Fantasy The Mystery of Shadows {Open - Just jump in!}

[poppet]

A city, much like the busy and never sleeping city of New York, sits peacefully inside an immense geodome. It's well taken care of, clean, and even has its own man-made atmosphere with controllable weather. The city inside is entirely self sustainable for the population of around 6.5 million - the entire population of humans left on the once blue, vibrant planet. Outside the dome is a world unspoken of. A thick blanket of clouds and ash block the sunlight away from the surface of the planet, leaving very few types of plants and animals able to survive. What did survive, mutated and adapted thanks to centuries of an almost uninhabitable atmosphere.

War between species'; nuclear weaponry used by the human government to wipe out the growing supernatural threat that had boomed in colonies all over the planet, ultimately destroyed it. That was just after the dome was created. The government moved their elite and valuable, and humans with a needed trade into the dome, and left the rest to the shadows. But that didn't stop the blood thirst and the need for revenge...​

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RULES
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1. Anyone can join at any time, simply make a post with a photo (no real people) and short description of your character and their supernatural affiliation. (Vampires, werewolves, etc.)
2. No Godmodding, or anything of the like without permission.
3. You must post in sentences with punctuation.
4. Now that the play is a few pages in and a lot has changed, either read the previous posts or post in the OOC and ask for a summary so that you don't just come in out of left field with stuff that doesn't make a lick of sense. Thanks!
5. No out of character chat in the play. Take it to the OOC please!

I reserve the right to remove anyone who can't play nice or follow the rules.

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PROLOGUE
(and example of character entry)​

Annabelle Marie Addington​

{Ann is your average misfit. She's a first year in a high class college she wouldn't otherwise have been allowed into if not for her mother's engagement to a government higher-up and her father was killed in a factory accident only two short months ago. She stands at 5'4" with shoulder blade length chestnut colored hair and deep blue eyes with a hint of magic gleaming behind long dark lashes. Literally, if one looks close enough at her irises they might notice a shimmer of color similar to a distant galaxy thanks to an inherent gene from a long line of witch ancestors. She's generally filled with a charming attitude, but has inverted drastically since her father's death and changing schools.}



Ann stepped off the city tram and brushed her bangs to the side. She adjusted her over the shoulder book-bag and straightened her uniform with a heavy sigh. She glanced to her right, in the direction of her new home; three whole levels of a skyrise condo complete with maids, servants, chefs and her new soon-to-be step siblings. Ann was like Cinderella in that hell of a new life. She didn't have to do any cleaning or serving of course, but she was definitely the unwanted, lowly step child, unwelcome in her new sibling's home.

She turned and began to walk in the opposite direction, towards the outskirts of the city where the dome began, or ended. One would almost believe that the UV lights built into the frame of the dome were real sunshine. In fact, many people chose to believe just that. But outside the dome, beings with a thirst for revenge were working towards bringing the utopia down, and today was their day. Their day to finally satiate their bloodlust.

Between the loud explosions and power outages and the chaos that ensued, Ann couldn't even recall exactly how she got to where she was in between two buildings near the edge of the city. People were screaming and running this way and that. Pieces of the dome and UV lights were crashing to the ground, shattering and making deafening sounds. Her heart was racing and she was covering her ears, afraid to leave the sanctuary of the buildings. Deep mysterious eyes watched what little glimpses she could in the flickering light, horrified at army of creatures that were crawling, leaping, running, and attacking their way through the city.

 

[Kry]

Zero
{ Zero had been turned after the dome went up, not terribly long after the war. Narrowly surviving the nuclear onslaught, only surviving the after effects because he came himself over to a vampire. Zero once went by another name, but the one that turned him saw fit to change his name to 'Zero', as if to make sure he knew he was nothing. Zero is not the typical vampire, though he has heightened senses, increased speed, he lacks the thirst for vengeance the other creatures seem to harbor. Zero lacks the desire to destroy for the sake of destruction, basically he lacks all the dark desires of vampires, save one. The hunger for fresh blood. }
​

It was now or never, though he would have preferred never. The explosion rocked everything nearby, and it was loud, he had expected it but somehow it still caught him off guard. A rough hand grabbed him by the back of the neck and shoved him forward, sending him stumbling through the dust, over bits of the broken dome. That same hand caught him by the elbow harshly, grunted out a quick order and then the two of them were leaping upwards. His rough handed companion made the leap to the rooftop easily enough, and Zero only made it with that elder vampire's strong grip on his arm. Zero was tugged, yanked and jostled to the other side of the rooftop, the hand once more moving to the back of his neck. His head was turned this way and that, and the taller male spoke in his ear. "The streets will run red with blood, now is the time to prove yourself. Prove to me once and for all that I did not make a mistake in turning you." The hand released him, creatures rushed past them, leaping to other buildings.

Slowly Zero turned to face his Sire, and looked up to him. The man was six and a half feet tall, and shrouded in dark clothing. "I have no desire to feast at your table." Before he could move more than an inch, that rough hand had him by the throat. Lifting him off of the rooftop and bringing him closer to the older vampire's face. "You will ever be a disappointment to me." Those lips parted, revealing two prominent fangs and many smaller sharp teeth, far too similar to a sharks teeth. Zero wriggled, attempting to get out of that vice like grip, the other was far too strong. Closer and closer he was pulled, until he felt the sharp sting of those two fangs pierce his flesh followed by the other sharp teeth. Zero grunted, tried to struggle as he felt his sire pull at his life force.

The other didn't stop until Zero was half conscious, he pulled back violently, ripping the side of the younger vampire's neck. For a moment he licked at the dark blood that oozed slowly from the large wound he made, then effortlessly tossed Zero off of the building. With a thud and a groan the half conscious Zero landed in the alley between two buildings. He wasn't sure how far his sire had tossed him, but at the moment he didn't really care. Zero could feel something warm and alive near him, but he didn't have the strength to move towards it. He could hear the rushing of the other creatures all around him as well, they ran past the alley and leaped over it from rooftops. Too distracted by screaming people out in the streets to glance into an alleyway, but Zero knew they would come for him once the commotion in this area settled some. He just laid there, waiting for the inevitable.

 

[idalie]

Henry Francis Foster

{One of the few apocalyptic inhabitors who live outside the dome and a descendant of both sorcery and politics. Nevertheless, he's garnered far more magical attributes than human, much to his maternal bloodline's delight. Henry Foster is an enigmatic mystery, doubled by the attention and curiosity of a five-year-old child. In addition, it's made him dull to emotion, many describing him as apathetic. At the age of twenty-six, he makes a tall figure at 6'4" with broad chest and shoulders. His features disguised beneath an old, industrial gasmask which has seen it's fair share of the nuclear wastes - accompanied by a thick leather coat, and a broad pre-war blade considering guns were low in availability on the 'outside'. An expert in wasteland survival, with a good sense of humour. Anarchist by name.}

The dome was falling and he'd never heard so much delight among the savages the wastes had created. As much as he advocated anarchy and reclamation of being treated with humanity, even he wasn't so fond of the mutated masses that heaved through the openings that the explosions had left in their wake. Thus, with the panic and mayhem, he slipped through one of the gaps - and stopped. Breath caught in his throat, gazing up in amazement. Skyrise buildings, the glass gleaming - trees healthy limbed and bunched with leaves, clean uncracked pavements and through the flickering of the UV lights, he saw distantly how it carried on and on. Like stepping into a utopia (albeit a utopia now on fire). It reflected in the glass-eyes of his mask, in admiration and disgust. They were selfish. His family was denied entrance upon grounds of his ancestor's unstable political history, and thus led the life of survival - when they could've been safe and sound like every sorry thing that called itself a man. But his gaze softened; most wouldn't remember it now. Like himself, descendants of those who had made bad decisions.

Slinking along the shadows cast by creatures and continual flickering of electrics, he watched the mayhem unfold. Eyes darting left to right, with a rasping set of breaths through his mask. Another set of screaming barbarians shot past him, swinging him into the entrance of an alleyway. The main streets wouldn't be safe. But to hell, he wasn't going to miss the opportunity to loot the dome of it's resources. Thus beginning to turn into the alley, his aim was to climb to the rooftops to get a better idea of how the city was mapped - till he fell over a lump in the darkness; making a tit of himself whilst his arms flailed upward - and his body continued downward. "Oomph!"

Heavily, he clambered over the body, dusting himself down with a professional air as he jumped upright. "What on-" His brow creased, sinking to his haunches to better eye the corpse he'd tripped on. Or what he thought was a corpse. Touching the unknown vampire's side with his shoe. "Hmf." Shrugging and rolling his shoulders with a flex back and forth, the next which came to attention was the girl. "Apologies for the interruption, little crowded here don't you think?" He clicked his tongue. "Well. Lovely meeting you, lovely city, lovely day." Awkwardly twisting on his heel, Henry eyed the brick wall, aiming to climb it.
​

poppet Kry
*jazz hands* Sup?

​

 

[poppet]

With her mind and heart racing, Ann set her back against the alleyway wall. What was happening? What would she do? Where would she go? Would she survive long enough to find out? It was then that a close and sudden noise caught her attention, causing her to jerk her head towards it. There was a man there, laying on the ground. Had he been there when she came into the alley? She glanced upward at the building tops. No one could survive a fall like that. He must have been there all along. Would she check on him? Of course she would. She just needed to get the wits about to move her feet...

Before she could, another person turned into the alley, immediately tripping over the man on the ground. Between flickers of the dome lights she watched him fall, instinctively reaching a hand out as if to actually help from her place against the wall. As he popped up and dusted himself off, she realized he was wearing some kind of mask. Her heart jumped when he turned that mask towards her. Ann found herself frowning though. Crowded? Lovely day? Who was this person? Why was he wearing a mask? Something didn't sit right, he was off, but in the sense that he seemed unbothered by the current events and perhaps knew something that she, and most of the dome population probably didn't.

Ann's deep blue eyes fell back on the one laying on the ground. Was he dead then? Ann moved slowly towards the corpse, kneeling down beside it. In the flickering light she could see that he had endured a wound of some kind. There was enough blood to see that even in the poor lighting. It was his movement that initially startled Ann, and she gasped. "Oh my God! Are you ok? Hang in there!" Ann didn't wait to hear his response, of course he wasn't ok. "Hey wait!" She called to the masked man. "He needs help!" It wasn't as if Ann would simply turn her back on someone who needed help. But she couldn't exactly carry this guy to the nearest emergency room either, even if they were still operational.

((Hai! I'm dying - your post was hilarious. XD))

 

[Kry]

Something stepped on him, or rather, tripped over him, eliciting a groan and a growl from his throat. Eyes blinking, staring up at the sky overhead, deafening noises all around him. It was hard to focus, then he was being jabbed by the toe of a boot, and Zero growled again. Trying to reach out and swat at the offending foot, it was gone before he could make contact though. He reached out, as if to grasp at the retreating leg of the man that had just tripped over and toed him, he missed. His reaction timing was way off.

Then the warm creature he had first sensed was coming ever closer, she knelt next to him and he reached for her. His movements were sluggish, but his need burned within him like fire. A searing pain that carried itself through his body, down every vein, up every artery. The fangs in his mouth ached to bite into warm living flesh. A pure human. A human from the dome, it would be blood he had never tasted before, and his body ached for it. Uncontaminated by the pollution outside of the dome, his sire had often told him how exquisite such blood would taste. A delicacy. The girl was speaking, but the words sounded far away and as if they were coming through from a dense fog.

The other person was still there too, a bit further away, but the girl seemed to be calling out to him as well. It was that moment Zero chose to strike, with his sluggish movements, he grasped at the girl. "Please! Just a little..I only need a little." His eyes were still on the sky, but slowly they shifted so he could see her. His hands gripped something, he hoped it was the girl, and he tugged. Pulling her closer to him, bringing her down so he could reach her with his fangs. If he could strike quick enough perhaps he could take enough blood to strengthen himself and get away before the other male in the alley realized what was happening.

 

[idalie]

Henry Francis Foster
Henry turned to the girl. "Help?" He could've scoffed. But, she was right - the body was moving. And those who lived in the dome were pitifully misunderstanding of how the world really worked. In some part of his mind, the masked survivor supposed he felt sympathy. The girl would undoubtedly be preyed upon otherwise. But she seemed young. If he did help her, it was highly likely that she would pick up the skills needed quickly, and sooner or later leave on some crusade to find her family. Win-win, especially if she showed him where the best looting areas would be. Considering the pros outweighed the cons, he tiresomely approached for the second time. Yet the boy was awake, and to the contary of what Foster had first thought, the male was no human.

In a quicker stride, Henry grabbed Annabelle by the shoulder and pulled her back, using the heavy steel toe-capped boots of his to thump the vampire's chest. "Ahh, Homo Nosferatu Vampiris." The masked man, glanced down at Ann. "Or Vampire if you'd like to be common about it." He shrugged. "But this is interesting-" He made motions with his gloved hands at Zero's neck. "He's been bitten by another bloodsucker. I've seen the pattern too many times to doubt it. Not freshly turned, which means something else - but I don't remember being asked to analyse a crime scene with the still living victim of a homicide." He patted the girl on her back. "Well, there's no saving him anymore. As Christians say, it's all eternal damnation."

With that, the oddly eccentric survivor huffed. "Look now, little lady. I - can't help you with this. He needs blood, preferably human. Preferably not yours. I suggest we let it starve. Vampires are nothing but predators. And the moment he gets a taste for fresh, human blood, well, it's like dining on fine steak. You'll never want anything else but that if the offers there." Foster, displaying his finer apathetic traits - unsurprisingly unpopular, but they'd kept him alive for twenty-six years so he'd rather stay away from change.
​

Kry poppet
Thank c:

 

[poppet]

Ann had opened her mouth to reply... of course help! But the injured man was clutching her suddenly. "Huh?" A little what? She tried to incline her head towards him to see his face in the flickering and ever dimming lights. A glimmer of light caught his fangs, just as a hand pulled Ann away. She frowned deeply as she looked down at him, listening to the masked man's explanation. "Vampiris?" she murmured. Deep blue eyes glanced towards the exit of the alley. Is that what was all over the city now? No, it couldn't be just that. But why? Mr. Mask was patting her on the back, bringing her back to the immediate.

He needs blood, she mulled over in her mind. But Mr. Mask thinks he should just starve. Ann hardly knew enough to make her own choice here. She glanced sideways at the man. How did he know so much? Better yet, why wasn't she more shocked? It didn't matter. "Who are you?" she questioned him. "And why shouldn't we save an injured being?" she grilled with a frown. Mr. Mask seemed a little detached, so with information, Ann would just have to make her own decision.

 

[Kry]

She had leaned towards him. Just a little closer and he could strike, but suddenly she was pulled away from him by the other in the alley. Definitely not a man from the dome, now that Zero was focusing a bit on him, the other smelled like the outside. Like the pollution that Zero had lived in for so long, like the people his sire usually hunted. The vampire grunted, growling softly for a moment as he struggled to sit up, he managed to prop himself up on his elbows. The masked man was explaining things to the girl, Zero followed their conversation almost easily, though it took effort to focus.

"Perhaps he is right." He grunted lightly as he shifted again, sitting up fully now, the wound on his neck was closing. Very slowly, and he was still far to weak to put any effort into standing, so he would sit, and watch the two. "However, there are far worse things lurking and hunting humans now, I can protect you." He seemed genuine, he seemed sincere. "I only need a little, just a small amount to replace what was taken, and then I will be strong enough." Once or twice he had glanced at the masked man, but his main focus seemed to be the girl. If he could convince her, naive little dome dweller, then perhaps he would have a chance of surviving as well. That masked man though would be a problem, he would undoubtedly interfere and right now Zero was not strong enough to fight back or chase down his meal if they ran.

He also didn't have the strength to run if his sire came back soon, or if something else lured by the scent of blood happened upon them. Right now there was so much chaos and blood scents in the air it would be hard to pinpoint just him. Too many other wounded prey would have the attention of the predators right now, but when things did finally calm in this area, if he didn't eat before then, he wouldn't last long at all. "I've done you no wrong, would you condemn me to death based solely on what I am without first knowing who I am? If so, then you are no better than the creatures hunting your kind right now." His gaze shifted from the girl to the masked man. "I was once human, am I to be punished now by other humans for being a Vampire? I did not choose this, it was forced upon me." Again the vampire seemed genuine, he seemed wholly sincere.

 

[idalie]

Henry Francis Foster
His eyes almost rolled back into his head at her response. Clearing his throat, Henry stuck his finger up. "For one, survival of the fittest." Another finger joined it. "Two, thinning the herd." And then the third. "Three, they eat people, lady. People like you and me, babies even. You're going to save a vampire because he looks sad? Think how many lives he's taken to sustain himself. A hundred? Two hundred? A thousand for all we know. They are vermin. I have never met a vampire I liked." Foster ranted, tugging the top of his hood down with a frustrated growl. "Who am I? Henry Foster, the guy who lives on the outside of the bloody dome."

Moving in front of Annabel as the bloodsucker regained strength, even if marginally, Henry barked a laugh. "What is this? Huh? Are you going to offer her a bag of sweets in a minute and drag her in the back of your van?" Henry examined every inch of Zero's face, eyes visible through the glass in his mask - both a deep brown, although half of one iris was blue. " 'Just a small amount to replace what I lost'." Motioning puppets with his hands, Henry mocked his voice. "How much did you lose? How much is a small amount? And how, can you protect someone you want to eat? Have a little nibble every so often? Ooo - personal blood bag, is that it?" Foster jabbed Zero in the chest. "I'd condemn you to death even if you were human. You're supposed to be big and bad to look after the little miss over here."

Calling himself human was a little adjustment of the truth. True, he was from magical lineage and his deep-seated hatred for vampires was only marginally surpassed by that of creatures who lacked a conscience. Although on some level, he supposed they were also better than vampires. Bad experiences with them had taken their toll. And it wasn't helped by the stream of lies being spouted. "What about, I grab you a nice corpse. If you're going to act like a sweetheart, you can eat like a vulture."
​

Kry poppet

 

[poppet]

Ann was holding her chin in thought, nodding her head as each of them spoke. They both made good points. She let them at it while she came to her own conclusions. She did feel bad for the vampire. He really did seem genuine. But what did she know? She only glanced at Henry when he spoke of himself. He came from the outside? Ann sighed. "Okay," she said firmly, kneeling beside the vampire.

She stuck out her arm, offering her wrist. "You can have some blood, but you have to promise to do as you say and protect me." Ann knew it was possible that he may just leave, but she hoped that they could work together. After all, she didn't have anyone else in this place, and even if she had, they'd probably be dead by now. She didn't know what was happening, but befriending someone on the other side would likely be a great option right now. "This is a good spot right?" she asked, referring to her wrist. "Well go on then."

 

[Kry]

Zero had flinched ever so slightly as the masked male counted off all the good reasons why they should let him starve. The man made excellent points though, even the vampire could appreciate that. Except, this Henry was wrong about one thing. "I don't kill, not when it can be helped." That didn't matter though, his sire usually killed what he didn't. Then that man was in front of him, demanding to know how much he had lost and Zero flinched again. It had been a lot, but he didn't intend to take quite that much from the girl. Hell, he'd take it from this Henry if the man offered, but Zero supposed that would never happen. He frowned slightly as he was jabbed in the chest, made no motion to shove the hand away.

At the mention of a corpse, the vampire actually looked thoughtful, then frowned again. "Dead blood is dangerous." This man really did want him to die it seemed. Still he couldn't actually blame him, if the situation were reversed he might act much the same way. Maybe. Then the girl was kneeling beside him, offering herself to him. He stared at her, watching her carefully for a moment, she wanted him to promise. A glance was given to Henry, and he flashed that masked one a quick smirk. Zero nodded to the girl then, and grabbed her arm almost gently, his other hand coming up to the back of her head. The wrist was a good place, but he had no intention of drinking from there.

He tugged her towards him with the hand on her wrist, at the same time the hand on her head moved so that he could tilt her head at just the right angle. He moved forward, lips parting and soon fangs met the flesh of her throat. The hand on her wrist let go, and moved to the small of her back, pushing her towards him more until he had her in his lap. Only then did he let his fangs pierce the flesh, they slid in easily, a sharp bite and then the blood was filling his mouth. It was like nothing he had ever tasted before, his entire body jolted, and his arms around her became tighter as he pressed her hard against him.

Zero's eyes had closed, he had meant to stay aware, to watch the man in the mask, but this euphoric feeling engulfed him completely. Her blood was the sweetest he had ever tasted. So clean, so purely human, with something else. There was a touch of magic in it. He moaned softly, he honestly had intended to only take a little. To only take enough to close his wound and give him strength. He drank deeply of the girl, losing himself in the taste, in the pureness of it. His neck wound had closed quickly, and his grip around her had tightened again. His hunger had only grown once her blood filled his mouth, and having never experienced feeding from something so pure and clean before, Zero had no idea how to find himself again. He was lost in the feeding.

He bit deeper in an attempted to fill his mouth with more of her divine life blood. He could feel it coursing through his body, rushing through his veins. More potent than the corrupted blood he was far to used to, it was no wonder his kind wanted these dome humans so badly.

 

[idalie]

Henry Francis Foster
"This is why people from the dome all deserve the bloody Darwin award. If you had any less of common sense, I'd be convinced you were some form of unintelligent bacteria!" He dragged his hands over his hood with some form of distant ranting, a growl or two, curses that had no real meaning, and possibly an advertisement jingle. "You're all suicidal. What about me? Can't I protect anyone? I may have personal agendas, but I'm not as bad as him." Foster aimed in the direction of the vampire. "He's not Edward from Twilight, what's he going to do? Sparkle and carry you on his back, frolicking through the radioactive wastes whilst eye-fucking each other for three books?!" Henry had exhausted his anger, sinking onto his haunches whilst pressing his masked face into his arms. Ignoring the smug bloodsuckers smirk.

When he had managed to garner the strength to witness the scene, Henry was disturbed. Of course he would be, a vampire drinking was almost as bad as french kissing in public. Only there were teeth involved. However, he felt his nausea arrive at the moans which escaped Zero. Definitely worse than public displays of affection. But sooner or later, Foster began to realise it had gone on for too long. Bordering on two or so pints perhaps. Which was - he calculated in his head - class two haemorrhage. In fact, the far more possessive embrace indicated as he suspected - first taste of real blood.

Drawing the baton from inside his coat, a grin lit up his hidden features. Oh he'd enjoy this a little too much. Wrapping both palms around it, he brought the metal bar down upon the vampires head. Enough to crack a human skull - or disrupt a vampire feeding. Like with a snake. Distract it, remove it. And being as he was, that meant literally grabbing the front half of his jaw to wrench it from the jugular. "I - was - more fond of - team Jacob -"​

Kry poppet

 

[poppet]

Ann sent a sideways glance at Henry while he yammered on about people in the dome and talked about protecting people. Well, had he offered sooner she could have considered asking him! By this time she felt a hand at the back of her neck while her wrist was tugged to the side. "Wha-," she managed almost inaudibly as she found that his arm had snaked around her back. "H-hey now," she started to protest. Had there been enough light, one might see that her cheeks had turned bright red. She thought wrist blood was the same as any other blood. Sitting in a stranger's lap with his mouth on her neck... It made her squirm uncomfortably, though she had little time to protest before his fangs pierced her skin.

She winced for a moment but noted that it wasn't so bad. So as long as he kept his end of the bargain, she could pretend he wasn't tightening his grip on her and moaning like that... maybe. Probably she wouldn't look at him for a while though. After a moment his grip tightened again. He was becoming feverish and was hurting her. Surely he was fine now, what with that strength and all. Ann tried pushing gently, "Hey," she started, but his grip tightened. She'd agreed to give some of her blood, but was this normal? Her heart rate picked up and she began to worry a little bit, pushing harder at his chest. "Stop...," she managed, though her voice was weakening. She was dizzy now but fully aware that Henry had come to help. So this wasn't a normal feeding then. She'd bet to hear Henry rubbing that in her face in a moment. And who in the world was Jacob?

 

[Kry]

More. He needed more. This was probably the closest any vampire could ever come to heaven, and Zero was completely lost in it. Nothing could ever compare to this wonderful taste, this wonderful feeling that flowed through him. The vampire felt almost...alive. The corrupted blood of the wasteland never did anything like that to him, sure it kept him living the way a vampire can live, but this made him feel almost wholly human again. It was that feeling he wanted to cling to, to remain lost in forever. It was too good. It was addicting.

How had he ever existed without this before? How could he go back to existing without it? A sharp pain flashed through his body, originating from the top of his head, it half pulled him out of the daze he had fallen into. His eyes opened, and for a moment he saw spots, but that cleared quickly. Just as he was getting his bearings though he was suddenly being pulled away from the girl's throat, Zero snarled and attempted to bite at the hand that pulled him away. His own hands releasing the girl and reaching up to protect his head and face from further onslaught. The scent of the girl's blood was all around him though, so close to him, so addicting. He wanted more. That girl had awoken a strange blood-lust inside of him and he was not sure he could fight it.

Zero's hands lowered, and he looked at Henry. Eyes wide, full of uncertainty and a fear so intense it was impossible to fake. Suddenly he shoved the girl off of his lap and scrambled around Henry so that man was between him and the girl, his body trembled. His sire would have loved this, probably already was swimming in that pure blood, but Zero wasn't like him. He never had any intention of harming the humans in the dome, but one taste of that blood had made him lose control. Drinking deeply from her had ruined him, even now the thought of drinking from something else repulsed him. "Keep that blood away from me!" He was still on the ground, and his arms came up, wrapping tightly around one of Henry's legs, the way a frightened child might hide behind their father's legs. "I didn't...He always said....but I didn't know! I didn't know it'd be like that!" Terrified.

The vampire was absolutely terrified of the blood he had just drank, terrified of how even now, he was craving it.

 

[idalie]

Henry Francis Foster
Something in him changed. Less of a madman, the one who cried and then laughed, or quoted books from before the war of awful teen novellas - no. Henry was silent for a moment, grasping the baton in his hand. "I told you." His voice became uncharacteristically low, a crackle almost audible from his knuckles - like a spark leaping off his gloves. And it wasn't anything manmade. It was pure, and undefined magic to those who knew. "I told you both the implications this would have." His head turned to eye the weakened girl and the vampire who clung to his leg. He grabbed Zero's scruff, as if he was furious but couldn't quite express it. Dragging the vampire further in front of him. "You should've known BETTER. You have lived outside this DAMNED thing long enough to know. I warned you, apparently someone else did too. You're irresponsible. More than that, you're an idiot." He hissed. "We'll have to wean you off like a damned newborn because this blood - it's not here forever. Those who survive will be contaminated. You see those giant, fucking holes in the dome? All these pure humans are already starting to alter on an atomic level. Even our dear, little lady over here who thought it to be such a great idea to shove her hand into a lion's mouth to see whether it'd bite."

After managing to disengage Zero from his leg, he knelt by Annabelle with his scowls and glares, "How do you feel?" Foster peeled off one of his gloves to reveal a hand, covered in runes - all which were not tattooed but cut into his skin delicately. He pressed his palm to her forehead, lifted the eyelids to check her pupils and press beneath her jaw to check the pulse. Only to affirm his thoughts, and pull the leather addition back over his fingertips. "You're suffering blood loss. Surprising, I know. But, from estimation - I'd say one to two pints, maybe more. Your body is beginning to react, which is good. Naturally built-in biological fail-safes are one of the many miracles of nature. However, even so, you should take caution. The dizziness will go in about a week. Depends - yet you seem healthier than any person I've encountered. I could go on in detail, but I'll end it with this: you're the biggest idiot I've ever met."

Foster tilted his head back to the sky a moment, watching the top of the dome stop it's flickering at last. Dousing the place in murky light. Screaming still continuing, interrupted by rifle fire and the occasional, frightening lulls of silence. "We can't stay here forever. And from what I can make out, we don't want to be outside any longer than we have to. Girl - if you could give me a name that would be amazing - do you have any family? Any place in mind that is ideal? Preferably somewhere at least a floor up, and fewer windows. A library, a house, - a shop even -" He twisted to keep an eye on Zero. "And you, bloodsucker, stop staring at her like she's dinner and start using those capabilities to see whether anything coming this way is looking for a snack. Even I, wouldn't like to be eaten as much as I make it out."​

Kry poppet

 

[poppet]

"Hey!" Ann exclaimed, her voice straining slightly as she was dumped onto the pavement between buildings. He was putting distance between them like she was plagued. Great. She frowned, reaching up to hold onto the tender spot on her neck from which blood trickled. "We had a deal," she grumbled wearily as he clung to Henry's leg.

She listened at Henry's scolding, casting eyes up towards the top of the dome when he spoke of it and things beyond. It wasn't too hard to see that any rumor or legend of what really happened so many centuries ago could hold truth now. She knew of other "rumors", too, that most others hadn't heard of. Of safe places, underground. Thanks to her mom's newest choice of husband and his family, there were plenty of "classified" things she'd overheard.

Ann sat calmly as Henry came to assess her health. He seemed to know a lot about a lot. She intended on asking him about that. But she felt pretty well. A little dizzy, but nothing too serious. She frowned though when he called her an idiot, and scowled as she pushed herself to her feet. She, too, heard the fading sounds of the chaos as humans have taken refuge, or tried to, inside buildings and homes. "Annabelle," she responded, casting her gaze towards the alley exit. She did have what people might consider a family and a home. It was many stories above ground and three levels tall. But, "Our condo is halfway across the city." If they could make their way there, however long it took, it would likely be their best bet.

"It's the last three levels of a highrise condo building, and," she hesitated giving the information but couldn't see a real problem, "There might be useful information there, too." She glanced at Henry without explaining that her new "dad" was a government higher-up. "I don't know how we'll get there like this though," she added, not knowing much of anything about who had broken their way through the dome. Maybe if they building hopped as necessary...

 

[Kry]

Henry had grabbed him by the scruff, and Zero didn't resist. "He always said it would be the greatest thing we ever tasted, that it would carry us to heaven, that it would make us gods." The words were spoken quietly, uncertainly, and soon Zero found himself on the ground no longer attached to Henry's leg. He frowned deeply and slowly stood. His eyes on the girl, his body still trembling and that need, that want of more of her blood made it hard to think of anything else. When Henry moved closer to the girl and began touching her in order to examine her, Zero stepped closer as well. Terrified as he was of that blood, he craved it, and it made him feel rather possessive of the girl.

He watched Henry for a moment, but his attention was mostly on the girl. He needed more, he needed all of her blood. He was fighting it hard, that desire to drain her dry, to fill himself with that exquisite deliciousness that was uncontaminated. It took him a few seconds to realize Henry was speaking to him, and a couple more seconds to realize that he had come much closer to the two. Zero took an immediate step back, shaking his as if trying to clear it from a fog. Quickly he darted to one end of the alley, and looked around, then he darted to the other end and gave another look around.

For the moment they seemed safe. Some straggling creatures still lingered nearby but nothing had noticed them yet, mostly scavengers. Nothing he couldn't handle now that he was at full strength. "Everything that could pose a threat seems to have moved deeper into the city, since we're just at the edge here." His back was to both Henry and Annabelle, slowly he lifted a hand to rub his neck where the wound had once been. "We'd be safer outside. This city is lost, it's only a matter of time before my master and the other creatures wipe out everything here." It was also a matter of time before that older vampire came looking to see if Zero were still around. There was no telling how his sire would react to his continued existence.

A condo halfway across the city, it could be a safe place, but it could potentially take them closer to the creatures that had attacked. Especially considering everything had moved further into the city. He glanced over his shoulder at Annabelle and grimaced. Her blood had been wonderful, but honestly it didn't make him feel like a god, he felt more like a slave to it. His body had yet to even stop trembling. He couldn't get thoughts of that taste and feeling out of his head, looking at her only made it worse.

Grimacing he moved towards her, not quite completely conscious of his actions until he was only a couple of feet from her and Henry. Zero blinked at them, blinking rapidly as if coming out of a daze. "It'll be more dangerous deeper in the city." He turned his back to them.

 

[idalie]

Henry Francis Foster
He stood there, keeping a close eye on Zero whilst momentarily pacing. Cracking his knuckles repetitively till they could no longer. It was tough. Resources or safety - the question dizzyingly spun in his mind. "My home is an hour on foot." Henry spoke up at last, crouching down as he dragged his hands decisively over his mask. "The wastes will be quiet, but you do realise this is ... an opportunity, don't you? We get modern information, as modern as it can be. I bet this place even had a printing press. They were living in an advanced bioengineered geodome, they have medicines, food, - guns even. More than that, this dome is a scientific miracle." He faced Annabelle after his ramblings. And then the vampire. "We should do it. Just think - think of the possibilities. Filtration systems, organics, we've only survived on radiated foods or ones that didn't perish. And I don't know about you, but for once in my life, I'm more excited about the untapped possibilities than I am finding powdered hot chocolate. And that happened only once."

Foster, gazed up once more. "Halfway across shouldn't be so hard. If we keep to the outside, or up high, we should avoid most of the massacre. Mutants are interested in the screamers for now. Or trying to get to them. And while we do it, we get Annabelle back home. Sounds like a suicide mission I'd undertake any day of the week. Stay quiet, move fast, and we'll make it in no time." Henry smiled. Although nobody could see it. "Oh, and if Annabelle's family is dead, then we can go home." He casually added on the end with a shrug.

Glancing up at the alleyway and it's width, he then gave them that scary 'Henry' look. Which embodied both chaos, mischief, and a dash of insanity. "No objections? Wonderful!" He brushed away Zero's legitimate argument thus and grabbed the vampire, as well as the girl. "Think of it as an adventure. I know I've had more than my fair share. But you never know when you're going to die right? Comforting thoughts." And then, in a foreign tongue - something which barely sounded human, Foster leapt up - with surprising force - feet hitting the wall, only to proceed to run - as if it were the floor, across the brickwork. His eyes losing all colour - not even the pupil remaining. Nevertheless, Henry dragged both with him. Taking minutes to reach the top and somewhat slow down before throwing them all over the top of the roof including himself -falling into a neat roll. Alas, one had to admit, the scenery was far better. You could practically see everything. Down to the silhouettes of mutants and various fires.​

Kry poppet

 

[poppet]

Something stirred inside of Ann. Something like excitement, obviously mixed with a healthy amount of fear. But something else, too. She brushed it off, assuming blood loss could be to blame for her wacky thoughts. After all, what person in their right mind would find a situation like this at all exciting? Ann didn't have any family to miss, and she hated pretty much every aspect of her human life. This was new and different, and somehow she just couldn't shake finding it better than before. That was sad, but she wouldn't say so aloud.

She kept to herself, listening to the pair. It would be more dangerous in the center of the city? She could see that. But go outside of the dome? Part of her wondered what it was like. Then, not everyone had one of those handy masks to keep from breathing all the contamination in. She cast a sideways glance at Henry when his motives became questionable, though didn't seem bothered in the least at the mention of her family being dead. They weren't her family. Her own mother couldn't even be considered as much.

When Henry gathered them up though, talking about not knowing when they'd die, Ann did have to consider tough things. How many people were dead? Why? She couldn't think long because in an instant they were hurtling towards the rooftops. When the eternity passed and she was released, she sank to the ground with one hand over her mouth. "I think I'm going to be sick," she said, obviously not a fan of the ride. She was already dizzy enough.

Ann sat there gaining her wits about her, glancing around only to see billowing clouds of smoke and other building tops from her seat on the ground. The dome had large pieces missing in various places. Some drew smoke in, but some appeared to be letting thick yellow and red clouds back into the dome.

 

[Kry]

Henry was rambling about technology and such. "I've no interest in such matters." These things were meaningless to the vampire, all he wanted was to get away from this pure blooded human before he did lose control. He also wanted to get far from this city, not deeper into it. Besides, why did he have to go along with them? Henry obviously didn't like vampires, and the girl probably wouldn't survive long anyway. Zero looked positively startled when Henry grabbed him. "Why do I have to go too?" He struggled, stopping only when the other began moving. Magic.

Henry dragged him and Annabelle up the wall and then tossed them, it was his fast reflexes that had him landing in a crouch once he was tossed onto the roof. Zero growled at Henry, a threatening growl. He stood, and jabbed a finger towards the girl. "I'm done with her, her blood's making me crazy. I can't stand it. I'm not going anywhere with either of you!" He had his own problems to deal with, he didn't need these two adding to it. Sure he had said he would protect the girl for some of her blood, but he had never intended to actually do it. He might've considered it, if her blood wasn't driving him crazy.

His gaze lingered on her as he turned from Henry, a hungry gaze. It was too difficult being around her. Zero shook his head, trying to clear it and turned his back to both of them. He really needed to get out. Things had gotten to complicated and too dangerous. The vampire began to walk away from them, it would be easier to control this blood lust if he were away from her. The temptation wouldn't be there any more, but after that taste, how could he ever drink from anything else again? He made it to the opposite edge of the roof and hesitated.

Staring out over at the city, it wouldn't be long before it was completely overtaken by the creatures from outside the dome. His sire was down there somewhere probably in the middle of the worst of it. Zero shuddered and turned away from the burning city. Not quite turning towards Henry and Annabelle, but facing instead where the edge of the city met the wasteland. If he could get out there, he could be free. If he ran far enough his sire wouldn't find him and just maybe...maybe he would be able to forget the taste of that pure, unpolluted blood.

He licked his lips, and that hungry look once more found Annabelle. Zero found it far to hard to distance himself from that pure blood supply.

 

[DevonWrites]

Keaton​

((Yes, just Keaton. His pack never saw the point in surnames. They were all pack, so why would they need to divide themselves further? Anyway, Keaton is considered rather young, though he's lived nearly a hundred years. Somewhat naïve about the history between the supernatural and humans, he thinks of the entire war as a sort of game. Oh, right. He's also going to be the Alpha of his pack someday. Perhaps sooner than he intends.))

Run! Catch! Prey! Hunt!

This was all that went through Keaton's mind as he ran down the flaming streets sporting a fanged grin. These humans really knew how to play hard! Why hadn't he come here before?! The chaos of this chase was intoxicating and the werewolf was loving the adrenaline rush.

Quite suddenly, there was someone bowling him over. How had he failed to notice that person so close to him? Grinning, he followed the young woman as she half-stumbled in her rush down a back alley. The scent of blood told Keaton that his prey was wounded. An easy target. No fun. Interest lost. Goodbye lady.

As he turned back towards the centre of the dome, where he could hear the fun continuing, he glanced up and caught sight of... A vampire! A deep, instinctual anger filled him and he raced to catch his biological foe.

((Hope it's okay to join now, even though you guys seem to have a thing going...?))

 

[idalie]

Henry Francis Foster
"You get used to it," Henry remarked toward Annabelle, bending slightly to hold out a gentlemanly hand; echoing some sort of long dead chivalry. Although, he turned to Zero and sighed through his mask. "Look, vamp, you need to find another human. One like her." Foster lifted his chin slightly. "Because she won't be back in action to feed your addiction till three or so weeks, you start trying to snack now and she'll need blood transfusions. Not even I can fix that. So, you go cold turkey. It's the only answer. And as much as Annabelle here doesn't seem the ideal survivor, I'm sure you promised to protect her, kid."

Crossing his arms over his chest, he scuffed his feet on the floor, till facing her again. "Anna. Is there anything you need? Anything desperately? Siblings you want to protect, medication you require? I can see a hardware store across the street - we'll grab you goggles and a dust mask. Should be adequate before everything begins to go to shit - more than it is. Thankfully for you, little lady, the radioactivity is bearable for homo sapiens. And all of their sister creatures too. Unfortunately. But, you can never go wrong with protection. Cuts your chance of thyroid cancer in half." Glancing between them both, he shook his head dramatically. "Look, if you both desperately dislike the thought of entering the fray, then speak now or forever hold your peace. I have a place, outside of the city like I said. If you take one of the vehicles, it should cut that time in half. I walked a long, long way to watch this happen. And to leave with my hands empty is ... some form of blasphemy I'm quite sure. I mean, vampire, as much as I have a burning desire to flay you with fire, you - are the perfect cover. Stupid mutants won't disrupt vampires, it's insane. Of course, we'll have a few other issues but - ehhh -" Dipping his hand side to side, Foster made an unseen face.

"I'll give you a second to decide between yourselves. Make it quick." He lifted up his baton, peering over the side of the rooftop. "Because it seems we have company. And as our resident bloodsucker will be glad to know, it's his best friend. A wolf. Any second now would be great."​

Kry poppet DevonWrites

 

[poppet]

Only frowning towards the vampire, Ann took Henry's hand and stood, dusting herself off and straightening her uniform methodically. "Thanks," she mumbled. What was so wrong with her blood? Yeesh. He'd sure gone from sincere to downright rude in a short amount of time. She returned her attention to Henry and sighed. She didn't need any medication, she didn't have siblings, she literally had nothing to go back for. She didn't even have anything sentimental aside from a pendant she wore tucked into her shirt. She simply shook her head 'no' in response, unwilling to give further detail. And honestly, Ann didn't know what to do.

Henry was talking about masks and cancer and the situation at hand was consistently becoming more depressing. Why would these beings want to do this? Was it the vampires? If they wanted uncontaminated human blood, why destroy the dome and contaminate it? Perhaps they planned more of a takeover. Would they repair the dome then? But who would want to be a human prisoner inside of it then? To stay or to leave, was something she couldn't decide between. But could she really count on anyone here?

Ann walked to the edge of the building beside Henry to see what best friend he spoke of. So far, she'd met two people from the outside, and neither one seemed all that dangerous. Maybe this wolf-man wasn't either. She peered down in question.

 

[Kry]

Zero grimaced, "I had no intention of protecting anyone, I was just hungry. Not my fault if she's dumb enough to believe a vampire." He was scowling at Henry. "I'm not addicted to her blood." The words came out far more defensively than he had intended for them to, and it seemed like he was saying them to convince himself of that. He looked out towards the center of the city, there was definitely more activity there, more fires and smoke at least. His sire would be there. The vampire took a step back, once again rubbing the side of neck. "If we do this, we do it fast. Get in, get whatever sciency bullshit you need and get the hell out." He was confident he could protect them from most of the vermin scouring the city, but if his sire were to find them, they would probably all die.

The vampire scrunched his nose up, as a rather unpleasant scent caught on the wind, he couldn't tell where it came from or how close but it was definitely wolfish. Then Henry was saying something about a wolf, and Zero was between him and Annabelle in the blink of an eye peering down over the roof edge. He could probably take it, especially now, with that pure blood powering him up. In a sense. He did feel stronger than normal. "We should go now, and if the wolf has our scent, he'll probably chase us." The vampire frowned deeply, thinking. He could always just leave them, he was certain he could out run them and get away.

That hungry gaze landed on Annabelle again. If he left, he'd lose that source. That delicious, pure blood. Though Henry said it wouldn't stay that way for long. "Magic." He said the word suddenly, looking at Henry. "Can't you use magic to turn away the wolf, or to somewhat mask our presence as we move through the city?" Zero didn't know a lot about magic, but he had heard things, and he certainly witnessed Henry use it to get them onto the rooftop.

 

[DevonWrites]

As Keaton got closer to the leech, he scented two humans nearby. He almost missed them, so strong was the stink of bloodsucker. This revelation only caused minor curiosity as their presence meant little to his hunt. The vampire knew of his approach now, judging by the defensive odour he was giving off. That was fine; he was nearly close enough to leap on the leech.

Seeing the face if his nemesis, he let loose a feral growl, tilting his head up to howl a hunting song for all to hear. This prey is mine! No one else may have him!

Then, he was pushing off and aiming to land on tge bloodsucker's chest, trusting his strength and body mass to knock the other to the ground and snarling close to his face.