People you meet in a graveyard (Talbot)

[ophelia]

Ophelia wiped the bit of sweat from her brow as she buried her latest victim in a grave that belonged to someone who had long turned to dust. Ophelia loved to take her victims here when she wished to feed since it was isolated and many were too afraid to come after sunset which made this an ideal place for her kind. The vampiress took pleasure in first stalking her victims, then seducing them before she drains them of their blood.

The young girl she had buried she met on the beach one night ago. She was quite easily swayed by flirty words and light touches which although good for Ophelia because she didn't have to fight to get her blood, but she liked a bit more of a challenge.

As she finished up her work, she began to walk through the graveyard, the heels of her boots sinking a bit in the soft soil. How long had it been since had been led to this island? Thirty years or was it more, she couldn't say. It was hard at first for a woman of her status to have found herself on this place, but after some time, she's managed to make herself comfortable, and live in the lifestyle which she was accustomed to. There were a few things she missed about the outside world, but there were advantages of being here like being able to feed without being overly discreet since it seemed common place with quite a few of her kind living on the island as well.

Ophelia stopped in her tracks as she noticed some movement in the graveyard. She would make out that the form was female which excited her. 'Another meal or even better, a plaything' she thought as she walked closer to the figure. As soon as she was behind the woman, she said in a soft yet sweet voice, "You know, it's quite dangerous to be out on the island so late."

[Talbot Emlen Garret]

She'd been nice and cozy in her little home, the tiny stone building set up with blankets and her books, what few items she'd dragged along with her. A fire had been roaring, warm in the cold night close to the water. Going over her notes from her latest search of the island she began to make a map of sorts to help her figure out just what sort of place this was. It was coming together nicely for Talbot, huddled under her covers, reading glasses perched on her nose.

The night outside was quiet, few going out during this time...that only made it clearer when a sound cut across the air. It sounded like a voice, soft, barely audible, but it sounded as if someone was calling her name. Getting up from her bed Talbot rushed to the door, pulling open the heavy wooden panel before stepping out. The ocean breeze was more than a match for the pajama pants and tanktop she wore, goosebumps raising across her skin as she turned back to grab her leather jacket, throwing it on as she stepped out further. "Hello?" She called, getting no answer in return as she cocked her head to the side and started walking further out in search of the sound as it seemed to come from further away in the darkness.

Bare feet padded softly across the grass and worn paths as she kept along the road. The island was large for something that had never been found by anyone save for lost souls like herself. It was a good twenty or thirty minutes till she found herself stumbling over gravestones, old ones worn by the rains and the salt in the air, as well as newer ones placed over fresh dirt. She looked around, the stars in the sky offering the only illumination, but as Talbot discovered at a young age the dark rarely hindered her that much. Often she would take pleasure in sneaking around at night, taking in the lovely darkness that seemed to go overlooked so often.

The graveyard left her uneasy, with no organized groups, no enforcement of any laws or rules...it was unnerving to see a cemetary like this. Pushing back the few loose curls falling from her brain she gave a sigh, the air now silent, not a single voice to be heard by her own. This island...nothing felt right, like everything was just shifted a few inches from where it was suppose to be. Giving one last glance around the young woman decided it best to find her way back, but after walking for so long in the dark she found that the paths did not look so familiar as they did in the day light. This place was not a place she had visited yet, not mapped out in her mind or on paper. "Just great..." Talbot muttered, spinning around a bit as she looked at the different paths, trying to pick out her home somewhere along the horizon. Nothing was more unappealing than spending all night in a graveyard.

"You know, it's quite dangerous to be out on the island so late."

Such a soft, sweet voice, but it was not something Talbot had been expecting, or so suddenly. In the back of her mind a voice told her that she was certain just a few moments ago no one else had been here, but as she whirled about she met the other's gaze. Taking a few quick steps back she managed to catch her ankle on the edge of a gravestone, pitching herself back onto the ground. Pain jolting through her as she continued to push herself back a bit more before finally coming to a stop.

Staring up at the other woman amber eyes were narrowed, every muscle tense as instinct kicked in to protect herself from any threat. Several moments passed in silence before the young woman's breath finally slowed, her heart no longer racing as she pushed herself up. "I was looking for someone...or something. It was calling...." Trailing off she brushed herself off carefully, "I got lost. If it's so dangerous though then why are you all the way out here on your own? I thought everyone stayed in the ruins during the night?"

[ophelia]

'Well what do we have here?' she thought to herself, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. She slowly walked a bit closer to the young woman, her skirts rustling a bit as she moved. "I've been on this island for a long time, my dear, and I've learned how to avoid the creatures that are dangerous though you look unfamiliar, are you new to this island?" she asked, leaning against a near by tree. She had been on the island for quite some time, and didn't recognize the woman at all.

'I guess I shouldn't be surprised, many new comers have been showing up lately' she thought, her eyes looking the girl up and down. A small smile formed on her lips, liking what she was seeing. 'Quite the lovely young thing I've stumbled across, it's been a while since I've had a girl for more than a meal' she thought to herself.

"Whatever or whoever was calling you must have left. I like to stroll this place because many avoid it, and I haven't seen anyone come or go" she said, her eyes leaving the girl to look around the graveyard. It wouldn't be possible for something to get by her and her heightened senses unless this creature was older and more powerful than her. 'I think this girl has just gotten a bit more interesting' she thought. "Pardon me for not introducing myself and scaring you my dear. I'm Ophelia Winther, and might I ask what your name is?"

[Talbot Emlen Garret]

"Then you're one of the lucky ones then. This place is nearly pitch black with no lights. Everyone talks about creatures, but I've yet to see any...still simply the paths here are trecherous. This place seems like despite how many people are here not a single mark of humanity is left save for graves of what was." Brushing a hand through her hair she offered a small smile to the other, "Yeah, I just got here not too long ago, seems that people have been avoiding me since I've gotten here. You're one of the first few to actually come and speak with me."

Talbot had begun to feel as if she was more alone than anything on this island. She wondered why it seemed so hard to meet others despite the fact that she did see them around. This island was still so much a mystery to her as she stepped away a little from the other. Her last experience something that hadn't been too pleasant...of what she could remember or it.

At the other's comment on the voice she looked off into the darkness. Ears strained to listen, but only silence remained as she sighed softly, "Must have been my imagination." She replied, voice barely audible as she spoke. Had it just been that? The young woman could have sworn she heard the voice as clear as crystal...

"Oh! I'm sorry...you just startled me really. No time for introductions in that case." She held out her hand to the other, "My name is Talbot, Talbot Garret. It's nice to meet you see how it seems everyone just keeps to themselves." She offered a more welcoming smile as she studied the other.

"So how long have you been on this island? Can you tell me anything about it...or at least how to get back to the village ruins as I seem to have gotten myself lost." A tiny chuckle leaving the parted lips.

[ophelia]

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Talbot, and don't mind the others on the island, they're all very wary of new comers. The best thing to do is find your place here, and make some allies. There are far too many dangerous people here who would devour a young girl like you with not much thought" she said, a small mental chuckle echoing in her head. "I've been on this island for many years, too many that I've stopped counting after a while. There are many things I can tell you about this island though I don't think this would be the proper place to do it" she said.

"I can however, lead you back to the ruins and if you'd like, we can go to my home where I can explain a bit more about this place" she said, offering her hand to the young girl. She wanted to savor this, enjoy lulling this girl into feeling safe before she had her completely. "As far as what you heard, this island plays tricks on people. I know some have seen and heard things that aren't really there. After all, there are whispers of a witch on this island who could be working some magic upon all of us trapped here."

Although she knew quite a bit about the island, there was still much she didn't know. However, if providing any information would allow her closer to this young woman, she was more than willing to do so. 'Besides, working to get something so lovely is worth it' she thought. "If you stick with me, I'll guarantee no harm will come to you" she said tenderly.

[Talbot Emlen Garret]

Talk of making allies and not friends. It seemed the longer she spent on this island the more it felt like it was purely survival of the strongest. She heard of people disappearing on the island, but it was comments like that made by Ophelia that made her feel ill at ease with this place. Talbot wondered for a moment if it was possible that the person she was searching for had already become a victim or the island or one of its inhabitants. The only blood relative that she barely knew...dead...

The thoughts did not linger long as Ophelia gave her a welcomed distraction. Information about this place, just hearing that made amber eyes light up as the tension in Talbot's body eased somewhat. Someone who had been here for years, she was slightly pleased that she had taken chase of whatever had caught her attention. Looking down at the offered hand she extended her's out slowly to Ophelia before taking it, her grip lose as something still made her hesistate in trusting the other fully. Perhaps it was just the dark, meeting someone out this far alone, her own experience. Maybe it was just the island finally chipping away at her, but Talbot didn't want to let the other escape without getting that information, even if it meant she could be creating a danger for herself. However, Ophelia seemed nothing but kind, wanting to help her. Slowly her grip tightened a bit.

Talbot chuckled again at the mention of a witch, she smiled, "I'm not very superstitious to believe in witches. This island is strange, but I'm sure it was just the sounds of the night tricking me." By now she was beginning to doubt her own rational, but still she sought to hold on to the reason and science that her life before this place had taught her even as it was slowly chipped away. "No cage is perfect, magic or not, I believe that it can't be inescapable."

The young woman resolved to follow the other, to go with her and learn as much as she could as she motion for Ophelia to show her the way, "Thank you for that offer, but I know how to protect myself. I made it all the way here didn't I?" A smirk, a small bit of smugness in her words as her gaze flashed in the darkness.