Secrets Are Always Rampant

[Hannibal King]

"Okay. Let's make this easy.... for you." The sharp steel of the dagger dug into the space between the nail and skin as he dug out some dirt from it. His eyes downcast as his face contorted into one of utmost amusement. The man was looking at him. He could feel his eyes, ones of hatred. He supposed that was expected after he killed that two-bit gang of bloodsuckers. But still one important member eluded him, their leader. Nonchalantly, he raised the dagger, looking at the tip. It sparkled just slightly against the light that reflected through the room. It was a small cabin on the outskirts of Port Ka'ast, he'd seen it and thought it wise to use it as his interrogation room just to avoid any nosey people. His head finally turned upward with a sick smile and he sent dug the dagger into the mans hand. He howled in anger, but Hannibal just crossed his arms. "This is the last time, I'll ask you. Where's your two-bit shit-eating leader?" The man hissed, protruding his fangs and Hannibal's face changed to one of seriousness. The Vampire looked up in fear and knew it had just signed it's death warrant. He should have known better than to challenge the famed Hannibal King. And now he would pay the price. The only satisfaction he would get is knowing that he wasn't going to be killed by some filthy Lycan but by someone of note. At least maybe then, he'd get that little bit of fame he always wanted. He smiled thinking of a distant memory of when he was actually happy he felt the cool steel across his heart. Funny, it didn't hurt as much as he thought it would. He looked up, seeing Hannibal's face. It wasn't smirking, it was as serious as he'd ever seen it. "You won't find him....." He spoke, as a soft light emanated from his chest. He could feel a warmth. A warmth that always seemed out of reach. So that was what heat felt like? And then he felt nothing, his body shattered, never to be seen again. Meanwhile, Hannibal pulled the dagger from the table and re-sheathed it to the holster at his side. He walked to the door and kicked it open with minimal effort. It was time to hunt. But it wasn't a usual hunt for him, no. This was one of those rare times when he would have fun in the chase. Regardless of what he'd said to that Vampire, his leader wasn't just some two-bit loser. No. He was actually a powerful Vampire Lord who'd ruled these lands for centuries. He knew him well. During his "second chance life" he met him throughout many stages of his life. Fought him on numerous occasions. He'd won all but one confrontation. And since then he'd been out for his blood. No shit-eater would ever get the best out of Hannibal King. He would find him and he would kill him once and for all, good thing this was a very, very long ways away from his family. He knew how ruthless Julenar was, and he would stop at nothing to gain his goal, kill his enemies, or cause suffering. But unfortunately for him he'd made Hannibal King his archenemy and he would pay for any and all transgressions, on this day, and from 3,000 years in the past.

[Nailana King]

Her senses were peaked to the brim. She could feel the malicious current in the air. Why was she here? Simple really. She had been asked to come. Why after all this time would she be called upon to enter this place? She wasn't the same ruthless and calculated Slayer she once was. She had changed. Sure she still faught with stealth and fluid motion. But she was a mother. She had to think of the ones at home who would miss her if something happened to her. But this was a call she couldnt deny. Her young son was in the capable care of family. Her parents as a matter of fact. It was her father who told her to come here. An enemy of the family was apparently out and about. But She found no one here. No one worth talking to. it seemed there was talk of another slayer in the area. A man who had already taken care of the light weight. She begrudged him slightly. He had taken away her fun. But she'd just have to settle for the leader. The one she was truly after. She had more tricks up her sleeves now. Things she had learned over the years. Her whip, sais, katana, and her own fists had proven leathel to the deadliest of vampires. She sensed a powerful aura nearby. She hunted it, picking up on a familiarlarity to it. She held her sais in her hands and moved towards them. Following with quiet footsteps. They were held up in a shack. And she knew that whomever was being tortured in there would regret the day they messed with Hannibal King. She moved to a nearby tree and jumped into its branches. Waiting and listening to the scream from inside. It didnt take long before Hannibal came out in a blast of splinters from the door he just kicked open. And when he was past her tree, she jumped from it landing with barely a thud. "So this is where you have been hiding?"

[Hannibal King]

His house. It was hidden with enchantments. Enchantments made by the best mage of the time. Of the time, he kept saying. It would be easily revealed to him. He had become much more versatile during his 3,000 years in the pass. Once upon he was just a slayer. Nothing more and nothing less but he needed new ways to pass the time. He needed knew knowledge so he used his time to teach him many things. Different forms of martial arts. Traveling to the lands in the far east, lands that were beyond treacherous to pass through from the oceans. But it was a trip well spent. And even further he trained himself. Learning the magical arts. Malachi had been in shock when he told him that, he supposed he would have been too but when you get to see life all over again you begin to realize that the things that held little value, could become great assets. He stopped suddenly, he was being followed. Quite sloppily at that. He arched his neck ever so slightly and closed his eyes. The air around him took another scent, a more feminine scent. "Hiding? Hardly, Princess. I've got work to do. Important work to do." He smiled slightly but then turned ahead. He heard the movement amidst the bushes and wandered towards the moving shrubbery. Just as he neared it a group of four Vampires came out. Well the fun wasn't going to wait. Good. He crisscrossed his arms and put each hand on the opposite side and with grace he pulled out two very interesting contraptions. There was a slightly arched handle and a very long metal with a hole, under it was a little slot where it was obvious you could put your fingers of. What did the Easterners call it? Pistols. They were far more advanced than many others, oh what a fruitful trip. He pulled the triggers and heard a loud bang shot forth with a speed that would make it undetectable to most, if not, all creatures. He saw the metallic round pieces, called bullets fly right through the bodies of the shit-eaters. Instantly they reverted to dust. He placed the guns back in the holster and ran forward. His hands on his back, as he pulled his trademark bow and arrows. He sent a foot before hand, pushing the vampire harshly to the ground and sent an arrow right through the neck. It howled in pain, but it wouldn't suffer long. He sent the next arrow to the heart, before doubling back to the final vampire. With ease and quickness the bows were behind him and he moved forward. The last vampire took a swing at him and he dodged it, grabbing the shit-eater by it's neck. "Where's that shit-eater Julenar?" The vampire mumbled a few words and just hissed at Hannibal. The Slayer backed away a few inches then moved forward, sending a hard right to it's face. "Tell me where that fucker is? Or I'll let my beautiful wife here have her way with you. And trust by way I meant daggers so far up your ass that you'll see them coming out of your mouth. Now talk, shit-eater!" And he heard the vampire finally give up some info. He smirked and let him good. "Would you like to do the honors, beautiful?"

[Nailana King]

She raised her eyeborw slightly and then sensed something in the air. A group of Vampires not far off. "Gone for days is hiding, Slayer." She grinned slightly as he pulled something from his hips. New weapons she guessed, she had yet to see them. And she curiously wandered how they worked. And soon she saw exactly how they worked. It was different. But no where near as much fun as her sais or whip. She moved closer careful to stay out of aim of the weapons, and watched as her husband moved fluidly. She grinned watching and just set her feet apart slightly and crossed her arms. Looking dead at the vampires. An impassive look on her face. She merely yawned and spun one of her Sais around on her index finger. She waited for Hannibal to finish toying with the Vampire. And then grinned when he asked if she wanted the honors. She moved forward, "Don't mind if I do." She stuck her Sais in her belt and leaned down grabbing the vampire, "You got lucky. I kill so much quicker then my husband." She grinned tauntingly, then heft the vampire into the air and with ease tossed him into the air. Then in one quick and fluid motion she jumped into the air with the vampire. She pulled her Sais from her belt and crossing her arms over each other brought her sais through him. He turned to dust and she landed her arms apread out beside her. She stood straight again and the placed them back in her belt, "We havent done this in years."

[Hannibal King]

"No, we haven't. Maybe because we're out fighting different battles" He said his attention elsewhere. His face already turned in the direction he was walking. Something that vampire muttered made him slightly uneasy. He was sure he'd dealt with the number threat quite easily but it seemed odd to him that one of the things he mumbled barely made it out. Actually, he didn't even get the whole word out before his head craned forward ever so slightly. He moved his hand where the Vamps head had been moments before Nailana had her fun. Some type of telepathic resonance. "He's been using telepathy to monitor them...." He said to himself. The Vamp Lord got craftier. Good for him. He took a breath and placed both hands in the middle of the psychic residue. He concentrated, his breathing slowing down. A mild circle of fire closed around his hands. His eyes glowing a deep red, much like they had when he'd been possessed by Severus but it was different. It was no longer a color of his fear of hurting those he loved. No it was power. A small little conquest in the road of his life. "Brenha caniwa lusme kaswa." Images shot through his head, causing it to fling back. He saw what the vampire had seen. His death, but now it went backwards. The raping of a woman and leaving her to die, still further down. Then bingo. There he was, there was Julenar. Still as arrogant as ever. Instructions. He was giving these groups instructions. His eyes mist over, a subtle mixture of the deep red and white fog. He realized what this was.... it was a vision. When all was done, he shook his head and stood up as straight as he could. "Julenar. This shit-eater.... he's one of the ones who sent forth the plague here. To infect these people. A variation of it. The people infected can live with it for weeks before realizing what's happening to them. Eventually eating their own." He said gravely.

[Nailana King]

She nodded, "Perhaps. Maybe it's jsut other things." She shrugged and watched as he moved forward. Something had him slightly uneasy. She moved her head to study the surrounding area, and sense out anything that was close by. There were a few stragglers watching but she knew Hannibal sensed them. She stayed close to him just incase any of them got any ideas. Then she turned to watch him. She took a step back. The red was back in his eyes. But it was different then it was before. And suddenly a wave of power washed over her. She wondered what he saw, but it didnt take him long to speak. "Julenar huh? Didn't think the bastard had it in him. He has very strong Mages on his side now then." She thought on this for a moment, "It's not teh same one thats hitting SRH is it? Because if it is we both have a rather large bone to pick with him. A slightly larger one on my part." Her features changed, Arinna had the plague. She had smelt it on her breath. She was worried and had saught out Farinele to speak to her about it. Her eyes clouded for a breif instance as she thought about what Farinele said. But she had prepared herself, prepared herself for what could happen to her daughter.

[Hannibal King]

"No idea. Only saw what the shit-eater saw. And his order was to spread it in this side of the world. This is just getting stranger. This isn't just one person. This plague is being orchestrated from all sides of the fence. This is a group effort, Nai. Different people are sending off different variations of the plague across all parts of the world. They have different beginning symptoms but it all ends the same way. I've been noticing it from the towns I've gone too. Reason why I've been away as much as I have. Old friend asked me to do him a favor. So I been checking this out. Some group of people want everyone dead, for whatever reason." Another little thing he trained during his years living in the pass. He trained himself to be a much better tracker, mixed in with stealth. Now he could not only track a vampire miles away he could also track other forms of danger. Sure it wasn't perfected. He'd been caught a few times before, but it had been by better tractors. Mostly people who been doing that forever. He turned to Nai and just looked at her. He moved a strand of hair out of her face and then bent forward giving her nice, long, deep, passionate kiss. "Missed your annoying ass, Princess." He said with a hint of a smile before his face turned serious again. He dug into one of his pockets and pulled out a scroll, placing it in front of her hands. "Here. If anything happens to me, I want you to get the hell out of here. No wasting your time on vengeance or anything. You take this, guard it with your life, and take it to Earnur as soon as possible."

[Nailana King]

"Well we are going to have to figure out what strand is in SRH. Because not only are the people there suffering from the plague. But I know without doubt two people from the Tower has it. One of them hides it very well." This bothered her. They had to find out what strain it was. If it was this one she would be taking herself and Arinna away. It was a precaution she must take. To not only protect the Tower from the Plague, but from herself and Arinna. She had to speak to Farinele again to see how far her sickness had progressed. She had been sick since before Athan was born. She kenw that. Hopefully this strain was slower and could be obliterated. She looked at Hannibal and smiled, "And I missed your smelly ass." She returned his kiss and then cursed herself. If he got the Plague she would know from where. She was on teh verge of telling him when he handed her the scroll. She eyed it and then looked at him oddly, "If anything happens to you? Your God nothing can happen to you.: She bit her lip and debated on trying to read it, "What's in it? Why is it so important that I cant take vengence out on whoever kills you?"

[Hannibal King]

"What?" He looked at her incredulously. "What are you talking about 2 members have the plague?" He eyed her, his eyes full of fear. "How long have you known? Who are they? Nailana." He had to bite his tongue. This just couldn't be happening. Not his family. This made the situation even more dire. He had to help find those responsible and find a cure soon. As soon as possible actually. He scratched his head. Ran his hands over his face. This wasn't something he'd expected to hear and it threw him into a noticeable loop. He sighed. He had to be strong. If he wanted to help the people he loved he needed to help find and stop this thing before it got any further. He put his arms around Nailana, protectively and held her silently for a few minutes. "Because if you waste your time getting vengeance you risk helping the millions, nay, billions who can be a little closer to salvation. If you love me, you'll do that. One life is nothing to billions."

[Nailana King]

She bit her lip, and lowered her eyes slightly. She didnt want to see the fear in his eyes or the deep sadness that might have been there. She sighed, "Arinna hasn't had it long. I just smelt it on her this morning before I left. And well, I've had it since Athan was born. Farinele is trying to find a cure, or something that will prevent it from progressing. And I am pretty sure that everyone's been safe from me. Farinele did find a combination of herbs that keeps me uncontagious. I dont know how she found it, she wont tell me." She bit her lip, "I should have told you I was sick. But I didn't want anyone to worry." She huddled in his embrace in silence. She sighed, "I'll do it. But your life is worth billions to me. But I know that I must help them before anything."

[Hannibal King]

His anger flared up. Little Arianna? His little daughter had this monstrous disease. These people had to pay for this. They had to pay for bringing this to their doorstep. And he'd start with Julenar. He'd pull out his intestines with his own hands and then make him eat it while he still had life. He tightened his hold on Nailana and just held her silently until he dropped the other ball on him. She had it? He clenched his teeth. Calm down, Hannibal. Try to calm down. But he couldn't. He pulled away from Nailana with a start. "You've been sick ever since you'd had Athan and you didn't tell anyone but Farinele?" The anger in his eyes were apparent. "I see some things never change with you Nailana. It's always the same shit!" He said angrily. "You've been sick with something THIS deadly and you've kept it from everyone, from me because you "didn't want anyone to worry"? How the hell are we going to grow in our marriage if these constant things keep popping up? I could have lost my wife! The mother of my children, the love of my god damned life and I wouldn't have known why. You know what, I'm tired of this. I'm going to tell you a little truth you don't want to hear. You're selfish! You're selfish and masochistic! You LIKE going through these things alone regardless of the 'worry' you'd cause others. This is why time and time again you keep this shit from the people who love you. We are not Salaz, we're not some random bunch of fucks. We're you're god damned family and we deserve to know! Is this the way you want our entire marriage to be based on? Just secrets after secrets?" His nose was flaring. "You know what, fuck this. I lived 3,000 years thinking about the moment I'd be able to hold you, to hold my children again without fucking anything up. But I wonder if it was worth keeping my heart intact for you? At the end of the day, you'll probably never change. By all means, I ain't no damn saint myself. But I'd like to think I've changed a little for the good. But you? No. You can't even tell your own damn husband that you're sick, that you could be possibly dying. It's apparent what I mean to you, what our marriage means to you."

[Nailana King]

She felt his anger flare and his grip tighten on her. And when what she had said about herself sank in he let go. She sighed and ran a hand over her face. She shook slightly and looked up at him. There were no tears, her tears had been cried out. Only sadness, deep hollowing sadness. She stared and then spoke quietly, "We werent sure at first. Not until recently. I didnt tell you because I didnt know how. You have already lost me once already. I didnt want to put you through it again. Whatever strain I have is weak or lying dorment. It isn't the same strain as Arinna's. Her's is more dire." She couldnt hold her eyes to his because of the intense anger. She moved to a tree and sat, her legs up by her chin, "This is the only thing I have hidden from you. This one thing. Its a big thing yes, but I didnt want teh weight of the situation to make you wary of me. I am selfish, I know that. But its because I love you so damn much that I chose not to say anything until now. I didn't want to be treated like a leper or something. I don't like going through this stuff alone, but I didnt want to put the burden on the family again. You all thought you lost me once. How do you go about telling the people you love that it could happen again?" She felt desolate and alone all of a sudden and it burned her. She buried her face in her knees, "You mean the world to me. Our marriage means everything to me. I dont wanna loose you. But you msut see that i have changed, not in some aspects. But in others."

[Hannibal King]

"Don't you dare spew that out! You love me so damn much you chose not to tell me until now? That's bullshit! Everything you just said is bullshit! If you loved me, if you loved any of us you would tell us instead of letting us suffer from a seemingly apparent "sudden" tragedy. You're the most selfish woman I have ever met. And you try to use your love to justify your poor judgment. And that's not fair to us, to any of us. I'm not telling anyone about this. I'm going to let you do it. I'm going to let you dig the grave you started digging up sometime ago. I don't care if it was dormant. You should have told me. I guess I should be the same way from now on. Perhaps I will be." He ran his hands through his face. "And if you think we would have truly treated you like that, then you have no faith in our family, do you?" He watched her cry and he had no sympathy for her. None at all. He walked over to her and grabbed the scroll he'd given her. "I don't trust you with this. I'll take it myself or go visit and old friend to send it to the Elven Palace. You should go home and go take care of yourself and Arianna. Give her a kiss from me too. Don't expect me back anytime soon." He put the scroll in one of his pockets and backed up. "I have a shit-eater to find." He eyed him angrily, but even amidst that look there was a loving stare hidden in anger and anguish. Before he could hear another word, he ran forward, dashing towards the thoughts of bringing ultimate pain to one of the most despicable creatures he'd ever encountered.

[Nailana King]

She looked up, "How dare I? How dare I? Let me tell you something Hannibal King. This is how I was before we met, this is how I have been for centuries. Excuse me for not knowing how to go about this still. Excuse me for not wanting to cause pain on our family. Excuse me for being afraid that I could get everyone else sick." She growled angrily her eyes flashing deep crimson, he would never understand her fully. He would never be able to see that everything she had ever done was out of love for her family. She didnt move when he took the scroll, she didnt say a word. Until He said to give Arinna a kis for him, "Give it to her yourself Hannibal King. Because as of this moment I wont be doing anything for you. If you want to give her a kiss you'll come home to do it yourself." She was tired of the arguing, of the fighting, of the constant moments when they were at each others throats. This was the reason why she had avoided love for all these years. It caused her too much pain. She watched him leave and stood slowly, "We'll see who finds him first. I'll be damned if I allow you to send me away. Not when its my daughters life that hangs in the balance." She groweled angrily and her whole demeanor change. She was no longer Nailana King, but she was Nailana Lee once more. Her dark crimson eyes and her ebony colored fingernails. Her Fangs were protruded and her hair was Black once more. She was pissed and it showed. Not only because of what occured, but because of what she had done. Then suddenly she faded from sight. Intent on getting to Julenar before Hannibal.