Post by oddball on Feb 16, 2007 13:55:28 GMT -5
Trial by Fire
Enter the Renegade
~One month later~
“Oddy, can we go now?”
“Just a minute, I’ve gotta finish this up…”
“But hurry up, I don’t want to put this off any more!”
“Oddy? You home?” Said a voice at the door.
“I got it!” Said a cheerful Celeste as she opened the door. “Hiya Rose!”
“Hello Celeste. Is Oddy around?”
“Yeah, he’s packing right now.”
“Packing? Where are you guys going?”
“Oh, we’re just moving to Oddy’s actual house. This one is just an old cabin he sorta took over…” Celeste giggled. “He actually lives over by where my house used to be. So we’re gonna stop and pay our respects to my parents…”
“Oh Celeste! That reminds me, I found this after I left… er, well… here.” Rose handed Celeste the note she had found outside of Eebrum’s camp. “I was wondering if you could tell me who V. M. D. is…”
“Those are my brother’s initials…”
“Vaughn’s?”
“Not him… I wouldn’t touch anything he gave me. These are Vincent’s initials.”
“What?”
“Vincent Madeus Dal…” Said Oddy as he came down the stairway to meet Rose and Celeste at the door. “Found a little clue to the puzzle eh?” Oddy took the note from Celeste and examined it thoroughly. “This is from last month…”
“But Vincent’s dead? Right?” Celeste giggled and Oddy shook his head.
“Celeste was able to discover he was alive without any help from myself or anyone else for that matter.
“But how?” Rose was confused. All reports had originally indicated that the Dal’s were completely wiped out, save for Vaughn. But just one-month prior, Oddy had informed her that Celeste was still alive, and in his care. Now she was finding out that Vincent Dal was still alive, and to top it all off, a viable threat to Eebrum’s conquest.
“I can see spirits and ghosts. I was reunited with my parents after the first couple months of living here with Oddy. He helped me progress with my powers quickly, and it was them who informed me that Vincent was not on that side of reality, but was here, training to fight Eebrum.”
“And when Celeste told me what she had learned, I told her about how I had been training him in sword combat.” Said Oddy as he placed a paw on Rose’s shoulder and leaned in to whisper in her ear. “My student… Miss DeMaria, is the one you were so curious in, and also the one who helped you with your wings after Eebrum nearly ripped them off.”
“Him?” Rose exclaimed as visions popped into her head of the black robed figure that had been following her around in the last couple months. “But how is that possible? How has he been able to move around so freely, especially with Eebrum having myself and most of the other assassins in his employ searching for him?”
“How many of your fellow killers have actually reported back to Eebrum?” Asked Celeste coyly.
“Well, none…” The realization hit her full force. “He’s killed them all?”
“Not them all, Miss DeMaria. He has is rather fond of you… After all, you and he are the same species, and at last guess, you are also the last surviving female Canio-Dragon Dalmatian female.”
“Aside from me…” Celeste added. Rose was silent for a moment.
“I had two sisters you know…”
“Yes I know that, but he doesn’t. And for that matter, no one else knows either. So long as your sisters are thought of as dead or nonexistent. No one with an interest in your legacy will harm you.”
“But does he know Eebrum’s contracted me to kill him?”
“Yes…”
“How?”
“I told him.” Said Oddy/
“Are you trying to get me killed?”
“He won’t kill you…” Said Celeste. “He’s attracted to you. He’s grown kinda attached to you after all the surveillance he’s been doing on you for Oddy.”
“You’ve had him watching me?”
“Yes…” Oddy smirked. “I wanted him to be there as emergency backup, should Eebrum turn on you. He’s also been keeping me informed of your movements and actions.”
“And your secretly hoping we fall for each other.”
“One can only hope…” Oddy laughed at the remark. Celeste simply smiled and looked at Rose.
“It won’t work… Even if we do fall for one another, he’s my target. And I never fail in a mission.”
“You failed to…”
“That doesn’t count! You know I like to attack with stealth…”
“Sorry…” Oddy moved Rose out the door with Celeste. “We should be heading out now. Care to join us Rose?”
“I may… But I don’t know where your student is right now. I wouldn’t want him to be watching me the whole time.”
“Don’t worry Rose. He’s not here, and even if he was he knows you’ll be keeping an eye out for him. So I’d say you can put your tail down now…” Oddy said with a smile.
“Oh… Spoil my fun Oddy.”
“Vincent isn’t like that anymore. He bases his thoughts of people on their fighting ability. But I’d say in your case, he’d consider fighting ability and looks. And I wouldn’t blame him there…” Celeste gave Rose a sly look and a wink.
“Celeste?” Said Oddy in confusion.
“Sorry… Well shall we get going then?” Said Celeste as she turned away from Rose and Oddy and started walking away.
“Celeste…”
“Yes Oddy?” Said Celeste as she turned to face him.
“Home is tat way…” Said Oddy as he pointed in the complete opposite direction.
“Right…” Celeste hurried past Rose and went in the direction Oddy had pointed.
“She’s a little weird, isn’t she?” Asked Rose as she watched Celeste walk speedily away from them, her tail going side to side softly.
“You have no idea… She’s also getting to be quite an attractive young woman.” Oddy watched her walking up ahead. He and Rose were now following her a few paces back, but making sure to keep an eye on her in case they met any unfavorable company.
“So Oddy, would you ever go out with her?”
“Are you crazy? Think I have a death wish? Vincent’d kill me for sure if I did…” Oddy now looked at Rose. “Besides she’s one, too young for me, and two, not my type.”
“Whatever you say Oddy… You know you would…”
“Not with him around…” Said Oddy indicating te robed figure now walking ext to Rose on her right side. “All set?”
“All set. Road is clear all the way….” The figure turned to Rose now. “Miss DeMaria…”
“Mr. Dal…” Rose nodded to him.
“So Oddy told you?”
“Yes he did…”
“So Eebrum wants you to kill me too huh?”
“That’s the deal, I kill you. Then I get my chance to kill him.”
“It’ll never work…”
“Why not?”
“I don’t die easy. And also, never trust Eebrum’s words. He promise my Father just before he killed him, that he wouldn’t kill myself or Celeste. And based on what Oddy told me of the time in which I was blacked out, he almost killed Celeste.”
“Don’t trust everything you hear… right?”
“Exactly…” Vincent looked up at his sister. “I hope she doesn’t mind if I’m not there to meet you guys…”
“Got a plan?” Asked Oddy.
“Yes… I’m going to Caina, to raise some hell…”
“Do be careful Vince… We need you, you know that right?”
“I know… You’ve told me thousands of times… Later. Rose…” Vincent vanished just as Celeste turned around.
“You guys coming?”
“You bet!” Said Oddy as he sped up his pace, Rose trailing behind.
“Oddy?” Asked Rose.
“Yes Rose?”
“I just realized something…”
“What’s that?”
“I’ve been hired to kill someone whom I’ve never actually seen…”
“Don’t worry Rose, he’ll show his face to you someday. Just hope it’s a good day…” Oddy smiled as he ran on ahead.
“A good day?” Rose swallowed loudly. “Why do I fear him now?”
“Don’t fear me Rose… You’re helping my friend and sister, and for that, I’m grateful…” Said Vincent’s voice in Rose’s ear. “Until we meet again.”
To Be Continued
Enter the Renegade
~One month later~
“Oddy, can we go now?”
“Just a minute, I’ve gotta finish this up…”
“But hurry up, I don’t want to put this off any more!”
“Oddy? You home?” Said a voice at the door.
“I got it!” Said a cheerful Celeste as she opened the door. “Hiya Rose!”
“Hello Celeste. Is Oddy around?”
“Yeah, he’s packing right now.”
“Packing? Where are you guys going?”
“Oh, we’re just moving to Oddy’s actual house. This one is just an old cabin he sorta took over…” Celeste giggled. “He actually lives over by where my house used to be. So we’re gonna stop and pay our respects to my parents…”
“Oh Celeste! That reminds me, I found this after I left… er, well… here.” Rose handed Celeste the note she had found outside of Eebrum’s camp. “I was wondering if you could tell me who V. M. D. is…”
“Those are my brother’s initials…”
“Vaughn’s?”
“Not him… I wouldn’t touch anything he gave me. These are Vincent’s initials.”
“What?”
“Vincent Madeus Dal…” Said Oddy as he came down the stairway to meet Rose and Celeste at the door. “Found a little clue to the puzzle eh?” Oddy took the note from Celeste and examined it thoroughly. “This is from last month…”
“But Vincent’s dead? Right?” Celeste giggled and Oddy shook his head.
“Celeste was able to discover he was alive without any help from myself or anyone else for that matter.
“But how?” Rose was confused. All reports had originally indicated that the Dal’s were completely wiped out, save for Vaughn. But just one-month prior, Oddy had informed her that Celeste was still alive, and in his care. Now she was finding out that Vincent Dal was still alive, and to top it all off, a viable threat to Eebrum’s conquest.
“I can see spirits and ghosts. I was reunited with my parents after the first couple months of living here with Oddy. He helped me progress with my powers quickly, and it was them who informed me that Vincent was not on that side of reality, but was here, training to fight Eebrum.”
“And when Celeste told me what she had learned, I told her about how I had been training him in sword combat.” Said Oddy as he placed a paw on Rose’s shoulder and leaned in to whisper in her ear. “My student… Miss DeMaria, is the one you were so curious in, and also the one who helped you with your wings after Eebrum nearly ripped them off.”
“Him?” Rose exclaimed as visions popped into her head of the black robed figure that had been following her around in the last couple months. “But how is that possible? How has he been able to move around so freely, especially with Eebrum having myself and most of the other assassins in his employ searching for him?”
“How many of your fellow killers have actually reported back to Eebrum?” Asked Celeste coyly.
“Well, none…” The realization hit her full force. “He’s killed them all?”
“Not them all, Miss DeMaria. He has is rather fond of you… After all, you and he are the same species, and at last guess, you are also the last surviving female Canio-Dragon Dalmatian female.”
“Aside from me…” Celeste added. Rose was silent for a moment.
“I had two sisters you know…”
“Yes I know that, but he doesn’t. And for that matter, no one else knows either. So long as your sisters are thought of as dead or nonexistent. No one with an interest in your legacy will harm you.”
“But does he know Eebrum’s contracted me to kill him?”
“Yes…”
“How?”
“I told him.” Said Oddy/
“Are you trying to get me killed?”
“He won’t kill you…” Said Celeste. “He’s attracted to you. He’s grown kinda attached to you after all the surveillance he’s been doing on you for Oddy.”
“You’ve had him watching me?”
“Yes…” Oddy smirked. “I wanted him to be there as emergency backup, should Eebrum turn on you. He’s also been keeping me informed of your movements and actions.”
“And your secretly hoping we fall for each other.”
“One can only hope…” Oddy laughed at the remark. Celeste simply smiled and looked at Rose.
“It won’t work… Even if we do fall for one another, he’s my target. And I never fail in a mission.”
“You failed to…”
“That doesn’t count! You know I like to attack with stealth…”
“Sorry…” Oddy moved Rose out the door with Celeste. “We should be heading out now. Care to join us Rose?”
“I may… But I don’t know where your student is right now. I wouldn’t want him to be watching me the whole time.”
“Don’t worry Rose. He’s not here, and even if he was he knows you’ll be keeping an eye out for him. So I’d say you can put your tail down now…” Oddy said with a smile.
“Oh… Spoil my fun Oddy.”
“Vincent isn’t like that anymore. He bases his thoughts of people on their fighting ability. But I’d say in your case, he’d consider fighting ability and looks. And I wouldn’t blame him there…” Celeste gave Rose a sly look and a wink.
“Celeste?” Said Oddy in confusion.
“Sorry… Well shall we get going then?” Said Celeste as she turned away from Rose and Oddy and started walking away.
“Celeste…”
“Yes Oddy?” Said Celeste as she turned to face him.
“Home is tat way…” Said Oddy as he pointed in the complete opposite direction.
“Right…” Celeste hurried past Rose and went in the direction Oddy had pointed.
“She’s a little weird, isn’t she?” Asked Rose as she watched Celeste walk speedily away from them, her tail going side to side softly.
“You have no idea… She’s also getting to be quite an attractive young woman.” Oddy watched her walking up ahead. He and Rose were now following her a few paces back, but making sure to keep an eye on her in case they met any unfavorable company.
“So Oddy, would you ever go out with her?”
“Are you crazy? Think I have a death wish? Vincent’d kill me for sure if I did…” Oddy now looked at Rose. “Besides she’s one, too young for me, and two, not my type.”
“Whatever you say Oddy… You know you would…”
“Not with him around…” Said Oddy indicating te robed figure now walking ext to Rose on her right side. “All set?”
“All set. Road is clear all the way….” The figure turned to Rose now. “Miss DeMaria…”
“Mr. Dal…” Rose nodded to him.
“So Oddy told you?”
“Yes he did…”
“So Eebrum wants you to kill me too huh?”
“That’s the deal, I kill you. Then I get my chance to kill him.”
“It’ll never work…”
“Why not?”
“I don’t die easy. And also, never trust Eebrum’s words. He promise my Father just before he killed him, that he wouldn’t kill myself or Celeste. And based on what Oddy told me of the time in which I was blacked out, he almost killed Celeste.”
“Don’t trust everything you hear… right?”
“Exactly…” Vincent looked up at his sister. “I hope she doesn’t mind if I’m not there to meet you guys…”
“Got a plan?” Asked Oddy.
“Yes… I’m going to Caina, to raise some hell…”
“Do be careful Vince… We need you, you know that right?”
“I know… You’ve told me thousands of times… Later. Rose…” Vincent vanished just as Celeste turned around.
“You guys coming?”
“You bet!” Said Oddy as he sped up his pace, Rose trailing behind.
“Oddy?” Asked Rose.
“Yes Rose?”
“I just realized something…”
“What’s that?”
“I’ve been hired to kill someone whom I’ve never actually seen…”
“Don’t worry Rose, he’ll show his face to you someday. Just hope it’s a good day…” Oddy smiled as he ran on ahead.
“A good day?” Rose swallowed loudly. “Why do I fear him now?”
“Don’t fear me Rose… You’re helping my friend and sister, and for that, I’m grateful…” Said Vincent’s voice in Rose’s ear. “Until we meet again.”
To Be Continued