Topic: A New Girl on The Scene

Ms DeVore

Date: 2007-03-25 15:27 EST
For so many the terms good and evil had such strong dividing lines that they seldom were able to reconcile the nuances of varying shades of gray, much less all the colors that flowed between the lines. Jan?tte was not one of those people. She had been raised to see so much further than most, in more ways than one.

Standing a petite five foot-two inches when in bare feet and quite pale, almost to the point of often looking anemic, she appeared to be much more frail than she actually was. Of course few know of hers or her family?s background, for it was one crouched in secrecy and hidden by generations? worth of tradition. For those that did know her, knew that she and those like her had gone by many names throughout history. Her personal favorite was ghoul. After all it sounded so very ghoulish.

She was one, that like so many who had gone before her, guarded the sanctity of her lord?s and lady?s rest. She was also one that provided the sustaining life force they required. And as generations before her, she was afforded strengths and abilities that her human counterparts seldom enjoyed. However, with everything one finds pleasant, there is always a price, the other side of the coin if you will. This morning, she was feeling a little bit of that price, she and so many of her kind chose to pay for the strengths and protections they also received.

A little paler than usual, she was carefully applying her make-up to cover such evidence. It was while she was in the middle of this early morning routine that her lord stepped into her chambers. Of course, unlike so many of the fabrications that one might tell about vampires, she was quite able to see him approaching her by his reflection in her mirror and she smiled in greetings to him even as she turned about in the chair she where she was sitting in front of her dressing mirror.

?Can I get you something??

?Actually I have a favor to ask of you.?

?Oh?? Her curiosity piqued, she waited for him to reveal the favor he would require of her. When he was finished, she simply rose and made her way to the walk-in closet, pulling out a small trunk and drawing it over to the bed.

?I should be prepared to travel in about an hour. Will that be quick enough??

?Of course.?

He knew he had only to ask. Her loyalty to him had always been very strong. Perhaps it was the breeding. Perhaps her training. In any case, he had only to ask.

Ms DeVore

Date: 2007-05-27 12:08 EST
It had been a month or so since she had first arrived in Rhy?Din. In that time she had followed her employer?s instructions and simply made observations and reports to him concerning the individuals who had come to her attention.

Predominate on that report were a list of individuals who dealt in the relocation of others. In the end there were three that she had written about in her final report.

This morning the currier came to her with a message rather than looking for one to be delivered. Even before she opened it, she noted and recognized the seal as being that of her employer. So it was that Jan?tte sat at her dressing table with the letter unfolded in her lap and reading it.

The first part had been instructions to her concerning a second letter which was to be delivered by her to one Talomar Longden. The letter gave her instructions that, should he take up the offer, she was to avail herself to him, at no cost, as the price of her keep would continue to be at the expense of her House.

The second letter, which she held up and turned over in her hand, also carried the seal of her House, the mirror image of which she bore on her right shoulder blade, pressed into sealing wax. On the reverse side, in an archaic script she recognized only too well, was the gentleman?s name.

Upon receipt of the letter, she had summoned a messenger and given explicit instructions for him to deliver a message to request an audience with Talomar.

Charles Dukette

Date: 2007-05-28 18:20 EST
The heavy iron, dragon-shaped knocker made several hesitant blows upon the door of Longden Castle. Charles Dukette, the Count?s new valet, was at the door with unnatural promptness.

It was his way.

The other castle staff always wondered amongst themselves how no matter the immediacy with which they would respond to a knock, the Count?s valet would always be at the door before they would arrive. Some thought he might be a demon. A few of the staff suggested that the new valet was himself a vampire. No one knew for sure, for nothing would ever be expressed aloud in any way other than soft whispers between the staff.

The door opened.

?Bonjour, monsieur. How may I be of service to you this afternoon??

?I . . . I have a message to give to Count Longden. Is he available??

Charles held out his hand. ?Give me the message and wait here.?

The messenger handed the sealed note to the valet.

?I shall not be long.? The door was closed, leaving the messenger standing outside by the door, somewhat relieved that he wasn't required to enter and meet the Count.

Indeed, Mr. Dukette wasn?t delayed long at all. The door opened again and the tall, thin man looked at the messenger. ?The Count says to tell Mademoiselle DeVore that he?d be happy to meet with her. She should be here tonight after sundown.?

The door was closed without waiting for a response.

Ms DeVore

Date: 2007-05-30 22:10 EST
Jan?tte had spent the day preparing herself for the meeting that evening. She reviewed the instructions thoroughly for what she was to use to leverage this particular deal. Another review of the information on the gentleman and she glanced up at the view just outside her window.

The sun would be going down within a few hours and she did not intend to be tardy for this meeting. The wardrobe was opened to reveal the dresses she had brought with her. One in particular had been chosen for this meeting even before she had left. This one she took out and layed it across the end of the bed, before she stepped into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

An hour later she was sitting at her dressing table making the necessary adjustments to her hair and makeup. The cream colored dress she had chosen to wear for this meeting was looked at critically before she leaned over to put on her heels.

She was quite familiar with the paths and trails that lead to the castle, having spent the last few days making the long walk to its gates. The last part of the journey would be made strictly on the description of the currier who had delivered the message for her.

One last thing that she did before leaving her room was to pour herself a drink. A vial was then taken out and the contents poured into the glass. A gentle swirl and she took a deep swallow of the fluid. She then rose and made her way out of her room, carefully closing and locking her door behind her before making her way down the hall and stairs into the main room below.

She actually managed to make her way outside before the first wave of nausea struck. Fortunately it passed as quickly as it came on and she continued her walk.