Night Falls, Monsters Rise. [OPEN]

[animosity!]

Continued from
Au Contrair, Kartrusia

Shall I tell you what the real evil is? To cringe to the things that are called evil-- to surrender to them our freedom, in defiance of which we ought to face any suffering.

Child's play. Beguilement. Twas all the same to the near eighteen year old necromancer frolicking throughout Rosinder and unleashing horrific, undead consternation. Villainous. Wicked. Vile. Rusia. The child's very presence turned the stomachs of even the people she considered her companions for the time being. She was nothing but tainted now, instinct overwhelming her ability to think logically-- to do anything but kill. The power fostered in each massacre of every town was more than enough to set her heart afire with a need for total power and extermination. She had become the criminal reaper. There was no time left. Nothing could be done to stop her. Even the C.H.U.R.C.H. and its assassins had barely left a scratch on the girl. The ony one still holding on to hope was Cathmor. The gentile beast, more a monster than she..and naive. Unaware of the organizations plans for destroying the child. All was known was that Hammond and his goons were after the girl. The clock had stopped ticking. It was time for someone, anyone to save her while there was still humanity in the child to save, before the viscous taint coursed entirely through her veins and took hold of her soul. Or leave her to die at the hands of her father and his corrupt, unjust enforcement officers.

The population of Rosinder would become well aware of the little girl causing so much chaos. There was a price for Rusia's head. Her travels with the beast and assassin had carried her from the innocent abbey tucked in the landscape of Astrum Noir to somewhere west of Zyrigias, hiding safely in the mountainous region for the time being.. Far from the councils and meetings in Valor City. Far from her father's eye. Two assassins had had their turn with the child, and were blasted and desouled before they even had a chance to truly react. They were drones. Sent out to test the girl's ever expanding abilities. Hammond, use ninjas? Please. They were spineless, sneaky bastards. Too focused on keeping themselves hidden to really bring to Rusia what was needed, her death.


---*---

Hammond stood in the crowded hall of Valor City's Petrov building. The main branch of C.H.U.R.C.H. He inhaled deeply, leaned back against the right wall of the meeting hall and sighed loud enough to capture the first few rows of occupants attention. Then the next and next, until a wave of quiet rushed through the room like high tide in the dead of night.. silencing all life and keeping all attention on the ocean. Hammond was the ocean. Tall. Towering over the crowd, podium covering the majority of a black business suit, fitted, with black tie and black gloves. Suiting for a man with a career in the black arts? He thought so. Hands rose from his sides.. stopping at shoulder height and a large, calming smile took hold of his features. He looked across the horizon to the line of younger gentleman gracing the front row. New recruits. Young gents with no heart and little care for the details of their work. Mindless tools of the supernatural murder scene. Hired gun. One of them, maybe two would see the error of their ways soon enough. Would try to escape. But this wasn't a quit when you please job. In it for life, or retire through death. No matter what, death was synonymous with Hammond Petrov.

" Firstly, thank you to all who have chosen to come today. To rise up! Against the tyranny than has bestowed itself within Rosinder's great boundaries. It seems.. we have a hellion on the loose. One of our own, might I add. A specifically trained weapon turned rogue. Unleashed upon this country tainted, by a comrade of mine. Now executed and accounted for though he is. The hellion you ask? The great cause of your loss of family and land over the past weeks in massacre upon massacre of innocent life? Rusia Petrov. The child soul eater! Necromancer! MURDERER! "

A rise from the crowd. From Hammonds finger. And silence, once more.

" Yes. Rusia Petrov. Raised in corruption and unfettered in the lands of Rosinder. A monster much in need of being tamed and PUT DOWN. Now, I ask you fair citizens, is this something we stand for? To let a child, black in heart and unbound by moral boundaries be the ruin of our home!? Or will we take a stand, and bring down the beast that haunts our consciences?! It is time to RISE up and take hold of what we are most fearful of, and snub it to the gates of hell. Where it belongs!"

He turned, and exited the small stage on which the podium stood, unconcerned with the crowd's reaction. He knew what he had created. Though he lacked knowledge that she would become so strong. He knew..and he would use his daughter as a channel for which to bring the cities of Rosinder together.. kill her, and worship him. He was setting up his own victory, from the time of conception with that repulsive necromancer scum, Rusia's mother.. he was preparing for his shot as ruler. As conqueror.

So it seemed a greater evil was afoot, lurking behind closed doors.

[Rivermane]

Small red glowing eyes watched while curious ears listened as the man made his speech before his followers, from it's vantage point a silent messenger watched as he spoke and although it knew not what message it relayed or even what was said it listened none the less. A short distance away in a run down building soon to be demolished behind a mirror shielding her from possible detection sat Terra huddled against a wall, she had only just arrived a few days before and had taken an interest in the happenings of C.H.U.R.C.H. due mainly to it's proximity to her current home. Her body lay motionless in sleep but even as her body rested her mind remained active and focused, her spy was coming through for her again as it watched the proceedings with as keen an interest as she. As the speech drew to a close she continued to watch him until he had left the room before turning her attention to the crowds reaction, most seemed to agree which came as no surprise to Terra as were she still mortal she might think the same but her own experience had opened her eyes a little in that regard.

Releasing her spy from it's charge she swam slowly back into her own consciousness and a mild weariness from the daylight observations making her sigh and fidget in her sleep, there was little she could do however until the deadly rays of sunlight lost their sway to give way to another moonlit night. Her mind pondered her choice of actions for the moment, if she did nothing and they found the girl and managed to kill her what would be next? Her and others like her of course, what other possible outcome could there be? She was reminded for a brief moment of an old memory of her father, she was being scolded for not saying her prayers as she had been instructed.. they shared some similarities as both men seemed totally sure that their way was right and how it had to be. She knew had things been different she would think differently about this after all the girl was a murderer and a monster, but as a fellow monster trapped in the game of survival she knew that even though she may not be powerful enough to stop them her own survival hinged on helping Rusia.

The night would come soon and with it the monsters that people rightly feared.

[animosity!]

Through the haze of lower atmosphere circling mountains immeasurable in heigth and clinging to dangerously steep ridges, sat a figure so pale, it remained nearly camoflauged against the ivory fog save a dim amber glow. There were no trees. The altitude would be suffocating to any breathing object that graced the desolate cliffside. It was isolation. . . peace.

But how long could the peace remain, in the presence now of choas. Though her body barely moving, Rusia's mind was in full gear, twisting and tugging at possibilities. Contemplating the current events taking place in Valor City. What was life in the deepest depths of lonliness? Sure, Hammond hadn't managed to kill her. He had done worse though. Forced her to hide. There was no freedom for Rusia and that in itself was death enough. She had no one, and by now most of Rosinder would think her a criminal deserving of death.

Rusia stood and moved to the edge of the cliff. The tips of her toes inched past the edge, teetering her body between life and death.

Fall now and let him win, or rise. Rise and expose Rosinder to the real monsters. . .

Rusia stepped out into the air and dropped. Ten. . .twenty feet, until she landed gracefully flat footed a lower berth of the cliffside. A smile stretched across the girls face as she repeated the falls mutliple times until she reached the base, at which point she blasted off into the sun rise. Her aim: Valor City. Her motive: Expose Hammond for the true demon he was and relinquish her mother's curse from her soul by murdering him.

[Rivermane]

The fluttering of wings greeted her as she swam back into the conscious world leaving behind her dream of moments passed and blissfully forgotten, her eyes slowly opened and adjusted to the dim light that filtered through the many holes that the house was riddled with but thankfully none that shone into where she hid in the corner. Standing slowly the spell she used to hide herself during sleep dissipated leaving little trace of it's existence save for two lines of dried blood, it's alot quieter than earlier, I wonder what's been going on with that man and his followers she thought to herself as the raven from earlier fluttered down and perched on her shoulder letting out a loud Caw! as if agreeing with her. Putting a single finger to her lips she breathed a quiet Shh.. while looking at her feathered companion who stared back in return.
"Curious little one aren't you I control your body to make you see what I cannot, yet you keep coming back.." She whispered quietly to the raven, bobbing it's head a few times as if in reply it let out another Caw! except this time it seemed quieter almost as if he had understood her need for quiet.

Moving a few paces forward brought her to the stairs which she began to descend while swaying left and right now and then to avoid the odd beam of light, where best to feed tonight? she pondered as she stepped around a large beam and onto the bottom floor. She had been in town a only a few days now after having traveled here from Union City in Genesaris after an interesting adventure in the mountains, she didn't know why but she felt safer in this land than she had in Genesaris as her pale appearance and clothing had seemed out of place. Returning to her thinking she did a mental checklist of where she had fed over the last few days, she had been trying to be discrete in her feeding habits but every-time she bit into her victim she had found her inner beast taking the reins. She stopped for a moment as her memories slowly swam back as she had been helpless to stop herself, she was like a passenger in a cage when it came out and all she could do was scream and shout.

Reaching the door she slowly turned the knob allowing the door to open a jar and as no light filtered through a grin spread across her features, she had found that at a certain time in the afternoon until sunset the nearby mountains blocked a portion of the suns rays allowing her to go outside so long as she remained in the shadows. Stepping out into the shadow of the building she closed the door quickly so that anyone who looked her way wouldn't suspect she had come from there, looking up she gazed at the afternoon sky as she sun continued to sink lower maybe if I'm lucky I can snag one of the members of his group she thought to herself with a bit of a mischievous giggle, a quiet Caw! alerted her to her companions presence.
"Girl can dream right..?" She said in a hushed tone before turning and making her way towards where the house's shadows intersected.

[animosity!]

Dawn had broken in Valor City though no citizens would notice. The Petrov building that occupied the majority of the city's area rose high above all other buildings, blocking out the rising illumination signaling the beginning of a new day. Instead of bright hues gracing cobblestone pavements and glimmering against windows, a shadow was cast. A shadow that swallowed the city and forever kept it in gloom. That was how most folk liked it though. And those who did not, disappeared.

Hammond never slept. He never dreamed, and thus never knew what it was to let his subconscious roam. This made him a very uptight man. A man on the verge of snapping. After fifty years of life, thirty of them spent crafted his plan to lead and demolish whatever freedom the people of Valor City thought they had left, Hammond found no pleasure in anything but ruin.

He sat at his desk, arms folded against the top and stared at a frame on the desk's corner with no emotion on his face. The picture the frame held was that of a small girl and a much younger Hammond. Both were quite happy. Rusia was uncontaminated. Hammond wore a smile. How the tides of time seemed to wash away beauty. . . and leave nothing but the dark sediment of shattered dreams. . .

Hammond stared for hours, a statue of heartbreak masked by hatred. He stared until his eyes became decorated with the red streaks of strain and his pupils dilated denoting a stupor. And then, sleep knocked upon his door and for the first time in decades, Hammond answered.
----------------------------------------
Rusia had been running for hours. Weaving and bobbing through thick forest exhausted her to the point of near fainting but she could not stop. She would not stop until the forest thinned and the darkness of Valor City graced her tired eyes. Her pace was slowing and her breathing was heavier despite the inhuman energy rushing through her pulling her on. Perhaps hesitation was overwhelming the surges of power her maturity in demonization had given her. Hesitation that suddenly arrived out of a deep feeling of regret and guilt for what she had become.

Although not her fault, the girl's time in the mountains had left her with a clouded mind of what her purpose truly was. She didn't know. She could be good, maybe. Perhaps there was a time when Hammond had purer intentions for his illegitimate child. . .
Rusia had no more time to ponder for she had finally broken through the wood and into the city's outer perimeter. A deep breath was taken, though not out of fear for being noticed. Rusia had completely changed her appearance after knowledge of Hammond's activity in Valor City. A black bob replaced stingy auburn locks. Living in isolation had left her skin and bones, and the majority of her body was covered by a Victorian white lace dress robbed from a funeral parlor abandoned in one of several of her infamous massacres.

She entered the city's main square and stood at the Petrov building's front doors. A reunion was on the horizon. A reunion far darker than the city's eclipse.

[Rivermane]

He twitched once, twice, then twice more in succession.
His hands gripped the pair of strong arms that held him, his nails digging into his assailants soft flesh causing dark red blood to coat them.
A sharp pain in his neck causes him to stiffen the accompanying cry muffled by a strong hand over his mouth, his mind realizes that he is losing the battle as the dark alley he was in closed in around him. The movements of his assailant quickly became more savage as the arms holding him grew in strength as the hand that gagged him threatened to snap his neck, for a few moments time stood still as his lifeblood drained into the mouth of his assailant before the brutal snapping sound of his neck signaled the end of his struggle.

Terra's chest heaved as she did her best to calm her breathing after regaining control from her beast, once again she had killed her prey.. yet more blood on her hands that she would no doubt end up paying for eventually. The darkness of the alley cloaked the scene, blood covered both Terra and her victim as well as splatters here and there on the ground and walls of the two buildings. Taking a firm hold of the body Terra slung it over her shoulder before starting to walk, her destination was the same as it had been every time she feed. Dumping the body in an empty coffin that the old grave digger kept a steady supply of she headed back into town, I need to focus.. I need to learn to keep control.. doing this every time is just going to draw attention.. she mentally told herself. Avoiding any contact with other members of the city she made her way back towards her home, as she rounded the bend her eyes caught sight of something.. a girl standing in an old white dress that stood out in a contrast to all the darkness. Blinking for a moment she just continued to stare wondering for a moment if a wedding was to be taking place soon, curious for the time being to see what the girl was up Terra waited where she was although she moved under the cover of a nearby shadow to lessen her chances of being seen by anyone.

[animosity!]

[ I'm so very sorry it's taken so long! I've been murdered by work lately. : ( ]

The large steel doors of the Petrov building emanated a heat so intense that anyone even within a few feet would surely suffer at least first degree burns. Rusia had both palms pressed against the thick chain that wrapped the gated door's handles. The titanium liquefied beneath her skin and puddle against her bare feet. Within seconds, the door was pulled open for her to slip in and left ajar. She had no need to cover her tracks, for all of Valor City was safely hidden in the confines of their homes as fear of Hammond's men had habituated in the citizens.

The front parlor and hallway were stark black. No sign of guards; stragglers. None were necessary as no one ever had the gull to break in. It was unnecessary even for Rusia to do so as the security systems would recognize her hand print needed to enter anything inside. However, she was certain the alarms would sound at the very hint of her presence. Nonetheless, she proceeded. Instinct led her up flights of stairs and through several dark, abandoned hallways until finally she had found her destination.

The only non steel door in the entire building captured her gaze, solid oak double doors at least twelve feet in height adorned with intricate carvings. Hammond was always fond of overdoing things. Apparently doors were no exception. A deep breath was taken as Rusia prepared herself for the reunion just seconds away. She placed her hand against the wall mounted scanner and immediately red strobes of warning flashed within the building and a siren from above echoed a cry of the girl's presence to all of Valor City. The door clicked before the security kicked in and Rusia pushed open the doors to Hammond office slowly, and let herself in.

Through all the noise, the panic, the calling of guards. . . Hammond slept hunched over his desk in near coma. Rusia slammed the doors behind her and sealed them with red aura escaping fingertips. The noise caused Hammond to stir. He sat up straight in his chair, rubbed his eyes and squinted towards the figure at the door. " Ru. . .Rusia?"

" Hello father. "

She moved towards him while he contemplated her presence reality or still a dream lingering in the cusp of sleep. The alarms pulled him hard into consciousness and he quickly pulled himself from his chair to meet the girl with a hand around her throat. Against Hammond's built exterior, Rusia's frail decaying body was futile. She allowed him to lift her off the floor and to pin her against the wall, his cold eyes burning through her gaze. He spat at her, and squeezed her throat to near snapping. " How dare you, you insolent little bitch. How DARE you show your face here!" He spat again, and sneered. " You look pathetic. Come to turn yourself in have you? For the suffering you've caused? Come to apologize to Daddy dearest?"

Rusia choked for words, her face increasing reddening as she suffocated beneath his hand.

"Shhh. SH. Shut up. You are going to be punished Rusia. You monster. I'm going to kill you right here." He squeezed tighter, past the point of allowing her to breath and as she gasped for air, arms flailed about in an attempt to grab at her father. Between gasps and choking she managed to mouth a hoarse "no" and latched a hold of his collar. Her fingernails met his neck and she clawed into him, breaking skin and mustering the last of her strength and energy to send a surge of ruthless aura through his body. A roar of agony escaped the man. His grip loosened and both father and daughter dropped to the floor. The lack of oxygen and blast of energy into her father had rendered Rusia unconscious. And Hammond.

Hammond was dead.

[Rivermane]

Terra's eyes had widened slightly as she watched the girl at work on the doors to the building, a twinge of fear passed through her as she tried to imagine the sort of power required to generate the heat required to melt metal of that quality. As the youth disappeared inside Terra began moving, she didn't know why but something told her that this girl was the one that the man had been ranting on about.. after all how many other girls would show up and melt a solid lock instead of just knocking. Sticking to the shade and shadows she sped through the streets using her heightened agility to quickly reach the house closest to the door, checking nearby she noticed nobody around and moved up to the door and taking a peek inside. A fluttering of wings called her attention to her companion Caw! he crowed to announce himself, looking at him for a moment one of Terra's eyes flashed a red as she took control of him a small seepage of blood dribbling out from under her eye as the spell wasn't meant to be used with just one.
"Find out what's going on.." She said quickly, Caw! was the only reply as her friend flew in through the gap in the door and began his search.

Slipping through the slightly ajar door after him Terra took a moment to look around, the room was silent and no one seemed present so Terra relaxed a little. Looking back towards the door the small pool of melted metal had a pair of foot prints in it, foot prints which lead inside and towards the nearby staircase. Moving across the floor towards the stairs she heard a Caw! overhead which told her she was heading in the right direction, taking the stairs two at a time she reached the landing and ran along it to the next staircase. Her companion flapped his wings a few times to gain height before gliding down a hallway, it's keen eyes not spotting anything immediately till it spotted something white caught on a corner. Reaching the top of the second staircase Terra heard a Caw! from the hallway ahead of her, as she began to move the alarms sounded causing Terra to jump.. if she still had a beating heart it would be hammering about now. That's not good.. the last thing I need is a mob of guards right about now.. she inwardly cursed her bad luck, following the corridor as her companion lead her onward her eye had begun to sting to the point that maintaining the spell too much longer would be unwise. She reached the door just as she was forced to cancel the hold on her friend, clamping her eye shut as the pain became too much to keep it open the blood from her eye having made it's way down the side of her face and had begun leaving a trail some time ago. Trying the door she found it had no give meaning either the lock was still engaged or something was holding it shut, realizing time was short and that she would never batter down the door before distractions began arriving Terra moved to the nearby window.

Putting her fist through the window Terra pulled herself out onto the windowsill, a dark shadow covered the side of the building rendering it safe so long as she didn't fall as there was bright light below. Judging the distance Terra coiled herself before pushing off and leaping towards the next window, her hands grasped a hold of the window as her fingers smashed through the glass. This is going to take awhile to recover from.. She grumbled to herself internally, pulling herself through and shattering the window completely she looked up just in time to see the man crumple to the floor next to the form of the girl she had seen enter. Wincing from the pain in her hands as she made her way over Terra crouched down next to Rusia, taking two fingers she checked and found a steady if slightly rapid pulse for which she was thankful more so however for the fact of not having wasted her time and lifeblood getting this far. Lifting the girl up into the crook of one arm Rusia's head resting against her shoulder she gave the girl a shake hoping to try and wake her up.