The Flight of the Fallen(open)

[Holly]

Night had come to the city of Volterra. Peace fell like a blanket over the mass of sleeping humans and death fell like a shadow over those who were taken into the Hunting Hall by the Volturi. Heidi had found herself a good bunch of them today. And Holly was sickened by it once again.

For the third night in a row, the hazel-eyed vampire returned to the ruins of the old monastery. The crumbling walls proved that it was no longer inhabited by the living...but for the dead, it was another story. Not a sound was heard but the occasional hooting of an owl, or the periodic insect chirping. Holly was just as silent, perched on a low arch in the stone building. Not one of her muscles even dared to twitch.

It was said that night was best when shared with another...and yet Holly was left alone once more at the edge of society. Perhaps it was her choice to be alone. She was, after all, quite different than most vampires. She believed in the ways of Sarai, the vampire turned by Aro. The girl thought that vampires could be saved; that small bit of hope was enough for Holly to put her faith into.

Maybe that is why she wore a cross around her neck as of now. And maybe that is why she was unafraid of the great church within the city. Perhaps there was a life that people like Him gave to vampires that tried to be as holy as possible. Or perhaps it was all useless.

Holly did not even sigh, her motionless form as still as the fallen stone columns around her. She was just like that....fallen... She had a life once, only to have the wings of freedom torn from her back. She had expected to fly even further with the help of the vampire that turned her...instead, he gave her an eternity of hoping for a real future.

So Holly did the only thing she could do...she hoped. She followed Sarai's ways and tried to find a way out of all the sin. Because if she tried hard enough...maybe she could get her wings back. And one day, when everyone had been freed from the chains of being a vampire...they would all fly again.

The Flight of the Fallen. Yeah, that sounded nice. The Flight of the Fallen.

[Ania]

The stars in the black velvet sky above her twinkled brightly, beckoning her to stay for another hour. It was nearly midnight, but Ania felt like she could stay here forever.

The ruined monastery had always been a place of reflection, a place to feel free from the everyday life back in the city. She enjoyed the quietness and peaceful presence the nighttime gave her whenever she came.

She had been humming an old lullaby her late mother had taught her as a young girl when she suddenly heard a strange noise down below. Peering over the edge of the stone ledge she was sitting on, she caught a glimpse of a small, shadowy cloaked figure silently walking near the monastery. Her heartbeat ran faster and she quickly hid under the shadows of the gargoyles above her. As if the stranger had heard her beating heart, they turned around and stared straight up at Ania. She gasped out loud, paralyzed in fear.

The figure lowered her hood and her black hair spilled out in ribbons, blowing in the wind. Her perfect features were shown by the moon's glow, and Ania soon found herself in complete awe.

She had never seen this girl in Volterra. It made sense, since she never spent her time outdoors socializing with anyone. Ania suddenly froze. This girl reminded her of someone with a perfect face like hers. She knew who right after she'd thought of the question. It was the man who killed her family years ago. A vampire.

[Holly]

A scent was caught on the breeze. A gentle, sweet...scent. It did not take sight to know that Holly was now in the monastery with a human. In fact...Holly had scented the female before. Many times actually. Never once, though, did she come face to face with this girl. Never once did she dare to turn around and look the human in the face. But tonight was different. Something made her want to see who this human was.

Her hood fell, her bright hazel eyes looking to where the girl hid. Silly...why did humans always find the need to hide from what they did not understand? Holly blinked once, her steady gaze never leaving the crouching figure of the young woman occupying the monastery as well. In fear that she would run, Holly's eyes flicked up to the gargoyles above her. At once, the statues vanished...no sounds indicating their departure. One by one, the four gargoyles that had been sitting motionless above the girl appeared beside her. They were still statues...motionless...and yet now they blocked the humans escape. One could say the girl was trapped...

But Holly did not dare touch fang to a human's neck. Not once...

Holly approached the female, hazel eyes endless and entrancing. She stood before the other girl, tilting her head in silent question. Why was the human afraid? Holly bent down so that she could stare the human in the face. "Do not run... I see it in your eyes....you know what I am. Usually we are told to kill those who know too much. Sadly, I do not partake in the slaughtering of humans. Instead I prefer the knowledge that they will keep silent. So tell me, little human girl, how did you know what I was?"

[Ania]

Holding in her breath even with her corset to help her, Ania was staring face to face with one of them. When she first saw the gargoyles surrounding her, she panicked, thinking that this small girl would violently kill her within seconds.

Before she could think anything else, the girl's smooth velvet voice asked the one question she didn't expect to be asked. "How did you know what I was?" was all she said. It took her a moment to find words after gawking at this angelic creature. Her plain voice had a dullness to it, not the melodic ring the vampire had used. "I've seen one of your kind before, when I was younger. He killed my entire family."

The vampire's face showed no emotion, her eyes wide with curiosity. She just stared at her for a very long time, not saying anything. The pale moon shone down on the two girls standing near the edge of the cliff.

[Holly]

Holly watched the facial expressions of the human girl that stood before her. She was scared. And she was remembering. Her eyes had a distance in them...a kind of reminiscence, as if she looked back on a world that no one but her had ever seen before. A strange sort of curiosity reached Holly's odd hazel gaze. This curiosity turned to amazement at what the human said next.

"He killed my entire family...."

The vampire blinked. This female had watched her family be taken from her. She had watched those who mattered to her die. Holly grit her teeth. She knew what it was like to lose loved ones. She could remember too, and the memories were still painful. The stupid blood-sucker that took this girl's family was sloppy. He did not hide the bodies, nor did he bother to see if any more humans were left in the house. He was too blinded by the lust.

Holly stepped forward, holding out a pale hand to help the girl to her feet. Though the human might not take the offer, but Holly had a feeling that she would think hard about it. "My name is Holly London. When I was a human, my family was taken from me as well. As a vampire, I do not drink human blood. The murder of your kind is not part of my life-style. I am also sorry if I scared you...but I guess I would be scared, too, if I was alone with a strange vampire."

The gargoyles were gone. The great statues were motionless in their original places above the pair, crouching on the arches and becoming silent guardians of the monastery once again. Now Holly and her friend were really alone. And the only question that remained was simple. Would the human dare to take the hand of a vampire and rise to her feet? Or would she refuse the help and run from here?

[Ania]

Ania looked at the hand reaching out to her, trying to remember the last time anyone had ever tried to help her. While she looked into the gorgeous eyes of the vampire, a single tear ran down her cheek.

Looking back on that night, Ania didn't know why she accepted the vampire's hand, the kind that killed her parents and siblings. Slowly, with her hand shaking as if the other's would bite her, she placed hers in the vampires. She gasped but didn't let go. The girl's hand was as cold as ice, and felt like stone.

Before she knew it, she was standing up, feet from the vampire. I shouldn't be here, she thought to herself. Not with one of them. She took a step back, shaking her head. "I'm sorry," was all she said in a soft, faint voice. She turned and ran. Ran from the friendship she could have made that night and from the eyes that followed her until she disappeared from view.

[Holly]

Holly was glad to see that the girl accepted her help. She was also slightly amused at the reaction the girl wore on her face when she touched a vampire's hand. Holly knew that it would feel ice cold to her, and most-likely hard as marble. Still, nothing could keep the vision of that tear running down her cheek. Why was she sad?

And then she was running. Running away from Holly, from friendship, from a life she did not want to see through new eyes. She had grown up hating vampires...the thought of being friends with one obviously not sitting well. This bit of information made Holly feel even lower in her state of depression.

Humans hated them. And she hated herself. Holly grit her teeth in frustration, looking down at the ground as if it would leap away from her in fear. Vampires had brought this upon themselves. It was the fault of the great red-eyed demons that vampires could never be seen in a good light by the human race. It was why they hid...and why they could not let a human spread the word of their existence.

This made Holly nervous. Though a human could not kill a vampire, one of the Volturi could. And if they found out that a human girl living in Volterra knew that vampires walked the city's ground, she would be killed. And most likely would Holly. She had let a human escape, knowing that the girl knew far too much than she should. Holly would be in trouble if this was to spread. Holly bit the edge of her lip. She could only hope that the human girl would not tell. She could only hope....

Hope...why did that stupid word seem to enter her thoughts at every moment? Why could she not rid herself of the idea of having a better life? It was hopeless. The fallen could not fly again...the fallen would not fly. So much for the Flight of the Fallen...so much for hope.

[Vincent]

(hope you dont mind if ol Vince makes an appearance ^_^)

Another night, another job. Vincent was once again taking on an assignment. Tonight wasnt an assasination though. He was simply to deliver a very important document to someone in this vicinity. He'd taken the job with the hope that someone might try to intercept him, thinking they could take his precious cargo. The thought kept itself firmly in his mind. Yes, he was a thrillseeker, constantly awaiting the next big challenge. And yet, at the same time, he showed little enthusiasm towards what he did. Did he hold regret? Perhaps, but many years had passed, and countless jobs, hundreds including the deaths of those either in his way or on his hit list. There was too much to regret, too much to make him second guess his actions.

"Damn, it looks like just another boring job after al-...eh?"

Suddenly, a soft figure ran smack into him. Of course, Vincent did not fall. Looking down with crimson eyes, he noticed a young woman, mortal, the one who had ran into him. Frowning, he looked away and spoke softly, his tone neutral.

"You know its a bit rude to simply run into someone like that...Are you alright?"

Concern? Odd for him yes, but not impossible.

[Ania]

(No I'm glad you did! I was just going to ask you to join this one!)


Ania wasn't sure how she failed to notice the man standing in her way. Maybe it was all of the thoughts racing through her mind, and she hadn't been aware of her surroundings. But the next thing she knew, she was on the ground after what felt like colliding with a moving train.

"You know its a bit rude to simply run into someone like that...Are you alright?"

When her vision regained control, she looked at up at the man she'd ran into. She gasped in shock. She'd been mistaken. The man was a god. His long black hair fell over his eyes in a sexy way, his beautiful crimson eyes stared back at her, with a dark suit that complimented his sculpted body. She had no idea she could encounter so many vampires in one night.

I...I...I'm...sorry...she stammered, unable to control her shaking. I...di...didn't see you...."

The vampire seemed amused at this. She knew they took pleasure in causing fear, after hearing story after story of the dangerous race.

She knew she shouldn't be here. Alone. With a vampire. In the middle of the night. With no-one to save her. She knew not every vampire could be so friendly as the girl at the old monastery. Then again, she could have just been playing the part.

She was about to speak but caught her breath. The vampire seemed to look at her in a very uncomfortable way. His crimson eyes shone brightly in the moonlight as if lusting for something. Not blood. No, not a midnight snack. But for something else. Something that someone had tried to take away from Ania several years ago on a beautiful night like this.

[Vincent]

I...I...I'm...sorry...she stammered, unable to control her shaking. I...di...didn't see you...."

The girl's shaky answer was not exactly what Vincent had asked, making him sigh. Humans, they were just so damn...unsure of themselves. He actually wasn't amused in the least, only a tad annoyed. He still had a job to do, and efficiency depended on how fast he could deliver the precious package tucked deep inside his bloodred coat. His eyes moved back to the girl, looking her over once more, perhaps a bit longer than he should have. Frowning, he made a decision within his mind in relatively seconds flat. Extending his pale but strong hand to her, he spoke in a softer tone.

"Its alright...not many do. Listen, its not a good idea to be out here at night alone. The city is full of unpleasant things which dwell during the evening hours. Is your home nearby? I'd suggest going there until you find yourself someone to keep you safe at night..."

Damn, what was becoming of him. Lately, he'd been far more...social, than ever before. Why this sudden change? Ah well, many things in Vincent's life had gone unexplained, no use questioning it now.

[Holly]

Holly was next to the pair in seconds. She had been quite surprised when the human girl had fled, though made no move to chase after her. And yet...here she was. It had been the scent of another vampire that made her hazel eyes glitter. Though she did not know the girl, she would not dare let the teen encounter what she hated and feared most in a negative way. This sudden protective side is what caused her to appear next to both the crimson eyed vampire and his new companion.

Her dark hair fell across her pale cheeks, her eyes watching both carefully and blinking at the extended hand to the fallen girl. Perhaps she should not have come to check on her after all... Holly stepped back, glancing up at the black-haired nightangel and trying to place name to face. Had she ever seen him before...? No...she was almost sure she had not.

"I'm sorry...I thought..." Holly's voice faded and she suddenly felt pathetic. Why had she bothered? Was she really this attached to humans? She drew her bottom lip between her teeth, pricking her fangs into the soft flesh and holding it there. How she hated moments like these. Vampires were not allowed to kill humans in Volterra anyways... The girl would have been perfectly safe.

"Um...sorry for intruding...I just...wanted to make sure you were okay..." she said softly, flickering her odd eyes over to Ania. Her teeth took custody of her lip once more and Holly's voice refused to say anything else. She had a good idea of how foolish she must have looked right then, to both of them...the gorgeous raven-haired vampire and the human girl from earlier. She managed to squeak out one last thing.

"Are you okay?" she questioned.

[Ania]

"Are you okay?"

Ania glanced up at the two vampires standing over her, not believing a word they were both saying to her. Since when had vampires been so protective and caring?

She turned to Holly, speaking in a soft whisper. "I...I'm fine...." She was so confused. Why were these two so concerned about her? She wasn't used to the feeling of being watched over. "Why are you so concerned for my safety?" she asked. Maybe these were a different group of vampires. A peaceful group, against the thought of killing innocent humans. If only that kind had visited my family that night, she bitterly thought to herself. She waited for the vampires to answer her, afraid the thought of them that she had conjured was to good too be true and instead, was awaiting her death sentence in a dark alleyway on a night in Volterra.

[Vincent]

Vincent knew of the other vampire's presence before she had even approached. His crimson eyes moved briefly from the human to get a better look at the newcomer. She was young in appearance, suggesting that she had been turned at an early age. She had an air about her that made one want to learn more about her, but Vincent had little time to be learning about others' lives. He could tell she felt out of place and somewhat embarrassed simply by the look on her face, although he could not deduce a cause. Obviously, she was concerned about the girl. Sighing, Vincent knew he was wasting his time now.

"I can see I'm no longer needed. If you'll excuse me...goodbye..."

He looked right at the human, his striking crimson eyes seeming to pierce her very being. He was not trying to convey any sort of stereotype about his kind, but that was up to her to decide. His eyes then moved over to the other vampire, giving her a nod of acknowledgment. That done, he frowned and turned away, taking slow footsteps as he started back on his original course. After all, he still had a job to do.