The massive sky scrapers loom overhead like gargantuan stone golems, blocking out what little light filters in from the moon through the darkened clouds. The stars' glimmer exists no more as the veil of darkness has completely covered this place due to Hiro's presence. Mortals struggle along busily in their pitiful existence, going about whatever it is they must do. Cars, trucks, and other automobiles file through the open streets like frightened ants, the sounds of their artificial machines drowning out the din of mortified screaming coming from every darkened corner. But the true focus is in the hundreds of interweaving back alleys, creating a labryinth where any creature of darkness may dwell. Unknown to mortal minds, their city has now become the battle ground of a cataclysmic war.

It had been a long time. Yes, such a very, very long time...

The wind danced through his hair softly, simple whispers of a lover shrouded in darkness. The silken strands reached out as if to grip the very sky in its beautiful charms.

The sky was beautiful, painted with the last remnants of a bold sunset, splashed with orange, purple, red, and dark blue smears of color. The sun illumined behind, granting it the look of celestiality. He hadn't seen a sunset in over two millenium. In his world, there only darkness. There was only Eternal Night.

Two glimmering sparks of light danced in his black eyes like flame, licking at the pits of black that dwelled within. His lips were coated in a sheen of pure sunlight, his beauty magnified so greatly by Amon's life-giving rays. His skin shone with a beauty only brought by sunlight, and yet it did not burn him. He was something of an oddity among the Vampire. There was something else involved with him, but no living creature knew of what it was. At least, not to his vast knowledge.

Long, black trench whipping about in the might breeze, his eyes swept upon the fleeting mortals below. Perched upon the needle of a large clock tower, the steady ticking lulled his senses to a point of ease. He was suspended over three-hundred feet above hard blacktop, resting his 350+ pound bulk on a piece of steel no larger than a pencil. And yet it didn't warp, it didn't snap, and it didn't bend.

Arms crossed, he sent out a silent signal from his mind. He had been doing such for many days, hoping his dark bretheren would heed his call. The threat was here. It was time. Time for decision.

Come fellow creatures of the dark worlds. Heed my call, come to me. Come to my lands, come for the sake of your lives and the lives of all of Hell's abominations. Come now, for the threat is nearing.

*she watches through silvery tinted windows as the long sleek deep green limosine enters the city. Unseen she frowns a bit seeing all the buildings and people. She digs in her purse wondering what brought her to such a...place, again hearing the strange calling in her head, she winces finding a silver tube she twists up the ebony brown lipstick, and spreads it over two full lips, now as dark as fresh tilled soil. Her long slim fingers slip it back into the drawstring bag, and leaning forward motions the driver to stop with a delicate touch. A thick tendril of fiery red hair falls over a bared shoulder, carressing the beginnings of a pink scar.

Stepping out she surveys the city, adjusting her clothing, smoothing them from the long journey "the smells going to take getting used too" she mutters to her driver who has now taken up a postition at her side. She turns adjusting his suit, and with a touch the wilted rose tucked in his lapel springs to life. She smiles. Turns her forest green eyes to the sunset and sighs, "well that's a city for you"sounding sad, with a tilt of her head, shrugging her shoulders she dips back into the darkness of her car and the driver shutting the door with a soft click, looks around again with inhuman eyes and licks his lips stepping around the back, exposing jagged and sharp teeth, he obediently takes his position behind the wheel.

"Where to ma'am?" she hears in her head looking up distracted. With a wave of her hand, "ummm...to a place for refreshment? I suppose" turning her glittering eyes back down to the ancient book she was reading. With an evil smile the driver again licking his lips pulls into the city.

I feel the pain of many in torment, how sweet that torment is, like a prison holding in their pain, how I wish I could join in.

*The moon hides between the clouds as she walks through the streets, searching for a meal. Still unable to remember how she arrived here, her head spins with insanity as the streetlights reflect in her eyes. She hates being out in the open, she feels exposed. Slowing down to a stop, she desperately searches for some sort of refuge from the brightly lit streets before her. Grining, she walks on slowly, making sure nobody can see her as the shadows of a large building engulf her graceful figure.*

This will do for now, I will sit and wait, the real danger is what lurks beyond the shadows, where does the shadow end and the figure begin? Come walk past me and you will live long enough to find out.

*Taking refuge in the black cloak of the building is almost comforting, the shadow cast by it gives her sanctuary from the open streets, she knows shadows far too well. Her insanity subsides a little as she waits patiently for her next meal.*

Hair blowing behind him in the breeze, his figure screams majesty and utter power.

Glancing down upon a passing limousine, sensing the power within. Eyes narrowing, his thoughts raced. Was she enemy, ally? Or just some miscellaneous creature? With a shrug he averted his eyes back to the rising moon, as time seemed to pass around him, through him, without him.

Thoughts trail through Hiro's awesome mind, and with a simple whim he casts a net of telepathic thought over the entire city, befalling into every mind, lest they mortal or immortal:

Is there ever any wonder, why do we look to the sky, search in vain, asking why, all alone. Where is God? Looking down, we don't know. We fall in space, we can't look down, death may come, its eyes of fire, what to say, am I alive, am I asleep, will I ever die?

Closing his eyes, he reaches out with his mind, calling upon those who may heed his summon.

Clothes blowing with an almost royal appearance, his arms remained crossed as he projected his thoughts. Hopefully they would get the message. Time was dwindling...

The ground behind the shadowed man began toe ave and shake as if water, slowly bulging and stretching ten feet into the air. The small band of Vampire, calling themselves Serpents, had just lept upon him from the shadows. He had easily fended them off, but now decided it of no use to tire himself before he met the true prey.

Eden had already made a reputation for himself, decapitating two of the Serpent who had made the mistake of assaulting him the previous night. These putrid creatures never learned. It had taken only one slash of his large blade to rid them both of their pitiful lives. This same blade now rested on his leg, his hand tightening around the glistening stock. The shadows cast by overhead lights dancing across his body, only allowing fleeting glances at his milky face. It was pale...but not undead. And he was still breathing.

Before the eyes of the Serpent, this man grew and widened, the true actions hidden by the lack of light, and moments later a hulking wolf-thing stood before them, jaws open and baring inch long fangs, thick strands of saliva dripping onto the ground. A creature of legend, a creature of folklore, a creature that now stood before them staring on with hungry eyes. The twelve Serpent watched in awe as the ground behind the werewolf began to form, to take shape. Two pillar-like arms and legs burste from a human-like mid section the size of a trash dumpster. A thin stream of blue haze floated from the wolf's mouth and entered into the Golem's agape jaws. Immediately its eyes flashed to life.

It began to shakily move, small streams of dust falling from its joints, as a few drops of sweat fell from the wolf-thing, Eden. It appeared to be slow and clumsy: but suchassumptions could prove fatal.

There was a creaking as it raised its massive, humanoid head into the air and unleashed an inhuman roar, shaking the ground and the stone buildings around them. Suddenly, the Serpents felt caged in with a monster. No, two. The debris around the alleyway began to tumble as if by an invisible hand, a haunt, an invisible wraith. In the dim light the golem looked to be a massive, roaring bear.

Relaxing, the creature's gargantuan fists fell back to its side slowly. It just looked like a weapon. It stood, lightly hunched over Eden to cloak his face with shadow. His refined, forceful voice rang out, as if a beautiful onsomble: "kill."

The creature's eyes lit up, and in an instant one of the Serpents was screaming.

The golem's massive fist plowed into his body, his bones crushign and rubbing together before he was hurled through the adjacement brick wall. One Serpent turned to run, fleeing in a flurry of his cheap leather shoes. The cold alley stone was covered in his blood as a blade at through the backs of his knees, his legs collapsing and sending him into the earth, his jaw cracking against the stone. The next moment his throat was cut back to the bone, instantly lifeless.

The golem, meanwhile, was crushing the others. One screamed as his body was smashed in the thing's hand, blood shooting from his mouth as his insides ground together. Throwing its body to the earth, the golem lent over and smashed his head into one of the others, crushing his skull.

Eden walked away, the sounds of his golem pulverizing the foolish ones, withdrawing to the dark shadows, walking silently down the street.

Unknown to him, that was the same street Lenina was occupying.

Here little thing, let me drink your life away, redeem me from my hunger with your death. Blood of the innocent tastes so sweet when they fear.... Im going to make you fear me as your life is taken.

*Pacing to the end of the shadows, still out of sight, she sees the figure of her next meal. Her hunger grows, her mouth waters and she bares her fangs as insanity blinds her from seeing what creature it is.*

Oh let me taste your torture before your soul leaves you forever, let you die by my hand. I want to be the last thing you ever see.

*Stepping out of the darkness onto the street, she stops dead in her tracks when she realises how devistating her misconception is. Mentally shunning herself for her carelessness, her eyes become more alert. Backing off with intelligibility, she wishes that she had never stepped out of shadow, she shakes her head in disbelief as she grabs hold of the little sanity she has left.*

Eden...

*Edging away from him slowly, she realises how exposed she is, she fights better in shadows, but she will defend herself in the open if she has to. Drawing her dagger as slowly as she can, her animosity towards Eden shows through the expression on her face. keeping her cool, she speaks with vigilance as she gives a little ground, ready to disappear into the shadows if he poses a threat to her.*

I never thought of our paths would cross again... I don't know how to react as I was not expecting this. Were you?

The dark man's head raises, showing that he is indeed Eden. Far away in the alley the last Serpent is crushed under the Golem's dirt leg, insides mashed as blood nearly burst through its flesh. Its mission done, the creature raised its head, its jaws opening, and howled into the night as its body slowly distenegrating from the legs up, finally disappearing into a cloud of dust on the light breeze, leaving only a blood bath in the alley.

Nostrils flaring, the scent of Lenina's skin drifts into his nose. Immediately he feels a small weight in his stomach as he slowly scans her body with his eyes, taking in every sensuous curve and glimmer. God, how he wanted her. After filling his mind thoroughly, his eyes stare down into her own:

"You're making this too easy for me, Lenina. I'll give you a choice this time. Drop Hiro and come with me, and i'm sure you can deduce what I mean by that. Or be used to kill Hiro and then die yourself. Whaddya say? Wouldn't take much to keep it all from happening: just a night with me. You're lucky I've found you so intoxicatingly lovely, angel. Or else you'd already be lying in the street in pieces for the local school kids to poke with sticks." Breathing in deeply, Eden could imagine laying atop of her body, doing God knew what. A corsett even...how seductively inviting.

The cloak that wrapped around his body slowly fell to the ground, first showing his head of lusious hair, then his broad shouders, his wide chest, his otherwise beautiful body. The large axe glimmered wickedly on his back, held by two easily-detatchable black leather snaps. On the side of each leg was his own blades, his one large sword on his side in its usual fasion. Eyes glimmering with excitement at the hunt, Eden's lips drew back in a way that was both forewarning and yet also sexy. With a slow elegance Eden moved around her body, moving with such grace he appeared not to move at all. He was good at Illusion.

Eyes crawling over her body, one hand trails down her spine, tickling her skin slightly. In an instant he disappeared from behind her and is in front of her, a mere two feet. With a flash of light huge, silver blades shot from the steel over his knuckles, pinning Lenina to a wall. Eden was careful to make sure that light fell upon them both. She was far too powerful in the dark. Two blades were extended to either side of her throat, and the two others were slowly extending, centimeter by centimeter, towards his thoat. His other arm was held behind him, ready for a vicious swing, all blades extended and shimmering wickedly. "You may want to answer hastily: time is limited."

*It all happened far to quickly. The cold wall presses against her back, the light is not her friend, how dare he corner her... Fighting down her rage, she smiles a little and laughs in his face, holding all of her integrity in front of him. In the back of her mind comes the feeling of fear... Something that has never been shown upon her face in a long time... Nor ever will. She keeps her cool but can not think straight. Dropping her dagger, she curses herself for being so careless as she realises that she made her first deadly mistake.*


Not the greeting I was expecting after so long... Do you mind? I thought we were going to have an adult conversation, sorry but by restraining me, you are taking my rights of decision away.... I can't think when Im cornered. Its a good job I find you sleezy in the lowest possible form... Otherwise I might have felt... Flattered.

*Closing her eyes, Lenina knees him in the groin, her smile turns into a grin as she adresses Eden in the most sweetest charismatic voice she can muster.*

Surely you can deal with one lady pinned to a wall Eden... Let me go, see if you can handle me... Wouldn't you like to handle me Eden?

*Giving off a sweet smile, she is content with sly nature, for once, it might prove useful....*

Eden's legs nearly collapse as her knee drives painfully up into his crouch, smashing agonizingly into the most vulnerable parts of hiw bowels. Red and block dots align his vision as he feels his testicals smash together, and, embaressingly enough, he nearly faints.

With a deep exhale, Eden leans over, his spikes stopping just before driving into her flesh. His other spikes retracts as he grips his wounded manhood. As he slowly falls to his kness, he manages to murmur a few words between clenched fangs: "Damn....bitch.....not exactly.what I had in..mind."

Still keeping his other blades to her throat, he is now completely on his knees, hunched back. The pain begins to slowly subside, but still pounds deep within him.

Grinding his teeth together, he allows the blades to extend into her flesh, but only enough to draw small trickles of her blood. As the skin breaks he pushes his head forward, his tongue sliding between his lips and lightly licking the bleeding wounds. Looking into her eyes, he grins. "I can see why Hiro wanted you so badly. You're quite the rarity, beauty." Standing up straight finally, the pain nulled to a dull ache between his legs. "Decide now or I'll decide for you."

*Disgusted at his touch, she raises an eyebrow and attempts to squirm away from him pathetically. The pain he is inflicting on her numbs as she thinks of what she will do to him when she breaks free, for now, she will atempt to survive, at least a little longer... Attempting to speak, her words become choked as gargling noises raise from her throat and blood drips out of her mouth.*

Pleasing.... I enjoyed that Eden.... Come closer so I can... Do that again....

*Realising that talking hurts, she gathers her strength and pushes her arms away from the wall as she kicks Eden backwards, his blades suddenly scrape out of her throat in a random manner. Stepping forward, she waits for her wounds to heal and looks down on Eden in a condisending way.*

Never, do that to me again, I will not and do not appriciate being pressured into a decision... Just for the record, I do not think it would work out between you and I... Im a lady and you... Well, your far to rough, maybe if you had been playing nice...

*Rolling her eyes, she bites her lower lip in the realisation that her dagger is next to the wall...*

No way am I turning my back on him, or edging back to that wall, he would corner me again. Damn. Im unarmed, I need my Dagger.

*Glancing at the shadow she stepped out from to confront Eden, she paces, step by step towards it as slowly as she can... She can fight better there with no weapon.*

*It had been a great day for Marius. He had sold a van Gogh as well as a drawing by Dali to a collector from South Africa. He had made considerably profit, millions in only a few hours of negotiating. Before that sale, he bought an ancient Sumerian clay tablet for his own collection. Today was a good day. What made it better, he didn't have to kill anyone who threatened to reveal his secret...his immortality and his powers...to the world which was swirling around him.*

*He was sitting comfortably in back on the leather seats of the black Lincoln towncar on his way to a business dinner, his right knee resting upon his left. The windows of the car were tinted so none could look in upon the vehicle's inhabitants. As he was casually flipping through an art magazine, he sensed something that caused the immortal to sit alert. He moved his head slowly from the left to the right, honing in on whatever it was. He realized it was two creatures like himself almost...yet different. Something about them was not natural...like himself. As the car drove on, Marius sensed something else...a mans voice inside his head...Come fellow creatures of the dark worlds. Heed my call, come to me. Come to my lands, come for the sake of your lives and the lives of all of Hell's abominations. Come now, for the threat is nearing. Who was this voice that called Marius? This voice that told others to come to this city that was his? The voice echoed over and over in his head, yet faded away eventually into oblivion. During this time, Marius had forgotten about the two presences. However, when the voice faded away, they became that much stronger. Marius let his curiosity get the best of him.*

"Driver...stop the car. I think I'm just going to walk the rest of the way, and get some fresh air. I'll call you when I need you."

*Heeding Marius' demand, the driver pulled over to the curb and got out from the car and walked to Marius' door. He opened it and Marius stepped out, letting one leg emerge from the vehicle at a time. When he finally got out of the car, the driver closed the door and got back inside and merged in with the flow of life in the city. Marius stood there for a moment, looking around. People passed him and they all would turn their heads as they passed him to get one last look. He had always done this to people. Especially now in these clothes. An ankle length over coat, a suit jacket, unbuttoned, button-up shirt, tie, dress slacks and polished leather shoes. All Italian made and all black, except the smooth silver tie. A figure of beauty and power. If nothing else, the obscure silver highlights and his pale, arctic eyes interested those which passed him by. He stood there, surveying those which passed him, fashionable, wealthy, powerful, irresistable...and they could tell merely by the way he stood. Finally, he stuck his hands into the pockets of his trenchcoat and walked in the direction towards the two dark figures he sensed.*

*As he walks through the crowds, it seems as if every tribe of every nation in the world was here in the city. Thousands of different lives with different values and beliefs, all here in this city...this city that reminded Marius of the vivid blue Babylon. As he walks down the sidewalk, people of all races and age take notice of him, men and women alike. He merely smiles and continues on.*


*After walking for a few more moments, the presence of the two growing ever closer and stronger, he turned a corner and saw the two figures. A man and a woman...or so it seemed. The man was holding the woman, obviously against her will. He was holding himself as well. Marius laughed at this to himself and walked up to the figures, emerging from the shadows into the light of a street lamp. In a soft yet commanding voice, he spoke to both of them.*

"Excuse me. I don't normally intrude in on such happenings...but...is there a problem here?"

*Pausing, Lenina turns to face Marius, her posture still graceful and her eyes alert... Tilting her head, she keeps walking backwards, as slow as possible.*

No problem, none what so ever, I can handle it, Im still existing aren't I...

*Grinning at Eden, she cutsies them both and keeps edging for the shadows, stumbling backwards to the floor as she trips over the sidewalk.*

Please, Eden and I have something to attend to, I appriciate your kindness of stepping in but really, it is not needed, I would rather keep this private and personal.

*Looking behind her, she see's the shadow is closer, she knows she might be able to make it there if she makes a run for it, but she needs Eden to follow, that way she can be a little more sure of destroying him. Glaring at Eden, she stands up and lowers her head. Eden, You now have a choice, you can finish this with me, one way or another you or I will be destroyed or you can let someone step in and then you will never get this close to me again. Heh heh, come on Eden, attack me you spineless coward, or are you to afraid of the consiquences? I thought you found me desireable? Well you know, Im not just a pretty face. Im sure your... Dying to find out aren't you? She glances behind her once more, shaking her head as her carelessness gets the better of her. The shadow is a little too far out of her reach, her estimate is wrong, her third mistake.*

Damn it whats wrong with me? Im working very sloppy tonight, Im so hungry, its blinding my logic. Shit. To hell with it, if Im going down, I might as well die trying to take him with me.

*Turning her back to Eden and Marius, she makes a run for the sanctuary she knows so well.*

*Demanar in his usual beat up looking attire makes his way down a busy street in a large city its name unknown to him. Demanar senses the presence of power. Instantly his persistant curiousity kicks in and he finds the source. He can see from a distance the scene involving the power he senses. He quickly makes his way into the building next to him and finds a second story window just above the figures seemingly arguing. He feels like making an entrance to shake things up a bit so he drops from the window and lands on his feet directly next to the lonely dagger involved. He picks the weapon up and decides to speak in a semi sarcastic tone-*

"so, who's might this be?"

*He grips the handle and looks at every one present. He walks closer to the women and notices some dry blood on her neck.*

"what happened there? Was it one of these two?"

*He feels a slight chill come over him and can hardly hear words of beconing that are not all understandible in his head. He flinches a little and looks at the nicely dressed man before him*

"What's the occasion?"

*Grinding to a halt, she looks at figure before her, shaking her head and frowning... Not impressed with the audience Eden and herself have gathered, she notices her creature has her dagger. Trying to devise a last minute plan, her eyes befall the cloak of black behind the man that adresses her, she looks at him then at the shadow, then at the man again, wanting to take back her weapon, she decides that it would be best to run for cover. Her hunger grows and her anger rises, she hates others touching her dagger, only one creature had dared to handle her dagger... Neon was a brave one for that. She scowls at the figure and mutters.*

adoleo adsum adesse adfui.

*The dagger begins to glow red in his hand, generating heat from the hilt to the end of the blade.*

agilise iectum hominem ad iusiurandum.

*The dagger forces itself out of the mans hand, still glowing red as heads towards Eden at great speed, changing shape, splitting into two edges. She grins and makes a run for cover. Well Neon, you did teach me a few things after all, where did that come from? Shouting Latin while running, she raises her arm and waves her hand, minipulating the dagger to spin.*

conglomeroare! See Eden! Not just a pretty face! You should have killed me while you still had the chance. Don't ever test me...

Standing in the serenity of the city, Hiro's thoughts travel back to years long since gone. And, with these memories, comes the realization of another ally. An old friend...who had chosen to remain dorman than to venture into the world as the heartless, cold-blooded killer he had become in Hiro's world.

Eyes narrowing slightly, Hiro reaches out with his mind, singling out the one thought pattern of his old friend: Time to wake up now, old friend. Time for action. We need you. Awaken.

Retaining his normal pose, Hiro awaits, keeping his anima focused on the powerful being walking upon the streets...