NationStates Jolt Archive

http://homepage.eircom.net/~jemr/aleturald/b_ravensfire.jpg

In a dark alleyway, secreted away from prying eyes, the Ravensfire nightclub has an entrance concealed in shadow.
The only marker that there is indeed something here of interest is the bronze raven, periodically spitting flame past a metal beak. The alley is quiet, not a sliver of sound bleeds from the nightclub.
Not even when the doors open and those not nearly dead customers of the Ravensfire come or go; vampires.
Past the first set of doors is a sign in bold red letters; Trespassers will be Exsanguinated!

Past the second set of doors and one is into the nightclub itself.
Bronze and red velvet run riot through the large room, archaic lanterns aflame provide dim lighting.
Dark archways hint at other rooms, private spaces within the club. Pale faced patrons watch every move and dark dressed mortals wonder between bronze-and-glass tables, offering the only thing worth buying here.
Blood. Available at a price, sometimes in coin; sometimes in promises and lies.
Enter, if you wish. The Ravensfire makes no claims on what you’ll find within or that you’ll ever leave…alive.


Advance warning to Vampire Hunters:
The infallible (that means it cannot be bypassed no matter how high tech, low tech or magically inclined you might be) security system will strip Vampire Hunters of all their weaponry. It will also place a big shiny button on their lapel saying, ‘I’m a Vampire Hunter – Bite Me’ and serve them up as a hors d'oeuvre.

At first, the alley was empty.

Its brooding darkness still, but for the movement of shadows cast by the periodic flame spat by the bronze raven.
A moment later a tall and powerful figure emerged from the air; skin icy from the Crystal Ring’s penetrating touch.
Wisps of pale white vapours rose, curled in the breeze as the man’s body shook off the supernatural chill of the immaterial realm he’d just past through.

He examined the shadows briefly, eyes brilliant green; fires in the gloom.
Then satisfied that none had glimpsed his sudden arrival, he moved quickly to the doors of the Ravensfire club.
Barely a second passed and he was gone, already lost within the dimmed chambers of the club.

Vampire eyes locked on him as he chose a table and settled down to wait.
But none approached him, not even those who circled the chamber; mortal and here selling blood.
Most knew his name, but would have raised their eyebrows in mild surprise if they heard he was currently calling himself, Javier Reyes.

The music was loud, foreign; rich and deep vocals in a guttural language that spoke of blood and violence.
The vampire with green eyes smiled, wondered if Winter would find in the pulse of it an echo of the heart and that liquid which raced through it; red and hot.
Wondered how long he would need to wait…

(OOC: I'll assume there's no particular problem with customs or the like. If there would be, let me know. And sorry about the delay -- I'm going to be slow for a couple more days, thanks to exams.)

It was a matter of hours before she arrived -- a woman with the ears and tail of a fox and the look almost of a ghost, with her pigmentless bone-white skin, crimson eyes, and pale pink hair. Her kimono, deep midnight blue, might as well have been black; certainly, in the dim light of the club, it would be indistinguishable from true black. Its pattern was a starfield, specks of white scattered across the night sky of its fabric; its wide belt, the obi, a pale pink to match her hair. Her walk was measured, precise; almost silent, though she allowed for a soft whisper of rustling cloth.

She had not yet pinpointed Javier, but as she moved further into the club, she was headed in generally the right direction, whether through luck or some preternatural sense.

(OOC: Sorry I’ve taken my time with the reply, but since you mentioned exams; I figured I could get away with it! Good Luck with them by the way! Don’t worry if you’re not quick on the draw – we’ll take it as it comes.)

His eyes fixed on her the moment she entered the club; glowed liked emeralds even in the dim light; twin jewels of fire.
He waited for her eyes to meet his own; allowed the music, loud and heavy, to wash over him.
Watched as Winter, the diamond filled with grey smoke; strode unerringly towards him.

Wondered what she though of their surroundings, blood and bronze bathed in shadow. Waited, savoured the emotions that bubbled up in expectation.
As though his desires rolled off him in waves, mortals drew back and vampires shifted from Winter’s path.

OOC: Is this open?

OOC: Is this open?

Yes, this is open.

Masaki strolled casually up to the bar. He popped his neck, the shook out his hair, his golden eyes looking at the club. He walked past the door, into the darkness. He found an empty table and sat, observing the action. He pulled off his cap, one of those pull down ones that you used to cover your ears in winter. However is ears werent normal, but instead a pair of cat ears stook up from the top of his head, twitching every so often.

(OOC: Had the flu...:P)

Flames ran through her mind, cold and biting.
It was like the Crystal Ring had suddenly spilled over into the material world and run icicles through her head.
These strange creatures, settling on the Ravensfire seemed to have been summoned. Or else why did they travel in pairs?
The woman, the fox-hybrid was out of her reach; he had forbidden her to any of them.
But the other, the escapee from Broadway’s Cats; this one she could approach.

Drawing out of the shadows, the simple lines of her dress blushed burgundy. She made her way towards his table, golden eyes fixed on her prey.
A low, muted laughter escaped her lips; the cat was now her mouse; she flicked back a lock of hair as dark as the shadow and leaned over the stranger’s table and revealed her fangs in a predatory smile.
“I’m Cinn,” she murmured. Raised an eyebrow and added coyly, “Aren’t you going to offer me a drink?”

(OOC: Sorry I’ve taken my time with the reply, but since you mentioned exams; I figured I could get away with it! Good Luck with them by the way! Don’t worry if you’re not quick on the draw – we’ll take it as it comes.)

OOC: Thanks; I think it went well enough. Just about recovered, now, though still catching up here...

His eyes fixed on her the moment she entered the club; glowed liked emeralds even in the dim light; twin jewels of fire.
[...]
As though his desires rolled off him in waves, mortals drew back and vampires shifted from Winter’s path.

The shifts in the crowd were not lost upon her, and she altered her course slightly, proceeding directly toward the man she knew as Javier. Her steps fell evenly, in rhythm with the music, and she avoided those few who had been too slow to move with offhanded grace, never moving her eyes from her destination.

"So, you did wait," she says; her voice sounds quiet, though it can't truly be, considering the music. "I wondered whether you would change your mind. You seemed somewhat impulsive." A fleeting gesture indicated the path of her approach. "That was a useful trick."

OOC: Interesting; I'll have to watch this. My character may show up later, when he isn't busy; after what he's involved in now, he'll want to relax a bit. He isn't exactly a vampire, but he has a lot in common with them...

I have a character that is very common in my RP's called the Balck Raven. He is skilled with the use of a katana and wakazashi and is a master marksman with his sniper rifle...perhaps he could join when I get done with this war i'm in...let me know if he can. Thanks

“Winter,” his smile was a flash of ivory in the shadows. Eyes strangely vivid and bright, lit by an inner light. “Of course I waited, I’m completely captivated by the thought of blood on your lips.” Another flash of his teeth, a fleeting smile.

He rose from his chair, moved swiftly to Winter’s side and pulled a chair out for her.

“Won’t you sit?” His voice wove between the notes of the music, accentuating the beat; painting a rush of blood. “I’d love to hear how you came to be a vampire. It’s so obvious that you’re ill at ease with your dark self, I can hardly imagine you went willingly into it.”

OOC: Grr. Forum ate my post. Will respond tomorrow.

I have a character that is very common in my RP's called the Balck Raven. He is skilled with the use of a katana and wakazashi and is a master marksman with his sniper rifle...perhaps he could join when I get done with this war i'm in...let me know if he can. Thanks

Open RP

OOC: How do you define vampire hunter, are those seeking information on vampires counted?

"I will," Winter answers with a tight grin, taking the offered chair. "But I'm afraid you'd going to be disappointed when I answer your questions. It's both a short story and a simple one. Not the sort of drama you may imagine."

She leaned forward over the table, eaching forward with one arm, palm up. Her other hand drew back the sleeve of her robe, revealing a faded scar about halfway between her wrist and elbow, a darker line across the bone-white skin. "An accident with one of the earlier bullet trains," she explains. "It required a transfusion. Vampirism, as my nation knows it, is something akin to a disease of the blood, though whether it is parasitic or symbiotic in nature remains a topic of debate. Needless to say, it is fairly rare, and at the time, a detection process had not yet been perfected. You might call it a matter of luck."

“Lucky indeed,” he offered her a sad smile. “You didn’t even have the option of struggling.”

He glanced up as a mortal swept by and snagged the man by the hand; a quick move of the arm that was barely visible in the darkened room.

“Something to drink Winter?” He glanced up at his prey, measured the man’s vitality. “I think this one will barter for promises rather than coin.”

OOC: How do you define vampire hunter, are those seeking information on vampires counted?

Hunting would be any violent attempt to slay a vampire, capture or otherwise imprison them.
If you're going to practice non-violence in the pursuit of knowledge - go ahead.

"Quite a few of us didn't. It's likely that the donor hadn't been aware himself. But such is life." Red eyes turned to the man inquisitively. "Bartering for promises? And how does that work?" she asked. Something in her tone suggested that she already had an answer in mind.

(OOC: Yeah, the above post was me.)

OOC: I know you said open RP, but it is obvious that you and ravenspire have a connection already made. Are you going to interact with any newcommers or is this just the two of you as of now?

OOC: Kajiraki got a reply. Why wouldn't anyone else?

“A promise towards immortality,” the mortal explained. He was young, barely in his twenties with large brown eyes and a soft voice. He studied Winter, then turned to Javier. “Is she truly a vampire?”

He laughed, eyes twinkling in the flickering light born of flame.
“She is,” Javier answered. “But I think she guards her blood very jealously, no matter how haphazardly she came by it. Besides, it isn't what you need.”

OOC: I know you said open RP, but it is obvious that you and ravenspire have a connection already made. Are you going to interact with any newcommers or is this just the two of you as of now?

Everyone will get a response, how long you get to keep getting em depends on you.

"No, it isn't," Winter agreed. "We are extremely long-lived, but not immortal. And you, young one, should not be so quick to give up your mortality. Eternity is not what you imagine. The human mind is poorly structured to deal with it. Do you think you possess the willpower to remain sane after a dozen centuries?"

Javier shook his head, face unreadable.

“You didn’t think I’d suddenly grown a conscience did you?” He smiled, seductive until he flashed his fangs; then his features suddenly turned cold, alien. “What he doesn’t need is your particular strain of blood…or vampirism if you prefer.”

Glancing up at the man, he tugged on the arm that he was still firmly grasping; drew the mortal down till his lips were close to the man’s ears.
Fixing his brilliant eyes on Winter he murmured just above the loud crashing of the music.
“You’re looking to get into Politics, aren’t you?”

The man nodded, winced as the vampire’s grip on his hand tightened.

“You see,” Javier smiled, still entirely focused on the foxgirl as though other senses observed the mortal, who had by now paled considerably. “In Aleturald you literally have to be willing to die for your country to serve in the government.”

Javier let the mortal go, sudden and without warning. The man grimaced, rubbed at his wrist with his free hand, but did not make any attempt to get away from the vampires.

“With her blood,” Javier nodded at Winter. “You’d only make it to civil servant, although if she was willing you’d be there tonight.” He waved the man away. “Go hunting your three at another table, I think Winter would prefer to barter in coin and not promises.” He paused, leaned close and whispered to her, “Any special tastes I need to cater for Winter? Something to take the edge off eternity?”

OOC: Okay, I was previsouly thinking of putting one of my vampires in here, but changed my mind. How about an innocent walking in here? She stumbles on it accidently. She has no idea what kind of place this is or what it kind of people are there. I can explain how she comes across it in my IC post. I just wanted to see if you were okay with that? Or do you just want to stick to vampires. She is, however, NOT a vampire hunter. She doesn't even know of them, but she does know evil exists in the world.

OCC: No problem Amanda, I'm sure Winter will come to her rescue if any of the Ravensfire's other patrons get a little too rowdy for your innocent.

"You flatter me," she answered, shaking her head. "No, nothing special. I had what you might call a traditional upbringing. We were taught to place little emphasis on matters of... basic sustenance, as it were. Besides, there are easier ways to focus the will against the passing of years. When I need to, as you say, 'take the edge off,' I hunt."

She glanced briefly around the room once more. "So your nation is ruled by vampires. I must confess that is less than surprising, though I never understood why humans were so eager to join your ranks. Is there a special significance to three? Most of the vampire varieties I have dealt with are capable of 'reproducing' on their own."

OOC: Sweet. Thanks.

IC: A young female, the age of 21, ran down the street. She cut onto the sidewalk as a passing sports car honked at her. A man followed and screamed for her to stop. She stopped under the bus stop sign and waited. She tried catching her breath to have enough to yell at him. A male about six feet tall, tone, muscles rippling under each movement. His face normally clear was flushed at the moment of chasing after her. His blues held a worried look. His spike blonde hair withheld the run. He paused infront of her and said, "I am sorry." She cut him out, "What are you sorry for? For having sex with my younger sister, or getting caught in the act?" Her pale face was now red with anger. "No, I don't want to hear it." She folded her arms against her chest. He had slipped on a tank top and jeans. She was dressed up. She had on a short black skirt and a red tank top that shimmered. Her black boots went up to her knees. She had a red rose in her hand. She throw it at his feet. "So much for a stress reliever after your BIG final. I think my sister took care of that. She reached into her small black purse and pulled out two tickets to a play showing tonight and threw on the ground next to the rose. "Why don't you take my sister." She turned around and her long brown wavy hair followed behind her. She continued to walk away. He followed her, "Wait baby, please, just wait."

She turned the corner and noticed this sign with a burning phoenix on it. She opened the door and went in. She paused to see if he had seen her. She heard him pass and yell, "Kitty, please, just talk to me." She waited until she couldn't hear him anymore and was about to leave. She turned around. "Maybe I should check this out. I never noticed this before. Well, I suppose I never have been in a dark alley before." She laughed nervously. She pulled out a pocket mirror and looked in it. Her face was slightly pink around her checks, but otherwise there would be no indicator she had been crying. She touched up on her lip gloss and poked her head in further.

She was in awe. I had no idea we had this here before. She was surprised that her roommates didn't tell her about this club. There was a bar and tables. Some had people sitting at them. She walked up to the bar, not paying attention to anyone there. She aasked the bartender for a cup of coffee. She paid no heed to the odd look she recieved. She took it black. She needed to wake up. She took a sip. As her lips touched the warm mug she looked up. A few of the people there were looking strangely at her. She smiled back at the ones that smiled at her, she wanted to be polite. She made her way over to a table that noone had chosen to sit at. She reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. Five missed calls. She rolled her eyes. She would never talk to him again. She turned her phone off and continued to sip on the hot coffee. The steam was comforting her and she closed her eyes.

“Hunt?” the vampire’s attention had fixed on the word. Eyes narrowed. “What do you hunt, hmmm? Would you turn those blood-hued eyes on just anyone…or someone special.” He glanced around the room, locked on the oblivious young woman who sat drinking a coffee not far from their table. “Perhaps that one, I’m sure she’d beg for her life. The fear, it would have her blood pumping.”

The fires in his eyes burned strong and if the woman had but turned, she’d have glimpsed something completely inhuman in his gaze.

“You’re not going to tell me that you hunt bunnies, I hope,” he added turning back to Winter. “I’d be ever so disappointed.”

He ran a hand over the table top, pale and long fingers, adorned with but a single silver ring. “Can you feel the blood that has been spilled on this table? It’s ingrained, nothing will ever cleanse it all away.”

“Yes," Javier added, as though the details were of no importance. "We need three to convert one, though…if we wanted mass production, it would probably require less per individual.”

He looked up at her, fingers painting invisible symbols on the tabletop.

“A great deal of energy goes into bringing a mortal over into the Crystal Ring, it is like achieving the impossible. The Crystal Ring resists, the material world resists too and occasionally, the mortal. Once within the ring, a single vampire could achieve the change, but it is not a simple exchange of blood; nothing so tawdry.”

He smiled, an openness to his features that invited trust. Yet those who knew him might wonder if it wasn’t all simply a pretence; like everything else about this vampire. “Our kind are born in the Crystal Ring, an immaterial realm where we resemble beings utterly inhuman.” He laughed. “Some have described our appearances there as that of coal black angels, we even have wings.”

He drew back into his chair, folded his arms tightly around his chest as though suddenly feeling vulnerable. “Ask me, if you want to know more.”

Kitty felt a sensation like none ever felt before. It burned and it felt as if her heart was melting away. She knew it couldn't be from the coffee, but she went with that reasoning anyway. She felt eyes on her and she looked up. She didn't met any. She frowned. She tapped her fingernails against the table. When will the caffiene kick in. She yawned.

A young male, dressed in a black with white pinstripe suit, approached her with grace. She watched every fluid movement he made. She noticed he had very pale skin, but that was popular now. Who wanted skin cancer these days. He smiled at her with a picture perfect grin. He must practice that, she thought and her eyes narrowed. His face was long and not a single sign of hair or stubble, he protrayed a modern god. Is this guy for real. He motioned for the vacant chair next to her and she said, "Free world." She didn't like the look on his face, as if he had won the game, as if she were the prize or at least the prey. She smiled and said, "Excuse me." She grabbed her purse and went up to the bartender and asked for a glass of water to go with her coffee. She had also asked for a newspaper. She made her way back and her sensations were drawn to a nearby table. It appeared to be a young couple conversing. The light was dark and she couldn't tell. She found herself stop.

She shook her head and continued back to her table. She took her spot and smiled at the man. "I don't know what you're trying to do, but it won't work. You might as well try someone else. I am not in the mood for games." She smiled politely at the man and went back to her coffee. She opened the newspaper up to current events.

"Not mortals," Winter said. Then, pausing slightly, "At least, not often. Occasionally there are those who require culling. But for the most part, I hunt vampires. I thought you were aware of that?" She smiled almost lazily at him, bloodless lips curling with a faintly sardonic air. "And sometimes vampire hunters. As they say, I watch the watchmen."

She ran her hand over the tabletop, almost in imitation of his own gesture, then turned wi glance sidelong at the young woman he had mentioned. "She seems distressed. There are easier ways to commit suicide... perhaps not so pleasant, though." Shifting her gaze back to his eyes, the foxgirl explained, "Our bite injects several enzymes... a euphoric, an aphrodisiac, a relaxant. And one that weakens the body against the symbiote. It does not assure success, but it makes it much more likely. There are no invisible worlds, no supernatural connections." She moved her shoulders in what might have been a shrug. "We remain muhc as we were, but more so."

"I wonder, how do you perceive this world, having crossed over to another?"

"Not mortals," Winter said. Then, pausing slightly, "At least, not often. Occasionally there are those who require culling. But for the most part, I hunt vampires. I thought you were aware of that?" She smiled almost lazily at him, bloodless lips curling with a faintly sardonic air. "And sometimes vampire hunters. As they say, I watch the watchmen."

She ran her hand over the tabletop, almost in imitation of his own gesture, then turned wi glance sidelong at the young woman he had mentioned. "She seems distressed. There are easier ways to commit suicide... perhaps not so pleasant, though." Shifting her gaze back to his eyes, the foxgirl explained, "Our bite injects several enzymes... a euphoric, an aphrodisiac, a relaxant. And one that weakens the body against the symbiote. It does not assure success, but it makes it much more likely. There are no invisible worlds, no supernatural connections." She moved her shoulders in what might have been a shrug. "We remain muhc as we were, but more so."

"I wonder, how do you perceive this world, having crossed over to another?"

The man just wouldn't take a hint. Some guys just get disperate. She rolled her eyes. She glanced over at the couple. She noticed a few people take a long way to just get away from that table. How odd, but maybe she could use it to her advantage. She smiled at him and said, "Hold on I see some people I know." She grabbed her purse and walked calmly over to the table. She readjusted her skirt, it was riding alittle to high for that man to be pleasured to see anything. The table was still dark. She wanted to see who she was going to talk to.

She whispered to the couple, "Please, just pretend you know me. I am trying to get rid of a loser. She nodded to the guy in the suit. I really don't mean to interupt, but I figured you could help. Can you just act for awhile tell he leaves and then I can go back to have my coffee?" She smiled sweetly. She never had someone say no to her before. She was told numerous times how could someone say no to such a sweet innocent smile. She bite her lip hoping they would help. She hoped her kindness wouldn't fail now.

Javier frowned, gazed at Winter speculatively.

"Then you've worked the change on someone?" Dark eyebrows rose, she'd surprised him. "Or is this analysis merely hearsay, something you've glimpsed?"

He threw a look at the young woman, eyes narrowing as he noticed her companion. There are rules I will not allow broken.
If the vampire noticed Javier looking his way, he gave no sign. And Winter's presence, lapping out like waves, recaptured his attention.

“Do you know what the Crystal Ring has been called?” he asked, didn’t wait for her answer. “The mind of God.” He smiled, baiting perhaps or simply amused. It was difficult to read the curve of his lips, the clouded gaze. “Legend has it, that three angels fashioned the first vampire.” He leaned close, whispered dramatically to Winter, “We were made some say, to kill as God kills. Indiscriminately.”

It was hard to tell if he gave credence to the words he spoke, or merely repeated them now for Winter’s amusement.

“Inside the Crystal Ring, this world,” he opened his hands to encompass the club, the city without, the planet. “It’s all shadows. Smoke and illusion and there isn’t a wall I can’t pass through, a door that will bar me. Yet, within the Ring the only physical presence, aside from other vampires, is the cold. Cold such as this world cannot know.” He shrugged. “The cold of logic, if you will. God’s.”

The woman was suddenly at their table and Javier's eyes were instantly on her. It was as though she was expected. The smile that swept over his features was far from reassuring.
But his voice came sweetened off the tongue, rich and enticing.

"I'll do better," he murmured. Yet his words rose well above the crash and thrum of the energetic music.
His eyes were pyres, green and inhumanely vivid. They flashed and in response a woman in white materialised from the shadows at his side.

"Antice," he named her. An albino with hair as white as her gown and milky skin. Only the eyes held any colour, rosewater red; diluted yet as filled with light and power as Javier's own. "This young lady is going to be sitting with us," he smiled, fangs concealed. "She's being...very brave. Bring her coffee over. If you don’t mind, that is?” He gazed at Winter.

Antice slipped close to the young woman, whispered in her ear.
“Men are all predators, aren’t they dear?” Her hand crept around the mortal’s wrist; frozen and hard like steel. “Never forget,” she added gesturing towards Winter. “Women are all vipers. Either way, you’re in trouble now.”
She stepped back, eyes flickering through hues of red; deep and rich or watered down to pink.

Kitty looked down at her wrist. So cold it burned. She had never felt a touch feel as if they weren't alive. She nodded gravely at the woman. She wanted to brush off the woman's odd statement, but something tugged, pulled, and twisted inside of her. She didn't know what to do now. Obviously, she couldn't leave just yet. This man went out of his way to get this woman to get her coffee and plus they were helping her. She smiled back at him. She could never refuse a smile and something made her want to continue and not to stop smiling. She couldn't get over his eyes. They followed her where ever she looked. She finally could see them and she glanced over at the woman. She was shocked, but didn't protray it. She thought it was just something new she didn't know about. She looked closer at , but focused on the both of them.

"Thank you so much. I figured I could use you as friends. I apologize in that sense. If I am imposing on a date between you two I can leave." She shakes her head, "I just don't like to be rude. I thought this would be better then telling him to leave." She frowned. A smile picked up again. She extended her hand to the man. "My name is Kitty and yours?"

OOC: After introduction with him, then she will do the same with Winter.

Kitty's vision seems to fade in and out and then spins around her. A song comes to mind when she looks him in the eye, "Chemicals Between Us", by Bush. Strange. Odd sensations touch briefly, as tendrals only wanting to tease. She needed to keep composure; she acted as if nothing had happened.

"I don't mind," the albino foxgirl answered, as though it were of no particular interest to her. "I suppose she is brave, at that. Hiding from the wolves in the tigers' den." She addressed the young woman directly, then, for the first time. "You should take her advice. The female is often the deadlier of the species."

She chuckled softly to herself. "You needn't worry about interrupting. Though I suppose this is a... 'date'... of sorts. Or perhaps business. Or both. But it will do just as well with you present. I am called Winter."

Kitty cocked her head at Winter. That statement stuck in her head like a song being played on a broken record. Maybe she should take this as a cue, or they were just joking. She didn't know. For the first time in her life she couldn't figure these people out, but of the late she thought she really knew people and obviously she didn't even know her sister or boyfriend (ex now). She let the words the warned and taunted her away slide off her and she smiled. "I really appreciate this. Thank you so much. Winter that is a very unique and beautiful name. How did your parents decide that?"

seig heil

"They didn't. My people choose our own names, when we reach the age of majority. For me, that was 14, although the modern legal age is 16. My birth name was--" She pauses for just a moment, there. "--Yukiko. Meaning 'child of snow.' Not so dissimilar from what I chose... that is often the case."

“Antice,” Javier’s eyes flicked briefly to the vampire in white. “I think the little Kitten’s coffee is quite cold. Fetch her another.” He waited till the woman had disappeared into the shadows, before leaning close to answer the mortal’s question.
“You may call me Javier. And as Winter has no objections, you’re welcome to our table.”

He glanced over at the foxgirl, moulded his expressions until he seemed emotionally wounded and added, “I thought it was a date. Here I’ve been trying to seduce you on so many levels and you turn frosty on me.” The hurt segued into a smile, his focus still entirely on Winter. “My charms can’t be failing, surely? Yet I’ll stick with my goal. What else do you have when you’re staring eternity in the face?”

He glanced at Kitty, winked and whispered in a conspiratorial tone, “I’m looking for the darkness. It lies in the heart of us all. Perhaps, eventually I’ll find a way to unleash it in this demure creature, the lovely Winter. She certainly has an edge, don’t you agree?”

Antice returned. A steaming cup of coffee in her pale hands, porcelain and skin almost singular in their respective shades of white. She set it down on the table, dipped her head towards Javier and slipped back into the darkness.
But any with a heightened sense of awareness would remain aware of her presence, lingering close by.

“Child of snow,” Javier’s lips curved in a faint smile. “It speaks of the cold, hard centre that sparkles diamond bright at the heart of the woman. You’ve grown into the name, you could hardly run from it. Could you?”

He turned to Kitty, pressed a long, slender finger to his lips.
“Quiet now Kitten, Winter was just telling me about her attempts to cull humanity,” he said. Turned back to the foxgirl, eyebrows raised. “Personally, I think you should try harder. Any conservationist could tell you that the population is entirely out of control.”

Kitty laughed then she frowned, "Kitten, that is what my father called me." She did not speak for awhile. She listened to them converse. What an odd couple, or they weren't a couple, but quite strange from the usual people she hung out with. Antice placed the warm coffee infront of her. She looked up at the woman and smiled with gratitude. "Thank you I do appreciate that, but I think I can get some more later. I would not want to become to dependent."

Cull to humanity? She had heard others talk in such a way. Society deemed them as Gothics. When out doing her clinicals for her schooling she went to high schools and talked with many of them. They had, what she called a love-hate infatuation with death. She understood it, but never really felt it until now. These two, obviously, had a more understanding of that.

"It seems the world has become overpopulated. Maybe the states should pay people not to have more than one baby as do Asians do." She was interested in these two and what possible they are going into. They looked to be about her age, but she didn't want to make assumptions. "I am going to school to be a social worker. Are you two going to school or are you already with your career? What is that motivates you to live?" Life meaning to her as inspiring other people or giving society something in return for the socialization of growing up.

OOC: Bump for later posting.

...

Winter regarded Kitty with a vaguely perplexed expression for a moment; then it spread into a slow smile. "I think I like you. You're very... straightforward. Much like your namesake." She nods to Javier, acknowledging his earlier related point as she continues, "Whether we grow into them or earn them, is not entirely clear to me."

"So, you would be... roughly two decades old? And learning to serve society. An interesting choice. I've been out of school for some time... Javier as well, unless I miss my guess. But I don't doubt that we both continue learning. There always seems to be something new. As for my motivation... well, there are those moments of insight. And it's certainly better than dying, ne?"

Kitty blushed. Her checks turning from her pale ivory color to a like pink. She smiled, "My father said I was to liked since the day I was born. I was able to calm the fiercest animal. He said it was a talent. Strangely he named me Kitty. Not Kathren, or something similar, just plain Kitty. I think we mold are ourselves the way we think it is supposed to be. I mean if you were called child of snow or winter, you might want to think of yourself as being cold and such. If you are told something so many times you convince your mind that is what you are. Have you seen the Elephant Man? Or read the book? Classic story depicts what people can say will make you believe it yourself." She frowned. "Such a sad story."

"Must be nice to be done with school. I still have some more to go. Yes, I am 21 years old. So, what are your careers then?" She paused a grin went across her face, "Do you have significant others or just single? You said this was a business-date. So, what is the business?"

(OOC: Merry Merry Ravenspire and AmandaTheGreat! I hope that you both have a fantastic day and get to spend it with all the special people in your lives! :))

“Dying,” Javier’s eyebrows arched. “The little Kitten here is dying every single day. That’s what it is, life…dying minute by minute, day by day.” He smiled at Kitty. His expression disarming, though his words might have sounded bleak; the smile seemed friendly and sincere. “I imagine that education has changed a great deal since Winter and I attended.”

He raised his hand, summoned Antice from the shadows with a crooked finger.
“I think we’ll have to drink from glasses,” he murmured. “I wouldn’t want to unduly upset our Kitten. A thermos, you know I can’t stand it cold Antice.”
The pale woman smiled, vanished into the dark.

“I’m not sure if Winter has a day job,” Javier said to Kitty. He laughed; amused by something he did not care to share. “Though I imagine her career could be closely linked with death. It’s something I dabble in.” He shook his head. “I lie, I’m quite the addict when it comes to death. But I do have something to fall back on as it were, just as ruthless one might say. I’m in politics. It’s in the blood you might say, or rather the bloodline. Politics flows within these veins.”
He lay his palm down on the table. His veins stood out, vivid blue lines against the skin, though the flesh did not seem pale, rather coppery hued.

Antice returned; a brass skinned thermos on a tray, with two decorative golden goblets.
She set the goblets down before Winter and Javier. Within, they were layered with a porcelain-like lining. Javier explained, “It’s too keep the liquid warm, insulation.” He smiled. “And the goblets are fashioned of iron sulphide, fool’s gold.”
Antice poured a steaming red liquid into the goblets, its scent was vaguely metallic. In the poor lighting it was difficult to judge the appearance of the liquid beyond its crimson glint. “Unless Winter has been holding out on me, I imagine she has not run into the right,” a pause, Javier’s expressive features made the moment more dramatic. “Man?” He let the word play as a question.

Antice stepped back into the shadows, taking the tray with her.
“Some things that are cold Kitten, can be thawed. But I think you’d rather the cold lingered, for now. You’re far safer without arising such…passion.” Javier recapped the thermos and raised his goblet. “Let’s drink to seduction, the pounding of the heart, the heat of blood.”

Kitten cocked her head at Javier. She frowned and smiled as she talked, "I think more on the line I am living every moment. Logically, I ould be dying day by day, but I am an optimistic. I am living. Or you could think of it in a medical, scientific way. A cell is living, if it has energy or is producing energy or reproducing itself. A cell is dead if it is not doing that, or I suppose dying if it cannot do any of the above." She listened intently as he spoke she watched his lips move with each enunication. These two marveled her in their talk. She was in no bit surprised of their talk of death. Like she said before she was used to this talk before. Although, she did envy alittle their connection as they raised their glasses to his statement. She hadn't felt that passion before.

“Let’s drink to seduction, the pounding of the heart, the heat of blood.”
“Some things that are cold Kitten, can be thawed. But I think you’d rather the cold lingered, for now. You’re far safer without arising such…passion.” What could he mean about that? Well, she couldn't figure it out, my as well ask it. She was alwaus direct.
"Javier, what do you mean by things are cold, but can be thawed? And why am I far safer without arising such..passion?" She spoke soft, but loud enough for the both of them to hear it. Her eyebrows raised waiting for the anwer.
OOC: Merry Christmas to you also. Merry Christmas to you Ravinspire, also. I had a wonderful christmas, but I usually do. I am blessed with a wonderful life. Hope yours went well.

"Careful, now. If you ask that, he might answer. And you might be happier without that. Javier has a way with words. It's one of the things I admire about him." She raised her goblet, acknowledging the toast, and drank.

"He's also rather quick-witted. He's right about the man, more's the pity." She doesn't actually sound regretful, though. "And he's right about the job, although I usually tell people I'm an investigator, if I tell them anything at all. But I'm not as dramatic as he is, either. Or as obsessed with death. Not quite." She laughs, as if she's made a joke.

"So you see, he's a tricky one. You'll want to be more... careful."

Kitty sat back in her chair. She was contemplating what Winter had said. Was she the jealous type or was she really just warning her? You could never be sure with females. She placed a hand on her stomach and tried to hide the contortion of her face. There were sharp pains near her bladder. She smiled and barely got the words out between deep breathes, "Excuse me for a moment I need to use the restroom." She stood up and swayed alittle the room started to spin and tilt. She grabbed the table and pressed her nails into it. Her eyes became wide with fright. All she could see was red. It spilled over her eyes. She mumfled a cry, try to make it sound like a gasp for air. Just as soon as the red was there it was gone. Her sight was back and she turned to go to the bathroom.

She made it into the bathroom and colapsed ontop of the white procelain toilet. She finally got her normal breathing back and sighed. She went to the bathroom, but the pain was still there. Maybe the coffee is causing an upset stomach. She had no idea. She washed her hands and looked in the mirror. She gasped once more. The sight she saw was hers, but she was wearing all black, her face very pale. A bruise under her left eye, a broken lip, her makeup smeared across her face. The black under her eye trailed like tears and her lipstick, dark red smudged across her check. There was blood at the corners of her lips, but the gril smiled. Kitty placed a hand to her face and the reflection did the same. Kitty next placed her hand on the mirror and the image changed back to normal. Her makeup was near perfect and not a blemish on her face. Her eyes were just alittle dry and the vessels stuck out. She rummaged into her purse and pulled out eye drops.

She walked back to the table and sat down. "I need to stick to the water." A smile etched across her face, causing two small wrinkles at the sides of her eyes and her eyes sparkled. "What did I miss?"

OOC: I just throw in the vision to make it look like Kitty is starting to have visions because of the place. I hope it works out well. Should she have these or just be not affected?

(OOC: Visions are fine, your character…your right! :) Although it may be the wrong club you’re in…we’re not S&M! ;) Perhaps it’s her subconscious trying to warn her off the Ravensfire? Speaking of the horrors surrounding her in a way that she can easily understand?)

Javier studied Winter over the rim of his goblet, the scent of blood filling his nostrils, warmth creeping through his veins.
Watched as she sipped from her cup, eyes drinking in every nuance of expression. Such tight control. He longed to break through and see her inner beast unleashed. What are you like when you hunt?
He felt himself viewing her as he viewed prey. She was becoming an obsession. He grinned. Knowing Winter would be the worst possible match for him, added to her appeal.

Smiled as she warned Kitty against her questioning.
“Ah,” he murmured. “But curiosity killed the cat and our young Kitten has already succumbed to that trait, haven’t you Kitten?”
Listened as Winter continued.

“Not obsessed with death?” he set the goblet down, joined Winter’s laughter. Deliberate, his mirth a melodic counterpoint to her own. “Then where do your obsessions lie?” His eyes caught the light, glowed with subtext.
She drank to my toast without qualm. Perhaps Winter would yield to temptation, nothing was impossible.

He took another sip of blood, savoured the taste; breathed out copper scented air. The breathing was for Kitty’s sake, rather than his own.

“Coins and not promises,” he told Winter, shook his head. Eyes dancing with light; green fires. “No tricks there.”

He frowned as Kitty excused herself and lurched away from the table.

“This isn’t the right…environment for a girl like that,” he murmured. He appeared concerned, features softened. Then a smile, darkly jovial as he added, “We’ll have to change that.”

When she returned and mentioned water, Javier tapped his pale fingers against the gold-hued goblet rhythmically; watched the crimson liquid quiver within.
“I’d offer you my cup,” he told her. “But it’s not water…it’s thicker.”

He glanced over at Winter, narrowed his eyes and murmured, “Is the Kitten still curious, or have your reversed your interest in cold, dead things and their hungers?”

His eyes were suddenly on Kitty. Aged, ancient emeralds within which darkness swam. Just a moment in which something inhuman was revealed; easily dismissed as a play of the light.

Then back to his study of Winter, attempting to lock with her eyes. Crimsoned pupils like blood spattered glass, or droplets in crystalline pools. He sighed, smiled at the memories.

“Not obsessed with death?” he set the goblet down, joined Winter’s laughter. Deliberate, his mirth a melodic counterpoint to her own. “Then where do your obsessions lie?” His eyes caught the light, glowed with subtext.

Winter grinned back at him. "My obsessions have rarely lied to me," she said, parrying the question. "There is my job, of course. But then there's the rest of life. It's important to retain a certain... serenity. If not balance."

When Kitty departed, Winter merely shook her head. "She really doesn't realize what sort of place this is, does she? How strange. I would think you've given her more than enough hints."

“Obsessions never lie,” Javier said. “It is we who lie to ourselves. Create illusions regarding our desires, our passions that hide all but that which we are willing to accept.”
He winked, a sudden shadow where the glow of his eye had burned previously. “I try to examine my passions as a stranger might view them, but weaker stomachs than my own have not the ability to dissect them. So of course, it is entirely hopeless.”
He laughed. “If one cannot laugh about oneself…”

(OOC: Due to the fact that I’m about to begin my relocation – new home in a new country – I’m going to be very erratic in my posting over the next few weeks. This could be over a period of a week, or longer…depending on how much it takes to get myself connected and back online again. I’ll make every effort to keep up my posting via alternative means – Internet cafes, etc. – but please bear with me over the course of this transition. Thanks and a very prosperous New Year to you both!)

OOC: Thanks and you too. Where are you moving to? Good luck with your move.

IC: Kitty smiled, "I think the both of you are correct. Winter is correct when she says obsessions are not lies. Obsessions are personalized and threfore, the obsession is true to that person and may not be true to another, but it does not intirely make it right or wrong. Yet, Javier, " she pauses and looks over at him. Is her eyes playing tricks on her or there was something about his eyes that reminded her of animals. She shakes her head and continues. "You are correct to say that they are just illusions to that person. Yet, what I do not understand as to what you say. Basically, I think you just called yourself a hypocrite." She smiled shyly at him. "Not to belittle you, but didn't you just say obsessions are illusions and then how can you look on from the outside if it is a vision to you and an outsider woould not see and understand what you see?"

(OOC: I'm....baaaack... Totally an addicted Net-head, right! ;) IC will come later, still settling in - oh the cleaning, the cleaning...
Amanda it's to the UK.)

OOC: Sweet! It would be awesome to move to the UK. Where are you moving from? Sorry, anyplace is better than where I am from. Boring North Dakota. Well, we will be waiting for your IC. You do a good job.

Javier raised his brows, eyes locked with Winter. What was this child doing in the Ravensfire? Her ignorance was appalling and he wondered how it could be that so little of their conversation had sank past the superficial layers of her mind.

“Kitten, I doubt that you’ve the eyes for this world of ours. Someone should pluck them out for you.” He spoke without malice. It was as if he’d offered her genuine advice. Yet he remained intent on Winter as though reading her thoughts as they rippled across her features in the minute play of muscles and expression.

“And my dear,” he added, “obsessions are not illusions. You’ve misquoted me.” There was an edge now to his tone, as though she’d crossed an invisible line that awoke his ire.
But still he did not face her.


(OOC: From Ireland...so short move.)

:twisted: you guys really suck a lot I mean a lot, if you have the time on your hands to write this CRAP/.

A rather untidy man comes bumbling into the club, swaying as he goes. There is a silver button than says "I'm a vampire hunter, Bite me!" on hist shirt, and another pinned to his forehead. "Comeone all you fell" *Hic* "Beasts of darkness" *hic* He stumbles into a table and over a chair "Bring it on, i'll take you al..." before he can finish his rant he collapses snoring on the floor.



ooc: sorry, had to do it. It should be interesting though.

"Poor girl. At least she's trying." Winter reached across to cup her own hand over one of Kitty's. "Words can be very serious, you must understand. Much more so than mere steel. As weapons, they have a much broader scope, yet they are capable of a much more focused, even surgical, effect. Like any weapon, you must be careful about how you wield them -- and where -- or you might hurt someone. Perhaps even yourself. You understand that, don't you?"

OOC: Ignorance is not such a bad thing. It is better than being stupid. She hasn't experienced what your characters have, therefore, she would not know, but that does not make her stupid.

IC: Kitty looked at Winter and flinched her hand back. She did not like to be treated as a three year old. It seemed this company was spoiling right before her eyes. "I do understand what you say. I have seen it happen. Words can ruin or make a life. It seems to me that the two of you might be underestimating me a bit. Do you really think of me as a child? My experience may not be as great as you say yours is, but I have studied in different subjects. I am aware of different cultures and their needs. I feel that the air is cold and maybe I should be on my way. I truely am sorry for your waste of time on me." Her eyes watered. There was a look of melancholy in her eyes, she tried to hide it, but had no reason to. She began to rise from the chair.

(OOC: Winter been pulling one over on us there Ravenspire? When did she become Raven (isn’t she from Lavenrunz?) on us?)

“Petulant child,” Javier sighed. His fingers tightened round the ersatz-gold goblet and metal seemed to dimple under his grip. Difficult to be certain in the gloom of the club, even when the flame spat from the brass raven flickered their way. “You’ve no reason to be angered, indeed it scarcely merits against your misdemeanours towards myself.”
He slammed the cup down on the table. “You’re not leaving yet,” his eyes rose to meet hers; reflected only shimmering blood. “I’ve not had my apology.” His voice was barbed wire pushing its way into the eardrums.

Javier’s hand was suddenly around Kitty’s wrist; ice and steel and painfully tight.

“Sit, or you’ll loose your claws kitten, and perhaps one of your lives too.” He showed his fangs, openly unveiled for the first time. The red glint to his eyes had faded, but the emerald hue was muddied still.

In the shadows behind him, Antice emerged and fixed her rosewater pink eyes on Winter, as though warning her off taking any action of her own against Javier.
All pretence of humanity was gone from the albino now; she’d shed skin like a serpent it seemed. Carved from stone, bones like razor sharp edges it seemed she could cleave flesh with a touch.

“Sit down,” Javier enunciated each word. “A few broken bones and it won’t really matter whom is underestimating whom.”
He released Kitty's hand, sank back into his chair.

But the predators had come out to play, just as Antice had warned.

ooc: Sorry I can't post an IC right away. I want to, but am afraid my stomach won't alllow me that much time. I have the stomach flu. GRRR! So, tommorrow I will try an IC post.

(OOC: Winter been pulling one over on us there Ravenspire? When did she become Raven (isn’t she from Lavenrunz?) on us?)

OOC: Yep. This is why you shouldn't write two posts at once. 8)

I think my reply will wait for Amanda's...

OOC: Did I miss something there? Lavenrunz, what is that?

IC: Kitty's eyes widened. She didn't pull her wrist away, but she wanted to. Apology? What does she need to apologize about? She had no idea, maybe for her leaving. Obviously, he knew she wouldn't or couldn't. Antice, why didn't she listen to the lady in pure white. Her stomach began to churn and she became pale. She was warm to the touch, but shivers ran up and down her spine. Once Javier let her wrist go to supported it with her other. It was red where his touch had last been, but to the surprise of her it was ice cold. She reached for the chair with one hand and began to shake uncontrollable. She nearly fell into the chair. Trying to regain control of her emotions all she could invision was his teeth and their odd shape. She worried that he was not merely using those words, but actually meant them. She did not look up at the two of them, but merely asked, "Apology? What do I need to apologize for?"

OOC: Lavenrunz is another nation, and Raven is a character from another set of plotlines there.

IC:

"Oh, let her be," Winter said. "She's clearly not following along."

She looked at Kitty, something unreadable in her eyes. "Apologize for misquoting him, kitten. You really must keep track of what people say. If you insist on living only moment to moment... well, you get yourself into these situations." She spread her hands, perhaps indicating Javier, perhaps the club itself.

"But I am curious," the albino foxgirl continued. "You've been completely unable to focus, even so much as to apprehend the nature of this place you've stumbled into. And believe me, this is not exactly hidden. So why is that? Is it simply your nature?" She offers a thin smile; there is not much humor in it. "Or is it something else? Something that's happened to you recently, perhaps, that has shaken you so?"

Slowly, "I understand now. I do apologize. I misinterpreted what you said. On my behalf I apologize." She frowned. "You expect me to dote on the past then?"

Javier scowled, though his skin barely creased as the expression slivered across his features. All trace of blood gone from the eyes, but they remained unearthly; flames to guide onto the paths of the dead.

“Winter, this mothering is very unappealing,” he glanced over his shoulder and caught sight of Antice. A moment of eye contact and the pale woman slipped quickly back into the shadows. “Why don’t we drown this kitten. Such fragile things have the most exciting death throes; little hearts beat so much faster when they’re fresh and new.”

His gaze flicked from Kitty to Winter; froze out the rest of the club as a familiar intensity locked his attention on the vampire foxgirl.
“How quickly she’ll turn blue,” features echoed the delight of his tone. Passions stirred across his ageless features; revealed angelic overtones though dark and terrible also. “Such a lovely shade for the skin don’t you think? For a while, she’ll be so alluring our little kitten. I could treasure that memory, return to it over centuries…”
His voice faded away to a whisper. Even the music conspired with him, blackening out into a sudden silence; a pause before it segued into something new.

Grating lyrics and a violent tune shattered the unnatural quiet within seconds, made it all the more powerful.
For mortals the moment was perfectly poised, promising a descent into horror. Did the hairs not raise on the back of the neck?

Kitty's eyes widened in horror, then logic took over. She laughed and rolled the sick sense she was feeling away. "You expect me to believe that nonsence. " Her eyes narrowed. "Fine. If you want to do what you say you do, then do it because no matter what I say or do will change you thoughts on doing it. Am I correct? Even if I changed my mind and my ideas to match yours it wouldn't change anything. Besides, you mustn't like change then. If you must insist everyone to have the same ideas as you." She paused, she had let anger controll her and she hadn't meant to have it tangled in logic. "Sorry. But no matter what I say or do won't change anything." Realization finally sinking in. "Just do it. I won't scream. I wouldn't give you that pleasure."

Javier laughed and the genuine humour erased everything inhuman about his features.

“Isn’t it marvellous Winter, how quickly the kitten scampers over irony and remains oblivious?” He winked at the foxgirl, a mischievous grin making him seem even less supernatural. “You should have been named for an ostrich kitten, hiding your head in the sand. We’re not here to convert you to a religion and we wouldn’t expect you to think as we do.” He glanced at Winter in silent communication. The look spoke volumes, Javier didn’t believe Kitty capable of thinking as they did. “It’s you little Kitten who insist we share your views…after all, we’ve been speaking nonsense haven’t we?” He laughed again, nodded at Winter and mouthed silently, Ironic.

He raised his right hand, palm open and out of the shadows Antice handed him another golden goblet.
Mysterious how she knew exactly what the vampire wanted...

He placed the goblet on the table before Kitty, Antice spiriting the cup of coffee away seconds before.
Raised the jug and poured the warm red fluid into the goblet, green eyes full of amusement.

“Whatever you believe Kitten,” Javier said. “I promise, I can always make you scream.” He pushed the goblet closer, glanced at Winter then back to Kitty. “Drink with us, kitten.”

Kitty flinced at his words. It felt as if her insides were placed out into the open for Javier and Winter to scrutinize and inspect. She hadn't measured up and her heart froze over. The anger rose and then died down. It was replaced with hurt. Maybe she was in over her head. She should have never came here. She looked down at her mug. The liquid swirled and her face looked distorted. She didn't know if she should drink it all dry or just let it sit there. She swallowed and then sighed.

ooc: is this still open? I have a vampire character I have yet to use.

ooc: is this still open? I have a vampire character I have yet to use.

(OOC: Yes, Ravensfire is an Open RP)

Dirk walked toward the club. He had been in need of a vacation for a long time now, and had decided to go travelling. Having lived in The Underground City for most of his life, he was not used to the sun, and was annoyed by its frequent rising, because he would have to go and hide indoors until it sank again.
So, he thought. A club for vampires? This could be fun...I hope it's not full of riff-raff...

He was thirsty, and hoped that this club could serve him some good quality, fresh blood. The locals were not very tasty. His crimson eyes peered through the window. It looks civilised enough.
Entering through the door he looked around. There were non-vampires here also, he could smell it. He got a few looks as he walked over to the bar dressed in an immaculate black suit, with long, flowing white hair. Around his neck was a platinum necklace with a large ruby attached.

He looked at the bartender. "What's your most expensive drink?"

(OOC: There are no windows and even if there were, you’d see nothing more than another door. Read the description of the Club in the first entry on page 1 of this thread.)

Her preternatural hearing divided the amplified pulsing music from the other sounds and voices threading through the club. So she heard the stranger’s curious accent with ease and found herself intrigued.

Vampire. She could feel the chill running off his body in waves before she turned to glance his way.

She studied him before rising from her seat.
He reminded her of a sketch; black and white contrasting. It clinched her interest. We share a sense of…aesthetics…
In the simple cut of her pale burgundy dress, ashen skin was emphasised as well as other more prominent assets; just as the easy lines of his suit accentuated the foreign vampire. We buy clothes with display cases in mind.

She moved through the shadows approaching him.
“Vanity,” the word a slithering snake passed between her lips, rich with rhythm. Voice reached across the room to sound out near the stranger.

But didn’t wait for him to turn her way, moving fluidly to stand beside him; studied the features that had been concealed from the back with golden eyes.

“Sin,” she said. At least that was what it would sound like to him. Then laughed, enjoyed her private amusement.
Leaned forward and whispered with a conspiratorial air, “The most expensive drink is on the menu.” She drew back, whispering still, “but if you order it, you’re sure to get yourself killed.”

(ooc: sorry about the windows, I had read the whole thread, but I was tired and I guess I forgot some)

Dirk turned toward the woman who had appeared by his side.

"Get myself killed, eh? I had anticipated such a price. Though I am not easy to kill, I am not about to jump into the unknown with only my confidence. Tell me, amused one, why would ordering the most expensive drink cause my death?"

"Such emotions." Winter was watching Kitty steadily now... perhaps unnervingly intently. "And so easily they change. You are much too hasty, kitten. Perhaps you confuse that with swiftness? Many humans do." Her tone indicated that this was of no particular concern, simply an academic point. "This offer, though, you will want to consider carefully, before you make your decision."

Not looking up from her goblet, she mumbled, "At least I have emotions." Offer? What offer? The liquid would not stop spinning before her eyes. She was beginning to spin with it. Nausea took hold and her and she pulled her eyes away from the drink. She looked up at Winter. Her voice spoke of confusion. "What offer?"

“Precocious kitten,” Javier sighed. “If that particular barb were tossed my way you’d have a taste of something else to boast of; pain.” He shook his head. “You are adept at feeling emotions perhaps. But do you have any idea on how to read them in others?”

He did not wait for her answer, did not expect her to provide one that would satisfy.
His gaze drifted easily back to the foxgirl.

“Winter you’ve misread my gesture,” low and deep. Dark brows rose, green eyes glittered. “I’m merely hoping to strike a note, shatter some misconceptions and bring a few hard truths home.” He drank deeply from his cup, swallowed till there was no more.
“Besides, only you could make such an offer with merely a goblet,” he added; winked. “And I never simply give it away.” A pause before he whispered something for vampire ears only, “Kitten? Do I insinuate my ways so quickly, so deeply?”

Glanced at Kitty. “Are you afraid little Kitten, to drink with us?” A smile formed; widened. “Or do you lack the courage of your convictions?”

Another laugh, bell notes in their clarity and as far reaching. Smoothed dark tresses behind pale ears and shook her head. “How sad, I would’ve imagined you more intelligent than that.” Laughter had segued into a permanent smile, soft and unforced. There was no trace of the steel that shimmered in the depths of her golden eyes on the lips. Either she was an excellent actress, or her amusement was entirely genuine.

“I’ll give you a clue,” she said. Ran her fingers across the lines of his black suit. “You’d not be the only corpse involved.”

Dirk sighed. So much for a stress-relieving vacation, he thought. I should have stayed in the underground city. No sun there...and no mercy for the disrespectful...

"Woman, there will certainly be a corpse involved if you do not give me a straight answer."

Whether he would actually attack her he did not know. He didn't really want to create a battle in the club, but sometimes his temper got out of control.

Kitten glanced between the two. She started to say something then abruptly stopped. She knew he would only think her words to be a waste of energy. Therefore, she remained quiet. Quiet as a mouse. She felt trapped in a cage with no exit. No way to get out. Not even knowing the way she got in. She was a kitten no unexperienced and yet so curious. What was this drink that was infront of her? Did you trust them? Did he only say that to make her drink, or was there something down in the depths of his words. Her convictions? She couldn't quite catch her breath. The air grew thick and she seemed to drown in it. Her throat yelled for something to cure the itch. She looked down at the drink. Her hands clasped around it, holding on for dear life. Without any intuition on taking a drink, it was raised to her lips. I don't want this, do I? Her lips parted slowly and she tipped the goblet forward.

“You are a fool if you think to threaten me here,” the air chilled and it wasn’t simply an effect of her blazing eyes. The exterior is slick, but that is all there is to him. How sad. Her interest was gone.

“The most expensive drink for the man, you heard him.” She spoke to the shadowy figure behind the bar. Began to walk away.

Javier was transfixed. Watched as the girl tipped the goblet and the blood started to spill down. It would be warm and that would be her first surprise.
Since he knew the flavour (he’d already drunk from the jug had he not?) and it still lingered in his mouth, he could share the experience with her.
But her shock, the retching and the panic as warm human blood filled her mouth; this was something he could only experience as a voyeur and he didn’t intend to miss a moment of it.

Dirk clenched his fist, then let his anger subside. He turned to the barkeep.

"I'll pass actually. I was merely curious as to what the most expensive drink was. I thought that the woman had come to give me useful advice, but sadly she was unable to give a satisfactory description of the drink, or its price. Perhaps there was purpose to her withholding of information. I cannot believe it was purely for amusement value."

Dirk calmed himself. He wanted to control his emotions, not let them control him.
Still he thought back to The Underground City. Why had he left? He should have appreciated it more, but how could he, when he knew nothing else? In The Underground City he had respect. No-one would dare defy him, vampire or otherwise. He answered only to the Infernal Lords themselves.
This was not the time to think of such things. He had to concentrate on the current situation. The woman had seemed to treat him as inferior. Why was that? Was she truly more powerful? Or perhaps it was something else. Dirk had heard that some cultures have other values than power.

How odd. The liquid was warm against her lips. The red drink, thick as blood. The fluid was in her mouth. She hadn't swallowed. Blood. All she could think of was blood. A trail of the drink dribbled out of the corner of her mouth. She could taste it now. Her senses came back to her and she was shocked. It was blood. Her eyes pooped out of her sockets. The vessels popped and her eyes became red from the stress of having blood in her mouth. She wouldn't swallow, but she didn't know what to do. She frantically searched for an idea. She picked the goblet up and spit the liquid out of her mouth. She ran her hand across her lips smearing the blood onto her checks. She looked at her hand. Blood was on it and her mouth flopped open. Her mucous membranes dried up and the blood coagulated in her mouth. Her bottom lip quivered. A single tear came from her eye and ran down her check and mixed with the blood. She looked up, but not towards Winter or Javier. She asked one word and it came with the sound of thunder in her ears, "Why?"

“The most expensive drink is one we’re allowed by Aleturaldean law to sell, but for which you the buyer will be held responsible. A mortal to drain till death,” the shadow behind the bar said. “Murder. I shouldn’t imagine it was that difficult to work it out.” He added after a moment’s silence, “You shouldn’t have annoyed her. There is only one other in this club who could countermand Cinn and in your case, he’s hardly likely to care.”

A low laugh.

“And we can all smell the weakness, the sensitivity to light. It’s not something we share with other strains of vampirism.” A hand appeared from the shadows and waved to indicate the room. “The dark isn’t because we fear the sunlight, it is for mood and to accommodate exotic vampires, rather than primes.”

(OOC: Amanda waiting for Ravenspire to catch up.)

"Ah", said Dirk. "Yes, I understand now. This place is ruled by humans, is it not? I can imagine that they would make such practices illegal. That they would have the power to enforce them I did not expect. As for the woman...Cinn, you call her, I can protect myself, though I would prefer that I do not need to."

Vampires unaffected by sunlight? Interesting...

"As for the smell, I apologise, I have not had the opportunity to shower lately-" he let out a laugh "...ahem. Yes, sensitivity to light is a weakness of my kind, though we are not without strengths. Do you think I should apologize to Cinn?"

Laughter again.
“Apologise and she will think even less of you than she does now,” he said. “And Aleturald is completely vampire run my friend. You should research your vacation destinations more carefully. Many of the vampires in this club are politicians, or would like to be. Think carefully before you insult another.”

He leaned forward. “No matter what your strengths my friend, with that little condition you have I’d advise you to play nice until sunset.” He added thoughtfully, “Cinn would make a great ally, as I said only one other here today could countermand her.” Pause. There was a hint of smile in the shadows and a glimpse of fangs. “However, she rarely gives second chances.”

"I'm glad we share similar customs with respect to apologies. I haven't had any practice apologizing and I doubt I would be any good at it. As for researching my vacation destinations, I can't deny that I should improve in that regard. I have lived all my life in The Underground City. I doubt you have heard of it. We, too, have some vampiric politicians, though I am more involved in business myself."

He let out a sigh. "I shall have to be more careful with my threats and insults...it is not that I am stupid, merely...conditioned." He thought for a second. "You are fortunate not to be sensitive to sunlight. After leaving The Underground City, I made the mistake of walking out into the sunshine - it hurt to the extreme. I expect a younger vampire could have died from a few seconds' exposure, but my age offered me a little resistance, and more importantly, fast reactions, so I could dive into the shade. It could have been worse, of course. I have heard that some varieties of vampire burst into flame on the instant sunlight touches their skin."

"I could try to gain Cinn's alliance...but I'm so tired. I might mess up...I think that if I just avoid contact with her it might be for the best."

OOC: Can't you respond and then she can?

“If you’re tired, you should be here.” The figure shook his head. “Avoid Cinn certainly, there would be…intensive requirements if you wished her to forgive you. But there are few here that will work to ingratiate themselves to you, you’ve already distanced yourself from the only interested party.” He left to attend another shadowy figure that’d approached the bar for a drink. Threw his last comment over his shoulder. “Through the alcoves you’ll find a place to sleep undisturbed. No one will harm you, on order of he who owns this club…and such orders are not to be disobeyed.”

(OOC: It looks like Ravenspire is incommunicado for a while…so…)

“Why?” Javier frowned. “Why not?”
Winter seemed to be involved in deep inner speculation, her attention far from the table at which they sat and worse far away from Javier.
It irritated him and the Kitten’s simpering drew his ire like a lodestone to the north.

Kitty laughed, a low and gurgly sound. "I though maybe you could offer me more of your philosophical talk."

(OOC: Yes, unfortunately...)

"Philosophy, like so much else, is a veneer," Winter said. Her gaze was less intent now that Kitty had made the choice to drink, almost disinterested. "That isn't to say it is unimportant. But you must be careful to remain grounded as well. Philosophy is not enough." She smiled, faintly. "Experience is a most effective instructor, however. You may feel relieved that it was not what I had anticipated. Or you may feel disappointed. That choice, too, would say much."

Kitty let Winter's words roll off her. She was sick of feeling isolated by these two and just didn't want to deal with it anymore. Plus, she wasn't going to throw herself, begging onto their feet, lapping up like some of the people here would do. She would not get to that level. She boldly said, "And if I do not feel either?"

Dirk walked over to a corner and squatted down on the floor, his head in his hands.

Damn it. Some vacation this turned out to be. Kill them. No. Kill them. Kill them all. Shut up! ... I had it so easy in The Underground City. Anything I wanted, within easy reach. Take. Take what you want. Only now that I no longer have it, do I truly appreciate what I had. Pathetic. You will kill them. Kill those who disressspect you. Leave me alone! YOU CANNOT DEFY ME! I AM YOUR TRUTH! I AM YOUR GUIDE!

"Shut up!" Dirk said out loud. A few vampires looked over at him and walked away with looks of disgust on their faces.

Sssee how they look at you. How dare they? Their blood mussst spill. Shut up, already. Drink of it!

“She has quite the ego, our little Kitten,” Javier frowned. Turned away from Winter and narrowed his eyes as he studied Kitty. “Why should we accommodate you, your needs, your interests, your desires?” He shook his head. “No little Kitten, you’ve the manners of an ignorant child…demanding your way whilst you sit at our table.”
He nodded to the goblet. “You should drink before it gets cold,” he murmured. “You’ll like it even less then, I promise.” A sudden display of pyrotechnics in his eyes, crimson explosions, “And you’re going to have to finish it Kitten!” His voice was thunder, drowned the music out as though it were nothing more than a distant whisper.
Mortals covered their ears while the vampires seemed not even to hear him; studiously ignoring their table still.

Attention drifted away from Kitty in an instant, as he fixed on Winter once more.
“What took you away from us there?” he asked, voice lower. “You seemed light years away…am I boring you Winter?

Kitty grew more angry and more angry. Ignorant child? How dare he. If she had any idea this would happen she would have dealt with the stupid male at her table. She would not be bossed around. She took a sip of the warm liquid and as Javier asked Winter if she was bored she spit it on his face. "If you call me an child, I shall behave as a child." She crossed her arms and glared, not bothering to wipe her mouth. Then as if she changed her mind she uncrossed her arms grabbed the goblet and downed the drink. The last swallow sticking in her throat. She slammed the goblet down in deviance. She starred intensely at Javier waiting for his reaction.

And Winter laughed. It was a sound loud and full, unlike her earlier humor, with an edge of near-hysteria to it. A laugh to chill the blood. Thankfully, the fit was short-lived.

"This one has spirit," she said when it had passed. "I like her. Bim whatever this night may be, it is not boring."

Antice reached forward to wipe away the blood that dripped down Javier’s chin, but he waved her away and smiled at Kitty.
“I shall insist on your wearing a bib for the next cup Kitten,” he laughed. Eyes flickered; blood spilled through the iris then reversed its course, a pulse.
He glanced at Winter.
“True she has spirit, but it is only one display and at that she needed goading far beyond any mortal I have ever met.” He frowned, ran fingers across the blood-rouge of his chin and licked them clean. “Don’t you want us to think of you as nice anymore Kitten? Don’t you desire simply above everything else for us to like you?”

Kitty paused and remained silent. Absorbing all the things that he said, reflecting on what Winter said. "True I would enjoy the fact that you two liked me, but not everyone will like me and I can accept that. It would not be logical if everyone liked me. People have different qualities that will be attracted to those ones. I can't expect to please everyone. it doesn't bother me. I just figure it is their lose that they do not know me and are not friends with me." Shrugging her shoulders.

She glared at Javier, "At least I can say people do like me. That I do not make people feel inferior as you do. I am not blind at how the other people hear react to you. I think it to be better the way I am, then to try to make people feel insignificant in your eyes."

"It must be real lonely to be you. Also, it must be sad to know that no one would want to be with you for love, they only want to be with you because there is a lust." She looks down. "I pity you."

“You assume too much,” Javier said. “Precocious Kitten, why would you even begin to imagine that I want to cultivate friendships with such boorish folk?”
He shook his head. “You’re a fool if you think I don’t enjoy my status, the fear in this room alone.” He focused on her. “If you’d like to find someone to pity, why not consider yourself?”

He beckoned to Antice and she stepped from the shadows.
“I think our little Kitten has tired of our company, perhaps she’d care to take up a temporary employment here and make her rounds among the tables.” He glanced at Kitty, leaned close and whispered. “You’ll gain coin and you’ll gain promises if you do, but I guarantee you that you’ll find nothing pertaining to friendships here. Indeed, you’ll find it difficult even to gain a little interest in yourself here, other than your blood.” He pursed his lips, gazed at her sternly.

"This isn't, generally speaking, the place to come for friendship, no." Winter smiled fiercely. "But we still haven't heard why you did decide to come here, Kitty. Somehow I doubt you meant to flirt with danger..."

Kitty looked over at Winter, "You are correct. I did not come here for companionship. I came into this joint for a way to get away from my ex-lover. I have never even heard of this place and I thought I would check it out. Ever since I got in here I was looking for a way out of a situation. The first being, getting away from my ex. The second was the man who wouldn't take a hint. And now." She looked over at Javier. "Obviously, I pissed you off. I can take a hint. If you want me gone, why don't YOU escort me out of here. I will not go around and sell myself to others." She crossed her arms.

"So, if you want me gone. Then YOU make me, not your little servent. You are a big boy, prove it."

"It would have been nice to talk with you more, Winter. I am sure I could have learned much. But it seems again a male has to spoil everything."

“I think my dear that you are quite mad,” Javier sighed. “How quickly you shovel things under the insane carpet of thoughts that thunder through your mind. How indecisive you are, how foolish and it goes so far beyond our initial belief that it was simply naiveté.” He shook his head. “I shudder to think that such as you is considered fit to be of use in social services.” Scowled as he added, “And have I any reason to like you little Kitten? Despite your desire to be liked, what have you done to make any of us think well of you?”
He turned away from her, sipped from his goblet and grimaced. Cold, how quickly even when tended by the properties of science the red fluid cools.

"She has improved," Winter remarked thoughtfully. "Somewhat." Her red eyes looked directly into Kitty's as she added, "But you should leave now. You won't find anything you're looking for here, and the things I have to teach you, you would not enjoy learning."

"Well, thanks I think." She stepped backward. "I would be lieing if I said this was fun. Yet, it was interesting." She bowed her head slightly. She gathered her purse and straightened her skirt. She smiled boldly at Winter and slightly at Javier. She went up to the bar and paid for the coffee.

OOC: Going with what you TG me and what I TG you.

IC:

Kitty began to leave, taking her sweet time and she paused nearby where Javier and Winter sat. She sighed. Then she swung her purse and began to exit the club. She noticed the eyes that watched her and she ignored them and continued on her way. With her luck her ex would be outside. She was already having a bad day, why not add to it. She looked down at her phone, to see what time it was. Her phone was turned off. Duh. She was exhausted she hadn't even realized she had turned it off. She had no idea what time it was. She turned it on, but it was on analog and the time did not show up. Great. She could be here at three in the morning for all she knew. She opened the door and was greeted by a rush of cold air and it drew up her skirt a few inches. She grabbed it and pulled it down. She continued out the door while she fixed her skirt. It seemed to get worse and twist around her. Finally, she had it straightened and she dropped her purse.

As she bent over to pick up her things she dropped she heard footsteps. She didn't know how many and she wasn’t pleased by any means. She grabbed her phone and looked up. She didn't see a thing. The alley was completely black and now not a sound could be heard. It must be her mind playing tricks on her. She placed her purse strap over her shoulder and then she felt a hand tighten around her neck. All she could do was make a gasping sound and her eyes widened. Her white sclera contrasted against the black. She squeaked some more and then she felt the male figure pull her closer and he bent his head down. She cried out and dropped her phone onto the ground. Then she felt it, an intense pain. She never knew how to explain it, but it was intense. She couldn't handle it anymore and she blacked out for a bit. She must not have bee out long because he was still on and taking more. She was frantic and tried to push him away. She was losing some blood and she was getting dizzy. She closed her eyes once more. Might as well let him take it all. She passed out once more.

OOC: I will stop here and let you post. Do you want me to come into the club transformed or have Javier find me?

As the young woman swooned, her consciousness fading to black three other figures joined her attacker.

“Did he notice you following her out?”

The reedy, almost asthmatic voice belonged to a slender, fair skinned redhead. His features were drawn and thin. The eyes like glass with pallid watercolours; blue-greens that on a pane of glass would have been counted as a smear to be cleaned away.

The vampire holding Kitty, a broad-shouldered Nordic-blonde grunted out his response, words running together in thick burrs. “Bardo, I am no fool or fledgling.”
His expression and emphasis seemed to imply that all these poorer qualities were to be found in his questioner and the redhead bristled.

But his companions, dark and extra-ordinarily beautiful twins laid hands on his shoulders and soothed him with words that fell from both pairs of lips as one.
“There, there Bardo. Let it lie. Manskestine will crush you if you rise to the bait.”
You can do that later, their eyes said. But Bardo seemed oblivious and it would have been apparent to any watching eyes that the vampire lay completely in their thrall.

“Yes Chaniline, Memeria,” he shivered as he spoke. Their touch was something he constantly desired; worked so hard to gain, yet now it came as a surprise and delighted him all the more. Manskestine sneered, turned away and studied the woman he’d brought close to death. “What would HE have wanted with this…” he frowned. “She’s scarcely more than a girl.”

“Yet that girl,” Chaniline and Memeria murmured, their words the more musical for the intertwining of their voices, “shared his table for many hours.”

“She left unhappily enough,” Bardo added.

“True,” Chaniline said and Memeria continued; “But she’s merely a messenger.” Together they finished, “Are we ready?”
Eyes; silvered and sharp as knives glanced from one man to the other, registered their nods with small smiles that were entirely predatory and cold.

Together, the figures suddenly vanished from the alleyway and Kitty disappeared with them. They had shifted into the crystal ring and here they were transformed.
In this realm Kitty was surrounded by jet-black shapes, oily skinned sculptures half-demonic; half-angelic. Frigid fingers curled round the girl’s pale skin and death crept closer to her.
If they left her now, she would certainly die and her body would drift through the crystal ring; a solid mass within an otherwise ethereal realm. She’d be an iceberg in the mists of the ring, until someone else stumbled across her.
But the creatures gathered close around her, plotted worse than her death.

Almost casually, the vampire still recognisably Chaniline reached forward and her hand grabbed at something in front of Kitty; an empty gesture for the energy that she drained from Kitty was not a tangible thing.
I have her life force. Finish it. She said, though her words were not formed by the obsidian flesh of her lips and did not sound in the ether in which they drifted.
Manskestine bent over Kitty, Bardo took up her hand; ashen like snow against the pitch of his fingers. If any thoughts stirred in Kitty now, she’d have sensed the hardness of him, like stone given mobility; terribly cold, terribly hard. Together the vampires bit down, long black incisors breaking the woman’s soft flesh and drawing the blood out of her. Death was rushing towards Kitty and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
Her body struggled a little, unconscious reflex or an active attempt to escape, it served no purpose. The grasp of her captors was complete and there was no place to run to within the icy domain of the crystal ring.
Chaniline and Memeria watched closely, waited until the woman’s last breath was on her lips; then forced the life force they had stolen from Kitty back into frozen form.
Subtly altered by the crystal ring, by the vampires that surrounded her, the energy was black and bruised. It wove a sudden transformation through the pale skinned human, oil rushed through her unpigmented flesh and wings ripped forth from her back like black veils taken up in a wind.
The vampires stepped back, weak and starving; mewling like an unthinking beast the new born vampire opened eyes carved from onyx and abruptly fell from the crystal ring; back into the alleyway.
She was too weak, far too weak to remain within the crystal ring unaided and it would be weeks, perhaps months before she found the strength to make her way back into the realm from which she had been born.

As one in their action, the four vampires stepped out of the ring and stood around the crumpled form; now human in appearance once more but forever changed.

“Tell him that we’re watching him,” Chaniline and Memeria said. “Tell him to fear. Tell him, he’s no longer safe.”
Manskestine laughed and leaned down to whisper in Kitty’s ear; “Tell him he never was, he just imagined it.”

Bardo giggled, cut the sound abruptly as Manskestine glared at him and rose to stand towering above him.
For a moment all four exchanged glances, although to any who’d watched from a distance it was plain that Bardo was excluded; he looked but no eyes gazed upon him.

Then the figures melted into the darkness, the redheaded Bardo taking the longest and making the least graceful of exits.
Finally, the new born vampire; starved almost out of its mind was alone…

OOC: Wow! That was an amazing post.

IC: Kitty took a deep breath of the frigid air, knowing that it really didn't matter anymore. She was left alone; she would always be alone. How would she tell Javier if she was stuck here? Her thoughts so scattered she felt as if she was a schizophrenic who was blind. She couldn’t quite remember what all happened. She probably had thrown it into the dark corners of her mind and locked it up. All she knew was it was traumatic and life changing. She laughed. Her voice raspy, but still the same, echoed in her mind and around her. Life seemed to be nothing to her. She knew it was cold in the environment, but she, however, did not feel it. Her senses were magnified, but she felt nothing. Even her emotions seemed drained from her very body. She questioned why her and why now? She heard messenger, but why not choose someone else. She had to get to Javier, as much as she didn’t want to, or Winter. There was something she had to do, something she had to say. She couldn’t get her finger on it though. Panic crept into her body and the dark did not comfort her.

“Help me! Is there anyone to freaking help me? What kind of shitty deal is this? You should have just killed me.” She screamed out as loud as she could, hoping against all odds someone would hear. She quieted down because logically no one was there. No one would hear her. She would die worse this way. It would have been better if they would have just sucked her dry, then left her starve and waste slowly away.

Some time had past, she was not sure how long, her hunger was now a part of her and she conditioned herself not to think of it. She was also used to the darkness and being alone, although, now she wasn’t alone. She had Betty and Jenefar to keep her company. They were cute little fairies that bounced across her body. Kitty watched, smiling, as she rested on her bosoms. They were friendly and they looked just like her sisters, too bad her twin sisters died three years ago. Her body was slowing down and she was aware of this, but could not do anything despite it. She almost thought of capturing the fairies and eating them. She reached for them and her hand went through them. Her eyes widened and she began to sob. She was losing her mind, the thing she most treasured. As if it could get any worse. She called out to God to take her away. She didn’t care if she went to hell, which she was pretty sure that is where she would go, she couldn’t bare this anymore.

She cried out once more, “Please, just take my misery away.”

[OOC: Thanks!]

There’d been on the fringes of Javier’s awareness, the echoes of a struggle.
Blood racing, muffled sounds of a struggle, but his sullen mood had crushed any inclination he had to investigate.
Kitty had scratched at his nerves, leaving him irritable long after she’d left.
The fact that Winter seemed steeped in a thoughtful silence that excluded him completely only added to the dull flicker of heated emotions; bruised purples and crushed velveteen reds.
“Another flask of blood,” he snapped and Antice slipped away among the tables and shadows. “You’ve gone still, cold and it irks me Winter.”
His voice was a low growl. Over the heavy bass notes that drummed through his bones, he thought he heard a cry from outside. Some fool no doubt, wondering through an alleyway in the dark…what do they expect?

Numb. She never felt that before, which is quite odd because you feel nothing. She opened her eyes and she was back in that God forsaken alley again. The sign glowing on her tan skin. Her clothes were the same, but somehow she was different. She couldn't see herself, but she had an inner feeling she appeared differently. She heard distant footsteps. It was a male by the length and depth of the steps. Then she saw him before her saw her. Ah. This could be very interesting.

"Hey baby, where the hell were you?"

Her voice, she realized, was deeper and sultrier, "I have been here all the time, waiting."

"You were waiting for me. I am so glad I thought I lost you."

"I was never yours."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Never you mind that. Come here." He stepped closer and now he could see her. She saw his jaw drop and his eyes widen.

"Oh my God, what the fuck, you got even hotter. I mean...you were always hot, but." He stumbled with his words and ran his fingertips over her skin. She felt like vomiting. His touch disgusted her. She felt every little grain of dirt on his fingers and it scratched at her skin, but she didn't care. She drew him in closer with her eyes pleading. He noticed there was hunger behind them. He was glad she wanted him back. She saw the way his body reacted to hers. She could smell the testosterone run through his very rusty blood. Blood. Her hunger came back and played at her very nerves. Just one little bite. I am so hunger. He was an inch from her mouth. She smiled, showing two porcelain canine teeth. He gasped and she struck his neck and held his wrists. He struggled, but she was stronger.

The blood, metallic and bitter, ran and filled her mouth. The warm liquid spilled into her esophagus and followed into her stomach. Her body screamed with enjoyment. She felt her very body, down to her cells, attack his and engulf them. She felt a surge of energy and she didn't want to release him. She drained him, until him was limp in her arms. He was still breathing, but barely. She pulled herself away from him. And threw him easily over her shoulders. A measly 95-pound female caring a 220-pound male was certainly a sight to see. She opened the door and let it slam behind her. Her eyes now were more animal like and resembled those of a cat. A yellow green colour. She walked directly to Javier's and Winter's table. She paid no heed to all the others who stopped and stared and whispered. She dropped her ex-boyfriend on the table. Silence speaking more than words.