Out of the Darkness Comes

Artanna sits in her office reading. Among her are the various books on subjects too dark, and mystical to name here. Out of the night comes a shadow, and it steps up to the lovely house. The shadowed figure knocks on the door with quick, and seemingly urgent raps. Artanna lifts her head for a moment, and continues reading.

A servant answers the door. "How may I help you?"

The figure has the hood drawn up, face in shadows, no answer comes. A strange chill rides up the servant's back as he wonders what lies within the shadows of the figures clothes. The servant tries to form words, but finds his tongue halted. He presses himself close to the door, and his grip tightens around the handle. The figure simply stands waiting.

The servant calls for his mistress "My lady there is someone that seeks audiance."

Artanna growls back. "Show them in you baffoon don`t make them wait."

The servant opens the door wide. "Please...ummm...come in."

The figure enters into the house. No distinction of who this is can be seen. Artanna walks out but does not look up from her book. Her finger traces the lines one page. The figure stands still, like a statue, waiting.

"Have a seat, please." She says to the stranger. "Do you require refreshments?"

A long rasp escapes out of the shadows where the figures face should be. Artanna glances to the stranger. The rasp gets louder, booming, coarse, struggled. The servant nearly yelps. The figures rasping seems bleak amidst the colors, and trappings of the room.

The rasp fades into a long hiss. "Hello Artanna."

"My lady."

"Do you know who I am?"

Artanna looks to the person, pausing a minute. "Velress?"

Her shriek is loud, piercing. "Yesssssss. But, you will not recognize this face."

"You cloaked it so well it was hard for me to get passed the facade, my friend"

"Things have not been easy."

"have they ever been my friend?"

"I have NEVER felt such pain in all of my existance."

"Pain how?"

"It does not matter." She almost loses her voice. She struggles to speak again. "Where is HE?"

"He is here "

"He must not know I am here. HE MUST NOT."

"As you wish."

She walks in circles around Artanna. For a moment she is less than an inch away from her. "I can smell him on you. What have you done?"

"I have fallen for him. I have grown to love him. I`m sorry, I wish to marry him, I love him."

"You little BITCH. Do you have any idea what I have done to get here?"

Artanna looks at her. "May I remind you ma`am in who's home you are now in."

"You were only meant to teach him in my absence. I can smell him INSIDE OF YOU. He is my childe."

"Have you any idea what i have done for your childe? if I had not taken him in he most likly would have been dead, and me as well."

"You still owe me one more favor." Her voice makes a rough grinding sound. "Do not forget what I did for you that day."

Artanna raises up, and sets her book down. "I have not forgotten that."

"I dare not show you my face, but look well, and know...." She pulls off her left glove, and holds up her hand. It is crispy, and black around the edges. Any resembalance of skin is torn away. Bits of bone shine easily from her once pale skin. Some of her fingers are missing tips, and are pointing at angles they should not be.

Artanna looks but is not repulsed by it, she only nods.

Velress puts her glove back on with a great deal of discomfort. "I will be watching, Artanna, oh yes, always watching." She turns to leave.

A servant hurries aheaad of Velress to help her out the door. "This way madam."

"I suppose you will be taking our name?" The idea makes her growl, and clench her fist.

"If you will allow it."

"It doesn't matter to me WHORE. If you do remember this. There are not three Holt vampires. Oh there are a few more. If you take our name some of the elders will judge you. Our line is older than you or Dorean know. I embraced Dorean for a very specific purpose. He is the chosen one of our family. We will be back." She walks out the door, and disappears into the night.

"JAMES READY MY SWORDS."

"Yes my lady." He goes to prepare the weapons as Artanna walks down to the gym, her anger showing.

Dorean walks into the room. "What is going on?"

Artanna is sparing with her ghoul a ravenous growl ripping from her lips. "How dare you come into my house, and...!"

"Hello?" He hears sounds coming from the gym, he goes to investigate. "Hello?"

When Artanna sees Dorean she just looks at him, her eyes flashing with anger. "Hye." She says with venom steaming from it.

"Ummm, did I do something wrong?"

A short sword goes flying in o a adjacent wall. "No."

"I don't understand."

"My sire is back Dorean. He will try to make me give you up as he thinks only he knows what's best for me, and I will never give you up."

He looks at her with much fear in his eyes. "I love you." It is the only thing he could think to say.

"And I`ll fight anyone that trys to take you from me. I love you Dorean."

"Artanna please...." He holds out his hand to her.

She walks over to him slowly. "I won't lose you."

"Please...." He holds his arms out, hoping she would hold him.

Artanna walks over to him, and embraces him tightly, possively. "Mine."

"I need you. Everything is going to be okay." He finds it kind of funny, their role reversal.

"I need you my love." She says shaking still from her anger.