Welcome friends To seconds lost, and to starts that won't begin To twisted eyes that see inside Rules that always bend A simple task, a see-through mask That questions where and why We shared our skin to occupy, and keep our piece of mind Begin Again - Shinedown She had been working hard to stay out of trouble. Knowing she had likely broken some unknown record for avoiding all problems. Tasha had managed to avoid any contact with Angelics, Daug's Pets, and even Lawyers. She didn't think her "almost" date counted. It may have been trouble true, but as she had arrived late and missed seeing the guy, it hadn't happened. That was just her usual luck she believed. She also refused to dwell on it either, for that would only depress and make her moody.

Of course that didn't mean she had stopped working on her various hobbies. Magic was still learned she still had her contacts out working on the other areas of interest and every now and then would get a tip. Though, lately, the only vamps she saw were in the inn.

Normally she would have found that a little unusual, but as she had been taking different routs home, she simply figured she wasn't seeing anything for once. This evening, with the fog rolling in so thick it enveloped the world in a warm blanket. She found herself humming softly, the tune falling and dipping into the swirling clouds around her.

Nights like this she loved. The heavy mist making the sound of footsteps hollow and muffled, and the cool sensation of damp on her cheeks and hair made her giggle. It was like being alone, never sure what one might discover with every passing step. It was a time for mystery and magic unseen.

She was an odd little elf and knew it. She delighted in the shroud over the town, the roads taking on that sort of surrealist feeling, and that loss of vision didn't bother her. Shadows danced within the fog, but their antics entwined with the swirling damp, masking everything in a gray veil.

She was moving past one dark alley, one she knew had a dead end and didn't hold anything more frightening then some fat sassy rat, but something caught her eye. It made her stop and peer curiously down into the blackness. Something about that was a little unsettling actually. Perhaps it was the feeling she picked up. It made the hair on the back of her neck stand up and that had her side stepping away.

Violet eyes narrowing and then the faintest sound, muffled and weak in the suddenly threatening mists. Something was crying. Tasha may not like most little kids with Mahgrath being the only exception to that rule, but she had a weakness for strays. The sound was hard to determine, as it could be an injured animal or a child. Even with her dislike of most ankle biters, Tasha couldn't just leave one lost and alone.

Taking a flashlight from her pack, she approached that black ally with caution, making sure her wrist bow was locked and loaded. The enclosed place didn't lend itself well to using Monster, but she had actually considered it before rejecting the idea.

She stifled the squeak as one of those fat nasty rats ran over her foot and stopped for a moment, letting her racing heart drop back to a normal pace before continuing on.

Her nervously bouncing gaze caught sight of a small form, huddled back in the corner of course. Blowing damp hair from her eyes, she moved closer only to jump again as garbage rustled beside her. The sound loud and shattering that still silence from seconds before and just nudged it, sending a rat couple running. "Sorry if I ruined your date rodents." She muttered then crept closer to the hunched shape.

If we only knew the truth about it... Maybe we could work our way around it... Then maybe we could ignore that the shore used to be the edge explore more than our block or the next city over with nothing on our shoulders but the clothes on our backs and you leave us here with nothing, expecting no attack, with soldiers on the way. The Truth - Nonpoint

"Dunvan be the name! He stole what is mine!" That muffled shriek, holding the edges of a banshee's vocal tones made Tasha back step a bit more. Oh she knew the name. He was something of a "Fence" in the less pleasant part of town. Luse called him a cheat, as he was known to try and skim off the top of anything he sold beyond the usual fees. Although, he had never even tried that with Luse or Maddy, likely knowing that would end him pretty darn fast.

"I have little time." More weeping as the form started to waver a bit more. "Help me I beg."

She hadn't planned on doing any breaking and entering tonight but her soft heart was hard to ignore. A sigh, as she did know the shop that Dunvan used as his front. If he had taken something of value, she was pretty sure she could locate it. But, if the creature faded out, what good would it do' "Um, what happens if I don't get it in time?"

"Use it and call me back. My name is Mayiara, call me back please." And then she was gone. Leaving Tasha blinking owlishly. Oh this was just great. She didn't even know what she was looking for. Throwing her hands up into the air, with the beam of light just bouncing off the foggy air and sighed.

Swinging her pack down, she reached inside and out came her picks, the small silver case then tucked into a jacket pocket. Yanking out the old black beret, she yanked it down over the only to noticeable silvery hair, tucking the strands away and out of sight. Next came the snug black leather gloves, which she pulled on her hands, fingers flexing to loosen them a bit. Only thing left was some magic. Glamour spells had useful effects sometimes and one was used now, making her seem almost invisible and she was moving off.

Took her a bit of time, having not been in this part of town for a while. She had found another to do business with in Cisroe, so didn't bother with the RhyDin underground these days.

Slipping into a shadowy doorway, having caught the sound of steps in the murk and just waited, watching two pass her and her eyes narrowed. The energy of one making her twitch, but it was rather nice to see an unknown vamp. Had been a while for that too. Some hid that side well, but on nights like this, many didn't bother.

Who ever he was, it was his lucky night, as she had other plans, so once they were out of sight, she slipped back out, moving quietly towards the shop. Pausing to glance around before she slipped into the shadows along side that building. Creeping gingerly, she peered inside one dirty window, seeing no movement within and then edged down further.

In moments she was down on her knees, muttering the detect magic spell, and getting a negative result, which wasn't a surprise. Dunvan was one of those that didn't really believe in magic, though he lived in a place where plenty used it. Her silvery violet eyes narrowed in concentration as she carefully worked the picks, listening intently for the sound of those ball bearing tumblers. It wasn't one of those older locks either, but she had found the newer ones easier to crack, which this one did in under a minute of her careful attentions.

Pushing the door open carefully so it wouldn't make much noise, she slipped inside, muttering another cantrip, masking her signature so if he did actually make a report of this little visit, none could track her from it.

She couldn't help it, she was paranoid and that was all Luse's fault. He had drilled that into her all the while he was teaching her to help him in his own endeavors. She was sure he was still living off the money from that last job actually.

A small shadow moved now, drifting about the place with her eyes searching. She saw nothing that stood out yet. Then again, she stopped a moment, hands taking on a faint glow, and her head lifted sharply. The energy was pulling at hers. Drawing in, and just knew that was what the creature had lost. Now finding it was the trick and she was soon letting it pull her along, picking her way around tables and a countertop. Being lead into a back room that obviously and office and just stopped, catching the scent of death in the air.

For her, death wasn't the smell of blood, but the essence. It wasn't something she could actually explain, just a feeling that touched her senses in a way Tasha just knew. "Dunvan won't be a problem after all."

Her gaze found him sprawled on an old couch, the stare of death on his heavy features and just shook her head. In his hand was a glowing orb, and it didn't take a genius to figure out what it was. The stupid greedy old thief had been admiring his newest find, likely thinking that the glitter inside was gems, and it had sucked him dry.

Not the most pleasant way to go, but seeing that, Tasha took a moment to take out a cloth from her bag before prying it out of the dead man's tight fingers. Even with gloves on, she didn't want to risk too much contact.

She also was wondering now why the creature hadn't just waited to take it back once he was dead. It had to know what would happen. Of course she got a funny feeling about that, considering she might be getting set up for something malevolent. However, she was in the middle of it all now, so she didn't stop.

Carefully wrapping it up into a tight, secure bundle, she decided she wasn't going to call the creature here. Just didn't seem like a good idea at all. No longer needing to be so quiet, she made her way toward the door, only to stop and move back. Opening the till, she wasn't surprised to find it empty.

Normally she would have looked around more, picking up a few things, but in truth, there wasn't anything here she likely wanted. So out the side door she headed. Flipping the lock inside, she pulled it shut behind her, checking it out of habit and once satisfied, she floated back off into the mists.

Retracing her steps, she paused half way back to that ally, feeling that creeping sensation again. This time it wasn't some unknown spectral, but something else but what ever she was carrying seemed to be damping her abilities, as she couldn't pinpoint the specifics.

He's watching me What if I look away and deal with it Digging in my grave I won't deny it Fragile my crystal ball shattered on the ground Fragile -Lacuna Coil

She had taken only two steps when a heavy weight slammed into her from behind. It sent her crashing hard into the road and even before she could even start to rise, hands grabbed her from behind, shaking her roughly. The grip sinking in hard enough she hissed in pain. Twisting and fighting now, she struggled to break free.

Knowledge of what had her, as the effects of that orb had already faded, and Tasha growled faintly as a heel connected with something and the Kindred grunted. "You will need to do better then that hunter." He growled low and threatening.

He flung her then and she felt the air rushing past and had only enough time to tuck, hitting the ground rolling and tumbling hard, but she clung fast to her pack. The weight bouncing against her and adding to the bruises she was sure to be collecting.

"A patrol would be really good about now." Was one of the many thoughts she had as she finally came to a hard stop against a large unrelenting tree. Head lifting with another muttering, only to find the vamp from earlier bearing down on her. Snarling with his feeders almost glowing in the foggy night. She caught a flash of a nearly bald pate, a golden goatee and red eyes, but what stood out most, he was big. Of course most to her 5 foot nothing self, nearly everyone around tended to loom over her.

A hand lifted with a bolt flying free, realizing she had a problem as it flew wild and totally missed the mark. She was shaking to much for that to be of much use, and before she could even start to utter a spell, he was on her, those cruel hands jerking her up from where she had stopped.

She moved then, hands clawing at his face and feet kicking furiously and missing more then hitting as they were at least a foot or more off the ground and dangling, but she still fought back. Tasha knew she needed just a little time and she could hurt him. Of course the moment he started to pull her closer, all thoughts of spells dissolved in her head and she did the only thing she could think of. She let out a bloodcurdling scream, hoping it was long and loud enough to cut through that heavy mist and bring someone, anyone to her aid.

A quiet evening found him in bed and dozing, his head resting in Fiona's lap as she sat up, reading scouting reports. He was hovering on that edge of true sleep when a soft bell echoed through the halls, softly heard in thier chambers.

Eyes snapping open, he sat up, blinking in the soft light from the glow-orbs as he glanced toward the door. "Danny..Cie...?" Fiona, who was already tying her robe and reaching to toss Lucius his.

"Nay love, this be someone else." Shrugging on his robe, he joined her at the doorway, and the diminutive assassin led them toward the family room. Neither spoke, for the soft-tolling bell told them all they needed: someone of the family or a close friend had activated a contingency spell that lay dormant on amulets a few wore, in case of emergency. The activator would be teleported to the family room, where they would be able to receive aid.

The smell of blood was immediate as they entered, the form huddled next to the couch the focal point. Myrialla was already there, knowledgable fingers searching along the side. "Fio, Luc..tis Tasha." Fiona turned toward the bar to gather bandages and water while Lucius moved to kneel beside Myrialla, his eyes narrowed as he assessed the young Trueblood's wounds.

"Fio..." he growled, warning his wife as he crushed a softly-glowing gemstone in his hand, releasing the mist within to roam over Tasha's unconcious form, reenforcing Myrialla's latent healing powers. Between the three Tasha was slowly cleaned and bandaged, and it was Fiona who first pointed to her neck.

"Love...Myri..look at this." Easing Tasha's head to the side, she pointed at two puncture wounds, the sight drawing a soft gasp from Myrialla and another soft growl from teh Chaos Lord.

"A gods-damned LEECH!"