[IC] New Blood

[Revelator]

Dalia Skinner
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Dalia woke up, still in her dress, laying on a bed. It took her a moment to clear her vision. She sat up quickly. She was in what looked like an upscale apartment or hotel. It was a small room, with most of what one would need in it. Hotel, Dalia decided after a moment. She pushed herself off the bed and walked quickly to the window. She pulled the shades aside and looked out. She was at the top of, or really high up a tall building. She rolled her shoulders and head, trying to get rid of the stiffness. She paused, something felt different. About her, somehow she had changed. She wasn't sure what it was right now, but something was out of the ordinary. She took a stroll around the room, she tried the door, which was locked.

"Great," Dalia muttered to herself. She swore after a moment then went and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Dalia knew she was in trouble. The last thing she could remember was talking to that guy at the club last night, she couldn't remember his name at all. After that everything went black. She did remember him buying her a couple drinks. What they talked about she couldn't remember either. She felt like she had mentioned something about looking for her brother. God, she hoped she hadn't been raped while passed out on the bed. She shuttered at that thought. Dalia decided she'd be ready when whoever it was came back here. Now that she was awake he'd find out she wasn't nearly as helpless as she'd been the previous night.

[Monkey Kitty]

Topaz



"Where is she?" Topaz asked the Death Dealer. Her voice was bland, not eager or impatient. There was no sense getting worked up about the new recruits. They were pawns, expendable - and she fully expected most of them to die.

"In the room." He passed her the key card.

"You turned her?"

"Yes, as you instructed." The Death Dealer sounded downright bored. "I doubt she remembers. She was pretty out of it."

Topaz frowned. "No one saw you drug her drink?"

"I was careful."

"I trust you didn't... take advantage?"

"Topaz, you wound me." He didn't sound very wounded, though. He sounded quite unconcerned. "I stuck to your orders. I bit her, that's all."

"What about the other three?" Topaz asked.

He shook his head. "Didn't make it. Just the girl. She was the only one who survived the bite. Not terrible odds, though, considering."

"No, not terrible," Topaz agreed thoughtfully.

"Want me to break the news to her?"

"No. I'll speak to her myself," Topaz told him. "She deserves a personal visit from her Coven leader on the first night of her new life."

She took her leave without another word, rode the elevator upstairs, and knocked on the door. Topaz had the key card and could have gone right in, but she wanted to start off this conversation on the right foot, and bursting in wouldn't exactly set a positive tone.

If the girl didn't work out, Topaz would just kill her. That was the plan, anyway - for her to die. Ideally not so soon, though. That community of immortals was building an army to destroy them, Topaz knew. Now she was raising her own army, slowly and secretly so they wouldn't take notice. She would strike first, and harder. Likely she would lose the pawns when they attacked the stronghold... and a pawn was exactly what this newly turned Vampire was.

With a small smile on her face, Topaz waited for the door to open.

[Revelator]

Dalia Skinner
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Dalia had done some creative rearranging of the furnishings after a few moments of thought. She had moved the nightstand to the side of the door, opposite the hinge side. She had pulled the bed sheet off and been sitting on the bedside table waiting for some one to come in. What she hadn't expected was for some one to knock on the door. That gave Dalia pause, especially when the door still didn't open. Maybe it was a housekeeping call. Dalia carefully set the sheet down on the table behind her as she slid off, taking care not to make much noise. She stood right next to the door handle and stopped for a moment. She took a deep breath to steady herself. She'd be ready anyway. She carefully grabbed the door handle and open the door quickly. She had been ready to send a kick straight to the groin of whoever it was. She froze when she saw a woman standing there. She didn't look like house keeping either. Dalia was confused to say the least.

"Who are you?" Dalia said in a flat tone, with a hint of an edge, letting the woman know she wasn't abundant on patience at the moment.

[Monkey Kitty]

Topaz



Topaz definitely did not look like a housekeeper. Her outfit cost more than most hotel maids would make in a month. The Vampire woman wore perfectly tailored trousers with a fashionably cut jacket to match, designer heels, and a silk blouse. Her blonde hair hung in elegant waves, and her makeup was impeccable. She looked halfway between a high-powered executive and a socialite.

"My name is Topaz," she replied. "I am the leader of a very... important and unique group of people. Tonight, I'm here to bring you the opportunity of a lifetime. I would appreciate it if you'd let me in, so we can discuss this privately. I assure you, it will be well worth your while to hear me out."

Of course, if Dalia failed to do so, Topaz would simply upgrade to a more forcible option. A freshly-turned new Vampire would be no match for her, if things had to become... unpleasant.

[Revelator]

Dalia Skinner
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Again, Dalia was thrown off guard. It didn't make sense that this woman, Topaz, would ask to come in, when Dalia had obviously been kidnapped. At least she was staying in style, Dalia thought to herself wryly. And what group of people was she talking about? It seemed like an odd way to recruit members for an exclusive club or organization. Dalia still wasn't sure what was going on, she knew she was in trouble, she just couldn't tell how bad it was. Regardless this woman radiated power, and Dalia knew she could have come in without knocking, and was probably going to have her say one way or the other. Dalia figured she might as well be comfortable while it happened.

"Come in," Dalia said, keeping her voice as neutral as she could.

"Though I feel like you could have came in regardless of whether I opened the door, and that you'll tell me what is you have in mind whether I want to hear it or not" Dalia said, still not able to fully hide her confusion.

"I hope you get to the point quickly. I actually have things to I meant to be doing. Being locked in some hotel wasn't on that list" Dalia said dryly.

Dalia thought of her brother. She had come here trying to find him. After mom had died she couldn't stay with her father anymore. She had grown more and more worried the more she learned about what happened to Dag. She had found out his family had died in an accident. She was surprised he had gone into business though. When she tried to look him up he was gone. She had been able to contact some of his old associates, but none of them had heard from him in at least half a year. The best tip she had got was that he had left the country. John had been the guys name, he said Dag had mentioned going far away to start over and leave bad memories behind. She had followed his trail, she knew how to follow his passport trail. That had led her to Budapest, but being here was a bit of a hitch.

[Monkey Kitty]

Topaz



"You're right," Topaz replied. "You have very little choice, at the moment. It will be better for you if you simply accept your future. Fortunately, your future is bright - brighter than it ever has been."

Topaz pulled the door closed behind her, and the lock clicked automatically. Of course, if Dalia really wanted to, she could run. She might be able to get past Topaz, if she managed the element of surprise well enough. Dalia wasn't locked in, nor was the floor of the hotel sealed off. The new Vampire could make it to the lobby, if she was fast and careful.

She would get no further than that, though. Security would apprehend her discreetly and bring her back up. While the Coven occupied the hotel, the "security" detail was mainly made up of Death Dealers, and the human staff was paid well to look the other way.

"I realize you don't recall last night," Topaz told Dalia. "But put your hand to your neck, and you'll find an injury there. Perhaps that will trigger some memories."

Without pausing to hear Dalia's reaction, Topaz continued. "My group is very special indeed, Dalia. Very powerful. Not just wealthy or influential, although we are. We are also immortals. Vampires. With the strength, speed, and agility humans can only dream of."

"You have been chosen to receive a gift, Dalia. A most precious gift. Last night, we made you one of us. You were the luckiest of humans, yesterday. Today is the first of your new life."

[Revelator]

Dalia Skinner
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Dalia did indeed feel what felt like two small puncture wounds on her neck. She was shocked. It was too strange to be true. But Topaz was deathly serious about the whole affair. For several moments Dalia just stared at Topaz, waiting for a punch line, or for "just kidding". It never came. If this was true, then Dalia was a vampire now. But didn't vampires only exist in Hollywood? Dalia couldn't help noticing that strange feeling again. Well, if Topaz was crazy, it seemed best to play along for now. Crazy or not, they had abducted her, and could probably harm her if they wanted too. She looked at Topaz again, this time schooling her expression again back to neutral. She didn't believe this was done out of kindness even if it was true.

"Look, it what you're saying is true, I doubt your intentions are altruistic. If you are part of a wealthy and powerful group, then you expect something from me," Dalia stated more than asked.

Dalia grinned a little, there were people back in the states that would love the opportunity to be a vampire. Dalia knew that she wasn't going to be let go. She decided to at least figure out what Topaz's game was.

[Monkey Kitty]

Topaz



Topaz actually smiled appreciatively at that. Dalia was thinking along the right lines, and that would likely increase her longevity in their Coven. If she had expected altruism or tried to rely on others, she would have been sorely disappointed.

"You are right. Ordinarily, we would rarely induct any mortals into our circle. The truth is, we face many threats. Many who are jealous, and wish to tear us down because they envy our position."

"In particular the Lycans - werewolves. They are mere beasts, without the intelligence to pose a credible threat except by numbers and sheer brutality. They have become allied with a group of other immortals, and they are building up an army to attack us and destroy our way of life."

"To make matters worse, we are having a problem with newly-turned Vampires loose in the city. When these newborn Vampires are not supervised and taught, as you will be, they become wild and out of control. We have been doing our best to put them down, but unfortunately some have allied with the equally wild and bestial Lycans, increasing the threat both pose."

"Naturally, we will not simply give in without a fight. The time has come to create an army of our own. And you - with your new immortal speed, strength, and agility - are one of our newest recruits."

Topaz thought back to her first potential recruit... the priest who had been turned as punishment for failure to cooperate with their attempt to track down and kill a wayward teenage Vampire. That brat Adrijana had helped the priest escape, and the loss of the first member of her army still stung Topaz's pride.

She hoped that the priest couldn't bear being a Vampire. That he saw it as the ultimate sacrilege. As far as Topaz knew, the priest was unfortunately still alive, but she hoped she had made his life utter hell.

Her thoughts returned swiftly to the subject at hand.

"I know this may come as a surprise, Dalia, but it is a great honour for you. With it will come privilege you cannot even imagine. This is a gift. The best gift you will ever receive."

[Revelator]

Dalia Skinner
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Dalia listened with interest to Topaz's story. She was still perturbed that she had been kidnapped and turned into a vampire, if that was to be believed. She was interested to hear about the werewolves. Topaz still said it was an honour and gift that she had received. Dalia would reserve her judgement on that. So basically Dalia was a conscript in a vampire army. She still wanted to find her brother, Dag.

"Well, it's not like I have a home or anywhere to go. This seems as good a place as anyway to stay," Dalia said thoughtfully.

"If I help you and do what I'm supposed to do, would I be permitted to keep looking for my brother?" Dalia asked.

She hated to mention her brother to this woman, but Dalia didn't like lies, a trait both she and Dag shared. Though if she lied and was able to look for Dag still, she was sure Topaz would find out and things would be harder for both of them. Maybe Dag would help be able to help her. That was a hurtle she'd jump when she got to it.

[Monkey Kitty]

Topaz



Topaz smiled a little bit patronizingly, as though she was addressing a small child, and shook her head.

"Your human life is over, Dalia. You do not need any of those people. You are better, now. Superior. You must put them behind you. The immortal world is a closely guarded secret, for good reason. Can you imagine what would happen if the humans found out about our kind? Chaos would ensue. We must be... responsible. At that means keeping to ourselves."

She knew this wasn't what Dalia wanted to hear, and that could lead to Dalia not cooperating. That wouldn't do. Their army would need to stay under their control.

"I am not unfeeling, though. I understand that when we become immortals, there are still humans to whom we may maintain... a sentimental attachment. It is not possible for you to have further contact with your brother. We cannot permit it."

"However, I can give you this. If we are successful against the Lycans and their allies, we will locate your brother for you. You may not speak to him, but we will allow you to see him from a distance. You can verify that he is well. Then you can get on with your own immortal life, which can no longer include people like him."

It seemed a minor concession. Topaz didn't really expect Dalia or the other recruits to survive, and if she did make it through, finding a human should be easy enough. If it would keep Dalia pliable, Topaz was willing to make that agreement.