OTA

[miss_ives]

Vanessa had always had sharp instincts, and had long since learned to follow them. That night, as she walked home after dark, there was that odd pinprick on the back of her neck. Someone was watching. And as it lingered, she trusted that she wasn't simply being watched, but actually followed.

Her heart beat a little faster as she picked up the pace, cursing the fact that she was far from any busier street.

London, her home, the city she knew and loved, suddenly felt like a strange, dark, dangerous place. The lampposts felt less efficient than normal, and her steps on the pavement sounded louder than they ought to. She glanced back and saw three men a few yards behind her, hardly more than dark figures, doing nothing to hide themselves.

When she turned into the next street over and they were still following, her mind was made up. She stopped walking and turned around, a forbidding look on her pale features.

The three men slowed their steps but eventually came into clearer view, stopping a few feet from her. They were even paler than her, with sunken, abnormally clear eyes, and they felt wrong to her. Not, she reflected, unlike Mina had.

"What do you want with me?" she demanded.

They shared a look, and the one in the middle replied, "We don't want anything with you. We're not allowed. Our Master, however..."

Their Master. Mina had used that word as well. "Where is he?"

"Do you want to meet him?" the same one offered, stepping slowly nearer Vanessa.


((Feel free to stumble across Vanessa having a chat in a dark street with some vampires, Penny Dreadful style! They'll probably attack you if you try to jump in and get her away from them. Good times!))

Comments

[miss_ives]

Vanessa wanted, desperately, to follow. Mina might be at the end of that quest, Mina who needed her help. But she resisted the urge to say so immediately, and took a moment to force herself to focus. "Tea would be more prudent."

[yves]

"It would, but one doesn't always have to be," Yves allowed, offering what was almost a sympathetic sort of look.

[miss_ives]

Vanessa felt on the edge of a precipice, all the more with how the magic in the room felt. Normally, she tended to step back to safety, in these situations. But nothing about how she felt was normal, and Yves was by her side. "Let's be daring," she decided, looking up to meet his gaze.

[yves]

Yves nodded, a quick but sure tilt of his chin, and he left his coat where it was in favour of catching the little ball of light he'd summoned in his hand.

"Then we'll follow. I have a car, that might be best," he added, already leading the way out of his impossible room.

[miss_ives]

Vanessa was already sliding her coat back on, and she followed him out of the room, feeling oddly empty and a different sort of off balance as they left it. But there was a lot to focus on beside that, and so she did, quiet and determined as she fell in stride with Yves.

[yves]

"I'll need you to keep a close eye on the sprite while we're on the road," he said, leading them out to a very plain looking black car that was parked around back. "They can get a bit over excited."

[miss_ives]

"Let me drive," Vanessa suggested. "I know how to handle a car much better than an overexcited sprite."

[yves]

Yves looked unsure, clearly a bit unwilling to give up control in this situation- Or any, if he were honest. She had a point though, and after a beat he reluctantly offered the keys.

[miss_ives]

With someone else, Vanessa might have promised not to get a scratch on the car. As it was, she had an inkling that Yves' reluctance was about more than just the plain-looking car, and she simply took the keys with a short nod, then walked over to the driver's side.

[yves]

Looking just a tad petulant about it, Yves made his way to the passenger side and climbed in. The sprite was still in his hand, and he opened it slowly.

"You are to stay in the car, do you understand?" he asked it. "I need you to guide us from here- As though we were on a boat, searching for land."

The tiny sprite made a jingling sort of sound, flitting about the car for a moment, before fluttering over the dash and pointing itself north east.

[miss_ives]

Vanessa took a moment to adjust the seat and rearview mirror, then only started the car and maneuvered out of the parking space, driving down the street so she could head in the general direction the sprite was indicating.

[yves]

"Based on what she tells me, I believe we need to head towards Stratford for now," the fae stated, glancing over at Vanessa- His gaze lingering a beat longer than he intended. He didn't often admire people, but Vanessa was... Strikingly attractive.

The fact that he thought that made him frown, and he huffed a bit to himself.

"Left here," he muttered.

[miss_ives]

Vanessa drove safely but briskly, taking a turn when indicated, following the instructions of the sprite through Yves. There was a tension to her that would not relent, in that moment, belied in her posture and her every move, never mind the sharp glint in her eyes. They reached an industrial area, and were directed towards a specific warehouse. Vanessa killed the engine and simply stared at the building for a moment, breathing and sorting through her emotions, the hope just as dangerous as the rest of them, if not more so. Mina needed her.

"Thank you," she added, turning towards Yves. "For leading me here."

He had not had to, and now she could not ask him to come with her, for all that she would welcome his help. She shuddered at the thought of what she might have to resort to if she were to attempt this on her own, but she was resolute. Mina was more than worth Vanessa's soul.

[yves]

Yves wasn't really the helping sort- Not unless he was helping himself. So he was a bit surprised by his own words when he said, "I can come with you, if you want."

[miss_ives]

Vanessa was quiet for a moment, after his offer. "It will be dangerous," she then answered, although they both knew it already. She was giving him a chance to take back his offer, but she did hope that he would not.

[yves]

"Mmm, the interesting things always are," the fae murmured, already moving to get out of the car.

[miss_ives]

Relief and gratitude mingled in Vanessa's chest, along with something else. Something best left until later to explore. She got out of the car and locked it up before handing Yves the key. She did not reiterate her thanks, but they were there in her eyes all the same.

Before they hardened as she turned towards the warehouse. The creatures had not seemed to want to harm her, but Yves was another matter. "I think that I might be able to walk through the front door," she said, glancing at him. He could accompany her, of course, but she might serve as a great distraction if he wanted to try sneaking in another way.

[yves]

Yves considered the building for a moment, his nose wrinkling just a bit.

"It seems likely, yes. ...I'll meet you inside, I'm going to walk around the back," he decided, starting to walk away, and then pausing. "I'd advise caution, but you've never struck me as the cautious type."

[miss_ives]

"Wait," Vanessa told him, before he was even done speaking. She walked over to him. "If you come across Mina... she is fair, in every way." Both blonde and beautiful, and most importantly, not to be harmed, hence her telling Yves about her.

[yves]

Yves raised a brow, wondering if she warned him so he might protect her from others- Or because she feared what he might do himself. He did have a reputation after all, in some circles. Either way, he had no interest in this Mina- At least, not outside of what she meant to Vanessa. For that knowledge alone, however, he'd take great care.

Silent, he nodded his understanding.

[miss_ives]

Vanessa nodded in reply, grateful for his understanding, and turned once more to the building. She squared her shoulders, then walked over to the large door as Yves slipped down the side of the building. She gave him a few more seconds, and herself as well, to compose herself and steady her fear, then slapped her hand three times on the huge metal door, the only appropriate knock for a building of this size.

Ten seconds or so later, it was slid open, and the vampire from earlier peered at Vanessa curiously, then stepped aside. "The Master will be so pleased."

Despite the unease stiffening her spine, Vanessa walked into the warehouse.

[yves]

Watching her vanish inside, Yves stalked around to the back, moving slow and observing everything. He could see a few of the windows near the roof were currently open, and he considered his options for a moment before finding a shadowed wall and beginning to climb. Honestly, this was all a bit beneath him- What was he even doing here.

Huffing to himself, he managed to drag himself to a window. A peek inside showed the space below was empty, but he could hear voices nearby and moved with caution and grace as he slipped inside.

[miss_ives]

"What does your Master want with me?" Vanessa asked, striving to show none of the anxiety she felt as the door closed behind her.

"That's for him to tell you, miss," the vampire replied, gesturing for her to follow him.

More vampires were drawing near; their attention was clearly on her, for all that none of them came close. The only one near enough to touch her was leading her farther into the warehouse. She looked at their faces, all of them. They were all sorts, all ages and genders, all skin colours but all of them paler than they ought to be, almost sickly, their eyes sunken. And none of them were who she hoped to see.

"Is Mina here?" she asked, looking back at the vampire she was following.

"The Master will have all your answers."

That was when she saw the first body. A young woman, drained of blood, lying on the ground. And there were more corpses, scattered around the warehouse. Vanessa's breath caught in her throat.

[yves]

Yves could hear voices through te floor, but hesitated to get closer just yet. No doubt the vampires would smell him, but a spell with the right amount of stink would help. Sandalwood was very good at confusing noses, he'd found.

He didn't depend heavily on his fae abilities often, but soon enough he was invisible, and a strong scent of sandalwood and a heavy musk filled the warehouse, making it easier for him to creep down and keep an eye on things.

[miss_ives]

The vampire leading Vanessa on stopped walking, frowning, a few seconds before she noticed the new scent. She slowed to a halt as well, confused. Was this Yves?

"So you haven't come alone," the vampire remarked. "Find the intruders!" he snapped at the others, who reluctantly broke off to search the warehouse. The vampire stepped closer to Vanessa, a little too close for comfort. "It won't change anything. The Master will have you."

"Tell me where Mina is," Vanessa retorted, glaring at him, her heart thudding against her chest.