Seattle was a thriving, vibrant town with an active night life but it seemed like the entire city had decided to avoid the vampire hunting party that night. Traffic parted for them. Traffic lights changed when they came near. It was as if some force was working to make certain that they reached the Haven of St Andrew as quickly as possible. There wasn't a car or even a solitary pedestrian visible when the two cars pulled into the parking lot.
There was still evidence of the fire marring the concrete building and the doors had been boarded up. The broken stained glass window had also been replaced with a sheet of plywood. The sign on the door read 'The Most High does not dwell in houses Acts 7:48'. And in the trailer tucked behind the church, a light was on.
Malaki unfurled himself from Arianna's car. He played an erie tune as his power leaked off of him like tentacles reaching out to near by nooks and crannies. It did not take long for at least a dozen pair of eyes echoed the moonlight back towards him. His eyes turned skyward trying to catch a glimpse of Darien for any update he could give.
Darien appeared as a momentary silhouette on the top of a nearby building. Letting them see him before melting back into the shadows to wait for Waylon and John. He hadn't noticed any odd activity. The pastor seemed to simply be going about his nightly business as usual.
Waylon's car was not far behind Arianna's Viper as it parked thirty seconds later. Waylon Noah and John exited the car. "The night seems quiet tonight, too quiet and surprisingly empty. Noah whispered as he regarded the church and it's boarded windows. "So how are we going to do this? A polite knock from me on the trailer to see if he will talk?"
Malaki nodded. "Agreed. I don't like it." A rat scurried up his body perching a top his shoulder chirpping away. "Some thing is off."
"Yes," Waylon said, looking up at the sky. "It's almost as if something is setting a stage. That is exactly what I would like, Noah. Go knock on the door and tell Pastor Gless that the Huntsman of Seattle would like a word with him."
"As you wish." Noah said with a bow. The night air felt heavy as he made his way to the back of the church where the pastors silver bullet shaped trailer sat.
Noah wrapped upon the trailer door politely. He was after all just a messenger and had no skin in the fight.
There was a pause, followed by a call of “One moment.”, before the door opened. “What can I do for you this fine evening?” Isaac Gless asked with a smile. He clearly had no anticipation of the impending storm.
In a blink Malaki was sitting a top the trailer one foot curled under him the other dangling down. He sat still unmoving watching like an action figure posed there for all time. For such a casual pose it held such an unsettling feel. Malaki broke his pose as a small lopsided grin crossed his face. His hand running over the smooth metal roof as he pondered what it could do to flesh should it be heated.
Arianna melded into the shadows as she leaned against the back of the church building. Watching Gless and Noah.
"Pastor Gless." Noah said, giving the man a respectful head nod. "The purpose of my calling on you tonight might be construed as odd." He saw the flash of movement and sighed. "It won't take too long but it is in regard to your Sermons and the flock."
Noah said as he saw Malaki's face peek over the trailer. "I am not here to trick or lie to you I am not alone as you just heard a certain someone with varied levels of self-control came along with me for the....'shits and giggles of it. Malaki get off the man's Roof, it is poor form to be disrespectful to another man's haven. As I was saying, Pastor Gless I'm not a resident of this city, therefore, I am more neutral than the majority of Seattle's vampiric citizens. I come to inform you that the Huntsman of the city, Mr. Crosby, has some pressing questions about your church and how you tend to your flock."
Gless craned his neck to look at the leg that was dangling from atop the trailer. "Were I an uncivilized sort, I would seize your companion by the ankle and pull him off my roof," he said. "Since I am civilized, I am going to politely request that he stop climbing on top of my trailer. He may damage it."
The Pastor looked back at Noah. "I am not surprised that the Huntsman has come to see me. I am surprised that he took so long and that he did not come alone. His reputation suggests his hunts were more solitary. Perhaps he is not so fierce as I supposed."
Waylon, in the meantime was shaking his head. "Malaki, you fucking amateur," he muttered. "Someone your age should know better. Promise me, John, that you will not do anything that heedless tonight."
"I won't do anything untoward. I am here to watch and see how things play out. I know everyone here could wipe the floor with me." John said, his pale eyes staring at the church as he waited for the others to come out front.
"You would be fully within your rights to do just that, Pastor Gless. While not a full violation of causing damage to your haven, he does like to dance on the razors edge. I'm not sure what the full purpose of having Malaki come along would be other than he is a very curious sort and likes drama. You do indeed seem to germinate curiosity. Your sermons and what I have seen in them.... I haven't been around as long as you, but, colour me intrigued. Like you, I am a wanderer and haven't put down roots yet, I've been touring the country trying to decide what city might be good to call home. Seattle is certainly a colourful and varied city, and so are it's inhabitants. As for the reputation of certain folk here, I think it might be much to your surprise that the reason Master Crosby isn't hunting alone tonight, may be that he is using it as a teachable moment tonight to show that violence should never be one's number one go to." Noah said with a shrug and looked up at the roof with a heavy sigh." Jesus... Malaki are you going to roost up there all night like a pigeon or are you going to come down and show the Pastor that you have some sense of civility?"
Malaki gracefully hopped down a hand still petting the silver like metal. He let out a sigh and a small shurg as his fingers lifted away from it moving beside Noah. He leaned in close to Noah's ear whispering a small cooing noise before turning a smile to Gless. "Good evening Pastor." Malaki gave a small nod.
"Good evening," the Pastor said. "Are you here to make certain that I accept the invitation? The Huntsman isn't expecting me to come and have a peaceful chat?"
"Noah is as you, a guest in our fair city. It is not a matter of acceptance that brings about my presence. I am here in a more percautionary capacity should things become ugly. Though both of you are resonable men I doubt my presence should truely be required. Alas that does not mean the porbability is zero, non?" Malaki gave a small tilt of his head.
Gless raised his eybrows. "I see that you are fulfilling your namesake's Biblical role as a messenger, Malaki," he said. "One is then forced to wonder if Noah is fulfilling his role by delivering the righteous when the wicked are to perish. I might also point out that times have changed and my presence here is not something that your hidden master nor his guard dog need concern themselves with. That being said, do either of you think this meeting is going to be a polite and productive one or something less desireable?"
"I myself prefer to be a man of peace. I would also like to point out, not my Master. Your story of origin is closer to mine than I'd care to get into. So in that fact, I found myself coming back to your sermons to potentially hear more about how you entered the world a free vampire after removing your shackles. My maker sadly is still roaming the earth but I have no doubt that should they track me down the collar and chain would be reattached. It is less than favourable. I fight only when absolutely pressed, because all life is precious to me. Everyone should have a chance for redemption, so second chances can be quite fortuitous." Noah replied in earnest.
He slipped his glasses off taking out a handkerchief to clean his glasses as he spoke. "I think the outcome of the chat rightfully will come down to what sort of man you truly are, Pastor Gless. If you are just and earnest and truthful, then I think this meeting will be a peaceful one. However, if you have come to Seattle to peddle half-truths and for personal gain, it has the potential to go south. Malaki would obviously like to see the latter because Seattle doesn't see enough drama for him, it would appear. The older they grow the more bored they get, is they way of things. "
Noah slipped his glasses back on, returning the cloth to his pocket, they had all night and he was in no rush to march Gless out to the front of the church.. "As for myself? Honestly, does it matter what I care or Malaki or the Huntsmans feelings are on the matter? I usually avoid hanging out with my kind due to the inordinately fancy and complex games our brethren take delight in playing, but this whole situation, I confess, has me feeling somewhat emotionally invested in. I would like to see how it plays out, because you are a very interesting individual. So for tonight should you allow it I offer my services to be non-biased witness to the proceedings tonight, no matter how they play out."
"So you're a witness," Gless echoed. "Aren't many things that require witnesses, Noah. Shall we go see what sort of event you are to witness?"
He very pointedly ignored Malaki.
Noah nodded, we shall. "I do point out if you are a believer." He pointed to the sky. "Well, he works in mysterious ways. How many times have you had the option to converse rather than enter combat? As a visitor to the city, I will say having grown up across the sea and being a visitor to North America they certainly do things a lot more different than they do in Europe."
The pair began their walk out to the front of the church.
Maxx — 06/19/2023 3:36 PM
Waylon was waiting at the point where the parking lot met the sidewalk. "Good evening, Pastor Gless," he said. "This is the point where I tell you that you have not presented yourself to the Master of the City and you tell me that as a free and legal citizen of the United States of America, you are not required to. Am I close?"
"You are," Gless said, nodding. "I serve God Almighty. I cannot serve your Master."
"That, I think, will be the point of contention," the Huntsman replied.
John Breeman stood up a bit straighter when Gless, Noah and Malaki made their way out into the parking lot out front of the church. He said nothing, but listened waiting to see what would come next.
“There is no contention,” Isaac said. “With our recognition as citizens, the old ways are swept away, making way for a new path, one that ironically leads to an old place, a place where God’s love once more shines upon all of his children. I do not steal subjects from the Master of Seattle, I free his slaves. I am a breaker of chains, not a breaker of rules, because those rules are as outdated as the society they support.”
Waylon didn’t smile. “Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty we’re free at last.”
Isaac nodded. “Martin Luther King Junior. A man taken before his time.”
“John Breeman, a vampire taken before his time,” Waylon said in reply. “You will have no doubt noticed that he is not looking particularly hale. That is because he no longer has a master sustaining him but he has one living off of him, as if he were a battery. Your power doesn’t come from God. It comes from those you convert.”
John shifted slightly from his spot so Gless could have a long look should he choose, but wisely stayed silent as his elders had it out via words. John studied Gless' face, looking for any trace of surprise shock or indicator that he felt any remorse.
Malakis expression darkened behind Gless as he spoke. Luckily the only ones in view of it was Waylon and John. Curious thoughts of what shade of red would the fountain his neck would make should his head be removed from it scratched at the back of his brain.
Darien rolled his eyes at Malakais impatience. You could practically hear the bloodlust swirling through the impulsive vampires head. Of course at the same time, it was rather expected considering his personality.
What else was rather expected was the manner in which the self righteous pastor met his guests and spoke. What he failed to understand was that they were not humans. While they were bound to the laws of humans, many of the archaic ways Gless spoke out against also helped keep them in check, because of the monsters didn't police the monsters, sooner or later the humans would panic, and they all knew what happened when humans panicked.
But was Gless truly so diluded that he did not think he was doing anything wrong? He claims to have destroyed his master when he was fresh, which meant he had not been taught how things worked. If he could be taught and made to truly understand.... But then, the arrogance of the so called man of God, who claims to be above our laws... No. This was bound to end badly one way or another.
Still, would he believe what had been told to him with the proof before his eyes?
Darien watched silently from his perch, reaching out with his power to find the bats he had posted nearby just in case.
“You are mistaken.” Gless seemed completely certain of his statement. Equally, Waylon was certain that it was false.
“Perhaps,” Waylon said. “But not of this. I happen to have a letter from a trusted agent who has been doing a little research into your journey from origin to here. You have left a considerable amount of carnage in your wake, Pastor Gless. Some handful of your converts have managed to become self sustaining, something that would have happened to them anyway. The vast majority found new masters to sustain them. Fully one third have failed to greet the night, languishing in their coffins because their faith was greater than their reason. God forsook us a long time ago, Pastor Gless. You are nothing more than a false prophet who was his own first convert.”
A storm cloud began to form on Gless’s face but it soon settled. “I suspect your trusted agent may be misleading you,” he said.
“Perhaps. But not in this,” Waylon replied. “Would you like a list of the names of those you failed, Pastor? A list of sheep you led to the altar, not to free them but to sacrifice them?”
“You could pull names out of a hat,” Gless answered. “And say they were the fallen. Tread carefully Huntsman. It is against God’s law to bear false witness.”
“Said the pot to the kettle, ‘My, how black and sooty you are.’,” Waylon replied. “It only seems fair to counter nursery stories with nursery stories.” (edited)
Arianna listened to the two Vampires talking. She’d stayed leaning against the backwall of the church.
She wasn't as adept at calling her animal as Malaki and Darien were. Nor were foxes as small as bats and rats. When she was sure that her foxes were hidden away from sight she made her way towards the others.
Malaki crossed his arms as the exchange carried on. He was here as a loyal dog to pounce should be instructed not to intervine on the conversation. He shifted on his feet as he pooled his power within him like a loaded spring carefully keeping inside. The fact Gless when confronted with evidance as strong as John and he still was so thick headed was unsettling.
Darien cocked his head, frowning. Hmm, so the good pastor didn't like being faced with truths be could not so easily deny. In fact he seemed rather ready to point fingers the other way, claiming others to be liars, while refusing blame laid at his feet. Proof was right in front of him in the form of one of his own flock, and yet he was blind to it, so deep in his so called faith. He was either stupid or crazy. Or both.
John couldn't help himself. "Pastor Gless you talked about the grace of god and how he gives you strength when you call on him, and he would do the same for Mel myself and Bastian but look at me man. Seriously, take a good look, do I look like someone who gods been gracing with his power? Now ask yourself to call upon those good graces right now and be honest, tell me if it feels a little less graced maybe and don't self delude Pastor. It's been a bit of a evening getting this information. I think you might not have been aware that your drawing strength from god was more you drew strength from your acolytes. I've been the one you've been tapping in to most, it would seem. Now, if you already knew this, and it's all a giant lie and deceptive game. Then I will have to say to hell with you and get fucked, but I think if it is the latter of those two, Sebastian's going to be crushed because he's been a legitimate believer in this. Mel and I were more an mean's to end type followers because if truthful the benefits would be incredible. Why not try?"
Malaki gave a small nod in Johns direction. The young vampire may be insufferably niave and played on every last nerve Malaki had but the fire in his belly was impressive.
Gless frowned. “John, that is most decidedly bearing false witness,” he said. “I took you for a true believer, a man of faith. You saw the change and how the holy oil no longer burned. That is a serious sin. That is the sort of sin you must ask God to forgive you for, because it will take a long time for me to forgive you. You are no longer welcome in this house.”
Few vampires had ever seen an invitation to enter being revoked. Most weren’t even aware that it was possible to rescind an invitation. Certainly John wasn’t aware. The expression on his face was almost comical as some invisible power seized him and catapulted him directly off the church property.
"Fuuuuck!" Escaped his lips as he flew backwards off the property. "I am not lying tell me why I look like I'm dying instead of being a pompous dick!" John rag dolled onto the sidewalk a surprised expression on his face but shifted instantly into Seething. "you need to take a long look on the inside rather than just rufuting shit. Stones and glass houses or something..."
“You answered your own question,” Gless said. “You lost your connection with the master that was sustaining you but failed to join with God. False pretences lead to false results. I tried to save you, John, but you condemned yourself.”
"You think that maybe just maybe God's not there man?! Like he decided eons ago we suck and arent on his side. He doesn't want us." John said. He was livid as he fought to contain his anger but couldn't help but punch the lamp post just once to calm himself down. (edited)
Noah watched silently as John involuntary left the property. "As a vampire tasked to bear impartial witness I must declare that is something I have most decidedly not seen in action before. It looked like a recanted invite, but you're a vampire. Vampires can't do that."
"This vampire seemingly can. Intriguing gift. More intriguing I was not the first to experience it." Malaki added nonchalantly before returning silent once more. It would seem Gless was eager to place blame on anyone but himself. It would be interesting how the Huntsman would choose to move forward.
Darien clenched his teeth as he looked down from his perch. The preacher had laid blame again at another man's feet, claiming that it was johns own lack of faith that condemned him, but if that were so, then what of all those who had languished, slowly wasting away, holding desperately to that faith? He was rather sure that those that survived did not do so because God sustained them, but rather because they were destined to the strength to sustain themselves all along. How had this creature managed to survive so long without being cleared from the earth? Is it because American vampires have gone soft? Surely that could not be the case.
Still, he would remain where he was unless situation dictated the revealing of his location.
“This is my dwelling,” Gless said. “Protected by God Almighty. Why then should I not have the power to invite those I chose and expel or even repel those I wish to exclude? This is my home and the metaphysical laws of hospitality apply.”
“Are you going to expel us as well or are you going to come have a quiet chat or are we going to have to drag you into the parking lot and lay a bearing on you in order to get you to cooperate?”
“There is nothing to talk about,” Gless answered.
“Very well, Pastor Isaac Gless, as Huntsman of Seattle, I accuse you of poaching vampires from the Master of Seattle for the purpose of strengthening yourself by feeding on their life essence and therefore committing what is essentially cannibalism. I am prepared to back up my claim.”
As Gless spewed his own brand of idiocy Arianna was brought to mind of when she had to learn the Catechism of the Catholic Church when she was a child. One of four tenants was the Ten Commandments, and at the moment she knew in her bones that the good pastor wasn't faithful for he was bearing false witness.
When Waylon charged Gless with poaching from the master of the city, Arianna stood a bit taller as she was one of Waylon's hounds this night.
Malaki tilted his head to the side as the Huntsman made his decree. An eerie melody danced in the air soon replaced by claws scurrying and teeth chattering. Glowing beady eyes began to poke out of random places in the near vicinity waiting watching. It would seem Gless was given one more chance to turn himself over quietly something Malaki did not see as a likely outcome. Gless may be able to propel them from his property but the rats would perhaps be another story. Malaki's eyes trained on the Huntsman waiting for any slight nod, smirk or hand signal that would unleash him and the others.
Isaac Gless turned to look at the scurrying shadows. “Rats, Malaki? Do you fancy yourself the Pied Piper but rather than steal the children you call back the vermin who bear the plague with them? You disappoint me, Huntsman, if this is the best your hounds can do.”
There was a moment where only the sound of Malaki’s rats scurrying could be heard but it was soon swept away by those same rats crying out in pain as each of them found themselves suddenly dealing with dozens of mice.
“The meek shall inherit the Earth and what is more meek than a mouse?” the reverend asked.
And there it was. Proof indeed that the so called good pastor was a liar. Not a Master, he said, and yet he seemed to have an animal to call. The only thing it proved was that he was not likely the murderer plaguing the city.
Malaki closed his eyes tilting his head to the side a a small smile pulled at his lips. A slow drawn intake of air filled the vampires lungs. A low rumble slowly turned into happy laughter as he spun slowly arms out wide. His hands reached to his head as she continued to laugh. Slowing to a stop his eyes peeked open between spread fingers with a look of deranged delight.
"Mmmm what sweet music." His words filled with heat. His hands fell heavily to his side licking his lips he glanced to the Huntsman. Gless was adorable thinking that Malaki was even trying and now the other vampire may of tipped his hand ever so slightly.
Waylon smiled. It was not a pleasant smile. “I prefer Shakespeare to the Bible,” he said. He spread his arms wide. “CRY HAVOC AND LET SLIP THE DOGS OF WAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!!”
Noah heard the call to battle and stepped backwards giving the Master vampires their space to get physical as he side stepped and chose to lean against the parking lots single lamp for illumination.
Arianna grinned at the oh so poetic battle cry. As the sounds of mice attacking Malaki's rats became the drum that beat out the tempo of the night's battle. Slowly she added her own music to the night, as she began it quite merrily whistle 'Dixie'. Hidden with in the sound of the song was her own siren's call.
A shrill cry of a mouse being killed rent the air as a flash of russet could be seen gobbling up the small rodent.
Seattle was renown for its rat and mouse infestation. It was less well known as a haven for foxes. No more than four had answered Arianna’s call but they gave a good accounting of themselves. Cunning and intelligent, they danced around the edges of the horde of mice, sharp teeth slashing and biting in a dance of copper coloured death. They were vastly outnumbered, however, and the rats were indiscriminate while fighting for their lives so it was the rats who fell back first, each one limping and bleeding from as many as a hundred tiny wounds.
Of the rats and mice, the numbers seemed endless.
Rats and mice were ground creatures. So were foxes. Bats, however, were creatures of the air, much like Darien, thanks to his bloodline. A thrill ran through him at Waylon's cry, and he melted away from his vantage point to join the fray as a counter point to the frontal assault. He decended from the rooftops behind the pastor, bringing with him the sound of batwings flapping as they flew around his body. His hands were in his pockets as he floated there, listening to the animals below as they fought for survival. It would seem that he and Waylon were well suited to this task. Waylon fed off of pain it seemed, and Darien fear. The pain and fear of animals wasn't as potent as humans, but it still counted.
Waylons call to arms was the sweetest music Malaki had heard in a long time. Further did the mask of sanity slip away as he picked up the small peice of bone around his neck to call more rats to fight with mice Gless had called in a concophany of suffering.
A cruel twisted smile played on his lips as he used his vampire speed to close the gap between he and Gless. Slender fingers reaching like gnarled branchs for his head.
Gless dropped to one knee, almost as if he were praying and in doing so evaded Malaki’s grasping hands. “Fool!” he snapped, looking at the huntsman. “I am a servant of God and this is HOLY GROUND!”
Both Waylon and Malaki felt their flesh suddenly start to burn. The Huntsman laughed.
Malaki took pause after missing Gless's head. The look of sheer dissapointment upon his face as he looked down at his empty hands. He missed the feel of ripping flesh from body and though it was considered poor form to physically attack the urge to feel that viseral need was strong. His head hung dropping his long hair falling like curtains around him. He flicked it back as he began to feel his flesh burn. A large smile on his face as his tongue darted out and licked his lips. There was a tightness in his pants as he laughed happily. His eyes falling in the Huntsman. "Remind you of the days of white iron, does it not?" He rounded back towards Gless letting his sheilds drop. The flawless skin most knew was replaced by a raised scars that covered most his left side. His power crackled around him as he gathered it lashing it out along the ground where he kneeled.
Darien cocked his head. Seeing Malaki completely without the glamor that they all used to seem perfect to others was an interesting revelation, but not moreso than Gless claiming to strange effect that this was holy ground. Because it couldn't be or else none of them could have stepped foot on it before and yet they had, many times. And because saying something does not simply make it so.
Unless you aren't simply human or in this case, vampire, that is. Darien started chuckling, sending the bats out away from him with a little push for them to be a nuisance to the so called pastor, diving at his head randomly.
" Huntsman. To whom do you suppose words have the most power? I can think of two that may give life to words of untruth spoken as if true. So, do you think this so called man of God is a witch blood or fae blood? "
Malaki’s energy sizzled along the ground, clearly fighting through what Gless insisted was the affect of invoking holy ground. It worries at the pastor’s legs.
“He has neither,” Waylon said. “What this is isn’t the invocation of holy ground. It’s balefire. I’ve seen it burn in blue and sometime green but seeing it invisible is new.”
The Huntsman brought his hands together and clapped. There was a ripple of power and it was like a wind clearing fog as the itching burn the two vampires were feeling disappeared.
Gless looked shocked. “You cannot be so powerful that you can defy the power of God!”
“Your power doesn’t come from God,” Waylon said. “That is what we’ve been trying to tell you.”
Breeman pulled out his phone to look for a definition. An open air fire. A bonfire. A signal fire.
Well that didn't help him one bit at all. However hollering out for Waylon to provide a translation for those that didn't speak yield English did not seem wise it would be something that John would ask once the fight had finished.
Malakis eyes widened as he watched Waylons display of power. He stood a little straighter titling his neck giving it a crack. Shaking off the burning sensation from his body. "And ones think I do not listen."
“Malaki, don’t take this the wrong way but I just might just have to put you in for the Congressional Medal of Ugly,” Waylon said. “Why don’t you try your hand against the good pastor? Or do you want to just sit back and watch?”
His words were intended to insite the vampire, to further inflame his passion.
Malaki chuckled. "Oh how you flatter me Huntsman." Malaki spun raising his hand above his head snapping his fingers. The noise reverberated at a decabile ones fingers would not be able to make. An arc of power shot like an arrow towards Gless.
"Balefire? I have not seen it myself at all. But that does explain much." Darien said. He had not done much I. This battle so far, but honestly, it was damn entertaining to watch Malaki let loose. He was hoping to exercise his own reawakened power, but there would be other chances if he didn't this night.
Now that he knew which of the vampires was going to attack, Gless turned to face Malaki. He recoiled from the attack but didn’t stagger. In return, his hand and arm began to swing as if he was using a sling. “David defeated Goliath with a sling and a rock. He killed him without even using a sword,” Gless announced as he launched his power against Malaki, rocking him back with the force of the attack.
With his calling of the mice to counter Malaki’s rats, his evoking of the balefire and retaliating against Malaki’s attack, Waylon was fairly certain pastor Gless should have been running on a low tank. But then so was Malaki.
Malakis grin grew wide across his face. Laughter bubbling up from deep inside of him as a finger ran over a cut in his arm where the force of Gless' attack hit his weaker scar tissue. He ran the bloody thumb savoring the taste of his blood on his tongue.
"Oh how modest. I know your god can hit a whole hell of a lot harder than that!" Malakis baited as his laughter mutated into a snarl. He dug deeper into his power reserves for one last lash out at Gless. Hoping his attacks would suffice well enough for the Huntsman to come in to the battle with the glory of a matador.
Given that, things were heating up with the animals now attacking and now Malaki was sniping at Gless, Noah decided to back up a bit more to make sure he wasn't going to be friendly fire during the fight.
Gless staggered slightly but shook himself and raised his hand. "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
He swung hard at Malaki, although it was clear that he did not know how to use a sword well.
It should have tapped him out, just like Malaki. They were of similar ages, similar levels of power.
Malaki stumbled from the inpact falling to one knee. If he needed to breath he would of been panting hard. He held up a raised thumb above his head indicating he was spent. Maniacal laughter bubbled from him. "Oh by the maker I have not had that much fun in a few decades."
Darien landed softly on the ground behind Gless, applauding. " Beautifully done, my friend. Such finesse! Such energy! Makes me positively tingle." He began to walk around to the side. " But what about our false profit? He who led the lost lambs to the slaughter with sweet words and empty promises. Do you yield?" He asked, unfurling his power, curious how the difference in age would affect the effectiveness of his aura.
A shudder ran through Gless and he half turned to look at Darien. “I will deal with you next, Unclean One,” he said and there was enough of an emphasis that Darien knew the words were capitalized. He clearly wasn’t afraid but something about Darien had definitely unsettled him.
“So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” With a wave of his hand, Gless sent Malaki sprawling.
“Ah yes, the Bible verse that makes ‘flip tables and hit people with whips’ a valid answer, when the question is ‘What would Jesus do?’,” Waylon said. Gless should have been tapped out and yet he continued.
Half way across the city, Sebastian dropped a plate as a wave of dizziness washed over him.
Sébastian waved off the employee as they watched him pale considerably. |I'm sorry to push this onto your plate, Wren, but can you clean this up. "I-Im not feeling well. "
Leaning against the counter, he did his best to walk into the semi private area where there were booths for feeding. He shakily pulled out his cellphone and texted the huntsman.
Sebastian: Not sure if you guys are having a holy roller hour right now but if you are I need to report I am not feeling well. And don't think I'm capable of driving to AAI to shelter under a vampire that could break this bond, such as yourself or Master Salvatore.
Mel had been cheerfully passing her time with Klaus as she sat with him chatting. She hadn't been trilled about the meeting with the older vampires and had been happy to leave it feeling like she had been used by Sebastian and the others. As she tried to discuss the confusing night to Klaus and the entrapment of the situation, when she felt a wash of warmth come over herself and she paled. Wiping at her brow, it came away damp, and her hand tinged with pink sweat. Her eyes widened behind her oversized glasses. Panic and fear and confusion. danced across her features.
"Oh! Unclean One. Never been called that before. And here I thought we had made a connection. Good job showing your true colors though, striking a man when he's down. But you should be down too shouldn't you? Unless you are older than you claim or... Oh, that's right. You have your precious flock to call on to save you. I bet you're sucking them dry right now to fuel your so called righteousness." Darien sneered, continuing on the way around so that he could put himself between Gless and Malaki.
“I’d call you the prince of lies but that would just play to your ego, Darren,” Gless said. “You suffer from an excess of Pride. And I may have been born at night but it wasn’t last night. You always finish an opponent before moving on to the next. Of course your famous Huntsman is allowing you to wear yourself out in an attempt to weaken me but the Lord’s power is limitless, like His mercy or His vengeance.”
“The Huntsman is actually fielding text messages from Sebastian and Klaus, the vampire currently tending to Mel. They both report a sudden fatigue that rendered them barely able to stand.”
Darien and Arianna could both tell that he was being truthful, so it was unlikely that Gless would see his words as false.
"And you call me the liar. " Darien said, shaking his head. "Sounds to me like they are experiencing the results of a master drawing on Thier strength. "
Gless frowned. “Impossible,” he said. “My power flows from the Almighty.” For the first time, however, there seemed to be cracks in his certainty.
Klaus laid a gentle hand on Mel’s shoulder. “Do you wish to pledge yourself once more to the Master of the City?” he asked.
Malaki had ragged dolled into a lamp post. He laid eerily still with one eye half open watching as a small rat licked at his finger tips.
Arianna lifted a brow as she watched Gless begin to question the validity of his words and beliefs. It was this small crack in his armor that gave her an idea.
She was a siren from the line of Belle Morte and as such she was supposed to be walking talking sex and seduction. She began to sing in earnest focusing all of her attention on Gless.
"Get the hence, Jezebel!" Gless snapped, glowering at Arianna, even as he took a half step towards her. He was happy to be distracted from Waylon and what he was saying but the Huntsman's voice drew him back.
"I'm asking two of the city's lesser masters to bring Sebastian and Mel here so you can watch in real time what your use of power has on them? I'm perfectly willing to suspend current hostilities until there is irrefutable proof that you are not the saviour that you think you are. You have nothing to lose except your illusions."
Gless turned his glower on Waylon. "I am under no illusions. Bring them, so that they might witness the miracle of God's might."
Darien grimaced. " As you wish." He said, drawing his aura into himself again slowly. "John? Are you okay over there?" He called out for the younger vampire.
John was pacing but nodded. "I pledged before we came back here. I am over feeling like I'm the walking dead. I'm fine. Frustrated but fine..."
