Fantasy Bloodlines

[Eliasdagood]

Mena packs a bunch of spell components, extremely excited. Kora just packs clothes and toiletries, and a pen and notebook. She’s still working on her writing. They head out to meet Benton once they’re done, both quite happy for some time out. “So, should we make plans for what we’ll do while we’re there?” Mena asks, putting their things in the trunk.
St. Boethius

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton shakes his head as he double checks his suitcase. He had toiletries, clothing, some reading material, and a bartered and weathered journal. In his other bags were the spare parts and needed medical supplies. “ No need for a plan. The whole point of a vacation is to relax and enjoy. We’ll figure it out as we go.” Benton said, climbing into a grey SUV with tinted windows. The decoy car was a Red Mercedes Beins. “ it’s a few hours to the air port so we’ll have plenty of time to make a plan if one is needed.”
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

They nod, getting in with him. “Sounds good! I’ve only ever been where vampires kept us.” Kora says with a grin. Mena smiles sadly. “Well, there’s a lot of time for us to explore the rest.”

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton starts up the car and the convoy of cars with Revenants fall in line escorting the decoy car to the nearest airport. Benton and the ladies however went in the opposite direction heading to a far out and isolated private air strip with only a chaser car following a few car lengths behind them. “ Do Kora what were the conditions of travel arrangements before coming into my care?”
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

She huffs. “Usually by car or train. Depending on how recently I’d attacked someone, I’d be either in a cage, or surrounded by vampires, but allowed a proper seat. Myrtis was confident he could control me, so he let me sit in the car with him, but he had child safety locks on, and never let go of my arm.” Mena tries to hold back a laugh. “They were afraid of you.”
St. Boethius

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton nods in agreement with Mena, “ The Clan who had possession of you specialized in control not combat. Even if they were confident in their hold over you there’s always a possibility of a feral frenzy so they needed to take precautions against you.” Benton explained though he was fairly certain that she already figured that out a while ago. The route the car took cut through winding roads of backwoods. Dense forest mere feet from the road and the occasional farm. “ Almost there now. It seems our doubles have already boarded their flight.”
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Kora nods, looking out the window sadly. “I tried to organize a proper riot one time. They made me watch as they executed the others. Told the dhampir that weren’t part of it that I went mad and killed them.” She’s pulled out of her thoughts as they come close to their flight, excited for some time to relax.

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton remained silent for the rest of the ride. Unsure with how to respond to such a statement without making things worse. Soon the Private Airport came into view. Rustic was an understatement; a dirt runway with a single plane and very old man smiling and waving at them. Benton smiles at the man and waved back. Once the cars stopped the revenants got out of their car and began loading luggage. “ Ladies, May I introduce to you Sgt. Larry Stokes of the 108th Airborne Division.” Benton said hugging the old man with a chuckle. “ He and I served together during the Vietnam War.”
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Korvashta is happy to be out of the car, and smiles, waving at the old man. “Hello. It’s very nice to meet you!” She says brightly. Mena smiles, going to shake his hand. “A pleasure.” She murmurs, idly wondering which one of them is older, though she certainly doesn’t look it these days.

 

[St. Boethius]

Larry chuckled and gave them both a hug, “ You’ve really let yourself go Benton. He used to car about his appearance y’know.” He said fishing out a old faded picture of the two men. They were standing against a helicopter smiling for the camera. Both of them looking like they were in their 20s. Benton scoffed at the picture with a chuckle. “ That was back when I replaced whole parts. I’ve started replacing individual pieces. It’s better for overall performanc- ‘Ah you just say that cause your old lady ain’t around what would she think of you now?” Benton expression grew very stern at the mention of a wife and he put his arm around Larry’s shoulder, “ I asked you not to talk about her...... ‘ You knows she would cry if she saw ya, you ain’t taking care of yourself anymore.’” Larry fixes Benton’s stained shirt fouled with blood to make it more presentable.
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Mena looks very sad now. Maybe… maybe she’ll try to help him with such things. At least some magic to not make the stitches so visible. Kora never really had a romantic interest in anyone. It’s not a topic she understands.

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton sighed, “ I’ve no one to make myself presentable for anymore Larry.... but maybe you have a point. I’ve been mourning her for a very long time. Perhaps it’s time to move forward.” Benton patted Larry’s back and headed back to the Revenants. Larry started take off prep as Benton touched one of the revenant. A purple light flowed softly between then and when it faded there was nothing of the revenant left and Benton looked like a brand new person.

Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Mena smiles, looking him over. “Looking good! I have no idea what you did, but it’s certainly impressive.” She says with a chuckle. Kora laughs, hopping up the stairs onto the plane. “I’ve never been on one of these.” She muses.

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton adjusts his clothing for a moment before joining them in the plane. “ My magic has a lot of power over flesh and the body. So I used my own flesh and the flesh of the revenant to not only heal the stitches and wounds but change my appearance. It’s something I had to do once about every hundred years to continue living in secret before the vampires emerged.” Benton explained as he took. A seat and gave Larry a thumbs up. The plane lurched forward and the revenant returned home.
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Kortova gasps as the plane starts moving, and Mena buckles both of them in. “Interesting. The closest I’ve come to anything like that is collecting energy from the surrounding ecosystem to keep my organs functioning. But it did mean I couldn’t leave the forest without serious repercussions.”

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton nods and waits until the plane as taken off and stabilized in the air. The G-forces were significant enough to push everyone well into their seats. “It works better when the flesh has my blood in it. It responds to my will a lot better than if I were to try and do the same to just any human or vampire....” Benton then launches into a lecture on how his blood magic works. His blood is fused with negative energy which allows him to manipulate flesh and blood. So far his efforts to use his magic to manipulate souls has been less than fruitful but controlling things without souls has been quite successful I.e. his manipulation of vampires and bodies.
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Mena listens carefully to his lecture, very curious about the magic that now animates her. Kora would love to focus on him, but currently she is terrified at the feeling of the flight. She’s gripping her armrests tight, and focusing on taking deep breaths. She has to trust that if the other two are so calm, she’s safe.

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton further explains that his magic steals and corrupts just about any magic or living thing into more negative energy. The drawback being that the negative energy eats away at his body causing it to rot and decay at a faster rate the more he uses his magic. Essentially any revenant is a walking battery of negative energy that Benton can draw on to use his magic without causing damage to himself, but making a revenant outside of his home costs him dearly.
“ As you may have guessed with my friend Larry I’m a lot older than one might think. In fact I was only 18 when I joined in the Civil War as a Doctor and tried to save my fellow man. My abilities didn’t activate until my first death at 20. “
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Mena nods. “I see. Trees and animals serve as batteries of power for me, but I hate to take too much from them when I can feel their pain.” She glances at Kora, chuckling softly, and offering her some chewing gum, and getting a blank stare in return.

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton nods, “ Though I don’t share your ethics I can understand the point of view. Kora dear, you seem to be handling your first flight.... well.” Trying to coax her into the discussion and give her something other than her fear to focus on. “ How has my blood changed your abilities?”
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Kora smiles weakly at him. “Thanks. Regeneration and animal communication seems mostly intact. And as far as other abilities go, I’m not sure. I was never really encouraged to explore them, so I can’t tell what’s new and what isn’t. But mama says my magic is weirdly… aggressive.” Mena sighs. “Spells that should have a benign effect almost always end up malicious in some aspect. It’s strange.”

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton thinks for a moment, “ My magic doesn’t have a malicious intent persay.., it focuses on propagation and consumption. Much like a virus or cancer. This malicious nature seems to be unique to you. Could it perhaps be a hold over from your father?”
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Kora shrugs. “Probably. Or maybe it’s just tapped into that part of my mind. I play nice when I’m treated well, but honestly, sometimes I just want to tear everything apart.” She grimaces. “Not particularly proud of that instinct.” Mena rubs her back. “You’ve felt cornered and under attack for the majority of your life. It’s alright if you aren’t okay after everything.”

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton nods in agreement, “ The suffering you’ve endured shouldn’t be inflicted upon any sentient being. Least of all a member of my household.” Static cuts through the conversation as Larry comes on the intercom, “ Ladies and Benton due to the clandestine nature of our trip today I felt it necessary to inform you that we seem to under observation. I’ll try to shake em but it might be a bit bumpy.” Immediately after the intercom cuts off the plane tilts makes a sharp turn.
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Kora’s eyes widen, and Mena has to grab her shoulder to hold her steady as the plane swerves. “Oh, this is not okay. Korrie, calm down, baby.” She murmurs, the dhampir obviously having a moment where she wants to fight or flee, and is unable to do either.