An Eagle Without Wings (Pinger)

[sora]

Riku sat on the roof in silence, his eyes slipped closed. It wasn't until he snapped them open that Meian looked over in curiosity. "Something's happened. The darkness...it's fluctuating. Someone is there that shouldn't be. The shadows are angry with the intruder." His eyes closed for a moment once more. "Whoever they are, they're attacking Natayla," he continued, his voice calm, despite the situation.

Meian looked over in shock. "What? Riku, you must help her!" Riku raised a thin silver eyebrow at this. "If you don't, you can't find out who the vampire that killed your family is," he added.

The worked as Riku jumped down from the roof, grabbing the ledge to swing himself into his room. He picked up his sword and a few knives. "I'll be back," he said to Meian and vanished into the darkness. The raven flew into the room, surprised to find his master had vanished.

When he reappeared again, he knew it was Natayla's home. However, he hid in the shadows, making sure to use surprise to his advantage. It looked like some guy was restraining Natayla, considering he had a hand over her mouth. He loosely grabbed a knife, ready to stop whatever might happen.

[guoping]

"So sweet, so fragile," Natayla's attacker was cooing, stroking her long ink black hair with his free hand, his own blonde hair shadowing his dark eyes. "It has been too long my dearest, far far too long."

Natayla struggled, no match for this vampires strength, but she managed to wiggle and free her mouth. "H-how did you get in here? I did not invite you," despite her words she was trembling.

"I have ways around that my pet," he whispered, a smile warping his face, his pointed teeth gleaming.

He changed his grip on her, his pale arm snaking around her waist. Natayla shrieked, kicking and punching at him, demanding that he let her go.

"Leave her be!" Hades growled, pouncing. But he was easily flung across the room with a flick of the vampires wrist. He hit the wall with a thud and Natayla screamed.

[sora]

Riku's mind instantly clicked when he saw the pointed teeth. He felt the shadows almost curl around his forearms, urging him into a fight. He knew this vampire was strong, a sense he had developed from all the hunting. He could also tell he was strong but for some reason, he had this huge burst of confidence. He gripped the knife, made from pure silver and threw it with deadly aim, intending to hit the vampire's shoulder. Just to be safe, he moved silently in the darkness of the room, adding his own magic to it so the room was almost pitch black, apart from the small bit of light that shinned on the vampire and Natayla.

[guoping]

When the silver blade sunk into the vampires shoulder he hissed, and dropped Natayla without thinking. With his other arm he tore the blade out of his back and threw it away, the hilt burning the flesh of his hand. His black eyes scanned the room, looking into the darkness.

Scrambling to her feet Natayla ran to where Hades lay. He was unconscious but otherwise unharmed.

"What is the meaning of this?" He growled, advancing on Natayla once more. "Have you hired an assassin for protection?!"

Natayla shook her head, shaking like a leaf. "N-no! Erik, I will not tell you again. I have no interest in being a coven leaders wife!"

She was clutching Hades now, her anger fueling her confidence. But that was short lived. The vampire Erik had her by the throat, pressing her against the wall.

"So is he your lover then? You've abandoned your kind so far as to mate with a human?!" Erik yelled, craning his face down to her neck. "I'll make you remember what it is to be a vampire."

And then his teeth sunk into her neck. She dropped Hades and made an odd noise, her hands clawing at Erik's back in her pain. Her half-breed blood dripped from her veins and into his mouth.

[sora]

Riku didn't hesitate as he stepped, completely silent, from the shadows, holding a knife to the vampire's throat. "Unless you want to be drinking your own blood, get away from her," he seethed.

Careful, lord. Riku heard the voice but didn't react on the outside. Evil vampire will kill you. We will protect. What was going on? He could hear the voice but...was it the vampire playing tricks on him? It seemed to come from the darkness behind him but...that was impossible. He pushed it to the back of his mind so he could focus on the task at hand.

[guoping]

A low growl rumbled in Erik's chest. Slowly he lifted his head from Natayla's neck, licking her blood from his lips. He glared at Riku but kept his hold on Natayla.

"That is a bold threat boy," Erik sneered. "You have no claim on this woman, her blood is still virginal."

If Natayla had enough blood she would have blushed at that comment but all she could do was pant weakly. She couldn't even move.

"What is your business with my precious Natayla." Erik continued, sizing Riku up. To the old vampire the silver haired teen didn't look like much although it was obvious he was an assassin. But Erik had fed upon more than one assassin since he was created.

[sora]

Riku's eyes narrowed, already used to the threats that came from vampires. "This half-breed is my ticket to killing one of your kin," he answered, keeping his knife at the creature's throat. He could tell Meian was heading this way, as fast as he possibly could but the assassin wasn't about to wait. "Last chance, vampire. I'll let you die with honor instead of my blade through your jugular," he said, his voice not bothering to conceal his hate for this man.

[guoping]

Knowing the consequences for killing the next coven leader Natayla weakly reached her hand to the knife. "L-leave," she croaked out.

Erik shook with rage, releasing Natayla gently he turned to glare into Riku's eyes. He didn't say a word as dark smoke enveloped him and he dissipated into the darkness. Natayla slid to the ground, one hand pressed to her still bleeding neck. It was dangerous for half-breeds like her to loose too much blood. Erik hadn't taken enough to kill her, but more than enough to greatly weaken her.

"Th-there," she pointed to a dark red bottle on the shelf, indicated for Riku to hand it to her.

[sora]

Riku nodded, grabbing the bottle off the shelf. He popped off the cork and handed it to her. He glanced around the room and felt the shadows back off, as though responding to his emotions. He made a mental note to ask Meian about it later. As if on cue, the raven flew into the room, landing on the ground next to Natayla. "What happened?"

"Vampire," came Riku's one word answer. There was a slight hesitation in his voice as he asked his familiar his question. "Meian...what's going on?"

Even Meian seemed to hesitate. "What do you mean?" He countered, maybe a little too quickly.

Riku's eyes narrowed. "Don't act like you don't know. Tell me. Why did Erebus save me? Why did he give me control over the shadows? Why-"

"Riku." Meian cut him off. "I'll answer your questions later but right now, we should worry about Natayla," he said, turning to the half-blood.

"Then answer one question for me," Riku reasoned. "Why can I hear them? The shadows. They spoke to me while I was fighting that vampire."

Meian looked back at his master but didn't hold his gaze for long. He was hearing the darkness? Did that mean...?

[guoping]

Natayla drank the thick red liquid hastily. It was a combination of her own blood and a mixture of regenerative potions. The bite on her neck closed as she drank only leaving a two pinprick marks along the side of her jugular. She wiped the potion from her lips and looked up at Riku.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Hades, who was laying beside Natayla, woke with a start. He jolted up, looking frantically around the room.

"Where is that scum? I'll tare his eyes out," he hissed.

"He's gone," Natayla said quietly, laying a hand on his back. "Riku saved me."

[sora]

Riku looked at Natayla, a little surprised she would go so far as to thank him. Well, indirectly anyway. "It's not that big of a deal," he said, looking away. "Anyway, are you two alright?" He asked both Natayla and Hades. He looked over at Meian, giving him a look. As soon as things calmed down, he wanted some answers about what exactly was happening to him.

[guoping]

"I am fine," Hades answered for them. "But Natayla need to be brought to her coffin."

Natayla was too weak to protest, her lids already heavy. Hades limped across the room to the door. "I will show you the way to her room," he said giving Riku an even look. "She should still have enough energy to answer if you feel the need to speak to her. I would also ask for your assistance with another matter."

"I have not fed in months," Natayla provided. "There is a bottle in the store room, Hades will show it to you."

[sora]

Riku nodded, picking up Natayla very gently and carrying her to her room. He set her down in her coffin that looked surprisingly comfortable. "Little cliche?" He muttered but more to himself. He looked to the door. Where were they with that blood?

Meanwhile, Meian had took it upon himself to go find the storage room, without or without Hades' help. He gave up and turned to the cat. "Lead on," he said, admitting defeat.

Back in the room, Riku was looking around. It seemed like a nice place, especially for a half-breed. He looked at Natayla. "I don't want to push you when you need rest," he said but paused a moment. "But Hades said I was allowed to ask...Natayla, can you tell me...who am I?"

[guoping]

Hades hurried down the stairs to the hall that lead to the storeroom. He didn't check to see if Meian was following. Once in the storeroom Hades trotted into a smaller section, the walls lined with bottles of blood, types clearly labeled.

"Natayla likes O positive the best," he said.

Meanwhile Natayla chuckled at Riku's comment. Then upon hearing his question, she slowly sat up and took his hand. She looked at his palm, tracing the lines and veins in his hand. "There is defiantly something about you," she murmured. She looked him in the eye then and muttered. "Don't freak out." Her pointed teeth gently pierced his skin, drawing two small beads of blood.

Natayla closed her eyes as she licked up the drops of red fluid. Swallowing she gasped and looked up at Riku in amazement. "I-I cannot be sure.. but, you may be the son of a god. The power of shadows flows strongly in your veins, even those who are gifted with the power are not as strong as you." she bowed her head then. "If this is true, I am your humble servant."

[sora]

Riku's eyes widenned and for the first time in a while, he looked shocked. "A...god?" He repeated, not even noticing as Natayla bowed her head to him. "But that's...that can't be," he muttered, his mind trying to sort out what that could mean.

Meian entered the room at that point, carrying a bottle of O Positive and dropping it gently onto her lap. He landed on the edge of the coffin, looking back and forth between Riku and Natayla. "Riku, what's-"

"Meian...is it true?" Riku looked over at him and the raven saw that Natayla must have told him something. "Am I...the child of a god?" He asked, his aqua eyes wide with shock.

Meian sighed, looking over at Natayla for a moment before back at Riku. "So, you know. Yes, you are the son of a god, one of the original ones from that side and god of darkness. Erebus but he is known by another name as well that I'm sure you would know from your studies of Greek mythology. Hades."

Riku was silent for a moment. "You mean...my father...is god of the underworld? As in hell?"

Meian nodded. "Yes. He originally was born as Erebus but did not have a physical persona. So, when the evil titan Kronos had three children, he manifested himself as one of them."

Riku wasn't really caring about the history of his new-found father but was more concerned over who it actually was. He looked over at Natayla's familiar for a moment, realizing it shared the same name sake as his...father. "So...what does that make me?" He asked, uncertain.

"Since your mother was mortal, that would make you a demi-god. I'm sure you've heard of Hercules and Perseus, both who were demi-gods as well," Meian explained.

Riku looked over at Natayla, as though she could confirm this. "Natayla...can you tell? Am I really...you know..." He trailed off since it didn't really need to be said.