How Soon Is Now?

Sumiko had been pacing, just thinking, the majority of the evening. She didn't even notice that the sky had turned dark and it was late into the night. She couldn't stop thinking about the father she never had... And Sameal.

Hell, he may be a creep, but at least he cares about his daughter.

She slumped against a wall, burdened by her thoughts. She was alone in the world, and she knew it. She'd put herself there. She thought she was best off that way. But it hurt. Hurt like hell. To be so detached and angry.

Azreal crossed his arm on the back, he paced around looked out of the window."mikhail should have done his job by now...maybe I need to pay them a visit.." he thought as a messanger came in."the spies you sent out sir...they reported mikhail's death...his arm was ripped off...and his chest was pierced by a large blade...made a broadsword...oh and the group...Vahn, girls, and 3 other males...the older girl and male...are wherewolves sir"Azreal lifted his head, evilly grinning."hmmm...interesting...maybe I could" he looked at the meesenger."go...tell them further tracking is needed...they need to get the location to the base...maybe I can work somethin around that" Azreal grinned, the messenger left."yes...I could use either...mikhail was a failed experiment...but for now I need to check on the status of the Eros chamber" he then left his room

Sameal looked around, while rolling his sleeve up, strange arcane symbols littered his arm. he chanted a strange word over, his arm slowly glowing. in a pulsating state. he placed his arm abruptly on the ground, opening a dark hole."hmm...still empty" he said.

Sumiko left the complex, ready to sleep. She had worn herself out with all her thinking. She headed for her normal patch of grass and curled up like a dog when she got there, her eyelids heavy.

the Dawn broke through the clouds, Sameal lifted his head and looked around." another day" he thought to himself. Vahn walked out, stretching and yawning. he looked at Sameal."so whats the plan today?" he asked Sameal shrugged"hit back on the road...get to Vollice...find those escapees..and the rest will be made as we go along" he smiled."Vahn...wake up Serenity and Seven...I'll wake up Ryden and Sumiko" he smiled as Vahn walked back in

Su was having a dream. Well... More a nightmare, really. [i]Her parents were there... Just out of her grasp. Every time she lunged for them, they ran from her. Like they were afraid of her. Tears streamed down her face and she gasped for air but then he was falling... Spiraling into a dark abyss. They watched her fall with pity on their faces, and then they started laughing as she groped for anything to catch herself on. The sides of the abyss were bare and hard... She kept falling forever... She finally hit the bottom,[\i] and gasped, waking up to the blazing sun on her face.

Damn. That was nasty.

She rubbed her eyes and fluffed up her hair.

Sameal aproached Sumiko."got to hit the road...you okay?" he asked, his scythe across his shoulders."Vahn will wake the others" he said looking across at the armored van'lets hope we don't get attacked again tonight

Su cleared her throat and hopped up.

Yeah I'm fine. Let's get goin, stud.

She grinned mischeviously and punched him in the arm, jogging to the van that the rest of the group was piling into.

Sameal was the last one on the van, he sat and closed the doors. Ryden jumped in andtarted the van up."we should get ther in bout an hour" he said as he then drove off.Seven got out his daggers and started to clean them up."we had a guest last night Right?...sniffed out" he smiled at Sumiko

Su grinned and took one of his daggers, absentmindedly twirling it in her hand. Back and forward... Over and under... Jabbing and retreating. Her motions were so fluid, the knife seemed as if it were part of her body. It relaxed her to practice with a blade, even though it was not her preferred weapon.

Seven leaned backed."so your good with a knife...for a woman" he asked as serenity smiled."Sumiko is better than you...your very sloppy" Seven sighed."well... at least I have style" he winked at Sumiko

Azreal walked in the motel, he looked around and sniffed the air."they stayed here...they have left...25 minutes" he walked up to the receptionist."I'm looking for a group...they stayed here last night...one of the travellers carries a large scythe..." the receptionist nodded.:oh yes...they said somethin about vollice...Dont know why...nothin ever happens there" Azreal grabbed the man and lifted him up."thank you sir...but you know alittle too much" his gauntlet hand lifted, grabbing the man by the face. Azreal walked out, his wings sprouted out, as he flew. the motel competely exploded

Su grinned.

Sure, Seven, you've got style. But style ain't gonna save your ass in a fight.

She was playful now.

Seven laughed slightly."it surely has so far" he replied. Sameal looked out, seeing the city from a distance. Vahn was tranced at the change of landscape, from wasteland to mountainous, to feilds."we will be there soon"said Ryden

Su handed Seven his blade back and rested her head against the side of the van. The light filtered in through the windshield, casting light in her eyes and making them glitter like dark obsidian. She pushed her hair back away from her face and over one shoulder. She thought about taking a smoke but figured the rest of the people in the van wouldn't appreciate it much.

Seven placed both his dagger back in the holsters. he looked at Sumiko and then out of the window. they aproached the gate, to which a guard came up."be careful...Vollice has been having some trouble" Sameal looked at the guard."what kind of trouble?" he asked."well a paradox knight facility has been under attack by a terrorist group...they keep breaking inside and taking vital equipment...you might want to be careful when walking around at night." sameal nodded."we will" Ryden slowly drove through, the city was slightly run down, with many suspicious people roaming, they seemed to be wanted convicts or criminals

Su shook her head. This place was giving her the creeps.

And that's why we're here. Great.

She shrugged and glared out the windshield.

the van stopped to which Ryden looked around."whenever you've done what it is...I'll be just outside town" he said as the group got out from the van. Sameal looked at the surroundings."I suggest that me and Seven scout around the place, we are pretty good at stealthing around." he said as Seven nodded."for once I agree with you" he replied, Vahn looked at Sameal."what about us?...I mean I'm pretty good at scouting." Sameal laughed."your wanted...so are you Sumiko" he said.

Su shook her head.

Wanted? By who?

She looked skeptically at Sameal.

Sameal."well I did suspect it was you...the report I got was that of Vahn and a dark haired female, who is alot stronger than she looks..." he said looking over at her. Seven shook his head."we are all wanted...we part of a rebel army" he smiled

Sumiko noted Sameal looking at her. She raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms.

Not only that, but whoever it is, we can handle them.

She glanced over her shoulder out of habit.

sameal rubbed his head and looked at Vahn."you know the 2 escapees...maybe you coudl look for them?" he said as Vahn sighed." how hard can a armored 9 foot tall collosus really be right?" he laughed

Sumiko jerked her head, popping her neck loudly.

I don't give a damn about how hard he is, I just want a little more action than riding around in an armored van and taking out a crazy knife fiend.

She grinned antagonistically.

Sameal sighed." just make sure it doesnt affect the task in hand" Sameal and Seven both headed off. Vahn looked around and then back to sumiko."any idea where we start?" he asked

Sumiko sighed, slightly on edge. The escapees would most likely be hostile when they found them. She wasn't much looking forward to that.

They're probably in one of these abandoned buildings, most likely in one that is close to a place where they could get food. Man, I need a drink.

She didn't care for the edginess she was feeling as she trudged toward an old dilapidated motel, thinking that would be a good place to start looking.

Vahn looked around, keeping an ye out, serenity went into the kitchen, light footsteps could be heard, aswell as a inhuman deep low rumble."okay..what was that?"he asked

Sumiko's ears perked up and she glanced around quickly, taking in the situation around her. She saw nothing... But she could feel that something was off. She crouched down low and slunk out the door on her haunches and backed into a shadow, watching for whatever it was to show itself. She was on high alert, hairs on the back of her neck standing on end, teeth bared... Eyes emerald green. She didn't have time to make the full transformation now; the thing was too close. She would have to use just her claws and teeth and not her mass. She could work with that. Her eyes scanned the area for Vahn and then for anything unusual. The leaves on the tress shook... But there was no breeze. Whatever it was was causing the trees to shake by its very footsteps.

Damn... This thing must be big...