The Bad Moon Inn

[dragon_berry]

OOC: Ed, I found you

The boy closed the wooden door behind him and locked it with a well-crafted silver key. Headed toward the stairs he thought to himself as he stared blankly at the ceiling. Why did I keep thinking about that incident? Screw it! I should try to think about something else. Scratching his neck, Arc stepped into the common room and looked at the large window on his right. Well the rain has stopped. That means I’d feel the scorching heat of tropical cities again in the next few minutes. The room was filled with different peoples with different transformation on them. Arc walked quietly toward the bar, still having the dreamy expression on his face. The gnome bartender walked toward him cleaning a tall crystal glass.

“Sorry kid, we ain’t got the usual red wine. Last one goes to that lady over there.” he asked in his old voice, pointing to a purple masked woman.

“Anything but Ale should do than” Arc replied
“Oh, it stopped raining” said the gaunt young man further along the bar. "Yes, rain does have a tendency to disappear eventually,” replied the purple masked woman, taking another sip of her wine.

“Well, everything does” Arc murmured heavily letting the purple masked woman hear his whisper.

[The Editor]

Hunt is a girl

Ed.

[dragon_berry]

OOC: Oops, my bad. *EDITED

[The Editor]

“Oh, it stopped raining” said the gaunt young man further along the bar. "Yes, rain does have a tendency to disappear eventually,” replied the masked woman (or whatever), taking another sip of her wine.
[...]
“Well, everything does” Arc murmured heavily letting the purple masked woman hear his whisper.

Ed.

[dragon_berry]

OOC: Sorry. I think I've got an insomnia lately and is very sleepy

[The Editor]

'S'okay

Ed.

[Hikari]

Destrey wished he would have said something a bit more intelligent, but now he couldn't exactly take it back. Not wanting to contribute anything else stupid to the thin conversation, he swirled the ale in his glass, debating whether or not he should take another drink of the vile liquid. He supposed that since he was going to be around for a long time, he might as well get used to it. The second sip of ale was as bad as the first, he found out, and he vowed to stick to wine from now on.

[Qoorl]

Profile:
Room Number: 7

Name:Originally Jack Ellans but now he's Anansi, The Spinner of Tales
Jack Montgomery is a psuedonym

Age: 31

Nationality: Originally Andorian but ostensibly he's from the Desert.

Race: Human

Mutation: Mage Rank of Necromancer and then later changed by Loki into the
Werespider.

Description:
Anansi has a tribal spider tattooed across his upper back. Web patterns cover his shoulders.

Background: As far as the mages of the Onyx Tower are concerned, Jack Ellans should have been one of the greatest of their order. Now many consider him their greatest threat. The boy showed strong signs of the Spark at an early age and he was taken and mentored by the Mage Tellar. He learned quickly and he grasped even the most esoteric concept with ease. His skill at surviving in the Tower's complex political deathtraps was strong and he quickly became a rising star among the elite of Mage Society. He advanced to Healer in record time and was well into his Necromancy training when the highest of the order truly began to worry. Jack was disillusioned with the practices of the Tower. He felt the way they manipulated the world was wrong. He wasn't entirely convinced that keeping the children of the gods a secret was the right thing to do, and he often conversed with fractious cliques among mages. Jack, who wouold have been the greatest of the Tower was now a dangerous liability. It was Tellar who proved a compromise. They would send Jack into the Desert. There he would hunt for children with the Spark and seeing a land that was not secretly governed by the council, he would see why their methods were needed. That was the plan at least. Jack left the Tower and traveled to the Desert as planned. There he blended seamlessly into the warrior tribes and might have even settled there as a sort of medicine man if Fate had not intervened.

How you were made: Truth be told it was not Fate that intervened, but rather Chaos. To ingratiate himself with one of the tribes he underwent their rites of manhood. Rites that involved imbibing mind altering juices distilled from rare cacti and venturing alone into the wilderness. There, according to the tribesmen, he would find the totem that would guide his life. He found it... in a manner of speaking. Loki descended on Jack in the form of a spider. He bit the young mage, injecting him his essence, but also more mind altering venom. The spider grew larger before the addled Necromancer and it spoke in his mind.

"I am Anansi, The Spinner of Tales," The Spider claimed, "We are one in the same, I am Spirit and you are my avatar on the physical plane. Do my work and spread our name. Gather the tales of the land, learn the lores of the races and the so called subraces. Collect the tales of all the lands and speak them. You are Jack Ellans no longer. Arise and do your duty Anansi, Spinner of Tales."

To what purpose Loki created the deceit is unknown to this day. Jack, now believing himself to be Anansi returned to the village, displaying his powers for the tribesmen to see, he quickly convinced them of the veracity of his story. They tattooed his skin to display his Nature. He stayed in the desert for some time, learning the stories of the tribes. In time he found a village in the grip of terror. A massive Hyena that some said walked like a man and mimicked human speech preyed upon the people at night. Anansi went out to hunt for the creature and soon learned that it was a creature like he, a Shifter, though it was feral and savage. It had no control and knew only slaughter. This was the first Slaying that The Spinner of Tales enacted. He began to travel then. Hunting those mutants who stepped out of bounds, who were too demented or twisted to live. In time he learned more of the culture of the vampire and the were. He learned their secret laws and offered himself as a hunter for those who stepped out of line. Occasionally he spared some however, if they could share a worthy enough tale.

Armed with the Strength of the were and the power of the Mage, Anansi, or occasionally Jack Montgomery as he is occasionally wont to go by, has become a whispered legend. People whisper stories of the mystery man who appears by their campfire to swap stories and occasionally leaves behind some small miracle before disappearing. The Weres and Vampires tell darker tales of a creature of strange dichotomy who polices them, a sort of bogeyman that once he sets his sight on a prey will not stop until he has collected a life or a tale. And now, under the guise of Jack Montgomery he has come to the Bad Moon Inn. To collect or record a grand epic or to take those who slip up away in the night, no one is sure.

[Qoorl]

"Jack" emerged from the heap he was lying in behind the bar. The man smelled strongly of intoxicants, it was almost as if he was sweating alchohol. He rapped his fingers on the counter.

"A MaiTai if you will, Robespierre."

The bar gnome shook his head and prepared the bright pink concoction, sliding it toward "Jack." He grasped it and took a longer than probably healthy draught before moving behind the regal elven woman.

"There is a story, of a Spider. The Spider loved to play with it's food. It would lure small animals into it's web with sweet words, confuse them with riddles and circle them predatorially. It kept them off guard and made them unsure wether to be frightened or elated. One day it caught a new kind of creature. It looked like a fly but it's colors were bright. Oh how much fun that Spider had tormenting that fly. She capered and chanted and riddled and kidded. Then as she prepared to move in for the kill, her fangs lusting for blood, the fly changed. It became larger and larger until suddenly there was a large human boy standing over her. The boy picked up the spider, studied her carefully and then popped her into a jar. The boy collected strange creatures you see. The Spider was a magnificent specimen and I believe you can see her body on display at the museum here in the city."

Another long sip of Maitai, before narrowing his eyes at Risk.

"I'd run along if I were you friend. This Spider will get far too pretentious before she attemps to dine."

A flash of a smile and the Maitai was polished off.

[Keke Le Cat]

The corners of Keke's mouth lifted in a small smile as soon as the man began to speak. With every chug of fruity drink he took, her smile grew exponentially. When she realized a good deal of fang was showing, her smile lessened slightly. It took a great deal of practice not to smile a very toothy grin, but she'd mastered it hundreds of years ago.

She understood the man's metaphor instantly, of course, but if he expected her to toy with her food, then she was never one to disappoint.

“How very fascinating! Are you an entomologist? No, of course not, I see you lurking around here all the time... Guzzling liquor like a fish and...” She trailed off, shaking her head slightly. Her smile faded like a sunset. “Then what is all this about insects with their dinner?” Her lips quirked. “A spider you say? Where?”

“I'd run along if I were you friend. This Spider will get far too pretentious before she attempts to dine.”

“Ducky and I were just getting better acquainted. Weren't we, darling?” She leaned across to pat Risk's hand and caught his eyes for a moment in the process. That's all it took, a second or two of eye contact and he was putty in her hand. The young were so easy.

“Of course.” Risk muttered.

“Of course.” Keke parroted.

“What was it you were saying? Something about a museum? You don't seem the type to enjoy museums very much. Would they even let you in smelling as you do? Have you ever considered a bath? The baths upstairs are lovely,” she wrinkled her nose delicately and acted as though about to touch his hand, before drawing back at the last second. “Shall I ask Betse to run one for you?”

She raked her eyes up and down him, “You might be half presentable if you put down the drink and bathed now and then. What was your name again? Hack? Mack? Tack? Something like that. If you run along and have a bath then I might consider allowing you to escort me to this little museum of yours. Alright? Alright. That's a good lad.”

She made shooing motions with her hands toward the stairs.

[Qoorl]

"Jack" smiled.

"I've seen the museum, thanks." He spit into the nearly empty cup and it seemed to sizzle for a brief moment. The man took a seat at a nearby table, propping his feet up on it.

"Besides, why would I want to visit a museum with such a cold fish? That COULD be a wrong assessment of course, but why else would you been wasting your considerable talents on babes in the woods? Unless of course you were trying to acquire a minion or a boy toy. Obviously you could HIRE minions so it HAS to be the latter. And if it's the latter then you're missing a few rungs. I mean I understand, I've heard from several women that looks alone aren't always enough to bag their man. I mean some people are just SO obnoxious that all the pretty faces in the world can't make them appealing, not saying that about you per se, but I can understand why you might resort to some sort of augmentation. Speaking of augmentation, There are some necromancers out there who are doing WONDERFUL work swapping out less desirable features for parts from better models. It's not something YOU'd look into but, scarring and that sort of nasty thing can happen to the best of us."

The man paused for a moment to slip on a pair of spectacles. With a tug at the side of his mouth, he gave a half smile and the lenses fogged over, a deep cloudy purple.

"Where was I? Oh yeah... as to my condition," He swirled the glass a bit in his hand, "I find it helps to keep me healthy. But please by all means, if you are hell bent on keeping your new pet, y'all sit down and have a drink. Tell me your tales, what brings you to such a...quaint little inn? Is it getting hot in here? I think it is."

He stood for a moment, taking his jacket off and laying it on the back of his chair, displaying the web patterns and the spider tattoo across his back. He was sure it wouldn't mean anything to any of the new blood, they hadn't been around long enough to hear the stories of the Spinner of Tales. The more...experienced perhaps, might be able to deduce who he actually was, and just how dangerous he could be. He hadn't dropped a hint like this in the two weeks he had been in town. The thought was sobering and he grinned a little. Perhaps Camilla wasn't the only one who liked to play with her food. At last he resumed his seat.

[dragon_berry]

Guessing he just made a stupid conversation that’ll lead him nowhere, Arc drank his wine and changed the conversation. Well at least that opened the discussion, I’ll just go straight to the point than.

“Are you here for the removal like the other done?” removing his hood, Arc showed the white fur on the back of his neck.

Those people don’t seem changed so much. I can see they get the transformation for a pretty long time since they’re not from around this part. I can faintly smell the ocean from that woman but that guy seems like he was staying here for a few days before, his odor seems have gone blurry.

[The Editor]

The ocean?

Ed.

"If you mean the goblin infestation then yes, I suppose I am," replied Hunt, finishing her wine.

[dragon_berry]

Just because you smelled like the ocean means you've been to the ocean. Arc's 'sniffing' stuff is new

[The Editor]

... Umm...

Ed.

"I need another drink," said Hunt. "Anyone have any suggestions?"

[Keke Le Cat]

Camilla arched an eyebrow, frowning. As his closely veiled insults grew worse, her frown deepened until just a hint of fang peeked over her lower lip. She had never mastered the cold anger that most of her kind demonstrated, a fire still burned in her when her temper rose. Her blood flowed hot as her eyes narrowed. When his tirade finally ended and he stood, she began, “You vile, contemptible...”

She trailed off when she saw his tattoos. So that was who he was. How interesting. “I'm not certain if I should be flattered or not that you compared me to a spider, Anansi.”

Allowing the thin weave of compulsion she used on Risk to trail away, Keke focused all of her energy on the man across from her. She rooted around inside his drink addled brain, searching for a decent memory to feed on.

It was foggy in the streets. The man stepped quietly down the alleyway. He had already found his prey, now it was just a matter of confronting him before he did something naughty. Again. He spotted the target's target and the target approaching her. She was a waif-like girl, standing along the corner, her dress cut low. It wasn't made that way of course but a bit of knifework made it more revealing, and more than a little desperate. The man stalking her wore a top hat and a coat, a surgeon's bag dangled from his hand.

Jack stepped out of the shadows behind both of them, clearing his throat.

"Funny story. I once met a guy that... well I didn't meet the guy, I met his success. See he was trying to do the same thing you were doing. Only he was a bit more ambitious. The fellow was a dwarf from the north, and he wanted to make something to protect his hold should he fall. So he started taking the bodies of fallen comrades, and from the Jotun they felled. HE pieced them all together, did all sort of mumbo jumbo, alchemy, lightning attraction, all that good stuff. And so Jotunstein was born. He was basically a living dead troll. Ice ran through his blood and he could control the frost. It was terribly interesting. Sadly the dwarf that created him was so horrified by what he had done that he kicked my new friend out into the cold. WE met up, I gave him some chow and we parted ways. It was a marvel really. Still, you made one mistake the dwarf didn't. You're out here trying to murder poor girls like Miss... I'm sorry I didn't catch your name?"

The story had more than unsettled the girl, and as uneducated as she was, the tale gave her an idea of what the sinister man had in store for her. She shrieked and fled as the top hat gentlemen turned on "Jack."

"You bastard! I only needed a few more parts. It was possible she could have supplied everything I needed! After that it was only the matter of procuring a girl from which I could salvage enough fresh blood to pump into my Darling Violetta!"

"Jack" smirked.

"Violetta? You've already picked out a name? Listen you're clearly disturbed. Perhaps you could return to the Onyx Tower, turn yourself in, and get fixed up. If I were to let you go that is."

The man's feature's contorted in rage and he pulled a scalpel from his bag. Electricity crackled along the blade.

"I am an Elementalist! You can't hope to stop me, Meddler!" He screamed and charged.

"Jack" picked up a stick from the ground and with a flurry of motion, he knocked the ensorcled blade from the man's hand and surged forward, hand shooting out to clasp the man's throat and slam him into the wall. He was sure to lift him just a tiny bit above the ground. It was obvious to the murderer now that perhaps he had bitten of more than he could chew.

"Here's another tale. A Tale of man who was a sorcerer. A Necromancer of the highest order, until he learned who he truly was. An Avatar of knowledge and an engine of righteous retribution. He was Anansi, The Spinner of Tales. He gathered the lore of the world and he punished the wicked. HE met a man, a depraved coward who murdered hookers. They might not be innocent but they did NOT deserve to be used in twisted experiments."

The man twitched, struggling for air. There was fear in his eyes now.

"And do you know what the Spinner of Tales did when he finally caught that man?"

The murderer shook his head feebly, feet kicking and eyes wide. The top hat had fallen from his head now, splashing into a puddle in the cobblestones. Jack thrust the stick into the man's stomach and called upon the meeting of Order and Chaos. The Spark flared within him as he transfered an agonizing Death into the man's body. It convulsed wildly, until Jack dropped him to the ground.*

Anansi, The Spinner of Tales dipped his finger in the man's open wound, taking blood and using it to draw a stylized spider on the corpse's forehead. Then he calmly stood and walked away. He paused at the end of the alley.

"He killed him of course."

Licking her lips, she smiled across at Anansi. She had no way of knowing if he knew what she had done, or if he knew she knew what he had done so recently. The blood... How had he resisted so much blood? But then, he was no ordinary Shifter. That much blood... It was a treat.

She licked her lips again, nervously, anticipatorily. She had become so accustomed to taking a sip here, viewing a memory there, that she had almost forgotten what it was like to have so much fresh blood. How long had it been since she had fed deeply?

The memory troubled him, was it why he drank? She had the most absurd desire to comfort him, but what could she do?

“I could take it away. The memory.” she whispered, letting him make of it what he would.

[dragon_berry]

Okay, I screwed that one. I'm the type of person who act and think instead of the other way round. But I'm pretty good at those

“Wha…” Arc paused for a while “When would it happened, I didn’t get the exact time that moment” Arc continued uncertainly and take another sip from his glass.

That was close! If he knew I didn’t know about the ‘goblin infestation’ or whatever he meant I’d never know anything. The best thing is to just follow his conversation and I’ll know what this ‘infestation’ all about. The rain has stopped for at least twenty minutes. The sun began to shines brightly covering the inn with its radiant glow. Another drops of sweats appeared in Arc’s face, joining the cold sweat he shed. Arc took another sip, hiding his thin smile

[The Editor]

Her!

Ed.

"I think we'll deal with the problem tonight," answered Hunt. "I believe that would be the best time for any who wish to take part." Tapping her fingers on the bar, Hunt looked down into her glass.
"I wonder," she said after a minute, "if this establishment has any cranberry juice. Barkeep!"
"What now?" he asked, irritated. He hadn't had a moments rest for over an hour and was beginning to get rather annoyed. Didn't vampires sleep during the day? At least half his clientèle were blooddrinkers.
"Would you, perchance, have any cranberry juice behind that bar of yours?"
"No." The gnome stomped off again, leaving Hunt downcast.

What time is it?

Ed.

[Qoorl]

Anansi turned to the girl, narrowing his eyes dangerously for a moment before cracking another huge grin.

"Don't you understand? It is my calling. My memories are a sacred thing. The Spinner of Tales lives to collect stories, and what are stories but experiences and memories? There are far more dreadful things in my head, my dear. Everyone has a burden to bear, I'm certain there is some tale that you take part in even now that weighs heavily on your mind?"

He looked into his glass for a moment before glancing back up.

"But it seems another story is already in the process," The Spinner of Tales turned to regard Hunt now, "Tell us more about these Goblins, madame."

[Keke Le Cat]

Inez stalked up and down the room, back and forth like a caged animal. It wasn't her bad habit, it was the cat's, but she indulged it when she wanted to. The cat liked to stalk when it was anxious, and if this didn't cause anxiety, nothing would.

“So you are saying to me, Miss Temple, that the body of Mr. Burl Jewel Junior, the youngest son of the mayor of this community, was gone when you arrived this morning,” said Mr. Stoddlemiejer.

“Yes sir, no body snatchin' went down after I got here. I can guaran-damn-tee you that much,” Inez snapped, crossing her arms under her chest. She didn't like the little squirrel of a man's tone. Not one bit. Was he accusing her of something?

“You are absolutely certain that... Never mind.” He shook his head and pursed his thin lips, pinching the bridge of his nose between two fingers. “And what time did you get here, Miss?”

He kept emphasizing the Miss, as though her age made her somehow culpable for the missing corpse. “I got here same time I always get here, 'round 1pm to clean up after the mornin' funeral.”

“Services, Miss Temple, we call them services. It is more polite to the grieving family.” He snapped. Her cat wanted to show it's teeth and hiss, but she refrained. It certainly was not her fault that Burl Jewel's body was missing from it's coffin, but she seemed to be taking the brunt blame.

“Alright, services then. I reckon I'll go get the sheriff, Mr. Stoddlemiejer. We need to be about notifying the proper folks about what's been happenin'.” Said Inez.

“Now you hold on a minute,” said Mr. Stoddlemiejer, grabbing Inez's arm and holding onto her as though she had bolted for the door. “No one needs to know about this. If you cooperate with me, we can save the mayor from the post-death trauma of having his son's corpse disappear.”

“What are you sayin'? That we should bury an empty casket? Don't you reckon someone might notice?” Inez asked, her huge blue eyes widening in confusion and more than a little shock.

“I'm saying that if you listen to me and do exactly as I say, I get to keep my job and consequentially so do you,” said Mr. Stoddlemiejer.

“That don't seem right to me. Not one bit. Folks should know where their kin rest. That's the way it goes. It's just what's right. This is bigger than our jobs, sir.” Inez reasoned. She shook off his hand and took a step for the door.

“You can't do this. I've taken care of you for years!” He shouted.

“If you call lettin' me live in that run down shack out back in exchange for me workin' my fingers to the bone cleanin' and scrubbin' and cookin' for you taking care of me then you are as insane as you look! If you ask me, it's me who has been taking care of you.” Inez shouted right back.

“If you tell one living soul that Burl Jewel's body is missing then I will tell them you are some kind of witch and you stole the body for a voodoo ritual. Don't think I won't. The population is still primarily elven in the Fingers, Miss Temple. They will believe me over the likes of some trampy human orphan. Do you hear me?” He was thinking fast. “If you breath one word, I will tell people you do things to these bodies that come into my funeral home, and they will believe me.”

“That is evil. Evil begets evil.” Inez was scandalized. They would believe him. She knew it, most people hated her based on her race alone.

“Threats, as unkind as they may be, are at times quite useful. If you tell anyone, the sheriff, Mrs. Jewel, a roach as it crawls across the windowsill of MY rundown shack that I so kindly allow you to reside in, I will ruin you. I won't enjoy it. I will agonize over it for eternity. I may even shed a tear as I watch them hang you, but I will have no choice. I will say your words are the vomit of a crazy human woman's twisted mind.”

“I cannot stand by and let you lie to that boy's family. It ain't right.” Inez insisted.

“And I cannot allow you to speak the truth.”

“I can't stay here no more then.”

“I am certain that your absence will be a huge loss to our community,” said Mr. Stoddlemiejer sarcastically.

Inez turned and walked away. She didn't know what else to do. She went to her home and packed what little she possessed, not much more than the clothing on her back. She walked away,without looking back on the swampland that had been her home. It had not been an easy life, but it was all she knew.

At first, she traveled alone across the abandoned plains of Carolain, enjoying the solitude. Then northward she went, toward Andoria, until she finally reached the capitol city. As it rained, she walked up and down every side street looking for just the right inn. Inez didn't have much in the way of cash, but she knew how to work, and she planned to get a job as a barmaid to earn her keep.

Finally, she stood on the outskirts of town staring at the Bad Moon Inn. Something about it called to her, for some reason it seemed... familiar.

And that was how she found herself walking up the steps of the tavern as the last rain drops fell.



--- --- --- --- --- ---

Camilla stared at Anansi with an eyebrow arched and a smirk on her lips. The man was self righteous, superior... Completely and outrageously... Infuriating! Beyond all reason. So then why did she find him so amusing?

She giggled into her hand, and as he turned away she turned her attention back to the young Shifter... Keke smiled sweetly at Risk.

Her ears pricked as she heard, “Tell us more about these Goblins, madame.”

“Goblins? Here?” Camilla laughed at that. Surely the Jotnar had not infiltrated the kingdom of Andoria? The humans were not good for much, but at least they kept the Jotnar in the north. “I have never heard of a single Jotunn so far south. But perhaps they found a tunnel dug by the dwarves of the north... I suppose it is possible... But highly improbable. More likely over grown rats some good woman found in her pantry. Still, perhaps I should take a look.”

Nodding decidedly, she went on, “Yes, I will investigate. You may accompany me if you desire. Where did you say these supposed goblins were located?”

[The Editor]

"The goblins are to be found near a small farm a short distance west from the city," said Hunt, turning around on the barstool and standing up. "I presume you will be joining me on this minor engagement?"

[Keke Le Cat]

Camilla smirked, "If that is how you wish to view it, my child."

It always amused Keke how the young wished to make more of their station than they rightfully should. Oh well, the whelp would learn her place sooner or later. She only hoped the child learned her place before running into the Master of the City. He'd snap her over his knee like a twig for that surly tone.

Risk stood and announced, "I'll join you ladies on your quest."

He couldn't let anything happen to two helpless women. Goblins indeed...

[The Editor]

Hunt glared at the woman. She was no child and hadn't been for some time. Who was this ranger to judge her?
"Goblins are little threat. I've fought much worse."

[Hikari]

Destrey listened to the others' conversation. So, they were going to go hunt goblins? He might as well join them. After all, it seemed like a good idea to make allies and maybe even friends in this unfamiliar city. Plus, the inn would be too quiet once they left.

"I'll come, too," he piped up.

[Keke Le Cat]

Power radiated from the elven queen as she pulled herself up to her full stature in a manner she had learned before her death. She was impressive in herself when she wanted to be. Keke smiled a fangy grin and let all 350 years of her vampiric existence shine out of her eyes.

"Oh, little girl, you have no idea. I'm sure." Keke's fangs bit slightly into her lower lip. "I suppose you've never been in a Family and have no real idea about rank and order among our kind. Let me give you a few tips. The older we are, the more powerful we are. I am well over ten times your age. That means that I could easily place you in a silver bound coffin and deny you sustenance for several years. When I released you, if I released you, I suppose you would then have an idea of my power and why exactly I call you child and you follow my lead. If you were sane, when released, that is."

Keke tapped the end of the cat mask's nose with the tip of a well manicured fingernail. "I suggest you learn humility before you meet the Master of the City. I may be 10 times your age, but he is 10 times mine, or more. I'm not certain, it's impossibly rude to ask. There are so many things which are rude among our kind. Listen, and learn. You may follow my lead when he shows his face around here... No, you must follow my lead, or you will end in that silver wrapped coffin. Do you understand?"

Smiling, Keke tipped her head to the side and watched the oh so young vampire girl. Did she realize how very kind Keke was being? Probably not. Most vampires learned the hard way, and Keke had a very easy manner about her with the young. Her own master had not been kind, and she remembered all too well what it was like to be newly undead.

Oh yes, most master vampires would have had the girl in a bind after the look, let alone her words. Keke hoped that she learned, and learned fast.