[Jacob]

*Setting: The crowd of Vampyres cheered loudly and enthusiasticly as the Prince slowly made his way up the few steps of the large wooden platform which was centered in the middle of the marketplace. On this wooden platform was were certain atrocities were performed, much like in the Middle ages. A wooden beam came from the side of the platform and then went a couple of metres into the air before going across it, much like a hanging beam. But instead of nooses for the neck, there were nooses for the wrists and the ropes themselves were only a couple of metres off the ground, enough to force the beings tied to tiptoe so the ropes didn't harm their wrists too much. The Prince was an elegant and tall creature. His black silk shirt had ruffles running down the front and around his ends of his sleeves. His silk trousers had slits on the side that travelled up the knee to give his legs some air and his black and red boots were made from leather and went halfway up his foreleg. Combing back his short black hair with his claws, he looked at the cheering crowd and smiled softly. His green eyes scanning the area.*

Prince: "Thankyou, thankyou. I am most humbled by your...your greeting."

He nodded a thankyou to them and blew them some kiss' with his right hand.

Prince: "Are you ready to see the first part of your entertainment?"

There was a rupturous applause and shouting. Children pushed their way to the front of the crowd to watch the weekly show. Smiling, the Prince turned to his right and held out his right arm as if gesturing for the creature to take center stage. Slowly, a tall looking creature climbed up, a human male. He was dressed in a red and blue jesters outfit and his face was painted white and the lips painted black. As he clambered to his feet he turned to the audience and took a bow. The creatures roared with laughter and clapped, smelling the humans fear as he made his way to the middle of the stage. Now that the first bit of entertainment was going on, the Prince turned to the left and began to walk off the platform, skipping down the steps as he quickly rushed to a nearby tailor shop. Pushing the wooden door open he quickly scrambled with the buttons of his shirt, his face twisting in desperation as he proceeded. Following him into the store were two skinny, un-winged, male Vampyres. Their black hair long and their features well defined and feminine they wore some outrageously gorgeous clothing. One wore an all red suit with gold buttons whilst the other wore an all black suit with silver, cresent shaped buttons. Both wore abit of red lipstick and black eyeliner.

Vampyre #1: "What is it, sire?"

Quite camp the Vampyre asked this as he watched his superior undo the last button and then pull back the coller of his shirt to take it off, upon doing so his two black wings ravaged from his back and he let off a satisfied groan.

Prince: "My...God...this is killing me..."

He beat his wings gently, stretching them out and shaking off the acheing pain that was accompanied with keeping them under his clothing.

Vampyre #2: "We can tell, sire. You're not smiling as much..."

He, too, was slightly camp. And rolling his eyes the Prince turned, showing off his toned, muscular body to the two stylists. Immediatly the two Vampyres were fighting with themselves to keep their eyeline at their Princes head and not his body.

Prince: "I would be smiling more if i didn't have to fold them whilst wearing clothes...it kills."

The first Vampyre sighed and stepped forwards, slowly he reached for the claw of the Prince's right wing and touched it as it folded outwards and showed its leathery splendor.

Vampyre #1: "It is a shame to keep them hidden, isn't it Joyce?"

He turned to his cohort who nodded whilst linking his fingers.

Joyce: "Yes...t'is. But what can we do? The Prince's clothes are not designed to be worn with wings showing..."

Prince: "Couldn't we just cut holes in the back?"

The first Vampyre stepped over to the black shirt and held it up, looking at it from different angles.

Vampyre #1: "It...It is possible, sire. But we can't do it now...it will have to be after the show."

Rubbing his eyes with his thumb and index finger the Prince sighed, snarling slightly.

Prince: "Oh joy(!)"

He then held out his left hand and awaited for the Vampyre stylist to hand him the shirt. Once he did, he then retracted his wings, folded them up and clothed himself once more...growling in annoyance as he felt the uncomfort come back.

Joyce: "We'll get your sisters stylists to help us with the...customization."

He nodded slowly and buttoned his shirt up quickly before walking towards the door, before exiting he quickly turned and held his arms out at his sides.

Prince: "How do i look??"

In an instant the two creatures had replied.

Vampyre #1: "Gorgeous."

Joyce: "Like a God."

Chuckling he then exited and looked towards were the human entertainer was, he was juggling some large knives but the crowd was un-impressed and were jeering him with loud, ever-menacing boo's. Rolling his neck around, the Prince quickly stepped up the steps and held his hands up in the air to quieten the crowd. Once the crowd had hushed and the juggler had stopped performing he then spoke.

Prince: "Well...yay, or nay??"

As he said 'nay' he cast a glance to the juggler who was sweating heavily and looking increasingly nervous. The smell of fear had doubled and was immensly strong.

Crowd: "Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyy!!"

Even though there were a few 'yay' votes, the majority outweighed the minority and in seconds the human knew his fate. Turning to the Prince he dropped down on his knees and began to sob.

Juggler: "Please, please don't do this!! There were yays!! I heard yays!! PLEASE!!"

Looking down on him the Prince shook his head slowly and then whistled loudly. Immediatly two hefty, black clad, winged Vampyres had leapt onto the stage and had grabbed the Juggler. They then dragged him over to the middle noose and held his hands up, off stage another Vampyre then lowered the noose so that the others could wrap it around his wrists, they then tightened and hoisted it in the air. A short scream was emitted from the human as his body was lifted a couple of inches from the ground. Walking over to him, the Prince smirked and dug his claws into the shirt of the Juggler before ripping them off, revealing a slightly hairy torso. He then grabbed the silly hat that he wore and cast it to the ground, still smirking. Albeit uncomfortably now. Ignoring the pleading of the petrified being the Prince then stepped to the front of the stage and smiled.

Prince: "Madge...it's time."

Upon finishing his sentence there was another rapture of cheering and applauding aswell as the chanting of the creature known as 'Madge'. As they began to chant, small, black and red glittering sequins danced from the sky, quickly making their way down to the stage and ground. As they picked up in pace more and more fluttered down until there was a 'phoomph' of red smoke and a loud thump as a creature dropped from middle of the red cloud and landed feet first on the wooden platform. It was wearing an all black costume which seemed to glitter in the morning sun. Its face was covered with a satin balaclava with two small eyeholes, revealing black eyes. Its hands were covered with black velvet gloves and fluttering behind it was a black cape with a purple underside. The being was like an entertainment figure, a comedy act and yet a pivitol role in Vampyre society. For Madge was the being that granted the Vampyres eternal life. Once a Vampyre is born, the parents are immediatly visited by this comical Sorcerer who grants their child eternal life no matter how many injuries it sustains. The only way a Vampyre can be truly killed, is beheading. Smiling behind its mask, Madge slowly took a bow, its right hand going to its left side as it did so. As it slowly stood up straight, its right hand shot out and flung a handful of red sequins above the crowd. White electricity darted between these sequins as they gently drifted from each other until there was a sizzle and two white Doves materialised and gently flew upwards into the air. A gentle 'ooo' came from the crowd before their hands met in a hearty applause. Nodding its head gently, Madge thanked the crowd and then turned to the Prince who was stood on its right. Slowly it raised its right hand and with a flick of its wrist made a long stemmed red Rose appear. It then leant out and handed it to the Prince who took it reluctantly as he had been the butt of Madges jokes since he was a child.

Prince: "Thankyou, Madge."

He said this in a reluctant tone, one as if he expected something else to happen. And it did, as Madge backed away it clicked its fingers and in seconds the Rose had turned into a Viper, the creature hissed, annoyed at being held by its midsection. A startled shout came from the Prince as he quickly cast it down, but as it hit the floor it turned to a mere piece of rope. The crowd once again cheered as Madge mimed laughing, merely pointing at the unamused Prince and holding its waist rather than emitting any sound.

Prince: "Yes. Yes. Just hurry up..."

The Prince sighed and kicked the piece of rope over the edge of the platform, immediatly there was some commotion as a group of children rushed to claim it as there own. Now getting on with the main show, the cloaked being turned around and stepped torwards the human. Shaking its arms off, Madge then placed its palms on the beings chest without taking off its gloves. Bowing its head down, Madge concentrated. Green light began to surge around Madge's hands as it performed the proceedure that would give the human eternal life. There was a scream of inhumaneness as the human flung his head up high and called out, yellow light shining from his eyes and mouth and his veins throbbing viciously. Within a couple of seconds this had died down and slowly Madge stepped back, turned to the Prince and nodded. The Prince nodded a thankyou and then watched as the Sorcerer placed its palms in a praying position and burst into a thousand sequins, which, when hitting the platform, smoldered into smoke. Now that the human was invulnerable until beheaded, the torture could commence...