<< Gaide's Reign

"Good job, Melody," Dimitri nodded once, shifting legs. Not a look of approoval was set on his face, only one of satisfaction.


Melody shrugged slowly and absently, and tossed Dimitri's gun back to him. She sighed, and turned to Rayan,''Nice wise ass speech, Rayan." she snickered,"Maybe one day you'll kick both Gaide's out of their throne's and be like...king..." she poked at him mockingly.


Rayan smiled slightly,"Heh, I do my best." he kicked a random rock, and walked on. He looked ahead, and pointed onward,"Eastward we go!!"


Melody snickered,"...aren't you the classy hero."


Rayan looked to her, and smirked,"Ah, yes, I am!"

---

Kaine ran his finger along the edge of his blade absently, as he walked through the center of town, without a care. He spat on the ground, and held in a smirk as he heard townsfolk backing up and cowering. He snickered,"Am I really that intimidating?"


"Generally," Morgan replied, nonchalantly, trailing behind him, glancing around at the retreating crowd.


Fleance suddenly came up beside Kaine and took as sip of wine "Hiya Kaine!Any chance ya seen a small child, green hair?"


Kaine stumbled back. He blinked, as Fleance casually walked up to them with the wine in his hand. He sighed, and shook his head, walking ahead, and around him,"No, Fleance." he replied cooly.


"Damn...cause she was taken by one of your...umm...evil side thingy people..." Fleance said.


Kaine stopped, and shot a look at Fleance,"What makes you think I sent one of my 'evil side thingy people' out to get your friend? I didn't take her in. By now, I'd think you'd know my ways. I'm not stupid enough to send out some idiot to do that kind of work- I'd do it myself." he shrugged,"Maybe Kuroi did..." Kaine eyed him silently for a while, and went on ahead,"I don't know how you drive me to even talk to you, Fleance."


"Ha I know why." Fleance said,"But I'm not telling you."


Kaine rolled his eyes, irritated,"My loss then, I guess." he muttured. Turning to Morgan, he grabbed her wrist, and began storming onwards, obviously wanting to get away from Fleance,'Why won't the kid leave me alone anymore...'


Morgan, leting herself be dragged "Good idea..." she glanced back at Fleance, and mildly saluted in farewell.



Kaine sighed again, and stopped abruptly. He sideglanced Fleance,"One more thing," he said,"...if you decide to side with the hanyou bitch and angel boy, it's your choice. But is so...I'll kill you too." he smiled slightly, and went on as before.


"Ooh... dangerous threats..." Morgan sighed "Weak insults though... but completely true,"


"Fine with me, asshole! You just run away and hide with your bitchy whore!" Fleance yelled after him.


Kaine stopped again, and turned angrily to Fleance,"I'm not hiding from anyone, brother!!" he snapped,"I refuse to reduce myself to such a ludicrous idea...and if you join up with them and hide, and be the cowards, so be it."


"I'm not hiding I'm still here, meh the stupid humans were nothing they were rude and unforgiving" Fleance said .


"I'm not talking about the freaking humans!!" Kaine knew he was causing a ruckuss, as the crowd seperated and withdrew further away from them. Kaine blinked, and noticed hte big gap between the three of them and everyone else. he froze for a while, and shook his head, irritably storming ahead,"We'll talk about this later, Fleance." he mumbled.


"I am a bitchy whore, to so many," Morgan smirked, following Kaine obediantly.


Kaine sighed, staring on ahead. His head turned to his 'Wanted' posters hanging lopsided on walls, and a few in a grabage can,"Hm..."


"What're you looking at...?" Morgan came up behind him, peering over his shoulder.


Kaine's eyes narrowed, and he turned to Morgan,"The posters I posted. They're ripped down...the duo's on the move again."


"Kaine.." Morgan reached down and picked one of the posters up "Posters.... don't work... We're looking for a lost dog. And no one ever finds them..." she sighed, casting the poster away "They're not stupid, as much as I hate to admit it, they can think of ways to disguise their appearance,"


Kaine looked stupidly over his posters, and sighed,"Eh...well, I wanted to do something about this...and I was very lazy at the time. Anyways, Kuroi thought it was brilliant, and piled up the cash I get after all this."


"Aw, I can just imagine you now... getting all excited over your idea, making all these plns," she grinned toothily "It would've been so cute!" she reached up with her hands and messed up his hair inanely.


"Yup, it be funny to watch...the posters are crappy tho..."fleance said.


"Go away, Fleance," she stoped and blinking "God, you're like a stalker or something,"


"I know...atleast I'm not a whore"


"Heh, you gotta make money one way or another in this world; Kuroi don't like me, but everyone else does," she grinned "Shame that you couldn't swoon a dog for the life of you,"


"haha right like you could eather. I'v been layed more times than you've had sex"


"Whose the whore now?" Morgan smirked and walked ahead.


"Ha!I'v only dated two people and how many have you?"


"...Dude, you just said you got laid more times than I have... You're making no sense," she rolled her eyes and kept walking.


Kaine shook his head,"Bickering about debaucheries now? What has this world come to..."


She shot a look at him "Shut. Up."


Kaine looked to Morgan, and grinned, continuing to walk.

---

Dimitri sighed in aggravation "So.... where's this... Hellish Festival, anyways...?"


Rayan gave off a ponderous face,"If we keep walking eastwards, we'll reach the city of Domämi. That's where this all is."


"Aye." Melody nodded.


"Oh...." he blinked "Are we going eastwards..?"


Rayan looked to him,"Um, yeah...something wrong with that, Dim?"


"Oh, no, I was just making sure..." he blinked, nodding sheepishly.


Rayan smiled slightly,"Um, okay then..." he turned, and walked on ahead.


Melody heaved a heavy sigh, as her feet crumbled the crsip leaves beneath her. She looked at the dead things in deep thought.


"I'll say it again Rayan, you don't look very hellish," Dimitri eyed the Elf idly.


"Hm?" Rayan blinked again, and turned to Dimitri,"Heh, I know... I mean c'mon, I'm a freaking elf."


Dimitri pointed at himself "I'm a freaking angel, kid,"


His face fell. Rayan sighed,"Feh...well, you've got that whole glooms day personality without even having to act." he twitche dhis elven ears,"I'm a happy-go-lucky elf, man....and it's not like anyone will know I killed anyone."


"Are you sure about that? ... They are from hell after all..." he grinned deviously.


Rayan shuddered,"Nyergh....creepy." he looked around,"Well, I don't think there are any more old men to kill around here..."


Dimitri waved a hand dismissively "No need, just wear some make-up. Load yourself up with eyeliner and black lipstick, and get a black cloak. It's all a matter of looking... evil,"


Rayan looked up in thought for a while,"Won't they be able to see right through me though...? I mean, these are hell creatures..."


"They're stupid. I was just messing with your head." he smirked "As long as you don't talk you'll be fine,"


Rayan sighed,"Okay then. I'll get some 'dark' stuff if we come across another town on the way."


Melody stretched, and yawned,"Good..." she looked to the black moon hanging in the sky. She sighed,"I'm so glad to be out of that city..."


"Mmm" Dimitri nodded, pushing her along "Time is money,"


Melody shot him a look, as she let herself get oushed around. She sighed, and walked on ahead.



Time Jump...


After a few straight hours of walking, the three reached an enormous gate, towering over the many trees behind them. The shadow of it overlooked them like a giant stormcloud. Melody's face fell, as statues of gargoyles almost seemed to eye the three,



"Well, this is the most welcoming place I've ever seen." she noted sarcastically.


"Mmm.." Dimitri groaned then glanced over at Rayan "Rayan!"


Rayan blinked,"...what?!"


Melody cocked an eyebrow at Rayan,"You still don't seem hellish..."


Dimitri groaned again "Geez, you're like the most heavenly goddamn thing ever."


Rayan turned red, and sheepishly looked down,"Sorry..."


Melody rolled her eyes,"And acting like that really isn't helping." she eyed him for a few moments, then took sudden action. He ripped the piece of cloth holding his hair into a ponytail, and messed it up a bit. Rayan arched an eyebrow. Melody sighed, and looked back on her work,"Hmm..." she smirked,"Brace yourself."


"Huh?...OW!!"


In an instant, Melody clawed him across the face. He winced, as small drops of blood trickled down his face. Rayan whined, and poked at it,"It stings..."


"Then don't touch it!!"


Dimitri grinned and slung an arm across Melody's shoulders "You're learning, my friend,"


Melody smirked, and sighed, accomplished. She eyed Rayan,"Heh...there ya go."


Rayan scratched his head,"...do I look hellish enough?"


Melody nodded,"You got that part down...just start acting like it now."


"Yeah, like no more--" he spoke these in a sugary voice "--'I'm sorry' or 'Can I help you?' or 'It's okay that you broke my roof,'"


"Aye."


Rayan sighed, and nodded,"Fine," he muttured.


Melody smiled widely,"Okay then," she looked towards the gate,'And now all I have to do is act like a total bitch!"


"Which shouldn't be a problem!" Rayan added, smirking.


She shot a look at him, and he stopped.


"That's the spirit!" Dimitri closed his eyes as if doing something then opened them with a very sadistic expression "Come," his voice came out as a low, growling rumble and grabbed their wrists and went into the gate.


Melody almost tripped as he tugged at her wrist, and heaved a sigh, looking quite tranquil,'Be poised...' she thought.



Rayan looked around as they passed the gate. He blinked at how dark everything was, and at how desolate it seemed,"I'm guessing the Festival's in the center of town." he said.


Oof.


Rayan almost yelped, as a drunkard tumbled over beside him. He looked at him uneasily, and stepped over the demon,"Aww damn..." he whispered to himself.


A smirk grew on Melody's face, as they trudged along the dirt road,'This place...it's so abhorrent.'


Dimitri looked around the place, grimacing; he had expected to see something like this, but he couldn't help the feeling of familiarity.


Rayan looked around worrdily, trying to hide his elven ears behind his hair,"Oh God, oh God..."


Melody shot him a look,"Calm yourself!!" she hissed at him,"You don't wanna get caught, do you?"


He looked to her, and shook his head. Sighing, he walked on ahead, grim expression taking over his features.


Melody shook her head. Abruptly, her head perked up, and her ears twitched under the bandana. Melody's eyes narrowed,"There's some commotion up ahead."


Dimitri took his eyes from the scenery around him to look ahead "... What do you think it is...?"


Rayan sighed,"Let's go see, then." he walked on ahead, and Melody followed suite.


Dimitri stalked up to Rayan, leaning over his shoulder and smirking "Oooh, pretty reckless for an Elf," he chuckled darkly.


"Mmm..." Rayan turned red again, and sighed.


Melody laughed lightly. She spat on the ground, and looked to the sky, almost falling back in suprised. Her eyes widened slightly, as she walked along looking upwards,'The sky...is crimson here...' she thought, shuddering,'It's hell's root city on earth, what else do I expect...?'


Dimitri patted Rayan slightly on the back, trailing a little. He caught Melody's gaze and followed it, blinking. "Creepy, eh?"


Melody nodded slowly,"Yeah..." she replied. Shaking her head, she moved on ahead.


Slowly, as they approached a large crowd seemed to form in the distance. Rayan blinked, as he eyed the comotion from afar,"A ceremony, perhaps?"


"..." Dimitri's brows furrowed "It'll be one to see if it is,"


"Let's go see, then!" Melody rushed on ahead. Rayan sighed, and dragged his feet behind her.


Dimitri winced lsightly "Melody! You could get hurt! It's a freakin HELL ceremony! ....!" he groaned.



Several people from the crowd looked to Dimitri. Melody swore under her breath, and called back,"That's because I am from hell, and I couldn't care less..." she gave him a stern face, and hissed the last few words.



"..." face red as a tomato,Dimitri backed up some hundred paces.



Rayan looked behind his shoulder, and smiled slightly. He sighed, and marched on over to him, grabbing his wrist as he once did to Rayan and Melody, and dragged him over to the crowd,"And you say I stuck out..."


"..." Dimitri's face fell alittle "I forgot..."


Rayan looked over to him, and smiled,"S'okay...we all do sometimes."


Melody stood at the edge of the crowd, and waited for them both.


Dimitri came to the crowd, very sheepish, but brought up a dark persona, glaring at anyone who looked at him. "..Sorry..." he mumbled to Melody.


Melody looked at him, and sighed, afterwards smiling reassurngly,"It's fine."


A random dark elf in font of them shot a glare at the trio,"Shut up, shitheads, we're trying to listen." he hissed.


After he turned around, Melody mocked him silently.



Dimitri had a sudden urge to lash out at the guy and smack his head off from behind... but didn't. He resulted in snickering silently at Melody.


Rayan smiled all the while, and looked up towards the center of the crowd. Melody looked on in curiousity as well, trying to jump behind so many tall people to see,"Can't...see...dammit...!!''


Dimitri sighed and grabbed the back of her shirt, lifting her up about a foot in the air "Better?" he growled.


"Eh?" Melody blinked, as her feet dangled below her. She looked over everyone's heads for a while, trying to get used to hit, and turned to Dimitri, smiling. 'Thanks.' she mouthed.


He just shruged, trying not to seem too genorous, and looked on, seeing as how he could already see.


Melody eyed the situation carefully-- tall wooden stakes, a stage, Kaine with a scythe, the grim sky behind them all...


Her eyes widened,"...Aw God, it's Kaine!!" she half hissed, half whispered.


"Dammit!" Dimitri dropped to the ground, bringing Melody along with him since he was holding her by the shirt.


"Ah!" Melody cried out shortly, before hitting the ground. She swore under her breath, and looked on up. She sighed, as no one paid much heed.


Rayan looked down at them both as if they were insane,"...that's the vampire guy?"


"Yes!" Dimitri hissed as his head flipped towards Rayan, rubbing his side absently as if reflecting.


Melody sighed,"Just watch what's going on for us, alright?"


Rayan nodded gravely, and looked on ahead at Kaine.


Melody turned to Dimitri, deep in thought,'What'll happen...if he finds us...?'


"I really don't want to get shot again," Dimitri mumbled, turning to look at Melody.


Melody blinked to him, and sighed,"Yeah...same." she said grimly.


"Shh..." Rayan said from above, looking on in interest. His ears twitched, as the crowd murmured while Kaine was talking. He eyed him carefully- hell yeah, he looked pretty menacing. Rayan squinted at him. Sure, he could see his mouth moving, but he couldn't hear anything because of the crowd. He mumbled off the words he caught from him,"Hell...moon...Kuroi...reign...tonight...death...heaven..." he blinked,"Beauty...beheading..."


Melody's eyes widened at his last word.


Rayan continued,"Kill...elf...some weird language..." he froze, and his eyed widened,'Elf...!!' he felt his heart sink, as they dragged what seemed to be an elven prisoner up to the podium. Kaine's smirk radiated from afar, as he muttured something to the elven prisoner, who's face seemed tear stained and full of fear. He swallowed, as the vampire drew out a small wooden stake.



Suddenly, his voice boomed,"...may you die the way you killed so many of our kind!!" he cried. Intsantaneously, in an act of vile violence, Kaine struck the prisoner through the heart with the stake. A slight gasp arose from the crowd, as the prisoner fell to the floor, twitching slightly, and crying out loudly.


Kaine looked down at the creature at his feet,"Tell me, elven...will God save you now?!"


After a few more moments of relentless screaming and kicking, the poor creature died.


Rayan looked on ahead, eyed widened, chocked with fear and disgust, as the crowd yelled out happily.


Melody sat on the ground, shaking as well, ears twitching, after hearing the whole thing.


Dimitri clenched his fists so hard he felt blood seeping from beneath his finger nails. His face creased and contorted in anger and his teeth grinded together. "Damn him..." he was about to stand up, cursing everything under the sun at Kaine under his breath. "Damn him... Damn him..."


Melody breathed heavily, and tried to contain a scream. She stared up at the sky, and tears of anger filled her eyes,"Bastard..."


Rayan still stood erect, gaping up ahead. The crowd began to dissapate slowly, as a few hell demons dragged the body to the side.


Kaine stood, watching as a trail of blood dragged behind the body. He yanked the stake out, as it passed by, and dropped the scythe, walking off the wooden stage. He smirked at the bloody wood, and licked off some of the blood,"Victory tastes sweet..."


Rayan began to tremble, and glared on at him silently,"Damn...damn you..."


Dimitri's hand hovered over his gun "..." he brought himself to his feet to stand beside Rayan "Sadistic, vile, contempt little shit..." his fingers trailed the black handle "Son of Satan, bearer of evil, acid spitter, poison reaper..."


Melody shakily got up, and rubbed the side of her arm, glaring at Kaine,"Evil...he's..." she growled, and uncontrollably began to stalk up behind him,"Little fucker...the root of all things evil..."


"Oh shit,"


Rayan bit his lip,"Mel, wait...!!"


Melody's ears twitched, but she paid no heed. Shew drew a throwing dagger from her belt, and she spat on it in vile, as she drew closer to him,"You..." she whispered.


Kaine merely fingered the stake, and paid no attention to the things behind him. He sighed,"Another victory for--"


"You vile piece of shit!!" Melody screamed, clinging onto the dagger, and raising it. She struck in in a downwards motion, aiming for his back.


Kaine's arm reached behind him, and he snatched her wrist inches before the blade hit his head. Slowly, he turned his head to her, and smirked,"...is there something wrong, miss?"


Dimitri blinked, declining slightly "Shit, that guy scares me..."


Rayan swallowed, and nodded, rubbing the side of his arm slowly,"Yeah..."


Melody froze, and gaped at Kaine slightly. She's never actually talked to him face to face before, for very obvious reasons. Her muscles loosened, but never did his grip,"...I'm sorry." she contained herself, and bowed her head slightly,"I-I've mistaken you for someone else."


Kaine blinked, eyeing her carefully. His eyes narrowed slightly, as a piece of familiarity hit him. He shurgged it off, and lowered their hands, still clingiing onto her wrist. He smiled slyly,"That's quite fine, miss."


Melody swallowed nervously.


Dimitri hissed at Rayan "I think you better go over there and get her back... he'll recognize me," he glanced over at the vampire, glaring.


Rayan peered over, and nodded,"Okay...turn around before he starts eyeing us." he smiled, and walked on over to them.


Melody yanked her wrist from him, as Rayan came over. He tried vainly to smile at Kaine,"Erm, sorry sir, if my little sister's been bugging you." he said.


Melody shot a look to Rayan, and he shot one back.


Kaine chuckled to himself,"Ah, it's fine..." he eyed them both,"You're related? You look nothing like each other."


Melody blinked,"Ah, well, you see..." she glomped Rayan,"...I'm adopted..."


Rayan nodded vigoursly,"Ah, yes...it's kinda funny, 'cause I forget, because we're oh so dear to each other..."


Kaine cocked his head, and arched a brow,"Um, okay then..."


"Oh, and Kaine," Rayan started, throwing an arm across her shoulders, and beginning to turn,"Your actions...and words...they were..." Rayan searched his mind for words,'A pile of bullshit!!',"...powerful."


Kaine smirked, and nodded,"Aye, thank you."


Rayan waved dismissively, and walked on back with Melody. He shot a look to her after they were far enough,"Don't do that, for God's sake!!" he coarsely whispered to her.


Melody looked to the ground in regret,"Sorry." she muttured.


Dimitri tapped his fingers anxiously on his gun, not daring to turn around. He heard Rayan and Melody's voice and let out a silent sigh of relief at the fact he hadn't heard any screams.


Rayan drew from Melody, to beside Dimitri,"Well...um...what now?"


Melody sighed,"Just keep walking..."


From behind, Kaine squinted his eyes at the three of them walking off,"Hm...weird." he shrugged, and threw the wooden stake aside, beginning to walk in his own direction.



"..." Dimitri turned to look over his shoulder, but his view was obstructed by his wing. He growled and irritably moved his wing and looked again; he glared. "We follow him... that's what we came here to do, right?" his hand absently brushed his wounded side again.


Melody ran her fingers through her hair, and nodded,"Yeah, you're right." she sighed, and spat on the ground again,"But I don't know how long we can keep this Hell act up..."


"Well, we curse enough we could get into Hell anyday," he mumbled offhandedly. "Whatever, once he's dead I'm out of here,"


Melody sighed,"No shit." she mumbled. She looked to Kaine again as he disspapeared behind a bulding. Her eyes narrowed, and she began walking in his direction again,"Let's get this over with..."


"Mm." he stalked off after her, then stopped turning. "I don't know if you want to come Rayan... maybe you do... I don't know... wanna come?"


Rayan looked to the dark sky in thought for a while, and sighed, following them,"Yeah," he replied, looking to Dimitri,"I'd be honoured to kill him..."


Dimitri nodded slowly then genuinely patted him on the shoulder, grim expression "I know," he paced after Melody.


Rayan smiled, and looked on ahead,"Yeeep..." he said absently.


Melody trailed back to the other two,"So, how are we gonna do this?"


"Run up and shoot him," Dimitri lengethened his pace slightly "Easy as that... or torture him then shoot him,"


"Torture sounds great at this point..." Rayan added quietly.


Dimitri's face creased when he felt a pang of sympathy hit him for the Elf. The poor kid had just seen his own kind killed, for entertainment; then tossed and taken away like garbage. It must have been really sudden for him. As for Dimitri, he'd seen it all before, he was used to it, per se, but by no means excepted it. Rayan must have not been expecting that type of ritual. He chewed his lip "Uh... Y-yeah..."


Silence hung over the three of them for a while, until Rayan broke it by clearing is throat,"...let's move on." he stormed on ahead, mumbling something.


Dimitri's brows furrowed and he crossed he arms "Mm.." he followed swiftly after, eying the elf.


Melody hung her head in thought for a while, and walked on ahead,'What turmoil he's brought us...' she thought in vain about Kaine,'War...it's a vile thing.'


Dimitri was once again fingering his black handle, eyes narrowed at the present goal. He watched as the building Kaine had turned behind steadily came closer, and he grimaced as if stepping in his very footprints was poison.


Melody steadily drew her sword, as they neared Kaine. She heard his footsteps come closer, and her ears twitched irritably. She spat at his foot prints in the ground, and growled lowly.


Rayan, however effected he was by this, remained still, and quietest. He was trying to drive the visions of Kaine slaying a hoarde of elves out of his head, but he couldn't help playing it in his head.


Dimitri stopped and stared at the figure, praying their presence was still unknown. He quietly loaded the gun and clicked it once, at the ready.


Kaine continued to walk, seemingly care free. His ears twitched slightly, as he got the feeling that he was being watched. Without turning he smiled, pretending to go on his way.



Dimitri took a few steady steps, and then without warning ran and tackled Kaine to the ground "Damn you, sonofa bitch!"


"Ack!!" Kaine fell forward, Dimitri on his back. He winced loudly, and growled, looking up at Dimitri,"What the--" he blinked, and eyed Dimitri carefully. He noted his blood stained wings, and dark red hair. A smirk crossed upon his face, and he laughed as if this was just a joke,"Dimitri, did you run out of things to bathe in?"


Dimitri narrowed his eyes "Yeah, and tonight's bath is going to be in your blood," he grabbed his hair and wrenched his head back "What the hell where you doing?!"


Kaine eyed him, and shrugged, as if the current position he was in meant nothing,"Um, what had to be done?" he said plainly, running his tongue over his fangs,"Hey, think about it, Varret." he added, staring into his eyes as if he could see right through him,"...if an elf did that to a vampire, would you react this way?"


Dimitri was about to make a sharp remark but stopped, thinking a moment. He, unfortunately, saw the sense in that statement and cursed, tightening his grip on Kaine's hair. "Fine then, but you still have two enemies on the account," he nodded to Melody and Rayan "As for me, I'm still pretty mad about you leaving me in the middle of nowhere to bleed to death..." he ran the barrel of his gun along Kaine's jaw "Might do the same to you,"


Kaine tried and kept a straight face, raising his eyebrows, seemingly unsuprised,"Ah, I don't blame you." he smirked,"Too bad you chose the wrong thing to jump on me...you've got two people on your side." he lolled his head to the side, and closed his eyes,"I got a mob..."


Dimitri felt something in his stomach turned and he narrowed his eyes further "You're dead before you speak a word," he shoved the gun harder to his face.


Kaine grunted lowly, as the pressure of the barrel began to harden. He opened an eye at Dimitri, and gave him a piercing glare. Kaine was strong- but not stupid. He knew Dimitri was a formidible foe, and remained silent.


Melody watched in interest, looking to at Kaine with disdain, mouthing some dirty words.


Dimitri let out air he didn't know he was holding and his eyes darkened, if possible, even further "Now... you have two choices; you can come with us quietly or spend the rest of your days with your face in the riverbed. Your choice,"


Kaine blinked both of his eyes open, and heaved a sigh,"...fine." he muttured.


A small smile came across Rayan's sorrow riden face.


Dimitri smirked abit, not letting his guard down "Good," he jabbed his cheek a little with the gun "It'd be a shame to put that face in the dirt," still with a grip on Kaine's hair he pulled him by the head and stood up, bringing him to his feet.


Kaine grunted again, as he was forced to his feet. He spat on the ground, and remained quiet for the most part.


Melody couldn't help but smile.


Dimitri shoved him forward, keeping his gun to his neck. "If you please, Melody," he pushed him beside her.


Kaine grunted again, as he stumbled forward. Melody blinked, unsure of exactly what to do, since she's never taken anyone prisoner before. She shurgged, and grabbed the bastard by the collar,"You know, I like you better when you're quiet." she smirked, and kicked him lightly behind his knees.


Kaine would've fallen over, if Melody hadn't had such a tight grip, amd mumbled something darkly. He looked back to her, and eyed her carefully, noting her bandana. He smiled slightly,"Cutting your hair and putting a rag on your head isn't gonna hide anything..." he said.


Melody shot him a look, and twitched her ears under the piece of cloth irritably.



"Though," Kaine continued quietly,"Your acting skills were pretty decent...but elf boy's was amazing."


Rayan's head perked up, and he looked to Kaine. His face turned red, and he shook his head,"Eh...?"


Kaine snarled,"I smelt your blood the minute you approached your 'little sister'...I'm not a dumbass."


Rayan remained silent, and Melody suddenly jerked towards him, and ran a sharp claw down his throat,"If you're not a dumbass, why didn't you run on after us or anything? I know you knew we were coming."


Kaine stiffened, and moved his eyes to her,"...I didn't think he'd jump on me."


"Exactly..." she withdrew her claw, and continued to walk on,"So, Dim, where to?"


"Well. Kaine, where's the most secluded place in this hellhole?" he smiled cruelly, clicking his gun absently "I'm sure you know,"


A growl rose in Kaine's throat, as he muttured strings of profanity,"There's an old tavern two blocks south from here." he muttured.


"Shame I don't trust you," Dimitri sighed disdainfully, then turned to Rayan "I suppose you can find us a spot..."


Kaine snarled, and rolled his eyes.


Rayan blinked at the suggestion, and pointed to himself,"Um, me? Are you sure?" he twitched his elven ears under his hair.


"I could find a spot." Fleance said leaning against the wall.


Melody's head perked up, as did Kaine's. They both looked to Fleance on the wall. Melody smiled widely,"Fleance!! Good to see you're okay...I'd glomp you right now, but I've got this thing to carry..." she shot Kaine a look.


He ignored it nonetheless, and looked on towards Fleance. His eyes narrowed sharply at him,'Would he dare...?'


Rayan cocked his head,"...?"


"Rayan, that's Fleance," Dimitri said bitterly, his muse reflecting his tone.


"Hi."Fleance said and shot a glare at Dimitri.


Rayan blinked from Dimitri to Fleance,"Oh, um, hi. Nice to meet you, I guess..." he smiled innocently behind the messed up hair and Melody's scratched on his face.


Dimitri deliberatly hit him in the arm, for being so welcoming. "Yes, this is Rayan, Fleance... and we were just leaving weren't we... Kaine?" he said, turning to the vampire as if he was leading them somewhere.


"I know a great place...got a nice chair bolted into the floor..." Fleance suggested.


"Chair...bolted...floor...?" Kaine twitched irritably at the thought.


Melody heaved a heavy sigh- there was obviously some disdain in the air, which left her confused.


"Whatever," Dimitri seized Kaine by the shirt and paced stormily forward "We're leaving,"


Kaine jerked forward, as melody jerked back from her position. She blinked, and followed obidiently,"Okay..."


Rayan looked to Fleance, and smiled, following soon.


Dimitri strode on, grip so tight on Kaine's shirt his knuckles turned white, mumbling angrily "Damn Fleance... taking my gun... 'don't shoot her!'... bullshit... I had a right to..."


"I can hear you ya know..."Fleance said.


"Think I give a shit?"


"Cut that crap, guys." Melody hissed at them both,"The last thing we need is to turn on each other in a place like this...if anyone found out who we really are, they'd use it to their advantage."


"What, you expect everyone in Hell to get along like sunshine and daisies?" Dimitri rolled his eyes "Whatever, we're going," he tugged on Kaine's shirt to emphasize his point.


Kaine jerked forward, and glared at the back of Dimitri's head with disdain,"Yes, o mighty master..." he muttured sarcastically under his breath.


"Thank-you," he grimaced, walking forward again, quickening his pace with each step.


Melody followed on behind him, now walking rather quickly, tyring to keep up with him-- was he really that pissed off at Fleance?


Rayan was now at a slow jog,"Good Lord, Dimitri, can you walk any faster?!"


"Yes! Would you like me to?" he growled back, thoroughly anoyed at the whole situation.


Rayan blinked, and felt his ears go red. He shurnk back slightly, and shook his head,"No, thank you." he replied back quietly.



"Hn." Dimitri turned around a corner of hedges and threw Kaine onto the dirt. He started cursing.


"Mmmff!!" Kaine grimaced as he hit the dirt. He got up on his knees, and stared to Dimitri,"What the hell?!"


Melody blinked as she watched this,"What's wrong...?"


Dimitri glowered, staring down at Kaine "Well, aren't we gonna do what we came here to do?" his face darkened in anger.


Melody scratched her head, forgetting about the previous situation. She nodded,"Ah...yes..."


Kaine cocked an eyebrow,"You're kidding me...why kill me now?! Why not back then?! It would've been faster, and Dimitri wouldn't be so--"


"It's because we enjoy your pain, Kaine." Melody interupted smoothly, smirking,"Just as you did ours."


"Thank-you," Dimitri hissed, taking his foot and coliding it with Kaine's face.


"Ack!!" Kaine flew back, and felt himself hit a tree. He choked out air, and slumped down. He swore under his breath, and looked up to Dimitri, glaring. After a few moments, he smirked, standing up, stretching his tensed muscles,"You're very good at this, Dimitri..." he said. In an instant, he ran a sharp nail across the palm of his hand, causing it to bleed,"Too good."


An ominous rustle vibrated throughout the area.


Dimitri's eyes flicked around the area, gracing each corner he could see without moving then landed back on Kaine. He gripped his gun slightly, staring daggers "What're you doing?" he asked smoothly, and calmly.


Kaine fell back silently, and his smirk widened as his eyes turned to Dimitri,"Oh, I'm not doing anything...it doesn't matter what I do..."


Shoom.


Dark green and blank vines shot out of the ground, and surrounded the four of them, parting the dirt that once lay among them. They moved around crazily, like a troupe of green and black dancing snakes...with thorns.


Kaine sighed cooly,"It's what they'll do...to you." Another drop of Kaine blood hit the ground, and the familiar vibrating filled up the area. As soon as the crimson hit the forest floor, the vile vines shot at Dimitri, and gripped around the hand with his gun.


"Shit!" Dimitri swore sarkly as he felt thorns stab his skin and he reluctantly dropped the gun, hand stinging in pain. "What the fuck are they?!"


"They're vines idiot..." Fleance said and passed a gun to Kaine.


Melody gaped slightly at Fleance's action,"What the hell?! Fleance, what are you--" she got interrupted by the vines charging towards her. She tried to dodge them, but to no avail, and one wraped around her wrist, and wrapped around a nearby tree,"SHIT!!"


Kaine blinked up to Fleance, and smiled slightly, clicking the gun absently,"Thank you, brother." For once in my damn life...


The vine around Dimitri's hand began to tighten, and pull downwards.


Dimitri winced as he was jerked down a bit, blood seeping form the wounds "Damn you," he hissed at Fleance "Son of a bitch!"


Rayan yelped out, as two vines wrappe around his upper arms, bringing him to the ground,"...And you seemed like a decent guy..." he muttured.


Melody growled inwardly, ears twitching with fury. She glared daggers at Fleance,"Traitor!!" she snapped, as another vine encased her other arm.


Dimitri was cursing excessively as the vine went further up his arm.


Kaine got up, and stood before the three of them, smirking. Another vine gripped onto Dimitri's arm, and began to pull him to the ground.


Dimitri colapsed entirely this time, sending a wave of pain through his body from where Kaine had shot him just days before. "God damn you..."


Kaine glowered down to Dimitri, and sighed, placing his foot on his gut, putting pressure on it,"Ah, yes,may he... all the way down to hell-- just where I wanna be." he laughed coldly.


Melody spat on the ground, and the vines tightened and began to crawl over her arms,"Dammit...!!"


He winced painfully as the pain gushed through his self, he choked out words " 'If God were your father you would love me, for I am come from God and am now here'," he coughed, blood rising in his throat from the reopened wound. " 'I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You beong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires'," he coughed on the blood as it trailed down his chin. " 'He was a murderer from the beginning, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies'," he coughed a few more times before continuing " 'Yet because I tell the truth you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth why don't you believe me? He who belongs to God, hears what God says. The reason that you do not hear is that you do not belong to God! Stay behind me Satan!'" he coughed more as blood splattered his chin from the Holy words.


Kaine looked down to him with pure disdain, soaking in the words which he spoke so passionately. He calmly stepped off of him, and leaned beside Dimitri. He looked to the crimson stains through his self, and his eyes flashed red. Blood lust suddenly took over, and he stumbled back back, lifting up the gun Fleance handed to him towards Dimitri with a shakily, seemingly uncontrollable hand,"You speak of God so well, Dimitri...but tell me this." his fingers leaned on the trigger, as he tried to contain himself from hopping onto Dimitri, and sucking the Holy blood from him-- it would kill the vampire,"Can he save you...Even now?!"


"It is written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test'!" he pushed himself up on one arm "God does not save those who bring sin opon themselves!"


"And what about you....you weren't supposed to be in Heaven, you should be in Hell!"Fleance said


"I deserve to burn in the deepest pits of Hell!" Dimitri glared daggers at them "But I do not live off the blood of others, I do not lie for my own gain, and I do not kill for my own pleasure! But I am unforgiven! Shoot! You lack the courage of your accusation, Kaine, do it!"


Kaine stared down at Dimitri in deep thought, and lowered his gun,"...I do not plan to be judged by God, and I'm in no position to listen to your preaching right now." he sighed,"And if I was to be judged by him...you're right-- I'd be damned." Kaine had no intention of listening to him-- and even if he did, he couldn't concentrate enough to let Dimitri's Holy words sink in. The bloodlust was rushing to his head, and he didn't have anytime to think at all. He angrily pocketed the gun, and began to turn away.


Dimitri, stared daggers at him before dropping back on his back, watching the vines in lost interest. He groaned in pain when he glanced down at his bloody gut.


Rayan growled on after Kaine,"So you're just going to leave us here?!"


Kaine stopped, and turned to the elven,"...most likely." he replied.


Melody snarled, as the vines stopped tightening- not that they could get any tighter,"What, are we to Holy for you to feed on and stomp all over?"


Kaine turned abruptedly to Melody, and started to walk over to her, eyeing her carefully,"Yes, actually...all except you." he said calmly.


Melody's eyes widened slightly at his statement,"Wh-what...?"


Kaine smirked,"Dimitri's an angel-- of course he'd stand up for God. And Rayan...well, he's an elf." he explained,"But you...you're a crazed hanyou who was born to be insane-- born to kill." he chuckled,"Born to belong in that hellhole they locked you in..." he stared directly at her, as if he could see right through her very self. He eyed her carefully, and noted the blood seeping through her skin. He smiled slightly, and leaned forward towards her.


Melody drew back a bit, and looked to him fearfully, for all he said was true.


Kaine stopped, his nose but an inch from her neck. He brought up a finger, and ran his finger along a blue vein in her neck, and she whimpered lightly,


"Oh, don't worry...I won't kill you. That's the government's job."


Melody swallowed, and Kaine watched the lump in her throat travel down in her neck.


"So...I guess this is okay." he whispered,his words slurting out slowly and seductively. Kaine leaned in, and bared his fangs, biting into her skin.


BANG Dimitri shot straight into Kaine's arm; his one, non-injured left arm shaking with lack of use and mediocre gun use. "Get off her," he hissed "Or the next bullet goes straight through your head; I only need raise my hand a few inches," he narrowed his eyes "Now!"


Kaine's eyes opened, after he had begun to drain her for about a second. He drew back from the wound he punctured in Melody's neck, and turned to Dimitri. He stepped back from her slightly,and gripped his injured arm, swearing under her breath, containing his pain,"Oh...does that disturb you, Dimitri?"


Dimitri narrowed his eyes "I swear to God, Kaine...." his hand shook abit and he clicked the gun once, pulling slightly on the trigger "I swear..."


Kaine smirked, and stepped away from Melody again,"Fine." he replied cooly.


Melody glared on behind Kaine, as her jugular bled. She turned to Dimitri, and her hand formed into the shape of a mock gun. She looked like she was shooting up in the air loosely, and she gestured to the vines. She mouthed,'Shoot my vines...'


Dimitri watched Kaine, glanced at Melody, then back to Kaine. Without looking his jerked his gun sideways, shot the vines dead on, and switched his gun back to aiming on Kaine's forehead in a second.


Melody stumbled forward, and drew her sword, stalking up behind Kaine, and placing her sword hard against his throat. She smiled, and muttured into his ear,"How many different ways would you like to die...?"


Kaine stood erect, sideglancing Melody. His gaze turned back to Dimitri, and he mentally cursed at the both of them, falling silent.


"Melody, please, just let him go," Dimitri sounded hopeless, desperate even as he threw his gun to the side of him. "Don't stain your blade with his blood,"


Melody looked over to Dimitri, as if he was crazy,"But..." she gave a deafted sigh, and drew back from Kaine,"Fine."she sheathed her sword.


Kaine looked over his shoulder to Melody, then back to Dimitri, obviously appalled.


"Go Kaine," he looked at him evenly "Go,"


Kaine looked to Dimitri, hard. He picked up his own gun, and turned away from then gesturing for Fleance to follow,"...until next time, then." he muttured, before dissapearing into the darkness of the forest.


The minute his presence left the area, the exsisting vines dissapated.


Rayan sat up, rubbing his cut arms in relief,"Owie..."


Melody kneeled down by Dimitri, and tryed helping him up,"So tell me, why did we let him go...?"


"Hey, think about it, Varret." he added, staring into his eyes as if he could see right through him,"...if an elf did that to a vampire, would you react this way?"


"Because he's right," Dimirti said lowly, falling back on his back, holding his bleeding gut.


Melody looked at him as he fell back, and sighed, sitting back as well,"Meh..."


"Anyway, are you okay?" he asked, side-glancing her.


Melody blinked up to him, and sighed, rubbing her punctured neck,"Yeah...I'm fine. Thanks for saving my ass back there." she scratched her head.


"Mmm. You wouldn't make a good vampire... or corpse," he grinned crookedly.


"Hm," Melody smiled slightly, and lay her forehead on her perched up knees,"Yeah, I don't think so either."


"What about you, Dim?" Rayan crawled over,"You okay? You're guts' blood is flowing out like a river..."


"Uh..." he glanced down at his viscera riddled abdomen "Uh, I'm not okay." he said lamely " 'Course it would be worse had he dug his foot in any further..."


Melody grimaced at the deepened wound,"Aye...do want a bandage job?" she sighed, and flopped back, looking to the crimson sky,"Or is Nurse Melody not good enough.."


Rayan laughed lightly.


"Hm... Yeah sure, bandages sound nice..." he blew away a strand of crimson that fell in his eye, and crooked his arms behind his head, resting it there. "I cannot believe I remembered that..." he murmured.


As Melody fished out more bandages out of her bag, Rayan cocked his head,"Remember what...?" he asked.


"Uh, the Gospel according to John chapter 8 verses 42-47," he grimaced slightly.


Melody sighed, and helped Dimitri sit up. She pulled up his shirt a bit, and turned away from the deep wound, grimacing,"Ah..." she glanced back to it, and shook her head, beginning to wrap the bandages gently around his abdomen,"Stupid Kaine," she muttured lowly, concentrating hard on her job.


"Mm..." Dimitri looked away, up to the crimson sky in thought.


Rayan sighed, and looked to the dark ground,"So...what do we do now?"


"Get the hell outta here," Melody replied, getting out another roll of bandages. She continued to aid Dimitri,"Kaine practically has power over everything here-- we should leave, and think of our next steps then, before he sends out Kuroi's posees all over us. Then, we can retaliate, and strike back when we're ready." 'If we're ever going to be ready again, that is...' she added mentally.


"Don't you think things through..." Dimtiri mumbled off handedly, hearing everything she said but not taking it in.


Melody sideglanced his head, and sighed,"Well, there's nothing much we can do..."


Rayan stood up, and stretched lazily, elven ears poking out of his hair,"Well, it's the best thing we can do, for now. They'll poke us out of the bushes soon enough..."


"Joy," Dimtri winced slightly, glancing down at the wound "He didn't have to reopen it..."


Melody drew back to look at him, tieing around the last of the bandages. She sighed, and scratched her head,"It's Kaine...what more do you expect?"


"Grumblegrumble" Dimtri made a dark face and poked idly at the bandages.


Melody looked silently to her knees in thought, then peered back to Dimitri,"So, do you wanna get moving? But of course, you can rest a little if you wanna."



"I could just fly along but ya know..." he gestured irritabley at the usless fetaher covered pinnacle protruding from his back. "Whatever," he forced himself to his feet and started limping along "Let's get out of here; I can near smell the evil..."


Melody nodded, got up, and followed behind the crestfallen angel. Rayan did likewise.


Dimitri sighed walking back the way they came "Sorry about all this..."


Melody looked to him dumbfounded, as did Rayan. He cocked his head,"What do you mean?"


Melody looked to him deeply,"Hey, this isn't your fault, you know."


"...Yeah, I know that..." his brows furrowed as his eyes blackened "Just makes me think..."


She cocked her head,"About what?"


"About the war... what it's about... If there really is a good and evil, when both sides decide death is the only option and that's all they bring... when they're supposed to be the peace and punishment after death... Why make a war over it... over this world... over death?" he looked up abit, glaring at the blood kissed sky then back ahead.


"Mm." Melody stared on ahead, taking in his words. He was right-- this whole war didn't make sense...the whole ludicrous idea of it,"...maybe because we all have human minds. Human greed and emotion, and the urge for power...then why did God make us all like this?" she sighed,"This whole ordeal getting so theoretical..."


"Theory's the only thing we have... God didn't make us this way-- we did. He gave us the choice of how to live this, what to make of the life he gave us. And we took it for granted-- dying and then bringing the only thing we had left to fall-- what he gave us and what he died for we broke. The greed, and the emotion, the urge for power all comes from fear... to rid all the dangerous things and just be happy on our own pedastool. And be safe from everything else..." he side glanced her "...is the only thing we can hope for,"


Melody fell silent, and nodded gravely,"Hope...is the only thing God can give me now."


Dimitri's face softened a bit and he put a reasurring hand on her shoulder before continuing forward.