Into Darkness (Bloodkiss & LittleBitCheeky)

[LittleBitCheeky]

No one that looked into the window of the house on the corner of Glenister Road in Lewisham would have thought much of it. Perhaps its occupant was a costermonger, or an industrial clerk. It was decorated in typical Victorian pomposity, bearing the creature comforts of the middle class. No casual bypasser would think that the occupant of the house was a great hero of the empire, easily comparable to Lawrence or Havelock. But instead of fighting a Sikh or a mutineer, Thaddeus York fought the undead. The creatures that haunted the night and threatened the stability of the Christian democracy that was Britain.

Thaddeus stood in the bathroom, shaving. His skill with blades while fighting the undead made him an excellent shaver, and his cheek was soon clean. He looked himself over in the mirror. The horrors he had witnessed at Balaklava five years ago had left him plenty of mental damages, but physically he was unscarred. He had just been twenty when he was sent to Crimea, and had been completely unprepared for what he would find. It was only by rejecting the notions of humanity after watching the slaughter of the Light Brigade that he opened his mind to the possibility that vampires were real, as his eyes themselves had shown him after that night in Mayfair.

Once he had shaved and dressed, he headed into town. A horse drawn carriage was waiting for him several streets away. Tonight, he was travelling far into the middle of the city. His nemesis was on the move. If he discovered her whereabouts he could end her reign of terror before she killed again. She was one of the most powerful of her kind in the city, and had several vampires reporting to her. But he would destroy her, tonight.

 

[Bloodkiss]

Ariya LaCroix sat in her large, overstuffed velvet armchair, sipping a glass of wine. The fire in her hearth was dim, as she had no need for light. Her bright silver eyes were peircing and intelligent, framed by a face of ethereal beauty. She had waist-length red-gold hair, the color of sunset, and moon-pale skin that was without flaw. It had been so for centuries.

She was the only ancient remaining, aside from her twin brother, Akyr. He had gone traveling several decades before, and decided to stay in Arabia. She and her twin were the first vampires, created when Ariya herself betrayed the Gods and brought upon her people a curse. Since then, they had been hunted, as if they were wild animals. She scoffed, shaking away the path her thoughts had taken. Anger seemed to be her only companion since Akyr's departure. A sigh escaped her thick, crimson-stained lips.

 

[LittleBitCheeky]

The carriage ride had not taken long. Or at least, it did not feel long. It had been dark for quite a while by the time Thaddeus reached Westminster, which was perfect as LaCroix would be most likely to leave the palatial mansion she was rumoured to reside in nearby. Even if she did not, it was only a matter of time until he found it. Vampires had a more archaic taste than the other inhabitants of the city, whose houses were very up to date for the 1860s. All it would take was some detective work.

The opium den was dark and dingy as he entered, and the smell overpowered his nostrils. This was one of the establishments he was loathe to visit, but information was hard to come by and those under such strong influences were more likely to be vocal. He had never spoken to the proprietor, Madame Ling, before, but knew her from notoriety.

"Good evening, sir," she said warmly as he sought her out. "Would you like to see our wares?"

"I will refuse this time around, thank you. I am looking for something different. Many people near to here have gone missing."

Ling's face dropped. "What sort of establishment do you think I am running? My profits are fine, kidnapping is unnecessary."

"No, nothing like that," said Thaddeus quickly. "I just seek information. Strange things you have observed."

"Well, Inspector...what was your name?"

"I'm not an inspector, and it's York. Thaddeus York. My sister is among the persons missing. That is why I am interested," he lied.

"My apologies," said Ling with a sad smile. "Well, there is something..."

 

[Bloodkiss]

Ariya was not startled when the door to her chambers was sent banging open. She stood, her form small and curvaceous, so different from her stiff, commanding personality. "What do you want, Darius?" The young man chuckled, and a pair of young girls stumbled in behind him, obviously quite drunk. "I've brought you a present, love." Ariya couldn't hide the look of disdain that rose to her usually-stoic face. "Darius, I've told you countless times: I don't want your gifts. And I am disgusted by the thought of receiving your love." He shrugged, taking the girls by the arms and turning to leave. "More for me." Ariya glared, her quicksilver eyes full of hate. "Darius, don't forget my laws. I am growing tired of you ignoring them. If you feed on another unwilling victim, or drain one past the point acceptable, I shall personally behead you." Darius seemed to find this amusing, and grinned toothily at her. "I am serious, Darius. Very serious."

 

[LittleBitCheeky]

Thaddeus headed to the front of the archaic manor. This was undoubtedly the place Ling had told him about; even without seeing the interior he could tell that it was the type of place Anna would live. It had a sense of gothic that the rest of the street lacked, an appeal that came from before 1860. It wasn't Georgian, it was something...earlier.

Immediately he tried the lock, using the lockpicking skills he'd learned from his contacts in Lewisham's underground. It did not budge. The locking mechanism was a classic one, impervious to modern techniques. The next things he tried were the windows, but he could tell by the light of the moon that they were sealed.

Angrily, he tried the door one last time, but banged against it angrily when the lock picking failed. That was, he immediately realised, a mistake. he tried to rear up, but the door flew open.

"Mr York!" said the man in front of him. "Always a pleasure. You do realise we have sensitive hearing, correct?"

"Darius," said Thaddeus coldly. "At least I know I have the right place." He reached for his crucifix. "I can easily overpower you, Darius. You know this. Just let me pass. Let me get to Anna."

"I have a better idea," the man taunted. "Why don't I bring her down? Save you a walk upstairs." He hissed something illegible, but Thaddeus knew by experience that it wasn't addressed to him.

 

[Bloodkiss]

Ariya heard a loud bang on the door and couldn't help but be curious. None of her underlings were stupid enough to make this much noise while she was home. Making her way quickly down the stairs, her full floor-length gown swishing about her legs, she spotted the new visitor. Darius was harassing him, and she didn't like the words she overheard. "Darius, what is this I hear?" Her voice was icy and silky, holding the promise of retribution for Darius' misbehavior. Upon seeing the cross in the man's hand, she chuckled. "And what is this I see? A crucifix? Really?"

 

[LittleBitCheeky]

Sensing the futility, he pocketed the crucifix. It may work on weaker creatures like Darius, but against a higher vampire such as Anna it was useless.

"Good evening, Ms LaCroix," he said coldy. He was worried; he would have easily taken down Darius then hopefully moved upstairs for a more stealthy kill. But even if he could defeat Anna in a one-to-one confrontation (which he doubted) he was outnumbered. He hoped he could bluff an advantage, somehow prevent both vampires overpowering him.

 

[Bloodkiss]

Ariya chuckled softly, her quicksilver eyes peircing his with a freezing intesity. She feigned a polite curtsy, the long, tapering bell-sleeves barely hiding her hands, leaving only her long, slender fingers and their perfectly almond-shaped nails visible. "What can I do for you this evening, sir?" She had an odd accent that belonged to an unidentifiable language. Her thick, sanguine lips were pursed coyly, hiding her fangs with little effort.

She wore a black gown, the wide bell skirt covered in crimson lace. The bodice was a very tight corset, laced in both the front and back, and the sleeves were not attatched, instead held on her arms by ties, each adorned with a small bow. Her outfit didn't quite match the current style, instead appearing much more Elizabethan. Small silver roses, with tiny diamonds in the center of each, dotted the bodice and sparkled in the dim light of the foyer. A small amulet, bearing a relief-carved wolf hung on a long chain about her neck, dangling just between the tops of her breasts.

 

[LittleBitCheeky]

"I just thought I'd drop by," he said casually, stifling his nerves. "Quite a nice place you have here. Very...classic."

He wasn't offering any moves to attack. All it would take was for both vampires to advance on him and the best he could hope for was a hasty retreat. Survival lay in Anna fearing his power.

He turned to Darius, hoping the ploy would work. "Darius, would you be a gentleman and leave us? Me and your mistress have something to discuss." If Darius chose to stay, it would mean he would help Anna overpower him.