Lost in the Streets (Guo Ping & Sora)

[sora]

"Damnit...where are they?" The teen snapped as he walked. This was starting to get frustrating. The trio had decided to split up to cover more ground today but it proved to be worse than before. He couldn't stop thinking about their safety. I need to find them before they get themselves killed, he thought, walking along the sidewalk. Sure he may not have the typical appearance, wearing armor on one arm and on his feet but it didn't matter. People avoided him for some reason. Probably the glares he sent everyone...everyone but Ven and Aqua.

He sighed, finally giving in to the thought that it would not hurt to ask for help. He looked at a store that no doubt sold magic...things and went inside. The place was pretty cool with all sorts of potions everywhere. It wasn't anything like Master Eraqus potion room that had everything all over the place. It was a bit more organized...and didn't reak of blood. "Hello?" He called out to see if anyone was there.

[guoping]

"Welcome to Curses and Charms," Natayla greeting, walking up from the back room, a satisfied looking vampire walking behind her and leaving a hefty some of money on the counter as he walked out. "I'm Natayla, what can I do for you?"

That night she had decided to wear a black corset with a sheer shirt underneath and long black skirt. Her ink black hair was left to hang to her ankles as usual and covered the puncture mark on her neck.

As she greeted the armor clad man her cat, Hades, hopped up on the counter and looked at him with unamused glowing green eyes.

[sora]

Terra seemed a little surprised but hid it well. This woman seemed to enjoy her job... a lot. "I'm looking for two friends. They have armor like mine on," he explained. Yeah, he figured that only he and his two younger friends were the only ones in this city who wore anything like this. "Have you seen them? Or do you have something that can help me find them? I can pay you any amount that you need," he continued, learning from before that money talks in the world.

[guoping]

"The fee for making Natayla use the crystal ball is 20 dollars an hour and the looking glass is 30. I suggest you use the looking glass, it is much more reliable." the cat spoke, his tail flicking back and forth.

"Come this way," Natayla motioned as she walked from behind the counter and towards a hallway. "I will need your name and a little bit of information before I begin looking. I can't be too careful about using the mirrors to look for people."

[sora]

Terra nodded, following her. "My name is Terra. My two friends and I are half-elves from outside the city. We were allowed to leave the High Elf that trained us so we came here. We've only been in the city for a couple of days," he explained, finding the whole store very interesting. "We split up to find out more about the place but knowing Ven and Aqua they probably got lost. We were supposed to meet up an hour ago," he continued, explaining it in more detail for Natayla.

[guoping]

Natayla made a mental note of all of this as she pulled a black sheet off of a large mirror. With a snap of her fingers a birds eye view of Wyld Nites appeared on the looking glass.

"Mirror, mirror on the wall, watch them run watch and them fall." she said the quick incantation with ease. "Aqua and Van."

Natayla reached out and touched the center of the mirror, which rippled like a pool of water and the image warped and faded. When the motion stopped the mirror was split in two. Each side showing one of the half elves.

"Well that was easy," Natayla smiled. "One of your friends is outside a bar for vampires called Bite Me, and the other just down the street. If you'd like you can stay here and I will fetch them for you. It would be better if I got the one near the bar, the vampires inside have probably scented his blood already and unless another vampire or halfblood interferes they may drain him."

[sora]

"Then I'll come with you," Terra said in an instant. "I'm not going to wait here while one of them might be in trouble," he said with such conviction, it was hard to argue. He looked back at the scene with Aqua and Ven and almost sighed. It would be Ven that would get stuck at some vampire bar. It was probably Aqua just down the street. "Ok, I'll pay you double if you wait here for a couple minutes while I go grab one of my friends," he said, slapping down $30 on the table. Without a word he ran out the door, and down the street.

"Aqua!" He called and the blue haired girl turned, smiling.

"Terra. Where's Ven?" She asked, glancing around.

"He got himself stuck at a vampire bar," he explained. "I have a girl coming with me to get him. From her aura, she looks like she's a halfling so it should help," he continued and started leading the way back to Natayla's place. Aqua only nodded, determination settling in.

[guoping]

Natayla was surprised by Terra's sudden actions, but counted the money and put it in the cash. Hades, her talking cat, laid down on the counter and purred as she scratched behind his ears.

"He was certainly an interesting character." he commented.

"And he pays well for how little work I'm doing for him." Natayla added. "I hope his friend isn't have too much trouble over at Bite Me, they get pretty rough over there."

"But you could add to your clientele just making an appearance." the cat said, rolling onto his back, silently demanding a belly scratch.

Natayla complied, her black nails going to work on his soft belly. "That is true, I should bring some of my business cards."

As Natayla and Hades talked business several of the vampires at the bar had stalked outside having scented the half-elf. There were four males and a female. Each were pure bloods and extremely attractive in their own rites. The woman, changed when she was 18, floated over to the elf.

"What are you doing in our neck of the woods?" she purred, looking at him like a piece of steak.

"You should come inside for a drink," added one of the males, tall with blond hair and black hungry eyes.

[sora]

Terra walked with Aqua until they got to Natayla's shop. That's when he paused. "Terra?" His friend asked, concerned.

"Ven." That was all he said as he took off down the street, heading for the bar. Aqua rolled her eyes and went inside Natayla's shop.

Ven was nervous. Ok, that was putting it very lightly. He was scared for his life. He had lost sight of Terra, someone he followed like a little lost puppy and ended up stuck here with some vampires trying to eat him. "Ah...no, thank you," he said, concealing his little bit of fear.

A blond vampire put an arm around his waist. "We insist. I'm sure you'll find it...enjoyable," she said, her tongue moving over her fangs. She stopped the movement as cold steel pressed against her neck. It left a burning mark, evidence that at least part of it was made from silver.

"Back off unless you want your head severed from your body," the wielder snapped.

Ven nearly sighed in relief. "Terra..." He met pale blue eyes that flashed between the blue and a piercing gold.

"Mmm...maybe you'd like to join him as well," a male vampire said, encircling them.

Ven panicked but inside, he was more worried about what Terra would do. His older friend never had much control over his emotions and his dark elf powers would act up if he didn't calm down.

Still, Terra was never one to listen as his black and white sword was raised. "How would you like to join the rest of your kind in hell?" He snapped, his eyes glowing gold.

Ven stood next to him, already sensing Terra's powers going a bit out of control. "Terra, don't...oh Aqua...where are you?"

[guoping]

Meanwhile Natayla saw Terra run in the direction of the vampire bar through her black windows. She let out a heavy sigh and after instructing Hades to take care of the shop walked outside.

"Hello," she greeted quickly to Aqua with a bright smile, her fangs showing. "Please go inside for now and Hades will bring you anything you need. Hopefully Terra hasn't done anything too drastic."

With that Natayla was running like a bullet. She made it to the vampire bar within 10 seconds, a personal record. She saw the vampires encircle Terra and Van and she let out a long sigh.

"Now, now children let's play nicely," she said with a light smile, walking between Terra and the female vampire. "I am sorry to interrupt your fun, but these elves are under my protection, for the time being, and I cannot allow you to drink from them."

"Well if it isn't the lovely Natayla," one of the males purred, running a hand through his fiery red hair. "Looks like you do all sorts of jobs now."

Natayla flicked a business card at him and smirked. "One of which would greatly interest you and your friends Micheal."

His dark eyes lit up for a moment and then looked Natayla over. "We'll have to schedule a date then. Let's go back in, c'mon boys, you too Valery."

The vampires followed Micheal back into the bar without further action. Once they were inside Natayla turned on Terra.

"What were you thinking?" she said evenly, looking at him with cold gold eyes. "You and your friend could have been killed, I told you I would go and get your friend. Have you any idea how badly this could have gone? It is a good thing that I grew up in the same coven as Micheal or else Valery would have drained you on the spot."

[sora]

Terra's golden eyes narrowed at her. "You think I'm that weak?" He snapped back.

Ven looked at Natayla as though apologizing for his friend's behavior. "Um...thank you," he said, a little unsure. He looked up at Terra who was practically screaming for someone to try and attack him. "Terra!"

The brunette's eyes flashed back to blue. He looked down at Ven and then at Natayla. "Sorry," he mumbled, eyes moving to the ground.

Ven mentally sighed. These flashes were getting worse. "Thank you. I'm Ventus but you can call be Ven," he introduced, keeping a hand on Terra's arm.

[guoping]

"It's nice to meet you Ven," Natayla smiled, she nodded her head. As a halfblood she didn't usually shake hands unless they offered first. "And Terra, I was not calling you weak, but you are no match for a groupd thousand year old vampires, even if you are an elf they did out number you. Now, let's go back to my shop, your other friend is waiting for you."

Back at the shop Hades was looking at Aqua with mild interest. His gold eyes scanned, re-scanned, and scanned the elf again. Once he decided that Aqua was decent he hopped off the counter and rubbed his body against his leg.

"Your armor's nice," he purred, scratching himself with the shin guard. "I should make Natayla get some."

[sora]

Natayla's comment only served to flare up Terra even more and Ven noticed the flash of gold in his eyes before it disappeared. "So Aqua's at her shop?" He asked Terra.

The older nodded, distracted. "Yeah. I met up with her before finding you," he said but it didn't seem like he was paying attention much. Ven could only sigh.

Aqua smiled. "It's actually quite comfortable. Out master enchanted it for us so that we can use it to transform into a full suit of armor. It also holds our weapons for us," she explained, pleased that the animal could talk. Their master had only talking animals so it was a disappointment to find that normal animals didn't.

[guoping]

"Ingenious," Hades said, and if he could have he would have smiled. "That's a clever master you have."

Natayla led the way back to her shop, her heals clicking against the pavement. She didn't mean to anger Terra, but she had to be honest with him. She opened the door to her shop and let them in before her.

"I'll only charge you half of what I normally would," she said, walking behind the counter. "So that comes to 50 dollars.... or a pint of blood from each of you."

[sora]

Ven looked a little panicked as he looked up at Terra. The older threw $50 on the table. "Thanks," he said, not meaning it at all. "Let's go," he added, not looking back to see if they were following. Aqua gave a sympathized look to Natayla before trailing behind Terra.

Ven lagged behind a bit, looking at Natayla. "Um...I was wondering...Terra has this...condition I guess. Do you have anything that could help him?" He asked, not really sure how to ask.