Belladonna smiled. Fools, she thought, They left the window open for me! She slipped into the house, contorting her body so that she wouldn't change the position of the window or make a noise. Silently, she rolled onto the ground. She remembered back to her instructions. The jewel she was looking for was in the common room, a very foolish place to put something as valuable as her next victim.

She navigated her way to the common room, silently shifting through the shadows. The jewel was laying on a display table, entirely ungaurded. This is far too easy, she thought, It's either a fake or a trap. She picked up the jewel. It was an emerald, perfect in every way. She examined it closer. It was a fake. She searched through a desk in the corner, coming upon a locked drawer. She retrieved a peice of metal from her little pouch of odds and ends and picked the lock. It slid open easily. The real jewel was there.

It was then that Bella had a desision to make. Keep the real one and give the fake one to her boss or do the 'right' thing? She shucked away an concious that remained, and took the real one. Her boss would never know, and she make even more money.

She slipped out of the house, and casually strolled around. She stopped when she heard the familiar click clacking of boots on cobble stone. Someone was following her, and by the strangely familiar sent of garlic, it was a vampire hunter. Oh, was the vampiric theif in for it now. She ran, but fell on the way, screaming as her ankle cracked. The vampire hunter had vanished for some reason. As long as she wasn't dead, she didn't care. Her ankle burned with pain, and she cried out for help.

Azrael dropped from the celing, his black cloak flapping in the air. He landed on the floor, looking at the woman who had entered. Someone was strange about her... something oddly familiar.

Azrael had a tip-off from a customer was going to steal this diamond and he had been hired to put a stop to the person, preferably bringing the person alive rather than dead.

Azrael had seen a person creep in and had thrown a garlic bomb in her direction... it had exploded near the diamond, spraying garlic everywhere. However, it had not hit the person... Azrael wanted to see who this person was.

Now he was standing in front of the only escape route... the window. He reached to his scimitar and drew it's powerful blade out of it's scabbard.

Azrael was ready just incase the theif was ready to try anything.

((She's already stolen the diamond...She's out now...))
Bella coughed as the scent of garlic overwhelmed her. She caught sight of a man standing not too far away, and recognized him as a vampire hunter. She kept calm, knowing he wouldn't recognize her because of her lack of classically sharp fangs. Feebly, she said, "Please...My ankle...I think it's fractured."

She glanced down as her foot. It was cocked at a horrifyingly unatural angle. In her hands she still clutched the pouch containing the fake and real diamonds. White hot pain spread from her ankle bone up to her knee, making her feel dizzy.

Cluthing her head to keep from passing out, she quietly said, " Please, just help me up."
She held a gloved hand out to the man, hoping for assistance.

((a theif you say? it seems the Taras gaurd migt want to know about this. as usual, my char is gonna end up unkwoingly into thes situation. lol.)

Kona was on his rounds, as usual. He by now couldnt wait until he didnt have to be a gaurd anymore, hoping for a more exciting job. Then he heard a scream, and some plees for help, it knocked him out of his daydreaming. Running down the street and rounding a few corners, Kona saw a panicked woman an the ground, her foot at an unnatural stance. "You seem to have broken your foot." siad Kona as he walked closer. "I can help you with that. Ill be back with a stint for you."

Kona turned and walked around the corner looking for a good sized stick or rod to use as a stint for thw womans foot.

The Vampire Theif was a blur as she went out the window. However, Azrael was just a fast and went after her. He drew his scimitar sword and slashed at her, but he missed and instead he slashed a lampost in two.

Azrael lost the woman but suddenly he heard scome sceams for help... it sounded like a female voice. Azrael followed the voice and found the woman... she was clutching a pouch.

Azrael took the pouch and looked inside it... it was full of diamonds, fake and real. Azrael placed the pouch in his pocket and looked at the woman, she was in pain. She looked like she had broken something.

Azrael simply looked at her... then he threw a bottle of potion to her.
"Drink this, then get up," he said. He had caught her alive, now it was time to get his pay.

Bella took the potion, but didn't drink it. She carefully examined it, and after realizing it was just a normal healing potion, she drank it. The pain in her ankle subsided to a dul ache, and she got to her feet. The man had taken her pouch...Her boss wouldn't be very happy with her.

Frightened, her mind went back to where her dagger was placed in it's scabbard at her hip. She was caught in a trap she couldn't get out of...Unless, of course, she flew. Luckily, it was dark, and the man probably hadn't gotten a good look at her face, but she didn't want to confirm that she was a vampire. So, flying was a no. Instead, she said stuttered, "I-I...Please...If you're going to kill me do it now...Or please, just let me go."

Azrael grabbed the girl by her arm and took a pair of handcuffs from his pouch. He placed them one on his arm and one on the womans arm. That way if she tried to get away, she would fail badly.

"You're already powerless so there's no need to kill you. Now come with me..."

Azrael tugged on his side of the handcuffs and began to walk off in the direction of the town prison.

Kona returned around the corner with a stick, but saw somebody carrying her off with a handcuff. ~A thief that tried to esape no doubt. Should have searched her before i left. oh well...~ Kona walked up behind them, and asked to the man "Who are you and where are you taking the thief?" Kona knew it wasnt a gaurd, becuase what the man was wearing definetly didnt look like a guards clothes. The only reason why Kona didnt wear the outfit is because he had convinced the Chief to let him do otherwise.

Torn had been sitting on a roof of one of the houses. He was playing his pipes slowly. The music soothed his soul, and went perfectly with the mood. The boy had smelt the garlic. He hated garlic. It always made Torn's breath smell. He watched as the man dreesed in black arrest the other girl, and the idiot guard. He put his pipes away in his bag, drew his sword and leped down off the roof. As he came to the ground he rolled. Standing up in front of the group he held his sword in one hand.
"My I be of assistance in takeing this thief to jail? Where she belongs."
He looked over the group. The man in black held a scimitar in his hand. The guard was a fool. His sword was at his side. Not ready. If the thief tryed anything the man would be unarmed.
[B][COLOR=blue]"I was watching this thief. She is very good at her job. Well she was. She is now caught. I can help in anyway I can."
He spun his sword around feeling the lighness of it.

Bella's eyes narrowed beneath the hood of her cloak. Who did these men think they were? Powerless, did the Vampire Hunter say? Cocky fools, she thought, that'll be their undoing. Realizing it really didn't matter if she confirmed the fact that she was a vampire, she found the will in her to transform.

In a matter of seonds, she was out of the handcuffs and disappearing into the night sky as a black shadow against an equally black sky. Her bat form landed on a rooftop, just out of shooting range. She transformed, and said, "Nice try, boys. Try a little harder next time and mabey you'll have me for a little longer."

She turned around, and lept off the building, transforming back into a bat. She flew a few blocks down, into a dark alley. With a quick identity change I'll be in the clear, she thought, taking off her cloak, earings, tight fitting vest, gloves, and the skirt that she wore over her dark green pants. She untied her hair, leaving her with a much more common image. She was now wearing a simple white tunic, coupled with pants and her boots, along with her belt. She stashed her unused clothes in the back of the alley, and walked out onto the street, running her hands through her long, curly, red tresses.

Now on the street, Bella took up the persona of a woman taking a late night stroll, unacompanied and lonely. Inside she was laughing loudly at her would-be-captors.

Azrael knew there was something strange about this woman... and now he knew it. She was a vampire!

Azrael saw that the vampire had fled to the roof, Azrael went after her... but he was too slow. The vampire had fled!

Azrael cursed silently and decided to look for her quickly. But she could have been anywhere... it would be very difficult to find her now!

Torn watched the girl change to a bat and fly away. He wistled. A huge barred owl came flying of the roof top. It landed on Torn's sholder. Torn reached in his pocket and grabbed a treat. He fed it to Hunt.
"Hunt you saw the girl change into a bat. I want you to follow her, and if she changes into a bat again. Grab her and bring her back. Go."
The owl took off of Torn's sholder. It spread its long wings and flew off in the direction of the girl.
"Come on guys lets follow Hunt he'll lead us right to her. If not than in the area. Trust me."
Torn held his sword in one hand, he grabbed his dagger from his boots and held it in his other hand. He waited for the other two to acknowledge him.

"Very well. I shall ignore your somehwat lacking attitude towards me and join you for a common goal." said Konahomaru, nodding his head in the dark allie. ~He probably thinks that my voice of authority is from my being a guard, i hope i dont have to prove him wrong however.~

Even though Konahomaru did not consider the vampire a threat to his safety, he didnt need to be enrage by the ignorant man in front of him, so he drew his lightning blade from the scabbard attached to his back, and said "I am ready when you are."

Lance smiled as the group left to chase after the girl. He crept out of the shadows with his dagger in hand. He began to peer in each of the windows. Some houses had okay stuff, but nothing worth stealing. Then he found a good house. Inside was large bag of what looked like coins. Lance quietly slipped into the window blowing out the candels. Then he crept over to the table. He grabbed the bag, and slipped back out the window. Once he was out he quickly ducked back into the ally. There he changed his cloths to Elven cloths. When he was done he strolled out of the ally. There was another guard or was it the same. Lance cou;dn't tell. He drew his dagger and steathaly snuck up behind the man. He raised the blade above his head. Then struck down hard. Stabbing the man in the back. As the body fell Lance searched it. All he found was a small bag of coins. So he pocketed it. He walked to the nearest taven and strolled in.

Azrael looked at the town guard.
"I don't need any help in hunting her... if she's a vampire, I'll find her."

Sheathing his scimitar, Azrael walked in the direction where he saw the vampire flee...

"Increasing the security around the whole town might help though..." Azrael said.
He then walked off into the shadows, looking for the vampire that had escaped.

Kona heard a sickening thud not too far away. "It seems i have some business to attend too. Possibly even your vampire, but, i dont know if you are interested or not." Kona drew his katana also and ran to the noise, turning the corner and disappearing from the others sight. rounding another corner he came across a guar. He was bleeding all over the place, and was dead. Kona quickly searched his body, and found that his coun poutch was gone.

Kona stood. "Interesting" he mutterd to himself.He Sheathed his weapons.He saw the local Tavern down the street, and walked inside. ~If anything, the killer probably took refuge in here~ he thought, as he casually strolled to a table and sat down.

As Bella strolled casually down the street, she began to worry. What if they were following her? She found threat only in the vampire hunter. She hadn't fought one before; she hadn't killed anyone for blood before. Stealing things somehow seemed to quell her need for blood, and she became a theif.

Slightly spooked, she continued walking down the street. Her red curls bounced as she walked, boots click clacking on the cobblestones. She kept a hand on the hilt of her dagger, and her eyes open for danger.

She stopped when she saw the man walking down the street and hid in the shadows. Her fluttered in her chest, anxiety and fear welling up in her. She closed her eyes, quelling the emotions, and silently drew her dagger. Mentally, she called for Amarwen, her poisonious arachnid friend. The small spider scuttled out of the shadows.

Amarwen, she told the spider, That man is a vampire hunter. What should I do?

Stay absolutely still and pray, the spider replied through thought.

Oh, thanks, Bella replied sarcastically. She stayed silent in the shadows, waiting for something to happen.

Rith had been watching from afar from the moment the vampire hunter had began to set up his trap. The darkness of night held no secrets from him and his vision was as good as if it were broad day light. He knew what going to happen as well as the vampire hunter. He found himsef mildly annoyed when he caught sight of Kona. The guard apparently thought himself gaurd of imythess rather than Taras. The guard might prove a hinderance to certain plots or he may very well serve as an aid. Rith made a mental note to check meet with the guard some time later to find out how easily he could use the man.

Rith smiled as he watched her make an escape. She could definately be of some use to him. For this reason he would ensure that if the Vampire hunter were to find her again there would be no vampire slaying. Rith flitted noiselessly through the shadows following Bella swiftly but keeping his distance. His smile broadened as he saw her chage her appearance effectively. She was good. Rith watched her as she hid in the shadows which did not hide her from him. He saw, smelled and sensed fear in her. Her thought were likely on the vampire slayer who was on his way. Rith teloported behind Bella through the shadows and stepped out partially into the starlight. A new voice entered Bella's head, Rith's. "Take my hand and he will find no vampire," Rith sent to her mentally as he held out his small hand. He prepared a spell, major illusion. He would ensure that Azrael had no basis to call her a vampire, though the cinderella spell would of course not last beyond dawn.

Bella jumped when a new voice entered her mind. She turned around, her gaze falling upon a boy who looked only six or seven, but she knew better. He was clearly a very powerful wizard, and it would prove costly if she made the wrong move. Nodding silently, she took his hand. Amarwen sat atop her shoulder, inspecting this 'young boy'. She found him oddly familiar, in a very unsettling way. Perhaps a past master or mistress had met or heard of him, and had told her of him.

Who are you? Belladonna asked, mentally. Wizards and magic sometimes rattled her, and made her more concious of the fact that she hadn't learned any magic as the rest of the Elenhuine family had. This was one of Bella's few, but great, shortcomings, such as the fact that she hadn't killed for blood. She got alot of trouble for that. And, there was also the fact that she was a theif. The noble Elenhuines just didn't do that. They were above petty crimes...

Rith watched her reaction carefully. It not surprising for one to be jumpy at the thought of another inside one's head. She took his hand as he had exepceted. Imediately his spell began to take effect. Color came into her slightly paled skin. Her skin was not pale enough for one to deem her a vampire by it alone, but Rith was not one to take chances often. Her fangs became invisble entirely, visually replaced with ordinary teeth. Not much more was needed to change her appearance to one that would not possibly alarm the vampire hunter after all he didn't seem to notice she was a vampire when he had caught her. Bella had done effective job of disguising herself and Rith did not need to do anything of her appearance that would not possibly give away her being a vampire.

Rith was aware of Bella studying him and it seemed her spider was joining her in the task. She doubtlessly wasn't fooled by his appearance. Little boys did not wander around at night speaking in people's minds. He pondered for a moment what how best to answer her question. Surely the truth wouldn't hurt. "I am Rith," He replied mentaly as he withdrew his hand back to his side. "All you need to know is that I am here to help you," Rith continued.


If Rith's assumtions of the vampire hunter's skill were correct, the man would be making an entrance soon. He wondered how long it would take the vamire hunter to realise he had lost his prey.

A waiter came to the table with a drink. "Here you go sir" "Thank you." Kona took the offered drink and had a few sips. The waitress shuffled off, and started to serve other guests. Konahomaru look around, but didnt see anything slightly vampirish, nor could he sense any guilty or evil motives... sensing evil... thas it... Kona had rememberd how to use shield of faith not long ago, finding it within hinself to draw it out once again. True, he would remain nuetral in the world until he regained his full power, but still, maybe if he concentrated he could use it.


Konahomaru took another sip and than searhed the crowd some more. Feelings and motives entering and leaving his head, like the air he was inhaling and exhaling. Still no sign of any theives. If only it were something evil to an extreme, not just some petty vampire, Kona would probably feel it doubtless. One time he had encountered a nightmare, but felt that it was somehwere around. `That was an interesting day` he thought to himself, as he took another sip.

Azrael walked into the alley wear he assumed the vampire was, but it was dark. He took out something which looked like a compass. Instead of the needle pointing to north, it would point to the direction of vampire...

But instead of pointing in one direction, the needle was spinning wildly... there was dark magic around. Azrael wondered what she should do... the vamprie could be here. Then again, it might be some other fool playing with Dark Magic.

Thank you, Bella said through telepathy. She wondered why the wizard had chosen to help her. Perhaps he had a job for her, to steal some great device of magic, or perhaps he was simply bored and had nothing else to do with his time. All the while Amarwen was on gaurd, her beady eyes scanning the darkness, spider senses reaching out to things a human cannot understand.

Amarwen sensed the vampire hunter and warned her Mistress. Bella nodded in thanks at Rith, and strode out into the street. She wasn't sure what to do, and decided to simply walk down the street and hoppe the hunter would not recognize her. Bravery welled up in her, and she put all her faith Rith's spell. Glancing at the black clad vampire hunter, she quietly said ," Hello. Nice night isn't it?"

Her curls bounced as she leaned against a building corner, crossing her arms over her chest, casually. She found it strange to see her skin with color; it was tanned and bronze colored, almost like a sun elf. She'd always wanted that beautiful golden brown colored skin, but being vampiric obviously detered that.

Amarwen crouched on her shoulder, ready to leap and bite the hunter if necessary.
Amarwen? Bella asked, humorously, Have you no faith?

The spider didn't answer, but instead gave her mistress an affectionate scratch. Humans seemed carefree to her. Sometimes, too carefree.

~Hmmm...~ Kona continued to look around. People grew suspicious of him, considering he was the only white skinned blue eyed man with a aura that threw off sparks in the room. "Sigh..." Kona finished his drink, and left some coins on the table. He began to walk out the door, when a man confronted him. "My friend says that you told him your better than me." ~Ridiculous~ Kona thought to himself. "I am better than you mortal. It would be best for you not to annoy me, or i might have to kill you." said Kona, the aura throwing off even more sparks, and the blue halo in his eyes appeared. He was ready to fight. "Fine! Lets settle this then!" the man tried to punch Konahomaru in the face, but Kona ducked it, unsheathed his katana and struck the man. His arm was cut off. "Aaahh!!" he screamed, and started running around, blood spurted all over Kona and the ground. "Ha!" he said, and walked out the door. Tuurning the corner, he walked some more, then he saw a small boy standind in the street.

~Intersting. Where are this kids parents?~ then suddenly Kona felt an overwhelmingly evil presence. ~I can Detect Evil again! The vampire is here! But there is something greater around... Could it be the boy? Nothing is impossible...~

Rith was pleased to see Belladonna was brave enough to have faith in his spell and dare to confront the Vampire slayer. He supposed this was good enough for his own intentions. His main focus for the night was originally Azrael, not Belladonna. Rith was about to vanish back in to the shadows, but noticed Kona before doing so. Quite an intresting night. His attention was to be spread thin, but lucikly he was prepared. Rith walked towards Kona slowly, still showing no hint of being anything aside from a child. A large black dog followed Rith stepping forth from the shadows. Torment was hoping for confrontation as ussualy though that was far from what Rith wanted. Torment walked up to Rith's side making it relatively clear that the dog was his and not some stray child stalker.


Meanwhile, an invisble wisp hovered over the vampire hunter. Terror was probably reason enough for the hunter's compass to go wild. The shadow wisp watched the spinning dial, slightly curious as to why the thing moved around like that.

((If it strikes you as amazing, i bought a Detect Evil spell not long ago. The admins are being lazy. Thats why you dont see it. sorry. lol.))


Kona felt a wash of evil energy overpower his senses as soon as the boy walked up to him. It almost surprised him, but Kona managed to keep his aura from bursting again. The sparks threw off in directions opposite of the evils flow, as if they were being carried away. Konahomaru smiled. "Nightmare, we meet again. I didnt get your name last time we met. May i ask what it is?"

Kona was not worried this time around. He had grown more powerfull, and had a much wider arsenal at his disposal, should a fight ensue. However, it seemed the Nightmare wanted something from Kona, maybe to cooperate? Kona would have to hear it out, becuase he was still neutral. "I can see that you have no intention of fighting me. I am glad. What is it that you would want to talk about?"

Azrael had seen the woman come out of the shadows... now the needle was really spinning. Something was interrupting it's powers... dark magic most probably. But what would a woman be doing covered in Dark magic?

Azrael looked at the woman...

"Who are you?" he asked.

"If by 'who are you' you mean- What's your name? Then, it's Bella," She replied, keeping her cool. He must've recognized the magic Rith had used. Oh, well. She could just talk her way out of it. As far as he knew she could be anyone. She'd made up her mind that she was simply a young healer who'd gotten herself in a battle with a necromancer and came out with a curse or something.

Smiling, with a seductive but cocky hint, she said," Who are you?"

Amarwen scuttled down her back and onto the floor. Before retreating to the darkness, she told her Mistress, I think you can handle this. Besides, I'm hungry.

Hungry? You're a ancient Dark Magic entity that took up the form of a spider. You don't need to eat!

No, but I like to. You're just frightened.

And before Bella could reply with a snappy comment, Amarwen shut down their telepathic link, temporarily. It would relink when Bella was in need, or if Amarwen felt like talking...Or thinking, to be more accurate.

( :huh: Once again, Kona has no way of knowing Rith is a Nightmare. If you wish to debate that pm me. Secondly given that you recently got the spell and Rith is not disguised as he was it the other topic where you never actually met, you have no reason to associate the gnome at the arena with a small kid in town. If you want to edit your post do so and pm me, since what you do doesn't really effect what happens to them at the moment. Yes, I'm a nag aren't I?)

"Nightmare? I'm not that bad a kid, am I, sir? Or where you speaking to my dog?" Rith said stopping with a confused look on his face. He was indeed curious as to what brought Kona's choice for the word. If the man did know something he would have to find out what and how the guard had found out.

Torment stopped with his master and his malignant gaze was turned upon Kona fully almost daring the bloody guard to act out of place. Rith was not in the mood to throw away the kiddy act, afterall it was a rare occassion that he handled buisness in his true form or atlast as close to what one could call his true form on this plane. Also it was neither time nor place for "I think you may have spent a little too much time in the taven, sir. You are very confusing," Rith said stepping towards his dog with a slight look of fear in his face. If Kona was not convinced, then Rith would certainly like to know the reason why not.

(I bought Detect Evil recently, Mrs. NAg. That and your character is looking straight at mine, and lying out of his... you know. Anyways, i also have sense motive, which you mentioned earlier could only be used in a face to face, or observing body movement.)

"Stop lying to me. I know you are not what you claim to be, Why is it that you have not done what you are here to do yet. What do you want from me at this point in time?"

Kona was getting impatient. A rare happenstance. The thing in front of himwas lying, and he knew it wasnt what it claimed to be. The dog especially reinforced his point, that evil looking thing, staring at him with those ill-willed eyes. A human, or other lesser creature might be fooled, but this thing had better step up its game. It was dealing with a Half-Celestial, and more importantly, a very smart one.






(As you can see i stand by myself. :P )

Azrael looked at "Bella" and knew she was hiding something. Women didn't just appear out of nowhere...

Azrael turned around his back to Bella... he knew that the vampire could be miles away from here by now. He would have to hunt her quickly otherwise she could kill someone.

Azrael began to walk away...