df || To Deliver One From Evil ||

[Damon Fauci]

Wherever this man walked during the daylight hours, ominous weather seemed to follow even if such had not been forecasted. Yet he himself did not carry a foreboding humour. In fact, as his soundless steps graced the cobblestone street of this quiet and quaint haven away from the larger city, he carried with him no particular humour at all. This man was no more than a living ghost.

It was the application of perfected powers that had kept him hidden from all who had sought him for the past six weeks, including the nefarious spirit that was the present danger. To those who passed him on the street, glanced his way or even held conversation with him, he would lack definition. An imprint of a man with no perceivable detail. With no name. Of no discernible race or creed. Of no outstanding personality. Of no notable occupation. With no memorable features, possessing entirely forgettable words, and defying any description. If any who encountered this man were questioned about him the exact moment he departed, the questioned party would suffer a perplexed look of struggle upon their face as they tried to recall any detail of the interaction or the man. Their attempts would always be vain. Without exception. It was a power that had taken centuries to perfect to the degree that he could slip unnoticed past even the angels, devils and divine.

Thus was how Damon Fauci currently spent his days.

He was doing so much more than hiding, however. Since the very first dream which the malevolent spirit sent to foolishly forewarn the vampire of its second coming, he had taken full advantage of the advanced notice to run some tests. To pinpoint the weaknesses and strengths, so that when it came he would be prepared.

He had learned much of interest. Including the fact that sleep - or lack thereof - was a great advantage until the entity could manifest corporeally once more. Sleepless and undetected he traveled safely to Saint Louis, staying long enough to see that his plan once hatched had worked - once Jade had feigned possession she became the top priority to Murray, and the coven house followed suit. Perfect. It was worth the near five days spent without rest. He was lucky - the farther he aged from his mortal years of yore, the less he needed such mortal things as sleep.

The daylight hours were the most trying, of course, even when his influence created an endless stream of overcast days. Even today, despite near twenty-four hours of sleep he'd had the day before, walking during such early hours bothered him. Not a whisper of this irritation colored his expression or energy, however. He was, entirely, a clean slate.

A clean slate wearing dark tinted glasses who carried a package. Walking through he front entrance of the Inn and to its front desk. Were his own mother behind the counter, with Damon's methods she would not recognize him and would see only a kind stranger. So would it be for any. If there was a bell or other such device, he sounded it now. If there was someone there to speak to him, he'd wait to be addressed. With any luck, this delivery would not take long.

[Emilia]

Emilia had gotten up early; it was something that she was in the habit of doing now that she had a little girl.

She had not entirely given up her habit of dressing sexy, she had just toned it down a bit. She was wearing a tight navy blue skirt, it fell just above her knees. A low cut cream colored sweater was picked out to match. To draw it all together a single strand of pearls.

She left her room locking in behind her and dropped her keys into the purse she carried with her.

She made her way to the lobby and saw a man standing there with a package. She looked around, not seeing anyone else she approached him.

"Can I help you Sir?"

[Guest]

Venis was on her way in from the garden. Despite her sunscreen, and the fact that she was a God and therefor would not die from sunlight exposure, she still loved overcast days. She had no idea why it was suddenly overcast, and she honestly didn't care either. She was just happy that it was.

When she looked up there was a man standing at the desk. She wasn't one of the employee's of the Inn, but she wasn't a novice at dealing with things, so she went to help. Off to the desk she went. She brushed her jeans with her hands and straightened her T-shirt as she went. Her heels clicking upon the floor. She saw Emilia and smiled. "I'll take care of it Emilia. Need something to do anyway."

She moved to where Emilia stood and placed a hand upon her shoulder and smiled. Then she continued along to her destination. She stepped behind the desk and looked at the man. He was nothing special. Or so it seemed. She had a sudden itch, but she thought perhaps it was just a passing tingle, she read nothing more into it. She simply scratched her arm as she smiled at the man. "Welcome to the Tel'Ranaemyn Inn, how can we help you today?

[Damon Fauci]

When exactly he heard the sounds of approach it could not be said, for he was quite careful to keep his attention fixed on the front desk or the front door until another spoke to him. Perhaps he even added a repeated motion, just to round out this picture of an average man with a duty caught in the throes of waiting. Thus, a single finger drummed the top of the counter in a rhythm that was double time to a heartbeat. That should convey a sense of haste well enough.

By the time she called him sir, that impatient motion ceased and he turned in her direction. The one he saw standing there was not a surprise to him. Her scent as she drew closer to this main room had wafted to his nose a dulcet, feminine taste. Yes, taste. He thought of the scent of others in such a way, as more often than not he sought them for a meal. But not this time. Instead he was to play a different part, one of the average mortal simpleton. One who when confronted with a woman looked upon her as if she were in a display case with a price tag that read a number which fit exactly the amount of money he happened to have in his wallet. Metaphorically speaking, of course. To put it simply? Her outfit while apparently toned down was obviously noticed by the man she'd spoken to.

Noticed enough to delay his response. "Yes. I hope. I'm here to deliver this. A package," he'd add that, as if the part he was currently playing was of a man who was a bit less sure with his words. It would be a boldfaced lie to say that while this mission was of the utmost seriousness, he happened to be rather enjoying this covert operation already. He wouldn't be a beast, after all, if he wasn't amused.

When the second female entered, he'd take advantage of that. Glancing at her and adding with relief, "Good. Then I have the right place. Tel'Ranaemyn." A nod followed, as his dark eyes traded between the two women. He'd offer them a smile which was amiable, but commonplace.

[Emilia]

She looked at the man but didn't really see him, non descript was defiantly a word that would be used to describe him, she normally remembered faces but his would be forgotten when she left his presence.

"Who is the package for, maybe I can help you."

That was when Venis came in and placed a hand on her shoulder. She was more than happy to let her help the man; she had shopping for a little girl to do. She wanted to surprise her with a few things; the only way to do that was to shop while she was in school.

She smiled at the man.

"Thank you Venis."

[Guest]

Venis smiled at Emilia. "Anytime." She returned her attention to the man before her. "I'm sorry, did you say you had a package? I would be happy to make sure that it reached it's destination for you." She smiled at the man. There honestly was nothing special about him, and under normal circumstances, she would think he would make a good snack. So what was the difference now?

She pulled out the book with the room assignments in it in case she needs to look up where someone is to deliver the package. "If you could just tell me who the package is for, I can get it to them right away." Smiled at the man again. It was driving her crazy that she wasn't feeling any pull to him.

Then it dawned on her, he was lacking that smell. Humans, well all living beings, had a certain smell to them, the metallic smell of blood. Ok, so he wasn't human, or at least not alive. No big deal, right? Other than that there was nothing special about him. So she went on with the task at hand. Delivering a package.

[Damon Fauci]

He let his eyes linger on Emilia even though she was leaving. Just a little detail that he added for the sake of authenticity. "Thanks," he said as he let his eyes travel over the woman. "Thanks a lot." Repeated with a smile for good measure. To see him smile in that moment, some who knew him well would not have been able to believe their eyes if they were here. . .for it was surely amazing, that there was no trace of the beast in the curl of his lips now. Or anywhere else, for that matter.

"Package, yes I do. This package." He indicated the small box in his hands, giving it a slight lift so that this second woman could see it from her spot behind the counter. There was nothing extraordinary about the box, nor was their any notable thrum coming from the object or objects within. It was simply a plain box made of cardboard, square in shape and measuring six inches all around. If one noted the ease in manner in which he lifted said box, they could surmise that it was not of unmanageable weight.

"Great. That's great. I'm supposed to get them to sign for it. They're, ah. . ." Her question seemed to catch the delivery man off guard. He set the box on the counter, so that he could flip open the flap of the plain cream colored card that had been fixed to the outside of this box. "Here it is." He adjusted the box so that Venis could clearly see what was written. On the card was written the instruction: To be delivered to the hands of Epiphany, upon receipt of her signature. Underneath that was written the address of this Inn. There was no note regarding who the package was from, but surely nothing about it nor the delivery man presented any reason for suspicion.

And yet. Even now, he was choosing every word and movement very carefully. They would all read as casual, average, simple, surely. But there was a reason he showed Venis the card that he'd affixed himself to the package. He did not wish to say Epiphany's name aloud. Why? As always, he had his reasons.

[Guest]

She smiled as he set the box on the counter. He seemed nervous, it was cute. Not in a snack time kinda way, but cute none the less. She leaned forward when he flipped open the card for her to read, her hand instinctively going to her chest to press the v neck of her T-shirt from falling too far forward. "Epiphany. Ok." She removed her hand and then leaned back so she was standing erect again.

She smiled then, readjusting her T-shirt yet again. "If you would like to wait here, I can go find her for you. It should only take a moment." She smiled then. She was not in the practice of just sending people to the rooms of others. She remembered when someone sent someone to where she was when she was supposed to be in hiding.

[Damon Fauci]

Such a lean forward, if he were playing the more familiar part of his usual self it would have inspired quite a different reaction than what was actually performed. For when she leaned, this entirely unmemorable man would simply take that as a sign to move the package a bit closer, so she could read the handwriting upon the card easier. That was a helpful act, correct? While she looked it over, his dark eyes traded between the package and the woman behind the counter, awaiting the verdict with an expression that was colored with a touch of endearingly mortal worry.

That worry was displaced by relief when Venis confirmed the soon-to-be-owner of the package resided here. This average delivery man even let out a breath of relief when the confirmation came, his head bobbing in a single nod. "Great. That would be great. I'll wait here." He made certain to agree to her terms quite amicably.

Inwardly, however, he was less than pleased. It would have suited his aims better if Venis had simply given him the number of Epiphany's room and allowed him to traverse there on his own. Even insisting that she accompany him to Epiphany's door until the package was delivered would have been preferable to him in comparison to bringing Epiphany down here, forcing the exchange to happen in the open. There were precious less liberties he could take in this main room, and far fewer reasons he could find to drag out their meeting when the possibility of countless eyes could watch them. He would make do, however. A wolfish creature such as himself always found his way.

For Venis had, with her choice, earned a small measure of begrudging respect from Damon. That the woman didn't allow just anyone to traipse about the establishment, at the very least it showed that these people Epiphany resided with were not naive. That fact would help him sleep better, despite his less than pleasurable dreams.

But sleep, such a thing was a long in coming. This entirely unmemorable delivery man had a package to see off first, after all.

[Guest]

The closeness of the box was fine for her six foot two frame, six foot six in the heels she was wearing. But when he moved the package it did remove the glare from the lighting in the room making it easier for her to read. She appreciated that.

She smiled at the man once again. "Thank you sir. One moment please." She exited from behind the desk. She headed in the direction of the kitchen. Why? This was Venis. The man could have been standing there naked with nothing but an eraser in his hand and she would still make security a priority. So through the kitchen door.

Once inside the kitchen she tore open a portal to the second floor. She headed down the hall to Epiphany's room and knocked upon it. The room that was listed as hers in the books that is. Her standard three knocks. It was an old joke with her and some of her family and friends because of a book she once read called Death Knocks Three Times. She called out for good measure. "Epiphany, are you in?" If this was a dead end she would have to use more divine measures.

[Epiphany]

"Keep on knockin' but cha can't come in!" That was what greeted Venis after the knock and her question. This door, it was no ordinary door, in fact it stood out from all the other doors in the hallway. It had the appearance of a heavy wooden castle door from the middle-ages, and perhaps it was? Made up of planks of dark wood held together with big round nails and and two wide metal strips vertically placed at the top and bottom, this door had no handle or knob.

The aforementioned greeting was said in a high sounding pitch of something small, and it came from inside the door though not in any one particular place. Like a echo. Following that was the sound that could only be a coin spinning on the ground, turning until it finally fell still. After that, the smallest hole, two by three inches, would open at the very tip top of the door. Two pin point silver eyes looking out.

"Oh what is this I have here, someone new, someone fresh. Who are you and what do you want?" Though the question, the thing that spoke had an edge of excitement and anticipation. How it loved new people to play with.

[Guest]

Venis giggled at the door. Yes, giggled, what? She waited another moment and then the eyes were upon her and she was being questioned. Ok, this was very neat. She thought quick, witty repartee was always fun. "Who am I? What an interesting question. Who am I? Oh my, I do believe I forgot. Oh no wait, there it is. I am Way." She smiled at the door then. Was the door going to ask? Oh it would be so fun if it did.

[Epiphany]

A live one here, one who liked to laugh, or giggle as it were. She said her name was Way and so Way it shall be. For now or until she decided to say so otherwise. People who gave the funny little names were always amusing. "Little miss Way has lost her way and has come here to find it." The voice mused in a playful tone, you could almost here the rhythmic pattern associated with speaking poetry. "But there's no way Way can find her way today! Ha ha! What now shall she say?"

The speech came with a bit more jingling and the sound of spinning coins That sound. There had to be something about that sound. Was it really coins or a metaphor for a deposit? Those pin eyes still looked out from the darkness of the hole.. Looking on very eagerly for what was about to come and what was to be done. Happy mood! A happy mood all around! She liked to play, she liked her games. What could be more fun?

[Guest]

Darn, the door didn't take the bait. She had so hoped it would have said way who so she could say way ting. But that was ok, she could work with what she got.

She stepped back from the door and held her arms out to her sides as she spun around in a circle a few times. "I have not lost my way." She stopped and was facing the wrong direction. So she spun back around on one heel to face the door again, that now looked like it was moving. "I know where I am every day." She giggled again. Why was this door putting her in such a whimsical mood?

Then she heard the sound again, more of the sound this time. She leaned closer to the door and put an ear to it. Then she sat up again real quick. "Oh, excuse me, but I believe you have a rumbley in your tummy." She leaned in again to listen for that sound. She giggled some more. Then she remembered what she had come up for. With a few blinks she sat up again and looked at the door.

She cleared her throat and tried to speak without giggling. "I um, need to talk to Epiphany for a second." No luck, the giggle escaped her, first through her nose and then from her throat and across her lips. "I need to tell her that her door is hungry." Yes, there was something about this door, or maybe she just needed a release. Whatever it was, it was fun.

[Epiphany]

Of course this woman here knew her way, it was plain and obvious. Anyone could see that she knew exactly where she was and where she was going. There would be no verbally arguing on the doors end about it.

Just as the door was about to say something else Venis leaned her head in and had put an ear to the wood. Could inanimate objects gasp? This one sure could and it did. If the door had movement it would have even recoiled, but there was only so much a door could do before the whole thing simply started being ridiculous. "Hey! Excuse me!"

It even huffed followed by scrambling noises that resembled a squirrel running o wood. "How would you like it if I pressed my head up against all your goods and got all intimate with you? Though I am wood so I can give you a stiff one. But I can't give you anything unless you give me something first."

There was a catch! Yes a catch! "What does Way want with Epiphany?"

[Guest]

She laughed again. The laughter evolved into a giggle this time. "Actually, I'm rather fond of hard things. There's just something about laying on your back, a nice hard slab of wood under you. It's not like coffins are pliable." Oh she loved Epiphany's door, it was so much fun.

"Hmm, now that's a switch, the one with wood wants to be paid. Usually the other way around." She kept giggling. She reached around behind her and slapped at the back pockets of her jeans. Nothing in there. Then she stood a little taller as she reached her hands into her front pockets. Pulling them both inside out to reveal that they were empty. "I seem to have bunny ears, guess that means I'm not prepared to pay for the use of your wood." She chuckled. "So, take it out in trade?" Big grin.

[Epiphany]

Pay? Pay? What was this thing about the other one besides wood getting paid? These people paid wood for being stiff? That was certainly a change and one that this door might have to look into. Did the trees in the forest know this? Or the wood of the floor? They should be getting paid for doing their job! Yes in deed, that would be a sight! Maybe that's why the workers at this Inn collected money, to pay the wood for a job well done.

It made sense.

Those pin-point eyes looked at the turned out pockets. "That must have been one sad looking bunny. Its ears are fabric and is that lint? Yes! Yes I think it is!" It laughed, sounding of so many tiny jingle bells going off.

"I ask again of the Way, what is it now she's going to say? What do you want with Epiphany today?"

[Guest]

Venis was laughing harder and harder. Sad looking bunny. Now that was funny. And lint, oh man, this door was wonderful. But he ... she ... it was asking her what she wanted with Epiphany again. Time to return to the task at hand. "Oh yes, that's right. Epiphany, can't loose my way. Epiphany has a package, downstairs at the front desk. The man wants her signature before he will surrender it." She was still smiling, even chuckling slightly.

[Epiphany]

"A package for Epiphany? A man wanting her signature? You're her way?" Well it all made sense now! The lady said her name was 'Way' and Epiphany was always looking for a 'way' to do something or another.

A sad sigh and a 'tsk, tsk, tsk' could be heard from the door. "You certainly have lost your way Way, for the one you seek is not here! I took a peek, I looked I prodded and moved all around but she's not there to be found. She's often here, yet always far, give me your name and I'll tell her you were here." From out of that small opening at the top of the door came a bit of paper and a pen. The writing on the paper was below a black line, and it said: "Sign your name on the line"

[Guest]

Venis giggled some more. "Well darn, what do I do now? Perhaps the messenger will take my signature or return later." As she said this she was making her mark upon the paper. Out of habit, and due to her not paying attention to what she was doing, she signed her full name, titles and all. Like Epiphany needed to know all that, she knew already, didn't she?

She looked at the door again. "It's been a pleasure playing with you, maybe I'll stop by again sometime." She took a moment to put her pockets back in, she couldn't walk away looking disheveled. I would have been improper.

[Epiphany]

After Venis had signed her name the paper and pen quickly retreated back into that small hole at the top of the door, that was soon followed by a bout of raunchy laughter and squeels. Obviously someone was delighted!

"The name! The name! I got her name! What a beautiful name it is! Not a way but a goddess Oooh!" Delight might be too light a word. As the door spoke all those bells and jingles could be heard, as well as the spinning coin at the bottom. "I never had a goddess' name before! Oh lucky me! It's my lucky day! All the things I can do with this name!"

Then, the small opening closed and the voice faded.

[Guest]

Venis was laughing once again. The door had said her name was beautiful, so she had to say something for that. "Thank you woody." Yep, she nicknamed the door. Would the door have preferred stiffy? She began to walk way laughing as the small opening in the door closed.

As she was headed down the hall to the portal she had made she started thinking to herself, but as was Venis' way, her thoughts were more like a mental link than private thoughts. ~Oh my Epiphany, I don't know where in the world you are, but I love your door. But now I have to deal with the messenger who brought a package for you.~ She was still laughing when she stepped out of the portal into the kitchen. She took a moment to make sure it was properly closed, didn't want Armandeus to accidentally fall through it.

[Epiphany]

Where in the world was Epiphany? If that girl could ever be still it would be a miracle. Moving around and staying busy all the time were things that she liked to do. It kept her healthy and it kept her out of trouble. Some of the time. Okay, if you asked anyone they would say that she hardly ever stayed out of trouble but she tried.

On this particular day Epiphany had been working on construction, more specifically the house that was being built for Dre. It was a project that would take at least a week more to finish, then there would come the decorating. She was headed to the Inn to pick up something she forgot when she got Venis' message. Usually those mental messages didn't get through but sometimes, when they held certain key phrase, they reached her. Venis' message held such words. As she was heading to the Inn anyway, she didn't bother to respond with anything more than: "That door is one of a kind. I'll be there in a handful of minutes."

Epiphany climbed the hill that lead to the Inn. She wore a pair of baggy jeans, a size or two too big for her and held up by gray suspenders. The white t-shirt looked sweaty but wasn't. Without a coat to be seen on her you'd think it was summer instead of winter. Steel toe boots, a smudged hard hat and a fully equipped tool belt that hung to her left hip pulled the outfit together. Mens clothing, even her hair was tied back and partially stuffed under her hat. If it wasn't for the hint of a feminine shape she may have even passed for a young boy, albeit a pretty boy.

A few minutes. She would be there in time for the next exchange. She was only about two blocks away. She might even be close enough for people to feel her presence.

[Guest]

Venis squeaked. She never really screamed, it was more of a squeak than anything else. ~Oh, sorry, did it again. Ok, I'm in the kitchen.~ She was laughing even harder now. She had honestly thought that she was just thinking, she wasn't trying to mental link. But now she was glad that she did. She waited in the kitchen for Epiphany.

[Epiphany]

Someone's in the kitchen with Diana. Well, not really, unless Venis' nick name was Diana, or she suddenly changed her name to Diana. Then that would be different. In a short amount of time Venis would have company in the kitchen as Epiphany opened that back door and stepped in, bringing a bit of the winter air with her. It didn't last long - no use in freezing the kitchen - so she closed the door.

A warm smile was given to Venis as Epiphany dusted her hands off on the thigh of her pants, a bit of dust flying off as she did. Hopefully Ar wouldn't be too upset about that. "Hey Venis, what's this about a package? I'm not expecting anything." She was always a little cautious about people dropping things off for her without any notice. Besides that, not many people knew she was here.

Then a thought occurred to her, Venis could see the look of concentration on her face beneath the shadow of the construction hat and a small smudges on her face. "What did the person look like?"

Right now, she couldn't tell anything about whoever was at the desk.

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