Post by Faith on Dec 3, 2008 11:32:26 GMT -5
“I believe in getting into hot water; it keeps you clean.”
-G. K. Chesterton
Quick footsteps echoed just outside the building. The sound scuffling feet and heavy breathing accompanied the knock on the door.
Dante jumped up, walking to the door as quickly as he could. He opened it, and stared into the light with a mixture of anger and disbelief. “You.” He mumbled the word in a hushed whisper.
“Oh bay. Council sent me a wolf for a messenger instead of a pigeon.” Kalvier pushed his brother in law aside. “Don’t think of me as a rival - I’m just another vampire.”
Gritting his teeth Dante just glared at him, “You’re kidding, right?”
“Of course I am.” He chuckled, “But really, don’t try anything.”
Gregor stood up, still much shorter than both the other men. “Well, I really hate to interrupt but mind telling me what’s going on.”
Dante shot him a threatening look. “Nothing, nothing at all.”
Kalvier, in all his wisdom, just laughed. “Well, let’s hear your message Dante. No doubt that’s why you’re here.”
Sighing and looking to Gregor, he began to speak. His voice emotionless and dry. “The Grand Council report that the main pack leading the wolf uprising had vanished and they think the pack has traveled over here.” He paused, looking to Kalvier. “Carrion has escaped from their jails, but Council doesn’t want us to worry about him. They just want you to report back if you happen to see him anywhere.”
Kalvier sighed, “Do they know the name of the pack?”
“Yes. Blood Claw, lead by a pure blood named Bryant.”
Kalvier winced, and Gregor finally noticed the unfamiliar scent that lingered over him. “Kalvier, what scent is on you?”
“Wolf. Bryant of Blood Claw.”
“So, they are here then.” Dante shook his head, “Did you kill him, or at least wound him so we can track him better?”
“He didn’t do anything wrong, only struck down a human in self defense and that isn’t against our laws. He didn’t seem like a rebel so I didn’t see the need to harm him.”
Gregor spoke, “They are tricksters, smart, too smart. Dante, did Council tell you anything else about the rebels?”
He nodded, “Most of Blood Claw is pure blooded, and they pride themselves in being the oldest pack of wolves in existence. It was started by Cain, son of Lucian.” He paused, “Those of the pack that aren’t pure blood work as spies, but they aren’t even allowed to breed so their aren’t many.”
“Do they govern themselves in the old way?” Gregor asked, with a childlike curiosity.
“As old as it gets, alphas, betas.” He chuckled, “The half bloods are all omegas.”
Gregor nodded, “Smart and traditional, but why are they revolting if they are going with the old ways? In the old days we and wolves working together, not against one another.”
Kalvier smirked, “Agreed, and I was around when the revolt began. Maybe it’s because the wolves feel unneeded. Abused maybe.”
“No.” Dante spoke now. “Bryant spoke with Crysto, they don’t want to kill us but they claim they will fight back if we try to put the revolt down.” He sighed. “Crysto said that Bryant claims he is leading the revolt because the Gods told him of the mistake we are, and that it was us who were meant to serve the wolves.” He let out a low chuckle. “To protect them during their moon baths.”
“Don’t laugh Dante.” Kalvier had known about the old Gods that both vampires and wolves used to worship. Now though modern forms of religion had washed away the old beliefs. Only elders and older packs of wolves could even remember the days that the Gods were actually worshiped, but Kalvier knew of the Gods and actually believed that they existed in one form or the other. Though the wolves’ version of the Gods differs slightly from the version he knew of. “If the Gods are influencing, or if they think that they are, I don’t think we should fight back.”
“Not fight back?” Dante laughed again, this time in a mocking tone, “You would let them enslave us all then?”
“No, they won’t use us anymore. At least I don’t think they would. They don’t need to now. Innocents are stupid enough to think that we are just myths. They don’t hunt us anymore, we have been reduced to just characters in books and movies.”
“He has a point Dante, we weren’t really using the wolves all that much when this revolt began.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Still though, we can’t let them rule over us. Or even let them think they do. We’ve tried that before, they just end up spreading the infection and killing too many people in the first few days of their reign.”
“That’s only because they were younger, and they couldn’t control their changes all that much. Now though, they understand better. Plus, the pure bloods don’t bother to spread the infection anymore because they don’t need to. That keeps new wolves from coming up, and that in turn prevents the madness.” Kalvier smiled, “Besides, I don’t if the other packs are following the same rules as Blood Claw they won’t let the half bloods breed and that will keep their numbers down too.”
Dante sighed, “What if they do though? We can’t risk it, there is still the small chance that something like that would happen again. I don’t know about you two but I don’t want to be known as the vampire that messed up the order, destroyed the council and let a pack of wolves take over. I mean, they would probably announce the existence of werewolves and vampires to the world.”
“It’s let them, or start a war. I don’t know if we could fight them off Dante. The do outnumber us, and they can fight us during the day. It’s not like the old days anymore, most vampires are too young to fight and the rest are too old and stuck up to get their hands dirty. We wouldn’t last half a year if we started a war and you know it.”
Gregor coughed, “Look, as much as I love the talk of wars and werewolves can we stop and get some lunch? I’m half starved and it’s been a good four years since I had something to drink.”
“Four years? Ha. You’re funny, it’s been at least thirty for me.” Kalvier chuckled when he looked at Dante’s shocked expression.
“Are you two mad? It’s been two days and I’m starving!”
Gregor smiled, “Well Dante, if you weren’t so obsessed with the taste of human blood you wouldn’t feel as hungry right now.”
“Look, I’m not obsessed. I just enjoy women too much and after I” He paused, “Well, I am not going to tell you two details. I’m sure that after a couple hundred years of living without a girl you two would get excited about just thinking about that.”
“Actually…” Gregors smile faded, “I don’t like women, so I don’t have to deal with that type of obsession.”
“And as far as women go I think that they are all pretty much the same so it isn’t really worth my time anymore. It gets boring.” Kalvier yawned. Of course, he knew he was lying. But he had forced himself to live alone. Anyone he dragged into his life ended up dead or just in pain.
“So we can say this session is over then?” Dante’s question was one that they all had been thinking the moment they had walked into the building. Except Gregor, he was always a goody two shoes vampires when it came to council meetings. Though this couldn’t really be called a council meeting considering half of the members were missing but that was only because they were all too busy visiting family and friends. It was almost Thanksgiving and they still celebrated holidays.
“Yup. Done.” Gregor laughed. “I’ll see you two in a week. Unless these wolves start acting up.”
“Which they won’t do … if they know what’s good for them that is.”
“Dante, where you headed?” Kalvier was already ready to go and halfway to the door.
“Out, to a bar maybe. Pick up a chick or two. Get some blood in my system, the whole shebang y’know.”
“Sounds like fun. Enjoy yourself, don’t leave too many marks.” Kalvier left, closing the door behind him.
“What’s his hurry?” Gregor yawned, “You two move too fast. What’s the rush?”
“Well, I’m starved and Kalvier probably leads a second life that we have no idea about.” Dante chuckled, as if thinking of an inside joke. “Oh, and it’s not that we’re fast. You’re just too slow. See ya round rainbow chaser.” Dante followed after Kalvier and left the warehouse as quickly as he had entered.
“Left alone again. In the dark. Eh. Maybe I’ll go for a walk. I need the sunlight.” Gregor looked down at his skinny pale arms. “Yeah. Definitely need more sun.”
-G. K. Chesterton
Quick footsteps echoed just outside the building. The sound scuffling feet and heavy breathing accompanied the knock on the door.
Dante jumped up, walking to the door as quickly as he could. He opened it, and stared into the light with a mixture of anger and disbelief. “You.” He mumbled the word in a hushed whisper.
“Oh bay. Council sent me a wolf for a messenger instead of a pigeon.” Kalvier pushed his brother in law aside. “Don’t think of me as a rival - I’m just another vampire.”
Gritting his teeth Dante just glared at him, “You’re kidding, right?”
“Of course I am.” He chuckled, “But really, don’t try anything.”
Gregor stood up, still much shorter than both the other men. “Well, I really hate to interrupt but mind telling me what’s going on.”
Dante shot him a threatening look. “Nothing, nothing at all.”
Kalvier, in all his wisdom, just laughed. “Well, let’s hear your message Dante. No doubt that’s why you’re here.”
Sighing and looking to Gregor, he began to speak. His voice emotionless and dry. “The Grand Council report that the main pack leading the wolf uprising had vanished and they think the pack has traveled over here.” He paused, looking to Kalvier. “Carrion has escaped from their jails, but Council doesn’t want us to worry about him. They just want you to report back if you happen to see him anywhere.”
Kalvier sighed, “Do they know the name of the pack?”
“Yes. Blood Claw, lead by a pure blood named Bryant.”
Kalvier winced, and Gregor finally noticed the unfamiliar scent that lingered over him. “Kalvier, what scent is on you?”
“Wolf. Bryant of Blood Claw.”
“So, they are here then.” Dante shook his head, “Did you kill him, or at least wound him so we can track him better?”
“He didn’t do anything wrong, only struck down a human in self defense and that isn’t against our laws. He didn’t seem like a rebel so I didn’t see the need to harm him.”
Gregor spoke, “They are tricksters, smart, too smart. Dante, did Council tell you anything else about the rebels?”
He nodded, “Most of Blood Claw is pure blooded, and they pride themselves in being the oldest pack of wolves in existence. It was started by Cain, son of Lucian.” He paused, “Those of the pack that aren’t pure blood work as spies, but they aren’t even allowed to breed so their aren’t many.”
“Do they govern themselves in the old way?” Gregor asked, with a childlike curiosity.
“As old as it gets, alphas, betas.” He chuckled, “The half bloods are all omegas.”
Gregor nodded, “Smart and traditional, but why are they revolting if they are going with the old ways? In the old days we and wolves working together, not against one another.”
Kalvier smirked, “Agreed, and I was around when the revolt began. Maybe it’s because the wolves feel unneeded. Abused maybe.”
“No.” Dante spoke now. “Bryant spoke with Crysto, they don’t want to kill us but they claim they will fight back if we try to put the revolt down.” He sighed. “Crysto said that Bryant claims he is leading the revolt because the Gods told him of the mistake we are, and that it was us who were meant to serve the wolves.” He let out a low chuckle. “To protect them during their moon baths.”
“Don’t laugh Dante.” Kalvier had known about the old Gods that both vampires and wolves used to worship. Now though modern forms of religion had washed away the old beliefs. Only elders and older packs of wolves could even remember the days that the Gods were actually worshiped, but Kalvier knew of the Gods and actually believed that they existed in one form or the other. Though the wolves’ version of the Gods differs slightly from the version he knew of. “If the Gods are influencing, or if they think that they are, I don’t think we should fight back.”
“Not fight back?” Dante laughed again, this time in a mocking tone, “You would let them enslave us all then?”
“No, they won’t use us anymore. At least I don’t think they would. They don’t need to now. Innocents are stupid enough to think that we are just myths. They don’t hunt us anymore, we have been reduced to just characters in books and movies.”
“He has a point Dante, we weren’t really using the wolves all that much when this revolt began.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Still though, we can’t let them rule over us. Or even let them think they do. We’ve tried that before, they just end up spreading the infection and killing too many people in the first few days of their reign.”
“That’s only because they were younger, and they couldn’t control their changes all that much. Now though, they understand better. Plus, the pure bloods don’t bother to spread the infection anymore because they don’t need to. That keeps new wolves from coming up, and that in turn prevents the madness.” Kalvier smiled, “Besides, I don’t if the other packs are following the same rules as Blood Claw they won’t let the half bloods breed and that will keep their numbers down too.”
Dante sighed, “What if they do though? We can’t risk it, there is still the small chance that something like that would happen again. I don’t know about you two but I don’t want to be known as the vampire that messed up the order, destroyed the council and let a pack of wolves take over. I mean, they would probably announce the existence of werewolves and vampires to the world.”
“It’s let them, or start a war. I don’t know if we could fight them off Dante. The do outnumber us, and they can fight us during the day. It’s not like the old days anymore, most vampires are too young to fight and the rest are too old and stuck up to get their hands dirty. We wouldn’t last half a year if we started a war and you know it.”
Gregor coughed, “Look, as much as I love the talk of wars and werewolves can we stop and get some lunch? I’m half starved and it’s been a good four years since I had something to drink.”
“Four years? Ha. You’re funny, it’s been at least thirty for me.” Kalvier chuckled when he looked at Dante’s shocked expression.
“Are you two mad? It’s been two days and I’m starving!”
Gregor smiled, “Well Dante, if you weren’t so obsessed with the taste of human blood you wouldn’t feel as hungry right now.”
“Look, I’m not obsessed. I just enjoy women too much and after I” He paused, “Well, I am not going to tell you two details. I’m sure that after a couple hundred years of living without a girl you two would get excited about just thinking about that.”
“Actually…” Gregors smile faded, “I don’t like women, so I don’t have to deal with that type of obsession.”
“And as far as women go I think that they are all pretty much the same so it isn’t really worth my time anymore. It gets boring.” Kalvier yawned. Of course, he knew he was lying. But he had forced himself to live alone. Anyone he dragged into his life ended up dead or just in pain.
“So we can say this session is over then?” Dante’s question was one that they all had been thinking the moment they had walked into the building. Except Gregor, he was always a goody two shoes vampires when it came to council meetings. Though this couldn’t really be called a council meeting considering half of the members were missing but that was only because they were all too busy visiting family and friends. It was almost Thanksgiving and they still celebrated holidays.
“Yup. Done.” Gregor laughed. “I’ll see you two in a week. Unless these wolves start acting up.”
“Which they won’t do … if they know what’s good for them that is.”
“Dante, where you headed?” Kalvier was already ready to go and halfway to the door.
“Out, to a bar maybe. Pick up a chick or two. Get some blood in my system, the whole shebang y’know.”
“Sounds like fun. Enjoy yourself, don’t leave too many marks.” Kalvier left, closing the door behind him.
“What’s his hurry?” Gregor yawned, “You two move too fast. What’s the rush?”
“Well, I’m starved and Kalvier probably leads a second life that we have no idea about.” Dante chuckled, as if thinking of an inside joke. “Oh, and it’s not that we’re fast. You’re just too slow. See ya round rainbow chaser.” Dante followed after Kalvier and left the warehouse as quickly as he had entered.
“Left alone again. In the dark. Eh. Maybe I’ll go for a walk. I need the sunlight.” Gregor looked down at his skinny pale arms. “Yeah. Definitely need more sun.”
