Arrival from the Spiral. [open]

[aimless]

From - deadonarrival2011.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=downward&action=display&thread=2440
(read)

Nsia landed outside the huge city. She had arrived at the spiral through a portal. She smelt the smog and sensed the towns draw before she decided on making her way.

She suited Hallowtown, not only due to her attire of a simple black almost victorian dress she wore. But her attitude was rather ancient for one such as her. Nsia still had her cloaks hood up, her features shadowed as she stepped through the alley ways of Hallowtown. Her small stature disappearing in the shadows as she wandered, simply a stranger to the world right now. unaware of the history or much else. She was following a silent pull that urged her senses as usual, her human blood pumping a small bit of anxiety as she entered the new town alone.

[empyrean]

A carriage made its way down the road at a steady pace, drawn by a large, dark horse, and a shadowy figure at its helm. It rocked subtly against the cobblestone street, but the figure within remained perfectly still, maintaining perfect balance despite the jerking motion of the carriage. Duke Ludwig von Maurer had been in this world for a short while, and though the position of power he held in his old world meant little here, he kept his title, and he had still worked his way into upper society by maintaining discretion and affiliating himself with wealthy individuals. The Hellsing Organization did not make movements simple for a vampire, but he did his best to keep his distance, and keep his feeding spread enough that he did not appear to be a massive threat.

He looked out the window and into the street, moonlight shining brightly against his skin. He had just left a party where he had spent the night socializing, maintaining appearances. The streets were empty at this hour, and he could feel the blood coursing through the veins of all those sleeping around him. He closed his eyes, and turned his head slightly as if tuning to a frequency, as he felt an active blood pumping. He held his hand up, and the carriage stopped immediately, the figure holding the reigns not moving a muscle to halt the massive black steed. The door to the carriage opened, and the Duke seemingly disappeared completely from the inside.

"Fine night for a walk, is it not..?" Came a deep, smooth voice behind Nsia. He stepped out of the shadows and looked down at her, golden eyes seemingly glowing in what little light there was.

[aimless]

Nsia didn't hear much until the coach rattled against the street. Breaking the night silence around her. She was used to this scene. The world she came from had the same mode of transport… Mere curiosity prompted her to stop and watch the street as the Carriage approached.

The little hooded figure suddenly turned to stare up into the eyes of a tall man before her, Nsia was short and to anyone looking over her, would see she was young, dressed in her frilly dress and seemingly helpless as all get out. She wasn't startled, nor did she act it. Regardless the blood pumping in her pushed that edge into her to give away goose bumps.

“I suppose…” Came a dull, young female voice from the shadow of her hood.

[empyrean]

The Duke's eyes quickly scanned her. She looked no older than twelve or thirteen, and despite her cloak it was evident she was missing an eye. He could feel her heart beat like a drum through his entire body, somehow different than that of other humans -- Regardless, he had learned to control his impulses long ago. Clearly she was as much a stranger as he in this world.

A warm, amiable smile came to his lips, "A young lady such as yourself should not be wandering at this hour. There are dangers in Hallowton..." He said as he extended his hand in an almost seamless, statue-like manner, palm facing upward which displayed in the moonlight just how white his skin was, "I am Duke Ludwig von Maurer. Allow me to take you some place safe for the night, and you can continue your wandering come sunrise..."

[aimless]

She stared up at him blankly, her red iris squinting beyond him, his own was gold eyes had something of a familiar look from the things she passed by in the realm of demons as he watched her. She knew how obvious the blood was within her, and she was more than aware of the look of a predator.

“Hallowtown… so that’s the name?” She looked around her at the stone walls and light lamps, then back at the man before her. “Dangers…” she looked at his upturned hand “The only danger here seems to be you.” She muttered cooly.

[empyrean]

"Danger?" he scoffed playfully, letting out a soft chuckle before retracting his hand and taking slow steps toward her, all the while maintaining his smile. "My dear, I am an active member of the aristocracy. A socialite and philanthropist." Her mistrust for him was understandable; in the world he came from, everyone had their motives -- it was that fact that ultimately drove him into him becoming what he was -- and he doubted it was any different for her, and he knew it was no different in this world.

He stopped a few feet in front of her, and continued his almost hypnotic gaze as he locked his eyes onto hers. "I was once a stranger to this world, as you clearly are. I merely wish to help a fellow pilgrim, provide you with shelter, and set you on your way." His piercing gaze ended, and he stepped past her, walking toward his carriage where the driver sat motionless, staring forward as if having no other interests than his job. The large, elaborate door on the side of the box opened smoothly at Maurer's will, and he looked back to the girl, "Should you wish it, I will allow you to accompany me to my manor. However, if you find me too much a danger, then I shall not press you further, and shall be on my way."

[aimless]

She analyzed him, red hair and fancy clothes, like a wolf in disguise. He was a dashingly dressed man, with metal shining on his black coat, he certainly looked like a aristocrat. She did also notice another man near her and simply watched with slight disinterest as he wandered off in a hurry. She refocused her attention and narrowed her gaze. He explained himself to her and she grinned ever so slightly. “I’m sure you are…” she had the young voice of a 13 year old, but the way she spoke seemed far more than a simple naive female, there was an undertone hidden there, a snap in her, she watched his gaze and noticed a strange pull to the man. Part of her resisted though and she stood her ground, a few white strands of hair falling from her cloak as she physically withheld her body from going forward.

“A pilgrim such as I isn’t fully ready to believe you have yourself a manor here…” She said with a tilt of her head. “What’s your place here… and what is this town? Duke...” she ended pointedly. Still cool and rather calm given the words.

[empyrean]

"And yet I do not require you to believe me in order for it to exist. But let me assure you, you would be surprised by what can be accomplished by a large, dedicated work force in a short amount of time." he replied coolly. The horse at his carriage whinnied, adjusting the positions of its front hooves as if it had felt idle for too long; Ludwig turned to look at it for a brief moment. Feeling no immediate threat nearby, the man looked back to the girl and situated his hands behind his back. "You are in Hallowton. One of many cities within this realm, and home to those of 'higher understanding'... or so it is claimed. In my time here I have seen enough to know it is not wholly the truth. All the same, I find this place suits me best, in comparison to the other locales." He brought a hand forward, and delicately brushed a lock of hair from his face, pushing it back slightly and retracting his hand once more.

"As for my place here, I am a noble trying to live comfortably in this land far from my home, and nothing more." He flashed a smile, displaying what were as of now teeth typical of a human, "Now then, if you require further answers, allow me to oblige from the safety and comfort of my carriage."

[aimless]

Nsia listened to the man’s well-articulated responses, sure now that he was indeed what he claimed himself to be. She was far too use to the obtuse speech used by the common day folk from her world. Most couldn’t talk themselves out of a paper bag, let alone formulate a response when pressed to. This man, even being new as her, seemed also to suit the almost eloquent air the town gave off, even in the night and smog this Hallowtown was inherently advanced.
The man seemed insistent upon the safety of his carriage and without a word she slipped by him, ignoring her white hair flowing out from under her cloaks hood to perfume her path as she let herself into the cabin of the carriage. He seemed to be the only living soul around at this time, and her best bet of gathering her bearings she believed was through this man who appeared to already know a thing or two.

[empyrean]

Upon entry, she would be treated to an elaborately crafted interior. Fine wood carving, lined with what appeared to be gold, and cushioned seats of the finest fabrics which faced each other on either side. It was clear it was designed for comfort, even if in Maurer's state, he felt little enough to enjoy it himself -- That was not to say he did not treat his guests well, though. Once the girl was situated within, Maurer joined her in the cabin, and the door shut on its own behind him. Without a word, the carriage immediately took off with a quick jerk that the Duke seemed not to notice as he sat opposite her, and simply smiled.

"Now then..." he began, his silky voice seeming to fill the air between them, "I have told you of myself, to an extent. I do not wish to appear self-serving, so please, tell me of yourself, my dear."

[aimless]

Nsia observed the interior silently before looking down at her lap, refusing to look at the man before her any longer. Something about him made her quite unsettled and she preferred to keep a hold of her feelings and emotions by simply ignoring them and the things around her that causes them.

“Nsia…” she says cooly as she looks up and out the carriages window idly, feeling better being shadowed still by her hood " Not much else to say other than I just arrived here from my world. I wasn't aware the place was a ghost world." she narrowed her gaze on him from the corner of her hood. "From what I can tell the place is rather dead.."

[empyrean]

Maurer chuckled lightly at her choice of words, "Oh, it livens up during the day... or so I am told. I am afraid I do not often get to see it at such times, as my visits the city itself are often for social gatherings, and an occasional meet up, you see. In fact, I was returning home from a party when I caught you wandering alone."

It would become clear to Nsia that the carriage was leaving Hallowton itself, and making its way into the areas beyond. Trees were moving by quickly as they approached a more forested area. Maurer's eyes scanned the world beyond the glass in front of him indifferently, as if expecting something, before his golden orbs turned back toward the girl. "Nsia. That is not a name I have ever heard before. Does it have any meaning?"

[aimless]

She looked out at the passing tree’s noticing the fact the buildings had stopped whizzing by. She continued staring out, still not looking back at Duke.

“The day time hmm?” She clicked her teeth thoughtfully “Well I suppose I’ll be inspecting the town then.” She smoothed the wrinkles on her fluffy black skirt, idly tightening the bow. “Nsia. It means six..”

[empyrean]

"Not very talkative, are you? We should be arriving soon enough." he teased lightly. The carriage made its way down a side road, which seemed to be covered by a natural tunnel of trees that shut out the moonlight above. As of now, the only light around was the inside of the carriage, and it was any wonder how just driver knew just where they were going.

Within moments they left the organic tunnel, and the moonlight returned. A mansion, which appeared to have many rooms based on its windows, and three floors stood visible by the light cast from large braziers and torches. Multiple spires adorned the different wings of the estate, and though it had likely been built recently, it looked as if it had been standing for centuries, its style reminiscent of the world he had left behind. It seemed almost cut off from the world, as trees surrounded its grounds -- Which seemed to spread a good distance -- in every direction.

The carriage pulled into a round entryway at the base of a large staircase, and the door opened immediately by another shadowy servant, a human. The man at the door seemed emotionless, his eyes blank, with no interest in anything beyond his duties. The Duke stepped out of the cab and onto the cobblestone below, offering his hand to Nsia to assist her in getting down. "Welcome to my home, my dear."

[aimless]

Nsia watched in with baited breath as the atmospheres kept changing, the darkness sending pleasant chills through her. She looked directly at the Duke “Excuse my social awkwardness. I don’t spend much time socializing like you..” she looked back out as the carriage pulled into a beautiful court yard, the manor before her was imposing, yet beautiful. She let out a small sound despite herself. She wasn’t used to such impressive architecture where she came from.

She looked up at the spires as she got out “And you had this constructed for you?” she asked, her voice actually taking on a higher pitch from the sheer interest.