RP - Chronicles of A Vampyr

[Hephastion]

The events of a few nights ago had left them a little uneasy, trying to stick to more used paths, but that was becoming more difficult the deeper they went into the Mountains. Wandress had indicated that her Glen was toward the North and West of the mountains, Hephastion wondered if it was close to the ocean, but she had never mentioned it during their travels.

As they crossed the peaks, the treeline soon became visible again below them much to Hephastions delight, since it was far easier to find shelter in the forest rather than the barren rocks higher up. The moon provided sufficient light for them to make the descent into the forest easier, Wandress' eyes adjusting to the darkness much quicker than they had on the other side. Hephastion knew less of this place than the South of the mountains, it had been many years since he had been this way, in fact nearly thirty years as he only came this way on his journey North.

There were still unknown dangers in the forests, but if this is where Wandress' clan had lived for so long then she would know how to deal with or preferably avoid them "Cant be far now" his eyes scanned the area as they made their way into the edge of the forest "Although we should find a place for the...day" he laughed softly at the comment, knowing she was probably shaking her head behind him.

[Hephastion]

	11th November 1652 It had been many months since I had been home. Wandering the highlands had seemed like a good idea, but I didnt expect to be gone so long. We never did find Wandress' tribal lands in the North, or maybe it had been so long that we missed it altogether, nature having taken it back in the years since she had last been. When Wandress returned to her home in Bravia, she went into a long period of meditation, to clear old memories I can only guess. She told me to continue my journey, and possibly find myself while I was gone. The old rivalries of Paz may or may not be lingering when I return to the town, either way Im sure i'll deal with them in my own way.

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His eyes shone in the dim moon light as he stepped closer to the gates of the town. He had passed through Cork the previous night without incident, and now the walls of Bravia loomed over him. In the months he had been gone, he had done a lot of his own meditation and reflecting, his strength renewed after a few tumultuous months fighting the Hunter and trying to keep his presence in Paz to a minimum. No one knew what he was, or what he existed for, and he prefered to keep it that way. For now he felt more human, the beast contained within him, he felt like he had more control, but that may only be because of his absence from the towns and populous, where people were ignorant and aggressive to outsiders.

The guard on the wall was a young man, a whisp of hair across his top lip, Hephastion hid a smile under his hood, hoping this boy would be quick about his questions and not do anything to bring himself to harm. He was likely to enjoy the feel of a woman in his bed, and had probably barely accustomed himself to the bitter taste of the ales on offer in the town taverns Whats your business at this hour?

A good start "Im here to visit an old friend, the Priestess Wandress" he lowered his hood. He realised this boy may not know who Wandress was either, an older soldier stepped out from the gate house, puffing on a pipe Ah yes, Wandress.....I believe I last heard she was meeting the Viceroy he eyed Hephastion for a moment, a slight familiarity in the look, he tilted his head I know you And so you should, I saved your men when the Hunter came "I used to serve on the Council of Bravia. Hephastion" he smiled, hiding the shine in his eyes.

The older mans eyes widened as he spoke his name and nodded, patting the younger mans shoulder Aye, let him in

[Wandress]

Her footfalls were quiet, but not silent as she padded through the empty streets of Bravia. Most sensible people were abed at this hour, with the exception of patrolling guardsmen and a few unsavories about town, but those were all closer to the town's centre. There were none out on the stone streets among the houses further towards the edges. At least the lamplighter had been out; lamps were lit at regular intervals along her path.

The world had changed since she had begun her meditations; many of those she had known, claimed tenuous friendship with, had moved on, moved away, or passed. There had been fewer familiar faces in the market these days. And yet some things hadn't changed. Her path back to her cottage was the same. Her cottage had been left untouched while she had been gone, though now it was scrubbed clean of dust and she began living there once more.

She paused in the street, overcome with a feeling of being watched. The houses on the street were all dark, save a few windows lit with a single candle. She peered into the darkness out of curiosity, not fear; she had not quite returned to a mortality frame of mind. Finding nothing she returned to her path, her cottage was not much further.

There had been no candles left alight in her cottage, all the windows were dark as she drew nearer. Her hand lifted, a sphere of silver light appearing, illuminating her path. The gate creaked slightly as she pushed it opened; she would have to oil the hinges in the morning. As she turned to close it behind her, her light caught and shone in a familiar pair of eyes out in the darkness. A faint smile crossed her lips, a thin stream of her spirit reaching out to him reflexively before she could call it back - for a moment she forgot he couldn't feel it. "Hephastion," she whispered.

[Hephastion]

She looked well as he stepped closer, the meditation had obviously done her good. He returned her smile "Good to see you again Wandress" he ushered her towards the door of cottage, being mindful she was not as nocturnal as he was, she would just want to get home for the evening. Thankfully the days were shorter, so there would be a few extra hours for them to catch up.

His eyes adjusted to the light as she went about lighting the candles. Everything about her cottage was as he remembered it, bringing back a feeling of being home even if it wasnt his own. As Wandress removed her cloak, he settled in the chair "So howve you been?" it had been over a year since their trek into the Mountains, he had escorted her back to Cork when she decided she needed time to reflect, leaving her there, he knew the road to Bravia would be safe enough.

[Wandress]

"Quiet," she said with a faint smile. He was well aware of her extended meditations, and there was no coincidence that he was at her doorstep within a week of her return. "This week has been a bit busy though, the Order of Mucaz has fallen into inactivity; the faithfuls are quiet and few these days. I've been attempting to help rejuvenate the Order." She gave a little shrug. It seemed like it would be an uphill battle; the Order hadn't exactly been a bustle when she had joined, and losing several of its members, including those that truly were active, was a blow to their momentum. "We'll see if we're successful."

For the first time since she had noticed him on the other side of her gate she was able to get a decent look at him. Despite the months that she had been away, he hadn't changed a bit. Though, given what he was, that wasn't much of a surprise. If he could stay out of trouble, he would likely outlive her. "But please, tell me what you have been keeping busy with for the last few months," she said with a smile.

[Hephastion]

"Oh you know me" he smiled "Staying out of trouble" a slight glint showing in his eyes. In truth, the last few months had been quiet by his standards, a minor run in with the authorities in Fenia. Nothing he couldnt handle and very little bloodshed, only one city guard feeling the full force of his wrath "Probably wont be going North for a while though" he recalled the fight, the guards questioning him and trying to force him to confess to some other murder that had happened in the area. He was sure people could sense his bloodlust and provoked him sometimes, but these guards had an air of arrogance that only came with youthful inexperience. When the swords were drawn against him, that all but ended the matter.

The guard he left alive had been taken to the temple the next day, a jibbering wreck who was not even fit to stir pots of soup in the castle kitchens, let alone guard the city walls "But im sure it'll pass" he watched her move around the main room, getting everything in order for the evening before she finally settled herself. He wondered if she was able to know his mind, read more than he was letting on.

[Wandress]

She glanced at him with more than a little disbelief in her eyes. Staying out of trouble wasn't exactly one of Hephastion's strong suits. Whether it was what he was, or perhaps something else about him, but trouble seemed to find him, even on the most innocent of days. She had witnessed that first-hand on several occasions, and nearly died for it several times - but for that she held no grudges or anger towards him from it. On the contrary, it bound her closer to him. And then there were the times she wasn't supposed to know about, mysterious alley fights and men who supposedly had far too much to drink; he tried to be discreet for her sake, but she was a healer, and if she didn't treat his victims directly, she certainly heard about them. Usually from their wives complaining that their husbands didn't come home all night and then showed up looking frightfully ill in the morning and refused to get out of bed for days.

"Well," she said, settling herself across from him. "I'm relieved to hear that at least." She fell silent, folding her hands in her lap. She felt a bit awkward, his timing had been quite fortunate, as she had been preparing herself to seek him out. Now that he was with her, she was unsure of herself. She certainly didn't want to seem rude. "Hephastion," she began after a moment, a bit hesitantly. "I'm not really sure how to ask..." she trailed off, unsure how to proceed.

[Hephastion]

He raised his eyes to hers, tilting his head slightly wondering what was on her mind "You can ask anything Wandress" he smiled to reassure her, or was he reassuring himself, hoping it wasnt to ask him to leave. He had just turned up unannounced, maybe she wasnt ready to recieve visitors yet, maybe she felt he had abandoned her when he left her to travel from Cork alone. He turned in the chair to face her, preparing himself for what ever it was she wanted to ask "Youre my closest friend, you should be able to ask anything" he tried not to look too tense, but was prepared to leave at her bidding if that was her wish.

[Wandress]

Wandress looked at her hands, a bit unsure. She had never asked him before. She was pretty sure that he didn't ask either, but his circumstances were a bit different than hers. From the night they first met, she was bound to him, inescapable as chains. She was bound to him, but he was not to her; he held fast to her only as far as his sense of duty and friendship would go. Some nights she wondered when he would grow restless and disappear, leave these lands in search of...whatever it was he was still searching for, and leave her to her slow death. These days it was not a fear, rather an idle curiosity. She would wish him well when he did go; though sad for losing a good friend, she could never harbour resentment against his nature.

"Well, it's been so long since I've seen you. In truth, I was going to come find you shortly," she admitted her thoughts. "While I was in meditations everything...slowed. My body, my spirit, my thoughts all seemed to be in stasis, but now that I've returned to life, everything's caught up to me again. Hephastion, I still...need you."

[Hephastion]

She still needs me? he watched her, the thing she was going to ask him caught him off guard and he needed a moment. He thought she had broken the bond between them, he could still feel her, but he wasnt sure if that was just some vestigial emotional feelings he was harbouring for her after all those months apart, but clearly it wasnt.

He held out a hand for her, even if there was no warmth in him, a touch would confirm it. As his eyes held hers "What did you feel while we were seperated?" he spoke softly, something he always done when he needed people to listen, to believe him. He could feel the vitae flowing through him, wanting to re-establish the strong bond they once had. Obviously she didnt need him as much as she realised, but her connection was one thing that kept the beast one step away, and he was glad for it.