The Multiverse: Daemala Detente's Dominic

Daemala Tauvyr steps tentatively into the light of the setting sun.

"Follow me," she whispers to the other figure.

Daemala Tauvyr walks deep into the forest, through the fog, and points to thicker trees ahead.

Daemala Tauvyr points to a structure that can be seen through the trees, if you peered hard enough.

"Here we are," she said, "Isn't much, but."

Shall we go "/in"?

"So here we are."

The boy regarded her curiously, years of living outside of his homeland having washed the Irish brogue from his voice. "Where are we going?" He asked.

"Welcome to the Cursed Wood, we are going deeper into the forest. Keep close," She whispered on the wind, disappearing into the trees.

"Welcome to our humble abode," smiling she flourished towards nothing in particular.

"Right this way..."

Daemala Tauvyr takes a seat in her usual spot, and motions for the newcomer and her kin to have a seat as well

He had been silent so far on their journey, taking in the grand hallways, the large ceilings, the general... atmosphere of the place. Looking at the two figures, he finally spoke, his voice constantly in the realm of puberty. "This is all you promised and more, my lady." He accepted the offer and sat three chairs down from her, sharp eyes taking in the room. "But what is our purpose for meeting? You were rather... mysterious."

The Harlequin slid down besides his Sire and kept quiet... Patchwork had been done on his mask; repairing the tear in the cheek. Now he felt a little more 'confident' being there.

She glanced at the door, as if expecting more to arrive, but seeing as none did turned her gaze to the boy. After The Harlequin, her kin, slid into his spot next to her, she opened her mouth to speak.

"How old are you?" Her voice rang through the chamber, eerie and melodic.

The boy didn't respond at first, weighing her words carefully. He didn't know her strength yet, and thus shouldn't speak out against her without that crucial information. Still, inside he bristled at the fact that she didn't answer his pointed question - demand, really. Still, he inclined his head slightly.

"I have lost count, I am afraid. I believe I am around three hundred and fifty on a standard human calendar."

The Harlequin kept his eyes on Daemala; mad infatuation mixed with hatred and lust for murder swirling in the black eyes behind his mask... Oh yeah, he also kept quiet.

Daemala nodded, satisfied with the answer. He was cooperative, this being, which she both appreciated and respected. Clearing her throat gently, she took the harsh edge off of her tone and offered a response of her own.

"Peace is the purpose for our gathering here today, for it is what I am extending to you." She paused, for dramatic effect, soaking in the scene.
"An alliance has been formed by vampires of many origins, unbiased and true to the morals of our blood." She left it at that for now, and crossed her fingers on her lap.

Dominic Mulligan pursed his lips thoughtfully, leaning his elbows upon the heavy table, tapping each finger, one by one, upon his chin. "An alliance," he drawled, his lips curving upwards in a slight smile. "is a dangerous thing to form for beings of our stature, My dear." He stood from his chair, his legs groaning with growing pains that would never cease. "You do know of the brutal combat our brethren show each other? The hatred that Humanity," he spat the word with such malice one would think it was poison, "shows us on a nightly - and daily - basis? And you want to sit here and play diplomacy." He chuckled darkly putting his hands out in front of him. "Explain to me, mistress, why we need such a thing?"

She was taken aback by his words, yes indeed, but did her best not to show it. He spoke truth, of bad blood between brethrens, and she bowed her head in acknowledgement. As he finished his words, she gathered her thoughts, picking up what bits the boy hadn't tore down.

"If you perish at the hands of betrayal, would you not want to be avenged? Have you never gone a night thirsty, crawling into the shade of a dumpster as the day breaks, gnawing on a rat you sucked dry three hours ago?" Daemala spoke low, almost monotonous, but there was a passion in her vocal restraint that could not be denied.

"We are all brothers in undeath and it's high time we started acting like it!"

He nodded, still contemplative. She wasn't backing down. She was defending her opinion. In truth, he liked the idea of an alliance - of a group of people who could have his back when he couldn't get out of a corner. But he felt like he needed to test her marriage to the idea of an alliance. After all, if she was the leader (which he assumed her to be, though she hadn't stated so) than he wanted to make damn sure that this alliance wouldn't fall apart the second the ink was dry, so to speak.

"You promise me drink, then? You promise me security, and if not security, vengeance of my soul? This is what you offer me out of this alliance." He chuckled darkly again, his words aiming to make her angry, make her lash out. "How is grouping a circle of hounds guaranteed to help the rabbits flow, mistress? How is a group of bears going to stop the hunters from collecting their pelts?"

He spun from her, facing away, smiling into the air as he hoped to drive it home. "You expect far more from our stubborn brethren than I think they will give, Mistress."

Pressing her lips together, she listened to the one who doubted. It was good, he was skeptical, again raising valid points. she was well prepared, however, lining up her ammo for verbal assault. He finished, turning away from her, and she couldn't even help but scoff. Was that a rude gesture, intentional?

"We have weaknesses, and we have strengths. What makes us able cripples our prey, renders them useless. We have the advantage of the parasite. Our hosts can not even realize we exist." Daemala rose, her words growing fiery.

"Some of us have walked this planet for lifetimes, knowing more than any mortal could ever dream of. It is us, however few we may be in comparison, who have the upper hand."
She had best quit while she was ahead.

"I expect from my brethren no more than my brethren should expect from me," And with that she huffed, finishing her words and glaring into the back of the boys head.

He grinned now, not unlike a primate, allowing himself a few scant seconds of enjoyment of her tirade.

There it was. The fire. The passion. The genuine caring for the continuance of their parasitic race. For years he had hated what he was, what he had become. A blood-sucking leech, almost literally. Praying off of animals and the rare human, too weak to attack fully grown humans. The first fifty years of his sirehood had, for lack of a better term, blown.

And now here it was. A political platform with his own kind, made up entirely of vampires. For the most part, exploitable vampires. And though the doubts he had raised in front of her were valid concerns of his, he saw far more benefit to the alliance than bad. He could use a group of people at his back, and he would allow their strengths to be his own and respond in kind.

And if it didn't work out, he would turn them on each other, one by one, until he was the one holding the reigns. Either way, he benefited.

He only turned when the smile was completely eradicated from his face. With a determined expression, he marched right over to her, until his eyes met her chin. With a fierce glare, he stuck his hand out.

"Where do I sign up?"

She extended her hand to shake, staring the boy straight in the eyes. A malicious smile stretched her lips wide, revealing her wickedly pointed teeth.

"You just did."

"Harlequin?"

"What is it?" He asked, slowly coming out of some sort of trance like phase. Oh, he heard her... But he came back to reality on his own terms. At his own pace.

"Shall we give our new brother a tour of our humble abode?" That had all gone smoother than expected and she was still in a post-winning euphoria.

"... Yes, if you wish. Though I shall let you lead." He stood up; offering his gloved hand to Daemala to help her stand. If she wasn't already.
If she was, then he'd look like a prat.

Daemala accepted his hand and rose, looking towards her kin with a slightly bewildered expression.

"Surely! Whenever you are ready, then."

Dominic Mulligan nodded, quietly, turning to follow the two, inwardly shaking his head at the term "brother".

Hmmm...

The Harlequin shuddered and began to walk towards the eastern side of the hall, where a door opened to reveal a corridor and, further along, the Grand Dining Hall. "Let's look at only the vaguely depressing rooms, first..."

And he made to step through, leading them to the room specified. Like a boss.

Dominic Mulligan shrugged, smiling. "Shall we follow the vaguely depressing man?"

"Yes, and perhaps after we traverse through this place, we can collect over some warm blood?" She said charmed.

He led them into said dining room; so obviously uncomfortable with actually having to socialise right now. Even his knife would make things a little less awkward; at least then he could pretend he was merely playing them and planning slip the blade into their throats when they were pre-occupied...

"I imagine this room gets awfully messy."

"I would like that indeed, Mistress." He said, turning towards the newcomer and flashing her his trademark pearly whites, complete with chiselled fangs. He kept immaculate care of himself. First impressions were his speciality. "And who are you, my dear?"

"When you're ready, follow me to the kitchens. I'll leave a door open in the Entrance Hall so you know where to follow."

After a slight shrug, he turned and made his way towards his destination.

Dominic Mulligan forced a smile, and then turned to Daemala as the servant left. "Odd one, isn't he?"

"The kitchens!"

The Harlequin imagined that this was what it was like being stalked... And he had even given them permission to follow him; more than that, he expected it.
It didn't make him like it, though.

"And here we have the kitch- one moment." He disappeared deeper into the murky rooms. He wanted a knife.

Dominic Mulligan was thoroughly unsettled by the Harlequin, to be sure. He couldn't get a good read on him. He seemed... simple. Distracted. Ridiculously... well, stupid. But, he sensed a decent time for another foray into his plans. He smiled at Daemala and Dayo, and then started after the Harlequin. "Perhaps I'll see to him. Excuse me, ladies." He said, following the strange vampire.

Now to just resist the urge... The urge to slice...

He held the kitchen knife tightly in his right hand and was slowly approaching the group again.

"Let's continue," he said with a comfortable smile. "The dungeons, perhaps?"

Before the servant could reach the group, Dominic reached out in front of him, speaking in a low, quick voice, hopefully out of earshot. "I would very much like to speak with you in private, sir. If at all possible."

And then he immediately jumped backwards. "Indeed! The dungeons sound marvelous."

She was displeased to see the knife in his hand. Of course he had been able to find one.

"To the Dungeons. You had best not try anything, like it would even work," She scolded her Kin, reminding him of who they all were. He was turning into more of a pain than he used to be. Damn it! Damn it all!

The Harlequin made his way through the kitchens and and towards the iron gate that separated them from the dungeon below... He pushed it open with a creak and a whine, then began to go down the steps...

After a moment or two of shuddering, he pulled his mask a little further upon his face, then climbed, making to go through the kitchens, open a door in the Entrance Hall and climb the stairs to the upper level.

"Well this is...Huge."

"Try not to get lost," he said with a particularly malicious smile.

"You never know who you might run into on a dark night..." His fingers began to run down the edge of his knife...

"We saw the Dungeon, and it smelled gloriously like death through the ages" She shot a sharp look towards The Harlequin,
"Kin..." her tone was warning.

Dominic laughed at that, shaking his head. "Oh my dear sir," he said, gasping for breath, "You would not cut me up, my friend. Even if you wanted to. You are nothing but a mere dog on a leash." He said the words matter of fact, with no malice, but simple fact colouring his words.

Daemala Tauvyr chortled.

"Don't worry good Sir... I pick more elegant targets," he replied; casting a slight glance at Daemala...

Daemala placed her hands on her hips and shook her hair with a, "Ha!"

"Knock it off."

Dominic laughed at that, clapping a hand on Harlequin's shoulder, and removing it with lightning speed. "I bet you do, my friend. I bet you do." He turned to the rest of the party. "I am really sorry, my fellow Alliance Brethren, but I must take my leave of you for now. I have a duty to drink, tonight. And I feel it must be a fresh kill... some English, perhaps. Who knows where the night will take me?" He turned back towards Harlequin, and dropped a bit of paper on top of Harlequin's shoulder, watching it flutter to the servant's neckline. The movement was subtle, but a keen eye would have noticed it with ease.

He smiled disarmingly at the two ladies. "My mistresses. Good night!" Without waiting for a response, he swished out of the room, and down the way he came.

Daemala Tauvyr smiled after Dominic, with a wave.

"I think we should end the tour here," he proclaimed quite suddenly, as he watched Dominic leave and stepped backwards away from Daemala.
He did not notice the paper straight away, whatever it was. He had more pressing things on his mind, enough, at least, to stop him from realizing.

The Multiverse » Arcs » Daemala Detente's Dominic

As written by: lostamongtrees, NotAFlyingToy, Nevan

55 pieces and 5 characters involved, written by 3 different authors.

10 places involved

So begins...

Daemala Detente's Dominic

Setting: The Abandoned Slums

Setting: Cursed Wood

Setting: Forbidden Thick

Setting: Castle Vankoryth

Setting: Castle Vankoryth Entrance Hall

Setting: Cursed Wood

Setting: Castle Vankoryth Entrance Hall

Setting: Room of Reason

Setting: Castle Vankoryth Entrance Hall

Setting: Castle Vankoryth Grand Dining Hall

Setting: Castle Vankoryth Kitchens

Setting: Castle Vankoryth Dungeons

Setting: Castle Vankoryth Upper Level