Jaxson Crue's Story

There was a different air about him than other people. He seemed so...formal, to say the least. It was hard to suppress a smile. When the man, no, gentleman seemed more appropriate. Gentleman, then, when the gentleman introduced himself, Erin couldn't help giggling slightly. What an interesting name he had. She couldn't help wondering what ethnicity or country that name was from. It sounded interesting, at any rate, and she didn't particularly dislike it. So she cleared her throat slightly before speaking. "My name's Erin. Cantus?" she hoped she'd pronounced it correctly, she seemed to have bad luck on that subject, "That's an interesting name. It's too bad you're not from around here, really. Are you staying with family here?" The man seemed so polite, so it was weird speaking with him since she spoke so informally by nature.

Erin rocked back and forth in her combat boots comfortably, deciding that she liked this stranger. He seemed really nice so far, so she decided that if she ever saw him again then she'd show him around the town, and not get lost that time. She felt short while standing near him, but she was already short for her age and she'd gotten used to it. In fact, his whole being made her feel somehow smaller.

There was another person behind Cantus, she noted. She looked so beautiful, Erin thought. A lighter, she was asking for a lighter. "No, I'm sorry," Erin said in return. The girl, whose age Erin couldn't seem to pinpoint, had the most peculiar shade of blue eyes that somehow matched- or did it?- shockingly soft pink hair. Erin wasn't sure whether or not to be afraid of her or to go for a walk with her and get coffee like old friends.



Walking with a cane caused him to receive more strange looks than he would expect. Hadn't they seen a cane before? It suddenly became even clearer the social status gap between Jax and the, as he called them, commoners. How dreary. Mr. Crue, I would advise you rest. You're useless when you're tired. There was the annoyingly wise voice in Jaxson's mind.

"Of course, Gideon, it is in our best interest," the gentleman muttered with an edge of annoyance. It seemed that only around his weapon did Jaxson have troubles controlling his temper. He couldn't decide if Gideon were to be described as a doting father or a ruthless drill sergeant. Of all attitudes a weapon could have, Jax was stuck with that of Gideon. Admittedly, the cane was rather useful in battle.

Placing the owed money onto the table, Jaxson rose from his seat and walked to the elevator of the hotel. He had requested, as it was always, a master room on the top floor. He was easily satisfied with the best of things, and found that money helped smooth most anything over.

Inside his room, there was a map that he had taped with care to a wall. On it, detailed marks were made plotting the movement of something, or rather someone. He was tracking down a Creaous, as always, though he seemed to be having difficulty with this particular prey.

I advise going to the address left of your ring finger. Honestly, I don't have eyes, and yet I can see what location we have to go to next better than you, insolent boy. Gideon's voice was sour, as it often was, while it instructed the Mortray. The young gentleman Jaxson glared at the cane as a response. He gripped the cane in his hand and slid the cover off of its true weapon form, a sword. Yes, there was a sword hidden within the cane. Gideon had always taken pride in his helpfulness during battle, and his form certainly did not disappoint.

Looking at the reflection of his face in the blade, Jaxson spoke. "You really do prove most useful, Gideon. What a distasteful attitude you have, old friend!" The man laughed at the sword he held. Setting the weapon back to its cane appearance, Jaxson removed the map with care from the wall. Rolling it so that it might fit inside his coat, he placed it inside a hidden pocket before exiting the room.

After checking out of the hotel entirely, Jaxson drew his cane up onto his arm and held his head high as he exited the building. He rather enjoyed walking, though not as much as flying, and began his way to the apartment building that Gideon had directed him to. This town, which he knew by the name of Craine, seemed a rather pleasant place to live, if you didn't mind people of class lower than Mr. Crue's. Jaxson walked in a straight line down the sidewalk with long strides and not a single care as to who may have to move out of his way.

There were some rather strange characters at the time of night, he and Gideon both noted. They further thought upon this as they passed a trio consisting of a tall female with pink hair who he deemed to be an Akina due to her eye color, a man with black hair who he recognized to be the prince of vampires (Jaxson kept tabs on major figures of the supernatural sort) and a mundane girl who seemed to be on the short side.



Her newfound companion addressed the other young woman with just as much courtesy and politeness as he had used with Erin. She leaned forward slightly, feeling even shorter than usual, and regarding the words with curiosity. Cantus proceeded to suggest the trio move their conversation to a shop. Erin's face lit up with excitement, having forgotten almost entirely about returning home and being lost. The two people before her had a strange enticement about them.

"Can we go to a coffee shop?" Erin quickly piped in. Both her and her mother had an infatuation with coffee, though Erin preferred plain black coffee. "Maybe someone there will have a lighter!" She smiled up at the girl who had joined her and Cantus. He really was so polite, it reminded her of a refined Englishman from movies or a prince, someone like that with high class.

"Oh, I forgot to ask! Can I have your name, miss?" Erin laughed slightly at her own thoughtlessness. How could she forget to introduce herself? "My name's Erin," she held out her hand, copper rings glistening slightly in the moonlight. A leather bracelet with a small amethyst stone dangling from it swung slightly at the movement.



Gideon had stopped Jaxson when they reached a door with the number '102' on it in the apartment building. He rolled back his shoulders before knocking on the door with his cane, which objected rather strongly to the action. He could hear what sounded like a raven or something inside.

Mirina seemed to know what direction the coffee shop was in. Erin's luck must have come back to her, which was something she was pretty grateful for. Humming a quiet tune to herself, she held her hands behind her back and took in the sights of the night town. She didn't often take walks this late, so Erin took the opportunity to look around her. The familiar streets, that she somehow managed to get lost in, looked different during the night. That was probably her excuse for losing her way. Cantus fell into step with her and she smiled up at him.

That would be fun, she had decided, showing Cantus around Craine. Erin nodded her head, "That sounds fun," she said to him, "When d'you want your tour, Mr. Cantus?" He had such a lovely voice, and Erin probably wouldn't have been able to deny Cantus this small request even if she wanted to. What a nice man he was. She thought that even her mother might like him, and she disliked most everyone.

Out of curiosity, Erin decided to inquire about Cantus' temporary residence. "Are you staying at a hotel, then?" There was a nice one not too far from the plaza that Erin had always thought of as nice. Perhaps her companion was staying there.

The same welcoming wind danced gently through the streets, making Erin look up at some leaves that had gotten caught in it. The moon wasn't letting many stars shine, she noted. Drawing her attention back to walking ahead, she recognized that they were nearing the plaza, where a nice little cafe was. They'd get their coffee from there, then. The great, welcoming fountain's water sparkled with the lights that were aimed perfectly at the display. She'd always liked that fountain, and imagined that her mom would like it too if she ever ventured outside.



The bird had gotten louder, and inside he was fairly certain that he could make out a woman muttering to what seemed to be herself. Get inside already, boy! Gideon barked the order at the swordmaster.

Gideon, friend, I am, and you know me, to be a gentleman. Now, what sort of gentleman would barge into a lady's home? Answer me that, cane. Jaxson tapped his finger on the handle of his cane with annoyance. What sort of commoner doesn't answer her own door when someone knocks? It was to be expected of a creaous, he presumed. Mortrays, however, were a far more civil breed with such importance that they even resembled God's army.

Despite his description of his race, Jaxson was in actuality not religious. It was a sin to be impatient, anyway, wasn't it?

No, no he must be patient. A gentleman is always patient, and Jax Crue is a model gentleman. All that he had to do was to exterminate the vile creature muttering inside the apartment.

Being a gentleman really seemed be rather inconvenient at times, such as now. The only thing that was separating Mr. Crue from the creaous commoner who seemed to be in desperate need of execution, was a tacky door that couldn't be thicker than a mere inch. If he were inclined to, the redheaded gentleman could no doubt kick a decent sized hole in the door. Of course, this is where his proper mannerisms prevented him from proceeding with said course of action. Jax had taken to leaning against the wall opposite of the door, and rubbing his temples with his hands. Gideon was presently exercising his rather colorful vocabulary upon having been leaned so casually against a wall in a 'commoners' apartment.

"If you could kindly refrain from talking for a few measly minutes, then I might convince this... monster, to open her front door!"

"Go to Hell!" a voice screeched at him from within the apartment. Jaxson's teeth ground together upon having to take an insult, and his fists clenched. In his back he could feel his wings straining against the skin, itching to show themselves and let Jax exhibit his full power against the Creaous.

"You really are of the most stubborn disposition," young master Crue sighed with a low chuckle. "Open this door, miss." Inside the apartment, when Jaxson pressed his ear gently to the wooden door, he could faintly make out the sound of something being poured. A female voice soon accompanied the sound of whatever was being poured.

As this salt I sprinkle about to keep the evil beings out, let no danger enter in any opening herein. I now invoke the law of three; This is my will, So mote it be. Was this a spell of sort? He was hunting a creaous, not an akina. Had Jaxson found himself an insane member of the Creaous race? Admittedly, all the creaous that had thought themselves capable of living were undoubtedly insane already.

"What was that?" he called out, louder than he had been before. Gideon warned Jaxson that if the Creaous being inside had taken defensive actions, then it may have taken on its animal traits. From what Jaxson had heard earlier, the squawking, it was a bird of some sort. It seemed to be a raven. Unless the creature inside has somehow formed a bond strong enough to give her the wings of a raven, he had little to worry about.

It may seem that he was too confident in himself, but Jaxson had grown receiving the training the could be described as dangerously similar to the level of training a Hunter received. His father had gone to great measure to acquire information on regimens for hunters, and had worked even harder to drill the lessons into his son at a young age.

"You can't think that a few magic words are going to keep me out, can you?" he chuckled lowly, again. The hunt was one of the only things that made him laugh, simply from how pathetic his prey was.

"What are you?" an eerily calm voice spoke, making Jaxson jump at how close to the door it sounded.

"I was born to hunt down your kind, Creaous."

"That doesn't exactly narrow down the possibilities of your race, boy. You see, I've been hunted for quite some time." The woman's voice, while still an unnerving calm voice, had taken the faintest hint of amusement to it. Jaxson reached back, eyes leveled on the wood in front of him, and gripped Gideon. He answered simply, with one word, and knocked on the door, slowly, one more...twice...a third time.

"I implore you to let me inside," his voice was low yet smooth as it instructed her. Gideon now began his drill sergeant routine, and his voice was its battle tone Gentleman or not, break the door and take her life. "I will not go against my nature, fool. If there are any other ways of entering the apartment feel free to share them." Break the door. Break the door. Break the door! Break the DOOR! "No!" BREAK THE DOO- "NO!"

"You seem somewhat busy, Mortray. Try coming back later," a smile was audible in her voice. To leave now, and let her escape? Not a chance. Jaxson couldn't stand Gideon who seemed to have more bloodlust than he usually did, and with a loud noise of annoyance, he stripped himself of his vest. Did Gideon have any sense of how degrading this was? Mr. Crue unbuttoned his dress shirt and laid it neatly over one arm, along with his vest. Now shirtless, two jagged scars that were a foot in length were visible going down his back.

It had been some time since he returned Gideon to his original form, and he wasn't looking forward to the experience. With a surprising amount of pain on Jaxson's part, Gideon became nothing more than a tattoo on Jaxson's back. The voice still rang, but it was significantly quieter and on a level that Jax could handle.