The Arrow Flies True

[schlitz]

Schlitz stalked the docks of the Ghost Shipyard impatiently. The moon was out, so he could move with ease. He pondered on the events that brought him to this point. He had trained with his bow so long, it and the arrows almost became an extension of his own being. He looked down at the letter again.

"A school. For the gifted." was all he said.

He turned his back to the lake and walked towards land. All the letter said was to wait here at night. Whatever is going to happen, he thought, It had better happen quick. He saw a mouse run by. In a flash, he pulled out an arrow and his bow, and shot it as if it hadn't been moving at all. He grabbed it, put the arrow back, and began to suck the blood out of it. It had been a couple days, and he was hungry.

[Pendragon]

"Schlitz?" Came a cold, questioning voice that lacked strength. Out of the shadows, came a pale man. No, not a man. A vampire. He wore all black, leather trousers, top, and a trench coat to finish the ensemble. His hair was the same colour, and short. Thrown over his shoulder was the body of a dead woman, though there were no bite marks in her neck. The man carried no weapons, but was quite muscular and looked like he could do damage with his hands.

[schlitz]

Schlitz turned, dropping his midnight snack. "Yes?" he asked. He inspected the man before him. Schlitz knew instantly, this was no human. Another vampire. Although the man's voice sounded weak to Schlitz, he knew better than to let down his guard. He held a dead woman over his shoulder, and that was enough for Schlitz to assume he may be a threat.

"Who are you? And how do you know my name?" He demanded. This was very strange indeed, Schlitz kept his hand close enough that he could grab his bow at a moment's notice, should the man decide to attack.

[Pendragon]

"Come." The strange vampire muttered, walking towards a small wooden boat at the end of the dock. He didn't offer any answers, and merely waited to see if Schlitz would follow. A test of courage. He thought to himself. Or stupidity... Will he join me, even though he would be on the back foot? Either way, he was going to take Schlitz with him. Willing or unwilling.

[schlitz]

"Not until I get some answers," said Schlitz through gritted teeth. He began to walk towards the man, without the intention of getting in the boat. "I'll follow you when I know I can trust you. It's been a long time since I've let anyone get the better of me-- and I don't plan to start now."

He grabbed an arrow from his quiver. "I wonder--" he said. The night was cold. He shivered slightly. "Arrows are funny things. They do what they told, in a sense. They fly through the air, killing anything that gets in their path." He turned his attention to the man once more. "The main difference between an arrow and me, is I don't always do what I'm told." Schlitz smirked.

[Pendragon]

"You'll do well." The man decided, after a long pause. He approached the boat, and laid down the dead woman's body with such care one might think she was alive. Her cold eyes gazed up at the sky, sightless. "Shang." He said simply, pointing at himself. "Academy." This time, he pointed over the water. "Let's go." Shang vaulted over the side, and into the small boat.

[schlitz]

"Good then," he said to Schang. "Now we're getting somewhere! The Academy, huh?" He thought back to the letter. "Ah, yes." He walked slowly towards the boat, but stopped right before entering. Looking at the rickety boat, he asked Schang, "Are you sure this boat will hold all, er," he motioned towards the dead woman, "three of us?"

"Actually, never mind." Schang said. "But I do have one more question before we're off," said Schlitz, putting one foot in the boat, "What's up with all those ships over there?" he motioned toward the large ships at the docks.

[Pendragon]

"A cruel prank at best.." Shang muttered, staring up at one of the bigger ones. "Inside each is a high level demon." He leant over and grabbed two oars, then slammed them into the water. "Maybe one day, somebody will come back and defeat all of them." With a powerful stroke, they were on there way. The extent of shang's strength could be seen, a single stroke sent them skimming over the waves.

[schlitz]

Schlitz nodded slowly, as he looked in awe as the man sped them through the water at an astonishing speed, considering his voice seemed so frail. In an attempt to make the ride a little less awkward, Schlitz tried to make small-talk. "So, uh, what's she for?" he said pointing to the woman. "I assume if you were intending to feed on her you would've done it by now, and I don't see any bite marks." The wind caused Schlitz's hair to be pushed back, flat on his head.

[Pendragon]

Shang gave him a dark look, which said it all. There was more to this woman than just a corpse. "I don't drink." He said coldly, which explained the weak voice. What it didn't explain was how Shang was still alive. Or dead, as it seems to be with vampires. It also didn't explain why Shang was carrying the body. One more thing it did say however, was that Shang didn't want to talk about it. "You row." He croaked, passing the oars to Schlitz. "Talk about yourself while you do it." He muttered. If Schlitz was talking, Shang wouldn't have to.

[schlitz]

Schlitz's eyes narrowed, looking at Schang in contempt. "Row? I don't row. Even for you. Let's get this straight. I'll follow no such orders, and I /certainly/ will not talk to myself while I'm at it. If you don't want to talk about it, simply say so, but I will not be degraded by the likes of you." Schlitz's eyes began to glow a deep red. He was becoming angry with Schang. Schlitz jumped up from his position and stood on the bench, which would normally would have been too slippery had it not been for his boots.

"Take your oars back. I want nothing to do with them."

[Pendragon]

"Then how will we get to the academy?" Shang asked simply. He was content to wait until this boy got over himself and started rowing, Shang had little else to do today. He watched Schlitz leap up, and waited patiently for his next move. Schlitz needed to learn to follow orders, if he was ever to get anywhere in the academy. He needed to swallow his pride and do as told.

[schlitz]

"I--uh--well, fine." He sat down grudgingly and snatched the oars. He began to row as fast as he could in silence. Schlitz was angry with himself. He let this stranger, who he didn't know anything about, get a hold of him, and control him. How, why? Why did I let this happen? Most of all, who is he? Still rowing quickly, Schlitz's thoughts turned to the woman. He wondered who she was, and why Schang didn't feed. It certainly explained somethings, but his strength still remained a mystery. Even simply turned vampires could not have that strength without feeding. Was he perhaps not all vampire?

[Pendragon]

"I'm not a normal vampire." Shang said, guessing what Schlitz was thinking. He closed his eyes, and the grey outline of a dragon shimmered round him for a few seconds. It dissapeared when he opened his eyes, and waited for Schlitz's reply. The dead woman's fingers appeared to twitch slightly, with a purple spark flying from them. As if in response to Shang's silver dragon.

[schlitz]

Schlitz closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He slowly opened his eyes once more. "Alright," he said, kind of annoyed that now that Schlitz didn't want to talk, Schang finally did. "What do you mean by 'not a normal vampire?' I assumed you had some secrets, everyone does. Since you feel like talking now, go ahead. Tell me what's different, and who she is." Schlitz didn't notice the girl's hand move as he continued to row, speeding across the water. "So then?"