[Sitka]

^Vlad

After his visit to the wishing well, Vlad had returned to his make-shift shelter in an alley behind a seemingly forgotten antique store. As he predicted, it did indeed rain, though not as hard as he expected. Instead it was only pockets of an occasional drizzle.

While Beatrice and two others were away, Vlad had left his home to explore and ended up in Nabias, where he proceeded to look around. He'd be damned if he was forced to await her return to explore. He didn't need Beatrice to live his life and he didn't need her permission to leave.

And yet, she didn't need him either. He was no fighter, although he was quick to anger, and he didn't bring a profit into the house like some other pets. Instead, Beatrice had seen him attacking a pigeon and brought him home, fed him, and offered him a place to stay. It was much like what she did to her other pets. She would show them kindness, then ask if they would like to stay with her. She was a strange human, but nonetheless, it was hard not to feel some sort of attachment to her. She was just so sickeningly caring, in a genuine way.

With a sigh he settled down into his box and closed his eyes. Tomorrow he would leave this place and go home. Maybe, by the time he got there, Beatrice would be waiting for him. He dozed off peacefully, unaware of the creature that stood above him, watching.

When it was sure the Draculi was asleep, the chaos Slynx turned and jumped down off the roof it was peering over, to where a human male stood in the streets.

He was leaned casually aganist the wall of an apartment. His arms were folded over his chest and he was puffing on a cigarette.

The man looked to be in his early twenties, with messy black hair and a toned body. He didn't look athletic, but he wasn't missing muscle mass either. He looked like someone who was used to having a physically demanding job.

One distinguishing feature he had though, was a large tattoo that went nearly the length of his right arm.

Once the Slynx came into view, he flicked his cigarette away. The cat watched it in disgust before turning to its master.

"It's a Draculi" it muttered. It was a female's voice, soft and low, with an uncontrollable edge. The man nodded and scratched at the small gruff of hair on his chin. After a moment of pondering, he nodded.

"We'll get it tomorrow."

The Slynx nodded and followed her master down the street, away from the oblivious Vlad.

[sub]V-[2] L -[1][/sub]

[Sitka]

At dawn Vlad awoke. Glancing out of his sodden box he noticed there wasn't a cloud in the sky, and that same breeze from the previous night was still blowing. In the end, today seemed like a pleasant day.

With a yawn and a stretch, he moseyed his way out of the alley and down the main street in the city. Already, people were noticing the beauty of the day and were leaving their houses to come enjoy it. Caf?©s were opening their doors, letting the aroma of a fresh breakfast creep through the streets, attracting people inside. When Vlad smelled the familiar smell of fried bacon, his stomach gave a rumbled.

He was hungry.

Cursing that he didn't keep any keystones for himself, he jogged over to an alley adjacent to a particular clean looking restaurant. He would have to settle for scraps. A chuckle floated over to him and he turned, seeing a beautiful and lithe Slynx stretched out on top of a dumpster. She was watching him, her tail flicking lazily, a smile playing on her face.

"You're not really going to eat garbage, are you?" she teased.

Vlad was taken aback but the Slynx, and eyed her coldly. "Excuse me, Slynx, but do you know where one can find a free meal?" he snapped. The female chuckled and stood, jumping down from her perch.

"Possibly." she said, walking away. At the entrance of the alley, she looked over her shoulder at Vlad. "My master will feed you, if you're hungry." Vlad scoffed and shook his head. The Slynx shrugged. "Very well. Just remember, travelers need to eat for energy, and I don't think eating out of the trash is good for you either." with that said she walked away. Vlad growled in annoyance and jumped on top of the dumpster, peering inside.

Empty.

He lightly jumped over to the one connected to it and looked inside.

Empty.

Slightly panicked, he checked all the dumpsters and trashcans in the other alleys surrounding him. Each and every one of them was empty. Feeling like he was being watched, he cast a glance to his left. That Slynx was watching him again, not bothering to hide the amusement on her face. "I'm sorry, did I not tell you it was trash day? Good luck finding anything to eat now."

Vlad snorted but his stomach let out a large growl, betraying his hunger. This time, to accompany his stomach's cry for nourishment, was a bout of wooziness. He could deny it no more.

He really needed food.

Raising his head, he strolled over and took a seat next to the Slynx. "Where is this master of yours?"

She chuckled and stood, prancing down the street, and angry Vlad following behind.

[Sitka]

Vlad and the Slynx walked in silence, away from the hustle and bustle of the main square.

"What's your name??" she asked as they walked. Vlad peered at the cat curiously.

"Vlad" he stated. The Slynx nodded and glanced at him.

"I'm Aala."

Vlad nodded, but said nothing. Thus, the two returned to walking in silence.

She lead him to a small run-down house on the very edge of the town. It had a small bit of land, with a shoddy looking stone fence encasing the property. Aala gracefully bounded over it, with Vlad right at her heels.

The man from the previous night stood in the door, a unlit cigerette dangling in his hands. He peered at Vlad and smirked.

"Aala, you brought a friend?" he said. Vlad bristled at the man's tone and instantly became uncomfortable. Aala laughed, sensing his distress and stood behind him, blocking his only way to escape. "Please, come inside." he moved aside and Vlad was ushered in.

[Sitka]

The inside was just as shabby as the outside appearance of the house.  Cobwebs and dusted graced nearly everything and the sole source of light was a pathetic candle sitting at the edge of a table in the center of the room.

Vlad also noticed that the furniture was covered in white tarps and the kitchen area was in extreme disrepair. He swallowed a lump in his throat.

This house was abandoned.

The man, Seth, had taken a seat at the table with the candle, and Aala had taken a position guarding the door behind him. He was trapped.

Seth took out a cigarette and puffed on it, eying Vlad. Finally, he placed the burning stick of death into an ashtray and leaned forward.

"Do you have an owner Vlad?"

Vlad rose his nose into the air, inwardly debating whether or not to answer the question. Seth chuckled and rose his hands into the air.

"Listen, you don't know the situation you're in, do you?"

Again, Vlad remained silent.

"You're in our control now and you best start answering our questions."

"Or what?"Vlad spat. Seth shrugged and grabbed his cigarette. Vlad watched him stand and felt Aala's jaws clamp around scruff on the back of his neck, raising him into the air.

Then, the three journeyed back outside. It was dusk by now, god only knows how much time Vlad had spent in that house.

Seth led the way, briskly walking away from the house and towards an empty lot. When they reached it, Seth coughed loudly.

They waited silently, then a rustling sound caught Vlad's attention. Coming out of the shadows loomed a large Hollowheart. Seth smiled and beckoned the creature over. Finally he turned to Vlad.

"Listen you idiot."he snarled, finally revealing his nature. "You better tell us who exactly is your master and you better pray that they cave into our demands."

"What?"Vlad asked, partly in confusion, mostly in fear. Seth chuckled.

"You're our ticket to a payload."

[Sitka]

Vlad was thrown into a cage that was connected to the belly of the Hollowheart. The dragon lowered it's body, allowing Aala and Seth to mount him. When he stood, Seth leaned over, laughing.

"Please, tell us where this master is of yours."

Vlad paused, his heart racing. Beatrice would do anything for him, he knew, but should he tell him where she is? If he was to hurt her, it would be all his fault.

But, if he didn't...

He was thrown to the side when the Hollowheart sprung into the air. It's wings flapped crazily as it gained momentum, hurtling up into the sky. Soon, the entire town of Nabias could be seen spread out bellow them.

Vlad gulped as he felt the cage be lifted into the air by Seth, who held it over the edge.

"If you don't help me, I don't have any use for you."he stated. Vlad visibly shivered and looked below him. Seth growled in frustration."That's it, times up."

Vlad let out a cry as Seth let go of the cage. It plummeted towards the ground, towards the empty lot where they had taken off from.

His life flashed before his eyes. This was it. This would be his death.

He was jerked upwards, his head smashing into the top of his jail. The Hollowheart had caught onto the rope attached to Vlad, saving him.

"Now."Seth muttered, as the Hollowheart landed. "Will you talk?"

"My master's name is Beatrice. She has an estate in the countryside, but she's not there now. She's in the Wilt'no desert with a Bleached Gyrophant and a Glacier Serraptor."

Seth nodded and took the create from the Hollowheart, retying Vlad to it's chest.

"Wilt'no desert."he commanded of the Hollowheart, who nodded and took off again. Vlad inwardly sobbed.

He had betrayed Beatrice.

-End-