Vampire Tavern

[Niko]

He was grounded. And like any other eleven year old boy, he thought his parents, Royce and Kenji, were over reacting.

So what? Yeah, he had snuck out, but he was tired of listening to them fight all the time. The more he stayed in the house, the more restless he became..the more angry he became..the more he started to dislike his father. He hated that his father made his mom cry, that they yelled and screamed at each other. Even though Kenji and Royce kept it down, and avoided doing it about the kids...well...she should've known. Niko and his twin sister Yumi both inhereited her little gift of the mind. The worst had been the day that Kenji had slammed Royce against the wall and had drug her by her hair. SO what if Niko didn't understand what had been going on at the time...it had been enough to start that seed of dislike growing in him.

Yumi had spent countless hours trying to talk to her twin, but Niko was growing more and more into himself, detaching himself, even away from his twin sister. They still shared thoughts, but Niko kept his more guarded these days.

So he had left out. He had only planned on being gone til sunrise, when he knew Royce and Kenji usually stirred, but he had started talking with a strange little Chinese man. They had talked, and Niko had felt a bit better after the talking..until Kenji had found him and drug him home.

And now he was grounded. Without a fair trial! Who cared what an eleven year old had to say anyway...right?

It was that day he discovered AOL 13.2, the New Premium Certified Security Edition with Popup Blocker and McAfee Virus Blocker. He loaded it up, and began to skim over the feaures, and soon drifted into the chatrooms. Two days he wandered about the chats, watching and occasionally talking, though it was hard understanding everyone's gibberish. But he was eleven years old, and he picked up quick on meanings of the odd assortments of letters and symbols, and after two days was just as literate as any other of the chatters.

Of course, those two days later, he found himself in a user's chatroom under Arts & Entertainment. The room was called Vampire Tavern.

He watched as these people seemed even odder than the other rooms he was in, and after awile he typed in...

RoMuLuS: hi. wuts this rm about?

Half the room began to say simultanenously (Bolt him!)..and the next thing Niko knew, he had been kicked from the room.

He blinked, then frowned, until one of the people in the room IMed him and began to explain the wonderful world of RP.

[Niko]

It had been a week since Niko had started the role playing. He had created his character, a six foot six barbarian warrior, godling werewolf halfbreed that carried about a sword that no one could break. This Rhy'din place was awesome, at least to his newbish eyes. Newbie, now that was something that was grating on his nerves. Yes, he knew he was new at things, and the new thing was rolling dice. He just didn't understand it. Others kept saying they killed him, but he refused to accept it damnit!

RoMuLuS: (U cant kill him. hes a godling!)

(You're a newb!)


But that didn't deter Niko in the least.

RoMuLuS::::romulus walkd in 2 the tavern growling.::: Who wants 2 fight!? I will beat u all!

And so it went on, day and night. Constantly Royce was yelling at him to get off the computer and do something else. Even Yumi pleaded with her brother. "Comon, you've been on for six hours now. Come play with me.."

But the boy was hooked. He began to develop online friends, especially this one girl he knew simply as Kayla. It was with Kayla he began to grow more interested in. She seemed to be having just as rough a childhood as he was. She was twelve, and her parents fought all the time. However, her homelife was worse.

Serendipity: yea, mom's an alcoholik and my dad does the crack. They fight all the time.

RoMuLuS: I'm sorry. my parents dont do that stuff but they do fight. I hate that dad makes ma cry.

Serendipity: do they hit you too?

RoMuLuS: .....................no. ur parents hit u?

Serendipity: Sometimes.

That had really made Niko feel sad for Kayla. She seemed awesome, even if she always was sad. He did his best always to get an "lol" out of her, hoping that in truth she was smiling.

But with most people online, Niko didn't know not to be so trusting of those he spoke to....

[Niko]

Serendipity: Meet me at the park 2nite?

Niko hesitated. This was the fourth time this week Kayla had asked for him to meet her. Each time he came up with a different excuse. His mom and dad had already suspected his midnight forrays out of the house, and he had been trying to keep a low profile.

So where had he been going? He had been meeting with the mysterious Chinese man. He didn't know the man's name, only called him Sensai like he was asked to. At first he had been very defensive, not knowing whether to trust the man or not, but the old man had a way of putting the young rebellious boy at ease, and soon began to teach him things. Things no one else had. Like martial arts. But it wasn't just that. The man made him practice the guitar that Adair had been trying to teach him, and more recently, he had been making Niko also practice on the piano, which he really was having a tough time in learning.

Sensai told him it would teach him more than any kicks and punches could ever do. Niko didn't understand how, but he didn't question all that much.

Sensai had also been telling him more about his own mother and father. Niko had been excited when Mama Temperance had told them they'd be finally meeting their parents, though he had always harbored that resentment of them not being there in the first place. At first, things were shaky between his mom and dad, but things seemed to even out a bit. They never fought in front of the kids if they could help it. Hell, his father had always been the one to keep a cool temper in front of the kids..more so than his mom.

But lately, they seemed to always be cutting into each other. Or maybe he was just noticing it more now that the newness of having his parents was wearing off. And for some reason, he just felt extremely bitter towards Kenji. Everything was an insult in Niko's eyes towards his mother. And after watching Kenji slam Royce one night, Niko's whole demeanor changed.

What Sensai had to say had been interesting. Royce and Kenji had always fought, and that's how they got along. Niko didn't understand this concept, and because of that lack of understanding, well, he just couldn't shake off that bitterness. Apparently there was a time when his mom and dad had always been physically violent towards one another. Didn't dad understand that his mom didn't like that anymore?? At least, that's the impression that Niko got sometimes.

So it had been a few weeks of frustration with Sensai trying to explain. Weeks of Niko losing his own temper and storming off when the Sensai was being so patient.

Sensai also spoke of the gift that Royce had, and had passed to her children. He spoke about people wanting to manipulate that gift, and that Niko had to be very very careful leaving the house on his own. Or meeting people he didn't know.

Niko only knew Kayla through a monitor. He liked her. A lot. She seemed genuine, but his gut told him to be careful...especially after she began pushing so much to meet him.

Serendipity: Please?

Niko sighed.

RoMuLuS: Maybe 4 a little bit. U gonna play at the tavern 2nite?

Serendipity: No. I need 2 get out of the house. Meet me in an hour. Bye!

Serendipity has logged off.

Niko shook his head and glanced over his shoulder to his sleeping sister. He should bring at least someone, but to do so would be to admitting he had been leaving to begin with.

Getting up, he quickly got dressed. Then he grabbed up his backpack with the guitar. Well he had to show off somehow, and he was getting pretty damn good with the guitar.

He slipped from the house and headed down the street. One thing he had also picked up from his mom was his ability to avoid Rock. He wasn't as good as Royce as far as sneaking around, and Kenji was constantly proving it by coming out of nowhere.

He jogged down the street and turned the corner, before heading to the Metro stop. He waited for the bus to come before hopping on it, and within the next half an hour, he took the bus towards Central park.

[Kenji]

Now... if only Niko had been alittle more alert. Kenji had finally gotten off his ass and instead of dragging his son home this time...well he would stalk him. Gaining some of those lovely ninja talents from Aya he managed to sneak onto the sub in the disguse of an elderly man. Since Kenji stood out in his usual get up he couldnt very well follow him normally.

He had stalked Niko in wolg form until they had reached the streets and now he was on the subway, sitting calmly 'reading' a newspaper. He looked like every other New York street bum.

[Niko]

Niko wasn't aware the whole time that he was being followed, though occasionally he felt like he was being watched. He kept to himself the whole way there, and when he finally exited the subway, he paused, looking across the street to the park. Instead of going to it, he made a left and went down the street, passing by an alleyway before turning into the next. He moved to a single brass door and tried opening it. It was locked. He gave a knock and waited. No answer. He sighed. "Sensei?" He called out quietly, and again no answer. Finally he turned, and moved out of the alleyway, heading for the park. Cautiously he stepped into the park and looked around.

"Niko?" The voice was of a female.

Niko froze a moment, then turned, mix matched hues gleaming a slight yellow in the moonlight. "Kayla?"

[Kenji]

Kenji skillfully followed his son the whole way. shifting into that wolven form once they reached the park and he crouched silently into some bushes and he simply watched. He wasnt going to drag Niko home unless things got out of hand.

And who was this Sensei person anyway? Kenji was going to kick his ass! But.. he would think about that later.

[Niko]

A young girl, about thirteen stepped out from some nearby bushes. She was gaunt looking, thin and very pale, with black hair and blue eyes, and looking very nervous. Niko looked at her, before giving a nervous grin of his own. "You're not fat. You said you were fat.."

Yeah, very smooth on Niko's part eh? Kayla looked to Niko, before giving half a laugh which turned into sudden tears. Oh that freaked Niko out, and he looked really panicked. He lowered his bag and guitar and moved over, patting her shoulder. "I'm sorry? Hey..don't cry..."

But Kayla threw her arms around him, and continued to sob. "I...I...I am f..fat..but..you are s..so...sw...sweet.." She stammered.

Kenji would see just how confused the poor boy was at this. The girl was definitely not fat..if anything, she was too skinny, and Niko was glad he hadn't said that.

[Kenji]

Damn... she was tiny. Kenji kept his place for the time being though. Hell Kenji was a thin man but he was fat compared to this little girl. Of course he never liked seeing a child looking like that but he kept his place for the time being and he just watched Niko, shaking that wolven head, he really needed to teach his son how to talk to women.

[Niko]

Yeah, well, at least Niko wasn't calling her a bitch. Niko awkwardly patted her back, frowning, and finally pushed her back. "What's wrong, Kayla? Are they fightin' again?"

Kayla nodded, sniffing and wiping her eyes, though she still looked very nervous as she glanced around, and whispered. "He's being really mean tonight, and just...he...he hurt her really bad..."

Niko growled softly. "Ya've gotta tell someone.. this can't keep goin' on you know.."

Kayla shook her head looking fearful. "I can't. He'd kill me..."

"Then come stay with us. My dad won't let him near you..." Well, wasn't he showing a bit of pride for his father afterall with that statement?

"Oh I can't! What about my mom?"

[Kenji]

Well Royce secretly like that! He continued to watch and he rolled his eyes. Niko had to drag Kenji into this didnt he? He would have snorted if he wasnt trying to be sneaky.

He looked at the little girl and then to his son, well he could send them to Adair, the man did by a mansion afterall. But no he wasnt comfortable about letting a stange girl and her mother into his pack around his pups.

[Niko]

He sighed. "I don't know then, Kayla. Somethin' has to be done. You can't keep...."

"KAYLA! WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU GIRL!" The voice was one of a man, and apparently one Kayla knew. Her eyes grew wide and she gave a soft whine, turning around. But before either Kayla, Niko or Kenji knew, the big man was there, grabbing Kayla by her hair and yanking her hard backwards and letting her go. The big man stared at Niko, drunk off his ass, and paid no attention as Kayla actually fell back and smacked her head against the pavement.

Niko snarled, and stepped back as the apparent drunk man stepped towards him. "What ya doing to my daughter you little freak?"

Niko's growls grew more, never taking his gaze off of the man. He didn't dare at this time, though he was worried about Kayla..who didn't seem to be moving. Little did any of them know....poor Kayla was no more. "Back off. You...you have no right treatin' her like that!"

[Kenji]

Oh well now would be a good time for Kenji to gen envolved. He shifted back quickly and before the old drunk knew it Kenji was between Niko and the old fucker.

He stared at him with those mismatched eyes, blue, green and black hair fallen around his face in that mussy mohawk kind of style. "Why dont you come and pick on someone yer own size?" Kenji snarled.

[Niko]

"An' who the fuck are you?" the man growled as Kenji stepped in.

Well, Niko would hug his father later for stepping in, but for now, he darted around the two to Kayla, kneeling by her and trying to get her to wake up. Of course, that wasn't going to happen.

The big man reached out to touch someone, ham sized fist connecting squarely with Kenji's jaw. Well, Niko had looked up just as he saw the man hit his father. The fact that Kayla was staring sightlessly combined with that..well, he snapped.

Snarling, he darted at the guy, claws growing and he dug them into the man's back. "DON'T YOU DARE!"

The man howled and turned, sending a backhand across Niko's face, sending the poor boy flying off to the side.

[Kenji]

Well if there was one thing Kenji was, it was a damn good brawler. The wolven in him afterall. He snatched the mans hand after the hit and then he snarled as his his eyes shone red. "Back off Niko I got it." He snarled and well something was different in him.

Kenji's claws extended as he snatched the man away from his son and sent him twisting in the opposite direction and then, it happened. Something that Kenji wasnt able to do since he was a child. Shifting into a great unicorn of black and white, a unique horn twisted of gold and silver.

It was a very quick change as the large horse, possibly larger and stonger then Adairs form charged the man and the horn pierced straight rhough the man's shoulder, his blood seeping into the cool metals of kenji's horn.

[Niko]

Well, that was a shocker to Niko, who was getting up from the ground, his hand rubbing the side of his face. He was momentarily in awe seeing his dad..as a horse? He blinked, watching a moment, before quickly moving back to Kayla on the ground.

The big man howled in apparent pain as his shoulder was pierced, and his arm fell uselessly to his side. With his other hand, he grabbed the base of that horn as he tried yanking himself off.