Forbidden Fate (Private)

[vacuusanimi]

Lena Vaduva walked down a rather busy city street. The sound of tires rolling through water, the smell of exhaust and garbage, the feel of people as they walked past were all so familiar that she barely noticed them.

She narrowed her dark eyes at people if they glanced at her. They didn't need to pay attention to her, they had their own lives to worry about. Why bother sticking their nose into someone else's life?

She continued, her boots clunking on the pavement as she went. Her pace lightly sent her black hair off her shoulders, momentarily revealing the hilt of the blade strapped to her back.

Her attire was enough to keep people off her back, most of the time. Who would question a woman fully dressed in leathers with a .45 on her hip and an ancient blade on her back? For all they knew out here, she was just in costume for no reason.

But Lena had a reason for being here. A job, like any other night. Something to get her some easy cash to pull her through the next few nights until she could finally leave.

Nothing could stop her. Not a damn thing. Not a damn person.

[Lucian Alexandras Drakus]

Leon Cade, 6 foot 1 inch's tall, self made Man-Mountain, his broad body was an intimidating sight and people were stepping aside to allow him to strut down the street, his Overcoat hung over his Body its length concealing the two magnums on his back, the sawn off attached to his thigh and the large bowie Knife on his belt, looking down he was busy watching the floor pass beneath his feet, unaware of the parting of crowds he was causing.


He had the look of a hardened veteran, yet he was only 28, still young, but his eyes so full of experience, he rounded the next corner and glanced to the windows beside him, a stern expression reflected back ‘Your doing the Angry face again Leon’ he thought to himself shaking his head slowly, it was just his look of deep thought he peered up and crossed the road entering the local diner, he sat down furthest away from the counter not really interested in eating just to sit and think.


He was a complex person, behind the steely gaze and the bodybuilding look was a man lost in thought, he had a job coming up…not just any Job, a ‘Hit’ as the Mafioso would call it, Leon was a Bounty Hunter by normal means, some would say an assassin others a hired murderer, he cared not for the titles, just the information he gained and the money, it was not glamorous having to move city to city evading detectives and rival killers, but he was on a life mission, tracking down his kidnappers, the ones who turned him into this killing machine….

[vacuusanimi]

Lena paused when her phone started chiming. She calmly withdrew it and opened the message listed "Unknown".

Information at diner on 24th and Spear. Back corner near exit. Ten minutes.

She erased the message and slipped the phone back into her pocket. Immediately, she started across the street. She wondered if her informant could see her half the time. The diner was only two blocks east.

Lena walked up to the entrance and glanced around inside. It was relatively vacant, only a few elderly stragglers in booths and a couple drinkers at the counter. One individual in particular caught her eye mostly because of his sheer size. He could've taken two seats.

She took a deep breath and walked inside, immediately taking a seat at the booth in the back corner.

One of the waitress's started trailing after her, but Lena turned around and said, "I'm not ordering yet. I'm waiting for someone."

The waitress stopped in her tracks, looking a bit confused before she nodded slightly and walked away.

Lena took her seat facing the entire diner. She hate having her back to anything, it offered too much of a chance for people...enemies...to come up behind her.

Her phone chimed again and she pulled it out.

You're early. Under your seat.

So he did see her. She discreetly reached beneath the wooden bench and felt the envelope taped to the underside. A small smile threatened to take her lips.

[Lucian Alexandras Drakus]

Leon looked up as the door opened letting the sound of the street in, he glanced over, just a woman, nothing special.......but as she strode past him he noticed the 45 on her hip 'hmm, maybe undercover cop' he though worried shifting slightly so he could watch her out the corner of his eye, he'd been in town two days and they maybe already onto his whereabouts, not likely, his gaze was focused at the menu over the counter however his attention was more on the newcomer.

He pulled out a PDA from his pocket and checked for any updates from the informant it buzzed almost immediatly, he scrolled through the menu looking at the message {SPECTRE - New update, target has possibly been 'double booked' be carful maybe another agent on the case} he smiled to himself, nice to know he may have a challange, slipping the device back into the folds of his coat he called the waitress over for some coffee, still watching the female customer, maybe that message and this woman were too much of a coincidence, he needed to reassure himself 'stop being paranoid' he mused to himself.

Handing over 2 dollars he let the waitress pour a coffee, no milk no sugar, taking a sip he slouched back a bit, this mission would be over sooner than later, he had another 48 hours to complete otherwise his chance would be lost, he glanced around the diner letting his eyes trail on the woman and linger slightly 'Crap, dont stare at her you idiot' he looked away 'If she is a cop, she might react'........

[vacuusanimi]

Lena glanced around cautiously as she removed the envelope as quietly as possible. She looked at the man at the counter again and the steam of his coffee as it rose toward his hard face.

"Need to just get out and start planning now," she thought to herself.

Lena stood up and started out the door. The same waitress from before walked up to her and stopped her.

"Ma'am? I thought you said you were waiting for someone," she said softly.

"Yeah, and they didn't come...so I'm leaving," she said with a heavy hint of annoyance.

She turned away and walked out the door, letting it slam behind her as she stomped down the sidewalk, envelope in hand.

"Always so nosy," she muttered to herself.

[Lucian Alexandras Drakus]

Leons eyes followed Lena out the door, he had noticed a slip in her hand, an envelope of some sort 'Well she didnt arrive with that' he was aware of the usual info drop trick, he'd done it many times 'maybe she aint a cop after all'.

He took another sip of his coffee as the door slammed, suddenly he downed his beverage and stood up leaving a few nickles as a tip, he walked over to the door adjusting his coat over all his concealed items and left closing the door softly 'Wonder whats in that envelope'.

Now being so big Leon was not amazing at tailing but he wouldnt just walk this one off, lucklily he had her face memorized, and would be looking for it at his Job, but being curious was too much, he moved across the street, purposly J-Walking to dissappear between the cars, he then proceeded to follow Lena from the opposite side of the street.

[vacuusanimi]

Lena felt a prickle on the back of her neck that travelled down her spine. She slowly stopped and turned around, trying to be inconspicuous as she searched the crowd for whatever was making her uneasy all of a sudden. Several pedestrians passed her, car horns honked, but nothing stood out.

She took in a deep breath and shook her head lightly, turning back around before she fully focused on the envelope now tucked into her belt. It held locations her target had been sighted at frequently, phone lists, known affiliates, etc. Complex information about his or her day to day life, information that would help her plan the attack, and execute it without being found.

Lena smiled once more as she continued down the sidewalk, turning right at the next street. Most of the crowds started to dwindle the further down the street she went. People didn't have to sidestep her as much. And maybe it was because she was walking toward the less desirable part of the city.

The feeling of the air even changed the more steps she took away from the thicker crowds. Most people would be alarmed by the vulnerability, but Lena welcomed it as a challenge to practice...defense.

[Lucian Alexandras Drakus]

Leon was trailing her at a steady pace, making sure he didn’t cause too much commotion as people slipped by him. His eyes wandered to the crowd where Lena was walking, it seemed to be thinning out, he looked ahead and noticed a few signs that he was entering the crappier side of town, a group of homeless sat outside a boarded up shop front, the smell of garbage seemed to increase and there were less and less pedestrians ‘great, no-one to hide behind, has she led me here’ he questioned to himself.

As the more unsavoury folks started to appear, he though of adopting a more aggressive style but that would cause more people to step away, he was on a high defensive in this place, to many variables to account for, he had no problem teaching some punk a lesson, but he didn’t want a fight nor did he need to draw attention to himself continuing steadily trailing Lena.

He was watching her like a hawk, staying a good 40 or so feet away, dropping back a few more paces he slipped his hand into the coat and un buttoned his knife sheath, 'I'm going to find out what that envelope iss all about, just need a moment'.

Was his paranoia was getting to him, it wasn’t uncommon, when you’re hunted by a Secret Organization and the Police are trying to figure out you’re Identity it seems very reasonable to be paranoid…

[vacuusanimi]

Lena heard them, the loud steady footsteps of someone who had to be quite bulky, but in strength. She narrowed her eyes and thought back to the man she saw in the diner. He looked like he'd make a decent amount of sound.

"A follower," she thought to herself.

Lena glanced behind her and gauged the distance in her head, still walking naturally. Then, she ducked into an alley and ran toward a Dumpster. She quickly scaled it and jumped up to grab the fire escape ladder some three of so feet above her.

"Follow this big boy," she said as she groaned from the effort of hauling herself up.

She took a quick glance at the alley entrance before she started taking the steps by twos, grabbing the railing every time to pull herself faster.

She didn't need to be quiet now, she simply needed to get away. He couldn't follow her once she got to some decent rooftops. But the ghetto was a little difficult for that. So many different buildings...so many different heights.

[Lucian Alexandras Drakus]

Leon slowed his pace, he realised the less people and ambience meant he was making more noise, he however had realised too late and with a turn of her heal his lead was off, she passed into an alley and was gone, he stalled a second, "Crap" he muttered to himself and took off in a sprint.

Now the deceptive look of Leon was his size, yeah he was a big guy, muscular and seemed like the dopey henchman type, however, he had a trick up his sleeve, not one ounce of agility was gone, he was just as quick, maybe not as acrobatic, but fast and strong.

He took a glance as her figure scaled the fire escape and ran forward, hopped off the building wall and onto the dumpster in one bound, he then almost immediately shot off it like a canonball grasping the fire escape railing and pulling himself up with ease, it was like a Gorrilla in a Jungle just swinging with ease.

His arms were his strength, they could easily lift his body weight and more and as soon as he was on the escape he yanked himself up the first set of stairs, taking each set with a hop up then two at a time, he was right on her tail "Underestimated me did yah" he whispered to himself smiling slightly.

[vacuusanimi]

"So he can kinda keep up...," she thought to herself.

Lena made it onto the roof and quickly scanned the horizon for her closest and easiest exit route. Every step he took only made her look faster. Finally, she took off across the roof and leapt over the gap between buildings. She caught the ledge with her fingertips and hoisted herself up, glancing back the building she had been on only moments ago.

"The envelope," she thought.

She placed a hand on it to make sure she still had it. The thick paper was still tucked between her belt.

She narrowed her eyes at the other building before she placed a hand on the butt of her .45. The smooth metal and ivory giving her a sense of instant calm. She reached to the nape of her neck and felt the hilt of her blade as well.

"Come on, then," she whispered. "I need a big guy under my belt."

Lena stood up and moved to the center of the rooftop. She considered just disappearing down another fire escape and giving this guy the slip, but this might be more fun.

She saw him crest the other rooftop and waited to ask him a really irrelevant question.

[Lucian Alexandras Drakus]

Leon clambered up the last part and stared across the rooftops....."where are you" he muttered and jogged forward.... noticing her stood across the gap, must of been bout 13 foot wide, 60 foot drop, the lip of the building he was raised slightly for the gutter so he had a higher kick-off, but he didnt want to jump, he'd be a sitting duck mid-air and she had a handgun and a sword, that would be like leaping into death.

He stepped to the edge putting one foot on the lip and leaning forward he stared at her with a stern expression "So now what, you want to Talk" he called out with a gravley tone he crossed his arms and stood tall "Dont think i wont come over there, you shouldnt underestimate me" maybe he could goad her into letting him get close.....

[vacuusanimi]

Lena narrowed her eyes at him.

"Why are you following me?" she snapped, a light hint of Romanian anger within the words.

"Go ahead...jump. I dare you," she thought to herself, fighting a smile.

She took a small step backward, keeping in mind her next building choice should he close the gap. At that thought, she pointed the barrel of the gun at him. For an added, but unneeded, effect, she cocked back the hammer slowly.

Truth was, she rarely used the .45, but it would offer the advantage at this point. Then, she remembered her deadline to deal with the target. She had a day, maybe two, before the offer would really get out in the open.

Sitting here and wasting time with him was only costing her.

"I want you to stop," she added.

[Lucian Alexandras Drakus]

Leon stared her down for a good minute or so, 'European, possibly Romanian' and then smiled to himself "You think your the only one in this city who does what you do, c'mon girly" he was about to relax his stance when he saw the flash of gun-metal and the click of the hammer going down, in almost the same instant he had his magnum drawn, the cold Ebony grip firmply placed in his hand, his hammer cocked and chamber ready to fire a 50 A.E. round in the womans direction "i dont like people pointing guns at me, so if you want to have a chat about or common interests, i suggest you put that away" he said through gritted teeth "I'll stop following you once you've answered my question, whats in the envelope you tried 'so hard' to conceal" he was not beating round the bush anymore, he wanted answers and fast "Well, Miss Bounty Hunter..." he was good at working people out, the clues all added up, random info drop off, the weapons that adorned her, her skill in evading and pursuit, and the fact she was so confident, he was trained to track down targets just by simple clues and give-aways, he stared at her coldly waiting in silence, the distant sound of cars was the only noise.

[vacuusanimi]

"Well, you don't like guns being pointed at you. I don't like people following me," she said with a sarcastic smirk. "Especially loud ones."

Lena pushed the hammer back and then bent her arm to take her aim away from his chest. She took a more relaxed stance while smiling at his bluntness.

"Common interests?" she repeated. "If we share them, then you should know I'm not going to just tell you what's in the envelope."

She sheathed her blade slowly, keeping her eyes on him.

Lena didn't aim the gun directly at him, but she kept it in mind should he make a move. Instead, she leaned forward, placed the gun on the ledge with the barrel roughly aimed at him, and sighed.

"And, as a matter of fact, I know I'm the only one that can do what I can," she added. "I could easily have been gone before you made it all the way up that fire escape...long gone."

She stared at him, reading his reactions, howevever subtle they may have been. Still, this was the one thing she was hoping to avoid. Other contract killers were nothing more but competition, and the men in her profession always thought less of her abilities because of her gender.

This guy sounded like he did too. She narrowed her eyes at the thought and clenched her teeth.

"Oh please give me a reason to cut your head off," she thought to herself.