Ambition 2: Meeting (long) (594 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.67 on 10 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by stardamage (View user info) at 2004-12-02 10:08:38 EST
continued from http://www.ubersite.com/m/53093
Davoren had been walking for a while when all at once three things happened in succession: he felt another vampire's presence, quickly followed by another, then someone knocked him to the ground, and then another vampire was there, battling the one who had tackled Davoren. Davoren felt the vampire on his back being dragged off, and then the second vampire glanced off him as he circled, his back to Davoren, preventing his opponent from reaching around him.
Davoren started to rise and his original attacker leaped again, trying at the same time to pin Davoren to the ground with his mind, but Davoren easily threw it off and came back with an attack of his own, for one instant paralyzing his attacker. The attacker fell to the ground and then tried to stand, but Davoren's ally was on him, and at the same time Davoren and his protector hurled their energies against him, setting him aflame.
The attacker writhed and screamed. Davoren focused on keeping his enemy's mental powers under control while at the same time watching the other vampire to make sure that this wasn't a kind of trick. His protector leapt off the attacker's back and stood a short distance away, still between him and Davoren, facing the ball of flame that was his enemy. Davoren took the opportunity to prod his protector's mind, which the protector let him do. His name was Kailestis Astrum. He had grown up in the frozen Northlands as a mortal until the age of nineteen when he was created as a vampire. Davoren noted with quiet approval that the stranger kept more information than that blocked, and by the feel of the barriers Davoren could tell that they were there from long habit rather than from a sudden decision to keep other information private.
The vampire Kailestis turned around. Davoren couldn't see what his face looked like because of the light behind the stranger and the black hood he wore. His ally was considerably shorter than the tall Davoren, the top of his head about level with Davoren's chin. He stepped forward and away from the firelight and Davoren backed away, expecting another attack.
"Don't worry," said Kailestis, holding up his hands to reassure Davoren. "I'm not going to try to attack you. You could break me easier than breaking a sweat, even the way you are now." His voice was calm and quiet. It brought to mind a pool of still water at twilight or the mist that was a forest's breath hanging softly over the trees. Davoren wondered what his real age was.
"I know you don't trust me," Kailestis continued. "That's good these days. But please just listen to me when I say that if we do not move away from this place then more of my enemies will arrive to try to capture you. Even if you think of me as an enemy...well, I can't stay longer. Do as you will." He didn't explain further, but broke off abruptly and turned to run away through the trees. Davoren hesitated only for a moment before following, and quickly caught up to the fleeing Kailestis. After all, odds were better against one than many. "The one we caught was a scout, I think," said Kailestis in a low voice as they ran. "It'll be a while before they come looking, I think, but it's better to be safe. I've been watching for you. I wanted to catch you first and when I saw that one running for you..." He increased his speed.
"And what exactly were you doing waiting for me?"
"I wanted to warn you...the political atmosphere isn't particularly friendly to people like me at the moment but now more than ever it is important that you know what's going on. It's too complicated to explain now but there's a safer place a bit further on where we can talk, if you want. If not, go on your way."
Davoren did not reply but kept running. He could tell now that Kailestis was younger than he was, and therefore probably not as strong. He would do better to follow this one, find a hiding spot and at least get an idea of what had happened since he had disappeared from the world. As long as he kept his wits about him, Davoren saw no reason why there would be any danger.
An image appeared in his mind of a small river, tumbling neatly down rocks and boulders until it disappeared into a yawning limestone sinkhole. Down in the sinkhole the water ran for a while and then dropped through another hole, and beyond the hole and water there was a tight passage leading to a tiny room where Kailestis slept.
Soon the scenery became familiar from the images and then Davoren saw it: the sinkhole. He let Kailestis go first and then followed, sliding down the slick rock into the darkness. They picked their way through the passage and water, and leaped over the hole down which the water fell with a noise that was somewhere between a hiss and a roar. Crawling into the small room, Davoren sat on the floor next to Kailestis' coffin which was little more than a wooden box, while the black hooded vampire perched on its lid.
* * *
This one was a bit shorter but I didn't write this to be split into pieces like this, so the lengths are going to be a bit irregular.
Hope the spacing is a bit easier to handle this time.
Thanks again for reading.
User Reviews
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-02-21 21:22:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This is definitely growing on me.
Submitted by Vomit (user info) at 2005-01-28 11:44:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-01-18 19:44:19 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I enjoyed it, but the first paragraph seemed lazy and lame. It could have been a cool suspense/action moment, but instead it read like: "this happened. and then this happened. and then this happened."
Otherwise, pretty good.
Submitted by bigbabylons (user info) at 2004-12-16 17:00:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Brilliant
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2004-12-15 12:21:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I love a good series!
Submitted by Jungle_Jimanee (user info) at 2004-12-14 12:36:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2004-12-06 17:08:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Cool.
Submitted by AshK (user info) at 2004-12-06 16:06:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I am enjoying these. I get to read 3 at once! Woo!
Submitted by TigerLilly (user info) at 2004-12-06 15:25:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Keep going.
Submitted by InkyFingers (user info) at 2004-12-02 10:32:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Bart! You need to ban this person: www.ubersite.com/m/53155