The River Runs Red *closed thread*

This is as the title states, a closed thread. If you have questions or comments please refer to this OOC Link and place those comments there. Thank You

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It was amazing, Talon reflected, how violence followed some One, or more accurately some City through time...

Haven itself was a prime example, a city formed from the dredges of society, outcast and outlaws alike coming together to form a place where they had one thing in common. They were unwanted, and unique...

One year shy of 400, Haven had accepted all refugee's without question, long before there was a country that called itself (mockingly) the United States or a state had formed itself around them and called itself Utah...

One year short, Talon reflected with a hard laugh, and the city was on the verge of repeating history, the very proof of it on the massive screen hanging on the wall inside the Carnal Knowledge.

The channel goes black and flickers for a second, the background for WKRP’s nightly news desk pops on the screen interrupting the Tuesday Night Movie of the Week, which was boring as hell watching a commercial censored gritty cut version of Kick boxer.

“Sorry for the interruption folks, we’re going live to Cathy Meeks at the scene of a … well words can’t even describe what we’re seeing on the monitors. Cathy?” The camera blips out the chiseled rugged features of the news anchor to an exotic looking middle aged woman standing before a three story brick building of some kind.

“We’re live here at fifty two ten anchor pier, with what looks like some kind of human trafficking or perhaps prostitution ring gone awry. The police aren’t telling any one much but so far the body count is at ten and I’m told there are more inside.” Her face grim, lips pressed together in disproval as her camera man pans over to the coroner’s vans, ambulances and bagged bodies resting on the grass.

“Sources say that several may have died of what appears to be over doses of some new drug as cases were found inside this old residence from Ver’idian Enterprises, company unknown at this time. Empty vials of unidentified substances, and unmarked tubes of a medical sort were all over several bedroom floors. Two bodies within were said to be hacked apart and one has to wonder if the Haven Park Killer is progressing into more violent tendencies as suggested last week.” She pauses so the news station can show a clip of Dr. Rick Stevens discussing how, if left at large, this man’s criminal behavior will escalate into even more violence than shown before. The camera man continues to follow the comings and goings of a few detectives talking across the crime scene, out of hearing distance of others and ending with panning across the river to the tall steel and glass towers of the Lafayette Center.

“Not much is known for sure at this time, there is just so much chaos down here and it is said that the mayor is coming to check for his niece among the dead. Another source has stated that two intact bodies were found bloodless in the basement of the building. While we urge people not to panic, please remember to remain indoors after dusk until the curfew is lifted or the killer.. or killers caught.”

One year short of an anniversary and city wide party that was designed to bring the population together, trying to erase the differences that now separated the two halves of Haven even more prominently then the river that ran through it's center.

Talon rose from the booth he had only minutes before claimed, moving quietly through the center of the large group within the room, his eyes flashing warning signals of how deadly serious he could and had become.

"I need to use a private room with a ground phone line, PLEASE arrange it for me ....now."

He spoke in a chilled, hard voice over the well polished and ornate counter to the woman behind it, knowing to go to the scene of the crime would possibly be the largest mistake of his life, but still determined to be there and find out, first hand... the hard, cold corpse... truth.

Lana Ver'idian

The phone was an insistent little bastard, and normally I wouldn’t bother to answer it at this hour. Christ’s sake, I’d only been asleep for four hours! Swearing profusely, I learned that stuffing my head under the pillow wasn’t going to make it shut up either.
“What!” snapped out of my mouth as soon as the receiver was close to my pursed irritated lips.

“Miz Veridian?” The whispering voice asked, as if he didn’t know before dialing my fucking number?! Where do these people come from? But then again it could be a client and being polite was a better route than pissing on my financial support.. If he were of said classification remained to be seen.

“Yes?” My voice softened, more polite than before. My mind was franticly trying to place the voice whispering into my ear, but nothing was coming to my foggy mind as to who this person could be.

“You need to hurry, I don’t have much time but there’s something you better see at 5210 Anchor Pier..”
“What!? Look I don’t know who –“
“LISTEN!” He fucking hissed at me!, “Your company is at stake, if you’re smart you’ll get down here now before it goes live and you lose your good name!” the line went dead.

That is how my morning went… well my night time as I sleep during the day. Not because sunlight will melt me or anything, but UV rays and all that nonsense. Can’t risk ruining my skin, blemishing and the heat makes me weaker… The list of reasons goes on and on, but I’m sure no one really cares what my sleeping habits are like.

So I am barely awake, speeding through Haven in my lovely fire engine red ‘Vett and thankful that I haven’t ran into a cop. Not that I would have as it looked like every god damned cop in Haven, both sides, was on the scene. News crew was reporting already and I still hadn’t found a parking spot any where near the scene. Pulling around the corner from the building, I hadn’t missed the sight of body bags being hauled from the build.

I’d been here before, I recognized the place but it had long since been vacant. It nagged at me, but not too clear as to why it was bothering me. Distracted with the death count as well as the cops coming and going, I thin the earth swallowed me up as two men passed by me without a word. It wasn’t that I needed acknowledgement or greetings of some kind, it was the fact that they had two collapsed boxes from my laboratory sealed in some giant ass zip lock and were labeling them.

Fuck me… This isn’t good.

“Excuse me!” A coroner pushed past with what looked like an assistant or two in his wake.

It was hard to hear what was going on around me, whispers were coming from all around and lots of speculation. Word were coming at me left and right, “drugs” and “overdose” used quite often. Who were they, why were they there. Who killed them and why? A few were homeless men and women, and a couple prostitutes from what I could over hear from a street beater in uniform trying to look important to the scene and events going on around us.

“Lafayette has been called.” A guy called to the two official looking men in the doorway. One wore a badge on his hip, but I couldn’t see his rank. Maybe it was insanity or instinct of self preservation, but I ducked back out of the way and into the shadow of the fire truck. Something was wrong here, and it didn’t look good for any of my kind or kindred. They knew Talon was coming, a good thing too as Talon was our guardian.. But being here right now? With my boxes all over the crime scene… I needed to get out of there without being seen.

And there must’ve been a God because the stretch limo that came roaring around the corner and up to the curb was none other than the human’s city mayor.

“They found his niece inside…” An elderly woman murmured not far from me to some young girl dressed like a punk rocker.
“The missing girl?”
“Yeah, Christina was found inside.” The old lady seemed oblivious to the fact she was gossiping with a young twenty some girl with purple spiked hair and three nose rings.
“I thought she was taken from the park?”
“She was…” The elderly woman replied and fell silent as the Mayor stormed past, bold as brass right into the middle of the walk way between vehicles and crime scene.
“I want to know who is in charge here and I want to see… “ The mayor choked up, his personal assistant there to offer comfort.

I had to get out of there, I couldn’t field questions right now, and I sure as hell had no abilities that allowed me to sneak around undetected to find those answers.

“Excuse me Miss?” I turned to find a news camera right in my fucking face. “Hi, are you a relative of one of the missing people?” A microphone was shoved into my face, but my mind went blank as rage took over me.

FUCK!

Could it get any worse?!

“No, excuse me.” I pushed the mic away and went for my car, I needed to think … I needed a lawyer… Jesus this isn’t going to be good..

"Chief, get that camera and those reporters. I want all proof Lana was there tonight erased, you got it?"

Talon growled into the phone, not needing to threaten, he had enough dirt of the human Police Chief to bury the man if he didn't jump....

"And get her BACK, understood?"

Talon was playing a dangerous game, trying to cover Lana's tracks and not be implicated himself, the news had to clearly shown the bodies being carried out and the Chief had mentioned another pair of facts that chilled Talon's blood.

"Get Harrison over here, I don't care where you find him, I need him now"

He made the second call and cursed himself softly for not learning how to use the pocket phones, then dialed the third and final number.

"The new woman who wanted to see Lana, what is her name? Lana... Yes, yes... Is she settled in yet? No, too bad, tell her I need to talk to her, in private. DON'T take no for an answer, good, then come and find me."

He settled the phone in it's cradle, then did the same for his nerves, forcing a calm smile to his face as he moved out of the room and into the main bar to find WHO slipping in through the back?

"Lana, you and I need to talk, right NOW"

One of Lana's waitresses came through the bat wings and Talon smiled, moving around the well shaped and tray burdened woman to close the distance and grip the back of Lana's arm gently.

"The camera crew caught your face dear, I've had the Chief get the tape, but you need to tell me what you were doing there."

His voice was steady, his eyes hard and cutting, his hand steering Lana back into the borrowed room to close the door behind them.

"What's going on Lana, the Mayor's niece was carried out of there dead, and the sole survivor is in a coma and not expected to make it through the night, I need to know.... did you have a hand in this?"

Lana Ver'idian

Brushing past him, I barely missed him as I ignored his demands and entered into his suites. As usual everything was pristine, clean and looked unused. Why he had to have suites in my establishment, I would never know. He owned a fucking sky rise with more floors than my measly little club… and I knew I was just pissed in general. Convenient he would be here, with his nose in my business as always.. as usual. When had he decided to become my specific guardian? I had to wonder if he stopped, would I miss this?

So he had the chief cover up … What? What is there to cover up? A few boxes wouldn’t convict me any more than anything found at the scene.

"What's going on Lana, the Mayor's niece was carried out of there dead, and the sole survivor is in a coma and not expected to make it through the night, I need to know.... did you have a hand in this?"

Everything within me stilled, had my back not been towards him, he might’ve seen the look that crossed my features that shocking, brief moment before I was composed once again. It stung deeply, hurt far worse than I thought he could possibly hurt me. We had a history, but it was nothing more than respect and friendship… Sometimes a tense friendship, but still reliable when push came to shove… And he was asking me if I was capable of murdering all those people?

I felt hot all over, rage boiling quickly and in it’s wake came a sense of defeat and sadness that left me cold inside. Pissed took on a whole new meaning, and I now knew why a black widow killed her mate and used him for her young. Sometimes, we were just better off without the opposite sex. Funny how he could hurt me, and had a woman said those words to me I would’ve flayed their backs off their bones… But no woman was around, just us.

I guess I was experiencing betrayal, or a small form of it. I am big enough to admit I am wrong, when I am.. But I don’t feel too wrong right now. Not about this reactions to those words so callously tossed out there.

He, who knew me better than anyone else, was asking me if I was a murderer… funny how he thought to ask this after a few centuries of being friends… kind of a bit of bad timing there, buddy… ‘ol pal… My thoughts sarcastic but my jaw refused to give and allow speech to verbally ream him.

“You owe me, Talon.” I kept my back to him, my face as passive as possible although I wished to hurl the decanter at his head and keep bashing. “I saved your life once, and I would’ve never mentioned it in our life times… But now I need that favor.” Hands unsteady, I had to make a fist and clench down for twenty seconds to stop that tell tale sign from showing.

No weaknesses.

“This isn’t going to just go away. I require sanctuary here in south Haven. If they get their hands on me, there won’t be a fair trial.” Voice calm, quiet and controlled. dispassioned by the reality that I was truly alone, a thought that never bothered me before until today.

Glass clinked together as only pure crystal can as I poured myself a small bit of brandy. Tossing a quick bit back, It helped me to take that edge off… gave my hands something to do, other than strangling Talon.

Talon knew what his words would do.

He could see the way Lana held her body, how she turned her face from him, and he cursed himself for doing it.

But when she turned, and acted so brave, her eyes filled with hell's fury and pain?

“You owe me, Talon. I saved your life once, and I would’ve never mentioned it in our life times… But now I need that favor.”

He could FEEL the ice cold air ripple over his skin, could TASTE the anger that she held barely in check, knowing WHAT Lana was and WHAT she was capable of?

"You do not have to call in your Marker"

His own aura grew within the room, SHE wasn't the only one who had power, Talon could draw upon eons of darkness and meet her square on, thrusting her cold energies back at her and.....

"Bitch, you want me to fight you, so you can draw my essence for free?"

He stared at her with flat blue eyes, his face hard and as emotionless as her own, his own beast pulled back and completely under control. If it would have been different he would have took her right there, it would be worth the scars and they would heal eventually any ways, just to have her under him writhing and cursing as he took her.

"I will NOT let one of MY own be taken from our side Lana, you know that, regardless if you are willing to tell me the truth, or NOT!"

Face to face they stood, her body an erotic statue that he ached to make come alive, her own energies whirling around her in tighter and tighter circles as she too brought herself under control.

"No one else saw you reenter and I doubt anyone else recognized you on the TV, so for now I trust your own security can handle matters or shall I bring my own to life?"

It was an old rumor, the humans spoke of the undead being able to control the truly dead, during the first war it was claimed that was what had swayed the battle for the immortals and brought them victory despite the lopsided odds.... or was it just rumor?

"I have called Harrison, he will be here soon, to discuss legal ways to stall IF it comes to that and other ways.... to get to the bottom of this, I expect you to be NICE to him and cooperate."

The anger had faded in Lana's eyes, but what remained was worse than even that powerful emotion, for it reminded Talon of the ancient battle fields and how the eyes looked in the legions of the dead as they lay on the ground. Cold.... lifeless.... defiant and uncaring....

"I will meet you outside...."

Lana Ver'idian

“Don’t flatter yourself there, Big Guy.” Cold clipped words were about as much lovin’ he was going to get from me any time soon. He could take his attitude and accusations and shove them where no one has ever been.

His version of the truth? Theirs? Who knew the whole truth of anything? They always say there are three sides to everything… His, mine, and theirs… It was applicable here as well.

I hated these situations and to think I would leech off him right now? At any time without consent? What an asshole!

“I don’t need your security.” The glass settling on the table top was the only sound that came before I moved off to the suite doors. “Send Harrison in, alone.” Dismissing him and out the door as his last words came to me, So this is how it is going to be between us?


Cold, hard, and untrusting now as if the centuries had never been?

So be it.. I had things to do, people to see and arrangements to make. Perhaps he was wise to not trust me?

“I will meet you outside…” He tossed casually, coldly as if I wouldn’t argue.. And he was right… for now. I wouldn’t argue but his time was coming and sooner or later I would put him in his place. Not today, not now as I had use of him.. but some day soon.

"Alone would be better." And I meant that.

“I don’t need your security.” Maybe she didn't, but for now Lana needed him, and Talon knew in that at least, he had the upper edge...

“Send Harrison in, alone.” Still it irked him, he had just pledged his support to her without compensation and she dared treat him like... what, a child?

He moved out of the room, intent on having the last word, but there too she beat him for as the door slammed in it's frame she spoke over it....


He was finished with her, Talon vowed. Done with the temptress Lana and would deal with her as she really was, the contemptuous Mizz Lana....

"Harrison, it is GOOD to see you remember who your boss is."

Talon spotted his right hand man as the vampire hurried into the main room, his won grin short lived as he turned to the hall and pointed at the room he had just vacated...

"I am afraid I have a miserable chore, one that only you perhaps can accomplish? The Ice Queen has a bit of a problem and request your presence, ALONE!"

Just as she wished. Talon decided with a mental shrug and turned from the confused immortal, knowing despite his anger he had other things that must be done before the sun rose.

"I am going to leave you with one witch and go find another one, good LUCK my dear friend!"

He felt better with the words, the feeling short lived as he remembered WHY he felt the way he did, Lana was right, he DID owe her his life, for it was her drug that had pulled him from death during the cities war and allowed him to finish it and bring peace....

It was a debt he wouldn't take lightly, and she knew it, but she had no right to bring it up.... or at least he thought so!


Sometime in the current past....

"Don't pass out on me precious, stay awake, it's not your time to die yet"

The dark figure moved and the bound, nude woman screamed in pain, the devices hooked to her body flickering wildly and winking in in multi-colored as she writhed from the pain she was in.

"That's better my little slut, now let's see what happens when we turn.... this...... UP?"

The young, blond haired girls body arched backwards until she was bent in a bow, her scream echoing off the ancient wall and floors, the chains that held her rattling as she frantically yanked at them and writhed before her tormentor. Her body was in ruins, once flawless skin now hung in shreds, full breasts cut to nipple less ribbons and sex ruined to the point of being unrecognizable, her face broken and beaten until it was swollen beyond recognition.

"So close my little slut, just a little.... bit..... MORE!"

The screams grew louder, her legs and arms rattling the blood covered chains in a constant, ear shattering discord and then suddenly it grew quiet in the room.

"What a shame, we were SO close"

The creature turned away from the lifeless figure, his interest in the dead woman gone, the dark haired woman on the floor now the center of his focus.

"I hope you are stronger little one, you come from royal blood, so to speak, so don't let me down, Hmmm?"

Sky was sitting at her desk paging through the reports. Her school for gifted young artists has been running for nearly a decade. She found great pleasure ravishing through the creative minds of the free spirited students that were hand-picked to attend her school, even though her actual involvement in the school remained shrouded … allowing her to stay as long as she wished without arousing the suspicions of the humans. The school was often slammed for its shocking art displays that had seen more than a few conservative members of society faint from sheer shock … Sky however took an obscene enjoyment in their reactions.

Out of principle, she had made a home on the human side of the city in an attempt to rekindle her link with the human race. She fed off their emotions and found their pre-occupation with wealth and standing in society … a tad amusing. With some crafty use of make-up she appeared as human as the next … but very few knew of her depraved and dark sense of humour that often led to Sky’s involvement in ‘stirring the pot’ … so to speak.

She was frivolous, enjoyed life and took very little seriously … except the value of life. Her eyebrow quirked as the news headline broke on her flickering TV screen. A stormy expression settling on her features as she purposely pushed her chair back … fury kindling in her azure eyes.

“I think I need a Bloody Mary,” she said to the empty room. She found herself at the crime scene within minutes and blended into the crowd. The emotions that were seeping from the gathering of people were … mmmm … Sky closed her eyes as she took a deep breath, soaking up the turmoil, anguish, fear and outrage. It was exquisite.

She lowered her chin as her violet blue eyes opened, glinting dangerously as one who was drugged, obsessed … wanting more. She started gliding through the crowd, pausing behind select individuals having to fight the urge to sink her teeth into their soft warm flesh to really ‘drink’ in the strong emotion that was pulsing from them.

“I want to know who is in charge here and I want to see…” she felt him before he even spoke. Such exquisite pain from the Mayor of Haven … Sky drifted at the edge of the crowd walking with him, her senses rejoicing at the powerful emotion. She abruptly stopped as an overwhelming sense of panic pierced through the clamour of emotions. Sky turned and started with surprise as she found the source of the emotion … Lana, just as a TV crew stuck a camera and a blinding light in her face. An amused smile lingered on Sky’s lips … so; somehow, dear Miss Ver’idian was involved in this mess?

Intrigued, Sky made her way to the ‘Carnal Knowledge’ and took a seat at the bar. “Bloody Mary please,” she ordered, giving the bartender a sweet smile as she relished in the emotions that seemed to originate from a room behind her. Anger … betrayal … arousal, such contradictions! She watched as Lafayette entered the room and an amused little smile quirked her eyebrow as she followed his progress.

“Talon …” she said as her finger idly glided across the rim of her Bloody Mary. “What exactly is the ‘immortal representative’ going to do against the barrage of hatred and fury I felt out there?” Sky asked, casually turning to watch him. “The first war was not pretty …” she said as she took another deep breath, soaking up the emotions she could still feel as she expelled the breath with a slight satisfied moan “… but it was an emotional treasure chest.” Her remark was pointed, the memory of the first war making her flesh tingle … her eyes shimmer with anticipation.

Shay had fallen asleep early to exhausted to even think of eating, it was only hours later when she was abruptly awoken with the sounds of sirens and red and amber lights careening off the walls of her small bedroom where they had invaded though the dirty hotel windows.She had awoken disorientated and afraid!

Rushing to one of the windows she was dismayed at what she saw!The place was a chaos of activity as ambulances, police cars , a coroner’s van and the inevitable news crew all seemed to converge on the place as if in a bizarrely orchestrated dance of death. Even the occupants of towns underbelly were slowly crawling out of their hiding places to watch the show. So much evil emancipating from the three story red brick building, so much death! Shay could feel is coming off the building in waves, even protected as she was by her wards and spells.

Shay retreated from the windows and concentrated, “Return to me,” she silently commanded and within seconds her familiars were pressing into her shaking legs. She sat heavily on her bed to absorb what they had learned so far, her beautiful face intent as she listened carefully!

Shay had lost most of her confidence and natural exuberance over the past years as she moved from town to town an outcast seeking a place to call he own, and when the twins had told her all that they had learned she was afraid once more.

One thing was for certain she didn’t belong in this side of the town, especially given what was happening! Shay walked back to her window to see that there were now several body bags resting in a cold symmetrical line along the ground; The Haven Park killer! they were so off mark it was ludicrous, but then humans had difficulty computing what they truly did not understand . She was brought out of her musings by the flash of a camera which illuminated the face a truly beautiful woman, innoxious in the sea of death and chaos surrounding her, standing staring at the edge of the carnage. That would be Lana Ver'idian she thought smiling to herself, foolish of her to be in that place on this night!

Stepping back from the window she wondered what to do? Talon was the name of the immortal representative who she would have to approach to receive sanction and protection from; but what could she offer him in return? He would certainly have his hands full now, but she needed his help if she were to survive here.

Her head was beginning to pound to much going on around her, she could feel the Carnal Knowledge drawing her like a moth to a flame. Talon was there and so it was there she would go, she would worry about the rest when she finally met him!

He left the scene, abandoned it the moment the Mayor arrived. Forensics had hardly begun to tape off grids and sweep the scene when it'd all descended on them. Media. Higher brass. The politician. One by one they had done their part in ruining any chance for a thorough investigation. A Forensic Tech stepped on a matchbox and crushed it in blood, ruining any chance for prints. Another didn't remove a cellphone memory card properly and broke it. These were massive mistakes. These were the kinds of mistakes that could hamstring an entire case. These were the kinds of mistakes the presence of cameras and hyper-critical and powerful figures like the Chief and the Mayor brought out in young officers.

In his tenth year, Jack Sullivan was no longer a young officer. His face wore a thick line of stubble and his hair was dark, unkept, and shortly cut. When he had started his work on the Force his pale eyes had been called bright and his energy had been mistaken as enthusiasm. But now they were intense and his means were relentless. The stubborn ferocity of his work had seen him rapidly promoted to Detective and then rapidly shuffled away from the regular lines of homicide investigation towards those dealing with non-humans.

Vampires. Lycans. Worse.

The kind of cases that were designated cold by the lack of evidence or particularly vicious in their means had always been shuffled to Sullivan's feet. This one was no different. Any forensic leads had been badly botched by nervous technicians and the impossible nature of their orders. The mayor's green light on the coroners had destroyed the placement of the victims and any attempt to pick through the crime scene. He'd left after that, letting the little kids pick up the pieces. Taking a fresh styrofoam cup of copy and the driver's seat of his car. Noticing, in passing, that the Chief's phone rang just a moment before he rushed the Reporters for their cameras.

The passenger seat was filled with old bagel wrappers and bits of paper, discarded take-out menus and magazines. A knee-deep pile in the passenger footwell that represented long nights and disillusionment. Jack had grown jaded. He acknowledged it to himself even as he keyed the Camaro to life and throttled it up. Reporters scattered from the car, camera's flashing, as he nudged himself from the thick pile of them and drove on.

He needed a drink. But everything about this case stunk to high hell. Someone had keyed the media onto the scene before he'd even arrived and someone had made sure the Mayor's officer had heard.

Hunches, of course, but important ones. Ones that gave him the knot in the back of his neck that he felt with his hunches, the little signal he gave himself, it seemed, to pay attention. Well, it'd gotten his attention. A crate full of bodies was hard to ignore.

His phone rang and he pick it up, cutting off the cold chime.

"Jack, it's Wertz."

"What?"

"Lab Results won't be back for a few days but you wanted my opinion, here it is. The substance is identical to the chemical compounds found in Carnal Knowledge your last trip. How'd that go by the way? I heard they have all these women who wi-"

"Alright, Wertz. Get to work."

He hung up the phone. The city flew by and his foot laid heavy on the gas pedal, listening to the Camaro's engine rumble in response and shoot him more quickly along the city streets. The bridge loomed ahead, visible through the parted skyscrapers.

He took it, heading across the river. Aware of the familiar weight of his revolver, Jack allowed himself the moment of doubt any reasonable man should feel. Carnal Knowledge, deep in the heart of the city's unhuman population, was not a friendly bar to Jack Sullivan. He was the human that hunted them when they strayed across the river. He was the one who had lately shown a knack for catching and subduing them. And Jack was also a man who had killed a handful of them, alone.

Walking into their den of iniquities was always somewhat reckless.

But he'd been feeling that way more and more lately.

“Talon …”

He knew the voice, and knew the owner of it too well, and knew as well that if she was here, what she expected to happen...

"Hello Sky, I wish I could say it's a pleasure to see you again"

“What exactly is the ‘immortal representative’ going to do against the barrage of hatred and fury I felt out there?”

Her voice and poise spoke of casual, almost careless ease, but then so too did the most deadly of snakes before it struck without warning...

"I will do as I did before... whatever it takes to protect this city"

“The first war was not pretty …”

Talon turned to regard the owner of the voice, his eyes trailing up and down her relaxed body, his lips curling into a smile as she labeled the past war..."not pretty"...

In his mind he could still clearly smell the blood and dead bodies as they fouled themselves, could still see clearly those bodies as they lie heaped upon each other and grew higher...


“… but it was an emotional treasure chest.”

Her remark was pointed, the memory of the first war making her flesh tingle … her eyes shimmer with anticipation.....

"I am glad you found something good in it Sky, for most it was only a horrible lesson that neither mortal or immortal can rule the other, that somehow, at whatever cost, peace must be maintained..."

She was beautiful, and twisted, her eyes gleaming with a lust he too had felt in the battles, her body aroused and sending off a scent a younger immortal would easily fall prey to.

One that he had fallen for once, in another immortal, and died for.....

He was older now, stronger, in control of his emotions and able to blank them when needed, as he had with Lana only minutes before... and did now.

"You smell of fresh, sweet blood Sky, the kind of blood found in victims who suffer a terrible death, my question now is if you were there to witness those deaths?"

He too stood calm in the storm, he too smiled and regarded the beauty before him with casual interest, his eyes moving to and holding hers as he moved around the bar at which she relaxed.

"Your school does well... I trust my donations are adequate.. to keep the doors open and the prying eyes of the authorities looking elsewhere?"

He was aware of her perversions, how she took pleasure from the emotions others could not control, and how she walked the thin line between right and wrong so very carefully...

He was no different than Sky, Talon admitted to himself, only she had chosen the lighter path and freed herself of commitment, while he had chosen the heavier path of responsibility...

"I remember a time, my dear, when I woke from the dead to find you waiting, it struck me as curious why you would be waiting for me, of all the creatures..."

He had died. Saw the end of his immortal life and greeted it with open arms, tired of the death, the pain and suffering of the innocent, and his part in causing so much of it. Only he came back, was given a chance, to turn the tide and perhaps make a difference, by a woman he had regarded as a trusted friend...until today...

"You've always seen more, felt more then you've ever let on Sky, and that too I find curious, so much so that I feel drawn to invite you to my quarters, one night...soon?"

He felt no threat in her, saw no malice, only that lust that seemed to follow her, the... "wanting"... so much like the vacuum in outer space taking everything it could and never finding itself full...

Still, more rested on peace then had ever before, his city, his friends... and the combined future of the immortals....

"What are you going to do Sky.... how far are you willing to go... this time?"

He bypassed the line. It didn't earn him any friends. The shifting bodies were all too frequently pale skinned and fit. The men tall, square-shouldered. So many eyes fell on him as he moved towards the door, past the hulking creatures guarding it. He didn't flash his badge. That was a small courtesy to the owner, to the employees. Flashing a badge in a night club even on his side of the river did more to hurt business than you'd expect.

It was a small benefit that it'd also go a long way towards getting him killed.

Inside the music was loud, pulsing the rhythmic bass of the club scene while bodies swayed and danced to it. Primal. Erotic. Indulgent. This was a club of inhumans and it inherited all of their decadent tendencies. The surprising touch was how contemporary it'd stayed and how it'd avoided the dated look that most of their half of the city had kept. In this the opulence was somehow more pronounced here, the lack of poverty shocking to most humans who ventured over the river.

The bar was crowded with lean shapes, faces that could otherwise be mistaken as young. He knew otherwise. It was in the eyes. If he was jaded they were something else entirely. Life tended to lose its glamor to humans after thirty years or so. He doubted it was much different with the undead. There were only so many options, so many means to live life. Part of what drove them to cross the river and brave capture to make a live human kill seemed to be boredom. It only made sense he'd see it in the shapes lining the bar.

Boredom and hunger.

His arrival was curious enough to alleviate the former and rekindle the latter. The weight of the massive revolver beneath his jacket was a small comfort. It's stainless steel frame carried a specially made cylinder for six extremely large rounds. The great caliber would have been overkill on a moose or bear, let alone human, but the tremendous force of impact was meant to stagger immortals. It'd knocked one unconscious. A lycan who had slipped across the river to terrorize an impoverished section of city. He'd hit the massive creature in the chest and knocked it out cold on impact.

The special rounds had done the rest.

But it was a messy and painful end, one he'd only wish on immortals. It wasn't that he hated them. He didn't. Infact, Jack Sullivan felt that any man that hated on non-humans for being non-human were ignorant. That kind of blind bigotry was as unnecessary as it was foolish. Jack disliked the non-humans for their arrogance and their awareness of their power. He disliked them because they were the most disappointing vision of power that he had ever known. They behaved like common men and women whose dreams for immortality had been granted. They behaved like teenagers and children who'd gotten something for nothing. They were not wise. They were too human for his tastes.

"What do you want?" The bar tender asked. Not kindly.

"Gin. Rocky. Where is she?"

"Who?"

"Lana."

"Why?"

He exhaled steadily, pale eyes searching the man he was speaking to. The drink was set infront of him on a napkin and Jack took it, taking a small pull before leaning further against the counter.

"Find her. I have questions."

Sky watched with feigned interest as Talon’s eyes roamed across her body, returning the favour by letting her own peruse the goods on display.

"I am glad you found something good in it Sky, for most it was only a horrible lesson that neither mortal or immortal can rule the other, that somehow, at whatever cost, peace must be maintained..."

“Indeed Talon, life is precious and is not to be wasted … unnecessarily,” she said as she took a sip of her Bloody Mary, savouring the intoxicating taste. She had to make a mental note to ask Lana where exactly she sourced the ingredients from. The rich dark liquid contained in its combination was sweet … and so very innocent.

"You smell of fresh, sweet blood Sky, the kind of blood found in victims who suffer a terrible death, my question now is if you were there to witness those deaths?"

“You know as well as any other, that I would not have wasted a drop of the sweet ambrosia if I had been there,” Sky said with a very sober expression. They have known each other for centuries … surely Talon knew at least a part of her by now? His reasoning was however valid, and at present it was safe to assume every possible candidate a suspect. “I went to investigate the crime scene, but found no person amongst the crowd that had the emotional stirrings of a killer … I did however find Lana there,” sky said, leaving the comment out there for him to decide what to do with.

His unfailing calm remained as he casually queried about her school. It irked her that he was in any way or shape involved in her school, and if she could have her own way in the matter would choose not to rely on anyone for support. “Thank you most kindly for the generous donations Talon, you know how much I appreciate it,” Sky lied with a straight face.

"I remember a time, my dear, when I woke from the dead to find you waiting, it struck me as curious why you would be waiting for me, of all the creatures..."

Sky finished her Bloody Mary and pushed herself to her feet. She made her way to where Talon was lounging at his leisure, gently draping a hand across his cheek as she let her fingers glide across his features. “I have always found you very fascinating my dear Talon,” she said in a low husky voice. “I would be most pleased to agree with an invitation to your chamber,” she added, keeping her expression carefully schooled. She knew of the beast that lurked beneath and though Talon’s reputation preceded him, she had always treaded very carefully around him. “But not tonight,” she said teasingly as she pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, giving him a knowing smile.

"What are you going to do Sky.... how far are you willing to go... this time?"

“It depends which side is more worthy of my support,” Sky said, knowing full well that her allegiance towards the humans tipped the scales heavily in their direction. “I will not idly stand by and watch as innocent people are slaughtered,” she said, keeping the expression on her face amicable, the tone in her voice indicating just how deadly serious she was.

“I fear I have duties that garner my attention ... there is no rest for the wicked,” she said as a devilish little smile tugged at her lips. She leaned in and pressed a warm kiss to his lips, letting her fingertips linger on his shoulder for a few more moments before she turned and slowly started walking towards the door. “Take care, and let me know if there is anything I can help with,” Sky said before she disappeared into the night.

let me know if there is anything I can help with,

And there he stood, watching what he thought was one of his own walk away, his eyes on her hips as his mind mulled over her words...

“It depends which side is more worthy of my support,I will not idly stand by and watch as innocent people are slaughtered,”

Everyone was walking careful around this, if one of their own were responsible for the deaths then it would be impossible to tell where the lines were to be drawn, or how high the death toll would rise before sanity returned, or if it ever did.

A hand tugged at his sleeve and he turned, a waif like woman who Talon recognized as one of Lana's courtesans nodding to a far corner and whispering of "Urgent" business. He smiled and thanked her, turned his eyes to the door that Sky had exited a final time, then sighed and moved to see who wanted him...

"You called for me Miss, how can I be of service?"

His eyes scanned the booth, the presence of the cougars at the woman's feet the first indication he was dealing with the unusual, the look on her face before her eyes cleared another as he stood quietly waiting.

She showered and dressed to look her best and casting a spell which she sincerely hoped would last until she reached the club, ignoring the curfew,she was soon moving with ease through the streets unseen by any one but her familiars.

The club was impressive; she moved to a quiet corner and reversed the spell. Taking a deep breath and pulling herself up to her full height of 5 ft 6 inches she approached the doorman. Shay had allowed her familiars their visibility and had them both on small leather leashes, she didn’t want to appear too human on what she hoped would be their first meeting. She raised her incredible violet eyes to those of the doorman and spoke in her low melodic voice.

“I am Shaylyn Morgana, I am here to see Talon, he is expecting me.” Her fingers crossed behind her back, she swept by him outwardly full of confidence, the epitome of a powerful sorceress. “Where would you have me wait?”

Not missing a beat his expression carefully schooled he led her to a small table opposite the bar. “Wait here I will inform him of your arrival,” he told her in his monotone voice.

She sat down and released the breath she had been holding, willing her hands to stop shaking. She wasn’t expected and had no plan of action beyond the fact she was actually here!. Sitting tall and straight as she rhythmically petted the cougars at her feet, she conjured up the memory of her Nana’s face; the old woman had been convinced that Shaylyn had been born for some special destiny, could this be it? The scared young witch was worried, as she sought her answers in the long dead woman’s caring features

“You have need of me and I am here.”

Talon studied the standing woman and found her not unappealing, his senses flaring as he felt someone or something scanning him and he realized he was still reacting from Sky's kiss and soft touch. He smiled and nodded to the chairs, slamming his walls into place and willing himself to be calm... to relax.... to scan his surrounding carefully for any more surprises.

"I have need.... of the truth,"
Inwardly he was sorry for his brutal, forward ways, but he knew the sooner he found a trail the faster he could begin tracking, become the hunter he so abhorred, for it was his responsibility.

He was strong, but not strong enough, he was alone, and perhaps that would be in his favor, allow him to track down the thing, or things responsible and reset the balance once and for all.

"There's a war brewing and I need to find the cause, if you can help me in that, then Yes, I need you"

"You called for me Miss, how can I be of service?"

His voice resonated across her senses dragging her firmly into the present, her eyes flew open!

Vampire a real flesh and blood Vampire!

He was amazing… it took Shaylyn more than a minute to compose herself, he felt like pure sexual energy washing over her and something more, something deadly!

Shay realized that she could never trust this ‘man.’

Standing she offered him her hand desperately wondering what she should say!

Shaylyn took a deep breath and it was as if another had taken possession of her voice,

“You have need of me and I am here.”

She stood in wonder at her words her violet eyes affixed on his awaiting his response, scared and so unsure……..



"There's a war brewing and I need to find the cause, if you can help me in that, then Yes, I need you"

Shay took a small step backwards before resuming her seat, her belly doing flip flops which had nothing to do with the fact that she was desperately in need of a good meal. Sensing her disquiet Runic jumped up upon her lap. His, “This one is not for you, he bites!” echoed through her mind as the cat punctuated the worth of his words by producing a wicked nail which he dug sharply into the soft flesh of the wrist which was absentmindedly petting his sleek chest!

“Ouch!” Shaylyn raised her hand to her mouth and used the tip of her small tongue to remove the single drop of Crimson blood that had appeared like a small glimmering jewel in the center of her wrist, looking up at Talon as she did so.

"I can help you find your killer but first I will need your help. I will need your sanction and I will need a place to live…a permanent home!"

Her eyes never leaving his, she idly wondered how Vampires made love, did they make love? this would be her first real Vampire not one of fantasy or fiction, she was so excited! She felt Runic growl a warning and pushed him from her lap. “Not now she told him firmly, I am thinking, not acting you silly cat!”

“Think of someone else!” he growled back, curling around her ankles, as they waited for Talon’s response; Shaylyn anxious, her pets resigned knowing their Mistress all to well........

IC: Harrison

Harrison didn't like Talon's little sanctuary. There were too many people, too much noise, and too much constant hustle and bustle in this place that never slept day or night. It was odd since in his youth when he was a rambunctious human he sought out noisy bustling saloons like this one. However now that he had a century of excitement under his belt he much preferred his little room with the soundproofing and the serenity of silence and solitude. Catholic and Budhist monks were right the quiet life was the only life for human or Vampire.

Still he kept having to come to this place, deal with these people, for his job, his obligation to Talon, his boss, required it of him.

He had been called in to the sanctuary to confer with Talon, and he had an idea why. The news reports of the murders was the only thing people were talking about downstairs.

So he climbed up the stairs, he never did trust elevators-not after being stuck in one for 32 hours after the Quake of 38, and entered the door to his penthouse of his boss. There Talon stood waiting in the lobby. He acknowledged his entry with a nod and, "Harrison, it is GOOD to see you remember who your boss is?"

"Oh the boss," He joked pulling his his suit jacket so the creases were perfectly straight after the long climb up the stairwell, "You mean Bruce Springstein, right?" When Talon didn't laugh at his attempt for humor he raised his hand up saying, "Relax, don't go into a Vlad the Impaler mood and whip out the iron maiden, boss. What's the situation, and and what do you want me to do about it?"

"I am afraid I have a miserable chore, one that only you perhaps can accomplish? The Ice Queen has a bit of a problem and request your presence, ALONE!"

"Lana, here," He said taking a step back, "You know I avoid her like the plague, and you know why. I can't handle being around her...not without remembering Lilly...I'm not ready for that... If you need me to speak with Lana, boss, can't it be done over the phone."

"I am going to leave you with one witch and go find another one, good LUCK my dear friend!" He said already heading into the penthouse elevator.

"Talon," Harrison called after him desperately, "Don't do this to me. Don't leave me alone with her, damn you."

The elevator doors were already closing shut taking Talon down to whoever he was meeting leaving Harrison alone with her. That smug son of a bitch was probably smirking over it now, damn him. He had been laying hints that Harrison needed to come out of the cloistered life he was living with all the subtlety of a stick of dynamite for months now. But Jesus H. Christ, he just wasn't ready right now.

He should just leave, right now, that'll show, Talon, to try and manuever him around like a pawn on a chess board.

Yeah, that's what he should do...but, he wasn't going to.

Talon had taken him in after Lilly died when he was under no obligation to. He had protected him, gave him a job, a purpose to keep on without her in his life. There were plenty of other Vampire lords out there that would not be so magnanimous to a broken renegade without clan or alliances or anything but heartache. In short Talon had been a friend, when he had needed one the most.

He could feel her on the other side of the penthouse, probably in Talon's study or office. He could sense her now as bright as the sun neither of them could look upon ever again. Lana Ver'idian, she felt like a bolt of lightning just waiting for a poor little lightning rod like him to draw near. Lilly had felt like that too when her passions were enraged.

He would go see her, not for himself like Talon would want, but because he owed Talon the best counsel he could give her, and if that meant being in the same room with her to do it...Jesus Christ he wasn't ready.

He crossed over to Talon's wet bar and pulled out the bottle of Jack Daniels and didn't even bother pouring it into a glass...Talon wouldn't mind he wasn't big on whiskey, he usually preferred cocktails or wine or champagne. In fact Harrison was fairly certain he only kept that and his favorite brand of tequila just for him. And if he didn't, well that served him right forcing him to do this now when he wasn't ready...Jesus Christ, he wasn't ready for this.

But he would have to be. He straightened out his jacket, smoothed his hair out, and readjusted his tie with all the finality of a convict on deathrow dressing for his trip to the chamber.

Finally he began taking step after step towards the room he sensed she was in. Heart racing. Breathing shallow. Palms sweaty. Hands shaking. He reached for the door, turned the handle and timidly pushed it open.

She was there, so beautiful like Lilly had been beautiful. So much of her was unlike Lilly, yet there was so much that reminded Harrison of his late wife...and that was the thing about Lana Ver'idian that terrified him the most.

He cleared his throat trying to shield himself behind the armor of professionalism, "Ms. Ver'idian Talon told me to speak to you over the recent incident at your lab. I understand you'll need to know your legal options, in order to stay out of jail. Or the PR situation if the press turns sour on you." He kept his eyes off her fiegning having trouble pulling his trusty blackberry from his pocket. He also kept a good distance from her not exactly up against the wall, but only by a hairsbreadth.

Lana Ver'idian

I heard him, long after I felt him coming. Talon’s right hand, and most often left as well, man. Always there, always trusted to see all, hear all, be all, and fix all that Talon required. So was I now something to be fixed, seen, heard or merely keep tabs on?

Interesting that Talon would assume I wanted his lawyer, and that there in lie the issue. Harrison was his man, not unknown but not well known either. So how far could he be trusted, I wondered as I stood looking out the balcony windows while doing my best to ignore that powerful being lurking behind me.
I could clearly see him in the reflective surface of the window, the daylight beyond didn’t seem to mask him as it should have. Odd but dismissed all the same, what did I care for reflections and shadows right now anyway?

“Harrison…” I paused, seeking the right words to say to him to try and put him at ease with me. However, judging from his scent, it felt like he’d never be truly at ease around me… Again, so be it. I can not help those who can not help themselves, and Harrison was.. Interesting to me but dangerous as well. “So good of you to come.” I spoke softly, again keeping as much emotion from my tone as possible, other than that quiet calm I so desperately needed today.

Releasing the ropes, the drapes fell closed and blocked the bright orb that slowly crawled up over the eastern horizon. I preferred the night time, and it irritated me that this nuisance killer was fucking up my beauty sleep. But he, or she would get their comeuppance one day… come hell or high water. No one used me and lived to speak of it, wallow in it, or repeat that same mistake twice.

“Nothing is amiss at the lab, Harrison.” Green eyes that shown with the chaotic thoughts met his profile as I turned to assess the man trying to get a handle on his newest assignment… Me. Talon really had a bad habit of abusing this man’s goodness, generosity and loyalty. Admirable qualities, but all weaknesses too. I didn’t think he wouldn’t work for me with this issue, but I did not trust his loyalties to rest any where near me… and that would fuck with that whole client privilege thing.

I sensed that if questioned by his boss, Harrison would feel obligated to sing… So while he did his best to keep his distance and ‘deal’ with me and this ‘issue’, we both knew full well it wasn’t going to be as it should’ve been between us.

“Please, have a seat.” I invited, a small smile crept out but my heart wasn’t in it and it had to show within my eyes. Taking a seat myself, I sat and eyed the man carefully, thoughtfully inspecting him for some sign of weakness or strength. “I know whatever is said between us will go further than these walls.” I let those words sink in only a second before continuing on, “No objections or denials needed, we both know who you owe and whom here you do not even know. That said, I will keep this brief as possible, as your discomfort is making me a little edgy today.” I motioned to the chair, a silent invitation to move towards a familiar sense of our new found relationship that could be if he chose to know me.

“There was a… butcher shop found today.” I hadn’t seen once since my time of walking the desolate streets of London when Jack the Ripper ran rampart through the weak and weary woman. “Some how my product ended up at that crime scene, and it is possible... highly probable, that the human authorities are soon to come knocking on my door. I want to know how to fend off these hell hounds until more solid proof can be obtained…” I paused for a breath but knew it was going to only get worse before it ever got better. “The human mayor lost a niece there at some point, and just found out today. These ritualistic…. “ I had said too much, I wasn’t supposed to be aware of, “Never mind that. There’s a killer out there playing the blame game and has my number in his hat. Until I can prove my innocence, I need means to keep them from taking me in.” I couldn’t be locked away, not again… not ever again!

A tremble passed down my spine, as if death himself was hunched, grinning down my throat with abated anticipation.

Mayakavosky Romanov (waiting for Talon or Harrison)

Once more he entered her Secret Garden. His entire being relaxed to the familiar smell of incense in the air... even being told that none of this was real he couldn't help but admire the heavy columns that supported the rising eaves of the small temple. It was where he first saw her.

The priestess that stood before the altar turned to greet him. The whisper of her hakama broke his control as he rushed to embrace the woman he loved. The soft fabric just as he always remembered, and the silken hair as he rested his cheek upon her head brought tears.

"Are you prepared to pay the price for this search?" Maya pried herself from his embrace, gently but firmly as she asked in a voice that was none other than the Tomoyo he'd been dying to hear.

The question was received with a jerky nod as he pulled the red ribbon from his pocket. Tomoyo was never without it... until the day the temple was destroyed and she disappeared.

Maya took the ribbon from his hand as she placed her other hand upon his cheek.

Upon contact, the room vanished to reveal the woman he called Tomoyo. Events flashed through the room as they watched the people shackle the chains around her wrists and collar...

Time moved forward at a rapid pace, skritching to a standstill as the white walls streaked in red appeared.... and what they could only guess to be Tomoyo, hung chained from the ceiling the breath of her life barely hanging on a thread. The man screamed her name... as they watched the life fade from her and the last bit of resistance give out from the body.

"I can erase that past from your memory if you'd like... If you'd rather not remember." Maya ended the search. There was no meaning in it if the person in question was dead.

The man looked up with haunted eyes and agreed. He stared at her blankly as the brief flash of light blinded him and blanks darkened his memories. She fingered the memory gem in her hand, watched the flare dull before she pulled him to his feet with the other hand.

The door closed after him with a slam as Maya toyed with the gem and ribbon... something didn't sit well with what she'd seen... but that was the last client she'd have before starting new in.... Haven.


The chopper whipped the air as it landed on the roof of Carnal Knowledge. How the representative, or the proprietor pulled the strings to allow her such privacy in her arrival was beyond her, but she appreciated it nonetheless.

"Thank you Dimitri for flying me here." She turned to the pilot with a rewarding smile as her fingertips brushed his cheek.

"Take care Sharo- no... Maya." Dimitri watched the woman leave with a touch of pained joy... The simple touches from a woman that had long passed into the next world were hellish and even knowing that the appearance wasn't real, it didn't take away from the heart ache nor did it change the fact that he would deny her nothing.

Maya alighted from the chopper with the wind tearing at her clothes and loose skirts coiling around her in a whipping beat to the rushing air . The roar when the helicopter took off silenced what greeting she could have given or received from the two men waiting for her on the roof as she shielded her eyes from the dust.

The moments pause was a good thing.... at least it gave the men the chance to recover from the shock of seeing her... whatever it was that they saw her as. She broke the silence and with her luggage in tow stepped up to both with what she hoped was a warm smile, "I presume you were sent by Mr. Lafayette? Mayakavosky Romanov at your service."

She had to give the two men credit for the calm they maintained. There was a touch of pallor as their gaze occasionally shifted to eye her with wariness, but she could find no fault with the courtesy they gave, they were obviously warned of what a first encounter with her would be like.

It was through the back ways down, thankfully devoid of people, that they led her with brooding silence to her suite. The final message before closing the door and granting her the privacy she had so needed jarred a touch of worry into her mind. There was foreboding in the way it was delivered, and the lack of room to decline made her wonder just what she had done to necessitate haste. At least they allowed her to 'meet' within the sanctuary of the suite she was given. The soft rumble of the bass beneath her feet told her just how packed a night at Carnal Knowledge would be, and she was not likely to survive should she attempt to wade through such a crowd to another.

First post for Isaac

Isaac was in one hell of a foul mood, he didn’t like walking around in the human part of the city, it was like a kid being dragged through a candy store by one of its parents, not even allowed a taste of all the delicious treats around him, to make it worse he hadn’t eaten in a while either, so he had the normal hunger pains to deal with. He managed to restrain himself though, growling and baring his teeth at one pair just before he crossed over to the other side of the river, he couldn’t sate his hunger for blood yet, but he could still enjoy himself.

The walk to his home and store was mercifully short once on the right side of the river, the ever so subtly named ‘Redgraves Occult Goods’ was right on the water front, an old building from just after the war, Isaac liked it because of the basement, all three floors of the basement, clearly designed for night people.

He walked in through the front door without a sound, his eye twitching at the sound of virtual gunfire, he stayed silent though as he proceeded through the storefront and to the desk at the back, his face falling as he shook his head, the boy behind the desk, a young blond by the name of Jordan, had his eyes glued to a computer screen, blasting away at the enemies of the universe, Isaac had long since lost count of how many times he had told the idiot not to do that when on the job.

He walked over, a knife finding its way from the folds of his coat and in to his hand with as little noise as his feat were making on the floor, the blade coming up to hang in the air behind Jordan before being plunged down, sliding in between his fingers and spearing the mouse to the table underneath it.

The boy went as stiff as a board, his head slowly turning to face Isaac’s, a look of cold fear plastered across his face, a stark contrast to the annoyance and disapproval on issac’s “Hey boss” he said with a slight stutter, fearing some rather harsh disciplinary action for his infraction “What are you doing here, I thought you were”

He didn’t get a chance to finish, his eyes and mouth closing in a flinch when the hand not holding the knife with white knuckles moved with inhuman speed, when he realized he couldn’t feel any pain he opened his eyes again, his gaze quickly following Isaac’s pointing arm and seeing the post-it note on the calendar. He slowly removed his hand from the mouse, knowing a single knick of that knife would draw blood, then got up to read the note.

“Pick me up from the airport at… four…”

He went as white as the blood sucker next to him “I was stuck in that shithole of an airport for hours waiting for the sun to go down, hours” Isaac said with a snap of his jaws, his hand twisting the knife in the table, they would need a new one after that “do you know how much I hate airports? Do you?!”

“Yes sir, I still remember last time you ranted about this” Jordan replied, finding enough of a backbone to be snippy, but that quickly went away with one look from Isaac. “So is that the knife?” he asked after a few seconds pause.

“Yeah, not much to look at” he said, all the annoyance draining from his face as if the past tense minute or two had never happened “but if he wants a crazy nazi’s sacrificial toothpick then who am I to argue” he pulled the knife from the table and dismissively tossed it in to Jordan’s hand “call the client, do your thing, I’m off for a drink”

“At Lana’s” Isaac just gave him a look over his shoulder “she was on the TV you know, just a second when some idiot reported took her as an innocent bystander to a massacre” Isaac stopped then and turned, an interested look on his face.

“The one at the pier?” Isaac asked, Jordan raising his eyebrow in confusion at that “what? I walked past on my way here” he said to explain his actions, but Jordan knew dam well that the pier wasn’t even close to on the way “ok fine, I smelt something tasty and wanted a look, shut up, you left me at an airport for hours!” he said before quickly making an exit.

Jordan just sighed to himself as Isaac left and he replaced the mouse from a box full under the desk “he is going to ride that for at least a week”

IC: Harrison

Lana was standing at the windows looking out into the skyline of the city in early morning. The bright golden orb of the sun hidden currently behind skyscrapers a sliver peeking through between two of them casting daylight through the window and onto her.

He turned his gaze up from his blackberry and looked at a sun he had not seen in years or decades?

The modern sciences of mankind made miracles for more magical than the supernatural beings that resided here in this building. The glass of Talon's windows was made of specially and heavily tempered, tinted, and polarized glass to reduce the fatal Ultraviolet light to a tolerable fraction for Vampires like the two of them-Extravagantly expensive of course, but Talon spared no expense when it came to the Vampires within his sanctuary having the oppurtunity to look upon the sun once more without it being the last thing they ever saw.

The dawn lit sky over their home in the Mojave twenty years ago had been the last thing Lilly had ever seen. There was some comfort in that at least. His beloved wife had seen a sight long forgotten and feared by so many of their kind and a sight so beautiful it had killed her. Now that he was face to face with the same sun he wanted to ask it, to demand from it, to cry out to it: "Why? Why did you take her from me?" He did not expect a reply stars, the fates, gods rarely answered for their crimes in his experience.

But that was not why he was here, he could sulk in his own little apartment, better even. Talon needed him to do what he can for this woman and he was not about to let his boss down.

“Harrison…” She said and he flinched as she used his name, “So good of you to come.”

"L-like Talon gave me alot of choice Ms. Ver'idian," He shrugged trying desperately to maintain the air of professionalism that was his only defense here against her, "The man may not be an evil son of a bitch, like most of the Vampires of his stature out there, but he's still a son of a bitch." That was the plain truth, it didn't matter in the slightest however. He had cussed Talon, and complained to himself just before coming in here, but he was still here wasn't he doing exactly what Talon told him to...damn that son of a bitch to hell. He was still here alone with this woman for example...Jesus Christ he was not ready for this.

The fact was that even though Talon, could be a true son of a bitch at times, Harrison owed him...even liked him...regarded him as a friend...damn the man to hell for putting him up to this.

“Nothing is amiss at the lab, Harrison.”

He nodded making a note on the notepad function of his precious blackberry. "Then the rumors being whispered downstairs in the bar are untrue." He pointed the stylus at her, "Sounds like you'll need a good PR man-or what the CIA would call counter-Inteligence man to keep them from ballooning out of proportions. My expertise is Corporate law, but I know some PR people used to dealing with those of us on this side of the river, I can get them in touch with you."

“Please, have a seat.” She gestured to a chair, and he gulped past the lump of cotton threatening to cut off all the air flow in his throat. Taking the chair would mean getting closer to her.

"I'll stand, thank you, Ms. Ver'idian," He said setting the blackberry to google any news the press has gathered on the murders, "Perhaps it will help if you begin at the beginning."

“I know whatever is said between us will go further than these walls. No objections or denials needed, we both know who you owe and whom here you do not even know. That said, I will keep this brief as possible, as your discomfort is making me a little edgy today.”

From that he looked up from his precious blackberry to regard her. Those gorgeous eyes regarded him in turn. Part of him was responding to it instinctively, electrically. That gaze was seriously threatening his much needed professionalism. God why did she have to be pure sex in flesh and blood? Lilly had been like that too...Jesus he wasn't ready for this.

"Y-you mean Talon," He said finally getting his brain working again, "I won't lie to you. The son of a bitch probably expects me to keep tabs on you. But that's only because his association with you will lead them directly to him, and he'll be the one the pigs in blue will be really after, even if it means ruining you to get to him."

He stepped forward his trepidation around her momentarily forgotten. He continued pointed finger shaking at her, "As far as humanity sees it, they tolerate us because Talon promises them that we'll stay in our little ghetto and not rock their boat. Well, these murders are a serious rocking of the boat, Ms Ver'idian. It's irrational and ridiculous but they'll blame you and most of all Talon for it, and if the two of you go down all of us here could easily find we're living in the bad old days of the dark ages again. I'm not old enough to know how it was back then: the witchunts, the hiding, the living in fear of being discovered, but I have no desire to see history repeat itself." He stopped realizing that he had just told off one of the most powerful and well connected Vampires in the city. Strictly speaking she could demand repudiation for his "insolence"-all sorts of meideval and wholly unpleasant punishments-or worse yet just demand Talon allow her to kill him, and the son of a bitch would be in no position to refuse. If he did it'd be political suicide so much of his power rested on his alliances with vampires less progressively minded than he. They'd like nothing more than to use this as an excuse to plunge Haven into the unending self-destructive gang warfare Talon had put a stop to.

"What I'm saying Ms. Ver'idian, is that in this matter, yours and Talons interests coincide."

“There was a… butcher shop found today. Some how my product ended up at that crime scene, and it is possible... highly probable, that the human authorities are soon to come knocking on my door. I want to know how to fend off these hell hounds until more solid proof can be obtained…” She said, “The human mayor lost a niece there at some point, and just found out today. These ritualistic….Never mind that. There’s a killer out there playing the blame game and has my number in his hat. Until I can prove my innocence, I need means to keep them from taking me in.”

One ring came from Harrison's phone and raised his blackberry so she could see it saying, "My contact in the D.A.'s office just texted me. He says the police have just named you a person of interest in the case and the Human Mayor is howling for heads to roll. Detectives are probably on their way here now to question you."

The blackberry rung again, and he showed it to her, "Talon's eyes on the street out front just rang in and said two men 'who stink like pork'-meaning cops-have just arrived."

He raised a hand saying, "Relax, take a deep breath. You're only a person of interest-which means they'll question you here. Go to meet them like a concerned and law-abiding citizen, answer honestly as in don't give them any bald-faced lies they can trap you in if they try any of the rough questions on you. If they do ask something you can't answer let me do it. I'm a lawyer, so noone will be surprised when they find I'm a lying son of a bitch-even more so since I'm a double-damned corporate lawyer, and remember they won't want you or rather not just you. you'll be just another load of paperwork. Taking Talon down will make their careers and set the whole city human against other."

yeishia said:

"There's a war brewing and I need to find the cause, if you can help me in that, then Yes, I need you"

Shay took a small step backwards before resuming her seat, her belly doing flip flops which had nothing to do with the fact that she was desperately in need of a good meal. Sensing her disquiet Runic jumped up upon her lap. His, “This one is not for you, he bites!” echoed through her mind as the cat punctuated the worth of his words by producing a wicked nail which he dug sharply into the soft flesh of the wrist which was absentmindedly petting his sleek chest!

“Ouch!” Shaylyn raised her hand to her mouth and used the tip of her small tongue to remove the single drop of Crimson blood that had appeared like a small glimmering jewel in the center of her wrist, looking up at Talon as she did so.

"I can help you find your killer but first I will need your help. I will need your sanction and I will need a place to live…a permanent home!"

Her eyes never leaving his, she idly wondered how Vampires made love, did they make love? this would be her first real Vampire not one of fantasy or fiction, she was so excited! She felt Runic growl a warning and pushed him from her lap. “Not now she told him firmly, I am thinking, not acting you silly cat!”

“Think of someone else!” he growled back, curling around her ankles, as they waited for Talon’s response; Shaylyn anxious, her pets resigned knowing their Mistress all to well........

Click to expand...

Talon studied the young woman before him and let instinct guide his decision. He could see she was just coming into her powers, having familiars at her side was one proof of that, the way she held herself another, but in the same token she wasn't sure of herself, indicating lack of experience and perhaps, control?

It was dangerous, for her and everyone around her, and to not have an iron grip of the kind of powers a witch could have?

It could spell disaster...

"Sanction granted, as long as you do not harm directly, or indirectly, the occupants of Haven, unless provoked."

He spoke, then nodded, wondering if he had to tell her thee consequences if she broke his rule, or who would deliver those consequences?

"As far as a place to live, you may us the quarters Lana has supplied for me, here... I have rarely occupied them before this and NOW, with the level of tension it would be best I use the Towers..."

If someone were to target the leaders once a war began it would provide a minor amount of safety to Lana's home, a very minor one, he knew, but in war each stone counted...

"Establish yourself, allow yourself to acclimate with the others here and in our city, I will be back in contact with you in a few days. Now if you excuse me? I have requested someone to come to me, and though moving for her is a risky thing at the least, she has accommodated me, I must go greet them."

Lana Ver'idian

Standing quietly, effortless motions that brought me along side Harrison. His scent intrigued me, the vibrations off him was like honey to a bear. Inhaling, I let the fragrance that was him fill my senses and the tingle spark.

"Your boss thinks I am guilty.." Whispered near his ear, knowing it made him extremely uncomfortable to have me so close to his person. A soft chuckle escaped me, I really couldn't help it when he responded to me like that. So prickly, so ... restrained. He would be wonderful to poke and prode for a reaction. One I bet would would rock the walls down.

Moving off before he broke out into a sweat or yelled rape too loudly, I opened the door for him, a small smile still teasing at the corner of my mouth. He was going to hate this, "Please, go summon the detective up here." He was Talon's man, but he was to serve me for a short time.. So why not see how much I can push?

"I would love to talk to him... but in here." Pausing to consider whether Harrison would return or not, I decided it best to not give him a choice, "I also wish you to be present." Incase he changed his mind between the door and bar.

Shaylyn

Shay watched Talon intently as he spoke, and then without waiting for her response he simply was gone.

"So you see Runic you had no need to worry," she told him as she petted his sleek fur, "He is either intolerably rude, incredibly busy or simply doesn’t care for human witches. It matters not, at least we achieved our objectives; sanction and a place to call home! Away my pets go find this suite of rooms the Vampire spoke of and any other information you deem to be of use." In a thrice her familiars had dissipated and were gone to do her bidding.

Shaylyn recalled Talons words "Establish yourself, allow yourself to acclimate with the others here and in our city, I will be back in contact with you in a few days. Glancing around the room she spotted a lone male sitting at the bar! While my cats are way this witch will play,she thought hoping he was not vampire, maybe vampires prefer boys she thought grinning.