Blood Angel

[focusedheart]

She had kept out of sight while she waited for him. Upon his return she looks to him and accepts the bag. She shakes her head slightly. "It is still experimental. I may still pass out if I fees right now." She says. There was an edge of fear in her voice. Something that hadn't been there before. She feared being so vulnerable.

[gravitron]

"Are you sure? I don't know how long you can go without feeding. If you pass out, I can carry you."

[focusedheart]

She hesitates. Could she truly trust him? To be unconscious for the few hours ,she wasn't sure.

That hunger though was hard to ignore as she looks to the bag in her hands. She had to feed now or risk killing an innocent.

Nodding quietly she let her fangs puncture the bag and she drank until there was nothing. The usual pain from feeding didn't start until she was half way done with the bag. She had been so hopeful that this would work. It had a little but the pain appeared as usual and she grimaces from it. She knew she would black out then. It would only be a few minutes more before she did.

[gravitron]

"Shit. It didn't work, did it? I had dared to hope.... But we'll figure that out later. For now, we have to get to a safehouse, preferably before you collapse. Don't let go," he warned, grabbing her hand and taking off at vampiric speed. Then they arrived at the safehouse.... If you could really call it 'safe.'
It was a small, rickety wooden shack. Pieces of the roof had fallen in and the door was hanging from a single hinge. The windows were cracked. On the other hand, it looked like Lucifer was the last person to be here in centuries, so it wasn't likely that anyone would stumble upon them by accident. The other side of the shack was a huge forest, dark and wild, its trees with gnarled roots.
"Definitely not my most luxurious home -in fact quite the opposite- but it was close. And the forest has many uses, which I will get into when you wake up, as I can tell you won't be conscious long. I'll get you to the bed." 

[focusedheart]

It was hard to fight the black out but she tried. Managing to stay awake until they had reached the little structure. It was not what she had expected but at the same time she had been sleeping on the streets most nights so this was a change.

The forest was luring. She could feel it's strength from where they stood. She nods a little at his words ,managing a smile to him. "Thank you..." she mutters just before she blacked out.

[gravitron]

"The honor is mine," he whispered to her after she had lost consciousness. Then he entered the shack and set her gently in the only bed, which seemed to be the only furnishing, though a small door was on the other side of the shack, not something you'd be likely to notice. Lucifer tucked her in, making her comfortable, then watched her rest a few moments before heading through the inconspicuous door, locking it behind him.

[focusedheart]

She remained out for a few hours before slowly starting to wake. She grimaces and curls up on the bed a little.

Opening her eyes she looks around them a little. It took her a moment to realize and remember where she was and what had happened.

With a sigh she moves to sit up.

[gravitron]

Moments later, the small door opened and Lucifer reentered the main room. "I heard you awaken. There's much to talk about. Would you please come down to the basement when you're ready?"
He walked back down the stairs, into the basement, which was actually an armory, filled floor to ceiling with weapons and armor, in chests, on mannequins, hanging from racks, sitting in shelves. There was enough for a small army.

[focusedheart]

She blinks a bit at him, tilting her head. What could be possibly be wanting to show her. She follows him down stairs and arches a brow at what she saw there. "Never would imagine any of this being hidden down here." She says curiously.

[gravitron]

"I'm a Royal Vampire. I have to be prepared no matter what. This shack was my first safehouse, actually. Inherited it from the vampire who turned me, when he died in the war long ago. It's right beside the woods for several reasons. Some purposes include hunting -for those light-hearted ones who take animal blood- and hiding in case of invasion. It's heavily booby trapped. We need to find a solution for your feeding problem, first and foremost. I doubt animal blood would work if bags don't, right? The problem is probably your angel half fighting against the taint of blood. It's not used to doing something it considers demonic and evil."

[focusedheart]

She nods a bit in appreciation of his words. The place was interesting for sure. She looks to him when he spoke about her feeding problem. "It does consider it evil. I've tried animals. The bag was the first time I've tried that though."

[gravitron]

"Well, we need to brainstorm ideas. I doubt I could ask my brethren for help on this matter, even if they were likely to know anything helpful, which they aren't. I haven't faced such a hard problem since.... Well, it's not important. You can't stand the taint of blood, yet simultaneously you require it. There must be something with the same properties as blood, simply without the taint.... Or...." His eyes widened. "The Red Fountain."

[focusedheart]

She blinks a bit and looks at him, tilting her head a bit. "The Red Fountain? What is that? I've never heard of such a thing." She says to him

[gravitron]

"It is an ancient artifact, a legend really. But if it's true, if it exists...."
He looked at her. "Supposedly, it has some connection to a higher force. It works like blood, but much more powerful. Any vampire who drinks from it receives unbelievable power. And it can do much more than that, with the proper tools and knowledge. There's a matching chalice and a book. No one knows where any of the three are, if they truly exist, but the book is a spellbook. All you need is accurate Latin to read from it, which I possess. If you put the blood of the Red Fountain in the Blood Chalice and use the right spell, it can do many things to the drinker thought impossible. There are spells to make you immortal, cure vampirisym or lycanyhropy, even turn an angel human. And the prologue hints at the locations of the Chalice and the Fountain. There would certainly be something to help you. And much more."

[focusedheart]

She arches a brow as she gazed at him. "I suppose that would be a good idea to try." She tilts her head. "Where do we start looking for the book?"

[gravitron]

"Leave that to me. I know the vampires, I'll talk to them. If anyone knows anything, I'll find out. You, on the other hand, should keep out of sight. Train, wait. Or would you prefer to come with me?"

[focusedheart]

She hesitates a little. If she went with him, would it do any good? "I'm not sure if that would be a good idea. I could only make some situations worse than they need to be....I'm not exactly friends with anyone." She shrugs a bit.

[gravitron]

"Agreed. You can't be recognized. I doubt anyone will find you here, especially in the basement, but if I'm wrong, take to the woods. I'll find you there when I gave back."
He headed out to meet his contacts.

[focusedheart]

She nods a bit at his words. "Alright." She watches him go. Then she looks around the basement. She was alone again. Her eyes flicker slightly and she sat down wondering quietly what to do while she waited.

[gravitron]

About an hour later, a knocking came at the door. "Lucifer, are you there?" came a rough voice. "It's urgent."

[focusedheart]

She tenses as she hears the knock and the voice. Keeping very still in the basement, she listened carefully.

[gravitron]

He knocked again, louder. "I've checked all your other safehouses, and the inns. This is important."
Then, Lucifer's voice, approaching behind him. "Did you try the other lords' houses? I was meeting with acquaintances."
"Ah, I did not. Well, you've been summoned to the Blood Palace. The king wants to talk to you about the incident at the inn. And he says to bring the girl."
"I'm afraid I don't know where she is."
"That's what the king thought you'd say, you see? He says he watched you two. He saw you with the blood bags and such. He says to bring the girl, and I'd suggest you listen. Wouldn't want to upset the king, now would you? Thought not."
The door opened, closed, and Lucifer was in the basement. "You heard?"

[focusedheart]

She gazed at him as he appeared in the basement. "I did." She regards him carefully. " What will you do?"

She holds her hand up before he answered. "Understand that I do not fear your king and will gladly go with you to him. I've faced darker things than your king."

[gravitron]

"Have you? I suppose it's possible; Before the war, there were two or three more ancient than him, including the former king. You were on the opposing army. It's not too far a stretch. Nonetheless, the king is the most ancient and powerful vampire alive today. The youngest of the four brothers who became the first vampires. The second-eldest died before the war really kicked off. The other two died in the war, killed by angels. They each took down countless of your kind. And the elder three had the Fountain, Chalice and Book respectively. The artifacts were all lost with them. This may be a good thing. He could know where they are.
"I should bring you with me to seem obedient, I suppose. Though we'll pretend I know nothing of you spare your name. I'll find the right time to sneak the question in."

[focusedheart]

She smiles faintly. "Worst case scenario, he kills me and ends my suffering." She shrugs a little.

[gravitron]

"Not going to happen. Don't worry. Now, come on- I know the way to the Palace well."
He took off out the door, first selecting a single sword and sheathing it at his side, then headed toward the Palace.

[focusedheart]

She arches a brow as she looks at him then shakes her head. Did he really understand the pain she was in? So many years like this. She did truly welcome death.

She followed after him though, keeping pace with him as they went.

[gravitron]

They reached the Blood Palace, which turned out to be a humongous medieval castle. It was complete with everything a medieval king could want: Entrance hall, kitchens, dining chambers, dungeons and such, all giant. There were also more modern rooms, mainly for the purpose of entertainment. Then they came to the heart of the castle: The throne room. And sitting in the throne....
He was tall and well-built, with short black hair and red eyes. He had a grim expression on his face, as if he'd just received bad news. And everything about his appearance demanded respect and fear. His glare alone would cause many humans to back off. He looked down at the pair, waiting.
Lucifer knelt and bowed his head, signalling frantically to Angelina with his eyes for her to do the same. "My lord."

[focusedheart]

The home of the vampire Kong was impressive. Angelian was mostly intrigued by the history of the place. It was so rare to see such structures still standing and in such good shape.

As they reached the throne room and stood before the king. She recognized him faintly from the past. His appearance was different back then.

She was tempted to not bow but with Lucifur being so pleading with his eyes, she did as he asked.

[gravitron]

The king smiled. "Rise," he allowed, and Lucifer did so. "It is good, if not a bit unexpected, to see respect among an outsider. An angel, of all things. For that is what she is, is it not?" He looked straight at Lucifer then.
"Yes," replied Lucifer slowly. "Though, if I may be allowed to explain-"
"You will," the king cut him off. "In good time. And for your own sake, it had better be a good explanation. But first, there is a more pressing matter. You have brought an angel into my presence."
"With all due respect, your messenger said that you had ordered it, and she's not exactly-"
"The messenger informed you correctly. Nonetheless, precautions must be taken, as you know full well." He clapped his hands and marching could be heard beyond the doors. "I wouldn't suggest tricks, should you wish to leave alive, Angelian. That is your name, is it not?"