A Nightmare's Dream. (Readlliiea)

[Naisiskhrae]

This was the biggest assignment Naisiskhrea had ever received. With all the persons involved, it will take all her skill and several nights to complete. Oh, she definitely enjoying the challenge, she just hoped she could pull it off. But, if she did, it would be a major feather in her cap, and, maybe Avax Set would give her more freedom to do her dreams.

But, that is something for another time. Tonight she had a target to take done that she had been tracking for some time. He was hired be those she was to destroy to capture another. Who it was, she did not know or even cared. She had a job to do.

He had been setting up a ingenious trap in a warehouse down by the shore. Although, this person (she simply call Jack), was not a native of the Subliminal, he was quite familiar with it and how Qui worked. So, she had to use the lightest touch to alter his trap to catch him as well. A minor tweak here and there and she adjusted his trap, hopefully, unnoticed by him. Hiding in the shadows, all she could do is just wait until whoever showed up and triggered the trap catching both of them.

[readlliea]

"Boss, you sure we should be here?" the man asked for the third time as they followed after a man.

A wolf like tail easily slapped the buff man who had spoke across the face, making them stagger slightly. However it hadn't done much damage, so they would be fine. A bit of hurt pride but nothing damaged. Canine ears twitched as he walked, the tail returning to following behind him. With a black suit and tie, hair sporting the same shade of color. The man could easily blend into the dark night. His red eyes glistening as he blinked and looked around. Often he was at home in warehouses due to their space and how often people left them alone once they were abandoned by the city. Yet...this was new territory for him. Not HIS docks.

"Keep quiet. This is a new location, don't need to alert everything." the man instructed in a firm but low tone, red eyes glaring at the larger man.

A small nod left them as their silent agreement. A flick of the suit wearing man caused the henchman to go on ahead to look around. Idiots. Yet he couldn't blame them for being useful...if not for food and actually doing their jobs, there was honestly a form of company with them that...he couldn't get elsewhere. After all, it's not like he could waltz into a store or anything and strike up conversation. The black 'mask' around his eyes moved with him, the ends of it swaying gently as the second goon stayed with him. Only the sound of something going off and the goon screaming caught his ears, causing them to perk.

"Seriously Frank?" the second goon muttered in a annoyed huff as he started to move forward, only to feel the slender hands of his employer grab him.

"I'll go check on him, you find a spot to hide in." the man ordered.

A few blinks left him but the goon nodded and moved in the other direction to find a alternative way in. A sigh left the being as he moved to where Frank had gone, only to find him strung up and rather well encased in something. Tilting his head in a wolf like manner, his tail gave a few twitches.

"So, what is it you are wanting to accomplish?" he questioned, his voice echoing in this place.

Whenever a trap was set, no matter it's style...the owner of it was often nearby.

[Naisiskhrae]

It was not long until she heard voices. Repositioning herself, she saw, in the very dim light, three enter the warehouse. Two were human, while the third definitely was not. She, now, had a fairly good idea who or what Jack was after. But, three of them? That could cause a problem, especially, if the wrong one tripped Jack's trap. She was very unhappy with herself for not taking something like this in consideration.

When she heard a scream and a trap trigger, she knew she had no time to think. When the second trap trips, Jack will know something is up. She formed and leaped through a shadow gate, drawing out her dagger, to where she thought Jack was. But, he was not there.

She heard movement from behind her. She spun around and dodged to one side as he lunged towards her with his blade. Her arm was gashed by is blade, but, he defenseless at that moment. She plunged her dagger into his heart, ending the battle quickly.

After binding up the gash on her arm to stop the bleeding, she knelt down at dead body of Jack the Ripper and wiped off her bloody dagger. She really did not want to kill him, but, was not given any other choice. Since he was the one that knew about the others, she was, once again, at square zero - or was she?

During her fight with Jack, her trap was triggered catching the creature. If it was the one Jack was after, it might know who she was seeking.

Hearing its question she smiled ruefully. It seems it was both intelligent and have a sense of humor.

Out of the shadows steeped what seemed to be a woman a little over 6 feet tall with pitch black skin, waist length gold hair, deep blue slanted eyes. Poking up through all that hair were a pair of horse ears. She was dressed in what seemed a long formal gown of dark gray with gold trim. Made of a material that would put silk to shame. Around her waist is a onyx belt, or so it seems. From her left ere was a small golden stud with an Apache tear hanging from it.

As she walked towards the creature, there was the hollow sound of hooves striking the concrete floor. Leaving behind her a trail of black blood eating its way through the floor.

With a voice as cold as ice, she answered it's question, "No. I was hoping to catch the one that was sent to catch you. Now, he is dead, so, that leave only you to lead me to ones I was sent to deal with. Providing..."

As she reached it, she looked up into his red eyes, with out flinching, "you are the one he was seeking."

[readlliea]

Now he had been playing this game for a good long while but he never was a trap wiz. Annoying contraptions that his hunger starved self often would easily break out of in it's blood craving state. So dismantling these things wasn't...quite what he did; smashed them into various little pieces until he shrank back down and well, then he could usually get out of the few remains of it. However his ears perked and the man launched himself forward. A second one? How cute. Frank had a good view of his boss jumping away from the second one as it snatched up. Becoming far more obvious in where it was as the thing went still.

And yet, not everything was quiet. Wolf ears twitched to a small sound, a scuffle if you would. The thing that really sold it was the smell that was soon in the air, ah he knew that scent. Blood. Already the metallic taste was on his tongue, making him lose his train of thought for a moment; till the sounds of Frank squirming in the trap made it's way into his ears again. A sigh left the man as he glanced up at the goon. Maybe he should just eat him..save some trouble but...Frank hadn't done anything to fully warrant that.

"Stop moving." he ordered, voice firm as his tail flicked behind him.

Clip, clop. The sound echoed in the building, causing him to go still. Red eyes trained their gaze onto the emerging figure that came from the darkness. A smirk on his face as he knew that trick. Being mostly black himself in his other form, he could blend in well with his eyes closed. So long as there was big enough shadows of course. Her appearance didn't seem to fishy to him. After all, he was most likely the strangest thing he knew of. And that was just in terms of his other form and food, still she spoke as she neared. His arms folded as he watched her, not really impressed and his hidden brows didn't help show that. The 'mask' on his face hiding those fully; in a way they were part of said 'mask'.

"There's a very long line for that, Madam. Ask any of the heroes and various insane fools, they're all trying to catch me for something or another." he remarked with a fang filled smile, letting a shrug leave him as his tail swayed.

Not many people got this close to him so...willingly and not afraid to add onto it. She'd find his red eyes  to have slitted pupils, but other than that. The entire eyeball was red, a dark red similar to the shade of fresh blood. Sure, the people who got close were always fighting him. Or they were his goons. The suit wearing man walked a circle around her though. Tail held high as his ears perked, such a strange scent. It was very different. Could be her powers and such, a heritage she had perhaps? Well, not important at the time.

"But, if they are after me and it's not the heroes and their rag tag companions. I can't help you." Beastblood added as he walked to the trap with frank in it. "Though, if you aren't going to do anything with that body you stabbed, it's honestly what I need right now to calm my stomach.

Hm..how to go about this? Smashing it would be rude but...he didn't really have any other way to do this. Course, he looked over his shoulder at the woman. A black claw being pointed up at Frank.

"Can't eat him, he hasn't fucked up badly enough to warrant that fate. And I do need him alive." he added in regards to Frank.

[Naisiskhrae]

To her, this was no game. She was sent to capture Jack. Failing that, she was authorized by Avax Set to make sure he was dead. What he did to warrant a death sentence was none of her business, although, she was a bit surprised. This was the first time she had, ever, heard him make such a declaration. She, also, knew why he sent her. She was more then capable to do the job, even if it meant killing.

It would seem, that one was a very popular, especially, among the heroes. Which, she seriously doubted was to be an assistant of some sort. This would make her job even more difficult. She was hoping to get Jack's employer from Jack. Although, he was good, she was better.

She looked the beast over and commented, "I know most of the night creatures here and other places, having employed most of them. But, I have never met you." She chuckled, "if I had, I would have placed you at the top of my list of potential candidates."

As she headed over to the other trap, she added, "if you ever want a change from here, just let me know. I would let you have free rein in one of my dreams."

As soon as she touched it, she knew it was not hers. She was beginning to wonder just how many traps he had set and which one she aligned her's too.

When the beast asked to feed on jack, she just shrugged, "Fine by me. Just leave his head incase I need to pick his brain," as an afterthought, she added, "you might want to be careful. There is, at least, one more trap out there - mine."

A spiral cone of smoke and fire leaped from her forehead, springing from a golden star there. The trap dissolved into dark smoke and dissipated into the night.

She headed over to where the Frank was then paused with a very wicked and devious smile on her face. The beast's mention of feeding reminded her she has not fed in some time. In the subliminal Qui was everywhere, since, it was made of Qui. Here, there was little to no Qui, except, for what they brought with them.

Over her shoulder, she asked, "would mind if I feed on this - Frank? He would be - intact, albeit, he might be a bit catatonic for a while."

Although he was relieved by his bosses remark, he soon, became horrified by hers. The horror on Frank's face was classic, as well as, his speechlessness. That smile turned into a smirk as she narrowed her eyes focusing on Frank, while waiting for the others answer.

But, before the beast could answer, another trap tripped. She looked skyward and rolled her eyes. Well that could solve the problem, if it was hers.

[readlliea]

She certainly talked strange, though that was her own thing.

"Well I've never met you either, so it makes sense for you to have  never met me." Beastblood replied. "I am Beastblood."

Watching her, it was clear she was some sort of magic user. This talk of dreams though..it made his mind stir. Some sort of Dream walker perhaps? That or she very well came from dreams. A interesting concept, that had potential but potential she was probably capable of using herself. With Frank landing on the ground, Beastblood could very well see that they were scared. Good. Maybe it would serve a lesson to him after all?

"Catatonic is fine, he'll survive." Beastblood remarked as he took a couple of steps away from the two when he paused.

There the sound of the trap going off, his ears twitched to it before a second sound went off. A strangled like cry that he easily recalled what it was sent the man running toward it. As he rounded the corner easily, his red eyes went wide to see the other man he brought with him strung up in the air. However a sharp object was protruding from their chest, having clearly gone through their heart as they rasped for air. It was a obvious fatal wound...even Beastblood knew that as he stood there, staring up at the man.

"Thomas...." Beastblood muttered, the strung up man slowly got their gaze to land on the other.

"B...b...." Thomas stammered, clearly afraid but then again...who wasn't afraid of death?

The smell of blood came to his nose, making his body want to give in even more to the desire to feed. Yet, something in him still kept him sane. The shere fact that one of the people he actually formed a bond to was now...pierced through the chest on death's door. Course, Thomas's body went still after a moment. Eyes glazing over as they went limp. Beastblood's facial features hardened as he looked down, his red eyes glaring at the bottom portion of the trap where a puddle of blood was forming. Not caring whose trap this was, he reached out and grabbed a hold of it in two different sports. With his inhuman strength, he attempted to bring it down.

[Naisiskhrae]

Naisis rolled her eyes and smiles as she headed over to where Frank was, "I am not surprised. You are the first person in - over a thousand years - that I have allowed to see me. I usually appear as an illusion of some kind. But, I can assure you, I have been here hundred of times and have met thousands of creatures."

She reached Frank and released him, while holding him in a stasis before continuing, "Naisiskhrea which translates to Nightstar."

Naisis pondered just what kind of dream to perform, a simple zombie one should do. With a little flair of her horn, Frank's flesh dissolved into dust leaving him tattered clothes and dead flesh hanging from old bones. His cry of terror came out as an gurgled moan. She put a spell on him to follow her.

She, to herd another trap trip. Again, the question of 'Just how many did Jack make?' popped up in her mine. She headed to the newest trap with Frank shambling behind her moaning. To anybody else frank did not look any different then he looked earlier, since, what happened was all in his mind. And, when he woke up, he would only remember a bad dream, but, not what it was.

As she headed over to where Beastblood was trying to rip the trap apart, she could see the sudden buildup of Qui. Another trap was forming! With inhuman speed and strength, she rushed over and pushed him aside, sending him sailing, and threw herself into the trap. This was intentional, She had seen the traps from the outside, she wanted to see in from the inside. Being composed of Qui and not designed to hold her, she was not afraid of being trapped by it.

From her examination, she was able to determine it was designed to carefully hold its captive and capable of expanding to almost four time its size.

Flaring her horn, she dissolved both traps, landing on her hooves with a thock while the other goon crumpling to the puddle of his own blood. She glared with contempt at the crumpled form. Not because he was dead, but that Jack had killed him for no real reason other than to be bate for Beastblood.

Heading over to where Beastblood had landed and offered him a hand with poor Frank shambling towards her..

"I believe, that was his 'Plan B'. If the first trap failed, this was his sure thing. But, it dose reveal what he knew about you. One: you care about your minions to avenge them, at least, to get them out of the trap. Most villains I know would not have bothered. Two: that you are some sort of shapeshifter. That trap was designed to accommodate someone much larger that you are."

Looking at him, she added, "So, who would know you well enough to know that and have enough wealth to pay Jack's price? The last I heard, it was a two tons of gold."

[readlliea]

"Well then, I have to wonder what makes me worthy of such a change of your norm?" Beastblood retorted, ears flicking.

Black claws dragged against the metal of the trap as he snarled, anger fueling him as the feral nature he was well known for took advantage of that. His 'hair' stood up on end as the metal was starting to bend a small bite. Sturdy trap surprisingly. Alas his progress was lost as he was slammed into by the female he had been conversing with. The man landed on his hands and feet, his body arching to make this position more comfortable as a far more feral growl left them, ears going back for a few minutes as Naisishrea held her hand to help him up before he seemed to come back to his sense enough to stop growling as he stood up on his own.

The claws at the ends of his finger tips shortened slightly and his tail gave a rather agitated look; it looked longer and more fuller than it did a few minutes ago. Oh you could classify him as a shapeshifter..it was a right thing to call him. A large monster beast held within a small form...yep, shapeshifter.

"I'm not like MOST villains." Beastblood growled out. "And like I said, there's many who would stoop to that level. The Heroes League could've done it, tired of fighting me all the time and got outside help. Rather contridictive to their morals but at one point, even they would lose that. And then, there's the people hired by organizations that I haven't learned anything about in order to make em back off."

The man would walk past Nightstar, his long tail dragging behind him as he came to a halt in front of the dead man who served him. Picking him up, it was a odd display. A man with a slim build, picking up a heavier man...a dead body at that. Well with inhuman strength, it was easy to do it.

"So what is it your seeking out of this? I doubt you were to help me out, as you were chasing you're own prey, no?" Beastblood questioned.

[Naisiskhrae]

Nasis, debating what to do next, released Frank who lied down where he was and fell asleep. She walked over to where Jack lay disliking what she might have to do when Beastblood made his comment.

"Don't flatter yourself. If Jack here had not gotten killed, I would not have shown myself."

With her back facing Beastblood, a small smile curled the corners of her lips, "truth be told, you are part of the blame. If you had been caught, I would not be in this predicament."

Turning to face him, with a small sly smile on her lips, she continued, "although, hearing you are not like most villains make my job easier." Her shoulders slumped as she looked down and sighed while shaking her head, "the way I botched this assignment - it might be better if I just stay here."

Watching him carry the corpse like a sack of flour and seeing him, almost, become his beast form made her glad she did not have to fight him.

She had turned back to the corpse of Jack and knelt beside it and rolled him over, face-up, when Beastblood asks about her reason to be here. Since he seemed to be in the center of it, he deserved an explanation.

"Someone has invaded the Subliminal and the only clue to who they are was they hired Jack here to capture someone. And that someone happens to be you."

With her dagger, she cut herself drawing forth that black blood. Dipping her finger in it she traced several symbols on Jack's forehead. Standing up and stepping back, she warned, "you might want to stay back. This will get messy."

She disliked dream-walking a corpse since it took a lot out of her, but, she had no real alternative. Throwing back her head and clutching her hand she flared her horn. The bright smoke and fire cone from her forehead extended for several feet, before vanishing. In that time Jack's head seems to vaporize into a cloud of bubbles of different sizes and colors. Naisis clutched a nearby crate to keep her from falling. Still breathing heavily, she strengthened up and headed into the cloud. Finding what she hoped would shed some light on the situation, a well defined black bubble. She touched it. The cloud was replaced with an ethereal bubble.

In the center was Jack seated at a table sipping on a glass of something, probably in a bar from the sounds and shadows in the area. Soon one of the shadows entered into view, a well-dressed man with a briefcase. Reaching into his vest pocket, he pulled out a torn playing card and placed it on the table. Jack matched it with the other half. The man opened up his briefcase and handed Jack a manila folder. Opening it he saw two pictures: one of a younger Beastblood in prisoner clothes, the other of Beastblood in his full beast form.

"He was a major investment for us and we want him back."

The image faded since she could hold no longer. Collapsing she laid there a while before setting up and looking up to Beastblood, "that does explain a lot, you are, probably, a created being."

On a whim, she searched the headless corpse of Jack. As she suspected, there was not much on him, but, what she found was quite useful: a torn half of a playing card, but, not the same as the one in the dream, and one of these metal keys used by hotels with a tag with the hotel's name and room number. This key had the address and room number.

She stood up and smiled, "maybe this will not be as bad as it looked."

[readlliea]

Beastblood chuckled at her response, rather pleased to see she had a unique retort for him. Most of the time that's what it seemed like. Every hero flocking to him cause he was always the problem. The one causing the source of dismay and chaos. So to hear such a response from her that to not 'flater himself' it pleased some side of him. It was different from the normal spill of words he heard. Different was desired at this point. Everything was starting to feel...the same.

"Yes well, I tend to have that chain of reaction following me around." Beastblood remarked, his ears twitching as he watched her.

With his remaining henchmen out could, he stepped over to them and poked em. The breathing that left them further showed they were alive. Good. He didn't need anyone else under his employe dying .Sure arrested was one thing, but they would be alive. Able to live another day and either serve the sentence to get out. Wait for a jail break or hell, there has been a time when Beastblood has freed his employees from the bland jail cells.

"Well I have no real clue what that is prior to meeting you." Beastblood responded as he walked over to her, tilting his head as he observed her use her abilities.

The strange glow from her horn and the bubbles that emerged from Jack were curious. There was almost a moment where he pondered steadying his strange companion but...she no doubt wouldn't like to be touched. So he kept his hands to himself and let his red gaze fall onto the bubble that seemed to contain a memory. The common sounds of a bar echoed around him, ears twitching as he too searched this...'interesting' place. The shadow who would do business was a let down, no features that could be seen. And yet...it was the photo that made Beastblood lean into the memory more.

The attire wasn't just any old prisoner clothes, the fur around his eyes was already there. No no...that was the attire of the mental hospital that he had been put in when he was subdued the first time by heroes. A clawed hand reached for the image but it faded away as the memory did, a growl of dissatisfaction leaving him. His tail bristled slightly as it flicked behind him.  His displeasure blinded him to the fact that his odd companion collapsed when the memory faded away.

"Truthfully, I never doubted that." Beastblood remarked. "No memory of a life prior to this, no memories of youth or family. Oh yes, it's obvious stuff was tampered with up in here, so why wouldn't my entire existence with this other form be a creation as well..."

Folding his arms, he glared down at the corpse. Displeasure and anger easy boiling through him as steady as the blood flow he had inside of him.  Ah yes but how much of him was the product of manipulation? Was he always suffering form some illness? Was this hunger for blood just a worsened version of whatever was wrong with him before? Or was he created in a test tube from teh ground up? Nothing but a monster to begin with? So many ways this could go...and no ideas to it. Frustrating...it was all so...frustrating.

"So then...where does that hotel key go to in terms of hotel?" Beastblood questioned. "Cause I'm going there."

The hotel would be a rather bland and run down one. Why did hitmen or any sort hold themselves up in these crummy locations? Truthfully that didn't really matter in the long run. At least it was easier to get in as well, Beastblood wouldn't have to deal with a time limit due to cops. With key in hand, they could just open the door without any issue. And with it being a much poorer location, Beastblood didn't have to rely on his henchmen to get things done; granted the one was still out cold and well Beastblood wanted answers more than anything. All that stood in the way currently was the door and the one being holding the key.

"Ladies first." Beastblood said, as he gestured to the door as well, he wasn't going to be a idiot and try to take the key from her.

[Naisiskhrae]

Naisiskhrea looked over the place, including her new friend(? - time will tell). There was one thing left to do. She did not like leaving a mess, especially one with dead bodies and blood. With a final flair of her horn, both bodies, as well as that pool, poofed into dark smoke and dissipated, with Beastblood, Frank and her remaining in the room.

Looking at the name tag on the key she rose a brow. It did not sound like someplace he would choose.

"On The Warf Hotel. At least, it is not far from here. Although it does not sound like a place he would stay."

Still, it could have been a ploy to throw them off his trail. She pondered the battle with him earlier. There were other options other than attacking her. He must have known she had a deflection shell around her. Was he so afraid of them that he would rather meet death? Just who was she searching for that was capable of generating that kind of fear?

Oh, he was going there even if she had to drag him. But, from the sounds of it, that would not be necessary. She walked over to where Frank was and gave him a gentle kick, (revealing her golden hoof) hopefully enough to wake him.

"Time to go."

She took one last look over the place before headed to the door. Only to realize, Beastblood knew this city better than anyone. She needed him, but she did not have to trust him. She had few friends she trusted and, at the moment, Beastblood was not one of them. Taking out her dagger, she cut the link between the key and tag handing the tag to Beastblood.

"You know this place better than I do. You take the lead. I will handle any disguising needed."

Stepping aside, she gestured for him to take the lead.