The Fortress Grounds

HIGH ALERT. NO TRESPASSING.

The Bloodhounds lay within. Anyone who isn't strong will die.

A massive tower lies within a small complex at the edge of Deepwood Forest.

Here are the headquarters of the Bloodhound Organization.

The concrete buildings mask cell-like rooms, and a greater purpose.

Torture chambers and a training school lay within.

Evil seems to radiate from this spot.

Gizamaluke sat in a room with a one-way mirror overlooking the room where Vetiis lay. He chuckled, waiting for Svulkaine to appear, and he was sure it would happen.

The man makes such an effort to be unpredictable, but he just doesn't get that he's the same as everyone else...

Blake saw an end to the trees in front of him and happily brought his horse into the sun and light again. Why did it have to come to this.

Freezing in his spot Blake saw where he was and went pale as a ghost.

"Why are you here, young one?"

A hand fell on Blake's shoulder.

"This is no place for a girl your age."

Angry but unable to express it Blake turned to face the person who had touched him. "I'm no girl. My name is Blake and I just wondered out of the forest. I saw light so Iwent toward it." Blake said calmly.

Why the hell did I have to find this place of all places I could have found.

As Blake turned, he would likely begin to experience an inexplicable fear that would incapacitate him to the point of immobility.

"I can feel that your anatomy is different than mine. Don't try to fool me like that anymore. It's not conducive to a good friendship."

In her view stood a tall, slender man with jet black hair that almost obscured his bloodstained-gray eyes. His hands were clawed, upon closer inspection, and he had fangs sticking out of his large grin, which one could only compare to a crocodile's. He looked incredibly similar to Luthier, except for that he was shirtless and wearing only a pair of tattered pants.

"In any case, I really suggest you leave here now."

When Blake looked into those eyes a fear he had never felt before passed through him. He couldn't move. Clearing his thorat Blake said, "My anatomy might be different but that doesn't change the way I was raised. And I would like to leave but I can not go back the way I came. If you would please, allow me to go around your fortress so I may continue on the opposite side, it would be greatly appreciated." How Blake was able to say all the he did he will never know. He just hoped his voice didn't give away the fear the felt. Though he was sure it could easily be read in his eyes.

Svulkaine chuckled.

"Kid, you have a heart of steel."

He grinned wider.

"But this ain't my fortress. On the contrary, it's about to get pretty damn bloody. If you truly have nowhere else to go, you can come with me, but I can't guarantee your safety, and I'm not going to protect you. Understand?"

Smiling Blake felt satisfied that someone had said he wasn't going to protect him.
"That works for me. I have nothing to go back too. And I don't need or want to be protected. So, thank you. What exactly is your plan then? If you don't mind me asking."
For some reason when Svulkaine smiled and laughed it was early but slightly comforting. Feeling more at ease Blake allowed himself to relax.

Svulkaine looked at the tower, still grinning.

"I'm gonna go fuck some shit up, and they're going to regret ever testing me."

Gizamaluke felt a wave of fear, followed by a wave of excitement.

He's... Here...

The only one I ever lost to... Will be crushed...

Smirking Blake started to place his extra blades on his body. "I'll follow your lead."

Svulkaine looked back at her.

"If you have any qualms of death, you probably shouldn't attack. However, if you're ready to die, come with me."

He took a step up, wondering casually if he'd hear another one behind him.

Pausing only for a moment Blake started to follow behind him after releasing his horse and letting it go back into the forest, hopefully to find it's way back home. He had no qualms with death and he has nothing left. Blake followed Svulkaine.

Svulkaine cackled.

"So be it. Boy, we'll be kings or underground."

He turned the corner into the main corridor of the fortress complex, looking at a pair of guards and pulling his hand towards himself. Usually, he would prefer to toy with his opponents, but this time, he didn't have time to waste.

Their blood sailed from their bodies in chaotic beauty as it pooled around Svulkaine's back, forming into a flowing red robe. His teeth grew, and he was more monster than human now. The craving was returning, slowly but steadily.

"Come here, boy."

Feeling the blood drain from Blake as he watched what Svulkaine did he was very glad to be on his side. Listening Blake went to him.

Svulkaine moved his hand towards Blake's arm, trying to pull it closer and bite into it. He needed fuel.

Blake, of course, would suddenly feel that this was a very good idea.

Giving him his arm Blake thought nothing of it. So long as he could still fight after this is what had to be done. He didn't know why he was so ok with it but he was so he didn't fight it.

Svulkaine bit the arm, and drew blood from it. The experience would probably be pretty painful for Blake, but not terrible.

As Svul's eyes flooded with blood completely, he turned to Blake, leaving him a bloody kiss on the lips.

"For that gift... I will show you chaos."

He cackled wildly as his cape of blood shot out in multiple directions, skewering several guards and students. They were all the same to him, and they all began to flow towards his bloodwork. He continued to walk, looking around for more targets, and then his eyes centered.

"There he is..."

He couldn't see the man, but he could feel the heartbeat. It was unmistakable... Angel's blood running with that of a demon...

"I am Svulkaine, the Reaver, and I am chaos. Gizamaluke, bring me the child of Zegan Zephiel or I will end you slowly."

A river of blood surrounded Svulkaine as Gizamaluke stepped out of the building.

"I've been waiting for you, Svulkaine. You're lucky I didn't take your son instead..."

Svulkaine growled.

"If you touch him, I will hunt you until the end of days, through life and death, to ensure you are never at rest."

"Touchy, aren't we? Seems like it's a soft spot... And who's the runt you brought with you this time? It's not your usual pet... Did he fall ill?"

Wincing as he bit into his arm Blake waited until he finished. When he left the bloody kiss Blake looked at him wide eyed. When he saw what he was doing Blake thought only for a moment, what did I do?
Following behind, slightly dizzy but ok otherwise, Blake watched what chaos left in it's wake. It was beautiful but absolutley terrifying at the same time. Blake could not muster any words as he stopped behind Svulkaine and he asked for someone.

Glaring at the man that had tuanted him Blake was ready to pull a blade out but simplly rested his hand on it. He might be able to spar ok with Luthier but even he knew he was no match for this one.

"The bastard son of a rat dragon has no right to question me."

Gizamaluke's composure was lost.

"You know nothing of my life. I'll kill you where you stand, Svulkaine."

"Bring it."

Gizamaluke drew a fibrous whip from his hip, cracking it out and whipping it around toward the pair. Svulkaine ducked underneath, definitely aware of the power of that weapon, and shot a blood spike for Giz. Giz jumped, pulling his right leg into the air over him in a flip and dusting the ground with the whip. Svulkaine drew up a wall of blood to block the weapon.

The wall of blood exploded, shattered with the force of the whip and the microfibers full of dragon's blood which had buried their way inside.

"Boy, don't let that weapon touch you."

Svulkaine aimed a pool of blood where Gizamaluke would land.

Blake saw what that whip could do. He had never seen it in action but his father had told him of many things. Blake took his hand off the blade it was resting on and reached behind him and pulled out a 4 inch dagger that came out of the handle at a 45 degree angel. His father had also given him this. If he had to, Blake could plunge this into his heart and as long as the dagger was part of him he would gain a strength and durability he had never dreamed of. He had never used it before, understandably so since you had to plunge the dagger into your heart. It's not a pleasent experience. But seeing the two of them fight . . . it just might be the only Blake will come out of this alive.
Blake backed up a few steps to get out of the whip's reach and tried to think what he could do.
I don't stand a chance as I am now. Even without that whip rat boy would destroy me. I may have to use this dagger sooner than I thought. Blake's grip on the handle tightend as he looked at the blade and prepared himself mentally for what he was going to do.

Gizamaluke landed with spin, the whip dusting the blood below him and causing it all to explode. He smiled calmly at Svulkaine, waiting for the next onslaught as the whip coiled around him.

Svulkaine was already ready, having drawn a separate pool over the man. He brought it down, and grinned.

As Gizamaluke blocked the spikes of blood moving down at him, the whip's needles exploded, falling down around him. The force of the explosions pushed his body down into the ground, where Svulkaine's blood had been. It didn't cause him pain, but Svulkaine pulled the undercurrent of blood up into a round cage for Gizamaluke's whip.

"Careful, one move and all of your scales will explode, Fox."

Gizamaluke looked up at him, and his body started to transform.

What arose was a thin dragon, having the mannerisms of a fox along with the facial feature. It was clear his tail was caught in Svul's trap, and he growled.

"You can't even call on your water to save you, can you?"

Gizamaluke growled with disdain.

"I will crush you, Svulkaine Locke. One way or another..."

"Kid, I need you to go get Zegan's son, quickly."

Svulkaine looked at Blake.

Watching in awe Blake was cuatious and did not trust the thing in the trap. Man, fox, dragon, whatever he was. Turning to Svulkaine, still gripping the dagger, Blake asked, "Where is he? I'll get him."