Hello and welcome to my little part of the "Anita-verse". This is my attempt at a Role-Play based on the books by Laurel K. Hamilton without recycling a plot from the books and without making it too far-fetched. This here is my second try, maybe this one will actually follow the plot, ne?

!!! Due to the nature of the books this role play is based on, there will be blood/gore and most likely sexual situations. You have been warned. !!!

~Rules~
*Follow the Mene ToS, obviously
* Violence and romance are allowed, even encouraged, but keep it pg-13 (IE- Fade to black when things are getting steamy)
* No God-Modding or Power-Playing
* Be semi-literate or above, we don't need our eyes bleeding FrMTlk LIek Dis LOL
* Keep OoC chat in something like ((this))
*Keep things as realistic as the books, lets not have purple Were-Wolves with wings running about, Savvy?
* I have a right and the power to change these rules at any time, as well as the power to boot you if you break the rules.
* PM all profiles and questions to me, and to make sure I know you read everything and will do you best to follow it all, Title profile PMs with "What do demons dream of?", and some where within, name a vampire Anita as slain.

Rules on Original Characters will be listed on that post.
Index

1 Rules and Index
2 Story
2 1/2- Plot
3 Existing roles to be filled, Original Character guidelines and Skeleton
4 Original Characters accepted
5 Reserved

~The Story~

"A-....W-... What have you done?" The priestess uttered with her last calm breath, the swarm of seething, blood-red creatures clamoring over her body. She glared hard at the one above her and took up her pendant, her prayer coming out in a scream riddled with pain. With the last of her will and concentration, she thrust the now-glowing emblem against the exposed skin of the man's ankle before going limp, eyes glazed as her body was devoured.

The Vampire hissed in pain, clenching his jaw shut as to not make more noise. Jumping back out of her reach, he kicked her now-lifeless hand, the metal pendant clattering across the room. He then made a hasty exit, not wanting to be in a way of the blood-colored horde.

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"High Master! There is an urgent problem!" The sound of rushed footsteps rang through the stone as a young vampire ran to the meeting hall, his dark pants and coat covered with a thick, shiny goo.

"What is it, Archeaus?" The Master of Wiltshire demanded, turning around, his pale green eyes cold and narrow.

"Master, one of the priestesses has broken her vows. She has invoked the blood on her own and was overcome.... She unleashed the crimson plague!" He said, lowering his head and eyes to the ground, out of seeming respect for the Nordic elder.

"What!? How did this happen?" The older, fairer vampire demanded, his voice sharp with anger. He swiftly walked down the few steps to the floor below and walked with a brisk stride, Archeaus in tow.

"I know not, I went to gather the priestesses as you asked for the ritual tonight, and I found her with a circle cast, the creatures devouring her already." He answered, keeping in stride with the taller vampire. They wound their way down the halls of the stone building, to the home of the priests and priestesses of the Coven.

"Here, my lord." Archeaus stopped and motioned to a dark oaken door on the left, between them and the open door was a dark trail of red-brown slime, thick and wet on the stone floor of the hall.

"Medea? How-" The Master Vampire cut himself off and looked to the pool of red, black and brown ooze below his feet. "Get the High Priest and Priestess. We need to stop this, now." He said, the air about him getting a little colder as his gift flared to life.

Archeaus bowed and took his leave, walking quickly to gather the Coven. Soon the bells were tolling but the screams could still be heard and the elder knew it was too late to contain it. The pale vampire stared at what was left of the young priestess, keen eyes knowing something was wrong. After another moment of thought, he turned on his heel and walked out, stride controlled and face emotionless.

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

The near-full moon shone overhead as the Coven of The Sanguine Moon stood in their sacred grounds, their robed forms standing on the line of blood, their blood. All faces were downcast, as all tried to conceal the fear and dread they surely all felt.

"Lucian" A soft, airy voice called the elder, "We are ready, My lord. The circle has been cast and the Munin of the old ones is with us." The High Priestess Estella spoke, her blue eyes pale, reflecting the wolf within. In her hands was a long, ornate silver dagger, runes engraved all along the blade and hilt, sapphire pommel gleaming darkly in the moonlight.

"Then let us begin." He said as he rose and took the blade from her hand. Stepping down from the stone platform, he looked about his followers. Humans, Vampires and Were-beasts alike held their heads low as they clasped hands, knuckles white with the tight grip of fear. The wintry master held the shining blade aloft, and called out the names of old, beginning the desperate call for power, and protection.

~Plot~

The powerful coven in the united kingdom performed a blood ritual to call for aid against the so-called Crimson Plague, and it seemed it did nothing. The children of the coven became stricken with fear when is seemed the call was not answered. They only had the word of their Master, Lucian. "The aid will come when we need it most."

It has been two weeks since the ritual had taken place and a hand full of powerful beings in the neighboring US have been getting strange dreams of an icy land and dark magic. They feel a pull, a need to be somewhere, but the question is, where?

Among those who feel the pull is Anita Blake, Vampire hunter and Necromancer. She isn't alone in this though, some of her closest friends and lovers feel it, and the pull is spreading each day, others out side of her group have felt it and it is only a matter of days before they are called to the battlefield for real.

~Existing Roles to be filled~

There are a handful of characters from the books that need to be played, any that are not filled I will try to play, though I would really like for some people to play them.

To request playing a cannon character, PM me with an example post for the desired character. This may seem annoying to some, but I want to make sure these guys will stay within their original design.

Anita Blake, Vampire hunter and Necromancer: PaintTheSkyRed (Covered by KageShio)
Richard Zeeman, Ulfric of the Thronnos Rokke Pack: KageShio (unless someone else would like to claim him)
Micah Callahan, Nimir-raj of the Blood-Drinkers Clan: Drakina
Nathaniel Graison, Anita's Animal to call: Drakina
Jean-Claude, Master of St Louis: KageShio
Asher, Temoin to Jean-Claude: KageShio (unless someone else would like to)
Damian, Anita's vampire servant: KageShio

(More may come as needed)


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~Original Character Guidelines~

!There are a limited amount of character slots available! I like to keep my groups manageable, so it's a first come, first serve deal. Also, If you are capable of handling more than one character, please play one of the canons, those are roles that need to be filled.

Vampires Taken: 1/2
Humans Taken: 1/2
Were-animals Taken: 2/3

* Make sure your character is powerful in some way(they have to fight, after all) but no GMing
* If you wish to be a Vampire, keep in mind that a Master might not be welcomed too warmly
* Vampires can only have two "gifts" besides natural vampire skills, only one if they are not over two hundred
*Necromancy is a rare talent, you can have an Animator, but not a true necromancer.
* No child characters, Minimum age of 17. The only exception to this rule is a Vampire who was turned as a child.
* There are several types of were to choose from, don't be shy, go ahead and make something other than a wolf or leopard! Werewolf, Wereleopard, Werehyena, Wererat, Swanmane, Werelion, Weretiger, Werebear, Weresnake, and Werefox are all found in Anita's world.


~Profile Skeleton~

UserName:
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Species:
Power/skills:
I look like: (description or image)
Personality:
Brief bio:
Other:
Theme music: (Just for fun, optional)



Make sure you PM your profiles to me, Do not post them here!

~Note~
It is fine if you have not read all of the books, though I do warn that some spoilers may happen, as this takes place after at least Blood Noir (The one I am up to so far, but I know most of what happens later already). If you are fine with this, and would like to know a bit more about the "Anitaverse", most, if not all of the information can be found here: The Anita Blake Wiki

~Accepted Profiles~


UserName: KageShio
Name: Shiomataru Heiro (Heiro Shiomataru to you backwards English folk) also is known to go by KageShio, better known as "The Tempest".
Age: 1,067 (looks in his mid to late twenties)
Gender: Male
Species: Master Vampire
Power/ Skills: Other than vampiric powers, he has an intimate connection to darkness/shadows. Birds of prey are his animal to call.
I look like: Slim and tall, over six foot, with mid-back black hair and curious eyes: one deep blue and one golden brown. His features are oriental despite his height, his skin is a sandy pale covered in scars from a hard life by the sword and his build is pure, lean muscle. His clothing usually consists of black slacks with a blood-red sash, a black top of some sort, heavy boots and a fedora.

When "on the job" He has a black, ragged cloak that has seen better days, loose black cotton pants wrapped at the bottom and a black Japanese tunic-top bound at the forearms. Soft boots give him a light, silent step when "working". He also can be seen with an assortment of blades, from Katana to Sabers, you can bet your life he has a blade on him. (picture will be provided when finished)
Personality: Depending on the situation and company, he is either cold, silent and serious, only dry humor as a break, or he is warm, friendly and can even be talkative, with heavy doses of sarcasm.
Brief bio: Heiro grew up in japan and lived by the sword as his father and his father before him, gaining many scars and titles early in his adult life. How and when he was turned is a mystery other than it was while he was in his homeland. He came to Europe after he broke away from his sire, attempting to get where the vampire could not reach him. Lucian found him and harbored the culture-shocked "young" vampire and made him part of his centuries-old coven, the Sangiune Moon. Heiro never stopped his training and became a sword for hire, an assassin for Lucian. He broadened his scopes after a century and accepted jobs from masters all over Europe, even counsel members have acknowledged his skills, giving him a reputation among vampires everywhere.

He came to the US on a mission when the Crimson Plague was unleashed in his home, he has also gotten the call of distress, but has yet to dispatch of his quarry to return home. He spoke with Lucian briefly and has been told to find those who heard the call and bring them back to Wiltshire.

Originally Posted by Drakina

UserName: drakina
Name: Dana Jaekilsen
Age: 34
Gender: female
Species: were rattlesnake
Power/skills: Venom that causes severe hemorrhaging and decay in the tissue
I look like: Dana 5' 6" tall, dark brown hair, hanging loosely to her shoulder blades, slightly tanned skin, hazel eyes. Usually wears loose gray or green pants, tucked into shin-high combat boots, and brightly colored tank tops, with a black sweater tied around her waist. She speaks with a slight southern drawl. Snake: dark eastern diamondback rattler Were form: Seventeen or eighteen foot of snake as thick as a person, with arms as supple as her body three feet down that length. Her head is shaped slightly differently from a snake's, so she can have some semblance of speech.
Personality: somewhat withdrawn, but she tends to be a bit snarky when she speaks. Quick to anger, she's also quick to cool from it, deciding it's in the past once she's done something about it. Other than her temper, she's relatively stable emotionally, acting calm most of the time.
Brief bio: Grew up with her parents in northern Tennessee , but was unhappy with the area. She wanted to see more, to go someplace new and start over, especially when she pissed off most of the other snakes in the city. So when she got a scholarship for a culinary school out of state, she leaped at the opportunity. After that, she moved to St. Louis, setting up a little bakery and making a decent living off of it. There were no other rattlers in the city, so she felt safe enough, not being pressured into something she didn't feel was for her.
Other: I WILL make pics for her this time.
Theme music: Don't Tread on Me

Originally Posted by Staria

UserName: Staria
Name: Sarah De’gare
Age: 18
Gender: female
Species: Vampire
Powers/skills:
-Usual vampire abilities
-Empathy: As well as the obvious of f feeling people's emotions/aura's/etc, she can also so align herself with someone that she can use their skills/powers. She must be within a certain distance, physical touch further strengthens it. Her empathy is a double edged sword, she also feels pain of those near her including physical pain. She'll even feel death as if she were dying though she doesn't die, it will hurt enough she sure as hell wishes she could.
I look like: She has long, slightly wavy brown hair that goes past a few inches past her ass that she tends to wear either down or in braided pigtails twisted into various styles if she‘s working or something. She has near perfect facial features, almost goddess like beauty…except for a single wide jagged scar completely down the right side of her face and down her torso, extending all the way between her breasts down almost to her belly button. This scar is the result of the accident that killed her brother. She has eyes that are almost the same shade of blue green but not quite, one eye greener and the other bluer. The scar also makes one eye tilt slightly further down then the other though a little mascara makes it nearly unnoticeable.. Nearly. To hide this scar she favors hoodies, scarves, and/or long sweeping bangs. She is very shapely of build, particularly up top which something she is intensely and irrationally embarrassed of so often hides beneath loose and ill-fitting clothing giving her the false appearance of being a little pudgy, and around 5’7.

Personality: She tends to be quiet and polite as that was just the way she was raised. Once she’s comfortable she tends to talk a little more, however, as within she is a very emotional person. She is fairly innocent and tends to believe the best about people… Despite this she is very observant and good at puzzling things out.

Brief bio: Sarah was born a twin , though her twin died in an accident when she was seven, and was raised by Atheist parents who are very hard line… if it can not be touched, it is not real or important. The could not be more different then the psychically gifted Sarah… finally culminating in an argument where her father told her a ‘daydreaming fool’ like her was useless and that the family would be ‘better off without her‘ implying cruelly that it would had been better if her brother lived and she had died in the accident. He immediately regretted the words spouted in anger but once said it could not be erased as he’d touched upon a nerve for the whole family.

Defiantly and with a wounded heart Sarah left then, a few days before her eighteenth birthday. It took her little time till she found her way to Saint Louis City, working as a waitress as she submits her writing to various publishers and tries to prove to herself her dreamy ideals are not worthless. Shortly afterwards she met and dated a vampire, though she didn't know it at the time. He would feed on her twice, though she only realized it the second time. She confronted him and they argued. In anger he lost control and bit her for time number three.… He was far too young to be allowed this….Fearing the consequences, and the idea of having to deal with a newly turned vampire, he fled…leaving her bleeding in the alley where he’d killed her and changed everything…

Name: Nayeli Aingeal
Age: 26
Gender: Female
Species: Human
Powers/skills:
-Necromancy: as well as the usual abilities of an animator and ability to 'feel' the dead and such she can also psychically 'see' through the dead's eyes, the eyes of what she's using creates a soft blue glow in the socket so it's easy to tell if she's doing it. The ability increased once she lost her own eyes.
-Control bones, Only of the dead whose souls and wills have passed on as otherwise the will and soul naturally resists. Uses this mainly to build things using a combination of her spells and this ability, including her silver coated weapons. Also uses it so that her knives hit where she wants them to due to her blindness making this otherwise impossible. Can also make hers harder to break but of course if a vampire or other supernaturally strengthened being wants to break them they still can. This also takes intense concentration, making it almost useless in a bare knuckles fight.
-Immunity to vampires/the dead's mind based powers except for a vampire's 'marks', any physical abilities/powers/strengths still fully work on her, however. The cause of the immunity is unknown, some believe it's due to her lack of eyes.
-Ability to cast spells being a witch, this ability is canceled if she can not use her hands AND her mouth, though most spells are said in a 'voice of power' that make her impossible to understand, and for those of human hearing without supernatural ability, hear though they can see her lips moving. The 'voice of power' sounds like multiple voices used at once, whispering gibberish.
-Ability to control crows/speak to/speak through crows. Easiest in the case of her undead familiars which stay looking deceptively 'alive' due to sharing some of Nayeli's spiritual power. Her fellow animators/necromancers can sense they are dead however, and those with super senses can smell the musty earthy smell that shows they are dead/hear their heart can't beat/etc. Only thing it does is make them appear alive/not smell enough for a human nose to pick it up for obvious practical reasons.
I look like: She has white hair, that was once a dark almost brown red, due to the necro’s experiment that drained the color from hair but the rest of her features, from her high cheekbones to her dark tanned skin is that of her native american bloodline. She is of slender build, 5’11 and willowy. She always wears a black sash to hide the empty sockets that were once her doe brown eyes, her choppy, little past chin length hair having seeping bangs that cover much of the cloth. She has various tattoos over her form, Including one of her spirit totem, the crow, on her shoulder.
She tends to dress in mainly black with random bright colored accessories, finding it simply easier to dress in all black for obvious reasons. She loves corsets but tends to pair them with plain old jeans and black hiking boots. She often wears silver and turquoise jewelry that belonged to various members of her family.
Personality: Though soft spoken and even gentle most of the time she’s confident and stubbornly independent. Should you push her she can turn hard and cold in an instant. Nothing seems to scare her, except small spaces…. She has an odd sense of humor and tends to find amusement in everything, no matter how inappropriate. She tends to keep this humor to herself but giggle still, making it appear to be laughter out of the blue giving her a slightly crazed appearance…
Brief bio: She was born gifted in the magic arts but particularly necromancy. She could see through the eyes of the dead when she closed her own, though at first this would simply show her coffin lids during her sleep and she’d wake up screaming. This caused her to seek help from a necromancer, wanting it to stop. The necromancer instantly was fascinated with her ability and caged her then and there….His experiments ultimately culminating in removing her very eyes…
It was within a few hours that the vampire assassin Heiro would show up, killing him. Seeing her newly blind and helpless he took her back with him. She became a part of the coven and Heiro’s Pomme De sang. She seems to worry about him, a ridiculous thing all things considered but she does

Originally Posted by Manseutus

UserName: Manseutus
Name: Jim Collins
Nickname: Semli
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Species: Were-leopard
Power/skills:
I look like:http://static1.purepeople.com/articl...am-637x0-1.jpg

Personality: Jim Collins is rather secretive when it comes to personal matters especially of his non human existence. He only does favors for those he deems worthy of his attention or those who were sent to him from a trusted friend. If he feels threatened or slighted in any way he becomes quite aggressive.

Brief bio: Jim Collins was turned at the age of 19. He was tricked into agreeing to the decision by his then girlfriend who left him shortly after. She had only entered their relationship as a means to get new members for the pard. Before this he worked with his father in the family car garage. It was this trade he took with him when he faked his own drowning to escape his pard no longer wishing to be a part of their deceitful ways. He only recently moved to St Louis under his new name and mostly keeps to himself. He helps racers get the most out of their cars however they have to go through other means to get a hold of him under his alias Semli.
Other:
Theme music: (Just for fun, optional)

~ Reserved~

Alright roleplayers! We are now starting, you may post your intros!

In an alley not far from the Circus of the Damned, a woman's body lay in a twisted tangle... killed by a renegade vampire who had been her first love. She was dressed in a black hoodie and long blue skirt of silk, with a lacy white shirt underneath the hoodie. At first she would seem almost like she was sleeping... her bright eyes closed and her lips half parted. Then, however, one would be able to notice the bite into the side of her neck...

Blood from the wound on her neck was slick and dry against her exposed skin, it's darkness emphasizing the paleness of her skin which even in life had been a bit too light. Her long auburn hair lay like silk against the dirty cobble stones, darker brown where the blood lay against it. Anyone who would have seen her could tell you exactly how she died, but the sun was getting closer to rising so that it would seem she might die a second death in a few hours...

Would the scared side of her face that already seemed partially burned catch fire first? The red and white skin, twisted in a horrifying mass be consumed? Or would it be the other side that was mockingly beautiful as if to contrast it? It was a rather morbid line of questioning but it seemed the only question to her existence at the moment. Her love had left her there... and she was already dead so could do nothing to stop it....

Mis-Matched eyes flickered with power behind them as Heiro stalked the roofs of Chicago, the city's lights seeming to fade before they reached his black-cloaked form. He drew back the tattered hood, his pale skin nearly luminescent in the few patches of remaining moonlight. He could feel her running below the city, smell her blood mixing with the street drain and sewage. He closed his eyes and stepped back into the darkest of shadows on the roof, willing them to embrace him. He furrowed his brows as the power engulfed him, the world blurring and reforming. His stomach gave that all-to familiar lurch, and he opened his eyes to his new surroundings, the dank stone walls of the sewers still echoing the Were's sloshing steps.

"Hayaku, hayaku..." His baritone voice whispered almost playfully to his prey, the chilling sound bouncing off the walls slick walls. He moved up onto the thin line of stone against the wall, keeping his feet out of the water as he followed the scent of his target, silently drawing a gleaming blade.

It wasn't long till he caught up with her, blood-loss had slowed her to a crawl. She snarled like an animal and swiped at him, but only caught the edge of his tattered cloak in her pale hands. He twisted away, the fabric tearing more, sliding from her grasp. "Naughty Kitty, that's not a toy...." he taunted in his haunting, soft voice. The revenant Vampress snarled again and swiped at his legs. Her green eyes flew wide and she let out a scream that was beyond animalistic, one hand clawing at her own arm, where Heiro had driven his silver-bladed sword. She hissed again, and kicked out wildly, the poorly aimed strikes missing the nimble elder.

Heiro sidestepped a kick, then leaned in close as she writhed in pain, his odd eyes dead and emotionless. He drew his second sword, a firm grip on the first holding her down to the stone below. "Ippen, shinde miru?" He whispered, staring into her crazed eyes as he ran her through, the silver blade piercing her heart. She made a sharp hiss of a scream, and her head rolled back, mouth agape as the scream died in her throat with a gurgle. Flicking the blood from his swords, he watched the body slip into the dark water. He cleaned the blades with an edge of his cloak, and stepped back into the purest of shadows, sheathing his blades as the world began to blur once more.

Damian landed on the roof of a down-town building, feet skidding a bit in the gravel that covered it. He walked to the edge, bright eyes scanning the streets and alleys below. He knew she was close, he could recognize some of the buildings the young vampire had described, but he could smell the decay-less death on the air, a much surer sign. He stalked the roof-tops, leaping silently from one to the other, sharp eyes on the ground below.

Then, he saw her, a glimpse of pale skin in the dim alley below. He jumped down, landing in a crouch beside her as he looked her over. A look of curiosity crossed his face as his eyes traced the wicked scar that covered half her torso, but he broke his gaze to scan their surroundings, memorizing details he was sure Anita would ask about later.

After a few moments, he gently lifted her, pulling her chilled body to his chest. His face turned slightly at the smell of the sticky half-dried blood, and he swallowed hard focusing on his power instead, rising into the air. He kept low for a while, heading to the river to keep out of sight as best he could, then picked up speed, racing time to get back to the circus.

Sarah's aura shuddered as he touched her, seeming to react to his nearness. Her soul still did not return to her body yet, but her energy could not help but react. Such an old vampire near her, it reacted instinctually. This was not her love, her aura seemed to say, this was not who was supposed to come for her... unless they came to her for something other then to save her.

Her soul which hung trapped nearby began to half wake, stirring as if to regain thought. 'It's so cold.... why am I so cold...' the misty energy that was what was left of sarah's mind began to think. 'Danger... something... something dangerous made me cold.... w..what is this chill? Am I.... am I dead? I ...I dont understand...' She thought, unable to feel her body... probably because she wasn't yet IN her body again..

Dana worked about her kitchen, preparing breads and pastries for the day to come. As soon as she put one pan in an oven, another had to come out of the other one, and the scent of fresh bakery items filtered out to the street. She was efficient, here in what she considered her element, fresh baked goodness making it to the display while still warm, the lights in the case keeping them that way. She even remembered to eat something this morning, the recent unsettling tug at her subconscious was making it hard for her to sleep, and that was in turn making her a touch forgetful.

"Yes I the car should across the street from the bakery. I left one of my men with it. He should be waiting in the passenger seat to collect the payment we agreed to." Jim Collins then hung up his phone and placed it in his pocket. He then reclined the seat of the car slightly as he waited for his client to arrive. This client had wanted the Civic fully revamped for street racing. The work had taken him a few weeks due to other things going on in his shop. The client would be pleased with the end result after all most were when he added a few upgrades that were not asked for.

He smirked as he thought about how easy it was to fool his clients into never knowing they saw him face to face. Sure the fact that he always called them and from a new pay as you go phone each time he had to made it easier. He looked around a few times knowing his client would be a few minutes longer. Perhaps he can try the bakery later seeing as he was here.

Hiro stepped out of the bathroom, the rough hotel towel wrapped about his waist. He tossed a few things about on the bed, then slid on his last clean pair of pants, ignoring his still-damp hair and skin. He looked to the shirt he had been wearing and sighed lightly. Eli was right, he didn't have enough clothes for this trip. He picked up the tattered, bloody garment and tossed it into his bag, wincing as the wound on his arm stretched. He glanced at it, then the closed gashes on his torso, making a small noise. The job had been sloppy... perhaps he was loosing his touch in his old age. He chuckled lightly at himself as pulled on a black tank top.

He finished dressing and packed everything into the oblong bag he carried, weapons carefully stowed among the clothing. He pulled on a simple black button-up, leaving it open, and tugged his black leather fedora farther down on his head as he walked to the door. He opened it slightly, and slipped the "Do not disturb" sign on the knob. After gently closing it and turning off the light, He slung the bag over his shoulder and closed his eyes, feeling the world jerk as it fell away, blurring.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a dense copse of trees. He could hear the highway not far off, telling him he was in the right direction. He moved slightly, stepping into a darker part of the trees, and closed his eyes once again, tearing himself away from the world, wrapped in shadow. He melded like this four more times before finding himself under a bridge in what he recognized to be the "Blood Quarter" of Saint Louis. He swayed on his feet as the hunger hit him almost painfully. 'Kuso... That took more out of me then I thought it would.' He thought bitterly as he started to step into the city lights.

He swiftly climbed the steep cement bank and stared at the street names before him. He glanced back to the river as he got his barings, taking a moment to pray to the dark lady Lucian's last-minute message had made it's way to the master of the city. The last thing he wanted was to be taken as a challenge here. He ducked into the nearest alleyway, taking the dark narrow streets to the Circus of the Damned with inhuman speed.

Damian's fast flight faltered a bit as he felt a strange tug, a chill at his neck. As he lightly landed in the back lot of the Circus, he spared a moment to glance behind him, his cat-like eyes narrowing. He quickly pushed the feeling aside as he looked to the young woman in his arms, walking to the now-open door.

Before long, he was in the office of the master of the city, Jean-Claude's dark eyes narrowing as he looked the girl over.

"Non, non.... this is not acceptable." he said, pacing a moment as he let the new information gather in his mind. "Take her to one of the secured guest rooms. I shall be there to access her better once I dispense a proper punishment." He said, a cold anger creeping into his voice. He made a small motion, dismissing the Viking before leaving the room himself, fluid steps taking him to the chamber that held the young vampire.

Damian gave a bow of his head, and turned back into the hall, walking down the maze of corridors that made up the underground of the Circus. Soon he found a clean, empty room and gently laid the beautiful, scarred woman on the bed. Having no other orders from either Jean-Claude or his master, he stayed in the room, hesitating as he hovered over the bed. He studied her more now, fascinated with her scars, and how much they reminded him of the similarly beautiful, golden-haired vampire Asher. He was tempted to clear some of the blood off her, but refrained, knowing Anita would want to see it as is. She had a habit of treating many situations as a crime scene, and he had a feeling this would be no different.

((Please excuse the bright pink for Jean-Claude, it goes back to the first RP of this, and I really have to make fun of him somehow.))

Her energy fluttered as the powerful Jean-Claude grew near, pulling her soul even harder back towards her body. Danger... she was in danger.... but pain, darkness and cold was all she was aware off. Her aura flared, her body and spirit trying desperately to reunite. No.. No she had to get back.. back to where? She couldn't remember... even thought seemed so hard....

Her disembodied soul hovered next to the body, trying to remember who it was... what it was.... all it knew was it was afraid. It began to bleed into the body, causing her heart to thump once before lying cold and still. Pain... everything was pain. It hurt... even before she began to bleed into the body it hurt and if souls could scream she would have been screaming.

Her body moaned as the two fell back together but for now.. for now she was almost... sleeping. Even in this sleep she felt pain, her body and mind disconnected. Death did not seem to want to let her go, it was far to early, but her power was taking in their power and it was forcing her into a painful waking. Another moan of pain escaped the body and the heart thumped again, but only once. Death still held her limbs and mind wrapped in its cold but inside her body she wasn't moaning.... she was screaming.

Fire.... she was in a fire again, she could feel the burn, the pain but now it was all over... even the tips of her hair seemed to feel in pain... yet she couldn't even scream. Her body... her body wouldn't listen to her, she couldn't even open her eyes. She was trapped.... Her body a merciless cage wrapped and held by darkness... It was the most horrifying, claustrophobic experience she'd ever felt... that maybe anyone had felt.

((I somehow thought you would... and could you add this pic to her profile? ))

Dana swore as the bowl of batter clattered to the floor, spilling its contents of german chocolate cake. She continued swearing as she quickly scooped up the bowl, plunking it back onto the counter and reaching for something to clean the mess up with. I really do need to hire help... she thought, but put the thought from her mind as she finished getting the batter off the tile. Looking back at the bowl, she realized that a good two-thirds of it remained in the bowl, she had been quick enough to save it. A sigh escaped her lips as she turned to dump the towels ina hamper, then froze as she felt the chill of power. She stayed that way for only a heartbeat, then continued moving. Living so close to the Blood Quarter did have it's drawbacks, but business down here was almost always good. She turned back to her work, getting out a muffin pan and paper cups, and setting up to make cupcakes instead of the cake she had been planning.

Jim looked up as two people approached the car and smiled as they headed to the driver's side. After repositioning the seat into its normal position he took a key from his shirt pocket and handed to the man who sat in the driver's seat.

"I assume you have the agreed payment?" he asked calmly before looking towards the rather large man.

"Yes the whole amount is here. Count it if you wish"

"My boss will count it when he receives it and if it is not all there well I just can not grantee how safe you will be." Jim rarely meant the subtle threat however found it led to him being paid in full every time. He also found it bad business to count money in front of his clients.

"Well now if you will excuse me I must be going. I am sure you will find your car much more fit for racing now"

He opened his door and casually stepped out pocketing the envelope handed to him. He watched through the bakery window as the Civic drove off before sitting down resting his back against the wall. He wondered what baked goods this bakery specialized in and if he would enjoy any of them.