[center][color=#807B84][sub][i]There once was a woman who lived a life so strange it had to be true...[/i][/sub][/color]
[color=#816C90][sub][b]╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗[/b][/sub][/color]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/aB6HrnE.gif[/img]
[color=#816C90][sup][b]╚════════════════════════════════════════════ J Ä G E R B O M B ═══════════════════════════════════════════╝[/b][/sup][/color][/center][color=#816C90][indent][sub][B]Location[/B] [COLOR=SILVER][I]Tír na nÓg[/I] - [I]Milk Street[/I][/COLOR][/sub][sup][right][b]Post #2.24:[/b] [COLOR=SILVER][I]Hexenblut[/I][/COLOR][/right][/sup][/indent][/color][hr][INDENT][COLOR=#816C90]|[/COLOR] [color=#807B84][B][sub][i]The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It's the loneliness of it. The past beats inside me like a second heart but I am its only survivor.[/i][/sub][/B][/color]

[INDENT]The lid to the top of the aged wooden trunk wouldn’t budge.

Try as hard as she may, Ellara could do little beyond shake the trunk as the entire truck beneath it rocked back and forth with each unsuccessful attempt. Ellara had tried to pick the lock and when that had failed, she had lashed out at it. Kicking the trunk as hard as she could, all that Ellara had succeeded in doing was putting another dent in the older model Dodge.

Returning to the interior of the Tír na nÓg, Ellara headed towards the maintenance closet before opening it and retrieving a hammer from inside. Turning around, Ellara walked to the rear parking lot, climbing back into the bed of the truck once again, Swinging the hammer with all her might,  Ellara hit the lock once, then twice and finally thrice before the head of the hammer snapped clean off. Watching as it flew over her shoulder, Ellara shook her head as it exited the truck’s cap now broken window. 

Raising a bare hand, Ellara struck the corner in frustration before quickly recoiling in pain as the coarse metal corner sliced through her palm. Blood ran freely down her hand as Ellara cursed quickly and aloud, tucking the injury under her other arm for a second until a foreign sound demanded her immediate attention.

Blood from her cut had run down the front of the chest, seeping into the seam lining the base of lid and top of the trunk’s base as a strange hissing noise filled the back of the truck. A steam-like fog emitted from the seam, melting a previously unseen seal as a series of clicks suggested to Ellara the trunk had finally been unlocked. Reaching her hands out slowly, she placed them against the lid as it slowly lifted beneath the light force. As she did so, the front of the trunk began to open, either side pivoting outwards as it revealed several drawers hidden behind.

Ellara’s eyes were immediately drawn to an assortment of weapons that were carefully placed and displayed inside the aged trunk. Picking up one particularly large pistol, she turned it over in her hands slowly, her eyes widening as she was taken aback by the weapons’ three barrels. 

Putting it down, Ellara grabbed ahold of the hilt of another weapon, drawing out a large blade. It was too short to be a sword, but far too long to be a knife, the blade was wide with a distinctive curved front edge contrasting with its straight back edge. Despite the size difference between blade and hilt it felt balanced as she gave it a quick swing before returning it and looking through some of the other items.

Her hand felt drawn to an aged book as it wrapped around the soft leather cover before lifting it up. The pages spilled open in her hands as a taunt, skeletal-like face stared back at Ellara, the dark empty sockets of its eyes felt as though they were staring back at her, the vivid illustration seeming practically alive despite being no more than a dark sketch on aged paper. She jumped back as the head turned to look at her before it suddenly changed into the face of a woman.

The woman from the other day.

Blinking, Ellara dropped the book as she quickly rubbed her eyes before looking down at the page again as the sketch had returned to its original grotesque visage, a single word above its head now drawing Ellara’s attention.

[i]Hexenblut[/i]

[color=#816c90]“Witch Blood,”[/color] Ellara read aloud as the letters seemingly rearranged themselves before her eyes, the German words changing into English. Fascinated by the book, Ellara looked around to ensure she was still alone before tucking the book back inside the trunk and closing it up.

If she was going to be out here for awhile, then she was going to need food.[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[hr][INDENT][COLOR=#816C90]|[/COLOR] [color=#807B84][B][sub][i]Several Hours Later...[/i][/sub][/B][/color]

[INDENT]Already on her third plate of Paddy’s famous lattice cut fries, or rather ‘Blarney Chips’ as he liked to call them, Ellara was still going through the trunk as she examined each and every item. Everything felt knew and familiar all at the same time, like she had seen all this before, whether in a dream or another time. Still though, there was a certain excitement in it before it suddenly dawned on her that she would need to move this chest. 

With her Uncle locked up in the basement of the Nog, it was unlikely that he would notice his truck missing for an hour or two, but there was no way that Ellara could carry the trunk to her room by herself. Her mind drifted to Cal briefly, before she remembered that Natalie had managed to carry their recliner into the apartment by herself.
Deciding it best not to involve Cal in her personal drama, Ellara pulled her phone out of her pocket as she began to text Natalie. Whether for better or for worse, Natalie was involved with her by proxy, so it couldn’t hurt to get her help to carry the trunk up to the apartment. 

[center][code]______________________[/code][/center]
[indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent]

[sup][i][color=00a99d]7:24 pm[/color][/i][/sup]
[code]Me: Hey, if u r home 2nite, can I get ur help with sumthing? [/code]

[/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]
[center][code]______________________[/code][/center]
She pressed send as the message was delivered to Natalie before sliding her phone into her pocket. A sudden knock on the side of the vehicle caused Ellara to slam the trunk shut as Paddy popped his head around the corner, obviously alarmed by the loud noise.

[color=#38761d]“Don’t tell me there’s a bloody body in there.”[/color] He stated, no humor present in his voice as Ellara quickly shook her head. 

[color=#816c90]“Oh no, it’s just a [i]fuckin’ [/i]empty old chest or something.”[/color] Ellara lied as Paddy nodded.

[color=#38761d]“Probably what he intended on keeping you in.”[/color] 

[color=#816c90]“He[i] fuckin’[/i] say anything?” [/color]Ellara asked as Paddy simply shook his head in response.

[color=#38761d]“‘Fraid not, Lass. Passed out almost immediately after his wounds were dressed.”[/color] He answered before pausing, his mouth open as he hesitated before finally speaking. [color=#38761d]“I hate to ask, given what all happened earlier.”[/color] Paddy paused again as Ellara climbed out of the back of the truck before continuing.

[color=#38761d]“Could you throw on an apron and work by any chance? Stacy called in and I’m already covering the kitchen, I wouldn’t ask but my hands are tied here, Lass and you’re a tough one, you seem to be holding together. Say the word and I’ll find someone else.”[/color]

[color=#816c90]“I can do it, Paddy,”[/color] Ellara said with a forced smile.

[color=#38761d]“Thanks, Lass.”[/color] Paddy replied as he tossed her an apron he had been holding behind his back. [color=#38761d]“I knew you wouldn’t let me down.”[/color]

[color=#816c90]“Apparently,”[/color] Ellara muttered as she caught the apron. [color=#816c90]“I’ll head in.”[/color]

[color=#38761d]“Oh and you might want to hurry, you’ve got returning customers from yesterday, try to make a better impression.”[/color] Paddy said as Ellara froze.

[color=#816c90]“The man and [i]fuckin’ bitch[/i] from yesterday?”[/color] She asked as Paddy nodded.

[color=#38761d]“Yeah, the pair you ran out on. They might be critics, so hurry your ass up and get us a better review.” [/color]Paddy ordered as Ellara sighed before reluctantly heading into the Nog. Watching Ellara leave, Paddy waited until the backdoor had closed before pulling out his phone as he began to quickly type a message.


[center][code]______________________[/code][/center]
[indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent]

[sup][i][color=00a99d]7:32 pm[/color][/i][/sup]
[code]Me: Lot of parties interested in the asset, Tourists are back, Uncle tried to kidnap her. [/code]

[/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]
[center][code]______________________[/code][/center]
Pressing send, Paddy tucked the phone back into his pocket before following Ellara inside. 

Grabbing a tray as she passed the bar, Ellara made her way out onto the floor as she scanned the room looking for the pair. Passing another girl, Ellara spotted the pair for yesterday as she approached them, placing the tray down as she looked at them.

[color=#816c90]“What brings you in tonight?”[/color] She asked Kyle, before turning her head towards Kayla, [color=#816c90]“[i]Hexenblut[/i].”[/color][/INDENT][/INDENT]