Alek Constantine's Story

Alek closed his eyes tightly. "We will discuss a backup plan later, Brother Talos.." Alek said forcefully. "I need at least half an hour alone to myself.. Keep her safe, keep her here.. I'll come find you as soon as I can.." The boards creaked again at the force in which he held them, to keep himself in place.

He could not respond to Ellie. Not right now. But he wouldn't dare feed off her. Never. It was all too easy, he could hear her whispers, her pleas to have her help him. The very flow of blood in both Talos' and Ellie's veins. The beating of their hearts torment to a starved vampire. Every throb threatened to drive him insane or to beat the rest of his humanity away. The next time Alek opened his eyes to look at Talos, they were black as coals. He was about to hunt.

"Go." He demanded.

By the time Alek had turned to look upon Talos, he was already out the door, following Ellie. He'd already explained his plans as much as he could, so now he could only honor Alek's wishes that he guard his 'friend,' who was clearly more than that by this point. It brought a slight frown to Talos' face, but it was a strength, and men must take their strengths where they can find them.

After she had been silent for a time, and he had been following her, he speaks up again. "Where does this Vampire usually keep herself? Most of these creatures often live in seclusion, a cave or abandoned structure, or they live in the open, lavish mansions and the like. My estimate is that she would be the latter," he concludes, distancing himself from the personal dramatics of his charges. His duty was to destroy the Darkness, not take sympathy on the struggles of the faithful.

Ellie didn't go far. She couldn't go far. The elf-girl only ran down the hallway and stopped as soon as she reached the end of the stairs; the border between the Inn and the tavern below. Her thoughts raged around Alek but in her heart, she knew that he would be fine. He had not yet abandoned her and Ellie had a gut feeling that Alek would never abandon her.

For now, all she could do was help him in a way that she knew how. Information.

Ellie closed her eyes and shook her head. Her fingers clutched the banister until they shook. "I don't know. No one knows where she lives. Amelia is much smarter than other vampires. No one has ever found where she makes her lair and has lived to tell the tale."

"The only way to find out would be to send Alek to her but if we did that..." He'd never return. Ellie could not say the words. It hit too close to home on her current fears.

Alek immediately began to pull at the window as soon as they left him alone, his black eyes almost desperate now. Desperate to get as far away from Ellie as he could until he had fed. The window moved easily, for him at least, breaking off the nails as the pane raced up. The remaining pieces of nails tapped against the floor quietly. The investigation was still going on below, so instead he began to climb the fire escape up silently.

He would feed on a few victims tonight. He had gotten into the practice of not killing who he drained. People did not turn into vampires just by being bitten, as the rumor went. No.. It was more complicated than that. But none the less, he would return to the Inn from the entrance as he said he would, not a minute passed an half hour.

"Then," Talos begins, a gruff rumble of a voice, "We must plant bait. Even the most intelligent creature will blunder into a trap if it is prepared just so. Even if we do not slay her, I have ways of tracking the undead."

Despite its benefits, he was starting to worry that the emotional attachment between the two of them might be the downfall of this venture. Regardless, he would simply have to put up more effort himself to cover them.

"In the mean time, share with me how you plan to find this... 'Word.' I do not look to utilize it for our battle, but as a last-ditch plan, it may be necessary."

He had crossed his arms, leaning near the stairway back down. He felt out of his element, working with a... Vampire. And an Elf with no personal conviction to the cause. She was more than willing to give her all, but it was not for the destruction of the Vampire, at least not in whole. She did it for a man, a former man, and if he was lost, so too might be her strength. Or, it may grow. It was uncertain, and it bothered him.

Ellie disagreed with Talos and wished he would just go away. The Word of Unmaking was the only choice because she thought, for sure, that it would keep Alek alive. This man did not even want to use it unless absolutely necessary.

Wiping at her face with the back of her hand, Ellie dropped down onto the last step of the stairs and sat. She curled her knees against her chest and help them by wrapping her arms around her legs. "The Ancient Order of the Keepers. No one has seen them in a very long time," Ellie said.

"They were more prevalent about fifty years ago but recently there hasn't been a peek from the Keepers. Unlike most people though I know how to read and I know how to find their guild," Ellie said. "We will have to go across to the other side of the city to find it in a cemetery."

"The Ancient Order of the Keepers are the ones who discovered and studied runes and glyphs. It is our best bet to any leads on the Final Word."

"Then let us search," Talos replies. "But know this..." he gives her a serious look, keeping his arms crossed and trying to express the gravity of his words. "If this 'word' can be misused, by intent or lack of skill, for the destruction of this world... I will have no choice but to have it eliminated as soundly as possible. Your personal affections cannot rise above the grave duty we have before us."

He knew she wouldn't like him for this. Knew she didn't like him already. He could see it, in the way she spoke to him, in her posturing towards him. "Using this word could be more dangerous than even the Vampire. Until we have better options, however, that is what we will look for. So take heart," he adds encouragingly, standing straight and dropping his hands to his sides. "We will have victory, but it will not cost us all."

"Then let us search," Talos replies. "But know this..." he gives her a serious look, keeping his arms crossed and trying to express the gravity of his words. "If this 'word' can be misused, by intent or lack of skill, for the destruction of this world... I will have no choice but to have it eliminated as soundly as possible. Your personal affections cannot rise above the grave duty we have before us."

He knew she wouldn't like him for this. Knew she didn't like him already. He could see it, in the way she spoke to him, in her posturing towards him. "Using this word could be more dangerous than even the Vampire. Until we have better options, however, that is what we will look for. So take heart," he adds encouragingly, standing straight and dropping his hands to his sides. "We will have victory, but it will not cost us all."

-

"Are we done here," Ellie snapped at Talos. She didn't mean to sound so rude or harsh but her nerves were on end with the man. It was hard to accept the consequences of her actions.

"I need to eat," she said before Ellie stood up from the stairs and walked back into the tavern.

Maybe there was a way to get rid of Talos. Alek and Ellie didn't need him. In all actuality they did, but Ellie did not want his help. There were probably others that were more fitting to their needs. He seemed to have just took charge and Ellie was not happy about that. Who was he to be invited into their mission and for him to just lead the entire thing?

Talos had to go. And Ellie began devising ways to do it.

Alek would walk in the Whistling Pipe a short time after, his face blank. If the undead could look like they were about to be sick, he certainly did. He kept his eyes ahead of him the whole time, golden yellow hues that seemed to glow even in the light. His armor was a bit tattered in places, and he held his side tightly. He snapped out of it long enough to notice Ellie and Talos and walk in their direction.

It was unlike Alek not to survey the place as he walked in. Vampire hunters would know instantly what he was, albeit he too was a vampire hunter. A vampire was a vampire, and a monster to boot. But Alek seemed dazed, distant and on the verge of breaking.

If they had sat at a table, the man would pull back a chair and collapse on it, another characteristic not of his. He would not move from that spot, nor speak or scarcely breath. Not that he needed to at least. He just sat there.

A man watched Alek cross the room and noticed the odd color of his eyes. The paleness of Alek's skin was noted as well along with the recent flush of his cheeks. A tingle ran down Merrak's spine.

A vampire. How had he not seen it before?

Merrak's eyes narrowed and his hand slipped beneath the table then into his boot. The priest had no intention of killing the vampire. He did not kill what was already dead. An enchanted dagger lay hidden inside the leather of his boot and now Merrak's fingers toyed with the hilt.

Amelia would be pleased to have another rogue vampire in her hands.

Merrak, with the use of a slight-of-hand gesture, tucked the dagger up his sleeve and sat upright. He sipped from his water and opened the abandoned newspaper in front of him. The priest tugged on his collar, uncomfortable as it was, and pretended to read.

Meanwhile, Ellie's eyes had fixated on the front door of the tavern, waiting for Alek to come back. She didn't say anything more to Talos and refused to even make him comfortable in her company. She didn't even want to be his company. There were things Ellie would rather been doing at that very moment.

As soon as Alek came through the door, Ellie shot up from the chair she sat in. She carefully watched him cross the tavern, sit, and then do nothing. Ellie came around to Alek's back and wrapped her arms around him, pressed her cheek against his, and asked him what had happened.

"Pardon me, young man, if I may," Merrak said across the room, ignoring the ongoings of the group at the table across the room. "I need another water, if you can," Merrak asked Otto, mistaking him for the new tender.

Talos didn't seem to mind Ellie's lack of attention. He had accepted that she wasn't going to want to talk to him any time soon, not until she had some food in her belly... which she hadn't even ordered yet. He realized that was probably just an excuse to wait for Alek, when it boiled down to it. But no matter.

Talos had been keeping a close eye on the rest of the Tavern. There was a Priestly looking man who he hadn't noticed before, and didn't pay much mind to as of yet; a priest was seldom a threat in intent or ability to a Paladin, though once their ally returned, he would have to keep an eye on him.

And, speak of the devil (No pun intended), there he was. He looked haggard, drained. His pallor seemed to have increased. He showed all the signs of having recently fed, except for the self satisfaction he usually saw in Vampires. That, at least, showed he was indeed unfond of his current form.

When Alek had sat and slumped down at the table, Talos made sure to do away with his usual disgust. It was difficult, even as allies, to sit in the presence of a known Vampire. But he would be strong for his brother.

"Be at peace, and find your wall; Seek release, from enemies all," he recites from one of the Paladin texts.

The pale man seemed to suddenly come alive again at the gentle touch from Ellie. Sounds came apparent again, and he seemed to just realize where he was. He pulled his hand from his side. Blood covered his palm, and his armor was open there. What had happened? He couldn't remember clearly. It was like this when he grew hungry enough to lose himself to the hunt. His golden eyes shifted as the foggy memories slid back to the front of his mind, like a thick sticky sludge rolling down hill.

"I drained someone.." He muttered, low enough for only Ellie to hear. His words were grave. Usually, when he had control of himself, he would not completely drain a person. Instead, he would render one unconscious and only take a small bit, leaving them there after he was sure they'd be alright and repeat this process until he had his fill. It was time consuming that way, but he did not want to kill anyone. This time, he had.

"I think I had gotten caught.. And I think someone shot at me, and hit me.. Made me slow to move.. Painful as well.." Pain was something Alek hardly mentioned. Even falling from high places, the man never complained. Why should he? He was dead, technically.

He then tensed, feeling the eyes of the priest on him for the first time. "Ellie, I need my cloak.." He murmured. He looked at Talos. "A monster cannot find peace. Even among allies, I cannot allow myself to be at ease." He then turned to dare a glance over his shoulder towards Merrek, his golden hues ablaze. Not all was ever what it seemed, he reminded himself. Even if he knew he was a vampire, inside he tried everything to be the opposite of what people knew of them. Yet, there were some wolves that wore sheep's clothing.

Ellie saw the blood on Alek's hand and screamed. It drew the attention of Merrak, who was about to apologize to the man he had mistaken for the bartender.

"You're bleeding! Talos! Do something!" Ellie said, panicking. It was in her very nature to panic at the slightest problem with Alek's 'health'. It was Merrak's cue to interrupt whatever they had was going on and get closer to the vampire. It was difficult to mask his features and to control the twist smirk, but he did.

"I am a priest. Allow me to see what I am able to do," Merrak said. "Pardon me, friend. Someone is in need," the priest said to Otto. He made his way over to Ellie, Alek, and Talos, knowing none of their names.

"You need a surgeon!" Ellie snapped back at Alek before she began to all but strip him nude, attempting to tug off whatever was in the way of his injury.

"Some one's hurt?" Otto asked, standing up, grabbing his pack. He briskly walked over to the man that was staggering and holding his chest. "Don't panic, I'm a doctor." Otto looked at the wound.

"Shot... by the looks of it a .50 caliber pistol. " He looked at the entrance wound on the back and noticed burn marks.

"And it was point-blank range." He carefully inspected the wound.

"No main veins or arteries have been hit, nor your lungs. This is an easy fix."

He took out two rags and handed one to Merrak. "Put pressure on his back wound," he commanded. He then took a bottle of clear liquid and spilled some onto his rag.

"Ok, this is going to sting."

Damn the fool woman, Talos had thought to himself. She should know better than to bring such attention upon her friend.

He began to feel the tinge of unease when she attracted, not only the attention of a supposed Doctor- who would likely soon realize his patient was technically deceased- but the Priest. It did not bode well. He had to take action, and quickly.

Rising, the imposing figure of Talos moves, quickly placing himself between Alek and the Priest, and placing a large, firm hand on Otto's shoulder. "He is my charge," he rumbles in a deep, not-quite-a-threat voice. "I will take care of him." He looks toward the Priest, making a brief sign of Avacyn; while she was unlikely to be known, let alone revered here, her symbol was close enough to common signs of the Light.

"Forgive me Brother, but this is not your business." He did not like speaking to a fellow follower of the Light as such, but he could not risk losing Alek to a misunderstanding.

He had spoken few words, but they were direct and bore the barest hint of intimidation. Which, given his size and grizzled appearance, might be enough.

Xavier just watched from the seat, but he'll rush in if there is will be a trouble. "Well that big man look like a priest from what he said to the other one, so there shouldn't be any trouble, I think." He said, but still not quite sure. "Well I'll just keep a close watch." He said.

This was too much, too fast. As soon as Ellie screamed, it seemed the hounds of hell were after him, and Ellie was trying to pull his armor off. The man let out a soft growl, his golden yellow hues flashing to one man to the other quickly, looking very much like a cornered wounded animal. He was thankful for Talos for making the two men, Otto and the Priest, to step away from him. He could then focus on trying to stay clothed.

"Ellie.." He hissed quietly. "My cloak. Please." His eyes were now on the Priest. The other just seemed a man willing to help, but this man would string him up faster than the women did holiday decorations. And Ellie had brought his attention straight to him. "I thank you, Father, for your concern.." He said, covering the wound again as Otto began to try to debate how bad and big it was. He honestly could not remember how close the person had been when he was shot, but he was pretty sure they weren't -that- close. Nor that big of caliber. Otherwise, there would have been more of him to put back together. "But I'm pretty sure it's nothing we cannot take care of ourselves.. And I am sure you are a very busy man on your normal time, Father. I'd rather not bother you while you are on your break." He said, his tone shaking slightly. True, it was mostly out of rage that his voice was shaking, but it added to the effect of a living man who had been shot and was on an adrenaline rush.

If Ellie had not given him his cloak by this point, he would try to unfasten it from her neck and pull it from her with one hand, his glaring hues leaving the Priest for a moment in order to glare at Ellie, trying to make sure she knew the danger she had put him in. Fool woman, yes he had been shot, but there was no need to go screaming about it. In an hour or two, he'd be right as rain.