Freefall

 Did you ever consider that at any moment the ground under your
feet that you rely on always to support your next step, might simply
not be there? That everything your experience has ever led you to
believe about security, the laws of nature and the evidence of your
senses might, in an instant, be proven false?
 We fall, weightless and without any fixed point of reference. 

Obvious exits are:
    South : Underground
       Up : Under the Stump

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

 We arrive within the story of two that know this feeling all to well. 
No natural light reaches here.

 Two un-lifes meet within a dark tunnel and to them life has become just this.
Everything they once knew; yes every thing that was once reality to them, and 
everything they once were had fallen in and neither this man nor this lady
had support for their next step, nor would their past lives ever deem their
existance again. This is their story upon meeting one another. 

 Opalescence steps into the shadows, her head hung low, eyes locked on the
ground. Absently, she hugs herself, sighing softly as she sinks to the 
ground, folding her legs beneath her. Long, dark hair tumbles down her 
shoulders and to the floor as she kneels... Her attire is simple; a dark blue,
button-up sleeveless tunic, casual black pants, and tan boots that go 
half-way up her calf. Around her neck dangles a delicate chain, the unseen 
pendant dropped beneath the collar of her tunic, keeping it's presence 
virtually undetectable.

 Vlair walks tall through the darkness of the tunnel, his dark black cloak
touching the ground, but only to dust the surface. A pair of black leather 
boots step foot over foot, out from the opening of his cloak. His skin 
absorbs the darkness into his smooth paleness. His hair is black like the 
raven, flowing straight and softly down his back and slightly over his his 
eyes. His eyes are the likeness to an olive; smooth shallow green except the 
pupils which seem to radiate a redish hew upon cold-midnight black. 

 Vlair rounds along the turn in the tunnel. His eyes are weary and
unmistakenly hungry. He gazes within the darkness that engulfs his eyes. He 
holds his hands together, cupped as if holding something within. He stops 
here and lingers his pose for a moment. He then sits down, hands still 
cupped. Vlair opens his hands slowly to reveal a blood-red gemstone. He gazes 
softly into the stone, lips trembling.
 
 Vlair's eyes gaze past the darkness that he owns and he looks along the 
floor. He sees a footprint and quickly looks up to see a woman sitting, legs 
crossed, arms wrapped tightly around herself. He lingers his gaze, tilting 
his head to the side, expressionless. Tightly he closes his hand upon the 
gemstone.
 
 Unaware of anyones presence at first, Opalescence keeps her eyes locked on 
the ground, slowly lifting her head only after Vlair made an attempt at 
grabbing her attention. After hearing a faint sound, her head snaps up, her 
almond-shaped eyes blinking in panic, hugging herself tighter. She blinks, 
looking at the stranger in curiousity, but also fearful of him.. she stays 
quiet, wondering if he knows that she is there, sitting in the darkness with 
him.. She seems to stare through him, her deep-sea blue eyes glazed over, 
giving the impression that she had lost her mind years ago. Raven-black hair 
falls loosely around her pale, round face, tumbling down her back to her 
waist, dark locks flowing in the wind. She blinks slowly, the sea-blue color 
of her eyes seeming almost black in the darkness. She does not move, her pale 
face showing only the breifest of emotions; Curiousity, and fear. Her eyes do 
not move from his as she hugs herself even tighter, afraid to move.
 
 Vlair speaks softly with a kind wisp, "I see your fair skin has not been 
touched by the sunlight for some time. There is no heat there within the pale 
surface. I do not know you and only speculate that you have been here in this 
land for sometime, just hidden and aloof."' Opalescence blinks again, lifting 
her head a little more to consider this stranger..lifting a trembling hand to 
tuck some of the dark locks of her hair behind her ear, biting down on her 
lower lip as she gives him a single nod. Vlair asks calmly, "Have you eaten 
recently?". Opalescence shakes her head, returning to hugging herself 
tightly, watching him with weary eyes. Vlair looks intently to his closed 
hand. He raises slowly, hunched over holds his hand out to her arms reach, 
offering the suculant bloodstone within. Opalescence shakes her head again, 
scooting away from his hand. She opens her mouth, speaking with a very soft, 
yet sweet voice. "I.. can feed around here, sir..". Vlair nods and sit back 
down. He looks at his stone then puts it away within his cloak. Opalescence 
looks around, obviously still nervous around this new Stranger. "But.. 
thank.. you, sir.."
 
 Vlair looks down to the floor of the tunnel. He traces the picture of a 
night-bird upon a branch. He looks up, almost smiling and then looks back 
down to his rough artwork. His eyes stress a gaze as he draws the picture of 
a bat flying towards the night-bird. Opalescence peers at his artwork, 
curiousity overtaking her again as she leans forward, propping herself on her 
hands as she tilts her head, long hair swaying about her pale features.. 
'Why.. do you draw such things, sir?' She asks timidly.. Vlair speaks, "This 
night-bird was singing happily upon her branch. Unaware she is borrowed for 
her lifes blood, life taken and body almost thrown aside, but I cared for the 
night-bird and her song touched me as I aproached. I brought this night-bird 
to existance in the shadows. I lost this soul along time ago. My search is 
for her; to tell her why I did what I did. I travel without rest in search 
for her. I have been here in this land for sometime. I feel she may be 
here.". Opalescence blinks a little once more, giving him a confused look. 
"Your love..?". Vlair answers without expression, "My love for her is only to 
give to her what I foolishly neglected her. She was scared of the darkness 
and ran off. She is confused and knows nothing of her past. She was a 
nameless child, the age of 16... but I was yet so hungry.". He sighs sadly, 
"I took this childs life and have regretted turning her to the darkness ever 
since. She is my beloved child, yet I know her not.". Opalescence nods a 
little, hugging herself again. "You search for one you sired.". Vlair raises 
his chin slightly, sternly he begins but then relaxes sadly, "I do! If I can 
give to her the truth to her hunger that she so justly deserves, I will 
finally be able to rest after all these years of travel.". Opalescence nods 
slowly, tucking a few strands of stray hair behind her ear once more. "Best 
of luck to your search, sir." She smiles shyly, lowering her head a little to 
hide her shyness.. Vlair looks to her as she shys her eyes away. He tilts his 
head to the side and downward, slouching abit. He asks the fair lady, "How 
long have you been here within this land?". Opalescence looks up to him a 
little, casting her eyes downward in a thoughtful look. "A long time, sir.."
Vlair asks her, "Do you know many around? You seem so shy and I figured not, 
but I know no one and wondered if there were many of our kind in this land. 
You have been the first of our kind I have seen here."' Opalescence nods. 
"There are many, sir.."
 
 Vlair looks away towards the wall of the tunnel. A sheen oddly glistens from
his eyes. He looks back to the lady. He is admiring her shy demeanor as she
hugs herself closely. He wonders to himself why she is frightened of him. He
touches his brow, brushes across briskly and parts his lips just slightly. He
then looks again to the wall. Opalescence looks to him, tilting her
head....wondering why he is staring at the wall, and at the glistening in his
eyes.. she decides to keep to herself, not wanting to invade in the
Stranger's personal life.. Vlair stands up slowly and walks to the wall, here
he kneels down, tucking his knees to his chest and takes the stone from his
cloak. He feeds from the stone, shyly, then puts it away. He says, "I desire
to feed upon a mortal. I long for the taste.". Opalescence nods a little.
"There are many creatures throughout this tunnel" She says softly, standing
herself, her knees shaking a little. Vlair continues, "My thirst grows with
every drink from this life supporting stone. But the taste of a human is what
I desire." Opalescence nods a little. 'Oh.. I can be of no help, then..sir.'
Vlair says, "Sorry to whine of my thirst. I chose not to feed upon humans
after my daughter. I live in agony from my thirst, but can sustain upon this.
I fuse into this stone the blood of lambs and carry it with me while I
travel. It is hard to find many creatures through some of the barren lands I
have crossed.". Opalescence nods a little, shivering slightly. 'I would offer
my own blood, sir.. but as you can see, I am no longer human.. ' She lowers
her head, clasping her hands together in front of her. 'I am to live forever,
sir..'. Vlair nods. A tear brinks from his eye's lid as he looks down at her
pale skin. "To live forever was what I wanted as a mortal, and now my
anguish..." he looks into her eyes, "...is the very thing I had wanted." His
tear falls down his cheek. Vlair mends his tear with a brisk sniff, "May I
ask you your name, miss?". She hugs herself once again, her head still
lowered, "Opalescence". Vlair smiles briefly, returns his lips without
expression before speaking. "My name is Vlair... It is good to meet you,
Opalescence.". Opalescence nods, folding her legs beneathe her.. "As it is to
meet you, Sir Vlair.". He speaks after looking into her eyes, briefing a
short pause, "I must go now, my lady.". Vlair stands up and calmly walks
towards the dark of the tunnel. He turns and says, "Maybe I will see you
again soon, Opalescence. Till then, fair lady of the dark, take care." He
walks into the darkness. Opalescence blinks. "Farewell, sir..". Vlair turns
barely within the darkness with a smile on his face, yet silent.
 
 Oplescence stands from her sitting position, still hugging herself, still
looking to the floor of the tunnel. Finally, as if she were just remembering
her manners, a small smile crosses her rose-colored lips. She curtseys
mildly, nodding only once to Vlair before turning away..
 
 Both return to the darkness from which they came, forgetting why they arrived
to this point in the tunnel, if there ever was a reason for either, or.
 
 The fall is not without grace for these two tonight. They have spoke to one
another only briefly, but as they walk away, we might look back and find
that these two night walkers, yet for a moment, were nearly grounded
upon a foundation familiar to a mortal's, yet still their time remains
eternal. Their un-life remains immortal and their minds steep in memory of 
their past, however little or much they might remember or care to deem.