_________________
"When God didn't like what he created, he washed it all away in 40 days and 40 nights. I will do it in three" -Magneto

" You want to Screw with Artemis, Screw with Artemis.
You wanna Screw with me.....Make out a Will" Savitar (Dark-Hunter Novels)

"Cowards don't always die a thousand deaths, Sometimes heroes do to" - Sin (Dark-Hunter Novels)

Per Mare - Per Terras
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit

Nikolai rubbed together the palms of his hand in a futile attempt to warm himself up. Taking a deep breath and letting a warm exhale touch his fingers, he started to mutter annoyed. “Jeeze, has this guy ever heard of a heater? Where the hell is the thermostat in this place anyway, I'm freezing my ass off here. How can he live in a castle like this? And you, why aren't you complaining?” It seemed that Nikolai has ceased his own internecine rambling for a moment at a half-hearted attempt to arouse a response from his sister, Sarah.

Sarah emitted a soft sigh, looking at her brother with a equally frustrated expression. “Stop complaining. And for our information it not cold in here, you're just freezing because you decided it was a good idea to play around with your Limbo Ice powers. Do you have any idea how dangerous that stuff you're using is? You nearly froze yourself, and there's not much that can thaw that kind of power. You should be more careful.” Nikolai shrugged, making a scoffing noise. “Come on, you know I'm not stupid enough to get myself encased in ice. I just wanted to, you know, show off some of my new powers to the guys. Now if you don't mind I'm going to warm up.”

Sarah immediately punched him in the arm. All Nikolai was able to do was make low yelp and before he could ask what her problem is she made herself very clear. “Okay, that can only mean one of two things coming from you. First of all, there is no way you're going to try to light a match using the annihilation flame. That stuff is hotter then the sun, last time you blew up a hall and fixing stuff here isn't as as back home. There’s nobody to alter reality. Secondly, no you are not turning into a Lion...Sabertooth tiger...thing, in here. I'm not going to let you embarrass yourself again by shedding all over the carpet. This stuff probably cost a fortune.”

“All right, all right. I guess I'll just freeze to death. Anyway, you know this is the first time I'll be going on one of these missions with you guys. I know Dimitry used to go with you and Dominic on a few very month or so, always sounded like fun.” Nikolai Smirked, but was dumbfounded when he saw her sister's head sink. Perplexed, he was about to ask what was wrong when he realized who he mentioned. “Oh.” Nikolai bit his upper lit in frustration, cursing himself. Their brother had died only a week ago and ti was still a pretty touchy subject with everyone. Nikolai was sure the only reason his dad had let them come was because he thought ti was safer here with Christian. He knew it had been especially painful for Sarah since she had been there with him. The boy shook her should for a moment, looking at her solemnly. “All right, You can't keep beating yourself up over this. Look, let's just meet with everyone, do a bit of training, crack a few skulls, well have great time just like always. It'll cheer you up.”

Sarah looked again and nodded her head as they finally made their way up the stairs. The tall Serbian teenager spread out his arms and made the introduction. “All right everybody,we have arrived...now, who's up to putting the dead back in the dirt?” Nikolai looked up at Chris on the throne, noting his sense of fashion. “Dude, really, a cape? Where do you even get one of those these days?” the aforementioned pair where wearing more modern gear. Sarah Was wear a black T-shirt with some sort of arcane symbol, a pair of blue jean's, and a some checkered flats, the only thing denoting that she was about to go into battle was a longsword at her waist. Nikolai however seemed more ready for the combat zone at first glance. A large black hooded jacket over a kevlar vest and cargo pants with a revolver tucked into it. “Anyway, sorry my old man couldn't make it this time, he's been pretty busy lately with all the stuff going on.”

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"When God didn't like what he created, he washed it all away in 40 days and 40 nights. I will do it in three" -Magneto

" You want to Screw with Artemis, Screw with Artemis.
You wanna Screw with me.....Make out a Will" Savitar (Dark-Hunter Novels)

"Cowards don't always die a thousand deaths, Sometimes heroes do to" - Sin (Dark-Hunter Novels)

Per Mare - Per Terras
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit

Nikolai looked a bit dumbfounded at the moment, his eyes switching from scanning the Club Veratek to glancing at the rest of the team. “Wait, you want me to think the plan. um..well, okay, I guess. Let me think hear for a minute.” Sarah gave the other two a very concerned look before shooting a sideways glance at Nikolai. “Guys, I'm not sure if letting him do this is the best idea...” She trailed off or a moment, giving Nikolai time to interrupt. Hey hey, I can do this, really, just give me a chance, all right.” Sarah sighed and gave Nikolai a nod of agreement but it was obvious she was a bit worried. Nikolai started to pace back and forth, taking a peek at the anxious humans about to go into the club.

“Okay, so we don't want to get any of the humans hurt or let them see us splatter these guys all over the walls.” Nikolai said, formulating the beginning of the strategy. “First of all, we need to get those humans standing in line out of here. We don't need them getting mixed up in this or have the vamps take them hostage. So...” Nikolai stopped for a moment, but then got back on track with a snap of his fingers. “Well start a fire in front of the door. They'll run screaming to get out of there. They won't notice anything, right?” Sarah decided to take this moment to put some sense into him. “Wait, Nikolai you want to start a fire in there? First we have to get inside you know. Plus last time you tried to start a fire...”

Nikolai interrupted her again, trying to get his points across. “I know what happened. I'm not going to do it, you are, you can control that creation flame of yours pretty well and it probably won’t hurt anybody. And you're wrong about one thing, we don't have to be in there to start the fire. You just have to open up a warp gate there just long enough to light it up. Then you can make a another one in the center of the room and we'll work outwards, I’ll go all saber lion and rampage through the place and you all can do your thing. The entrance we'll be crowded we'll have the Creation Fire so they won't be able to get out, they'll be trapped in there with us. ”

“First of all, I don't think ti's a good idea to use your Animist form in a crowded nightclub. A few humans might have already gotten through and they could see you, or us for that matter. Plus they probably have some other ways out, like a fire exit or something.” Nikolai, however didn't lose any momentum just because his plan had a few holes. “NO problem, Ash you have the shadow power right? You can make pitch black in there, people will just think the lights shorted out because of the fire. I'll go through the warp gate in there and so will because he has to be in there for the blackout, and I can see in pitch black thanks to my Doujutsu. Dominic, you and Sarah can guard the back and side exits so the Vampires don't can get away and any human stragglers get out safe, all right?”

_________________
"When God didn't like what he created, he washed it all away in 40 days and 40 nights. I will do it in three" -Magneto

" You want to Screw with Artemis, Screw with Artemis.
You wanna Screw with me.....Make out a Will" Savitar (Dark-Hunter Novels)

"Cowards don't always die a thousand deaths, Sometimes heroes do to" - Sin (Dark-Hunter Novels)

Per Mare - Per Terras
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit

Nikolai opened his mouth, seeming like he was about to say something, but Sarah cut him off with hushing noise. “Me and Nikolai will go around back. Hope fully since are attacked was at the front it will be a little less defended.” Sarah turned on her heel as went around the corner, Nikolai following close behind. “What the hell is that fucker's problem,it could have worked.” Sarah tried her best to sooth Nikolai’s bruised ego to calm him down. Look Niko, It wouldn't have worked and besides, Ash is always like that. Don't let it get to you, he's nice a guy when you get to know him.”

Sarah stood by the entrance behind the club, waiting for the explosion from the charge Ash was going to set off. '5, 4, 3, 2, 1.' On cue, she could heard the distant explosion and the sound of door blowing it hinges, pieces flying this way and that. Simultaneously she pushed at thin air with her hands toward the door, activating her psychokinetic powers. It too flew it's hinges, crumpling inwards even as it flew out, striking a few Vampires standing guard there. Without even taking, she knelt down, blue lightning crackling where she touched. Then four metal disks, each twice as big as a chakram, launched out and cut down a number of the soulless. Nikolai jumped over her into the fray, reaching upwards at the ceiling. He felt the energy around him start to gather, the power of the place coalescing into a clear yellow war hammer in his hands.

Nikolai brought it down the head of the first vampire he saw with devastating results, collapsing the the unlucky enemies skull in and turning it into dust. As another one swung out at him it's diamond hard claws, He brought up his right arm as the war hammer morphed into a large, mid-evil kite shield that deflected the blow. The shield faded away and Nikolai grabbed the Vamp by it's neck and swung him over his head and on to the other side of floor with considerable force, shattering part of it. With his other hand, he reached for the powerful revolver in his pocket, bringing it out with ease, he shot two more approaching him. Unseen, a powerful vampire with the shadows, coming up behind the archon. As it's raised it's claws, a spurt of blood sprang from it's neck. Beside him, it could see Sarah holding out here long, it's steel stained with blood. With magnificent speed and accuracy she made quick thrusts into it's upper bodies, piercing numerous vital organs and watched as it collapsed into ashes before her eyes. “I wonder how Domonic and Ash are faring?”

_________________
"When God didn't like what he created, he washed it all away in 40 days and 40 nights. I will do it in three" -Magneto

" You want to Screw with Artemis, Screw with Artemis.
You wanna Screw with me.....Make out a Will" Savitar (Dark-Hunter Novels)

"Cowards don't always die a thousand deaths, Sometimes heroes do to" - Sin (Dark-Hunter Novels)

Per Mare - Per Terras
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit

“Woo-whee, Nikolai whistled,, looking at the dilapidated structure in front of them. “I'm pretty sure there are pyramids younger then this piece of junk. Nikolai joked, stepping up towards the front of the ancient looking apartment complex. “You know I could get used to this kind of stuff. Now were dealing with a REAL challenge. I guess I'm going to have to show those these two-bit pussy cats what a real saber-tooth looks like.” As he said rather confidently, he began to laugh wholeheartedly, not noticing that behind him his sister was shaking her head at his fool-hardiness. “So what's the plan sis? I'm guess we can't just go up there, ring the doorbell, and wait fro them to come out, right? Can we burn the place down like last time?”

"Er, no Nico." She told him looking at the top of the apartment. "I think this calls for a more subtle approach then that. Fighting room to room in a five floor apartment complex is bad enough, I don't feel like adding fire into the mix." Sarah turned to Dominic and Ash, glancing sidelong sat the top of the building. Dominic, you can bust through this place pretty easily right? Well, the front door is out, they'll probably have a lot of guards. I was thinking we could bust through the roof and surprise them. I can make a torchlight so we can all see, but we should probably all stick together just in case. Sound good?”

_________________
"When God didn't like what he created, he washed it all away in 40 days and 40 nights. I will do it in three" -Magneto

" You want to Screw with Artemis, Screw with Artemis.
You wanna Screw with me.....Make out a Will" Savitar (Dark-Hunter Novels)

"Cowards don't always die a thousand deaths, Sometimes heroes do to" - Sin (Dark-Hunter Novels)

Per Mare - Per Terras
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit

Nikolai cracked his knuckles, a smirk coming across his face. Walking purposely towards the stairs, he called back to Dominic. “With pleasure. You two sit tight, I'll take care of the action.” As soon as the word were issued from his mouth, the teenager's body began to change. His back hunched downward even as his legs and arms started to elongate. His grew bigger at his face, particular his nose and mouth stretched forward and became far wider, his eyes sharper, his hair growing out and around his neck. In fact, hair started to sprout from every conceivable place as his clothes and equipment disappeared from his body. In moments, Nikolai completed the transformation into a hulk saber-tooth lion, his gaping jaw showing his trademark giant fangs.

With a roar, Nikolai pounced form atop the staircase into the pack of saber-jaguars below, ready to tear, what could be considered, his distant cousins, to shreds. Landing atop one of he larger one's, Nikolai bit into it with his huge front teeth, tearing into the flesh of ti's neck before tossing it aside with a twist of his head, not bother to watch it's limp body slump to the floor. Emitting a challenging roar, the beast charged at two more of the jaguars. In turn, one of them try to jump atop of him, a similar move to what Nikolai had did earlier, while the other used it speed to flank him. In a unorthodox move for animist in his beast form. Nikolai sped on through, leaping forward at the mid-air jaguar and hitting it's chest with his head. Send it backwards and on to ti's back, Nikolai bit down on it's exposed underbelly, ripping out entrails before turning to face the remaining one up behind him. With a flick of his wrist he dove his claws fiercely into jaguar neck, quickly ending it's life. Smiling as bets eh could in this form, Nikolai sprang forward to carve out another peice of the enemy.

***********

In the center of the damp apartment, a figure sat cross legged upon the creaky wooded floors. A tall man, he wore nothing but a black, from his hoodie to his jeans, almost blending in with the complete darkness.. But his most apparent feature was also the one that made him unrecognizable. From head to toe, everything but his mouth and his gleaming red eyes were covered in bandages, almost giving him the appearance of a mummy if he weren't were modern clothes. His were closed at the moment and his body completely still, the perfect picture of calm. The man liked how it was here., so soothing. People would not dare venture here, and even if they did, they met a untimely, very unfortunate demise at the hands of the buildings other guests. The sounds of the the bustling metropolis were dampened by the walls too much too reach his ears as long as he concentrated on blocking them out, and not even light could reach him here.

But not all was a quiet as his little corner of the city. He could feel the various aura's of great powers all gathering at this place, some shining like the sun, others as dark as the void above. The Solar lord and the Master of the fallen one's had amassed here, their massive energies flickering. Even in this very building, not too far from here could he fell familiar aura's and the blood of those who who now rule the world. A hint of seriousness flickered upon his once calm face. Standing up straight, the man began to speak to himself. “So it's true then.” he said as he pulled a loose strip of bandage, tightening it's grip on his right arm. “The end has really begun.” he opened his eyes and his mouth, flashing his vampirc teeth. Deactivating his powers of cloaking, CYpher reavled hismelf to the world. "Let's see how strong the hand of fate truely is."

**********

Listening to the growls of the enemy and Nikolai's own challenging roars, Sarah winced as she moved closer to Dominic. Giggling, she managed as smile as she commented to him. “I;m not entirely sure if Nikolai's was the best choice for damage control. But, at least he's out of our here. So-- She hung at the word, a look of surprise forming. “Hey, wait a minute. Dominic...did you...did you feel that just now. Down there?”