I met Rhaine early, and we headed for her craft's docking location. She used one of the rifts that she popped around the Palazzo in. She did not waste time with introductions to the craft, or small talk. She'd seated me in a gunner's position for strategic defense of our craft, and as she engaged with launch, I began familiarizing myself with the controls in front of me.
Lift off and acceleration were smooth, but swift, leaving me pushed hard into the seat until she reached our cruise velocity. Our destination: France. We needed to find Donatien. Brad had told her that most likely he would be found in his manor house near the Esmer Cafe.
We had no difficulty finding the Count's residence. Rhaine has decided to leave questioning of Donatien to me.
We made ourselves known to the Major Domo, and we were seated. After the obligatory wait, we were shown into the Count's presence. Donatien appeared to be about 6'1" tall with black hair, brown eyes, and a sportsman's physique. He greeted us cordially as we'd been introduced as coming from the Marchioness to gain an audience. Time was running out, and we didn't have time to play coy with the man, and unfortunately, Rhaine had promised the Doctor that Donatien would not be harmed or coerced.
"Good evening Count, we have come seeking your help in locating two people you know well."
He quietly listened as I explained to him what was happeneing to Anne, and that we needed to find Nadine and Black.
For quite some time he gave us a whole litany of reasons why he should not and could not help us. We debated the merits of Anne in his life, and yet he held out.
At length, "I'm sorry you've come so far, but while I love Anne like a sister, that does not change the fact that Nadine is my blood."
Bad thing to say to a vampire. I hissed and gave him a fleeting nightmarish glance at the vampires of legend, a true monster. He faultered slightly as my form reshaped into the civilized emissary I'd come into his home as.
"Blood will tell Donatien. You prefer to protect a sister who has lied and connived for years against Anne, who has done nothing to you but defend you. You prefer to protect a vile woman who had Anne turned into the walking dead by use of the witch, than to help Anne, whom you claim to love like a sister. To my way of seeing things, you are no better than either Nadine or Black. You are rotted inside Count."
He grew silent and angry for long moments, "I must protect what is mine. Nadine, for all her faults is my only family."
I sneered at him, "so you are guilty of harboring a fugitive Count. Nadine needs to come forth now and exhonerate Anne. It is Nadine and Black's fault. If you continue to cover for them, you are as guilty as they are. Is this the honor of the Counts of Montargue?"
Donatien's eyes flashed with fury, "The Montargue name has stood for Honor for centuries! How dare you?"
Rising to my full height, and using a touch of vampiric compulsion, "I dare because you disgrace the Montargue name by letting Anne take the fall for Black and Nadine. You know what happened. You know where they are. You know what is happeneing to an innocent woman. BE Count of Montargue, tell us where to find Nadine and Black. Come save the woman you claim to love like a sister."
"I will think on it. Good evening." and he had us shown out, but once a vampire is invited in, past the threshhold..... a cold smile crossed my lips as we sought lodgings.
That night, I paid another visit to the sleeping Donatien.
In the morning, we were summoned to the Count's residence, "I do love Anne like a sister. I will give statement to the Courts, but Nadine will be protected from prosecution, or I will not provide the information." His gaze was emotionless and unwavering.
Giving him a languid smile, "I can assure you, a plea bargain can be arranged."
The man had not slept well at all.
"She will not be humiliated or imprisoned?"
I promised him Nadine would be treated as befit her social rank, which, in this case....
"Nadine is in Mexico City somewhere. In a city of over 26 million people, you will have a very hard time locating her, but we have a home in the Polanco District of the city, near the Anthropology Museum."
We arranged for Donatien's statement to be taken, and put Anne's defense team in touch with the Count's people. It was time to leave France, and move on to Mexico City.
Anne Ellis Xile
Moderator: Azjah von Drachen Walde
World Tour
Gabriel Datrazanov
-
Skyler
- Proven Adventurer
- Vile Villain
- Posts: 170
- Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2005 9:20 pm
- Location: Where hinges creak in dark chambers, where ever candlelights flicker ...
Meet Shadem Black
Skyler had a nasty little habit.
It wouldn’t come as much of a surprise to some that this teenage boy – being eighteen years of age and dealing with phenomenal surges of sexual energy – spent some of his spare time as a peeping tom. Occasionally he got to enjoy the company and physical affections of some of the waitresses he worked alongside at the restaurant, but for the most part he was deprived. One of his favorite areas to prowl was the Palazzo Drachen Walde, where the grounds around the perimeter and near the vineyards were open. There were many gardens out there, dense with hiding places and anonymous perches amidst the topiary and statuary. Sometimes he could catch candid glimpses through parted curtains at the guests. Though he hadn’t managed to see anything truly inspiring yet, he saw enough to sate the imprudent desires of his shallow heart.
For many weeks, Skyler had been relentlessly searching for the living quarters of the Marchioness herself, being very careful not to visit when Gabriel or Lucien were on sight, lest their vampire senses detect his presence. With silent footfalls he skulked the outer grounds of the Palazzo, slipping from shadow to shadow with immoral intent. Oh, how he craved just one peek at Azjah during her private moments. Just one fleeting peep of her bare back or an exposed thigh, and Skyler knew the pure deviousness of the act would be enough to plunge him into ecstasy.
Tonight there was no moon, and clouds obscured most of the starlight. The grounds were darker than normal. Fewer of the Palazzo’s lights shone, as if the entire residence had retired prematurely this evening. As usual, the bubbling fountains served to mask any sound Skyler’s footsteps might have made, but something was different about the garden tonight. It nagged at the creeping teenager, making him increasingly uneasy.
Just when the boy was about to give up his search for the Marchioness’ private living quarters and flee by the night, he rounded a corner to find a dark figure fixed on him, standing like a statue within the shadow of a tall hedge. The only thing that really registered with Skyler was the fact that the man was huge. Immediately his survival instincts took control of his thought processes. You’re still okay. You can run like the wind, you’re faster than him, you know the garden’s twists and turns – you can escape. He poised to bolt.
“Sit down,” came a ruthless voice. It was an authoritative voice, one used to giving orders and having them followed. It was a voice that demanded obedience, and threatened great ill-effect to any foolishly defiant soul. The figure pointed to a decorative carved stone bench just a few feet away.
Without hesitation, Skyler did as he was asked, like a well trained dog, his thoughts of flight evaporated. Rigid with fear, he watched the dark figure detach from the hedge and pace about the small cobbled square with slow ponderousness. The man’s massive boots clicked audibly on the stones, but he didn’t seem to mind. He was hard to see among his surroundings even as he moved about, a pitch black shadow among dark shadows. What little light lingered in the garden seemed to shun him, as though illuminating this man was cosmically forbidden.
“Are you looking at me?” asked the man.
Skyler bowed his head at once. “No, sir.” He felt like a little boy, with a runny nose and dirty clothes, facing the principal after getting caught misbehaving, except the principal was Satan who would have his soul for punishment, in place of a few hours of detention.
“You know Anne Xile,” the man stated, flatly. “You like her, isn’t that true?”
The boy nodded. The notion to lie to this man was non-existent.
“But you’re weak and insecure, young and stupid, and she’ll never give you what it is you want from her.” The man came closer. He smelled like salt and poison.
Skyler nodded acquiescently, these harsh truths easier to hear and accept from the dark man. He dared not look up.
“Anne Xile is mine. Not yours or anyone else’s. She’s mine!” The air around them grew colder, as if by some bizarre alchemy.
The man’s voice was like maggots in Skyler’s head; the boy wanted to claw his own ears off. “Yes,” he murmured.
“You are going to serve me in disgracing and destroying her.”
“I am,” Skyler intoned. Vaguely he was aware of a teardrop spilling down his cheek. Feelings of helplessness, inadequacy and dread gnawed at him. Despite Skyler’s outwardly cruel demeanor, he was still just a teenage boy with limited life experience. Deep down, there were still traces of innocence within him. Until now, he had never encountered a person this tainted and wicked. This man’s raw malevolence was at a level that the boy could only endeavor to reach after a lifetime of unfettered sin.
Skyler’s reaction to this confrontation was neither noble nor unpredictable. The dark man had unknowingly planted seeds of destruction in the boy’s impressionable heart. For beyond the wide range of detrimental sentiments he was invoking in the boy, there was a deeper, more potent emotion cultivating in the heart of Skyler Jackson Chamberland.
Aspiration.
The man invoked fear in others; he reeked of authority and power. He was respected and feared and obeyed. All this Skyler knew without having to be told. This is what you can be one day. You could have this power. Be ruthless and pitiless and malicious and smart, and one day, people may fear you like they fear this man. You must learn everything you can from him!
“I’m your servant,” the boy confirmed humbly, driven by the insane ambition of one day being as cold-blooded as the huge figure before him. “What may I call my master?”
“You may know me as ‘Black.’ But if I ever hear my name issuing from your unworthy mouth, you will wish you never knew it. All you’re permitted to do is think it, and fear it.” Black leaned close, lowering his voice. "I have discovered Anne is standing trial for some reason. You will do whatever is in your power to see that she is found guilty and convicted. You will make her life as miserable as possible before I slay her."
Skyler trembled and nodded submisively.
It wouldn’t come as much of a surprise to some that this teenage boy – being eighteen years of age and dealing with phenomenal surges of sexual energy – spent some of his spare time as a peeping tom. Occasionally he got to enjoy the company and physical affections of some of the waitresses he worked alongside at the restaurant, but for the most part he was deprived. One of his favorite areas to prowl was the Palazzo Drachen Walde, where the grounds around the perimeter and near the vineyards were open. There were many gardens out there, dense with hiding places and anonymous perches amidst the topiary and statuary. Sometimes he could catch candid glimpses through parted curtains at the guests. Though he hadn’t managed to see anything truly inspiring yet, he saw enough to sate the imprudent desires of his shallow heart.
For many weeks, Skyler had been relentlessly searching for the living quarters of the Marchioness herself, being very careful not to visit when Gabriel or Lucien were on sight, lest their vampire senses detect his presence. With silent footfalls he skulked the outer grounds of the Palazzo, slipping from shadow to shadow with immoral intent. Oh, how he craved just one peek at Azjah during her private moments. Just one fleeting peep of her bare back or an exposed thigh, and Skyler knew the pure deviousness of the act would be enough to plunge him into ecstasy.
Tonight there was no moon, and clouds obscured most of the starlight. The grounds were darker than normal. Fewer of the Palazzo’s lights shone, as if the entire residence had retired prematurely this evening. As usual, the bubbling fountains served to mask any sound Skyler’s footsteps might have made, but something was different about the garden tonight. It nagged at the creeping teenager, making him increasingly uneasy.
Just when the boy was about to give up his search for the Marchioness’ private living quarters and flee by the night, he rounded a corner to find a dark figure fixed on him, standing like a statue within the shadow of a tall hedge. The only thing that really registered with Skyler was the fact that the man was huge. Immediately his survival instincts took control of his thought processes. You’re still okay. You can run like the wind, you’re faster than him, you know the garden’s twists and turns – you can escape. He poised to bolt.
“Sit down,” came a ruthless voice. It was an authoritative voice, one used to giving orders and having them followed. It was a voice that demanded obedience, and threatened great ill-effect to any foolishly defiant soul. The figure pointed to a decorative carved stone bench just a few feet away.
Without hesitation, Skyler did as he was asked, like a well trained dog, his thoughts of flight evaporated. Rigid with fear, he watched the dark figure detach from the hedge and pace about the small cobbled square with slow ponderousness. The man’s massive boots clicked audibly on the stones, but he didn’t seem to mind. He was hard to see among his surroundings even as he moved about, a pitch black shadow among dark shadows. What little light lingered in the garden seemed to shun him, as though illuminating this man was cosmically forbidden.
“Are you looking at me?” asked the man.
Skyler bowed his head at once. “No, sir.” He felt like a little boy, with a runny nose and dirty clothes, facing the principal after getting caught misbehaving, except the principal was Satan who would have his soul for punishment, in place of a few hours of detention.
“You know Anne Xile,” the man stated, flatly. “You like her, isn’t that true?”
The boy nodded. The notion to lie to this man was non-existent.
“But you’re weak and insecure, young and stupid, and she’ll never give you what it is you want from her.” The man came closer. He smelled like salt and poison.
Skyler nodded acquiescently, these harsh truths easier to hear and accept from the dark man. He dared not look up.
“Anne Xile is mine. Not yours or anyone else’s. She’s mine!” The air around them grew colder, as if by some bizarre alchemy.
The man’s voice was like maggots in Skyler’s head; the boy wanted to claw his own ears off. “Yes,” he murmured.
“You are going to serve me in disgracing and destroying her.”
“I am,” Skyler intoned. Vaguely he was aware of a teardrop spilling down his cheek. Feelings of helplessness, inadequacy and dread gnawed at him. Despite Skyler’s outwardly cruel demeanor, he was still just a teenage boy with limited life experience. Deep down, there were still traces of innocence within him. Until now, he had never encountered a person this tainted and wicked. This man’s raw malevolence was at a level that the boy could only endeavor to reach after a lifetime of unfettered sin.
Skyler’s reaction to this confrontation was neither noble nor unpredictable. The dark man had unknowingly planted seeds of destruction in the boy’s impressionable heart. For beyond the wide range of detrimental sentiments he was invoking in the boy, there was a deeper, more potent emotion cultivating in the heart of Skyler Jackson Chamberland.
Aspiration.
The man invoked fear in others; he reeked of authority and power. He was respected and feared and obeyed. All this Skyler knew without having to be told. This is what you can be one day. You could have this power. Be ruthless and pitiless and malicious and smart, and one day, people may fear you like they fear this man. You must learn everything you can from him!
“I’m your servant,” the boy confirmed humbly, driven by the insane ambition of one day being as cold-blooded as the huge figure before him. “What may I call my master?”
“You may know me as ‘Black.’ But if I ever hear my name issuing from your unworthy mouth, you will wish you never knew it. All you’re permitted to do is think it, and fear it.” Black leaned close, lowering his voice. "I have discovered Anne is standing trial for some reason. You will do whatever is in your power to see that she is found guilty and convicted. You will make her life as miserable as possible before I slay her."
Skyler trembled and nodded submisively.
-
Rhaine
- Seasoned Adventurer
- Black in Mind
- Posts: 353
- Joined: Thu Dec 09, 2004 9:43 pm
- Location: Citadel Nessus
Rhaine dropped into the comfortable pilot's place, and turned to look at Gabriel
"We're off to Mexico"
"Big city. Any ideas where you want to start? Polanco District is near the Presidential Palace in the heart of the city."
Rhaine shrugged. For her the task was quite clear.
"I would start by simply checking out the house they own. There should be a database of properties and who owns them"
"Should be. Think she's changed her looks? I would if I suspected someone were after me."
Vampiress grinned calmly.
"Changed looks won't help her, Gabriel. Humans are unable to change looks enough."
She was tempted to add that altered looks won't help against someone blind as a bat, but that could have given Gabriel too much information. So she kept silent.
"It will make spotting her more difficult, and in a city where the vast majority have black hair, if she's done that, it will make it harder."
"Gabriel, finding her is my job. It would not take a very long time"
"And my job on this run is....?"
Rhaine looked at him calmly. "We may have to use your techniques of mental influence to get into their house. I do not want to break in the way I did with the Palazzo."
The dark lightning of DarSai rushed across the night sky.
"We're off to Mexico"
"Big city. Any ideas where you want to start? Polanco District is near the Presidential Palace in the heart of the city."
Rhaine shrugged. For her the task was quite clear.
"I would start by simply checking out the house they own. There should be a database of properties and who owns them"
"Should be. Think she's changed her looks? I would if I suspected someone were after me."
Vampiress grinned calmly.
"Changed looks won't help her, Gabriel. Humans are unable to change looks enough."
She was tempted to add that altered looks won't help against someone blind as a bat, but that could have given Gabriel too much information. So she kept silent.
"It will make spotting her more difficult, and in a city where the vast majority have black hair, if she's done that, it will make it harder."
"Gabriel, finding her is my job. It would not take a very long time"
"And my job on this run is....?"
Rhaine looked at him calmly. "We may have to use your techniques of mental influence to get into their house. I do not want to break in the way I did with the Palazzo."
The dark lightning of DarSai rushed across the night sky.
Trespassers
Lucien's snarl echoed through Gabriel's mind as they were headed for Mexico City. Rhaine was piloting, and Lucien's thoughts reverberated with rage.
"Someone's been hanging around outside the Palazzo. Footprints in the gardens where no one from the House goes. Some of the footprints walk right up to the windows." Lucien was explaining the findings to Gabriel. "Foot prints traverse the front of the house, poking at each window and then go out to the vineyards. They avoid the stables. Someone is snooping around the house. Snoops are never good news."
Gabriel sat thoughtfully contemplating this news. The trespasser would need to be dealt with when he returned, unless Lucien could catch him by then.
"Someone's been hanging around outside the Palazzo. Footprints in the gardens where no one from the House goes. Some of the footprints walk right up to the windows." Lucien was explaining the findings to Gabriel. "Foot prints traverse the front of the house, poking at each window and then go out to the vineyards. They avoid the stables. Someone is snooping around the house. Snoops are never good news."
Gabriel sat thoughtfully contemplating this news. The trespasser would need to be dealt with when he returned, unless Lucien could catch him by then.
Gabriel Datrazanov
Friends and More
As Anne headed onto the Isle she wondered how people could live with protection twenty-four seven. It sucked. The day had started out badly enough, the trial was boring, the usual onslaught of witnesses talking about her murder of Black and then continuing to that of Eliza. Everything went downhill from there. The crowd at the Isle was no help whatsoever. The evening started with a very curt discussion involving Anne and Lucelei ArLindua. The woman knew a little too much for Anne’s taste, if the pirate didn’t want help it was no one else’s business.
Neo Eternity wasn’t helping Anne’s case in the slightest. Throughout the whole duel was lecture, after lecture, after lecture. Mr. Kurgen decided to put in his two cents as well. It killed Anne to have to ignore her friends. Yet, couldn’t they see it was all for the better? No one understood the situation, and frankly, Anne hated herself. She couldn’t see why the others didn’t ignore her. In the pirate’s eyes, her friends were being almost too loyal.
Shandren was the only one that Anne truly was grateful towards. She cared, but she showed it in an entirely different way. Shan was concerned for her kids, and made Anne promise to keep a journal almost of what she did. It was all Anne could do to keep from running to Shan and give her a hug. The woman thought her brave instead of child that Artemus saw.
The moment her shadow entered Anne headed straight over to the lagoon, swam out and sat on a lone rock. Ten minutes later the pirate began to feel a little cold, and despite loathing her shadow, returned to the sandy beach. When he approached Anne asked what it was that Caleb wanted. The answer was as vague as usual, to look at the water.
“I just don't get you. I mean, I can usually figure most people out, but you...you're just some sort of...stone-cold creature.”
“I have been called much worse.”
“Do you have any emotion? At all?”
“Yes.”
“Really?” Anne merely scoffed at the thought. The man was as emotionless as a mountain. “Prove it.”
He turned and looked to her for a long time, and then he raised his hand and removed the Oakley's, lowering his head and placing them within the leather duster. When he looked up again, his eyes were actually a soft gray, and he locked those eyes on her. “I did...”
The night of the kiss returned to her briefly, yet, it was still a confusing thought. “Is that why you're protecting me? You're scared about the fact that I may ... that I'll get killed?” She wanted to ask what exactly he felt about her, how far his emotion ran. Yet at the same time, Anne wasn’t prepared for an answer.
Evidently Mr. Feren couldn’t look at her much longer and turned his eyes back onto the water. “One could say such.”
That wasn’t exactly the straightest answer she expected, but Caleb reminded her she had received much more then most. It was an unnerving thing, the way he kept his voice soft as he asked her next destination. He proceeded to inquire about her children and what was to be done for them.
“Mr. Feren, do you even have a first name?”
“I do”
“And what is it?”
“Caleb.”
Despite being cold-hearted herself Anne informed him it was a nice name. The pirate was in a real pickle now. The man had stated he had feelings for her…in a roundabout way. However, she had pushed away all her friends to protect them, and he was not about to be the exception. She couldn’t force him to stop guarding her. Try as she might, Anne knew that giving him the slip would be near impossible.
“I'll never be rid of you.”
The man just chuckled. “Wet and angry, once again…”
“Well the wet part is getting cold.”
Caleb moved then, and it was a most unusual move. He removed the duster, revealing the black leather pants the fitted ribbed A-shirt, and wrapped the duster around her. There was a mixture of emotions, she wanted to rip the duster off and yet she almost melted with the gesture. There was a compromise, Anne slipped the duster on and stood there speechless. The only interruption to Anne’s rapid train of thought was a letter from Artemus that she slipped into the pocket of the duster.
“Let us get you to someplace dry. I do not believe that you are well enough yet to be standing here in wet clothes.” A nod was all the pirate could manage.
Feren watched her a moment, then smirked… more than likely he would be hit for this. With the grace of a predator, and the speed of a striking viper, he lifted her up in his arms and turned, making his way to the portal.
The shock of being picked up induced a quick sharp breath from Anne. Slapping him was foremost on her mind, yet she didn’t want to shock him into dropping her. Softly she managed to tell him that her feet were capable of walking. Caleb only melted through the portal and into the darkness, carrying Anne in his arms. “I know.”
Neo Eternity wasn’t helping Anne’s case in the slightest. Throughout the whole duel was lecture, after lecture, after lecture. Mr. Kurgen decided to put in his two cents as well. It killed Anne to have to ignore her friends. Yet, couldn’t they see it was all for the better? No one understood the situation, and frankly, Anne hated herself. She couldn’t see why the others didn’t ignore her. In the pirate’s eyes, her friends were being almost too loyal.
Shandren was the only one that Anne truly was grateful towards. She cared, but she showed it in an entirely different way. Shan was concerned for her kids, and made Anne promise to keep a journal almost of what she did. It was all Anne could do to keep from running to Shan and give her a hug. The woman thought her brave instead of child that Artemus saw.
The moment her shadow entered Anne headed straight over to the lagoon, swam out and sat on a lone rock. Ten minutes later the pirate began to feel a little cold, and despite loathing her shadow, returned to the sandy beach. When he approached Anne asked what it was that Caleb wanted. The answer was as vague as usual, to look at the water.
“I just don't get you. I mean, I can usually figure most people out, but you...you're just some sort of...stone-cold creature.”
“I have been called much worse.”
“Do you have any emotion? At all?”
“Yes.”
“Really?” Anne merely scoffed at the thought. The man was as emotionless as a mountain. “Prove it.”
He turned and looked to her for a long time, and then he raised his hand and removed the Oakley's, lowering his head and placing them within the leather duster. When he looked up again, his eyes were actually a soft gray, and he locked those eyes on her. “I did...”
The night of the kiss returned to her briefly, yet, it was still a confusing thought. “Is that why you're protecting me? You're scared about the fact that I may ... that I'll get killed?” She wanted to ask what exactly he felt about her, how far his emotion ran. Yet at the same time, Anne wasn’t prepared for an answer.
Evidently Mr. Feren couldn’t look at her much longer and turned his eyes back onto the water. “One could say such.”
That wasn’t exactly the straightest answer she expected, but Caleb reminded her she had received much more then most. It was an unnerving thing, the way he kept his voice soft as he asked her next destination. He proceeded to inquire about her children and what was to be done for them.
“Mr. Feren, do you even have a first name?”
“I do”
“And what is it?”
“Caleb.”
Despite being cold-hearted herself Anne informed him it was a nice name. The pirate was in a real pickle now. The man had stated he had feelings for her…in a roundabout way. However, she had pushed away all her friends to protect them, and he was not about to be the exception. She couldn’t force him to stop guarding her. Try as she might, Anne knew that giving him the slip would be near impossible.
“I'll never be rid of you.”
The man just chuckled. “Wet and angry, once again…”
“Well the wet part is getting cold.”
Caleb moved then, and it was a most unusual move. He removed the duster, revealing the black leather pants the fitted ribbed A-shirt, and wrapped the duster around her. There was a mixture of emotions, she wanted to rip the duster off and yet she almost melted with the gesture. There was a compromise, Anne slipped the duster on and stood there speechless. The only interruption to Anne’s rapid train of thought was a letter from Artemus that she slipped into the pocket of the duster.
“Let us get you to someplace dry. I do not believe that you are well enough yet to be standing here in wet clothes.” A nod was all the pirate could manage.
Feren watched her a moment, then smirked… more than likely he would be hit for this. With the grace of a predator, and the speed of a striking viper, he lifted her up in his arms and turned, making his way to the portal.
The shock of being picked up induced a quick sharp breath from Anne. Slapping him was foremost on her mind, yet she didn’t want to shock him into dropping her. Softly she managed to tell him that her feet were capable of walking. Caleb only melted through the portal and into the darkness, carrying Anne in his arms. “I know.”
Anne Ellis Feren
Arrival Mexico City
We landed in Mexico City. The city is huge, sprawling across a marshland that was drained atop the mountain, it now holds a population in excess of 26 million inhabitants. This could be a vampire's delight.
The air was heavy with the unique odor of pollution trapped for long periods on the mountain. The airport gave a view of the surrounding volcanoes that run down the spine of the country. Traffic moved at a snails pace along roads choked with cars and trucks of every size, age, and description.
We headed directly for the Polanco District. The part of the city that houses some of the wealthiest people in the world. Mexico City is home to 13 of the known 28 billionaires of the world, and many of them live in this section of the city. Finding the Count's residence here would not be difficult, but finding Nadine there would be a stroke of sheer luck, and personally, I do not believe in luck.
The air was heavy with the unique odor of pollution trapped for long periods on the mountain. The airport gave a view of the surrounding volcanoes that run down the spine of the country. Traffic moved at a snails pace along roads choked with cars and trucks of every size, age, and description.
We headed directly for the Polanco District. The part of the city that houses some of the wealthiest people in the world. Mexico City is home to 13 of the known 28 billionaires of the world, and many of them live in this section of the city. Finding the Count's residence here would not be difficult, but finding Nadine there would be a stroke of sheer luck, and personally, I do not believe in luck.
Gabriel Datrazanov
-
Azjah von Drachen Walde
- Expert Adventurer
- Posts: 1138
- Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2005 1:13 am
- Location: Palazzo Drachen Walde
- Contact:
Injunctions
I spent a good portion of the morning pondering what I had seen at the construction site. The foundation basement was being altered to go down 50 feet, ostensibly to house patient records and paperwork, but 50 feet would mean at least 3 sub basements, if not 4, and archival records are never kept onsite. That is a violation of the offsite storage requirements for TS and ISO. That underground storage was something else entirely.
Cory had done his best to shoo me away from the construction, but it was not fear for my safety that had him so uneasy. He wanted me out of there for more reasons than one. Question is, why.
That evening, at the Annex, Anne had offered herself to Cory for hire. I reminded Anne that she has a one year contract with Drachen Walde Industries. She looked at me, "that contract means nothing to me anymore Miss Danaan."
I understand what she's doing, but I am not going to let her get into deeper trouble. "Well, then we'll see you in further litigation Anne."
Corry looked over at me, "but, I do have pull wi' my boss."
Anne scoffed at that, saying it was the least of her problems, then turned to Cory, "Seriously though, look me up if you need supplies to be delivered. Tell your boss, but make sure you inform him that I am a criminal."
Cory regarded her a moment, "ya got the means to deliver a couple tons of concrete, or machinery?"
She told him she did.
"Havoick, make sure you tell Geffen he's going to be dragged into litigation as well if he does."
Cory spun around to face me, "This ain't about him. This has to do wit' Reynolds."
Perhaps directly it deals with Reynolds, but if one of Geffen's contractors hires Anne, it will be MacPhearson that gets hauled into court.
Anne continued to seek employment through Cory, and in the morning, I will have a restraining order put on Anne and Reynolds with notice being sent to Geffen that in the event Anne Xile does any work for them, I will extend the suit to MacPhearson for knowingly hiring an ineligible employee who is already under another's contract.
A last resort will be to withdraw my bail on her, and have Annakey put her behind bars again, but I will only do that if she persists.
Cory had done his best to shoo me away from the construction, but it was not fear for my safety that had him so uneasy. He wanted me out of there for more reasons than one. Question is, why.
That evening, at the Annex, Anne had offered herself to Cory for hire. I reminded Anne that she has a one year contract with Drachen Walde Industries. She looked at me, "that contract means nothing to me anymore Miss Danaan."
I understand what she's doing, but I am not going to let her get into deeper trouble. "Well, then we'll see you in further litigation Anne."
Corry looked over at me, "but, I do have pull wi' my boss."
Anne scoffed at that, saying it was the least of her problems, then turned to Cory, "Seriously though, look me up if you need supplies to be delivered. Tell your boss, but make sure you inform him that I am a criminal."
Cory regarded her a moment, "ya got the means to deliver a couple tons of concrete, or machinery?"
She told him she did.
"Havoick, make sure you tell Geffen he's going to be dragged into litigation as well if he does."
Cory spun around to face me, "This ain't about him. This has to do wit' Reynolds."
Perhaps directly it deals with Reynolds, but if one of Geffen's contractors hires Anne, it will be MacPhearson that gets hauled into court.
Anne continued to seek employment through Cory, and in the morning, I will have a restraining order put on Anne and Reynolds with notice being sent to Geffen that in the event Anne Xile does any work for them, I will extend the suit to MacPhearson for knowingly hiring an ineligible employee who is already under another's contract.
A last resort will be to withdraw my bail on her, and have Annakey put her behind bars again, but I will only do that if she persists.
Azjah Telyria Danaan
Marchioness von Triberg
Baroness von Drachen Walde
Marchioness von Triberg
Baroness von Drachen Walde
-
Azjah von Drachen Walde
- Expert Adventurer
- Posts: 1138
- Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2005 1:13 am
- Location: Palazzo Drachen Walde
- Contact:
Restraining Orders
Notice of Restraining Order
Anne Ellis Exile, you are hereby ordered by the Court to cease and desist efforts to find employment outside of the contract to which you are currently bound by your signature. You will be in breach of contract if you continue seeking alternative employment.
Questions regarding your contractual obligations may be addressed to the Court.
Failure to comply with this Court Order may result in immediate revocation of your bail bonded status with immediate return to confinement.
Sam Wood
City Clerk
RhyDin County Court
Anne Ellis Exile, you are hereby ordered by the Court to cease and desist efforts to find employment outside of the contract to which you are currently bound by your signature. You will be in breach of contract if you continue seeking alternative employment.
Questions regarding your contractual obligations may be addressed to the Court.
Failure to comply with this Court Order may result in immediate revocation of your bail bonded status with immediate return to confinement.
Sam Wood
City Clerk
RhyDin County Court
Azjah Telyria Danaan
Marchioness von Triberg
Baroness von Drachen Walde
Marchioness von Triberg
Baroness von Drachen Walde
Anne's Statement Part 1
Defense calls Anne Ellis Xile, to the witness stand.
There was the traditional oath, and after swearing to ‘tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God’ she was asked to state her full name for the record.
“Annabell Ellis Xile”
The pirate was then seated and awaited the long series of questions. There were many people present, former friends, those that had been in the smuggling trade. Some she didn’t recognize, others looked a little to eager for her sentence. Mr. Lawson began by questioning her whereabouts on the day she allegedly stole from Skyler. Anne answered that she was working in the Palazzo; pervious witnesses had confirmed this all ready. The questioning continued through each of her crimes. Trespassing, cheating, theft, piracy, smuggling, kidnapping were but a few of the charges pressed against her. There were many crimes eliminated from the questioning, proving her innocence was going to be difficult.
Two cases however, had to be visited. The murders of Shadem Black and Eliza Alen were the most serious offences.
“Ms. Xile, describe to us the events on the night of *December 16th 1994.”
Anne took a deep breath and closed her eyes. It was going to be a long description. “I was on the ship called the Muerte Eterna…it means Eternal Death in Spanish. We were sailing from St. Lucia to Barbados in the Caribbean; Shadem Black was our captain at this point. Barbados had some interesting trading prospects that Black was interested in. Along the way there was talk of mutiny. We got caught in a storm, one that lasted for three weeks. We didn’t see hide nor hair of land. As much as we loved the ocean, we loved booze more. Food was running low and tempers were running high. I was the second mate to Black while Eliza was first mate. We were the only two women aboard the ship. In fact, Eliza was Blacks niece, and my friend. Eliza had ambitions, high and lofty goals. One of them included being captain of the Muerte Eterna. She talked to the crew, got them all riled up against Black. You have to understand, Black was a brute. His methods heinous, ranging from simple theft to murder and rape.” Anne paused then; it wasn’t unlike her own trial was it? She sat there thinking about what happened next.
“Ms. Xile?” Adam Lawson prodded her as she had become distracted.
“Well, Eliza formed a plan to murder Black. Most of the crew were like sheep, they would follow whoever served their interest at that point. Half of them didn’t have any brains whatsoever.” The pirate mulled over the next part of the story. The jury would need some background on the way a pirate ship was ran.
“On a sea vessel, if you have two crew members that you suspect of being un-loyal it’s the best decision to turn them against each other. That’s what Black did. However, he knew we wouldn’t kill each other without some…incentive, as it were. Long after the sun had died down he pulled me into his cabin. Told me that Eliza was planning to murder him. It was up to me, as second mate, to get rid of this threat. I would have to kill Eliza, in payment, I’d keep my life, become first mate, and Nathaniel wouldn’t die. To prove his point, he lifted the tablecloth to show my best friend, Nat, bound and gagged. This put me in a difficult situation. I would either have to kill Eliza, or be responsible of the death of my best friend.”
Anne rubbed her eyes re-thinking the decision over and over again. She choked slightly on the next few words. “I left the cabin and found Eliza waiting for me. I don’t what he’d said to her, but it must’ve been something similar…”
It was a silent deathly calm, Eliza stood there, the epitome of fate. Her blonde hair was flying around wildly; scars, burns, and the brand of a pirate marred the freckled complexion. Her clothes were dirty; the various skull, hook, and sword gems hung from her right ear. The two teenagers circled each other, daggers in hand. Eliza took the first lunge, clipping Anne just under the ear. In retaliation the red haired girl kicked out and took out Eliza’s shins. Rolling back wards Eliza regained her footing. Anne slice at the girls arm, fury shone in Eliza’s eyes. The two best friends charged at the same time, Eliza sliced Anne across the side and received an elbow in the eye. Scuffs and falls could be heard below, each clash of steel rang out in the cold air. Anne grabbed a rope, ran across the deck swung out over the water and returned kicking Eliza in the back. She landed on the ropes to see Eliza climbing up after her. The dagger was clenched in her teeth; Anne balanced on the mast awaiting for Eliza to gain her bearings.
A door slammed shut, and Black walked out with Nathaniel in front of him. A gun was pressed to his head. Anne turned to see a boot that soon made contact with her face. Dangling from the wood the red head watched as her friend approached her. Swinging with all her might Anne wrapped her legs around the wood and flipped back up. She took the dagger and drove it down pinning Eliza’s foot to the rough oak. A huge wind came turning the ship around. The sudden movement caught them both off balance. Anne was all ready hugging the mast; Eliza fell and held onto the oak with one hand. With one swift motion Anne severed Eliza’s hand. A sickening splash was enough.
“After a one on one fight, the battle ended with Eliza falling twenty maybe twenty five feet into the water.”
“Ms. Xile, who attacked first in this fight, yourself or Eliza?”
“Eliza.”
Anne knew that she would either get away with self-defense, or she would be charged for second-degree murder. Other witnesses from before hand stated that Anne intended to kill Eliza all along, from the day a mutiny was first talked about. The next, and final subject to discuss would be the murder of Shadem Black. Hopefully Mr. Lawson would make it short.
*Times are based on RL, adjust accordingly for IC standards
There was the traditional oath, and after swearing to ‘tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God’ she was asked to state her full name for the record.
“Annabell Ellis Xile”
The pirate was then seated and awaited the long series of questions. There were many people present, former friends, those that had been in the smuggling trade. Some she didn’t recognize, others looked a little to eager for her sentence. Mr. Lawson began by questioning her whereabouts on the day she allegedly stole from Skyler. Anne answered that she was working in the Palazzo; pervious witnesses had confirmed this all ready. The questioning continued through each of her crimes. Trespassing, cheating, theft, piracy, smuggling, kidnapping were but a few of the charges pressed against her. There were many crimes eliminated from the questioning, proving her innocence was going to be difficult.
Two cases however, had to be visited. The murders of Shadem Black and Eliza Alen were the most serious offences.
“Ms. Xile, describe to us the events on the night of *December 16th 1994.”
Anne took a deep breath and closed her eyes. It was going to be a long description. “I was on the ship called the Muerte Eterna…it means Eternal Death in Spanish. We were sailing from St. Lucia to Barbados in the Caribbean; Shadem Black was our captain at this point. Barbados had some interesting trading prospects that Black was interested in. Along the way there was talk of mutiny. We got caught in a storm, one that lasted for three weeks. We didn’t see hide nor hair of land. As much as we loved the ocean, we loved booze more. Food was running low and tempers were running high. I was the second mate to Black while Eliza was first mate. We were the only two women aboard the ship. In fact, Eliza was Blacks niece, and my friend. Eliza had ambitions, high and lofty goals. One of them included being captain of the Muerte Eterna. She talked to the crew, got them all riled up against Black. You have to understand, Black was a brute. His methods heinous, ranging from simple theft to murder and rape.” Anne paused then; it wasn’t unlike her own trial was it? She sat there thinking about what happened next.
“Ms. Xile?” Adam Lawson prodded her as she had become distracted.
“Well, Eliza formed a plan to murder Black. Most of the crew were like sheep, they would follow whoever served their interest at that point. Half of them didn’t have any brains whatsoever.” The pirate mulled over the next part of the story. The jury would need some background on the way a pirate ship was ran.
“On a sea vessel, if you have two crew members that you suspect of being un-loyal it’s the best decision to turn them against each other. That’s what Black did. However, he knew we wouldn’t kill each other without some…incentive, as it were. Long after the sun had died down he pulled me into his cabin. Told me that Eliza was planning to murder him. It was up to me, as second mate, to get rid of this threat. I would have to kill Eliza, in payment, I’d keep my life, become first mate, and Nathaniel wouldn’t die. To prove his point, he lifted the tablecloth to show my best friend, Nat, bound and gagged. This put me in a difficult situation. I would either have to kill Eliza, or be responsible of the death of my best friend.”
Anne rubbed her eyes re-thinking the decision over and over again. She choked slightly on the next few words. “I left the cabin and found Eliza waiting for me. I don’t what he’d said to her, but it must’ve been something similar…”
It was a silent deathly calm, Eliza stood there, the epitome of fate. Her blonde hair was flying around wildly; scars, burns, and the brand of a pirate marred the freckled complexion. Her clothes were dirty; the various skull, hook, and sword gems hung from her right ear. The two teenagers circled each other, daggers in hand. Eliza took the first lunge, clipping Anne just under the ear. In retaliation the red haired girl kicked out and took out Eliza’s shins. Rolling back wards Eliza regained her footing. Anne slice at the girls arm, fury shone in Eliza’s eyes. The two best friends charged at the same time, Eliza sliced Anne across the side and received an elbow in the eye. Scuffs and falls could be heard below, each clash of steel rang out in the cold air. Anne grabbed a rope, ran across the deck swung out over the water and returned kicking Eliza in the back. She landed on the ropes to see Eliza climbing up after her. The dagger was clenched in her teeth; Anne balanced on the mast awaiting for Eliza to gain her bearings.
A door slammed shut, and Black walked out with Nathaniel in front of him. A gun was pressed to his head. Anne turned to see a boot that soon made contact with her face. Dangling from the wood the red head watched as her friend approached her. Swinging with all her might Anne wrapped her legs around the wood and flipped back up. She took the dagger and drove it down pinning Eliza’s foot to the rough oak. A huge wind came turning the ship around. The sudden movement caught them both off balance. Anne was all ready hugging the mast; Eliza fell and held onto the oak with one hand. With one swift motion Anne severed Eliza’s hand. A sickening splash was enough.
“After a one on one fight, the battle ended with Eliza falling twenty maybe twenty five feet into the water.”
“Ms. Xile, who attacked first in this fight, yourself or Eliza?”
“Eliza.”
Anne knew that she would either get away with self-defense, or she would be charged for second-degree murder. Other witnesses from before hand stated that Anne intended to kill Eliza all along, from the day a mutiny was first talked about. The next, and final subject to discuss would be the murder of Shadem Black. Hopefully Mr. Lawson would make it short.
*Times are based on RL, adjust accordingly for IC standards
Anne Ellis Feren
Trespassers at the Palazzo
Trespassers.
The footprints could belong to anyone in RhyDin. The only thing Lucien could tell for certain was that there were two distinct sets of prints. One larger and heavier person, and one smaller, lighter one.
Who would be skulking around the Palazzo, and why? Questions turned round in Lucien's thoughts. He did not like this turn of events one bit.
It was time to bring this information to the attention of Mr. Caer and Mr. Griogar. He didn't feel it was time to raise it to the Marchioness' attention, but Eoin and Klinton needed to be made aware. Eoin for day time protection, and Klinton to assure they did not go roaming the grounds without proper protections.
The footprints could belong to anyone in RhyDin. The only thing Lucien could tell for certain was that there were two distinct sets of prints. One larger and heavier person, and one smaller, lighter one.
Who would be skulking around the Palazzo, and why? Questions turned round in Lucien's thoughts. He did not like this turn of events one bit.
It was time to bring this information to the attention of Mr. Caer and Mr. Griogar. He didn't feel it was time to raise it to the Marchioness' attention, but Eoin and Klinton needed to be made aware. Eoin for day time protection, and Klinton to assure they did not go roaming the grounds without proper protections.
Gabriel Datrazanov
The defense paused to give Anne a break. She took a long drink of water and cleared her mind of that memory. The pirate wouldn’t need to remember till the prosecution decided to cross-examine.
“Ms. Xile, can please you inform us of what happened nearly a year later, on *October 31st, 1995?”
“As you said, it had been nearly a year since Eliza had been killed. Black made good on his promise, I was first mate, Nathaniel was second mate and Robyn was in auxiliary command. The crew hadn’t changed much. We were traveling towards the Valley of Death…or Bay of Biscay from Newfoundland. It was very tense at the time. Well, we were in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, hadn’t had a breeze of wind for a month…maybe six weeks. The crew was getting restless again, especially because we had half the Navy out looking for us. Black had just raped and killed one of the Generals daughters.
Well, I was talking with all the men; Robyn, Nathaniel and I had come up with a plan. It was actually a modified version of what Eliza had come up with. Black never slept, especially with a mutinous crew. He always had his food brought to him as well, and I would taste it. We planned to have the cook put in his food a sleeping draught; it would take affect almost immediately. However, there was an antidote. I was to take the antidote beforehand, so that the draught wouldn’t affect me. Black would fall asleep, we’d lock him in his cabin, everyone would row out on the lifeboats. I would stay behind, set the explosives and the ship would blow up with him on it within ten minutes. Eliza’s plan just had him sleeping and thrown overboard, I wanted to make sure he was dead. For good.”
There was a slight pause, everyone looked at Anne with an almost new light. She had the means, and the mind to be a murderer. That much was clear.
“There were flaws, just like every plan, yet I was young and as before, no one else had the wits to find the mistakes. Everything went accordingly, except Black was smart, he brought in Nathaniel to taste in the food as well. Within a minute Nat conked out. When Black noticed I was still awake he caught on quick.”
Huge black hands reached towards Anne. She kicked Black in the groin and ran for the door ready to shout the alarm. All she felt were two strong hands grabbing her from behind, throwing her against the wall, and then heavy weight. Shadem lay on top of her hissing in her ear. “You’ve made a very detrimental decision.” Anne shifted feeling his weight upon her. The moment he adjusted Anne raised her elbow and made contact with his nose. The delay was all she needed to fight her way out. Before Anne reached the door he had grabbed her again. “JUMP SHIP” she yelled.
Robyn burst in, and picked up Nat on Anne’s order. The red head was out of the cabin and slammed the door shut. She ran below deck, lit the match, and climbed back up to see Blacks furious face. Next thing she knew Anne was on the floor. The man jumped down pulled out the knife and pressed it to her throat. Before her throat was slit Black fell forward. Robyn pulled Anne up and the two ran out and jumped ship. The explosives blasted and Anne watched the Muerte Eterna go up in flames. The last thing she heard was Black’s crimson and charcoal form scream that he would ‘rise up out of the ashes’.
“There was a bit of hand-to-hand combat. I shouted the alarm; Robyn ran in, dragged Nathaniel out and everyone jumped ship. By sheer luck I escaped Black and ran to the other side of the ship. The whole boat exploded, and the last we saw of Black was a bloody mess of gore swimming away from us.”
“But he survived?”
“Yes he did, I was kidnapped by him a month or so ago. He’s been sending me threats ever since.”
“Do you have proof of this?”
“Nothing but my word.”
“The defense rests, your honor.” Adam Lawson returned to his seat. Anne faced Jonathan Sandler, waiting to hear his prosecution.
*Times are based on RL, adjust accordingly for IC standards
“Ms. Xile, can please you inform us of what happened nearly a year later, on *October 31st, 1995?”
“As you said, it had been nearly a year since Eliza had been killed. Black made good on his promise, I was first mate, Nathaniel was second mate and Robyn was in auxiliary command. The crew hadn’t changed much. We were traveling towards the Valley of Death…or Bay of Biscay from Newfoundland. It was very tense at the time. Well, we were in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, hadn’t had a breeze of wind for a month…maybe six weeks. The crew was getting restless again, especially because we had half the Navy out looking for us. Black had just raped and killed one of the Generals daughters.
Well, I was talking with all the men; Robyn, Nathaniel and I had come up with a plan. It was actually a modified version of what Eliza had come up with. Black never slept, especially with a mutinous crew. He always had his food brought to him as well, and I would taste it. We planned to have the cook put in his food a sleeping draught; it would take affect almost immediately. However, there was an antidote. I was to take the antidote beforehand, so that the draught wouldn’t affect me. Black would fall asleep, we’d lock him in his cabin, everyone would row out on the lifeboats. I would stay behind, set the explosives and the ship would blow up with him on it within ten minutes. Eliza’s plan just had him sleeping and thrown overboard, I wanted to make sure he was dead. For good.”
There was a slight pause, everyone looked at Anne with an almost new light. She had the means, and the mind to be a murderer. That much was clear.
“There were flaws, just like every plan, yet I was young and as before, no one else had the wits to find the mistakes. Everything went accordingly, except Black was smart, he brought in Nathaniel to taste in the food as well. Within a minute Nat conked out. When Black noticed I was still awake he caught on quick.”
Huge black hands reached towards Anne. She kicked Black in the groin and ran for the door ready to shout the alarm. All she felt were two strong hands grabbing her from behind, throwing her against the wall, and then heavy weight. Shadem lay on top of her hissing in her ear. “You’ve made a very detrimental decision.” Anne shifted feeling his weight upon her. The moment he adjusted Anne raised her elbow and made contact with his nose. The delay was all she needed to fight her way out. Before Anne reached the door he had grabbed her again. “JUMP SHIP” she yelled.
Robyn burst in, and picked up Nat on Anne’s order. The red head was out of the cabin and slammed the door shut. She ran below deck, lit the match, and climbed back up to see Blacks furious face. Next thing she knew Anne was on the floor. The man jumped down pulled out the knife and pressed it to her throat. Before her throat was slit Black fell forward. Robyn pulled Anne up and the two ran out and jumped ship. The explosives blasted and Anne watched the Muerte Eterna go up in flames. The last thing she heard was Black’s crimson and charcoal form scream that he would ‘rise up out of the ashes’.
“There was a bit of hand-to-hand combat. I shouted the alarm; Robyn ran in, dragged Nathaniel out and everyone jumped ship. By sheer luck I escaped Black and ran to the other side of the ship. The whole boat exploded, and the last we saw of Black was a bloody mess of gore swimming away from us.”
“But he survived?”
“Yes he did, I was kidnapped by him a month or so ago. He’s been sending me threats ever since.”
“Do you have proof of this?”
“Nothing but my word.”
“The defense rests, your honor.” Adam Lawson returned to his seat. Anne faced Jonathan Sandler, waiting to hear his prosecution.
*Times are based on RL, adjust accordingly for IC standards
Anne Ellis Feren
Anne's Statement Part 2
The defense paused to give Anne a break. She took a long drink of water and cleared her mind of that memory. The pirate wouldn’t need to remember till the prosecution decided to cross-examine.
“Ms. Xile, can please you inform us of what happened nearly a year later, on *October 31st, 1995?”
“As you said, it had been nearly a year since Eliza had been killed. Black made good on his promise, I was first mate, Nathaniel was second mate and Robyn was in auxiliary command. The crew hadn’t changed much. We were traveling towards the Valley of Death…or Bay of Biscay from Newfoundland. It was very tense at the time. Well, we were in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, hadn’t had a breeze of wind for a month…maybe six weeks. The crew was getting restless again, especially because we had half the Navy out looking for us. Black had just raped and killed one of the Generals daughters.
Well, I was talking with all the men; Robyn, Nathaniel and I had come up with a plan. It was actually a modified version of what Eliza had come up with. Black never slept, especially with a mutinous crew. He always had his food brought to him as well, and I would taste it. We planned to have the cook put in his food a sleeping draught; it would take affect almost immediately. However, there was an antidote. I was to take the antidote beforehand, so that the draught wouldn’t affect me. Black would fall asleep, we’d lock him in his cabin, everyone would row out on the lifeboats. I would stay behind, set the explosives and the ship would blow up with him on it within ten minutes. Eliza’s plan just had him sleeping and thrown overboard, I wanted to make sure he was dead. For good.”
There was a slight pause, everyone looked at Anne with an almost new light. She had the means, and the mind to be a murderer. That much was clear.
“There were flaws, just like every plan, yet I was young and as before, no one else had the wits to find the mistakes. Everything went accordingly, except Black was smart, he brought in Nathaniel to taste in the food as well. Within a minute Nat conked out. When Black noticed I was still awake he caught on quick.”
Huge black hands reached towards Anne. She kicked Black in the groin and ran for the door ready to shout the alarm. All she felt were two strong hands grabbing her from behind, throwing her against the wall, and then heavy weight. Shadem lay on top of her hissing in her ear. “You’ve made a very detrimental decision.” Anne shifted feeling his weight upon her. The moment he adjusted Anne raised her elbow and made contact with his nose. The delay was all she needed to fight her way out. Before Anne reached the door he had grabbed her again. “JUMP SHIP” she yelled.
Robyn burst in, and picked up Nat on Anne’s order. The red head was out of the cabin and slammed the door shut. She ran below deck, lit the match, and climbed back up to see Blacks furious face. Next thing she knew Anne was on the floor. The man jumped down pulled out the knife and pressed it to her throat. Before her throat was slit Black fell forward. Robyn pulled Anne up and the two ran out and jumped ship. The explosives blasted and Anne watched the Muerte Eterna go up in flames. The last thing she heard was Black’s crimson and charcoal form scream that he would ‘rise up out of the ashes’.
“There was a bit of hand-to-hand combat. I shouted the alarm; Robyn ran in, dragged Nathaniel out and everyone jumped ship. By sheer luck I escaped Black and ran to the other side of the ship. The whole boat exploded, and the last we saw of Black was a bloody mess of gore swimming away from us.”
“But he survived?”
“Yes he did, I was kidnapped by him a month or so ago. He’s been sending me threats ever since.”
“Do you have proof of this?”
“Nothing but my word.”
“The defense rests, your honor.” Adam Lawson returned to his seat. Anne faced Jonathan Sandler, waiting to hear his prosecution.
*Times are based on RL, adjust accordingly for IC standards
“Ms. Xile, can please you inform us of what happened nearly a year later, on *October 31st, 1995?”
“As you said, it had been nearly a year since Eliza had been killed. Black made good on his promise, I was first mate, Nathaniel was second mate and Robyn was in auxiliary command. The crew hadn’t changed much. We were traveling towards the Valley of Death…or Bay of Biscay from Newfoundland. It was very tense at the time. Well, we were in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, hadn’t had a breeze of wind for a month…maybe six weeks. The crew was getting restless again, especially because we had half the Navy out looking for us. Black had just raped and killed one of the Generals daughters.
Well, I was talking with all the men; Robyn, Nathaniel and I had come up with a plan. It was actually a modified version of what Eliza had come up with. Black never slept, especially with a mutinous crew. He always had his food brought to him as well, and I would taste it. We planned to have the cook put in his food a sleeping draught; it would take affect almost immediately. However, there was an antidote. I was to take the antidote beforehand, so that the draught wouldn’t affect me. Black would fall asleep, we’d lock him in his cabin, everyone would row out on the lifeboats. I would stay behind, set the explosives and the ship would blow up with him on it within ten minutes. Eliza’s plan just had him sleeping and thrown overboard, I wanted to make sure he was dead. For good.”
There was a slight pause, everyone looked at Anne with an almost new light. She had the means, and the mind to be a murderer. That much was clear.
“There were flaws, just like every plan, yet I was young and as before, no one else had the wits to find the mistakes. Everything went accordingly, except Black was smart, he brought in Nathaniel to taste in the food as well. Within a minute Nat conked out. When Black noticed I was still awake he caught on quick.”
Huge black hands reached towards Anne. She kicked Black in the groin and ran for the door ready to shout the alarm. All she felt were two strong hands grabbing her from behind, throwing her against the wall, and then heavy weight. Shadem lay on top of her hissing in her ear. “You’ve made a very detrimental decision.” Anne shifted feeling his weight upon her. The moment he adjusted Anne raised her elbow and made contact with his nose. The delay was all she needed to fight her way out. Before Anne reached the door he had grabbed her again. “JUMP SHIP” she yelled.
Robyn burst in, and picked up Nat on Anne’s order. The red head was out of the cabin and slammed the door shut. She ran below deck, lit the match, and climbed back up to see Blacks furious face. Next thing she knew Anne was on the floor. The man jumped down pulled out the knife and pressed it to her throat. Before her throat was slit Black fell forward. Robyn pulled Anne up and the two ran out and jumped ship. The explosives blasted and Anne watched the Muerte Eterna go up in flames. The last thing she heard was Black’s crimson and charcoal form scream that he would ‘rise up out of the ashes’.
“There was a bit of hand-to-hand combat. I shouted the alarm; Robyn ran in, dragged Nathaniel out and everyone jumped ship. By sheer luck I escaped Black and ran to the other side of the ship. The whole boat exploded, and the last we saw of Black was a bloody mess of gore swimming away from us.”
“But he survived?”
“Yes he did, I was kidnapped by him a month or so ago. He’s been sending me threats ever since.”
“Do you have proof of this?”
“Nothing but my word.”
“The defense rests, your honor.” Adam Lawson returned to his seat. Anne faced Jonathan Sandler, waiting to hear his prosecution.
*Times are based on RL, adjust accordingly for IC standards
Anne Ellis Feren
-
Rhaine
- Seasoned Adventurer
- Black in Mind
- Posts: 353
- Joined: Thu Dec 09, 2004 9:43 pm
- Location: Citadel Nessus
We started looking for Nadine from the house in Polanco District, but the lass was smart enough to find another place to live in. She did leave enough tracks - for me to follow. However they were invisible for Gabriel. His charming way of gaining entrance into the manor was no longer useful.
"And I hoped she would be silly enough to reside here," I said with a mockery of a sigh.
"And told no one," Gabriel nodded. "So what are we going to do now?"
"Use plan-B, my way of locating her. Let's go for a walk, Gabriel. I would like to take a look at this city."
Perhaps Gabriel noticed that I kept looking at traces invisible to him. But I did not care. This was my task, and sharing this technique with him was definitely against my rules. A blind guardian in the city full of sunlight? Gabriel would explode from laughter!
===============================================
I used his inability to walk under the bright sunlight to get to the lass. Nadine dyed her hair - I could see this from the traces of chemicals in her hair. I caught her in a small cafe, and materialized from the air sitting in front of her.
"Nadine Montague, you shall follow me. Now."
The human lass looked insulted. "Why should I follow you, and who are you! I'll call the police!"
Foolish.
"You would not be able to stand up without my wish, human. And police will not hear if you call. Look around. No one notices your existence now".
She looked a bit surprised. "What do you need me for?"
Now it was time for a little shock. "You are one of the two who ordered the necromage Onaenia to cast the spell on Anne Xile. She told me your name before death. Why have you done it? "
"Not me! It was Black, it's all his fault..."
Surprisingly, the spell that was already infiltrating her, didn't start an alarm.
"Why has she mentioned you?"
"I..." she winced in pain. She was probably trying to lie or conceal something.
"Any time you try to lie, or hide anything - you will feel this, Nadine. You will be the one hurting yourself. Answer."
Humans are so sensitive to pain.... Nadine started talking - as if words were pouring out of her, one word rushing another. Cold fury was rising inside me. She was the one who started the entire mess, she spread rumors and used her connections in RhyDin to trigger that nasty process that hurt Anne so much. She hated Anne - and the reasons I find child-like. As soon as her babble stopped, I ordered her to follow me, and transported her to DarSai.
Gabriel seemed slightly surprised to see Nadine. I asked him to bring Nadine to Palazzo and keep her safe. Dealing with her was too distasteful...
The dark lightning of spaceship lunged into the sky as soon as my companion was out of slumber and our prisoner was fastened securely to a passenger seat.
"And I hoped she would be silly enough to reside here," I said with a mockery of a sigh.
"And told no one," Gabriel nodded. "So what are we going to do now?"
"Use plan-B, my way of locating her. Let's go for a walk, Gabriel. I would like to take a look at this city."
Perhaps Gabriel noticed that I kept looking at traces invisible to him. But I did not care. This was my task, and sharing this technique with him was definitely against my rules. A blind guardian in the city full of sunlight? Gabriel would explode from laughter!
===============================================
I used his inability to walk under the bright sunlight to get to the lass. Nadine dyed her hair - I could see this from the traces of chemicals in her hair. I caught her in a small cafe, and materialized from the air sitting in front of her.
"Nadine Montague, you shall follow me. Now."
The human lass looked insulted. "Why should I follow you, and who are you! I'll call the police!"
Foolish.
"You would not be able to stand up without my wish, human. And police will not hear if you call. Look around. No one notices your existence now".
She looked a bit surprised. "What do you need me for?"
Now it was time for a little shock. "You are one of the two who ordered the necromage Onaenia to cast the spell on Anne Xile. She told me your name before death. Why have you done it? "
"Not me! It was Black, it's all his fault..."
Surprisingly, the spell that was already infiltrating her, didn't start an alarm.
"Why has she mentioned you?"
"I..." she winced in pain. She was probably trying to lie or conceal something.
"Any time you try to lie, or hide anything - you will feel this, Nadine. You will be the one hurting yourself. Answer."
Humans are so sensitive to pain.... Nadine started talking - as if words were pouring out of her, one word rushing another. Cold fury was rising inside me. She was the one who started the entire mess, she spread rumors and used her connections in RhyDin to trigger that nasty process that hurt Anne so much. She hated Anne - and the reasons I find child-like. As soon as her babble stopped, I ordered her to follow me, and transported her to DarSai.
Gabriel seemed slightly surprised to see Nadine. I asked him to bring Nadine to Palazzo and keep her safe. Dealing with her was too distasteful...
The dark lightning of spaceship lunged into the sky as soon as my companion was out of slumber and our prisoner was fastened securely to a passenger seat.
Anne's Statement Part 3
The prosecution stepped forth, and paced for a little while in front of Anne. He was going to enjoy every minute of this. He began with the simple stuff, for example, cheating at card games. It was petty stuff he interviewed her about, but every question was like a hot poker aimed at her heart.
“January 1st, 2002, were you or were you not at the New Years Party down 24th Ave, Hotel La Création?”
“Yes, I was.”
“Did you or did you not cut all the power to the Hotel at exactly 12:00 am?”
“Yes I did.”
“How long was the power out.”
“Thirty-five minutes.”
“When the power returned, wasn’t the Hotels prize possession, a golden sun, missing?”
“It was.”
The prosecution then turned to the jury. “The ‘Golden Sun’ disappeared until now. We found it for sale in an antique shop, fifty miles north of RhyDin. Anne’s fingerprints were all over it. After some investigation, we discovered that the antique shop bought it from Anne for a handsome sum of $1,000.”
That was one of the many events that Sandler brought to Anne’s attention. He cross-examined her life, revealing every single bit of her personality. The fact was he convinced Anne she was a criminal and deserved what she was getting. The theft of Samila Triston on August 8th, the kidnapping of Christine Arlow on July 2nd for ransom, even the time she cheated during a poker game. Smuggling stolen medications from the Albertine Pharmacy, which she delivered to Edna Joe. Impersonating a Judge during the trial of her best business partner, Ingrid Emil and clearing her. However, the worse was yet to come. By the time the last two cases were to be examined, Anne was forcing herself with a great deal of strain, to remain emotionless.
“Now, in the case of Eliza…you said that Shadem Black instructed you to kill her?”
“That I did.”
“Do you deny that you wanted to get rid of Eliza?”
Anne gritted her teeth. “Eliza was my friend.”
“But she was being mutinous, and wanted to become the captain of the Muerte Eterna. You had the chance to kill Black instead of Eliza, but you did not.”
“I couldn’t kill Black! I was fourteen years old, I was incapable of doing so!”
“Yet you didn’t even consider it as an option?”
“Of course I did!”
The prosecution smiled, this one piece of information would prove useful while questioning her about Black. “Then why didn’t you try? You didn’t mention thinking of a plan?”
"Objection! The question calls for speculation!"
"It goes towards motive your honor."
"The defendant will answer the question."
“I didn’t have time to think of a plan, he had my best friend gagged and roped!”
“You couldn’t have asked Eliza to help you?”
“Eliza’s ambitions far out weighed her friends.”
“And how do you know that?”
“I lived with her for four years!”
“Ms. Xile, you stated that Eliza made the first move of aggression.”
Anne took a deep breath. “I did.”
“Yet you reacted aggressively not defensively.”
“Defense doesn’t always save your life. Especially when your opponent’s only goal is to kill you.”
“Ms. Xile, you had many alternatives to killing Eliza."
"Objection your honor! The prosecution is assuming facts not in the evidence!"
"Sustained."
"Do you deny that while fighting Eliza you had the intention to kill her?"
Anne remained silent.
"The defendant will answer the question."
“YES! I did!”
“January 1st, 2002, were you or were you not at the New Years Party down 24th Ave, Hotel La Création?”
“Yes, I was.”
“Did you or did you not cut all the power to the Hotel at exactly 12:00 am?”
“Yes I did.”
“How long was the power out.”
“Thirty-five minutes.”
“When the power returned, wasn’t the Hotels prize possession, a golden sun, missing?”
“It was.”
The prosecution then turned to the jury. “The ‘Golden Sun’ disappeared until now. We found it for sale in an antique shop, fifty miles north of RhyDin. Anne’s fingerprints were all over it. After some investigation, we discovered that the antique shop bought it from Anne for a handsome sum of $1,000.”
That was one of the many events that Sandler brought to Anne’s attention. He cross-examined her life, revealing every single bit of her personality. The fact was he convinced Anne she was a criminal and deserved what she was getting. The theft of Samila Triston on August 8th, the kidnapping of Christine Arlow on July 2nd for ransom, even the time she cheated during a poker game. Smuggling stolen medications from the Albertine Pharmacy, which she delivered to Edna Joe. Impersonating a Judge during the trial of her best business partner, Ingrid Emil and clearing her. However, the worse was yet to come. By the time the last two cases were to be examined, Anne was forcing herself with a great deal of strain, to remain emotionless.
“Now, in the case of Eliza…you said that Shadem Black instructed you to kill her?”
“That I did.”
“Do you deny that you wanted to get rid of Eliza?”
Anne gritted her teeth. “Eliza was my friend.”
“But she was being mutinous, and wanted to become the captain of the Muerte Eterna. You had the chance to kill Black instead of Eliza, but you did not.”
“I couldn’t kill Black! I was fourteen years old, I was incapable of doing so!”
“Yet you didn’t even consider it as an option?”
“Of course I did!”
The prosecution smiled, this one piece of information would prove useful while questioning her about Black. “Then why didn’t you try? You didn’t mention thinking of a plan?”
"Objection! The question calls for speculation!"
"It goes towards motive your honor."
"The defendant will answer the question."
“I didn’t have time to think of a plan, he had my best friend gagged and roped!”
“You couldn’t have asked Eliza to help you?”
“Eliza’s ambitions far out weighed her friends.”
“And how do you know that?”
“I lived with her for four years!”
“Ms. Xile, you stated that Eliza made the first move of aggression.”
Anne took a deep breath. “I did.”
“Yet you reacted aggressively not defensively.”
“Defense doesn’t always save your life. Especially when your opponent’s only goal is to kill you.”
“Ms. Xile, you had many alternatives to killing Eliza."
"Objection your honor! The prosecution is assuming facts not in the evidence!"
"Sustained."
"Do you deny that while fighting Eliza you had the intention to kill her?"
Anne remained silent.
"The defendant will answer the question."
“YES! I did!”
Last edited by Anne on Mon Aug 29, 2005 10:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Anne Ellis Feren
Anne's Statement Part 4
The court remained silent after Anne’s outburst. She had intended to kill Eliza, there had been no choice. Yet by saying that Anne had confirmed second-degree murder, perhaps even first-degree. It was going to be a very heaving judgment. Sandler leaned back on the prosecution table eyeing Anne. He wanted nothing more then to see her behind bars.
“Thank you, Ms. Xile.” His voice was soft but dangerous. The man stood up and walked right up to her, like they were having a personal discussion.
“You plotted to kill and murder Black didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“You ended up blowing him and the ship to smithereens?”
“I blew up the ship, he survived.”
“Tell me, how probable is it, that someone bleeding to death in an ocean, survives?”
Anne hesitated a bit. “Very unlikely.”
“Very unlikely?”
“Yes, it’s still possible though.”
“How?”
“If there had been another ship he could’ve gotten a ride. Or perhaps constructed a raft from the loose boards…but apparently, he did it.”
“You say he’s been contacting you, how?”
“Phone calls, sending messengers…nothing permanent though like a note.”
“Convenient, you don’t have any proof. I’d say that you are merely making this up as a pitiful defense. Why not just plead guilty?”
“Objection!”
“Sustained. Mr. Sandler, please keep your observations to yourself.”
Jonathan smiled a little. “Of course. The prosecution rests your honor.”
“The defense will make a closing statement, then the prosecution will have the last words. Ms. Xile, you are free to leave the stand.”
Anne held her head high as she walked down the few steps leading to the witness stand. When she sat down at the defendant table, it took a great deal of self-control not to collapse.
“Thank you, Ms. Xile.” His voice was soft but dangerous. The man stood up and walked right up to her, like they were having a personal discussion.
“You plotted to kill and murder Black didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“You ended up blowing him and the ship to smithereens?”
“I blew up the ship, he survived.”
“Tell me, how probable is it, that someone bleeding to death in an ocean, survives?”
Anne hesitated a bit. “Very unlikely.”
“Very unlikely?”
“Yes, it’s still possible though.”
“How?”
“If there had been another ship he could’ve gotten a ride. Or perhaps constructed a raft from the loose boards…but apparently, he did it.”
“You say he’s been contacting you, how?”
“Phone calls, sending messengers…nothing permanent though like a note.”
“Convenient, you don’t have any proof. I’d say that you are merely making this up as a pitiful defense. Why not just plead guilty?”
“Objection!”
“Sustained. Mr. Sandler, please keep your observations to yourself.”
Jonathan smiled a little. “Of course. The prosecution rests your honor.”
“The defense will make a closing statement, then the prosecution will have the last words. Ms. Xile, you are free to leave the stand.”
Anne held her head high as she walked down the few steps leading to the witness stand. When she sat down at the defendant table, it took a great deal of self-control not to collapse.
Anne Ellis Feren
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