Rebeka watched the snow fall around her. She sat on a bench, just watching people go along their way. She had sold her soul long ago to a Watcher like herself. She sighed and stood up, her black shadowy form a deep contrast to the snowy ground. She strolled into a store, appearing in her human form, gentle, soft features. She watched people, studying them politely, somewhat awkwardly. As a demon, and a Watcher, how could she grant wishes and know she was stealing someone's soul? Her energy was draining. She was running out of time.

OOC: Hope it's okay if I join...

IC:Leila walked into the shop, grateful for the warmth it provided. She shied away from any assistant, for she was a street urchin, the ones who were always unwanted in these places. She eyed the people jealously. They had everything they needed, unlike her. She was angry at them, angry, because they were better off. They all had nice warm beds to go to, warm meals to eat, warm clothes to wear. She shivered as someone entered the store, the icey wind from outside hitting her like a ten poud hammer.

Oh, how she hated her life. She wished, as she always did, for a life, where she would never need anything that she would not be able to attain easily.

"Oh, I wish...I wish..."she said despirately...

ooc~ of course it's okay thank you for joining

ic~

Rebeka smiled at the so-called "street urchin" that had walked in. "Leila," she murmured, reading the thoughts in the woman's head. She knew how this girl hated her own life. She bit her tongue. How selfish. At least she was alive. "What is it you wish for, friend?"

Startled, she spun around. She hadn't noticed the woman there before.

"Oh," she said after she recovered. "I wish for something that is impossible..."

Tears stung her eyes, but she blinked them back.

"Please don't cry, my lady," Rebeka's heart stung with pain at the tears. "Nothing is impossible," Rebeka smiled, almost sweetly.

"'my lady'?" she laughed. 'i am no lady. and as for the possibility of having everything i need: I still have to witness that."

She was bitter. Circumstances had made her that way. She didn't believe anything good of the world.

"If you think wishes can come true, then i feel sorry for you."

"Come with me, Leila," Rebeka whispered. "My name is Rebeka, and I merely wanted to show you that nothing is impossible. As for what I believe in... that's another matter..." She smiled bitterly. "Come this way." She began to go back out into the snow, but she paused at the door, looking back at Leila and studying her movements.

a wierd sesation filled Leila. She was drawn to Rebeka, compelled to find out what she wanted. "Where are we going?" she asked as she walked up to where Rebeka was...

"Just outside, you need some air," she glanced back at Leila, already trapped under her spell like a spider in a web. Rebeka stepped outside into the snow, her black dress sweeping out behind her. "You can stay at my house," Rebeka muttered sadly. "I know you're homeless." She turned and smiled. "My manor is a little ways from here." She gave her hand to Leila. "Walk with me?"

"Okay..."Leila took her hand, totally entranced. She would follow Rebeka anywhere. As she was led down the street, she hardly felt the cold biting at her flesh and gnawing at her bones. All that made sense was to follow Rebeka, and that is what she did...

Rebeka approached her manor and slipped a cloak on Leila's shoulders. "Here we are," she murmured and snapped her fingers. A fire was instantly blazing in the fireplace. "Would you like something to drink?" Rebeka laughed jovially.

"wow!" leila said. she must be halucinating again. This was just too good to be true. "What are you?"

"I am what's known as a Watcher," Rebeka laughed and shimmered into her shadow-form. She lets her voice ring from all the corners of the room. "You are a special one," she appears back in her pale, delicate human form. "I don't want to take anything from you..."

Rebeka walks towards the thrashing fire, letting her black skirts and cloaks float behind her. Her black hair flies back from the heat of the fire, its edges turning to ash. She is too close to the fire to not be in pain, but she doesn't seem to notice. "Watchers are demons who can appear human most of the time. We grant the wishes of mortals while taking their souls." Rebeka's black eyes fill with anger and bitter hysteria. She laughs wildly. "It's too easy."

Suddenly she is in front of Leila, too close to the girl's face. "What is it you wish for, Leila?"

Leila was frightened, but couldn't look away. "I wish I could have a life where I would never need something that I wouldn't able to get easily..."she whispered."Can you make that come true?"

"It depends," Rebeka swept in and out of her shadow form and swayed dreamily. "Are you willing to relinquish your soul for such a wish?" Rebeka tilted her head to one side with her eyes half-closed and not resting on anything really. "Is your soul worth having this wish granted?"

ooc-- hope you don't mind if I join
ic--Alanna perched on a window of the Watcher's beautiful home, in her form of a red-tailed hawk. She watches from a window on the left side of the fireplace as the Watcher spoke to the one named Leila. Her eyes sharpened with human-like understanding, but managed to keep their animal guise. This is it, she thought, scolding herself, I better not chicken out like I did the last time... or the same mess will repeat itself. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, to catch a Watcher while they are making a deal in their own home. I didn't get this chance the last time, so I damn well better do a smashing job now. Alanna was a demon-hunter with shapeshifter abilities. She had been raised by her father in this violent craft, after her mother had died giving birth to her. Alanna seemed to use this anger and guilt in her fighting, often turning moments of her greatest weakness into moments of her greatest triumph. This was why her father had slowly made her into a Watcher-hunter; this fighting trait had been recognized early in her, and since many Watchers were known for being a tad on the arrogant side, a battle could be won in a few minutes, given the opportunity and the cunning to recognize certain loopholes when Watchers were too enraptured with themselves and their strengths to notice. Alanna was a talented fighter, and this had been the second demon she had tracked and hopefully would defeat, which was impressive, for she was only fifteen years of age. Alanna's red-tailed eyes, which she knew how to use to deceive any sort of creature, now hardened like the eyes of a tiger or wolf just before it would leap onto its helpless prey. I hope you like surprises, Alanna thought, mocking the Watcher in her mind.

ooc~ no of course i don't mind. Thank you for joining. I admire your technique, you've grown from your first time joining the RPs into quite a talented writer.

ic~

Leila was considering, somehow Rebeka had lost her hold over the girl. Something was here. Rebeka turned her head sharply and noticed a hawk gazing at her hardly. Rebeka moved gracefully, her black silks flowing as she moved, watching the hawk carefully. She dismissed it and turned back to Leila.

"There is another option," Rebeka whispered. "You wouldn't have to lose your soul..."

ooc-- thank you ^_^ I really don't know what to say. *blushes*

ic--Alanna's wings spread, tensed for an attack as she was flexing the muscles in them.. she hadn't used them for a while since she had flown over here on a thermal. The small muscles in her legs tensed as well, and Alanna's eyes began to harden, as one thought ran through her head. Well, it's now or never, Alanna chose her moment carefully, and waited for the moment when the Watcher was uncertain of whether she still had control over the girl. Alanna spread her wings in beautiful flight, and she soared quickly at the Watcher, spreading her talons so wide one could see their individual claws very clearly. "Tseer!" her hawk voice cried, but what she really meant to say was, "I've got you now, you demon." She dug her claws into the Watcher's eyes as she alighted on the demon's face, very ready to leave if things got way too dangerous. She was eager for the moment that the demon would make her change into her human form... that was the most interesting part of taking these creatures down, and Alanna was trained to master and enjoy it.

Rebeka was a mere shadow, but she constrained her cells, making her shadowy form more dense. She gathered her powers and constrained the hawk's cells, pressing and pressing so hard a normal creature wouldn't survive.

But, as it was, she was certain this Hunter was in a hell of a lot of pain. She narrowed her eyes.

"Alanna," Rebeka shook her head pitifully. "I thought you would've learned since the last time..."

ic-- Alanna cried a hawk's cry of pain and used her sentient cunning to get away from the Watcher by flipping off of her face, using the surface like a wall. She quickly changed into her beautiful human form, baring a priceless Japanese sword in a combat position, like her father had taught her. Alanna narrowed her eyes at the Watcher, and said in a hateful voice, "I have learned much since I last stalked your kind, Watcher. I am much more experienced that you could fathom, despite my age." Alanna smirked evilly, and added, "I wouldn't be surprised if you were the one that hasn't learned much since I last stalked your kind. Get ready to die, Watcher." Alanna stood in a menacing position using her sword, and for some strange reason she was waiting for the demon to make the first move in combat. Alanna smiled a wicked, knowing smile as she waited.

Rebeka shimmered into her human form and stared mutely at the sword. "That's a beautiful weapon, my dear." Rebeka nodded. "I suppose you have learned, Alanna. Forgive me for not giving you credit, you were too young then to fight."

Rebeka moved closer to Alanna, her black silk dress flowing gracefully. "I won't fight a mere girl," Rebeka shook her head. "I do not harm children. I won't fight you."

"I have changed," Rebeka murmured. "Leila... I want to give Leila a life here. She doesn't deserve to live on the streets. I wanted to be honest with her, let her know what I am before I offer her a room here... I left the path of the Demon..."

ic-- Alanna laughed at Rebeka's words. "You have left the path of a demon, have you? Then why is it, Watcher, that you first offered this woman her wish in exchange for her soul? That sounds like the distinct actions of a Watcher to me. Once a demon, always a demon, Watcher," Alanna glared angrily at Rebeka. "And if you won't fight me in my human form, try fighting this." Alanna dropped her sword near the window, so that she wouldn't forget it. She raised her head to the ceiling, and let out a fierce belligerent (sp?) cry. Alanna's body started to change immediately, as she gasped and all the bearings seemed to fall around her. But in the midst of her despair, she smiled in a cunning manner at Rebeka. Alanna sped up the changes in her body, and before anyone could see her form clearly again, Alanna had changed into a monstrous black dragon that towered over Rebeka. Now will you fight? Alanna asked Rebeka with her mind, grinning toothily and bending down as if she might bite off Rebeka's head with her monstrous jaws.

"No," Rebeka's eyes narrowed. "I will not fight. Why is it that you Hunters cannot stay out of the affairs of others?" Rebeka transformed into her shadow-form, but a more dangerous form. The black-shadow beast she had become was huge, a black flame engulfing everything she touched. With her mind, she spoke gently. "I won't harm a child."

ic-- A Hunter can never stay out of the affairs of others when others are bound to be hurt. It is our pledge to those who are too weak or too desperate to stand up for themselves, like Leila here. I have been raised in that pledge, and I'm not about to give it up. Alanna smiled in her dragon form, something that seemed simple but really was very complicated... it required one to have practiced intense combat with the specific form and know it inside and out. I am no longer a child, regardless of my age, Alanna flew using her night-black dragon's wings, beating them against the static wind. All Hunters are the same age.. the only thing that sets us apart is our experience. Alanna smiled a toothy smiled as she swung her massive dragon tail directly at Rebeka.

Leila was horrified! She clung to the wall, hiding in a corner. Oh, what have i gotten myself into? she thought. All I wanted was a better life...She had already tried the door, but it wouldn't budge! Oh! If I believed in a god, I would pray right now!!

"She is not defenseless!" Rebeka called. "She can make a decision of her own!" Rebeka breathed dark flame at the dragon being that Alanna had become. "Get out!"

ic-- She is not defenseless, you say? Alanna's mind said to Rebeka. If she is not defenseless, then why do you need to help her so much? Why help her with her condition at all, if she is able to maintain her own well-being? Alanna shut her eyes against the dark flame, her tough hide absorbing the heat while her eyes shut in defense. Alanna bared her jaws, and hurled a bright, monstrous ball of flame at Rebeka. I will not leave, Demon. Not until you are dead. Not this time. The golden and fierce eyes of the dragon Alanna had become twinkled and hoped that the fireball would damage Rebeka in some way.

"I don't plan on dying anytime soon." Rebeka laughed, changing back to her human form. "Leave now." Rebeka had burns all over her body, but her human form hid them well with the dress- undamaged, as it had not been part of her shadow-beast form- hid them. She tried to hide the pain as well, skilled at doing this. Her powers were weakened greatly, it would be easy to kill her, but she hoped that Alanna wasn't as merciless as Rebeka used to be.

ic-- Alanna smiled, in her dragon form, but slowly changing back to the form of a human in a seamless transformation. "If you think I'm going to take orders from a demon who I'm trying to kill, then you're even more foolish than you look, Watcher." Alanna said, now fully human and sensing that the time had come to really battle, in the harsh and fierce way that she loved. Alanna pulled out her Japanese blade, and stuck it in the middle of Rebeka's chest, straight through Rebeka's body. She smiled and said, " As I said, Watcher, I'm not leaving here until you're Dead. No matter what you say, no matter what you do, I will stay until I am sure that you have been cast into oblivion. Even if you kill me, my ashes will float around the air of this home for eternity. You will not get rid of me so easily." Alanna grinned smugly, holding the blade inside Rebeka, looking like the ruthless fighter she truly was.

Rebeka's blood stained her corset, and this made her truly upset. She shifted into her shadow form, and the blade was grazing nothing but air.

"Take Leila, if you must." Rebeka murmured. "I'm not going to fight." Her shadow form was more like smoke, now, singed with flame. The pain she was going through was nothing new to her, she'd fought with quite a few hunters in her time. "I don't want to fight."

Rebeka was tired. She was tired of this life, this being a Watcher. She had wanted to transfer her Watcher powers over to Leila. She was gathering her energy to do so now...

"Leila!" Rebeka stagger-floated towards Leila, shimmering in and out of human form and shadow form. Her energy was drifting into Leila. "Being a Watcher isn't so bad... Just don't steal souls... Grow from it..."

ic-- Alanna saw that Rebeka was trying to give the poor woman the cursed life of a Watcher. She dropped her sword and pulled out a small, seemingly harmless test tube. She smiled smugly and said, "If I drop this, Watcher, your life will be more than miserable. You don't want to know what will happen, so why not lilsten to what I say for a change." Alanna carefully walked over in the direction of the poor woman, and gestured towards her, still turned towards Rebeka. "Let her go, and get away from here, you Damned Creature. Leave ones who are defenseless against the supernatural be... don't seek those who barely know the Hell you raise. Get thee away from me, Satan." Alanna said to Rebeka with hate in her eyes, wanting to drop the test tube right here, right now.

Leila looked from Alanna to Rabeka and back again. She had a funny feeling inside her, a tingling feeling, like something cold and hot at the same time...she didn't like it. What was a Watcher? and what was this stealing of souls? She didn't understand! "I...i wish...i wish this was all...all just a dream..." she whispered.

Rebeka, stunned with the sudden interuption, had her powers thrown back into her, causing her to sway in dizziness. She found that the wish Leila had made was working though Rebeka had not given it permission to be granted. Rebeka was losing control of herself again.

"Alanna," Rebeka reached for Alanna's hand the moment before she fell into unconciousness. She swayed, steadying herself. She tried to keep her eyes open. "I am no devil... You know that. I don't seek out the defenseless..." Rebeka tried to remain concious. Alanna had wrought more blows to her than she first assumed. She was growing weaker, she never should have tried to give her Watcher powers to Leila. It was her burden to bear.

ic-- Alanna maintained her steady ground, hiding her satisfaction at Rebeka's suffering very well. She carefully held the test tube, smiling evilly at Rebeka. "You don't seek out the helpless? Then why did you bring poor Leila to your home? She's the definition of helpless." Alanna loosened her grip on the test tube. "Stop lying, Watcher, and know who is the more powerful one here. Or you shall die learning that piece of information." She stood in a powerful and proud stance, waiting for the Watcher's next move.

"STOP IT!" Leila shouted at Alanna, amazed by herself. She felt sorry for poor Rabeka. If it wasn't for her, Rabeka wouldn't be suffering so. "Leave her alone! She was only helping me! Why are you doing this? I had a choice didn't I? I could choose to follow her here!"

ic-- Alanna turned to the human, utterly shocked. She had never heard of a human protecting a demon of any sort.... it seemed that whenever humans were involved they only turned and ran at the first signs of a battle. She laughed at the human in shock. "You think you had a choice? Creatures like these," Alanna motioned to Rebeka then continued, "only create the illusion of choice when they lure prey to their lairs. You were lead to believe you had the choice of going with Rebeka when you first met her, but she really was seducing you and enticing you with her promise of a wish fulfilled, the way all Watchers do when they lure their prey home with them. It is their trademark, and what makes them most deadly... they are wolves in the skin of a sheep." Alanna turned to the human and said, "Do not be frustrated with yourself, human girl.... countless numbers of creatures have fallen into the trap of these damned Watchers. That is why they must be destroyed." Alanna edged towards Rebeka, looking very dangerous and eager to take down this Watcher... finally.

Leila jumped in between Rabeka and Alanna. 'Don't you touch her! She never promised me a wish. Besides, i don't belive that they can come true." Leila glared at Alanna. "I wanted a home, and she brought me here...nothing funny about that. She was nice to me, treated me like a person, and not a rat, like everyone else. And then you come here and start to accuse her! You look down on us, don't you? I can tell by the look in your eye. You think i am weak because i'm human. And you look down on her because she is what she is. If anybody needs a wish, it's you! Tell me, what would happen if i wished right now? Eh?"

ic-- Alanna glared at Leila, starting to wonder if this human didn't deserve the type of death that she was determined to give this Watcher. She almost snarled at Leila," How DARE you say I look down on humans? I loved a human once... he is and always will be my world. HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT I LOOK DOWN ON HUMANS? DON'T MAKE STATEMENTS ABOUT PEOPLE YOU HARDLY KNOW!" Alanna turned to Rebeka, and said angrily, "I look down on Rebeka's kind because of the damage they do to all sorts of life by stealing souls. You have probably never seen a soul being stolen, human girl... be glad for that. It is the most disturbing and heart-wrenching thing a kind soul can ever witness. If you made a wish right now, you would probably feel your soul slipping away... I cannot say for sure. I have only seen a Watcher give a last wish, and seen the soul evaporate from a body." Alanna bit her lip, uncertain of what would happen next.

Leila flinched as Alanna shouted at her, but she maintained her ground. Suddenly curious, she turned to Rabeka and asked: "What would happen if i was to make a wish?"