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When Nemo brushed by him like she did, Esmund wasn't surprised by it. A matter of fact he thought she would have flashed out on him but that wasn't the case. So he turned around thinking it was over but the bag she tossed hit him in the chest and he slide back a little from the force he was hit with. He still managed to hold onto the bag though. "Owwww, that was kinda harsh," he said then he noticed she was talking down to him like he was a servant. "And now I went from prince to slave. Could this day get any worse?"
He followed her around the house as she started to fill another bag. He started to get frustrated because he wasn't allowed to leave with anything but she was taking almost her whole house. Most of the stuff he can't or wouldn't be allowed to use most likely. "Hey, why not get a collar to put around my neck too." But that was when he saw the look of sadness on her face as she looked at her room. It really made him feel bad because she had so much less then he did yet she is crying over leaving her home while he couldn't shad a tear. He wanted to say something to cheer her up but he had no idea how she felt or even why she started crying. So since her didn't know what to tell her he figured actions speak louder then words. He took the bag that Nemo had from her and put it on his own shoulders. "So, are you sure you don't want to stay for a little while longer?" he asked sincerely. |
Nemo jumped and looked at Esmund with an odd expression. When he had spoken, it had surprised her and brought her out of her daydream. It was almost like she'd forgotten he was there; and for a moment she had. She closed her eyes and shook her head fiercely for a moment as if to clear it. With the back of one hand she brushed her tears away. When she opened them once again she looked like she normally did, if just a little less cold and distant. "No. We need to leave. And here. I feel useless letting you carry my things... Let me carry my clothes. You've got the vampire strength, carry the bag with the weapons in it." She held out one hand, the same one that she'd wiped her tears with. It slipped her mind that he would be able to smell the faint hint of blood that tainted her tears. Maybe he isn't completely spoiled and selfish... Maybe there's still a heart in there somewhere. Whether it beats or not. A small, very small, smile played on her lips at his simple act of kindness. |
He handed her back the bag and started to head for the door. "Ok then, lets get out of here. I can't really stand being this close to home anymore anyway. Time for me to show my father that I am the son he always wanted... and to find new lovers while I'm at it." he said, his arrogant voice showing itself again.
He walked outside and and looked up into the sky. I've always known the world was bigger then the palace walls but now it's time for me to experience it hands on. And that was when it hit him. "Where the hell am I going to go?!" |
Nemo rolled her eyes and followed Esmund from her home. Maybe there is a heart... but it's buried very very deep. She laughed when the thought that had occured to her much earlier hit him. trees."It's alright your majesty. There is a place near the outside of the kingdoms gates. It's a small place, and you'll have to bathe yourself..." At this point she stopped and grinned at him. "Anyways, it's an alright place. We can get there before dark." With this she took off. Starting out at a run, she soon leaped into the air and shot like a torpedo through the |
Esmund followed her as best he could but running can't ready compete with flying. He just did what he did when they was running to her house. He hopped from tree to tree.
He was happy she had somewhere for them to go and the bathing himself thing wasn't something that would kill him but he would be going to an unfamiliar place and he didn't like the familiar troubles that he had to deal with. How would he handle life outside the castle walls. |
Watching Esmund leap through the trees, Nemo found herself smiling. He was quite a magnificent looking man. Attitude needs a bit of an adjustment though... She laughed and bell-like sounds filled the air. Her keen eyes noticed the town nearing on the horizon and she decided it was time to ground herself. Angling herself upward she did a backflip, allowing Esmund to run past her. Without completing the flip she dived down through the tree canopy and righted herself. She never once stopped moving forward, as as soon as her feet touched the earth she was running; now she was behind Esmund though and was catching up fast. |
Esmund heard the laughter of the angel and it made him feel at peace but he felt somewhat insulted because the only reason he could think of for her laughter was that he couldn't keep up while she was flying. Then the aerial display seemed to support his accusation.
When she landed behind him he thought of all the times she just stopped right in front of him so he wanted to return the favor. He jumped up just before breaking free of the forest and grabbed a tree branch, spin around it, and tossed himself in place on the ground. He figured she would dodge him but he was doing it just so she can put the effort in the dodge him instead of the other way around. |
Grinning and wanting to show off just a little, Nemo didn't quit running. She put her hands on his shoulders and jumped. In mid air she flipped completely over him and twisted so that she landed in front of him in a crouch. As she'd passed over him and begun her descent, she'd felt the tips of her wings brush over his chest. She blushed deeply and couldn't manage a standing landing but she still made it graceful. With one leg extended behind her and the other bent under her one palm flat on the ground and the other arm behind her back, one leg extended back and the other bent and kneeling she looked at the ground for a moment. With a gloriously huge smile she raised her head and looked up at him. "Nice try. Anyone else and they would've ran smack into your back." Standing up, she noticed as a single scarlet feather drifted down, back and forth, directly between the two of them. Catching it, she held it by its staff and held it out to Esmund. "A peace offering." She said, and a slight pink began to color her cheeks. |
She did everything that he expected her to do. A little more flashy then he thought but he pretty much knew this would be where they ended up. The only thing that seemed to surprise him was the sudden warmth he felt as she dropped into sight.
Everything seemed to slow down and every move he noticed. He felt the her wing rub against his chest and he could not only small, but also see and feel the blood on the tainted wing. It made him feel some sympathy for her but he felt more admiration then anything. When she looked at him it was a stunning sight and got even better as the wing passed between them. He could have sworn that his heart started to beat at that moment. He loved this aspect of her most. She was so pure, honest, and loyal but still had a darker feel to her. She seemed to hide a lot and he wanted to unwrap the mystery of this girl, which wasn't like him at all. When she offered him the feather he hesitated and admired the smile of hers before extending his hand and grabbing her hand before grabbing the feather. "Thank you, I will always treasure it." he said, mainly to get in good terms with her but somewhere deep inside he could feel that he told the truth. |
Nemo blushed deeply as his hand grasped hers before he removed it and took the feather."Thank you... " She muttered, shocked by his sincerity. Then looking down and pretending to straighten her clothes she waited until her face had settled and faded to it's normal pale white color before looking back up. Giving Esmund a look of kind contentment and nothing more she turned around and looked toward the city. "We'll be there any minute. We should probably keep going." She looked over her shoulder at him then began walking, much slower than normal to the city. Nemo's head was spinning. First and foremost in her mind was Esmund; which wasn't a good thing. She was completely confused about the prince. There seemed to be two sides to him: the courtly, egotistic, chauvinistic pig like character who was arrogant, selfish, and stuck up and on the other hand there was this side of him. This side of him was sweet and sensitive and still somewhat mysterious seeing as she hadn't seen it much in the time she'd known him. Ohhh.... What a jam I've put myself in... I have to be able to protect him but how can I do that if I'm so distracted by him?! She couldn't help but think. With every step she took closer to the city, apprehension built in Nemo's chest. For some reason, she had a very bad feeling and it just kept getting stronger. |
He walked the same speed as here as he studied the city. To say that the city was so close to the castle he never once laid eyes on it. He pretty much spent his entire life in the castle but what reason he had to leave? He had everything he needed including mates begging to be a vessel for his children. Though kids were the last thing on his mind.
But as he looking at the city it uneased him. The small streets and the back alleys could contain threats of any kinds and he never had to be in a situation like this back in the castle. It still seemed like a alright place though but it obviously wasn't the best. He walked up so he could stay close to Nemo, so close even that he would run into her if she slowed just a little. He didn't know if it was out of worry for her or for himself. She had been to places like this before so most likely it was for himself. But then again she never been to any place like this with a prince, or ex-prince. He was sure to be a target there for any criminal. |
Nemo could feel Esmund close to her and swallowed... maybe just a little too loudly. His proximity wasn't helping her thought clarity at all. She kept glancing at him from the corner of her eyes, sneaking glimpses of his face when she hoped he wasn't looking. Then, almost like she'd read his mind, though she'd been thinking of it before then and needed something to distract herself, she began talking. "When we enter the city, if you don't give anyone any reason to think that you're the prince, then no one will know and we won't have any problems." She'd dropped the formality of saying his title each time she spoke already. "No one will care about a rag tag refugee or two." At this point she stopped dead and turned, laughing as he ran into her. Taking one step back she smiled but there was an edge to it. The apprehension she'd been feeling had been steadily increasing. After trying to hold it for a few moments, Nemo let the smile fade. "Do you feel it? Something... not right." She stated, hoping she didn't scare the prince with her talk. It was then that she heard it. The familiar rustle of wings... but not her own. Whirling around faster than even Esmund's vampiric eyes could follow most likely, Nemo unsheathed her sword and stood low in her stance. Her eyes scanned the trees and she arched her wings out to either side of Esmund. "Stay between my wings and put your back against mine." She commanded. She hoped he'd listen; she hadn't given him the speech about listening to everything she said when things like this happened. |
The closer he got to the city his nerves became even worse. He knew something wasn't right but he had no idea what. He hoped it was just his caution of the unknown town they were about to enter. But what ever it was, he had an open dislike for it. He let out a low hiss as a impulsive reaction.
That was when Nemo stopped. He bumbled into her and grabbed her arm as his nerves made him paranoid to the point where he didn't want to leave Nemo's side for a second. "I know better then that, Nemo." he told her in reply to the first comment. As she was telling him about the feeling she had he could see it. From the corner of his eyes he say the flapping of feathers. When Nemo spin around it caught Esmund off guard. He tripped and he looked up at Nemo standing before him. Deep inside he had a desire to fight but he wasn't going to stop Nemo from doing her job. |
From the trees in front on Nemo, a beautiful man emerged. Arching gracefully from his bare back were two huge, raven black wings. They were so dark that bluish streaks could actually be seen in them. His hair was as black as his wings and hung to about his shoulders. Every bit of exposed skin, his face, his chest, his arms, was a darkly tanned color. His chest was muscular and defined and extended down to a pair of simple black cloth pants. Altoghether, he would have been amazingly handsome to Nemo... Aside from his solid ebony eyes and the sharp toothed smile on his face. "Stand up and be careful. Protect yourself." Nemo said to Esmund without ever turning to look at him. With that, she stepped forward a few steps toward the inhuman figure standing before her. His hands raised from his sides and he crossed them over his chest. As he did this, Nemo could clearly see the long sharp claws he had instead of fingernails. "Who are you and why have you intruded so near to us?" She demanded, drawing a maniacal laugh from the man. "I am Menthus and my reasons are my own." He stated. Then, with lightning speed his smile turned into a snarl and he leaped forward, his clawed hands extended. Nemo was ready though and her eyes watched this all. At the last moment, right before he would have hit her she sidestepped. This did little to stop the oncoming attacker though; with a slight tilt of his feathers, Menthus altered his course and whipped around toward Nemo. His claws raked over her arm drawing straight through the fabric of both her leather jacket and shirt; his claws were razor sharp and the 3 that had made it through left deep slices in her skin which immediately bled profusely. |
When he saw the black winged man he became overly angry. He was the reason for his bad feeling and his only desire was to kill him. Once he charged at them Esmund rolled out of the way and onto his feet. He got ready, thinking he was going to go after him but instead he chased Nemo. He just sat there for a while, trying to stay out of nemo's way but when her blood was shed he couldn't control himself anymore. Either him or the man with black wings were going to die that day.
As he charged at Nemo and her attacker he notices something coming at him from the corner of his eye. He leap back, barely dodging two arrows. Standing where they came from were three men. Their fangs were all visibly sticking out from out their mouths and their pale skin were as white as snow. "And what reason's do you have for attacking us?" he asked the new arrives. The one standing in front with a sword at his side said, "revenge, that's all you need to know." Without hesitating he charged at the men and the two with the crossbows. They raised their bows and fired another set of arrows but Esmund dodged the first and snatched the second from out of the air. The man with the sword drew it and charged at Esmund. When they got close to one another the man tried to behead Esmund but Esmund ducked under the blade and moved behind him. He raised the arrow he caught from before and started to bring it down on the swordsmen but his strike was halted when a arrow flew through his arm. Esmund looked back at the bowmen to see one was loading another arrow and the other was aiming at him. He decided the smart thing to do would be to kill them first. He heard the first mans sword swish through the air towards him so he rolled forward and started to charge at the archers. Esmunds eyes turns blood red, his claws grew, and his fangs sharped as he neared the two men. He whole drive was composed of only the desire to kill. His eyes watered as this feeling overwhelmed him. He felt like a monster. |
"Damn it!" Nemo hissed through her teeth as she felt the bite of the nails in her flesh. It wasn't extremely painful yet but she knew it would be later. Adrenaline finally kicking in with the added danger to Esmund, Nemo through herself forward. She beat her wings powerfully once and headbutted Menthus in the chest like a torpedo. She smiled at the sound of ribs breaking and hoped she'd punctured a lung. With the winged down for at least a few seconds and hopefully seriously wounded, Nemo turned her attention to Esmund. Her heart seemed squeezed in a vice-like grip as she saw the beast that Esmund had become. Turning her head and putting the image from her mind, she quickly dispatched the man that Esmund had turned from. He had been so focused on Esmund that her katana had sliced his head from his shoulders before he'd had a chance to look at her. She thought that she should go and do the same to Menthus but decided against it; she didn't think that her mortal made sword would have much effect on him anyway. "Esmund, hurry! We need to go before Menthus has time to heal himself!" She yelled to his back. As she did so, she pulled a dagger from its sheath on her belt. She threw it hard and it slipped into the one of the archers chests, right in between two ribs. The whole blade disappeared to the hilt. Because he was a vampire, her blade wouldn't have killed him, but it would make him unable to fight. That was all the Esmund would need to get rid of him. |
As Esmund charged forward he saw the dagger thrown by Nemo as it hit the archer that was aiming at him. The other archer looked in fear as the blade entered his partner's chest and he fear grew as Esmund still came nearer. He hurried to put the arrow in the crossbow but he kept fumbling with it. He finally got it in just before Esmund got to him and shot it.
But Esmund lunged at him and the arrow grazed Esmund's chest, cutting his shirt open and leaving a gash down his body. But It was a miss that cost the archer his life as Esmund's clews dug into his neck. The archer with the dagger in his chest raised his bow to Esmund and shot but Esmund used the man he had in his clutches as a human shield. The arrow went right through his heart, killing the archer. Esmund dropped the dead body and pulled out the dagger from the man's chest and forced it back through his heart. With all the vamps dead Esmund had one victim left; the one that put him in this state; the one that he felt deserved to die. "Menthus, you know one of the greatest laws of this kingdom is 'one who spills blood should be prepared to pay with their own' right? Well then, you where the first to spill blood, but you won't be the last." Esmund threatened as he got closer to him. |
Nemo lunged forward and grabbed Esmunds arm. "No. We need to get out of here. He's not human. He's not vampire either, but he is immortal. Not just in that he won't die. He's another fallen angel but this guy isn't wanting to go back to heaven. He's satans puppet. Come on." Something about the way she said this made it seem as if this were the only thing they could do. She wasn't asking him, she was pleading him not to try and kill the other man. Nemo was afraid. Not just for herself, but especially for Esmund. Not just in the normal bodyguard fearing for her charge way either. She was afraid that something would happen to Esmund and she would lose him. Oh stop it! You can't lose something you don't, and never will, have! Already, Menthus' bones were knitting back together. He groaned as bone fused with bone and his lung repaired itself. It'd be a while before he was up for more fighting but this wouldn't kill him. He started to open his eyes and sit up but something told him not to. He lay on the ground listening as Nemo pleaded her case. Oh aren't you a smart one... figured it out already I see. Though you'll never guess it isn't the prince we want... Master and I just can't let you go back... |
He stopped when Nemo grabbed him but it took all his might to listen to her. He still held onto the blood lust when he turned around but before he left he said, "I will kill you. I promise, you will be destroyed by me and you will suffer when that time comes. You will never lay a hand on anyone that's I'm important to me..." he hesitated for a moment, wondering why he said that last thing. "or anything that belongs to me."
He took notice of the angel's broken body it made him smile. Even if he was immortal he could still be broken. He started to think it was a good thing he was immortal because next time they meet he could torture him. He will wish he had the ability to die. But Esmund wasn't sure it that was his blood lust talking or him. Either way, that threat of killing him as truly a deep, heartfelt, desire. |
Through all of the fear she felt at that moment, Nemo still noticed when he'd said "anyone important to me." She tried not to let herself hope he was talking about her. Shaking her head she gently pulled his arm. "Come on... Calm down. We need to go before he gets up." She pulled him along, sliding her hand from his arm to his wrist to be able to hold and pull him. She didn't say anything in the few minutes it took them to reach the first few buildings on the edge of the town. |
Esmund could feel himself calm down but he was still too heated to stop thinking about killing the angel that they left behind. He was so much in his thoughts that he didn't even notice when they entered the city. He just let her guide him to where they were headed.
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Feeling extremely bold for some reason, and having thought about it the entire trip through town, Nemo let her hand slide from Esmund's wrist to his hand as they entered the Inn. "I need a room. Preferably one with no windows and only a single door." The innkeeper gave her an odd look; normally he got requests for the open, airy, windowed rooms and her request struck him as weird. He shrugged and blurted out an amount. Hmm... Not as much as I would have thought... He must think I'm something to look at. She gave the innkeeper a winning smile then reached behind her and pulled out her purse of money. Counting out the precise amount she held her hand out for the key. When it dropped into her hand she pulled Esmund toward the stairs. Their room was at the top of the stairs, the second to last room on the right side of the hallway. Inside, it was small; smaller than was actually normal. "No wonder it was cheap... " Nemo grumbled. She took a single step through the door and looked around. Sleeping arrangements are going to be fun... At least it will be easier to keep watch over a room this small. "You get the bed when we sleep." She told him straight out. "And no being chivalrous and giving it up because 'I'm a lady'." She said sarcastically. "I don't need it. I'm more accustomed to sleeping on the ground anyway." She was lying at the last part but hoped he wouldn't notice. |
Esmund was momentarily brought from out of his thoughts when Nemo hand held his hand. He wanted to smile about it but after what had happened he wasn't in the smiling mood. But when he let his thoughts take priority again it was all about what he had said to Menthus, how he would never let him lay a hand on anyone that's important to him. He already knew he was talking about Nemo but it shocked him that he said it. He wasn't planning on telling Nemo this though. He figured it was just something that slipped out in the heat of battle.
Once in the room he looked around and noticed it was just what he wanted in a room. It was dark and cozy so he became a little more relaxed but his worries didn't get any better. A matter of fact it got worse. Now he was afraid of himself. He never acted that way before but it wasn't that uncommon for vampires to do that though. In moments of extreme stress or emotion a vampire could go into a frenzy but he had never witnessed it, let alone experienced it. When Nemo finished talking he tighten his grip on her hand because he wanted her to stay with him. "Um, can you stay with me for a bit? I, don't know want to be too far away if someone attacks again," Esmund said. It was a possibility to be attacked but that wasn't no where near the reason why he didn't want to leave. He sat down on the bed, without letting go of her hand, and looked at where she was cut. |
"I'm not going anywhere." Nemo looked at him and said fervently; though her face was burning red she sounded completely sincere. She allowed herself to be pulled toward the bed and tried to fight the urge to pull her hand away. She normally wasn't one for much physical contact except with Xander. When finally Esmund sat and looked toward her arm Nemo remembered the three deep gashes, and for the first time felt their pain. "Oh... ok... ow." She said with a shock. With a rueful laugh she continued. "I'd normally be completely healed by now but since he was also an immortal... well, it'll be a while before these go away." She shook her head and started to pull away. For some reason, she really hoped that he'd not let her go; she hoped that he'd pull her to him and hold her. Though she was tough as nails and didn't need to be comforted, she relished the idea of him trying to do so anyway. "Sorry about the blood... I hope it isn't bothering you..." She murmured quietly. Outside the city, at the very edges of the first buildings, Xander patrolled silently. He felt completely abandoned and ignored seeing as Nemo, mom to him, hadn't acknowledged him since they'd left the palace. He was of course sulking, but he didn't miss the scent as the same person, the one like his mom, from the woods entered the city. He was going much slower now than he had been in the woods and seemed like there was something wrong with him. Being petty, Xander didn't immediately sound the warning howl to Nemo like he would have done otherwise. Instead, he followed the path of the winged man into the town, keeping to the shadows, and was ok with his decision when the mans trail led him away from his mom. |
As she tried to pull away he held on to her for a moment before reluctantly letting go but he still inspected her wounds. He heard her concern about her blood bothering him but it didn't. He never had a problem resisting the urge to drink when blood was present. But this time he did have a urge to taste it. It smelling like no blood he had ever came across. It's smell was lovely. "Don't worry, it's not bothering me. A matter of fact I like it," he said as he sniffed at the opening.
"So, do you have first aid to fit yourself up? If you do you can lay down and let me help you. I might need some myself," He said before raising his arm with the arrow still in it. It was sorta painful but it was nothing he couldn't handle. He broke it and pulled the arrow our viciously, not worrying if he cared more damage to himself or not. He hissed when it came out but remained calm. "This should heal in no time but wrapping it up still seems like the smart thing to do." |
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