Trapped (Open)

[Tarissa Irian]

Ree stared dreamily at the lake, pictures floating through her mind as she thought about her past. She was doing that a lot lately- remembering. This was her fourth day in America this century and, due to having spent the previous three days house-hunting, this was Ree's first 'free' day in the country. She'd decided to head down to the lake for the simple reason that it was one of the first places she'd gone to last time she was in the US, although the lake had been a little bigger then.

The young-looking vampire was dressed in clothes she thought of as casual-smart. A long-sleeved cotton top and pair of jeans for the casual with a hip-long blue-grey jacket made of a fabric called velour for the smart. Velour was, as far as Ree was concerned, a cheaper version of velvet. She also wore a pair of ballet-flats that somehow matched the jacket, white top and jeans all at the same time. Her hair was loose yet tucked into the hood so, if the need arose, Ree could easily pull her hood up without having to worry about getting her hair caught.

Ree was so caught up in her thoughts that it was getting quite early when she shook herself out of her memories and noticed the sun. The deadly rays hadn't yet touched her although that was probably just due to the boat that had entered her vision, casting a shadow across her and separating the sun from her body. Normally, there would have been no cause for panic. Normally, Ree would simply pull her huge, dark coat on and make sure it was covering all her skin before running home. Of course, the one day she needed her coat- she didn’t bring it.

Ree cursed, spinning instinctively around and racing towards the nearest patch of darkness. The alley she'd selected had been a bad choice. It was too shallow and clearly wasn't deep enough for any corner to not be touched by the sun. There were two doors, one at the left wall and one at the right. Neither would open simply by being unlocked and, with the sun closing in far too fast, Ree didn't have the time to use her vampiric strength- she'd never been very good at opening strong, locked doors with her muscles and it would take her a few too many minutes.

She was trapped.

[Domenico Nilakanta]

A solemn figure dressed entirely in black slowly made his way across the sidewalk. This was Nico, a dragon and a very bored one at that. A yawn escaped his mouth, after finishing he surveyed the area watching the few people who were out, amble to there destinations in a seemingly drone like fashion. Taking a piece of charcoal out from his pocket, he methodically chomped on it as if it were a piece of gum.

Continuing his walk, he swallowed the charcoal and passed by a not to dimly lit alleyway. The noise of a small struggle entered his ears. His eyes wandered into the alley and he found a young girl struggling to open a door, presumably locked.

"Problem, miss?" he inquired dryly.

The young woman seemed almost desperate to get inside, there was something about her that made Nico feel slightly suspicious.

[Tarissa Irian]

Normally, Ree would have heard the man before he'd spoken. He certainly hadn't been trying to conceal his presence and, even if he had been, she should have heard him. However, her mind had been completely focused on her problem and she hadn't even considered the possibility that someone nearby might be able to help her. Even before the man had finished speaking Ree had told herself she'd been an idiot and should have though of finding a nearby person to help her earlier.

"As a matter of fact, there is" Ree matched the cold, posh voice of a lady she'd known centuries ago to perfection. The lady in question had been a rich snob with a special I-am-better-than-you-and-so-be-thankful-I-speak way of talking to those she classed as under her. Ree's imitation of the voice remained just as good as it had been when the lady had been alive and she found that it was often useful in making people do what she wanted. More often than not people automatically obeyed people who sounded like they were in command.

"I need to get into one of these rooms, immediately. I don't suppose you could help me?" Ree took a tiny step forward as she spoke, enough to strengthen her words yet not so much that she was too close to the light. There was every chance that the man would refuse to help and so, to make the chances of her own survival larger she added "I would be willing to pay well for the help." That was a lie. The money she had was safely locked away in her new apartment and it certainly wasn't enough to pay anyone well. Although the man wasn't going to know that until it was too late.

[Domenico Nilakanta]

Without a word Nico tore the door nearest to him from its hinges with little to no effort. He set the door down thinking, I'll pay for it later.

He finally spoke to the woman, "I don't need your money, I have enough to get by. By the way, my name's Nico."

[Tarissa Irian]

Ree wasted no time in escaping through the door the man had destroyed. Despite her complete shock at the man's ability to easily demolish a door she'd struggled with, Ree managed to enter the cool, dark room without hesitation. Taking a few steps away from the door frame in case light got through the gap, she turned to face the man, keeping her face carefully neutral as she did.

"I'm Ree, it's a pleasure to meet you" Ree's reasons for using her shortened name were simple. If the man tried to find her later he'd be unable to locate anyone called 'Ree' and so would fail to find her. She wasn't sure why he'd look for her but it was better to be safe than sorry.

"You're very...strong" The comment about Nico's strength was designed to make him tell her how he was so strong. Although it was unlikely he'd tell her the truth, there was little harm in Ree asking. Pausing briefly, Ree scanned the room she was in, noting that it appeared to be some type of warehouse. It was large and empty- probably abandoned. Which meant there was less chance of anyone else coming in.

[Domenico Nilakanta]

"Yes, I guess I am rather strong," he said, with his usual dryness,"eat right, workout, you know the routine."

While saying this he pondered the reasons why Ree would want to enter the building, not wanting to pry he didn't ask.

[Tarissa Irian]

Ree's lips twitched upwards in amusement at his response. "Indeed. I suppose I should thank you" Ree cast her mind back as she spoke, trying desperately to remember the warehouse. Although she hadn't been in America for long, she was fairly certain that the warehouse she was in was one she'd seen before.

It only took her a second or so to remember. The warehouse was one she'd visited in the old days although it hadn't been abandoned then. As far as she knew, there were two exits. One into the alley and one into the place that had been a market. There was almost no chance that the market exit would give her enough shade to get home. So, until the sun went down, she was pretty stuck.

"I'm photosensitive" she explained to the man. Due to a few other similar situations, Ree had, over the years, looked up different 'excuses' for her vampiric behaviour. It wasn't the best excuse but, presuming Nico didn't know what being photosensitive actually meant, it was a solid explanation for her previous behaviour.

[Domenico Nilakanta]

"Should've stayed home," Nico responded, then inquiring, "Well I guess you'll be staying here for the time being until the weather gets into more favorable conditions."

(Sorry the post is short kinda busy and kinda tired.)