Rather Be [Invite]

[Every]

x wearing

Her mind never strayed too far from her surroundings. The last time it had, Every had been shot by an unfamiliar face - a hunter, no less - who had disappeared before she could retaliate. As her hand had pressed into her stomach, the small shadow had cursed at the sight of the deep red soaking through her white t shirt. It was unnerving after nearly six years of bleeding an inky black substance. She’d made a routine of walking the streets at night, a patrol of sorts, trying to think of ways to repair the damage that had been done to Harper Rock. In some ways, she also knew she was looking for signs that Theodosia was actually out of her throne room. In other ways, she was checking for things that were worse than the zombies, mooncalves and ferals that had escaped from the rift.

"Every, I found the creature you were asking about." Zachary said, drawing her attention through the link that she’d been leaving open more and more often between their minds. He'd spoken out loud, drawing the attention of the theodosian mooncalf to where he was hovering. ”I’m on my way.” Her response was telepathic as she began to make her way towards the familiar landmarks, reaching out to the side of the brick wall and allowing her nails to sink into the stone of an abandoned building. Every supposed she would be lying if she didn’t like the fact that the town had become quieter. Over her time in Harper Rock, she’d learned that she preferred the company of a few compared to the masses, even if she could put on a friendly smile and charm her way through crowds.

Adapting, she’d learned, was something she was very good at. Survival, in the end, was her goal. And as she walked down a street littered with ashes, she supposed she was doing just that. Although, her mind didn’t allow her to forget the words, at what cost? as they echoed around her mind. Pulling her nails away from the wall, she ran them against the edge of her thumb gently. It had been almost a week since she’d last come into River Rock, the once busy part of town still. There were boards on some of the windows of the shops, the frown that had etched across her lips simply turning deeper as she heard the steady scuff of a boot moving unevenly against the asphalt.

Behind her, she heard the sharp crack that accompanied gunfire and she steadily went in the opposite direction. Even if she healed, she did not want to be scrubbing blood out of her shirt if she didn’t have to. It took her a total of fifteen minutes to make it to Zachary. She wasn’t in any hurry, and through his eyes, she knew the mooncalf hadn’t moved. With each foot drawing her closer, Every could feel the dark, familiar sensation beginning to touch upon her skin. Theodosia. It was the only sign of her that she’d been able to feel, to find in the city in the months that had followed the throne room aside from the rift expansion.

The creature looked at her, it’s gaze unwavering as Every stared back at it before folding her arms in front of her chest. ”Are you ever going to make a move to greet us, or did Amalea, Freyja and I get treated like **** for nothing?” Her telepathic message to Theodosia was never answered. By now, she didn’t expect to get an answer. Her attention went to the creature in front of her, her jaw clenching briefly before she asked, “I don’t suppose you can answer me, either?” Her fingernails tapped against her arm, ”It’s different, seeing an intelligent mooncalf. I don’t know what we’re going to get, setting her free.” Her hazel eyes studied it. Every wouldn’t attack it. Not after knowing how strong the vampire who had created it was in her weakened state.

Even now, the aura made her uneasy.

[Ursula Wolfe]

Tonight wasn't the best of nights. At least not for Ursula, in general, the night would actually classify as beautiful. Normally, Ursa would be out and about to take care of the zombies that came with the ever widening rift, or spending time in the newly discovered (by her) abandoned sewers. Where she picked up parts she'd sell in auction or practice her skills against the acolytes and the strange profit that screamed cult leader to her.

Not this night though. Tonight she just was roaming about the streets. Not even on her prized motorcycle, but on foot. Her long black hair, highlighted with red, danced like a cloak behind her in the wind. She didn't carry her weapons, for a good, solid year now, she didn't need to. A mere thought would bring her favorite sword and guns to her. They'd form in their holsters at her side and back as if they had been there the entire time.

She walked through a grassy area, her hands out slightly, her fingers dancing as if she were playing pianos on either side of her. At her feet, the grass died and turned black, weeds started to grow only to die as she passed as well. It was this reason that she was usually careful not to walk on or near any living plants. They were the first (and quickest) indication that there was something off about her. Licking her full red lips, she continued her stroll through the night. That is, until she heard a distinct growl.

Her head snapped in that direction and like that, Ursa, who had just been in a zone, was now in the here and now. Now she was walking towards the sound. There wasn't a lot she new about the new beasts, Jesse had only given her some information, the things she did know? They were not like other Mooncalves. No when these things looked at you, you could tell... they were figuring things out. Not only that, but they seemed to have a master. She had seen the look in the eyes of thralls though she had none of her own, the look was there. Not as distinct, but it was there. Another thing she knew? These things were wicked hard to beat. To date, she had not won a battle against one.

The closer she got, the more she realized that this one in particular was not alone. A woman was speaking to it, the names meant nothing to her. She had never heard them before, not even from Jesse. Ursula continued to watch the woman as she spoke to her. There was something familiar about the woman before her, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Then she mentioned that she had set someone free. Something snapped. Something Jesse said.

"Set who free?" She asked as she stepped out of the shadows, her eyes shifting between the woman and the beast. At first she had been ready to just watch the woman to see if she could beat the thing and how so she could replicate that against any other that might crop up. Now though, her curiosity was piqued.

[Every]

Her arms folded in front of her chest, the dislike that there was no answer increasing her negative mood. After everything that she and Amalea had gone through, she thought something was unbalanced. Not to mention, there were too many things unanswered. Her tongue ran over her teeth as she remembered that splitting headache, the way it'd cut through her skull and made her lose track of her thoughts. What power had Theodosia been promising, what truly would have been the sacrifice of killing the creature, had they gone that route? Micah's words echoed through Every's brain before she heard the footsteps approaching.

Every turned after she heard the voice, the face familiar to her, as well as the presence. Family, formerly. She was one of the Fforde's, although she hadn't seen her in some time. "Theodosia." The answer slipped past her lips with ease. In some ways, not being able to lie was easier than preferring not to. "She's an ancient vampire that was released several months ago. This is her creation. One of them, at least." Her gaze went back to the creature, frowning. "It's Ursula, correct? You're one of Jesse's."

Hazel eyes moved to her wraith and then to the creature not too far away, Zachary eyeing Every before he drifted off elsewhere. Both kept to a routine. It was time for him to go check on Amalea, as agreed. After everything the two had been through, and what had been revealed, she didn't like to leave the human alone for long. Yes, she was human, and while she wasn't as fragile as some wanted to believe, she wasn't as strong as she was believed to be either. "Surprised you haven't read the ******** on CrowNet. Granted, delusion of grandeur have managed to come into play."

She didn't miss the way that the mooncalf seemed to be studying them, listening. It set her nerves on edge. She could feel it's aura radiating off the creature and Every pressed her lips together in thought. As an afterthought, the vampiress put her weapons away and blew some of her hair out of her face.

[Ursula Wolfe]

Every spoke so frankly, Ursa was kind of shocked. Both names triggered things for her. Mostly, the most recent conversation with Jesse. Theodosia though was something she was the most interested in. The fact that she was able to remember the girl's name wasn't that shocking. Nor was it that surprising that Every remembered her. She gave a subtle nod of her head when Every asked about her and her being one of Jesse's. Her blue eyes shifted from Every to the creature and it's unnerving all knowing gaze. Then after one or two would be heartbeats her eyes traveled again to Every.

At the meantion of the Crownet, Ursa let out a rather unladylike snort, rolling her eyes. "I haven't read that in years, for that reason exactly." when it came to any paper now a days - or any social media for that matter, there was less fact and more fiction, because fiction sold. Fact, fact bored people. Most people. Not her though. She took a few steps closer to Every, her eyes shifting between beauty and beast. " I'd like to know more about the woman... Theadosia." As she said the word her eyes shifted back to the creature as if expecting some sort of fallout from the uttering of the name.

She then returned her eyes to Every and stood still. "To tell you the truth, Jesse was the first I heard of her, but he didn't know much. That of course triggered my curiosity. I used to be an investigator, sometimes curiosity is a hard thing to shake." She didn't really mean to go on that long, but it was the truth, investigator and all, the paranormal, even now, still fascinated her.

She didn't know what was setting her more on edge, the creature and that knowing gaze or the fact that it was so right out in the open. She wanted to take it out, but to date, she had never been able to beat one. "Why in the hell are these things so strong?" She asked, unable to hide the hint of weariness in her otherwise smooth voice.

[Every]

Her lips pressed together lightly as she considered the events that had followed after the incident down in the chamber. Things had changed in Harper Rock in the years that she'd been there; there were highs and lows. Every, herself, simply adapted to situations rather than worry too much about them. So far, there hadn't been too many negatives. She knew the government would have reacted at some point to mobilize more military to the streets - a city of vampires wasn't something that one could ignore for too long. Aside from the increased zombies and the population decreasing, all in all, it hadn't been that serious. At least, she suspected, it wasn't as serious as it could have become.

The sirens had thrown their kind under the bus. Eventually, Every hoped to look for a chance to return the favor. She wondered exactly how many secrets the Hebigumo foundation wouldn't want to be get out. Eventually, she would want to try and contact one Fabian Mueller, a scientist that had been named in the papers and see how far his research correlated to the sirens, too. It was added to a list that was growing day by day, week by week. She'd start marking things off when she had the chance. "Well, at least there's a positive note." The glimmer of a small smile played across her lips before she tucked her hands into her pockets. As Ursula mentioned the ancient, Every turned her head to face the other woman once more.

"We don't know much about her. A handful of us got a taste of her memories..." As she said it, Every could remember the various images that were almost burned into her mind. It came back to her occasionally in almost a reel like fashion: the sacrifices, holding herself down with stones to cross underneath the sea. It was interesting and chilling at the same time. "But she's an ancient one. Older than our elders, possibly even the first vampire." Every couldn't believe it. She'd always been one to believe in fate, the idea that it had been their destiny unnerving to someone who ran from her past as much as possible.

The question that Ursula asked was one that she herself had wondered. She still didn't understand how Theodosia was so strong, even as she was mummified. "It likely is attached to her power, too. She was able to beckon five of us without even so much lifting a finger." Her eyebrows furrowed together as she remembered the pull that she couldn't deny. "Four vampires and a blood thief. She was able to block out two appraisals, as well, at the same time giving us a massive headache." Her hazel eyes moved to Ursula curiously, "I can show you, if you'd like sometime. As well can a friend who was down there. My story is her story."

It was an open offer. She knew Amalea was as willing to show and tell. It was in an easier fashion that would allow the feelings and sensations that had been building in the throne room. "We still don't know what Theodosia plans to do, but chances are the bad and good will balance each other. She said there'd be power, but I only want to know more."

[Ursula Wolfe]

The first bit of information hooked her like opening a book and being drawn in by the first paragraph. Ursula blinked at first, keeping silent as Every spoke, there was something in the way she spoke about the vampire. She sounded almost, haunted. The idea that Theodosia may very well be the first actually sent a chill of excitement through her, and yet, as she looked on at the creature she created, she wondered if that was a good thing or not. The creature could give her nightmares, and there wasn't much now that could. Though a dark thought crossed her mind at a single thought, a thought that almost had her missing the rest of Every's story.

A vampire that could summon five people at a time, and not even just vampire, but a human as well? Granted, a blood thief was as close as a human could come to vampirism without actually dying and becoming one, still though. A human? Ursula looked on at the beast, it seemed to be listening to Every as closely as Ursa herself was. Listening on how Every spoke of how she blocked a power she herself didn't understand, as well as causing physical pain to those that had used the power on her. It was almost as if she were some sort of queen of the damned.

The offer of being shown had her speaking before she could stop herself, "Show me what exactly? And who?" Ursa was almost bouncing now, her body vibrating with the need for answers. Even as Every continued on her story of the newest founder of Harper Rock, possibly the beginning of the line of vampires.

The idea of bad being accompanied by good, was something Ursa never feared. Raised pagan, more a nature witch than any other, balance in everything was key to her. Good with bad, hate with love, light with dark, evil with goodness. It was all nature's way of keeping the scales balanced.

[Every]

The darkness that she could sense from the ancient vampire came back to her mind as she looked at the mooncalf once again. That same sensation was there, it was unmistakable. “I’ve felt power before, in this city a couple of times, but there was absolutely nothing compared to Theodosia.” Her eyebrows furrowed as she considered it. Her fingers tapped against her jeans. Her mind drifted back to the brief memories of human sacrifice. Every wondered if it was something they would have to deal with. So far, things weren’t too significant. The amount of human blood spilled wasn’t anything out of the ordinary given the circumstances Harper Rock dealt with on the regular.

In comparison, Every supposed the canadian town had an above average murder rate. In the long run, the evacuation was likely the best decision someone could have called for. Although, the crime rate had risen, the increase of soldiers in the streets made things easier to watch after. There were others on patrol in the street, too, taking down zombies. Her doppelganger, too, and her wraith, were often lurking around. Watching, listening. As Ursula asked what she meant and who, the petite shadow rolled her shoulders back before hazel eyes shifted back to the woman at her side.

Every paused as she tried to think the best way to explain it. The memory telepathy was a bit odd and it wasn’t something she could still quite explain other than, ”I’m able to project my memory - memories, really - onto another individual. They can feel everything I felt, see and hear everything I experienced. I don’t lie, therefore its an honest account rather than secondhand knowledge.” It was the gist of everything, really. She still didn’t understand how some could make an opinion after seeing a video that showed only a fight, but to each their own. ”You would be able to essentially be in my shoes during the event, which is also why I think you should speak to Amalea, my friend, as well. She was the one who opened the rift with the help of my thrall.”

The brunette shifted her weight where she stood. She was never good at standing still. ”She gains the same ability that I have when she takes my blood, and she is willing to share her side of the story, as well.” A shrug of the shoulder was offered before her hazel eyes moved over the creature across from her.