An Eagle Without Wings (Pinger)

[sora]

Riku hesitated for a moment. Save a vampire? Never. Save a human? Yes. He mentally groaned but reacted anyway. Reaching within himself, he felt the power stir, eager to be put to use. He waved his hand through the air and a viel of darkness covered them. Only a small patch of sunlight remained in the middle, like a dome, so that the girl could see. Even though she was a vampire, this darkness was made to obscure specifically their vision.

If Meian could, he would have smiled. It seemed like there was a bit of light in Riku's black heart.

[guoping]

Panting, Natayla slowly brought her hands away from her face. They were blistered and burnt, as were patches of her once beautiful face. She let out a long ragged sigh, patting Hades who was looking up at her with big concerned green eyes.

"I'll be fine Hades, do not fret." She said reassuringly even though she was in an extreme amount of pain. "Thank you for helping me. Once you've returned me home, as Hades promised, I will pay you anything that you wish."

Natayla regretted her promise to pay Riku whatever he wanted. If he asked for a large sum of money all of her hard work would be for naught. She may even have to start all over if this assassin was greedy.

[sora]

Riku sighed very lightly. What was he getting himself in to? He walked over to her, picking her up bridal style. "Gno'fos aspi's," he said in an ancient language and it seemed like the edges of the dome went transparent so that people outside of the darkness wouldn't see anything. It would act as suitable camoflouge for now.

He started walking out of the park when at the edge, two women, one made from wood, one made from leaf. "How dare you, human filth? How dare you kill our sister!" They screeched as one.

Riku's eyes narrowed. "I have no grudge against you, tree guardians," he said, his voice move confident with his power so close at hand. "But if you refuse to step aside, I will not hesitate to use force," he added, darkness starting to seep out of the dome.

The two creatures clearly took the hint and backed off. "You will regret this, dark human. We will have our revenge."

Riku couldn't help but scoff as he continued walking past them. "I'll take you to my place. It's not safe to be out right now," he said and turned a corner. He continued for only another minute, coming to a regular appartment. He kicked open the front door, not really caring as he opened his own room just on the left.

His entire place was easily an assassin's dream home. Weapons hung on the walls and were littered all around the room. Books and even some scrolls containing techniques, as well as some on black magic were pulled from shelves but some remained in their place. To complete it, there was a fireplace and words ingraved on the top that read 'Mens vestri induviae ut vos can servo dimidium of lemma'. He walked over to a maroon coloured couch and set the girl down, gently, before unsheathing all his weapons and setting them down on a table.

[guoping]

Natayla sighed, settling into the maroon couch. This is not what she envisioned her day to be. It would take her at least three days before she would be at full strength and during the next few days she had 50 appointments. She cast a long look around the room, seeing weapons and books hanging on the walls, this was truly an assassins home. Hades was doing much the same from his perch on the arm of the couch above Natayla's head.

"Quite the collection you have here," he commented.

Natayla was too tired to scold him, but her eyes fell on the fire place. "Mens vestri induviae ut vos can servo dimidium of lemma... Interesting inscription, may I ask what it means?"

[sora]

Meian flew from Riku's shoulder to land on the hilt of a sword that was its stand while his master finished disarming himself, minus a few weapons he kept on his person at all times. "Mind your clothes so you can keep half of them," he answered. "It's an ancient greek proverb that basically means you can never be too careful, and even if you are very careful, there is still going to be some losses," he explained, taking a seat in a chair, looking at the girl. "Here's another one; Operor non surculus qua vos erant non sero," he said with a perfect latin accent. "Don't interfere in other people's business," he translated for her.

There was barely a pause before Riku asked. "So, how long is this going to take? I don't know how long it takes vampires to heal," he said, the word coming out with a bit more hatred than he originally intended.

[guoping]

Natayla nodded. "Good quotes, you must have suffered at the hands of vampires." she didn't mind his hostility, she was used to it by now. "Since I'm only half it may take a few days, but once it is dark I should be able to walk back to my shop." then she groaned and put the back of her hand on her bruised eyes. "I have so many appointments I don't know how I'll get to them now."

"Rest for once in your life," Hades, nudged her head with his. "You're injured, its ok to take a freakin' sick day."

Natayla simply shook her head and attempted to sit up. "The healing process will speed up if I have a bath, at least it it will heal some of the burns."

[sora]

Riku actually rolled his eyes. "Then your out of luck, half-ling," he said, keeping his tone from sounding annoyed. "I usually shower at The Silent Slayers so there's no shower here." He leaned back on the chair, his aqua cat eyes gazing out the window, moving once to the girl before back to the window. "And don't assume you know anything about me. Don't pry into my life and I won't ask you about yours," he added, responding to her first statement.

[guoping]

"Fair enough," Natayla nodded, not wanting to make an issue of it. "Now onto your payment. I can offer money, spells and charms to enhance your weaponry, copies forbidden spell books, just about anything involving magic I can give you."

"Nat, what abou-" Hades began.

"No, I'm not a pure-blood and I will not ask my father for that." she nearly shouted. "And do not forget the agreement that was made. I cannot receive help from them in anyway, not even a single meal."

"..." Hades fell silent. "Yes... of course."

"So take your pick," Natayla returned her attention to Riku, using a very professional tone. "how can I repay you?"

[sora]

Riku raised an eyebrow at their conversation but didn't press the issue. He kept his gaze on the slowly setting sun. "You can find something for me," he finally said. "I'm looking for a vampire." His eyes narrowed, as though reliving the fightening memory. "Since you're a part of his species, I assume you have the capabilities to do this," he said, looking at her.

Meian flew from his perch to Riku's shoulder. "Riku...I don't think-" He was cut off by the dark aura the assassin was giving off. Clearly the boy had put his powers to good use but they were getting stronger since he started looking for that vampire. "Very well..."

[guoping]

Natayla opened and closed her mouth several times. She did not want to sell out one of her kin, but then again they had cut just about every tie with their former coven, and there was probably nothing else Riku would want.

"It.. it depends on which vampire you are looking for," she answered finally, receiving a shocked look from Hades. "My family left our coven some years ago but we still are still kept in contact with them."

"There must be something else you want though," Hades jutted in. "A new sword, a set of knives, poison? All of us could be killed or worse if Natayla is found betraying the coven."

[sora]

Riku glanced at the cat for a moment before looking back at the girl. "I don't want weapons or magic texts. I can buy those from the Silent Slayers. If you don't want to help me, then I won't help you," he reasoned, turning to look back at the window.

Meian shot him a look. "I understand, half-ling. To betray your coven would result in an immediate execution. Something you should know by now, Riku," he added, looking to his master.

Riku sat there with a bored expression. "Yeah, yeah," he mumbled, used to hearing it.

[guoping]

It looked as if Natayla had no choice. It was either agree to help Riku or be tossed out into the sun. She didn't want to do either, but at the moment she knew she had to agree to help him.

"You should listen to your familiar." Hades glared at Riku.

"It'll be ok Hades, give me the name of the vampire you wish to... speak with, and I will see if I can find him for you." Natayla said. "If I do not know him there is no way I can assist you, but if I do, I can give you his general location."

[sora]

Riku was pleasently surprised when he heard her answer. "His name is...Shoushokuka. He transfered here from from the Tokyo coven after the war so he was safe," he explained.

Meian had realised there was nothing he could do to stop Riku from chasing after this vampire. "Maybe you should introduce yourself first, boy," he said, earning a slight glare from Riku. "His name is Riku Yuumei. Mine is Meian," he said for the teenager.

[guoping]

Natayla nodded to the raven and introduced herself. "I am Natayla Von der Zee, and this is Hades."

The cat nodded his head as well.

"Now to this Shoushokuka... I have heard his name but I've never met the man," Natayla hung her head. "But the things I have heard of him, are not all good, he is not someone whom one tangles with."

[sora]

Meian was about to point out something but Riku beat him to it. "I've been training for nine years to kill this vampire. I'm sure I'm qualified enough," he snapped. "Just tell me where he is. I don't need a lecture."

"Enough." Meian interupted him. The raven's voice held some kind of power that made him seem much older than he appeared. "Riku, you need rest. You've overused your abilities," he said, his voice taking a more commadning tone.

Riku sighed lightly, knowing his familiar was right. "Fine. But I'm leaving first thing in the morning," he said to which Meian just nodded.