SeditiousAmbitions 06-10-2009 06:00 PM<br/>Malachi watched as he fought off the temptation to find the hidden being that taunted his inner beast. So much gossip, so much deception; yet none of the visible souls had even scratched the surface of true manipulation. The one in the shadows, the one who was waiting for something, however; he was closer to the level that Malachi had stretched himself to and perhaps even farther.<br/><br/>Malachi did not move or react much. His face was a pleasant expression of indifference. Many of the stares he received were returned with a careless regard. Malachi found himself continuing to scour the shadows for any signs of this other spirit. He found none and several times contemplated using his disciplines to aid him but decided against it. Any burning of blood may cause an aggressive response and that was not something he was trying to provoke at this stage of the show.<br/><br/>Ohram called upon him by name. Malachi leaned casually off the wall and stepped towards the table. His swagger was apparent but subtle nonetheless. He made eye contact with everyone seated round the table with his gaze falling upon Ohram last. Here is where it stayed as he spoke.<br/><br/>â€œI find it strange how it is assumed that I come to Solace to become her Prince. I suppose my arrival shortly after the demise of the old Prince is a bit too much for coincidence.â€ He spoke with fluid tones and a half-cocked smile. Millennia of practice at expression serve Malachi well where ever he goes in everything he does. â€œI, in truth, am not here for that reason. I came to make a home here. A companion of mine had told me that Solace was a good place to â€˜grow rootsâ€™. Whether she told me this because she was ignorant of the situation or she knew of your cityâ€™s plight and wished me ill; I may never know.â€ His smile grew a bit more thinking it was more the latter of the two. â€œHowever, given the nominations lined before me, I would heartily say that any of you would be a fool to follow any of these. They are too weak to create any kind of bond strong enough to root out the problems plaguing your fair Solace.â€ He motioned to the ones who stated their nominations. Malachiâ€™s tone became a bit more forceful, but far from angry or obtuse. â€œIf I were the last to give my name to the ever growing hat, I would say that I am stronger and more suited to lead than the gentlemen who spoke before me. Howeverâ€¦â€ Malachi paused and lifted his gaze from Ohram and bounced it along the wall of deep shadows. â€œI feel that there is still another here. Call it a gut feeling if you want, but I feel like there is still one who wishes to speak his or her claim for the cityâ€™s throne.â€ Malachi took a few steps back and adjusted his gaze around to each of the councilmen with his gaze falling to Ohram.<br/><br/>The leader of these proceedings, Ohram shuffled through most of the nominations with a dry casualness that would raise virtually no suspicion. Yet, Malachi had several times caught Ohram searching the room for someone and now Ohram seemed nervous. Did he feel the presence or was he anticipating one? Clever man, indeed. Malachi moved with his hands clasped behind his back around the table until he was next to Ohram. He bent his neck down towards the man and lowered his voice some but had no intention of concealing his words from the assembled group. â€œYou, Councilman, know who Iâ€™m talking about. Donâ€™t you?â€ Malachiâ€™s eyes flashed an even icier blue. He was right about the lingering stranger hidden somewhere among them. He knew this. Ohram he was not completely sure, but he was not blind to the signs of secrecy.<br/><br/>braioch8201 06-10-2009 06:39 PM<br/>Enoch's eyes watched from the alcove, his eyes scanning first the council, then the potentials. He felt indignation and anger burn in him as he stared at those who were meant to take his place. His brow furrowed as he stared at each of them as they stepped forward and spoke to the council, stating their case. None of them were worthy of the position, they were weak, in body and character, none would have the ability to lead and direct, nor have the strength to hold their position.<br/><br/>Until the newcomer came up to the plate. Enoch forced himself not too roll his eyes at his swagger but listened nonetheless. It figures that the only person who would even be worthy of taking the position would be someone who never had the intention. His eyes narrowed as he listened to the man's speech, and he did a quick once over of the man. He was the only person in the room who would even offer a challenge to him, in both body and position.<br/><br/>So he knows someone is here, a shrewd being indeed.<br/><br/>The room was silent after Malachi had approached Ohram. Suddenly the silence was broken by the sound of boots clunking on the hard marble. Enoch walked around the circle, the ice of his eyes sweeping across the stunned faces in the room. He stepped down into the circle his eyes locked on the council's faces.<br/><br/>Ohram's eyes widened, "M'lord!"<br/><br/>A dark slight smile crossed Enoch's lips, "Yes Ohram, I have come."<br/><br/>The rest of the council were on their feet and proclaiming their suprise and joy, Enoch continued, "I see that in my temporary absence, no real inquiry was made into my existence. Instead reason and logic were throw to the winds and panic and impulse replaced them. Well members of the council, I have not fallen to the rash actions of the fool mortals. While I must sadly admit that my companion and trusted bodyguard Memnoch had fallen at the hands of their weapons, I escaped and am here to remind you of my rightful place at the head of our superior breeds leadership."<br/><br/>The council bowed their heads as did most of the potentials, with the exception of Mazak who seemed to be boiling with rage.<br/><br/>"You," Mazak began, "disappear for so long, leaving us unaware of the fact that you lived, then when your position is being taken from you, you blaze in here and claim this spot is yours! I will not have it!"<br/><br/>Enoch turned to the enraged immortal, "your personal opinion in this matter is irrelevant, I am the Prince, and since I still live, it remains mine and mine alone."<br/><br/>"I will remedy that!" Mazak snarled.<br/><br/>Enoch cocked his head, "and how will you do that I wonder?"<br/><br/>Mazak snarled as he leapt at Enoch, his hands gnarled into claws. Enoch's body moved as if on it's own as he slipped to the side. Mazak landed on the floor and slid forward before twisting around and rushing at Enoch again. Enoch's hand shot out and gripped around Mazak's throat. A short strangling noise squeezed from Mazak's lips as Enoch's grip tightened.<br/><br/>"My body may have been weakened from the attack from the humans, but you will not find a weak and easy target in me."<br/><br/>With that his foot shot out and kicked violently into Mazaks leg, shattering the leg and sending Mazak with a guttural yell to the ground on his good leg. Enoch's cold eyes watched as if disinterested and with a casual movement threw Mazak past the circle into the wall with a sickening thud. He slid to the ground and only moaned.<br/><br/>Enoch turned back to the council table, "you see, your fear and impulse drove you to chose those who were weak of mind and body. You would have rather deigned to choose a flimsy and pathetic replacement for me, and led the Vampires of this city into death and destruction. If it had not been for this newcomer, you would have voted yourself into oblivion."<br/><br/>His attention was turned to Malachi finally, his eyes locked on Malachi's own, "it seems that the only being worthy of taking my place had to come from without this city. While a worthy choice as far as I can see, I still live and am able to lead. So with that we have much to discuss, the humans still move and exist within our city, and we must move quickly."<br/><br/>SeditiousAmbitions 06-10-2009 08:46 PM<br/>Malachi took a few steps back away from the table with a slight bow. He had been correct, as usual. He smirked as the elderly looking Mazak spit in outrage. Fool. Once Enoch had disposed of the unruly would-be usurper, Malachi erupted in polite laughter and clapped his hands together several times.<br/><br/>He let Enoch finish and waited until the Prince locked eyes with him. Certainly, there would much to discuss in private between these powerful beings. Malachi bowed at the recognition given to him, a wide smirk on his face. He began to see the member of the council grow uneasy and this brought him a pleasurable sensation. He also began to see their bodies bursting into flames or melting into nothing. Yes, a new plan was forming in the juggernaut that was Malachiâ€™s mind.<br/><br/>Enoch addressed the problems that seemed to phantom in and out of conversation as if the kindred were afraid to speak of them. Malachi steeled himself a bit but not before sending a wink to Ariel as his eyes passed over her countenance. Malachi needed to be brought up to speed on the situation in its entirety. He had guesses from the damage he had observed in the hold safehouse but no real facts. Seeing as how most of those assembled were still struck by Enochâ€™s return, Malachi decided to take the initiative.<br/><br/>â€œI am Malachi, Prince. As the newcomer, I should be silent but you know that I can be a valuable asset to your cause.â€ Malachi moved closer to the table being careful to step over the body of Mazak, though he did not look at it. â€œI saw the aftermath of the last attack. They appear to be well organized and well trained; probably well informed also. Any information you can provide us with from your firsthand experience would be exceedingly helpful to myself and everyone else here who is willing to take back what is ours.â€ Malachi bowed his head and shut his eyes in the direction of Enoch. After several seconds of pause, he lifted his head and gaze back to the Prince. Finally. Something interesting.<br/><br/>braioch8201 06-10-2009 09:03 PM<br/>Enoch's attention swivelled to Malachi. He regarded him for a moment, his face passive, his eyes sharp and cold. He found himself wondering what to do with this newcomer. He held a new potential that he hadn't seen in another being, physically he looked about as strong and deadly as himself and Memnoch, though he held a similar stability that Enoch had and Memnoch lacked. He also seemed to hold a similar style like Memnoch, he wouldn't have enjoyed or even stuck with leading for too well, or perhaps he would have surprised everyone. Personalities were such a finicky thing in the end they made all the difference.<br/><br/>After several moments, Enoch's voice bounced off of the walls again, "yes....the humans seem to have amassed more knowledge than we would ever be comfortable with. It seems in the arrogance of the Prince before me and the other fool leaders of the city, it was deemed unecessary to keep an eye on the mortals. Now because of that willful ignorance fueled by ego, we are paying for it dearly. The humans have perfected their means of destroying the others and ourselves. Their knowledge and firepower is equal only to their infuriating knack for getting in our affairs. It seems as well that they know more about our own movements, often times before the rest of our kind even know they're happening. The time has come to make a stand, not only against the humans, oh no. Now is the time for change, change long overdue. It seems our treaty with the others, the Lycans, the Mages and others has cost us more than we should have ever paid. There is weakness within our kind as well, and I mean to weed it out. The time for Vampires around to form together, fight for what is ours is now. Weakness and second guessing is no longer an option, only obedience and strength."<br/><br/>His eyes swept the room as he walked deliberately through the circles, eyes daring anyone to interrupt him. His speech wasn't grandiose or over the top, it stated his point forcefully, filled with power and command. His philosophy changed, logic was the right choice as always with him, the practical roman still in his system. But now he'd adapted the great generals of his time, practical, logical, cold and decisive. He would not take any objection to him, and this was his city now, the Vampires his to rule.<br/><br/>"Anyone with any ideas? I wonder stranger...Malachi," his gaze fixed back on Malachi, gaze still cold and analytical, "what new ideas do you have to pose for this problem? For both the outside world and within our own commune?"