My wolf hearing has allowed me to eavesdrop on the conversation outside. Atlanteans? Even they're in on this? What did I miss? I can tell that Shadow is getting a little anxious. She always was a little scared of me when I was angry. My eyes continuously turn from her to the door. I still feel trapped but I'm starting to calm down. Finaly I lean against the wall & look at her. That long flowing black & red hair, those ice blue eyes, that flawless figure. I can't help but want her. But what am I supposed to do?
Shadow: "I've...been following you."
Shawn: "I know."
Shadow: "Does it hurt anymore?"
Shawn: "No."
Shadow: "Liar."
Shawn: "So? What do you care?"
Shadow: *shakes head & stares at him sadly* "I can't stand to see you hurt like that."
Shawn: "It's just a little pain. No big deal."
Shadow: *shakes head* "Always got your guard up, huh? Always have to be the lone wolf, don't ya? Why won't you let anybody in? Why won't you let me in?"
Shawn: "Because the last time I let you in your parents had a bounty placed on my head! I've been on the run from your kind, my kind, demons, angels, hunters, & even zombies! Hell, last time I was in Florida, a damn Merman tried to wack me!"
Shadow: "It wasn't my parents who did it! They liked you! It was Jean-Claude who put out that bounty! He was jealous of you. You knew that."
Shawn: "Jean-fucking-Claude huh? Well, if I ever see that bastard again I'll rip his heart out & feed it to him! *punches wall cracking a few bricks. sighs* Why didn't you stay in St. Louis like I told you to?!"
Shadow: "Why didn't you stay away from St. Louis like I told you to?!"
Both of us together: "Idiot."
We finaly lock eyes. My eyes have finaly gone brown again. We just stare at eachother for a few minutes.
Shadow: "Tell me how you really feel about me."
Shawn: "Ok."
I walk over to her, take her firmly in my arms & kiss her.

Walking away from shawn's room I have to hope that things go right by those two, vampire or not, werewolf or not. It's funny that with all the death I've seen in this long life all those close to me who have passed it brings me true joy to see others find happiness. Well luck to them and to us all in all our endevours because if those cursed beings have indeed returned we're going to need all that we can get....
*a Vampire Guard runs up*

Guard: Old Blood the council requests your presence, the delegates from Avalon and Antlantis have just arived and the dwarves, dragons and elves will be here shortly
Gaius: Excellent, inform the council I am on my way and them make sure the needs of the delegates are attended to I know atlanteans don't like spending much time out of water.
Guard: *slautes* Yes Sir! *turns to carry out his orders*
Gaius: One more thing find out if Lord Malus has returned from his mission, If he has send him to me immediately
Guard: *Salutes again* Yes Sir! *runs off to carry out his orders

Gaius: *sighs* I hope the magical community can take the shock of having the greatest scourge of millenia untold return...*stalks off towards the grand council chambers*

I snarl, but my anger has died down now & my eyes have now gone to a dull glow. I pace around the room like an anxious wild dog that's been thrown into a cage. I cradle my arm knowing that it is still hurt. Damn! Why me? I look at Shadow. On the inside I feel like a happy little puppy because of her presence, but on the outside I maintain a cautious & firm stare.
"Hi."

my eyes narrow and I speak calmly "frank is down in the kitchens enjoying a rather large Steak as last I saw him, The Sorcerresses are in the womens quarters being pampered as is due guests of the new head of the Grand Council, Malus is out on an assingment and will not be able to hear your ravings at this moment though I can arrange a meeting later if you wish.

Alot has gone on since you were knocked out and I have been declared head of the vampiric grand council. Malus and those of the normal vampiric society are not your enemies, Malus was following you because you had been seen with me and they wanted more intellegance on you. and they hoped that you would lead them to me.

Now I know you have questions for me and those will be addressed in due time. I ask that you not harm any one who comes to speak with you and that you rest as much as you can your wounds are not yet fully healed.

If you will excuse me there is some one outside who rather wants to see you
*Gaius exits before shawn can respond and is replaced by a rather shy looking shadow*

My eyes instantly open. I search my suroundings very quickly. No!
"You betrayed me!"
My eyes begin glowing again, this time a fiery red.
"You've taken me to the stronghold of my greatest enemies! Where the fuck is Frank?! & where are the sorceresses?! Show yourself Malus!"

"hmmm maybe I did under estimate him I didn't expect that he could find you Malus"
*shadow congeals in to a human like form*
Malus: Old Blood a pleasure to see you again
Gaius: I have to ask why are all the vampires I run in to calling me old blood.
Malus: you have earned the title, both in your age and the fact that you are more dangerous than a large portion of the vampiric populace put together
Gaius: true enough
Malus: Old Blood aren't you worried about his injuries?
Gaius: He'll be fine between a werewolf's natural healing capacity and the healing spell I silent cast on him before you showed up
Gaius: So Malus why are you following shawn here around? surely one werewolf is not that important to your people that they would send all this to capture him?
Malus: It's not us
Gaius: What? then you mean it's...
Malus: Yes old blood they have returned again, your presence is immediately requested to preside over the Grand Council
Gaius: I am honored to accept but can I do that by vampiric law?
Malus: You are a special case my old friend
Gaius: Very well I shall leave at once, have your men take the sorceresses and the wolf to the castle, keep him unconcius and do not let any of them be bitten under any circumstances short of their request to join your ranks, also could you leave shadow with me? she seems rather competent and I may need a hand if I get ambushed again.
Malus: Done my friend though I find you asking for help slightly amusing, are you perhaps getting old?
Gaius: Nope just wise enough to appreciate competent back up
Malus: So it is, I shall see you at the castle
Gaius: goodbye old friend
*Malus Congeals in to the night taking shawn with him*

Gaius: Shadow you may reveal your self now
Shadow: of course Old Blood
Gaius: come on we leave at once for the Grand Council, in case you did not hear
Shadow: very well Old Blood
*they depart traveling quickly*

*1 week passes*

*Gaius having arrived at the castle enters the room they've been keeping shawn unconcious in and slowly applies a counter serum to wake him up*
"Shawn come back to the land of the living shawn"

"No. Once again you underestimate me. I knew that she was there. I've just been trying to avoid her. There is also another one following me that you did not see. He is easily 10 times stronger than she is & he's the one who sent all of...*looks at bloody remains*...them after me. *sighs* I can see where you & I are going to have to do some serious talking if we are to continue to fight together. But for the record, I could have handled them all myself."
I barely get the words out & I have to grab my bleeding chest because of the pain. I fall to my knees & cough up blood. My own blood. I start to shake a little. I growl & fall facefirst onto the pavement. I try to fight passing out but inevitably my eyes close...

"Have you ever heard of VanHelsing? or Friar Carl? They were some of the most wanted murderers in europe on the surface but in reality they were monster slayers working for Rome, I met Friar Carl back when I worked for Rome or Cardinal as he was called then VanHelsing had long passed but monsters still existed so Rome contracted me, When Carl gave me three of those he warned about their capabilites. What they are is combination of various things that produces a light rivaling that of the sun itself. It has a variety of uses ranging from mass vampire killing as you saw to charbroiling a herd of charging wildebeast, unfortunantly I only have one left and can't get any more."

*takes out pistols and begins reloading them*

By the way I ran in to a friend of yours when we parted ways a while and I met her again this evening, you don't track as well as you think my friend though with the spell she's using 99% of the populace of the world magical or not could not detect her.

I had already taken out about 20 of the Vampires & 2 of my own kind when the warrior showed up. Then he threw that grenade. I jumped behind a large dumpster just as it went off. It took out twice the Vampires I did & all but one of my own. I'm badly injured but I'm trying to hide it from my comrade.
"YOU TAKE OUT THE VAMPS, I'LL GO AFTER HIM!"
I run after my "former" brethren. We spend a few minutes circling eachother & barking. He makes the first move. Big mistake. He jumps at me trying to slash at my throat. I grab him & tackle him down & bite at his throat. My teeth lock into him & he tries to break free. He does not succeed. I shake my head tearing his flesh & throat. With a pained yelp he dies. I get up & howl a long & victorious howl. By this time the warrior has already disbanded the rest of the Vampires. I revert back to human form & walk over to the warrior, my face & hands still bloody.
"What the hell was that thing?"

my, my what the hell has he done to piss off vampires and werewolves, oh well I'd better help him out, I think that sun generator grenade I got from Friar Carl and that Van Helsing will do perfectly "SHAWN! GET BEHIND SOMETHING AND SHIELD YOUR EYES!" *Lobs strange shaped device, seconds later it goes off and generates a light that rivals that off the sun incinerating a large amount of the vampires and toasting several of the werewolves* well it's a start it's time to get personal *draws handguns and opens fire while advancing*

I've traveled these particular streets too many times before to not know where I'm headed. I could run these alleys blind-folded & still get anywhere I want unscratched. When I am angered, my eyes glow a red so bright that they resemble a car's back-up lights; & trust me, right now, I'm angry. I howl a few times as I turn each corner. I want to attract attention. I eventually reach an open area. I walk around a little trying to spot my comrade the old warrior. Nothing. I can't even smell him. Oh well, can't blame him for wanting to stay out of this. This is gonna get ugly. I arch my back & let out a long focused howl that I'm sure is loud enough to wake the dead. No more than 15 minutes pass & I can smell their stench so close it feels like a punch in the face.
"COME OUT!!!!!!!!"
They listen. The alleyway is instantly filled with at least 70 powerful Vampires. Then my own kind decides to finally show up. They all know me, & I know all of them. Why are they not fighting eachother? Because the one thing in this alley right now that they all hate more than eachother is...me. I begin barking, howling, roaring, & growling in an aggressive manner. They don't move. Huh, that's odd. They usually start attacking after I do that. I get even angrier. My eyes glow a bright blood red & I show my claws. I jump on one of the Vampires & bite out his heart. That got their attention. I get bombarded by a spray of silver bullets & knives & even arrows. Ok, now they've really pissed me off. I howl once more & jump into the nearest group.

*sighs* all ways on the move

*speaks to shadowy corner*
you may not want to apporach him while he's being hunted by others of your kind he;s likely to stake any vampire on sight
Shadow: thank you old blood I will consider you consul. But I must ask how did you know I was there?
Gaius: I helped create that concealment spell, Now I have to go help your firend before he bites off more than he can chew...*runs off after Shawn*
Shadow(thinking): If he helped create the spell I was using that would make him *looks shocked* he's even older than I thought!

"I NEED NO WEAPONS..."
I show my claws.
"...I AM A WEAPON."
I howl & go running off.
"COME ON!"

"Wolf I've had to put down more of your kind than I like to recall I rather like you and would prefeer not to add your name to my list" but I think the vampire you've been looking for is very close so if you happen to have some stakes and holy water now would be a good time to utilize them

I revert back to human form.
"No, not really. I've been followed by a rogue Vampire for a while now. He's the one who sent the last group of hunters after me. I came here for a few...personal reasons, & to see a few of my "dogs" in hopes that they might tell me who the hell is following me. Now, if you want in on the action then keep up."
I transform again & howl. I hear more response howls, this time very close by. I turn back towards the warrior.
"DIDN'T ANYONE EVER TELL YOU NOT TO STOP A WEREWOLF WHILE IT IS ON THE PROWL?"

I hate long distance travel and ireland and St. Lousis are a long way away but I'll go any way I think there's an intresting story behind this werewolf and maybe some of his friends and at my age with the years I have left getting a good story out of something is all I can really hope for. I just got some new toys while I was traveling a pair of silver plate Colt revolvers, not as enjoyable to use as the bow but they'll serve admirable. The wolf has changed again and some wizard of some such just teleported in on him, guess I should drop in before he ends up doing something drastic *leaps from the roof landing in front of shawn* "Hello wolf, having a plensent evening?"

After finnaly being able to locate Shawn, I decide it's time to tell him...
*jack teleports in front of shawn*
"Hey, Hey, relax I'm a friend. I've got news for you. Your being followed. A rogue vampire has been tracking you night and DAY. He's learned of a spell to keep him alive in the sunlight. Be sure to watch your back. And with that I leave. Oh, yes if you need me, rub this saphire and I'll be there as soon as I can."
*hands shawn a saphire*
"Be seeing you"
*Teleports to parts unkown.*

Revised History:
Rhizoid, final surviving heir to the Order of the Palladium Kiwi Spoon, was spawned from unknown progenitors in a dank cave in New Zealand. The cave, one of the numerous headquarters of the House of Eggplant (a vigalante organization composed of random vagrants), served as Rhizoid's primary home for the first 20 years of her life, with the strange organization members serving as family. She received training in various crafts, with a strong preference for archery and sling throwing. She also inhereted the Palladium Kiwi Spoon - a strange eating implement that, while designed for the rampant consumption of kiwis, can be used for almost any food. The soft metal that composes the spoon makes it nearly useless in a fight, but its unusually large size and nasty serrations serve as an excellent tool for intimidation. Now residing in North America, Rhizoid has decided to take a vow of silence for no reason whatsoever and so remains in the form of a liverwort.

After 3-4 days worth of travel we arrive in St. Louis. We park at a ratty old hotel called "The Cockraoche Calls". I walk in to the main office & get a key. I then call to the others to follow me. We walk around the building & upstairs to room 67. We walk inside & are instantly hit by the smells of dirt, rust, & water damage. The girls are affected quite a bit by just how decayed the place smells, but me & Frank I are used to this kind of thing so we are not bothered at all. Slowly but surely, everybody gets settled in. I take off my jacket, shirt & boots. I then stretch a little bit & do a few push-ups. I can sense the girls staring at me. I get up, crack my neck, knuckles, & back. I turn to everybody.
"Don't wait up for me. I have...stuff to do. Just order some food & chat or something. & Frank, watch after the girls. I'm going wolf."
I take a deep breath. My eyes begin to glow a burning red. My skin begins to rip & my body starts to grow. My teeth & mouth grow & become pointy. My hands get claws. Then I sprout a tail & fur covers my body. My ears grow out pointy. I stretch my arms out big & howl. I take one last look at the girls & run outside. I know that they are terrified but so is everyone when they first see a Werewolf transform. I jump to the top of a nearby building & howl again. This time I hear response howls. I continue to jump from building to building until I reach the ghetto. I stand atop a library & howl again. This time I hear more response howls. I then jump down to the streets & run off into an alley.

*takes on liverwort form and remains that way for the next three (real time) months*