one Nath!" His companion and best friend Alex shouted.
Nathan, Alex and Michael had grown up together, inseparable as boys, flat mates as teenagers and now brothers in adult life. Each knew the other would die for them so strong was their bond, but now was not a time of sacrifice but revenge. He watched with immense pleasure as Alex and the others scurried across the rumble, soaking it in gasoline. When all his men withdrew to a safe distance, his sandy haired brother threw the empty can to one side and snatched up his home made torch. Nathan liked his friend's sense of respect for the old ways of doing things, and he had created an old style torch consisting of wood with material soaked in pitched wrapped around the end. Removing his lighter Nathan lit this end and watched in delight as the flame soared up to kiss the sky.
"Nathan?" Alex studied his face for a sign to begin.
"Raze it!" A slow wicked laughter bubbled up from inside him until he was cackling uncontrollably as the building was consumed with the cleansing fire.
* * *
~*Alex Billingham*~
The smoke was thick and rancid from the plastics that were once part of an expensive haven behind a night club renowned for disappearances. His best friend Nathan sat beside him on the curb watching the flames reaching higher and higher. Both of them wore expensive suits as the traditional robe of the inquisition was saved for special occasions within the organisation.
Both were smart, but only Nathan was beautiful with his feathery soft dark brown hair and ocean blue eyes. He was the tallest of the trio at 6'4, but he could be both intimating and charming using his abundance of charisma.
Right now though he was frightening, a fit of madness seemed to have gripped him when Michael had returned badly wounded. His right eye had been taken out and not recovered, through his painful gasps they were able to discover it had been destroyed in the struggle and he had only just escaped. Both men knew their younger brother had gone after the vampire he'd been trailing the past few weeks, but neither imagined he would confront it.
Enraged Nathan had summoned his squad and pulled all the strings in getting the haven bulldozed and razed. It was their way of avenging the evil done to poor Michael, and the only way of ridding the world of the murderous creatures that stalk the streets in darkness. But now the smoke was beginning to make his throat and eyes burn and many vampires had burnt when the sunlight was let into the building. He pushed his glasses back up so he could read his watch, the day was almost over and they certainly couldn't stay when the sun went down.
"Its time we got moving." He announced standing and brushing the city filth from his suit. The others rose at his order and climbed back into the monstrous vehicles, Nathan however remained where he was.
"Nath please, it'll be dark soon and we can't be here then, you know this."
He was like a ghost, stoic and lifeless; Alex crouched down beside him and tried a different approach.
"We should be getting back to Michael it won't help his recovery if he thinks we've met with a worse fate." His ploy worked and Nathan got up to leave. They had left their friend in the caring hands of the doctors who also worked for the inquisition.
"Okay let's get going." The squad may listen and obey Alex because he was Nathan's second and they had to. But when Nathan himself gave an order they gladly fulfilled his every wish. In a few minutes the only sound that could be heard was the crackling fire, shortly the evening was shattered by the screeching sirens of fire engines.