Cestil

(USED 13)

So, like, Marlow and I were like totally making out in the bushes when like Eira's Mistress showed up out of nowhere and was like, "Bish, quit distracting my girl."

And I was like, "Bish-!"

And she totally flattened me and I was like, "Yo, no need for that!"

And she was like, "Bish, I could tear you apart."

lAnd I was like, "My b. But Eira's like, totally hot."

And she was like, "Bish focus. You got your boy toy here."

And Marlow was like, "Actually-"

and she totally flattened him too! and I was like, whoa.

And she was like, "Bish, don't mess my girl up or I'll mess you up!" And then she like totally disappeared and me and Marlow were like, yolo! and went back to making out then like Eira, like, came in and was like, "yo. My turn." And like threw MArlow off me and totally sat in my lap and like totally made out with me and I was like, yeeeeeeaaah!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ralda Hustress

DID NOT HAND IN

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marlow

Cestil's strong check bones reflected the firelight like a work of art. The shadows danced in the nooks and crannies of his figure, boldly defining every characteristic. I dissected his mind within my own, lusting over the idea of having the slightest clue of what he was thinking. Which one of us was he dreaming about? Me? That psycho Eira? Both? Which one of us did he actually care for? Or was it neither? I drove myself mad wandering between denial and utter longing. I knew I would be better off if I just got up and left in the middle of that cool and quiet night, but something I could only begin to grasp was convincing me to stay, and I knew it was nestled dangerously behind those beautiful, clueless eyelids of his. I dug my fingernails into a nasty scratch left by one of the Archons to keep myself awake. I could see sunlight beginning to kiss the edges of the horizon. My shift was almost over... wait! A rustle in the bushes. I would take it as a bird, but it sounded too deliberate. "Who's there?" My voice was a raspy whisper worn with frustration and lack of sleep. Silence. There was someone there, I was certain of it. But they weren't about to reveal themselves. I considered waking the others, but if it was only one man, I could take him down quickly and quietly. I grabbed my make-shift spear, the sturdy wood felt as ready for action as I was in the grip of my palm. My footsteps were as nimble as a cat's as I approached the source of the sound. I moved quickly, hoping to keep the still darkness of the morning as my camouflage. I could see a small clearing that looked like it had been disturbed. Gotcha...

"Gotcha!!" A small yet incredibly strong body flung itself on top of me. I felt two feminine arms hugging my neck literally to death. She turned me around, wriggled the spear from my hands, and pinned my neck down with it. Great...taken down by a woman...nice job! But this was no ordinary woman...she was a Fae. I struggled and churned beneath her unbelievably strong hold...but it was no use. Ugh!! "Shut up! And don't try anything!" She had a level of authority in her voice that demanded respect, despite the circumstances. "Now, listen very carefully. Here's what you're going to do. You're going to go over to your little camp, without waking the others up, and you're going to bring Eira to me."

"Oh! Thank God!!" I wasn't one for negotiating with things that threaten me, but I was pretty sure I could live with her demands. "No problem!"

"Wait...you didn't...kidnap her...?"

"Lady...she practically kidnapped us!" Him, at least.

"WHAT?!"

Ohohooo...she was pissed. "Let me guess...you're the one who sent her on this quest?"

"I'm her queen. Yes."

"Well I have some information for you." I was loving this a little too much. "She practically begged us to form an alliance with her."

"With...demons?? But, why?"

"Well, she claimed it was for protection, which I wouldn't blame her for in the least. I mean, if anyone's going to get that tree, it's us." Ha! That made her really mad. "But, to be perfectly honest, your majesty, and I wouldn't say this if I wasn't absolutely positive, she has the hots for my partner over there." I could practically see the smoke rolling from her ears...this was too good!

"Why that little..." She dropped the spear and began pacing the clearing. "She had potential, so I gave her a chance...and NOW look where it got me!" She stopped. "I should have never left an insolent, ARROGANT little CHILD to do a QUEEN'S job!!" She marched towards the camp. Where's a bag of popcorn when you need one? "Eira?!" Oh boy... "EIRA!!!" The three of them squirmed to their feel in shock. Eira recognized her Queen and bowed graciously.

"Your Majesty..."

"Don't you even DARE to speak to me you conniving little tramp!"

Eira grimaced and dug her palms into the damp earth. "I can explain."

"Don't bother." She turned to Cestil. "Although I should much enjoy an explanation from him."

Cestil respected, but was not at all intimidated by her demand. "Malady..." He bowed courteously, but never broke eye contact, which under most circumstances would be taken as a disrespectful challenge, but somehow he pulled it off as charming. "I understand your animosity towards our kind, but certain situations arise when one must overlook differences to accomplish a common goal. I won't deny it, we both want the tree for ourselves, but neither of us wants it in the hands of the angels. We're not the only ones on this quest, your grace, and we're not the strongest or the fastest either. You see...Eira and I make quite a good team..." He threw her a devilish grin, but something told me it was all for show. "If we work together, see, we double our chances of survival...and success."

She thought his eloquent little speech over for a moment. "Well said...demon. But what happens if you do succeed. Both of you. You don't expect me to share the tree's power, do you? Even if it could be done, why would I?"

"If we succeed then we've kept it out of the hands of the other species, that's an accomplishment in and of itself. We can settle who takes the final prize when we get there."

"But she's outnumbered! Speaking of which, Eira...where are the others?"

"Oh please!" Eira rolled her eyes like the pouty little brat she was. "Estrella barely made it an hour. Selyse and Ambrosine died horribly within the first two days! They didn't even stand a chance!" She giggled helplessly. The queen did not look amused.

"Have some respect, will you?! Oh...who am I kidding? For all I know you killed them off yourself." Eira began to speak, but was silenced by the queen's authoritative tone. "I'll allow this alliance to take place on one condition. When you successfully locate the tree, granted that representatives from both parties are still present, there will be a fight to the death to determine the rightful owner. One. On One." Eira jumped up and down, clapping her hands at the thought of bloodshed. The queen shuddered, she couldn't bear doing anything that even remotely pleased that little brat. "NO!" Eira froze. The queen thought. "The leaders of each clan will fight." I expected Eira to be upset, and she did appear to be so, but I thought for sure I caught a grin sneaking across her lips. What is she up to...?

"It's settled then." Cestil's cool, crisp, decisive voice shattered the suspension in the air. "May we get back to work now, your Majesty?" I swear...only he could pull of sarcasm in front of royalty.

"Very well. Eira..." She pulled her close with her threatening tone. "I'm warning you..." The rest was inaudible whispering, but Eira did seem genuinely scared for a moment...and I savored it.

Cestil and I finally got a moment alone while Eira and Seraphina were finding food. "I must say...you handled that rather smoothly."

His eyes shot me from beneath his bushy, focused brows. "I just can't believe she fell for that." He chucked as he strapped the last of his many knives to his leather belt.

"What do you mean?"

"What...you thought I was telling the truth? I mean, don't get me wrong, our leader is capable, but she wouldn't stand a chance against that stone cold...anyways, first chance we get, after she's helped us out as much as she's going to, of course, we end her. Oh...she's pretty feisty, that one, but the three of us against her...she wouldn't stand a chance!"

"Wait...then...what...why..." God, I sounded like an idiot. "You kissed her!"

He was surprised at my reaction for some strange reason, because I guess it's perfectly normal to make out with EVERYONE you happen to meet without making your motives clear. Well, I mean, we're demons, so...yeah...I guess it is pretty normal...shit! I had feelings for him... "That was all her. I'm practically her play-thing. It would sicken me if she wasn't so damn hot, but she killed everyone in her group just because she didn't feel like talking to them...trust me...I don't want to piss her off."

He did have a point. "So why..."

"Why make out passionately with you after slaughtering an entire group of Archons?" He chuckled and finally released my eyes from his. He knew the answer to that question, but he wasn't about to tell me...not yet anyways.

Eira and Seraphina returned, and soon enough we were on the road again. Turns out, the only person I found bearable to associate with was the angel. Talk about ironic. Too bad she was too quiet to actually really talk to. "So...what are you thinking?" It's nice when you can actually ask someone that question and not feel out of place, Seraphina was like that in a weird way.

"I'm thinking..." She looked around at her present company. "I'm thinking you three are all kinds of screwed up." She was honest. And she was absolutely right

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vanessa Lancaster

"Hello, thank you for meeting with me. I know that you are 'neutral' and I am 'evil', but those are just labels, am I right? Both of us have the same goal. Both of us want the tree. Both of us will do anything to win. But, what if instead of fighting each other, we worked together to first find the tree, together. Of course, after the tree is found this so-called-alliance will no longer be in place. So, would you like to form a temporary alliance with the vampires, fae?" I propose this idea to the Midsummer Queen of the Seelie Court.

She ponders my proposition for a minute before speaking, "Why do you need the Seelie Court's help, can you not do this on your own? The Vampires have been doing everything on their own. Never once have they asked for help from any other species. Why now, tell me Vanessa Lancaster, why now?" Her words remind me of the puzzle piece words spoken by my Master Leader, only hers are more delicate, elegant, and graceful.

I force a smile. The Queen smiles again, so sweetly I can practically feel my teeth rot. I know that only four of each species were sent, based on what I observed at the Guild, and I have seen two dead vampires already.

"Us vampires are running low on numbers, and we need some help. I'm not sure if you sent in any fae to search for the tree, because I have only seen one dead Wyldfae and thank goodness there wasn't any more, but I do believe that you keep tabs on all the other Courts. I would like you to get the memo out to the Queen of Air and Darkness and to whoever ruse the Wyldfae that I have a proposition, the one that I just previously told you," I tell her. I don't want to sound too pushy, but I also want her to know that this isn't just a friendly proposition. Not threatening, but not appeasing either. Just right.

"Yes, I do keep tabs on the others, and I will honor your request, but please do not attempt to threaten me. You must remember who is in charge of this area. Me, not you, Vanessa Lancaster. Our loss of a fae was a sad one, even if it was not my own. I still do respect the other fae. Miss Estrella Alburquerque will be missed. I do hope for are agreements sake that it wasn't a vampire who killed her," she stares me down with the same sweetness in her eyes. Her words are losing their puzzle piece sense to them; they are beginning to become daggers made out of pure sugar. You can't let her know you killed that one fae girl.

"Um, Ma'am? What did Estrella look like?" I question. Maybe I didn't kill her. Then I wouldn't have to lie and possibly ruin our agreement.

"Well, that is a strange question for you to ask. Estrella has orange fiery hair and always carries around a metal ball. Is that all you need?" The queen says.

So I didn't kill Estrella. I guess the fae I killed wasn't dead... Thank goodness! I smile. A genuine smile. Not a forced smile like so many people do nowadays. I was actually glad I didn't kill someone for once.

"Yes, ma'am that is all I needed. So how is are arrangement good? Anything else needed?" I question. I'm dying to get out of here. The sickly sweet smell of flowers that all fae seem to have is really starting to bother me.

"Vanessa. Nothing else is needed. But why exactly do you want an alliance? I know you want help but are you willing to admit that you are weak? That you are becoming weaker? That is the only way this alliance will work. Admit that you are weak without us," her sugar sweet voice suddenly changes to a minefield- hostile and unreliable.

I am suddenly blinded by fury. How dare she make me admit I'm weak! I could kill her right now! I don't even try to calm myself down before I lash out at her, "Why do I need to admit that I have flaws? Do you want me to voice the things I already know about myself to make them even more real than they already are? Why? It makes absolutely no sense what-so-ever. To make someone say that they are weaker than you are to make yourself feel superior, then turn around and help that person! It's insane! You know what, fairy? I don't need your help. I can do this on my own. I don't need anyone's help! Thank you for listening to me and helping me realize how stupid Fairies are and for realizing how working with another species is even more stupid. I hope no one will miss you. Goodbye, Midsummer Queen. Goodbye."

I pull out a hidden dagger from my boot and reach out to stab her, but to my surprise she is gone. Damn it! I forgot they could turn invisible!

"I know you're here fairy... Fight me in person, or will you have to admit to being weak?" I taunt. I have no fear of losing my life; I know she isn't going to kill me just yet.

"Fine, Vanessa Lancaster, I'll show myself. I-" she doesn't have enough time to finish her sentence before I whirl around and slit her throat.

I wipe my blade clean of her blood on her dress and make my way out of that area as fast as I can; I don't want to be anywhere near the Seelie Court fae when they find out their Queen is dead.

Once I am safely out of their territory I stop running and begin a casual walk towards the camp I had set up the night before.

Well this meeting went terribly wrong. But, at least I'm alive and at least there is one less species leader messing up my chance in this competition.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Willow Coast

Breaking news.

In Skor Khmer, there has been a massacre. In the alley on third street, three dead bodies were found, all with knife stab wounds. The killer left the scene but not before catching a price of their clothing in the fence. Scientists and detectives are teaser hung and looking into who might be the owner of this mysterious cloth. More news to come.

After I walk out of the alley way, I start to run towards north, the direction I think the tree is in. As soon as I turn another corner, I bump into something hard, yet soft at the same time, like a person, but softer.

"Hello." I say to the thing I bump into. It seems I have the touch, or rather bump, when it comes to meeting new people. ..

" Hello there young lady. And just where do you think you're going?" The man looks familiar, though I don't know where I would have seen him from. There are very few males in my nest, and the ones that are there, look nothing like this man. He looks very studious and slightly attractive, although I can't act upon it. His hair is long reaching just too about his chin with slight layers and his skin, a pearly white and he almost looks like a vampire, if he wasn't donned in all white, a color I've never seen any type of vampire wear.

" I'm going to my hou- The World Tree." I start to panic. I never meant to say that. What am I supposed to do now?

" The World Tree? What about The World Tree?"

" I heard it was a big landm- I'm trying to stop any angels or Werekind from getting it first and getting the tree back into their power." What was I doing? I need to get out of here quick.

I look over my shoulder to look for a spot to run and I take off. I race through the streets of the town unknown to my mind. I look over my shoulder to see if the man is still following but he seems to have given up. After a little while, to make sure that he's truly gone, I stop running and try to catch my breath.

Suddenly, a big shadow is cast in front of the sun and I look up to see what has appended. When I look, I see the same man that was following me before, above me and wings attached to his back and that's when I realise why he looks so familiar. I've seen him before on reports on TV and how the people in my best trash him. I try and duck for cover, but I'm too late and he already has both of his hands on my shoulders. He twist me to where is arm is around my neck and my back is facing him.

" What is your name vampire?" he asks me with slight force. I'm shocked that he knows I'm a vampire so much that so stumble a little.

I obviously don't want to tell this man that I just met on the street my name, because names have power, so I make up a fake one, " My name is Chlo- Willow Coast." My tongue has betrayed me, but I'm the one controlling it. How could my own mouth no longer be in my control?

"You can't lie to me, so you should stop trying." he says

"Oh. And why is that?" I ask him

" Isn't it obvious?" I shake my head " Man, I really need to step up my game. My name is Gabriel, ruler of the Angelic Order, The Cherubim." He pushes me down so that I'm on my knees, bowing to him, which makes me very angry, seeing as I would never worship any other ruler other than a vampire.

"How dare you make me bow in front of you. I thought all angels were kind, selfless and true. What happened to that?" I ask him

" We are, until some one crosses us."" And what exactly have I done to cross you?"

" That's not important and we don't need to discuss it right now." I'm trying to think of a way to get out of this mess when I realise that I still have my cape.

I pull it out and swing it around my back and shove my elbow into him. Gabriel is forced back into the street and he lies on his back. I pull him up and I realise that's cape gives me exceptional strength. I give him a death stare