Discovery in the Bayou

[Caelitus]

Candra looked at the young woman, the tears seemed to make her uncomfortable. "I think I'm going to go and check on that window and make sure everything is alright." With that she left, quickly.

Vincent sat in the chair he was in earlier, "It's ok, theres no need to cry. None of this is your fault. I promise. I would like to find out a little bit more about you though and what you meant by more of your kind. Have you never met another mage? How long have you been on your own?"

The sun began to peek through the window.

[Liana]

"Mage that's what I'm called?" she said unsure of herself. 'So that's what I am' she thought to herself. "I've been on my own ever since I can remember. I ran away from my last home when I 13 but even when I lived in the houses I took care of myself. No, one understood me. She looked up and gave him a half smile. "What exactly is a mage" she asked. "But before you tell me, I think I should tell you something about that lady before she comes back. Her thoughts aren't exactly clear but what I do get is not good. You should not trust her."

[Caelitus]

"You don't really have to fear Candra, at least not in Baton Rouge. Candra is a Werewolf and that would probably be why you may get some strange thoughts from her. Baton Rouge is peaceful though at least for the most part. Besides it would take a lot more than her to pose a threat to a Mage like myself." He gave a her a wink.

Hoping she felt at least somewhat at ease he continued, "So to answer your question, yes you are a a Mage. Mages are just regular people who for some reason, whether it be genetic or something else a little more supernatural, which is what I believe, but we have a connection to what is referred to as Magic. Your power lies under what is called the Mind Arcanum. Which is why you can pick up thoughts from people. You are flinging all this magic around you at all times, and you don't even realize it." Vincent chuckled a bit to himself.

"You must have questions, or at the very least you must be hungry. If you're up to it lets go get some breakfast and you can ask any question you'd like. I would ask though just for politeness sake to try and tone down the mind reading. If you can do that I'll make sure to help you out to the best of my ability. So what do you say?"

[Liana]

Arianna stomach grumble/?d. 'She knew she probably needed to eat soon. And she knew what he was saying he believed to be honest.' She smiled weakly at him and said "breakfast would be fine." 'If things didn't work out she could always escape from wherever they ate. It would be easier then escaping from this house anyways. And maybe she would get some answers in the meantime.'

"About turning off my powers that's not going to happen. I don't trust her and as long as I don't they are staying on." Arianna 'knew she came off a little harsh but what was she suppose to say to him Oh by the way I have no clue how to use my powers. She would feel ridiculous and she didn't exactly trust him fully yet.'

She stumbled out of bed and said "lead on." And as she passed Candra she gave on of the direst looks she could possibly give. Turning to the man but not giving eye contact she asked "I didn't catch you name"?

[Caelitus]

He knew she didn't quite trust him yet, he couldn't help feeling responsible for her. "Alright, I know a diner only a block over. I think you'll like it."

They left the house and he smiled to himself at the look she gave to Candra, he couldn't blame her, werewolves were very unpredictable. He turned to the large woman as he got to the sidewalk. "Candra, we're going for breakfast, when you leave can you start spreading word for people to keep on their toes. I don't want our problem to get out of hand here."

She nodded her approval, "I'll leave word with our nighttime friends too, and my boys will be keeping an eye on things." She pointed to the two young men who had finished replacing the broken front window.

Vincent lead them down the street to the diner, "My name, is Vincent. I have a name as well that Mage's call me, Anima." They arrived at the diner. He guided her to a booth near the back in a quiet corner.

He sat down across for her. He closed his eyes and whispered to himself. "There now we can talk with a little more privacy, I've spelled the booth so no one else can hear us." A waiter came by and dropped off two cups of coffee and two menus. "You can order whatever you'd like. Now that you know my name though I'd like to ask, whats yours, and what has brought you to Baton Rouge, and most importantly what were you doing sneaking around in my house?" He stared at her with his piercing grey eyes, awaiting an answer.

[Liana]

"I will start with the simplest of the questions, my name is Arianna Arlo." She quickly looked over the menu trying to decide on something to eat. She was using it to buy time she really didn't want to tell him the truth or the full story for that matter. Without looking up from the menu she continued her reply. "I saved this kid's life last year. There was this big fire and I so happened to be passing by. The mother was screaming about her baby, but I could tell the firemen had no clue where he was. So I told them, but they didn't listen so I ran in grabbed him and ran out." Staring up from her menu she met Vincent's gaze and smiled slightly. "I knew where he was not with normal abilities but with something else. I had this sudden need to find out who I was. So after hearing rumors for years about strange people in New Orleans I decided to head here." She looked back down at the menu. 'She so desperately wanted to tell him more but knew that it probably would scare so didn't continue with the why she was here.'

The waiter came and took their orders. After they ordered Arianna continued. "I wish I could say that me being at your house was because I knew you were a mage, but it wasn't. Most people in this world want money. I heard that you were rich so I figured I could borrow some money. I could pay people like us to tell me more about myself. I know it's stupid thinking about it now but I NEEDED to know. I'm sorry and I would understand if you never trusted me again but I have a feeling I found what I was looking for."

The drinks arrived and so they sat a few moments in silence. Arianna broke the silence with a question that had been nagging her "What is this hunter and is as dangerous as he sounds?"

[Caelitus]

He watched her as she spoke, he wasn't surprised as to why she was in his house. He even chuckled a little bit at her suggestion of paying a mage to tell her more.

"Mages don't take money from other mages." He smiled wryly at her.

The waiter brought the meals, and he began eating. "Now to answer your question about Hunters, thats a little bit more complicated."

He glanced around the room and continued, "Hunters, are just people. Some of them can be very dangerous. Some hunt Werewolves, some hunt Vampires. The one in town now, based on what Candra told me, doesn't have much experience with werewolves. Not to mention the fact he seems to have come to town about the same time you did. I can assume he's hunting Mages in particular. How dangerous this one is. I'm not sure yet. Quite frankly I would suggest you stick close at least until this Hunter is dealt with."

He didn't want to scare her but he also didn't want her running off just yet. He was hoping his warning and the fact that he was a fellow mage would put her a little at ease.

[Liana]

She finished the rest of her meal quickly.Eating like it was going to be her last. As she chugged the last of her coffee she glanced out the window. What she saw there shocked her. She didn't let the shock fall across her face. "excuse a moment I'm have to use the ladies room." She got up and headed towards the washroom. She noticed a back door and she walked through it. As much as she wanted to dull down her second sense she couldn't. She 'shoved open the door and ducked quickly.' The large piece of wood meant for her face rick-shaded off the door. She quickly scanned through his thoughts knowing his next move decided to throw a kick to the knee. He stumbles back a bit, but he remains on his feet. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." A 'shocked look crossed her face.' He knew that she had grabbed the pocket knife from her shoe. Maybe he was like her. But no, his thoughts said different. He 'reached into his pocket and threw a piece of paper on the ground. He started to walk away. ' Arianna 'bent down and picked up the paper.' It read "Stop looking for what you seek." Arianna glanced up at the stranger. She heard a loud ringing noise and instantaneously dropped to the ground. The silence of his brain told her he was dead. Far of where she heard the banging noise she saw the bushes rustle. And then a figure run off. She heard the squeak of the door behind her. She smiled, if it had been any other person she would have run.

[Caelitus]

He watched as she ran off towards the back of the diner. Not thinking much of it, he glanced at his coffee which was already lukewarm. Snapping his fingers steam began to rise from it as he warmed it up. He drank it down just as he heard it. Unmistakably a gun shot, the guy behind the counter looked at him and met his eyes as he reached for the shotgun he kept hidden behind the counter. Shaking his head slightly, he got up.

Heading towards the back door, hoping he wasn't going to find the poor young mage slumped dead in the street.

He stepped out the back door slowly, carefully, and looked around. She was on the ground, still, but alive. "Don't do that you gave me a fright."

He saw the body of a man lying on the ground. Blood pooling around his lifeless body. He reached into the man's pocket and grabbed his wallet and put into the inside of his jacket. When he pulled his hand out he pulled out a pouch. He opened the pouch and pulled out a piece of chalk and circled the body ensuring the blood is inside the circle. He then dumped the remainder of the contents of the pouch onto the corpse.

He turned to the young girl, "Cover your nose this is going to smell. A lot."

He put the chalk back into the pouch and put it back inside his jacket. He pulled a match out and it lit spontaneously, and he threw it on the man. A wild blue and purple flame sprung forth from the powder that he dumped on the man. Vincent held his hand over the flame and it grew in intensity, burning hotter and brighter. The smell of the burning man was overwhelming but he stood there staring at it holding his hand over it.

A minute or two passed at most and nothing remained but char and the chalk line. He whistled sharply and the waiter from inside came out and hosed the area down. As the man went back inside Vincent handed him the wallet, "Make sure to pass this along to the pack, I want to know who that was, and why they were here."

He turned to the still startled young woman, "Now breakfast I suppose is over, so whats say you and I get back to my place and help you a little with controlling your magic." He gave her a smile.

[Liana]

"YOU WANT TO HELP ME CONTROL MY POWERS? WHEN A MAN JUST GOT SHOT AND KILLED IN FRONT OF ME? AND THEN YOU MADE HIM DISAPPEAR? Then she flashed him a smile "I knew I would like you. And don't worry nobody heard."

Breakfast had completely changed her mood. She knew deep down it wasn't good but decided to ignore the feeling in her gut. Yes, she had seen people die before but most people's stomach's couldn't handle it especially after breakfast. "You handled that too calmly for that to be the first time you've been around a dead body. And as much I need to be trained, we have other issues. You may want the pack to handle that, but I for one can't let that happen. Be right back." She ran back into the dinner. And within a few moments ran back out. "Okay, breakfast is paid up let's go. And I'm guessing that waiter is part of the pack?"

She practically half dragged half ran down the street to his house. As they neared the door, she stopped and turned to Vincent. "Wait, two things do you own a computer and a car. We are going on a road trip. I just need to check something on map quest. And then we can go, and if you don't want to come that's fine. But I want to find out why they are after me and more importantly what they are trying to tell me. And I can explain more in the car, we are wasting time. We need to find a place called the "Hidden Motel. And I'm guessing it's not that hidden. I got a flash of a motel sign among other things. I feel that it's important somehow."