Divine Intervention ((ForeverM and Lady))

[TheladyRosen]

The day was waning into twilight over the black markets when a single, curious cloud swiftly materialized into the skies. It was dark, like a storm cloud only it was small, and it seemed to constantly shift in on itself. The various humans and creatures below might stare in wonder or fear as it grew darker and darker. Eventually it became black as pitch, so dark that it appeared to be a hole in the fabric of space itself. At this point, red arcs of Aether began bolting around the blackness, and if there was any doubt previously, it was washed away. Aether was the stuff of gods, the matter of the higher planes, and it was immensely powerful on any of the lower realms. It remained in place for several minutes, the crimson energy growing in intensity before finally gathering into one massive sphere. There came a crack like thunder, and with a piercing shrill the dark mass fired the Aether down to the surface in a massive bolt of holy lightning.

The impact was impressive, causing no collateral damage, but sending a blast of force through the slums strong enough to shatter windows and kicking up a massive cloud of dust. It's work done, the cloud faded, dissipating into nothing. The cloud on the ground took much longer to fade, for good reason. The dark cloud had been an Aether conduit, it was a means for creatures of the higher planes to travel downward. For one god to grace the world was a huge event, but for three celestial beings to travel at once, the city was lucky to still be standing.

"My lady. The transfer is done. Our mortal forms have fully synchronized with this portion of time-space." Came a soft voice from within the dust. Three humanoid figures could now be seen.

"Thank you Toll. Sashi. Take to the skies. Make sure we are where we should be." The second voice crackled with power. It sounded as though three separate people were speaking at once. One voice was a whisper, barely audible but definitely there. The second was that of a young woman, light and clear, sharp as crystal. The last was deeper, strong and forceful, that of a mature woman. It was clear the speaker was something far beyond mortal comparison.

"Yes my lady." The third figure had a strong voice, fierce and rough, like a warrior to the bone. In an instant two great wings unfurled from her shoulders and in a single beat, blew all the dust away as she shot into the air like a rocket. Her skin was white as snow and flawless as polished alabaster. She wore ornate golden armor that covered little of her exquisite figure, and her long red hair flowed freely behind her as she flew on crimson wings. The other two were plainly visible now.

"Toll. Tell me what you see." The inhuman voice belonged to the taller, and most beautiful of the three. She stood six foot, two inches, and wrist-thick crimson dreadlocks fell from her head down to her hips. Her beauty was unnatural, and put any human woman to shame. Gilded white silk covered her figure, though it was so thin as to be almost transparent, she obviously had little care for modesty. It did nothing to detract from her presence though, as this was Ex'Terra, one of the Trinity Goddesses. While she was lessened on Earth, she was still ancient and powerful beyond words.

"My queen. Something bars my vision. I believe it is dark magic....and I am sure he is here somewhere. To block my sight...takes powerful dark arts. Not many are capable of such a feat." Standing beside the goddess was Toll, her divine seer. Her body was completely covered in a crimson robe that hugged her curves in an enticing way. The visible parts of her showed deeply tanned skin and luscious features. She wore a hood over her head, but a red silken band covered her eyes.

"Indeed. Then these mortals will lead us to him." Ex'Terra said plainly as she turned towards a crowd that had gathered in view of the spectacle.

 

[ForeverMischievous]

The primitive table, and chair, was the only furniture, to grace the large empty room. On the chair, sat a tall, muscular feature, ruthlessly leaning back the poor chair, inches from breaking, back on it's leg's. The figure sat with his hands folded on his stomach. The long brown coat he was wearing, was unbuttoned on it's front, giving clear view, of his grey skin, and it's rotting features. His face, as well uncovered, wore mate white eyes, with no life left in them, staring down at his leg's, wearing black jeans with several rips, and his feet, bare. His right hand index finger, gently tapped against his left hand's knuckles, in his state of boredom. In a corner of the room, a massive heap of meat, lay curled together, breathing heavily as it slept. Several snore's burst from it, breaking the deep silence in the room.

One of the, rather pointy, ear's, made a twitch backwards, as the sitting figure suddenly turned his head, looking backwards towards a window. A second after this, a loud noise, resembling an explossion, send a sound wave through the air, soon breaking the window, several feet behind the silent character. The splinter's flew into the room, but the character remained seated. A grunt from the heap of meat, was all the reaction from it, before the door, leading into the room, was suddenly almost kicked open.
"Did you feel that, Vlad?" Asked the first to enter the room. The first to enter, was as far from the rotting beast Vlad was, as it could possibly get. No flaws in his features. No degeneration. Just smooth grey skin, on an athletic body.
"Did he feel it?! Of course he fucking felt it, the window was broken! What the hell was that!?" Grunted the next, an abomination, much like Vladimir. The first to enter, rolled his eyes and sighed, but Vladimir nodded a single time, as he turned around in the chair, setting his feet on the ground, before raising a pointed finger at the malformed creature.
"No Blasphemy... Was Lord Lucifer here, you'd be Smitten. I felt it. Unnatural. Even more so, then usual. Barabas, go check out what happened. If you deem it interesting.. Bring the source here." Barabas nodded a single time, before turning around, to leave the room. Vladimir drove a small grin on his lips, before turning his attention to the heap of meat, now grunting in it's sleep. "Wake up, Plague! Your a worthless Guard dog... How did that! Not even wake you up!?" Growled Vladimir, provoking a large head to turn it's gaze, and look towards Vladimir.


Barabas made his way, through the crowd's, now wearing a long black robe, with a hood over his head. His eyes narrowed, as he felt magic, poke against his own. He prevailed in keeping, which ever seer was trying to look through his shroud, keeping the Angel's at bay, and unable to track Vladimir's exact location, and catch them unprepared. And as he made it far enough, to cast a glimpse upon the newly arrived, he already knew the seer. The woman, referred to as Toll. Hid dark red eyes, stared towards the headband of the Seer, attempting to weave his dark mind, into her's. This would, not only allow him to speak within it, but to induce the affected seer, with great pain, if he wished to. This would be extreemly simple, upon any simple earthling, but with this Seer, he was unsure. He did, however, not wish to harm this Seer. That would be a horrible first impression.
"The mind.. Is a dangerous thing.. To follow.. Here. It is so... Easily derailed." He attempted to whisper in her mind. If he was cappable of invading her mind, or not, she would feel the dark energy, poking at her mind. And if she gave any suggestions, that she found out who did this, a mere grin, would spread on Barabas' face, in reaction.

"Oh gee... At least the destruction of my windows, brought some pretty asses with e'm, ay guys?" A lesser Demon spoke, provoking a hacking chuckle, from the crowd behind him, as he took a few steps towards Ex'Terra, with a widened grin, and cocky laugh. "And it certainly is beautiful... Who's going to pay for my windows?" He asked, as he took the steps closer, to now stand in reach of Ex'Terra. He reached out a hand, letting the back of two fingers, stroke down her arm, was he not interrupted. "Mh.. And how?" He asked, spreading his wide grin again. Barabas could only sigh in his mind, and roll his eyes a single time, at this perverted view, of the planet's manors.

 

[TheladyRosen]

Ex'Terra did not bother speaking to the crowd, it was unnecessary. Toll by herself could read most of them, all their secrets were hers to observe should she desire it. The goddess simply observed them, taking in their nuances and appearances. Many of which were demons, low class ones who only had enough power to prey on normal humans. They hardly warranted her attention. In truth it was difficult for her to do so. Toll did not require her senses. She possessed the divine gift, and she simply....comprehended everything around her. Sashi, while formidable, was on a much lower level than Ex'Terra, and had much more experience with the mortal planes. Ex'Terra was used to judging whole planets, observing the flow of life on a galactic scale and wielding powers incomprehensible. This was why she needed her Seer, without her gift the goddess was at a severe disadvantage on these low spaces.

Toll gasped suddenly as a whisper jolted her mind. She immediately chased the source, but found herself blocked like before. She did not speak of this to her goddess yet, not until she found the individual responsible. She focused, prying at the darkness that was clouding her gift. It was like trying to grab oil in her hands, oil that moved as though it had a mind. These magicks were confusing to her. The harder she tried to chase the source, the more it eluded her. After a few more moments of trying she decided to employ another tactic. She replied to the whisper.

"You must be strong to invade my mind.. To oppose the gift takes great talent..." She was no fool. The whisper was full of poison, dark intent, it was not the whisper of a ally, but an enemy seeking to expose a weakness in her. She would play to this creature's own ego, and if that didn't work, she would have to tell her goddess of the intrusion. Of course, such an act would be insulting to the goddess, and there was no telling what measures she might take. She was far to engaged in her dilemma to stop the demon approaching Ex'Terra. And the goddess herself did not even notice the creature until he touched her. She looked down calmly, as though she was observing a particle of dust that had landed on her arm.

"Begone." She stated plainly, and with that word the demon vaporized into powder, which subsequently atomized, leaving no trace he had ever even existed. He had not even time to scream. Almost immediately after this happened, Sashi landed with a flourish of her powerful wings.

"My lady. We are in the same portion of the world that this Vladimr creature is said to inhabit. I have checked the geography and it matches our records. If he still takes up residence here, then he will be nearby." Sashi reported quickly before sniffing the air. "Did something happen my lady?"

"Nothing of any concern. If he is here then he will not escape judgement." She showed not the slightest emotion as she spoke. She considered threatening the crowd with immediate judgement, but decided to let Toll finish searching first.

 

[ForeverMischievous]

Her mind fell into turmoil, as his whisper went through. As he'd expected. She wasn't used to having others, prying in her mind. Invation of mind, probably wasn't seen as often there, as it was on Earth. Oh the great space it gave him, to play around, with this poor innocent seer. His dark mind was shoved aside, for the sake of reason. He was no fool. He had to seek a way, to weaken this creature. The dominant one. The tall one. Ex'Terra. He didn't know of this fact yet, but he would pry inside Toll's mind, whilst his whisper's licked so gently against her senses.

"I would not shower myself in gold, if I had it. Neither will I, upon my abilities. Why do you come here? Why do you come here, to this decadent planet?" The dark voice whispered, as he attempted to give her a sense of security, whilst the air around the three women, seemed to soften, and turn warmer. As he spoke within Toll's mind, his eyes watched Ex'Terra, as the lesser demon was finished. His eyes widened slightly, and his priorities, made a strong turn. He had to find a way, to cut off her power, from what ever source she used. Or if he could just shield Vladimir, from the lesser Demon's fate. His eyes shifted back on Toll, to focus on her again.

"Do not worry. I wish, neither of you, no harm. On the contrary. You are guests. Tell me of your purpose. And I shall give you a way to tread." His voice, now turned lightly clearer, and warmer. As it gently caressed her mind, his own mind searched it for answers. As if a gentlemen, took her in a gentle embrace, whilst holding a dagger to her side, giving no explanation, as to why. The red eyes, kept starring deeply at Toll, whilst the crowd around him, turned deadly silent, at the mention of Vladimir's name.
The crowd was about to walk off. Now, they where scared. The display of power, not too bad, but the mere mention of Vladimir, stirred their insides, and made them all nervous. But suddenly, as if shadowy tendrils reached out for every last one of them, they stopped, and their eye's shot back towards the three. More specifically, Toll. A dead, empty silence, fell over the crowd, until someone finally let their lips tell.

"Vladimir? Why do you seek him?" Someone in the crowd asked. Every last one of them, was now controlled, by the Dark Wizard: Barabas. He felt his powers, reaching a limit. But he couldn't stop. He had to know, much more about Ex'Terra, before he could let hem know of him. Let them know, who he was. And especially, before he lead them to Vladimir.

"Your powers, are remarkable. You deserve the respect, of any man, on this planet. And so does your friends. These street's, are not even fit for your feet." Every last word, sprouted from his lips, was there to distract her. To keep her mind otherwise occupied, whilst he searched for what he needed.

 

[TheladyRosen]

Toll had no desire, or reason to trust this voice in her mind. However as of yet it was her only lead. She doubted these scared lesser creatures could lead them to Vlad, but this being had power, maybe even a connection to their target. Perhaps if she had noticed that his intent changed sharply after her goddess displayed her power then she'd have recognized his threat, but his powers were already affecting her judgement.

"If you truly wish us aid then tell me where Vladimir can be found. He is a powerful Nosferatu whom has commited grave crimes against the natural order and his time of judgement has come." As she spoke to him in her mind her goddess finally addressed the mass of people around them personally.

"I am Ex'Terra. The Goddess of Judgement. One of the Three Mothers of Infinity. I have come for Vladimir's head. His very existence has become an insult to the universe, and I intend to punish him for his crimes. If any of you know of him, then speak and I shall be merciful towards you. If you are uncooperative, then I shall judge this whole settlement to the full extent of my considerable power." The goddess was already tiring of this plane. Her direct words showed that quite well. Sashi withheld a groan, wishing that her mistress could show a little more tact, but simply put she was on far too high a level to understand the quirks of a mortal mind. So she had to think of a way to keep the people from panicking, or worse trying to retaliate.

"We are not cruel. Those who have no ties to Vlad have nothing to fear. But his crimes have affected the natural order, and he must be dealt with for the good of all. Aid us, and this day can pass pleasantly into your memories." Sashi tried to use a little more tact without insulting her goddess's declaration, such were the risks of being a member of the Godly Court.

"Your time is waning. My goddess grows impatient. You recognized our power, now recognize our conviction." Toll knew his words were distracting, and unnecessarily flattering, but they still fed her pride. Had his tendrils not already taken root in her mind, she would have seen how they twisted her senses. "Tell us what we need to know so we may return to the Astral Void without incident."

 

[ForeverMischievous]

Barabas smirked slightly over his lips, as her mind slowly drifted further in his tendrils affection. Every second they spend there, the more he realized, that he had to keep her in check, if Vladimir was not to fall. And he wasn't. And every second he spent there, she was more and more corrupted by his will. And she couldn't see it. Yet. As long as she didn't notice it, before it was too late. He had to keep her mind proud. Keep her happy about his pressence, and not let her see malcontent. And there was none. He meant every word. He meant them no harm. Vladimir might. If he had actually meant to hurt them, this would be much harder, yet he didn't.

"Vladimir. Is truly in trouble, when 'you' have it in for him. Your power. Exceeds his, many fold." He praised again, as his actual pressence, listened to Ex'Terra. Probably to the Crimson Angel's surprise, there was no fear in the public, as they where threatened. As if the threat of the situation, was completely ignored. He had to do something, for them as well now. This would be tricky. Toll would know his voice. He had to keep her content. The crowd then turned, starting to walk away, only Barabas, in his black suit, remained.

"You wish to end Vladimir? To end the.. Torment. He's caused the world? Very well. I, will show you to him." Barabas admitted, turning around on his heels, starting to walk in the direction of their cellar. As he'd spoken, his grip of Toll's mind, strengthened. More dominantly then before, now trying to twist her will, as he started showing the three on their way.

"Within my embrace. You'll be safe. I will ward you, against the Evil of other minds. I am not the only, with this ability. And not the strongest. But with my help. I shall show all three of you, the way. Yet, ask yourself. Where would they be, if not for your power? If you couldn't ward off the minds of this plane?" He asked in Toll's mind, continuing to soothe her. He turned his head, looking back towards the three, waiting to see if they decided to follow him, expecting them to do so.

"With an intend, of killing Lord Vladimir.. You are very brave, to barge directly, into his territory. What will you do, when you meet him? Purge him, in an instant? As you did the former fool?" He asked, with his snaked tongue, as his mind kept embracing Toll, keeping her from the cold of the street's, as if he walked by her side, with an arm around her, closely tugged against him, to keep her warm.

"With every step we take, you get closer to danger. Yet you are ready. Vladimir will fall, at your hands. Stay strong. Stay proud." He kept feeding, as he started pulling more and more at her mind, trying to force every bit of her ability from her. Trying to disconnect the Seer, from the Astral plane. Trying to cut their power, through her.

They neared a large house, with a simple metal door, leading to a stairway. The door was, seemingly, often used, but not fancy at all. Vladimir owned a Manor, outside town, he just rarely went there. He spent most his time in town, since there his contact's roamed. Barabas stopped here, turning his attention back towards the ones he lead. "This.. Is where Vladimir resides.. At this point. I would ask.. Or.. I would suggest. that you remain more calm. More respectful. When you address Vladimir. He.. Has a rather heavy Temper. I only suggest." He formally bowed, holding a hand towards the door, letting the goddess lead.
Below the first stairway, they'd enter a room, where Vladimir stood, leaned against a metal table in the middle. Two others Nosferatu, stood stationed on each side of the table, and a heavy breathing, from the other end of the room, made it clear there was more.