Meetings (Bellator)

[Ghost]

Dameon stepped silently through the forest, hoping to come across an unspecting human who had unwittingly stepped into vampire territory. Come on. There has to be someone around, he thought to himself. However, several more minutes of walking around and tuning his senses to the environment told him that he was alone. Wonderful, he thought to himself. Yes, he had eaten when he had woken up but he was bored and wanted a snack. But alas, it would appear that fate would not be kind to him tonight.

With an unnecessary sigh, Dameon continued on his way, his eyes narrowed as he searched the darkness once more, this time for potential enemies. Seeing and hearing nothing, he was about to call it a night when a faint rustling reached his ears. He frowned. What had that been? Whatever it was, it certainly wasn't human. He could smell it. When the rustling came again, he let out a warning growl, letting whoever or whatever that was out there know that though he wasn't looking for a fight, he would give them one. The rustling came again, louder this time and the vampire king recognized the sound of footsteps approaching. Well, at the very least, this ought to be interesting, he thought to himself and crossed his arms, taking a nonchalent pose as he waited for the source of the sounds that he had heard reveal themselves.

[Deleted]

Bellator had been traveling for some time. The only thing he really got was a direction to where the king resided and was warned he would most likely be killed before he got there or at best killed upon arrival being denied his request to speak with the king. Bellator was fed up with these lands, everything was dark and surrounded with the scent of death. Bellator started grumbling to himself "Stupid forest, how does anything grow in this forsaken place any-" Bellator paused a moment as he was hit in the face once more by a branch he lost grasp of trying to push out of the way. "-way" Bellator was a great tactician and could must surprise attacks and ambushes and when need be move as stealthily as the next guy but it wasn't his strongest skill that was for sure. There was a reason he chose and took to the life of a soldier and not an assassin or thief. He marched through the forest hardly scared of any apparent threat almost hoping someone or something would pick a fight so he could let some of his frustration with traveling these lands loose. He stomps and pushed on oblivious to how loud he was being. He hadn't ate in a day as there was little in this land he could actually eat and anything he might have was most likely poison to him. That and the fact that even a normal forest would have annoyed him. He was an air dragon and took to the skies not the forests. Bellator was beginning to regret letting his horse run free back to his own lands and tried not to think of himself eating it as his stomach growled because he did adore his black steed greatly even if he preferred to fight on his feet and travel by flight. "What the hell was I even thinking? Where am I? Vampires don't use god damn signs?"

Bellator finally came through a clearing when he spotted a man standing rather laid back. Bellator chuckled faintly to himself "Finally, I was almost convinced all the dead here...well died." Bellator said noting to himself the vampire before him was in fact real and not a illusion. "I wouldn't suppose you could point me in the direction of your kings castle. Rumor has it that its this direction but I can't claim to know these lands or how many times I deterred from my path trying to get through this forsaken forest. So what do you think, help a poor lost stranger find his way friend?" It was more irritating to Bellator not because he didnt know the lands but because under different circumstances it wouldnt be a factor. He simply fly and in the sky he couldn't hope to get lost unless it was his intention. Bellator stood pleased to see someone who could possibly help or better yet not help and Bellator could let off some steam and try and force the truth from what would no doubt be a string of lies. Bellator was obviously did not fear the presence of vampire and one could debate whether this be a poorly drawn line between confidence and arrogance or pride in ability and underestimation.

[Ghost]

Dameon couldn't help the chuckle as he heard a man complaining about the forest, wondering how anything grew. Have to admit, this land even surprises me sometimes, he thought. At the sound of a tree branch hitting flesh, the Vampire King let out another snicker. At least whoever this was providing some entertainment, though his scent warned the vampire that he had better be on his guard.

At the man's complaint that vampires didn't use signs, Dameon nodded. This was true. They weren't needed. Most vampires knew this forest pretty well. As the man approached him, Dameon just stared and then raised his eyebrows when he said that he had thought all the dead had risen.
"If all the truly dead here were to stand up all at once, we'd have one hell of a population problem," he drawled.

He then frowned when the man mentioned that he was trying to find his castle. And why does he want to know that? he huffed to himself. From the smell of it, this guy was some kind of dragon---he never could keep the different kinds straight---and the only reason a dragon would be looking for a castle was to destroy it and take its inhabitants. Well, he certainly wasn't going to let that happen and at least this guy didn't know that he was actually talking to the Vampire King.
"I have no idea. Never met the guy myself," he lied smoothly. "So why are you looking for him? Is it politics or are you just looking to hang out with a vampire?" he continued, as he kept his stance. He wasn't going to pounce unless it was absoultely necessary. He would just have to wait to see what this guy wanted and waiting was something Dameon absolutely hated. However, he didn't become the Vampire King by being foolish or reckless, so he would wait. And if he didn't get a snack in the process, maybe he'd at least get a decent fight.

[Deleted]

Bellator shrugged as he realized the vampire was right, it was indeed best their weren't as many of the walking dead around. "I suppose you are right on that account." The vampire asked what Bellators business was with the king. Bellator saw no reason not to make his intentions clear. What was the worst that could happen? The vampire could try to stop Bellator which would only please the dragon who already was looking for an outlet for his frustration. The vampire could run and blab to the king which in reality would just save Bellator the trouble of having to do it himself. The vampire would do nothing and thus nothing would change. Or the vampire would help and thus far getting Bellator one step closer to being able to leave. Bellator didn't see anything to lose. "I am Commander Bellator Draconis of the Brigade. I lead their militaries core, their soldiers section of the organization. I was scouting the borders of these lands to investigate a recent dispute between your kind and the werewolves. I wanted to know if there would be any overflow of trouble for us from the seemingly unending conflict between your two races. That and the brigade holds a certain number of werewolves within our ranks, I wanted to make sure they had no reason to be compelled to abandon their loyalties to the brigade for their brethren. None the less I came upon and interesting sight on my travels. A woman, not vampire, but a live woman heartbeat and all to which I thought was in the process of becoming a group of vampires dinner." Bellator folded his large burly arms and he continued. "I was wrong, so it seemed. This woman was not being attacked at all, she was in fact being accompanied by these vampire, 'protected' as they insisted to tell me. They were also insistent on trying to convince me she was their queen. She appeared to be more a prisoner than anything else so at first I did not believe them and tried to stop them and free her." Bellator sighed disappointingly thinking back on how things didn't go the way he wanted them to.

"But before anything rash happened this queen of yours finally spoke despite the guards plea not to. Its funny because outside these lands most queens tell their soldiers what to do not the other way around. I guess its why I was confused into thinking they were lying to me. The queen informed me of some interesting details as to her stay here. Apparently she has a child here that I suppose must have been taken when she was taken. The point is I was hoping to persuade your king into letting the queen go free as she wishes. She looks to be in pain, clearly unhappy, this place is a torturous plague to her and I find it hard to believe that anyone who cared for her would allow her to suffer as she seems to be. Which is why I don't believe she is cared for at all. But something will be done. There has to be some arrangement or deal to be made. I have a hard time believing this woman means anything to your king as said, her imprisonment here is apparent in that. There is little in this world I cannot do with the resources I have. Little I cannot get. There must be something he desires more than an unhappy slave and her child." Bellator told the vampire. Though Bellator didn't really have all the details or truly know the exact situation he was as honest as he could be. He might have been more tactful in his opinions of the matter if he knew to whom he spoke but Bellator truly didn't see any harm as what he said he thought was true. Bellator cleared his throat then simply asked "You would know him more than I would. Perhaps I should rephrase things when I speak to him. What would you do in my place knowing what you do about your king? What does he desire? What does he want? Would he perhaps accept some sort of compromise?"

[Ghost]

Dameon frowned when the man introduced himself and stated that he was scouting the region to see him in regards of conflict between vampires and werewolves, wanting to know if there was going to be any overflow and also saying that he hoped that the werewolves under his command wouldn't be compelled to forget pack loyalty and fight for the vampires. The vampire hid a smirk. So, their feud was worrying dragons was it? That was certainly interesting to say the least.
"There should not be any overflow in our dispute, but it is a war and sometimes casulties will happen," Dameon replied. "And as for the wolves under your command, I cannot speak for the vampire king as I have never met him, but they shall be safe from me," he continued. Okay, so that was a lie. If he could use them to further his purposes, why not? But there was no reason to reveal that.

Dameon was about to say more when the other man went on, mentioning a human that he and his men had seen and had tried to rescue. The vampire let out an inaudible growl. This was the man that had tried to take his wife? I should rip him in two! he fumed. However, he forced himself to calm down even as the man told him what had happened, voicing his confusion that the vampire queen let soldiers tell her what to do.
"I have heard that things are---complicated---at the castle though no one knows why," Dameon responded having to hold his temper at the man's description of his castle. He knew full well that Marina wasn't happy but he didn't need some stranger butting into their business.

He listened tot he man's questions and tried to control himself.
"If it is about releasing the queen, you should not waste your breath. He will not listen to you or anybody you might send," he informed him.

[Deleted]

Bellator was glad to hear that the situation in these lands were not to be a projected problem for him or the brigade. However Bellator wasn't about to take the vampires word for it, simply take it under consideration while preparing for the worst. One could never go wrong with preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. Bellator was not pleased however to hear that the king would no doubt be completely unreasonable to any thoughts of releasing their 'queen'. Bellators frustration was made more clear upon hearing this as the expression on his face was of anger. "I do hope you are wrong vampire. Pray he uses reason in his decisions because if what you say is true it will be unacceptable. The brigade is for the most part a neutral party. The affairs of vampire are not mine or any within our organization to mettle in outside of official buisness. Personal disputes are not permitted against any for any reason if it is unrelated to brigade affairs. Not even as a commander do I have the authority to lead my men against the walls of your king simply because I think his plagued kingdom is a poison to this world and all around it. But if they were to learn that vampires are now subjugating slavery over other races, holding captives, well, I doubt it will be hard to find someone if not entire nations to hire us to rescue these poor individuals once word spreads. A slight exaggeration is all that is needed for my story and the brigade will give me all the authority and resources I need to loosen the grip the vampire have held on this plain. But this is worst case scenario. As much as I would enjoy it, I do not want to bring more conflict to this place, nor risk the lives of my men for the evils of vampire."

Bellator unfolded his arms and gave a deep sigh. "The people of this world have the potential to rise to greatness they can't imagine now. To evolve! Just as the fire dragon gave life to the flame element and lifted it to greatness that are now the great phoenixes others can rise too; with help. Vampire however, for all their power, advanced technology, false immortality...they cannot. They do not live forever because none of you live at all, you don't die because your already dead. You won't ever evolve, you are an anomaly that will never grow, only live as the shadows of your former selves. You are poisonous, plague like in your repopulation, and leech of the life and greatness of others. You are barely above demons. But for many many years I have not sought vengeance. I have not sought any vendetta after personal issues with your kind. Hell I have barely noticed your tiny insignificant world within these lands. But heed this warning, my attention brings one of two things. Greatness or destruction. If your king gives me a reason to take notice I assure you greatness will not follow him at all." Bellator rested his hand on the hilt of his blade as he glared at the vampire before him.

"Perhaps you should leave these lands while you still can. This queen of yours, she doesn't belong here. She doesn't want to be here. Her and her daughter are innocent and deserve better than this life they have. This place will be the death of them. I don't know why she is kept alive, I figured if he wanted her so bad he would make her a vampire too. What ever the situation is I don't have time to negotiate long. He will either find a way to compromise and maybe if he is lucky still keep her or he will lose her forcefully. If you don't want any part of that then leave these lands or help me find a way to get through to him. From what I hear she is quite fond of her child as any parent should be. The queen will return for the child, there is no reason to limit her freedom. The specific details are not important but one way or another they will be free. Now if you will excuse me, I have a catsle to find." Bellator paused a moment then started to walk onward.

[Ghost]

Dameon's eyes flashed at the man's response to his statement about Marina. Slavery!? How dare he!? Marina wasn't his slave but his wife! He never treated her with anything but respect. How dare he insinuate anything unsavory?
"We are not in the habit of enslaving anyone," he informed the man in a tightly controlled voice. Do not kill him, do not kill him, he coached himself. This guy didn't know who he was so he wouldn't expect him to get defensive over Marina. He just had to remember to keep his cool.

As the man continued on, stating that dragons evolved and grew but vampires didn't, Dameon's eyes flashed and he couldn't help the growl that escaped from his throat. So what if they never died? They weren't dead exactly, they were alive...sort of.
"Do you realiy think insulting me and my race will make me inclined to get a favorable message on your bealf to the Vamprie King?" he asked, trying to keep his temper in check. "You know, for one who desires peace, your diplomacy could use a little work," he snarked.

Then he fell silent as the man brought up Marina again, stating that she and Katia were innocents who didn't belong with him and that they should be free. Dameon fought the urge to clench his fists. No one threatened to take his family away and lived to tell about it! And Marina would never allow someone to forcefully remove her or Katia from the castle. If she left, it would be of her own free will.
"Only one problem with that idea. If you take her by force, you would be just as bad as you believe the Vampire King to be," he said. "Think about it: a man breaks into a woman's home, grabs her and her child...what do you suppose she would think was going on? She would most likely fight you even if it meant losing her own life," he continued. And Marina would do it too. Especially if Katia was in danger. I will wager that thought never even crossed his mind, he mused. Then he watched as the man paused before walking off.
"Good riddance," he mumbled to himself and then silently walked out of the forest, making sure no one was watching him before hurrying back to his castle.

[Mari]

An agressive meeting between the two headstrong males ends with tension and distrust on either side which may prove difficult to overcome in the coming months. Years pass before these two males may meet again.

THREAD CLOSED