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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: 2648199" data-attributes="member: 12815"><p><strong>Owen Wills</strong></p><p></p><p>Kate sighed as she was suddenly alone again in the Lucky Lady. She felt a little better a moment later when Chester came in.</p><p></p><p>Chester grabs the man and spins him around. "Who are you? Did Turner put you up to this? Answer me."</p><p></p><p>"Y-yes!" the man stammers. "I mean I guess that was his name. He, it... whatever it is is inside my head!" the man screams and swings wildly at Chester.</p><p></p><p>"Chester, that isn't going to do any good!" Kate said loudly. "Sir, sir! I know about him being in your head," she said, trying to get his attention on her and away from striking Chester. "Please, tell me what he wants you to do."</p><p></p><p>Chester dodges the wild swing. "Whoa. Whoa. I'm not going to hurt you. Just calm down. Where is he?"</p><p></p><p>The man seems to be soothed once Kate and Chester react in a calm manner. "He's gone home, that is what he told me. Don't matter though, he can reach me anywhere, can't hide from him no matter where I go."</p><p></p><p>"I know," Kate said softly. "Come sit down. I'll get you a drink and you can tell us about how you got that cane."</p><p></p><p>The man heads towards Kate and begins to sit down, anyone looking at him can tell he is very nervous and he clutches the cane tightly until his knuckles are white. "Thanks Miss, mighty kind of you all. I know this is crazy, but you seem to know what is going on."</p><p></p><p>Chester sits with Kate and the man. He nonchalantly puts his left hand on his other gun as he extends his right to the man. "Greetings. I'm Chester. What's your name, stranger?"</p><p></p><p>The man slowly reaches out his hand towards Chester. He gingerly shakes hands and quickly withdraws and replies "Owen, Owen Wills. Nice to meet you Chester."</p><p></p><p>Kate said, "We know some of what’s going on. I know right now there is a strong compulsion inside you to do something. I've felt it too. He wanted me to convince my friend to leave with him, and then to make someone let them go. What is it you want to do right now? Or you wanted to do just a few minutes ago?"</p><p></p><p>The man leans the cane on the table "He wanted me to pretend to be him, to try and fool all of you. I thought it was foolish, and have no idea why he wanted to do it, but I couldn't help myself, it is all I could think of."</p><p></p><p>"And now that we know you aren't him, that is gone and you are yourself for now. We think he's left town. Unless he has some way to watch from afar, there's no reason he should take your mind again. </p><p></p><p>Where did you meet him? Did he give you his cane then?"</p><p></p><p>"Yeah, the cane was given to me, that is how I met him. Noticed the nice cane and said something about it to him. Don't know what you mean miss, but he is still in my head, I have no doubt. Not sure why he is allowing me to talk with you, but I can feel him."</p><p></p><p>Chester gestures toward the cane. "Mind if I take a look at that? It's a fine-looking thing."</p><p></p><p>* * *</p><p></p><p>Nanuet follows Ruby's tracks to the barn, but once outside he hears Jake's voice. He motions to Minerva. </p><p></p><p>"Jake is in there with him. I think we should go back, let him handle this, he knows Ruby best. If anyone can talk some sense into her then he can." </p><p></p><p>Nanuet begins walking briskly back towards the Lucky Lady.</p><p></p><p>Minerva looks back towards the barn in indecision but quickly rushes after Nanuet. "Wait, do not leave me out here alone!" </p><p></p><p>"I didn't leave you, I just knew what it would take for you to follow me." He walks with Minerva and as they enter the saloon he heads to the bar to get drinks for them.</p><p></p><p>"Why would you say such a thing? Are you angry because I did not let Ruby run off into the night? Or because you did not follow me last night? Never mind we shall discuss it later." she says in a flash of heat clearly insulted by the remark as she makes her way over to Katherine and Chester.</p><p></p><p>"But I... None of those things... but... Minerva wait!" Nanuet starts to follow but can see that Minerva is clearly angry with him so he decides to bide his time.</p><p></p><p>Kate looked up briefly and saw Miss Florencia and Nanuet coming in. She nodded, ignoring the latent tension between them. "I'm not sure either," Kate said, continuing to talk to Wills. "His attention may be elsewhere just now, so we must talk while we can. <em>When</em> did you get the cane? Last night, sooner?"</p><p></p><p>Minerva startles when she hears these words and looks around the room to see if the monster is present in the room. She says a short prayer and attempts to detect his evil presence, but there seems to be no evil in the room.</p><p></p><p>Minerva relaxes a bit, reasured that Turner is not present. Nanuet walks over and hands her a drink. "Gracias" she says and turns from him to continue her observation of the man as he tells his tale. She observes his physical appearance as well paying special attention to his neck to be sure that he does not have marks on him like the woman in her book.</p><p></p><p>"It's been a blur...,” Wills answers. “Yeah it was last night, late last night. Had a few too many drinks I guess, stumbling about like a fool when I saw him." Owen suddenly stands up and grabs the cane. He doesn't say a word, but bolts for the back door running as quickly as he can, dodging patrons and a confused Maria who is trying to serve the customers.</p><p></p><p>"Don't let him leave!" Kate shouted. "Stop him!" She got up and ran after him herself as well.</p><p></p><p>Minerva, who is watching him closely, notices when he begins to tense and attempts to block his path and grab his arm when he bolts.</p><p></p><p>Minerva is quick and blocks his path but the man is strong and manages to break free from Minerva's grasp. He pushes her back and continues to bolt for the back door. Kate is a step too slow and unable to get to him before he gets past Minerva. </p><p></p><p>Jeff reacts to Katherine's cries and tries to stop him but is unable to maneuver around the tables and patrons fast enough.</p><p></p><p>Chester leaps out of his chair, knocking it to the floor. He races after Wills. "Try to block him out, Owen."</p><p></p><p>Chester is also a step too slow and he and Jeff get tangled with each other as they try to pursue the man. Both end up on the ground in a tangle. </p><p></p><p>Owen runs out the back of the saloon and turns to the left. He continues to flee into the night, not looking back.</p><p></p><p>Kate kept running, intending to follow him outside where there weren't witnesses to what she might have to do.</p><p></p><p>"Damn it. He's getting away." Chester and Jeff untangle themselves. "Stay here Jeff. Just in case the real Turner shows up." Chester darts out the door looking for Wills, Minerva, or Kate.</p><p></p><p>Minreva follows after Katherine. "It could be a trap." she says in warning and races after the man.</p><p></p><p>"I know, we won't go far,” Kate said. “I just need privacy."</p><p></p><p>"What are you doing? I'll block you. Hurry he's getting away!" Minerva pants.</p><p></p><p>The two women followed Owen out the door. Kate looked quickly, trying to see him. She took a pinch of sand from the folds of her skirt and began the incantation. The man crumpled to the ground in a heap.</p><p></p><p>Kate stopped and took a few deep breaths. "That's all I wanted to do. Be careful moving him back inside. It's no deeper than regular sleep. Too much jostling or noise will wake him up."</p><p></p><p>Minerva runs over. "Katherine, That's amazing! Chester, Help me get him back inside." Minerva takes his legs and directs Chester to take his arms and they carry him upstairs.</p><p></p><p>* * * * *</p><p></p><p>Outside the barn at the El Parador, Jake peers around to see if he was followed or anyone is waiting. He quickly enters the barn, looking and listening.</p><p></p><p>When Jake gets to Ruby's horse an arm reaches out and grabs him, pulling him into the stall. Still breathing heavy Ruby asks nervously, "Was it him?"</p><p></p><p>"No, but clearly he sent him. Once I knew it wasn't him I figured it was a trap to get you out of the saloon. That part worked pretty well, don't you think?" Jake keeps looking around the barn and listening. "We should find out what this guy knows."</p><p></p><p>Ruby gives Jake a pissy look. "What was I supposed to do? Stay there and let him get me?" </p><p></p><p>In an annoyed, still breathless tone, "What do you want me to do?"</p><p></p><p>"I want you to think, woman, if you keep reacting like that he will get you." Jake rests his left hand on her shoulder. "I know you are afraid, and so am I but we need to stay together. Did you sense anything? Did you feel anything? Or did you just run because it looked like him?"</p><p></p><p>"I ran because I wasn't sure. I didn't feel anything." She looks into Jake's eyes, "I TOLD you I'm not going to let him hurt any of you though me again."</p><p></p><p>"Then you have decided you can't come with me to put an end to this? Perhaps you can speak to Gonzalez, you told me he has a place of safety or he can whisk you away to some far away spot while I do what must be done."</p><p></p><p>"No," Ruby replies stubbornly, "Why would you say that?"</p><p></p><p>"I do not understand you. You fly at the first sign of him and still tell me you are going to help me destroy him? If you insist on letting your fear rule you, then you are just helping him. If you cannot master this fear, then you should stay safely behind. It is dangerous enough what we propose without the risk of you panicking at a critical moment." Jake's tone is gentle even though the words are harsh.</p><p></p><p>"You're not leaving me behind!" Ruby says even more stubbornly than before. "If you leave me behind I'll go on my own." She steps out of the stall. "So there wasn't any reason for fleeing at this particular moment was there? You tricked me to come here." </p><p></p><p>"Let's go back now so you can get your information."</p><p></p><p>"Tricked you!" Jake exclaims and then lowers his voice. "I was worried that he tricked you into running outside where he might be waiting. I thought I already said that. This was the fastest way of finding you so I could protect you. If my protection is just a cheap trick....." Jake growls and steps out of the stall next to her. "So it is OK to go back and get MY information now? What about you? Aren't we going to work together? Am I really forcing this on you?"</p><p></p><p>Ruby blinks in surprise at Jake. "No, you aren't forcing me. I understand you were worried. I'm sorry I ran off. And you didn't trick me, I guess I was just upset still... I'll do better next time, I promise." </p><p></p><p>She shrugs. "You haven't figured out by now that I don't need all the information you do? And especially with this. What do we need to know? We found out where he is. We go there and you kill him. Or he'll come back for me, I know he will. What does it matter who... who was it anyway? In the saloon?"</p><p></p><p>"I don't know who it was. I didn't stay a moment longer after I knew it wasn't Turner and I discovered you had run. I still don't know that Turner isn't out there or why this guy shows up. Do you think Turner knew what you were thinking when he had control of you? Could he be using people to spy on us and relay the information back through their thoughts?"</p><p></p><p>"What do you mean? He could have been reading my thoughts, sure. I don't know if he did or didn't. He could be reading other people's thoughts. I don't have the answers for you." </p><p></p><p>A smile comes to Ruby's lips. "I might have been thinking something naughty," she giggles, "Then he'd really come back for me."</p><p></p><p>Jake doesn't laugh. "We should go. Hopefully the others have learned something useful. Please don't run away from me on the way back. It might be better if this guy who was masquerading as Turner didn't get to see you."</p><p></p><p>Ruby stops smiling. "Alright Jake. I won't run away. Let's go back." </p><p></p><p>Jake and Ruby make their way to the Lucky Lady, with Jake being overly cautious. They enter the Lucky Lady from the front door and look for their friends.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="orchid blossom, post: 2648199, member: 12815"] [b]Owen Wills[/b] Kate sighed as she was suddenly alone again in the Lucky Lady. She felt a little better a moment later when Chester came in. Chester grabs the man and spins him around. "Who are you? Did Turner put you up to this? Answer me." "Y-yes!" the man stammers. "I mean I guess that was his name. He, it... whatever it is is inside my head!" the man screams and swings wildly at Chester. "Chester, that isn't going to do any good!" Kate said loudly. "Sir, sir! I know about him being in your head," she said, trying to get his attention on her and away from striking Chester. "Please, tell me what he wants you to do." Chester dodges the wild swing. "Whoa. Whoa. I'm not going to hurt you. Just calm down. Where is he?" The man seems to be soothed once Kate and Chester react in a calm manner. "He's gone home, that is what he told me. Don't matter though, he can reach me anywhere, can't hide from him no matter where I go." "I know," Kate said softly. "Come sit down. I'll get you a drink and you can tell us about how you got that cane." The man heads towards Kate and begins to sit down, anyone looking at him can tell he is very nervous and he clutches the cane tightly until his knuckles are white. "Thanks Miss, mighty kind of you all. I know this is crazy, but you seem to know what is going on." Chester sits with Kate and the man. He nonchalantly puts his left hand on his other gun as he extends his right to the man. "Greetings. I'm Chester. What's your name, stranger?" The man slowly reaches out his hand towards Chester. He gingerly shakes hands and quickly withdraws and replies "Owen, Owen Wills. Nice to meet you Chester." Kate said, "We know some of what’s going on. I know right now there is a strong compulsion inside you to do something. I've felt it too. He wanted me to convince my friend to leave with him, and then to make someone let them go. What is it you want to do right now? Or you wanted to do just a few minutes ago?" The man leans the cane on the table "He wanted me to pretend to be him, to try and fool all of you. I thought it was foolish, and have no idea why he wanted to do it, but I couldn't help myself, it is all I could think of." "And now that we know you aren't him, that is gone and you are yourself for now. We think he's left town. Unless he has some way to watch from afar, there's no reason he should take your mind again. Where did you meet him? Did he give you his cane then?" "Yeah, the cane was given to me, that is how I met him. Noticed the nice cane and said something about it to him. Don't know what you mean miss, but he is still in my head, I have no doubt. Not sure why he is allowing me to talk with you, but I can feel him." Chester gestures toward the cane. "Mind if I take a look at that? It's a fine-looking thing." * * * Nanuet follows Ruby's tracks to the barn, but once outside he hears Jake's voice. He motions to Minerva. "Jake is in there with him. I think we should go back, let him handle this, he knows Ruby best. If anyone can talk some sense into her then he can." Nanuet begins walking briskly back towards the Lucky Lady. Minerva looks back towards the barn in indecision but quickly rushes after Nanuet. "Wait, do not leave me out here alone!" "I didn't leave you, I just knew what it would take for you to follow me." He walks with Minerva and as they enter the saloon he heads to the bar to get drinks for them. "Why would you say such a thing? Are you angry because I did not let Ruby run off into the night? Or because you did not follow me last night? Never mind we shall discuss it later." she says in a flash of heat clearly insulted by the remark as she makes her way over to Katherine and Chester. "But I... None of those things... but... Minerva wait!" Nanuet starts to follow but can see that Minerva is clearly angry with him so he decides to bide his time. Kate looked up briefly and saw Miss Florencia and Nanuet coming in. She nodded, ignoring the latent tension between them. "I'm not sure either," Kate said, continuing to talk to Wills. "His attention may be elsewhere just now, so we must talk while we can. [I]When[/I] did you get the cane? Last night, sooner?" Minerva startles when she hears these words and looks around the room to see if the monster is present in the room. She says a short prayer and attempts to detect his evil presence, but there seems to be no evil in the room. Minerva relaxes a bit, reasured that Turner is not present. Nanuet walks over and hands her a drink. "Gracias" she says and turns from him to continue her observation of the man as he tells his tale. She observes his physical appearance as well paying special attention to his neck to be sure that he does not have marks on him like the woman in her book. "It's been a blur...,” Wills answers. “Yeah it was last night, late last night. Had a few too many drinks I guess, stumbling about like a fool when I saw him." Owen suddenly stands up and grabs the cane. He doesn't say a word, but bolts for the back door running as quickly as he can, dodging patrons and a confused Maria who is trying to serve the customers. "Don't let him leave!" Kate shouted. "Stop him!" She got up and ran after him herself as well. Minerva, who is watching him closely, notices when he begins to tense and attempts to block his path and grab his arm when he bolts. Minerva is quick and blocks his path but the man is strong and manages to break free from Minerva's grasp. He pushes her back and continues to bolt for the back door. Kate is a step too slow and unable to get to him before he gets past Minerva. Jeff reacts to Katherine's cries and tries to stop him but is unable to maneuver around the tables and patrons fast enough. Chester leaps out of his chair, knocking it to the floor. He races after Wills. "Try to block him out, Owen." Chester is also a step too slow and he and Jeff get tangled with each other as they try to pursue the man. Both end up on the ground in a tangle. Owen runs out the back of the saloon and turns to the left. He continues to flee into the night, not looking back. Kate kept running, intending to follow him outside where there weren't witnesses to what she might have to do. "Damn it. He's getting away." Chester and Jeff untangle themselves. "Stay here Jeff. Just in case the real Turner shows up." Chester darts out the door looking for Wills, Minerva, or Kate. Minreva follows after Katherine. "It could be a trap." she says in warning and races after the man. "I know, we won't go far,” Kate said. “I just need privacy." "What are you doing? I'll block you. Hurry he's getting away!" Minerva pants. The two women followed Owen out the door. Kate looked quickly, trying to see him. She took a pinch of sand from the folds of her skirt and began the incantation. The man crumpled to the ground in a heap. Kate stopped and took a few deep breaths. "That's all I wanted to do. Be careful moving him back inside. It's no deeper than regular sleep. Too much jostling or noise will wake him up." Minerva runs over. "Katherine, That's amazing! Chester, Help me get him back inside." Minerva takes his legs and directs Chester to take his arms and they carry him upstairs. * * * * * Outside the barn at the El Parador, Jake peers around to see if he was followed or anyone is waiting. He quickly enters the barn, looking and listening. When Jake gets to Ruby's horse an arm reaches out and grabs him, pulling him into the stall. Still breathing heavy Ruby asks nervously, "Was it him?" "No, but clearly he sent him. Once I knew it wasn't him I figured it was a trap to get you out of the saloon. That part worked pretty well, don't you think?" Jake keeps looking around the barn and listening. "We should find out what this guy knows." Ruby gives Jake a pissy look. "What was I supposed to do? Stay there and let him get me?" In an annoyed, still breathless tone, "What do you want me to do?" "I want you to think, woman, if you keep reacting like that he will get you." Jake rests his left hand on her shoulder. "I know you are afraid, and so am I but we need to stay together. Did you sense anything? Did you feel anything? Or did you just run because it looked like him?" "I ran because I wasn't sure. I didn't feel anything." She looks into Jake's eyes, "I TOLD you I'm not going to let him hurt any of you though me again." "Then you have decided you can't come with me to put an end to this? Perhaps you can speak to Gonzalez, you told me he has a place of safety or he can whisk you away to some far away spot while I do what must be done." "No," Ruby replies stubbornly, "Why would you say that?" "I do not understand you. You fly at the first sign of him and still tell me you are going to help me destroy him? If you insist on letting your fear rule you, then you are just helping him. If you cannot master this fear, then you should stay safely behind. It is dangerous enough what we propose without the risk of you panicking at a critical moment." Jake's tone is gentle even though the words are harsh. "You're not leaving me behind!" Ruby says even more stubbornly than before. "If you leave me behind I'll go on my own." She steps out of the stall. "So there wasn't any reason for fleeing at this particular moment was there? You tricked me to come here." "Let's go back now so you can get your information." "Tricked you!" Jake exclaims and then lowers his voice. "I was worried that he tricked you into running outside where he might be waiting. I thought I already said that. This was the fastest way of finding you so I could protect you. If my protection is just a cheap trick....." Jake growls and steps out of the stall next to her. "So it is OK to go back and get MY information now? What about you? Aren't we going to work together? Am I really forcing this on you?" Ruby blinks in surprise at Jake. "No, you aren't forcing me. I understand you were worried. I'm sorry I ran off. And you didn't trick me, I guess I was just upset still... I'll do better next time, I promise." She shrugs. "You haven't figured out by now that I don't need all the information you do? And especially with this. What do we need to know? We found out where he is. We go there and you kill him. Or he'll come back for me, I know he will. What does it matter who... who was it anyway? In the saloon?" "I don't know who it was. I didn't stay a moment longer after I knew it wasn't Turner and I discovered you had run. I still don't know that Turner isn't out there or why this guy shows up. Do you think Turner knew what you were thinking when he had control of you? Could he be using people to spy on us and relay the information back through their thoughts?" "What do you mean? He could have been reading my thoughts, sure. I don't know if he did or didn't. He could be reading other people's thoughts. I don't have the answers for you." A smile comes to Ruby's lips. "I might have been thinking something naughty," she giggles, "Then he'd really come back for me." Jake doesn't laugh. "We should go. Hopefully the others have learned something useful. Please don't run away from me on the way back. It might be better if this guy who was masquerading as Turner didn't get to see you." Ruby stops smiling. "Alright Jake. I won't run away. Let's go back." Jake and Ruby make their way to the Lucky Lady, with Jake being overly cautious. They enter the Lucky Lady from the front door and look for their friends. [/QUOTE]
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