Clan Dalca Journals
Act 1; Scene 3
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"For as long as the human race has been plagued by Those That Dwell Within the Darkness, there have been the Hunters that have been the main enemy of the scourge against those ignorant of what lies within the shadows."
"What is a Hunter, one might ask. For as long as mankind has been haunted by the shadows and that which dwells within, there have been Hunters. Hunters are almost always male, but I must admit to surprise when I have discovered one to be female. I will not insult the so-called 'softer' gender by stating they should not be out where it is most dangerous, hunting all manner of demons and beasts that would feast on their bodies as well as their souls. I have come to understand that the female of the species is by far more deadly than the male, and the few women I have come to know as Hunters have been among the most effective against the Night."
"While men have long been the muscle of the Darkness's antagonists, it was by no means an indication that women did not do their part. No. Women have since the very beginning been the ones that collected the most vital bits of knowledge to use against our vast number of enemies. Find for me the most valued collective works that a Hunter uses, grimoires and the like, and I can almost assure you that it was put to pen by a woman's hands. It was simply the way of things, although on rare occasion, a woman would take to the field when need be in order to lend assistance to bring down an intended target."
"I came to understand that in many cases, women who actively served against the Shadows were often by far the more ruthless enemies of whom threatened mankind."</color>
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"Y-you can't be serious."
Andrei choked on the words as the plan of the Romanis seated around the table had been made clear to him. He had known that whatever the strategy was that these thirteen men and women -- gypsies, witches, -- would have for their enemy, it would be unpleasant. He had known that in order to defeat the beast, they would have to think like a beast. Perhaps, even act like one. Yet to know now what their intent was in order to spring their trap made the blood within his young body run ice cold through his veins.
He glanced to his immediate right, at his 'brother at arms' and secretly, his admitted lover.
"Nicolai." Andrei hissed. "They are not serious. Please tell me that they do not intend to sacrifice a-a child!"
Of course, before Nicolai could deign to answer Andrei's querie, the diminutive form seated across from him answered with a hot tone to her voice, one that almost seemed to match the withered appearance of her aged facial features.
"Of course we will not be sacrificing a child!" Nadya, the matriarch of this coven stated with a hot, almost acidic tone. "And for you to even insinuate such a thing insults...
"Madam Nadya, please." Nicolai held up his hand to forestall any further disturbance into this night. "I am certain that Andrei here had merely meant to say..."
"Andrei said what he had meant to say." The aforementioned host stated, looking away from Nicolai to stare down the elder. Admittedly, it was not such an easy thing to accomplish. The woman's icy gaze was quite unnerving.
Nicolai sighed and reached up to rub at his left temple with his hand while the rest of the matron's clan sat around the hut, either unable or unwilling to intervene in this small dispute. They laid great support to the beliefs of what was proper for a table guest to do and not do with their host involved, and perhaps to their beliefs, a heated debate with said host was seen as something akin to an insult; to their own honor as well as that of the one who gave hem shelter and fed them.
Andrei continued to withstand the matriarch's withering glare and he threw down the gauntlet, "You actually intend to use a child as bait for that abomination! To lure it in so that you may attempt to dispose of it!"
"Not attempt." Pesha, a young Romany male that was smaller in stature than the other members of his family. His height did not detract from his level of confidence as he stated with certainty, "We will succeed. We will trap 'El care umblă umbre' and it will haunt our children no more."
"A task I would think you would appreciate." Nadya added, her bitterness at the perceived insult not forgotten. "I have heard tales of your own personal losses at it's hands. You were powerless, alone. Yet in numbers, empowered, we will rise above the night and bring light to the memories of those lost."
Andrei stared hard at her. Strong as his will was, he had little alternative but to admit (to himself), that this old woman had him most unnerved. Still, this was his home, and he would not be seen as weak before these gypsy 'witches' behind walls that were his home.
"Still..." He said. "A child..."
"It is the only way." Nicolai said in a hushed whisper, resting a hand on his friend's forearm. "You know as we all do, that the creature comes after only the young."
"And the innocent." Another female gypsy said.
"It will come for the child." Nadya said determinedly, and shook her head. "But it will not get near him."
"How do you know?" Andrei asked acidly.
"Because..." Pesha answered. "We know how to entrap a shadow."</color>
"I understand that congratulations are in order."
Her voice was strong and gave the entity known as Brother Grimm to pause from his curious seeking in her little hut and turn around to gaze upon her as she rocked back and forth in her ancient rocking chair, tucked away in the shadows. The only thing of substance that the shadows did not hide from view was the knitting in her lap that she was currently indulging in.
"You 'understand'?" Grimm repeated in soft but respectful tones. It was almost uncanny how a being such as he that was powerful and oh so feared throughout the ages, could have a voice so eloquent and almost -- charming. He continued, "I do so enjoy your play on words. It is almost as if you would have me believe that you haven't been watching my every move ... out there."
"Perhaps." She chuckled, a sonority that seemed a raspy noise to the ears. She paused in her knitting and raised one of her knitting needles and directed it's point towards the hearth of her hut and the soot stained logs buried in the furnace sprung to life. The contents within the kettle that hung over the flames started to boil almost immediately.
She then resumed her knitting and continued speaking to Brother Grimm and she asked, "Will you stay for supper or do you plan to go out hunting again?"
Grimm turned around toward the furnace and leaned over slightly at the waist, his hands still clasped behind his back, and he gave it a light whiff. He stood upright, his eyes remained on the 'stew' but his words were directed toward her,
"Young ... tender..." He turned around and smirked. "You found yourself a wayward urchin?"
"It is disturbing just how easily their mothers and fathers lose track of them in this day and age." She said. "There was a time when the parents would take strong precautions with their young. Now it would seem they simply look the other way so long as they are not inconvenienced."
"All the better to fill your stew pot." Grimm smiled genuinely.
"Indeed." She agreed. "Plus I had hoped that you would return soon so we might discuss how things are progressing 'out there'. I do so enjoy keeping an eye on my... investment."
At this choice of word, Grimm stopped and almost froze at being regarded as an 'investment' by any mortal, no matter what their intentions or level of true power. His arms uncrossed from over his chest and he extended his hands behind his back where his fingers interlocked together and he simply waited.
The 'woman in shadow' then started to rock again and her voice was filled with amusement as she said, "Calm yourself, now. No ill meaning was intended."
"Then what was, pray tell?" Grimm asked.
"I just so happened to invest much in assisting you to gain your freedom." She replied. "Much time and even more power. It's that reason alone I have yet to be able to venture out again. I've had to rest, and recover."
"Ohhh..." Grimm shook his head and gave a most forlorn expression on his pale face, clucking his tongue. "And all for my benefit. To what do I owe such attention?"
For a moment, the aged hands knitting this most unique of garments came to a halt. The rocking chair stopped all movement and the two simply stared into one another's eyes. Neither would yield to the other until she resumed her idle actions and went on with her reasoning.
"Exactly as you have been." She said. "Your successes have been payment enough. Personally, I would have preferred you succeed strictly on your own, but this pairing you've discovered yourself in has been most beneficial."
Brother Grimm shrugged his shoulder indifferently and said, "Goth is unlike the others. He is different ... unique."
"Not altogether a bad thing when one is discussing mortality."
"True." Grimm acknowledged. "Yet I doubt there is such a thing residing inside that soul of his. If he indeed has one, it is darkened ... tainted. He is stronger of mind than so many that I have watched over time."
"And the two of you are paired together again?" She asked.
"Mm." Grimm murmured. "Yes. He and I were set to defend these worthless belts last week but those in power opted to delay the proceedings and reschedule a fresh encounter for this coming week."
"Worthless? Those that have held them before and seek to take them from your grasp would not accuse them of being such a trite."
Grimm scoffed, casting a look aside before he responded, "Those that would have so little to call their own they would actually need something as minuscule as a decorated piece of leather to vault their prestige in the eyes of others. If that is their heart's desire, then let them come. It's all a game to me."
"You do so love your games." She mused with a whimsical melody to her voice.
"I always have enjoyed my games, yes. When one has been around for as long as I have, you seek new ways to amuse yourself and to pass the time. Over the course of centuries, tedious boredom does become something of a bother to even one such as me, but you learn to adapt or else you would fall prey to those that sought to undo all that you are."
"I made that one little slip so very long ago where I became imprisoned. It gave me time to think, and to decide. It made me determined that such an atrocity would not happen to me, ever again. And most assuredly not when Goth and I set foot inside of the ring to do battle with those that seek to relieve us of our possessions."
"Casey Williams, he who would fancy himself something of a giant."
**chuckles**
"Casey, I have known many a giant since the dawn of time, and if you are to be known as one, then you would be considered something of a runt. While your stature is grander than most that walk this earth, you are by far not the threat that you think yourself as. Walk the darkest of paths, Casey. Take a stroll during the Summer Solstice under the Hunter's Moon, and you will know a threat. Extend your hand toward a Black Dog as it walks about the graveyards, and you will know a threat. Disregard the words of a witch during the midnight hour, and you will know a threat. Yet all would pale in comparison to danger when you think yourself capable of standing against the Shadows to take that which is mine! Casey Williams. A giant among men, but against the origin of fear itself, you are little more than a babe. The very kind I would take from their cradles in the thrall of the night, place in my sack and, well, I won't go any further. What is life, after all, without a taste of the sweet mysteries that can only be discovered when you walk the path of the Hallowed Eve? You might be great in size for a mortal, Casey, but you are an insect when opposing the Bogey Man himself."
"Oh and as for that man that would stand at your side? I believe he gives himself the vaulted nickname of Primetime. Matthew Kennedy, you put on a dignified air of bravery when you speak of your intention of regaining the glory that once was yours, but things will not be as you so desire. No mortal is without fear. They might fool themselves into believing they conquered whatever once made them awake with cold chills and the soiling of their undergarments, but at most all they have managed to do is bury those fears. Not so hard a task to unearth what one has buried in their souls. To discover what reduces a grown man into the quivering mess that you will soon become. Primetime Matthew Kennedy, there are very real reasons why mankind has grown to fear the dark around them, and you find yourself soon against the very origin of those fears."</color></size>
