Fantasy The MPC Rushes Story, Cont.

[Lisbeth Walpurgis]

Lisbeth looked up from the phone screen, annoyance writ plain across her features. Her eyes flashed blue.


"Fine," she said, her voice cold, "Why do we not go to Alaster's home, seeing that he so graciously invited us? Will that soothe your paranoia?"

 

[slee77]

I don't know going to hell or wherever seems a bit like Doing ALT tamonts job for him doesn't it?

 

[ArtBlott]

Blott crinkled her nose, but said decided speaking her mind was a bad idea. If his home was half as unpleasant and the reaper himself, they were in for a rough time of it.


She absently patted Lisbeth's arm. "The longer we stay, the more it's likely we'll leave an imprint on this Idea. I don't really want to be someone's fanfiction character or guest appearance." Though secretly, she didn't really want to go. Not when the other option was the Underworld.

 

[slee77]

Maybe we can turn this against his expectations! Where is the one place he would NEVER think we would go?!

 

[slee77]

"Earthland?" Altamonte arched an eyebrow "are we a theme park?"

 

[Arkadious]

-Everyone, aside from Altamonte, stands with mouths agape and looks up at Grim's castle. The second largest? That was hard to even conceive for the Castle that stood before them seemed to have no end. Four times larger than Tokyo? Unfathomable...With Grim leading the way, everyone heads forward, through the massive stone gates, becoming even more awed, aside from Altamonte, at the glistening Ivory and Quartz mega-structure before them, seeming to glow un-naturally, which given their current Where, was entirely plausible...

 

[Arkadious]

-With a casual wave, Grim gestures to the water flowing under the bridge as they cross it. Blott looks over and spots what at first she thought to be a beautiful mermaid. After a double take, she saw it was really a skeletal mermaid. (skull) With a shudder and a cringe, she looked back ahead and noted to most DEFINITELY NOT take a dip in the river...

 

[Lisbeth Walpurgis]

"So, are we in the realm of Hades, then?" Lisbeth asked, "If that's the River Styx, then we should be near the border with Earth."


She seemed relieved by this deduction, though she didn't explain why.

 

[slee77]

Altamonte casually asks "What is the going rate for ice water in these parts?"

 

[Arkadious]

-Samiel scampers off to fetch the refreshments. Shortly after he disappears from view, one, then two, loud retorts are heard, echoing throughout the large antechamber. As everyone carefully ventures forward, the sharp tangy aroma of gun-powder and salt fill their nostrils...

 

[ArtBlott]

Blott nearly jumped out of her skin. A soft wind blew through the room at the antechambers doors began to close. From around the very same corner Samiel had vanished behind, ash drifted lightly in the air and then the voices started.


"Dean, not now, we don't know how many are in that room!"


"I know, Sammy, I know, but it was comin' right for us!"

 

[Lisbeth Walpurgis]

"Damn it. Can't we go anyplace nice?" Lisbeth grumbled, drawing her swords.

 

[Arkadious]

-From the shadows, two figures emerge, clearly bickering about the recently deceased Samiel and the possible repercussions. The pair are dressed in casual clothes, a lil torn up from wear but still serviceable. One of them, the taller of the pair with a mop of brown hair was adamantly gesturing towards his shorter companion who was toting a short barreled shotgun...


-They pause in their bickering when they hear the Lisbeth curse and the one that was called "Sammy" looks up.


"Dean, watchout!!! Looks like that demon with a scythe has captured some other humans!!! We should help them!!!"

 

[ArtBlott]

The Crow let out a short, indignant squawk as it was shoved back under Blott's hat. She didn't feel like she needed help, but she didn't need a shotgun to the face either, and if they were demon hunting, she didn't want to get mixed up between sides. Talking birds tend to blur the lines.


The one called Dean took offensive action, raising the shotgun to his shoulder and taking aim. "HEY! Big boy, why don't, ah, you step away from your little friends there, and put the oversized pocket knife down, huh?"

 

[Lisbeth Walpurgis]

"Uhhhhh..." Lisbeth fought the blush rising up her neck.


She wasn't sure what was going on, but these guys were seriously attractive. Her eye was immediately drawn to the one called Sammy.


"T-tall..." she stammered.


She kind of had a thing for tall guys.

 

[Lisbeth Walpurgis]

"W-wait a minute!" she choked out, "Can't we talk about this before we start pointing weapons?"


Belatedly she realized that she herself already had her swords out, but she also wasn't entirely comfortable sheathing them either.


"Ok... Weapons can stay out, but... let's not kill each other yet?"


She winced. Why did that come out like a question?


Maybe it was just Lisbeth, but this whole thing seemed to be turning entirely too awkward.

 

[Arkadious]

-Sam started side stepping around the group, keeping his eyes on Grim while holding his palms outward. He glances around at Lisbeth and holds her stare for a moment, a boyish smile spreading across his face as he calls out: "Hey, it's cool, we're the good guys! I'm sure you're scared, what with that scythe wielding demon standing over you, but we're ok! So, uh, maybe point the swords elsewhere..?

 

[Lisbeth Walpurgis]

"Demon...?" Lisbeth looked over at their Reaper friend, "You mean Alaster? He's not a demon... are you? I thought you were the Grim Reaper. Is that a type of demon?"


She shook her head.


"No, that's not the point. The point is, he's not evil. He's been helping us. And... did you kill his butler?"

 

[Arkadious]

"Yes. Well, no, technically it was Dean, but yes, because it was a Demon! And trust me, lady, you don't want to take help from a demon, and you especially do not want to take help from a Reaper...Been there, done that, didn't go so well..."


-Sam's voice trails off as he recalls a painful memory. He shakes his head and then put back on a smile and continues trying to persuade Lisbeth and the others to get away from Grim. Meanwhile, Dean keeps the barrel of his shotgun fixed on Grim's chest, keeping well out of reach of his scythe...

 

[ArtBlott]

Blott leaned to the side. There was movement just behind the two boys. A third hunter? She squinted. He wore a tan trenchcoat and a blue tie, and looked very...stern. Stern and tired, though the 5 o'clock shadow he had might have been encouraging the 'tired' look. Then again...she glanced at Sam, who was still chattering away ("We can protect you, get you out of here. No matter what deals you've made, we can get you help.") then to Dean ("Stop trying to play tough guy, I can promise you, we've seen a lot worse than you.")...yeah, she'd get pretty tired too.

 

[Lisbeth Walpurgis]

This was all getting really, really strange. Who were these people? What were they doing in Grim's castle? Why did they keep going on about deals and taking help from demons? Alaster Von Grim was certainly not the easiest... being to get along with, and at times he exhibited frightening power, but he had never done anything to really harm them, and had the potential to be a potent ally. She was so flustered, though, and they certainly seemed like they were trying to help... Something cold reached out within her, and her eyes flashed a brilliant aqua blue.


"Must I do everything?" said the voice in her head.


"I have made no bargain with this creature," she began, her actual voice taking on a haughty tone, "We seek a common enemy, he and I, and that is all. Alaster Von Grim is an embodiment of Death, as is the being that I seek to destroy. Thanatos, who dwells deep in Tartarus, son of Nyx and Erebus, twin brother of Hypnos. I am his true Creator, and he seeks to destroy me. You think yourselves in the right, hunters, but know that you may find yourselves out of your depth with this quarry. I bear you no ill will, in fact I would prefer for you to leave these halls alive, but I am no damsel that requires saving, nor am I even fully human myself."


"Oh, great," Lisbeth thought dismally, "That's really going to get them on our side. Thanks."

 

[Lisbeth Walpurgis]

"That was... odd," Lisbeth said as her eyes returned to their normal brown, "Wait a minute... You have children?!"





Her mouth hung open in a perfect 'o' of shock as she stared at the Reaper looking absolutely scandalized.

 

[Genevieve Moulin]

Hell, Genevieve thought. Actual Hell.


She'd felt as though she were in Hell many times. Some of them in the last 24 hours. There were times--the darkest times--when she thought she might belong there. But the reality was not what she expected. Here was Death allowing small children to play in his castle. Death offering weary travelers refreshment and hospitality. The landscape was swept and hard, but there were no flames licking at the flesh of the sinner here, no screams of torture. If World War II London can have werewolves, she thought, I suppose Hell can be a nice place to rest for a few hours. And she sorely needed to rest.

 

[ArtBlott]

This is fine, Blott thought to herself, This is fine, because if it's not, I'm going to sit down and never get up again. She eyed the cart stacked with food and drink warily. "This isn't like one of those Fae things, where you eat and can never leave, is it?" the crows voice sounded dry and far away. She needed to feed it at some point, but wasn't sure Hell's Cuisine was up to the task.

 

[Arkadious]

-As soon as Alaster's fingers produce a sharp loud snap, several unearthly beautiful maidens appear from the shadows, two per guest, and guide them off to their own private rooms. Before being ushered away, Alaster avails Blotts fears about the underworld food having the same effects as fay cuisine and assures her that she is free to eat whatever she desires. Satisfied with his response, Blott lets the two succubi escort her to her private quarters for the evening...


-Alaster checks in on everyone after they've all had the chance to wash and get settled in, bidding them all a good night and telling them to get their much needed rest. Afterwards, he strolls around his castle grounds, posting sentries to the guest wings to ensure his guests peace of mind and then he retires to his chamber, where he pulls out his Black Book and checks on the state of affairs of souls in his brief absence...


-Lisbeth, after bathing and taking a moment to relax, prepares for bed. As she lays down on perhaps the most luxurious bed she has ever encounter or even dreamed of, she fishes the small Blood Stone from her pouch and holds it. Normally warm and soothing to the touch, almost reassuring in the glow radiating from within, it is cool and feels rather...empty...