elizabeth_hefty: *Ril drew the hood of her cloak farther over her face, casting her features into shadows. She stepped into the noisy tavern, sounds of drunkenness assaulting her ears. No one paid much attention to the woman as she bought a drink and paid for it with the French currency. She drew the dark fabric tighter around her body and sat in a corner which offered solitude where she could watch the patrons as they went about their business. One gloved hand rested on her sword while the other alternated between lifting the glass to her lips and tracing symbols in the dust that covered the scarred table top.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *The cloaked figure of a man is faintly visible through the shadows and the gloom. He would not be here, ordinarily, but this was one of his rare escapades to the upper world to restock on provisions. He slid a few francs over the counter to the bartender, receiving in exchange three bottles of the finest red Cabernet wine available. His face was not visible beneath the hood of his cloak, and he radiated such an air of violent temper that no one crowded him for a better look.*

elizabeth_hefty: *There was a stir at the bar and the mumble of French grew louder. Ril glanced toward the man who stood waiting for whatever he had bought. His aura was strong and dark and it brought a smile to Ril's lips. He too was hooded and cloaked. She stood up and made her way through the crowd, shoving past bodies and paying no mind to the curses that followed her. This had to be the one they had told her about. She'd waited long enough. She swept a small bow in the long forgotten manner of her people.* "Ril of Fey. I would like to make your acquaintance Monsieur."

phantomwolfwhisper: *He turned to glare through the shadows of his hood at this uninvited, unexpected intrusion. His eyes glowed a mismatched green and brown, the only thing visible though the shadows. He felt something akin to repulsion at this person mocking him, wearing a hooded cloak such as his and pretending politeness. All of them! Every person in the world! They simply did not know when to stop taking their humor at his expense! With a low growl that somehow still came out musical-sounding, he faced the one who had addressed him.* "Don't presume to make my acquaintance."

elizabeth_hefty: *She smiled at his temper. Truly they had more alike than she had at first thought.* "I don't presume. But I do have business that you can help me with. You will be rewarded in any way you see fit." *She stressed the word any. Whether it meant killing someone for him or gifting him with money it would be done. As long as he provided the information she sought.* "Come, this is no place to do this. Let us get away from these humans." *Her voice held contempt for the entire race.*

phantomwolfwhisper: "I'll go where I please, thank you." *He stepped to the side, and made as if to pass her and go out the door. He paused a moment, though, considering the tone of voice this woman had used. Contempt, his own feeling entirely, and her sneered word 'humans'.... Perhaps this woman, too, had led a life such as his? Perhaps that, and not mockery, was the reason for the hooded cloak, even as it suited his purpose? He turned, considering the sight of the woman, his time, his plans, everything that could be considered. Finally, after a long moment of silence, he gave a small bow in a modicum of politeness.* "If you would like to join me...?" *He motioned at one of the bottles he held, inclining his head away from this humanity-ridden place.*

elizabeth_hefty: *She nodded .* "Yes. A drink is in order." *Ril placed and extra coin on the counter and stalked out of the tavern. She stood for several minutes just breathing in the crisp clean night air. Her people were night dwellers by habit, not necessity, and she preferred the darkness. It hid her while revealing the worst flaws of the ones she hunted. It was good.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *He led her through the labyrinthine streets and back-streets of Paris, through the muck and scum and slime, the worst of what humankind had to offer. It was preferable, in his mind, to the high-class avenues of the rich and aristocrats... the real low humanity could reach. His wild twisting and turning eventually led them to a deserted backstreet just behind the potters district, off to the side of the major entertainment center for the rich. A rude sign on its last legs proclaimed the place 'Rue Scribe'. He turned back to the woman he led, making a gesture towards the manhole.... or was it a manhole?... in the middle of the street.* "Shall we?"

elizabeth_hefty: *She cocked an eyebrow at him but didn't speak. Ril had been through her share of interesting passageways but never a sewer. She nodded and began to descend the ladder that was barely visible in the gloom. Her gloved hands slipped some on the muck that covered the rungs and she shook her head in disgust. Humans. There was only one thing worse than them. Her jaw tightened at the thought and she continued to climb downwards. When she reached the bottom she waited for the man. * "Mother of Night, he better be the right one."

phantomwolfwhisper: *He leaped through the hole, landing catlike on his feet with a grace suprising to one who did not know him. He walked to the edge of the concrete, where some sort of dark liquid began and turned into a maze of underground river. He felt a slight amusement at the woman's obvious disgust.* "Don't worry. It's only water." *He tugged at a line hidden just below the surface, and a boat... similar to a gondola.. appeared, empty. He boarded it, taking the pole and standing.* "Are you still willing, m'lady?" *There was sarcasm on the 'm'lady', but only a touch. He felt his politeness was extreme.*

elizabeth_hefty: *She bristled.* "I am no Lady. Don't give me the title." *Ril stepped into the boat and settled as comfortably as possible in its confines. She hadn't been in a boat in a long time and never one so small. Her hands gripped its sides hard, evidence of her nervousness. Her mind scurried for something, anything to do if it capsized. She had never learned to swim. Ril forced herself to breathe normally as the journey progressed.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *He clenched his jaw to keep from laughing at her fear of the boat and water, but managed not to give any sign of his mirth. He poled them along the water, itself an eerie journey full of hidden passages suddenly revealed by walls shifting out of the water, and echoey voices whispering... whispering... At one point, he steered them carefully only on the edge of the water.* "The Sirens will drown us, otherwise," *he explained with a hint of cheerfulness. As one particular gate rose, dripping water over them as they passed beneath it, a secret world came into view. Candles were alight everywhere, and mirrors blazed in their light. A large pipe organ, scattered with sheets of hand-written music, dominated the entire visible area, with draperies hinting at a much vaster dwelling beyond.* "We are here," *he announced, suddenly wary of this stranger in his home, but resolved to be a passable host. He could always kill her if she proved to be unworthy of his trouble. He stepped from the boat, not even offering her a hand.*

elizabeth_hefty: *She stepped from the boat, glad to be free of its teetering floor. Ril let her eyes roam the area. Everything was richly decorated. She crossed her arms and nodded slowly. He had to be the one they'd told her about. Now to business. "Let me re-introduce myself. I am Ril of Fey. In St. Pierre I was told that you are the watcher of Paris. If I was looking for someone, you would know about it."

phantomwolfwhisper: *His eyes, through the shadows, flashed and grew guarded. * "I do not know this St. Pierre place you speak of, or who might have told you such a thing, but that is beside the point. I, contrary to your information, am not the watcher of Paris, but this area..." *he gestured around to indicate a vast radius from this place* "is known to me as it is known to no other. If you're looking for someone, I will likely have no knowledge of them unless I have met them in my travels, or their presence has graced the Opera House."

elizabeth_hefty: "He would have come to the Opera House. He is quite fond of flaunting his wealth and affluence." *Ril sighed.* "Perhaps I should show you who I am." *The gloves came off slowly, revealing small delicate hands. The skin on them was dark as the night sky. She pulled back her hood, bright eyes studying him carefully for his reaction. Her hair tumbled to her shoulders and past her waist. Her face held no amusement or any emotion except a hint of fear.* "I am of a race long extinct. People do not react kindly to what I am."

phantomwolfwhisper: *He observed, his face expressionless. But she couldn't see his face anyway, so it mattered not.* "I had long hypothesized the existence of a race other than miserable humanity," *he began, his voice calm and clear.* "But I never guessed one such would ever come to me. You have come at a bad time, if you wish information." *he turned his gaze away.* "I have paid little attention to anything at all these last three months... except my wine..." *And indeed, empty bottles in a large quantity were stacked neatly in a corner. If his appearance had not been cloaked, the haggardness of his features would have told the tale wordlessly.* "But I suppose I may know who you seek. Ask, and be done with the suspense."

elizabeth_hefty: "He is called Mathias, though I don't know what his surname is. At one time he was also known as Red." *Her voice grew cold and she stopped for a moment, collecting herself.* "He too is not human, but he need not cloak himself to hide it. Unless you cross him you would not know what he is. He wears gaudy colors and his women are very beautiful, though often rather stupid." *She looked away almost as if it was too difficult to continue.*

phantomwolfwhisper: "Mathias...." *He frowned, considering. He had a hazy memory of a fellow in bright colors with a boisterous and exceedingly annoying laugh, women dressed in a fashion that raised a few eyebrows practically dripping off of him.* "I may know him."

elizabeth_hefty: "He has green eyes and a habit of being overly affectionate in public. Its gotten him in trouble more than once." *She ran a hand through her hair and was surprised to find it was shaking. Not from fear, but from the memories that just speaking of the man evoked.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *He nodded, ignoring the woman's emotional responses.* "Yes, yes I think that was him. You'll have to forgive my... uncertainty at first, when you spoke of him, as I was... rather drunk at the time when I saw him. But I'm quite certain I've seen this man."

elizabeth_hefty: *She looked up at him, pinning the nameless man with her gaze.* "Do you know where he is staying? Anything would be helpful, anything at all. And my offer still stands of compensation. Name your price, Monsieur."

phantomwolfwhisper: "He is residing at the Hotel de Champs Elise near the Louvre. One of the upper floors, I believe. He comes to see the operas every Tuesday and Friday night. Box three." *He shrugged, once again the gleam of consideration in his eyes as he stared at this woman, trying to puzzle out her thought process.* "And for compensation... I never want anyone to hunt me down for information again. I want solitude, silence. And maybe a bottle of wine." *He shrugged, looking not quite the image of himself that he usually did, and even one not acquainted with his ways would be able to tell that. His eyes were bloodshot, and that said all that needed saying.*

elizabeth_hefty: "I don't think liquor will drown your sorrows." *She spoke quietly although her heart was racing from the wealth he had just handed her. Not only where he was staying but the fact that he frequented the Opera. Finally the chance for revenge. Her eyes glistened at the thought.* "Merci. Please, reconsider my offer. I can give you almost anything you desire." *She was sincere in her words, knowing they were true.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *Anger lit his eyes from within and he snarled.* "Of COURSE it will drown my sorrows! I will MAKE it! I'll kill myself with it if I have to, but I WILL make the pain go away!" *The insanity of fury raged through him, lending a wildness to his eyes. At a sudden urging, he ripped away the cloak that hid him in shadows, revealing a face half-covered by a mask, and the rest of him pale and drawn. His black hair was an uncombed mess, and salt-stains from unchecked tears still streaked his skin. He folded his arms and curled by his pipe organ, pointedly not looking at her.* "I stand by what I said before. Just a bottle of wine." *He made a gesture towards the three he had bought and brought with him.* "And help yourself."

elizabeth_hefty: *The sight of him looking so vulnerable struck a chord in the heart she had thought was dead.* "I do not know your name Monsieur." *Ril uncorked a bottle and after some searching found two glasses. She poured some wine into each and held one out to him.* "You are in love yes?" *She recognized the symptoms, having gone through them herself. He obviously had been snubbed by whomever held his fascination. The mask having something to do with it, perhaps.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *He accepted the wine, but didn't touch it. Sulkily, he looked down into the glass, watching the liquid slosh about.* "My mother named me Erik," *he muttered, not much above a whisper. Beyond that, he disclosed nothing of his identity to this stranger.* "And my love life..." *he paused for a bark of a laugh that sounded flat and dead* "Or lack thereof... Surely that does not concern you. It is obvious, is it not? That one such as myself ought to be resigned to solitude?" *His gesture towards his mask was faint, but the implication couldn't be clearer.* "I'm sure I'll become resigned to it in a few weeks. Until then... my lover is wine." *With that, he took his glass and downed it in one gulp. After he had done this, he forced a faint smile onto his lips.* "Why is this man... catching him, rather.... So important to you?" *he asked, trying to steer the topic a different direction as he reached for the bottle to refill his glass.*

elizabeth_hefty: "Well Erik..." *She let the name linger on her lips, enjoying the sound .* "He was once my lover. A long time ago." *Ril sipped the wine for a moment.* "But he changed and no longer deserves life." *Her jaw tightened at the reminder of what he had done.* "Love in this instance has turned to hate. I have never been able to open myself up to another again. The hurt goes too deep."

phantomwolfwhisper: "Love, hate..." *He laughed, but once again it fell flat.* "What difference? It leaves us without heart, without soul, makes us empty and hollow. Better hate, I think, than love. At least it does not hurt so much."

elizabeth_hefty: "You're right. But after I satisfy my hate what will be left? I've lived this long with it; I'm afraid that I'm nothing without it." *She sighed and ran a hand through her hair again.* "I would have forgiven it all. Except for one. The last was unthinkable for him to do."

phantomwolfwhisper: *He waited, gulping his wine and reaching for yet another glass*

elizabeth_hefty: "Have you ever had a sister Erik? Someone you would die to protect?" *She watched her glass.* "I did. Her name was Ixion. It means 'beloved'. She was younger than me, and everything I was not. Kind and gentle and... Perfect." *Her voice trailed off.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *He was quiet for a moment, then shook his head.* "No," *he said softly,* "I never had a sister. I never had any family at all, after my mother sold me. But I dreamed... And in those dreams, I knew what it was like to know and treasure someone like that. One who would kill such a..." *his voice trailed off as he struggled to contain his rage.* "He should not be killed. Death would be too good for him."

elizabeth_hefty: "He won't die quickly. That was not all he did." *Her voice was cold and angry. Ril swept back her cloak and showed him her left shoulder. And ugly mark was burned into the skin.* "I too have known slavery. I intend to torture the leech until he begs for death and then let him continue living."

phantomwolfwhisper: *He grinned wryly, death lurking in his eyes* "Life... the greatest punishment of all..... He deserves whatever you choose to do to him. I wish you good hunting."

elizabeth_hefty: "Thank you Erik." *Tears burned her eyes, and she blinked until her vision cleared.* "And good luck with your troubles. May the gods help you." *She smiled slightly, feeling some strange connection to this masked man.*

phantomwolfwhisper: "Here." *He rose, setting his empty glass down on a convenient surface.* "I'll escort you back. It's easy to get lost around here if you're not familiar with the territory."

elizabeth_hefty: *Ril nodded and pulled the hood of her cloak over her face again. She smiled as she was once more hidden in shadows.* "I would greatly appreciate that. May I see you again?"

phantomwolfwhisper: *He paused, thinking about it long and hard. His solitude was all that was left to him now, and visitors... had never been his strong point. But this woman, she was not like the others, not like those blasted humans who swarmed like insects on the upper world. He found he actually liked her company, though their views differed on several points.* "I suppose," *he shrugged.* "If you come by way of the opera house next time. There's a trapdoor with a tripwire in the first cellar, just as your walk down the stairs. Pretend it's a doorbell, and pluck the tripwire, okay? That way I can invite you in properly, and we can avoid this boat-and-water situation." *He, too, donned his cloak, and stepped into the boat, gripping the pole to shove off as soon as she was ready.*

elizabeth_hefty: *She stepped into the cursed contraption and slipped her gloves on.* "Yes that would be most agreeable. My kind are not fond of the water." *She laughed as that was a vast understatement as to how she felt.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *He pushed the boat off into the water and poled it along, triggering all the correct changes in walls and gates along the way* "Where would you like me to drop you off?"

elizabeth_hefty: "If you can take me to the front steps of the Opera I can find my way back from there."

phantomwolfwhisper: *He nodded and steered a bit to the right* "This way. I hope you don't hate cobwebs as much as you hate water." *He glanced back at her* "The passage we're going to take hasn't been used in some time, and there's going to be... well, rats, spiders, dust... And a bit of stealthy walking, either that or some acting scary," *he smiled at the thought, thinking of getting past the ballet rats.*

elizabeth_hefty: "Animals and such don't bother me. I can't escape water." *Her breathing became labored as she thought of all that wet pressing down around her squeezing the air from her lungs. She shuddered and touched the talisman that hung at her throat.* "Mother of Night protect your child." *The prayer was uttered quietly and without thought for the human behind her.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *He smiled, hearing her prayer. It was a good one, down here, and uttered in good company.* "Walk in starlight through the Abyss," *he returned in a barely breathed voice, the rejoinder he always gave for such sincere and devoted children of darkness, few though he had come across during his life.*

elizabeth_hefty: *She glanced over her shoulder at him.* "You follow the dark? I should not be surprised. The religion is old as time but I did not know that humans had a knowledge of it." *Ril followed the Mother of Night with fervor as she'd been taught to do since childhood. It was one of the certainties in her life.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *He smiled* "Indeed. What can one trust in this life if not the darkness? What else enfolds and nurtures us when nothing is there? What else listens to the whispers of our souls but the eternal night?"

elizabeth_hefty: *She nodded, thinking that at last she had met one who understood.* "The night is a comfort. Not something to be feared as these humans seem to think."

phantomwolfwhisper: "Who would think to fear the night?" *He shook his head wonderingly. But then he remembered one who did, and set his mind fiercely to poling the boat in an attempt to erase that stray memory. Sooner or later he would eradicate all thoughts of... of her from his mind, but it was hard. He was used to hard things, though. There was not a thing in his life that had not been so. This was just another drop in the bucket, he told himself. Just another drop in the bucket. Mother Night. Darkness save me. Make it go away, he prayed silently, propelling the little boat through the water.*

elizabeth_hefty: *They were going fast, rocking in the water. Ril put one hand over her mouth in an attempt to stop the bile that was coming up her throat. She gave up and leaned over the side, surrendering what little she had eaten that day. She sat up and wiped her lips.* "An offering to the Opera House gods."

phantomwolfwhisper: *He raised an eyebrow, jolted from his thoughts, and slowed the boat.* "Seasick easily, eh? Well, try to keep it to a minimum. I go swimming in there, you know."

elizabeth_hefty: "I try to avoid the water as much as possible. As for swimming...." *She shook her head at the thought.* "That will never happen."

phantomwolfwhisper: *He shrugged.* "To each their own, I suppose."

elizabeth_hefty: "I prefer the sky." *Her voice grew wistful and a smile twisted her features. Looking strangely out of place on one who was so hate-filled.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *He pointed up into the darkness* "There's all the sky I'll ever need. Perpetual night, even during the day. If there's water below," *he smiled, making a 'can't help it' gesture.* "Well, all the better to drown intruders with."

elizabeth_hefty: *She paled under her dark skin at the mention of drowning and didn't speak again until they were on firm ground.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *The boat drew up against the solid stone of the shore, and he stepped out. Whistling, a large black horse appeared from a well-disguised stable he bribed one of the cellar-boys to keep up for him. Patting the animal, he mounted with ease, and motioned Ril to come up behind him on the saddle-less beast.* "It's a long walk, otherwise."

elizabeth_hefty: *She climbed up behind him and wrapped her arms about his waist.* "It has been some time since I've been on a horse."* It was all the explanation Ril offered for the physical contact.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *He made no comment and simply heeled the horse along the corridor of stone, which led upward at a steeply inclining angle. Here and there were steps, but the horse trotted over them the same as anything else. It seemed to go on for a very long time, and the shapes of far-off laborers for the opera house blurred in the distance. Shadows covered everything.*

elizabeth_hefty: *Her head bobbed as the motion and the long day slowly caused slumber to take her. She'd been awake all day, which was unusual, and it was late. Ril rested against his back, letting him take her where he wished.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *Slightly disconcerted by the female resting against his back, he tried his best to brush away the cobwebs as they appeared. The gleaming red eyes of rats peered from hidden depths as they passed, making slight squealing noises that he had become accustomed to long ago. Eventually, they took a sharp turn, and came up against a blank wall, a dead-end. He stared at the wall in silence for a few moments, not moving, hardly breathing. Then he turned around and shook Ril's shoulder gently.* "Ril, Ril. Time to wake up."

elizabeth_hefty: *She pulled away suddenly, unaware of her surroundings.* "Where?" *Ril caught her breath and looked at him* "Erik. I apologize. I haven't slept in several days." *She slid off the horse and arranged her cloak.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *He, too, dismounted, and sent the horse to go its own way, knowing it would head for the stables.* "No, no need to apologize. But we're here."