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Penn chuckles, "You haven't changed Lucinda. Still believing that you don't hold sway with the council. All be it true the council listens to me, it's you who holds more power with words than I. Call me crazy, but I think the council looks for humility and defeat along with courage and strength. You will suprise them. I know you will." Penn looks over to Lucinda from the corner of his eyes and sees the sharp look of anger on her face. He pokes her nose with his finger, "That face doesn't suit you." Penn smiles as they walk towards the council room.

"Let's have some icecream after this. That sounds good. What's your favorite again?"

(sorry. A small post for right now. I'll type more later!)

Lucinda sulked as the walked. Wanting to believe what he said but knowing at the same time she was the total oppisite of what the council wanted for the throne. It was quite plain she wasn't the best thief, she blamed it on a lack of practise of not being allowed above ground. Another problem she blamed the council for. The vampire glared at Penn as he poked her nose. Than she smiled, than striaght away her face turned sour and she looked anoyed again. "Thats not fair, your not suppose to make me laugh when I'm in a bad mood like this." She seemed annoyed but wasn't really. Lucinda didn't hold a grudge that easily. "I'm not that fond of icecream."

"We'll figure something out then..." Penn stated softly. They entered the council room. A large well lit room, tiered downwards to an open stage area, with tables and chairs at each tier, as if in a college lecture room, but bigger, and fancier. Behind the open stage, a long, wood cut table about 40 ft. long, made of rosewood and embelished with fancy carvings along the sides.
An elder's voice beacons to come down to the open stage. Quite the intimidating method Penn thought as they walked down to the tiers of wide steps and reached the stage. It was quiet in the large open room. It didn't even feel like you were in a cave upon entering.

"Please state the recent circumstances and why we should allow further admittance of Lucinda to the outside world, Penn. Obviously she is transparent in her role of successor to the throne, let alone her own safety. Speak now! Silence only prolongs your defeat." Stated an elder as they point to Penn, wanting only his voice to be heard. The council was quite strict today, Penn thought. -_-

Penn composed himself, did a slight cough, and then spoke clearly, "Council members, I believe that there is much to say, but I will address the more important factors at hand. In first regards, we are all aware that Lucinda is successor to the throne, by bloodright of Lemanius. I'm quite sure you haven't forgotten his will and intent for the people of the Golden Dagger. Lucinda was entrusted to us to be the successor, and thus forth she should have a say in what she does. I am aware of the methods we take to train our members, yet I think that too much care is taken on behalf of "Successorship" over "Necessary Training". Looking into the actions the council has taken, how adept can Lucinda be if she is denied privelages of anyone else. Should it not be the other way around? Shouldn't Lucinda be receiving our best training and the best knowledge and guidance? What would our ancestors say about such actions? We are at a critical time in which mistakes can be fatal."

"Secondly, her transparency is an illusion of the council. Has she not followed most of what the council presents? Can any of you say you were perfect in your early years?" O_o Penn gives a raised eyebrow to the council, well knowing of stories of their early lifetime. Penn was good at finding out stories of people, especially from older people, reminising memories over a bottle of liquor at times. "A thought. Shortly after I am ransomed back to the Queen of Leph, Lucinda will pose as a distant relative whom I had contacted shortly after my return. Naturally being concerned, she decides to live with me for a while to make sure I'm all right. A perfect opportunity for training and real life experience. Think of it as me taking her 'under my wing', so to say. Surely this will help out everyone in a manner of effectiveness?" Penn was going all-or-nothing on his debate, but at the end of it all, it came to Lucinda and her word towards things as well. Penn could only hope that he had inspired some courage in Lucinda.

Lucinda stayed at Penn's back ignoring the councils comment. They were the same as always. They always had been as well, she had played too many tricks on them with her brother and even sometimes her father. Neither of them had liked the council much, her father had even said to her once that he had been thinking about getting rid of them. Supprisely it was her older brother who had talked him out of it. He had said something about needing them so you could have people you could trust. At the time Lucinda had thought that was the most stupid reason to have them, she still thought that often. She had a lot of people who weren't on the council she could trust.

She sighed as she thought about her deceased family. She had never known her mum so she had been risen by three men. Her father, brother and Penn. They meant the world to her, she thought they would always be there for her. She was wrong about that and it had landed her with the big fat position of future ruler. Lucinda was just thankful she couldn't fully take that position until she was twenty five. Lucinda listened to the way in which she could live above the surface, by posing as a distant realtive. Her idea for a long time. The vampire glanced at the council often as he spoke. She knew they were thinking along the same lines as she was. The Queen of Leph knew what she looked like, it would be hard to stay away from her.

Lucinda also knew though that the council knew that the vampire was a master at disguse magic. Another gift she had aquired from her vampire background. Although she was qute proud of the way she looked she was quite capable of making herself look like a totally different person. A glance at Penn made her realise what he was doing. She was glad he was putting so much effort into making this pass. Afraid to let him down she spoke up. "Well I'm quite up for this new idea. It's one I'll take on and do a good job off. It's a perfect chance for me to learn what you won't teach me." She glared at one of the council members as she went to speak. Lucinda may have been younger by far but when she wanted to she could bring on the power of authority all vampires were born with. It was a strong authority and worked more often than not.

"If you dare say a word against it, against my word I swear when I come of age you'll be the first to go. You may run the show now but when it's my time to do so I will be the one running it. Thats not going to change, even if you try to change it. So you may as well start listening to what I have to say now!" The council members sat in shock, they glanced from Lucinda to Penn than around at each of the memebers. What she had said had all shocked them. It was the first real time she had stood up herself and threatened them. The vampire could tell they were scared of her, she crossed her arms and waited for their answer.

The council members looked at each other some more and mumbled amongst themselves. After a bit of time, the council members looked back at Penn and Lucinda with a bit of a defeated look upon their faces. "We choose to allow this for the time being, but be warned, if something happens to you, all of the Golden Dagger could fall. Everything we have been trying to achieve would be lost. That is all. You may leave." It was just like the council to not apologize, but to make things stern as ever still.

Penn looked to Lucinda with a pleasant look. "Shall we be going then?" Penn motioned towards the door they came in. Penn wanted to say more to Lucinda, but not in front of the council. Penn was sure Lucinda knew this as he looked her in the eyes as he spoke. He knew Lucinda had a knack for knowing that aspect of him. Upon finally exiting the room, they walk to Penn's room where Penn closes the door behind him upon them entering.

Penn smiles and hugs Lucinda. "Wonderful! I was very impressed! Today is a victory of many, and let me give you something I have had for quite some time. Penn digs out from under a secret compartment under his bed a crimson red earring set. "This was something that your father had owned, and entrusted to me when you were about 3 years old. It was to be given to you when you came of age, but I think now would be a good time. 'It helps with the upper world' you father said to me." Penn gave Lucinda the earrings and then started packing a few things to be delivered to his home after his "Ransome" back to the Queen of Leph. "This should be good. Is there anything you need to do to prepare beforehand?" Penn looked to Lucinda and waited for her. Penn didn't have much to do. He only had to balance the checkbooks still, which wouldn't take long. He wanted to spend some time with Lucinda and help her prepare whatever way he could. It's only what family would do, and he was pleased to help.

Lucinda didn't even bow to the council as she would have usually done before leaving. It was meant to be a sign to them that the head of power had changed in the brief conversation. It seemed to work as she heard soft whispers as she walked out of the room. Beside herself with happiness she smiled and embraced Penn in the hug he had thrown at her when they had entered his room. It was probably the happiest she had been since her family had died. Her first real blow against the councils rule over her.

The vampire said nothing as she was presented with the earrings. Water glistened in her eyes but that was all. She knew the earrings well. They had been worn by her mother in the only picture of her that Lucinda had. Her mother had been the most beautiful women she had ever seen, she knew that she would treasure the earrings her entire life. Still without a word she put the earrings on. "I need someone I can trust to keep an eye on the council. After what I have done today I don't trust them not to do anything... stupid." She pulled out a dagger from. The hilt was finely made and silver, depending on the colour. The hilt was the most striking feature though. It was gold and was just as beautiful made as the hilt. The theives guild wasn't called The Golden Dagger for no reason. It was always carried and pass down from ruler to ruler.

It was what gave her her title and only one of the royal family could touch it, it also had the ability of making marks on an immortal creature and leaving scars. "Vampires heal too fast to leave scars. If we send you back unharmed they wil question", she said this while looking at the dagger, then turned her eyes to Penn. "I don't want to but since I'm the only one who can touch it I hate to say I'll have to do it."

"So do we have any ideas as to how we're going to keep the council from making any.... overturning events?" Penn had to really think on this one. There were people who would side with Lucinda on her decisions. It was a tough call.

Seeing the dagger, he knew what was going to happen. He took a deep breath and let out a sigh, closing his eyes for a while longer than a blink, and looked back at Lucinda. "I dread such a thing, but still I must endure." Penn sat down and took a few pieces of torn cloth and tied one around his mouth and another around his eyes. Before covering his mouth, he said to Lucinda, "Please, don't hold back." That was all he could say for the moment and then he was prepared. Feeling the cuts dig into his flesh, his muffled screams could be faintly heard through the cloth. It burned, more than a regular knife, and the pain remained for quite a while afterwards. Covered in blood, cut and bruised all over, Penn passed out from the pain. Being tied up the rest of the way, he was taken out of his room and transported to the rondevous point for bargaining.

When Penn awoke, he couldn't see anything. All he could hear was words. He could make out a few voices, some being that of the Queen's negotiators. After some time, he felt like he was being lifted, and carried. The wounds still burned, and all he felt weak from them. After some time, his blindfold was removed and he found himself in the back bed of a van, tinted windows, and a medic bandaging his wounds. "How ruthless..." the medic said, and then noticed Penn was awake. "How are you feeling? Your wounds are severe, but you'll pull through.", said the medic in a calm voice. Nodding, Penn spoke softly, "Glad to be safe. I'm hungry." The van continued to drive, and didn't stop until it reached the imperial infirmary, where he rested and was fed back to health. 5 days later he was released and told to take it easy. 5 days... that took a long time for him to heal partially from the wounds. 'How frightening that dagger is', he thought, but was glad she didn't hold back.

As Penn was taken away to be given back to the queen Lucinda sank to the ground, tears rolling down her face. She hated hurting people and she very rarely hurt someone like she had just done to Penn. She stared at the dagger in her hands before slowly wiping the blood off it onto some material. She gave that to some guards who followed after Penn and those carrying him. Lucinda went than to the council chambers and discussed with them what would happen next. They decided to wait five days before sending her to the surface. She was fine with that, she didn’t want to see Penn at his worst and also they wanted to make sure she was a relative from very far away, she wouldn’t be able to get to the city that quickly. The one thing the city lacked was an airport.

So it was five days later she was traveling down the streets of the city looking like a normal teenager. She had discarded her baggy clothes she usually wore and changed them for tight jeans and a nice low cut green top. As part of her disguise she had made the illusion of her hair being dead straight to her elbows and a chestnut brown in colour. She hadn’t changed her facial features but it was amazing how different she looked with the few changes she had made. Lucinda smiled sweetly at a group of teenager boys as they gowked at her than went on swiftly until she saw Penn.

Relieved to see him she ran the rest of the way and embraced him in a hug. The vampire had seen how bad he looked and her eyes began to water. She made sure Penn didn’t notice though. “I’m so sorry it caused you this much pain”, she whispered softly so only he could hear. Than she grew louder as she continued. “Uncle, why didn’t you say you were this bad? You look horrible.”

Penn chuckled humbly, and hugged Lucinda back, "Now now, no worries. I'm alive and able to do what I have before, so no worries now you hear? I appreciate you coming all this way to spend time with me. How long it's been. You look fantastic! You take such good care of yourself. Come on, lets go home and I'll make us something to eat. I just finished today's work. Because of the injuries, I have very little to handle for a while." Penn pulled out the keys to his silver convertable and hit the auto unlock. *beep* the car doors unlock and Penn opens the door and gets in. "Hop on in!" Penn hits a button in the car and the car top folds down into the trunk.

Upon arriving home, he parks his car in the garage, where there lies a tarp over what appears to be a motor bike. "Go ahead, pull the tarp off it. It's what you've always wanted." Upon the pulling off of the tarp, there is revealed a black motorbike like Lucinda had wanted and talked about earlier to him. "This will be your ride now. I'm going inside to prepare dinner. Would you like to help?" After dinner, Penn sat down on the couch and softly asked Lucinda, "So, where do we begin? Your room is upstairs and to the right, and the bathroom is attached to both our rooms in between. If you need anything, let me know." Penn wasn't talking about training, nor was he talking about anything from the Golden Dagger. He sensed something was off. He suspected the house was wired with cameras and recorders, and he gave Lucinda an overly innocent look that made things somewhat apparent that something was wrong.