Once Sealed [Closed]

[Lucyfer]

Aemilia Terrell had been her name when she was human, and it was the name of the strawberry-blonde woman now. Of course, her hair should have been silver. It was a thought that struck her as funny as she leaned her head against the train window as it began to slow down.


“Welcome to Springfield Station.”


The robotic female voice greeted, and Aemilia shut her hazel-green eyes with a sigh. Springfield was far from Oregon. She’d taken two days to get here because of her aversion to the sun and unwillingness to risk its strokes. During her first layover, she’d made sure to finish what she started. All of her sire’s funds were transferred to her account. Considering the man had been well over 2,000 years old, a Roman patrician, he had a lot of funds. Aemilia wasn’t worried about that any longer.


Her concern now was going to be finding the vampires of Springfield. She did not know where to begin, but she knew that as a rule, big cities with colleges attracted vampires. They were perfect feeding grounds, and perfect places to blend in.


After all, that’s where she’d been caught.


The train’s robotic voice soon told them all to take up their things and leave. Aemilia had just one bag, besides her purse. She would rebuild with the money, once she had a place to stay. That was the first order of business—find a place to stay.


Aemilia was pushed out with the rush of other train riders, and soon found herself stumbling onto the tile floor of the train station. She followed the signs that pointed her out, and was nearly blinded by the lights and tall buildings once she made it outside. She stood out, not because she was a vampire, but because her attire was too formal. People passed her by while looking at her and the confusion perfectly displayed on her countenance.


Someone stopped to ask, “Excuse me, miss?” And she turned her head to look at the man, “Are you here for someone’s wedding or…?”


Aemilia glanced down at the red dress, wondered what kind of woman would have her bridesmaids wearing red, and then looked back up, “Er, I’m—”


“OH MY GOD, BITCH, WHERE DID YOU GET THAT DRESS?”


The shriek came from some blonde harpy who ran up the stairs to where Aemilia was. Her own attire was not half so formal, instead being a pink halter top and a white, latex skirt. She grabbed Aemilia’s hand, and Aemilia felt the coldness of it. She also swore she felt a hand on her cheek as her head towards the woman, “It’s soooo pretty, like, oh my god, I want fifty.”


The gentleman awkwardly stepped back, uncertain of his own position here, and then walked off. “I…there was a nice store in Oregon,” Aemilia answered lamely.


“Oregon? Neato! Which one? Do they have an online store? Oh my god, no, never mind, you just can’t trust sizes on the internet. Like, ugh, why can’t a size 4 be a size 4 everywhere, right?”


Aemilia stared at her blankly, and the woman laughed, taking silence as agreement, “You know! So, what are you here for? I was like, just about to hit a few of the bars, maybe you’d like to come?”


~***~


Mathias Fitzhugh sat in his penthouse room, idly sipping on blood from a golden goblet and waiting. He was dressed well as usual, even though one would think he would relax in his home. He did, but today was different. Today, the blue-suited man was waiting on guests.


His eyes were shut against the thoughts of that day’s business, which had fallen on him to host once again. It was his contribution to the domain, according to the so-called Queen. It was also his only way of being in the inner circle, considering how new he was to Springfield.


He heard the ding of the elevator, and opened his eyes to look towards the gilded gold box as the doors opened.


In strutted the Queen herself, dressed in a sparkling black dress with make-up to highlight those devilishly green eyes of hers. Mathias tipped his glass towards her, then set it down. He moved to clap his hands, but she interrupted, “Don’t. I’ve fed already.” And so he lowered his hands back into his lap. “Has anyone else arrived?” She inquired as she took a seat near the fainting couch, but never on it. She sat on the white loveseat instead.


“I haven’t seen the banshee,” his ‘loving’ name for Rachel, “the cowboy, the Spartan, or the gypsy,” he didn’t expect anyone else. He wasn’t even sure why the banshee was allowed here or in the inner circle, in all honesty.


Black-haired Veronica didn’t comment on any of his nicknames, but said, “I expect that Trent will be a bit late,” and then she thought of the others, and sighed, “I should text Mendel, though.”


“Or not. You could not text Rachel,” she was so bad at her job. So forgetful.


Veronica just narrowed her eyes, but then dug out her smartphone. Mathias let out a groan and leaned back against the leather seat he was in. He let his dark brown eyes lift skyward and he muttered a curse under his breath. He asked aloud, “Why will the cowboy be late?”


“He wanted to check something,” was the vague answer Veronica gave as her blue nails clicked away on the keys.


~***~


Virgil Trent’s motorcycle stopped its rumbling outside a familiar building. It hadn’t always been this way. It was about seventy years back that it had been built and dubbed a retirement home. It had always been in this dilapidated state, though. However, humans forgot things. Humans didn’t live for long. And the internet hadn’t been a thing seventy years ago.


Now that it was, Virgil was finding it a bit problematic. It was also useful. He had tracked stories of this place through the years, and aligned sightings and problems to this place.


He knew why it was going on, but he desperately wanted to hope otherwise. ‘Just some kids playing a prank.’ He told himself as he dismounted from his motorcycle and started to walk towards the broken fence. He didn’t bother trying to actually open the fence door, but leapt over it with ease and strode forward along the broken sidewalk to the door.


He pulled the four keys he had to unlock the various locks upon the door from the pocket of his jeans, and then pushed the door open when the chains fell to the floor. He stepped into the location and took in a whiff of the constantly stale air.


His nose wrinkled, and he squinted his amber eyes against the darkness. He then stilled his breathing, and he listened. A hand went up to his black hat, a nervous tic, as he strained his hearing for anything out of the norm.


Nothing.


The brunette cowboy called out, “All right, ya’ll better come out. I know you’ve been in here muckin’ around!”


Seconds passed.


Nothing.


‘Well what group of teenage punks would come out?’ He hadn’t expected that. He had hoped to hear the sound of scurrying feet, but no. So, he sighed, and decided just to venture a little bit further in. Just in case. His boots struck the ground and disturbed the dust that hadn’t been touched in years.

 

[Krista]

Looking in the mirror Nadia moved some dark hair back in to place. There was to be a party tonight. Nadia loved parties. To dance, to hear the music, the people, the drinks. What was there not to love? Just because she was older didn't mean that she didn't like to dance. It helped that she had been dancing since she was a little girl. That kind of upbringing didn't just go away because you were a lot older.


Standing up she slipped on her coat, though she didn't really need it, and headed out of her room. It wasn't the smallest around but it wasn't all that large either. Nadia liked the smaller place, made her feel a little more comfortable. Big spaces made her nervous. It's why she didn't go to Mathias penthouse without other people there because the place was too big.


Down the hall to the elevator.


Ride the little metal box up to the top floor.


Off the elevator and down the hall.


Knocking was polite. So she knocked on the door, waited for him to realize it was the door and then opened it. "Mathias?" Wandering inside she headed towards the living room. Once there she saw that Mathias was watching the Queen who was playing on that blasted phone. Nadia never got the hang of it, hated them in fact. Smiling widely she pulled off her jacket.


"Where are the others? I thought they would have been here by now. Will it just be the three of us then? Not that I mind any." Listening to the sound of her heels clicking on floor she moved her way over to the host. "Would you mind if I sat down. sir?" She waited for permission, it wasn't her home, then sat down easily enough and looked over at the Queen. "Good evening your highness."


+ . + . + . + . + . + . + . + . + . + . + . + . +


Modern trains were a drag. Too much security, rides too fast, employees were rude. Back in the old days it was so much more simpler. A lot more uncomfortable. In these ones they wanted to add everything. Television, phones, chairs that become beds, all the comforts of a home in a moving contraption. It made Sasha's stomach churn slightly. Would be hell to try and rob these people here without getting caught. You jump from this moving train it would kill you. It's too fast.


Eventually the wandering thief stood up, stretched her body a little then grabbed her duster. A few men looked her way but she ignored them. Men were pigs, only one thing on their mind and she had no time for it. So with nothing but the clothes on her back she made her way to the back of the train.


As soon as it slowed she hopped off, using her more than human speed to made it on to the platform and on her feet.


Taking off her hat she pushed some long brown hairs from her face and headed off into a random direction. She was running away from things better left unfound.


What she needed right now was a horse. You can't be a train robber without a horse. She wasn't a cowgirl like everyone thought she was, though she looked like one. Of course she looked like one, no one knew the difference really, but she didn't care. That time was over. She watched the world turn from horse and buggies to cars and planes. It was like the world was going on high speed while she was moving at a snails pace. She didn't care, she wasn't in any hurry. The most botched jobs came from rushing. She was slow and smooth as molasses in a jar.


Putting her hat back on she placed the bandana over her nose and mouth and walked with her head tilted down a little. She would find an off the beaten path ranch, there always was at least one, and 'borrow' a horse. Of course she used to drive a truck, a car and even a motorcycle but nothing could replace the feel of a horse between your legs. She missed it. Sasha left her gang in St. Louis behind and headed off on her own. Leaving her poor wheeled vehicles behind. Now she would find a horse and survive on her own, at least for a little while.


[i'll post the Spartan in a little bit. I'm not ready for him just yet. ]

 

[Lucyfer]

Mathias looked up as he heard the knocks, and then heard his name called. ‘Ah.’ He didn’t get up to answer, for the pretty gypsy entered of her own accord and took a seat among them. Veronica did not look up immediately to acknowledge her presence, typing away on the phone. “Good evening,” Mathias greeted her.


At her query, he repeated the information given to him, “The others will be showing up. She’s texting Rachel now, since she’s a scatterbrained nut,” who had no business being among their council, “Virgil’s off on business but should show up. Leon is….” He trailed off, since Veronica hadn’t actually told him that. He lifted the cup towards her.


Veronica looked up, and smiled politely at Nadia, “It is good to see you, Nadia,” she greeted. “I do not know where Leon is,” she answered, “but Virgil will join us, and Rachel,” her phone buzzed, “Ah. It appears Rachel will be here soon with…company.” The crease of her brow was the indication that Veronica was not happy with this, and another message was quickly typed into her phone, nails clicking a bit more rapidly in her agitation this time.


Mathias chuckled, “Is it a human again? Oh please tell me it is,” that meeting had not gone over well, although he’d been amused. Terribly amused.


~***~


“I…I need to find a place to stay first,” Aemilia managed to answer at last.


“Oh, you can stay with me, silly,” Rachel said, clearly not at all worried about what inviting a stranger into her home could mean. Aemilia felt a tug at her wrist, and found herself soon walking alongside Rachel as the woman descended the steps, “We’ll get you all properly introduced later. The Queen is a good friend of mine.”


“Queen?”


“Mm! Veronica Ashdown. She runs the show here, and I’m a part of her council!”


‘What sort of messed up town is this?’ Aemilia wondered, and then heard the ringtone of a phone.


“Oh! Her!” Rachel said as she dug her phone out of her pocket and flicked the screen to the message. She frowned at what was there. “Aww…I forgot we have business today. Well, you can get your introduction all done then!” She was typing a message as she spoke, and turned 180 degrees around to head in a different direction.


Aemilia followed, not sure how to respond to that. Silence seemed best, though she did steal a glance at the messages that were exchanged. It seemed the Queen wasn’t fond of guests. “I can always wait, uh, near?”


“No, no, don’t be silly!” Rachel laughed easily, “She’ll like you, she’s just afraid you’re human. She doesn’t like them at her meetings.” Rachel grabbed her arm then and pulled her towards the street to cross it, without so much as a warning or a light.


Aemilia was quite certain then that Rachel would be the death of her as cars shrieked to stops and horns blared.


~***~


It wasn’t teenagers.


Virgil felt what color he had leave his face when he made it down to the basement of the retirement home only to smell blood—and not human blood. A few more steps in and he saw the bodies of nomadic vampires on the floor. “Shit,” he cursed under his breath, and reached out for one to turn it over and get insight into how it died.


Just as he touched it, a spark lit and the body caught fire. Virgil reeled back to avoid burning himself, and then ran. He wasn’t going to be anywhere near a fire—he knew from experience that was a stupid idea.


He ran all the way out of the building and he waited for several, long minutes.


The fire and smoke never came out of the building. A chill wind didn’t blow the scent of it towards him, so he imagined it was confined. He knew what was doing it. He swallowed air and again reached up to touch his hat. He wanted to curse again, but didn’t. ‘The seals are weakening.’ If that thing was able to reach out and cause harm, then that meant the seals had to be weakening. It would explain the strange circumstances in the area, too.


‘Gotta get back to town then.’ He turned right around to get to his motorcycle and head off towards the hotel where Veronica was holding court.