CREATE THE STORY

[iwo]

...Megan told Rachel that she wanted to hang-around after the concert to see Marty and the guys.
With all that transpired she half-expected Rachel to somehow keep her from this meeting...but she didn't. Not only did Rachel not stop her, she said it would be a great idea...but unfortunately she couldn't join her. Rachel then reached into a bag she was carrying and pulled-out what looked like a book. "This is a Fan Book I put together for Marty...would you mind giving it to him?" asked Rachel. Sure, said Megan and took the book from her...it had a black linen cover and an industrial-looking strap around it to keep it from inadvertently opening.
Megan didn't want to prolong her parting-of-ways, so she abruptly turned her back to her friend casually saying "catch-you-later", and made her way to the stage's side entrance.
With her back to Rachel, she held the book out of her view and tried to work the band holding it closed, but had no success. Trying not to crease the cover, Megan bent a corner over enough to see that there were pictures in the book...but couldn't quite make them out.
Frustrated, Megan placed the book on the floor...took out her lighter...and bent the corner back again. This time she could better make out an image within, that happened to be in the upper corner. It was from the New Year's concert...she could tell from the theater seating in the background...and in the foreground was a bleached-out image of a person obviously from a camera's flash being too close to its subject...but she couldn't make out the face. Megan held her lighter closer this time, and she recognized the person...it was a picture of her........

[Cheza]

Loving the the picture being in the book, Iwo! Bravo!

[starcrossed]

Alright, I have had enough time to think. Just give me a few minute's and I will have another post for this story ready.

[iwo]

*Correction Made

[starcrossed]

It was alright Iwo. I like your addition. I know I should be writing about now, but my son keep's calling me. Mommy before writer.

[starcrossed]

Nothing made sense anymore. Reality was swiftly becoming an elaborate maze, that Megan desperately wanted to escape from.

The audience cheered and danced to the music, completely oblivious to what terror Megan was facing.

Rachel was once her dearest friend. Megan realized that it now appeared she was Megan's enemy. Megan felt sick to her stomach.

She walked slowly through the vast crowd of people that were at the venue. She didn't have any idea of which direction to take to get to the backstage. Yet, somehow her feet kept moving in a steady direction. Megan knew it must be Justin.

She was alone. in a crowded theater Megan had never felt so alone. She didn't know what else could possibly happen. She didn't want to give in any more to her fears. She would not trust anyone. Megan had only herself to believe in.

Megan mentally struggled through the tangle of webs in her head. Megan knew that she needed to gain control of her thoughts. However, She couldn't no matter how hard she tried.

The amount of drugs that had been injected into her system were hurting her in more ways than disorienting her mind. She could feel something inside her. Justin's voice did nothing to help the situation. The voice he commanded in her mind drowned her soul so deeply under the surface of self preservation.

Megan held the book close to her body, as she made her way to the backstage. She held her pass in hand, and showed the security guards, who quickly allowed her to enter the private area.

Why the Lovehammers?She couldn't understand what the Love hammers had to do with anything. How could any of this be happening?Vampire's didn't exsist...or she had thought that safely for so many years.

She made her way through the backstage of the theater. A elaborate dance was still being performed, as the concert was still continuing on stage. Megan tried to stay out of the way of busy bodies that rushes past her.

She made her way to the Lovehammers dressing room door. Megan could have thought that this moment would have been her best, yet she found that only fear filled her heart. if the Lovehammers were anything but human, she had no idea of what waited for her behind the door.

Justin's voice pressed her with a large mental shove. Megan knocked at the door. Within seconds it was open and she was pulled inside by the arm.

" Don't look so scared." The voice was soft and gentle,Megan looked up to find the most memorizing eyes she had ever seen.

"Marty?" Megan's voice was a whisper.

"Yeah. Look, I don't want you to be scared. I know that you must be really have a lot of questions..."

Megan interrupted,"Where is the rest of the band?"

Marty smiled, "Sorry, they weren't here to meet you. We really don't have a lot of time."

"What are you?"

"Not anything that goes bump in the night. At least not without a few too many drinks in me anyway..." Marty tried to lighten the situation the best that he could.

"I feel sick."

"Here sit down for a minute."

"What are you?"

"The same as you are. Human. Mortal. We are no better off at the moment than you are." Marty pulled up a seat near Megan as he tried to explain,"You can't trust anyone. This war that these 'things' have going is dangerous. My band and I , just got caught in the middle of it. It is like a story on one of my fan threads. I just don't have any control over it. I am not ...it is a bad dream...for all of us. Just do what they ask and don't ask too many questions."

Megan looked at the man she dreamed a thousand times about. She had so many things to say to him, but the only thought in her mind was how to get out of all of this alive.

"Rachel gave me a book for you."

"It isn't for me. I am just to take it and leave the book in one of my guitar cases here in the dressing room. I don't know who it is for. I don't care. I can't get involved anymore than I am already. I have my family to think about. The same goes for the rest of the guys. This isn't something that we planned!" Marty was lost in his thoughts for a moment, before turning to Megan. "You have to leave."

"Why could I hear your voice?"

Marty was already leading Megan to the door. He stopped suddenly, " My voice? When?"

"When you were on stage. I heard your voice. It wasn't the first time...."

"Don't...It wasn't me." Marty pushed his hand through his golden mane of hair."Look, I can't make this better and I wish that I could, but you have to understand that that voice wasn't me. You can't trust whatever it tells you..You can't trust anything."

Marty closed the door behind Megan. She knew that things were only going to get worse.

*******************************************************************
At the same moment in a different realm....

"And what are you going to do? Just stand there and watch, while our only chance to stop the war is going to be killed?" Keane stood firm.He was a huge force at over seven feet in height and 450 lbs. Always outspoken even to his commander.

"She has to call for me. I can't help her unless she calls for me." Cloud made it clear that she wasn't interested in interfering at the given moment. She had lived within the Outer Realm for too long to rush into anything without having a firm plan.

"She doesn't know that we exist!"Keane was shouting now!

" My name has been imprinted on her soul. I am her guardian.She has to call for me. That is the rule. You know that. when the time is right her soul will call for me." Cloud was a beauty in every way. She held a forceful grace that commanded attention. Yet, with her beauty was also a tremendous power. The true hidden strength of her nature. She was a true immortal.

"Since when do you follow rules? Go and help her, or in her death will be the uprising of a new demon world!"

" All I need is a single word... her last breath if it has to be. I will be there when she calls."

********************************************************************


Megan had not even left the building when Rachel came to stand beside her. "Good Dog. I see you took the book to it's rightful owner?"

"I took the book where you requested. Rachel, please be careful of how you call a dog you..."

"Now what kind of talk is that? I thought we were friends?"

"No we are not. I don't even know what you are!"

"Move. Don't just stand around, keep moving!"

"What the hell are you Rachel? Are you a Vamp..."

Rachel slapped Megan across the side of her face, " Justin is a freak of nature. You were right to think of that. I try to be civil...he make's me, but I hate him for what he is!!!!"

"Then why are you helping him?" Megan's face hurt down to her bones.

"Who said I was helping anyone? It's all about Rachel. Always has been always will be."

"Jeff..."

"Don't worry about my dear sweet hubby. He's nothing to worry about...now." Rachel's voice held a unsettling cheerful giggle.

"Justin.."

"Doesn't know a thing," Rachel gave a sigh as she continued, " You see honey. My brother can control you, but he can't control me. I made a huge promise to some friends of mine and the pay off is big. Justin can't and won't know a thing, until it is too late."

"He is in my head."

"Do you hear him right now? Bet you don't. Want to know why? I commanded it. Then poof done. Justin thinks I have calmed you down, so I asked him to give us some 'girl time' to bond."

The entire time they had been moving into the parking lot. Rachel stopped in front of a large white van.

"Get in.Now." Rachel had not even finished speaking when the side door flew open. Megan recognized the two men instantly. the were the two men that had chased her in the ally. The same men that had brought Rachel to see her in the first place. Megan had thought that the men were just big goons, but now she realized they worked for Rachel.

The lot was full, but only a few people had left the inside of the theater. The lot was empty of people. Megan stood alone with Rachel. The van was wide open. Megan thought of screaming to gain attention, but just as she was about to inhale , a loud click could be heard.

Megan looked toward the direction of the sound. One of the men held a gun pointed straight at her.

"Now. Don't make them kill you, Meg. Get in like a good girl," Rachel's voice dripped with sweetness.

Megan tried to reach out to Justin. Nothing. Megan could feel a huge void. Megan stepped into the van. She didn't trust Justin, but at the moment she would have felt a lot safer with him. Rachel was out of her mind and she seemed to be enjoying every second of it.

******************************************************************

The van traveled for miles. Megan couldn't see anything in the back of the van.The van had no windows in back and the man with the gun, kept it aimed at Megan's head the entire trip.

Rachel sat in the passenger set, looking as calm as if she had just visited a day spa. She had even turned on the radio and was signing to the songs that she knew. Megan hated her.

The van suddenly stopped moving after what felt like hours. The man opened the door and Megan was forced to get out. The bitter cold and silence surrounded her the moment she stepped out of the van.

Megan didn't need to see anything in the darkness of the night, to know that she was in the desert.

"Why did you bring me hear?" Megan already knew the answer. They were going to kill her and leave her body in the desert to rot.

"Well, I thought it would be nice and quiet here. I don't want anyone stopping me from my ritual."

"What ritual?"

"You never let people finish talking. Bad girl." Rachel slapped Megan across the already throbbing side of her face. The faint taste of copper filled her mouth."Now, as I was trying to say. I am going to kill you. Your the key to opening the door for the demons. Once I spill your blood then finish the ritual words, it will be my promise fulfilled. I alone will be granted immortality. Not some curse like my brother, but forever. The other's want to do it in a group ritual, allowing them to all partake in a new world of darkness. That is not going to happen. I want it all."


"Why me? Why the chip? Why everything?"

"Your the chosen one, for whatever luck it might be. it was foreseen by the elders in the group. The chip was to track you, Justin had to have that damn chip their. Ted was an unfortunate loose end. he always wanted what he couldn't have. I wasn't going to share anything with him. He tried to keep you for him self. he made the relationship...it wasn't his to take. It is mine. He had to go. Justin...always trying...I will have my way..."

"You rambling."

"Sorry, I tend to do that... Don't worry. I guess this is the part were I kill you."

Rachel reached into her jacket and pulled out a long dagger. The darkness of the desert night was all around Megan. The only light was from the two high beams of the still running van. the two men grabbed Megan's arms and held her in a steel grip.Rachel approached with the blade, and swiftly drove it into Megan's body.

Megan heard a scream, she couldn't be sure if it was her own. Her body doubled over in pain as she became aware of the hot burning sensation that ran through her belly. The men released her, and Megan's body collapsed into the sand floor.

Megan couldn't breath. the warm stickiness of blood was running down her body. She didn't want to die. Not now. Certainly not like this.

"Please...don't let them ....Cloud..." Megan took a shaky breath.

Megan thought she was dreaming once more. Yet, the sounds she could here were all to real.

The shouts of surprise and of men yelling. The stench of death surrounded the nights air in a vile stench. The cries of the men stopped and the last noise she heard was Rachel screaming.

Megan couldn't feel anything. She wasn't cold or scared. She was just tired. she wanted to go to sleep. Then she felt a hand on her. It was a gentle touch. The pain in her belly seemed to stop. Megan tried to open her eyes.

"Wha..."

"Rest now. You are safe. " The voice was of a woman.

"They are.."

"Dead. Now rest I will get you to safety and I will explain everything better then." The voiced faded and Megan fall into the darkness. It was warm and safe. Megan was finally sleeping.

*********************************************************************

Megan woke up in a clean and over sized bed. She was dresses in fresh clothes, and felt like a new person.

She looked around the room, and found a woman sitting in a chair looking outside a large window.

"Good to see you awake. You didn't look so great for a while." The woman appeared to be in her early thirties, yet her age didn't seem to fit her.

"What happened?"

"Rachel attempted to kill you. I killed her and her men. Brought you to safety. No demon realm open, yet."

"Who.."

"I am your guardian so to speak. You are a very special girl and I was assigned to keep an eye out for you since birth. Granted I couldn't stop most of your problems...that wasn't my purpose. I am how here to help you stop the demon realm from opening."

"The lovehammers...."

"They will be safe." The woman approached Megan's bedside as she spoke," You have one person you can trust on your side now Megan. Justin hasn't chosen sides...his curse control's him better than he has learned to control himself..."

Megan realized that the woman was reading her thoughts. She began to feel panic.

"I am not your enemy Megan. I am here to stop the opening of the demon realm. I am not like any of them. I an not life nor am I death. I simply am. my duty is to protect you, and to stop the war that is coming. Your life is the key to everything."

With that the woman walked back to look out the window. Megan relaxed and let sleep take her once more. She knew that when she would wake, that the battle would begin.Life depended on her. Yet, for the first time in a while, she held no sense of fear in her body.

[starcrossed]

His home in Montana was his refuge away from the nightmare life that he been curse with the past 100 years. But nothing could bring him any joy now. Not the vast and scenic beauty of the landscape that could be viewed from any window of his home.

Too many battles, struggles and sacrifices, only added to the misery that was his everyday existence.

Justin felt the moment that his sister was murdered. He felt every moment inside him. This pushed him deeper into the dark abyss of his struggling soul.

Justin didn't intent to leave the side of the two women on their journey to California. He blamed himself for not being there to protect them. His sister, Rachel had insisted that she didn't need his help. They were only going to the safe house Justin had established for them. Then he would decide the best form of action within the war that waited before them.

"I want to know what happened?" Justin yelled at the young vampire that entered the room.

As a member of his house, the vampires job was to follow orders as strictly as they were given. The men lowered his gaze to the floor.

"Sir. your sister requested that she be aloud to select the two men that were to accompany them. They did get on the plane, but they never picked up the rental car that you requested they have."

"And no one brought this to my attention? Do you even know where they went after getting off the plane?" Justin's temper was about to break. "Do you have any idea what will happen if anything happens to Megan? Do you!!!"

"Yes Sir, but it was only a few hours. Your sister never follows the rules and we just thought that with your history with her that she was just trying to be stubborn."

"I am in charge! Rachel is dead! Somewhere the key is out there in the world and we don't have a clue to were she is!"

"Sir. We thought that Megan was under your control and that she was...."

"I did, but I was just controlling her to follow Rachel's orders. Something happened and everything stopped. I don't feel her anymore.I have tried so many times to touch her m

A knock to the office door caught both men's attention. Justin's elderly servant entered quietly, holding a letter within his hand.

"Thank you Samuel." Justin took the letter and opened it, as the servant left the office.

"Sir?" The young vampire grew worried at Justin's obvious distress.The letter was not good news.

Justin spoke in a monotone voice," reports are that she went to a concert or event in California. Someone spotted them leaving in a white van. Rachel, Megan and...They have some reports that the van was heading toward the desert."

"We will send a search party. We will recover..."

"Leave me."

The man began to walk away, but stopped short,"Sir. Do you believe that Rachel had anything to do with all this...there has been rumors of a spy and your sister hated.."

Justin cut the young mans words sharply with his own," Don't ever speak to me of her that way! She would never betray me. I know that she...she wasn't happy with what I am, but I know that she still loved me. She was my sister. Send out a search party. Find her body and report back to me at once. We can't allow for mortal authorities to find her body first or allow anyone to hurt Megan."

The man nodded and closed the door behind him, leaving Justin alone in his grief.

[starcrossed]

In california...
Megan sat in a large chair opposite Cloud in the living room, of the California mansion. Located high in the Hollywood Hills, Megan learned from Cloud that the estate belonged to another mortal that the guardian had saved a long time ago. The mansion was to be used whenever she, or any of the other guardians entered the mortal realm.

"We are different from this world Megan. We have been from the start of life itself. Where I am from is called the Outer realm. It is a form of limbo between life and death. We are there to keep watch of what is going on, and to help when need be."

"Are you like angels?" Megan's voice was slightly raspy from all that she had gone through physically.

Cloud smiled gently as she replied," No. we are definitely not angels. Though they exsist...We are far from being angelic. We are simply guardians .When you were born into this world, you already were blessed with a gift inside your heart. This gift could be a blessing or a curse to you. And, before you ask.."

Megan closed her mouth, realizing that her thought were being read.

"As I was saying..." Cloud laughed,"I can not tell you why it is your destiny to be the 'key'. All mortals are blessed with special gifts from the moment they enter life. Some have talents that they can not deny. other's struggle internally to understand the purpose they have in life, feeling lost and never developing their given gift. Sadly darkness, sometimes fills those that can not find their creative outlet. The true beauty of their soul fades and they become something they were never created to be."

Cloud took a sip of her tea, watching every movement that Megan made.

"I feel strange inside. I felt something before, inside me at the benefit concert, it is under my skin" Megan cringed with the thought that something might be growing in her.

"Justin gave you a serum with a small touch of his blood inside. It is diluted, but the hypnotic effect of his control can not hold from a distance without the transfer of blood.Your spirit is fighting the darkness..it will be gone in a few hour more."

Megan felt relief with Clouds words. Then a sudden thought came to her,"Cloud, what are we going to do?"

Cloud replied,"Save you and stop them."

"How? I am nothing special, just a blood sacrifice for them. How can that be of any use?" Megan waited patiently for a reply.

Not flinching Cloud stood up from her chair and moved in front of Megan. Grasping her firmly ,but gently she helped Megan to stand before her.

"My job is to protect you. You will have to find the true nature of your own gift in time. That is not my place to tell you, Megan. I can tell you that nothing is going to happen to you now that I am here. This 'war' has met it's match."

[Cheza]

Loving it...but feeling deja vu with the "key" theme...

[starcrossed]

Come on Cheza...work with it me...

Megan is something special, they call her the key, but what secret is within her that makes her the only one that can open this demon doorway? They want to spill her blood...but she has to die to make the ritual work. Why? Cloud keeps telling her that she has a talent....Could this talent be the key to stopping the demons?

Music...breathing....talent...LH....see were I am going with this?

The book is still out their. Was rachel working with someone? She wanted to keep the power to herself.Yet she gave that book to someone.Why?

Megan has only one person to trust at the moment. How will Justin fit the completed picture?

The story goes on.....now it is someone else's turn to add to it.

[oceancat46]

just a few thoughts that I had -- will need to flesh it out more but for starters:
____________________________________________

When Cloud left the room, Megan sank into the nearest chair -- something Marty had said was nagging at her -- something about --- she needed to check some things out online -- there had to be a computer somewhere in this place!

Sure enough, Megan found an office room just down the hall -- quickly she logged on to the martycasey.org site - and there it was in the menu - Creativity Vault: The Story

It can't be! she thought --- but she opened the thread and began to read -- it was like someone was out there writing her biography As She Lived It!! Oh my, what was going on in her brain, and why could everyone but her seem to read her mind like it was a book???

She had to find out more about vampires, guardians and the demon world -- but where to even start -- a google search brought up a mind-boggling number of possibilities! With a sigh, she told herself one link at a time - and started to read---

[starcrossed]

Megan researched as much as she could. She spent hours in front of the computer. Cloud had given her time to be alone and to settle into all that she had been through.

Mountains of information could be found on the web. Some claimed to credible sources, well many others were just strange from start to finish.

Megan realized that no search would ever give her the information she needed. Reality was all around her not on the computer.

The Story thread was just her being paranoid as always. She was feeling a thousand times better, but her mind still was not clear. Cloud had told her that she would still feel the effects of Justin's blood in her. That was probably the reason that she was getting so paranoid.

Then again the last movie that she had seen at the theater had the same theme. Will Ferrell and Emma Thompson had starred in the movie if she remembered that correctly.

She just needed to relax and let Cloud help her.

[Cheza]

starcrossed said:

Come on Cheza...work with it me...

Megan is something special, they call her the key, but what secret is within her that makes her the only one that can open this demon doorway? They want to spill her blood...but she has to die to make the ritual work. Why? Cloud keeps telling her that she has a talent....Could this talent be the key to stopping the demons?

Music...breathing....talent...LH....see were I am going with this?

The book is still out their. Was rachel working with someone? She wanted to keep the power to herself.Yet she gave that book to someone.Why?

Megan has only one person to trust at the moment. How will Justin fit the completed picture?

The story goes on.....now it is someone else's turn to add to it.

I'll try, but I'm going to have to think about this one for a bit.

OC, love her finding the thread at the .org!

[guitargirl]

After that Megan decided she needed to have a sleep as she had just looked at the clock and had seen it was 10:00pm and she had a rough day trying to forget about Why everything had been put on her shoulders and not anybody elses.
Megan Drifted off in her bed dreaming about Marty saving her from Lots of Demons and Vampires.
and she was dreamiung about the sweet sensation of hearing the lovehammers play their Music loud and clear to her.
(BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP) Megan woke suddenly to the sound of her alarm. She stumbled out of bed without hesitation and she burst into the kitchen expecting Cloud to be waiting at the kitchen table. But She was no Where to be seen. Was Cloud Some Sort of a Dream or was She Reality ??.

[starcrossed]

I am waiting patiently....o.k. maybe not. I am waiting!!!

[oceancat46]

sorry star - haven't been home the last couple of days -- have some ideas, hopefully will get them written out tomorrow

Have we killed off Rachel's husband yet??

by the way, I was reading some of this to my sweetie - and he really likes it!! 'Course he's the one who introduced me to the Underworld movies - which surprisingly to me, I actually really like! (war between vampires and werewolves - hmmm!!)

[starcrossed]

I loved Underworld!! I am happy that your 'sweetie' like's it.

I believe Rachel killed her husband...? It's been a while since I read that part of the thread.

Have fun writing and I look forward to reading the new post.

[Cheza]

*hmmm...so is Jeff dead? I had an idea...but if it goes against the grain...I won't...*

[starcrossed]

Found it. This is what I wrote for Jeff. I guess what happens to him is your choice.

"Don't worry about my dear sweet hubby. He's nothing to worry about...now." Rachel's voice held a unsettling cheerful giggle.

[Cheza]

Megan looked through the house, but could not find any sign of Cloud. As she entered the living room, she noticed a smoking cigarette in the astray by the wingback chair. Understandably, she flipped out a bit. A baseball bat was leaning by the computer desk in the next room. She picked it up and cautiously made her way into the room. As she was about to lift the bat high above her head, she heard a reassuring and familiar voice.

"It's just me, Megan," Marty said. "I thought that maybe it was about time I gave you some answers. Cloud told me you were here."

She breathed a sigh of relief, put the bat back by the computer desk, and went into the living room to join Marty. He showed her to a chair next to his...in this corner, they were out of the view of prying eyes looking through the windows from the exterior of the house.

"It's complicated," he said and slowly took a long drag off his cigarette. He placed the cig back in the ashtray, ran his fingers through his soft golden locks, and removed his sunglasses.

He proceeded to explain that he was the owner of the mansion in which she was now staying. Cloud had saved him many years ago from a situation similar to the one Megan encountered with Rachel; however, not before he had gotten in too deep.

"Now I work for Cloud, but I was working for the enemy when she saved me. I got in too deep during a hard time in my life. I was disillusioned and without direction. I yearned for acceptance and found it in the wrong place with the wrong people. Now I'm a double-agent, Megan. A spy for the good guys," he said. "The enemy tried to kill me, too."

Suddenly portions of the horrific nightmare she had been dealing with began to make sense. The book Rachel gave her. She wanted to know who picked it up out of Marty's guitar case. He told her it was better she not have that information right now...for the sake of her own safety. She could see the fear for her welling up in his beautiful eyes.

However, he did explain that dark forces were trying to take over the world. Cloud, evidently, had filled him in on Megan's significance...or maybe he just KNEW on his own. Either way, Marty assured Megan that together they would stop Justin and the legions of evil.

As they hugged, Cloud walked in...