RP:Mind Your Elders

Outside the Inn

Cesaria had recently moved to northern Cenril from the southern slums on another’s dime. The northern half of the city was reserved for the moneyed Cenrili residents and those they kept. Cesaria fancied herself among the ‘kept’ though no such arrangement had been promised to her, and for this reason she still worked. Over the past several weeks, she had built a reputation amongst the recently bereaved as someone who could dull the ache of loss. Tonight she left the apartment after supper in an all-black outfit that had become her uniform for her late-night gigs: a wide-brimmed hat, a double-breasted suit, heeled boots, gloves, and a lace veil that obscured her face. She walked westbound on Beloy Street. Those with keen, supernatural senses would sense that a shadowy creature of the night, one without a heartbeat, stalked her from the shadows. Whether or not she knew about her stalker was unclear.

Leodarkheart was leaned against the corner of one of Cenril's many buildings, he always loved being partially hidden in the shadows. The residents of Cenril were usually oblivious to Leo when he was out smelling the sea air. There was usually little traffic, except for tonight. He was puzzled by the pedestrian's veiled face. Leo let the thought pass with a silence to each their own. He stepped from the shadows, whistling to keep from startling her. A short, "Hello" to initiate conversation, hopefully.

Cesaria stopped in her tracks at the whistle. The shadow that stalked her moved as quick as a blink to the roof above Leodarkheart. The elder vampire may detect that the figure obscured in shadow on the roof was another vampire, one much younger than Leo, and he exuded a menacing aura. As for Cesaria, her heart beat fast, blood pumped audibly through her warm, living body. “Hello,” she replied, a little guarded against the stranger but not quite afraid. “May I help you? Have you recently lost someone?” From behind her veil she appraised the tall length of the stranger. He did not dress like a local, and his dark hair and blue eyes reminded her of someone else.

Leodarkheart replied to the question, "No loss, but maybe I can help you." Leo leaned in and explained his odd offer, “Do you have in your employ any vampires?" As Leo pulled back from Cesaria, every beat of her heart was as enchanting as the Siren's song. Leo reached up and pulled the knot loose that kept his coat closed, letting it fall open.

Cesaria recognized the hunger in Leodarkheart’s gaze and took a cautious step back. Her brows creased in confusion at the question, then slowly it dawned on her that Leodarkheart could see the vampire she always assumed stalked her, but could rarely see herself. The unnamed vampire moved too quickly for her mortal eyes, too silently for her human ears, and he never spoke to her, never made himself known. So imagine her surprise now as suddenly the vampire on the roof leapt down onto the street, put an arm between Leodarkheart and Cesaria without touching either of them, and growled to Cesaria, “Move.” Under the force of his menace, Cesaria complied and moved quickly eastbound on Beloy. She cast a glance over her shoulder at Leodarkheart, wondering what he meant, exactly. The vampire also glanced back at Leo, and sensing the power differential between himself and the elder vampire, shuddered fiercely. Suddenly afraid, the vampire scooped Cesaria up like a weightless doll and blinked into blurry speed as he fled Leo with Cesaria in his arms.

Leodarkheart was impressed. He didn't even take into account the vampire may be protecting her. Such a rare occurrence. "Meant no harm." Leo set out to protect the woman in black, what an interesting tale to ponder. "Not even a damn name, I must be slipping." Leo couldn't help but laugh at himself. Leodarkheart shook his head, throwing his hands in the air. "That's enough dawdling, lets go.” Leo fell in a groove quickly. "OK, come in slowly. Try not to startle them, a human will fall," Leo thought to himself. He said out loud, "If I can catch them."

Cesaria looked up, without fear, at the vampire who carried her. She had never seen his face before and was surprised to find fear creased into the vampire’s scowl. Who had she been talking to, and why was this vampire so afraid? The bodyguard looked back often to see if the elder vampire was on his tail. He could sense the overwhelming power looming some distance behind them. He knew the elder could match his speed, and yet Leo approached at a cautious distance. Unsure of what to do, the bodyguard ran across rooftops towards the cathedral where he parked Cesaria behind a gargoyle near the bell. “Descend the stairs,” he whispered to her. Cesaria did as instructed and climbed into the bellhouse then down a rope ladder onto a platform below. From there she could slowly descend the spiral staircase down the tower. Meanwhile the vampire bodyguard perched on the very top of the tower and glared in 360 degrees to see from which direction the elder would approach. “She’s off limits!” he shouted into the night.

Leodarkheart heard the warning long before he caught sight of the vampire. "I applaud your courage." Leo said as he slowed his approach. "Please, let us begin again, or continue to bark at me and listen." Leo took up a post straight across from the younger vampire. "Introductions first though. Leo Darkheart." Leo motioned as if he were handing over the conversation.

Cesaria could hear the vampires conversing on the roof and quickened her descent, taking two steps at a time on the light-feet of lifelong prey. In recent months she seemed to attract an unseemly amount of vampires. Had she been cursed yet again? “Silas,” the bodyguard said, a growl purring under his tongue. “What is it you want with her? She is claimed.”

Leodarkheart looked at him. "'Silas, the bodyguard." Leo started to continue, as he heard hushed foot falls, “No need to hide, if I wanted you as he assumes you would already be dead." Leo laughed and continued with Silas. I was only trying to make sure she was safe, don't need a dead human with our numbers this low." Leo looked at Silas. "Does your master, or whatever you call those that made their claim, listen to you?" Leo didn't hesitate. "Does she know she has been claimed?

Cesaria should have kept fleeing, but the conversation intrigued her. She lurked partway down the spiral staircase with an ear towards the roof. Silas laughed darkly as Leodarkheart revealed concern for the human over fear of...what, exactly? A competent Cenrili police force? “My employer,” Silas corrected Leo, “is none of your concern.” The vampire spoke with the arrogance of the Vailkrin vampires, those who are accustomed to existing in large numbers and fear no repercussion after every meal. When was the last time Silas fed from innocent human life? This morning before dawn. The vampire’s eyes flashed as he ignored the last question. “She is safe. If that is truly all you wanted, then you may go. If you want me to deliver a message to my employer, I will do so.”

Leodarkheart had reached the point where he was finished with Silas' arrogance. Leo let his gaze harden. "If you would, advise them." Leo paused. "Bottom line, protect her. Learn some manners, and the proper application of said manners." Leo weighed the cost of killing Silas. "You growl at me again or bark orders, I will take your fangs."

Silas stiffened as the elder vampire grew short with him. Still armed with the knowledge that a battle with Leodarkheart is one he would lose, Silas nodded to Leodarkheart’s demands. “I will go protect her now,” he said. With that, he bolted down the tower like a demon descending to hell. He ushered Cesaria out the back of the Cathedral and led her on a circuitous route around town. Only when he was sure he had lost the elder vampire on his tail did he drop Cesaria off at home then resume his post from the shadows. From there, he would write to his employer, Haakon Adelstein about the incident with a shaking hand. ‘Sir, an elder vampire named Leodarkheart has taken an interest in the woman. I managed to keep her away and had a talk with him. He does not want to feed on her, or so he said. He wanted to know who claims her and if she knows she is claimed. I told him nothing, evaded him, and delivered the woman safely home. I do not know if he’ll return.’ The letter was delivered by raven to an impressive estate in Vailkrin wherein dwelled a vampire older than Silas but younger than Leodarkheart.