-X- And Then There Were Two -X-

[Karina]

The evening was just like every other evening. Quite, dull, and hugely boring. Rina ran her life in a series of routine movements only with the occasional side track to kill a masquerade violator or just to have a change of scenery. Waking up she stretched and looked around her. A few of her peers still slept in their cozy little corners, at least those that didn't make it to their huts anyway. Carefully sneaking over to the ritual alter, she began to pull out the needed items and get started putting the barrier against thralls in place before her sire woke. Her sole duty for the most part was to make sure that no one can get into the tree house that didn't belong there. Rina excelled in rituals and was proud to take on this task each night to ensure the safety of those that she looked at as family. It wasn't more than a couple minutes later that the Demi-Fae ran off to do as it was told and Rina was off to get ready for what the evening might hold.

Taking the elevator up to her hut, she took inventory of the ritual items needed for Thrall Barrier. There was more than enough to send the Demi-Fae off for protection for the next month so one evening off from the Catacombs wouldn't hurt. Fixing her hair in loose braids before slipping on a tank top and vest, showing off the amazing artwork that Jesse had etched into her skin over a year ago. She was proud of the work and showed it off as often as she could. Pulling on her jeans that hugged to her form before slipping on her black boots. She was ready to go, after she dropped a few items to unload her messenger bag so she could collect more items. Grabbing both her custom gun and sword, she ran out of her hut and hit the fadeportal. The QZ was where she planned to head. Sure she could have explored the caves as she had yet to do that but she wanted to at least be semi-productive and pick up items that her peers or herself could use. Zombie ears and black feral blood were the biggies that were needed. Why not? It was different than her usual routine and it would keep her from falling into auto-pilot like she found herself doing every other night.

As her foot hit upon the ground in the deserted supermarket, she heard a commotion that seemed usual to those that hunted in the QZ. As the sounds continued, she perked her brow as she had wondered if there was more to the commotion than she had thought. It had been awhile since she stepped into the QZ so maybe there were more uglies that needed to be taken down than she had remembered. Would make sense since the military was sending in rescue teams and no survivors were rumored. Hell...did the rescue teams even return from their doomed trip? She wasn't sure but if not...that would make up for the added activity...or so she thought.

Walking up an aisle, she turned the corner and noticed a man taking on a horde of zombies. He seemed to get lucky with not having a single Mooncalf or Feral Vampire attacking him. It was just zombie after zombie. A smirk and a chuckle came to her as the song 'Brains' popped into her mind. Yeah...that was exactly what was going on other than the fact that they were in an old supermarket instead of an office. Meh...she didn't really think that mattered to the zombies. Leaning against the wall, watching the man lay each zombie down after another until they just stopped shuffling toward him. He was a survivor. What the ****?!? Pushing off the wall, her mind started to go a million miles a minute and the masquerade was her top priority. This man in no way possible should be allowed to leave the QZ and be able to tell his story. That would send more rumors in the city to fly around and put the humans on guard as they always did when a new rumor or story appeared. Nope...he wasn't leaving alive. Sadly for him...she hadn't had the pleasure of enjoying her nightly blood pack. Luckily for her...she would get the chance to feel that warm, delightful blood flow down her throat and not having come from a microwave. No, it was fresh from the tap.

As Rina stepped closer, she took in the amount of zombies that he had really taken down. It was incredible and almost beyond what a human should be capable of. He was a hunter and good at it. Her eyes looked up at him as she stopped just within arms length away and sized him up. He had killer instincts and would be good to keep around. With her sword on her back and her gun at her side, she crossed her arms over her chest and smirked. "So...it seems that you have been a bit busy. What's your name, handsome?"

Attire

[Skiff farkas (DELETED 6041)]

He had fallen into a battle haze with sword in one hand and gun in the other he hacked and slashed, shot and reloaded making his toward a building as he kept backing up the doors silently opened. Taking a quick look around he could see the empty shelves and the cash registers sitting open or tipped over on their sides. Taking a moment to reload the Glock, he looked up again just in time to see the doors open and the hoard of zombies that had been trailing him spill in through doors. Pulling back the slide on the gun he takes up his sword Firing and slashing. Making his way to the back of the store.

His body ached from the constant fighting he had been up for... well as he thought about it he couldn't remember when he last had 8 straight. The Contract he had taken seemed to be pretty straight forward, move in clear the LZ and hold for reinforcements. A plan that quickly went FUBAR. the instant the landed they were set upon by... the only thing he could call them was Zombies, he wasn't even sure what they were.

Coming out of his daze he realizes that there aren't any other zombies coming at him. Hearing a noise he spins pulling the trigger on the gun *click*

"So...it seems that you have been a bit busy. What's your name, handsome?"

Dropping the empty gun he brings the sword up to guard, nothing in this place has been what it had seemed and he doubted this women in front of him would prove to be any different. My name is Skiff Farkas, my company the Jade lions were taken out by those.... shooting a glance at the trail of bodies he had left behind things. So would you mind telling me what is going on here. What are those things? Why is the government handing out contracts to any one that can hold a gun to come in here to clear an LZ. Just what in the hell is going on.

[Karina]

When the man turned toward her and attempted to shoot her only to find that echoing click of an empty magazine, Rina couldn't help but laugh. It wasn't entirely his fault for not realizing that his gun was empty with all that he had just been through but it was a fault that could get him killed. As the gun dropped to the ground, she took another step forward and her eyes danced with excitement as he brought his sword up to the ready. Oh! He wanted to play and she was ready to play back. This....Skiff...gave her the perfect opportunity to break from her routine. A fire burned in her as she prepared to play the game with the human whose blood called out to her. Giving a shrug of her shoulder, as she took one final step toward him to be within blades reach should he attempt to swing at her.

"Nice to meet you, Skiff Farkas. Sorry to hear about your company...kind of sucks." Looking around at the bodies, she gave a chuckled scoff. "I hope they had good life insurance to support their families that they foolishly left behind." Rina's eyes lifted and looked at him, tilting her head slightly as she uncrossed her arms. "What do you think is going on here? I'm sure you're not blind since you were able to turn your empty gun right on me when I walk soundlessly. What are your thoughts on what those..." She laughed and made air quotes to support his wording. "...'things' are?" Rina couldn't hide her amusement and the more he questioned, the more she nearly bounced out of her skin with excitement. She felt as if it was Christmas and the human was walking around with a bright shiny bow around his neck. However, she already had a pet human and that was Mrs so she couldn't just take him home and say 'Sorry...he's shiny and new.' Nope...that wouldn't work especially since her husband's human pet was Mrs' husband. "Don't you think that there is a reason that you weren't given the full story when you were sent in here? If they are picking up that many people to clear the way, don't you think that something fishy is going on that you should probably ask questions or are you just looking to die?"

[Skiff farkas (DELETED 6041)]

At the sound of her chuckled scoff he felt the fury in him building, how dare she sully the lives of his team. Yet before he could attack she continued on to the topic that cooled his fury quickly.

What do you think is going on here? I'm sure you're not blind since you were able to turn your empty gun right on me when I walk soundlessly. What are your thoughts on what those...'things' are?"

What I think they are is something out of a horror flick... they don't feel pain, they don't stop with a heart shot the only way to kill them that I have found is to shoot them in the head or behead them. Seeing the amusement and excitement on her face he tightened his grip on his sword knowing that he would either have to use it soon or lower it, the toll of the last few days was making itself known, and he could feel that he was at the limit of his skills.

"Don't you think that there is a reason that you weren't given the full story when you were sent in here? If they are picking up that many people to clear the way, don't you think that something fishy is going on that you should probably ask questions or are you just looking to die?"

A cold superior smirk crossed his own features, as he let out a mirthless chuckle No darlin, they don't come to me when they are able to give the full story, I am the one they come to when something is ..... 'fishy'. I am the one they come to when the job must be done. I don't ask questions cause I already know why I am being sent in to my job. I may not be the smartest person in the room, however I am smart enough to make sure I pay the smartest person very well. As for weather or not I am looking to die. Shaking his head he pulls himself up to his full height of 5'8" there isn't a chance in hell some zombie wanna be could take me cause I am just that damn good!

[Karina]

The man seemed to been a mixed bag of emotions. Riding that emotional roller coaster while trying to figure out what in the **** was going on must have had his head going in a million different directions. It was amusing for Rina to watch and as he tightened his grip upon the sword, she refused to take a step back to show that she wasn't afraid of him nor his potential actions. Smirking as he started to answer her initial question, she nodded her head. "Go on..." Horror flick! How was she not surprised that would be the first direction a human would go. If humans really knew what went bump in the night, their heads would spin.

Rina let her eyes move over him to take in his posture. He looked worn and dirty. He had to have been in the QZ longer than just a few hours. Maybe a day or two but humans needed rest or their next step could be their last. The chuckle that echoed passed his lips caught her attention and her eyes looked back up to meet his. The words that followed made her feel giddy. He was a cocky son of a *****. That clearly was his advantage as well as his flaw. Terrible combination if anyone asked her but she had her cocky moments so she had no room to talk, it was just harder to kill her. Hell...she had yet to die since she had been turned by Kacee and then Velveteen took her under her wing years ago. Rina had gotten lucky in that aspect. It was rare to have people that truly cared and looked out for one another in this city and it showed constantly if anyone ventured to read the trash on Crownet. So many easily would turn on their friends and family especially if it meant that they could make a quick buck.

"Well not being the smartest would be a major flaw especially if you jump to a task without all the facts though you say you know why you are being sent in to do your job. Oh please by everything that is holy, enlighten me because this has to be good, especially when you had to ask what those 'things' were. I can tell you right now that this is not like any other job that you had before but I can tell you that it will probably be your last. Your team is dead and well...outside this door...you're largely out numbered. Why else would so many teams be needed. Hell, do you even get paid first or do they just plan to send the check to your families to take care of them and the funeral costs? How does all of that work?" She was truly interested even if her tone was pretty smart assed. "As for the 'zombie wanna be'...those are the least of your worries out here. There are three others that are in this area that are far worse and far tougher than what you have taken on so far. That I can promise." Rina couldn't help but throw herself into the count because let's face it...she was stronger than both the Mooncalf and the Feral Vampire nor did she die as easy, especially against a human.

[Skiff farkas (DELETED 6041)]

The cold smirk stayed on his face, his eyes never leaving hers. Your right, I may not know what those things are but I do know why I am here. I am here to hunt things that are scarier then those things. Though I admit that I didn't expect there to be quite so many. he let his eyes scan her from the top her head to the tips of her toes, To be honest with you ma'am I am what I am hunting beings that are just like you, I believe you call yourself Vampyre though I will ask the name of the lady I am about to engage in combat in. He gave a small salute with the sword he was holding before bringing it back to the ready.

He knew he was in trouble though, to long fighting with only combat naps were taking their toll. He had hoped when he had found one of these creatures that he would have his team with him. He ruthlessly pushed the pain of loosing them down. he had made a life of hunting down the terrible things that people thought scary. He didn't need to know what they where he just needed to know that they were attacking humans. Looking at the being.... the woman standing before him he knew he was in the fight of his life.

[Karina]

Rina's interest had peaked when he told her that she was right. "This is why you probably should have surveyed the area before jumping right in to do your ill informed job." Maybe he was finally realizing that he was in way over his head or so she thought until he continued as he checked her out. If she needed to breathe her breath would have caught in her throat. He was hunting vampires and he was dropped into the QZ, that didn't make any sense. Yeah the QZ had an apartment building where many of her kind lived but the area was infested with zombies, mooncalves, and feral vampires. She was surprised but then again given all that she and her peers have had to take on over the past several, nothing should be a surprise anymore but for some reason...she was surprised.

Never did she let it show on her face or in her actions that she was surprised. She didn't want him to think that he had any advantage to her because she was faster and stronger than he was. He wasn't going to be a challenge for her especially since he was already showing signs of being tired. That wasn't going to stop her from playing first. "People like me? Vampire?" Maybe she should have remembered to grab a jacket instead of running around in a tank top but that made it difficult to fight. "I'm just a simple girl and vampire...seriously...shine a light on me, do I look like I sparkle to you? The tattoos wouldn't be able to cover up something like that. I can walk soundlessly because I'm a ballet dancer but hey!...thanks for letting me know that you're a psycho."

If he wanted to fight her then cool, whatever, but she would tease and let him think he had an advantage. Turning on her heel, Rina started to make her way towards the front door of the deserted supermarket. One foot in front of the other, each step was elegant and soundless. Rina knew that she didn't look like a ballerina anymore with all her tattoos but just because she wasn't a prima ballerina dancing the lead in Swan Lake, didn't mean that she was any less of a ballerina...she was just a teacher now. Turning her head to look over her shoulder back at him. "Name's Rina by the way and maybe you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover." His judgement of her wasn't wrong but he was a human and there was no way possible that she was telling him that he was right especially not without having to kill him to keep his mouth shut. The masquerade was far to important and she had worked hard for nearly four years for protecting the masquerade. This human wasn't going to be able to **** that up.

[Skiff farkas (DELETED 6041)]

when she turned to walk away he let the sword point touch the floor making a soft metallic sound, he just couldn't hold it up any more with out it shaking, but his pride wouldn't let him back down. In his gut he knew he was right. although he was some what amused that she would use the Hollywood stereotypes to try to make her point. Lady I am a trained soldier, and I have been fighting in this place for the last three days, now I will admit your people are difficult to find but I can see by your lack of fatigue and the fact that your not even worried about those things that are outside, now that could mean a few things either A: I am right, B: i am wrong and your just happen to be just as psychotic as I am, which hey if you are then hopefully you enjoy it as much as I do then again there is option C: which is all of the above. I am damn good at what I do Rina, you could say I am the best in my field of work. so that you can move the way you do and carelessly and callously dismiss the demise of my group, that you can and probably would walk out that door and not be bothered by the zombies, for lack of a better term. That tells me quite a few things about you. It tells me that while I am damn good at what I do, you also happen to be one of the baddest things walking around tonight.

Taking out a flash light he hold it up Now my dear you did say something about shining a light on you so in the intrest of far play seeing as you asked me so nicley I might as well oblige, however before I do I will tell you that this neat little flash light has some amazing properties, flipping it over and over in his hand he continues to talk See just before friend of mine was taken out he made this for me, he was a pretty smart cookie he told me that it would act like an exact copy of what ever it is that the sun puts out, tested one of them out on one of your kind before he was killed gotta say the results looked pretty effective. on the last word he flips it up clicking the button on to shine it across her shoulder.

[Karina]

A heavenly smirk danced about her lips as she head the metallic sound of the sword tip touch the ground. He started in on his sob story about being a trained fighter and already fighting in the QZ for the last three days. It was boring for her but she didn't interrupt to let him think that he had her attention. Slowly she turned to look at him, crossing her arms upon her chest, she listened. It was when he spoke about the flash light as he pulled it out and examined it, she tilted her head with curiosity. He had a trick up his sleeve that seemed more advanced than the traditional hunter that typically sought their kind out, at least those that weren't paladins who knew what they were doing or so they thought they lead the vampires to believe.

"Well, I must say that is quite an interesting trick to keep hidden up your sleeve but alright...you got me... However, two can play this game and I can assure you...I will be the victor in this game of cat and mouse. Though it put out and please, let me quote you on this one..." Using her fingers as she unfolded her arms to make the air quote.

...exact copy of what ever it is that the sun puts out...

"You are in some serious need of education because it would be UV lighting."

As he flipped up the flash light, she cast one of her powers to blind him which gave her a few minutes to act. Concentrating for a moment, she was able to cast multiple copies of herself as an illusion. She could have used decoy but to give the effect she desired, she would need more time than just a few minutes and she would have to move in order to do so. If he paid attention, he would be able to track where she was so the illusion of herself surrounding him with her Hall of Mirrors ability, she had carefully stepped to the right, leaving an illusion in her previous stop just in time for the light to shine upon it's shoulder. "You might need to step up your game a little bit."

[Skiff farkas (DELETED 6041)]

when more of her appeared he swinging his sword out behind him spinning in a quick circle. Not really sure which one of her was real he slowly walks back turning slowly now trying to keep an eye on all of them. He had seen this power before, however he had never been alone when it had been used on him, swinging out at the one blocking where he wants to go he finds nothing but air, moving to put his back against the wall he again lets the tip of the sword rest on the ground turning it slightly so that the blade is facing up "Parlor tricks, and here I thought you would be above those. laughing quietly Then again, I guess that little flash light could be considered the same. So what do you say that we get this over with banish your illusions and lets end this