Not What It Seems [Hope/Lilith]

[Tobias St Valentine]

The moon was high in the sky, her white face glowing faintly against the pitch black sea surrounding her, gazing down at the city full of sleeping humans and not so sleeping monsters. Not many stars were lighting up the world tonight, Toby noted as he kept looking upwards, watching the moon and the sky, ever up push of the swing he was currently sitting on, playing on, pushing him closer. The moon looked close, like he could reach out and grasp it. You were meant to do that with things that you wanted, according to his brother. Vampires took what they wanted, didn’t they. He didn’t. He couldn’t, though, because...well, he didn’t like to see them cry.

It was odd, feeling without a soul. He’d asked Julien about it, and Axel, but they hadn’t understood. They said he couldn’t feel, not anymore, but he could. He still felt pain and fear and happiness, didn’t he? He sighed, and shook his head violently, dragging his mind off of that track and focussing instead on his hair. He couldn’t help but giggle slightly as it brushed over his face, first one way, then the other, then back again over and over, until that was all he was concentrating on. Toby had a short attention span, after all. Even for a vampire.

He had to distract himself, anyway. He still didn’t like being alone, not at all, but everyone else had been busy again. Perhaps he should have stayed in, staid with the other vampires and talked and chatted with Axel, but he loved to be outside. To feel the wind and the rain and to see the moon. He wished he hadn’t chosen this now, though. He was alone, which felt...wrong, just wrong. No Axel, no Julien. He didn’t like to be away from them, really, especially not Julien. But he had also wanted to see her today, the pretty girl in the shop. But the shop had been closed, and she hadn’t been there, and then the moon and the park had taken his attention. He could have asked the others along, of course, but...

Well, he didn’t want to see her cry, did he? Whereas...they might.

He sighed again, before considering something for a moment, one of those random thoughts which flitted before him than he actually managed to grab onto. And then he started to swing higher, and higher, closing his eyes, and grinning. And singing, singing softly to the wind and the moon. The sound of his own voice made him feel less alone, after all.

[Hope Taylor]

It had been a few hours since she had broken the shackles that was the girl Hope from consciousness. She reveled in her freedom as she walked the streets. It was still a very strange new world she was in and would take some getting used to but she would manage. The people are far weaker in both body and spirit then they had been 2000 years ago. It would be so much easier this time around. This time the hell mouth would open and hell would reign on earth.

She started to walk into the park looking for the demons that would likely be around somewhere. They had done the rituals that had given her the power to break free 7 years ago and given her the strength to take the body and make it hers finally. While trying to sense there presence she heard a boy singing.

He had a pretty voice. She decided to investigate who would be silly enough to sing in the park this late at night. While she approached the boy looked at her and looked happy to see her. Did this boy think he knew her? That was impossible, she only now started to truly live. When he approached closer she sensed the signature of a vampire. Things just got more confusing. Why would a vampire risk his life by coming toward her? She could burn him here and now but he had her interested now. What was going on here.

[Tobias St Valentine]

The sounds of someone approaching filtered through the cool night air towards him. Toby closed his mouth, cutting off his song mid word, insatntly turning his head to look in the direction the noises were coming from without a seconds thought to who it could be, or why they could be here. But that was Toby. He wasn't a simple creature, far from it, but he craved attention and company. Julien was good at that, and he didn't like being away from either him or Axel much, but anyone else was company as well. And company was a good thing, a cery good thing.

The person making the sounds came into sight, a little sooner for him that they would have done for a human, and a bright grin lit of his face. He knew her. That was...was Hope! the little girl with the pink bunny rucksack who'd asked to be friends with him. Hope was a nice person, and company, and that was all good.

He sung harder on the swing, before jumping off as soon as he reached the top of it's arc, leaping through the air to land with cat like grace on the ground. Personally, he didn't notice her was too happy at who was now there, and happy that he wasn't alone.

"Hope! Hello!"

[Hope Taylor]

She was looked behind her thinking he was calling to someone else but nobody was there. She turned and looked at the boy who was approaching her. Even as a vampire she couldn't think of him as anything but a child really. She was getting angry at the fact he approached her so familiarly.

"Who are you vampire childe? Why do you address me so familiarly? I am not this Hope that you speak of." She felt like she should know him but she didn't. Perhaps the girl she was using for those 7 years knew him. To bad she couldn't use her memories anymore.

"Who is your master? Who is the most powerful creatures in the city?" She tried to get information from this vampire. Just from his appearance and feeling she got that he was a weaker and more submissive then usual. Even still she had a slight attraction to the vampire. She usually hated vampires so this was a little weird for her and that made her very wary. She look at him with her most sinister smile. I think you are going to come with me. You are going to be my first vampire servant. you should be honored.

[Tobias St Valentine]

Toby faltered, the smile dropping slightly as he slowled to a stop a fewq paces away from her. "Hope?" It was Hope, wasn't it? Yes, it looked like her, and smelt...and smelt quite like her. He could remember meeting her, because really, it hadn't been that long ago. But he didn't have the best memory, just yet as things kept distracting him...but how could he be wrong about that? "We...You asked to be friends. Don't you want to be friends anymore?" That was upsetting. He didn't have many friends as it was, other than Julien and Axel. And they were more family than friends.

"My...what?" he blinked in confusion, shaking his head whilst staring at her. Something was wrong, was most definately wrong. This...though it smelt and sounded and looked like Hope, wasn't. And that confused him. Unless...unless this was just a game he was playing. It could be that, couldn't it? "Oh. Well, Master wise...I guess that would be Julien. Oh, but there's Penny as wlel, see, but she doesn't seem to do as much. Oh, and Axel, but he works with Julien. Powerful creature..." he paused, trying to come up with the right answer. Obviously this was a game, and he needed to answer either in a funny way or a right way to win... "Umm...Oh, the Slayer? No?" He was quite proud of that answer. Both Julien and Axel had talked abut her, and Axel had said he could play with her...but she was powerful. They said that as well. "Was that the right answer?"

He paused for a moment longer, and then laughed, a little nervously. He didn't much like her smile...it was creepy. Scary even. "No! I don't want to be a servant. Servants have to remember how to do everything, and I don't do that. You can be that instead. I'll be something else."

[Hope Taylor]

She looked at him confused and annoyed. There was definitely something wrong with this boy. She had looked at much scarier creatures that had cowered in her presence and he didn't even cringe away. This body was simply to small and weak looking. It never gave the impression of strength that she always had before. She would really have to find another soon. This one had served its purpose but she needed one stronger and more capable to fully use her powers.

The boy gave her the information she wanted ... well as much as he knew that is. The slayer must be gone though. She wouldn't be that stupid as to stay after her warning. As he continued to speak she realized that Hope was the name of the girl she hid behind these last few years. That might be helpful later.

She silently called out to the demons in the park that waited for her and told them to encircle herself and the boy. She had a cruel Idea of how to intimidate him. "I don't like the word slave much. What I offer is to help me take the world back from the humans, to help demons and other supernatural creatures rule instead of hiding in the shadows. Wouldn't you like that? It is a great honor and privilege. You don't want to insult me by refusing do you?"

By now the demons were just out of sight for the vampire but he was completely trapped though he didn't know it yet. With that she changed from her little innocent girl look into that of the demon she was. Horns grew from her head and back through her hair similar to a rams horn. Then the black leathery wings burst from her back. She looked at him with a malicious smile and said "You will serve me...the only question is how."

Thinking to herself that if he didn't want to help her willingly she could always use him as a sacrifice. She didn't want to but she had to start sending a message to the city at large and wouldn't compromise even for an interesting little vampire.

[Tobias St Valentine]

No, no, this most definately was not Hope. And yet...and yet it was. It looked like Hope, sounded like her...but he'd already thought that, hadn't he? The same thoughts were running around his mind now, in confusion. He didn't understand. Was this not some game? She remembered him, didn't she? "Don't you remember me?" he couldn't help but say to himself, a little mournfully. He shook his head again, his tousled hone-blonde hair fluttering which way and that, flickering in and out of his eyes. "I said. Don't want to...be..."

He trailed off, his silver-grey eyes wideneing, and took a step backwards as Hope...changed, she changed, in front of him. He started to shake, mouth open in suprise. No...No, this was not Hope. Definately not Hope, with her pink bunny rucksack. No...but how... What have you done with Hope?!" he cried, running his hand through his hair before latching them both in front of him, wringing his fingers through one another.

"You're...you're a demon!" That was bad. Toby didn't like demons, didn't like them at all. The metal bands that were still around his wrists clattered against one another as he wrung his hands, distressed. He stepped backwards again, and then took another step, backing away from the Not-Hope. From the...Demon-Hope? Demon's meant being locked up, and pain, and being taunted and teased and called weak, and Julien had said that wouldn't happen again. He'd said! But Julien wasn't here now, and he was scared. He didn't notice the demons circling around...perhaps if he'd been older, and more experienced, and less afraid, he would have, but...he wasn't.

He shook his head again, more violently this time. the stubborness of his childlike personality shining through even his fear, pouting his lips. "No. Won't. Won't won't won't. Don't be silly, Hope, this isn't funny!" He'd suddenly hit onto the idea that this might be a game, a different game, even as he continued to back away. And he was clinging onto that idea. Hope couldn't be a demon...couldn't be.

[Hope Taylor]

Ohhh how she liked this boy. Liked allot. His fear was so intoxicating. He looked like a teenage boy but the way he talked and reacted to her made him seem like a child. She kept coming closer as he walked backward and away from her. Little did he know he was already trapped, he wasn't getting away from her.

As he started wringing his hands she saw the manacles on his wrists. That was very very interesting. That would explain so much though. He had been in the hands of demons before as a slave. When she got within reach she shot her hand out and grabbed his shoulder and made him kneel in front of her. looking deep into his eyes and letting him see the menace in her gaze before she licked the side of his face. The taste of fear was always delicious and knew the amount of fear the act would cause. She shuddered with the energy it gave to her.

She was about to see how much he liked pain and fire she felt Hope struggle to take control again. That girl was far to persistent for her own good. She struggled with the girl and thought it was a done deal that and she would would continue to do as she wished. She was wrong however. She must still be weak from breaking free because Hope managed to take over for a moment. Looking into Her friend Toby's eyes and seeing that he was afraid of her her hurt Hope so very much. What was Lilith doing to her friend. She wanted to cry and whimper her apologies but she didn't have time for that.

Hope said in a panicked voice "Go Toby! Run! Ill keep the others to from attacking you but it wont last long. I...I..Im sorry... I'm a bad friend." With that she connected to the demons surrounding them to make sure they didn't stop him from leaving

[Tobias St Valentine]

A whimper escaped through Toby's lips, lips that were being nibbled on in axiety and fear. His eyes were wide, and staring at her, at...not Hope, at the demon. How could Hope be a demon? He didn't understand, he didn't understand at all, and couldn't think to even try to work it out. All he could think of was to run, to get away. He'd taken another step backwards, and had been about to turn and to run, when the hand grasped his shoulder and forced him to his knees. That was proof that it wasn't Hope, something in the back of his fear addled mind seemed to realise. Hope was human, and wouldn't have been strong enough to push him down...well, unless being afraid made you weak. Axel would probably agree with that, actually...

He was dragged out of his thoughts by the feel of a tongue licking his cheek, and squeaked. Actually squeaked, flinching away, his body trembling in random bursts, struggling against her, just slightly. He felt like a cornered animal, which was wrong. He wasn't an animal, he was a vampire, a big bad vampire according to Axel and Julien, one who should be able to fight this demon, and kill it. But all he wanted to do was to go home and curl up. "L-leave me alone!" he could hear himself whimpering, from a distance it seemed. He wasn't liking this at all.

But then...then it wasn't Hope-demon...it was Hope? Or was it. He didn't know, but the creature was warning him and telling him to run, but he was confused, and his mind was rather numb. He'd expected pain, not words, not words which sounded more like Hope than the previous ones, because that's wht happened. Demon's meant pain. He knew that and was now feeling, and probably looking like he was about to cry...Pathetic. That was pathetic. This was pathetic, he was pathetic. Axel and Julien were going to hate him for appearing so weak, and that thought was almost as scary as this entire thing was, and he didn't know...she'd said his name!

He blinked, slowly. His name, she remembered, which meant... "Other's?" he squeaked again, before scrambling away, looking around with a wide eyed gaze, before taking a step back. Then another when...Hope...didn't try to stop him. And another, and another. I'm a bad friend... That's what she had said. So it had been her...He whimpered, before turning, making to flee into the darkness. He didn't understand, not at all. Axel would. That thought was clear, now, to him, while confusion and fear burst through him and kept running around. Axel would understand, he'd explain it.