EXT-FADED ELEGENCE-NIGHT
The sky twists and churns to a nasty tone of yellow and
green, the leaves of the trees turn to protect them selves
from the on coming storm. The wind picks to a mild gust
removing some of the weaker limbs from the towering trees.
Amongst all the wilderness stands a single story log cabin.
It's windows are tinted yellow, only a dim light escapes from
the dirty coating. A simple sign reading "Faded Elegance"
hangs above the protective awning. The rain begins to pour
coating everything in a shiny gloss.
INT. TAVERN
The tavern is a basic room with one wall devoted to a bar.
The dirty wooden floor is taken up with sparsely placed
tables and chairs. A corner of the room is set aside for a
couple of over stuff chairs in front of a lit fire place.
The flames within the mantle along with the half-melted
candles that hang from the age old chandeliers provide the
only light. The pitched roof remains open with the rafters
fully exposed. A thin layer of dust covers everything in
tavern.
Dominic leans against the wall, half asleep, while Bethinee
stands behind the bar slowly cleaning the surface, a few
bottle are placed on the counter. Jester crouches down in
the shadows of a corner, the light of the fire place reflect
from his eyes, without warning he leaps to the ceiling
finding a perch among the rafters. Dominic opens his eyes
glancing to Jester, laughing to him self he return to his
half slumber. Bethinee looks at Jester, rolling her eyes as
she continues to clean. The door, with a loud warped creak,
opens slowly, a gust of wind from outside flows in, moving
some of the dust around. Crystal opens slowly shinning
becoming the only thing visible from the shadow filled corner
Damon enters the tavern slowly, his jacket covered with the
product of the storm. Pushing the water from his hair, he
continues deeper into the building. Close behind him follows
a full grown American Bulldog. The K9 stops, scanning the
room. Crystal's eyes raise, the head of a panther becoming
visible. Dominic opens his eyes, glaring narrowly at the new
visitor. The Bulldog's nose twitches searching. A low growl
escapes his throat. Crystal hisses at the dog's presence,
she slowly advances. As the she steps, her for begins to
grow and meld, soon she stands on two legs, looking down at
the dog.
DOMINIC:
This tavern is neutral ground
stranger.
The only on who can administer
violence within these walls is me.
Crystal stretches her new human form, only her emerald eyes
remain the same.
DAMON:
Shouldn't you be informing her of
that?
DOMINIC:
Don't worry her bark is worse then
her bite.
Crystal's eyes narrow as she glares at Dominic. A giggle
comes from above, with a slight chime of bells. Crystal's
eyes jump to the jester, hissing in his direction. Jester
flips her the bird.
CRYSTAL:
Freeloader
JESTER:
Pussy
Dominic shakes his head.
DOMINIC:
Crystal go to sleep.
JESTER:
Before you lose another of those
nine lives
DOMINIC:
Jester! Enough.
Jester leans back on the rafters, his bells ringing slightly
as he laughs to himself. Damon moves toward the bar, closely
followed by the Bulldog. Crystal walks to an over-stuffed
chair changing back to her four-legged form. Climbing on to
the cushion, she circles twice and lays down.
At the bar Damon removes his jacket revealing the weapons
strapped to his body in reachable positions. Draping the
jacket on the nearest stool he looks to Bethinee. Jesters
eyes widen, as well as his grin at the sight of Damon's
arsenal. Dominic's eyes narrow in on Damon's movements.
DAMON:
What's good here?
BETHINEE:
What are you looking for.
DAMON:
A drink
BETHINEE:
No one comes here for a drink, what
do you want?
DAMON:
This is a bar right, you got
anything hard or not?
Glaring Bethinee reaches below the bar placing a bottle on
the counter. Damon reaches into his pocket dropping a couple
gold coins onto the bar.
DAMON:
This cover me for the night?
Damon picks up his coat and turns toward to fireplace. The
Bulldog close behind. As he sits down the dog lays at Damon's
side. Dominic approaches the new visitor, stopping a short
distance away. Jest crawls through the rafters for a better
view, trying in vain to hold the bells from chiming.
DOMINIC:
What's you purpose
DAMON:
It's raining, i just came in to get
out of the cold
DOMINIC:
I'm the bouncer her
DAMON:
Congratulations
DOMINIC:
I'd advise you not to cause any
problems while your here.
DAMON:
Trust me it's on my list of things
to do.
Jester moves just above Dominic, his bells finally give him
away. Dominic and Damon look up. Damon's eyes widen, and
Dominic's narrow in on the fool.
DOMINIC:
Whats got you all jumpy
DAMON:
What the hell.
Jester flips down, landing at Damon's feet, tilting his head
he stars at the dog looking perplexed.
JESTER:
What the hell indeed
DAMON:
His name is Ruger
Jester looks up at Damon, his expression unchanged.
DAMON:
It's a dog
JESTER:
(raises an eyebrow)
No shit.
DAMON:
What then?
With a sound of disgust Jester returns to the rafters,
Dominic chuckles to himself.
DOMINIC:
That him for you.
The door begins to open, Jessica and Jacob enter, dressed in
shoulder to toe armor. Jessica's eyes dart immediately to
Jester's position. Jester winks and licks his lips.
DAMON:
I'm over here you two.
DOMINIC:
And them?
DAMON:
The twins, their with me.
Dominic glares at Damon.
DOMINIC:
Just remember what i said
The twins approach Damon, Jacob sits in the chair facing
Damon. Jessica sits on Damon's lap, her tough persona fading
fast. Dominic returns to the bar.
JESSICA:
I missed you.
JACOB:
Where have you been Damon.
Dominic sits on a stool, watching as Bethinee repeated
circles over the same spot.
DOMINIC:
You wipe this bare off anymore
you'll go though the finishing.
Bethinee looks up laughing.
BETHINEE:
Well, if i had anything better to
do I would, it's not like we're
slammed or anything.
DOMINIC:
What ya talking bout, we go pogo
the clown up there.
JESTER:
Watch it mongo
DOMINIC:
Not to mention our feline friend,
JESTER:
Who by the way needs a flea bath
Crystal's eyes focus in on Jester as she slinks out of her
seat.
DOMINIC:
And now we have a whole new group
of visitors. Although I'm not sure
of their purpose
Jacob leans forward closing the distance between him and
Damon
JACOB:
You were supposed to make things
undetachable.
DAMON:
If you have a problem with my
technique, then you can pull the
next job
JESSICA:
Okay, okay, enough it's over, now
lets enjoy it.
(leans up closer to
Damon's ear)
Besides I love your technique baby.
Jessica kisses Damon, Ruger looks at Jacob growling quietly.
Jacob settles back into the chair
JACOB:
And that mutt, why must you always
keep him around
DAMON:
We could always make more room for
him.
Damon's hand raises up as a throwing knife rotates from it's
wrist holder into his palm, his arm holds steady pointing
toward Jacob. Jester tilts his head, watching the action
below. From the shadows behind Jester, a pair of emerald
eyes appear followed by the face and shoulders of Crystals
furrier form. Crystal's claws dig into to the wood, as she
raises one paw to swipe at the demented clown. Jester turns
his head, jumping at the site of the panther. Landing crossed
the rafters, he lashes out his tongue, wrapping it around
Crystals up held paw, pulling her off balance. Crystal falls
to the floor landing between Damon and Jacob.
JESTER:
Bad kitty.
Crystal lands on her side, slowly rolling over. Dominic's
head snaps to the direction of the thud, the shine of Damon's
blade catching his eye. Crystal changes back to human form
standing, looking around glaring.
JESTER:
So much for landing on your feet,
real graceful babe.
The sound of a shot gun being cocked is heard loud and clear.
Jessica looks over Damon's shoulder. Dominic stands only feet
away, his arm fully extended holding a sawed off double
barrel.
DOMINIC:
You know the rules
JESTER:
She started it
DOMINIC:
Not you, look stranger
Damon's hand jerks back as the knife rotates back to it
starting position. Crystal walks back to the bar.
DAMON:
The dog stays.
Dominic lowers the gun and walks back to the bar. A terrible
cough escape Jester. Dominic looks up in his direction.
DOMINIC:
Furball?
JACOB:
Okay fine, cut if the owner catches
scent of us, we're all in for more
than was bargained for.
JESSICA:
He won't fine us, it's over quit
talking about it.
Damon smiles at Jessica.
JESSICA:
They got rooms here? You know how i
get after a job.
DAMON:
I doubt it, but we're only holding
up here till the weather clears.
Dominic slings his weapon, laughing in Crystal's direction.
CRYSTAL:
And what do you find so amusing.
DOMINIC:
You never learn, how many time have
you guys gone at it?
BETHINEE:
Don't pay any attention to him,
he's just playing with you.
Jester drops to the top of the bar, landing loud, causing
Crystal and Bethinee too jump. Dominic looks over calmly.
JESTER:
(sing song)
Something isn't right
BETHINEE:
What are going on about.
JESTER:
Our new friends might have brought
more with them than they think they
did. It feels different, something
new in the air.
Dominic turns in his stool, half looking at the group of
strangers.
CRYSTAL:
As much as it kills me to agree
with the birthday party reject,
he's not completely wrong.
JESTER:
See even Felix feels it
DOMINIC:
Maybe, wait for the rain to let up,
and we'll see. We'll give them
atleast that long.
EXT. TAVERN
The rain pours down without mercy, lighting spiders off into
the sky. A figure crouches on a branch high in the shadows
of a tree. The darkness hides his features as he peers down
at the tavern.
INT. TAVERN
Damon and Jessica sit in the chair sleeping. Ruger still lays
at Damon's side. Jacob stands looking out the window.
Crystal sits on a bar stool talking with Bethinee. Dominic
leans on the wall yet again passing in and out. Jester
crawls through the ceiling just above Crystal.
JESTER:
Yo Furball.
CRYSTAL:
What elf boy.
JESTER:
Kind of curious how it never rains
so much.
CRYSTAL:
What are you driving at.
JESTER:
And this isn't know for being a
crowded place.
Jacob turns looking at Jester, he begins walking towards the
clown.
JACOB:
If you have something worth
hearing, then say it.
JESTER:
Your stink of betrayal.
Jacob balls up his fists.
JESTER:
Watch your actions young one, or
your sister may wake up an only
child.
JACOB:
I'd advise you watch your actions
Jester lands before Jacob, standing to his full five-foot
seven, looking up into Jacob's eyes
JESTER:
And what will you do to entertain
me with if I do not.
The two stand there eyeing each other down, a loud growl
escapes Ruger throat as his head perks up. Jester flares his
teeth at Jacob.
JESTER:
Your lucky, this will have too
wait.
Damon opens his eyes slowly, moving slightly. Jessica begins
to stir.
JACOB:
What's your dog doing now.
JESTER:
It appears to have a use after all,
more then i can say for you.
Crystal begins to climb to here feet.
CRYSTAL:
You guys expecting someone?
Damon motions for Jessica to stand up, they both climb to
their feet. The blades rotate to Damon's palms.
DAMON:
You might want to tell sleeping
beauty that now would be a great
time for that gauge.
Dominic's eyes open, looking at Damon. Dominic draws the
sawed-off, straight arm aiming it at Damon.
DOMINIC:
I told you this is a violence free
place.
DAMON:
You might want to tell him that
BETHINEE:
Tell who, what the hell is going
on.
The windows shatter inwards, the door is blasted off it's
hinges. A shadow figure moves along the walls almost
undetectable. The growl from Ruger grows louder, his eyes
moving the length of the wall. Jester glances at the dog,
watching his eyes trace the wall. Grinning he leaps to the
rafters. Damon looks up to Jester, then to the dog. Without a
movements warning, Damon throws a blade in the direction of
Ruger's view. The knife stops in mid-air; the figure steps
into view, it's feature still masked. The knife twirls and
is launched at Jacob.
The sound of the shot gun is heard and the blade is blown out
of the air. Another shot is fired, this time at the figure.
The shadow disappears, and the wall behind it splinters with
the impact of the slug. Jacob begins to slink into the
shadows. Bethinee reaches under the bar equipping her self
with her own shotgun. Damon looks around at everyone.
DOMINIC:
Don't none you fuckers move.
DAMON:
You going to need more than that.
Dominic cocks the shot gun again, pointing it back to Damon.
DOMINIC:
No, your going to need more than
that.
DAMON:
Would you please quit pointing that
arm cannon at me, you jackass.
From out of the shadow behind Dominic, a foot kicks him in
the back of his knee. Dominic falls, the gun discharges
blowing a hole in the ceiling next Jester. Jessica moves
quickly to Dominic, kicking away his firearm. Crystal steps
from her stool, jumping through the air switching to her
panther form. Jessica falls under the weight of Crystal's
body. Crystal lands on Jessica's chest, one paw placed on
the center of her throat, the others on the hard wood floor.
Her eyes narrow, as her claws slide out stopping short of
Jessica's skin. The rest of her claw dig deep into the
floor. Damon looks around ignoring the others. Jester looks
down at Damon tilting his head.
DAMON:
You see anything from up there.
JESTER:
Aside from the fact that your
screwed.
Damon pulls a gun from his shoulder strap, pointing it at
Jester.
DAMON:
Yea, aside from that.
JESTER:
Hum.. duck?
Jester speaks a second before the figure appears behind
Damon, kicking him in the spine. Damon drops to the ground.
JESTER:
Too late.
A blast erupt from nowhere, the figure shrieks in pain and
fades away. Dominic stands up, retrieving his gun, reloading
and approaching Damon. Damon slowly picks himself up from
the ground, coming face to face with the barrel.
DAMON:
Calm down, it's gone
DOMINIC:
And your following
Dominic cocks the gun.
BETHINEE:
Now don't move.
DAMON:
I'm not your enemy dammit. And
trust me even if we leave, your
still in his sights.
Jester drops down, swinging and jumping crossed the room.
Landing, he reaches into the shadow grabbing Jacob by the
throat. His tongue slithers out licking Jacob's face. Dominic
lowers his weapon.
DOMINIC:
Who and what in god's name was
that.
DAMON:
A simple message.
BETHINEE:
From?
JESSICA:
(scared)
He knows, Damon, Ipos knows.
Jester drops Jacob, turning to Damon.
JESTER:
Oh you can't be serious
Damon sits down again, Jacob walks to Damon.
DAMON:
You speak like you've met the man,
clown.
JESTER:
Piss off half-breed, what possessed
you to play with a power that even
you can even fathom.
DOMINIC:
Crystal, release her, who the hell
is Ipos.
JESTER:
Only the man who arrived to the
gates of hell to find it locked and
braced shut.
DOMINIC:
And would know that how?
JESTER:
Because, I helped hold it closed.
Jacob stands in front of Damon.
JACOB:
We're going to die, because this
man couldn't leave things be.
Damon in a blur of motion grabs Jacob, launching him into an
over stuff chair, flipping everything over. Ruger turns and
lays back down.
DAMON:
Speak again, and I'll peel your
skin off your bones and feed it to
the dog, understand.
JESTER:
So the pup has two purposes.
Dominic steps in front of Damon. Bethinee lowers her weapon.
BETHINEE:
Crystal, let her up now.
Crystal hisses and walks away to the bar. Jacob picks himself
up and turns for the door. Jessica jumps up looking at her
twin.
JESSICA:
Don't think your leaving, we're in
this together.
Dominic turns the chair back over, taking a seat facing
Damon.
JACOB:
Not anymore, your boyfriend had
personal motives, that changes
things. He brought this and I'll be
damned if I'm sticking around for
it.
Damon makes and attempt to go after Jacob. Dominic grabs
Damon's forearm.
DOMINIC:
Let him go.
Damon jerks his arm lose and sits down.
DOMINIC:
Start talking, whose Ipos and why
is he ripping my place the sheds.
JESSICA:
What motives, Damon, baby, What
motives.
Jester turns and walks passed Damon heading to Crystal.
JESTER:
Those skeletons sound like their
rattling pretty hard, maybe you
should let some out, make so room.
DAMON:
For once, it has a point.
DOMINIC:
It tends to happen from time to
time, but don't tell him that or
there will be no living with him.
Jacob leans on the door jamb watching carefully.
JESSICA:
Are you going to start explaining
things or not.
Damon stares down, rubbing his forehead.
DAMON:
This is going to take so time.
Bethinee looks up.
BETHINEE:
That rain looks like it's not
letting up anytime soon.
DAMON:
Right, well here we go.
Damon slouches back into the chair, his expression blank,
starring off into something unseen.
JESTER:
This is going to be so bad.
EXT. BATTLEGROUND
A small village is in a state of destruction, half engulfed
in flames. A battle between demon and man rages on. Blood
from both sides soaks the ground, puddling up in random
spots. The demon force takes pride and enjoyment in maiming
and ripping the human warriors limb from limb.
The clouds over head bind together churning themselves to an
olive green. Lighting strikes down, casting a white light
amongst the battle. Deep in the center of the hell, Damon
stands, twins swords in hand, drenched in blood and sweat.
His body fully armored with a bronze chest plate, full
forearm gauntlets and spiked leather gloves.
Two demons stand a few yards from Damon fiendishly ripping
apart a wounded warrior. Both turn toward Damon and roar.
The right demon rushes Damon a moment prior to his
counterpart. Damon steps twice burying his left sword in the
first monster, spinning quick his second blade makes one
quick cut, separating the following demon's head from it's
neck. Pulling hard and screaming rage Damon rips his first
blade from he creatures chest, leaving him nearly sliced in
half.
Meanwhile the demons dispatch and dismember the majority of
what remains of the opposing force. Within moments Damon
stands on against an army. The hell sent force begins to
ascend on him. Damon's attempts of resistance become more
and more futile, regardless of the half dozen fiends he
drives to their death. A single creature slithers up behind
Damon, clawing deep into his exposed neck. As the blood flows
Damon's movement slow until the army surrounds him entirely.
INT. CAVERN
Candles provide a dimly lit and flickering atmosphere, wax
build up covers the caves features. The demon force fills the
cave grounds, all starring up as the returning army enters
from their victory. As the creature make their way down the
grand stone stairway the sight of Damon's near lifeless body
appears being held high. The surrounding demons take the
opportunity to lash out at his helpless body. The line
finally reaches a stone slab, Damon's body is dropped with a
thud and his armor removed. The hungry pack begins to close
in on him.
IPOS:
Enough leave him be.
The creatures instantly halt their movements, backing away.
A path is created, through the walkway and iron clad fiendish
creature emerges. His eyes shine with a translucent grey. His
jet black hair braided in a single row.
IPOS:
He fought to well, well enough not
to be feed on like common trash.
Ipos' voice echoes with such a boom, his army seems to shrink
in size. Ipos stands at the head of Damon's resting place.
IPOS:
Now you'll fight for me.
A demon behind Ipos hisses in objection. The towering leader
turns around slowly. Walking confidently his eyes narrow in
on his target. The once brave monster now shrieks in agony,
as a thin line of blood leaks from it's tear duct.
IPOS:
My judgements are law
Ipos reaches out slowly to the cringing figure.
IPOS:
This human took dozens of our
force, rendering the lifeless. You
have the nerve to question me.
Ipos places his hand gently on the demon's chest
IPOS:
I have zero tolerance for doubt.
As the echo fades, the creatures eyes explode, a spine
chilling scream pierces the caves walls, the back to the
creature's body erupts as it's heart explodes. It's body
drops lifeless.
Ipos turns to the remaining army, slowly removing his armor,
dropping it to the ground. His body show scars from past
battles. The leader unsheathe his sword, allowing it to join
his armor.
IPOS:
If anyone else wishes to doubt my
power and position. Here I stand.
Silence sweeps the room, Ipos turns his back to the force,
once again facing Damon. The crowd roars all at once, a hand
full of demons drop to devour their fallen bother.
Damon looks up at Ipos, though half open eyes, spitting blood
at the god-like figure.
IPOS:
It's that right there that
separates us from the pack. But
know, you will follow me.
DAMON:
I'll die first
IPOS:
Oh, of that I had no doubt.
Silence again comes over the crowd. A smaller screaming woman
is forced into view.
IPOS:
The question however, is will you
let her die. Everything has it's
price, the price on your lovely
little wife's life is your devotion
DAMON:
Kathryn, no.
Damon struggles to stand, a few demons move to stop him. Ipos
hold his hand up freezing their steps. Damon gets to one
knee, attempts to stand, falling back to the slab in failure.
IPOS:
I'll feed on her my self while you
watch.
DAMON:
Free her
IPOS:
Join me and she lives.
Damon nods in defeat.
