New Town, New Franchise

Author: Drakonic Sephonis

Date: 02-15-03 19:37

The sun had set a few hours ago. Drakonic Sephonis sat in the dark limousine in silence. The driver had him a little on edge, being late to this new town. He could definitely sense other kindred as the limo rolled to a stop at the first stoplight of the town. He turned around, and tapped on the glass separating front from the back. There was the soft whirr as the glass lowered. The driver turned his head at an angle, watching the road, but directing his attention to Drakonic. He asked, his voice shaking slightly, "Yes sir?" Drakonic, in a thick, harsh Russian accent, replied, "Vee must make it tsu za local ausorities immeditly." The driver, knowing he was already in danger, simply nodded, and looked straight ahead. He raised the glass, seperating the two again. Drakonic turned away as the glass raised, his eyes, again falling on the soft beauty that was before him, unconscious. The woman appeared to be of about 25. Her skin was milky white, and she was definitely Russian. She was in the position as though she were enjoying the ride, despite having been under for almost a week now. He knew he had to hurry, before the nobility in her blood faded, but he somehow knew, that once he removed her from the car, any kindred within 50 miles would be drawn, so infrequently was the taste of pure noble blood tasted. Drakonic said to her, his voice a bit softer, his accent still very evident, "You, my dear, vill be quite ze appressiated gift." The car pulled out of the light, turning left. After a few moments, the car pulled over, and stopped. The driver came around quickly, and opened the door. Drakonic set one foot on the soft earth, followed by the other. His shoes were Italian leather, only a glimpse of his exquisite tastes. He pulled himself out of the car, and looked up to the sky. He had several hours left in the night, more than enough time. He walked into the police station, his trench coat open, revealing the rather plain looking formal clothes, almost betraying the shoes. He walked in the door, leaving his driver standing beside the car. He walked up to the reception desk, and said simply, "Chief" letting his eyes do the rest. The lady behind the desk pointed, and he followed her direction. He moved through a room full of officials, but his presence went unnoticed. He opened the door to the police chief's little office, and let himself in. He walked up to the portly man, who was, for lack of a better word, shocked at his arrival. He glared down at him, and said, "Now lissen. You vill be my eyes und ears. You coopervate, and you shall live. Do you understand?" The man simply nods. "Good. Now, lissen close."

***

Lost Royalty Author: Drakonic Sephonis Date: 02-18-03 06:14

Drakonic emerged from the police station, and made his way to the already open door of the limo. He nodded to the driver, as he got in. He sat in his seat, across from the silken women. As the door closed, and the car pulled out, he smiled as she began to stir. Good. Her awakening was a bit of a relief, as if she would have stayed under for too much longer, her blood would have become sour. He thought to himself, noting the pain it was to care for blood of the truly royal. She woke up slowly, and looked around. She saw before her, Drakonic, and the surroundings that were the limo. She looks at him quizzingly, and asks, her accent also Russian, "Who are you, und more importantly, vair am I?" Drakonic couldn't help but smile. Humanity was a scourge, but one could train it to do great things. He replied softly, saying, "You are quite ze lucky lady. You vere kidnapped, und about to be raped, ven I found you, and brought you here. I had to get you out of the Union, or else zey vould soon relize who it is you are." A look of deep concern crosses her face, as she mutters quietly, "Und do you know who it is I am?" Drakonic nods, and says, "Yes, but you are vith a friend. However, do not trust those around us. Not until ve are surrounded by more friends. Trust none undless I say otherwise." She looked at him gravely for a moment, and then around the limo. Unsure if he really knew, she asks, "If you really know who it is I am, zen please, tell me." He chuckles, and says, "Fine. If you so vish. You are Anna Romanov. The last of the descendents of Alexander Romanov, former czar of the Union. Your great grandmother vas none other zan the famed Anastasia Romanov herself." She suddered. None knew who she was. And the way he kept referring to Russia as the Union was quite unnerving. He didn't look nearly as old as the way he talked implied he was. Could it be he was one of the revolutionaries, seeking to restore the USSR. She decided conversation would be a bad idea, as he seemed to know as much about her, as she did. Smiling, Drakonic closes his eyes. He has sensed the presence of the kindred for a few nights now. Now, their presence weighed heavily on his mind. He pressed the button for the intercom, and said to the driver, "Head into ze voods. I can feel zem nearby." A crackle was heard over the intercom, followed by the driver saying, "Yes sir." After a few moments, the car turned hard, and they were heading deep into the woods, leaving humanity behind. They rode listening to the deafening silence. Anna lost in thought, Drakonic, relaxed, and thinking his own thoughts.

***

The Scream of Silence Author: Drakonic Sephonis Date: 02-19-03 11:46

As the limo traveled down the road, Drakonic dozed lightly, aware of what was going on around him, but resting none the less. He could feel the turns as the car continued down the road, but what held his main focus was what had yet to happen. He could sense the closeness of the others. It was almost as if they were beckoning him there, calling him forth, anticipating his presence. He couldn't help but wonder if this was what was really happening, or, if all that he sensed was caused by him. It has been decades since his last conversation with one that he felt deserved his presence. Perhaps, he thought, the beckoning, wasn't so much their doing, as his own. Perhaps, he felt them close, and having lacked contact with his own kind, his own self was screaming out.

Thinking like this often disturbed Drakonic. This was how he often confused himself. He was notorious for over thinking, and it had ruined some of his greatest, plans. It was when he stopped thinking that things seemed to come together. Who would have thought that by influencing one disturbed man, that the Union would collapse, rebuild, and collapse again. His greatest accomplishment to this date. His thoughts slowly turned to what lay ahead, to what lay behind, remembering all that he had accomplished.

That was why he was coming here, wasn't it? The stage was set. Humanity's fall was close at hand. At the most, it would take a few years, ten at the most. But what was ten years? In ten years, the Kindred would be able to, once again, take their place at the top, with humanity as their slaves. To most of the kindred, what he did was group roving bands of heathens together. However, in truth, he was creating the small groups that would lead a revolt against their own kind. It was great. All humanity would be at war with each other, leaving a vacancy for the kindred to take over. He knew it would work. It worked in the Union, Twice.

He had spent too long away from his kind, and knew he had to get back in touch with his roots. His family was dead, or at the least, missing. He had gone back to search for them, but they were long gone. This was the only place he felt he could go.

It was amazing how it stuck in his mind. It had been about fifty years ago, when he had been told about it by another, but he wasn't sure if he believed it. After fifty years of isolation though, he was ready to at least find out. Now, as he traveled down the road, he knew it was more than a myth. It would only be a little while yet.

Drakonic opened his eyes, and looked across the limo to Anna. He smiled, knowing that her being conscious would make her the finest of gifts. Hopefully, it wouldn't come across as precocious, but that was a risk he was willing to take. He smiled warmly at her, trying to reassure her. He pressed the button for the intercom, and said, "Stop. Ve are here."

The car stopped suddenly, and the driver came around, opening the door for the two. Drakonic stepped out and away from the car as the driver helped Anna get out. Drakonic looked up to the sky, knowing that time was running short, but that he would make it in time. He turns to the driver, and says, "You have been vedy helpful, but your services vill no longer be needed. I thank you for all that you have done." As he talked, he planted a subtle desire in his mind.

Drakonic offered his arm to Anna, and said, "Come, ve have a bit of a valk before ve get there." Anna takes his arm, and the two walk into the woods, following the path. Meanwhile, the driver closes the back door, and climbs into the front of the limo. As the two disappear into the woods, the limo screeches it's tires, pulling out. It gained speed quickly, reaching almost sixty miles an hour by the time it reached the turn. However, the limo didn't turn. Instead, it continued straight into a thick oak tree, exploding on impact.

***

Arrival Author: Drakonic Sephonis Date: 02-20-03 12:57

The explosion shook the very air around Drakonic and Anna. The noise scared Anna, causing her to spin around in place, a look of concern taking hold of her face. "Vat vas dat?" She asked, shook up.

Drakonic turned around, as if he was unaware, facing the direction from which the sound came. He shook his head, and said calmly, "Was nothing. Probably a tree falling down or someting."

Anna looks at him, her eyes searching his calm face. Finding comfort in his eyes. She smiled weakly, and said, "You are probably right."

Darkonic nods, and says, "Of course I am right. Now we must hurry, as our arrival is expected, und ve vouldn't vant to upset our host."

Anna follows Drakonic as he moves through the woods silently. Her steps, however, are quite noisy, as she is unable to see where it is she is walking, and is stumbling over her own feet in the darkness.

After a few moments of walking in silence, Drakonic stops suddenly, and holds his hand oout, stopping Anna. She looks in his direction, worry on her face, as she asks softly, "Vat is it?"

Drakonic could sense someone ahead, although he couldn't tell who it was. He was sure one was Kindred, but there were others with her, and they weren't. Not wishing to interrupt or intrude, he says softly, "You must climb on my back. Ve are leaving ze path, and you cannot see in dis darkness."

She nods solemnly, and with his help, climbs up. She wraps her arms around his shoulders, and her legs around his midsection. He places his hands on her legs, supporting her. As he heads off into the woods, leaving the path, he begins to think to himself. Her body is light, but he can't get over the fact that he has been reduced to a beast of burden. The only solace he could find in this situation was that this was a gift. He kept reminding himself that she was no longer human. She was now a rare wine. One only lucky connesuirs ever have the chance to taste of. She was a wine made of the finest fruits, and at the perfect age. Old enough for it to have lost a lot of the over sweetened taste that comes with a young wine, but young enough to still have it's innocence. The only difference between the wine on his back, and the wine one would find in a cellar, a century old, was that the make he carried, did not become better over time. In fact, time had a way of ruining such delicacies. He hoped that those of the inn would see the effort he went to procure such a specimen, and be appreciative.

His thought continued like this as he walked, obsessing, as he often did over something some would consider a minor detail. Another benefit, one he didn't realize, was that his carrying her, allowed him to travel at a faster pace. One allowing him to cover the ground separating him from the manor at more than twice the speed he could have traveled with her walking.

He walked, not knowing where he was going, following unheard, untold directions. He began to feel as though he had been here before. As if everyday he slept since hearing about the place, he came here. The worst things was the realization that some of the trees had a familiarity about them. He would pass a forked one, followed by one that had been carved into, standing along the edge of a brook. Deciding that, once again, he was over thinking, he turned his attention to thinking of something to say to Anna. However, before he could think of anything worth being said, he emerged into the clearing. He stopped suddenly, a little surprised at the suddenness he arrived. He let her legs go, as she dropped to the ground. He looked at what didn't look anything like the manner he had been told about, but nodded, thinking this must be a security measure. He turned to Anna, the moon emerging from behind the clouds, and said, "Ve are here."

***