A figure sits crouched upon a building that looks out on a small rustic town. The pale moon shines down behind a dark solitary figure. They could not detect her, she was older then the ones below. She had been watching this coven for a long time now. Watching, waiting for them to make the move that she may finally destroy them all. Now they have done it. She was the keeper, the watcher, and the protector, of their kind and would not tolerate the stupidity of fledglings especially the ones below her. With a sigh she rises slowly and silently. She was older then the town, older then many places, in the New World. She walks off the edge of the building; the only noise is the fluttering of her clothes in the winds of the jump. Landing in a crouching position, eyeing the endless darkness of the alleyway as she watches keeping track of the little coven that would soon not exists. Pulling the long trench coat around her body, as the shadows enfold her, she watches them take the life of a young boy with the intent to bring him to their side. The little cloven had killed their maker which was another reason they would all be killed. She would keep the new one, hoping to show him the right way down the Devil�s Road.
The coven heads down the road towards the hotel where the mother of the boy was, hoping her son was there and not out on the streets with the monsters of the night. She searches the whole room frantically and did not find him. She could smell her fear, she could see through the woman�s eyes. She knew what was coming for her and she would not stop it. Centuries had taught her to move with stealth ever since she became the keeper she keeps herself out of the affairs of mortals. Eyes down cast she walks the street far behind the group so as not to be detected, she could read the thoughts of the leader the one called Maggi. The figure had no name, for she left no one alive to know it, though maybe now she would permit someone to share her name with. She had grown fond of the boy who originally was stranded in the backward town with his mother and sister. His sister, the poor child, too had already shared the fate that her mother would soon have. There was no law against killing the young and the innocent but she had no liking of the practice. Yet she knew of a few times she did, but the children were sick and she did it so that way they would feel no pain in death, but a sense of calm and delight. She remembers the images the children sent to her as she slowly killed them, the images of happy times, of their favorite toys, and friends. There were some who�s images, made her seethe with anger, knowing that a child should never have to endure such pain from the hands of their own parents. Those very same parents who later found themselves dead, by her own hands.
She watches as the mother comes down the street carrying wooden stakes from a broken chair as she walks into the lion�s den of the undead. With a slight chuckle she slips into the closest alley and climbs up the wall with only her hands and feet to sit on the ledge to watch with a better view. The group and the woman met in front of a theater, as the mother was slowly herded into a dark alley across from the one she was in and the woman was surrounded. The keeper watches as the woman kills one of the fledglings, then another with her homemade stakes. An evil smile grew on her face as she watches the mortal woman fight for her life. She does all she can from laughing out loud. They had the woman pinned to a wall now, as Maggi and her new creation walk into the light of the alley.
She watches everything, the death of the mother as the little coven returns to where they sleep during the daylight hours. They were not afraid, at least for now. Soon they would know who is the one who lurks in the darkness planning and scheming of their death. The keeper returns to her haven as the sun begins to emerge over the horizon. She watches the sky soften and become a light blue before she retreats to the darkness and safety of her home and lair. She makes her way down the dark hidden pathway to her lonely coffin. She was glad to have eaten a meal that night; the gas clerk who was working for Maggi became a good treat, she smiles and lays down to sleep. �One informant down Maggi how many more have you promised immortality?� she wonders as a great yawn overcomes her with a stretch of her lithe pale limbs. �Tomorrow I will go after the one you call father.� She slips off into her evil and dark filled dreams of the Devil�s Road, since no other dreams came to her. The day drifts into night, she woke well before dusk as she walks through her well-curtained house. She was hungry and could not wait for the sun to set. She walks into an ill-used room, where stacks of books make their home on the floor and corners. She pushes open the door to the closet and pulls out one of her many hooded cloaks. Not many people used them but she found a use for them in a pinch. Pulls the hood tightly over her head she makes her way to the front door, pulling the cloak tightly to herself she walks out into the pre-night light.
She steps out into the desolate streets the cloak billowing out behind her. She keeps her guard up for any who would be daring enough to confront her. She knew all of the members of Maggi�s little coven and knew none had the courage and bravery to attack her or anyone without Maggi�s consent. They were not even allowed to hunt without her knowing first. She lets out a cruel chuckle as she rounds the corner and spots one of Maggi�s so called fledglings. �Hmmmm maybe I should even the odds for now,� she says as she walks towards a young blonde haired boy. She pulls her hood off her head and makes herself appear to the boy as if she was lost. �OH thanks heavens I found someone I seemed to have gotten myself lost. Would you by any way know how to get back to the hotel?� She watched as a broad smile widens on the boys youthful face, Got yah. He nods and says, �Yes I do its not far down this road. Would you like me to show you the way?�
He holds up his arm for hers and she places her arm in his as she plays into his game. �Oh, yes please I feel safer knowing I have a young man with me to help me get back safely.� She pats his hand; to him she looked near forty, she had learned some tricks as the centuries slowly rolled past. He guided her in a totally different direction than the hotel, and, if she were nothing but a mere mortal she would have no idea where he would be taking her. �I know of a short cut through this alleyway.� She looks worried. �Are you sure its, dark in there.� He smiles and reassured her, �Don�t worry, I�m here to protect you remember.� He pats her hand reassuringly. She sighs, �Oh alright but I will only cause you know the way better than me.� He nods and they plunge into the darkness of the alley. He leads her halfway into the alley before grabbing both her arms with unusual speed. He slams her into the wall and gives a toothy smile as he shows off the delicate looking fangs. �You stupid mortal never trust anyone here in this town.� She pretends to be afraid and give a bit of a struggle trying to keep her own strength in check. She would let him prick the flesh at her neck before she takes him. She always enjoyed playing with her food, especially the young ones. Especially the ones whom thought themselves to be invincible, almost as if they were immortal, yet they were not. He pulls her arms above her head so he could pin her hands to the wall with his one. The other he uses to tilt her head to the side as to expose the soft flesh of her neck.
His fangs prick her neck as little rivulets of bloods bead out. She lowers her head to his neck and bites him drawing out his blood. In shocked and surprised horror he lets her go. He never knew what was coming or whom he was now playing his deadly game with. The wound the fledgling inflicted on her were already healed as she wraps her freed arms around his waist and holds him close to her and drinks from him till his heartbeat faides away. Dropping the body she uses the back of her hand to wipe away the drips of blood that was on her lips. Now fed her face looked a bit flushed as the fresh blood courses through her veins, she knew she had committed a crime but she was above it as she was the one sent to stop Maggi from sliping to the word that there kind does exist. Pulling her hood back on her head she walks out of the alleyway and into the dimly lit streets. �Now to my objective for the night the one Maggi calls father.�
She walks silently down the street heading towards the hotel; her features changed back into the eternal teen she would be. She was taken in the day when Rome was still young she was the daughter of a prestigious Gladiator. He was the champion of Caesar but a young man had killed him and she was left with no family and lots of money. She took what she could and left Rome knowing that someone would get the idea to go after her and kill her for the money her father had made. She never trusted Caesar so she fled to the Roman countryside and made herself a home in a small village. That was when she met with a young dark haired man and she had fallen in love with him she left with him and travels all of the Empire and she never questioned why they traveled during the night and that he slept during the day. She was embraced not long after there third day on the road at the age of nineteen. They stayed together for centuries till they could no longer stand each other and they drifted appear he stayed in Europe while she left with the first ship to the Americas. Time had flown by she became the protector of a prince of a city and soon she became one herself the first at lest that is what she had heard. Now she was thrown from her power and became an assassin and under a wealthy employer she hunts down the large group of fledglings and their unruly creaters. Her employer sent her to take care of Maggi and her coven; they had destroyed the mortal structure of this small town. So she did all she had to get Maggi to show her face. She walked silently down the street a few people walk as they enjoy an evening stroll. They knew of the dangers that lurking the darkness, for she could not only sense their fear but she could also taste it. It was a sweet taste, and she believed every predator could taste.
She walks past them, as they did not move to agnolledge her. The thought of another kill makes her mouth water and hunger sit heavy in her stomach. She pauses under a tree near the hotel parking lot. She decides to wait till one of Maggi�s fledglings was nearby to see the attack. Seeing one come into view she makes her way to the office. The light to the office was on and there was slight movement inside she knew who it was and knew the thread of his life was soon to be cut. She walks into the office as an elderly man rises from a chair to walk slowly to the counter. He was in his late fifties and he showed it with many frowns and smile lines upon his face yet to distinguish his age he wore a crown of white hair on his head. He looks at her as she stops at the desk resting her arms on it as she smiles. She says bluntly through her false smile, �I�m looking for some one maybe you know of them.� The man smiles and nods his head. �I�m looking for Maggi.� His eyes widen at the sound of that name, as he become nervous. �N-n-no� No�I don�t know anyone by that name here.� She smiles and says, �My dear man why do you become so nervous and have to lie to me?� Anger seethes in her eyes as he attempts to get her out of the office. �How dare you accuse me of being a liar. Get out of my hotel before I call the cops on you!� Her smile grows darker at the thrill of another kill. �How dare you accuse me of being a liar,� she mimics him. He grabs for a gun he keeps under the desk, and aims it at her shoulder in hopes a superficial wound would make her go away. He fires the noise startles the fledgling outside causing him to run to the hotel. Her body jerks from the force of the bullet, enters and exits her shoulder in a shower of blood as the wound quickly heals itself.
�It wont help you old man, she doomed you ever since the days you laid eyes on her. She was the one who changed your destiny and your fate.� She leaps at the old man and grabs him she sinks her teeth into his neck as he wrenched his body this way and that to be free but as the blood was drawn from him her grew weaker. She stood on the counter as the fledgling arrives and opens the door to see her there. She drank the old man till his heart had slowed and he dies. She holds him in her arms for a lasting burning effect on the fledgling as she drops the body of the elderly man to the floor. She crouches on the desk and looks at him her fangs exposed and blood slowly dries on her chin. �You tell Maggi that I�m coming for her. Tell her the Keeper has risen and rides to hunt her down and all she loves.� Fear raised in the fledgling as she laughed inside. He turns and runs to go tell Maggi of what he saw and heard. Satisfied of her handy work she leaves the hotel and wipes the evidence of her latest meal from her face.
As she returns to her lair the fledgling runs to his. Bursting through the door pasting two of his older brethren, he yelled out the password as he runs down the halls of the abandoned house. Flying up the stairs he skids to a halt in front of Maggi�s door. �Mistress� mistress,� he yells as he pounds on the door. �He�s dead, he�s dead! Someone killed him!� The door flew open as a young girl stood in the doorway. �What!� The boy shakes with fear as he lowers his head. �Someone killed father.� It was the innkeepers name that they called him. �What do you mean someone killed him?� Maggi asks as anger shows in her eyes. He tells her the message her eyes bulge as if she had taken a blow to the stomach. �Call everyone back and tell then to gather below.� A little dumbfounded he bows and leaves to do what he is told. An hour later all were assembled but one. Adam the one that was made the previous night stands beside her. �What is going on?�
�Our death, the keeper is here!�
�The who?� One of the older boys puts his hand on Adam�s shoulder. �You will understand in a moment.� The older boy looks at Maggi as she stands upon a coffin in the underground lair where they all sleep for the night. It was the basement of the house, no heavy door to block them from the world as they sleep during the day. They began to make their lair into that of a stronghold. Maggi gave little information to Adam as to whom or what the keeper was and none of the others would give him the answers to his needy questions. Many ran past him, others pushed, or threw him out of the way. They yelled at him to move or help instead of asking who the Keeper was. Many of them told him that he would not understand and to just drop it. He found himself standing in a corner watching the others run around. Maggi appears out of the chaos and take him away from the madness. �So you want to know who the keeper is?� He nods as he walks beside her. �She may be your only and greatest enemy. She is a vampire who is paid to keep us from spilling our existence to the world. She is the only on who finds out about a fledgling killing its maker. She would hunt down whomever she sees fit to kill. That is why were making this house into a fortress, she knows we are here and what we have done.� He looks at her with a raised brow and says, �We?�
�Yes we, you are part of the coven now so you too will take on the punishment as we do.� He nods, not liking that new bit of information wishing he didn�t ask about the Keeper was. The night passes slowly for both houses. Keeper had spent the night readying and waiting a few times she had left her house to watch the action at Maggi�s place and then return to her own lair. The horizon begins to brighten as a new day dawns on the sleepy people of the back water town, as word spreads of the new bodies found, but the fledglings body was nothing but a pile of smoldering ashes. The day slowly creeps into the night. As she rises early as usual and uses her extra moments to make herself ready for the attack on Maggi�s place. It had been some time since her last eradication of the lawless. She pulls her sword out of its hiding place and belts it to her waist. Feeling the old familiar weight on her hip she gives a small smile for some fleeting moments. Sighing she grabs a trench coat and heads out the door. Once on the street she could sense all the fear in the town and most of it came from the fortified house that looked more run down then it should be. She watches in the shadows of a of nearby house, as the guards do there rotation that switch from mortals to fledglings. As the guards pace back and forth she sprints past them; the only noise she makes is the flapping of her trench coat as she slips into the front door. She uses her talent to blend in as a young man walks by her giving her no inclination of him recognizing her. There was only one in the house who would recognize her and she could not feel him anywhere yet. She looks around not knowing where to go so she heads up stairs, figuring it would be the best place to start. The attic was empty as she begins her search through the remaining five rooms.
Two were filled with books and discarded items, the next was a room that seemed to be used for meetings. That room was dimly lit with a large table in the center and chairs all around it. She walks to the next door and opens it to see an unused bathroom to her surprise the last room was nicely furnished no doubt it was Maggi. Shaking her head she walks into the Maggi reeking room, but she detected another smell sweater almost making her mouth water, fresh blood. Looking around the room she finds a small mini-fridge with packs of fresh blood in it, finding the cord she unplugs it. Shaking her head she says, �I wonder if your children know you are on the bag Maggi.� She lets out a small chuckle for the pun as she touches the bag with her nail, puncturing it and the other bags as she closes the door and leaves the room. Heading downstairs she finds the one that knows who she is, grabbing the closest young one she whispers into her ear to get the one who came back with the new of the keeper and send him upstairs. The girl nods and a few moments later he walks up the stairs, looking around he walks down the hallway and into the room with the table. �Hello?� He steps in as the door closes by itself revealing where she was hiding with sword drawn. �Behind you,� she says as he turns his face goes even paler as she slices his head off of his shoulder blood splatters everywhere she never even lets him get a yell for help out. Wiping the blade off with a clean part of his shirt she heads back downstairs. She walks into the dinning room then into the kitchen, which they made into a make shift treatment room as if there were expecting heavy casualties. She shakes her head as she walks down the stairs into the basement. She looks around the oddly quiet basement; she listens carefully as the rest of the house goes quit. �Oh shit this is not good,� she thinks to herself. Coffins lined up on the walls; there was a small living room of to the side probably used by Maggi�s creator. She noticed how the basement was extended to make room for more bodies. �Welcome Keeper it�s nice to finally meet you,� a voice says from behind her. She turns slowly to see Maggi and her four loyal bodyguards. �I figured I would stop by to say �hi,� Maggi but I guess I came when you were not prepared.�
�That�s so nice of you,� she says with a sarcastic tone. She knew she fell into a trap, as she sees Maggi blocking her only exit. Out of the corner of her eye she sees a lid of the coffin move then another one slide till all the lids fell to the ground. One by one the other vampires rose making her odds to get out of the house higher. They begin to circle her as if she were their prey. Three of Maggi�s guard�s fan out in front of Maggi as the other one leaves and goes up stairs. Probably to the get the others, she thought as she gets into a fighting stance. They stand in silence; Keeper glares at Maggi, as she looks back at her. Moment later footsteps can be heard coming down the stairs �Why are you taking me down here,� a young voice asks. Coming into view is the bodyguard and then the young boy Maggi had taken a few days ago. Keeper realized two things one she should have ate before she came to the house and the other thing was that Maggi did not finish the transformation. This should be interesting I guess she doesn�t know the last step. She gives a brief second to look directly at the boy then back to Maggi. �He is confused Maggi why don�t you introduce me to him so the confusion of him and the others will let up in the room. Or are you trying to use him as bait?� She looks at Maggi as the boy looks at Keeper with confusion as Maggi raises an eyebrow. �I guess they deserve that.� Maggi looks to the others who surround Keeper. �My brother and sisters,� she yells her voice echoing off the in closed area. Then her eyes scan away from the pale faces to look at Adam. She holds up her hand as whispers begin as soon as the whispering begins it ends. She points to Keeper and says, �This is The Keeper she is the killer of our kind, the slayer of her fellow kin.� Maggi looks into the eyes of ever person there as she talks. �The one who is paid to kill, she has no name but keeper and tonight we will do what no other has ever done before.� The whispers begin and she silences them with a wave of her hand.
�We shall kill The Keeper tonight and be written down in history to have been able to kill a Keeper. She get a good look at her tonight because this will be the last night you will see her.� The room explodes with cheers as Maggi watches their reaction to what she had said. Keeper looks at Adam as she notices his jaw slack as he realizes what he was brought into as Maggi smiles darkly as she looks at the group. She lifts up hear and as all fall silent, as she says, �Get her!� The body guard circle Maggi and Adam as the large mob launch themselves at her. She draws her sword and hacks away the first wave of the mob with a shoulder high circular swing. She stands with the bloody sword tip on the floor as the mob stop and look at their beheaded brethren on the dusty floor. �Bravo Keeper bravo,� Maggi says as she claps her hands. Once Maggi stops her clapping which distract the mob they turn their attention back on Keeper and begin again. Heads slowly begin to roll, as bodies fall to the floor, as time seems to creep by slowly. Calling the mob to a halt now nearly half the mob lay headless on the floor. �Enough of this game, I�ll do it since you all can not.� Her bodyguards protest but she dismisses them with a wave of her hand. �You know Maggi if you give me the boy, I�ll let you go free.� The Keeper stand straight as possible as she was slightly worn out from the two waves of carnage as the blood of the mob soaks through her dark cloths. �Really that�s all?� Maggi asks as she settles into a fighting position. �Well no but wouldn�t it be nice, me leave take boy with and you live another night.� She scrapes the tip of the sword on the floor sending sparks as she brought it to her face in a mock-fencing stance. �On guard Maggi.� The brief moment of foolery by Keeper was only to get her ready. She knew Maggi had less experience with the sword then her, but Maggi had done one thing right out of the whole attack and that was to wear Keeper down. So that was they would be more equal in the fight with Maggi�s inexperience and Keepers weariness. What was left of Maggi�s loyal followers circled them as Adam watches from between the bodyguards who stand off to the side on the steps. They dual, Keeper, already slightly winded from the previous attacks and had taken some wounds to her arms and back from long nails. Now slower she tries her best to block Maggi�s advances. �Damn you,� she says under her breath. She drives the blade of her sword into Maggi�s arm. If Maggi didn�t step to the side it would have surely cut off her arm. In retribution Maggi buries the tip of her sword into Keepers thigh. Blood dripping to the floor from the wounds they have received. At some points during the battle Maggi would back away to let her fledglings in so she could rest and Keeper would advance and behead them. The mob so entranced with the fighting would not more or even blink all they did was watch and breath. Some would look at the lifeless, headless, masses beside them that were once their brethren. Many enraged with angry would leap into the fight growling like that of an angry tiger. Maggi would move away letting them get into the fight knowing it only helps her out, she didn�t care if the others got killed as long as Keeper dies that night. The mob dwindles until there is only Maggi, keeper, Adam and the bodyguards left. With the will to live adding strength to their fighting seems to go for an eternity. Panting Keeper says to Maggi as the cross swords and is face to face. �You know he is dying.�
"Who?"
�The boy is Maggi.� Blundering by glancing at Adam, giving Keeper the chance to use what strength she has left to push Maggi back away from her. Stumbling back Maggi says, �No he�s not, he�s mine, I did what I was supposed to do!� Keeper shakes her head and says, �You left out one stop.� Maggi rushes her, �I did not!� Keeper stepping backwards trips over a body and the sword flies out of her hand, as Maggi presses the tip of her sword to Keepers throat. �You say I lie Maggi, then why don�t you summon him like you master summoned you.� Maggi looks at Adam and says, �Blood of my blood come to me.� Adam looks at her with a raised eyebrow. �You see you didn�t finish him otherwise he would have come to you.� Using her moment as Maggi is looking at Adam she sweeps Maggi off her feet with a vicious kick to the knee. Maggi screams in pain as her kneecap shatters and falls to the floor, but as she falls she drops the sword into Keepers lap. Seeing this through the pain Maggi tries to get up but Keeper was already on her feet with the sword in hand. �Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword Maggi.� IN vain Maggi tries to crab walk away but she falls over a body Keeper follows her. �Good bye Maggi,� Keeper says as she pulls back her sword arm ready to make the final blow. All seems to stand still as the blade swishes through the air and severs Maggi�s head from her body. Once done Maggi's bodyguards bolt, before reaching the last step they burst into flames. She knew she could have done it to all of them in the house but she knew it was more honorable to fight face to face with her opponent, her father taught her that. Adam unsure of what to do looks at Keeper who falls to her knees from the battle and the loss of blood. She was too weak to move, let alone feel anything, as her whole body was numb.
Through the corner of her eye she sees the boy slowly approach her. �You fear me, and I�m not surprised, I can smell it.� Adam raises a brow not knowing what she meant. �Like animals we can smell the fear of mortals. It makes us hunger more causing the mortals death to be more sweet to both the vampire and their victim.� He stands before her, she to weak to move as he picks up her discarded sword on the floor. Using the tip he points it right between her eyes of her upturned face. �Why didn�t you kill me?� She sighs numbly and with as much strength she slowly rises the sword tip follows her. �Because�� she says as she stands in front of him her arms bleeding at her sides. �Because why,� he asks her still having no clue what is going on. As time slowly creeps by as her wounds slowly heal and as does her strength. �I felt pity for you.� She looks at him as his beautiful eyes locked into hers. She could almost feel him picking at her mind trying to find the answers to his questions. She sighs and puts her hands in her blood soaked pockets. She continues the staring game with him. �Your lonely you want a companion.� She nods quietly and walks past him.
He walks with the sword still in hand following her. Adam was a head taller then Keeper was. He grabs her shoulder, which makes her stop dead in her tracks only to yank her shoulder out of his hand. Walking up the stairs she says as she walks past the charred remains of the bodyguards. �Who says I even need you?� He yells from the bottom of the stairs, �Your eyes do, they tell more then what you want others to know. What he said had a tender chord to it that made her flinch. Her own creator and her first love had told her the same thing that was why he had taken her and helped her down the Devil� Road. �I don�t need you,� she says as she continues up the stairs. As he runs down the hall to intercept her at the front door to stop her from leaving. She stops in front of him looking at him as he returns the gaze. �You know your dying.� He nods. �I can save you but only if you are sure you want to do it.� He sighs deeply and says with all the strength and courage of his being, �I�m sure, I want to live even if it is ageless. I have no one else, Maggi killed my family.� He sighs and looks into Keepers icy blue eyes. She nods and takes him in her arms and kisses him. Her kiss trails from his mouth to the tender part of his neck where her ivory white fangs pierce the clammy pale flesh. Taking what blood he had left she holds him tightly as his heart slows. As the critical moment she stops drinking, as his heart becomes faint.
Using her fangs she punctures her lower lip with her fangs she licks it and kisses Adam deeply. Slowly the punctures on Adam�s neck begin to heal. Giving him all the blood she can, which wasn�t much as her knees give out. Adam quickly wraps her arms around her waist as he licks the last drops from her lips. �Now what?� he asks as he looks down at her. �Now we return to my lair and we sleep.� She sniffs the air and asks him, �Can you smell it?� He sniffs the air and nods. �Dawn approaches I wouldn�t want you to become cinders now.� He collects her in his arms and looks at her. �Where to?� She gives him the directions to her lair and he carries her all the way there. He found joy in racing the sun as Keeper opens the door from his arms as the skies begin to lighten. Setting her down she leads him through the dark house down into the basement where a heavy iron door hangs on the wall. She opens it straining a little from the blood loss as she lets him pass through first so that she could shut the door. Once the door was shut she knew no one could get to them as she leads him down a stairway dug into the earth and into a candle lit room that was fortified with cement and wooden beams. In the middle lays a casket. �It will be a bit snug till I get you one.� He nuzzles her neck affectionately as he says, �I hope you don�t.� For the first time in centuries Keeper was able to smile from being happy as she realized she wouldn�t be alone anymore. She opens the casket and climbs in then Adam follows her. Closing the lid he wraps his arms around her nuzzling her neck. �So what is your real name, or do I get to call you Keeper?� She smiles in the darkness and kisses his forehead. The sun crests over the hill shining down on the town. As she answers with a yawn, �My real name is Alexia Gripponi, but my dad used to call me�� She yawns and says, �Angel.� With that they both fell asleep in each other�s arms.
