The room felt thick, like a pressing weight was weighing down on the individuals that were gathered. So far it contained only Zyane and Vampy, the warlock/necromancer was working on a portal to use for today's special task.
"I ...have to wonder sir, is this just test run?" The older gentleman asked as he went about the meticulous task of setting up a one man sized portal.
Vampy only gave a small smile, "Somewhat..it is more a recon mission. We need to gather information.." He stated with a nod of his head, Zyane shifted uncomfortably on the spot,
"But...sending a human? I mean...even as much as I wanted to go as least I wield magic.. " He protested only to be silenced by the glare in Vampy's gaze.
"He is perfect, the portal will attract attention enough as it is. He extracted a small vile from his coat pocket, a blood sample..though it had been too little to use in making a new spawn it would be enough for this task. Zyane eyed the bottle curiously but said nothing as he went back to working on his task. They were both waiting for their volunteer.
The man came rushing into the room a moment later, sliding to a halt before he leaned over to set to tying his boots tightly. He held up his camera, "Got it." He said, giving a smile. He had gone to change into out door clothing inside of his normal Lab garb then fetched his digital camera so that he could get pictures of where he was going in hops of catching sight of various different creatures, hoping that one of them was what the Boss was looking for.
Both figures in the room turned to look at him, eager beaver wasn't he? Though he looked ready to go on safari..not a trip to hell. Zyane thought Vampy was crazy sending him..
"Good Good...You are on time then..." The boss purred as he turned to face the gentleman before handing him a vial of the blood.
"This is to help you attract a particular demon. You soon though your scent will draw all sorts to you the blood in this vial belonged to Shar. If you dab a bit onto your clothes most of the other demons will stay away. " He explained as...well not many were brave or stupid enough to mess with a wrath demon.
He looked at the vial of blood before giving a nod of his head, "Thanks." He said, reaching out to take the item, so it was lesser demon repellent, huh? That was kind of neat, "So what exactly am I looking for? Just a few pictures? Or am I trying to figure out where the demon lives?" He asked, before he'd come to work here he'd been a game warden in training, he was probably thinking to simply seeing the demons as large and dangerous animals it was just how his mind worked.
Vampy merely smiled as the question was posed,
"Evidence of a nest of sorts...we are looking for another wrath, so ..recent carcasses, evidence of fights...foot prints? I dare not wish for you to come face to face with one..so if you do see one well...you are a fast runner yes?" He asked a bit of morbid sarcasm in his tone.
He gave a nod of his head, "I will do my best to be quick." He said, not really wanting to run into something like that face to face as he'd heard about the mess that was left behind after the battle between Kerylia and Shar... it would be a mess so he didn't want to end up as a puddle of meat and blood in Hell.
Zyane shifted as he finished the last of the spell, the portal keened into life, a shimmering globe that was like a window peering into hell. One could even feel the heat coming out fro the other side.
"Best of luck." Vampy stated a bit too cheerily. "May be best to put that stuff on now...we will guard the portal from any...pests." He assured as he gestured for the technician to enter.
"Ah! Yes." He said, quickly doing as he was told by putting the blood on so that he wouldn't have to worry about the smaller, weaker demons. He set the vial aside before he turned his camera on and walked toward the gate. He took a deep breath before stepping through.
Once he was on the other side he had to pause for a moment to get used to the feeling of the heat, it was quite a jump between this place and the Labs. He looked around before he started forward, taking pictures of the scenery as well as little creatures that he saw that weren't coming in close to him due to his scent. This blood was quite powerful he thought to himself, turning to another picture of an interesting rocky out cropping which he started toward when he saw that the area around the rocky lair had bones scattered around. He wondered if that was what the Boss meant by evidence of a nest, cold be. He gave a nod as he started to take a lot of pictures of the area then turned back to take a picture of where the portal was then back. If this was the place it was good since it wasn't far from where they had set up the portal at.
A pair of orange colored eyes watched from a rising outcrop of rocks, a long thin tail lashing back and forth. She had been aroused due to the scent that had caught her attention. Another wrath? How dare they enter her territory with out her permission... rolling onto her stomach she watched from afar first, to gauge her opponent. What...was it doing? It was certainly male...but it kept moving a black box around and a bright light was emitted every once in a while. Slipping from her perch her long claws were about the only sounds as they scrapped across the rocks. Crouching low..she moved forward, like lightening from one hiding spot to the next....to get a better look.
The click of the camera kept going off, here and there, getting a good look at the things that were laying around. There were skulls bigger then he'd ever seen before that he had to take a picture of, he was impressed. This had to be the right place if the one who lived here was able to take down such big creatures. He turned to move closer to the next itself to get a few more pictures before he paused, hearing an odd scraping sound. He turned to look in that direction, head tilting to the side. He didn't see anything so he chalked it up to being something running away due to the blood scent.
She waited until his back was turned to her and then she moved. With agility that would make a gymnast jealous she stopped just before running into him her tail lashing back and forth as she bent her head down and sniffed the top of his head. No...he...didn't quite smell right... the only evidence she had moved right behind him was the slight clatter of something small clinking together as well the air seeming to be bothered. As soon as he moved though she was gone.
The Lab tech paused and turned slowly to look over his shoulder as he look around, looking confused. He'd of sworn he felt something breathing on him... must be dreaming he thought to himself and then shrugged as he returned to taking pictures. He moved along to get a better look at the nest before nodding. He turned then to start back toward where the portal was locating, taking a few more pictures here and there of more interesting little critters that crossed his path.
Tail lashing still she grew irritated as he continued to do ...whatever the hell he was doing. Didn't he know this was her territory? And why did he smell like a male wrath??? Her claws dug into the earth as she sprinted forward to cut him off. She appeared before him kneeling a snarl on her face as she peered up as him her tail lashed it was her only warning before she sprung.
The tech gave a little gasping sound as a big female appeared in front of him and he couldn't help it as he lifted the camera, starring at her thought the lens, "Holy Hells..." He said, his finger moving to click on the shutter button at the same time that she pounced... and then he was down, the camera spinning away from him, whirling over to land at the feet of someone else who picked it up, looking it over before he gave a little giggle as the demoness made friends with the silly human.
Zyane was pacing back and forth in front of the portal. Only a few miserable creatures dared to try and poke their head through the portal...and soon their charred bodies were left at the opening to warn others of their fate if they got too close.
"He should of been back by now..." Zyane grumbled the boss only looking unconcerned as he waited patiently for the human to return.
The hands on the clock only continued to move though, more and more time passed and nothing happened, no sign of the human before finally someone stepped out of the portal though instead of the man that had gone through it was a cute little boy with blue and hair and eyes that gazed up at Zyane, looking a little confused as the magic user wasn't who he'd expected to see on the other side of the gate.
Zyane raised his hands to cast a spell as he knew anything come from the portal was dangerous though he stopped half way parts of the spell careening into the walls as he lost his focus.
Vampy rolled his eyes it was a good thing Melan wasn't the type to kill on sight else Zyane would of been toast..
"What...do you want?" Vampy asked as he approached the portal.
Zyane only starred from Melan to Vampy as if trying to figure out how they seemed to know each other.
Melan gave a little giggle as he watched the man's attempt at a spell go awry before he reached up to give him a pat on the arm. He then turned to look over at Vampy and he smiled happily, "Ah, there you are!" He said in a chirping voice, "I just thought I would come by and say 'hello' since you left the door open." He told him, amused as ever that Vampy always seemed so very unhappy to see him. As though they weren't good friends, "How is my gift? Did you make any babies from the Lake Guardian yet?"
Vampy growled not liking that Melan had just pranced into his laboratory, annoying little...fiend.
"Two if you must know.." he replied with a forced friendly smile, "And knowing you, I doubt you are here to just say hello..." He continued with a nod of his head.
"Please keep a look out for our companion there.." He stated to Zyane who merely was standing there looking a trifle confused.
"Oh! Two, really? That is nice." He murmured, wanting to see if he could find those kids to get a peek at them to see how they looked. He looked over at Zyane for a moment before his grin turned into something more devious that didn't fit on his innocent face, "Your companion? Haha, no reason to bother waiting on him."
Vampy's own eyes narrowed at that smile before he gestured at Zyane.
"Close the portal."
"But Sir.."
"Close it...if he says there is no point then there isn't any point." He growled and Zyane nodded his head and went about collapsing the portal.
"So I am assuming you saw him? Or at least what remained of him?"
"I was there when she pounced, no reason in trying to take what's hers, I am sure he was dead before he hit the ground." He said, giving a little shake of his head before he held up the camera in his hands, letting it rest on his head, "I found this, though."
"Hmmmmm I see...." He stated as he lifted a hand to take the camera from Melan.
"A female you say...I suppose it would be too much to hope you would tell me the kind of demoness she was..."
Melan grinned and danced back just out of reach, "Ah-Ah! I gave you one thing for free, what will you give me for that information and the camera?" He asked in a playful manner.
"The camera belongs to the facility, if you keep it that means you are stealing it." He growled the scent of cinnamon trickling through the air.
"As to the information...I think I can refrain from doing any more deals with you." He outstretched his hands making a gesture of hand it over.
"This camera and that demoness are in MY territory Vampy, are you saying your wanting to steal from me but I can't do the same to you?" He asked, grinning a delighted manner as though he were having far to much fun.
Vampy gave a snort, " I am sure that demoness would beg to differ. The rules finders keepers are for children. They do not apply to us...ever." He grumbled again. "Don't make me take it by force, I am sure Mr. Zyane would hate to have to move to a new classroom..."
"Your so funny, Vampy." He said, looking at the camera for a moment before he shrugged and gave it a little toss before he started toward the door that would take him into the Labs, "In fact I think it would be more interesting to see you try to catch her, she made such quick work of your Tech and things far bigger then she is... will be funny, truly!" He was laughing as headed out the door to go and see what fun and friends he could find, delighted in knowing that Vampy wouldn't throw him out due to that silly deal.
Vampy watched with mild frustration as Melan tossed him the camera and then went to ..prance about his labs. Well at least he didn't have to make a deal with the brat.
He looked at the camera and then nodded to Zyane who was finishing up closing the portal.
"Don't finish...we will be using that portal soon enough."
