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-Title Under Construction-
Chapter 1
Sil sat in a dark corner of a dark abandoned mansion, or, abandoned to those who never went into it. In the nearby town, there wasn't a single person whop hadn't heard the stories of the Haunted Mansion. Supposedly the mansion was haunted by ghosts, and vampires lived there. They were close, vampires rested there. Sil came there when she got too bored in her home. The mansion led straight to her home, after all.
Sil was listening. She was listening to every sound around her. Her eyes were closed, she looked asleep. She heard movement coming toward the mansion, but still she didn't move. The door opened, and a man slowly crept into the house. He slowly crept through the halls holding a lit torch. He wore a cross on his neck, and a hat with long, pointed ends. He had on a trench coat and had with him a long dagger and longish sword. As soon as he saw her he halted, staring at her in surprise.
Finally her eyes opened, darkened by shadows, looking up at him with a questioning expression. "Is there something you want or are you just going to stand there staring?" He blinked back surprise and straightened up. "I'm seeking out creatures of the night. Those that are commonly known as vampires. Do you know where I could find one, or more?" She glanced at his cross, his weapons, and his hat, then looked him in the eye, standing up. The torch revealed that her eyes were red before she had stood up fully. She edged over to him, a hair breaths away from touching him. "You're staring at one."
He jumped back nearly dropping his torch and held his cross up. "Then I'll kill you, you monster." She smirked and began messing with some strands of her hair. "Try me. By the way, nice necklace." He flinched slightly, dropping the cross and unsheathing his sword. "This sword was made from the steel of an old cross on an old church altar. I'll kill you no problem." She chuckled. "You crazy humans and your legends. What, am I your first vampire foe?" He bit his lip slightly. She was his first vampire encounter.
Then an idea struck him. "Are you tuely a vampire? I hear vampires are supposed to be beautiful. Show me your fangs." She rolled her eyes catching his rudeness and opened her mouth wide. Her breath smelled sweet and her fangs were only slightly larger than normal canine teeth. He leaned closer nervously to get a better look, jumping slightly with surprise when he smelled her breath. “Those aren't fangs. You're a vampire wannabe!" He accused. She closed her mouth glaring at him. She grabbed his sword from his hand and began squeezing it, molding it as if it were clay. When she finished it was a dense steel ball. "Can a normal human my size do that?
She chucked the steel at the wall and it flew through it, landing on the other side of the other room, the kitchen. "A vampire's fangs grow each time they drink blood. It's only a tiny bit at a time, but it builds up. I've never drank blood. I'm hemophobic. Do you think I want to be a cursed vampire?! 16 years of torture, and another billion to go!" The whole time he was gaping at her, not sure whether to be angry for her destroying his sword or scared to death.
"Now listen. I don't like to fight. So why don't you save us both the trouble nd leave, now." She sounded calmer now. "And what about my sword?" That was valuable!" She grimaced. "Fine. You can stay until I fix it."
She went into the kitchen, grabbed what used to be his sword, then returned. She grabbed his torch. "Follow me."
He stared at her incredulously. She was going to fix it? How? And what was happening here? Could this be a trap? As she began to walk away he quickly followed her hoping he'd leave this place alive.
She led him to a vast hallway with many closed doors. The doors looked fancy. She led him to one of the doors, one of the most ornate of them, then she pressed her free hand against the old, polished oak door. She then blew the torch out and set it down as a clicking sound reverberated through the hall. "We won't be needing that where we are going." She quickly said before he could protest. She then put one hand on his shoulder. He shuddered, both repulsed and cold.
"Everything you see in the place we are about to go to must be confidential. If I hear anything about it going through town I promise you, I'll kill you." She sounded serious. He nodded his eyes wide. This must at least mean he'd make it out alive.
She opened the door revealing a dark purple swirling portal. She pushed him in then followed as they were pulled through the vortex. She pictured their destination. Suddenly they both were shot into a richly decorated living room. Standing up she pointed to a golden velvet couch. "Sit there. I won't be long." Pushing himself up he scrambled to the couch.
He began to look around nervously as she left the room. He sat there for about a minute fore curiosity overtook him. He stood up and walked over to a black granite fireplace, staring at all the objects on the mantle. Most of them were golden. There were two golden vases, the skinnier one containing roses that seemed to be made of gold. There was a tangle of a ribbon of gold on an obsidian base, a silver orb on a golden stand. An onyx gem perfectly spherical, on an obsidian base. Pyrite in a glass box, and a crystal sword with a golden hilt. There was one thing that truly stood out. It was an indigo colored rod, with rings around it, a rubber stand, and an obsidian diamond shape on the top. The rings seemed to be spinning.
He reached for the rod, intrigued, as a silver furred cat bounded over to him from a hallway, sitting near his feet. He looked down at it. It had black eyes, staring up at him intelligently, tufts of fur stick out on the tips of it's ears. The cat stared at him accusingly. "I was just looking." He shook his head, letting his hand drop to his side, sitting on the couch. He must be going insane, he was talking to the cat. He sighed and laid down as the cat jumped up onto the couch. He stared at the cat, and it stared back. It walked over to his chest then layed down, purring. "Oh so now you're being cuddly?"
Not too long after that, Sil walked in, carrying a sword. It wasn't his sword, as far as he could tell. The entire shape was different, and where he held the sword, it was now wrapped in what looked like cow hide. The sword did not have a straight edge, but a jagged edge. The color of the metal was the same, steel. "What is this?" He asked, shock in his voice.
"I made some adjustments. I simply made it more comfortable to wield, and more dangerous to use. But before you leave, I want to see how well you fight. Follow me." She led him through many ornate halls, down a massive marble staircase, into the massive cellar. She led him to a closed off room, what appeared to be her forge, grabbed a topaz colored sword, then led him to a sparring area, hardly ever used. She ran her hand across the blade of her sword, and it took on a bluish hue.
"Come at me then." She said, switching to a professional swordplay stance. "It's protected." He nodded and lunged at her, swiping the sword at her torso. She easily parried it. It went on like this for several minutes before she decided to disarm him. "And you expect to kill a vampire? Your skills are average, if nothing less. If I were you I would give up on that dream immediately."
He frowned and retrieved his sword. "I can't. I must go on." She shook her head. "You must go now. You got your sword, that was the deal." She lifted her free hand and another vortex appeared. He didn't move. "You're talented. Will you train me? Please." Her dulled eyes bore into his brown eyes. "No. You forget what you thought before. I'm a monster, remember? You want to kill me... Even if I did train you to be strong enough to kill a vampire, probably a weak one at the most, you'd probably just turn on me and attack me. You still wouldn't be able to so much as knock me out, it it'd be shameful, and I'd be forced to kill you."
He bowed his head. "If that is how it must be..." He looked at the portal. "Where about does this lead?" "Right back outside the door we came through earlier. You can find your way out yourself. Don't forget, tell no-one of my home." He nodded and walked through the portal.
Sil headed back up to her living room, and sat by her cat. The cat jumped onto her lap and stared into her eyes, silent communication. She smirked. "You think so?.... Did he now?" She stood up, the cat the cat laying where she had just been sitting. She opened the portal again and reached her arm through, pulling his hat back through it. "Yes, he'll be back."
Chapter Two
Laurent sat in a bush beside the stairs that led up to “The Haunted Mansion.” He looked up just as a man left the house, seemingly in a daze. He wore a long trench coat and had two sheathed swords.
Laurent tilted his head at this man’s intention. He was going to return, soon, the next day in fact. And he was going to ask a girl, Sil, to help him. With what, Laurent could not tell.
After the man walked away, Laurent stood and stared at the still open door of the mansion. After what seemed like ages, Laurent blinked, turned away, and left. He no longer possessed a reason to be there.
Laurent had trouble fitting in, anywhere. He had no pupils, and the town he lived in knew about his strange ability. He could see a person’s true intentions.
Laurent walked into town purposelessly. It was a small, gossipy town. Most of the inhabitants kept to themselves, aside from the gossip. Laurent laid down next to the convenient store to watch the clouds.
As it began to get dark Laurent stood and sighed. Time to visit a friend. He walked to the outskirts of town to an average sized home with blacked out windows. He knocked on the door three times. It opened and Laurent walked in, closing it behind him. “What is it you want?” It was a deep, gravelly voice.
“I’ve a present for you, Calibur my friend.” He dug inside of his cloak and pulled out a small vile of metallic pink powder.
A smooth, olive colored hand reached out and gingerly took it. Calibur was astonishingly tall, with black horns protruding out of his head. His olive skin was smooth as a baby’s skin, his hair like black silk. Calibur was a young troll.
Calibur grunted as he eyed the powder. “Kid, how many times I gotta tell you? I still don’t trust you and I’m not your friend.” He pocked the vial in his wool coat and handed Laurent a little cotton drawstring bag. “Buy yourself something nice… Now get outta here.” It didn’t really say it meanly.
Laurent sighed and turned to the door as Calibur left him. Laurent dropped the bag by the doorframe and left to wander the town.
Calibur sighed, grabbing the bag Laurent had just dropped. “That boy never accepts anything, does he?” He shook his head and pocketed the little bag. He had been trying to get Laurent to take that money for a long time now.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Meanwhile Sil had put the hat on her fireplace at the left end, where it hung. She sighed and sat on the couch. A young girl with silver hair, silver cat ears and fluffy silver tail walked into the living room. Her ears had tufts, like that cat. She yawned. “Master, would you like me to scope the town out? It’s dark now, and we must stay updated with Seta’s evil doings.” Sil stared at her. “You going like that?” Yukito nodded. Sil then smirked. “Hide your tail, wear a hat. But ho ahead.” Yukito nodded and bounded off, leaving Sil alone again.
Yukito walked through town slowly, for signs of Seta. She stopped next to a little blond headed boy wearing a cloak, who stared up at her with black eyes. Yukito almost meowed, but was able to control herself. “Your eyes…” Laurent stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder. Young werecat, I can show you the way to Seta. And much more. But first, could you tell me about your master?”
He wasn’t sure why he was so interested in her, but he was. Yukito blinked. “How did you know?” He closed his eyes. “You have so many intentions. Hiding what you truly are from the townsfolk. Finding and spying on Seta, for Sil, your master. To name a few. I can see, and hear, a person’s true intentions.” Yukito looked away in embarrassment.
“She’s very kind. Not at all like the rumors. I hear them.” She paused not knowing what to say. To be frank, even she did not know much about her best friend’s dark past. “She always wears this nice necklace. I believe it’s a gift. I truly respect her, and I hardly ever question her past.”
Laurent was now more intrigued than ever. He bowed his head respectfully. “Follow me then.”
He led her to a cove on the outskirts of the town, where they could hear the fool Seta blathering loudly. They staked the cove out for a few hours before leaving.
“The moron!” Muttered Yukito. “He thinks he can recruit this town for his evil ways? These are normal, 21st century, humans he’s talking about! He’s ruin everything, too.” Laurent gazed at her thoughtfully.
“Yukito, where do you live?” Yukito was taken by surprise. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I can tell you that.” Laurent nodded. “Would she be mad if I followed you?” Yukito nodded. “Probably. We already had a visitor today. He was interesting.” Laurent then knew where.
“Well it was nice meeting you, Yukito. My name is Laurent, by the way. I hope we meet again.” He bowed gracefully and left her alone. Yukito waved and hurried back. When she got in the safety of the mansion she took her baseball cap off and let her tail loose. Before finding Sil and telling her the news.
“Well, we must stop him.” Sil said simply. “I also met a boy. He’s different, like us. He can see, and hear, a person’s true intention. He knew my name, my species, and my goal just from that. Even your name. But he was really kind. He led me to Seta.” Yukito said quickly, her excitement boiling over.
Sil was silent as she contemplated this. “Well now I have to find him and ensure he does not find us.” Sil stated simply. Yukito blinked. “But… I trust him, master. Can’t you trust my judgment? She asked, slightly hurt. Sil closed her eyes, rubbing her temple. “We’ll see, okay?”
Yukito changed back into a cat, crawling out of her clothes and jumping on Sil’s lap, rubbing against her. Sil pet her absentmindedly, weighing her options. If he proved to be untrustworthy, she couldn’t try an empty threat on him like she had with that vampire hunter, he’d see right through her lies. She looked at the hat. What was his name? She never did catch it. And he never got her name.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Sil put Yukito, who’d been asleep for some time, on the arm of the couch and stood up. She hadn’t slept that night, since she only slept a couple times a week. She changed into a white fitted t-shirt and dark blue jeans and put Lucas’ hat on, opening a portal and stepping through it. She closed the door and it clicked loudly, locking. She went outside and sat on the porch steps, waiting for him.
It was hours, mid-noon, before two guys with fair colored hair walked up to her. It was Laurent and Lucas. Laurent bowed respectfully as Sil tossed his hat back to Lucas. He caught it giving it a look, as Laurent straightened up. Sil pointed to Laurent. “You must be the boy Yukito met.” He nodded watching her in what was admiration. She pointed at Lucas. “Took you long enough. Never did catch your name.” Lucas blinked. “My name is Lucas. And you?” Sil smiled. “My name is Sil. Lucas is a good name.”
Sil looked at Laurent. “What about you then?” “I’m Laurent.” He said, glancing at Lucas. “Should I tell him?” Sil shook her head vigorously. “Oh please no. Let him figure it out.” Lucas looked confused, as he should. He certainly was missing something here. Laurent nodded. “So be it.”
“What’s going on?” Lucas asked desperately. “What am I missing?” “Well,” Sil started, standing up and striding over to Laurent. “This one here, you see how he has no pupils?” Sil continued as Laurent shifted to face him. “He can see a person’s true intention. Like reading minds.” Lucas blinked.
“You have got to be kidding me…” He ran a hand across his face, feeling his stubble. “Look, how about this? You train me, and I’ll work for you. I won’t tell anybody else what you are, or anything about you, and I promise, I won’t turn on you.”
Sil thought about this, considering it. Laurent smirked. “He’s serious.” He said simply, and Lucas looked at her hopefully. Sil closed her eyes, smirked, then nodded. “Laurent, I can trust you?” He nodded. “I have nothing against you, no reason to betray you.” Sil turned to the mansion. “In that case…” Lucas took a step forward. “Sil, how can you stand the sunlight? You’re a vampire, right?”
Sil giggled slightly, turning her head to look at him, a glint in her eyes. “You silly humans and your silly myths.” With that Sil led them inside and to the door. Laurent was enthralled by the fact that he was being allowed in, and Lucas was glad she didn’t reject him. Then it occurred to him that this could be a trap. Sil opened the door, Laurent was impressed by the process, and Sil gestured toward the portal.
“After you.” She said politely. Laurent hurried through, but Lucas hesitated. “How do I know this isn’t a trap?” He asked unsurely. Sil looked hurt. “You’ll just have to trust me.” Lucas nodded. “You’re right, I’m sorry.” He gave her an apologetic smile before stepping through, Sil behind him.
When they were through Sil looked at Lucas. “Where do you live?” Lucas looked embarrassed, sad. He didn’t answer right away. “Nowhere really… I guess you could say I’m homeless.” Sil lifted her eyebrows. “Well, gee. If you didn’t hate me so much I’d offer you a room here.” Laurent sniggered, but Lucas looked crestfallen. “Sil… I think we got off on the wrong foot…” He averted his gaze to the floor.
Sil closed her eyes. “Ya think?” Yukito then pranced into the room. She was in her human form, a similar outfit as the day before. Laurent smiled, staring at her ears. She wasn’t wearing a hat and she let her fluffy tail be free.
Lucas took a reflexive step back. He took in her fur and hair color. “…The cat?” Yukito nodded walking up to him. He took another step back. “I thought you seemed too intelligent.” Yukito smirked. “Aw, so now I’m intelligent?” Lucas rolled his eyes. “How would I know? I just implied that you looked to intelligent to be a normal cat.”
Yukito nodded. “Oh of course.” She smirked wider. Sil chuckled, but Laurent was turned away, looking at the fireplace. Lucas noticed this first. “I too was fascinated with the fireplace on my first visit here…” He bit his lip. Yukito nodded.
Sil walked over to her couch and sat down. She looked tired. Yukito sat down with her. Lucas turned to them. “Sil, won’t you train me?” Sil closed her eyes. “Yes. Laurent, Yukito will keep you company.” Sil stood up again walking out of the room. Lucas followed her excitedly into the basement, looking around. The halls her beautiful, grand, with a black and gold theme color. It was then he noticed the whole mansion had a sweet scent about it, pleasant and comfortable. Even the basement.
Sil led him to an area that looked like a training room. It had steel dummies that seemed to glow slightly and target spots. “Stay here for a moment.” He nodded as she went into a closed off room. When she came out she was holding two fine looking swords. They were both similar to how she had made Lucas’, except they were glowing a blue color. The walked over to him, and pointed the sword at him. He flinched back, fear in his expression. “Calm down, run your finger across the blade.” She said with a laugh in her voice. It took him a while of thinking before his response.
“I don’t want to get hurt.” He said in a small voice. She sighed. “Just do it.” Lucas shivered, and dragged his fingers across the jagged edge of the blade. Nothing happened. He gave her a questioning look. “How?…” She smiled. “Just a protection spell, among many other. They’re both the same. Take this one.” He took it.
Sil closed her eyes. “Training has begun.” For the next several hours Sil helped Lucas perfect his stance, his footwork, and how consciously he moved. She needed him to move as she moved, not after. She needed him to move with her, not copying her. This frustrated him because he wasn’t used to working with somebody. He usually trained alone, and that was his problem.
It was late at night when they finally stopped. Lucas was exhausted, but he wasn’t complaining. He had, after all, begged for this. Lucas slumped against the wall. Sil put the swords away.
Sil walked over to Lucas and looked him over. “You worked hard today.” She said. He looked up at her. He sighed and nodded. “I have to leave now, don’t I?” She shook her head. She knew there was a vampire today. Too dangerous. And anyway, things would be a lot easier if he lived there, a lot more regulated. “There’s a vampire out there today. I don’t want you to get hurt…”
When she said this, his eyes lit up. “There are more? And they aren’t like you?” She put a hand on his shoulder. “You’re not ready yet.” He looked put out by that comment, then shuddered when the cold from her hand seeped through his coat. She let his shoulder go then looked at the stairs. “I’ll show you your room…”
“My room? So I get a room after all?” He asked. She nodded. “You’ll like it.” He looked confused as she started up the stairs. He followed her quickly. “How do you know?” She glanced at him. “All bedrooms are enchanted to become what the person who’s staying in it had always wanted. Dream rooms.” He stared at her open mouthed. “Magic? You can do magic?” “Yes, how do you think my swords are enchanted?”
He contemplated this as she led him to the second floor, then to a room. She opened the door to a completely blank room, but as soon as they stepped into it the room changed. A Victorian style four poster bed with ruby and gold, a ruby colored, silky, plush carpet. There was a beautiful chandelier over his bed, maple writing desk and drawers, a nice landscape painting on one wall, and a picture on another. The picture had a happy looking family, a small boy with fair hair, proud father with similar hair, and loving mother also with fair hair. Sil walked over to it. She touched the little boy. “Is this you?” She asked softly. He looked bewildered by her magic. He walked over and nodded. “Yeah, I was 6…”
Sil looked around the room then turned to face him. “Nice taste.” He shrugged. “Thanks… For everything. I acted rudely towards you when I first met you, and now I regret it.” Sil closed her eyes and nodded.
She clapped and walked over to the door. “Right then. You settle in, I have something to do. I’ll be back a little later.” He sat on the bed as she left the room and laid down, staring at the top of his bed.
Not too long after she had left a small commotion could be heard downstairs. Lucas yawned and drifted off to sleep.
A knock upon his door woke him. He looked around him in surprise, then remembered the events leading up until then. He got up and opened the door to Sil. “dinner’s ready.”
Lucas blinked in surprise as the smell of food wafted into his room. His stomach growled in response. “You made dinner?” Sil nodded and walked away, Lucas following. Sil led him to a grand dining room with a large oak table with a cherry wood finish, matching chairs, and a large chandelier of gold and crystal. The table was covered with food. Roasted ham, Italian bread, real butter in a butter dish, sweet potatoes, a large bowl of jell-o, another large bowl with chocolate pudding, pumpkin pie with Cool Whip, corn, and mashed potatoes.
Lucas stared at the food, then at Sil in astonishment. “You did this?” Sil shrugged and grabbed a plate. “Yeah, dig in.” Lucas wasn’t the only one staying for dinner. Laurent was also staying, but he was to leave after. Laurent sat next to Yukito, and Lucas was on the other side of Yukito, across from Sil. They ate, and talked a lot.
After dinner Lucas, Sil, and Yukito were lounging in the living room. Lucas closed his eyes, content. The food was great, the temperature was perfect, and the company kind. Inhuman, but kind. The overall atmosphere of the mansion was wonderful and comfortable. As he realized this he smiled, feeling as if he finally had a home again.
 VampiraFairie · Mon Jan 19, 2009 @ 07:17am · 0 Comments |
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