Path of the Vampire forum

Posted: **11 Jul 2015, 15:34**

The new toy, that her also newly acquired sire gave her, was nestled in the bottom of her bag, as it hung from her shoulder that she had slung it over. The weight of the gun pulled a bit on the straps. It was a some sort of automatic and looked like it came straight of a mafia movie. Astrid was going to have to spend some time getting to learn how to use it.

The other gun that she had been carrying, had been much smaller. It was a hand gun and could hardly even be felt while carrying it in her bag. In all honesty, it had been a somewhat puny piece, but it served it's purpose.

The gun had been only one of the gifts imparted to her that night, she also was given an enchanted sword. Now this was what really caught her attention. There was just something about the feel of cold hard steel in the palms of one's hands; a magic that can be felt as you lift the blade and slice through the air in front of you.

As Astrid looked over her new sword, she dragged her fingertip down the length of the blade, admiring the workmanship of it's blacksmith. A lot of skill and time had gone into the forging of it. It was a work of art.

Being appreciative of her sire's gifts, she knew that based on what she had already ran into, in the short amount of time that she had been turned, that they would more then likely have plenty of opportunities to be used. If she had thought the city was a rough place at times, well, Astrid now felt as if she had back then lived in a Disney version of the city when compared to the crazy **** she had found herself dealing with now.

After putting her new gifts into their new homes, Astrid began wandering around the shop. It was a shop that apparently belonged to Alex and was located in the mall. Every detail in the place seemed to have been meticulously thought out , right down to the color scheme. Alex's essence just seemed to permeate out of the decor. Even though Alex had left a little earlier, Astrid could still feel her presence all around her.

Then as something near the wall that was closest to her caught her attention, her blue eyes cut toward it. It was a swirly like haze of blue stuff and something that Astrid had never seen before.

Her steps were a bit slow as she ventured over toward it, to get a better look. The closer she got to it, the more curious she became. Then she took one more step and found herself standing in the middle of the blue haze and just as she did, the environment of the shop had disappeared and what replaced it was the walls of what seemed to be made of rock.

Her eyes blinked a bit as they adjusted to the darkness. The dankness of the room could be felt in the air. It was obvious to her, once she got her bearings, that she was standing inside of some caves.

"what the hell?" Her voice broke the silence of the room.

Just as Astrid started to become brave enough to step further into the caves, a green sparkle beckoned her attention. She immediately ran toward it and reached down and scooped it up. Holding it up to examine, she saw clearly that she had an emerald. It was the biggest one she had ever seen.

"Yes, score." Astrid did a quick celebratory dance, just before she dropped her find into her bag.

Needing to find her way out, she walked a bit further into the caverns. It was really easy to become disoriented really quickly, due to the fact that all of the walls and other surroundings looked exactly the same. Astrid soon found herself to be lost. She had made just two many turns around corners and she lost any sense of direction from that point forward.

After a few quick sprints and couple of more rounded corners, Astrid chest begin to tight a little; the precursor to a panic attack. She then became a bit worried that she might had been in a bit of trouble.

"How in the hell am I going to get out of here? She leaned against a wall. Her voice echoed through the tunnels the last syllable of the last word she had said. It was as if the cavern's themselves were mocking her.

After what seemed to be hours (but were actually only minutes), Astrid just sat down in the middle of the ground, she closed her eyes and took in a very long and deep breath.

"Crap. Helloo! Can anyone hear me?"

Posted: **13 Jul 2015, 14:58**

Cosimo sometimes wondered if he was a cat in another life. Or some other equally curious creature. But, after having recently acquired a new cat and taking it home with him, that was exactly what he felt like. He had watched the creature—whom he had dubbed Artù, after King Arthur—explore his new home while Cosimo sat on the couch and watched, sometimes stalking after Artù when he went into the other rooms. The cat had crawled under beds and behind couches, jumped up onto benches and dressers, sniffed out the bathtub and the toilet, had pawed at cupboards to try get them open, and had generally squeezed himself into any nook or cranny that he came across.

That was how Cosimo dealt with this city. A whole city. He had been here a few months, now—five, at most—and still definitely could not say that he had explored every single nook and cranny. The Quarantine Zone and the Catacombs could be crossed off his list, the latter of which he had become fond of mainly because he wondered what he would discover Athena doing next. The sewers he knew well only because of his brief stint at a Paladin.

The caverns, once he found himself inside of them, were an entirely new beast. He, too, had got lost the first time around. But, thankfully, Elizabeth had given him a tome which took him right back home again. But he would not give up so easily. The next time he went down into the caverns he took a packet of chalk, and he marked the walls where he had been in different colours so that he could find his way back out again. And, if that failed, he could just tome.

Having been groomed as thief and a con artist from the age of sixteen, Cosimo was, of course, only in it for the jewels. He avoided the foe whose paths he crossed only because he had tried, once, and had discovered that he was not at all skilled enough in combat—yet—to take them on.

There was a khaki messenger bag slung over his shoulders, both his gun and his sword holstered for now. They were in plain sight, because he doubted he’d run into anyone who’d question him too much down here. His pants were dark tan and his shirt a creamy white, long sleeved with only a few buttons at the chest, which were undone. His hair hung over his face, most of the time, but he tucked it behind his ear as he bent down to retrieve another sparkling stone… when he heard a voice.

The question bounced and echoed, and he couldn’t quite figure out where it had come from. So he had to encourage the girl to call out again. He stood, and cleared his throat.

”I call Marco. You call Polo. Marco!” he called, his Italian accent thick. He smirked, as he waited for the response.

Posted: **14 Jul 2015, 00:45**

Looking down at her white t-shirt and blue jeans, her nose wrinkled up. There was no way she was getting out of that place without getting dirty. In an almost surrender type move, she ran her dirty hands down the sides of her jeans before she started to dig around in her black leather messenger bag, that she had luckily flung over her shoulder, before stepping into that transporter thing. Man this vampire thing was weird.

Maybe she was going to have to learn to not be so eager to jump in feet first when she saw something that was out of the ordinary. Note to self, always ask Alex, first. With that settled in her mind, she had given up on the task of finding her cell phone.

Then out of no where she heard someone else.Her head shot up when she heard a disembodied voice suggesting a game of Marco Polo.

She stood up, causing her bag to fall to her hip with a clink. Astrid started walking toward the sound of where the voice was coming from. The way voices echoed off the walls in the caverns, it wasn't as easy of a task as one would think it should have been.

She called out as instructed. "Polo!" She couldn't help but smile as she called out.

Posted: **15 Jul 2015, 13:31**

Cosimo readjusted the strap of his bag on his shoulder. It slipped around and settled at the small of his back, clinking satisfactorily. The caverns were dark, but they seemed to be lit by industrial lighting; the same kind of lighting that would light up mine shafts, except these ones were old. Some blinking on and off, some fizzled out completely. In sections of the caverns there was complete darkness, but at least there was residual light to bathe the way.

In the distance, there was the sound of gunfire. Too far away to be close; maybe in the tunnels up above. Nearby, there was the trickling tickling sound of water, dripping into some underground reservoir. That was all Cosimo could hear for a couple of seconds, before the female voice echoed back to him. Polo! A willing player.

Cosimo’s head cocked to the side and he tried to focus on the sound, on the way it echoed and where might have come from. Ahead, somewhere. Had to have been. He started to walk forward, slowly.

”Marco!” he called out, voice a little more jovial, this time. He shoved his hand into his pocket and retrieved the piece of chalk; again, he marked the wall before he turned a slight corner, ear cocked for next utterance of Polo.

Posted: **19 Jul 2015, 02:08**

So many sounds ricocheted off the cavern walls around her. With her eyes wide and all of her senses on full alert, she listened and walked. The cracking sound of the rocks and dirt could be heard from beneath her shoes with every step.

Just as she rounded another corner, she heard gunfire in the distance, this caused her spine to stiffen and her head to turn toward the direction that it had come from. Even after the week she had, it was still something she couldn't quite get used to. She reached down and patted at a hard lump in her bag; knowing that her new gun was so close, it gave her a small bit of comfort.

Walking down a long stretch of caverns, the lights flickered and she heard the loud utterance of Marco, once again. It was odd how hearing the voice of another can make you feel less alone. Astrid moved closer to the source of the sound.

"Polo!" She yelled out. Just as she finished saying the word, another sparkle caught her eye. This time it was red. "ooh my favorite color." Astrid moved toward it, ready to scoop it up.

Posted: **23 Jul 2015, 11:07**

When the next echoing round of ‘polo’ came around, Cosimo assumed that the source was not too far away. The sound was louder, as if it could just be around the next corner; it wasn’t just an echo, but had a distinct and solid quality to it. There was a corner just up ahead, a junction at a kind-of T intersection, if such a winding, rough kind of place could have T intersections. He kept his ‘marco’ to himself until he rounded the corner and peered down the long hall that it led to. There was a moving body there; a petite looking female that swooped down to collect something from the ground. Probably a gem. Cosimo had a few of those tucked away himself.

He adjusted his bag again, as it kept slipping and bumping annoyingly against his thigh. As he got closer, he ascertained that this woman was another punter; another explorer, just as he was. She did not look like any of the foe that could be found down here. Whether this was his Marco Polo partner, however, was yet to be discovered. There were plenty of others who liked to explore these caverns, probably specifically for the riches they could help to produce.

He cleared his throat as soon as he was close enough, to announce his presence and to not startle the girl.

”Marco?” he asked. Waiting for her to either look at him in confusion and tell him her name was not Marco, or to confirm that she was indeed the one who was lost and in need of aid.

Posted: **26 Jul 2015, 01:02**

Pushing her hair away from her eyes, Astrid stood up immediately when she heard the reply of "marco" close by. It wasn't an echo that time and it was definitely no longer a voice without a body. Her wide eyes caught the image of a male figure standing on the other end of the cavern in which she was standing. He appeared to Astrid to be rather easy on the eyes. The way his white shirt draped over his chest, it was obvious that the man wasn't a stranger to a gym or at the very least sit ups.

Astrid shifted her footing and smiled. "Polo!" She yelled out to him, even though it was apparent that she no longer needed to yell. She kind of hoped that he would find the humor in it, besides she was of the character that tended to fill awkward silences with a joke or two.

After dropping the red jewel into her bag, Astrid walked closer toward him. The closer she got the better she could see him. Yes, he was definitely handsome and he seemed to have the type of face in which one seemed to let their guard down around them. This was the case with Astrid, that was right up until she caught a glimpse of his holstered gun and sheathed sword.

She stopped her advancement toward him and the look in her eyes gave away the worry that had started to fill her. After the many times that she found herself being attacked since her turning, Astrid couldn’t help but expect the worse case scenario. Her spine stiffened and with bated breath she waited for his next move. She really hoped that he was friend and not foe.

Posted: **05 Aug 2015, 16:01**

Cosimo stepped closer as soon as the girl answered with Polo. His boots crunched over the gravel. At no point did he reach for his weapons. The girl he had stumbled upon looked nimble enough; petite. A redhead. Although he had been at a distance, he had recognised that smile of hers. Like she was a kindred spirit. Lost here in the caverns with only a stranger to guide her, but she had been trusting enough to smile. Or at least to give that first smile. Now, she looked mildly terrified.

No, terrified was too much. Cautious, was how she looked. Wary, and so she should be. It was a sad fact of life, but most people could not be trusted. Cosimo knew that he was no threat, however. All he had to do was try to ease this girl of her doubts.

”Si. Polo. But my name is not Polo. It is Cosimo,” he said. The smile he gave echoed the one that had graced her lips previously; the fleeting smile that had been replaced by concern. He even held out a hand for the girl to shake, if she was so inclined. Her hand would meet cold skin. Cosimo assumed that she was a vampire, also. Something about her gave that vibe.

”You are still lost? I made that mistake, once,” he said with a chuckle. He then held up the chalk that he carried in his opposite hand. ”This time, I am leaving myself crumbs,” he said, that smile broadening in a proud kind of way. Like he was a kid in a playground who had discovered something new, or who had invented the best new fun game. Though it wasn’t really a game. He was just being practical.

Although he spoke loud enough to be heard, his voice was still low. Not that it mattered, really. If they were going to attract the attention of the foes that stalked these tunnels, they’d have done so already with their game of Marco Polo. They were sitting ducks, if anyone was tracking them now. Maybe that was why Cosimo now spoke in a clear mumble. They had found each other. But should probably keep moving.

Posted: **26 Aug 2015, 15:50**

The muscles in her body relaxed and the smile, that had come so easily to her lips, had returned. The ease in which the man spoke, in combination with his smile, was disarming and caused her to lower her guard. If he was indeed a foe, he was a cleverly hidden one. His tousled locks and casual attire definitely didn't scream out "danger".

Astrid's fingers stretched out as she reached for his offered hand. "I'm Astrid." Her blue eyes flickered over him while he spoke more. As he asked her if she was lost, her slender digits curled around his and she felt the lack of heat on the palm of his hand. Vampire; he was like her. She smiled and nodded her answer to his question. The man, who she then knew as Cosimo, showed her his cunning solution to the conundrum of the caverns; chalk.

"Genius." She let out a soft chuckle and let go of his hand. "I sort of came...unprepared." The truth was that she had no intention, whatsoever, of being inside of a cave. "So you, sir, are my hero. Cosimo..." She tried out his name. "Where are we, exactly?"

Posted: **04 Sep 2015, 01:28**

Astrid. The name sounded familiar, somehow. Like he’d only heard it recently. Except the face didn’t look familiar at all, and he was forced to stare for a couple of seconds before he regained his focus and he looked around them, at the crumbling walls illuminated by a light so dim that if they were stained with blood, it wouldn’t have been as noticeable. The caves might have seemed innocent enough, but they were as violent as any other hidden part of this city. Almost like that rift between this world and the next was creeping through all the cracks, and soon enough the foundations would explode, and all that darkness would take over the world above.

”They are called Algonquin Caverns,” he said, gesturing to the walls as he turned his attention back to Astrid. Astrid. He said the name again in his head, trying to recall where he had… seen it. Yes, that was it. He hadn’t heard it out loud, he’d read it somewhere. Was it in one of the books he had picked up recently? Was there a character called Astrid? He was distracted, and thus couldn’t figure it out straight away.

”I do not know how they came to be, but I do know that most of us seem not to be welcome here. But there are jewels, and they can be sold for a lot. So it is worth the risk, I think,” he said. It was the reason he thought most vampires came down here – to hunt for treasure.

”When we get out, we will be close to Moss End. At the East edge of the city,” he said, responding to her question in all capacities, rather than just the one. His curiosity, then, started to get the better of him, even as he started to lead them both back in the direction he had come, following the chalk markings that he had made.

”How did you get lost?”

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