Gabriel Clayworth's Story

Samuel could taste the human blood on Malice's lips from moments ago. The taste drew him in even more before catching himself. "Get some rest Malice, we have a big day ahead of us tomorrow. Can't wait to see Isobel again." Samuel remarked. "I need to feed, I'll be back soon." Samuel said as he grabbed a stack of cash out of his duffle bag. He headed towards the door and smiled back at Malice one more time before leaving.

Gabriel was just now about to close up the bar at the nightclub as the sun rose up. The club was almost abandoned besides some people who stayed behind to help clean up the place, even though it was a nightclub. Some of the patrons felt it was a home and should be kept as such. The music was off and you could only hear the sound of glass clanging, brooms sweeping, and chairs being put up. Footsteps in the distance disturbed the silence. "Ah so I assume you took a liking to your drink. The bar's closed, but since you're new here I guess I could pour you one glass. What is your name by the way?" Gabriel asked as he poured thick blood out of a bottle. The figure covered in black approached the bar and took a seat. This mysterious figure laid down a stack of cash. "I'll be taking the whole bottle" the figure said as it motioned for it. Gabriel picked up the stack and flicked the bills. "Yes you will" Gabriel said as he handed the figure the bottle. The figure dashed out of the club with remarkable speed.

After returning from feeding Samuel walked quietly into the penthouse. The lights were off so he couldn't tell if Malice was sleeping or not. He silently sped to the other side and snuck into bed beside her, trying his best not to make a sound.

As Bertram lead the two past the bridge they seemed to be getting higher in altitude. Samuel looked to his right and saw the huge drop that was to his side. Although it was early in the morning it was pretty foggy and ominous. It was probably something accustomed to this area.

Once they passed the bridge they came to an area where the ground above them seemed to overlay, creating a great roof made of dirt. You could see the roots from trees reaching downwards from the top. They hit a dirt wall not more than ten feet in and there behind a thick of roots was a stone door. It had some sort of strange insignia on it, there was also a bit of blood on the door. Bertram took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood off the door. "You'll have to excuse the mess, some of the lesser members of our society can be very sloppy at times" Bertram remarked, turning back to them when he finished wiping the blood.

With ease Bertram opened the stone door to reveal a dank and dark tunnel. It was lit by a few torches placed on the wall, but it didn't help very much. Bertram began to walked down the tunnel. "Madame Hemo I don't know if you remember this place, but you've been here before. You had to be just an infant at the time, quite the energetic one as I recall" Bertram said as he continued down the tunnel which lead to a bigger room.

There walls were all stone, carved with various pictures, and characters. It seemed to tell some sort of story or stories. The room was lit by a candlelight chandelier which didn't improve lighting by much. However everyone in the room had increased vision. There was one grand stone table with members already sitting down. Among them was Gabriel Clayworth, which Samuel spotted immediately. There were no heads at the either end of the table, but there was however a separate table at the head of the room. Five empty seats accompanied the the table, there was one in the center that particularly looked throne like.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I bring to you Madame Malice Hemo, the last remaining member of the Hemo clan, accompanied by her thrall." Bertram said to the crowd of vampires. "Thrall?" Samuel questioned aloud, turning to Malice.

Samuel raised an eyebrow when Morticai kissed Malice's hand. He knew it was probably some custom thing over here, but he didn't care for it to much. He however remained calm, since they were in their house now. If something they'd be outnumbered drastically. Who knew what abilities these vampires had. Samuel shook Morticai's hand in respect. "Nice to meet you too, I'm Samuel" He said in return to Morticai's greeting.

From the table Gabriel took a look at Samuel. "Well I guess this half-blood is much more important than I assumed." Gabriel said as he smiled and got up from his seat. He made his way towards the both of them in about the same pale clothing he had from last time. "Well it's a small world isn't it?" Gabriel said as he approached them. "So your name is Samuel, I had forgotten it already if you told me earlier, please forgive me." Gabriel remarked. "Then again you didn't bother to tell me you were the thrall of the last remaining member of the Hemo clan either" Gabriel said as he turned his attention towards Malice. "If you ever need a drink don't hesitate to come by the nightclub, you can have a round on me." Gabriel said sucking up to Malice a bit.

Samuel turned looked at Malice when Morticai asked him what'd he'd like to drink. "Do you guys have water?" Samuel asked them no knowing really what to say. Gabriel raised his eyebrow at Samuel when he said this. "C'mon don't be bashful now, you were all ready to pounce just last night on that hunter." Gabriel said as he took his seat. "That was actually for her, I actually don't drink human blood." Samuel said, pointing to Malice.

The room fell into a silent pause, even Bertram who'd been pouring blood at the moment placed the bottle down and looked over his shoulder. "What did he just say" Bertram asked aloud, now turning fully around. "That can't be possible, the look in your eyes that night. I could tell that you were starving, it was the look of a predator. You honestly expect me to believe that you don't drink human blood." Gabriel said as he leaned more forward in his chair to look past Malice to Samuel who was sitting beside her. "Well he does look rather famished" Bertram called out from the other side of the room as he turned back around to bring a large tray full of chalices of blood.

Samuel was a bit annoyed at their comments. The pale man who was looking at Malice and Samuel was beginning to have their doubts about them. He began to question why Malice was at the highest seat at the meeting and why everyone else was so willing to except it. She had not been at a meeting since she was first born. Gabriel was about to question Samuel more until Bertram placed the drinks on the table. The blood at the vampire council meeting was the rarest of blood, reserved for members higher up on hierarchy. Bertram grabbed his chalice along with Gabriel, but sitting at the table across from the table reserved for the five.

Samuel raised an eyebrow at A'Sharia and turned back to Malice who he knew exactly what she was thinking. Samuel gave Malice a small nod to confirm that he was thinking the exact same thing.

Bertram nodded in approval of Samuel's diet and Gabriel simply smiled at them. Samuel felt awkward about causing a stir and Malice defending him. There seemed to be a stiffness in the air that needed to be shaken. "...so i take it you guys don't have lemonade either?" Samuel jokingly said trying to relieve the tension. Gabriel hit his face with the palm of his hand at Samuel humor. Bertram smugly smiled at Gabriel's reaction.

Samuel really wished there were more he knew here. It was beginning to feel like a visit to the in laws. Plenty of insider jokes, awkward silences, glares, and stares. The only thing left was for one of them to pull out baby pictures of Malice. "Malice when the meeting is over perhaps you might look at the wall to your right, it has the history of your clan on it. I know a thing or two about disguises and you are certainly not wearing one" Bertram said as he pointed to the wall. "L.o.l baby pictures" Samuel thought to himself, smiling a bit.

Samuel stood up from his seat. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid Malice isn't going to be fighting anyone." Samuel said not joking at all, with a serious look on his face as he stared at all of them. "Excuse me" Gabriel said as he also stood up from his seat. "She's not fighting" Samuel repeated to Gabriel with brazen. "Perhaps you'd like to enlighten us as to why not?" Bertram questioned. Samuel paused for a moment and thought about what he was going to say. "This is suppose to be the happiest time of her entire life. She's going to get married..."Samuel said as he prepared himself for the next part. "...to me. So, I would like to compete on the behalf of my soon to be wife." Samuel declared as he looked at everyone in the room, except Malice because she knew she wouldn't like it.

Samuel was beginning to get irritated at Morticai when he laughed. Samuel made a mental note to find some excuse to punch him in the face one day. A'Sharia wasn't any better with her comment. Samuel had fallen in love with Malice before he was turned, so them acting like it happened afterward bugged him.

When Morticai told him not interrupt them he got even angrier and his skin began to heat up, but Malice pulled him back down to his seat and he calmed down. Samuel was realieved when he found out he'd be able to help Malice with some of the trials, but that soon faded when A'Sharia berated him by calling him a terrible partner. He knew there was a deeper meaning to what she'd just said. "Well me and Malice have partnered up for years, I'm also the fastest man in the world and that was way before I was turned, so no disrespect I'd make a partner than anyone else...even you" Samuel said not caring if she got offended or not.

"Kill them lad, redeem yourself" A voice called out within Samuel's head. Samuel looked around to see where the voice came from, a bit confused. "You hear that?" Samuel asked aloud. Gabriel raised an eyebrow at Sam's question.

"Then I'll just be on my way then" Bertram said as he headed up the now lit staircase to the main room. Samuel turned to Malice as he left, also looking around the room. "My penthouse is way better than this" Samuel though to himself as he looked at the somewhat seemingly ancient architecture. It seemed like it'd been carved out centuries ago.

"You don't have to Malice, you just did all the work for me" Samuel said as he smiled at her. Even Samuel had to admit that she was a bit moody, but he didn't want to put that thought into her head. Samuel wrapped his arms around Malice to comfort her. "Well this place...is interesting" Samuel said to get her mind on something else.

"Both Malice and her progeny are in the Hemo wing." Bertram announced once reaching the top of the stairs. Gabriel grunted a bit and stood up out of his seat. "Can someone please explain to me why are just so casual as to letting her stay here? We don't even know if she's Malice Hemo herself and did you see how uncontrolled that thrall was. My mother would torture him for that outburst, he is lucky that he is not one of the Clayworth children" Gabriel said as his voice flared a bit.

"Then let's find out together" Samuel said as he smiled at her. He'd forgotten about the wedding through all of this. It was going on almost two days since his proposal to her and instead of making arrangements they'd gone completely somewhere else. "What do you remember?" Samuel asked a bit curious. They'd never really talked about each others families much. Samuel wasn't close to his and Malice didn't know hers so it seemed less important.

Gabriel was displeased by this motion. Searching for Malice was becoming too old for him and this Malice was his least favorite out of all the others. "I suppose watching her die wouldn't be too bad. By the way I know my clan is the largest, but could we not use my mother's children this time around. Besides I think your clan members could use the exercise anyhow Morticai." Gabriel said to Morticai to sort of downplay his clan.

"Oh you picked that up too?" Gabriel said as he finished the blood in his chalice. "I'll see what I can find out, but the man is a..." Gabriel took a moment sigh "...foreigner"

Samuel was a bit shocked by her story, wishing he hadn't asked. He was sure that it pained Malice to revisit something like that, "I'm sorry Malice, I didn't know." Samuel apologized as he held her. Samuel knew that Isobel had transferred herself into Malice's body when she was young, he wasn't sure of the time though. She could have been there as soon as she was born, but just kept quiet, or she could have just happened to pop in the exact moment that Malice needed. Regardless of speculation, Samuel decided it would be wise to ask her about it. Matter of fact it would be good to ask her about the entire council while he was at it.

"Reckless? Me? Never A'Sharia, I leave that type of behavior to you." Gabriel said with a smirk. He began to head towards the exit. "I'm going back to the nest. It's almost time to open. I'll try to get some info on the thrall. Call me when the trials begin and by call I mean by phone. We may be centuries years old, but that doesn't mean we have to live like it" Gabriel said as he grabbed his coat and left.

Bertram sighed as he knew that comment was directed at him. Every time he wanted to talk to someone he'd always travel to them instead of using the cell phone Gabriel got him.

Samuel caught Malice before she hit the ground. "Malice" Samuel called out to her as he held her in his arms. She didn't respond as Samuel glanced at the blood on the floor. Samuel began to feel the same thing Malice was feeling. He tried his best to pick her up, but his grip was fading. Samuel gently placed her down with the remaining ounces of his strength before falling over backwards and collapsing over his knees.

Meanwhile

At the nightclub Gabriel looks at the time as he cleans out glasses. The club is loud and the drinks are falling freely. Gabriel makes a cut throat motion with his hands and the music shuts off. "Ladies and Gentleman the bar will be closing shortly" Gabriel started, followed by an outcry of booing. "Hold on, hold on. Tonight is a special occasion, because tonight for the first time in years we have a new Malice Hemo impostor!" Gabriel exclaimed as the crowd cheered. "Now we all know what happens when someone comes around claiming to be the last Hemo, so...to the arena!" Gabriel shouted out as he hoped over the bar and lead the way out of the nightclub.

A massive swarm of vampires ran at high speeds behind Gabriel as they all headed to the arena in angst.

Samuel woke up to see his dark dank surroundings, which were blurry at the moment. He heard a voice call out to him and as soon as he recognized it as Malice's he sprung up. When he landed on his feet they gave out on him and he fell to his knees. "Malice, where are you" Samuel asked, his voice a bit weaker than usual. He'd not fed in a long time, so he felt his strength fading

Meanwhile
The swarm of vampires poured in the arena in a barbaric fashion. In the center of the audience was a private balcony reserved for the council. Once again their were five chairs lined up. Clayworth took his seat with great joyfulness as he crossed his legs and waited. Bertram was in the center of the pit and with a torch. He threw it to a seemingly random area and all of a sudden ground began to catch fire in a certain pattern. The crowd roared and stomped from right above where Malice and Samuel were being held that specs of dirt flew down.

Samuel heard the shouts of the man in the cell with Malice. He covered his ears so that he couldn't hear it. "I don't want to feed. I don't want to feed. I don't want to feed" Samuel repeatedly said as he tried to contain himself. He felt himself grow weaker as the smell of blood in the air made his hunger worse. Samuel's cell door was opened and a hooded female was tossed in. The female stayed cautiously to the corner of the room. Samuel tried his best not to look at the woman, but he could hear her heart beating. Samuel sped off to feed on the woman only to have his head thrown into the wall by her.

The hooded woman took off Samuel's locket, broke it and took a part out that held the hinge together. She took looked at the locket's contents and after staring she tossed it aside. As Samuel laid unconscious the woman picked the lock and dashed off with great speed.

Gabriel got up from his seat. " With great pleasure" he said responding to Morticai. "Since our family is bonded by something stronger than blood, you rarely see two vampires go at it. We understand the meaning of brotherhood, but there is occasions where we must put that aside. Tonight is one of those nights" Gabriel began to address to the crowd. "Tonight we have yet another member of our family who claims to be Malice Hemo of the no longer existing Hemo clan. She will prove herself to us tonight...or she will die" Gabriel continued as his strong voice echoed throughout the arena as everyone stood silent. "One thing is guaranteed though, our appetite for violence will be satisfied" Gabriel concluded as he signaled for two of his clan's members to retrieve Malice & Samuel.

The crowd roared as Malice entered the arena. Gabriel looked down at her from the balcony with disdain, and quickly turned away from her. " If you are a true Hemo you will have no problem taking care of your opponents. All three are fine warrior's of Morticai's clan." Gabriel said as a gate opened and as a female jumped out into the arena with an array of acrobatics. She wore leather armor and a chainmail helmet. In each of her hands were two daggers the were pointed outwards from her body. She stared at Malice in a somewhat hunched battle stance. "The rules of this are simple, kill your opponent" Gabriel said as he smirked. The crowd stomped on the ground creating a droning effect throughout the echoey dungeon, where Samuel was knocked out.

Samuel's eyes shot open green. "I ain't no boy" Samuel said in a different voice. He looked at his youthful hands as he got up form the ground. "Oh never mind" Samuel said as he talked in his regular voice, but his eyes still green. Samuel blinked and his eyes turned back to there normal color. Samuel stared at Morticai blank for a second. He took a couple blinks and realized where he was. "Where's Malice?!" Samuel shouted at Morticai before taking a knee. Samuel once again felt that fading feeling in his strength.

Gabriel turned around quickly before the fight could begin. "I'm sorry, I forgot to give Malice her objective. She is to kill her opponents. The members of Morticai's clan kill the opponent, since there seems to be only one of you" Gabriel said with a smirk before turning back around. Out from the same door the first came through was a much more heavier opponent. He had a bald head, tall, amazingly obese, and there were shackles on both his wrists with chains attached to him. This vampire was more than likely a prisoner of some sort.

Samuel leaned against a wall since he didn't have the strength to lift himself up. He turned to Morticai with a dead look on his face. "Bring me a human" Samuel said as his knees buckled and he sat against the wall.

Samuel bared his teeth at Malice when she got a hold of him. He was trembling in her grasp as he looked into her eyes as she spoke. His eyes shifted into a bright green as he stared back at her. Samuel looked at her for a moment with his bright eyes, but before he could say anything she collapsed to the ground. Samuel smirked at Malice falling and looked over to his right with the large corpse in view. "That's pretty damn funny." Samuel said as he began to look around his surroundings. He looked up to see A'sharia and Gabriel, his face fell flat. He stared directly at the both of him with his face flaring up, completely ignoring Malice. Gabriel took a close look at Samuel.

His eyes shifted back to their normal hue and Samuel stared in the same direction, blankly. "He's a Lark!" Gabriel roared out as his veins popped from his face and his eyes turned black. He jumped from the balcony where the council members sat and landed on the arena floor. Two of his cronies followed him in as he walked at a fast pace to Samuel.

Samuel looked over to Malice who clutching at her stomach. "Malice, what's wrong?!" Samuel asked frantically as he got on his knees beside her. He lightly held on to her shoulder and moved her hair so he could see her face. Just then Gabriel grabbed Samuel by the throat. Samuel struggled to get away from his choking grasp, but he soon passed out and was tossed aside. Samuel's vision faded and the last thing he saw was Malice in pain. He could slightly feel her presence even though he'd passed out. Gabriel's men dragged Samuel by his feet, back into the dungeon and Gabriel followed behind them without the slightest concern for Malice.

Gabriel looked over at Malice with his fangs bared as his men fell to the ground. He quickly pulled Samuel by his legs towards him and placed his foot on his head. "You want to know a secret?" Gabriel asked as he looked over at Malice who'd just demanded him to let Samuel go. "I couldn't really care if you're the real Malice or not, we have been thriving without you for some time. I should kill you right here, but I'll offer you a choice." Gabriel said as he smirked behind his pulsating face. "You bow down to me right now and after I cave in Samuel's head like he did my brother, I might just let you live" Gabriel grinned as he ground Samuel's unconscious face into the ground lightly as he prepared to stomp on it.

Footsteps could be heard approaching Malice, Samuel, & Gabriel. The same hooded woman from earlier was headed straight towards them. Her face was hidden by the top of her hood, but she could still see them all. She crouched down to Samuel and placed his arm around her shoulder. "What the hell do you think you're doing" Gabriel called out to the woman as if she were one of them. The woman ignored Gabriel as she picked Samuel up and turned away from Malice and Gabriel. Samuel still unconscious was held up only by the strength of the woman.

Samuel found himself in the same grassy plain. He looked around and saw absolutely nothing but grass and a cliffside, with crashing waves heard in the distance. "You know, you're a disgrace on out name right?" A voice called out. Samuel turned around to see a heavily bearded version of himself. "What?" Samuel asked as he was still trying to get a sense of what is going on. The man walked over to Samuel and stood on Samuel's side as he looked at the distant cliffside. "A Lark never repeats himself twice." The man who's eyes glimmered green said as he turned his head to Samuel. The man quickly dashed with Samuel in his one hand and hurled him over the cliff. Samuel was taken off his guard, unable to scream due to the shock. Samuel fell and turned to see the massive pile of bodies, he was heading straight for a female body that had been washed up on the rocks. "Sam! Wake up!" The female corpse called out as Samuel nearly landed on top of her.

Samuel's eyes shot open to see someone holding him up. Samuel reacted quickly and dropped to the floor one hand and slid his foot on the ground to create a enflamed kick to the woman. The woman simply disappeared before Samuel could get the hit. Samuel landed back on his feet to notice the unsteadiness of the ground below. Samuel also noticed a slight irritant in him. He quickly turned to see that Malice was behind him and looked off. "What the hell is going on" Samuel questioned Gabriel who was holding on to the wall to keep himself balanced.

"You think this has something to do with me?!" Gabriel objected as he tried to make his way back to the council.

Samuel knelt beside Malice and held her hand. "I'm going to be a dad..." Samuel pushed his hair back and took a deep breath. "I'm going to be a terrible father, I got to get a job. What kind of example would I set if i taught our children how to rob banks" Samuel said as he found himself suddenly stressed.

There was accompaniment of a dragging sound on the floor as Bertram hauled in the two corpses. He looked over at Samuel and Malice, but said nothing to them and simply moved on.

Gabriel appeared next to A'Sharia with his hands behind his back. "We now have a situation to attend to. I didn't expect this girl to live in the arena." Gabriel said as the roar of the crowd traveled throughout the arena. "You hear that? If we don't do something soon we'll have a riot on our hands" Gabriel said in a calm voice as he stood closely behind A'Sharia.