ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ɪꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏꜱᴛ ᴏꜰ ʟᴏᴠᴇ | ᴛᴇɴᴢᴀɪ & ᴘᴀꜱꜱɪᴏɴ [CLOSED]

[Tenzai]

ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ᴇᴍᴇʀɢᴇɴᴄᴇ | ꜱʟᴇᴇᴘ ᴛᴏᴋᴇɴ
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You might be the one to take away the pain and let my mind go quiet
And nothing else is quite the same as how I feel when I'm at your side

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Too late. Too weak. A shower of ash. An ocean of blood. Smoking trees and a burning home. No matter how much he had trained in this lifetime, his heaven had burned as he resisted the tides of flesh and magical armor. Around him were the bodies of many who served with him, knights he once deemed as kin only for them to turn their weapons against his beloved when the crown had ordered them to. In front of him were an army of many more, each stunned by the resilience of his love. "Come. See what happens to those that deny us our peace."

In exchange for a second chance for her, Atlas had given up his humanity, becoming a creature of the night. Fangs shot from the opening in his helmet, revealing to the species in front of him that he was no longer a "pure" race. Hunted into hiding, the vampires of this realm were forced to take upon disguises to survive in this world. Though, where others masked their presence, Atlas had made his name known in the history books; Out of love, he became a kin slayer. His loyalty was to his beloved rose witch, the very same that had sacrificed herself to ensure an immortality of her own.

"Atlas, put down your weapon. Surrender, please." His commander's voice had struck through the crowd as the tide of steel parted, revealing the same man that took him into the knight's order in the first place. It was the man he treated as his father. One of the few that gave the king's order some pause. He knew of their relationship. He knew the woman that Atlas would never turn his back on, no matter how grim the circumstances were. For him, Atlas calmed his waves of hemomantic magic. If there was anyone he would listen to now save for his beloved, it was the man who helped aid in bringing the best out of him in the first place. "You know I can't do that. Not until her ritual is complete."

No matter how much he wanted to free her from the torment of the ritual of rebirth, he understood that this was something she had wished for herself. Their love was a priceless treasure, one that was worth the cost and risk. To have simply ended it there was to let fate dictate their ending a tragedy. To have accepted what was to come was to believe that their love had limits. "You know this more than anyone, Arturia. We never planned on turning against the kingdom in the first place."

Creating a wall of blood that separated them from the cabin in the woods where he grew up most of his life alongside the witch, Atlas used the magic she taught him to protect her, ensuring she would be uninterrupted with whatever reserves of power he had left. As if, whenever he recognized himself feeling weak, he bit into himself after the use of every demanding spell, ensuring that he had enough to continue the fight until he would breathe his last. "It was the king's fear of the unknown; Of what's different that had brought you all here to die."

Atlas' soul was too stubborn to let a single one of them pass. "Please don't give me a reason to kill you too. As much as I like you, Arturia, if you cross into this lake of blood, I can't make any promises that you will come out alive. No more of us have to die over his orders, I beg of you to listen to reason." Offering a warning and a plea in the hopes that it would dissuade him, instead of simply accepting things as they are, Arturia ordered his men back as he approached the corrupted knight.

"Then let me be your last fight. Men, if I fall. Turn around and leave. There is nothing more for you here but death. If I come out victorious, then the gods above had dictated your beloved's downfall as right in their eyes. Let's see what is stronger, your loyalty and love or the king's favor from the gods." Drawing his blade from his sheath, he commanded his horse to approach the crimson lake. Upon having the first step reach the dark solution, its hoof had sunk past the surface, revealing the extent of how much Atlas had killed before he arrived.

Through the reflection in the ground itself, Atlas knew that the ritual was near completion. All she needed was a couple more minutes. Noting that the commander had requested a duel, it seemed as though Arthur was also aware of this too; Buying time for her to escape. "I always treated you as a son and your beloved, a daughter, Atlas. It brings me great shame to be forced to fight against you like this." Coming close enough to whisper, Atlas didn't swing, affording him the respect of a last message. "Use my life as tribute. An offering for your escape. The kingdom I love is no more. Its king a corrupted pawn. You are the last good of this world that I know. Please grant me a duel befitting of my death." The vampire gave his chosen father a nod. "... And you were the one who helped make this love possible. I thank you... For everything. I will offer you no more than my best."

Tragedy was all they were given in this lifetime. Those he deemed his family, that he deemed his home, and the woman he wished to be his lover were all to be taken away from him. His soul burned in his chest, wishing yesterday for another tomorrow, but it seemed that this was meant to be no nightmare but his reality. He had yet to earn his happy ending. "Goodbye, Arturia. Thank you for all the memories."

Charging in, sparks of blade and the clashing of spells had garnered the attention of the knights as they watched in awe at the son taking both sword and magic to his father. Arturia was Atlas' greatest test, a forced question of whether he had outgrown the same master who taught him how to fight with his blade. Runes on armor had defended him against the slashes and strikes of mana-infused blood while footwork and splashes of solidified crimson used as shields had kept the young fighter safe from the calamitous strikes of Arturia's own. Only until the ritual had grown to its height, to a point where the witch's soul had escaped from this unfortunate reality, did their battle come to its climax.

Where her mana had escaped as a massive pillar that split the clouds in the sky, Atlas has struck a final blow, cleaving through horse and knocking down rider, only for his weapon, a divine-metal sword that Arturia had made for Atlas himself, to be pointed right at his neck. "Its over, Arturia. Our fight has concluded. You lost."

The knight nodded his head, smiling as his helmet rolled off to expose his face. "It is my defeat. You've bested me, Atlas. I'm proud of you." His final words were only motioned, whispered through vision in a way that only Atlas could understand. "I won't ever forget you." While the idea of keeping him alive had come to mind, it felt less merciful than to put him out of his misery serving masters he could never place his full fledged faith in. Unlike Atlas himself, Arturia wasn't given the right to fight for what he genuinely believed in. He died for a fruitless cause.

Instead of respecting his words however, as soon as he died, those he led had begun to surround the vampire, eager to claim the head and glory of those who took Arturia's life away for themselves. "At least, you didn't have to live to see how dishonorable your people were, Arturia." Turning his gaze up to the many that sought his own demise, the vampire prepared to defend Arturia's body from those that never cared for him in the first place.

"Come. Show me the strength of your greed. Show me how unfitting you were to be led by such a good man. Show me how pathetic your convictions are and I will prove every time that my love would put your lust for power and wealth to shame." A rain of blood had followed, of the slaying of rookies and mercenaries alike. Only until they broke ranks did this hell end. Only until he was left behind with the dead and dying did his fight finally resolve.

Reaching down into the bloody surface of his manmade lake, he took his father's body only to bury it beside the smolders of his home alongside the burnt remains of the woman he had intended to wed. "I'll find you again, my love. No matter how many lives it takes." Taking the matching ring off her decaying finger, he gave her hand a final kiss before giving her past life a proper resting place as well; Where their rose garden once stood, she returned to the earth to bring about new life. "I won't let either of your sacrifices be made in vain. I promise."

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ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ʜᴏᴍᴇꜱɪᴄᴋ | 1ɴᴏɴʟʏ
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I bleed, heaven knows
Or maybe I'll die 'cause I overdosed on you

────────────────── ⋆⋅ ♰ ⋅⋆ ──────────────────​

"Another dream." Ten thousand years had passed since that fateful day, yet every second of that final moment had been replayed in every agonizing detail. Not even in his dreams could he escape his failure. Over a thousand lifetimes had he found her again, only to be met by tragedy after tragedy with every single attempt at a happy ending. The world was a different place from what he was first born into. Gone was the times of old were knights and mage reigned supreme. In its place were enforcers and scientists, magical engineers and keepers of digital knowledge.

In his chase for her, the vampire had endured ages of change being forced to adapt to the current times while staying on top of his learning to ensure that with every lifetime, he was a step closer to being strong enough to keep her safe. With every year that passed since, he hadn't stopped improving himself, taking the advice she gave him in her past lives to better keep the promise he made to her since the beginning: To become a knight and spellcaster that she could be proud of. As a result of his dedication to his craft of combat, he had earned himself a position as a bodyguard for those who wielded high influence. It was nothing too different from what he was used to in his past as a knight, the only exceptions being the changes in warfare that came alongside innovations in combat and tactics.

"Still looking for her?" Given his current deployment handling escort work for the princess of a syndicate that dealt in corporate affairs, as his eyes came into clarity with his ears hearing the ambient air conditioning within the room, he spotted one of the guards that he was serving alongside: A roommate and fallen angel named Caelum. "Not many of you guys still left around in this line of work. My advice, Altair? Find someone with less baggage. You'd be happier." Walking over the vampire sitting up, he placed a hand on Altair's shoulder. "Besides, what are the odds of finding your soulmate nowadays? World's a big place. I'd say you should explore around a little. Have a little fun! Life's too short to not and you might find your girl just around the corner~"

Altair shook his head, blinking a couple times before getting out of be to don his suit and underlying armor for the day ahead. "You know that's not the kind of guy I am, Cael. My past won't allow it. My heart won't either." The vampire sighed, before noticing the bathroom door open, revealing a woman in just a towel. "Oh... You took one of your dates back home?" As Altair prepared to give her a wave, the woman gave a fresh sigh of relief feeling the cold air of the room outside.

"What? You expect me to just be bored around here? How often do you think we even get to come here out of all places?" Opening the blinds to reveal the skyscrapers outside, the vampire was met with a squinted view of the massive city. It was the capital of the country they were visiting; A major commercial hub for both the legal and illegal sides of the exchange. With the sun setting bringing way to night, neon lights had shined through the darkness, giving the world an artificial ethereal glow underneath its two increasingly visible moons.

"Besides, its not just a date. Did the alcohol you drink make you forget, Hana? The girl you recruited?" Once his eyes had finally adjusted to the brightness of the room, the human woman was now dressed in her ordinary dress; Something visually appealing that hid her weapons underneath the surface. Finally donning her glasses as the final piece of her ensemble, the vampire finally realized who it was, offering a bow with his apologies. "Oh, apologies. I barely recognized you without the glasses." It was his sort of respect that he learned as a knight that never deteriorated with time, a behavior instilled upon him over and over by both Arturia and his first love herself.

"Apology accepted. Though, it wouldn't hurt if you offered me a drink too, you know?" She mused, eventually tying her hair back before walking towards the door. "Come on boys, we can't keep the princess waiting. Its not a good look if you woke up late because of nightmares or sex." The two men looked at each other before offering a nod, eventually joining her on the way to the elevator. To Altair, these two were his new family for the moment, people that didn't need to know much about his past in order to value him for more than just his skills alone.

"Hey Alt." As she pressed the button to reach the bottom floor of the hotel they were staying in, Hana struck conversation. "Cael is right by the way. Overheard you both talking while I was in the bathroom. There's nothing wrong with moving on if its not working out. Sometimes, its okay to let go." While he did his best to hide much of his past, there were still parts of it that he felt comfortable with sharing, including a couple of his vulnerabilities.

"You know I can't." Brushing the arm that held his tattoo that bound his beloved to him, Altair remained stubborn in his investment. "Maybe not right now, but what I could see is a good man at the end of his rope. Don't push your heart too far, okay? Not for a woman that can't love you the same back." As soon as she finished speaking, the elevator notified its occupants that they were finally on the ground floor. "Everyone has limits, babe, no matter how strong. Don't force love that can't work out."

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ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ᴛɪʟ ɪ ᴅɪᴇ | 1ɴᴏɴʟʏ & ꜱxᴍᴘʀᴀ
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Walk up out the door, left a note up on my dresser
They tell me everyday that life is on its way to better
But I can't seem to shake the fact that I've been getting fed up
That's why my mind is drifting to the thought of a Beretta

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10PM. That was when they were assigned to meet her in the parking garage. As the two made their way towards where their intended meeting location was, the three guards had found a car with blacked out windows sitting alone in the parking garage beside their own car, one that matched both model and color. In front of it was the smoking driver that was assigned to hand her off to them. "So what's the plan, Altair?" Awaiting their orders, as the vampire scrolled through his phone for any specific requests, he began to deliver his commands. "Cael, Hana. You both are going to be in our car. I'll send you the directions to the points we're going to reach during the trip. During the final stretch, I'm going to need you both to be on call with me so we could separate to avoid drawing too much attention."

With the two nodding their heads at his orders, they began to make their way to the car they were offered to drive for the job by their "benevolent" contractor, leaving Altair with the driver and the escortee alone. "I see you run a tight ship. Surprised that you don't have more with you." The vampire shook his head. "We are all we need. Its better to have a few loyal faces than to have many you don't recognize. Besides, I'm sure you heard a little of our past if you were willing enough to take her here in the first place." The driver seemed amused at the confidence he held towards the people he chose to lead, pulling out his keys from his pockets to offer it to the man that was soon to be responsible for her safety. "That's a lot of faith you're putting in them. I hope it won't be for waste."

Eventually entering the car from the driver's side, as he looked into the rearview, he noticed a familiar shade of eyes that made his own glow. His brand had felt warm, suggesting that the one who owned it was close. Looking around and finding none other than her as his cohort pulled out of the garage to secure the outside before he headed out, the vampire took a deep breath before starting the car to pull it out into the street. Now wasn't the time to explore the depths of who she was when they had a mission to undertake. Rain spilled from the skies outside, coming down in sparkles of neon light as other cars made their way through the street beside him. With his companions in his side view mirror, he felt safe enough to warrant a bit of conversation over his curiosity. "... Long day, princess? You look exhausted."

Given all he heard about her, he couldn't blame her. There was a chaos going on in her organization, one that came behind the ever shifting power dynamics of an aging father whose wounds were beginning to catch up to him. While he might've been incredibly capable himself, and likewise, herself too, they were only but two pieces in a game. It appeared that even now, no matter how many generations could pass, inter-political turmoil always followed the fall of an empire. "Its okay for you to be honest. Its just you and me here. I could give less of a damn about what's going on if you need an ear to listen."

"That's the car right?" "Fucking looks like it." Further away from the two cars, three more had begun to tail them using the coordinates given to them from a tracker on the car. Little did the two know that the driver had set them up for an ambush that was soon to come. With the bounty on her head being so vast, it was only a matter of time before certain key pieces within her organization had found the opportunity too valuable to ignore. "Name's Altair by the way. I'm here to keep you safe so you could put your faith in me. I don't go back on my promises."

With weapons loaded, as the vampire bodyguard spoke, those that were hunting her aimed their weapons towards the car's windows. "Time to get paid."

 

[Passion]

♫ Punctual - Lifeline ♫
"Echo of a past life, caught up in the time.
Hunting for your voice like a lifeline.
Pray to higher powers, tracing every line.
Hope fate can make you mine like a lifeline."

"For as long as you survive and believe in our love, you will always find me."​

Lunet Seren loved Atlas more than anything in this universe. A love so powerful and sacred, she believed she could bend and rewrite their cursed fate. It was quite cruel of the gods to give the pair such a deep love that they wouldn’t be able to fully fulfill. A hex written in the stars beyond their comprehension.

It was earthshattering to learn that the kingdom she had grown up in, Veloria, had turned against her. Some had affectionately called her the Witch of Roses, her home overgrown with blooms nourished by mana, passion, and love. But others had whispered a harsher name: the Witch of Thorns.

The population of those who practiced the arcane was small and often misunderstood, but Lunet had mostly kept to herself, helping the kingdom with quiet blessings and magical aid when needed. Lunet was rather isolated, other than to those she was close to. It allowed rumors to twist and deepen, as the mysterious witch who lived in a small but looming, rosy but thorn-covered tower-like manor mostly just tried to live her life. She had always been passionate about magic ever since she was a little girl. Most of what she learned, she had taught herself, and her love for learning never stopped. She grew, she mentored, and she excelled.

There was some fear of how far she would go. Perhaps the kingdom was right to be a tad paranoid, as Lunet was brave enough to tap into spells connected to divinity, but her intentions had never been ill. The worst they were was curious. Too curious for the kingdom’s comfort. - No one told her to stop. No one warned her to be mindful, and yet paranoia had caught like wildfire.
​

"She is trying to summon the devil!"
"She will upset the gods, and we will all be cursed!"
"If she can use divinity magic, what else can she do?! What if she ends up destroying us all?!"​

It wasn’t the desire for power that drove Lunet to tap into such obscure magical fields, but an inner ache to understand and connect with the universe. To follow her passion to its very core. It didn’t scare her, it thrilled her.

Throughout her journey learning the arcane, she taught Atlas many spells. Beyond her recent focus on divinity, Lunet specialized in enchanting and layering said enchantments. She could turn a basic stick into an ultimate weapon and had made some impressive artifacts that would go down in history. Again, it was thanks to her passion that she was able to craft such masterpieces, often gifting special armor, weapons, and trinkets to her love.

In the back of her mind, Lunet had wondered if people feared her out of their lack of understanding, but never had she thought the whole kingdom would turn on her. She had become a villain, and it was devastating as a woman who just tried to live a quiet life in magic, discovery, love, and peace.

However, due to her efforts to learn divine magic and the fact that she happened to possess an abnormally strong spirit, she could try all over again.

It was in her tower, as Atlas bought her time, that she did what soon would be labeled a forbidden spell, as the only way to cast it was to use one’s life force. She knew this would end her life, but it would give her a new. Yet, it was still frightening. Just like everyone else, she was still human, although mana pumped through her veins.

She wanted to survive. However, at this point, what did she have to lose? She could try to fly them out of there, but they would be hunted like dogs. There wasn’t any peace to be found in this lifetime for them as a couple. Their happiness was ripped from their hands and their hearts… but never their spirit.

The castle would beam with a golden light as Lunet set her soul free, using her life force to beckon the gods to hear her, to take her, to rebirth her until she finally found a deep peace and lived a worthwhile life. A life she couldn’t imagine without him. Within the golden ray of light, Lunet cried with voice and mana for another chance.
​

Lunet would take her last breath while blinded by tears...

"Atlas…!"

Her color and life drained...
She breathed no more.​

---

Her soul would stumble through many lifetimes, but she would never be far from her immortal lover. It was evident they were the very definition of soulmates; she was never far. No matter what form she took, they would eventually find each other.

Each time, she was clueless. Their versions of immortality were extremely different.His heart would likely overflow with joy to see her again, remembering every lifetime, while she would fall in love with him for the 'first time', again and again. It was beautiful in its own right, but undeniably tragic.

Each time, she was taken from him.

Often, she was betrayed, just as she had been on that fateful day. Time and again, she died suddenly, always on the verge of something she loved. Whether it was magic or some simple job she was passionate about, whenever life began to feel safe and bright, when her heart remembered he was her soulmate, often through the red roses they once exchanged, the design that she marked his skin with, it all fell apart.

Each time, she returned as a woman with burning gold eyes. But with every painful rebirth, her soul grew more weary.

Could she truly keep enduring this?

Maybe... so long as he protected the threads that bound them, despite everyone telling him to let go. He wasn't just fighting for their love, but to break this cursed cycle that could kill her beyond the physical.

If only Lunet knew how Atlas never turned his back on her. Never giving up after thousands of years. Not even when all odds were stacked against them. True love. It was a kind of love not even the gods could ignore, and so they didn't.​

---

The massive, bustling city of Nerix was easy to get lost in. Yet Aelia knew it like the back of her hand.​

The only child of Enzo Zorn and Cyra Zorn (deceased), Aelia had been treated like a princess ever since she was born. It was how she got her nickname, although she didn’t act too entitled despite the family connection. Enzo Zorn was a successful man who ran a syndicate called The Lunar Shadows. His grandfather started it, but Enzo had grown the secret organization into one that was feared in the shadows. Those of importance in the city knew exactly who Enzo was, but the regular city folk were clueless that they were walking among one of the largest criminals in the country.

In this lifetime, Aelia had her passion aimed toward making a name for herself. To have her father proud of her for her efforts to excel. It was very much part of her spirit to want to exceed expectations, but she always paid dearly for it. Would it be different this time?

Born with mana still coursing through her, she had found her knack for enchantments again. While she already had deadly aim with firearms, Aelia went out of her way to enchant each and every bullet. Other than having a gun often strapped to her thigh, she had various rounds of special bullets depending on her needs. This gave her an edge that many did not have, although those who didn’t like her much dismissed her talent as if it were a form of cheating.

Aelia did her best to brush off others as she knew her worth; she just had to open the eyes of others to see it properly. Many had mixed opinions on her based on her father. Many saw her as only being involved in the syndicate due to being the daughter of Enzo. While that was true, she always pushed herself to make herself useful. With the same bravery she always had, she pushed the limits with magic and her willingness to put herself in dangerous situations.

It was a close call with an armed security guard at Newell Pharmaceutical that had shaken things up for Aelia. She had gone ahead to do a sweep of the floor that held the computer servers and had thought all was clear. Due to the highly sensitive (and expensive) information those servers had, security was told to shoot intruders on sight, and that was exactly what he did when he saw a glimpse of Aelia’s shadow run by.

She was shot in the shoulder that night. While she had mostly recovered, Enzo was seeing patterns of his daughter being a bit too bold. He had hired the best bodyguard that he could find for his daughter. He warned that part of protecting his daughter was making sure she didn’t run into the front line.

Her passion was her biggest strength and yet her biggest weakness.​

---

Ugh. It is so embarrassing. No one else has a bodyguard in the inner circle. I can drive myself…​

Aelia took a seat in the back with a black folder in hand. She glanced at the stranger. “Hey.” Her tone was both cool and collected.

She looked out the window as they drove off, quickly disconnecting from him. She was giving off the energy of having a bad day, and it was fair to assume she was. Right now, she was upset about what her father had set up. While she understood he wanted her safe, especially with tension high in and outside of the organization, she didn’t like the special treatment. She was a powerful young woman, as she was in many forgotten lives. Always misunderstood, other than by him.

When he spoke, she looked away from the window and up toward the rearview mirror. Then he would see it. The same gold eyes he had seen many times. Clueless and yet spirited as always. It was her.

“Call me Aelia.” She couldn’t shake the princess title easily, and there were worse things to be called, but the more she was associated as being Enzo’s daughter, the more tension she seemed to find. “Yeah, it has been a long day. I just got an important contract signed. I gotta bring it back to father.” It should be an easy job.

The woman couldn’t help but sigh when he opened the floor for her to talk. She ran her fingers through her blue hair as she considered what she should say and shouldn't. “Lots on my mind, but right now I’m wondering who you are. You better not get in my way too much. No offense to you, but I don’t want a bodyguard. I feel like you are a punishment since I made an accidental misjudgment.” He didn’t need to know all the context on why someone would feel such a way. It also seemed that Lunet's spirit was getting a bit more bitter with each painful rebirth. While her mind didn't remember their failures and tragedies, her spirit sure did.

“I’m hoping you don’t have your job long, since I will prove to everyone that I am fully capable of taking care of myself.” There was that spirit. That spirit that allowed her to try again and again. That bright spirit that loved to burn for him. The one that ended up inspiring violence against her for all the wrong reasons; she was too bright for this world in any timeline.

This lifetime was proving to be no different. The Zorn family was powerful, powerful enough to be loved and also hated. Her life was worth millions both dead and alive.

A blunt reminder of this fact was when the ‘princess’ looked back toward the window and spotted shiny metal. aimed towards her. Her golden eyes widened with realization and an innate intuition that she always had. Without a word, she quickly grabbed her gun on her shapely thigh and shot through the window without hesitation, shattering it not only with the bullet, but also with magic.

The bullet soared with a harsh, magical, and telekinetic-like pulse that would not only pierce a skull but push the car at least a lane over and potentially off-road. Golden particles of mana left burning in the air as an afterglow between the cars.

Someone didn’t want that contract delivered or had changed their mind.​

 

[Tenzai]

ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ᴘʀᴏᴠɪᴅᴇʀ | ꜱʟᴇᴇᴘ ᴛᴏᴋᴇɴ
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I wanna be a provider
Garner you with silk like a spider
Roll or die, you bet, I'm a rider
Your outer shell, your secret insider​

Nerix. A city of sin; A den of wanton greed and prideful ambitions. The city was a pedestal to corruption, a world full of forgotten dreams and broken promises. Its people lived in fear, both as a result of their unkind masters and a concern for financial security. While the modern kingdom itself may have been technologically different, exchanging towers for skyscrapers and blades with firearms, the city didn't stray far from his memory of the fall of Valoria. Its ruin's testament was lost to the passing of time, dooming future generations to repeat the same mistakes as their ancestors. However, his immortal kind was not guiltless either. He was far from the only living soul of that era, though it seemed that those who knew were complacent, apathetic to the unnecessary suffering and the descent of the city to its crumbling, gilded grave.

"Hey." As Altair drove, a sudden sound had put an end to his thoughts on the city that orbited around him. The voice of his escorted had taken his attention, driving his eyes towards the rear view only to find that same golden glow that his beloved inherited in every life. "... Long day, princess? You look exhausted." Noting the tension in the air, he aimed to reduce it through casual conversation, only to be greeted by her name. "Call me Aelia."

The warmth of his brand was consistent in its presence, his distance unchanging as he drove through the city streets. 'So it is her.' He thought to himself. 'Aelia, in this life.' While there was a present urge to embrace her the first moment he got, he had to cool the immortal flames of his cool heart. She had yet to know him. Worse, it was likely that there wouldn't be much opportunity to get to know her much the same, especially given the criteria of their job. Right now, there was a focus on looking exactly as his reputation might suggest, if not exceeding it. Otherwise, he would have to reach her through more unorthodox means. "Yeah, it has been a long day. I just got an important contract signed. I gotta bring it back to father."

"You seem to have a lot on your mind, Aelia." A daughter who wished to live up to the expectations befitting of her father's shadow, at least, that's what he recalled from the rumors he received while speaking with others in her organization. This wasn't the first time he found her taking up the mantle of a relative, not even the second time either. "Its okay for you to be honest. Its just you and me here. I could give less of a damn about what's going on if you need an ear to listen." The bodyguard knew more than to ask questions that could never be answered. When dealing with the less than legal types, the only way he could get them to open up was to simply let them speak on their own, offering one's ear in exchange. What he didn't expect was for her to turn it around on him.

"Lots on my mind, but right now I'm wondering who you are. You better not get in my way too much. No offense to you, but I don't want a bodyguard. I feel like you are a punishment since I made an accidental misjudgment." The vampire's professional demeanor shifted upon hearing his own role in her life be diminished. His facade of a gentle smile had cracked, revealing his fangs as his lips rested back to their natural position. "I'm hoping you don't have your job long, since I will prove to everyone that I am fully capable of taking care of myself." Her words weren't easy to listen to. All the training he had invested into himself across the years have all been done to better protect her. He had dedicated much of his living eternity to preserving her life, only for her to tell him that she didn't want him to his face. "If only you knew." Altair muttered to himself before noticing her reach for her pistol.

A glint in the car behind them was all he needed to see for him to understand just what was happening. A gunfight was soon to commence. However, it seemed as though she was much more prepared than the intel he received on her might have suggested. Where others have diminished her combat prowess in the hopes of deteriorating her crumbling reputation, upon firing a round back towards them, a flash of gold had left the barrel of her gun. The round slammed into the car chasing them as though a truck rammed into it, causing it to veer into a wall as its caliber shattered the driver's chest as well as the driver's seat behind it.

"Incredible." It was the first time he saw a gun be used as a magic focus, the glamorous energy of her soul being combined with her lead to be funneled through the same physics that propelled rounds like magic. Unfortunately, as for the surviving passengers of the vehicle's wreck, they didn't appear keen on letting the pair escape them.

"Shit. Looks like we're having a change of plans. Hold on tight, Aelia." Swerving the car so that the front of it was aimed towards their enemy, he first ensured that the escort was safe while he began to kick it full speed in reverse. Three winged creatures had come from the ruins of her hunter's vehicles; Enemies that took flight to continue their pursuit, most likely sitting in the passenger's seats of their car while their driver had been killed on the spot.

After hearing of the fighting, in the other vehicle that drove beside them, Hana unveiled a suitcase that held a high-power rifle inside of it. Assembling it on the spot, she gauged the appropriate caliber to use against the three winged assassins. "Hit the gas, I'll cover them!" She roared, finally adjusting her sights properly before pulling at the trigger. A plume of smoke had shot from the back of their car as Cael thrusted the gas pedal against the floor of his car, careful to avoid the sudden storm of traffic that came alongside the confusion in the chaos. "On it!" He yelled in response, using an enchanting spell on the car itself to grant its wheels added grip and stabilization on the asphalt.

The two cars were moving in concert with one another, matching . While most of Hana's rounds were dodged by the swiftness of those who flew above, nailing only one of them with a round that pulverized its target into a cloud of red mist, the other two that remained had channeled spells, launching balls of dark energy and ice towards Aelia's ride in the hopes of destroying it with her inside. More swerving had followed in response as Altair's experience afforded them an escape from the icy attack, though for the shadow spell, he had something else under his sleeve. Drawing one the same blades she crafted him in the first life, a simple dagger engraved with her rose signature that matched his eyes, upon pulling it out once the spell had gotten close, the magical projectile vanished. Spell absorption on void steel; A forging technique thought lost to time with the death of the last keeper of its secrets: Lunet, the witch of thorns.

With a call reaching his phone display Caelum's face on its screen, Altair answered. "Alt! We'll take care of the rest, just find a place to hide!" Rounds could be heard from across the microphone as Hana put more rounds in the sky. Unbeknownst to both Altair and Aelia, upon having her position be known, others had begun to make their approach. "We'll be fine! Don't worry about us! We'll catch you soon!"

The phone hung up, leaving the two behind to fend for themselves as one of the winged assassins froze the road in front of them. With an exit leading to a shady party of Nerix ahead offering an alternative route, the bodyguard drove off the freeway they were on, settling on a detour to keep her safe. While taking her to the appropriate destination was one of the objectives, above all else was the preservation of her safety. Altair turned off the headlights as he slunk into an alleyway nearby to make his getaway, losing the eyes of one while another had tracked them over, stalking as it came closer to avoid arousing their attention. Believing that it could keep the bounty on Aelia's head all to itself, it remained quiet while Altair pulled the car into a quiet pocket of the alley, away from the eyes of the public.

"Stay in here, alright? I'm just going outside to inspect the damage on the car." Given how hard he pushed it, the knight was sure that the tires of the vehicles were smoking. Any vehicle with this level of torque given the depth of its armor would damage itself if reversing at such a speed for so long and upon closer inspection, it seemed like it was well the case for their own. Scratches had littered its hull from the grazing it experienced when pushed between cars. Its tires were bald and steaming from heavy use of the breaks and the sudden turns he was forced to make to avoid incoming damage. It wasn't safe to drive in for much longer without some sort of repair, though as he was about to inspect the hood, the feeling of a knife against his neck had brought his movements to a halt. Appearing in behind him was the raven assassin from earlier, eager to use Altair as a hostage to get what he wished.

"Aelia, come out. Otherwise, your little boyfriend gets it-" Instead of forcing her to make a choice, Altair had moved as though he didn't care much for his own life. His suffering was meant to be eternal, his death was written only when his reincarnated lover ceased in her existence. Thrusting his head back against his enemy, he forced a bloody nose before taking a knife from his hip to stab at the one who made an attempt on her life in the first place. By now, the false smile he wore to put her at ease was gone, replaced with the cold eyes of a man that was forced to start over again.

Blood dripped from the vampire's neck where the raven had scratched at his neck, denying him comfort as he did away with the trash of this city. Only until the deed was done, when his enemy ceased breathing, long after the rain had begun to pour atop them, did he finally end in his fervent stabbing of his enemy. Over the course of several lifetimes, Altair had learned to never take chances with those that desired to take her away. Not again. Not ever.

"... Aelia. I know of a place near here that we could hide out in the meantime." Given the chaos that occurred just moments earlier, he understood that the police will soon arrive to investigate. Being around would only add more problems, especially now that there were a few corpses that needed to be answered to. "I'll get another ride for us when things clear out but until then..." Opening the side door, he reached for a set of bandages to wrap around his neck first before grabbing an umbrella that rested beside it should it rain. Opening it for her first before opening her door, he granted her shelter from the rain and company for a walk. "We should get a move on." Offering her a hand outside of the vehicle, his eyes had glowed with a patient contentness, knowing that they were able to get out of that assassination attempt for the most part unscathed. This time, he was enough. "After you."

And your fingers foxtrot on my skin
I'm going under this time
I can give you what you want​

Neon lights had made the puddles underneath their feet glow with illuminated splendor. Their world was full of color and yet, he felt cold. His love was everlasting though it seemed that the gods that had forced this fate on the both of them had made his journey back to her side rife with trial and challenge. Perhaps it was this world's way of saying that they were never meant to be, that they were too stubborn to understand what was destined for them in the first place. But, no matter how much trouble her many lives could throw at him, there was nothing like walking with her by his side, memories or not. Her presence was his drug. Her victory, his ambrosia. The sight of her safe and alive beside him was enough to bring his anxieties to a standstill. She was his peace of mind, his purpose; She was the only one who made his infinity make sense.

"Enchanted rounds, huh? First time I've seen anyone wield those before." Oftentimes, it was those who couldn't wield magic well that resorted to guns. They lacked a need for magical attunement and elemental affinity and were often the go to choice for those who couldn't cast at their full effectiveness. "Your use of them was spectacular. I could assume that the other colored rounds on your thigh represent different uses for them, yes?" Lunet still appeared to be quick to pick up on new knowledge like she had in every lifetime, finding other ways to explore the limits of magic. "Shame that the others in your company couldn't recognize the ingenuity. Being creative with magic is a boon, not a wasteful endeavor." Mimicking the words of his first love, even now, he had yet to forget her lessons.

His footsteps were slower than hers as a result of him taking wider steps due to the height difference that lay in between the two. While some wandering eyes looked over them, it seemed as though they didn't stand out too much from the common people here. Some even waved, suggesting a sort of familiarity between Altair and the commoners. "Hmm?" Noting a sort of curiosity in her gaze as he made certain turns given his understanding of the area and its local landmarks, as they walked, she could hear a rumble in his stomach. "I know a bar around here. An old place with wood counters and warm food to stave away the cold. The bartender there owes me a favor and I'm sure he'd be fine with us taking an opportunity to visit for a while." The vampire was amused at the prospect of taking her out to eat mid-mission. While it might be seen as extra, it was still within the job's parameters of keeping her safe.

Noticing the shine of the cool rain on her exposed skin, the vampire stripped himself of his suit jacket, offering it to her. "It'll be still a few minutes away. Here. Take this. It'll keep you warm. I'm used to the cold already." With his arms exposed, his past scars were visible on his light canvas. Wounds from other times were still present on his body, of scars from arrows and blades to elemental magics that have come and gone in popularity. Dragon's breath, undead curse marks, and the touch of other species were present, though one mark differed from them all: A rose brand on his shoulder; One that had a sort of golden touch that pulsed across its dark lines like waves of a sunset over a beach. "And we can't have you getting sick, can we?"

An odd glance had made him assume that her initial hesitation was from the bloodied jacket. "Oh, right. Let me get that for you." With the casting of a simple cantrip taught to him from one of her many lives, this one of when she was a maid, the stains of his enemy had vanished, leaving behind a freshly pressed suit jacket that still held the warmth of an iron. The uses of his magic had extended far beyond that of combat alone. By living with her for so long, he had adopted some of her learned nuances, one in particular being the desire of her spirit to treat magic as more than a weapon alone. "I'll be fine without it. Truly. I've grown fond of the rain."

And our bodies converse like old friends
Exchanging the years in silence
With something unsaid on both ends
Surely we know the difference​

 

[Passion]

​

Truly, Aelia could handle herself in most situations. She was talented, especially in the arcane due to many lifetimes of soul-deep development and a personality that often didn't stand for failure; she was a force of nature in a slender feminine form.

The problem was that she was merely human. She couldn't do everything herself, and mistakes happened. Needing to rely on others became a hard concept for her to grasp, as many of her lives she was faced with betrayal or a misunderstanding. Based on what was brewing in the background, this one was starting to prove to be no different. Just like in all of her others lives, she was misunderstood, hated, feared…

She was always the victim of a literal witch hunt.

She would let her bodyguard prove why her father had hired him and his crew. Placing her gun on her lap as they zoomed off, she would let him and his team handle the matter. The entire time, Aelia remained calm, although she appeared annoyed that they were being attacked. She wasn't quite sure why this time. With the creatures involved, she doubted it had anything to do with Skyline Realty, whom she had just secured a contract with in exchange for not airing out their crimes that would utterly ruin them. Thirty-five percent of their yearly revenue in return for silence. It had been agreed upon well in advance, so it should have been simple.

However, it was never that simple, was it?

While the others bought them time, the two tangled souls would flee to hide. "I didn't think we would be getting attacked so soon." A heavy sigh escaped her. Again, she was rather calm considering what had just happened, but it seemed Aelia had already seen a fair amount of violence in this lifetime, at least compared to when she had been a maid or even an artist. "I must say, you are pretty good at driving. You seem to do decent under pressure." Decent. A weak word, but she was still relearning who this man was.

The car rolled to a stop in an alleyway, and she let Altair look it over. While he did, she checked her phone to see if anyone in the Lunar Shadows had sent a hint of a possible new hit on her. As of late, it has been hard to know who to trust. The number of whispers about her was increasing, especially within the inner circle, which had not been as respectful toward her father in recent years. Tension was growing.

With no new messages, she locked her phone and tucked it into her hoodie pocket. Just as she looked back up, she saw the man who had just risked his life to protect her now doing it again. A blade to his throat. Something deep within her trembled. While she didn't wish for anyone on her side to perish, something instinctive in her was screaming.

No. NO! NO!
YOU CAN'T DIE!
YOU CAN'T!

She needed him,
and she had no idea why.​

Tears welled in her golden eyes. She wasn't heartless, but she didn't know this man to care as much as she did. She had only just learned his name, and yet, the thought of him being hurt felt unbearable, as if it would shatter something deep within her. The ache, the fear… it was overwhelming.

Altair not only broke free. He turned the blade on the assassin. One fatal strike, then another and another to be sure. With the danger silenced, it seemed the heavens began to mourn. Rain poured over the bloodstained scene, washing the crimson away, yet it did not extinguish the fire burning in Alt.

An umbrella was opened for her, and she nodded in thanks before taking his hand to lift herself from the seat. A soft spark passed between them. One that he would understand and one that puzzled her for a moment. "You okay?" She eyed his neck. "It really has been a long day. That got under my skin more than I thought." She didn't know why the idea of seeing him hurt unsettled her so deeply. It felt like watching a family member about to be killed. Maybe all the daily stress was getting to her.

Her ever-curious gaze fell on the body of their once-breathing enemy. She held the black folder under her jacket protectively from the rain. "It is important these documents don't get damaged. We should try to head back to HQ as soon as we can." There was the glimmer of her well-known ambition, that passion, that desire to do her best in every lifetime that made her very much Lunet; there was no room for funny business when something stood on the brink of importance. Often, it was Altair who helped ease the tension she placed on herself as she would burn herself out or put herself in danger before she ever quit.

"I've always been good at enchanting for some reason, and with all the guns around, it was a no-brainer to combine them." She raised a brow at the mention of how others saw her. "Guessing my dad told you about the tension inside the organization, huh?" She tried to shrug it off, knowing there wasn't an easy fix. As always, she had no intention of doing anything but her best.

"They think I'd have bad aim if it wasn't for my magic. Which is stupid. That isn't how it works." She hated being underestimated. Sure, her magic made the impact of her shots greater, but it didn't make her less of a marksman. "I experiment with different enchantments when it comes to my bullets. I could give you some if you want."​

She paused as an obscure feeling resonated throughout her core. "Déjà vu...?" she breathed in wonder.

In many of her lives, she had gifted Atlas many enchanted items and romantic gifts. Just like the dagger he had now. It was no wonder that it would feel oddly familiar. She shook her head. She really needed some extra sleep or a drink or something.

Her eyes narrowed at his suggestion. "We can stop there for a quick bite and drink while we wait for our ride, but I have to get these papers to Father." To disappoint him would distress her, but even when she did her best, it often wasn't enough.

When he offered her his jacket, she looked up at him. He was supposed to protect her, but it wasn't his job to make her comfortable. After so many lives of betrayal, it had become harder to earn Lunet's trust in recent incarnations. Kindness often had an ulterior motive or was paper-thin. Her built-up experiences made it harder for her to trust the sparks she felt when her soulmate was near; it was quite somber. It was just a jacket he offered, and so she tried not to hang on to her worries too much. Still, was he just trying to get on her good side so he could get closer to her father to gain something, or to try to murder him?

"I have my own jacket, but I'm not much of a fan of the cold." She wouldn't be rude and would take the jacket. Draping it over her shoulders, she picked up on his scent, which caused forgotten experiences to dance and blur in her core. Huh?

Her golden eyes traced the scars that more than likely were tied to many stories… a handful of them likely involving her. However, what was most interesting was the brand on his shoulder. A rose that shimmered with a mesmerizing gold. Why did it look familiar?

She palmed her face for a moment. "Hopefully, I'm not already getting sick. It's been a strange day." He would wash away the blood with a bit of magic. The gesture was enough to get a soft smile on her face, not the kindness, but the magic. In every life, she adored some form of the arcane, and seeing that he could cast too gave her a warm feeling. Casters were known, but still not the most common. Often, it was magic that reconnected them, as it was a language they both spoke beyond words.

She would walk with him down the rainy street, her black heeled boots clicking on the sidewalk as she followed his lead. "Huh, you seem like a man of many talents. Guessing that is one reason why my father hired you." While she had been disinterested in the stranger since she felt like her father had hired a glorified babysitter, he had earned some of her ruthless curiosity and hunger for knowledge. "What is your favorite field of magic? How did you get into this line of work? Are you going to be my bodyguard every day or just for special events? My father didn't tell me much about you."

So many questions, but it was one way to get an ancient witch's spirit on the hook.

 

[Tenzai]

ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ʙᴇɴᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀꜱᴋ | ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴᴀ 5 ᴏꜱᴛ
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺

Where have you been? Been searching all along
Came facing twilight, on and on, without a clue
Without a sign - without grasping, yet
The real question to be asked: where have I been?​

"It really has been a long day. That got under my skin more than I thought." Dripping scarlet had stained the collar of his suit; Dark as dying roses, while his wound was nothing more than a graze, it was enough to warrant her concern. "You okay?" A single enchanted handkerchief, one that masked the depth of a wound with a couple swipes, was all it took for him to wipe the stains away from his skin. Even if it lacked the same healing properties as an ordinary healing spell, Altair assume that his wounds would heal with time and that the energy that could be used to regenerate his body would serve a better purpose should another assassin show up. "I'll be fine. I endured far worse fates than that graze alone."

With her folder shielded from the rain, whatever documents Aelia deemed worthy of preserving underneath her jacket were kept dry. "It is important these documents don't get damaged. We should try to head back to HQ as soon as we can." Altair nodded his head. Regardless of whether he was able to convince her to wait out the added attention, they were both still held responsible for undertaking a mission: For her, to bring back whatever it was she received from her last contact and for him, to ensure that she got from point to point safely.

His genuine compliment had seemed to reach her, distinguishing him from the ordinary rabble that often prodded at her use of magic as a weakness instead of a strength. "I've always been good at enchanting for some reason, and with all the guns around, it was a no-brainer to combine them. Guessing my dad told you about the tension inside the organization, huh?"

Altair shook his head in refusal. "Nothing more than what I needed to know. About what you are. About what you look like. Everything else? That comes from me doing a bit of digging of my own. Your company is rather vocal about their opinion of you." It didn't take much more than a few bribes to loosen the lips of those that felt intently for her. Given the influence her family had on the Lunar Shadows as a whole, it was clear that her competing cohort was rife with jealousy, eager to take on the vacuum that would be soon to come in her father's absence. Greed and pride corrupted whatever foundations this organization had built over years. It was a pitiful sight and unfortunately, a common one when it came to the woman he owed his destiny too.

"They think I'd have bad aim if it wasn't for my magic. Which is stupid. That isn't how it works." Her grumbling had made it clear of how she felt over their words. They were reaching her, torturing the place she deemed worthy of making her life's goal in this life. 'More bodies to stand in the way of our happiness.' The knight had thought to himself, extending Aelia an ear to listen. "I experiment with different enchantments when it comes to my bullets. I could give you some if you want."

A pause had followed, leading to her boots coming to a halt. With their heads covered by an overpass, they were given a brief respite from the rain. "... I'd appreciate that." Never in any life had he denied an opportunity of growing with her and through her. She was his teacher, no matter how powerful he could become. A mentor in every lifetime that refined his edge all the more with every new encounter. "I'd even take a few lessons on how to shoot from you, if you're so inclined to help."

Her vampire bodyguard offered a charming smile, careful not to expose his delight too obviously. With comfort and subtlety came trust and chemistry. To force her to act was to bring upon disaster. He learned his lesson of giving his love away too readily; Enduring the consequences of his hope too many painful times before to ever forget. Altair needed to temper his expectations. He needed to hold back for her sake yet his heart was too stubborn. It was too easy for him to care.

An offer of temporary asylum disguised as an invitation to a meal had followed, leading to her acceptance of the terms and a gesture to follow in his footsteps. They were getting close, though there was still time before they would make it. With the growing howls of the wind and the increasing pounding of the rain, he thought it right instead to offer her shelter underneath his fabric, handing her a jacket cleaned and made warm through a magical act of prestidigitation.

"I have my own jacket, but I'm not much of a fan of the cold." With a gesture of kindness came hesitation, yet with his eyes seemingly too caring to refuse came acceptance. Though what caught his attention was not the appearance of her bound in his clothing but rather the look in her eyes when scanning over his skin. Familiarity had bled from her soul into her conscience, barely enough for him to notice, though too significant for him to not. "Hopefully, I'm not already getting sick. It's been a strange day."

"Then its doubly important you wear my jacket, isn't it not?" The vampire walked back into the rain with an umbrella at the ready, bathing his exposed flesh in the glowing water that spilled from the sky. "Say what you think, I've been told to keep you safe from all things. That means more than just bullets and spells, you know? Colds too." The vampire had chuckled, wielding her human biology against her as a charismatic edge that cut through her initial resistance.

"Let's get a move on, shall we? If we make it fast enough, I'm sure that the bartender who owes me will still have his kitchen running by now." One look into his watch had revealed that it was nearing closing time. While he didn't think his friend would leave them out in the cold, especially if he owed the vampire a favor, to have him cook after closing down for the night was a one way invitation to hearing bickering from the kitchen, not the most romantic of ambience or enticing of backdrops. With his umbrella being extended once more, he shielded her exposed head from the rain, letting his larger-sized jacket shield her from shoulder to thighs to preserve her warmth where his umbrella could not.

"Huh, you seem like a man of many talents. Guessing that is one reason why my father hired you." The vampire raised an eyebrow, curious as to what brought on the sudden compliment. "What is your favorite field of magic?" A prod for knowledge, it seemed that even after all she endured, her curiosity had not faded in their many goodbyes spoken too soon. Though, he was a capable spellcaster. Even now, with the advent of technology, spellcasters had made up the minority of the greater populace, especially those who understood how to wield it well. "I'm a spell sword who's fascination is tied between three fields." Raising one finger with his open hand, he counted up. "One for gravity. The ability to bend physics to my will." He raised a second finger. "One for hemomancy, to make the most out of life and of those that were alive."

"And the last, but certainly not the least..." Raising his third finger, he brought up a field of magic not ordinarily known. "Arcane alteration with a focus on magic modification, nullification, absorption, and reflection specifically. Its not a common field of study, I know, certainly not the flashiest either... But to reduce a spellcaster's ability to that of someone ordinary. There's no other power or spell school in the world quite like it."

Noticing a piqued curiosity, the spell sword offered a content smile upon finding her interest in him endearing. He was the product of their love refined over generations. "Perhaps we could trade knowledge. Your enchanted rounds and your lessons in marksmanship in exchange for a few of my own lessons. Things I've picked up when traveling this world for far too long." The sum of his knowledge had exceeded that of many of those who had spent most of their lives invested into the arcane arts. Whoever he was, he wasn't normal.

"How did you get into this line of work? Are you going to be my bodyguard every day or just for special events? My father didn't tell me much about you." Taking a deep breath, instead of playing up a mask, Altair offered his truth, of what the job entailed that brought him to her in the first place. "In truth, Aelia? I was only hired to see your safety through until the end of your organization's turmoil. Whether that comes via the death of those who willed this upon you, an unsteady peace brokered by your family and your rival others, or... If someone were to replace your father, my contract with him would come to an end. He kept the conditions plain and obvious." Death was not to be feared in this line of work, but rather something to be expected. To believe that one was invulnerable was to draw disaster to themselves and those around them.

"But until then, my job isn't to fix things. Its just to ensure your safety, for however long he deems me necessary here by your side." Eventually, the two had made it to the crosswalk that sat opposite of the bar he wished to take her. It was a quiet street a ways away from the skyscrapers they passed when driving on the freeway. "So I'm assuming I'll be here for a while. Even if he is of age in a job where most die early, the fire in his eyes has yet to die. Perhaps to the dismay of many that seek to replace him." With a wind overtaking the two, causing the jacket that wrapped around her to nearly fly off her body, Altair wrapped an arm around her shoulder, preserving its place as a protective layer on her while ensuring that the folder in her arms would not be made unstable. "My thoughts? Get used to me. I'm not leaving you behind. Not while you're still alive, Aelia."

As soon as the winds had come to an end, the pedestrian symbol on the sign across from them had turned green, flashing and beeping to make them aware that they had the right of way. "I'll do my best to ensure my time spent beside you is pleasant for both of us. All I ask is that you give me a fair chance to prove my worth... again." The last of his words had grown muddied due to the pollution of noise that erupted from the passing storm.

Regardless of how old he grew, the way he spoke strayed from typical cultural convention. He was raised as a knight by her side and no matter what mask he could don, that hopeful soul that lay within did not let go of the past that made him so happy in the first place. Finally assisting her to the other side, he opened the door for her to enter first, closing the umbrella as he finally made his way inside.

"Oh? You're back." An older voice had come from behind the counter, finding an old friend slip through the front a minute after closing with a new face. "A date, Altair?" A warm smirk befitting of a friend teasing another had cracked over his face, leading to Altair shaking his head. "Perhaps under more welcome conditions, certainly. But, no. We're here for work." The vampire escorted her towards a table nearby, his favorite that he often sat with Hana and Caelum after missions. "Two meals please. Whatever's the special preferably if that's fine with you. Cops are around and well..." He looked at the woman who sat across from him. "Its better for us if they don't start asking questions, Gunther."

The older man donned an apron as he sighed, locking the door behind them and flipping the sign so it read "Closed." "Of course. Let me handle it. You two sit back and relax. I'll make you a coffee too, miss..." Gunther waited for a moment, awaiting her response. "Hmph... Not the name I would've chose for ya, but its a pretty one. I'll give it that. I'll be back with your food." Making his way back towards the kitchen, the two were left alone to be given a moment to settle.

"You know. I wonder why you choose to stick with that organization of yours. The Lunar Shadows aren't exactly at their peak. Heard from other orgs that you all were on your downfall with all the politics going on inside. Messy shit, I've been told." Reaching towards his phone, he browsed through his messages, finding his own companions safe for now. They too were hiding in another area. With the heat so intense, it was unlikely that they would reunite any time soon.

"Not that it scares me. A job's a job, and out of every other person I was responsible for escorting, you're certainly far from the worst. You don't treat me like a tool, so that's a start." Gunther came first with the drinks, a couple cups of coffee to warm them after a long night outside. "Thanks, Gunth." The older man nodded, before walking away. With every step of his own came a click of his prosthetic on the floor.

"The old man here owed me a favor. Got him out of a bad bind in past work that took his leg. Sucks, but a lost limb is better than a lost life." His eyes had grown dull for a moment, thinking of the many times he had seen his beloved die in front of him. It was exhausting to think about, a past he preferred to drown in drinks and good company rather than facing it alone. "We have a bit of time to kill, Aelia. What's on your mind? I've noticed you staring at my arm for a while now."

 

[Passion]

One common aspect about Lunet in all her lives was that she wanted her efforts noted and respected. Not everyone would understand her drives and skills, but she always worked hard, whether that meant being a maid whom kept things tidy, or a front-line soldier. She could not stand those who dismissed her efforts or passion. So when others tried to disregard her aim, it bit into her as if all her time and energy were for nothing. It was unacceptable. However, this man seemed to take her word for it. He seemed more than talented, and yet acted like he could gain something from the "princess" of the syndicate. Throughout all her lives, she had been happy to share some form of her passion with him.

"Yeah, maybe I can give you some lessons down the line." She didn't want to make any promises. She was still getting to know her bodyguard, although she felt like she had known him longer than a few hours... much longer.

She glanced over to him when he spoke of protecting her, even from the cold. "I don't think that's part of your job, and I can take care of myself. Spells to a chill," she echoed, mirroring her own ego and natural mistrust.

She didn't want to rely on another, although she couldn't do everything herself. Altair would know this well. He would see Lunet attempt to tackle all sorts of matters headfirst, and despite her spirit, their fated curse would always find them. Why would this life be any different? Chances were, once they grew close, her own father would put a bullet in her head. Or maybe she would be tricked by a rival who tortures and kills her. Who knew, but it never ended well...

"I'm not going to stop you if you think there's a spell or two you can teach me in exchange. I have a knack for magic, but I don't meet other casters often. Even when I do, I hardly have time to learn from them or get their advice." Busy. Always busy.

"It sounds like you really know your stuff. Those aren't novice fields you're dabbling in." She didn't even know what she was truly capable of when it came to the arcane in this lifetime. However, she knew how to get creative with what she knew. Again, it would seem that the arcane helped bridge the gap between them. No matter what trauma her spirit had faced, her love for the arcane never truly ceased.

She considered what he said regarding the length of his job. In a line of work full of criminals, no one knew what to expect. That meant he could be her bodyguard for a week or for years. The chances of her getting assassinated or kidnapped were at an all-time high, although a risky move given her position and her own talents, which many foolishly underestimated.

They continued to walk. A chilled breeze caused her to tense, but a well-placed arm over her shoulders at least kept the jacket from flying off. "You make it sound like I'm stuck with you." She grinned at his conviction toward his job, not knowing his personal reasons for being so driven. "My father cares for me, but he's mostly worried about me since he knows he can trust me." Who else could he actually trust in these critical times other than his own devoted daughter? A daughter that, if truly loved, he wouldn't be assigning a bodyguard to, but rather getting her the hell out of this dangerous organization. If anything, a good father wouldn't even have his daughter be part of it. At least, not so directly. But she was still running around getting contracts signed for him and such. At this point, she was too involved.

She would be lost without the syndicate; it was all she knew in this life.

When they entered the warm cafe, the gunner witch sighed in relief. The walk had put a chill in her, although it would have been worse without his aid. An eyebrow of hers would raise when a date was questioned. When was the last time she was even on a date?

She handed the damp jacket back over before taking a seat at the table. "I'm Aelia." He would make a comment on her name, and she couldn't help but laugh in disdain. Her thorns were showing. Her voice was sharp, "Whatever you say, Gunther." Talk about a name that didn't seem fitting, at least in her mind. Little did she know it might have felt like a mismatch due to her original soul name.

Her piercing golden eyes locked on Altair when he spoke about the Lunar Shadows.

Downfall.
Not at a peak.
Other organizations [looking down]...
Messy.
Why stay?

He fucked up.​

She would treat him worse than a tool if he weren't careful.

Was he brave or dumb to be talking badly about the Lunar Shadows to her? She couldn't quite tell, but there was an unseen energy in the air...

Anger.​

The Lunar Shadows was her passion in this lifetime. To leave it behind would mean everything she has been working for was for nothing. She didn't know a life where she wasn't part of the organization. She also didn't have much of a choice, like he suggested; this was the fate and responsibility she was born into. He was going to belittle that, especially as a stranger she just met? To speak against what she was driven about could easily earn her ire... and it did.

"You wanna tell the man who hired you all that? Probably not. So why would you tell his loyal daughter who lives and breathes for this organization every fucking day?" Her brazen gold eyes didn't even blink, there was enough unspoken intensity brewing that it would be enough to make most grown men sink.

It looked like she wanted to tear him apart.

The ancient spirit within her was stirring. Lunet had often taken matters seriously, perhaps more than most, and she was no different in this form. If anything, maybe even more so based on her upbringing in this lifetime.

She only freed him from her fiery gaze when Gunther came back with coffee. "… Thanks." She held the warm mug with both of her hands, using its heat to help chase away the cold.

"Do you really want to know what's on my mind?"
She raised her coffee mug with a grin on her face.

"I don't think you do." ​

She wasn't blind. She knew he was trying to develop a connection with her, probably for the best if he was going to be her bodyguard, but she was still sour regarding what he said about the Lunar Shadows. He questioned why she would even still be involved. It was her purpose. Without the organization, who was she? She was nothing. All her time, passion, and love had been put into this.

Taking a long sip of her coffee, she placed the mug back on the table. "But I'll tell ya anyway." A wide smile was now plastered on her face. Her heart was buried away by lifetimes of misery and disappointment. "I'm thinking about... putting a bullet through your head." Yet moments ago, she was talking about sharing her love for the arcane with him, but it all went out the window as soon as he spoke down about her family and mission. "I wonder what my father will say when I tell him about your opinion of our organization." Perhaps she was right. He wouldn't have his job for long, at this rate, he might have a new threat on his life.

Why would she play nice?
No one ever played nice with her.

 

[Tenzai]

"You wanna tell the man who hired you all that? Probably not. So why would you tell his loyal daughter who lives and breathes for this organization every fucking day?" Her sharp eyes attempted to stab him like daggers, offering him a vitriolic retort in response as her retaliation for his honesty. It seemed that the state of the Lunar Shadows was her sore spot; Something he fathomed as the anchor that would cause her to sink in this lifetime. Intensity irradiated from her vision, causing most to shake if they were ever made subject to her heat. However, what others had grown to fear about her was a part of her the vampire had grown to love. To Altair, only she could feel so inflamed about something that she would let it consume her. All else that attempted to mimic that same love were false mimicries of the woman that turned that burning loyalty to him many lifetimes ago.

A break from her fire was granted suddenly with the introduction of her coffee, only for another pair of eyes to take place in what was last seen of her golden orbs. "Do you really want to know what's on my mind? I don't think you do." Altair didn't back down or falter in his opinion as a crack of her lips had ripped into a wide smile. "But I'll tell ya anyway."

ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇᴀʀ | ᴀᴢᴀʟɪ
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺​

"I'm thinking about... putting a bullet through your head." She meant every single word. No part of her, not her tone she spoke with, not the look of her eyes or her body language, had made the vampire believe any less. Hate. Aelia hated what he said. "I wonder what my father will say when I tell him about your opinion of our organization." Warm eyes had drifted from a welcoming gaze to something more befitting of the vampire. Apathy. Threats of violence; Of being replaced was nothing he wasn't used to, especially from her. Given the fact that every new life that came next had tried his soul more than the last, the man in front of her was only able to maintain his mental state through the use of emotional isolation. His love had a time and place. Where it did not serve him, his logic did.

"Sounds like your father was smarter than his peers take him for. To put the fate of his family in the hands of someone both honest and capable, rather than a loyal fool or a dishonest snake." Leaning on the table, the vampire offered her his gun, resting its handle in her hand before drawing its barrel to his head. "Say what you wish, Aelia. You know I'm not lying." Altair stared back with a cold, unfeeling gaze. Whether he would've died or not, he would be forced back into this body, forced to relive this moment until his brand had deemed it right for him to die a proper death.

"Unless... You think your father's judgement wrong. Unless you wish to put the fate of your organization in the hands of those that will backstab you." He was not afraid of death. He had learned over and over again that to love her was to invite undue risk in his life. Without taking a chance on her, he was sure that their love would be made impossible; That her doomed fate was guaranteed. In the one life he had given up on her, he had found how intercrossed their fates had been, no matter how he felt. To love her was a blessing and a curse; One that inevitably invited turmoil into his life.

"Go ahead, pull the trigger, Aelia. I dare you. Disappoint your father. Your family. Your legacy. Prove that you care more about lip service than you do the future of the Lunar Shadows." Altair had shown no hesitation, no fear in this death. He had spent his eternity chasing shadows, glimpses of heaven where nothing but hell existed. What more was another life?

Awaiting her decision, her bodyguard glared at her for what felt like an eternity, only for the sound of his phone's notification tone to take him out of his challenge: The heat had died where his friend once was. While the police of this city were a nuisance that often plagued the trio, they were at times, personable with the right favors and bribes. "Hm. Looks like our ride is due to come. Thirty or so minutes."

Putting his phone down, the vampire had stared at his reflection in his own weapon held inches away from his head. One clear shot was all it took to do away with her father's choice. Slowly wrapping the hand around the barrel of his own weapon, he brought it down, noting the proximity of her digits to the trigger. He needed to see the depths of her blind loyalty to make an appropriate observation of the Lunet of this timeline; Of whether her love for the empire that her family had helped build up would be the same cause of her downfall. "If you'd choose to hold off your blind loyalty for just a moment, we have a mission we're responsible for. Perhaps, it would be best for you to leave the decision of your opinion of me until then, for the sake of both of us... And for the sake of your organization."

Curious as to the thoughts behind her eyes, with the smell of their food approaching them, Altair brought his gun down from his own head, resting it on the table should he find need of it sooner than later. "Is Gunther really so bad of a name?" The tanned, scarred man had placed their meals in front of them, scratching the back of his head at the memory of her tone and look she made towards him. "Its not my first. I chose it because it was the name of a character I loved from my favorite show."

Gunther scratched his chin, turning over to Altair. The look of familiarity between them had hinted at a sort of identity below the surface hidden well from ordinary eyes. Glowing eyes underneath shades depicting that of an elemental had greeted his friend. "Besides, when it comes to handling this type of crowd, its never good to use your real name, now is it?" Altair nudged his friend harder than normal, causing a bruised cough to escape from the bartender's mouth. With a smile, Gunther patted the new face on the shoulder before leaning in to speak to them both. "Enjoy the food, yeah? And do me a favor. If you two can't keep your hands off of your triggers, the least you could do is spill your blood outside my damn cafe."

"Of course. I didn't plan on it." The vampire mused, taking a sip of his warm drink. Caffeine had afforded him respite from the cold, though the feeling of his skin was the last problem that came to mind. With assassins actively after her and her intensity turned towards him instead of their enemies, it seemed as though he had much more to contend with in this lifetime than the last. Every single time he reached out to her first, he always ended up getting pricked by her thorns in order to embrace her. "I'm sure Aelia here is smart enough to not make any more new enemies."

Finding them as a rough couple, Gunther sighed. Whoever she was, it was clear that trouble had followed her. Given the fact that he chose to retire, Gunther made few exceptions to accepting more drama into his life; In a profession where most died early, he had wanted to take advantage of the life he was able to win in peace. "I'm hoping that you're not picking fights for no reason anymore, Alt. You and I are too grown for the petty shit. Too rich for it too. Cael and Hana might be young, ambitious, and stupid, but we're not. Don't act like them. Be better."

Turning around, he left a mop and bucket nearby the door for the girl he hired to clean up tomorrow morning. "I'm gonna be closing up shop soon. Vienna could handle cleaning up when she arrives so I'm going to leave the closing of the shop to you." Gunther tossed his old friend the keys, donning his rain jacket now that the oven had been turned off and cleaned. "Please don't make too much of a mess for her to clean up, alright? I trust you won't break my poor daughter's heart."

"Of course. Relax Gunth, we'll only be around for a half hour longer." With a nod of their heads, Aelia was left behind with the oddly comfortable vampire. Despite the many generations of death he had experienced as an immortal, he never let go of the soft spot he had for family. If there was anything he regretted in the first life, it was not starting a family with the time they had together. If he wasn't chasing his dreams of being a knight, perhaps they would've died happy together instead of reuniting as strangers like this, forced into a vicious cycle of eroding reincarnation and the Sisyphean task of denying what the gods of fate had decided for them. "... Still thinking of killing me, Aelia? If you do, do me a favor and make sure I don't come back. Unfortunately for both you and I, I'm rather stubborn. My soul has a tendency to stick around longer than it should."

 

[Passion]

His gut would be right.

Whenever Lunet faced her fated tragedy, it was usually something close to home. Based on how dangerous this organization was and how entangled she was in it, this had to be related to what would cause her soul to carry another scar, and for him, another heartbreak. It was always the same. Lunet's spirited personality had a way of stirring the pot in whatever situation she was in. It made her a woman who left marks throughout many lifetimes, often remembered for some great feat. But it also led to her never finding true happiness. They were better off in a peaceful cabin in the woods, but could someone like Lunet ever settle for such simplicities without knowing everything she had already faced?

She had loved him many times with the same fire, but couldn't see it in that moment. He made her feel strange, but the mixed signals had her on edge. Paranoid and frayed, the witch was at the end of her rope. From the daughter of a crime lord to a soul that had been screaming for thousands of years, Lunet was the type to be a divine lover or an enemy straight from hell. Her depths were unmatched by most. This life was no different, and if anything, it was even more evident.

While her words shot like bullets, she hadn't pulled her gun. She had spoken of her impulse and her hatred for the way he talked about her beloved organization. His response, both in action and words, was puzzling....

He gave her his gun and told her to follow through with her violent thought, mentioning how she had gone against her father's judgment by hiring him. She didn't know how much her father trusted this bodyguard, but that didn't mean she couldn't go back and report what had been said. She doubted her father would want someone who didn't believe in their cause. He would ask why she was still involved in it. None of this sat right with her. There was no way her father would approve of this level of disrespect.

"You're out of touch. Shooting you wouldn't disappoint as deeply as you think. I don't even need a damn bodyguard! Father will see that soon enough." She placed the gun on the table. Her wrathful presence was more threatening than the shiny metal between them. If she was going to shoot him, it would be with her own gun. "You talk about being backstabbed and yet you know nothing about our personal conversations. Of course, people like to run their mouths. It's part of being human." She had a reason for everything, but it still didn't make sense where his boldness was coming from. It smelled like a bluff.

What concerned her most was getting the signed contracts back to headquarters. She worried more about staining her paperwork with his blood than about what to do with his body. It was strange how calm she felt now compared to when he had a knife to his throat. Maybe it was because now she was the one in control.

With the gun on the table, the tension had lightened, but she could have easily grabbed it and shot him at any point. Aelia had already proven she was a quick shooter. Of course, with the gun between them, he could have done the same. Even though she had more or less threatened his life, he wasn't threatening hers. He was just foolishly daring a killer to do it.

"I'm leaving the decision up to my father. He'll kill you himself if he decides to after I tell him what you said to me. If it wasn't for the fact that I need your ride, you might be on the ground right now, bleeding out. You talk so confidently and don't have shit." She leaned back in her seat, her posture oddly relaxed after nearly biting into the sinful temptation to end his life.

Gunther would return, and Aelia would sigh in annoyance. She hadn't been enjoying herself since the moment they walked through the door of this cafe. "I don't really care about your name. You're the one who made the rude comment about mine, while you're the one named after a cartoon character." She bit her lower lip to keep back the storm rising inside her. Gunther would ask them not to spill blood in his cafe. While the vampire reassured him he wouldn't, she remained quiet. In other words, she would do whatever the hell she wanted. No promises given.

She raised a brow at the comment about choosing her enemies wisely. "You're talented at pissing me off." As if she couldn't handle the cafe owner. She felt underestimated, like many others had made the mistake of doing.

"If I decide to kill you, trust me, I'll make sure you don't come back." She pushed out her chair and stood, leaving her coffee behind as she walked away from him.

She moved toward the window of the cafe, watching the rain dance along the surfaces and neon lights outside. Isolated, she waited for their ride. Maybe they wouldn't get along in this life. Or maybe her corrosion had simply gone too deep. It felt like he was working against her current dreams and saw the only family she had as broken, and she wouldn't stand for it.

 

[Tenzai]

ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴏᴡᴇʀ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ɪꜱ ᴛᴇʟʟɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ 2 | ᴛᴀɪꜱʜɪ
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺​

The first life they wouldn't work out. It was once an alien thought, one that Altair never believed he would ever fail enough to expect, and yet, here they were, separated by mere feet but emotionally isolated by oceans of difference. If not for their ties together due to them sharing the same mission, it was questionable as to whether there was something left between them in the first place. His willing undertaken curse had formed distance in between them; With every life, they were pushed further apart via the corruption of time and the entropy that came with every lost hope. Chips of his own faith in himself had eroded at the naivety that once existed towards chasing their happy ending. No matter how much he could grow within one of her lifetimes, it never seemed enough to keep her around. Though this time, it was different. This time, they weren't simply strangers but rather opposites that were forced to work together.

Her words cut like daggers, each tearing further and further into his once love-addled mind, dragging with their hooks his growing apathy towards the surface. Altair knew she had thorns to begin with, but they were never something he could ever grow accustomed to. Every single time she had diminished his role, he was brought to near frustration. He did this for them, taking a curse of memory and immortality over the sake of a happy ending. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he was merely the focal point of never ending tragedy. If this was what love felt like, why did he sacrifice his peace in the afterlife in the first place? Though, with the torrent of thoughts in his mind as he gazed at her body turned away from his, a vibration on the table had brought his eyes towards his phone screen. Their silence was longer than it felt. Long enough for his friends to feel like they arrived in a flash.

Then came the unenviable task of delivering her the news. Aelia was absorbed in her own thoughts, unwilling to offer the bare minimum of respect for his character other than for what her job required of her. Most would've given up sooner if placed in his own position, though no matter how much his better thinking wished to fight his destiny, he felt no greater deliverance than hearing her say those fateful three words that made him turn against the impossible in the first place: I love you.

Taking a deep break before coming to her table, her bodyguard scratched the back of his head as he made his steps towards the window she stared out of. For now, even if he didn't have the answers, he knew they needed to work with each other to get this job done. All else could come after, if there was even another chance to begin with. "Aelia. Let's get going. Our ride is here." Leaving the umbrella on her table, he opted to simply let her be for now, preferring to brave the rain itself than to weather her cold shoulder. His talent was in fighting but where he lacked finesse was in his words. Given how much language had changed over time and how little experience he had living a normal life, he never quite figured out the same language she had won his heart over in past lifetimes. "Keep the umbrella for yourself." He muttered, turning off the lights to the cafe as he opened the door for her.

A storm had awaited the two outside, drenching the bodyguard in Nerix's polluted rain. Without the right words to break the thickness of the atmosphere and the idea that anything else spoken to her by now would simply leave them in more trouble, as the bodyguard locked the door behind them before leaving the key under the mat, he offered no words or quips as she passed him by. Curious at the sight of what happened between them, Caelum rolled down the passenger's side window to reveal himself and Hana with a few added bandages on them and new sets of clothes to go alongside it. "What the hell happened, Alt?" Before he had a chance to offer another question, Altair interjected his line of thought. "Not now, Cael. I don't want to hear it. Let's just get this job over with and figure out the rest from there."

The fallen angel looked towards his human shapeshifting counterpart, each giving each other an odd look leading to a shared shrug as Altair opened the door to escort the princess of the Lunar Shadow's inside. Unlike the last car, this one seemed a lot more ordinary to maintain an inconspicuous look. Separate from the blackout windows that denied visual access from the outside in, it was fairly nondescript inside as it was out, save for a plush that sat behind one of the rear passenger seat pillows. Sitting opposite of her, Altair rested his elbow on the arm rest of the car door, looking out into the city as Cael started the engine. Hana on the other hand observed their escorted through the rearview, easily noticing the tension in the air. Something must have happened in between the time they left and the time they picked them up; Something that made Altair unprofessional.

The three were quiet as they made their way from west Nerix into the eastern commercial side where corporations had taken the place of small residential districts. Massive pillars had blocked out the stars with their light stripping all that was natural from their inherent beauty. If there was anything that Altair missed about the past, it was their wanderlust of the world and its mysteries. Now, all he could see around him was evidence of greed and ambition, a cultural refusal for the acceptance of contentment and the desire for enough. Perhaps, this was one of the biggest differences he had from the woman sitting beside him. He would've been content with just her, yet her and nearly everyone else around him had sought more and more. His gaze lingered for a moment, before Hana's eyes had caught his attention. A text had followed from her phone to his of a message displaying her genuine thoughts. [...What the fuck happened, Alt?]

[I spoke of the rumors about her group. Shit followed.] Altair sighed, taking note of the surroundings. They were nearing where they were set to accompany her for a drop off. [She's pissed... and its my fault.] As he typed the last few words, he gave them pause before deleting them, only sending a portion of the message instead. Should he have kept his thoughts to himself? She had always told him to be honest with her, not just in her first life, but in every other. What made this life so damn different? His fangs had pierced his lip as he grew angry at himself. He wouldn't have made those mistakes with anyone else, but with her, it felt like it was easy to mess up. With her, all the training he did to keep his emotions under control had gone out the window. With her, he was vulnerable. She brought out both the best and worst in him.

[Well, whatever it is. Cut it out for now. We got a stop to make and you gotta look like you have everything in control. Save the shit for after we're paid.] The car eventually came to a stop in front of a parking garage that sat at the back of a large building. A headquarters, donning another name for the sake of keeping federal eyes off of them. "Looks like this is it. Sorry for the tough company princ- Ow!" Before Cael was able to finish, Hana had punched him in the shoulder. Now wasn't the time. "We'll be out here when you need us, Alt. You take care while you're inside. Both of you."

"I'll be back soon." Altair nodded, leaving the car first in order to open the door on her side. As he did, he felt the eyes of others upon him. Intense emotions were among those he could detect. While some were relieved that she had managed to arrive back with her contract documents in hand, others were surprised that she had managed to come back. Even from the outset did others fail to hide their malice. Competition seemed fierce, though he was in no room to question. If she preferred him to keep his mouth shut, he would keep his thoughts to himself, simply entertaining the company of others for now while he gathered intel on the place he deemed her new home was.

A security door had first stood in front of them, denying easy access from the outside parking garage to within the building itself. Cameras had blinked from various corners, winding in scan of each room. Given the stiff competition of her group's primary industry, there was little doubt that she had to contend with threats from outside as well as those within. Upon seeing her approach, they had let the two through without question, in expectation that she was set to arrive sometime that day. "Aelia. Its good to see you." One of them spoke. "Hmph. Your father is waiting for you upstairs." The other, more heavily armed one appeared dismissive of her presence. As he followed her, glares from behind armored visors had denied him the chance to feel at ease. He was in a den of killers, each seeking a reason to spill blood.

Other eyes had passed them in the lobby, some kind yet some not so. Stepping in between those who wished to get close to give her some space between herself and the others outside, Altair made true to his promise to her father; As long as he was responsible for her, he would make sure that no one would touch her for as long as he had breath in his lungs. With a step into an elevator that held an array of buttons counting up to the mid fifties, he watched as she pressed one of the higher level ones, only for the door to close to give them a sense of privacy from wandering eyes.

"... Hey. About what happened back there." The higher the elevator went, the further they were from the ground as he peeked outside the elevator's glass wall, making all the troubles he had grown used to on the ground feel small in comparison. Now that he was given ample time to cool his thoughts, he believed that if this was the last time he would see her, there was no point in holding onto a grudge. Her soul had still existed within that body; Aelia was his closest living connection to Lunet.

"I'm sorry for believing the rumors at face value." His pride was not so great as to deny him a chance at reconciliation even if she refused. If there was anything he learned over the course of his eternity, it was that, when it came to her, there was no shame in trying, only shame in doing nothing. "You deserved better and I should've..." Ping. A new notification from Caelum written in text that signaled that it wasn't him on the other end of the line.

[Dispose of Aelia Zorn. Do not disobey.]
​

"..." The notification forced his mouth closed as they reached the halfway point. [Any sign of disobedience will end the nullification of your contract to us and your head on a hit list. Don't be stupid, Altair. Think of your friends outside that will pay should you fuck up.] An image was attached to the message, revealing his two companions held at gunpoint. With his pistol still on him and his abilities with dagger nullification, the thought occurred to him of rushing her next life by killing her himself. If this life wasn't worth fighting for, then why did it matter if she prolonged her stay in that body for a few more weeks? Why wait? The vampire drew his knife, looking at her while she seemed focused on her phone. Raising it, he sunk his weapon down, finding a small splash of red rendering flesh open. Blood had spilled atop the elevator floor, staining the once pristine ground. "To think, our first meeting would come to an end like this."

It was his blood he shed, cutting quickly into his non dominant hand to open up his body to the use of his most familiar magical element: Hemomancy. As the door opened to her father's floor, curious bodyguards had found Aelia next to the wounded man. "It looks like this is your stop, Aelia. Say hello to your father for me." With blood stained hands, he pressed the button to return down to the ground floor, leaving his mark on her building. He would be damned if he ever turned his weapon against her. If he did, he would've been no better than the knights that sought her demise. She deserved better. They both did.

As the doors closed between them, Altair muttered a prayer to himself as he steeled his mind for combat. Payment be damned; If those who stood in their way had sought to use their contract against him, then he had no qualms about turning his weapon back on them. They were enemies, made to look righteous and untainted through the use of mercenaries. His promise extended to them risking themselves for her safety, not a betrayal dealt to the woman closest to his heart right when she was about to meet with her father. If they were willing to threaten him with this much, then they were never allies to begin with, simply snakes with masks. With blood, his blade had taken on an extended form, forging itself with his life before multiplying himself, not once but thrice in mana and crimson. 'I'll be there soon.'

On the other end of the door, an arm had extended itself to meet her shoulders, pulling his daughter into his familiar embrace that came with a job well done. Her father had hugged her, knowing well of the events that occurred through tracking devices placed on their initial vehicle. He was aware of the attack and doubly so, aware of the attempt on his sole daughter's life. Unlike Altair, he didn't know about second chances or reincarnations, the only life one led was the only one they would have.

"Welcome back, Aelia."​