Arriving to harper rock city [Open]

[Theron Wicked (DELETED 11773)]

It was a cold night when theron arrived at the city, his car had broken down so he had thumbed it the last miles to harper rock city now he had finally arrived.

The stranger that sat beside him driving the car stopped and said
“Where here harper rock you now i heard a lot of strange rumors coming from here you sure this is where you want to go?”


Theron looked out the window and observed the desolate streets ahead he looked upon the stranger, he was in his twenties blond haired well trained young guy.

theron answered his question with a low voice almost a whisper,
“That is why i'm here, Thanks for the ride.”


Theron gave the youngling some gas money for his troubles, thanked again for the ride, and stepped outside onto the street, closed the car door, and waved the stranger goodbye.

The car made a quick u turn and spun away. Theron looked on at the grey mercedes that got smaller and smaller until it finally disappeared on the horizon.

He walked on the abandoned streets of harper rock without a destination in mind. He reached into his pocket and took out a pack of cigarettes, opening the pack he took out a cigarette with his mouth and lit it. The flame of the match made him notice his own reflection in a store window. He took a breath of smoke and thought to himself that he was getting really old.

In the reflection he saw an old man in his sixties with gray hair and some tired eyes.

He took another breath of smoke and looked upon his outfit.

He was a minimalist he didn't really own anything except the clothes on his back, a black shirt, blue jeans, and hat on his head. He noticed that the store was the kind that sold liquor and that it was open. He tossed his cigarette to the side and thought that he could do with a drink before he found a motel to sleep for the night. And so he disappeared into the store to buy a bottle of whiskey and a new pack of smokes.

[Cristiana]

Most of the daylight she had tossed and turned instead of sleeping. Another day of laying with her eyes open in bed alone. Sometimes it got her motivated to do things, other days like this she just felt the overwhelming depression sinking from her chest cavity into the mattress and onto the floor. It sucked not feeling like you fit in anywhere, or with anyone. Feeling like the world was better off without you so you did what you could to blend in or not exist at all at times, and sleep the time away when you could sleep at all.

She finally gave up trying to sleep an hour before nightfall. After a much needed cup of tea so strong the spoon could practically stand on its own, she meandered around the apartment. It was supposed to be her ‘night off’ but she would probably still go in and see if there was anything that needed doing. Today thus far her biggest accomplishment was getting out of bed and getting dressed. It was a start, right? Right.

She decided to go for a drive singing along with the radio. Normally she would have a semi decent voice but tonight she was messing around and not caring to match the tone. It was something, and singing always made her feel a little better.

A little wicked
That's what he calls me
'Cause that's what I am
That's what I am

No one calls you honey when you're sitting on a throne
No one calls you honey when you're sitting on a throne
Beware the patient woman, 'cause this much I know
No one calls you honey when you're sitting on a throne
One of these days a comin', I'm gonna to take that boy's crown
There's a serpent in these still waters, lying deep down
To that King I will bow, at least for now
One of these days a comin', I'm gonna to take that boy's crown

'Cause I am, I am
A Little Wicked
I am, yes, I am
Hands red, hands red
Just like you said

I am, A Little Wicked

She went past a checkpoint without problems. The guard didn’t even have her roll down her windows with it being so cold. Then again she could pass for a mortal with her aura and she was pretty sure they had people there reading auras. So she was waved through as she made her way to where the Honeymead Market was and skimmed past it. She was heading back toward Lascivious Legacy Towers when she realized she had smoked her last cigarette. So she pulled into the parking lot of the gas station there in Cherrydale and crumpled the package in her hand while getting out of the car. She tossed the pack in the garbage can with nothing but air scoring her the invisible points for the game. It was little wins like this when you were as severely depressed as she was tonight.

She waited in line, hands tucked into her pockets. “Marlboro Menthol 100’s please.” She told the clerk through the hole in the plexiglass giving an air of protection for the clerk. She looked behind her and wanting to feel a little better, “And whatever this guy is getting, add it to my tab.” She nodded to Theron to add his things in with her. Not that she looked like she could afford it, looks can be deceiving. The band t shirt she had on was almost thrice her size and a tent on her. The skinny jeans Becky had placed in her closet. But the jacket covered it all so you couldn’t really see much except through the opening where the zipper was. Her hair was still tousled but it wasn’t like she had to impress anyone.

[Zodiac]

One of the curious points of existence the girl frequently pondered was why the emergencies always pop up when one was trying to enjoy a bit of personal time. It never failed. After visiting a pair of her shut in clients, she had decided to go for a calming walk in the night. It was always one of her favorite things to do. In recent times the night had begun to get hazardous to all who chose to venture out, but now a strange calm was settling in as if Harper Rock was in the eye of a storm. Bad things had happened, worse things were sure to follow, but for now it was almost sedate.

As soon as she began to enjoy the moment, her phone began to scream at her. The gypsy took refuge in an entrance way to a shop that had closed down due to current events. She almost melted into the shadows as her fingertips danced across the keyboard instructing the ones who had called her how to solve the situation at hand.

‘Meow”

Her eyes left the screen and looked at the large cat that sat upon her shoulder. ”What’s wrong, my love? Something coming to try and eat us?” she whispered into the feline’s mind. She turned in the direction the cat was staring at and saw the man walking along the street. She muted the phone and slipped it into her pocket as she melted back into the shadows more. Her eyes taking in details quickly.

‘Outsider.’ Her thoughts concluded. She did not like shoving people into classifications like this, but nothing else fit what she was seeing. His gate was too calm and steady. He was not checking for what might be creeping up on him. She saw no hints of weapons hiding in his clothing. Clueless? Or someone who knew exactly what they were walking into and inviting the night feeders to claim him? Older man. Was something wrong with him? An illness one might hope being turned would cure?

An earlier version of herself might have approached him. Asked questions and offered guidance, advice, or directions, but now she left most to their own fates. To ‘speak’ would reveal what she truly was and with no clue about this man (who finally had the sense to walk into an open store) she would be playing with fire.

”Let’s go, my love.” she cooed to the cat as it rubbed it’s face against her cheek. ”This is not our problem.” A gesture of blessings and luck to the man before she slipped out of the alcove and turned down a nearby alleyway. She paused as she heard a car approaching and was surprised to see Crissy getting out and going in. Part of her felt better. Cristiana was more suited to help the man if he required it. Unlike Zodiac, Crissy seemed to have no worries if any knew she was vampire.

A second blessing drawn into the air, and then she left the area. She would ask Crissy later about the man.

just passing through

[Theron Wicked (DELETED 11773)]

Theron thanked the kind stranger and put his bottle of jack daniels on the checkout and asked the clerk for a pack of marlboro reds.


He felt a sudden feeling of sadness fall over him as he looked upon the women that were about to pay for his things and realised that she reminded him of somebody from a long time ago, his wife that was taken from him some thirty five years ago the outfit was spot on the jacket the jeans even her unkempt hair.

He tried to shrug the feeling of but got lost in a trail of thoughts, memories, nightmares.


he sat in his old car, he was young again, twenty five matter of fact.

He saw himself in the rearview mirror and noticed that all the gray hair was gone and he had no tired eyes.

The night was dark and it hung a scent of fear in the air. he had just arrived from work, he remembered but he also remembered the horrors that would come next.

He heard the scream, he always heard the screams coming from his house.


Theron woke up from the flashback he looked  around a little embarrassed wondering if anybody noticed, he wondered for how long he was gone this time. It did not seem for to long.

he took his things said thanks to the kind women and hurried out of the store when he was outside he opened his new pack of smokes took out a cigarette and lit it with his matches his hands were shaking so he had to try twice before it was fully lit he inhaled the thick smoke, opened the whiskey bottle before he exhaled and then quickly started drinking, desperately trying to drown the horrible memories.

[Cristiana]

The man stood there lost in whatever memory haunted him. She reached around him handing the clerk the money through the little slot and shook her head and hand for the guy to keep the change. After waiting a moment, she watched him walk off. Something was off about the male so it was just natural she followed him out of the store.

The first thing that hit her was she picked up a faint scent of Zodiac there. She smiled to herself, eventually she would go see her tonight but right now, this male seemed to need something. She lit her own cigarette taking a drag. Walking toward him she reached out her hand giving the man a spare lighter she had in a pocket.

“Here man. So um you headed anywhere? It’s a bit cold out here to be strolling around out here. I got my car, so you need a lift I can do that.” But only when she spoke did the frost of the cold come out. When she wasn’t talking the frost of cold wasn’t there, as in no breath. Or maybe it was just the scarf that slipped over her mouth between words and puffs to make her look colder than she felt.

She motioned toward the car, which was nothing too impressive. It was only a Honda Civic. There was nothing fancy in the vehicle. It was one that her thralls used while she slept. “Come on man, it’s freezing out here and the car is still warm. I ain’t gonna bite you!” With that she laughed and headed toward the car. It was cold out, and only going to drop. Winters here in Canada got harsh. She should talk to some of the city council members into getting heating lamps to line the streets. She could host a party for it at the club once all her other projects died out.

[Theron Wicked (DELETED 11773)]

Theron stood there drinking from his whiskey bottle when the woman approached him with a lighter in her hand. It was then he remembered the cigarette he had lit.

he put the cigarette in his mouth to get a free hand then took the lighter the woman was offering he put it in his pocket and said thanks. He wondered about the lady as he looked on her civic drank from the whiskey bottle and smoked his cigarette, why was she so kind to him all he had seen in this world were horrors and pain. in all his travels the only thing he had seen were selfish acts. He could not believe that somebody would pay for someone else's things and then proceed to offer them a ride with nothing to gain for themself.


“well i'm trying to find a mottel to spend the night and then i'm off to work”


Theron noticed something odd about the woman a gut feeling told him that she were dangerous and he always followed his instincts. But she had been so kind, no she could not be a monster it was probably only him starting to get paranoid. he looked on the freezing woman and felt for her, Poor thing he thought hear she is trying to do her civil duty and help an an old man that seems lost and hear i am letting her freeze to death because i'm worried about vampires. He took another swig of the bottle before he closed it and asked her


“can i smoke in the car?”

[Cristiana]

“Why mister, you sure as heck can smoke in the car! I do all the time! Thanks for the reminder!” She bent down leaving her apple shaped tail end stuck in the air as she reached for the ashtray. She went to empty it into the nearest receptacle before prancing back to the car to climb in and stick the ashtray back into the lower dashboard area.

Once the car was warmed up enough, she put her hands on the steering wheel and took off north of Honeymead toward Cherrydale. “Well, you could look for a motel room, or, I could let you crash in one of my empty apartments that is already decorated and filled with food.” She glanced from the dark icy roads to him then back to the road.

“Why on earth would you be foolish enough to not have a place to stay here? Don’tcha know it gets cold here. Last night with wind chill it was negative two, and tonight it is supposed to go to negative six. Not very smart for roaming the streets or hanging out. So, free lodge and food or cheap *** motel and delivery pizza? Your call. Oh and the subway transit is only two blocks from the apartment building. I live in the building but not the one apartment, I’ve another apartment. Added bonus, Becky and Mindy also live in the building so they can assist you with anything if you need it. So what brings you to this po’ dunk town? I mean you are either a vampire hunter, crazy or a loon looking to get turned into a blood sucker trying to live in this place.”

Her head bopped up and down along with the song. For a cheap *** exterior, she had heated adjustable luxury seats installed in the car. The stereo and speakers were state of the art and linked to her Spotify account so it was blasting the music she liked, anything from classic rock to more contemporary, into jazz and blues or it could be pop song. Who knew what would come on next with her. While she was waiting for him to talk the radio was playing, Bullet For My Valentine Bittersweet Memories, to which she was quietly singing to herself.

[Theron Wicked (DELETED 11773)]

Therons eyes followed her movements letting him subconsciously take in the picture of her fine curves as she bent down to pick up the ashtray, it put a smile on his face.

When she walked away to empty it of all the ashes he sat himself down in the passenger seat of the honda civic he lit a another cigarette while he was waiting for her to come back.

When the car was warm enough the drove off it was then he felt how cold it must have really been outside he rolled up his sleeves revealing tattoos of runes that covered his forearms, in fact the tattoos covered all of his upper body.

He remembered when he had gotten them. It was not so long ago he had been invited to some kind of temple the wizards and priests had offered him a real weapon against the undead that he had accepted, the called him a paladin but he did not stick around after the very painful rituals to find out what that meant he was in too much of a hurry to get to harper rock that he didn't even know how to use the weapon that he acquired if its even real, in fact he was extremely drunk during that whole ordeal so he can't remember bits and pieces of what was said and done to him.


The woman had offered him a place to stay he looked on her still in shock that she was so nice to him, his paranoid brain started to be a little worried but theron liked this women she was charming, kind and beautiful. Of course he knew that she was to young for him and that he was too old to think like this but women had always been his weakness.

He took a breath of smoke and said  


“I would love to stay in your apartment for the night if it's not too much trouble”


The thought of food made his stomach rumble and he realised that he had not eaten today. But what made him  make up his mind and decide to stay in her apartment was the thought to be closer to her even if he would not admit it, not even to himself. Besides an apartment or an cheap motel room, the choice was pretty clear.


Her question took him by surprise, she knew about vampires, she asked him if he was a vampire hunter he thought upon the question as he looked out of the car window thinking if it was wise to reveal himself to a stranger even if it was a good stranger. he had to be careful in his line of work or he would lie face down in a ditch somewhere sucked dry of blood he had seen it many times before. In a desperate try to change the subject he reached out with his hand towards the woman and said


“I think i forgot to tell you my name. Its Theron, Theron Wicked my friends can call me Ron

[Cristiana]

“Theron Wicked, interesting name. It’s rather funny as I was just listening to this song.” She turned the music back on to the song that was playing before she had went into the store. A little Wicked by Valerie Broussard. She had wondered if there was any relations to the Broussards here in the town. After the chorus, she chuckled softly and turned the volume down to an acceptable level.

“I’m Cristiana, but you can call me Crissy. I own the Metronome Club in Wickbridge, Enchanted Wedding Inc over in the Honeymead Market, also Immortal Night Studios which is a record store and music recording studio, and Happy HomeMakers where you can go to buy furniture and home decors. I also help run a school and am funding up a charitable organization with the local homeless shelters and clinics to make medical attention and needs more readily available to the people in town. So if you need a job, you just let me know as I have a ton of positions available at the moment.”

Since he had skipped over the whole vampire thing, she knew something was up. She pulled up to the building and got out of the car. From the outside Lascivious Legacy, or LL as she called it, looked like a castle with the old stone and mortar walls. It was old enough there was ivy creeping up half the building giving this warmed old english appeal to it. It stood four stories high, which wasn’t nearly tall enough. She wanted to do a bit more construction on the place, if and when she talked to the town council. After opening the heavy wooden reinforced doors she let him into the foyer area and rounded the front desk. A quick search through the drawers and she found the spare set of keys. “Welcome to Lascivious Legacy, you can stay in Apartment 2.” She dangled the keys out. “Little tip though, don’t bring work home with you. I don’t mind you staying here as long as you need to just I like to keep my places as neutral territory, the club and here. If anyone gets attacked here, the building is guarded with magic so bad bad things will happen. You cool with that?”

Had he yet figured out what she figured out the moment he tried to avoid the subject of vampires. They were on the opposite sides of the spectrum. He was gearing to be a vampire hunter while she was a vampire. And yet here she was still willing to let him inside the apartment building. Not that anyone would be able to tell she was a vampire; she could eat and drink as a mortal, she had a mortal glow to her skin and a mortal aura. She normally fell off the radar unless you already knew. He was new to this town so maybe she still had a chance to make a friend and show, not all of her kind was terrible, as she suspected not all like him were either. It was a slim small chance.