"And thus, you understand what is to be done." the eerie voice says, as Tempest enters the thick dark realm. "And now, you must obtain knowledge humans do not have."
"Such as?" Tempest asked.
The laughter echoes throughout the dark realm.
"Humans choose not to believe what is among them. They dismiss them as mythical creatures." the eerie voice said.
Tempest's eyes squint underneath his tinted shades. His thoughts race with what was just said.
"Yes. Let that sink in, Reaper. For you will walk amongst the humans knowing what they do not." the eerie voice said. "However, for some of them, what they do not know will become known to them. The prophecy is upon us."
"Prophecy?" Tempest asked.
"Your forefather before you. An excellently skilled reaper he was. A thousand years ago, he was sent to maintain balance between the eternal battle between the vampires and the werewolves." the eerie voice spoke.
"All mythical creatures are affected by this ongoing war. Yes, all of them. Every kind you can think of, you must acknowedge does exist. Your forefather was sent to stop an elder vampire from obtaining the Amulet Of Legends.
He travelled to their hidden village and fell in love. He was almost betrayed by her, as she believed if she bit him, he would protect them. He slayed them all, however...other elders know of the Amulet Of Legends and the cycle of time is nearly complete for another chance at it. You will stop the elder vampires from obtaining the Amulet Of Legends."
"And of da werewolves?" Tempest, the Reaper asked.
The eerie laughter rumbles through the dark realm.
"Do you think the immortal enemies of the vampires are going to sit back and let them take the Amulet Of Legends? An epic battle is upon them come the next full moon." the eerie voice said. "You must protect the Amulet Of Legends from being taken by either of them."
"Slay all who attempt to take it." Tempest understands.
"Yes. Do not be distracted from your agenda, as your forefather before you. He came close to becoming his own fate. Follow destiny, Reaper. Your work is never done."
Tempest steps through the darkness with his knowledge.
Tempest appears in a garden. His arrival silent, his prescence undetected. It is night and he begins to notice his eyes are opened to the fact of all creatures that do exist. He sees fairies fluttering amongst the flowers. In the open fields to his left, he sees a unicorn grazing in the moonlight. It's head lifts to show it's brilliant silver eyes. It sniffs the air and begins to grumble uneasily, sensing his arrival. It gallops away, alerting the fairies buzzing around the garden to stop and take notice of the fleeing unicorn.
One fairy looks over to the edge of the garden and sees the draped blade of the scythe over the left shoulder of a figure in a trenchcoat.
"REAPER!" the fairy shouts, and a flutter of fairies throughout the garden all rise above the growth to see him standing there.
"He sees! He sees!" another fairy shouts.
"The time is upon us!" a third fairy cries.
One fairy flutters right up in front of Tempest's tinted shades.
"What are you doing here!?" she asks.
Tempest's eyes narrow from her illuminance, as little sparkles of light radiate around her.
"I protect the prophecy." Tempest said.
"Oh, is that what you call it?" she says sarcastically.
Tempest sneers.
"And what would ya call it?" Tempest asks.
"A slaughter." she says, folding her arms and glaring at the Reaper.
"They choose ta fight over it." Tempest reminds the little fairy. "It must not fall inta da wrong hands."
"And what if it fell in your hands, Reaper?" the fairy asks.
Tempest's eyebrows crinkle with this question. He had not even considered this option.
A question, he was not sure how to answer...
"So many questions from such a small creature." Tempest teased.
"Oh, I'll show you!" the fairy exclaimed.
A brilliant light fills the air. Sparkles dance out from the source and Tempest's eyes squint underneath his tinted shades. As the light begins to fade, a woman, with wings, approaches and soon he is face to face with one of the angelic fairies.
"Nice trick." Tempest said.
"Trick?" she asks. "Heck with the trick! How about my outfit?"
"Who are you?" Tempest asked. "And why do ya question me so?"
She sees that he is not going to comment on her outfit and sighs.
"I am Torrence." she said.
Tempest nods.
"Well, Torrence...ya obviously know why I'm here...so why dont'cha lemme get on with it." Tempest said softly.
Torrence steps up and gives Tempest a hug.
"I know why you are here." Torrence said. "Do not stray from your path."
Torrence steps away from Tempest and smiles.
Tempest nods.
All of the other fairies begin to flutter around behind Torrence like illuminated hummingbirds, darting this way and that.
The air fills with a tune.
Tempest's chin rises, as his ears are filled with it.
"What is that?" Tempest asks.
"Oh...that." Torrence's eyes roll to the ground. "Well...that..."
Tempest steps to the side of Torrence and begins to cross the garden. His scythe blade glistens in the moonlight and he notices. He extends a leather gloved hand and wills it to be gone. It begins to dissipate as prismatic smoke untill it is gone from view. He crosses the garden slowly and carefully, pausing behind a tree, as the garden opens up into an outdoor theater.
There, he hears the source of these magnificent tunes that are magic to his ears.
A woman is sat in the empty orchestra chairs and is playing her violin, as if the moonlight were her spotlight.
Tempest admires her talent from afar, her back to him, he emerges from behind the tree and begins to cross the stage platform of the outdoor theater. He comes close, but not close enough to startle her when she realizes she is not alone. He stops at the piano and gently lifts the piano key cover.
She plays with passion and commitment and Tempest watches with awe, as her bow crosses the strings back and forth, each note fills his ears with serenity and happiness. He sits at the piano bench and begins to recall a time in his former life, when he was taught what all of these keys were. His eyes momentarily close behind his tinted shades and hears her notes fill the air. His leather gloved hands hover over the piano keys a moment...and begins to play in tune for her.
She opens her eyes, when she begins to hear the piano keys, however she does not stop playing. She continues the song, noticing the piano notes are in tune with hers. She smiles at this mystery and finishes the song.
She gently places her violin and bow in the case beside her and rises, turning towards the piano. Her eyes sparkle in the moonlight.
"They say that music...is an expression of da soul." Tempest says, as he rises and closes the piano cover over the keys.
"I didn't realize I had an audience." she smiles.
Out of the corner of his eye, Tempest can see the fairies amongst the flowers, trying to stay out of sight. Torrence has gone back into fairy form and her blonde hair can be seen peeking over a red rose.
"You play very well." Tempest said. "I heard ya from across da garden."
"Thank you." she smiles, as she closes her violin case and tucks it under her arm. "I dont believe we have met."
"Tempest." he says and extends a leather gloved hand.
"Miss Music." she shyly smiles, but her eyes do tend to find his through the tinted shades.
A formal man to woman handshake. Tempest leans forward and kisses the top of her hand.
"Well met." Tempest nods.
"Nice to meet you, too..."Miss Music says, as her eyes travel to investigate his unusual clothing. "...Tempest."
"It's gettin' late." Tempest glances up at the moon. "Perhaps, I can walk ya home?"
Tempest extends an elbow to Miss Music.
Miss Music is taken by this courtesy gesture that seemed long forgotten in this day and age.
"Why that would be great, Tempest." Miss Music smiles, tucks her arm in his and they walk off of the stage platform.
The walk is pleasant through the streets of Moove. The night air is not too warm and not too cool, seemed just right for the moment.
Tempest walks arm in arm with Miss Music, as she pauses in front her home.
"This is it." Miss Music smiles.
Tempest pats Miss Music's arm, as he lets it go and turns to face her.
"Was a pleasure..."Tempest began to speak, when there was a bottle crash from across the way.
His reflexes superb, he spins to view a club across the street. The gathering in the doorway were heading back inside before any looks could be exchanged.
"Pretty excitin' place over there er what?" Tempest asked.
"Oh, people just talk about that place a little too much for me." Miss Music sighed.
"If ya prefer an empty theater as company, it can't be good." Tempest said. "Whadda they say about it?"
"Rumor has it that..."Miss Music paused. "...oh, you'll just think I'm silly."
"Try me." Tempest returns his eyes to Miss Music.
"They say that vampires hang out in there." Miss Music said, her eyes kinda dance along the ground and then back up at Tempest.
"I see." Tempest nods.
"You think I'm crazy yet?" Miss Music asked, wondering if she had scared this new stranger.
"Never." Tempest smiled.
Miss Music smiles.
"Well, Miss Music...it was a pleasure ta meet yas." Tempest nods.
"Likewise, Tempest." Miss Music said.
"Perhaps, we shall meet again?" Tempest asked.
"That would be great. Maybe I'll see you at the theater again?" Miss Music asked.
"Sounds like a plan." Tempest agreed, as Miss Music smiles, waves and begins up her walkway to her home.
Tempest watches, as she enters her home safely and closes the door. His head turns to see the club across the street. His eyes dance across the front of the club and the various markings and scrollings across it. Within it, he sees the secret symbols that represent a safe haven for the nightwalkers.
His black steel toed combat boot crunches the broken bottle underneath his feet, as he ascends the steps and reaches for the club door handle.
