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"Here There Be Vampires" A Promise City, Arizona Story Hour
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<blockquote data-quote="orchid blossom" data-source="post: 2585894" data-attributes="member: 12815"><p><strong>Looking for Help</strong></p><p></p><p>Ruby orders a whiskey and ends up bringing an entire bottle over for the table. She pours herself a generous glass. "So, where ARE we going?"</p><p></p><p>"Not sure it matters all that much. If he can change to that cloud and get around that way then he can get pretty much anywhere. If you have a spot that would make you happy Ruby then I am all for it. Otherwise the grove has room for all of us if you don't mind sleeping out of doors."</p><p></p><p>Minerva grabs the bottle and pours herself a generous drink. "Do you think it is wise to sleep out in the open so close to town? Perhaps we would be safe in a church? Surely such evil filth would not dare enter there."</p><p></p><p>"Oh no! I don't want the grove I want to get out of town..." Ruby’s smile drops and she starts to pout, "Out of town, we went on Sunday, we know a spot..."</p><p></p><p>"Let's decide that after speaking with Senor Gonzalez." Jake gives her a warm smile. "I'm going to put the puppies outside before Dorita has a fit. I'll tie them to the porch and keep an eye on them from here so they don't run off before we go."</p><p></p><p>Jake starts taking the puppies and Ruby jumps up. In a panicky tone, "No don't take them either. What if he comes back and takes one? Or both? Dorita can deal with them for a few minutes."</p><p></p><p>"They will be safe, I am watching them. I'll tie them inside the door then but far enough to satisfy Dorita."</p><p></p><p>Jake listens and watches his companions carefully while they discuss plans. He pretends to be busy changing the loads in his weapons to the enchanted ones, which he does but is paying close attention to his friends. He is looking for behavior that is not entirely normal for any one of them.</p><p></p><p>Kate went upstairs and was gone for about ten minutes. When she came back down she had changed into her riding clothes and was accompanied by her teacher. They sat down at the table and Kate sprinkled a bit of powder into the candle. "There, we can speak freely now."</p><p></p><p>Mr. Gonzalez looks a bit concerned as he sits down. "So, my Little Sandpiper tells me that you have all found yourself in some more trouble. Or should I say trouble has found you, it seems to track you wherever you go. Tell me what you know and I will see what I can do to help."</p><p></p><p>Ruby tries to tell her part of the story but struggles with the details, realizing that she can't clearly remember a lot of what happened at the ball and on the porch. She doesn't mention the dream at all.</p><p></p><p>Jake finally speaks up. He tells what he knows, how Turner held him in place, how he seemed to influence both Ruby and Katherine, and how he turned into a cloud of vapor when Jake wrestled with him. "Nanuet called him a blood drinker or something."</p><p></p><p>"Blood Monster" Nanuet says, correcting Jake. "My people told stories about them, but I thought they were only legend."</p><p></p><p>"He's been around town since last week. There was always something odd about him. Almost hypnotic. He took pains to talk with me and Maria, but it's always been clear Ruby was his interest. </p><p></p><p>I don't know how he touched my mind, but his will subsumes your own. You do what he wants."</p><p></p><p>Gonzalez listens intently to everyone in turn. "Mind control has always been one of my biggest concerns when it comes to magic. You can't even trust your companions for fear that their will is not their own. Anything else I should know?"</p><p></p><p>"Some people at this table are under his sway still..... I don't know if he can read their mind too, or only give them direction." Jake looks down at his feet and back to the old wizard. "Do you know a way of freeing someone from his control? Do you know of these creatures and if so, what can you tell us about them?"</p><p></p><p>Ruby blurts out, "I told Jake to let me go," and leaves it at that.</p><p></p><p>Kate had been watching Clairesse as they talked. "I'll be right back. Chester, can you come with me?"</p><p></p><p>They stepped away from the table toward the kitchen and Kate said quietly. "Clariesse is a good girl, Chester, but this isn't a good idea. Ruby and I have talents she doesn't understand. If we use them she could report us to Marshall Berg. Even now, how can Mr. Gonzales speak freely with her there?"</p><p></p><p>Chester takes off his hat. "I wasn't thinking. She came up to my room just now and said she wanted to spend more time with me. That I'm always abandoning her to go with all of you. I thought we were just getting out of town for a while, until Turner leaves. I don't know what to do."</p><p></p><p>"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be harsh with you. And likely nothing more will happen tonight. But at least while we speak with Mr. Gonzales.... I don't know what to do either. Spend some time with her here before we go. But we need to be able to protect ourselves wherever we end up. I will have Mr. Gonzales tell me anything sensitive upstairs. Let's go back to the others."</p><p></p><p>"You're right. She's led a sheltered life, so I don't know how she'd react to your powers. It took her a while to admit Dionysus was a god worthy of worship."</p><p></p><p>"You're a Marshall. You know very well what I do is illegal. Just be careful with what she learns about us until you are very sure of her reactions."</p><p></p><p>"I am. I hope she'll never need to know at all. Because that'd mean trouble. Let's go back to the table."</p><p></p><p>Gonzalez looks around and notices that Kate has taken Chester in the kitchen. He smiles at Clairesse and then speaks "There are ways, and I want to do some research to see what I can find. What are your plans for the evening?"</p><p></p><p>"We were considering leaving town while we, ahem, prepared. Our plans are still flexible. We also considered asking the opinion of Jiminez and looking for one of those senior priests if they are still around."</p><p></p><p>"No we are going out of town tonight." She looks around the table at her friends. "We ARE! I'm not staying here."</p><p></p><p>Kate and Chester returned to the table. "The ranch house is out of town, Ruby. Or you could always stay in Flint's cave," she said with a little laugh.</p><p></p><p>"I believe the senior priests have left town. A shame because I still wanted to debate a few things with them. Jiminez is probably a good source as well, and your own priestess seems to have the right idea." Gonzalez says pointing out Minerva's research efforts. "I will poke my nose around and see what I can find, hopefully I will have something for you to work with tomorrow."</p><p></p><p>Jake sighs. "Gracious, Senor. We will seek your wisdom tomorrow then." </p><p></p><p>"Chester, can you get help from Rodriguez or someone to quickly determine if Turner was staying in town? Let's walk by the Marshall’s office and quickly stop to see if Jiminez is around." He glances at Ruby. "The spot she has in mind is as good as any."</p><p></p><p>"Yay!" Ruby claps her hands and actually visibly relaxes with Jake's words. She finishes her glass and considers pouring another one, but instead opts for the bottle. She gets to the puppies where she stops to pet them while she unleashes them from the wall, muttering about how she wouldn't tie them up. </p><p></p><p>"Alright, then are we all finished here? Can we go now?"</p><p></p><p>Minerva ignores Jake and continues to read. "Wait, Wait, I think I've found something! There is a legend here about a man so vile that even Hades cast him out of his realm." She reads quietly for a moment and the says, "These creatures drink the blood of their own kind. They have the ability to bend people's wills and can also turn others into creatures like themselves with a bite. It also says that they have the ability to control "creatures of the night" </p><p></p><p>There must be a way to destroy them" she says and flips some pages. " She reads, "They can not tolerate sunlight and cannot cross running water. Yes, here it! Driving a stake through the heart will kill it."</p><p></p><p>"Katherine, why don't you go get your equipment and say good night to Senor Gonzalez? Perhaps Minerva would help you gather it up. We'll wait down here for you. Don't be too long."</p><p></p><p>“Ah, all right,” Kate said. “I'll be back down in a minute."</p><p></p><p>While they are waiting, Jake says to Clairesse, "What did Mr. Turner say to you?"</p><p></p><p>"Mr. Turner? I don't believe I was ever introduced to him. If I was it was only in passing."</p><p></p><p>"So you don't remember what he said to you when you spoke, unintroduced? Some people just don't have the old world manners any more, do they Miss Townsend?"</p><p></p><p>She looks at Jake, "Is there something you want me to say, Mr. Cook? I don't recall meeting him but if you'd like to refresh my memory perhaps it was possible. I meet many customers at the Lucky Lady and I don't have a good memory like Miss West does."</p><p></p><p>"My apologies, Miss Townsend, I did not mean to offend. Excuse me, it appears that Miss West is not feeling well." Jake goes to the porch and sits down next to Ruby to await the others.</p><p></p><p>Ruby ears perk up from where she is standing as she can still hear Minerva. As Minerva reads from the book Ruby is reminded of her horrid dream, of the pain of the bite, the blood flowing out of her, those glowing red eyes over her and her own death, and her knees start to buckle under her. She stumbles outside into the cooler air hyperventiling and can't decide if she should throw up or pass out. </p><p></p><p>Instead she chooses to fall to her knees against the wall of the El Parador as she guzzles as much of the bottle of whiskey as she can. The puppies stay next to her and sensing her mood growl at anyone who comes near her.</p><p></p><p>Kate led Minerva and her teacher upstairs into her room, since she couldn't take Minerva into the secret rooms. Once the door was shut securely she asked, "Is there anything else you wanted to say? Away from Clairesse? I already talked to Chester about her being here."</p><p></p><p>"Good, I would not want her involved,” Minerva said. “She is much to innocent and it is far to dangerous. I have no information to add."</p><p></p><p>"Dangerous for us, as well. She is a nice girl, but I don't want to be at the business end of a rope if I need to use my skills in front of her," Kate added.</p><p></p><p>Minerva shakes her head in apology. "It is so different here in America, It was just the opposite where I come from. It was the priests who had to hide their skills not the magic users."</p><p></p><p>"How perceptive of you my Little Sandpiper. Yes, I wanted to say that there is a chance that the scrolls we made to help fight Ringo may also break the mind control effect. It seems as though he must be present in order to initiate the effect, so if the spell is a success you will at least be free from it until you meet him face to face again."</p><p></p><p>"I believe Ruby still has her scroll, and I'd hate to take another from Ginnie. Do you think you could do the spell on me now? Or on Ruby perhaps? Then we could use her scroll for me.</p><p></p><p>Minerva says, “That is a good idea, but we also need to shield you from his control in the future. I tried to break his control over Ruby, but I was unable to do so. perhaps I will have better luck preventing his control. I do not know. I wish I had an amulet that I could give you that would protect you. Perhaps Nanuet will be more help"</p><p></p><p>"I do not have the spell readied right now, again tomorrow would be a better time,” Gonzales said. “I will be sure to study it then and should be able to cast it on both you and Ruby."</p><p></p><p>"We'll get through the night. Thank you," Kate said and hugged her teacher. "You'll take care of Ginnie tonight, won't you?" </p><p></p><p>"Of course. I will see you tomorrow morning and we will make sure your mind is your own again." </p><p></p><p>The elderly elf left the room and Kate gathered a few things in a small bag before she and Minerva went back downstairs and onto the front porch where the others were waiting.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="orchid blossom, post: 2585894, member: 12815"] [b]Looking for Help[/b] Ruby orders a whiskey and ends up bringing an entire bottle over for the table. She pours herself a generous glass. "So, where ARE we going?" "Not sure it matters all that much. If he can change to that cloud and get around that way then he can get pretty much anywhere. If you have a spot that would make you happy Ruby then I am all for it. Otherwise the grove has room for all of us if you don't mind sleeping out of doors." Minerva grabs the bottle and pours herself a generous drink. "Do you think it is wise to sleep out in the open so close to town? Perhaps we would be safe in a church? Surely such evil filth would not dare enter there." "Oh no! I don't want the grove I want to get out of town..." Ruby’s smile drops and she starts to pout, "Out of town, we went on Sunday, we know a spot..." "Let's decide that after speaking with Senor Gonzalez." Jake gives her a warm smile. "I'm going to put the puppies outside before Dorita has a fit. I'll tie them to the porch and keep an eye on them from here so they don't run off before we go." Jake starts taking the puppies and Ruby jumps up. In a panicky tone, "No don't take them either. What if he comes back and takes one? Or both? Dorita can deal with them for a few minutes." "They will be safe, I am watching them. I'll tie them inside the door then but far enough to satisfy Dorita." Jake listens and watches his companions carefully while they discuss plans. He pretends to be busy changing the loads in his weapons to the enchanted ones, which he does but is paying close attention to his friends. He is looking for behavior that is not entirely normal for any one of them. Kate went upstairs and was gone for about ten minutes. When she came back down she had changed into her riding clothes and was accompanied by her teacher. They sat down at the table and Kate sprinkled a bit of powder into the candle. "There, we can speak freely now." Mr. Gonzalez looks a bit concerned as he sits down. "So, my Little Sandpiper tells me that you have all found yourself in some more trouble. Or should I say trouble has found you, it seems to track you wherever you go. Tell me what you know and I will see what I can do to help." Ruby tries to tell her part of the story but struggles with the details, realizing that she can't clearly remember a lot of what happened at the ball and on the porch. She doesn't mention the dream at all. Jake finally speaks up. He tells what he knows, how Turner held him in place, how he seemed to influence both Ruby and Katherine, and how he turned into a cloud of vapor when Jake wrestled with him. "Nanuet called him a blood drinker or something." "Blood Monster" Nanuet says, correcting Jake. "My people told stories about them, but I thought they were only legend." "He's been around town since last week. There was always something odd about him. Almost hypnotic. He took pains to talk with me and Maria, but it's always been clear Ruby was his interest. I don't know how he touched my mind, but his will subsumes your own. You do what he wants." Gonzalez listens intently to everyone in turn. "Mind control has always been one of my biggest concerns when it comes to magic. You can't even trust your companions for fear that their will is not their own. Anything else I should know?" "Some people at this table are under his sway still..... I don't know if he can read their mind too, or only give them direction." Jake looks down at his feet and back to the old wizard. "Do you know a way of freeing someone from his control? Do you know of these creatures and if so, what can you tell us about them?" Ruby blurts out, "I told Jake to let me go," and leaves it at that. Kate had been watching Clairesse as they talked. "I'll be right back. Chester, can you come with me?" They stepped away from the table toward the kitchen and Kate said quietly. "Clariesse is a good girl, Chester, but this isn't a good idea. Ruby and I have talents she doesn't understand. If we use them she could report us to Marshall Berg. Even now, how can Mr. Gonzales speak freely with her there?" Chester takes off his hat. "I wasn't thinking. She came up to my room just now and said she wanted to spend more time with me. That I'm always abandoning her to go with all of you. I thought we were just getting out of town for a while, until Turner leaves. I don't know what to do." "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be harsh with you. And likely nothing more will happen tonight. But at least while we speak with Mr. Gonzales.... I don't know what to do either. Spend some time with her here before we go. But we need to be able to protect ourselves wherever we end up. I will have Mr. Gonzales tell me anything sensitive upstairs. Let's go back to the others." "You're right. She's led a sheltered life, so I don't know how she'd react to your powers. It took her a while to admit Dionysus was a god worthy of worship." "You're a Marshall. You know very well what I do is illegal. Just be careful with what she learns about us until you are very sure of her reactions." "I am. I hope she'll never need to know at all. Because that'd mean trouble. Let's go back to the table." Gonzalez looks around and notices that Kate has taken Chester in the kitchen. He smiles at Clairesse and then speaks "There are ways, and I want to do some research to see what I can find. What are your plans for the evening?" "We were considering leaving town while we, ahem, prepared. Our plans are still flexible. We also considered asking the opinion of Jiminez and looking for one of those senior priests if they are still around." "No we are going out of town tonight." She looks around the table at her friends. "We ARE! I'm not staying here." Kate and Chester returned to the table. "The ranch house is out of town, Ruby. Or you could always stay in Flint's cave," she said with a little laugh. "I believe the senior priests have left town. A shame because I still wanted to debate a few things with them. Jiminez is probably a good source as well, and your own priestess seems to have the right idea." Gonzalez says pointing out Minerva's research efforts. "I will poke my nose around and see what I can find, hopefully I will have something for you to work with tomorrow." Jake sighs. "Gracious, Senor. We will seek your wisdom tomorrow then." "Chester, can you get help from Rodriguez or someone to quickly determine if Turner was staying in town? Let's walk by the Marshall’s office and quickly stop to see if Jiminez is around." He glances at Ruby. "The spot she has in mind is as good as any." "Yay!" Ruby claps her hands and actually visibly relaxes with Jake's words. She finishes her glass and considers pouring another one, but instead opts for the bottle. She gets to the puppies where she stops to pet them while she unleashes them from the wall, muttering about how she wouldn't tie them up. "Alright, then are we all finished here? Can we go now?" Minerva ignores Jake and continues to read. "Wait, Wait, I think I've found something! There is a legend here about a man so vile that even Hades cast him out of his realm." She reads quietly for a moment and the says, "These creatures drink the blood of their own kind. They have the ability to bend people's wills and can also turn others into creatures like themselves with a bite. It also says that they have the ability to control "creatures of the night" There must be a way to destroy them" she says and flips some pages. " She reads, "They can not tolerate sunlight and cannot cross running water. Yes, here it! Driving a stake through the heart will kill it." "Katherine, why don't you go get your equipment and say good night to Senor Gonzalez? Perhaps Minerva would help you gather it up. We'll wait down here for you. Don't be too long." “Ah, all right,” Kate said. “I'll be back down in a minute." While they are waiting, Jake says to Clairesse, "What did Mr. Turner say to you?" "Mr. Turner? I don't believe I was ever introduced to him. If I was it was only in passing." "So you don't remember what he said to you when you spoke, unintroduced? Some people just don't have the old world manners any more, do they Miss Townsend?" She looks at Jake, "Is there something you want me to say, Mr. Cook? I don't recall meeting him but if you'd like to refresh my memory perhaps it was possible. I meet many customers at the Lucky Lady and I don't have a good memory like Miss West does." "My apologies, Miss Townsend, I did not mean to offend. Excuse me, it appears that Miss West is not feeling well." Jake goes to the porch and sits down next to Ruby to await the others. Ruby ears perk up from where she is standing as she can still hear Minerva. As Minerva reads from the book Ruby is reminded of her horrid dream, of the pain of the bite, the blood flowing out of her, those glowing red eyes over her and her own death, and her knees start to buckle under her. She stumbles outside into the cooler air hyperventiling and can't decide if she should throw up or pass out. Instead she chooses to fall to her knees against the wall of the El Parador as she guzzles as much of the bottle of whiskey as she can. The puppies stay next to her and sensing her mood growl at anyone who comes near her. Kate led Minerva and her teacher upstairs into her room, since she couldn't take Minerva into the secret rooms. Once the door was shut securely she asked, "Is there anything else you wanted to say? Away from Clairesse? I already talked to Chester about her being here." "Good, I would not want her involved,” Minerva said. “She is much to innocent and it is far to dangerous. I have no information to add." "Dangerous for us, as well. She is a nice girl, but I don't want to be at the business end of a rope if I need to use my skills in front of her," Kate added. Minerva shakes her head in apology. "It is so different here in America, It was just the opposite where I come from. It was the priests who had to hide their skills not the magic users." "How perceptive of you my Little Sandpiper. Yes, I wanted to say that there is a chance that the scrolls we made to help fight Ringo may also break the mind control effect. It seems as though he must be present in order to initiate the effect, so if the spell is a success you will at least be free from it until you meet him face to face again." "I believe Ruby still has her scroll, and I'd hate to take another from Ginnie. Do you think you could do the spell on me now? Or on Ruby perhaps? Then we could use her scroll for me. Minerva says, “That is a good idea, but we also need to shield you from his control in the future. I tried to break his control over Ruby, but I was unable to do so. perhaps I will have better luck preventing his control. I do not know. I wish I had an amulet that I could give you that would protect you. Perhaps Nanuet will be more help" "I do not have the spell readied right now, again tomorrow would be a better time,” Gonzales said. “I will be sure to study it then and should be able to cast it on both you and Ruby." "We'll get through the night. Thank you," Kate said and hugged her teacher. "You'll take care of Ginnie tonight, won't you?" "Of course. I will see you tomorrow morning and we will make sure your mind is your own again." The elderly elf left the room and Kate gathered a few things in a small bag before she and Minerva went back downstairs and onto the front porch where the others were waiting. [/QUOTE]
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