The Culling (Side Story)

[Enver Marshall II]

Miss Knight's question had Enver stop and look at her with a wide gape jaw, before he looked to Adley, sure he knew who the administrator was. How could anyone not know who that pompous *** was? But, Adley didn't give any clear indication that he knew who the guy was either, so Enver took a deep breath in [even though he didn't need to breathe] and slapped a palm to his face, before it slid down the length of his face.

“Right. So, let's start at the beginning. Once upon a time there was this guy called 'The Crow,'” He looked to the both of them, looking for signs of recognition, hoping it would tell their age, more or less. Hoping Enver wouldn't have to tell them everything, but when neither of them had any different face than a few seconds ago, Enver realized he had to start at the beginning. “So, he's watching us. Keeping tabs on the **** we do with our vampire powers. Using them around people, killing cops, breaking into places and leaving some recordings on a camera. Feeding off people. Whatever. He is supposedly the vampire police, more or less.” Enver started to walk, slow and steady, his steps focused as they kept heading East. “Only, once upon a time we got on this list and people knew you had done bad things. You could work it off by killing some stuff in the QZ, but over time, he became a dick, more or less and reneged on that. The only way you could get off this list was to die. Was a crazy time, and think I died about...eight times. Might have been seven, but it was more than a handful. Bunch of pricks called Tytonidae felt they were the sheriff in town, helping this guy out who was watching you when you ate, when you showered, whatever. Guy needed to get a life.” He shook his head, eyes narrowed. “Wasn't right. Not right. Everyone messes up, but humans don't even die for stealing ****, or eating in public. Prick.” He scowled, then looked to the both of them.

“The Crow skipped town because some of us had enough of his tattle-telling ways and life was okay for a while. Then this punk comes around. Talks down to us, tells us he's doing things for our benefit, but it's not true. It's like being offered a used car for a cheap price, then find out a few days later it's a ******* lemon.” Enver took a deep breath in and closed his eyes, before clearing his throat. He hadn't answered Adley's question. Was Crash important to him? Years ago, Enver wouldn't have hesitated to answer the question...but now...”The plan is to go into the woods, drag his *** out and put him in some detox program at my house. I've been in rehab enough to know the tricks, and between the three of us, the guy doesn't have my willpower or determination. Something has got to work. As for these Wendigo things...I've never seen them, or heard anyone talking about them. They might not even exist, and if they do...well...” Enver stopped once again and looked at the both of them. “Either of you a fighter?” His eyes remained on Adley, already suspecting that Miss Knight was more of a lover than a fighter, something Enver embraced so long ago, but forgot.

[Indigo]

Indigo sunk back subtly as Enver looked to her with obvious surprise that she had no idea what he was talking about. Looking between Enver and Adley she figured the answers somehow spill out from one of the two. As Enver gave the rundown of who the Crow was some of what Aldey shared with her came to mind. The unpleasantness of not having the one who turned him stick around to be there for him. The lack of support when he needed it, when the hunters came after him and sent him where he could never forget. The tytonidae. Her jaw tightened. He would never go through that again...in the very least he wouldn’t be alone. A brief gentle squeeze was given to his hand as she continued to listen to the history she arrived too late to witness firsthand.

The idea that something was out there watching every move, taking a tally and reporting things off. Enver mentions dying and she figures the two would have something more in common than she could offer or relate to. She wanted the change. She asked for it. That is when she hears Enver mention not just once but eight times and her well shaped brow arches. Eight. Her eyes freeze on him, their exotic pools were wide with interest and perhaps a wonder that was there even if the timing wasn’t ideal. He had been to the place that Jay had told her about. It was awful, it was worse than hell...perhaps even was hell. She was told it was a fight to get back out and even then if someone did they were lucky. Not everyone came back out. Her eyes narrowed slowly as he stated how unfair it was. She glanced to Adley who had been hunted down for those simple things. Things that humans do everyday. Adley was just trying to exist. He could have killed her but he didn’t. Neither did Kaspar or Jameson. Not until she asked them.

Enver was right. It was wrong what they did. Eight times over and Adley’s one. Her chin lifted and her jaws met firmly and held tight as it was revealed that the Crow had left. It sounded as if one evil was replaced by another. Now the administrator was trying to make the city their personal puppet troupe for their personal agenda. Indigo was about to interject with suggestions of trying to do the same with the administrator as was done with the crow but Enver was still going strong with the intervention that would take place once they finally caught up with Crash. Her only apprehension was her own experience watching someone in need of help but not willing to accept it. A slow draw of cool air filled her lungs as she looked to Adley. It wasn’t too hard to guess what perhaps was going through that golden head of his. It was a good thing Crash had Enver. There was empathy in his plans and it left Indigo nodding in agreement. She didn’t allow her thoughts to be consumed by Davion. It wasn’t the time.

“Wait…” Wendigo things didn’t sound good. Especially if Enver had not set eyes on them. She had crossed paths with fadebeasts and all the creepy things that could be found moving in places she had no interest in sinking into unless absolutely neccessary. It surpassed all her nightmares and then some. “Fighting?” She swallowed dryly, her big eyes widening as she sized up those she was in the company with her pace picking up as she did. “Can you charm them into submission?” She was hopeful.

[Adley Reed]

Adley listened as Enver explained, his shoulders squared and not a hint of shame radiating from him. He could feel the way Indigo slunk by his side, as if it were her – their – fault that they did not know. Adley, however, was confident in himself. His vampire life thus far had been survived through hurdles and falls, scrapes and hands and knees that he’d had to brush off as he got back up again. And he would always get back up. From where he was standing, though, he refused to feel ashamed for what he did not know. How was he? How was he supposed to share what he did not know with Indigo? One required a mindful and attentive sire to teach them, mentors of a kind. Adley could not pass on what had not been passed on to him. His only ‘mentor’ was Kaspar, and even then the Rockstar was more a friend. Some things just failed to come up in conversation.

Enver talked about death. He talked about Tytonidae – and there, yes, a scowl stretched Adley’s serene expression. His fingers tightened their hold of Indigo’s hand, responding to the squeeze she’d initiated. She got it, she understood; while she had not been there to experience it, to welcome Adley upon his return, she knew about it. He’d told her the story, how he’d hit rock bottom and had lost so much. The only thing he could thank the group for was the consequences. If he had not died, if he had not gone into that club looking for a willing vampire to feed on, would he ever have met Jameson? Or Kaspar?

He answered his own question. Yes. Inidgo had come into his life separate from his death, separate from the two men. Through her, he’d have eventually met them. It was through her that he’d met Kaspar. It was moot. He hadn’t needed to die at all. Especially given he was never told what he was dying for. Without Xylia, he’d have never known what he’d done wrong.

The information was all filed away; now was not the time to rage over milk that had long since been spilt and cleaned up – and nor was he sure he was comfortable sharing such intimate history with Enver Marshall. Indigo trusted the guy. Adley knew him, but not that well. And ayway, it appeared they were in a rush, heading into what could be dangerous territory. The last question that Enver asked was the weighted one, the one that mattered. With his free hand, Adley reached behind him, fingers closing on the hilt of the sword nestled between his shoulder blades.

”I’ll go ahead and say I’m an expert with a sword. Intermediate with guns,” he said. All they needed to do was give him a whiff of vampire blood and he’d no doubt go into a berserker fury. That might happen regardless, especially if Indigo was in danger.

”We’re getting the **** out of there if these things are lethal, yeah?” he said. What he did not say was that he refused to put Indigo in danger – but he didn’t want to belittle her by suggesting she should stay clear. If she wanted to help her boss to help the thrall that had shot her in the back, then so be it. But she wasn’t going to die for it. No, sirree.

[Enver Marshall II]

There were glances exchanged between Miss Knight and her boyfriend. Looks Enver didn't know anything about, but they didn't look like good looks. Had he said too much? Enver internally shrugged, his shoulders going up just a little bit with that no damns given attitude of his. If they liked Tytonidae, good for them, but he wasn't going to curb his opinion about them what so ever. He was sure every person in that group knew how he felt, and half the vampires in Harper Rock did too. If they just found out, well, it was what it was.

He looked between the two of them as Miss Knight asked the almost expected, yet perfect reply. It was so...her. He chuckled and then shrugged his shoulders. If anyone could charm anyone into submission, it would be Miss Knight. Enver often wondered if he wasn't one of those anyones. He had a feeling that Wilson was. “Not sure. I don't know a damn thing about these supposed Wendigo's.” He said honestly, before adding in, “If that's what you've got to work with then turn it full force. Who knows?” His left hand went to his chin, giving it a good stroke while he thought.

The Allurist nodded at what Adley had to say; the two of them mirror opposites in regards to weapon preference. Good. What Enver lacked, Adley could cover and vice versa. However, Enver could and had made some pretty decent weapons in regards to both of the spectrums. He looked around to see if Adley was packing and just what he was packing, because Enver sure as hell wasn't packing anything. He didn't bring anything anywhere most nights. Just wasn't his style. His weapon making had to do more with the craft itself and tinkering, than it was to benefit him from being used at all. “Yeah. If it gets too hot and heavy in there, we're out. No one's dying tonight if I can help it. If Crash wants to play Robin Hood or Jungle Boy, that's on him. Still, have to try and talk some sense into the guy face to face. I'm sure if he knew who it was, he wouldn't have been so trigger happy.” Enver nodded his head, taking a step to walk again. “Don't suppose you've got a weapon on you?” He asked, head rolling to face Indigo's direction, while displaying his empty hands, indicating he was lacking anything on himself, personally.

“I've got a boat not far out from the way we're going. With some small caliber guns. Nothing fancy, but hopefully they don't like being shot, should we encounter anything. Still skeptical, but who knows.” Enver said with a nod that accompanied a shrug. “Anything is better than nothing, yeah? Might even have a sword or two there.” Enver offered Indigo, should she need something herself. He started walking again, scrolling through his phone, trying to research what Wendigo's were—if they were even a thing anywhere. The pictures that came up, had Enver's eyes growing wide, before he decided that maybe he just wasn't going to share those images found on Google. “supposedly, they're a folklore and they're cannibals. Huh. Maybe they'll eventually take themselves out.” Enver grinned finding that amusing, and hopeful.

[Indigo]

Mr. Marshall made it known that his boat had a small general weapon stock if that was something of interest to them. Indigo blinked and wondered if it was the time to mention that Adley was rather skilled at forging weapons as well their use but soon decided against it. The pace they were keeping was consistent. It would appear they were on their way and the last thing they had time for was to stand over heat and manipulate steel and whatever it was that Adley used to create his pieces of art. Then again anything he put his hands on was generally improved. Her head nodded in agreement with Adley’s statement of getting out of Dodge if the Wendigo’s got out of hand. IF there even was such a thing. Soon as Enver relayed what his cell screen was revealing she knew that is what they would do.

“Folklore is reassuring.” She said out loud stepping in a longer stride to keep up with Adley’s lead with Enver as their guide. “I have yet to see the Headless Horseman riding around at night. Maybe this is something along that line that has been spun and passed around to locals to keep them out of a place for whatever reason.” She shrugged.

Then again she was always the one to be optimistic. Cannibals living in the forest sounded a bit far fetched with everything else that was already moving around. Maybe it was part of the growing drug subculture expanding to the outskirts and the Wendigo tales were an effective way to keep out the unwanted attention. The slums were saturated with police so why not hightail it to the boondocks? And what offered more proof that she could be onto something than Crash headed in that direction?

“I would think we have a better chance of coming across a unicorn in a pink tutu blowing bubbles.” Now if that did turn out to be the case then she was going to be eating her words and hopefully left with the same amount of skin on her body as she was currently walking in with. “But just to be safe stopping by your boat and picking up a little deterrent wouldn’t be out of the line of reason. Or a nice solid wooden paddle. Could knock some sense into whatever tried to interrupt the upcoming intervention.”

The truth was that Indigo actually had a gun but the farther they made their way in the direction they were going the distance increased between her and where she kept it. So much for that. Enver Marshall was not exactly the type to appreciate hearing his personal assistant randomly carried a weapon on her that could blow a skull into so many pieces that a bloody mosaic was left in it’s place covering numerous feet of ground or wall. She glanced to where Adley was known to carry his weapon and pinched her bottom lip between her teeth. The scent of her open wound and the mental image of what such a scene would do came and went as she applied pressure to her flesh with her bite. Moisture soon filled the air and offered the distraction she needed. It was a sure sign that they were close to the water where many were known to keep their boats.

“Are we close?” She asked feeling the throbbing of her lip after it was released. She looked up to sky as if she could tell by the stars what they had going in their favor. "We only have so much time to work with."

[Adley Reed]

”I make swords. If you ever need something better,” Adley admitted as Enver asked whether Indigo was armed, and mentioned the swords he might have had at home. Which meant he probably didn’t use them much. Adley had discovered in his nightly wanderings, however, that some things, indeed, did not respond to bullets like they should. A more hands-on approach was required. Most things can’t function if they’re missing heads or limbs.

Even if they didn’t encounter any mythical creatures, Adley was looking forward to encountering this ‘Crash’ person. By the way Enver was talking about him, about wanting so much to help him recover, the guy would be none too pleased if Adley crashed in there to stick a nice sharp sword through his heart. Maybe a scratch or two, though. No harm done. A warning, so that should the guy feel the urge to shoot Indigo in the future he might think twice.

If they did find some Wendigos, then so be it. Either way, Adley was looking forward to cutting something. Anything. He should have been apprehensive, but instead he was excited. If there was any anxiety whatsoever, it was on behalf of Indigo; he didn’t want Indigo harmed more than she already was. Adley took a deep breath, the sharp smell of Eucalyptus still prominent beneath his nostrils. So long as he didn’t breath in, the scent of blood was kept at bay. Still, the berserker lay beneath the surface, waiting to be let loose.

”Better to be safe than sorry,” he said in regards to weapons -- they should stop and get some for both Enver and Indigo. If worse came to worst, Adley would give Indigo the sword he carried -- he did well enough with his hands. Especially if these creatures had any life in them at all. Maybe he could bleed said life away with just a touch. Now wouldn’t that be nifty?

Adley, too, glanced skyward as Indigo suggested the time.

”I already have my weapon. Where exactly are we going? I can go on ahead, see what I can see. Meet you both there? I could get us a headstart,” he said. He wasn’t worried at all about what they might encounter, regardless of whether he should be. He, too, was reassured by the supposed ‘folklore’. If they were cannibals, anyway, if they did exist? It sounded like they’d eat their own flesh, or prefer the flesh of the living. Vampires could be safe from consumption, if so. Personally, he was more concerned about what else could be in the wilderness. He’d never been attacked by the Fae before but he’d heard stories. He kept to the city streets, keeping clear of the wilderness. Once upon a time he’d enjoyed camping, but since his ‘death’ he hadn’t been game to try it out.

”Could be they’re a form of Fae? There are different types, right? I’m frankly more concerned about them than anything else…” he said, fingers flexing. It didn’t matter. He was prepared, regardless.

[Enver Marshall II]

Enver listened to both Adley and Indigo as they walked and talked. He, and Indigo would need weapons. A grin cracked his features when she talked about getting a paddle to smack the Wendigos, Enver shaking his head in amusement at the imagery. Imagining Indigo with a paddle, smacking something on its *** that could be double their size. None of the images he had seen online were real, all man made art and the perception of what a Wendigo might look like...Enver hoped for all their sakes that the images were very, very wrong, just in case there actually were wendigos in the woods. “I’d like to do this in a ‘in and out’ sort of way. I don’t give a **** about what else is going on in those woods. And if they are fae…” He looked at Adley and shuddered, “We need to make it short and sweet. Ever been attacked by a fae? Damn near lost my head once before in the wilderness due to those ugly bastards. I’m sure their ‘cousins,’ won’t be any nicer to meet should we have the unfortunate instance to encounter these Wendigos.” He paused, then walked back into Indigo and Adley’s ‘bubble’ of personal space and put a hand on an arm for the both of them. “This might help.” He stated, using a telepath power that made him, and anyone he wanted to include, a little more dexterous than they normally were.

Adley suggested splitting up due to time constraints and Enver found himself slowly nodding as he searched through his phone to look for a picture of Crash at Enver’s bachelor party a couple years ago, He frowned thinking of where the picture was taken, and why, but turned the phone in Adley’s direction. “This is Crash. He’s got bright pink hair now. Don’t ask me why...he’s impulsive. Probably the drugs.” He admitted with a nod of his head, before tucking the phone away for what might be the remainder of the night. “If you find the guy before we get there, send me a text, yeah?” He asked as he fixed his suit coat and then looked to Indigo. “We’ve got about half a mile until we get to my boat. I know time is ticking, but I’d rather we go in with something, than nothing...Unless you just want to buy some pea shooter at a shop on the way there?” Enver asked, fine with either choice, because he was sure that with even a glock or some small caliber weapon, he could still manage to be a damn good aim.

Then he looked back at Adley, “As for a sword, that’d be good. If you have any that are decent. I’d pay a good price for a really good, nice looking one.” He took a step backwards, still in the direction of the boat. “Shall we?” He asked Miss Knight, making sure he wasn’t walking too fast, or far away, should she want to change her mind and hit the shop instead. It wasn’t like the Allurist couldn’t afford to buy a couple of new guns and bullets should she want to go that route.

[Indigo]

Indigo’s eyes widened slowly. Fae were something that she had known about when she got the run down on the do’s and don’ts of the world around her. By the time she was done listening to Jameson she felt like Adley may have got saddled with a mogwai instead of a woman he could finally touch. No being outside when the first rays of the sun were due to appear, no hanging in the outskirts or the wilderness because of the fae being vicious little bastards. She had yet to see one herself but she wouldn’t be disappointed if she avoided it altogether.

Okay, so right now what they were proposing doing was pretty much testing those first two warnings. They were heading to the forest and who knows if they would make it back out in time to avoid being turned to extra crispy critters. That is when Adley apparently was going to be heading into the forest ahead of them. He had a quick glance at the face on the screen that she couldn’t forget. Crash the lead happy crackhead who was the very reason she could feel the night air flowing into the depths of her flesh on her back thanks to the hole he left behind. Their space came to include Enver in that moment and with the contact of his hand something about it all eased her concern just a little.

“Is there anything else besides luck that Adley needs to take with him?”

Indigo found it hard to pull her eyes from where he was standing. She would give up every last drop of what she had to sacrifice, including her essence, to prevent anything happening to him. He found her and gave her life. A twist formed in her gut and her lips pressed lightly together. She knew trying to stop him from heading out without them was like neutering him then and there. Especially in front of Enver Marshall. He possessed a pride and the willpower that left her holding the air in her lungs. She stepped forward when waiting for either of them to say everything was going to be fine never happened. Oddly enough that usually was her role.

“You be careful.” She searched his eyes for that connection between them and found it in those haunting pools of hunger. Was it desire, revenge or perhaps something even more? “We will be right behind you.” She brushed her lips over the surface of his then turned on her heels. It was all the more inspiration to get going.

“Let’s do this.” She announced firmly like she did it every damn night of the week. Enver asked if she was ready. Of course she was. If Adley was brave enough to take the physical lead then her *** was double timing it to the nearest weapon and blazing a trail right behind him. “I will take whatever you got and make it work. Time to find out what goes bump in the night and collect your charge.”

Indigo allowed the scent of water draw her alongside her boss’s path. She never lost the pace needed to keep up with him. Golden ringlets shimmering in the moonlight and a wound marking her back that started it all was a stark contrast to what she was headed for. Indigo Knight stepped onto the docks that would find her a far different vampire then next time she did.

“Which one is yours?” Her indigo orbs drifted with concentration on each vessel they took in guessing which would be the one he claimed ownership of.

[Adley Reed]

Adley had no real issues with personal space, and Enver stepping into theirs wasn’t enough to have him rearing back. It was surprising, yes, but acceptable given Enver’s ‘dead’ state of being. Whether Adley happened to touch him or not was going to have zero effect. The allurist’s touch was electric, a jolt of energy slicing through Adley and only adding to the energy that was already there – energy that was only set on fire as Indigo’s lips brushed his own. So close, her jacket swaying open like it was, the scent of blood was strong enough to momentarily overpower the scent of eucalyptus. Before Adley could do anything about it she was gone, following on the heels of Enver Marshall, Adley left behind to gather his bearings.

Be careful, she said, and Adley wanted to scoff. As if he were superman and nothing untoward could ever happen to him. That kind of confidence was both dangerous and useful. It at least helped Adley on his path, fear taking a backseat to pride.

The image of the guy he was looking for was stuck like a poster in Adley’s mind; every time he blinked he could see Crash’s face on the back of his eyelids. Who else was he going to find out here? Was it camping season? Was he likely to run into many random humans meandering the wilderness at dawn, away from the beaten tracks? He doubted it. Anyone else he did find, well, maybe they would know something, maybe they could help.

”Crash!” he called from the edge of the wilderness. At his feet, the weeds had begun to wilt and brown. Nobody had said anything about staying silent, right? Was he going to run away? Or was this the easiest way to find him?

”No one’s going to hurt you, buddy. We’re here to help,” Adley called as he took the first couple of heavy steps into the undergrowth. All the green started to leech from the leaves around him. Everything he touched, everything he got close to slowly started to die. Petals fell from flowers and pollen oozed from trees only to harden and die. Looking behind him, Adley could see the path he’d made. It inspired equal parts dread and amusement. At least Enver and Indigo would know where he had gone. It wouldn’t be hard for them to follow him and find him. But nor would it be hard for any enemies to find him, too. Were the fae smart enough to pick up on a trail like this?

The sword was unsheathed from between his shoulder blades and, each new step he took into the wilderness was a soft one. Twigs barely crunched beneath Adley’s light step, the moonlight glinting from the silver of the blade. A vampire, surrounded by death. Sure, what was there to fear? Adley wasn’t much of a tracker but he knew to stand still every now and again, head cocked while he listened, eyes wide and searching for clues. There were places where the undergrowth was crushed, like someone had already been there. It was these clues that he followed, keeping silent now that he was inside – although he wanted to get Crash’s attention, there were plenty of other things whose attention he’d prefer to avoid.

[Enver Marshall II]

Did Adley need anything else besides luck? If those things were real and legit, then he'd probably need a flame thrower, but no one really had that at their disposal, did they? So, Enver just shrugged his shoulders as Indigo more or less went into full kick *** mode or something and Enver was following after her with two thumbs up shot at Adley, and a 'good luck,' muttered his way. Luck, was what he needed and then some. If not for the Wendi, then for Crash. If he found the guy before he or Miss Knight did, Adley would probably rather bash his head against a concrete wall then deal with all that.

They were on the docks sooner than anticipated. How Miss Knight managed to move so fast on heels amazed him. Determination. There was something with that, when it involved a person someone loved. And from what Enver could gather, Miss Knight cared a lot about Adley Reed. He wasn't sure if Adley felt as strong about Miss Knight, not that it was really his place or business. But Miss Knight certainly involved Adley in everything she did. He came with them around the world, to the New Year's Eve party and now here he was again. Sure, he was her sire, but Enver couldn't recall the last time he called on his sire. Then again, he didn't really have much of a choice, did he? Maybe he would do the same if River was in the city and around. He shook his head, not thinking on anything about River, Adley, or Miss Knight and their involvement in anyone's life.

He glanced at Miss Knight when she asked which boat was his, and then pointed to a row of boats off to the left hand side of the main dock area. “She's over there. Not the biggest boat out there, but she's never steered me wrong.” Enver said, his voice full of pride and even adoration for the inanimate object. There was no way Indigo would have missed it in the way he spoke; especially being a fellow Allurist. Lady had been all over with Enver, from his low days and nights, to his high ones too. She was his constant throughout the last decade or so. He, waved a hand over his shoulder as he started walking towards the left row of docks, his pace strong and sturdy, almost like Miss Knights had been as she lead them here.

As he closed in on his boat, Enver fished his keys out of his suit pants and found the key he needed to get inside the boat. “Like I said, nothing big is here...but...” He shrugged his shoulders, almost apologetic. When he encroached upon her, Enver held up his arms and showed her to Indigo. “There she is.” He grinned from ear to ear, then climbed aboard the private boat, the was lined up with other boats; some smaller and some larger than his. “Lady.” He said, wishing he could give Indigo the whole story on her, but time was ticking. “We need to go down.” He said, moving to the door of the cabin and unlocking it. “Come on.” He said, as Enver flicked on the lights that would lead them down into the belly of the boat.