The Town Herald

The netpaper about Elftowners, by Elftowners, for Elftowners.

Silent's Horror Corner!

Vanion's Story : Part V

by [silent_voice]




Chapter Four

The morning sun peaked itself over the horizon as Gabrielle slowly woke, stretching slowly the sleepy girl took a moment to orientate herself before slowly sitting up, reaching over in the bed she was disappointed to feel that Vanion was not there. Sighing softly to herself, Gabrielle swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat there for a moment, remembering where things where, and most importantly, where she was located in the room. Gabrielle let out a long slow yawn and remembered the night before, cuddling up to Vanion, her arms around his chest as they sat there, soft music coming through the speakers, and His arms around her. She was slightly disappointed that he had still not let her touch his face. The door to her left opened and she inclined her head in that direction.

Vanion walked into the room slowly "Ah your up, how did you sleep?" he asked in a gentle tone.

Gabrielle smiled softly "I slept okay, what's the time? I have to go to work today." She said stretching and feeling around with her feet for her shoes.

Vanion picked them up for her. Knowing what she was looking for he handed her the simple shoes "It's about 8 O'clock." He said as she put them on.

Gabrielle froze slightly "8 O'clock?" She asked before she swore softly "I've got to go Vanion, I'm sorry, I had a lot of fun but I've got to go." She rose and found her way to the door, noting that Vanion did nothing to stop her.

Vanion frowned, following her "Why Gabrielle? Why can't you just leave the shop closed for today, You don't have to go...." He said in protest. "Gab's please? Stay....?"

Gabrielle turned to him "Vanion I've got to go, if you like you can walk with me." She said grabbing her cane from where she placed it the night before.

Vanion frowned "I can't. Gabrielle why don't you just stay?" He asked, still pleading with her.

Gabrielle frowned and turned away "Not all of us kill for a living Vanion." She said bitterly before opening the door and closing it harder than she should have. She had left a stunned Vanion in her wake.

Vanion's ears lowered, he couldn't go after her, not in the light anyway, it was dangerous, too dangerous. Vanion slunk back to the couch and sat down heavily. Sitting there quietly for a few minutes until he could no longer stand the bitter sound of silence, Vanion switched on the television.

Flicking through the channels he perused over them silently, Mickey Mouse... A morning show.... A Cooking show...... Tom and Jerry..... The news..... Sport... Vanion stopped, blinking he flicked back to the news.

"Police are still on the hunt for the killer of what has now been counted up to over 30 murders. The unknown fiend 'The Reaper' has stocked up another kill, a young woman was found dead in her apartment with an arrow wound to her chest, and her throat slit. Found at the scene was a note signed 'The Reaper' and the initials 'V.D.' The police are searching through all known records for names of people with these initials. Also in another related case, multi millionaire 'Seamus Roe' was found dead in his mansion along with sixteen other bodies, some were considered business partners of Roe. His company 'Roe and Isaac' is now said to be folding with all of the senior board members murdered at the scene. An image was taken of the killer who is thought to be 'The Reaper'" An blown up image was then put onto the screen, it was of Vanion in mid flight over the nine foot wall, it showed his clothing but was exceedingly blurry and only showed part of his face, his left eye in fact.

Vanion lent back in his chair, watching the news he wasn't worried about the name trace, or the photo, they hadn't seen many of his details, and if they did get a clear picture, they would think he was wearing a mask. His mind flashed back to the little girl he had given the necklace too. He froze slightly, would she tell her parents? He could imagine it now,

"Mummy! That's the man I saw outside my window! He isn't wearing a mask, he's a cat man and he gave me this!"

Vanion shook his head quickly, she wouldn't tell her parents, they were arguing when he left, they probably only stopped fighting when they were apart, the little girl wouldn't have a close parental figure.... he hoped.


Vanion moved around the house for a while, cleaning from the previous night and worrying about Gabrielle. His mind raced as he replayed the scene of her leaving over and over in his mind. He was suddenly interrupted by his door, three knocks in quick succession, followed by a single knock. Vanion stood up and looked at the door, he knew what the knocks meant, and sure enough after a few moments an envelope was slipped under his door.

Vanion stood in the kitchen entryway, his tail slowly flicking back and forth behind him, his eyes were watching the letter intently as if he was afraid it would stand up and walk away. Slowly his eyes moved away from the letter and he lent against the door frame and sighed, so much for patching things up with Gabrielle...

Vanion stared into space for some time before the sound of yelling upstairs interrupted his train of thought, Vanion's gaze shifted slowly to the roof as the yelling increased. Vanion did his best to ignore it and walked over to the envelope, crouching down to pick it up. On the front was elegant writing which read 'Vanion D'ask'. He walked over to the couch and sat down, putting his feet up on the coffee table in front of him Vanion opened the letter and began to read, just as he got past the first sentence, the yelling upstairs had increased even more, now there was the sound of smashing china.

Vanion rubbed his face and continued to stare at the roof, an angry man's voice wafted down through the ceiling. "Stop fucking me around Francine!" The man roared, then a woman screamed out in equal anger, 'Damn it Bob why do you fuck ME around? Your sleeping with every fucking woman in your office!" this was followed by the sound of more smashing china, then the man, who was obviously 'Bob' roared out in an animal like rage. Vanion frowned when suddenly the yelling stopped.

A few minutes later the sound of a person angrily stomping out of the room then a door slam. A few more minutes passed before Vanion's keen ears picked up sobbing. The woman 'Francine' was obviously crying upstairs. Vanion sighed "Christ sake girl.... Leave him already." he muttered to himself before looking back to the letter.


Vanion,
We need you for another job, get your ass down to the bar as soon as you can, you're going to be here for a while...


As usual the letter was unsigned. Vanion got up silently and ripped the letter into small pieces and tossed it in the trash. The sobbing was still interrupting his roof and he looked up at the roof again and groaned to himself. Rubbing his forehead he walked over to the window and opened it slightly before leaning out and looking upstairs at his neighbors window, when he saw it was open too he moved back inside and called out "Francine, come to the window..."

The sniffling grew louder as the girl did as he asked "Who's that?" She called out in a meek voice that was full of fear.

Vanion lent against the windowsill on the inside "its just your downstairs neighbor. I was wondering..... Why do you stay with him?" He asked without pause.

It was obvious to him that this direct question had surprised her somewhat. "I... uhh... you... you heard us fighting?" She asked after a while.

Vanion gave a half chuckle "Francine everyone in the entire neighborhood heard you fighting. So.. why do you stay with him? I mean.... its obvious your not happy."

Her voice came back wavering but still forceful "That's none of your business! Just.... leave me alone!" She yelled out the last bit and slammed her window shut. Vanion growled to himself and shut his own window, angry words stirring in his own mind at the woman upstairs who had now fallen silent.

Vanion's patience was not long, it was one of his faults, he did not have great patience for people, things he could wait for, but not people. Gazing around his home for a bit, Vanion finally moved through to the bedroom and collapsed on his bed. He decided dozing would be good until it was time to leave.


Slowly raising his head Vanion looked at himself in the mirror, another horrible nightmare, another dream where that girl who claimed she was his sister died. Vanion frowned at himself in the mirror, imagining it in the dream, the sneer, the growling, the blood that splashed the walls, the blood pooling on the floor as they reached out for each other, Vanion closed his eyes tightly and when he opened his eyes again... he snapped, Vanion swung his fist hard and slammed it into his reflection, he let out a deep growl as the mirror cracked, he swung again, the crack grew, spreading across the frame, giving Vanion hundreds upon hundreds of images of himself. In his mind they all laughed at him, taunting him. Slowly Vanion lent against the sink, breathing hard, the blood from his knuckles slowly trickling down the side of the white porcelain and into the drain. He must have stared at it for at least ten minutes time before he moved, going straight to his room he began to dress. Today, it was all about the job, he had to focus. The job was all that mattered.

Sliding open his window once more Vanion checked the dark alley below for any movement, when he was satisfied there was none, he leapt from his level and flipped once before landing on his feet at the bottom, the blood from his knuckles already staining the thick black leather glove on his hand. After a quick look both ways to check once more for others, Vanion swept down the alley, becoming lost in the darkness of the night.


A few hours later the black panther arrived at the bar where he was to meet with his superiors. As he moved past the large man at the door and headed downstairs into the basement, he heard grunting, and cries of pain. Vanion's eyes narrowed as he entered the room unasked. As soon as he did, he wished he hadn't.

Vanion's boss turned away from the being in the center and grinned at Vanion "So.. your here" He said in a slick tone. But Vanion was not watching him, nor paying attention. He walked forwards, loosing all sense with the outside world as he stared at the woman in the center. It was not an ordinary woman.

Large furry ears stood straight up from her head where her thick hair fell down around her face, covering her muzzle and other features. Her large ears were pitch black. She was dangling off the ground by a good inch or so, and her arms were chained over her head. Vanion walked up to her, staring in awe as he saw the furry arms, and paws at the top with the claws half extended. A long feline tail was out behind her, hanging low but still it was there. Vanion was stunned to say the least. Slowly he walked around her, taking in everything he could, her figure, her legs, her exposed midsection. Everything. "Where did you find her?" Vanion asked in a stunned whisper.

Vanion's superior was obviously pleased with himself "That's none of your business D'ask. But... I see she has your attention.. I want you to get her to talk." He said and watched Vanion.

The woman growled "You'll get nothing from me.. you scummy pieces of shit." She hissed at them, her face still low, covering her features.

Slowly, Vanion walked and stood directly in front of her "Make her talk...?" he asked softly, still stunned by the sight of another being like him.

The man at the side nodded "But of course.. she knows where your next target is... Make her tell you." He said with a strange light in his eyes. It was animalistic, predatory.

Vanion blinked slightly and looked away from the girl and to the man at the side "I'll need.. time alone." He said and turned back to the girl, she still hadn't lifted his head, Vanion wanted to reach out and lift it so badly.. he urged to touch her, to talk to her, to find out who she was!

The superior man nodded and smiled "Have fun D'ask.." He said in a dangerous tone before walking out of the room and into another, shutting the door behind him.





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