A/N: Hey all, my first exam up tomorrow, wish me luck! In the last 15 days Animosity has had 129 hits! Here's chapter 4! Enjoy!
Italics are telepathy!
AmbrosiaBunny x
The blond glanced around the second block he had wandered into with the hope of finding a witch in his quest to remove the Initiators band circling his wrist. He had driven to this town little over an hour ago in search of some help from a witch and had so far searched for in various little shops and houses for a good hour with no success.
The buildings facing him now in the second block he now stood in appeared to be very normal, much like the first block he had tried, no Night World hints anywhere. Patches of foliage separated the shops from the odd house as he searched for Night World identification anywhere. Human and normality glittered like a particularly vicious jewel over the streets as he glanced about.
He growled in frustration at the stupid town for having no apparent Night- Worlders and the stupid band that circled his wrist that caused him to be here in the first place. Were there no Night World people anywhere? Kicking at the ground the blond snarled and strode towards the closest shop to him, a small purple shop named 'Trinkets' at the very end of a row of convenience stores. The entrance door supported a small bell to alert the insiders as customers broached the shop, and two medium sized bay windows containing many treasures sat to the left of the entrance door.
Marching into the shop with a haughty glare at the small timid girl behind the counter the blond examined the interior surrounding him.
The shop inside was a small rectangular shape with a collection of black shelves running along the walls. Candles of all shapes and sizes sat proudly on a shelf to his right which stretched the entire length of the small building. A counter had been placed in the crease of the rectangular shape to his right, just short of touching the actual wall parallel to the black shelves by a stand of dangling crystals. A small door had been pushed into the wall behind the counter, black beads hiding the eyes curiosity as to what lay behind it.
The blond sighed as he concluded his brief examination. He considered turning on his heel and searching elsewhere for help. The shop seemed musky, old and out of date as far as the sorts of Night World shops went that he was after for help, and considering that, the shop appeared to be human run anyway. He sighed as his frustration ebbed away to be replaced by a distant lost feeling and turned to leave. His step froze as a girl from behind the counter spoke.
"Ah, Sir, can I, uh, can I help?" stuttered the timid girl from behind the counter.
He turned back to face the voice and took in her appearance. She was thin with a shock of black hair and large almond shape eyes. The grey sweater swung around her shoulders retracted her beauty and he sighed for the girl. Some people just never did appreciate what they had.
"Do you stock Dahlias?" he asked her politely, figuring that he may as well ask now that he was here, and waited for her to pick up on the subtle clue.
She squeaked at him and her almond eyes doubled in size. "W-would you like them in a vase?"
Hope surged in him as the girl panicked at the question, she must have understood that he had asked for a witch. Rolling his eyes at the inability of this girl to act well, the surge of hope doubled as the girl squeaked again at this roll of his eyes. Flashing his teeth the blond strode over to the counter. "No I would not appreciate them in a vase at this precise moment of time." He leaned onto the counter and the girl backed away. "I need to speak to one, now."
The girl squeaked again, nodded and hurried through the small door on her left, the black beads jingling as she passed through them.
The blond watched her disappear and pursed his lips. So there was some Night-Worlders in this dreary little town, one just had to be assertive to get to them. He swivelled on his heel to look about the shop once more, hope swimming in him.
A few minutes later the girl re-appeared with a tall boy trailing her steps. The girl moved out of the doorway to let the boy through then hurried back through it, disappearing once more.
"A-hem."
At this irritated sounding cough the blond swivelled back once more to face the counter. The tall boy that had followed the girl now stood behind the counter. He stared at the blond, obviously waiting for the blond to start the conversation. He tapped a foot rather aggressively as the blond merely looked at him.
Well, he is here to serve me, thought the blond, no need to be so cold, I could potentially be paying you.
The blond eventually obliged the tall boy and voiced his opinion at the inhospitality he was receiving, "Lovely place you've got here really, love the colour outside, does so much for your complexion I must say..."
The tall boy cocked his head at the blonds comment and took in his appearance in very much the same way the blond had done to the timid girl who served behind the counter. Surveying the shirt draped over the blonds' shoulders and the plain black pants covering his legs the tall boy quirked an eyebrow up at the blond.
"You must be a vampire, your races cocky comments never are hugely comical, but one hiding as you seem to have no black rose on show." He said.
"Well done, I'm almost impressed for a witch." The blond snapped back at the boy at the underlying insult, sarcasm dripping from his words.
"What do you want?" The tall boy snapped back, his earlier annoyed expression melting into anger.
The blond swallowed. Metaphorically he also swallowed his pride that had taken quite a knocking recently. "I need your help."
The tall boy threw his head back and laughed, "Why on earth do you need my help? Surely you vampires can do everything on your own?"
The blond mentally took a step back and growled at the boys' dismissive attitude to him. "I may not agree with witches but my own personal opinion outside my race is not one of hate."
The tall boy choked on his laughter at this and had the grace to look surprised. He analysed the blond for a few moments then swivelled on his heel and walked into the doorway he had arrived through. "Come through, Sir."
The blond snarled at the sarcastic 'Sir' and walked behind the counter and followed the boy through the door. What desperation makes you do he thought silently to himself. He almost regretted hanging around and queering the timid girl in the first place. Shaking the thought from his head he followed the tall boy along a small corridor and through a second door into a medium sized room with comfortable furnishings. The timid girl was perched on a chair by a table nursing a steaming cup.
"I'm Lee and this is Jessica." The tall boy waved to the timid girl and she jumped at being addressed. He continued, "I own 'Trinkets' and Jessica is my assistant. She is very much aware of the world around her I can assure you, how can I help?"
"This is what I need help with." He thrust his hand out to the male witch.
Despite his earlier disliking to the vampire Lee looked down at the outstretched arm in genuine curiosity. There was a single black band circling the vampires' wrist. Lee shrugged up at the blond and asked, "Why do you need a witch for that? I presume you want an enchantment on it? They aren't cheap, enchantments."
The blond sighed, "No, I don't want an enchantment on it, I want one off it."
Lee frowned and leaned in to look at the proffered wrist again in more detail. He ran a hand over the band and flinched at the warning power that surged out from it. The enchantment twined inside the black band could cause some lethal damage to the wearer it appeared. Lee instantly became deeply professional at this. "Mister...uh, never got your name?"
"That's because I never gave you it. The name is Kersen." replied the blond.
"Hmm, I can't really help. This band has an extremely powerful enchantment to cover the original spell beneath it so I can't see what is actually on the band, only the cover up spell if you like. I can send you to someone who will know though, it won't be cheap mind."
"Fine..." Kersen growled and continued, "Where will this person be?"
Lee stood up straight and headed towards the shop out front. "Wait here. I'll write it down for you."
The room was dark and cold. Grey walls surrounded very simple furnishings consisting of a chrome desk and a large chair. An elaborate painting adorned one wall above a door opposite to the one he had come in by.
"Wait here." Motioned the man who had brought him to the room, the man then turned and left, closing the door they had entered through behind him.
Arden nodded absentmindedly at the instructions and looked up at the painting.
A single black rose encircled a wilting black foxglove. A white background supported the two flowers and a black border framed the piece. He leaned closer to the piece and squinted, it appeared as if at first sight the two flowers were merely encircling one another in counterparts, but if one looked at the painting closely enough it showed an entirely different matter. The black rose was crushing the black foxglove down to wilting point.
A minute had passed and the door beneath the painting opened. Arden started slightly and stood up right in a military fashion. A tall figure walked into the room and sat at the chair behind the desk. He made a steeple on the desk with his fingers and spoke in a deep voice.
"It is time. You hold the best and last of my teams and it has become your turn. Do not fail me Arden."
Arden nodded curtly and turned his back on the man. He reached for the door handle and paused as the man spoke to his back.
"I will not be best pleased if you return empty handed. Not best pleased at all. Now leave my presence."
Arden nodded again and twisted the handle. Pushing the door open he strode through and closed it behind him. He turned right to return down the corridor he had come from when he came face to face with the man that had escorted him to the Initiator.
They nodded at each other in recognition and the man stepped aside to let him pass.
Arden mumbled his thanks and set off down the corridor. At the end was another door which he stepped through leading him into a large grey corridor supporting sixteen doors. Turning left he walked to the third door and opened it. Stepping into a second room supporting a door on each square wall he chose the door on his right and opened it.
Stepping through the doorway he strode out into a dimly lit side street. A single droplet from a broken gutter echoed inside the slimy walls. Arden shoved his hands into his jean pockets and walked through into the main street.
Afternoon was wearing into evening and people began littering the streets, geared up for nights out on the town with friends. A group of girls a little way down the street giggled simultaneously and turned from his view.
He rolled his eyes at their antics. As a Night-Worlder, and a vampire, he knew he wore beautiful looks but at times this fact simply got on his nerves. His looks drew too much attention from bimbos like those he would pass in a mere few minutes.
The girls giggled again as he strode past them. Smiling at them in what appeared to be a sweet way Arden slowed his step. Cocking his head at the girls he stepped towards a pretty brunette and flashed his canines at her. He smiled at the vindictive shiver of pleasure that rose in him as the girl, and the group, backed away in fright.
Snarling he stood back and strode on down the road and up to an apartment block. The block was a dark grey with quite a few broken windows glittering like decorations. Dead grass tried in no avail to sprout through the cracks in the run down pavement that led to the front door. The front door that had once been intricately carved with a pattern now supported several gang tags scratched ruthlessly into the wood and a broken doorknob.
He pushed at the door with the toe of his shoe and waited as the door wearily creaked open. Stepping through the door frame his eyebrows rose as they did every time he stepped into the building at the state it was in. Curling his lip in disgust he turned and the door closed quietly behind him.
Three doors faced him, and a grey staircase stood to his left. Turning he began to climb the stairs up to the top of the block. Reaching the top floor he snorted at the mess of the floor and picked his way around the rubble of everyday life, trash bags, shoes, to stand in front of a black door. Raising an arm up to knock on the black surface he started slightly when the door opened, almost of its own will, and almond shaped eyes of a deep hazel smiled up at him.
"Sir." The girl saluted him in jest, her golden eyes laughing.
He shot the girl a tired glare and pushed past her and into the room behind the black door. A short dim hallway greeted him ending at a small blue living room with a single wooden door off to the right.
A dusty blond head poked itself around the corner of said door and brown eyes acknowledged him. A body followed the head as a short boy stepped into the living room and nodded at Arden. "Arden."
Arden nodded in return at the short boy and spoke, "We've been called up."
A squeal of delight exploded behind him. Arden stumbled as the girl with golden eyes propelled herself into his side. He froze, looked terrified at this much girly bonding and cleared his throat. Patting her awkwardly on the back he gently pushed her shoulders away from him.
"I, uh, Kaia, get off."
Smiling proudly the girl untwined herself from Arden and ducked her head slightly.
A snicker sounded in the small room.
Turning to locate the snicker Arden frowned at the bouncy red curls framing a petite face and clear crystal grey eyes. The owner of the grey eyes shot him a curt look and leaned against the doorway the short boy had stepped out of earlier. "Well, finally it appears we're needed I see."
Arden shot Lelia a look at her sarcastic words, swivelled his head around the room and frowned. Stopping his quick scan about the room for the fifth and last member of his team Arden turned to the short boy and spoke. "Adam, Where's Tyrell?
The short boy snorted at the question, and shrugged, "Out."
"Out where?"
Adam shrugged again and nodded at Lelia. "He'll find us, let's go."
"We can't begin the search for the Prophecy Child without a complete team." Parried Arden, he refused to begin their mission with an incomplete team, they had not slaved to be the best to fall at this crucial point now.
Arden swivelled his eyes from Adam back to Lelia and questioned her telepathically. Do you know where he is? Can you find out? She nodded at him in reply. Picking herself up from her leaning position Lelia strode into the living room and continued into the corridor leading to the front door of the small run down apartment. Adam followed her steps and strode into the corridor also.
"Come on. Tyrell will find Lelia anyway." Kaia muttered at Arden.
Arden turned to look at Kaia and nodded with the assertiveness of the team leader. He too then stepped into the corridor and out of the front door that the other two had journeyed through. Kaia followed.
Outside the shabby apartment block Arden halted his step and looked at his team.
Adam was looking up at the sky with a wistful expression gracing his features. Lelia was standing next to Adam; her eyes shifting out of focus as she appeared to stare up the road. Suddenly she cocked her head as if somebody was whispering into her ear. After a few moments her eyebrows drew close together in an annoyed frown and she ground her teeth together.
Kaia stepped out of the apartment block being the last one out from the small apartment and whistled at the look on Lelia's face. "She does not look happy. Tyrell has been up to something."
Arden turned to look at the golden eyes addressing him and mumbled a vague reply. Silently he questioned Tyrell's faith to the team, not for the first time, as a far off memory pulled at his conscience.
"Let's join the flock."
Kaia grabbed Arden's jacket at her words, and pulled him from the spot he had been standing on over to Adam and Leila. The fleeting memory that had begun to tug at his conscience was gone at the contact bringing him back him out of his thoughts.