The Blood Hunt

[Valhalla Erikson]

Guinevere reclined in her seat, her mind filled with romantic notions. Yet, she knew deep down that such a scenario was nothing but a fleeting dream. Carmella, driven by her own stubbornness, would never agree to produce the necessary means to save him. John, on the other hand, clung tightly to his beloved, unwilling to compromise. Their best hope lay in simply staying alive. Guinevere shifted her focus to Samantha's plea, contemplating its significance.

Darius, a figure of noble intentions, spoke up, his voice filled with determination. "Regardless of the anger that Carmella may harbor after Sam's ordeal, I pledge to direct it all towards myself. I will bear whatever punishment is necessary."

Hannah, seated beside her creator, raised an eyebrow at Darius's proposal. "A noble sentiment, indeed," Guinevere remarked.

Curiosity gripped Hannah, and she leaned forward, her eyes fixed on Darius. "But how do you intend to accomplish such a feat?"

Darius, ever composed, responded in a simple yet resolute tone. "I will be the executor of the punishment."

Hannah pondered his words for a moment, her thoughts weaving together. "While Carmella may indeed be upset and desire to inflict harm upon you, I doubt she would use that as motivation to betray the coven. It is her lifeblood."

Taking Hannah's hand in his own, Darius raised it to his lips, leaving a gentle kiss upon her skin. "Let her try," he declared with a hint of challenge in his voice

[superkamiguy1]

Jun 21, 2023 0:07:52 GMT Valhalla Erikson said:

Guinevere reclined in her seat, her mind filled with romantic notions. Yet, she knew deep down that such a scenario was nothing but a fleeting dream. Carmella, driven by her own stubbornness, would never agree to produce the necessary means to save him. John, on the other hand, clung tightly to his beloved, unwilling to compromise. Their best hope lay in simply staying alive. Guinevere shifted her focus to Samantha's plea, contemplating its significance.

Darius, a figure of noble intentions, spoke up, his voice filled with determination. "Regardless of the anger that Carmella may harbor after Sam's ordeal, I pledge to direct it all towards myself. I will bear whatever punishment is necessary."

Hannah, seated beside her creator, raised an eyebrow at Darius's proposal. "A noble sentiment, indeed," Guinevere remarked.

Curiosity gripped Hannah, and she leaned forward, her eyes fixed on Darius. "But how do you intend to accomplish such a feat?"

Darius, ever composed, responded in a simple yet resolute tone. "I will be the executor of the punishment."

Hannah pondered his words for a moment, her thoughts weaving together. "While Carmella may indeed be upset and desire to inflict harm upon you, I doubt she would use that as motivation to betray the coven. It is her lifeblood."

Taking Hannah's hand in his own, Darius raised it to his lips, leaving a gentle kiss upon her skin. "Let her try," he declared with a hint of challenge in his voice

Oh man this is getting crazy! Are we going to get Carmella VS Darius in the aftermath?

I imagine that would be like the Rodin fights in Bayonetta or Sephy fights from the KH Games. Like on that level of absurd difficulty.

On topic though! Nice to see Guinvere here and they're already weighing the pros and cons of the punishment. While it IS something they have to carry out the aftermath of it still has to be considered, so choosing Darius, among the strongest and most durable of The Coven to carry it out, is a spectacular tactical decision since he's most likely to survive whatever Carmella dishes out in retaliation.

Hannah is wise indeed! Again, she might look young, not her fault, but she stands with the higher players of The Coven in power and wisdom.

[Valhalla Erikson]

Loreto gave herself a moment to collect herself, sensing Darius's presence like that felt as if she were in the presence of a primordial vampire. While he hasn't reached that point yet the potential is there. He's The Knight of The Dragon for a reason. And because of that reason, her heart goes out to Sam. She couldn't help but overhear her conversation with Ramona but that's vampire senses for you. She admired Sam's determination in protecting the one she loves but maybe it's all those years of raising Carmella and then adding Lian to it but the maternal side of her screams from within to not let it happen. From that moment she has made her decision. It won't be Carmella or Sam that would suffer whatever punishment that the coven would orchestrate. She'll be the one who will do it in their place. Lilith will not be thrilled about it and that will be a conversation she'll have to arrange at some point. Until then she has other matters to attend to.

She turned her attention back to John. She and Sammy both had already healed his wounds with a combination of their respective magic and potions and all that is left is for John to wake up. It wasn't till she glanced at his sleeping form and realized just how at peace he looks. She has a clear idea of who he is thinking of. Loreto isn't the sort of person to dwell in what if's. Yet for that moment, she imagined an alternate scenario. None of the chaos surrounding John's life that led to this happened. He's at peace and settled with his wife Helen; who went on to have two children. The oldest one that she had before John and the youngest that they've had together. A girl much like her older sister. The youngest would be friends with Lian and they'd play together while the oldest daughter babysits them. Of course, they'd have two dogs, Wolf and Daisy. Then there are the family dinners.

For that one brief moment, she smiled at that image. Alas the smile faded, that was nothing more than an illusion. A fairy tale ending. Fairy Tale endings are a luxury that John wouldn't be able to afford. The best she could wish for is that both he and Carmella combine their resourcefulness to survive The Blood Hunt.

She closed her eyes and then transported both her and John within the Umbra. A realm where time operates a little differently there. Just so she can have the time she'd need to provide John with a few parting words before he wakes up and prepares for the hunt. She leaned forward and whispered in his ear, "You didn't deserve this. You're a good man and a good friend to Carmella. Fight with everything you have, and encourage Carmella to do the same. When it's all over and things calm down. I know you may choose to disappear and start over somewhere else. I encourage you to live this new life to the fullest. Find a wife, have kids, and maybe even a dog. When the time is right, find me and tell me your story."

She leans forward and kissed the top of John's head.

[superkamiguy1]

Jun 24, 2023 6:19:33 GMT Valhalla Erikson said:

Loreto gave herself a moment to collect herself, sensing Darius's presence like that felt as if she were in the presence of a primordial vampire. While he hasn't reached that point yet the potential is there. He's The Knight of The Dragon for a reason. And because of that reason, her heart goes out to Sam. She couldn't help but overhear her conversation with Ramona but that's vampire senses for you. She admired Sam's determination in protecting the one she loves but maybe it's all those years of raising Carmella and then adding Lian to it but the maternal side of her screams from within to not let it happen. From that moment she has made her decision. It won't be Carmella or Sam that would suffer whatever punishment that the coven would orchestrate. She'll be the one who will do it in their place. Lilith will not be thrilled about it and that will be a conversation she'll have to arrange at some point. Until then she has other matters to attend to.

She turned her attention back to John. She and Sammy both had already healed his wounds with a combination of their respective magic and potions and all that is left is for John to wake up. It wasn't till she glanced at his sleeping form and realized just how at peace he looks. She has a clear idea of who he is thinking of. Loreto isn't the sort of person to dwell in what if's. Yet for that moment, she imagined an alternate scenario. None of the chaos surrounding John's life that led to this happened. He's at peace and settled with his wife Helen; who went on to have two children. The oldest one that she had before John and the youngest that they've had together. A girl much like her older sister. The youngest would be friends with Lian and they'd play together while the oldest daughter babysits them. Of course, they'd have two dogs, Wolf and Daisy. Then there are the family dinners.

For that one brief moment, she smiled at that image. Alas the smile faded, that was nothing more than an illusion. A fairy tale ending. Fairy Tale endings are a luxury that John wouldn't be able to afford. The best she could wish for is that both he and Carmella combine their resourcefulness to survive The Blood Hunt.

She closed her eyes and then transported both her and John within the Umbra. A realm where time operates a little differently there. Just so she can have the time she'd need to provide John with a few parting words before he wakes up and prepares for the hunt. She leaned forward and whispered in his ear, "You didn't deserve this. You're a good man and a good friend to Carmella. Fight with everything you have, and encourage Carmella to do the same. When it's all over and things calm down. I know you may choose to disappear and start over somewhere else. I encourage you to live this new life to the fullest. Find a wife, have kids, and maybe even a dog. When the time is right, find me and tell me your story."

She leans forward and kissed the top of John's head.

A sweet and beautiful scene to cap off the prologue building up to the warzone to come! As stoic as she is Loreto nevertheless proves that you can still be empathic and caring without turning into a clown like the MCU. The final monologue, borrowed from Supernatural I think, works great for the scene and the friendship between them. As does Loreto's decision to take the punishment in Sammy's stead. Remarkably courageous for a Fledgling Vampire. Lilith made the perfect choice when she found and turned Loreto.

[Valhalla Erikson]

In the dimly lit cell, where shadows clung to every corner like desperate ghosts, the 14-year-old princess waited. Her name was lost, for now, obscured beneath the weight of her title and the merciless fate that loomed before her. Turned rogue knight by the capricious winds of destiny, she had become a pawn in a treacherous game, a pawn about to face the relentless interrogator known as Redbeard.



As she traced the rough stone walls with her fingertips, she wondered what awaited her beyond these confines. Would the torment of Redbeard's relentless questioning prove to be worse than the chilling embrace of her imminent execution? The question echoed in the depths of her heart. She wondered, her heart a tremor in the face of the unknowable.Note

But as fate would have it, the clamor of chaos erupted beyond her prison's iron door. The symphony of violence and desperation echoed through the corridors, shaking the very foundations of her captivity. It was the unmistakable overture of rebellion, the overture orchestrated by her own comrades. They had not abandoned her to the cold clutches of despair. They had come to free her.

And then, at that moment, the cell door swung open with a creak, revealing a familiar face she had resigned herself to never see again. It was her older brother, Lief, clad in the cloak of the clandestine assassins guild. She yearned to throw herself into his embrace, to find solace in the familiarity of family amidst the swirling chaos. But something held her back—a shift in his countenance, a darkness lurking behind his eyes.

"Run," he whispered, his voice a mere echo of the brother she had once known. The command echoed through her bones, stirring the embers of survival within her. She needed no further urging.

Without a second thought, they fled into the very heart of the battle that raged around them, a tempest of steel and blood. At that moment, the princess found herself consumed by a singular purpose: to fight her way out, to defy the hands that sought to extinguish her flame.

Together, they navigated the labyrinthine corridors of the fortress, blades gleaming in the dim light, defying fate itself. With each clash of steel, each whispered incantation, they carved a path through the hordes of their enemies, their steps marked by determination and an unyielding will to survive.

Their escape was not without sacrifice. Friends fell, dreams shattered like fragile glass, and the princess felt the sting of loss upon her heart. But she pressed on, fueled by a strength that even the darkest corners of her own mind couldn't suppress.

In that grim dance of blades and bloodshed, she glimpsed the truth. The world that had once been painted in the vibrant hues of her childhood had now taken on a more sinister palette. It was a tapestry woven with treachery, where even her own flesh and blood had been claimed by shadows.


"What happened next?" Lian asked with intrigued with a hint of concern. There was no question that The Princess and her brother Lief made it out but the question on her mind is what kind of response Redbeard would provide as result. That particular question is something she kept to herself.

"The answer to that Little Dragon is, to be continued" Carmella said, closing the book while she gently beeped her daughter's nose affectionately. Despite the anti-climatic answer from her mother Lian couldn't help but giggle. She stopped and looked down at her clutched bedsheet. Thoughtful. "So...What she and her big brother is going through kind of mirrors what you and Uncle John are going through. Ready to fight your way out of the ensuing chaos around you."

"Yeah. Spot on"

"But why? Can this kind of situation be talked out"

Her heart ached for her daughter, she pulled Lian in for a comforting hug. "I wish it could honey. But sometimes mommy has to use her fighting skills to beatdown anyone who'd go after her friends"

Lian's expression brightened at that, "Like Jackie Lee!"

Carmella laughed, "Exactly like her. No matter how chaotic things get, she always finds a way to survive it. And when I do, I promise I'll continue the story"

Lian got up out of bed and rushed to her dresser drawer, once opened she pulls an item out of it, closes the drawer and climbs back into bed, and hands the item to Carmella.

"Whats that?" Carmella asked glancing down at the small figurine of a dragon

"Mushu! Your trusty travel companion guaranteed to provide you and Uncle John good fortune!"

[superkamiguy1]

Jun 30, 2023 1:41:19 GMT Valhalla Erikson said:

In the dimly lit cell, where shadows clung to every corner like desperate ghosts, the 14-year-old princess waited. Her name was lost, for now, obscured beneath the weight of her title and the merciless fate that loomed before her. Turned rogue knight by the capricious winds of destiny, she had become a pawn in a treacherous game, a pawn about to face the relentless interrogator known as Redbeard.



As she traced the rough stone walls with her fingertips, she wondered what awaited her beyond these confines. Would the torment of Redbeard's relentless questioning prove to be worse than the chilling embrace of her imminent execution? The question echoed in the depths of her heart. She wondered, her heart a tremor in the face of the unknowable.Note

But as fate would have it, the clamor of chaos erupted beyond her prison's iron door. The symphony of violence and desperation echoed through the corridors, shaking the very foundations of her captivity. It was the unmistakable overture of rebellion, the overture orchestrated by her own comrades. They had not abandoned her to the cold clutches of despair. They had come to free her.

And then, at that moment, the cell door swung open with a creak, revealing a familiar face she had resigned herself to never see again. It was her older brother, Lief, clad in the cloak of the clandestine assassins guild. She yearned to throw herself into his embrace, to find solace in the familiarity of family amidst the swirling chaos. But something held her back—a shift in his countenance, a darkness lurking behind his eyes.

"Run," he whispered, his voice a mere echo of the brother she had once known. The command echoed through her bones, stirring the embers of survival within her. She needed no further urging.

Without a second thought, they fled into the very heart of the battle that raged around them, a tempest of steel and blood. At that moment, the princess found herself consumed by a singular purpose: to fight her way out, to defy the hands that sought to extinguish her flame.

Together, they navigated the labyrinthine corridors of the fortress, blades gleaming in the dim light, defying fate itself. With each clash of steel, each whispered incantation, they carved a path through the hordes of their enemies, their steps marked by determination and an unyielding will to survive.

Their escape was not without sacrifice. Friends fell, dreams shattered like fragile glass, and the princess felt the sting of loss upon her heart. But she pressed on, fueled by a strength that even the darkest corners of her own mind couldn't suppress.

In that grim dance of blades and bloodshed, she glimpsed the truth. The world that had once been painted in the vibrant hues of her childhood had now taken on a more sinister palette. It was a tapestry woven with treachery, where even her own flesh and blood had been claimed by shadows.


"What happened next?" Lian asked with intrigued with a hint of concern. There was no question that The Princess and her brother Lief made it out but the question on her mind is what kind of response Redbeard would provide as result. That particular question is something she kept to herself.

"The answer to that Little Dragon is, to be continued" Carmella said, closing the book while she gently beeped her daughter's nose affectionately. Despite the anti-climatic answer from her mother Lian couldn't help but giggle. She stopped and looked down at her clutched bedsheet. Thoughtful. "So...What she and her big brother is going through kind of mirrors what you and Uncle John are going through. Ready to fight your way out of the ensuing chaos around you."

"Yeah. Spot on"

"But why? Can't this kind of situation be talked out"

Her heart ached for her daughter, she pulled Lian in for a comforting hug. "I wish it could honey. But sometimes mommy has to use her fighting skills to beatdown anyone who'd go after her friends"

Lian's expression brightened at that, "Like Jackie Lee!"

Carmella laughed, "Exactly like her. No matter how chaotic things get, she always finds a way to survive it. And when I do, I promise I'll continue the story"

Lian got up out of bed and rushed to her dresser drawer, once opened she pulls an item out of it, closes the drawer and climbs back into bed, and hands the item to Carmella.

"Whats that?" Carmella asked glancing down at the small figurine of a dragon

"Mushu! Your trusty travel companion guaranteed to provide you and Uncle John good fortune!"

Now this is sweet! Carmella is an awesome mom and she learned all of it from Izumi! Her parenting skills are great! She's fantastic! You just know that Mushu and the faith and confidence he gives her is going to play a pivotal part in everything that's about to go down! Seriously bro, this is great, and a really heartwarming moment!