Date with a Vampire Hunter

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 2:05 pm

Well damn. That's incredible. (And here I'd asked you if anything was going on Ms. Keep-Everyone-In-Suspense

)

Celeste Darken · Post by **Celeste Darken** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 2:24 pm

For the first inconsistency, I noted the face; they were close . . . but not the same. The armor was the same, battered with battle . . . but it was not battered in the same places. The sword I held . . . was the same sword I had destroyed earlier.

I paused, then slowly stood up with the blade still pressed to the side of his neck. I backed up, while he sat up slowly, his fingers twitching to grab another of his many weapons. I lowered the blade and raised my free hand and signed.

Victor.

He froze.

Foxtrot, came the countersign.

We stared at each other, searching memories, searching faces, and trying to piece everything together. Suddenly, I knew who this was. Suddenly, I knew what I had been fighting beforehand.

It all made sense. Khavik had nearly duped me.

“Ron?” I asked hesitantly. He nodded and slowly—cautiously—stood up.

“Darken.” He looked at me in disbelief.

I nodded. And then the explanations began.

Celeste Darken · Post by **Celeste Darken** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 2:27 pm

We studied at each other for several minutes, weighing each other’s reactions and possible actions, saying nothing. What was I supposed to say? You’re better-looking than your Nightmare?. I think not.

Ron kept his “piece” up and at the ready, but he gave no other inclination that promoted hostility. Distance was maintained almost perfectly; we were skirting along thin ice. We had already proven our fighting skills to each other, and I don’t think we wanted to put them to the test again.

I guess I should say it now, seeing as he wasn’t going to try and stake me immediately.

“Um, you do know that you’re my . . . my, well. You’re the one.” Khavik had told the truth.

He nodded. “I suspected as much.”

“Thank you.” I cautiously dropped the blade and nudged it his way with my foot, my hand smoking. He slowly knelt with his eyes and piece trained on me before picking it up.

“I was there to kill a vampire, not save you.” He sheathed it.

I shrugged. “But I appreciate it, nonetheless.”

“It’s what I do. If I had found you at the scene, you would have been staked, too. So forget it.”

I nodded and shrugged again. Obviously, I couldn’t forget what he had done for me. But apparently Ron was all for it. For that reason, I merely stood there, uncertain of what to actually do next. He wanted nothing to do with me; while the situation seemed to work out well from that standpoint, it didn’t bode well to my conscience.

“Um . . . you remember my promise on the boards,” I said almost shyly, recalling my promise against his Nightmare and voiding it. I found his shotgun and slid it over. He took it with the same apprehension as the blade. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, in just the fashion I had always been trying to do for so long since recovering my Will.

“Look, Darken, I’m going to be blunt,” he said brusquely. I don’t need your help. I don’t want your help. I have enough to worry about with Rhonda and protecting the innocents on the streets from threats like you and yours. You ain’t going to be taking a stroll with the sun up, and unless you change your mind on that, I can’t help you. Good night.”

I nodded. He began to back up and so did I; but neither of us would turn our backs to the other. I gave a final parting comment.

“Good luck with Rhonda. Raising a girl is a far cry from keeping the streets safe. If you need any help with either one . . .” I left the sentence unfinished, but the meaning clear.

He flicked his chin curtly, and even surprised me with a reply. “I will be keeping both eyes and ears peeled Darken. If I suspect you’re the cause of even so much as a bad dream among the innocent folks here in the Blight, I will come for you.”

I nodded.

And waited until he was out of sight before smiling.

It was good to know I could count on my savior.

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 2:35 pm

Good story. Now, next time the protagonists need to make out in the end and ride off into the setting sun.

But seriously, wow, very interesting. Excellent write up from both you and Ron. You guys had me on the edge of my seat.

Kolya · Post by **Kolya** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 3:08 pm

Indeed.

Shadowstalker · Post by **Shadowstalker** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 4:20 pm

Gaaahh I want this Khavik dead dead dead if I find him I am.... This is pissing me off, I would please like to have a chat with both of you at some point if you don't mind? Thank the gods for the recognition signal.

Kolya · Post by **Kolya** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 4:40 pm

Yea, I would not mind taking a piece out of him, too.

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 4:41 pm

We'll hold him down while Celeste rips off pieces for us.

Holister · Post by **Holister** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:13 pm

(Suddenl bolts upright from his coma)

"HAH!!! Ron & Cee; I knew it! "

(Suddenly lapses back into his coma)

Kolya · Post by **Kolya** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:13 pm

Bert_the_Turtle wrote:We'll hold him down while Celeste rips off pieces for us.

I can live with that.

Kolya · Post by **Kolya** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:14 pm

Holister wrote:(Suddenl bolts upright from his coma)

"HAH!!! Ron & Cee; I knew it! "

(Suddenly lapses back into his coma)

I'm sorry for chuckling...

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:20 pm

Hahahaha!

Kolya · Post by **Kolya** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:38 pm

I just see the tabloid headlines - and fotos - now

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:42 pm

"Man snaps out of coma to poke fun at Vampire and Hunter couple!"

KonThaak · Post by **KonThaak** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 11:42 pm

"Without a sense of humor, one is already dead." Looks like ol' Ben's still got a good fight in him.

Well, this weekend, I'll be heading to Ron's... Knowing that Celeste is in town...well...

...

Be vewy vewy quiet. I'm hunting vampires. Uhuhuhuhuhuhuhuh...

...

Alone, this Khavik would probably have me dead in five seconds. With Ron and Celeste in town, not to mention Bert and members of both Shadow's and Kolya's team... This fuckwad ain't gonna know what hit him.

Look out, Blight; the Druid's back in town.

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:19 am

Okay, now before anybody gets any funny ideas, let me spell it out plain and simple.

I'll even make it nice and big so you can't say that you missed it.

I am not going to work with Celeste.

Shadowstalker · Post by **Shadowstalker** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:26 am

Ron chill out no one has even suggested such a thing, so you take care of yourself first. You have enough people there to cover the blight for a time you take a break Doctors Orders.

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:26 am

Well Ron, you know what they say, "The enemy of my enemy is my enemy's enemy."

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:28 am

I beleive they also say that moss grows thickest on the north side of trees.

Not that either has anything to do with this situation.

KonThaak · Post by **KonThaak** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:34 am

Ron, I wasn't suggesting you work with Celeste. I, however, will work with her, even if only to achieve the destruction of that which needs destroying.

...I'm still not used to being conjoined with Gabriel...but the point is still valid.

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:34 am

Ok then how about, "If you're leaving scorch marks your guns aren't big enough."

Shadowstalker · Post by **Shadowstalker** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:36 am

BEERRTT give it a rest.

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:40 am

Bert_the_Turtle wrote:Ok then how about, "If you're leaving scorch marks your guns aren't big enough."

I used that when trying to interest the local police in a couple of CheyTac rifles.

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:40 am

Ok, Ok. I know when "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Pirates" aren't welcome.

Shadowstalker · Post by **Shadowstalker** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:57 am

Groan you are to much sometimes there Bert.

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:24 am

I don't understand a couple of things here:

The vampire I chased and (what I can only guess was my clone) killed . . . who was that and how does (did) she play into all of this?

Why would Not Me work with a vampire? If there is a list of things anyone coming from my compound would never do, working with a vampire has to be number 2 on the list.

Kolya · Post by **Kolya** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:26 am

Well, you know better, but if you are number 1 on the list...

They would need something powerful, too. You are no chump after all.

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:33 am

Nope, I'm much further down at last check.

The Devil or his representatives are number 1.

Holister · Post by **Holister** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:34 am

(Bolts upright from his coma)

"Evil Ron meet Evil Cee, Evil Cee meet Evil Ron!"

(Lapses back into his coma)

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:38 am

They may be signs of life . . . but they are getting annoying.

Date with a Vampire Hunter

The Ruse

Standing before my Savior