VIDALMAR
Chapter One - The Arrival

Pine Rock Falls, a city of despair. Suffering, agony and chaos is seen in every dark alley, in every crevice, in this desolate city. One man, pale faced, can be seen purchasing illegal narcotics from a dealer while the police officer turns a blind eye, pocketing a large wad of cash. An old woman, dressed in ragged clothing, huddles up near an alley, wrapped in her moldy and diseased woolen blanket. All this and more Vidalmar has seen, and ignored.
After securing his hood over his face, Vidalmar walked down the streets upon bare furred feet, claws tipping each toes, ignoring that which lay to either side. No one around or nearby noticed the strange robed figure, their minds clouded to the truth of the world. He felt secured with this fact, knowing that his skills of mystical concealment have never once failed him.
He continues down the street, only having arrived an hour earlier, intent on finding the ruler of this city. Vidalmar notices a nightclub, The Black Haven, and enters it, finding himself in a dark atmosphere, of gothic music playing in the background. Mortals dressed in black either danced on the floor, sat by tables drinking, or in a corner inserting needles into their arms. He paid no attention to such individuals, instead making his way to the bar, looking directly at the bartender.
The man behind the counter would be considered a contradiction to the rest of the nightclub. Dressed in bright colors, hair gelled with sparkles, and a charming smile, he obviously does not belong in such a place. Vidalmar knew though, from peering into the individuals aura, that he was no mere mortal, but one of the damned, just like himself.
The bartender paid no attention to Vidalmar, doesn't even appear to notice him. Which suited Vidalmar just fine. Surprise was an important element in his plans, as is fear.
Taking a seat at the bar, he placed one hand on the counter, and looked at the bartender. Then, suddenly, "Bring me the governor. Now." His voice was low, almost a growl.
The bartender jumped in surprise, then looks at the robed figure, anger in his face. His eyes then glanced down at the hand, and notices that it is furred, with each finger ending in a short, but sharp, claw. Looking back up, the bartender attempted to see what face may lay within the hood.
Vidalmar grew impatient. "I said now."
"And who the devil are you?" The bartender demanded, his voice a little higher than a man's, with a slight lisp.
Reaching with his hand, Vidalmar quickly grasps the bartender's throat in a vice like grip. "Listen to me, worm," he growled, "I don't have time to play games with you. It took me over a week to travel from the council, and I want to see the Governor now!" And, at that, he pushed the man back in a most unkindly manner, hitting the liquor counter, causing an empty bottle of scotch to tip over and shatter upon the floor.
The bartender looked at the robed figure, fear in his eyes as the damned individual realized who he may be dealing with, and nodded quickly. "Right away, sir." He went to the bar phone, and took up the receiver in one hand, the other pushing a button. After a few seconds, he said into the phone, "Ma'am, there's someone here to see you. Yes, I know you are busy, but this is important. You can chop off my head, I think he'll do much worse if you don't come up now. I don't know who he is, but he said that he's from the council." He nods to himself. "Very well, I'll tell him."
He put the phone down, and walked slowly and cautiously to Vidalmar. "She'll be right up, sir," he told him, "Would you care to have a drink until she arrives?" Vidalmar merely shakes his head. "Well, my name is Sid. Let me know if there is anything you would like."
Vidalmar ignores the bartender as Sid continues to perform his duties, and pays attention to his surroundings. The nightclub's patrons have finally noticed him, and give him a wide berth, which is what he expected. After performing a careful aura scan of the floor, he knows that Sid is the only damned here. He also notes a set of stairs going up, as well as two doors behind the bar. There are two other such doors in the establishment, but glancing at the signs at each indicated them to be restrooms, and are of no importance.
After five minutes, one of the doors behind the bar opens, and a woman appearing to be in her mid 20s walks out. Vidalmar takes notice of the set of stairs going down before the door closes, and looks at the woman. She is attractive, her long silvery blond hair goes down to her hips, and her body is clad in a black velvet dress which reaches her ankles. Her feet are adorned with silver slippers.
The woman looks at Sid, who merely nods his head in Vidalmar's direction. She looks at the robed figure, and her eyes narrow in suspicion. She walks towards him, and Vidalmar notes that she carries herself well, that she moves with a sense of authority, of power.
Finally she stops in front of him. "Who are you and what are you doing in my bar?" Her voice carries the same weight of authority, and she is obviously one who is used to having command, and of being obeyed.
Vidalmar looks at his hand, and rubs the fur on the back of it. "Lady Morgana, I presume?"
She glares at him, angered. "Yes, I am. What of it?" she demanded. "And you still haven't answered my question. You said you are from the council, yes?"
Looking at her, Vidalmar could feel her arrogance radiating from her. This woman thinks rather highly of herself, he could tell. "My identity is of no importance, Governor," he said in a low growl, "What is important is that you forget yourself. Manners are important after all." Morgana appeared to be seething in rage. Vidalmar smiled inwardly. "And be mindful of your feelings as well. Never allow your emotions to rule your mind."
She glared at him. "Don't give me a sermon. I hate priests as it is."
He chuckled, "I'm no priest, far from it." Straightening up, Vidalmar took a more business like manner. "You may call me Vidalmar, Arch Prefect of the Council."
Hearing the title, Morgana breathed in with shock, and took a few steps backward. "Prefect," she stammered, "Forgive me, please. We've had problems in the past with strangers."
"That's quite all right, Governor," Vidalmar said smoothly, "We all make mistakes." And, in a more serious tone, "Make sure it doesn't happen again. It may be your last."
The Governor nodded fearfully. "Yes, sir, it won't happen again." Then, "May I ask what the Arch Prefect may be doing in my insignificant city?"
Vidalmar ignored the question. "I will need to ask you a few questions, dear Governor. Such as the individuals within your city, their loyalties towards yourself. Things like that."
She nodded, confused. "Of course. What do you need to know?"
Glaring at her from beneath his hood, Vidalmar growled. "There is a more secluded place within this place, is there not? We don't want there to be any prying ears about, listening."
Morgana blinked, then nodded. "There is, sir," she stammered, and motioned to the other door behind the bar, "this way."
Vidalmar followed the Governor through the door, which led to a nice and somewhat large office. Shelves covered the walls, and an elegant desk sat in the middle of the room. There was a chair behind the desk, designed for comfort, and two others in front, obviously designed otherwise, with metal backs and seat. Morgana started to head towards the more comfortable chair, but Vidalmar cut her off and sat down, looking up at her.
Morgana stared at the robed man, miffed at the thought of someone other than her in the chair. Then she realized who she was dealing with, and sat down in one of the other chairs. "Now that we are in private, what do you wish to know?"
"A simple list of who resides in your city. Where they live, how trusted they can be, and any other details that I would need to know."
She nods, and tells him about the other damned. As it turns out, there are a total of 32 residing in Pine Rock Falls, including her. Vidalmar guessed that the actual number was most likely double that, as recently it has been determined that the number of rogue vampires have been increasing in an alarming manner.
After she finished, he sat there quietly for a few minutes, thinking. Then he looked at her. "Is that all of them?" he inquired.
Morgana nods, "That is all that present themselves to me. We have been keeping track of any rogues as well, should any show up. But any that do are taken care of efficiently."
Nodding, Vidalmar studied her face. "What about one called Walker Dark?"
She looked at him in surprise, "He has been here before. But I have not heard about him in the past week." She began to rub her hands.
"So are you telling me that he is not in the city anymore?" Vidalmar asked. She hasn't mentioned the man at all, which he found strange.
"No, I didn't say that."
"So you're saying that he is?"
Morgana was flustered. "Well, I don't know if he is or is not."
Vidalmar growled as he became angry, "So you lied to me."
"No, I didn't!"
Rising to his feet, he glowered down at her. "But you did not mention his name at all. He could be in the city for all you know!"
Morgana cringed, not desiring to experience the wrath of a Prefect. "It's been a week, sir! He probably moved on!"
Vidalmar shook his head, "Irrelevant. It is your duty to keep track of all that reside within the city, and Dark could be one such resident."
"Why do you want to know if he lives here or not? He hasn't done anything that I know of!"
"You think not? That could be true, I suppose." Vidalmar left the desk to stand in front of the Governor. "However, I have been sent to find this individual. I need to ask him a few questions. Don't expect me to tell you either," he added, raising a furred and clawed hand to stop her from speaking, "you are on a need to know basis here. You will do exactly what I say."
Shoulders slumped in defeat, the Governor nodded, "Yes, sir," she said quietly, "I know that. But, I do not know where the man is."
The Prefect nodded, "I know that. I will find the individual myself." He moved past her towards the door. "If I need anything, I will try to let you know when I take something of yours. Have a good evening, Governor."
Morgana did nothing but nod as Vidalmar left the office. Sid was still behind the bar, and backed off as he saw the Prefect leave the room. Vidalmar gave him a nod, as he left the nightclub, and back on to the street.
He looked up at the night sky, and decided that he would look for the man tomorrow night, as he only has a few hours left until the beginning of day arrived. The robed figure walked down the street, pondering where he may rest during the day, considering that he is unable to perform his duties while the sun is up.
Eventually, the stores of downtown became less common, while homes began to litter the area. Vidalmar pondered, wondering if he should just use of the lots to sleep in, since he is capable of sleeping in the ground itself, when he comes across a large building.