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Demonizing an Angel *(Silvana | Areawin)

Silennia allowed herself a moment to get her breathing under control; adrenaline coursing through her, as if waking from a falling dream. But this had been unlike anything she'd ever experienced before. It was brutal; her skin still tingled where the feathers had brushed against her flesh. After her heartbeat slowed, she began collecting her thoughts; slowly falling back against the sheets with a long sigh. The taste of the substance still lingered in her throat. No more than a few hours had passed, if it had been even that long.

Her body was her own again, and she made sure of it before sitting up and dangling her feet off the side of the bed. She tugged out her hair tie and ran her fingers through the raven strands before sloppily putting it back into a bun. Her red dress felt clingy, making her flinch. She didn't notice Keiran was still there until she'd washed up a bit and changed into a night gown, and even then, she hesitated to walk toward him.

"I'm surprised you're still here," she said quietly. She felt exhausted and beaten, but took a seat near him at the table, where the vial still sat. "Damien gave this to me, for the pain I've been having." A muttered laugh escaped her throat. "It worked. Look at this." She placed her hand next to his. It was still badly bruised, but the bone was no longer trying to jut through. Her shoulders ached, and the temporary sort of high that came with drinking the substance was gone as well. However she could still feel it running through her blood, and it made her sleepier with each passing minute.

She suddenly looked uncomfortable and leaned back into her chair. Had there been some sort of hallucinogen in the vial? Even now, she remembered the touch of the feathers; see the slight glow of sunlight radiating off of the being's skin. It was an odd feeling, and the more she thought about it, the more it sent cold chills up her spine. She wanted to say that he didn't have to stay here, but of course he already knew that. And, honestly, she enjoyed his company. Especially now, when she wasn't sure of anything except the safe feeling she had when he was near.

That safe feeling vanished completely as there were a series of four knocks against her apartment door. Her flesh crawled; hair stood on end along her arms. It was her home, yet she was reluctant to stand and answer it; uneasily looking toward Keiran as another series of knocks sounded.

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Kaleb was several doors down when he looked at his watch, noticing that it had been a while. Yet... still no Patricia. Mina couldn't be feeding that well with barely more contact than her mouth, so what was going on?

He stepped down the hall and opened the door, finding her halfway free and struggling to remove the rest of herself from the binds. Patricia -- the girl -- was laying limp on the ground. She wasn't dead, but there was a fresh bruise against her throat, and it seemed like she was struggling to breathe in her unconsciousness; a raspy sound coming from her lungs.

In a swift movement, he ferociously squeezed the bag that her IV was connected to, but it seemed that in the same moment, she was able to rip out the connection. Quite a bit of it got into her system before it was ripped out, and Kaleb immediately punched a button on the wall before coming to straddle Mina and attempt to force the clasps back on. Fangs were drawn, silver eyes flashing, snarls ripping from his throat aggressively.
 
For a moment, Keiran said nothing when Silennia spoke to him. He had been in thought for quite some time, and only now did he turn those amber hues towards her. She only confirmed his suspicions, "So you trust this Damien fellow enough to drink a vial filled with a completely unknown substance? He runs a night club, not a doctor's office, Silennia. For all you know, you could have drank squirrel semen." Well, he wasn't being entirely honest with her. Keiran knew very well that inside that little glass tube had been blood.

Offering a smile towards Silennia when she commented on the fact that he could have simply gone home instead of staying, "I stayed because I was concerned about you. Whatever was in that vial knocked you out almost instantly." Keiran stood up, sliding his chair away from the table, His head arching towards the door a bit when a series of knocks abruptly sounded.

At this hour?

His humor faded a bit, and exchanging a glance with Silennia, he moved forwards, deciding to answer the door in her place.

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Halfway free, and Mina had no interest in allowing someone to prevent her from reaching her goal. With her second wrist now free, she detected Kaleb re-enter the room. Her breath hitching slightly as she immediately snatched for the IV inserted into her ankle. Not quickly enough, however. A pained screech escaping the red head as some of the contents were squeezed into her body just as the IV was painfully ripped free, sending a spray of blood splattering against the floor, but she had avoided true agony.

Her pain, however, only served to drive her in her desire to escape, and in the next moment, she had ripped completely free from the bindings, slamming her foot into the male's stomach, throwing Kaleb off of her when he tried to force her back into her restraints. Grabbing the IV needle between her fingers, she came down on top of him, slamming it directly into his throat before he could get up.
 
Silennia, for the most part, ignored Keiran's harsh words. She trusted Damien in ways that she couldn't explain. He understood the pains she went through. Oddly enough, he seemed to understand what was going on with her better than she did... yet he managed to slip out of the conversation when she brought it up. The most she'd ever gotten out of him was when he remarked simply, "Very few are privileged to go through what you are." He walked away with a smile, making her feel irritated and uncomfortable.

It didn't take her long to come back to the present and out of her memories, with Keiran standing to answer the door. She came to stand behind him just as the door was being opened, and her breath escaped her suddenly. "Liam?"

A man stood there with spiky blonde hair, wearing jeans and a halfway buttoned white shirt with nothing underneath. He was smiling, but it faded when he noticed Keiran standing there. His brown eyes held burgundy flecks in a starburst pattern, turning his head to look at Silennia with a forced smile. "Hello."

The girl took a step so that she was standing next to Keiran instead of behind him; slightly leaning against him to look up at Liam. "What do you want?" Her words were crisp, and as soon as she'd acknowledged him, the blonde's eyes turned menacingly toward Keiran yet again.

"I see you have..." A long pause as he looked carefully over the man that Silennia stayed close to. "... Company."

If she didn't know any better, she could have sworn that a low growl came up from deep within his chest. And to her surprise, he took a step backwards. "Well--" she started.

He interrupted her, "I was in the neighborhood. Perhaps we can grab lunch later. Good night." There weren't any other words, and he was gone quickly, leaving Silennia standing there feeling confused and frustrated. She slowly shut the door, just to turn around and lean against it, feeling guilty... although there was nothing for her to feel guilty about.

"Liam is..." she hesitated. "An ex of mine. He enlisted, and we were moving around. I don't even know how he knows where I live. It's been a while since we've spoken." The more she thought about it, the more irritated she became, but the vial's contents from before were beginning to affect her again. Her eyelids drooped, and she stepped forward to where she stood toe-to-toe with Keiran; resting her forehead against his chest. "I think I just want to go to sleep." There was a quiet whine to her voice.

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Kaleb struggled with her. He thought he had the upper hand until her foot met with the soft flesh of his stomach; all air escaping his lungs. It was a double-beating as he landed harshly on the floor, and a third wave of her relentlessness with the IV stabbed deep into his neck. A bit of the substance entered his system, but not enough to devastate him completely.

It took several seconds for him to come back up, coughing. The door to the small room flew open. Vampires were ready to rush in, but seeing Mina, they hesitated and took several steps back; growling and snarling, unsure on what to do. "Grab her!" Kaleb demanded. Two of them stepped forward, but were easily tossed aside.

As of now, he wasn't sure what he didn't want more: for Mina to escape, or for Lilith to enter the room. Either way, it kicked him into gear, and he stood. Claws sank into the flesh of Mina's arms from behind her, pulling her to the floor. He resisted the urge to sink his fangs into her, but quickly remembered that she was pumped full of the holy water and silver concoction that had been in the IV. It wasn't so much the holy water that he was concerned with, since it would break down in her blood... but silver was deadly.
 
Keiran's immediate reaction as the door opened and he saw another male standing on the other side was to wrinkle his nose as if Liam smelled bad. Amber hues hardening towards the male where Silennia couldn't see. Only relaxing when the small exchange of words was over and the door once more shut.

"I don't like him." It was a blunt remark, and Keiran's gaze met with Silennia's, but any further conversation fell short as her eyes drooped slightly and she closed the distance between her and him. His gaze softened just a little and his arms wrapped around her in a comforting hug, "It is late." he remarked, and without another word, scooped her up into his arms for the second time that night, "Back to sleep with you, then." He mused, sitting her down on the couch, "It's been a big day for you, I imagine."

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She had made a dash for the door, flinging a vampire out of her way into the wall, and sending another one slamming into the floor. She didn't have the time or energy to take them all on, so Mina's window of opportunity was quickly growing more and more narrow. A snarl escaping her when she felt a tearing sensation in her flesh, using her own arms to force her back to the floor...

"Let. Me. Go!" She snapped out in frustration, throwing her head backwards. Hitting Kaleb right in the nose with the back of her skull. Feeling his claws tighten into her arms in response, digging deeper into her flesh. With another violent thrash, she tore free, deep gashes appearing against her pretty white skin as Kaleb's claws lost their grip. As soon as she had ripped free, Mina was dashing down the hallway, fighting her way out. Showing absolutely no mercy as she even went far enough to sink her index into one unfortunate female's eye socket when the female vampire tried to cut the red head off from the stairs that lead upwards.

Like a bat out of hell, Mina took the stairs four at a time, emerging on the next floor, flames swirling around her bare feet as her gaze flared brighter upon finding a single golden eyed vampiresss waiting. She stood there boldly, smirking, "Oh my, my, my... Precious little Mina, all grown up.... Do you remember me?" Lilith sneered, pacing from side to side, "You favor your father, I see."

"And you favor a corpse." Mina snapped, making a swipe for Lilith's face, but the vampire was quick. The raven haired female ducking just under Mina's claws, turning swiftly as she took Mina's legs out from under her with a well-aimed kick. Blood smeared against the floor from where the red head was still bleeding as her body hit the floor. With a hiss, two seconds later, Mina had turned on Lilith with a glare that could have chilled even a heart of stone.

It was pure hate. Lilith grinning in response just before the demon pounced for her, slamming the vampire down against the floor so hard that it cracked, flickers of flames scorching Lilith's skin, but she didn't seem to care.

The two rolling in the floor at each others throats by time anyone came entering the room.
 
Silennia smiled up at Keiran when he picked her up, and she freely laughed at his comment about the other male. "There's something strange about him, isn't there?" She wrapped herself in the sheets on the couch-bed, and tugged on his hand until he was at least sitting next to her.

She decided to address what he said from earlier, playing with his fingers from when she'd pulled him next to her. "Damien understands something that I don't," she said quietly. "It sounds kind of ridiculous, doesn't it? It's hard to explain." She opened her mouth as if she were going to try telling him what she knew about what was happening to her, but in truth, it all sounded insane.

Damien made it sound as if she weren't human, and while something in the back of her head told her to believe it, for the most part, she thought he was teasing her when it was brought up. However there were things that couldn't be explained about her life that research explained as her being other-wordly. It amused Korina, and she definitely made fun of Silennia when the girl brought it up.

She did know that something strange was going on, and Damien had the only answers that ever helped. Now her father was gone, Liam showed up at her door, her shoulders felt like they were being detached from her body. Wounds were healing faster than normal, even before the strange liquid that she ingested. It was all exhausting, and her research never led her anywhere, so she decided not to bother bringing up.

Exhaustion began taking its toll, and her eyelids drooped until they were shut; in between consciousness and lucidness.

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Kaleb's snarls could have been heard from two floors up from Mina's relentless abuse. He had a difficult time standing to go after her, and by the time he was on his feet, a female was tearing down the hall. She panted, adjusting him as their bodies collided. "Lilith--" she gasped out.

It was the only word he needed. Within the second he was down the hall, and his silver eyes rested on the two women fighting. It was the most brutal thing he'd ever witnessed... and it sent him into a rage that he rarely experienced. Lilith finding Mina was one of the last things he could have ever wanted. Now that she set eyes on the girl, there was no telling what she would do to keep her. The vampiress was too strong for him to send her out of the city.

He knew he couldn't tear the two apart... so instead, he sat back and waited for them both to tire out; motioning for some of the others in his nest to block exits. The two were slowing down, at least. There wasn't much else for him to do at this point except have his vampires on standby for when Mina was weak enough for them to restrain her.
 
Settling on the edge of the couch, Keiran listened to what Silennia had to say about Damien. Of course, he made no comment on the things he himself knew. Just like how he had neglected to inform Silennia that her supposed 'ex' wasn't what he seemed to be at all. No, Keiran had instantly reconized him for what he was. A demon. Though, his nature and type remained a mystery to the incubus.

'Liam' was a problem that Keiran would have to address later when the time came.
Though, it seemed as if his problems were steadily piling up.

Stretching out on the couch, he waited for no invitation from Silennia as he laid down next to her.

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While Mina had been savage tearing her way out, Lilith shockingly matched her now that they were face to face. Each time Mina threw the vampire off, Lilith was right back on her feet, countering the succubus before any real damage could be dealt. Just barely dodging Mina as those sharp nails cut into her cheek. A swipe that had been aimed for Lilith's eyes.

Mina didn't have time for this. With a snarl of frustation, Mina's head snapped towards the side as she caught sight of the vampires who had entered the room, heading in to close off Mina's escape. With a last effort, she made a dash for the exit, turning her back on Lilith only to feel those claws cut into her shoulderblades as the vampire pounced, cat-like and deadly. Shoving Mina belly-first against the cracked floor.

Where she remained, her sides heaving. Utterly exhausted. Not even having enough strength to even bother with trying to push Lilith off of her back. Feeling those claws slowly retract when it seemed that the demon would no longer fight back.

Lilith didn't move a muscle, however, panting a bit herself, seeming satisfied, "Sorry." She mused softly, her hand pressed down on the back of the red head's neck to hold her there in case she tried to get up, "I need you to stay put a bit longer." Lifting her head, golden hues turned towards Kaleb, a smirk curving at the edges of her lips. Oh, while the thought was tempting to try and take the demon for her own means, Lilith wasn't after Mina. She had no use for the girl, nor was she foolish enough to harm her.

In fact, the last time Lilith had seen the demon spawn, she had only been a mere child, tagging along at the heels of the blood stained angel who had sired her.

"How embarrassing this must be for you, Kaleb." Lilith purred softly.
 
Silennia welcomed Keiran next to her, and was bold enough to adjust herself so that her head rested on his shoulder; arm over his chest. She focused on his heartbeat, his warmth and breathing, and within seconds, sleep grasped hold of her tightly. Her dreams were strangely normal this time around, but it seemed like there were red feathers fluttering down in her peripheral vision. When she turned to look at them, they were gone, and the dream would take another turn.

This lasted throughout the night; only waking once sometime around dawn to relieve herself. All of her muscles ached as if she'd done a strenuous workout the day prior. Her hand was still bruised from what she could see in the light of the bathroom. Yet again her shoulder blades were exceptionally hurting, so she dared to lift her shirt and see how they looked. The sight mortified her.

The bruises were worse than on her hand. There were purples, blues, reds, and a yellowish green. The green was a good sign since it meant healing... but it certainly didn't feel like they were. Another thing she noticed was that they were almost exactly symmetrical, curving around the blade itself and down to the bottom of her rib cage, where it wrapped around just slightly to her sides. She pulled her shirt back down and sat on the edge of her bath tub for a long while to compose herself. How long was this going to last until she had to seek professional help for it?

Silennia washed her face as a way to relax herself, before coming back to lay next to Keiran once more. This time with her back gently resting against him, as if it would help relieve the ache. For the first time in weeks -- possibly months -- she slept in, well past the morning hours and into noon, although typically she would have thought it rude to sleep in with company.

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Kaleb watched, leaning against the wall and tending to his wounds, until Mina fell to the floor for the last time. She looked absolutely spent, yet fire still blazed in those pretty crimson eyes of hers. He had a feeling that even in the brink of death, Mina wouldn't lose the hellfire that lingered there.

"Not embarrassing so much as annoying," he sneered. The vampire motioned toward Mina, and nine members of his nest swooped in to bind her. She was taken into a small room for the ability to clean herself up, with two vampires inside. The door was locked twice, only unlock-able from the outside, to ensure her captivity.

Kaleb used his thumb to wipe a few fresh drops of blood away from his neck, since the wound was healing much slower than usual due to the small amount of liquid that had found itself into his body through the IV. Without saying anything further to Lilith, he retired into his bedroom since the sun was coming up.

A small, young vampire boy, looking to be no older than thirteen or so, stepped into the main room. "You're welcome to a room for the day," he stated simply. "004 and 009 are open." Without another word, he slipped off down a hall and walked out of sight, retreating to his own room. There were a few still awake that were meandering to their selected areas. Mina was taken back to the same room after cleaning up, and restrained the same way as before. The room was spotless. There wasn't a single drop of blood anywhere; the girl -- Patricia -- was gone; there was a new IV waiting for her, filled with the same substance as before; the bed had been stripped and re-made, with new straps just in case the others had been even slightly damaged. They had obviously been preparing for this for quite some time.
 
Beside her, Keiran lied awake for quite some time before finally falling into a uneasy sleep. His breathing soft. Sleeping clear into late morning before finally, he stirred awake once more. Being disturbed by movement next to him as Silennia climbed back onto the couch, having returned seemingly from the restroom. Amber hues cracking open, though, after a moment's consideration, closed them once more, drifting back off to sleep. Until noon.

Which was when somewhere inside of Keiran's pants, a unidentified ringtone started blaring. Startling him out of his sleep as he jerked awake, seeming confused for a moment about where he was and what was going on.

Until the annoying music bubbling out of his pants pocket finally reminded him of what had woken him, fishing it out and answering, "What." His tone was irritated, tired, but, the voice from the other end was urgent.

".... where have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere.... You weren't sleeping still, were you? It's noon. You should have been awake hours ago."

Shiori.

"Of course not. I've been awake since daybreak." A lie... but what Shiori didn't know wouldn't hurt her, "Has Mina shown up?"

There was a pause on the other end for a moment, and then finally, "No. Nothing. Ratri went out looking early this morning, but I don't expect that moron to actually find anything useful."

Nothing? Of course not.

"Keiran?"

"... Go track Ratri down. I'll call you back later." Keiran finally spoke up, and with a brief 'good-bye', he ended the call, returning the cell phone back to his pocket and relaxing once more where he had slept more of the night.

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Lilith climbed off of Mina when the others had approached, watching as they collected Mina off the floor and escorted her back towards the basement from where she had emerged. The vampiress simply nodding towards the boy who approached her, "Thank you." Though, her thanks was only half-hearted, watching after Mina until the red head was out of her sight.

The demon went quietly. Surrounded by vampires on every side of her. It would have been amusing, had her humor not left her at this point. Being locked into a room to clean up. Deep gashes visible all over her body. Wounds that barely healed at all, some of them still dripping blood when she entered the room. Lilith had done a number on her, but even so, the deepest of the cuts were the ones in her arms where Kaleb had attempted to restrain her.

"Does it hurt?"

Mina blinked, lifting her gaze as crimson clashed with curious silver hues, "You're different from the others." She observed, eying the vampire. He was young, handsome. Silver eyed and silver haired. At a rough guess, Mina determined that he was about 5'8 in height. Still unable to pinpoint what exactly drew her interest in him. What was so familiar about him...?

"Stupid." She finally decided, after considering his question.

"Stupid?" Luciano seemed slightly irritated at such a title, and she continued cleaning herself up, smirking as she elaborated, "You asked if my injury hurt. The flesh has been ripped wide open. Of course it hurts. If you can't see that by looking, then obviously you must be stupid." Some of the smaller cuts were slowly starting to close up. The bleeding coming to a halt. When she was mostly blood-free, she was escorted out of the room once more... and back into the area she had escaped from. Hesitating at the sight of the bed.

A push from behind prompted her forwards, drawing a hiss from her, but, she didn't fight. She had wasted as much energy as she could afford in her attempted escape, and she grimaced as once more, she found herself restrained and the IV re-inserted into her body.
 
Silennia stirred, turning over and sleepily looking at him over her shoulder at the loud noise. She grumbled and placed a pillow over her head until he stopped speaking. "Been up since daybreak, huh? Who says that anymore?" She rolled over. In appearances, Keiran didn't look but a few years older than her. His demeanor, the way he carried himself... it was proud and experienced.

She stretched and pulled the blankets away from her before making her way into the small kitchen and opening the fridge. They'd just gone shopping, yet nothing seemed appetizing. She pulled out a gallon of orange juice and poured some into two glasses. "Are you hungry?" The question was asked on her way back to the living room, settling back down on the blankets and handing him a glass. "Still no Mina?"

Before she was able to take a single breath after the question, her phone started chiming from the table next to her. The name read DAMIEN. After a long sigh and a few seconds of hesitation, she slid her thumb across the touch screen and placed it to her ear. "Hello?"

"How're you feeling?"

She looked at Keiran out of the corner of her eye, knowing how much he disapproved of her taking the strange vial of liquid the night before. The girl didn't want to lie to Damien, but she didn't want to admit that there was something wrong with her in front of Keiran. It took a few seconds for her to respond; stammering slightly until she decided not to bother. "The bruises are worse than before."

A long pause on his end. "And you drank the vial?"

"Yes," she sighed. A deliberate uncomfortable glance toward Keiran. "That's when they got worse."

The conversation was rather short after that. He told her to stay home, preferably rest for a few days. If the pain got too bad, she should go to the hospital for medicine that would keep the pain at bay. She agreed that she would take care of herself. Just before hanging up, his voice got rather low. "Have you had someone with you?"

"...Yes," she replied. There was a question in her tone.

"Light-haired fellow?"

"Mhm."

"Good. Stay well, Silennia."

She didn't have a chance to respond to that; the call had ended. Silennia held the phone in her hand, staring at it with a furrowed brow.
 
"I say that." Keiran retorted, "And there is nothing wrong with that." Quietly, he laid on the couch, resenting both Shiori and his cellphone for waking him.

Laughing at her question about whether or not he was hungry, "Oh, I am ravenous." He commented, sitting up on the couch as she walked into the kitchen, his gaze running over her backside appreciatively. A short while later, she returned with two glasses of orange juice. He was almost disappointed. Smiling to her and accepting the glass regardless. Sipping at it and then setting it down on the table when the phone started ringing, just in time to excuse him from answering Silennia's question about his missing sibling.

Listening in on the conversation, noticing how Silennia occasionally glanced towards him. Ah, so his earlier negative comments about Damien made her hesitant about speaking to him in front of Keiran. Even so, he gathered enough details to know what the discussion was about. That bruising on Silennia's back that he had spied the night he had attended dinner with her wasn't normal, and it was getting worse. Not to mention, the incident in which she had broken her hand. This girl had cracked the wall with her fist.

Whatever Keiran had found, she was only just beginning to blossom into what she was meant to be... and Damien was holding out on the details. Something that was really beginning to piss Keiran off a bit.

"What did that asshole have to say?" Even though he'd heard every word, he pretended he hadn't. Almost hoping that he was overheard before the phone clicked off- just so that Damien LaRoux would know that Keiran thought he was a definite and absolute asshole. Of course, that was just a childish thought.
 
Damien heard the words, "What did that asshole--" before clicking off, and he chuckled to himself, obviously amused. The fact of the matter was, he was shoulder-deep in books within his own personal library. The man decided to take a break from this section of books and slip over to another, into an entirely different part of the library. There were angel statues, swans, books and artifacts in glass cases.

One statue in specific was a beautiful woman standing at an angle. There was a shield leaning against her leg as she was posed with a bow and arrow. A swan was halfway wrapped around her, with water coming up in delicate swirls around her legs and right arm. Enormous wings were unfolded and away from her back; arched defensively. This specific statue was etched out of marble. There was a name plate at the base of her feet; a simple sheet of metal with the word LEGHADEMA on it.

The demon tapped his finger against the piece of metal and smiled with a slight shake of his head. "If only you could see her," he murmured. His eyes turned not toward the ceiling, but something beyond it. "She's going to need your help, you know." With an almost saddened sigh, he turned and ran his fingers along a nearby shelf of books, finally pulling one out and flipping through the pages. There were drawings of Valkyries and demons... but he came to rest on a page with a swan standing guard over a bundled child on the bank of a lake. He turned his head upwards once more. She's going to need all of the help that she can get.

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Silennia turned flippantly away from him, muttering something under her breath that sounded an awful lot like, "He isn't the one being an asshole."

"Help yourself to whatever is here if you're hungry. I'm not going to work tonight." With that, she went into the bathroom; slamming the door shut behind her. For a few minutes all she did was stand in there with her shirt off; angled so that she could see her back. Long fingers traced over the bruises delicately. Finally, she turned away and pulled the sliding door to her shower; adjusting the waters so that it was the right temperature before stepping in.

It seemed like she was in there forever, but it was only about twenty minutes. The first five minutes of it was her washing up; the rest was just her sitting down, allowing the hot water to run over her back. Giving her time to think. About Keiran, about Damien, about the strange bruises and why she was having so many odd things happen to her lately.

She wrapped herself in a white robe, tied her hair into a towel, and exited the bathroom, feeling better than before and therefore less moody. Without even sparing a glance in Keiran's direction, she grabbed a set of clothes and slipped back into the bathroom to change. Another minute later and she was in a pair of jeans and cream-colored sweater. "So," she said sharply. "Your sister?"
 
Smirking softly after her as she left the room, Keiran shifted a bit, reaching for his own phone as he dialed Shiori. The answer was immediate, "I found Ratri. He's right next to me. Say hi, Ratri." A yelp sounded from the other end, "Ah, good, good. You found our idiot. I'm assuming Mina's status is the same?"

"Yes. No one's seen her, and no one's talking. Though, missing people in this area is hardly uncommon. According to local police records, there's been multiple missing persons just this year alone. Some of them have returned, and some of them... well, never found, and the police left it at that. Interesting thing, most of them went missing in the same part of the city where Mina disappeared."

Recalling Shiori's comment about the bloodied glass shards in the road from last night, Keiran thought a moment before commenting,"Vampires?"

"That's what it's looking like. "

"You're joking. Those little leeches can barely even feed themselves on most occasions, much less imprison someone of Mina's lineage." No response sounded. Oh. So she was serious. After a moment's consideration, he smirked a bit, "Then we find their nest and burn them out." Still, silence on the other end, "Shiori?"

"... No, I have a better idea." Shiori sounded somewhat distracted on the other end, and then, "I'll call you back later."

With that, Shiori hung up. What was she up to?

Hearing the bathroom door open, Keiran wasn't too surprised when Silennia existed and immediately pursued where their earlier conversation had left off. With slight reluctance, he answered her, "Still missing."

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"My... little one..." Crimson hues opened slowly, "is suffering..." In the darkness, it was impossible to tell the time of day, but he didn't need to. He felt it. Simply knew. Just in the same way he could feel her pain. His most beloved child...

Mina.

His head lifted slowly, long crimson strands hiding his features for the most part, his knees against the cold stone, wrists shackled above his head by chains that attached to the ceiling. From his back, six massive wings spread, their feathers dyed red, each pinned down to the floor with iron stakes. His movement limited.

The only light available in the chamber coming from a single flickering candle that sat in the center of the room, it's flame fluttering as if in distress.

"What did you say?" A sultry voice purred from the darkness, that orange flame flickering out, being replaced by a new one that greedily grew, it's hue a shock of violet, illuminating a set of black-painted lips that curved into a malicious smirk. A woman stepping into plain sight, as if she manifested from the very darkness itself, "It's been so long since my darling angel has spoken."

She was dressed in all black, gold embroidery decorating the edges of her sleeves and up the side of her pants leg. Long wavy black hair cascading down her back and pale violet eyes fixed hard upon the so-called angel before her, "Don't be so shy, Adriel. There's few secrets between you and I." She purred, approaching him as her hands cupped his face, smoothing his hair back gently.

The infamous succubus herself. Known only by a single name- Vermina... and here, before her, was one even more ancient. Adriel... or, rather, 'The crimson angel'. For quite some time now, Vermina had been holding him here, in the basement of a abandoned hospital.
Ghost stories kept the locals out, and Vermina made sure to keep the fear real and alive with each new curious generation of mortals. Forty years ago, a teenage boy had fallen from the fifth story of the hospital, tragically breaking his neck.

Of course, when no culprit could be found, superstition and rumors circulated like a wild fire.

... and Vermina continued to set up such 'accidents' when the humans grew bold enough to come creeping back.

No one would have the crimson angel except for her.

No matter what the cost.

"I said... my little one is suffering." A answer hadn't been expected. Adriel's adoption of silence in the last fifty years having settled with Vermina. As she processed what he had said, without warning, Adriel's wrists suddenly violently jerked downwards. The chain snatching right out of the ceiling. With deadly intent, Adriel slung the loose end, striking Vermina right against the skull. A series of rather colorful words flying from her mouth as she hissed, the scent of her own blood flooding her senses, warm liquid streaming down through her hair from a deep gash that was already rapidly healing.
 
Silennia studied Keiran for several long moments, going as far as narrowing her eyes at him. He didn't seem too very concerned with his sister's well-being, and for some reason, it frustrated her. "You need to report this, Keiran." Her tone was harsh, and his name slid from her lips like a dagger. "You're new in town, right? I don't know where you come from, but here, when people go missing, we tell someone that has the power to find them."

She instantly felt bad. He must be worried. Perhaps he was just incredibly trained in hiding emotions. After all, she worried for the safety of her own father, but rarely showed it. It was always an internal war; one that nobody else was allowed to see. However, her guilt did not betray her; she still looked quite displeased with him. Nearly two hours after noon, now. Daylight was better for searching than night.

"Maybe... I don't know. Maybe we -- er, or just you -- can go to where she was last seen. Look around a little bit." Silennia hesitated. Her fluxuating attitude was bound to give anyone whiplash, and she realized that he might not want her company. Inviting herself was rude - especially since she didn't know Mina, and still barely knew him.

Her lips parted to say something else, but the fight with Korina from the previous night came to mind. In the same second, her phone chimed; the ringtone to an unknown caller. She looks toward Keiran questioningly although he wouldn't have the answer, and strode across the room to grab her phone, still on the table next to the bed. It was the area code of the city.

"Hello?"

"Uhh, yeah, is this Silena?" A nervous male voice sounded from the other end, causing her to lift a brow.

"Silennia. And this is?"

"Oh! Uh, Raoul. Korina's date. You know, from--"

"Yeah, I know." There was a long pause. "Hello?"

"Sorry. Hey, have you seen Korina? She was on her way to your place. Said she was going to bring you some donuts as a peace offering or something. It's just... she said she was going to let me know when she got there. After a few hours I finally called her, but she didn't answer. No text, no call." He sounded nervous.

Silennia turned so that she was facing Keiran, with a confused expression. "No, she never came by. When was this?"

"An hour or so after you left."

Her entire body went cold. It had been over twelve hours with no word from Korina. She never did this. No matter what, she would find a phone to let those around her know she was okay, or ask for a ride. There was barely a four-hour period where she wasn't texting or calling someone. "Where was the last place you saw her?"

"At the club."

"Thanks. I'll try getting a hold of her. I'll let you know."

He thanked her and apologised for calling. Silennia sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at her phone. "Korina's missing." Two girls in the same night... from the same place. Now she had every reason to think something terrible had happened.

------------------

In the midst of the chaos the previous night, some rather young vampires within Kaleb's nest left to feed. The succubus was secured in a room, and it was safe for them to indulge. Although there were specific rules set within the nest, young ones were rather... impulsive.

When a ginger-haired young woman came strolling through, with a box of donuts in her hand, a young male in the nest caught sight of her. He was accompanied by two females. Definitely no match for a human. It was almost too easy to pull her into the darkness; muffle her screams with a pale hand over her mouth. Strong arms kept her from thrashing about too much.

Korina was brought into the nest, and the three fed. She was still alive, although her heartbeat and breathing were weak; placed in a small, empty room for whenever they became hungry again. Kaleb had no idea she was there. His main rule of not bringing a recognizable human into the nest hadn't been broken in just over a year.

He slept soundly; undisturbed in the quiet as the sun made its' way higher into the sky.
 
Reporting Mina as a mission person was absolutely out of the question. Keiran met Silennia's gaze, "You simply misunderstand." He answered her, lifting a brow when her phone started ringing. Waiting patiently as she took the call... Oh?

It was almost convenient how the world seemed to work.

"Korina? Your friend? Missing?" Keiran remembered the ginger well. He remembered that he didn't care for her much. Not that he was going to comment on his dislike for Silennia's friend when she had just gone missing... no, that would be most inappropriate and wouldn't help in getting Silennia less angry with him.

"Then let's go search around the club." He stood up abruptly, "Come on. There's no time to lose, right? If you call the police, they're not going to care until she's been gone a full twenty-four hours." He met her gaze,

"Then again,"

Keiran's tone changed drastically, "Are you even well enough to go out searching for her?"

------------------------------------------------------------

Damn him. Damn him straight back into the hell pit where he belong. He'd struck her so hard, she couldn't properly see out of her left eye, the vision blackened out so that it was spotted. Had she been human, it probably would have killed her. Alas, Vermina was not so easily killed. No, she would have never survived the dark ages were she something so easily disposed of.

"Oh, I'm sorry." A low wheezing laughter could be heard, Adriel still bent over on his knees, his body shaking uncontrollable with the stream of laughter riveting from him, "I've been waiting for a full century to do that."

"You-" Vermina's eyes flared in the darkness, taking a step towards him in foolish anger, seeking to punish him. To silence him. Instead, she stopped as Adriel abruptly rose to his feet with a shriek, those iron rods tearing through his wings as he forced himself forwards- ripping free. Six bleeding wings dragging the floor behind him as he rapidly approached Vermina.

The demon actually turning on her heel to flee, just as that chain wrapped around her neck, Adriel using it to drag Vermina back across the basement floor, "I'm going to enjoy this." He hissed into her ear, the chain pulled tight against her throat, "You know, you lost your appeal a really long time ago, Vermina. After a while, that sickeningly sweet taste you secrete turns bitter." He shoved her into the floor, his foot slamming down into the small of her back, the chain still around her neck.

Though, as he went to pull the chain even tighter, her body suddenly faded, as if she had simply evaporated into black smoke. Adriel shifting his gaze. His wrists still shackled together, the chain held tightly in his fingers. The hair on the back of his neck standing straight up as a chill ran through his body, looking down at his feet. There, just beneath him, between his legs, Vermina had re-manifested, her hands snaking up his legs, "Adriel... darling...."

Without a single word, he kicked her directly in the face.

How? Vermina was stunned. Never before had Adriel been able to resist her. Why now? Turning those violet hues up towards Adriel, "I'll kill you for this." She had hissed, watching him raise the chain up.

He beat her with that chain until it broke. Leaving that abandoned hospital with only a trail of broken red feathers and blood smears left behind to mark that he'd been there.
 
She didn't quite remember what happened. Suddenly, she was inches from Keiran's face. Her lip was curled up prettily, almost like a cruel smile. Her body shimmered and pulsed; fists clenched. Blue eyes swirled now, with dark purple and crimson flakes. Her chest was brushed up against his, with fingers curled around his shirt."It is not your place to question my--" the words were hissed, but abruptly cut off as she stumbled backwards. Her eyes faded back to blue, and her body turned pale. Pain ripped through her like nothing she'd ever felt before, from the center of her back, up through her shoulders, travelling through her neck and up into her head.

It hit her with such force that she started falling backwards, but still had enough coheirancy to grab onto something. That something being the edge of the bed, the part that acted as a couch arm when it was folded up. A sheen of sweat appeared rapidly on every inch of her body. The young woman couldn't tell which way was up or down, and the only other time she'd experienced such a thing was with low blood sugar as a teenager after donating two pints of blood. The overwhelming urge to lose consciousness clouded her thoughts even further, but she struggled through it and grasped the glass of orange juice that Keiran had left behind; chugging it quickly and falling back down onto the mattress, with her feet touching the ground.

What had he said? Well enough? Who was well? Searching? What were they searching for? Silennia had never in her life blacked out like that; never experienced such rage that some inner instinct took over and cause her to nearly nearly attack someone close by. But she didn't remember attacking him. That memory came to her as if she'd only wanted to, and nothing more. Her head slowly stopped spinning, and the sheen of sweat on her skin began to dry. She didn't move, though. No, she lay there, focusing intently on her breathing. She felt as if something was attached to her, slowly sapping out all energy she had.

Are you even well enough to go out searching for her?

That's what he said. With her eyes closed, his words echoed in the back of her head. She didn't become enraged this time; there was no reason for her to. Truthfully, Silennia had no idea why she reacted the way she did, as if it weren't her within her body at all. Something else within her reacted to the statement, and it was something she was slowly learning to become terrified of.

Slowly, she sat up. It had been but a few minutes, although to her, it felt like eons. "No," she said slowly. "I..." each word seemed to take the energy of a marathon out of her. "Don't. Suppose. I am." Her elbow now rested on her knee, with her forehead in the palm of her hand. She breathed out a weak laugh, with an even weaker smile coming to touch her lips - forcing out humor through the situation. "This shit. Is getting really. Really old. I'm sorry. I don't. Know. What happened." Another long pause. She didn't know what else to say to him, but knew she needed to do something. Korina... Korina... something about Korina...

Korina's missing. The words whispered into her thoughts, and even though it was alarming to remember, she didn't move. What exactly could she do like this? Nothing. Nothing but be a burden to Keiran or anyone else she was around. Something told her that she needed to do something; motivation to get up and go with him, wherever he was wanting to go to look for his sister. But that same tiny voice was telling her that she wasn't safe right now. Specifically, that she wasn't safe with him. And that scared her more than she wanted to admit even to herself.
 
His words had been challenging, but, the reaction that met him wasn't one he expected at all. In a split second, she went from simply being irritable to enraged, her fists clenching into his shirt roughly, shoving his back against the nearest wall with a hard smack, nearly knocking the breath out of him.

Fully conscious all the while of where their bodies made contact with one another. Her warmth seeping into his chest as her body was pressed against his, and then- she let go, staggering away.

All the while, Keiran didn't move a muscle, watching her from where he stood with darkened hues. Every fiber of his being wanted her. Aroused by both her aggression and the way her body had pressed against his- starved as he was... and what was worse, as she seemed to recollect herself, she didn't even seem aware of what she had done to the demon.

Barely listening to her when finally, she had spoken. How long had he been standing there motionless against the wall? Certainly a few minutes by now. Only listening enough to understand that she was trying to apologize, "It's no issue." His tone was low as he spoke, turning away from her and heading for the door, "Stay here. I'll search for Mina... and Korina." The last part was added after he'd already opened the door, glancing back towards her just a moment before he vanished.

Keiran couldn't get out of the room with Silennia fast enough. His throat tightened, a gnawing pain deep inside of him beginning to twist at his insides.

Why didn't he just take her?

Instead, he was torturing himself. It was almost ridiculous. This was a day and age where prostitutes and willing girls lingered on every other corner, yet, here Keiran was. A starving sex demon.

All because of a single 'pretty' girl.

Returning to the hotel, he arrived in time to find Shiori and Ratri huddled in the hallway, the silvernette roughly grabbing Shiori by the arm when he passed her, "Keiran-" Stumbling along after him, she hardly had time to enter the room before the door slammed behind them, Keiran's fingers clicking the lock into place.

She knew that look. Could feel it. It sent a chill down her spine, her back pressed to the door. Demon possessed or not, this body could still recognize when it was in the presence of a predator, and when it was in the position as prey, "Keiran, no-" She tried to protest, but he cut her off, his lips hungrily closing over hers. His hands firmly lifting her up by her back side and carrying her over to the bed, where he came down on top of her.

"Keiran-"

Her fingers tightened into his hair, his lips slipping down to kiss at her neck, his hands moving to unclasp the belt that firmly secured her pants. Already, she could feel pieces of her energy being sapped out of her very body. She couldn't allow him to unclasp that belt buckle. Harshly, she pulled his hair, "I said NO, damn you!" She hissed, forcing his head back by the handful of white hair still in her grasp. Trying to push him off as his fingers still tore at her belt.

Drawing her blade from her side as she pushed it harshly against his throat.

Only now did his fingers stop.

"That's enough." She snapped, "Back off. If you want to see Mina any time soon you will turn around and unlock that fucking door." Black hues glared at him heatedly, Shiori's cheeks red. Still pointing the blade at Keiran as he slowly back off, the incubus smirking at her, "Fine, fine." He mused, holding his hands up as if to make a peace offering, "Look. Unlocking the door." He reached back, the lock un-clicking, and there, on the other side, a worried Ratri peeked in, "Is everything alright-"

"Everything is fine." Keiran smiled to him, patting the male on the shoulder, "Except Mina is still missing and you have no singer in your band." Abruptly, Keiran shoved him out of the doorway, "Mind your own business."

Slamming the door shut once more, but this time, leaving it unlocked.

Amber hues flashing towards Shiori. That hunger still evident in them, but he made no further advance on her, "You said you had a plan earlier. What is it?"

Shiori blinked, "What- oh, yes." She breathed, "About the vampires." She met Keiran's gaze, collecting herself, "I'm going to pose as bait tonight." It was a bold answer, and she leaned back, "I'm the only one who could probably walk into a vampire's nest and walk back out still alive."

A bold plan. Simple and to the point.

She stood, unclasping the mirror from around her neck, "So long as this is safe..." She hesitated a moment before setting it into Keiran's open hand, "Then so am I."
 
Her boiling blood began to lower into just a simmer. Barely heard his words, and then the door shut. There was nothing more for her to do. Nothing she was able to do.

Silennia's body began to shut down to heal itself, forcing her into a comatose like state after she wrapped herself into a tight ball within a blanket.

---------------------------------

Screams echoed within dark walls. Flames danced from small torches; one at the end of the hall flickering at an angle until it reached far enough to illuminate the left side of a handsome face. The lips curved upwards into a dangerous smile, vampire-like fangs reflecting back slightly from the light. However this man was not a vampire.

"Abigor," a voice groaned. A bloodied man lay on the floor in front of the being's feet.

"Jeremy," the being said. He kneeled down, running the back of long, slender fingers across his bloody cheek. "So weak," he mused. "So tired."

The human, Jeremy, moaned and began curling into a ball. All of the torches lit at once in an angry flare, illuminating the entire hall. Abigor stood gracefully. A staff - or rather, scepter - appeared out of nowhere, into his hand; black and silver metal with black jewels. The edges of it were razor-sharp, yet they didn't slice into his flesh. A matching design adorned cufflinks, necklace, and decorative items -- looking similar to badges -- along a long black leather coat. The coat itself had crimson and purple trim.

"You traded your soul, Jeremy," he whispered. Blue-grey eyes swirled into a deep crimson. Tiny purple explosions spattered in his iris. He positioned the bottom of the staff up against Jeremy's throat, who began spurting blood in the midst of begging for his life. It began slicing into the flesh, slowly, just enough to cause pain--

The staff disappeared. What...?

Abigor stumbled. "GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!" he snarled. Small creatures appeared, impish and red, to drag the human away, leaving a blood trail as he sobbed and gasped for air. The demon ran fingers up through his hair, where black strands had covered an angel ward marked upon his forehead. Three marks, rather small, now shimmered against his flesh. Fingers tightened into his hair and his eyes clenched shut tightly.

A manic laugh sounded and pierced through the walls, echoing back at him; coming form none other than Abigor himself. "I've waited so long," he whispered. "Silennia... my daughter."
 
Around seven PM, Shiori left the hotel. Unaccompanied. Her long black hair twisted up into a braided bun at the base of her neck, decorative chopsticks holding it up. Dressed in a tight-fitted clingy black dress and heels, simple diamond studs in her ears. Almond eyes lined in black liner and a hint of red on her lips. Items that had been borrowed from Mina's person wardrobe. The cool night air making her shiver a bit, pulling her coat on over her dress.

This was going to be a long night. A small part of her dreading it... but it was the quickest way to find Mina's location.

A half-hour later, she was present among the crowd already gathered outside of the nightclub. Since Mina had been the center of attention the few nights she had attended, no one had paid much attention to the female drummer. Tonight, not a single person seemed to recognize her. Good.

For the most part, things seemed to still be running as smoothly as ever. Leaving her coat with a man at the entrance who offered to take it. The top of her dress leaving her neck and a good portion of her back and shoulders exposed, displaying a tattoo visible at the base of her neck. A single black butterfly perched right on her spine, only about the side of a thumb.

Later, she spied Keiran shuffling inside as well. The olive-skinned male settling down at the bar where he had been sitting the first night he'd come here. Not even bothering to acknowledge Shiori. He was to keep his distance. Watch her, and follow, should she be taken. She kept to herself, slinking the edges of the dance floor, offering friendly smiles to those who approached her. Until finally, after drawing as much attention as she dared, she stepped out back into the alleyway through the back exit, as if simply needing to step out for a breath of fresh-air. Though, as she exited, someone followed her,

"Shiori-"

Her breath hitched as she found the voice familiar, looking over her shoulder as Ratri stepped out, "Jesus- Ratri, what are you doing here?! Keiran told you to stay at the hotel!" She hissed, blinking when he pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, "I don't know what's going on with you and Keiran, but... well, I thought you might like a smoke." He lifted a brow, offering the pack to her.

When she made no move to take one, he one out, sticking it in his mouth and lighting it for her.

"I quit smoking." Shiori's voice was abrupt, the raven-haired drummer snatching the cigarette out of Ratri's mouth and stomping it, making a move to push him back inside. The human was a annoyance, sure, but Shiori didn't want to see him get hurt, "Go back to the hotel, Ratri."
 
Screaming. Yelling. Swearing. Cursing. All of it was dangerously loud within the nest, upon Kaleb waking and finding Korina in one of the feeder rooms. She stirred at his yelling and groaned. In seconds, the three that kidnapped her were in the room to protect what they worked for. He instructed them to stay in the room and pulled Korina out; carrying her into the main room and placing her on a couch. A vampiress close to his age strode out and clicked her tongue at the sight of Korina.

"Anastaysia," Kaleb breathed. He walked over and placed both hands on either side of her face, kissing her gently. She smiled and said something in a foreign accent, causing him to nod. She was Russian, as it were. He murmured to her in the language with his forehead pressed against hers, and she got to work immediately. Korina was provided with water, orange juice and fruits. The human was so delirious that they could almost guarantee she wouldn't remember any of this later. And if she did, they had excuses to cover up what really happened.

The vampiress, Anastaysia, pressed her finger into her fang and spread the blood on the badly bruised bite wounds in multiple spots along Korina's body. They seemed to heal up nicely, with just the bruises remaining. As clarity filled her head, she was told that she was being helped, and had been mugged the previous night. The ginger was slowly convinced that someone attacked her, knocked her out, and left her in a nearby alley, where Anastaysia and Kaleb had found her.

"Shouldn't I go to a hospital?" She had, in fact, hit her head rather badly in the struggle to get away from the three vampires, but Anastaysia shook her head.

"No, no," the woman said. "I am nurse. You be fine. Lots of water and good rest. You may leave in the morning."

Her reassuring smile eased Korina to relax.

"Wait, no, my phone--"

"Shh, shh, no phone." Anastaysia pulled a small bottle out of her purse. "I nurse. You take this. Helps with pain." She placed two pills in Korina's hand and handed her another glass of water. In less than twenty minutes, Korina was peacefully sleeping. By this point it was nearly nine at night, and time for the younglings to feed again. If they didn't stay satiated, they would go completely rogue.

With harsh scolding from Kaleb and threats toward their lives, they ventured out once again, told to specifically hunt near the nest. Kaleb's nest was one of the only nests that hunted near home. It put off demons and hunters alike, because vampires so rarely hunted near their nest. It brought too much attention. And until now, they rarely had problems. He didn't understand just how severe his actions were, though; didn't realize that Mina came into town with a brother and friends. He bit off more than he could chew, and already he was having a hard time swallowing it.

The young ones spotted a beautiful woman with black hair, and an even younger black-haired man. Something felt off at first to them. However, hunger crept up through their predator-and-prey instincts, and they approached the two.

It was the same two females and one male that had attacked Korina the night previous, and the girls perched on either side of Ratri seductively while the male came to stand near Shiori. A blonde female giggled, running her finger along Ratri's chest. "My, you're new in town." Her brunette counterpart nodded and licked her lips. "I would have definitely remembered a face like yours..."

The male's name was Maurice, and introduced himself as such to Shiori, having noticed that she snuffed out the cigarette with her heel. "Nasty habit," he commented. An Irish accent. "We have a lovely little party going on nearby. Would you two care to join?"

The females were still running their hands carefully over Ratri, but Maurice understood that this woman wouldn't allow such contact. Not yet, at least.
 
Still trying to push Ratri back inside, Shiori froze, feeling the hair on the back of her neck stand up, a chill running down her spine. The timing of events couldn't be worse. Black eyes turning towards the group that approached them. Ratri giving a sheepish smile towards the two females that approached him.

Shiori's gaze shifting towards the male who's interest was obviously in her, "You can call me Shiori. As for my habits, well, it's a matter of opinion. I find it relaxing." She commented, a trail of smoke rising up around the edge of her leg before disappearing into the air. Only taking her gaze off of Maurice to check on Ratri.

Stupid fool.

"My friend was just leaving. Isn't that right, Ratri?"

Ratri glanced towards her, having been distracted by the blonde and brunette, "What? They seem... veeeeeery friendly. I want to tag along."

She could have slapped that idiot. Her lip twitching just slightly at Ratri's response, "Fine then. Maurice, is it?" Offering yet another smile, "I suppose we'll both be joining you after all." She almost felt sick to her stomach, seeing the way the female vamps were hanging all over the dimwit. Ratri, who had no earthly idea what he was getting himself into.
 
Maurice smiled sickeningly sweet at Shiori, and tested the name on his tongue. "Beautiful," he breathed. Carefully, he linked his arm with hers, while the girls stayed on either side of Ratri. They walked casually away from the club. The looming demonic presence that accompanied Damien was no longer there, so they were particularly careless lately. Unable to detect anything but the hunger that overwhelmed their entire bodies.

Turns out there was an actual party, two apartment complexes down from where their nest was located. All of the nest's young vampires were there. It was a college party, and nearly every single human there was already too drunk to be able to stand on their own. "Seems we're a little late," Maurice murmured. Young vampires were playfully tugging their victims upstairs; Maurice could smell the blood already. He inhaled deeply. "This should be fun. Here, let me get you a drink."

The girls were tugging Ratri upstairs, giggling and flirting boldly as the blonde licked a bit of chocolate from a chocolate-dipped strawberry, then offered it for him to bite. The other one was hungrily eyeing him - specifically his throat, already cleverly pulling his collar away from his neck and shoulder to gently kiss. All while steadily moving up the stairs.

Maurice brought Shiori a drink. Punch with frozen jello shots as ice cubes. With the mix of flavors, the taste of powdered muscle relaxers wouldn't be evident; nor did they have a smell. After a few drinks she seemed to loosen up, where he was able to slowly pull her toward a closet, smiling and pressing his forehead against hers. His hand slid into the collar of her shirt, kissing her neck and moving down slowly to her shoulder... where his fangs sank in deeply; groaning at the rush of blood into his mouth. To anyone watching, it would seem as if he was just kissing her; however, with the door opened at an angle, nobody was in view.
 
Stepping outside, Keiran let the door quietly swing shut behind him. Shiori already gone... and so was Ratri. He'd spotted the idiot too late to stop him from becoming involved in tonight's activities. Finding Shiori's scent easily enough. She'd been accompanied by... one, two... three vampires, and Ratri. Tracking the scent to what seemed to be the site of some wild party.

Keeping out of sight, he ended up camping out inside a car that had been parked for the night. Waiting.

Inside, Shiori was taking it in. Had she been ignorant to what she was getting herself into, it might have indeed been fun. Instead though, a sense of dread lingered. Watching Ratri as he was guided off. Going up the stairs, he seemed excited, grinning a bit as he took a bite of the strawberry, his arm wrapping around the waist of the other girl kissing at his neck. Oh, if only he had any idea what those two little bimbos had in mind for him.

Black hues shifting away in near disgust, looking at the drink her 'date' brought her. From what she had seen, these vampires were young. Hungry. Getting out of this party without a few new punctures in her neck wasn't going to be easy. Eying Maurice, she had a good feeling that she wasn't going to succeed. Sipping at her drink at the thought.

The things she did for Keiran's sake... no, rather, Mina's.

Several drinks later, her thoughts weren't quite as pessimistic, giggling slightly as she swayed on her feet, latching onto Maurice as she nearly tripped, "These... these damn heels." Reaching down, she snatched at the clips, finally ridding herself of the four-inch black high-heels. Realizing that she was more or clutching to the vampire who had lead her here for support. She felt strange, and slowly, it occurred to her as she became aware of being lead into what seemed to be a closet. The drug making her slow to realize the danger, closing her eyes for a moment, feeling his forehead touch against hers. Dark hues opening slowly as she felt his lips on her neck, one of her arms still hanging onto his for support. Her fingers tightening into his back when she felt something sharp prick her skin, her lips parting in a soft gasp.
 
The girls took their fill of Ratri with ease, but he was small, so they knew they needed to be careful if they were to get him out of the house. It would do them no good to leave him here, where others could find him quite anemic and possibly dead, since they were not old enough to have healing abilities within their blood. Even then, he had to be tended and nurtured, unless they outright killed him.

Maurice was taking his time with Shiori, allowing his hands to roam. He gripped her hip tightly and pulled her hard against him, taking small sips and enjoying the taste. Her body was taken care of interestingly well. Typically the girls around the nest were malnourished. Even the ones that were new to town. They had an under-fed and over-drugged taste. Shiori, however, was succulent and sweet.

He took one swallow and pulled a scarf from the closet, then placed it in a manner so it covered the bites. After double-checking to make sure there was no blood running down, he walked her from the closet. The girls were back with a pale-looking Ratri.

"Where?" the blonde asked, facing Maurice

He tilted his head toward a door in the kitchen that led outside to a patio. As they all made their way outside, they weren't bothered in the least. The patio had a hot tub with several people in it, and a concreted area led out to a back garden and wooden gate. With little socializaton and explaining to a rather large dark-skinned man that the two were simply drunk, and that they were taking them home, it was an easy escape out.

They quietly went through one more back yard until it was a slight walk to where the nest was, having to go through several back alleys. It was all easy, to the point that Maurice began to have an uneasy feeling. There was almost never a night where they weren't encountered on their way back to the nest, and he was grumbling by the time they got back. Korina still lay on the couch, sleeping soundly, but Tyku and Anastaysia were nowhere to be found.

Ratri and Shiori were placed on another couch; the younglings delving into the nest to find out where they should put the two.
 
How perverted.

Even in her haze, Shiori was aware of what was happening, feeling the vampire pull her body tight against his own. Her nails cutting deeper into Maurice's back in response. The only form of resistance she could muster in this condition. Her eyes growing heavy. It would have been easy to just let herself drift off... but... she could feel her heart pounding harder in her chest, laboring to circulate the blood that was being suddenly thinned.

It reminded her that the vampire still had his teeth sunk into her flesh.

Just barely. She'd definitely been drugged, and while this body was under the influence of Shiori's possession, it was still just a human body, and was vulnerable to anything that any other human would fall to. At some point, her memory blacked out on her. Being somewhat conscious of being escorted from the party, but most of it was a blur. A seeping sensation of relief flooding through her when finally, after what seemed like walking forever, her body became still.

Opening her eyes to find herself on a couch in a completely unfamiliar place. She'd practically been sleep-walking on the way here, Maurice guiding her like she was some sort of stray lamb. The only reason she bothered opening her eyes at all was because someone's elbow was digging into her back slightly. Ratri next to her, completely blacked out, "Ratri..." She whispered, shifting and turning so that she was nestled more comfortably beside him, but she could hardly hold her eyes open.

Sound asleep within seconds.

Having absolutely no memory of being awake at all.

Regardless, Shiori had played her part. When the vampires had left the party, Keiran had slipped out of his hiding place and followed at a distance, mindful to stay downwind from them until they'd lead him exactly where he wanted to go. So this was their nest. From the outside, it was hardly anything impressive. To unknowing eyes, it was simply a run-down apartment complex. Though, to anyone who knew better, it was nothing more than a nest of leeches, treating their humans like their personal snack-packs. A small frown tugging at Keiran's lips at a fluttering sound just behind him.... like wings-

"Are you going inside?"

Amber hues widened sharply as a voice sounded just in his ear. No one had been standing behind him... he'd been certain of it, and yet, as he turned his head, those eyes grew even wider, gasping as if he'd seen a ghost, "YOU-"
 
Silennia stirred where she slept. Upon waking, she realized her entire body was sore, like she'd been slammed by a truck. Just turning onto her back was a chore. But something had made her wake; a deep whisper in her ear, a slight tingle on her skin. It wasn't necessarily unpleasant. Just... something she hadn't experienced before.

She reached her arm over and groaned, having to stretch to be able to reach her phone. Disappointment touched her eyes when it showed that she hadn't any texts or calls... and that it had been nearly four hours. Thinking back, she didn't remember too much. Showering. Getting dressed. Becoming irritated. Keiran leaving. Why had he left?

Ah. Mina. The crimson-haired beauty was still missing. Something else...

Korina.

Silennia sat up too quickly, pressing the base of her palm against her temple when vertigo swam through her. With an inward hiss she found Korina's name in her contacts and pressed the green call button, placing it on speaker and setting it in her lap. One ring. Two. Three, four, five.

"Hello, you've reached Korina Delacour. I'm unable to come to the ph--"

With a frustrated groan, Silennia hit the end call and tossed the phone aside, only to slowly reach out for it and stare at Keiran's number. It took almost a full minute for her to press the button to call.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Abigor stood a mere twenty blocks or so away from Silennia's apartment. He took his time, standing on the side of the street and looking around. It'd been quite some years since he came out of his comfortable hole, and with a gesture of his hand, his clothing changed. The only people nearby to see were prostitutes, and even then, he frankly had no cares if they saw.

He now wore his basic long black coat with trim, a pair of well-fitting jeans adorning his legs while a deep brown shirt fit snugly over his top half. Adapting was something he was forced to do -- and quickly. Long black hair was tied back loosely at the base of his neck. The hair itself went down to his tailbone.

There were demons nearby. And something else, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Vampires as well. Nothing he felt that he needed to be concerned with. It was amusing to him however that Silennia lived in the midst of these creatures, especially considering what ran through her blood. It hadn't concerned him to figure out where she was living, or even with who. Not until she began to change -- and that time had come.

He made his way easily down the streets, wanting to take his time. There was no rush. Really, he could wait a few more weeks. While she was in mid-change, there was an element that hasn't yet allow her to complete it. Realistically he should have waited until then, but Abigor was greedy to find out which side she would ultimately take. Her breeding was something that had never been accomplished before. Only a prince of Hell had enough power in his blood, and the kings were too overwhelming. And her mother... well, that was a completely different matter altogether.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kaleb was nowhere to be seen in the main room of the nest because he was back with Mina once more. Not doing anything, just sitting back and watching her. What would he do once Adriel came? They had minor traps set if triggered, but the triggers required his vampires. They would be no use to him if the crimson angel came and killed them all before anything could be done toward his capture. Not only that, the angel would no doubt hold a grudge later on for the damage.

Which turned his thoughts toward Mina. The succubus was rather... famous, as it were, for her ability to hold grudges. Daddy's little pet generally got what she wanted, and not because she was spoiled: it was simply due to her remarkable powers. As a succubus, and as a demon. That was assuming they survived any of this. On the other hand, if they do survive, they'd have what they wanted. It would make them stronger. Much stronger. It would give Kaleb a sort of political power among his kind as well. Catching an angel such as Adriel long enough to taste his blood, and consume enough for actual strength--

Hair rose along the back of Kaleb's neck. Silver eyes shifted toward the door. Was that...?
 
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