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Post by ianharris on Jan 7, 2010 23:57:22 GMT -5
"Oh, I hear those mental gears a-whurring. Fun fun fun. The dumb muscle is trying to think. I love it when people try to do things out of turn. It makes life so much more interesting." There was a pause. "Now, do kindly go back to the kitchen and put me on speaker."
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Jan 8, 2010 0:22:52 GMT -5
Silently bristling at the insult, Casper left his study and returned to the kitchen, taking slow, measured steps. His hands were down at his sides, and he clutched the phone so hard his knuckles were white where the bones pressed up through the skin.
Jason looked up at his father, seeing the pallor of his face and the tension of his stature, and raised his voice in a soft query. "Father, what is it?"
Casper did not answer him. He was pale, but his jaw was set and his eyes were hard as he set the phone down on the table and pressed the speaker button. "We're all here. Now, what is it that you want?"
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Post by ianharris on Jan 8, 2010 0:32:15 GMT -5
There was silence for several seconds. Then, "Why, Jason and Zeph! This is a pleasant surprise. Fancy meeting you here. And you brought the whole family! Joyous occasion! Oh, except the Aetai family isn't here... well, we'll be running into them soon enough..."
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Jan 8, 2010 0:47:29 GMT -5
Zephyros stood up quickly and slammed his hands on the table. "Shut the fuck up. You knew we were here or you wouldn't have called, you half-baked moronic excuse for a misanthropic cartoon villain. Who was your role model? Boris? No, it was the Brain, wasn't it? He was always trying things like this. Trying to be all diabolical and yet never... quite... managing. What the hell do you want? Calling to scare us again? I think you'll find we aren't quite so easy to terrify this time."
He snorted a curse in Greek, putting a hand on Jason's comfortingly. He was actually rather terrified, but there was no outward sign of it. Not yet.
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Jan 8, 2010 1:10:12 GMT -5
Jason's hand tensed underneath Zeph's, and he whispered to him. "Don't provoke him. We know what he's capable of doing, and willing to do." He had a strong bridle on his fear as well, for the moment. How well it would hold up was another story.
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Post by ianharris on Jan 8, 2010 1:19:49 GMT -5
The voice laughed. "Oh, Zephyros. You're so fun to play with. Such a fan of the long speeches and big words. Here's the thing, though. I'm not afraid of you. And you ARE afraid of me. No matter how much you try to deny it. I'm not a psychopath like the people who took you, and I'm not a misguided do-gooder like the people who took Jason. I am dangerous, truly dangerous. You realize that at this very moment, I could kill your boyfriend and his entire family where they stand, right? That would be fun. You could hold him in your arms, sobbing while he bleeds out, desperately trying to form your name with a shattered jawbone. You could cry out to your gods and scream about how you should die in his place, but all the while knowing that there's nothing you can do to save him. Or something equally romantic and stupid like that. And then I can just kill you too. Wouldn't that be fun?"
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Jan 8, 2010 1:46:34 GMT -5
Zephyros snorted again, sitting down with Jason. "You are a psychopath. Only a psychopath finds pleasure in such thoughts. I know you could kill all of us. You probably have hundreds of people in your employ, eager to do your ever whim just to prolong their own lives, to delay their deaths at your command. Besides, you wouldn't kill me immediately. See, because that would be too easy."
He held Jason's hand a bit tighter. "You like suffering. You'd probably lock me up and watch me afterward."
The longer I can keep you talking, the longer... the longer you'll delay. As long as I keep you happy, as long as I play along, you'll stave off your attack that little bit longer. I won't let you hurt us without a fight. Even if it is a pathetic word battle.
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Jan 8, 2010 18:03:41 GMT -5
Casper met Zeph's eyes for a few moments, his gaze stern. Don't give him ideas!
He took a deep breath, acutely aware of the tension in his body. If they kept the man talking, they could survive at least a little longer... but they had no real chance of stopping what was coming, or even defending themselves. They'd be shot down before they had the chance to move.
He looked over at his wife and daughters, all of who were sitting still as stone, pale and silent. Reaching over and slipping his hand into Heidi’s, Casper spoke again to the voice on the phone. “You will not win. Haven’t you ever heard that Good always triumphs over Evil in the end?”
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Post by ianharris on Jan 9, 2010 8:03:17 GMT -5
"Funny thing about that, by the way." The voice said calmly. "That whole good triumphing over evil thing. You see, Captain Hiller, I believe wholly, despite my sadism and twisted methods, that I'm doing the right thing. That makes me good in my own eyes, and you evil. So in my mind, I will triumph over you." There was a strange sound, and a hint of static came across the phone. "It won't do you any good to root for the underdog either. They don't always win."
The voice sighed. "Now, as much as I hate to interrupt the pointless summer of freaky wolf love, I need Zephyros and Jason's services." A knock came at the front door. The voice chuckled. "You'd better answer that, Captain Hiller. The guy I sent doesn't like to be kept waiting."
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Jan 9, 2010 15:51:36 GMT -5
The voice's words echoed coldly in Casper's mind as he stared down at the phone. He drew a breath and spoke when the voice paused. "So said many of the evil extremists of our world; yet they were always thwarted. You will be no different."
He did not move immediately to answer the knock at the door, massaging Heidi's hand reassuringly for a few moments before slowly slipping away and leaving the kitchen again. As he walked away, he heard Jason speaking to the voice. "I will never serve you, you monster. Not willingly. You might master my body, but my heart and soul will never be yours."
Casper moved to answer the front door on leaden legs, gripping the doorknob and turning it slowly, opening the door and looking out at the figure on the threshold.
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Post by ianharris on Jan 9, 2010 17:59:22 GMT -5
"Such a damn shame." The figure said loudly, flipping the cell phone closed with one hand and slipping it into his pocket. He kept his other hand, and the handgun that was grasped in it, trained on Casper's forehead. "But I really don't need your mind and soul and whatever else is in your pathetic frame. Besides, I don't want your soul anyway. Too broken, even for me."
He stepped across the threshold and made his way back to the kitchen, keeping the handgun pointed as Casper. "There are snipers trained on all of you. Remain calm, and you will live. Should you attempt to harm me or escape, all of you will be gunned down. And I will find a much more... damaging... way to make the Aetai family do what I want. You don't want that now, do you, Zephyros?" He raised an eyebrow at Zeph, smiling. "No, you're going to stay there, nice and quiet, like a good boy." The figure sat, motioning for Casper to move closer to the others. "What are you having, lunch? I ate already, but thank you for your hospitality."
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Jan 9, 2010 18:21:34 GMT -5
Casper breathed slowly and deeply, moving slowly toward his petrified family, not once taking his eyes off of the gunman's face. His mind was racing. His family was in mortal peril, and another was threatened. He was unarmed, surrounded by snipers, with no way to escape. The gunman was blocking the way to the door.
If he could run to his study, grab a weapon... No, he'd be shot before he took a step. If Jason shifted to wolf form, he could possibly harm the gunman. But the shift would probably make him vulnerable, and he'd be killed before he could change completely. They had no choice but to obey the madman's wishes, and pray that God would spare them.
"What do you want from us." It came out more like a statement than a question. "Apart from the destruction of our lives."
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Post by ianharris on Jan 10, 2010 5:44:23 GMT -5
"Not a whole lot, actually." The strange figure who was the source of the voice said, putting his feet up on the table and keeping the gun trained on Casper. "Pretty much, I just need Zephyros to come with me. Though, if I take Zephyros, then Jason will call the silly detective and you'll rush off after him. I can't have that. So I'm just going to take them both. And all of you as well, actually. One guy gets kidnapped, and he can be rescued. But a whole family? That's unheard of." The figure chuckled.
"Which is exactly why I'm doing it."
He twisted around and aimed the gun in a different direction, this time at Heidi. "So, Zephyros... I need your family's help. Think kidnapping you and Jason will force them into submission, or do I have to take someone else as well?"
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Jan 10, 2010 19:21:50 GMT -5
Zephyros' hands clenched so tightly into fists his nails dug into his palms. His eyes were gold now, his hair whipping about his face as if in a large storm. Thus far, it was only in his immediate vicinity, barely affecting Jason's hair beside him. He bit his lip, "Kidnapping of an entire family is not unheard of. You should research your history better. It happened in wars all the time, and when tribes were battling in both Africa and America, would kidnap families and make them slaves. You aren't being original."
As the gun turned toward Heidi, Zeph couldn't help but lurch forward as if to get in the way. "Don't hurt anyone! You wouldn't need anyone else... Just... just me. Me alive; they know better than to do anything you want without absolute proof of my survival."
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Jan 12, 2010 13:23:13 GMT -5
Casper was faster than Zeph, and moved quickly to put himself between his wife and the gun. Without looking at anyone else he spoke firmly to the gunman. "Take me if you're so eager for a captive, but leave our families be. Mine and Zeph's."
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Post by ianharris on Jan 12, 2010 22:13:05 GMT -5
The figured sighed and rolled his eyes. "You don't get it, do you, Captain Hiller? I need Zeph and Jason. I'm not one of these..." He twirled his free hand in the air above his head. "...crazy extremists who just randomly kidnaps people. If it were up to me, then you would all be bloodstains on the floor. But no, there are forces at work much larger than you, and if I just took whoever I wanted, then nothing would get done. Point is, if I didn't need you, I'd kill you and be done with this."
He sighed again and stood. "But I tire of throwing words around. Actions speak louder, and those need to get started." He moved the gun to point it directly at Jason. "Now, we're going to take a little hike. If you have anything else to add to anything you just said, now's the time to do it, because when we get in the car, if I hear so much as a peep I'm blasting somebody's brains out."
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Jan 12, 2010 22:44:16 GMT -5
Jason drew a soft breath as the madman swung the gun around to point it directly at him. He sat still and tense, feeling his heart pounding under his ribs. His very death was mere inches away. But somehow, he wasn't as afraid as he knew he should have been. The same bitter coldness he had felt under the torture of the scientists came creeping back to close around his heart again, locking away his emotions deep and safe inside of him. I love you. All of you.
Casper was the first to break the silence, looking at the gunman as he moved to shield his son with his own body. "You say this isn't a random act. Why? Why do these two matter so much to you, that you'd go to all this trouble to capture them?"
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Jan 13, 2010 12:50:08 GMT -5
Zephyros was faster than Casper this time, practically sitting on Jason's lap to be in the way of the bullet if the man tried to shoot him. He had a pretty good idea... his parents would do anything to keep him alive. His eyes narrowed as he leaned forward just a little, the wind outside beginning to pick up as his eyes flickered to gold. He did not like this man, and if he had just a moment longer he would kill the man where he stood.
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Post by ianharris on Jan 13, 2010 12:54:04 GMT -5
The figured sighed. "You two are really starting to piss me off. Jumping in the way of every little bullet... it's like you're begging to be shot." He sighed. "But I can't kill Zephyros. Not yet. So..." He raised a hand and motioned towards the window.
A small dart zipped through the window and embedded itself in Zeph's neck.
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Jan 13, 2010 12:56:24 GMT -5
Zephyros reached up for it in shock, the wind dying completely and his eyes snapping to green. His fingers fumbled and managed to pull it out, before everything turned black. Falling limp, Zeph slid under the table, lying in a heap on the floor.
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Jan 13, 2010 13:26:10 GMT -5
Jason tried to catch Zeph as he went suddenly limp, but Zeph slipped from his arms and fell to the floor under the table. Sobbing in alarm, Jason ducked down and pulled Zeph to him, frantically checking his vitals. He was alive, but unconscious. Jason stayed there, kneeling with Zeph's head in his lap, listening to what was going on above him.
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Post by ianharris on Jan 13, 2010 14:07:15 GMT -5
The figure stepped around the table and stared down at the two boys. He sighed and shook his head. "Such a shame. I wanted him to see what I'm about to do." Then he spun around and aimed the gun directly at Casper.
"Give your God a message from me." He said icily, all trace of sarcasm and sick humor gone from his voice. "Tell him it's been a fun game, but I win."
The gun jerked downwards, the figure's finger tightened on the trigger, and the gun went off. Outside, a group of birds burst from the bushes and flew upwards, out over the rooftops of Nuremberg, completely oblivious to the chaos inside the house they had been sitting next to.
Inside the house, the figure laughed.
[[Concluded in "This is a GREAT idea..."]]
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