Curiosity

[Sage]

Kraven finished his meal with haste, but not enough to spare manners as he listened to the young Lycan. Speaking with her was interesting, as he rarely got the opportunity to deal with her kind for such an extended duration. Despite the treaty, Kraven knew that Anabel could not be seen as weak or injured even with many fancy words scrawled on parchment somewhere that kept the families civil with one another. Them knowing of her distress was as much as her guardian could stand, already.

" I assure you that Anabel VonHagen is in quite good health indeed, I simply wish to expand my horizons as her unworthy human servant. But your intuition is correct, the specimen we will eventually be working with an undead specimen. "

Kraven smiled that dangerous smile again, polite and fierce at the same time. He studied her carefully, his eyes straining as he tried to read her face without delving into her mind. He set down his utensils and took a large swig of his drink, refocusing his gaze on no place in particular on the opposite end of the room. He seemed to decide on whatever it was he was considering, and Rakhaev shifted, making no attempt to hide his staring at Nova.

" I am fully authorized with regards to this exile to nullify treaty stipulations if need be, but I assure you that will not be necessary. It is understood your participation is purely voluntary, and if you should wish to discontinue experimentation it is your choice. Also, it is not our wish to leave you alone with any such subject, and I will be assigning you two human escorts during your time with the study. If you will let me, I will also be happy to compensate you for your time. "

[Jen]

"Compensation is not required for my time. I would like that you send a letter with the boys back to Van Buren detailing my desires to help with your cause, however. If at any time that my lord sends for me, I must leave." Nova sent a glance over to the red headed scientist, flashed him a smile, and returned her attention to Kraven. "Also, the full moon is five days from now. I trust you have...the required restraints and necessities that I will require during my stay here?"

It was a challenge. Was Kraven really capable of handling Vampires and a full blown Werewolf? By treaty he could do nothing to harm her during that night, or ever really unless she became unruly. It was only under her own better judgement that she would ask for restraints while being in a house filled with humans. It was also a sign of her intelligence and forethought as she bantered with the friends of Vampires. Truely, without the treaty, of what use were they to her.

"I trust you do not have a problem with sending a human to its death." It was a closed deal if Kraven would meet her minimal requirements. "Do you require me to stay on the grounds or am I allowed to roam?" Before Kraven could say anything Nova lifted a hand and smiled, "Of course, within reason. I will not venture onto the VonHagen estate unless Mistress VonHagen desires to see me as the ambassador that I am."

For a wolf, Nova was incredibly level headed. She was very aware of her situation and calm. Her eyes ventured over to the scientist once again before speaking. "If you would excuse my inquiry, sir, but from where does your lineage come? I have never seen hair as red as yours before. It is very intriguing."

[Sage]

Before Nova could even finish making her requests, Kraven had begun sending orders telepathically to his people, which was reflected in part by a pair of servants who came and began wrapping up the two plates of food and placing them in two sturdy traveling packs. Shortly after, as Kraven finished hearing her, a wizened man emerged from an area beyond the dining room and placed a sealed scroll lightly across the tops of the two bags.

" When they are ready, there are another set of fresh garments as well as some supplies including preserved food and today's lunch as well. They can leave just as soon as they are ready. "

Rakhaev drew back involuntarily under Nova's smile, an odd expression on his gaunt face. He quickly righted his face, and spoke in the place of Kraven. His unusual accent rang softly in the large room.

" I am sure the same metal that holds the Mistress' favorite will suffice to hold a Lycan. " He strained, fighting a smile at first as he thought about Nova chained to a dungeon wall, then it faded as he saw the image of the room Kraven would intend for her period of change. He frowned, and his sour attitude descended further as he caught a thought Nova had through his bond with Kraven, whom had accidentally caught it as well.

" Perhaps if we are so worthless to you, you can have me for your meal, canine. " His normally calm, drawling accent turned to a hiss, and he muttered a few short phrases that would be indecipherable to someone from Kalmarden. Kraven cut in, echoing back the same language in a much deeper, more frightening voice that did not seem as though it could have come from his mortal throat, as it boomed through the near-empty room.

" You must excuse my Captain, he forgets himself in the presence of company. I understand that you are bound by the treaty, though we are not. You must remember, however, that means we have no authority over you as you hold none for us. Of course you will be free to do as you please during your stay here, so long as it does not threaten my soldiers, my charges, or Mistress VonHagen.

You may remain a guest here or find lodging with the humans, either way you will be well taken care of. That means you will get all you need, including lives as is necessary. I ask you to reconsider taking some coin for your time for yourself, and should Rakhaev act up again you may indeed feel free to eat him as well. "

Kraven's tone had become light and friendly once more, though Rakhaev was not altogether convinced he had not been serious about allowing Nova to devour him if he chose to bark at her again. Kraven's gaze turned hard on Rakhaev as he continued.

" Rakhaev Solaris. Our guests' thoughts are theirs and theirs alone, but Miss Van Buren has asked of you a question. "

Rakhaev sulked briefly before swiping at a bid of wild red hair in his way and turning to Nova, forcing a fake smile, almost having to grit his teeth as he spoke.

" As Master Kraven has seen fit to divulge, we share more than service to the Vampire kind and being imperfectly human, with all our resources and knowledge... "

Kraven gave him a warning look, and Rakhaev would be fed images of possible scenarios where the red-haired man could leave this table with a lesser number of appendages than he had sat down with.

" Yes, well. We descend from an ancient family, created by a famous ancestor from the mainland. Our family lines split off somewhat over the years, leading my looks to differ slightly from Kraven's branch of the Solaris'. Specifically, I am from a small island nation which sank to the bottom of the sea after the great cataclysm befell our world. Kraven found me and took me in years ago, if he had not, I would surely have perished along with my people.

We have many texts on the Solaris family and our ancestor here, you might find them an interesting read. Or better yet, I foresee that we will be working together for some time, you might as well ask me. "

Kraven glared briefly, resigning to punish him at a later date for his suggestion. He had made the insinuation that she could not read, or at least that she would not be able to read the various languages in which the texts Kraven himself had read were written. " Please do, Rakhaev is very proud of his heritage, and will be more than happy to illuminate you as apology for his stupidity. " The bite in his words was tangible, as were the images of Rakhaev's lashings, which would repeatedly play at the back of his mind until the time came for him to receive them.

[Jen]

Without a word Nova closed her eyes and felt her body shift into one that was most comfortable for her. Unfortunately her clothing would fall loosely around her form now, though it was entirely covered in fur and a rather bushy tail stuck out at an odd angle. Ice blue eyes stared pointedly at the red haired scientist as he was forced into submission at Kraven's behest.

Sitting at the table with the men was an overgrown wolf. She was blonde, sleek, and patently dangerous in her own right. Yet she was making a point. Nova was a canine, it was in her blood, and it wasn't Rakhaev's place to remind her of it -- especially when she was being civil. She let out a loud bark and rested her head on the table, her ears perking at Rakhaev's words. She could sense his dislike of her and she turned her big head toward Kraven, her ears working as he spoke. There was a well of understanding in those icy eyes as she watched Kraven. It was patent that she understood everything being said and wasn't just a big dog. Her form was far too streamlined to be just any mutt.

Nova barked again, sharply, piercing, as she looked at Rakhaev. She hopped off the chair and walked toward a hallway, her clothes in her mouth, her tail in the air -- and her attitude ever present. A few minutes later she stepped around the corner of the hallway. No doubt that the servants that hovered there as she dressed would make note of the myriad of scars on her body. They would have no choice but to relay that information to Kraven -- who no doubt shared it unwittingly with Rakhaev. They were claw marks, bite marks, knife marks, and what looked suspiciously as if it had been a gun or lance wound.

Nova smiled as she took her seat back at the table.

"I believe we have no discrimination about just what sort of canine I am. I was referring to when I turn into something much more savage and with less ability to make coherent thought. As primal as you might think I am, Rakhaev, I am not willing to risk the lives of everyone around me. If you were not suited to handle one of my kind then I would go to a safe location for the duration of the full moon. Human blood is imperative to my nature, just as it is to the nature of the Vampires. I do what I can during the Full Moon to assure myself that I will not hate myself in the morning."

Nova flicked some of her blonde hair ove rher shoulder as she fixed Rakhaev with a glare stiff enough to curdle milk.

"The Solaris are known by my kind. Van Buren himself spoke of them with interest. I am not an idiot, sir." Nova turned to Kraven with a smile. Her entire demenor changed with the drop of a hat. "I don't eat men with red hair. They taste like bitter weed."

[Sage]

The silenced Rakhaev fought against his own nature. He wanted so much to teach Nova a lesson, to show his own trophies obtained in battle with similarly fierce beings as Lycans and including them as well. He was suddenly very aware of the burns across the back of his body from his run in with a very angry Sage Pendragon. He wanted to make his opinion known, how he resented the implication that Kraven alone, much less Kraven and all his men could not handle one werewolf when their sole purpose was to be an insurance policy against the Van Burens, and other similar threats to Anabel's kind.

And finally, he wanted to inform her how there was more to the Solaris family name than the royal parents of Kraven who had once lived in Kalmarden, and had been famous there. There were many different branches of the Solaris line, Rakhaev's own proud people were rich with culture and knowledge, and savagely efficient in battle. But even had he the guts to defy Kraven, there would be no time. A chorus of enormous bells atop Kraven's home began to ring out, and Kraven and Rakhaev's faces both alit with knowing something important at the same time, as though they had both realized they were late for something. They spoke quickly to one another, and at the same time, communicated telepathically; taking advantage of the simultaneous duality of information-sharing they could invoke.

" The Estates. Lock down the house. "

" Sir, I-- "

" Rakhaev! We have guests. You and Rinald throw up the perimeter, and retain a ballista unit. "

" Sir. " Rakhaev added a nod, and went silent, pausing momentarily as he relayed with a team of men on the roof. " In place, and the perimeter is set. "

" Stay here, start the experiments. Minimal threat, EKT four minutes. "

Kraven burst out of the room before the end of his sentence, having plucked a rather large halberd from a rack on the wall. Rakhaev turned to Nova, any and all prejudice completely gone from his expression. He was nothing if not professional, and he gestured toward a side door which lead to a set of spiraling stairs which would lead to one of the several layers of underground rooms beneath Kraven's home.

" Something has come up, do you mind if we get started? We need to do your preliminary tests as soon as possible. "

Rakhaev moved in perfect silence, his footfalls inaudible even to the possibly sharpened senses of a Lycan. The first basement floor of the manor was vastly different from the upper floors. It was clean, but there were no unnecessary decorations, nor did the sparse servants down here wear the frilly outfits as upstairs. Everyone here wore armor and plain-colored robes representing ranks, the walls were stone with the occasional sconce or lever, and the rooms were all intended for military purposes. As they passed down the narrow halls, the rooms might be filled with small cots, a forge, a storeroom full of ammunition or explosives; and sounds of sliding iron rang out as all the entrances from the upstairs and working down began to seal themselves off. "

[Jen]

Nova hesitated for just a moment, her eyes glazed over as she checked on her pack. They were happily on their way back to Van Buren, rough housing and playing on their way. They were glad for the nice day and an easy pace back without Nova pushing them to return post haste. She knew the boys were well enough trained to take care of themselves should they be cornered by Kraven's unknown threat.

"Of course." Nova didn't bother listening for Rakhaev's descent as she eased down the stairs with a canine grace and sense of balance. "It smells strange down here." It was the only thing she would say as she walked with Rakhaev. She didn't bother to look at him as she peered around her. She did hear the doors slam and she was very much aware of how closed in she was. Nova didn't bother with being afraid, it wasn't in her blood.

"I apologize for earlier. I didn't mean to offend you." Nova crossed her arms as she walked, her blonde hair neatly tied in a knot at the base of her skull. She looked wild and tame all at once. Everything about her would caution a human against getting close. Every thing about her spoke strength and determination. Yet, she was a cute young woman all things considered. Plain by any vampire standards and many other immortal standards -- but pretty for a human. There was an alluring thing about Nova that made her trustworthy -- but that was her personality and not her immortality.

Nova was angular and well built with the suggestion of womanly curves beneath her fitting but too loose outfit. She wasn't ashamed of being a woman, but she wasn't going to let her sex determine how she was treated either. She could scrap and wrestle and fight just as good as any man she knew -- and often times...better.

Even her years of training and attention to healing hadn't prepared her for what she saw when Rakhaev opened the door. A vampire, strapped to a restraint system with blood running down her face. Gods, but she was a beautiful creature and not unlike Nova in many respects. When their eyes met Nova had a hard time keeping her eyes on the Vampire. This was someone she had met before on a few occassions when she was with Van Buren on work that involved the vampires.

"Blythe?"

[Sage]

Rakhaev made a dismissive gesture with his hand. " It is of no consequence. If you need to make any preparations to invoke your healing ability, do so now. " Whatever his feelings toward Nova, or lack thereof, there was work to be done, and he reverted to his stoic mechanical self, the mindset of a scientist with a deadline. Rakhaev entered the left side of the room first, and worked the controls of the rooms' many pieces of odd equipment and operated the lever to the dividing wall as he shooed out the remaining onlookers that had stayed behind. Alternately, a second barred divider dropped, farther from Blythe so that all of her would be sealed in one room, but so that one could see into either side from it's opposite twin.

Rakhaev directed Rinald and Nova into the room opposite of Blythe. He was not a fool, and he was certainly not blind. He saw the looks that Rinald and Blythe had been giving one another, their relationship was why he had put him in charge of her in the first place, to torture him. He gave Blythe a sour look as he withdrew a serrated knife from the back of his belt and slashed it across Rinald's face as he advanced on him, pushing him against the bars. The cold steel dug into the meat on the bridge of his nose, and penetrated his left cheek as he drug it across and withdrew it from his face.

Rakhaev had drawn a cloth across his blade to clean it before Rinald's blood ever reached the stone floor in it's ragged arc, spattering into Blythe's side of the lab. Rakhaev smiled, his bright blue eyes studying Rinald as the man slowly righted himself, bringing his hand slowly to his bleeding face, wordless and without emotion save a deep sadness for Blythe having to witness what had been done lingering in his eyes.

[Jen]

Blythe’s eyes snapped open as she heard Rinald’s body forced against the bars that were now separating them. She’d tried to doze off for a moment’s time before the new wave of torture began. That was not to be the case, it seemed. The heady scent of blood filled the air and Blythe was trying not to let it get the best of her. She tilted her head back and took a deep breath…

It was Rinald’s.

Blythe flung her prostrate body against her bonds as if hell itself had opened up on her. The fury in her eyes was nothing short of heart stopping. Oh, if looks could kill. Rakhaev would have been a dead man long before this point, and he undoubtedly needed to die now. As if the gods had unleashed Fury itself into the body of this one Vampire, Blythe struggled against her bonds.

She could feel the restraints pressing against her flesh as she tried to throw her body at Rakhaev. They bit and stung her flesh as she strained against them. If they had been metal, even the strongest metal known to man, they would have broken. Kraven had done his research but Blythe was so tempted to take her fangs to her wrists and gnaw her own hands off. She could feel and hear the wall groaning beneath her struggle. She renewed her efforts with vigor, smelling the stale scent of her own blood as the shackles bit into her pale skin.

“You son of a…” Blythe snarled as she lunged at Rakhaev one more time, this time the wall beneath one shackle gave way – her injured arm was still healing and weaker than her other. Her arm swung around in an arc, she shifted her weight slightly so that she was resting on one hip rather than flat on her back against the wall. “Bitch…” She finished as she glared at Rakhaev. Debris scattered across her half of the room and sprinkled into the adjoining room ineffectually. The shackle and a chunk of the wall hung from her hand, the blood from her wrist dripping and lubricating her hand enough to finally allow the hunk of masonry fall to the floor.

It was a victory for her and she grinned maliciously, lifting her one free hand – for now anyway – and sucking the blood off of it. Her wrist started to heal as she licked it.

“You deserve to burn in hell.” Was all she said as she licked her wound, eyeing the splatter of Rinald’s blood that was at her feet. She was disgusted by this human display before her. Then she smelled the wolf and her interest moved for once, outside of her own realm of awareness.

“Who asks?”


“I am shocked at your behavior!”

Nova hurried to Rinald as soon as Blythe’s outburst was under control. She placed her hands on Rinald’s face as he held himself together and she clicked her tongue.

“I am Nova Van Buren.” Was all that she said as she focused her energies on Rinald. Her hands glowed briefly a bright blue before she moved Rinald’s hands and pressed him back against the bars, placing her hand against his bloodied face.

“Nothing major, he’ll have a scar because of the way you cut him.” Nova’s hands flared bright blue as she spoke, her voice calming as she talked Rinald through her healing process. It lasted all of two minutes and when she was done, she mopped the blood out of Rinald’s face and eyes and smiled.

“I do apologize, sir. I didn’t mean to be so rough with you. I am Nova Van Buren, werewolf healer at your service.” She smiled a bright and cheery smile before losing it entirely as she stood and faced Rakhaev.

“You are a bastard. If this is how you treat your men then I can honestly say that you are a low excuse for a human. No matter what your thoughts of me are, or what your thoughts on Vampires are – if you treat him in such a manner why should I trust you? I wouldn’t inflict that torture on a meal of mine – but I could be tempted to trust that Lord Kraven wouldn’t mind much if I did devour you.”

Nova thrust a bloody rag into Rakhaev’s hands and turned her back on him as she went to help Rinald to his feet and to nod at Blythe.

“It would seem that I’m here to help in your torture or to prolong it. I am sorry friend; I did not know that it was you. Pissed Anabel off did you?” Nova smirked as she leaned against the bars, watching the heaving Vampire – the beautiful creature and efficient hunter that she was.

“Something like that. I stabbed her.” Blythe chuckled as she turned her gaze on Rakhaev.

“It is an offense punishable by death. Though I see you’re not dead yet.”

“Do what you must. In the end it will only benefit Anabel and your clan, I’m sure.” Her eyes were still on Rakhaev and she smiled sadistically. “If you don’t kill him, can I have him. You can eat him. I just want the pleasure of killing him.”

[Sage]

Rakhaev replaced the dagger casually at his back, somewhat amused that Nova need not even be asked to heal the wounded Rinald. He thrived under the heat of Blythe's hatred, and quietly brought the sun crystals behind him to full charge as Blythe fought her restraints. He could not help to be entertained as she mentioned the heat of hell, that he could nearly feel now.

Rakhaev rotated a half-turn and pulled the back of his shirt up enough to show a large blotch of burnt skin, and he was careful to allow the dagger to be in full view, still somewhat stained with Rinald's blood. " Already there, my dearest Blythe. "

Then his attention turned to Nova as she began to peel her opinions at him. His hand found it's way to a short sword at his waist, the material of which Nova would be able to recognize immediately. For the first time, Rinald reacted, slowly but surely. He peeled himself off of the bars, out from underneath Nova's touch, and stood between her and his superior.

" Rinald is not just my underling, he is family, and he knows his duty. This was the quickest way. The Hierarch may speak of such things jokingly to your face, but untold wrath would await any such blatant attack on one of his precious chosen. "

Rakhaev watched as the rag hit his chest and fell to the ground. His nose twitched and he began to draw his sword with the hand that was not being used to focus the crystals at his back when Rinald dashed forward, driving his palm into the hilt of the sword, stopping it short. He wrapped his hand around the sword, using his greater strength to pry Rakhaev's hand off of it. Rakhaev's face mirrored a kind of betrayal that his mouth could not form the words to make audible.

" Enough, Brother Rakhaev. That is enough, we can document the information. "

Rakhaev recoiled with the force of Rinald's words. Never in his life had he heard Rinald even assert his seniority over his own subordinates, much less assume to command his own superior. His bright blue eyes, not unlike Kraven's, glowed as he pooled his aura and set out to cast it at the still-bloody Rinald.

Rinald's own eyes flashed briefly and his vascular arms would seem as though white light was flowing through them as he drew his arm back and laid into the Captain with a reserved amount of his strength. Rakhaev's body flailed through the air, the silver sword releasing from his sheath as he was pushed away from Rinald, whose muscle mass had seemed to triple which inflated him to an amazing size. Rinald's breathing became labored with the stress of his new body. He was an incredible sight to behold, muscles swelled to almost inhuman limits. Mentally he was still managing to keep an eye on every corner of the house, and physically he snapped Rakhaev's prized silver sword in two without even needing a valiant effort.

This was his power, it was why most of the Brotherhood saw fit to avoid him. But it had always been Rakhaev's arrogance that tempted him to test Brother Rinald over and over, but even the normally gentle giant did not have limitless patience for those like Rakhaev. He made his way around the room, slowly locking all the controls in the room in place before exiting, temporarily sealing Rakhaev and Nova in. He made his way to Blythe's room, activating the same complicated locks in this room as the previous, before sealing himself in the room with Blythe.

" It will be up to Kraven to judge Rakhaev or me, whomever he chooses, but even he does not hate you enough to make you endure this without reprieve. "

Rinald's words were cryptic, but soon understood as, one by one, he crushed her shackles, expending every ounce of effort he could muster. As he moved from her arms to her feet, his form began to shrink, and he spent more time on each restraint. But soon it was done, and she would at least be free to do what she would inside her new cell.

" I have aided you all I can. Can I trust that you will behave and not attempt escape in my ward? I cannot allow your freedom to be my responsibility. If you attempt to leave this room I will be forced capture you and destroy you. "

[Jen]

Blythe watched Rinald carefully as he protected the treaty and an innocent life, one that had been brought here in order to help – even if it had meant her own death. She wouldn’t have wished death for Nova. Rakhaev wouldn’t have killed her though, but he would have systematically undone every aspect of the treaty – and earned bounds of disfavor from Anabel, and likewise Kraven. The intent was there, broken on the floor, all Nova had to do was cry intent.

“I will do as you ask of me, Rinald.” Blythe’s body collapsed to the floor the instant her body was free of the shackles. She just couldn’t make her body work for her. Her head bounced off the floor briefly and she grimaced before sitting up on her knees and looking up at Rinald. “Thank you.”

There was a weariness in her old eyes that spoke of ages past, a life that she didn’t ask for, and consequences for her actions. If she could have cried, there was no doubt that Blythe would have. She would have wept for relief, for life, for the sheer knowledge that Rinald was on her side. She would have given her life for him then. She had put herself in a precarious position, torn and mangled her body at the sight of his blood. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for him now – even if that meant dying like a good little Vampire woman.

Nova watched Rinald and nodded with respect before turning on Rakhaev.

“All I have to do is give evidence and the treaty is broken. What about me gives you such hatred? I was asked to be here, I came to offer my services as a healer, and you lock me in a room and try to kill me?” Nova walked over to the sword that lay broken on the floor and picked it up, careful not to cut herself with it.

“You can’t say you didn’t know what this would do to me. You can’t say that there aren’t witnesses. Your family had more decency than you to protect someone like me.” Fear was not an option, and Nova’s eyes were like ice as she stared into Rakhaev’s eyes. He might feel uncomfortable with her standing there, staring at him with those impenetrable eyes. She pushed the sword through the iron bars and watched Rakhaev some more before crossing her arms behind her back and her feet braced.

“At least now it’s even. Fight dirty and you will reap the benefits of your stupidity, Rakhaev. You have a problem with me? Let’s deal with it, one on one, hand to hand. At least then you won’t come off looking like some back handed coward. Who stabs a woman in the back while she heals? Who the hell stabs a woman that comes to aid? Above all else who the HELL stabs an ambassador?”

Now she was pulling rank. She was pulling treaty and rank on him all in one swift motion. Nova wasn’t just some random stick in the mud, she was a Van Buren – she was one of his own family now. She ranked near the top of the pack and was one of the exclusive healers of the Van Buren clan. Nova was valued beyond regular pack standards by the oldest and first Werewolf.

Van Buren would not be pleased.

Nova walked toward Rakhaev and smiled.

“Lets hope Kraven is aware of everything that has transpired. At least, for now, you haven’t touched me.”

[Sage]

Rinald shifted, his feat had drained him, and he lingered on the verge of unconsciousness already. But he saw the look in Rakhaev's eyes. He was not bested yet, and he counted on the lockdown keeping Nova from escaping to tell anyone about anything. It was not bright of her to challenge even a wounded Rakhaev to battle, doing so had given him every right to do what he was planning.

Rakhaev was not a man built for honor. He was a warrior, made to kill, and coming from a long proud line of men from whom he inherited the cunning and pride of survivors. There was a reason Rakhaev had lived long enough to become Captain. He was smart, he was deadly, and most of all he possessed many of Kraven's own talents, if watered-down versions of them.

Rakhaev's body disappeared from the crumpled heap on the floor. He bended the light around himself much as Kraven might have when cornered as he was now. Rinald noticed the glow in the crystals brightening, and knew that he planned to do away with Nova and Blythe at the same time. He lunged for the bars separating the rooms and snatched up the two broken pieces of Rakhaev's sword, and took careful aim.

He threw the hilt half of the blade toward the crystals, and the tip of the sword at Nova's back. Two things happened at once, in the split second after Rinald flung the projectiles. First, he hilt would crash into the glowing crystals, sending them teetering off their pedestal to the ground, where they exploded into tiny fragments just before a fully-charged blast of sunlight might have filled the two rooms.

Second, Rakhaev would reappear behind Nova, one hand outstretched toward the ruined crystals, and the other on a dagger gripped tightly and held around Nova's neck at her throat. His knees would buckle, eyes glazing over as his final shocked expression was frozen on his face. He fell forward, splaying across the ground limp, with the shining blade of his own favorite weapon jutting out from his spine at an angle.

[Jen]

“You’re not getting out of this that easily.” Nova muttered as she bent to Rakhaev’s quickly dying body. He still had a few beats of life in him and by all that was screwed up in this world, he wouldn’t die. Not if she was here to keep him alive and nurse him back to health. She laid her hands on Rakhaev, giving him just enough healing to keep his body alive as she took off her shirt.

Nova’s breasts were bound in fabric instead of lingerie and she bent to the task of covering the silver sword with her shirt, and pulling the fragment out of Rakhaev. She grunted with the effort, and a sucking sound echoed through the chamber as she increased the flow of healing magic coursing through her assailant’s body.

Nova got on her knees and pressed her hands firmly to Rakhaev’s back after she tossed the blood soaked shirt and sword fragment aside. She focused her concentration on the severed bits of his body, knitting them together much like a puzzle. It would take a long time, and right now she was focused intently on stabilizing the man. Her breathing became labored as she held her hands firmly but gently against the man’s back.

Rakhaev had tried to kill her. Nova was doing the one thing he would despise – saving his life. He would owe her every breath he took, ever child he bore, every piece of his existence was going to be hers. As she focused her energy on Rakhaev, Nova was dimly aware that her neck was bleeding from where Rakhaev’s dagger had cut her. She was overwhelmed with relief at the knowledge that the blade hadn’t been silver and cast a thankful glance at Rinald. He had saved her life on more than one occasion today.

“You will see justice, Rakhaev.” Nova bent down to his prone form and smiled as she looked at his handsome face. “Perhaps the best justice of all is that you will owe everything to a woman that you hate.” She pressed her mouth over Rakhaev’s and blew her breath into him. She worked on his body some more and breathed into him again.

He would live, she had seen to that. It would be some time, under her express ministration however, before he could use his legs or even move. He would be aware, and could probably even talk if he wanted to.

“Rinald!” Blythe hurried over to him as he started to black out. She caught him in her arms and lowered him to the floor. She patted his face and held him as she watched Nova do her job. She was an amazing woman, to overcome the loathing in order to heal. Albeit the knowledge that Rakhaev would be in her debt was somehow fitting.

“Rinald, are you okay? Thank you. You have saved my life and Nova’s. You are an amazing human. Thank you.” Without thinking Blythe bent down and kissed Rinald’s lips, thoroughly enjoying the taste of him, the scent, and his presence. She felt safe with him, and that was a lot to say for a Vampire.

[Sage]

The sound of the houses defenses opening and lowering once more as Kraven made his way into the first dungeon floor of the home would be lost, for the most part, in the commotion in the labs. He opened the doors to Lab 3, and his face was struck with horror, as he allowed the form of a short, unconscious human with a black sack tied over his head slump before him.

What he saw were his two top soldiers slumped in pools over their own blood, with a Lycan and Vampire working hungrily at each of their mouths, respectively. He stood in dumbfounded silence for the briefest of moments before he burst into Blythe's half of the room, peeling her off of Rinald with ease in her weakened state. It didn't hurt that Kraven didn't need any crystals to blast her with enough sunlight to undo her, and if she was wise she wouldn't resist.

Raging, Kraven managed to haul Blythe into the far corner of Nova's half of the room, having kicked through the controls that operated the dividing bars. Behind Nova, he drug her off of Rinald, albeit gentler and shoved her in the corner with Blythe. Neither of them seemed to be armed, though there were weapons on the floor, and so Kraven did not draw one of his own, his eyes intimidating enough.

" What have you...you...HARPIES done to my men!? Is this how the ruling families treat servants of Anabel VonHagen!? "

He would have been busy mentally communicating with his men in the field, and now they were in no state to extract information from through their bond with him. He could only assume that what had gone on here had been entirely the faults of the last ones standing, which happened to be the females. Almost before the limp body had hit the floor behind him, soldiers had come along and swept it up, hauling it off to an unknown location.

Take him to Level Three, very last cell in the row, and make sure no one makes the mistake of standing in front of the bars. Kraven's singed clothes and armor were the only clues that either of the women would have about the threat he had set out to deal with, but his full attention was on the situation at hand, and he would only hear so much with great impatience before he started making decisions.

Rinald, who had a dumb smile smeared across his bloody face could only fight unconsciousness for so long, but just before darkness covered his field of vision, he managed to reach out to Kraven, trying desperately to convey something important. " Krav in...nein...sie bist nicht so schlecht...Rakhaeff... "

And he was out.

[Jen]

Blythe shrieked in pain as she hit the wall in the corner. Her eyes were shocked as she saw Kraven stand over her. She tried to cover her wounds with shaking hands, the sunlight just enough to scald her with second degree burns. She made soft sobbing noises as she looked at Rinald, fearing that Kraven was angry with him for trying to kill Rakhaev.

“You don’t understand…he didn’t…” Blythe felt her body hauled up and through the bars to the other side where she was shoved into a corner. When Nova was shoved into her she got downright indignant.

“Now look here, she didn’t do anything wrong. You’re lucky she was here! Rakhaev damn near ran her through twice!”

Nova pressed her hand over Blythe’s mouth and shook her head. She turned to face Kraven and pointed at her neck.

“You can choose to contain this now or I will leave and speak with both Anaben VonHagen and my Lord Van Buren of this matter. I was attacked in your home under the guise of serving your needs. Your second in command did this to me and…” Nova walked over to the pieces of weaponry on the floor and picked up the piece covered in her shirt and opened the fabric to Kraven.

“He should never have been left alone with me with such a possession.” Nova tossed the sword piece aside with disgust as she looked at Kraven. She felt her neck wound tear a little and she frowned and put her hand over it. “Rinald saved us both. He very nearly took your charge and made her into dust with those…things over there.” Nova waved weakly in the direction of the crystal dust on the floor.

“If you want justification read my mind. I have done nothing but be fair and honest and open with you. I don’t understand why I should be blamed or why Blythe must be treated so disgustingly when we’re both the victims in this matter. I would like to tend to Rinald, however, if you would allow it. Rakhaev is stabilized and he owes his life to me. I will continue to heal him unless you send me away. If I am sent away he will remain unable to do anything but speak and move from the shoulders up.”

Nova looked sympathetically at Kraven as she spoke. Her blue eyes were tough and her face looked hollow and drained. There were dark spots under her eyes beginning to form. She made a move toward Rinald, cautiously with her hands up showing she had no weapon. Granted she really didn’t have anywhere to hide a weapon – she was topless and her pants were form fitting.

Assuming Kraven allowed her to go to Rinald she would check on him and find him blissfully unaware after having used his powers – tired but not harmed. He was lucky, and a hero. She would smile at him and glance back at Blythe who was tucked into the corner nursing her wounds from Kraven, from Rakhaev’s assault, and from her own distress at seeing Rinald so badly handled.

“If you would allow it, before I return to my Lord to report my mistreatment, I would like to attempt to heal Blythe.” Without asking again Nova walked over to the Vampire and smiled down at her. She moved the Vampire’s shaking hands and pressed her hands over the wound. Her hands began to glow a bright blue and she heard Blythe take a sharp breath. Worriedly she looked at the Vampire and tilted her head, not unlike a curious dog.

“Does it hurt?”

“No. No. It feels cold actually. It makes the searing pain stop where I was burned…”

“Good. That means its working.” Nova smiled and moved her hands to various parts of Blythe. The Vampire wasn’t healed fully, but what wasn’t healed would be taken care of by Blythe’s own genetics.

Nova attempted to get up, making it halfway, before crashing down into a heap on the floor. It was a lot to ask of one person to heal four times in under an hour.

[Sage]

Kraven buried his face in his hand, rubbing at his temples as he listened to the pair. He had been gone no less than ten minutes and completed his mission, capturing the intruder who threatened Blythe, and Rakhaev had already managed to commit several counts of treason, die, and be resurrected. He briefly scanned the minds of both Blythe and Nova and sighed as he began to get a feel for what was actually going on. Men surged into the room shortly thereafter at Kraven's command and seized Rakhaev and Blythe.

" Maximum security, fourth floor for both of them, opposite blocks. Move Rinald to his room in the barracks and see to it that Nova's belongings are moved down here. "

Kraven collected the knife and broken sword off of the floor, and rolled Rinald on his side as he collected his as well. His expression was pained, the sting of betrayal as fresh in his mind as it would ever be. Rakhaev had been such a promising soldier, his abilities making him so much like Kraven himself. But his mind had always been twisted, and he had become corrupt under the weight of his power.

" Rakhaev shares my physiology, I can heal him myself. I think it best that you two have no further contact. As for Blythe, a victim though she may very well be, she is my prisoner; one who has been sentenced to death. She will remain in my custody until Rinald comes around. I have read enough to see that you won't hurt him at least, so you may sit with him if you wish until your room is made here.

As for you. You aren't under arrest...yet. But I ask you remain here until I can at lest conduct a decent enough investigation to clear yourself and Rinald. I'm afraid Blythe's innocence in this is of no consequence to her fate, and should your voluntary stay continue after I have cleared you, I still must ask you to finish your work...on her. "

Kraven stared across the faces of the four. He felt like a tired father who was being forced to scold children for breaking something. He couldn't imagine what must have transpired to cause this, but he saw that the issue was between Nova and Rakhaev, that much was clear. As two of them were drug out of the room, he turned to follow them.

" I need to make sure everyone is going to survive the next fifteen minutes, then I would like to see you in the war room, you may ask a guard when you are ready. I'm afraid you need to stay down here, but you may see Rinald or ask to be taken to Blythe's cell, but I don't want you going in without myself or a...conscious Rinald. "

Kraven slipped out of the room with haste, hands already glowing to heal Rakhaev so that he could slap him around and it would be felt. Two men in teal robes and black armor would come to scoop up Rinald and pull him to the barracks, force-feeding him water as they did so.