Post by Willow on Aug 4, 2009 17:35:01 GMT -5
Heyyyy everybody. Been awhile since I've written anything here.. Umm...well. This is a story I started posting on my deviantart. This is the entire thing, what I have so far. If you guys want to keep up after this point, you'll have to go here: www.lycanxXxwillow.deviantart.com
The little dash thingehs indicate seperate parts. I didn't grammar/spellcheck this, so if there are horrible mispellings, wrong words, WRONG PHRASES ENTIRELY.
Feel free to point them out.
----------------
The papers thudded against the desktop and, arching a brow at the man who dropped them, Gabriel picked them up. He thumbed through them, seeing his name on many of them, as well as some names he didn't know. Gabriel raised his silver gaze to the man and smiled faintly, only the very edge of his pale lips curving upward.
"Is this all of it, Oran?" He asked, trying not to grin.
Oran did grin. "Congratulations. You're now a Second Lieutenant in the Corps. You have been transferred from down in the sun country to up north because you wanted more action. Here is a list of your former fellows in the barracks, a list of officers down there, and anything else you’ll need to know. Memorize it. I’ve sent a copy of your papers up to the Nightmourn Barracks. They’re expecting you within the next four days.” The man chuckled, hands over his round belly. “Should be plenty of time for you, eh?”
Gabriel didn’t smile, just nodded. He reached into his pocket and drew forth a small leather bag that clinked softly when set on the oaken desktop. Oran eyed it. A slight smile flickered across Gabriel’s pale face, even shining in his silver eyes for the briefest moment. “That should hold you.”
“I expect you’ve got more than that, night-crawler,” Oran said dryly. The smile vanished, and Gabriel shrugged, turning away.
“One day knowing all these secrets is going to get you killed.”
“Not by you, I hope.”
The vampire glanced back, a wisp of red rising in his silver irises. Oran paled slightly, his own grin sliding off his face like hot butter. Gabriel titled his head at an angle. “I expect not. But you never know. Thank you for your services, Oran.”
He could hear Oran shifting his weight in the chair, which sounded too small. Gabriel wondered if the bookkeeper ever got stuck in his spindly chair.
“Why would you want to join the army?” Oran asked, his voice barely a mumble. Nevertheless, Gabriel could hear him.
“It just seems like a better idea to kill for a cause than for your own needs,” Gabriel replied, his back turned to Oran and a grin on his face. He could sense Oran’s discomfort, and finally decided to leave the man in peace. Without another word, he stepped through the door into the front room. He took a moment to examine the goods, but found nothing to his liking. Oran really did carry a horrible front of his other business. Still, Gabriel found a few things he might use. A bottle of oil. A rope. A waterproof bag to carry the papers in. He listed the items on a scrap of paper, pulled out a silver coin, and left both on the front table. Oran would pick and complain about thieves later, but Gabriel could have left him with a bigger problem.
Once the papers were tucked safely away in the pack, he slipped out into the street, trying to avoid all light. It annoyed him, and if someone was looking closely, it would give him away. Gabriel glanced up at the nearest streetlight. It was an eerie feeling, knowing your appearance was different but not being able to see it. He moved on.
---
He knew he would pass someone a moment before the someone rounded the corner. Gabriel wasn't sure what he picked up first, the scent of warm blood, or the scuff of shoes against the dirt. Hesitant to cross someone in his current mood, Gabriel paused, then stepped back, shadowed against the wall. First his hand disappeared, like smoke into the shadow, and then the rest of him. A quick cover. It was a girl that stepped around the corner of the building. She smelled faintly of vanilla, and something more exotic. Then she was gone.
Although he didn't breath, Gabriel exhaled air when she had disappeared, his eyes flickering. A beat later he started walking again, picking up his pace. The entire encounter had taken maybe a minute and a half, but he felt like he'd been pressed into the shadow for hours. Time lost all meaning when he was in that state.
"The darker the heart, the darker the shadow," a voice hissed. Gabriel didn't look back. He knew that voice, that poetic line of thinking. If it could be called poetic. Gabriel wasn't annoyed because the other vampire had surprised him. He was annoyed because he had been following him.
"Go away," Gabriel growled, turning the corner. There was no sound to indicate his fellow was behind him, but Gabriel knew he was there.
"He brings the stench of death tonight, hmm? What do you do, Gabriel?" the figure asked. Gabriel glanced back. The other vampire took no time or energy to conceal what he was. His eyes burned crimson, and he wore a black suit, contrasting sharply against his paper-white skin and snowy hair.
"I do as I please, Alaster," Gabriel replied, scowling at his unwanted companion. A smile flickered across Alaster's pale features. The younger vampire could pass among the humans as an albino, for in life, he might have been. He had certainly adjusted well to avoiding the daylight.
Humming under his breath, Alaster followed Gabriel down the street to the Station. The Platform was deserted at this hour, and red eyes flickering with question, Alaster glanced around. Gabriel's own silver pools found the timechart on the front wall. Alaster frowned.
"You leave us?" Alaster asked, looking disappointed. Gabriel huffed silently, hitching his shoulderstrap further onto his shoulder.
"Yes, I'm going north."
Alaster was now examining the list of destinations with mild interest, hands clasped behind his back. Gabriel couldn't help but be mildly amused. He mused Alaster must have been an actor, or some sort of bard, in the old life. That would explain alot.
"The night train runs only to Akota," Alaster observed, rocking from his heels to his toes. He spun on one boot to face Gabriel, eyes glittering mischeviously. "We go with you."
"No," Gabriel snapped.
"We follow."
"Alaster. I'm going to the outpost. You have no place in a soldier's fort," Gabriel said, trying to be patient with the vampire. Alaster grinned, his pearly canines pressing into his lower lip. Gabriel scowled at him and he repeated, more firmly. "No."
---
Alaster stared at the thick curtains Gabriel had drawn shut over the windows with a look of utter fascination. Probably the remains of some theatre curtain he knew, Gabriel thought, returning his attention to the thick packet with a low growl. He should have known better than to argue. Alaster had always done exactly as he wanted. Gabriel wouldn't be able to say anything that would change it.
"They keep the sun away?" Alaster asked, brows raised. Gabriel just nodded. There were countless names. Oran had picked up what might be a trouble spot. There was another soldier in Akota who had been transferred from Gabriel's supposed barrack. He'd have to keep out of the way of that one. He looked up.
"Alaster. What are you doing?"
At some point Alaster had pulled his platinum blonde hair back in a ponytail, and now he had pulled half of the curtain aside to look out the window. "We are examining the countryside."
"It's only an hour till Dawn. Pay attention to the light," Gabriel mumbled, flipping through the papers. Names, numbers, ranks. Oran had covered everything. At least this would give him something to do for the next five hours. Half an hour later, he looked up to check on Alaster.
He was gone.
Gabriel dropped the papers on the seat and scrambled out of his seat, swearing under his breath. That was the only problem with dealing with vampires. You couldn't hear them when they moved, and it was irritating as hell. How Alaster had opened the door and gotten into the hall without Gabriel hearing was beyond him. Snarling, he slammed the compartment door opened and peered up and down the hall.
"Alaster?" He hissed, eyes gleaming. The hall was deserted. As long as he's not eating someone when I find him, Gabriel thought, sliding the door shut behind him. Trying to look as calm as any normal person on a train ride, Gabriel started searching. There were soft snores from the compartment next to his, and a quick peek inside confirmed the rider was alone. Most of the compartments were just empty, or with a few sleeping occupants.
Finally, he located one with voices. A woman was speaking, and somebody laughed. Gabriel tapped on the glass of the compartment, and as if someone had been waiting for him, the door opened.
"What are you doing?" Gabriel said through gritted teeth. Alaster blinked his large red eyes a few times, looking utterly innocent.
"We are entertaining our neighbors with a few songs," Alaster replied with a puzzled frown.
"Is this your friend?" the woman asked. Gabriel peered over Alaster's shoulder into the car. Yes, the window was opening, and he could see the sky turning pink and pale blue beyond the frame. Gabriel tugged at Alaster's sleeve pointedly. Alaster got the point and turned to his companion.
"Excuse us, we must be getting back to our compartment," Alaster said, flourishing his hand ridiculously and bowing deeply. The woman giggled and waved. Gabriel stifled a groan and turned away.
"This is why I'm going north," Gabriel grumbled, settling back into his seat. Alaster stooped to pick up a few papers and held them out, continuing to look of false innocence. Gabriel had come to the conclusion that althought he meant well, Alaster was an idiot. He took the papers and tried to reorganize them.
Alaster fixed the curtain back in place and sat back on the seat, sprawled out in an uncomfortable-looking position. He was humming again, tunes Gabriel hadn't heard in decades. The train rumbled along at a pace Alaster must have found annoying, because it wasn't long before he commented on it.
"We could have walked to Akota long ago," he said, crossing his arms over his chest. Gabriel raised his eyes from the list of soldiers he had shared a room with where he was supposably transferring from.
"I'm supposed to be human."
"Why?"
Gabriel stared hard for a few minutes, trying to remember why he had agreed to share a compartment with Alaster. "Because the Army kills vampires."
"Death from the inside, perhaps?" Alaster asked.
"Perhaps. We'll see. Now help me memorize this." Gabriel threw the packet at Alaster, who caught it with a startled expression. The blonde vampire proved to have his uses. Skipping over the errors in his grammar, Alaster proved to be an excellent teacher.
It was almost noon when the train reached the Akota post. Gabriel tucked away the papers in his bag and pulled up the hood of his cloak. He stared at Alaster. "Please tell me you have a cloak."
Alaster blinked owlishly. Of course he didn't.
---
Gabriel stepped out onto the platform. If it could be called that. It was no more than a few wooden planks set on stone blocks, bolted to a few poles. There wasn't even a roof. Gabriel was just thankful it wasn't raining. Then again....He glanced upwards, where the sun shone relentlessly. Maybe a few clouds wouldn't be so bad. Alaster had disappeared for the moment, but Gabriel didn't worry about him. The theatrical vampire would find Gabriel when he was ready.
Two figures, a man in his late twenties and a woman a few years younger, walked briskly to join him. They took in his thick cloak with a glance, and the man reached out to shake his head.
"Second Lieutenant Donnor?" He had sharp blue eyes and short, slightly spiked hair the color of honey. Gabriel smiled faintly, taking the hand. The soldier seemed a little quizzical about the fact Gabriel wore gloves, but he said nothing, just smiled back and nodded. "I'm Private Carter. This is Corporal-"
"Corporal Reira Sanders, sir," the woman said. Gabriel got the feeling she was probably the most serious person at Akota. She glanced at his light pack but made no comment. It took Gabriel a moment to realize why they were being so formal. Nervous lower ranks.
"At ease. Where's the cart?" Gabriel asked, glancing behind them. Carter grinned slightly and jerked his thumb over his shoulder.
"Driver circled around. Lieutenant Kiro's with the cart," he replied. The two soldiers exchanged glanced. Gabriel furrowed his brow, trying to look genuinely interested in their thoughts.
"Something wrong?" the vampire asked carefully.
"No sir," Sanders said immediately, but there seemed to be some sort of private joke between them. Gabriel decided to worry about it later.
"Well, let's not keep the Lieutenant waiting." Gabriel hitched his shoulder strap further up and strode past them. A cart came into sight, drawn by a pair of black mares who tossed their heads. He hesitated at the sight of the standing figure next to the driver. She wasn't human.
Gabriel started walking again, stopping again only once he'd reached the cart. The woman in the cart looked down at him, open scorn on her face. Her eyes, like bright chunks of emeralds, had the slitted pupils of a rattlesnake. She wore her dark rust hair down her back in a loose braid, and pressed back on her head, were a pair of ears, like that of a fox or a wolf's. If Gabriel had a heart, it would have stopped.
"Come on up, soldier," the Lieutenant said sharply, holding out one hand. He tried not to stare. The hand had claw-like features, more like a talon than just a hand. Hesitantly, Gabriel took it and sprang up, deciding it would be an insult to ignore her. The others joined them in the back, sitting on the very edge of the cart. Kiro looked Gabriel up and down, then tapped the driver's shoulder. "Move out."
They stared at each other, Gabriel perched on the short wooden wall of the cart, she with her legs hanging off the side, seated next to the driver. She didn't smile at anything, ignoring Carter and Sander's quiet chitchat. Gabriel glanced back at them, then at the Lieutenant's face.
"When we get back, the Private can show your quarters," Kiro said quietly. Gabriel nodded. The Lieutenant turned her gaze to the lower ranks. "Oi, Carter, you hear that?"
"Sir?"
"Show Donnor his quarters when we get back."
"Yes sir."
<i>***</i>
Pleased but glad to escape the others for awhile, Gabriel slipped into the barracks. He glanced around, then jumped.
"Alaster!"
Alaster sat with his back to the wall, his knees drawn up and a paper folder in his lap. The blonde vampire held up a sheet of paper, and Gabriel snarled.
"Where did you get that?"
"When did you fight last?"
Gabriel tore the folder out of Alaster's grasp and stuffed under the mattress of his own bunk. Why hadn't Oran gotten someone to clean that out? Alaster was up on his feet, watching with slight anxiety on his pale face. Gabriel didn't ask how Alaster had known where to go. Red eyes glittering, Alaster hummed a brief tune before speaking again. He didn't seem to mind his question had been ignored.
"We hunt now?" Alaster asked, tilting his head to one side. Gabriel glanced to the tiny window near the roof of the barracks. It was long past dark. Then Gabriel shook his head.
"Not tonight, Alaster. You can go if you like. But go far away, alright?"
Alaster nodded energetically and dashed away, the door clicking shut behind him. Finally, Gabriel thought. Peace and quiet. Carefully, he pulled the file back out and thumbed through it, pulling the charcoal sketch of himself out of the many papers. He wadded it up and stuffed it into his pack. Nobody would be going through there. Hopefully. With a sigh, he dropped the file back on his bed. He could return it later.
A new scent caught his attention. There was a soft hiss, a sound he knew well, and then the sharp point of a sword pressed to the back of his neck.
---
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't shove this sword through the back of your head," Kiro growled. Gabriel shut his eyes, barely daring to even wince. The sword point pressed harder. "Answer me, vampire."
"You should have already killed me," Gabriel whispered. "With any other vampire you shouldn't hesitate like this."
"Do you want to die?"
A chuckled rumbled in his throat, and with an exasperated snarl, she dove. Gabriel dropped down, the scrambled away, easily regaining his feet. The halfling didn't seem surprised, or even worried. Keeping her eyes on him, she flipped open the file with one hand and glanced at it.
"Is this why you're here? For a file?"
"Is anything ever that simple, Lieutenant?" Gabriel said in reply, his eyes unwavering. The saber had skimmed the back of his throat, but he could feel it healing. Kiro glanced down again, scanning the page on top. No doubt she was placing the similar first name.
He wondered if she had gutted Alaster, if he was lying dead in the hall. No. Alaster would have called some form of warning, no vampire went out quietly. Kiro lifted her eyes to his face. "You'll never make it out of the post."
"I have no intention of leaving. I'm not here to kill anyone but enemies," he said softly, his eyes flickering to the color of quick silver. "Not unless my hand is forced."
She hadn't dropped her guard, the saber poised to strike again. Kiro breathed a soft sigh. "Then why are you here? You can hardly expect to hide yourself for long."
Interest rose in his slate pools. "So you'll leave me in peace." He advanced a step, examining her face. Automatically, she raised the saber, the point digging into his chest. Gabriel glanced down at the weapon, looking amused. "You won't kill me."
"Not until I know why you're here."
"I'm here to be a soldier. That's all. Alright?" Gabriel studied her face. Kiro glowered back, sidestepping.
"You're odd," she said after a beat, still staring. "I don't think you're lying."
"Good." Gabriel stepped away. "I'm not."
"What about your pal?" she asked, glancing at the doorway, as if she expected to see Alaster standing there.
"Alaster? You don't have to worry about him." Gabriel grimaced. "He wasn't originally in my plans to relocate. He kind of....worked himself into it."
She didn't smile. Gabriel got the feeling she rarely did so. Her ears swiveled, and a beat later heard what she did. Footsteps, very slight. Kiro sheathed her sword. "Come in, Private."
Carter stood in the doorway, looking meek. He looked rather disheveled, as if he had been crawling in the weeds. Which, he probably had been. Hadn't Carter been called off to do recon a few hours ago? Gabriel gave him a faint smile but didn't speak. Kiro gave Gabriel a swift glance, then returned her attention to Carter.
"Yes, Private?"
His blue eyes flickered. "It's about the Recon," he muttered.
Kiro took a few steps forward, then hesitated. "Go ahead."
Glancing at Gabriel, Carter stepped into the room, standing vaguely at attention. "It's about Sanders and the Major. They aren't back yet."
The Lieutenant glanced at the wall clock, her brow furrowing. "They were due in an hour ago."
"Yes, sir."
Her gaze turned on Gabriel. He shrugged. "Would I stick around?" Carter looked from one to the other, looking puzzled, but he didn't ask. Kiro sighed.
"Take a dog out and see if you can find something. If they're not in by Midnight....come get me." Her emerald eyes flashed. "Second Lieutenant. Come with me."
"Yes sir," Gabriel murmured, trying to keep the annoyance out of his face. Oblivious to the tension between the two higher ranks, Carter just nodded and bolted back down the hall. Gabriel listened to his steps, slightly uneven, and followed Kiro. They went down the hallway opposite Carter. "He's got a false leg."
Kiro didn't pause, but one ear flicked back to catch his voice. He hadn't really been paying attention before, but now he really noticed. She had a tail. The same shade of rusty brown as her hair, it curled slightly to one side.
"Where's....Alaster?" she asked. Gabriel shrugged, but alas, she couldn't see him.
"I don't know."
"Donnor. If he doesn't come back, and I find out something happened to my soldiers, I will hunt him down. Whether we have proof or not." She glanced over her shoulder, eyes flickered to the color of quicksilver. The effect was startling. "I don't want you out of my sight until we find my soldiers."
"I didn't plan on going anywhere," Gabriel replied, shrugging again now that she could see him. Kiro opened the door of an what looked like office space, and stared pointedly at him. Gabriel peered inside. No windows. Good. There was a desk, a bookshelf, and some sort of exotic plant in the corner. There were no pictures on the wall, something Gabriel noticed and thought important enough to comment on. "Not much for homey touches, huh?"
She shut the door behind him, and there was a slight thud as she sat down against it. Gabriel mumbled under his breath and tried the door. Yep, it was locked. He sighed and sat down on the desk. There was nothing to do but wait.
---
It had been an hour and sixteen minutes when Gabriel heard the hurried footsteps. There were voices in the hall, voices he couldn't distinguish through the door, and then the door opened. Kiro had her saber in hand and, with an easy twist of her wrist, pressed it to his throat.
"I'll assume they found Sanders and the Major," Gabriel said, unblinking. Carter stared, eyes wide, and Gabriel could practically see the wheels turning in his head, trying to connect the dots.
"Not the Major," Kiro whispered. "Sanders was found with her throat ripped out. Not slit. <i>Ripped.</i>"
Gabriel slipped away from the saber point, eyes smoldering softly. "Let me see the body."
Carter blinked and paled slightly. Two plus two equaled-
"Vampire," Carter breathed. Gabriel turned his head to lock eyes, grinning. The tips of his canines pressed into his lower lip, then retracted. Carter flinched.
"Leave him alone. Turn around," Kiro ordered.
"What, can't gut me from the front?" Gabriel asked, obeying automatically. Kiro pressed the saber against one whole side of his throat. A wave of agony rushed through Gabriel and he dropped to his knees, not caring that the saber scraped his side. His gaze, rather hazy, flicked up to her weapon. Kiro held it, edge up, to show the silver coat. Gabriel shuddered. She could make dying very painful. His skin burned where the weapon had touched him.
Satisfied, Kiro looked back at Carter. "Tie his hands. Then go find you something silver you can use as a weapon. We'll meet you by the medic building."
"Y-yes sir."
Hesitantly, Carter approached Gabriel, watching the vampire expectantly. Gabriel merely glowered at the ground, waiting. Being tied he wasn't worried about. Carter knotted the ropes quickly but firmly and bolted away.
"Carter."
"Yes sir?"
"Don't be telling anyone about the Second Lieutenant. Alright?" Kiro nudged Gabriel's foot with her boot. He glared at her. Carter hesitated in the doorway long enough to respond, and then was gone.
"Yes sir."
Kiro grabbed him by the wrists and hauled him upright, and Gabriel tried not to hiss at her. "If you want my help, you had better act like it."
She ignored him. Gabriel twisted his body out of her grasp and started walking, leading her down the hall instead of the other way around. He knew she was annoyed, but at the moment, didn't care. The only door was to the outside, and he didn't wait for Kiro to open it. There was a slight creak when he kicked it open. Kiro frowned but said nothing. Once outside, she kept close to him, but Gabriel had no intention of running. The watch towers could take him out easy.
"I'll look at the body. But I can't search until tomorrow night. To close till Dawn," Gabriel said, swiveling his head around to look at her.
"You walked in daylight today. With that cloak."
"Hampers my movement too much. I need to be able to fight, Lieutenant," he explained.
They stopped outside the Medic building, little more than a shack in the center of camp. There were a few soldiers around, looking worried but firm in their duty. All of them stood at attention save the medic in the tent and a man who stood by what must have been Corporal Sanders. Kiro saluted, and waved them away. Gabriel approached the stretcher. The smell of blood was thick on the air, and he paused, trying not to breath. It was a habit, unnecessary, and certainly not a good idea here.
"Why would they leave Sanders behind? Or just take Ralen?" Kiro asked.
"Untie my hands, please, Lieutenant. I'm not going anywhere with this many soldiers around."
Reluctantly, she did as he asked. Hands free, Gabriel could move fabric and hair to get a better look. The medic protested quietly, but the extra soldier objected. Loudly.
"What's he doing? Stop it!"
Gabriel looked up coldly. "Your girlfriend, Private? That's conflict of interest, I believe." The man fell silent, but didn't budge. Gabriel returned his attention to the gash. He traced it with one finger. "The bite starts here, and ends...here. The extra tearing was just for show. They hoped you would think some kind of animal did it."
"The other wounds occurred after death, yes," the medic mumbled. "I established that already."
The vampire glanced up, stared for a moment, then continued examining the corpse. "Can we get some privacy?" The medic, baffled, glanced at Kiro. She nodded. Steering the Private by the elbow, the medic stepped out of the room and into the hall. Gabriel glanced at the Lieutenant.
"Kiro. If I act out, hit me between the shoulder blades. Hard."
"What are you gonna do?"
"I'm going to try and get a scent off this thing."
There was the soft hiss of the saber sliding from it's sheath, and Kiro flipped it so the flat of the blade would his him instead of the edge. "That <i>thing</i> is my soldier. I'd prefer you didn't talk about her like that."
Gabriel ignored her, for the most part, taking a deep breath. The blood scent flushed through him, and he regretted not going with Alaster earlier. The red entered his eyes and Gabriel straightened up. Without a word, he opened the door and stepped into the hall. The medic and a watery-eyed Private looked up in slight alarm.
"Sorry...just needed some air." He raised his eyes to the medic, which was probably a mistake. The medic stared, paling slightly, but he said nothing. "Your girl in there...was killed by a Vampire. But he didn't bleed her to death. He..." Gabriel glanced at the Private, unsure.
"I can handle it," the man said stiffly. Gabriel nodded.
"He snapped her neck. I don't think it killed her right off," Gabriel said. "But she was dead before he tore the hell out of her throat like that. She probably didn't even know what happened."
Kiro leaned against the doorframe, her eyes narrowed and the saber down at her side. "Just the one vampire?"
"That's all I got off the body. But there had to be at least two on the site, one to take out Corporal Sanders and another to haul off your Ralen."
"Major," Kiro corrected automatically. "Major Ralen Vair. Why do you think they took him?"
"My guess is these guys have a contract with somebody. They're looking for information about this outpost, and other military business. If he doesn't tell them what they want.." Gabriel paused. "Well. We've got two more nights before we have to worry. Your boy will be alive when we get there. I can assure you that."
---
Gabriel knew when the dawn rose. He could feel it in his bones, in his empty veins. Centuries of vampire fear, all of a few sun rays. He wondered where Alaster was, if he had found shelter from the day. Kiro let him have her windowless office for the day. Actually, forced him into it was more like it. She didn't want him out of her sight. Gabriel knew she had taken her soldiers out into the woods to look, but they wouldn't find anything. It took a vampire to track one.
Sitting against one wall, he waited out the daylight hours, trying to rest. Vampires didn't sleep, not truely, but he tried too, all the same. He was hungry, too. It was tempting to step outside and knock out the guard he knew was standing outside the door. It wouldn't kill him to lose a pint of blood. He could lose more on the battlefield.
Instead Gabriel suffered, sitting with his back to the wall and his knees drawn up to his chest. Waiting. Despite the guard, he didn't feel like a prisoner. It was comforting to know he could get out at any time. A deadbolt lock and a guard with a gun wasn't going to stop him, not if he really wanted to leave.
Hell, they treated him like he'd done something wrong. It was common decency to knock, but nobody did. The door just opened. Face expressionless, Gabriel stared at the soldier in the doorway, one he didn't recognize. In the man's shadow stood Carter, looking a little worried about something. Sometimes Gabriel wished he could read minds. Then he would know if Alaster had done something to get Gabriel in trouble, or they were just pissed.
Pushing himself up off the floor, Gabriel never wavered his gaze. "Can I help you, gentlemen?"
The man wore a cross around his neck, and it flared slightly as he drew closer to Gabriel. The vampire didn't budge. Carter's eyes flickered nervously from Gabriel to his superior officer. Gabriel didn't salute. The man was his equal, as far as the military was concerned. A Second Lieutenant. A little badge read 'Kobalt', sewn to the front of his jacket.
"Second Lieutenant Donnor?"
"Yes."
"Kiro sent me. She wants to go over.....regulations on vampires."
"We don't really have regulations," Gabriel said, looking slightly uncertain. "We just basically do what we want. If someone has a problem with it, they kill they trouble-maker. It's that simple."
Kobalt looked a little startled. "A little...crude, isn't it?"
"That's your opinion, I suppose. It works for us." Gabriel paused, his eyes flooded with the red tint. "Kiro wants to know how to kill us. I don't blame her."
The man looked expectant, while Carter just looked worried. There was movement in the hall behind the two soldiers, and Gabriel kept his eyes fixed on Kobalt's face. "A stake in the heart won't kill. It just paralyzes a vampire. You gotta burn the body. Vampire execution, a council will rip the offending vampire to pieces and bury the pieces in seperate places. Head intact." A grim smile appeared on Gabriel's face. Behind Carter's head, Gabriel could see a mop of white hair. He tried not to grin.
Carter, sensing something was up, turned around. Alaster crashed into the soldier and both of them went down, the vampire pinning his catch to the ground. Carter let out a shout of alarm and Kobalt leveled his gun. Gabriel rolled his eyes. The white-haired vampire had pinned Carter's gun to the ground, snarling inches from his face.
"What-"
Gabriel stepped up, shutting the door with one foot. He didn't want to be bothered. Kobalt raised his gun, the barrel level with Gabriel's eyes.
"Tell him to let my soldier up," Kobalt ordered, the hammer drawn back. "I swear-"
"Alaster."
The vampire looked up, eyes smoldering. Carter, half in shock and half horrified, tried to throw the vampire off. Alaster tilted his head to one side. "Yes?"
"Let him up. You've had your fun."
Reluctantly, Alaster sprang away, landing neatly on the desktop. He sat down casually, glancing down at Carter with a smug grin. Kobalt narrowed his eyes. "How did he get into the building?"
Gabriel glanced sideways at Alaster, brows quirked in question. Alaster beamed proudly, sitting cross-legged with his palms resting on his knees. "I've been in since before dawn," he explained. "Listening. Soldiers are boring, aren't they?"
"Can be," Gabriel said, shifting his gaze back to the officer. Carter didn't seem to know whether to get up or not. Or maybe his legs just wouldn't support him. Gabriel's gaze hardened, and his grin vanished. "If you see a vampire before it sees you, don't even think. Kill it. Because it will kill you."
"What about you? Are you gonna betray us to the rest of them?" Carter asked, standing, albeit rather weakly. Gabriel turned his gaze to Carter.
"Kid. You better hope not. If I betray you, everyone who comes along on this mission will be dead."
"Threats, Donnor?" Kobalt asked, gun still level. Gabriel looked on coldly.
"I don't make threats, sir. I make promises."
The little dash thingehs indicate seperate parts. I didn't grammar/spellcheck this, so if there are horrible mispellings, wrong words, WRONG PHRASES ENTIRELY.
Feel free to point them out.
----------------
The papers thudded against the desktop and, arching a brow at the man who dropped them, Gabriel picked them up. He thumbed through them, seeing his name on many of them, as well as some names he didn't know. Gabriel raised his silver gaze to the man and smiled faintly, only the very edge of his pale lips curving upward.
"Is this all of it, Oran?" He asked, trying not to grin.
Oran did grin. "Congratulations. You're now a Second Lieutenant in the Corps. You have been transferred from down in the sun country to up north because you wanted more action. Here is a list of your former fellows in the barracks, a list of officers down there, and anything else you’ll need to know. Memorize it. I’ve sent a copy of your papers up to the Nightmourn Barracks. They’re expecting you within the next four days.” The man chuckled, hands over his round belly. “Should be plenty of time for you, eh?”
Gabriel didn’t smile, just nodded. He reached into his pocket and drew forth a small leather bag that clinked softly when set on the oaken desktop. Oran eyed it. A slight smile flickered across Gabriel’s pale face, even shining in his silver eyes for the briefest moment. “That should hold you.”
“I expect you’ve got more than that, night-crawler,” Oran said dryly. The smile vanished, and Gabriel shrugged, turning away.
“One day knowing all these secrets is going to get you killed.”
“Not by you, I hope.”
The vampire glanced back, a wisp of red rising in his silver irises. Oran paled slightly, his own grin sliding off his face like hot butter. Gabriel titled his head at an angle. “I expect not. But you never know. Thank you for your services, Oran.”
He could hear Oran shifting his weight in the chair, which sounded too small. Gabriel wondered if the bookkeeper ever got stuck in his spindly chair.
“Why would you want to join the army?” Oran asked, his voice barely a mumble. Nevertheless, Gabriel could hear him.
“It just seems like a better idea to kill for a cause than for your own needs,” Gabriel replied, his back turned to Oran and a grin on his face. He could sense Oran’s discomfort, and finally decided to leave the man in peace. Without another word, he stepped through the door into the front room. He took a moment to examine the goods, but found nothing to his liking. Oran really did carry a horrible front of his other business. Still, Gabriel found a few things he might use. A bottle of oil. A rope. A waterproof bag to carry the papers in. He listed the items on a scrap of paper, pulled out a silver coin, and left both on the front table. Oran would pick and complain about thieves later, but Gabriel could have left him with a bigger problem.
Once the papers were tucked safely away in the pack, he slipped out into the street, trying to avoid all light. It annoyed him, and if someone was looking closely, it would give him away. Gabriel glanced up at the nearest streetlight. It was an eerie feeling, knowing your appearance was different but not being able to see it. He moved on.
---
He knew he would pass someone a moment before the someone rounded the corner. Gabriel wasn't sure what he picked up first, the scent of warm blood, or the scuff of shoes against the dirt. Hesitant to cross someone in his current mood, Gabriel paused, then stepped back, shadowed against the wall. First his hand disappeared, like smoke into the shadow, and then the rest of him. A quick cover. It was a girl that stepped around the corner of the building. She smelled faintly of vanilla, and something more exotic. Then she was gone.
Although he didn't breath, Gabriel exhaled air when she had disappeared, his eyes flickering. A beat later he started walking again, picking up his pace. The entire encounter had taken maybe a minute and a half, but he felt like he'd been pressed into the shadow for hours. Time lost all meaning when he was in that state.
"The darker the heart, the darker the shadow," a voice hissed. Gabriel didn't look back. He knew that voice, that poetic line of thinking. If it could be called poetic. Gabriel wasn't annoyed because the other vampire had surprised him. He was annoyed because he had been following him.
"Go away," Gabriel growled, turning the corner. There was no sound to indicate his fellow was behind him, but Gabriel knew he was there.
"He brings the stench of death tonight, hmm? What do you do, Gabriel?" the figure asked. Gabriel glanced back. The other vampire took no time or energy to conceal what he was. His eyes burned crimson, and he wore a black suit, contrasting sharply against his paper-white skin and snowy hair.
"I do as I please, Alaster," Gabriel replied, scowling at his unwanted companion. A smile flickered across Alaster's pale features. The younger vampire could pass among the humans as an albino, for in life, he might have been. He had certainly adjusted well to avoiding the daylight.
Humming under his breath, Alaster followed Gabriel down the street to the Station. The Platform was deserted at this hour, and red eyes flickering with question, Alaster glanced around. Gabriel's own silver pools found the timechart on the front wall. Alaster frowned.
"You leave us?" Alaster asked, looking disappointed. Gabriel huffed silently, hitching his shoulderstrap further onto his shoulder.
"Yes, I'm going north."
Alaster was now examining the list of destinations with mild interest, hands clasped behind his back. Gabriel couldn't help but be mildly amused. He mused Alaster must have been an actor, or some sort of bard, in the old life. That would explain alot.
"The night train runs only to Akota," Alaster observed, rocking from his heels to his toes. He spun on one boot to face Gabriel, eyes glittering mischeviously. "We go with you."
"No," Gabriel snapped.
"We follow."
"Alaster. I'm going to the outpost. You have no place in a soldier's fort," Gabriel said, trying to be patient with the vampire. Alaster grinned, his pearly canines pressing into his lower lip. Gabriel scowled at him and he repeated, more firmly. "No."
---
Alaster stared at the thick curtains Gabriel had drawn shut over the windows with a look of utter fascination. Probably the remains of some theatre curtain he knew, Gabriel thought, returning his attention to the thick packet with a low growl. He should have known better than to argue. Alaster had always done exactly as he wanted. Gabriel wouldn't be able to say anything that would change it.
"They keep the sun away?" Alaster asked, brows raised. Gabriel just nodded. There were countless names. Oran had picked up what might be a trouble spot. There was another soldier in Akota who had been transferred from Gabriel's supposed barrack. He'd have to keep out of the way of that one. He looked up.
"Alaster. What are you doing?"
At some point Alaster had pulled his platinum blonde hair back in a ponytail, and now he had pulled half of the curtain aside to look out the window. "We are examining the countryside."
"It's only an hour till Dawn. Pay attention to the light," Gabriel mumbled, flipping through the papers. Names, numbers, ranks. Oran had covered everything. At least this would give him something to do for the next five hours. Half an hour later, he looked up to check on Alaster.
He was gone.
Gabriel dropped the papers on the seat and scrambled out of his seat, swearing under his breath. That was the only problem with dealing with vampires. You couldn't hear them when they moved, and it was irritating as hell. How Alaster had opened the door and gotten into the hall without Gabriel hearing was beyond him. Snarling, he slammed the compartment door opened and peered up and down the hall.
"Alaster?" He hissed, eyes gleaming. The hall was deserted. As long as he's not eating someone when I find him, Gabriel thought, sliding the door shut behind him. Trying to look as calm as any normal person on a train ride, Gabriel started searching. There were soft snores from the compartment next to his, and a quick peek inside confirmed the rider was alone. Most of the compartments were just empty, or with a few sleeping occupants.
Finally, he located one with voices. A woman was speaking, and somebody laughed. Gabriel tapped on the glass of the compartment, and as if someone had been waiting for him, the door opened.
"What are you doing?" Gabriel said through gritted teeth. Alaster blinked his large red eyes a few times, looking utterly innocent.
"We are entertaining our neighbors with a few songs," Alaster replied with a puzzled frown.
"Is this your friend?" the woman asked. Gabriel peered over Alaster's shoulder into the car. Yes, the window was opening, and he could see the sky turning pink and pale blue beyond the frame. Gabriel tugged at Alaster's sleeve pointedly. Alaster got the point and turned to his companion.
"Excuse us, we must be getting back to our compartment," Alaster said, flourishing his hand ridiculously and bowing deeply. The woman giggled and waved. Gabriel stifled a groan and turned away.
"This is why I'm going north," Gabriel grumbled, settling back into his seat. Alaster stooped to pick up a few papers and held them out, continuing to look of false innocence. Gabriel had come to the conclusion that althought he meant well, Alaster was an idiot. He took the papers and tried to reorganize them.
Alaster fixed the curtain back in place and sat back on the seat, sprawled out in an uncomfortable-looking position. He was humming again, tunes Gabriel hadn't heard in decades. The train rumbled along at a pace Alaster must have found annoying, because it wasn't long before he commented on it.
"We could have walked to Akota long ago," he said, crossing his arms over his chest. Gabriel raised his eyes from the list of soldiers he had shared a room with where he was supposably transferring from.
"I'm supposed to be human."
"Why?"
Gabriel stared hard for a few minutes, trying to remember why he had agreed to share a compartment with Alaster. "Because the Army kills vampires."
"Death from the inside, perhaps?" Alaster asked.
"Perhaps. We'll see. Now help me memorize this." Gabriel threw the packet at Alaster, who caught it with a startled expression. The blonde vampire proved to have his uses. Skipping over the errors in his grammar, Alaster proved to be an excellent teacher.
It was almost noon when the train reached the Akota post. Gabriel tucked away the papers in his bag and pulled up the hood of his cloak. He stared at Alaster. "Please tell me you have a cloak."
Alaster blinked owlishly. Of course he didn't.
---
Gabriel stepped out onto the platform. If it could be called that. It was no more than a few wooden planks set on stone blocks, bolted to a few poles. There wasn't even a roof. Gabriel was just thankful it wasn't raining. Then again....He glanced upwards, where the sun shone relentlessly. Maybe a few clouds wouldn't be so bad. Alaster had disappeared for the moment, but Gabriel didn't worry about him. The theatrical vampire would find Gabriel when he was ready.
Two figures, a man in his late twenties and a woman a few years younger, walked briskly to join him. They took in his thick cloak with a glance, and the man reached out to shake his head.
"Second Lieutenant Donnor?" He had sharp blue eyes and short, slightly spiked hair the color of honey. Gabriel smiled faintly, taking the hand. The soldier seemed a little quizzical about the fact Gabriel wore gloves, but he said nothing, just smiled back and nodded. "I'm Private Carter. This is Corporal-"
"Corporal Reira Sanders, sir," the woman said. Gabriel got the feeling she was probably the most serious person at Akota. She glanced at his light pack but made no comment. It took Gabriel a moment to realize why they were being so formal. Nervous lower ranks.
"At ease. Where's the cart?" Gabriel asked, glancing behind them. Carter grinned slightly and jerked his thumb over his shoulder.
"Driver circled around. Lieutenant Kiro's with the cart," he replied. The two soldiers exchanged glanced. Gabriel furrowed his brow, trying to look genuinely interested in their thoughts.
"Something wrong?" the vampire asked carefully.
"No sir," Sanders said immediately, but there seemed to be some sort of private joke between them. Gabriel decided to worry about it later.
"Well, let's not keep the Lieutenant waiting." Gabriel hitched his shoulder strap further up and strode past them. A cart came into sight, drawn by a pair of black mares who tossed their heads. He hesitated at the sight of the standing figure next to the driver. She wasn't human.
Gabriel started walking again, stopping again only once he'd reached the cart. The woman in the cart looked down at him, open scorn on her face. Her eyes, like bright chunks of emeralds, had the slitted pupils of a rattlesnake. She wore her dark rust hair down her back in a loose braid, and pressed back on her head, were a pair of ears, like that of a fox or a wolf's. If Gabriel had a heart, it would have stopped.
"Come on up, soldier," the Lieutenant said sharply, holding out one hand. He tried not to stare. The hand had claw-like features, more like a talon than just a hand. Hesitantly, Gabriel took it and sprang up, deciding it would be an insult to ignore her. The others joined them in the back, sitting on the very edge of the cart. Kiro looked Gabriel up and down, then tapped the driver's shoulder. "Move out."
They stared at each other, Gabriel perched on the short wooden wall of the cart, she with her legs hanging off the side, seated next to the driver. She didn't smile at anything, ignoring Carter and Sander's quiet chitchat. Gabriel glanced back at them, then at the Lieutenant's face.
"When we get back, the Private can show your quarters," Kiro said quietly. Gabriel nodded. The Lieutenant turned her gaze to the lower ranks. "Oi, Carter, you hear that?"
"Sir?"
"Show Donnor his quarters when we get back."
"Yes sir."
<i>***</i>
Pleased but glad to escape the others for awhile, Gabriel slipped into the barracks. He glanced around, then jumped.
"Alaster!"
Alaster sat with his back to the wall, his knees drawn up and a paper folder in his lap. The blonde vampire held up a sheet of paper, and Gabriel snarled.
"Where did you get that?"
"When did you fight last?"
Gabriel tore the folder out of Alaster's grasp and stuffed under the mattress of his own bunk. Why hadn't Oran gotten someone to clean that out? Alaster was up on his feet, watching with slight anxiety on his pale face. Gabriel didn't ask how Alaster had known where to go. Red eyes glittering, Alaster hummed a brief tune before speaking again. He didn't seem to mind his question had been ignored.
"We hunt now?" Alaster asked, tilting his head to one side. Gabriel glanced to the tiny window near the roof of the barracks. It was long past dark. Then Gabriel shook his head.
"Not tonight, Alaster. You can go if you like. But go far away, alright?"
Alaster nodded energetically and dashed away, the door clicking shut behind him. Finally, Gabriel thought. Peace and quiet. Carefully, he pulled the file back out and thumbed through it, pulling the charcoal sketch of himself out of the many papers. He wadded it up and stuffed it into his pack. Nobody would be going through there. Hopefully. With a sigh, he dropped the file back on his bed. He could return it later.
A new scent caught his attention. There was a soft hiss, a sound he knew well, and then the sharp point of a sword pressed to the back of his neck.
---
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't shove this sword through the back of your head," Kiro growled. Gabriel shut his eyes, barely daring to even wince. The sword point pressed harder. "Answer me, vampire."
"You should have already killed me," Gabriel whispered. "With any other vampire you shouldn't hesitate like this."
"Do you want to die?"
A chuckled rumbled in his throat, and with an exasperated snarl, she dove. Gabriel dropped down, the scrambled away, easily regaining his feet. The halfling didn't seem surprised, or even worried. Keeping her eyes on him, she flipped open the file with one hand and glanced at it.
"Is this why you're here? For a file?"
"Is anything ever that simple, Lieutenant?" Gabriel said in reply, his eyes unwavering. The saber had skimmed the back of his throat, but he could feel it healing. Kiro glanced down again, scanning the page on top. No doubt she was placing the similar first name.
He wondered if she had gutted Alaster, if he was lying dead in the hall. No. Alaster would have called some form of warning, no vampire went out quietly. Kiro lifted her eyes to his face. "You'll never make it out of the post."
"I have no intention of leaving. I'm not here to kill anyone but enemies," he said softly, his eyes flickering to the color of quick silver. "Not unless my hand is forced."
She hadn't dropped her guard, the saber poised to strike again. Kiro breathed a soft sigh. "Then why are you here? You can hardly expect to hide yourself for long."
Interest rose in his slate pools. "So you'll leave me in peace." He advanced a step, examining her face. Automatically, she raised the saber, the point digging into his chest. Gabriel glanced down at the weapon, looking amused. "You won't kill me."
"Not until I know why you're here."
"I'm here to be a soldier. That's all. Alright?" Gabriel studied her face. Kiro glowered back, sidestepping.
"You're odd," she said after a beat, still staring. "I don't think you're lying."
"Good." Gabriel stepped away. "I'm not."
"What about your pal?" she asked, glancing at the doorway, as if she expected to see Alaster standing there.
"Alaster? You don't have to worry about him." Gabriel grimaced. "He wasn't originally in my plans to relocate. He kind of....worked himself into it."
She didn't smile. Gabriel got the feeling she rarely did so. Her ears swiveled, and a beat later heard what she did. Footsteps, very slight. Kiro sheathed her sword. "Come in, Private."
Carter stood in the doorway, looking meek. He looked rather disheveled, as if he had been crawling in the weeds. Which, he probably had been. Hadn't Carter been called off to do recon a few hours ago? Gabriel gave him a faint smile but didn't speak. Kiro gave Gabriel a swift glance, then returned her attention to Carter.
"Yes, Private?"
His blue eyes flickered. "It's about the Recon," he muttered.
Kiro took a few steps forward, then hesitated. "Go ahead."
Glancing at Gabriel, Carter stepped into the room, standing vaguely at attention. "It's about Sanders and the Major. They aren't back yet."
The Lieutenant glanced at the wall clock, her brow furrowing. "They were due in an hour ago."
"Yes, sir."
Her gaze turned on Gabriel. He shrugged. "Would I stick around?" Carter looked from one to the other, looking puzzled, but he didn't ask. Kiro sighed.
"Take a dog out and see if you can find something. If they're not in by Midnight....come get me." Her emerald eyes flashed. "Second Lieutenant. Come with me."
"Yes sir," Gabriel murmured, trying to keep the annoyance out of his face. Oblivious to the tension between the two higher ranks, Carter just nodded and bolted back down the hall. Gabriel listened to his steps, slightly uneven, and followed Kiro. They went down the hallway opposite Carter. "He's got a false leg."
Kiro didn't pause, but one ear flicked back to catch his voice. He hadn't really been paying attention before, but now he really noticed. She had a tail. The same shade of rusty brown as her hair, it curled slightly to one side.
"Where's....Alaster?" she asked. Gabriel shrugged, but alas, she couldn't see him.
"I don't know."
"Donnor. If he doesn't come back, and I find out something happened to my soldiers, I will hunt him down. Whether we have proof or not." She glanced over her shoulder, eyes flickered to the color of quicksilver. The effect was startling. "I don't want you out of my sight until we find my soldiers."
"I didn't plan on going anywhere," Gabriel replied, shrugging again now that she could see him. Kiro opened the door of an what looked like office space, and stared pointedly at him. Gabriel peered inside. No windows. Good. There was a desk, a bookshelf, and some sort of exotic plant in the corner. There were no pictures on the wall, something Gabriel noticed and thought important enough to comment on. "Not much for homey touches, huh?"
She shut the door behind him, and there was a slight thud as she sat down against it. Gabriel mumbled under his breath and tried the door. Yep, it was locked. He sighed and sat down on the desk. There was nothing to do but wait.
---
It had been an hour and sixteen minutes when Gabriel heard the hurried footsteps. There were voices in the hall, voices he couldn't distinguish through the door, and then the door opened. Kiro had her saber in hand and, with an easy twist of her wrist, pressed it to his throat.
"I'll assume they found Sanders and the Major," Gabriel said, unblinking. Carter stared, eyes wide, and Gabriel could practically see the wheels turning in his head, trying to connect the dots.
"Not the Major," Kiro whispered. "Sanders was found with her throat ripped out. Not slit. <i>Ripped.</i>"
Gabriel slipped away from the saber point, eyes smoldering softly. "Let me see the body."
Carter blinked and paled slightly. Two plus two equaled-
"Vampire," Carter breathed. Gabriel turned his head to lock eyes, grinning. The tips of his canines pressed into his lower lip, then retracted. Carter flinched.
"Leave him alone. Turn around," Kiro ordered.
"What, can't gut me from the front?" Gabriel asked, obeying automatically. Kiro pressed the saber against one whole side of his throat. A wave of agony rushed through Gabriel and he dropped to his knees, not caring that the saber scraped his side. His gaze, rather hazy, flicked up to her weapon. Kiro held it, edge up, to show the silver coat. Gabriel shuddered. She could make dying very painful. His skin burned where the weapon had touched him.
Satisfied, Kiro looked back at Carter. "Tie his hands. Then go find you something silver you can use as a weapon. We'll meet you by the medic building."
"Y-yes sir."
Hesitantly, Carter approached Gabriel, watching the vampire expectantly. Gabriel merely glowered at the ground, waiting. Being tied he wasn't worried about. Carter knotted the ropes quickly but firmly and bolted away.
"Carter."
"Yes sir?"
"Don't be telling anyone about the Second Lieutenant. Alright?" Kiro nudged Gabriel's foot with her boot. He glared at her. Carter hesitated in the doorway long enough to respond, and then was gone.
"Yes sir."
Kiro grabbed him by the wrists and hauled him upright, and Gabriel tried not to hiss at her. "If you want my help, you had better act like it."
She ignored him. Gabriel twisted his body out of her grasp and started walking, leading her down the hall instead of the other way around. He knew she was annoyed, but at the moment, didn't care. The only door was to the outside, and he didn't wait for Kiro to open it. There was a slight creak when he kicked it open. Kiro frowned but said nothing. Once outside, she kept close to him, but Gabriel had no intention of running. The watch towers could take him out easy.
"I'll look at the body. But I can't search until tomorrow night. To close till Dawn," Gabriel said, swiveling his head around to look at her.
"You walked in daylight today. With that cloak."
"Hampers my movement too much. I need to be able to fight, Lieutenant," he explained.
They stopped outside the Medic building, little more than a shack in the center of camp. There were a few soldiers around, looking worried but firm in their duty. All of them stood at attention save the medic in the tent and a man who stood by what must have been Corporal Sanders. Kiro saluted, and waved them away. Gabriel approached the stretcher. The smell of blood was thick on the air, and he paused, trying not to breath. It was a habit, unnecessary, and certainly not a good idea here.
"Why would they leave Sanders behind? Or just take Ralen?" Kiro asked.
"Untie my hands, please, Lieutenant. I'm not going anywhere with this many soldiers around."
Reluctantly, she did as he asked. Hands free, Gabriel could move fabric and hair to get a better look. The medic protested quietly, but the extra soldier objected. Loudly.
"What's he doing? Stop it!"
Gabriel looked up coldly. "Your girlfriend, Private? That's conflict of interest, I believe." The man fell silent, but didn't budge. Gabriel returned his attention to the gash. He traced it with one finger. "The bite starts here, and ends...here. The extra tearing was just for show. They hoped you would think some kind of animal did it."
"The other wounds occurred after death, yes," the medic mumbled. "I established that already."
The vampire glanced up, stared for a moment, then continued examining the corpse. "Can we get some privacy?" The medic, baffled, glanced at Kiro. She nodded. Steering the Private by the elbow, the medic stepped out of the room and into the hall. Gabriel glanced at the Lieutenant.
"Kiro. If I act out, hit me between the shoulder blades. Hard."
"What are you gonna do?"
"I'm going to try and get a scent off this thing."
There was the soft hiss of the saber sliding from it's sheath, and Kiro flipped it so the flat of the blade would his him instead of the edge. "That <i>thing</i> is my soldier. I'd prefer you didn't talk about her like that."
Gabriel ignored her, for the most part, taking a deep breath. The blood scent flushed through him, and he regretted not going with Alaster earlier. The red entered his eyes and Gabriel straightened up. Without a word, he opened the door and stepped into the hall. The medic and a watery-eyed Private looked up in slight alarm.
"Sorry...just needed some air." He raised his eyes to the medic, which was probably a mistake. The medic stared, paling slightly, but he said nothing. "Your girl in there...was killed by a Vampire. But he didn't bleed her to death. He..." Gabriel glanced at the Private, unsure.
"I can handle it," the man said stiffly. Gabriel nodded.
"He snapped her neck. I don't think it killed her right off," Gabriel said. "But she was dead before he tore the hell out of her throat like that. She probably didn't even know what happened."
Kiro leaned against the doorframe, her eyes narrowed and the saber down at her side. "Just the one vampire?"
"That's all I got off the body. But there had to be at least two on the site, one to take out Corporal Sanders and another to haul off your Ralen."
"Major," Kiro corrected automatically. "Major Ralen Vair. Why do you think they took him?"
"My guess is these guys have a contract with somebody. They're looking for information about this outpost, and other military business. If he doesn't tell them what they want.." Gabriel paused. "Well. We've got two more nights before we have to worry. Your boy will be alive when we get there. I can assure you that."
---
Gabriel knew when the dawn rose. He could feel it in his bones, in his empty veins. Centuries of vampire fear, all of a few sun rays. He wondered where Alaster was, if he had found shelter from the day. Kiro let him have her windowless office for the day. Actually, forced him into it was more like it. She didn't want him out of her sight. Gabriel knew she had taken her soldiers out into the woods to look, but they wouldn't find anything. It took a vampire to track one.
Sitting against one wall, he waited out the daylight hours, trying to rest. Vampires didn't sleep, not truely, but he tried too, all the same. He was hungry, too. It was tempting to step outside and knock out the guard he knew was standing outside the door. It wouldn't kill him to lose a pint of blood. He could lose more on the battlefield.
Instead Gabriel suffered, sitting with his back to the wall and his knees drawn up to his chest. Waiting. Despite the guard, he didn't feel like a prisoner. It was comforting to know he could get out at any time. A deadbolt lock and a guard with a gun wasn't going to stop him, not if he really wanted to leave.
Hell, they treated him like he'd done something wrong. It was common decency to knock, but nobody did. The door just opened. Face expressionless, Gabriel stared at the soldier in the doorway, one he didn't recognize. In the man's shadow stood Carter, looking a little worried about something. Sometimes Gabriel wished he could read minds. Then he would know if Alaster had done something to get Gabriel in trouble, or they were just pissed.
Pushing himself up off the floor, Gabriel never wavered his gaze. "Can I help you, gentlemen?"
The man wore a cross around his neck, and it flared slightly as he drew closer to Gabriel. The vampire didn't budge. Carter's eyes flickered nervously from Gabriel to his superior officer. Gabriel didn't salute. The man was his equal, as far as the military was concerned. A Second Lieutenant. A little badge read 'Kobalt', sewn to the front of his jacket.
"Second Lieutenant Donnor?"
"Yes."
"Kiro sent me. She wants to go over.....regulations on vampires."
"We don't really have regulations," Gabriel said, looking slightly uncertain. "We just basically do what we want. If someone has a problem with it, they kill they trouble-maker. It's that simple."
Kobalt looked a little startled. "A little...crude, isn't it?"
"That's your opinion, I suppose. It works for us." Gabriel paused, his eyes flooded with the red tint. "Kiro wants to know how to kill us. I don't blame her."
The man looked expectant, while Carter just looked worried. There was movement in the hall behind the two soldiers, and Gabriel kept his eyes fixed on Kobalt's face. "A stake in the heart won't kill. It just paralyzes a vampire. You gotta burn the body. Vampire execution, a council will rip the offending vampire to pieces and bury the pieces in seperate places. Head intact." A grim smile appeared on Gabriel's face. Behind Carter's head, Gabriel could see a mop of white hair. He tried not to grin.
Carter, sensing something was up, turned around. Alaster crashed into the soldier and both of them went down, the vampire pinning his catch to the ground. Carter let out a shout of alarm and Kobalt leveled his gun. Gabriel rolled his eyes. The white-haired vampire had pinned Carter's gun to the ground, snarling inches from his face.
"What-"
Gabriel stepped up, shutting the door with one foot. He didn't want to be bothered. Kobalt raised his gun, the barrel level with Gabriel's eyes.
"Tell him to let my soldier up," Kobalt ordered, the hammer drawn back. "I swear-"
"Alaster."
The vampire looked up, eyes smoldering. Carter, half in shock and half horrified, tried to throw the vampire off. Alaster tilted his head to one side. "Yes?"
"Let him up. You've had your fun."
Reluctantly, Alaster sprang away, landing neatly on the desktop. He sat down casually, glancing down at Carter with a smug grin. Kobalt narrowed his eyes. "How did he get into the building?"
Gabriel glanced sideways at Alaster, brows quirked in question. Alaster beamed proudly, sitting cross-legged with his palms resting on his knees. "I've been in since before dawn," he explained. "Listening. Soldiers are boring, aren't they?"
"Can be," Gabriel said, shifting his gaze back to the officer. Carter didn't seem to know whether to get up or not. Or maybe his legs just wouldn't support him. Gabriel's gaze hardened, and his grin vanished. "If you see a vampire before it sees you, don't even think. Kill it. Because it will kill you."
"What about you? Are you gonna betray us to the rest of them?" Carter asked, standing, albeit rather weakly. Gabriel turned his gaze to Carter.
"Kid. You better hope not. If I betray you, everyone who comes along on this mission will be dead."
"Threats, Donnor?" Kobalt asked, gun still level. Gabriel looked on coldly.
"I don't make threats, sir. I make promises."
