Phury

Phury, son of Aghony. My twin Zsadist. My Dreamer @Khristessa has saved my soul. She is Mine. [Role Play 18+]

[greyhson-bdb]

Stygian - New Drug on the Block: Deliverance Part 24

Omega: *Running my hand along the top of the cages, the females inside pulling as far back as they can. Their scared eyes watching me, their thin and frail bodies a testament to how long I have kept them here. The old welts and bruises like my calling card and all over every inch of their flesh, their time was almost up, and yes like Dorothy they would be able to click their heels and go home. But unlike Dorothy they wouldn’t be happy to get there! Sending Mr. C my orders into his mind at the top of the basement stairs guarding the door like a good soldier. ‘Bring me down some stygian in any form, wait bring me down whichever acts the fastest!’ Leaning my back against the last cage, the whimper from within sends a shiver down my spine. Pain, even from a woman, was just so tantalising. My eyes locked on the back of the female vampire still tied to the chair in the middle of the basement, the floor around her a mess from our last session together. The smell now a mix normal bodily fluids and actions, plus the older blood pools I had left her sitting in. Mr. C had done as I asked, not let her eat but he did make her drink. Holding out my hand as I hear Mr. C descend the stairs, taking the bag of black pills, sending him back upstairs to keep watch. Over the last few days I had turned all the human boys hanging out here into Lessers, so Mr. C was only watching out for vampires. For my sister’s army, the Brotherhood! Shaking the bag of pills, my voice low, almost seductive.* Wakey wakey, time to get back to Kansas Dorothy. *Pushes away from the cages stepping up to the back of the chair.* You can even bring all your little friends here, hell I insist. @Greyhson_BDB    

Greyson: *I suddenly felt like I was falling as I heard a loud voice waking me awake. I could barely open my eyes as I realized I was still in the chair. My head felt heavy as I tried to raise my face toward the voice. My heart is thundering in my chest. My arms and legs ached from lack of circulation, and I could see bruises changing from shades of blue to dark purples and black. The smells around me were shocking knowing that most of it was my blood congealing on the floor beneath me. I was going to die here. I knew that … but how was what I was terrified of.

I could see the other females in the cages in front of me from my peripheral vision. They were all cowering in fear in the corners of their prisons. I’m still wondering what the Omega was going to do with us. Only human males can be turned into his lessening army created by the Omega to serve him and eradicate the vampire race. As Chosen, we never really ever had to experience the lessers being protected at the Sanctuary. We would see through our seeing bowls the devastation of their determination to wipe out the Scribe Virgin’s creations.

Then I heard the loud voice again. What or who was Kansas Dorthy?*

Omega: *It was a gift, but the moment the female woke I sensed it, it was the slight raise in her heart beat. The turn of her head, her fear heavy in the air of the basement. Turning away from her towards the cages, calling down some more Lessers, handing over the bag of black tablets. It may have once been ecstasy but it was now my drug, it was Stygian and the vampire race were about to get a good look at it tonight. Sending the Lessers into the cages to make the female vampires swallow them, coming back to the female tired to the chair. Crouching down in front of her my smile is a truly evil one, holding out my hand showing her the two black tablets then grinding them to a fine powder between my fingers* So your time with me is coming to an end, but before we say our goodbyes I have a gift for you. I am hoping you fight me on this, I really really hope you fight me on it. But one way or the hard way you will swallow them. *Leans in close breathing in her smell of fear, my lips by her ear.* And just so you know, from my test subjects you won’t die. But you will go insane and wish you were dead. You will also go mad, you and all these females here. *Biting hard on the females ear lobe drawing blood, spitting it out onto the floor adding it to the rest* Now open up! *Trying to force the powder into the female’s mouth, but the screams coming from the cages as my Lessers fed them was starting to annoy me. Pulling away from the female in front of me my annoyance getting the better of me*       

Greyson: *The smell of his breath was nauseating and foul. His nearness brought fear and pain all at the same time. He commanded orders to his Lessening Army and I was helpless to help any of the other prisoners as the undead began feeding them some kind of drug. He presented the drug and it was some sort of black powder. The screams all around me penetrated my thoughts that I could barely hear the Omega over all the chaos from the cells. I felt excruciating pain on my ear but tried to turn my head and avoid the black substance.

I almost broke my neck trying to avoid his hard grasp on my head and then heard more yelling as the effects of the drugs were swift and instant. I don’t think the Omega anticipated the same prisoner’s insanity and the fact that he just initiated the whole pandemic of the drug all at the same time without the lessers figuring out a game plan. There was a frenzy of yells, screams, and lessers trying to push all the prisoners up the stairs and what I assume out the door. The Omega cursed and started using his powers to corral them so they would stop fighting his army.

I was left forgotten …*

Omega: *Glaring at the females and how they were all acting like animals, they didn’t even seem afraid of my Lessers anymore. Mixing ecstasy with my essence was working out very powerful, and fast! Turning myself into black smoke and pushing all Lessers and Females up the stairs and out of the house, returning to my body a phone pinging in an annoying high tone. Looking at my Lessers only to realise that the noise was coming from my own pocket, pulling the accursed device free and looking at it. It was a middle level Lesser, answering as I can feel his fear through our link. Was it a full moon or something! A middle level Lesser shouldn’t be contacting me. Not even remembering his assigned name as they were, just answering with a low grunt* What! *Watching as the females get pulled and pushed away to spread mayhem and pain throughout the night, the Brotherhood won’t know what has hit them. Tuning back into the Lesser on the phone, his words at last sinking in* WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE BROTHERHOOD HAVE SOME OF MY DRUGS! *Just hanging up and putting the phone away, the Brotherhood having my new drug was never part of the plan! Just flashing away all thoughts of the female still chained to the chair in the basement forgotten.*

Greyson: *I could hear the roar of anger coming from the floor above. Apparently, the Brotherhood had discovered the drugs and the Omega had not expected that. Pretty sure I probably wasn’t supposed to hear that but I could hardly blame myself, the Omega sounded infuriated that he forgot all about me. Thank the Scribe.

I tried again fruitlessly at my binds. No way of getting myself out. I tried to instead move the chair to see if I could make my way up the stairs and see if I could try and yell for help.*

To be continued …

[talkstodead]

#8

*I tried to get back in my car but the handle wouldn’t budge. Not because it was locked but because until I managed to break free of the spell that was binding me, my ass wasn’t going anywhere. I cracked my neck and turned back to the house, narrowing my eyes as I tried to figure out what was going on. I pulled out my phone to call someone I knew that was…not a witch per se but she was familiar with the occult and if any one knew about spell breaking, it would be her. Sarelle answered on the first ring, knowing immediately that if I was actually calling it meant trouble since I was 99% more likely to text or suffer in silence. I quickly explained the situation, even as I started towards the house. I knew I’d have to go in. I needed to get to Evelyn.  I listened as Sarelle went through her books. My skin felt tight and itchy the closer I got and I felt like I was being watched even though the place looked utterly abandoned. Just as I reached the door, a gust of wind shot up and the door pushed open. It must not have been latched properly by whoever was here last but it was still eerie as shit. I stood at the door, listening for any signs of movement before I entered. I wasn’t going to be that idiot who rushes headlong into the house to confront some serial killer. It was then that I noticed Marley hadn’t followed me. She still stood by the car, silent and watching. The house was silent, Marley wasn’t moving and my call with Sarelle had just dropped. Yeah this totally screamed like a good idea, but I didn’t have many other choices at this point. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before I crossed the threshold.

Almost immediately, I was assaulted with voices. Ghosts popped out of the walls like worms from the soil on a rainy day. I backpedaled but when I hit the empty space where the door was still open it was like I slammed into a brick wall. My breath came out in a forced exhale and it took me a second to get my bearings again. I blinked in confusion as I rubbed the back of my throbbing head. I wheeled around and confirmed that I had in fact hit nothing visible but when I reached out it was a solid force. Anger built in me. I hated when I was fucked with and this felt like a major fuckening. I glanced at my phone which was utterly dead, it didn’t even pretend to fire up when I pressed the power button so with a groan I tucked it into my back pocket and started to explore. The first floor contained a large living room with a dusty couch that looked like it was from the 80s, all brown floral and dark wood, there was even a large amber ash tray on the side table and a macramé lacey looking thing that was tattered and torn on the coffee table. This was a room time had forgotten. I shook my head and walked through the dining area with a table and 6 plastic covered chairs along with a corner china cabinet with most of the glass missing and in its place were thick spiderwebs that looked as old as time. There were bugs and dust both caught in the trap and the spider that loomed in the corner looked like it hadn’t missed a meal in its lifetime. I carefully side stepped around that nonsense and went through the doorway that led to the kitchen. This room was white and gleaming, the stainless steel appliances sparkled as if they were freshly wiped down mere moments ago. The ghosts followed, all talking at once creating a vortex of words I couldn’t pretend to hear, instead they became white noise that echoed off the empty room. My nerves were already frayed and I wasn’t any closer to figuring out where Granny E was let alone what the hell was happening. My skin crawled, my head still throbbed and I could feel the tension building in my chest with each step. Towards the back of the room were two sets of stairs. One set led up and the other led down. Neither looked particularly inviting and in my experience creepy shit always happened in the basements. I pulled my phone out only to remember I had no battery and shoved it back into my pocket as I eyed the dark stairs. I looked around the kitchen and started rifling through the drawers. I grabbed a box cutter and a pen light from one and even as it crossed my mind how weirdly stocked the kitchen was I started down the stairs. Ghosts surrounded me which was both an annoyance and blessing since they buffered my stumbles with their energy. They were at least good for something right now.

  I hit the bottom step and they parted, which told me I was likely heading in the right direction at least. The pen light had just enough light from it that I could see a few feet in front of me mostly. I had to move it up and down, back and forth to get the full span of my walking space but it was all I had so I had to be grateful for it. There were tables and cables and bindings and implements scattered at every turn. My skin crawled. The antiseptic smell barely covered the coppery tinge of blood and the musk of sweat and body fluids. Something wicked had definitely taken place here but I was still no closer to finding…

“Remington? Is that you, sweetheart?”

Ice ran through my veins. It was Granny E’s voice but at the same time, it wasn’t. It was almost mechanical in nature. A little too tinny, a little too feather, just a whole lot of wrong.

  “Remington, dear, I knew you’d come to help us.”

I swung the pen light around but it did a fat lot of good. I stepped forward, my voice soft as I spoke. “Hi, Granny. Can you help me out here, what’s going on?”

Another voice chimed in, “Tut tut, that’s now how the game is played. Evelyn, you and that grandson of yours told me she was smarter than that. Where is he by the way?”

I flinched, fumbling with the box cutter and the light before I managed to steady them both. The voice cut through me and I found myself squinting around the room as I tried to find the source. It seemed to come from every direction and none at all. I flashed the light up towards the ceiling, looking for speakers that might be filtering the noise in but the light didn’t magically get brighter as much as I would really fucking like it to at this point. I grumbled and took a few more steps, “Who the hell are you and what game are you playing at?”

[bloodletterepicness]

Penthouse Play...

I don’t think it’s a legit idea for someone, whose mind that never fucking stops, to take an extended vacation. I was going out of my fucking head and there wasn’t much left up there to begin with. I’ve reorganized The Pit three times, I lost count on how often I’d redone the sound system and I have stepped on Fritz’s toes more often with cleaning and moving furniture around, that I was sure, soon he might poison my food. 

I was getting antsy, inside my skull and my own body. I had outlets and no reason not to use them. It was either go to the Penthouse for the weekend or stay at the Manse and drive everyone off their rocker, including myself. The choice was obvious. First, I placed two texts, and then I had my own personally trained crew of Doggen in place, stocking my place at the Commodore and making sure it shined like an ebony diamond. It wouldn’t stay that way long and just thinking about the next forty eight hours was enough to have my bulge held tight behind my leathers growing and my throat tightening with groans. 

I left the safety of the Brotherhood Grounds and came to form on the balcony of my Penthouse. With as old as I am, tricks of the mind came as easy as breathing for me, which is why all it took was a mere thought and the doors silently opened, revealing highly polished black tile floors that shone in the moonlight. I stood there for a moment, not moving, only breathing and existing in the how and now. This was home to me, a place that accepted all parts of me, with no judgment. There were times in my past that I had fallen apart within these walls, and other moments that I had flown higher than I could have ever imagined making it. But I couldn’t deny that there was a period where being here was too much. I had to disconnect from all parts of me, to be able to reconnect myself correctly. Right now I could feel the pulse of the space beating underneath my own flesh, it was calling to me like a lover would and I was drooling at the mouth to answer it.

My shitkickers stepped over the threshold and a cascade of coal black pillar candles came to life. I removed my leather jacket, weapons and dropped them in a high back chair. Now that I was free of those items, I took my time walking through, reacquainting us with one another, so to speak. With a smirk on my face I let my gloved fingers glide along the walls, over the freshly waxed wall of shelves and I stopped at my table, lovingly rubbing my palm over it.

“Hello my old friend.”

I leaned down as if I was going to impart a secret, but this was one we both already knew.

“Are you thirsty?”

The corners of my lips turned up in a savage grin as the wood beneath my fingers seemed to hum to life with an answer and I barely brushed my stubbled cheek against it almost affectionately before standing back up. 

“As am, I.”

My arms extended out high above my head and went in a wide arc, stretching hard until I heard bones snapping back into place. I inhaled deeply, drawing in the scents of fresh wax, an undertone of clean freshness, and of course my own blend of smoke dotted the airwaves. I followed all that up by making me a drink, rolling a fresh blunt and then I was ready to start pressing some buttons. Literally. In my time away from this place, I hadn’t forgotten it completely. I had purchased the two levels directly below my floor, hired a contractor and started construction. Now it was time to reap the benefits of a two year long process. 

All it took was a few swipes over the screen on my phone to start things into motion…As I stood there by the end of the kitchen counter, about five feet in front of me an area of a circle opened up. It all worked to perfection, silently and without any stuttering in movements. As soon as there was a gaping hole in my floor, it was filled with a center stage that came up through the opening. There was low lighting framing the bottom that gave off just enough to send shadows across the shiny tile. As beautiful as all that was, the focal point was what was placed upon the stage and he had my full attention now. 

I was in no rush mentally, but physically, I wanted to shred him to pieces. Reining myself in control wasn't a problem. I could taste all the delectable things that I would be doing to him, it coated my tongue and throat and had me salivating for the actual acts. Still yet I stayed standing where I was with a short glass in hand and a blunt in the other, watching everything about him…admiring. He was on all fours, head bowed, shoulders were pulled back tight, showing the strain across his stretched skin and bulged muscles. He was an oldie but definitely a goodie. I hadn’t reached out to him or any of the usual well trained subs in years, and yet when my text went through, it was answered in minutes. Which brought us to where we are now, 

I wasn’t one for beginners, therefore I stayed clear of any that wreaked of it, and they were easily spotted. But that was the lovely thing about the world of kink, you could always find those with taste that match yours. 

I brought the glass to my lips, empty the contents down my parched throat and slid it across the smooth counter before pushing away and closing the distance between me and what I wanted. With each step his body reacted, the hairs on his nape stood as his arms locked into place and his breathing was the loudest indicator, it hitched and then stopped altogether. I ate up every fucking response as if it was a physical touch to my body. My own breaths came out in menacing above whisper growls and I snapped my fangs together when I was able to touch him and that solitary sound was enough to have his chest practically bursting open with the rush of O2 that flooded out. 

“No dying…just yet.”

My words were obviously laced with the deadly smirk that was mimicking my very features.

‘Thank you, Master!’

My gloved fingers slid over the top of his head, digging into the soft locks until I had a handful and yanked back until his chin was jutting upwards and his deep black eyes locked on my icy white ones. It was what I saw in that look that had my cock begging to be released from the tight confines of my leathers. It was a savage need that was pleading with me but without a single word being uttered. 

“Such an obedient one…Let’s see if you can hold out as long as you used to be able to.”

His adams-apple lodged in one place and his dick was literally dancing between his parted thighs. My wicked grin grew and I dragged him forward a few inches, until he could bump his bare shoulder into me and yet he knew better than to try even that little of a touch. 

‘I want to be used, abused, mutilated, degraded and destroyed. In every possible way, Master.’

I gave a nod, let go of my hold on him and walked over to my shelf. I grabbed a few basic items, choke collar, chain leash, cock cage with a sounding attachment, the obvious plug. He wasn’t here to get fucked, we both could get that anywhere. There was a very real chance my dick won’t even come into play at all. It wasn’t about that either. We knew the experience and release that one another could provide. With all that in my mind I made my way back to my toy of the night and adorned him with the loot that I brought with me. I almost laughed when I saw his excitement while I placed the metal around his neck, locked the hook in place, letting the leash hang down and then I motioned for him to sit up. I let out a low whistle as I let my gaze travel over his naked form, he bore many scars that he obtained well before his transitioning years and definitely not from a Dominant, no these were from those that were supposed to be his ‘family’. He actually blushed as he saw my deep approval of every fucking part of him, he was spectacular. I reached down between his legs, taking his nuts in my palm first, slipping them through the smooth circle before covering his dick with the cage contraption and slowly I place the long thin tube into his pisshole, teasing it in and out a few times, just to hear those small gasp that he let out, and when I thought he had enough, I closed the padlock and tossed the key over my shoulder. I gave a pat over his caged cock, stood up, and handed him the plug. He knew what to do with it and I enjoyed watching him suck on the tip before fully submerging it in his mouth, soaking it up as he fucked it between his lips, making a grand show of it for me. Of course I showed my appreciation as I took it from his mouth, circled the wet tip around the tight muscles of his ass, and he bent over fully, placing his hands on the stage floor and braced himself as I pushed it barely into his hole for the barest of a second and then rammed it fully home, shoving him a few inches with the force. The audible moan was done through gritted teeth and I smacked his ass for how good he had been during preparation. 

“You are doing so fucking good. I can see that you have advanced in your training… It pleases me,”

Once again I almost laughed as he reacted to the praise and was practically strutting when I took a hold of the chain attached to his collar and led him over to my table. It was actually cute as fuck. When we reached it I stood back and watched as he stood up but when he stopped and stared at the ancient table, I thought he might be hesitating and if that was the case, it ended here and now. But he shocked him as he looked at me with a tear in his ebony eyes and placed his hand on the wood lovingly. I understood then, he had missed his sessions on my table. I nodded and he climbed up, laying himself out like the buffet he was. I waited long enough to make sure he was situated before locking both ankles in the leather cuffs, as well as both of his wrist, which were placed on either side of him and placing a full leather hooded mask over his head, taking his sight fully away.

For this occasion I wanted to be close so I chose a blade that was an old favorite, leather handle, short blade. I took a deep breath in through my nose, held it there while all the candle flames, on demand flare almost to the ceilings and as they settle down to low dancing levels a slow rush of air comes out of me. 

I started slowly, rubbing the dull side of the blade down his arms, taking my time to familiarize him with it, circling along his sides and lightly scraping the tip over his hip bones. His breathing was pants that went into a small gasp but that was the only movement you saw of his body. I licked my lips, and listened to the loud rush of his blood just under the surface. It was a song and it was playing for me, reaching into me with each lyric as it coursed through his various veins. 

I allowed this comfort play to go on for a little while before I switched it up, turning the polished metal over,  scraping the lethal tip over the same areas, this time leaving angry lines behind. Once again only his breathing showed any response. The fact that he was able to withhold was a testament to his abilities and motherfuck, if that didn’t have my one nutted wonder tightening up snug against my raging hard on. 

My words came out raspy and harsh. 

“Bleed for me…”

And he did exactly that as I pressed the sharpness into his flesh covering his left peck, piercing it enough that a drop of blackness bubbled up until it spilled down his side. I was rewarded with hearing his sharp intake of breath that ended on a moan. From that point on I was Edward Scissorhands, slicing and carving his skin as if it was my own personal canvas, and while he was in my hands, he did belong to me. It was the heavy scent of his blood filling the air that had me growling through every deep cut I made into his body, relieving him of more and more of his life essence. I could no longer see any other color on him except reds and blacks. Some lacerations I took my sweet time on, digging in nice and deep until I could physically feel him react. There were other slits that were superficial but each one definitely added to the collage. If anyone was to barge in at this moment, it would truly look as though I was slaughtering the male, and in a sense, I was. 

“I have you for forty eight hours. One day of play and one day of healing, and you will need the whole twenty four hours.”

The blood drenched cock cage between his thighs was frantically moving as his dick pulsated, trying to fill, begging. I reached down with my leather clad fingers, smacking the contraption before diving my hand further down to his ass and pressing the thick plug deeper inside of him. A ragged scream tore from his mouth, muffled slightly by the hood and he was rewarded with me yanking the intrusive object out.

“I think it needs more lube on it.”

I could see his head nodding before he spoke words.

‘YES PLEASE Master. It’s been so long since anyone fucked my own blood in my asshole. Pretty Please Master!’

That was all I wanted to hear, begging in the right mind set, meant every fucking thing. When you can take them to the point that they admit all the things they want, need, desire, it’s a high unlike anything else. 

“Since you asked so nicely…”

I rolled the plug down his bloody torso, smearing it along the way and I didn’t stop until I could hold the plug up and it was dripping red. When he felt my arm reach down to his legs, he spread them open wider, giving me all the room I needed to get to his ass. I played with the tip, just as I did the first time and again rammed it straight into his hole, stretching him wide open and bringing about another series of moans and shouts. 

I stood there beside him on my table, watching closely as the various gashes trickled all over him and the wood. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me harder, thinking about his blood soaking into the surface, permanently. 

I bent down some, getting close enough that my breath could be felt against his neck as I spoke. 

“Since you have pleased me greatly so far, I am going to be nice and tell you a couple things we will be doing together tonight.”

While I talked I let my fingers glide between the wounds covering his body, slipping into some of them, making them bleed anew.

“I have this beautiful industrial hook, attached to the ceiling that you will hang from, while I whip you and allow you to make a splattering mess, then at some point I will sit back and watch as you lick it all up so we can move onto other forms of play.”

[saintsnsinnersbdb]

Somethings Not Right Part 4

Written by @Qhuinn_SASBDB, @Ella_SASBDB & @EndlessDivinity

Qhuinn - *Stepping out of the ZeroSum the crowd waiting to get in almost pushed me backwards, getting free and taking a few steps towards the freedom of the street. Taking a deep breath and one step towards an alleyway then stopping, the evil feeling of the black powder in my inside jacket pocket making my skin crawl. Needing to get it to Tohr yet… turning around to look at ZeroSum and the waiting humans and our race. An uneasy feeling crawling up my spine, the mystery of the human that made me think Lesser. Scrubbing my face then turning back to the club, tonight was a night full of surprises. It started out with me trying to drown my sorrows over Blay, then it was turning into a night with the good company of two females. Then another twist! A female punch out and the mystery of the human that felt wrong like a Lesser. And of course let us not forget the evil black powder now sitting in the inside pocket of my jacket close to my heart. Yes, tonight was a mess! I knew Tohr wouldn’t like me keeping him waiting but I just wanted to make sure the females were ok. It was almost like I HAD to go back in to check on them. @Ella_SASBDB

Ella - Now that was over I wondered what the rest of the night would bring. I had to carry on with the other newbies. I was sitting on the stool next to Madi as I drank my vodka looking around the club seeing what was happening. Things were back to normal but something didn’t feel right but I had to get on and do my job. There was a male hanging around near the back area. Maybe he is waiting for a working girl. It was always busy at the end of the club. “Qhuinn had already left.” “ I turned and said to Madi I was going to find the other newbies and carry on showing them how to work the pole.” I will be there if I am needed in my room. I got off the stool and headed to my room. @EndlessDivinity 

Madi - “Well that was extremely fun to watch. Can we have another fight and punch up? We should have something like that in here every night. We just need to put up a boxing ring in the middle of the room instead of a dance floor. And you Ella , you are awesome at fighting. Do you think self defense classes are a great idea?” I started to laugh a little bit. “But apart from the fighting I had a wonderful time having a drink at the bar and just chilling out for a little bit while at work. Could do this more often” I scanned the room quickly then ordered another shot before I decided what to do next. “I will be right here Ella. It is rather quiet tonight after the fight. I could just hang out here and maybe drink the bar dry. That feels like a great idea” I smiled and watched Ella going to her room. @Qhuinn_SASBDB

Qhuinn - *Stepping into the club letting my eyes adjust, it wasn’t too bad as it wasn’t much brighter outside at night. But the strobing lights plus the wall lights pulling your eyes everywhere at once. Taking in a few minutes to do a slow reconnaissance of the club, noting Madi still at the bar and heading that way. Stopping as the smell of a Lesser hits me again, it was almost covered over by Dior Sauvage. But even that strong scent couldn’t kill the baby powder smell. Stopping in the middle of the dance floor and just turning slowly around, the human’s still dancing around me. It was quieter than early but still enough bodies to hide the fact I wasn’t dancing, my eyes not finding the human male from earlier. Catching a glance of Ella back in her room, her body twisting around the poll in a sinful way that would bring any male to his knees. Heads blocking her from view as they move in close, not sure who her audience is but damn I wish I was there. Letting my eyes move on again, still no sign of the male from earlier. Locking my eyes onto Madi and walking over to sit next to her* I just want to check in with you, I know I said I was going and I do need to but I still didn’t want to just leave. Are you staying here for the rest of the night? Or is your shift finished? I see Ella is back working. @Ella_SASBDB

Ella - Walking towards my room as Madi made a remark about having a boxing ring, it doesn’t happen everyday thank god. I do agree that sometimes it is good fun but only if it means keeping people in check can’t get a bad name. “Self defense classes? Madi, those are for wimps. I can handle myself as you have noticed loads of times already. Enjoy your drink.”  I reach my room and go inside as the girls are waiting for me, sorry I had to get rid of some trash. Okay I am going to show you how it’s done, I reach up and grab on the pole as I swing my legs around the pole as I sway to the music moving my body quickly around and up and down the pole. Still rubbing against the pole as I slowly swing around as I come down slowly as I reach the bottom standing against it as I dance beside moving my body to the beat of the music. Then the music ends as the next newbie takes her place. Go ahead it’s all yours “Laughing softly” I am sure you all got this. @EndlessDivinity 

Madi - I did not know what I was thinking of mentioning the classes to Ella, it was such a bad idea” Sitting at the bar swirling the cold liquid around in the glass at first then drinking it. I coughed a little. “Wow, that was a little strong. My jaws started to clamp together.  “Hello Qhuinn and it’s really nice for you to come back here to check that I was alright and my shift is nearly finished ” She looked down at the bar and there was another drink there. I took it into my hands and took the shot. Then I licked the edge of my palm and tasted lemon. “Would you like another drink before I go back to doing the last dance of my shift? It has been really busy tonight but as always it is really great to get home and chill out afterwards” @Qhuinn_SASBDB

Qhuinn - *Sitting down beside Madi, my back to the bar as I scan the dance floor and the rest of the club, from here I couldn’t see into Ell’s room anymore but I would see anyone going in or coming out. Shifting enough to pick up a shot, nodding to the bartender to set us up a few more* Madi I will knock back a few with you for now. I do need to get back to the mansion but I am uneasy about leaving right now. *Knocking back the shot the burn sweet and refreshing, then taking another as the bartender sets us up three each* So have you noticed anything weird going on tonight? And I am not counting the slap down from earlier. That was just hot. *My eyes now traveling over the booths along the side of the dance floor, my odd coloured eyes picking out the shapes of the humans in the shadows. Most are drinking like Madi and myself, some are playing hid the pickle is interesting ways*  @Ella_SASBDB

Ella - The girls were giving the pole some more practice as I was watching them closely okay keep going I will be back just going back into the club to the bar to get another drink. I headed out and headed towards the bar. “I then noticed Qhuinn was back taking shots with Madi. Can’t stay away  from us, Qhuinn? “Laughing softly” As I got the bartender to get me another drink.  That human male was hanging around earlier. I wondered if he was still hanging about when he went to the working girls section at the back of the club Qhuinn.”  There was a commotion at the door of the club #Shazzy was trying to get back and she was crying.  Geez what now, I will be back. I walked over to her didn’t you get the message we don’t need you here, leave now or I will throw you out. She fell to the floor to my feet begging me to forgive her. You already caused a scene and don’t need another one. You look worse I take it those are the drugs that have done that, you need to go now! “Please Ella, I am really sorry.”  Sorry or not, you need to leave now! @EndlessDivinity 

Madi - I patted the seat next to me with my hand and started talking to Qhuinn. “To be honest I have not seen much going on at all. It seems as if it has been just a normal night well apart from the fight of course which was fun in a way. I thought that it was great that Ella kicked her ass” I started to laugh a little bit. And took another shot. “I agree Ella he can’t stay away from this area with us both and now I am not even making any sense that tequila has gone right to my head and I am not drinking anymore. I need to get back up and onto dancing again and maybe it is not a good idea if I go on the pole. Very bad idea” Looking towards the door to see the girl again and now she was crying. “Don’t be too long Ella I will buy another drink” @Qhuinn_SASBDB

Qhuinn - *Giving Ella a smile as she joins Madi and myself* Can’t keep me away, not with two beautiful females for me to play with! *Leaning into Madi, my eyes still scanning the club. A feeling like something was about to happen, just not sure what it was going to be* I’m glad your night is going as normal. Well the girl on girl action was SO much fun to watch. But I don’t think it was fun for Ellla. *Giving Ella a wink letting her know I had her back, giving Madi a one arm hug* Madi I bet you will do great, and don’t diss the tequila. Tequila is the master. *Standing up straight as I follow Ella’s eyes to the door to see the female she had thrown out back, following Ella with my eyes as she heads over. A shiver running down my back as I turned to the left away from Madi, there in a dark corner was the male from earlier. I watched as in slow motion he took money from another male then handed over a small bag. I couldn’t see from here if it was the same back drugs I had in my jacket pocket, but my blood was running cold. I just knew it was the same stuff. Not even saying goodbye to Madi, my mind focused on the male. Following him through the club, getting stuck on the dance floor for a few seconds. Getting through as the male left through the door out of the club, passing Ella, my voice a whisper as I lean over her as I pass* Sorry I need to sort something, will you let Madi know. *At last getting out of the door, passing the humans still trying to get in. Turning slowly trying to find my prey, the sense of the male gone! Crouching down my voice a yell, the humans turning to look at me. But what could I do! Something still wasn’t sitting right, running back into the club searching for the male that had bought from the male that kept giving me the Lesser vibe* @Ella_SASBDB

Ella - I was beginning to lose my temper with #Shazzy she still wasn’t leaving tell me why you haven’t gone yet why you are still here? She kept looking around and scanning the floor. Lost something? There is nothing here you just need to leave your job has gone you don’t steal from your work friends though we were never friends. Just leave. She wouldn’t leave so I grabbed her and threw her out again. “Qhuinn came past me and left quickly. He shouted to me to tell Madi he was sorry. That he had to sort something out I looked towards the bar. Madi was still there drinking.”  I did manage to see the other male lurking still over in the far corner as I made my way back to the bar. Noticing Qhuinn coming back again through the main doors. @EndlessDivinity 

Madi - I had given a smile and then held onto Qhuinn once he took the one arm hug. Ella was still talking to the girl that she had a fight with so there was just me at the bar. Then I watched on as she threw her out yet again. “That was great that girl did not deserve to be here. She was always trouble” I had ordered another round of drinks for when Ella and Qhuinn came back to the bar. So since I was left all alone I decided that I could get in another dance and then I could enjoy myself later. Walking away from the bar and making sure that the bar staff knew what drinks we needed. I walked to the dance floor. Looking towards the door it seemed as if the place was starting to get busy again. Starting to dance for everyone full of tequila my head was spinning as long as my ass would not fall to the floor then I would be ok. @Qhuinn_SASBDB

Qhuinn - *Looking around my eyes cataloguing each and every person in the club, human and vampire alike. My eyes catching fleeting glimpses of what I am almost sure is the human male that felt wrong. That felt like a Lesser. My eyes going wide as I see Madi now dancing around a pole at the edge of the dance floor, the humans around her really enjoying the show. So much so that as they cramped around her I couldn’t see the far side of the club, taking a wide route around the edge of the dance floor again looking for  the male selling the drugs. Not sure but my gut telling me he has something to do with  the bag in my pocket. The drugs in my pocket giving off an evil vibe, a normal looking human giving off a Lesser vibe. Way too much vibes in here for me to just leave and go to Tohr, even if I did need to get the bag of black powder to him. Coming back around to the bar and standing in close to Ella, leaning in to talk without having to shout over the music* You get that female sorted again? I can’t really stay much longer but I wanted to make sure you and Madi were ok.  @Ella_SASBDB

Ella - “As I sat on the stool next to Qhuinn. Yea finally I thought she wasn’t going to leave, chucking her out was the best thing to do. Hopefully this will be it we will see what happens I guess. I don’t know if it’s me that feels off or something else. I just have that eerie feeling. That bloke that I saw earlier is still lurking around.” Madi seems to be doing okay as we watch as I take a sip of my drink. The place was getting more buiser by the minute, it got so busy all of a sudden maybe it’s madi because she seems like she is having loads of fun. “Qhuinn, another drink?” Tequila 2 shots please, then we both down them. Oh my that was too quickly I laughed softly. @EndlessDivinity 

Madi -  The males were watching as I was dancing the pole the room spinning after drinking all that tequila But I could not stop smiling. This had been a great night. Looking up to the bar and spotting Ella and Qhuinn standing up there. I was really wanting to finish up the dance and get back to them both to talk to them. And have another drink before I finish my shift for tonight. It was getting so busy but it was going to be great at the end of the night once I received my tips. The music finally stopped and I saw the males and whoever was interested in what I was doing clapping. Pulling back my hair finished up and jumped off the stage to go and get changed. There was another female ready to take over from me once I disappeared. Before heading into the changing room to get my stuff. I signalled to Ella to grab me a drink in the hope she spotted me. @Qhuinn_SASBDB

Qhuinn - *Nodding along to Ella as I listened to her issues with the other female, glad it all seemed to be worked out at last. But as she said, only time would tell. Eyes wide as she orders us two more shots of tequila, a laugh dancing across my eyes as I down my shot trying to keep up with the little female. Letting out a short laugh at her gasped words* Yes Ella, downing tequila is an acquired taste. *Wiggling my eyebrows at her, my piercing catching the lights. Damn if it wasn’t for Blay and the fact that before Blay I was a male tart I would have tapped Madi. Her body was moving in all sorts of ways, then too had Ella earlier as I watched her in that room. Shaking my head to clear my lustful thoughts and praying that my little head stayed down and didn’t decide now was the moment it got interested in sex again. Seeing the nod Madi was giving Ella, knowing the females were not finished yet. Leaning into Ella my voice loud* Next round for all three of us is on me but it most likely will be my last for the night. @Ella_SASBDB

Ella - “Looking back to Qhuinn as we laughed as the tequila went down very nicely as his eyes were on Madi. I made a little joke, you okay there Qhuinn I see dribble down your mouth. She can move, can’t she? I taught her how to. “ laughing softly. There is still 1 more dance left. I think Qhuinn then she will be over.”  Okay, sounds like a plan for another round.  “Watching Madi as she does her moves makes more males fall at her feet.” “Okay, Qhuinn got the drinks. I am just going to check on the girls to make sure all is okay. Brb won’t be long.” “I leave Qhuinn at the bar and head to my room.”  That is when I noticed a male hanging around again. He was at the other end of the bar. I headed to the room and everything seemed okay as I popped my head inside “Everything good?” One of the new girls nodded back and shouted Yep, everything good no worries alright as I headed back to the bar. “Qhuinn had gone, hopefully he wasn’t too far away. Madi was still dancing and the drinks were still there on the side waiting for us.”  @EndlessDivinity

Madi - I was finishing up my dance. I felt happy or maybe that was the tequila that was making me feel like that. I had a wonderful night with friends Ella and Qhuinn. So it was near the end of the night and I had just finished the last move on stage. The males were watching me and it felt good that I kept them at the club and they were enjoying themselves. Looking up I saw Ella walking away from the bar and to the room again. The music I was dancing to had finally stopped. I let go of the pole and smiled at everyone and then walked to the changing rooms.  I also had a quick shower then I changed into a new leather dress. I fastened the strap on the red high heels and walked out of the changing room. “I am needing a room of my own in this place” Then I walked out to the bar and reached for the shot glass of the tequila that was waiting for me. Lifting it up to my mouth then I  drank the contents in one. @Qhuinn_SASBDB

Qhuinn - *One minute I was here with two females then I was left at the bar alone and unguarded. Now back in my old days that would spell trouble, not these days. Pulling out my phone and checking to see if Tohr had answered back yet. I really needed to get back to the mansion and get this black powder looked at. The uneasy feeling falling over me again, scanning the crowd but seeing nothing. Then just as I was about to head to the toilet a very small and very human female was pulling at my arm. “Hey man mountain, you need to dance with me. My boyfriend thought it would be fun for us to come here together. You know, like spice up our love life! Well, fool me twice, I think not!!” This human female was a force of nature, I stumbled away from the bar into the middle of the dance floor. Taking her by the hips as she talked non stop over her boyfriend. And if the male looking at me like looks could kill isn’t her boyfriend my name isn’t Q-ball. Now I am not one to back down, but even I was finding it hard to keep the little human’s hands off my ass. Playing a quick game of grab ass and not winning I at last got free, finding my way back to the bar to see Ella reach it and then Madi to get there. Watching as she downs her shot then picking mine up and holding it up* A belated toast, females. To a very good night with only a few interruptions!  @Ella_SASBDB

Ella - “Getting back to the bar as the drinks were waiting there was no sign of the others but I could see Madi. She had changed from what she had on, maybe she had a quick shower.” She was heading in my direction and we both reached the bar as she downed her drink in one. “ That is when I did the same, then turning around seeing Qhuinn coming back he looked a little flustered. I wondered what happened “Laughing slightly, you okay there Qhuinn”? Yea he nodded as he picked up his and did a belated toast to us and downed his. As to say the night went well for only a few interruptions. @EndlessDivinity 

Madi - I took the last drink and did the toast along with Ella and Qhuinn. “And I would like to add something to end this night. I have had a wonderful time with the both of you. We should do this another time” I held onto the top of the bar for a second and stumbled backwards. All of a sudden a small headache appeared out of nowhere  and there was a funny taste in my mouth. and now it was time to head home for sure. “Well I am thinking that I need to go home now and get to bed. I have had too much to drink. The tequila is far too strong. Let’s get out of this place and go home Ella.”

[deadman-walken]

Returning to the Past.

I sat in the oversized bath, fresh clear water sloshing against the porcelain while my evening attire lay on the floor, stained heavily with blood and other matter. My hands gripped either side of the tub, my rib cage was bruised, not from any ass-kicking but more so because of the rapid beating of my own five chamber heart that was trying to rip its way out of my chest. It would all simmer down at some point. I knew that but it didn’t make the trip there any easier. I would never stop doing what I did on this night, but I just wish the mental suffering would come to a halt. It was my lot to carry, and I would until I no longer existed. During most nights within my head, it was questionable at best if it was actually functioning. 

With the new fangled technology I’ve seen in all the labs I’ve destroyed, you’d think they would have a sure fire way to put a person back in their right mind, but no, all they have figured out is how to destroy lives with what they call science. I only wish that I could blot out the memories of every horrific so-called science experiment. It was because of what I witnessed, that the anxiety and panic attacks set in so hard on me after a job. That first time it happened I was sure it was because I was killing humans but then after seeing what those people are capable of, I knew it had nothing to do with the blood I spilled. No, every panic attack was for each physically mangled and mentally destroyed vampire that I couldn’t save. Every one of them was branded in my brain, in great detail. I didn’t know any of their names, I always took what records I could from the labs, but the Doctors rarely put names to what they referred to as ‘Subjects’, but I gave them names in my head, they deserved to have a name.

At some point I loosened up the hold I had and relaxed enough to slide backwards until my head was fully submerged under the water. With my peach eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling above me and letting my lungs burn until I had no option but to come up and then finally I was able to take my first full breath. Droplets fell from my hair, pouring down my face as I stood up and left the bath. My wet foot prints marked the path on the wooden floors as I walked to my bed and practically fell into it. There was no more left in me tonight, drying and dressing was beyond my mental capabilities. I dragged the covers around my naked form and burrowed deep into the warmth of them as if my very life depended on it and right now it did.

Tonight's discovery was hitting me harder than I wanted to admit. I’ve become accustomed to my life, as crazed as it might seem to others, it was mine. But now I was going to have to leave it behind and if that wasn’t bad enough, I was being pulled to make a reappearance to my past life. 

[dehvastation]

Moving Ahead

~ I watched as they came into the room. Interrupting as I knew something would. I felt the smile drop from my face and I looked around at the Brotherhood as they protested. Both Nhick and Davidson were at my side when they whispered to Wrath. I could see Qhuinn’s face was white as a ghost, but he’d been sectioned off from me by guards. I knew I felt calm, but had no understanding of why. I should be fighting, making a scene and insisting that they let him go. Leave and let us continue with the ceremony. We’d waited long enough, fought with everything we had to get here. And now they were just going to walk in and interrupt before we’d managed to say what was needed, what we’d written. What we meant to each other. 

Wrath looked at me and then looked over at Qhuinn and beckoned him over. I stepped forward, but was pushed back. Nick growled at the guard, but the flash of something in his eyes had us all stepping back a little. He didn’t scare us, but the warning was there and I wanted this to be resolved peacefully. So, I stood and watched. The back and forth, Qhuinn’s animated gestures as he talked to Wrath and the others there, and then looked over a piece of paper. After that seemed like hours his arms fell to his sides and he nodded. That hand only coming up to point in the direction of someone standing just off to the side before he stalked over and talked to them. Both their attentions on each other before flicking over to me. 

I frowned and shifted nervously to my other foot before I saw them cuff him. That spurred me into action and I pushed forward. But before I could get anywhere he was gone. I blinked and skidded to a stop, my heart beating a hundred miles a minute. 

“Where the fuck has he gone? Bring him back right this fucking minute.” 

I span around and bumped straight into Wrath, whose hands landed like clamps on my shoulders. “Dehv, stop.”

I did as he asked, not because I wanted to, but because he was my King and I still didn’t have the confidence around him that the others did, despite my frequent visits to the manse. 

“He’s breached a contract, something to do with before he met you. I’ve gone over it with him and there’s nothing that could be done. He has to go and fulfill that obligation and legally even I can’t get him out of it. It’s not under my or the humans world legal system.”

I blinked and opened my mouth to speak, being cut off when the person Qhuinn had been talking to came over. 

“You don’t know me, but we’ll ensure you carry on with a normal life. Everyone will. Memory is a funny thing, but we have some practice at this, so there shouldn’t be much to change.”

I frowned and then the room lit up like the sun itself had somehow crashed to earth in the middle of the room. I shied away from it, and when I blinked I felt my heart beat drum in my ear just the once before pain erupted from my chest. It beat faster and faster with my heart beat. I yelled and my back arched and then I saw nothing but black…

I exhaled and ran my fingers through my hair, a tiny bit of product in there to keep the strands under control while I worked out. I was due at the training centre in a few hours, and I liked to get a bit of a work out in before all the trainees landed. I made my way from the bathroom and into the kitchen where I clicked on the machine to brew a coffee to take in with me. I could get one when I got there, but it was just easier to sort it now and have it ready to drink by the time I arrived. As always I settled my eyes on the piece of paper that was framed and mounted on the wall to the left of the counter. Tucked away where most would miss it but me.

It was written in handwriting that I didn’t recognise, and when I read it the feelings I should have, or thought I should have, didn’t come. 

“We both know I’m gonna fuck up along the way, I’ll probably leap before I look into shit more times than either of us can count, but I promise you that I will do my damnedest to make it home safely to you each and every damn time. You are the reason my six chambered heart still beats and the reason I will fight as hard as possible in all that I do. My world was gray before you and now I see colors never seen before, including the ones you hide from the world. Today is just a formality because I’ve been yours from day one, but damn I can’t wait to make it official and spend the rest of our lives together. I promise to put up with your quirks and I promise to never attempt to cook in our kitchen, after it’s remodeled…again, I promise to keep you in steady supply of daggers and the tea you like so much. I promise to wear your full name on my back and not be too big of a dick when carving you up. And I also promise to love you until my last breath and likely even after in the fade.”

There was scribbles added here and there, it was crumpled at the sides and some of the wording was smudged. But it read clearly as someone who loved me as much as I must have loved them. But now it was 10 years on and I still felt like I was reading a book or a magazine. I couldn’t bring myself to throw it out. I connected with it, and I didn’t want to lose that.

I remembered waking up in bed, surrounded by faces I didn’t recognise at all. They each looked concerned and then slowly started talking. Each speaking over the other until it was so loud I physically cringed. At which point the one wearing the sunglasses inside decided to yell really really loudly and kick all but two younger looking dudes out the room. They all grumbled, but left, though apparently only to outside the still open door. I tried to ignore them peering in like I was a zoo exhibition, and looked at the 3 faces in the room with me. I found out they were Davidson, Nhick and Wrath. They slowly filled in the gaps about why I didn’t recognise them, that I would start to as the weeks went on. But whatever had been used to break a bond I had inside me also fucked with me physically. The fact I had brotherhood blood in me was about the only reason I’d managed to survive it. They’d been right, I did remember things as the weeks went on. Including the fact I had been about to have a full mating ceremony with Qhuinn. But the emotional gut punch that should come with the knowledge that he was gone wasn’t there. He was almost like a nice memory, like when you read a really good book. You think back on it with a smile and a dancing heartbeat, but know that it’s done and life moves forward. But that note, scratched in black ink in the frame in my kitchen. That was something that I wanted there, even if I wasn’t sure why. Nhick had been weird about it at first, but Davidson had understood and got Nhick on board. Now they ignored it like everyone else did if they were in my home, not out of malice, just because I had deliberately put it somewhere out the way but where I could check in every day. Like a good luck charm. The Brothers had also had their own kind of bond breaking, since Qhuinn had been sworn in as a brother. He would be out of reach for them, but because it was all connected they snapped those too. But as the bond was new, and wasn’t the same as a mated bond, they’d recovered faster than I had.

I tapped the top of the frame before filling my mug with coffee, right up to the brim so I got as much as possible in there. I popped the lid on and opened the steam vent before looking around the place. I checked I had my wallet and phone in my bag, then grabbed my headphones and coffee from the side. I stepped outside my house and instantly wished I’d stop forgetting about the ridiculous system on my home to stop intruders. I fished my phone out of my bag and did the various steps to get things set and sorted before locking up and ensuring everything turned green on the app. I could imagine V giving me a mental pat on the back at the fact I still used it correctly and hadn’t fucked it up yet. I was pretty sure he’d not take kindly to me getting him back in to reconnect everything. 

As I stepped outside Davidson pulled up and waved, Nhick tipped his head and then carried on whatever conversation he was having. I arched a brow at Davidson who shook his head, rolled his eyes and gestured to the back of the car. I threw my stuff in the boot and laughed as I got in the car, “what’s happening, he looks stressed?” I whispered, but knew Nhick would hear me clearly. Davidson snorted and started driving towards the training centre. “His female is pissed that he’s got to leave for the night, despite him having to leave every night and her knowing this when he started sniffing around her.” Nhick slapped a hand into Davidson’s chest and growled, though it was quickly cut off with words of reassurance to whoever was on the phone. I just laughed and settled back in my seat. The routine of being with these two and going to a job I really enjoyed now we’d all graduated the programme was soothing. We’d become proper Soldiers of the Brotherhood. Able to fight alongside the Brothers and train others who would join us protecting our race and the humans from the lessers and whoever else came alone. It was fun, and hard work. It kept me physically and mentally fit. I ignored the words coming from Nhick and instead focused on the road ahead of us, aware of when it became harder to find our way, but thanks to V we could make it back to where we needed to be. I knew that the trainees found it hard and would get confused the first few times they were brought out to us. And they were always in awe to see us, then their jaws dropped when the Brothers came in to teach or check in on us or give out rotas for going out on patrol. I knew the feeling from when I first got to know everyone and their larger than life personalities. 

“You doing ok today?” Davidson’s gaze met mine in the mirror and I nodded, smiling widely.

“I’m really good, just didn’t sleep all that well. But I suspect once I get warmed up I’ll be cooking with gas.”

He rolled his eyes at me and then laughed. Both of us yelling in unison at Nhick to get off the phone so we could go train. I glanced out the front of the car and saw Phury open the door to the main office where we started each shift. I inhaled the cool air and stretched. Today was going to be a really damn good day. ~ #MovingAhead

[zsjudgingyou]

On the hunt

 [Humans were almost as cunning and wicked as the demons. They would turn on each other with little provocation. Forcing them to live with the knowledge they were not the species on earth and that there were rules they all had to follow…it was interesting. When they broke those rules, claiming they would not beholden to those they considered lesser. Those were my favorite ones to play with. Murdoch and I would hunt them down, dragging them back kicking and screaming for Karii to deal with. Those that didn’t make it back or those I had been given free rein to track down were even better though. Few and far between that they were. If they died along the way, I had their souls to play with. They thought death was the end, then they would wish that it was. Murdoch wasn’t bothered one way or the other. He got off on the thrill of the hunt but hated the actual blood shed and torture. He was of the mind you only killed what you ate, unless it was at the hands of justice aka Karii. That didn’t mean he didn’t play with them first. Only once did I see him break his own self imposed rules. The prisoner had been found guilty of the most heinous of crimes and had been sentenced to death. He bribed one of the guards and escaped. They didn’t inform us for two days and by then he’d made it two states over. We’d found him preparing another victim. Murdoch flashed by me in a blur to get to him first. There was nothing remaining to bring back with us other than the soul I had carried. The only reason anyone was upset by that one was they didn’t get to witness it or take part. 

Humans were pesky with their skewed views of rights and wrongs at times. What was good for them wasn’t good for another and what was horrible to them was perfect to bestow on their neighbors. They loved it when we caught and punished an otherworlder but when a human was tried they thought we were unfair despite them all being held to the same laws as the rest. Because of that, they were often my favorite prey. Their minds and souls could be much darker because they made excuses for their actions, justified it in their own heads. 

We’d been on the road for four days searching for our latest quarry. In this instance it was a human teamed up with an angel. They had gone on a multi state carnage spree. Why a human would stoop so low was beyond me. Everyone knew angels could not be trusted. People thought demons were bad but we were honest about who we were and what we were. Angels would lie and manipulate the circumstances surrounding all of their choices. I didn’t want to hear the “not all angels” bullshit argument either. If demons and vampires could all be painted with one brush so could those flighty bastards. We had tracked them to a fancy ass hotel just outside the main drag of the city, which meant they knew what they were doing. Most tried to hide out in the outskirts or lowly populated places making it easy. Hiding in the city meant we had to be more cautious to eliminate innocent bystanders getting tangled up in the shitshow. Because of course that responsibility fell to those trying to maintain order. We didn’t do enough to keep shit safe. Of course it wasn’t the fault of the actual criminals causing the damn problems. The more good we did the more headache it was. I swear if it wasn’t for the pact I made with Egregore, I would have bailed ages ago. That was not an option though. For now I had to focus.

The plan was for Murdoch to capture the human and I would handle the angel. We checked our protections and drank the concoction Karii had created for when we hunted the other-worlders. We had to make sure they wouldn’t be alerted to our presence and that drink pretty much turned us invisible to any sort of detection, we didn’t even show up on cameras, thermal or otherwise.  It also protected us from any traps that might have been set. Kar might have had her flaws, but her magic was definitely not one of them. Murdoch and I went over the plan once more and then we were off. I took the patio balcony and Murdoch took the front door. We waited a beat and then busted in.  Murdoch tackled the human before the dude could even blink. The angel came out of the kitchen to investigate the noise, froze for a moment and then tried to stun us. The spell rebounded and as the angel launched, it caught him mid air. He crashed, legs immobilized. I was on him before he could try again, fist connecting with his jaw just because I wanted to shut him up for a moment. A moment was all it lasted too. He tried incantations, he tried screeching in that high pitched scream angels possessed, he tried making deals, tried throwing his human under the bus. All of that within the few minutes it took me to put the cuffs on to restrain him. I glanced at Murdoch who had his human nice and subdued and begged with my eyes to please please please let me kill him because if I didn’t I knew this angel would drive me out of my skull before we left the city limits. 

Before Murdoch could respond, the angel bucked and I could see the cuffs warping. Not enough to come off but if given enough time they would. He cursed and spat at me as he twisted and before I could stop myself, the black tendrils slid down my arm, winding around the angel’s chest and back, down his legs, his breath coming out in hitches and gasps as I stared down at him. It was like watching a movie scene. One I couldn’t pause or rewind. The angel’s olive skin was slowly turning black as tar as the life choked out of him. My smile grew, I could feel it, that sense of perverse pleasure taking hold. I hit the ground with a grunt as Murdoch tackled me, the tendrils snapping slowly. One small problem with Karii’s elixir was that it nullified other spells, other magics, other elixirs that even she created. Including the one that tampered whatever it was inside me. Murdoch was talking but it took a few minutes for me to return to the present. By then the angel was ranting and raving about torture and abuse and whatever other bullshit he wanted to spew. They knew though, the council, that whatever it was that ate up the inside of me only came out when it was needed. If it was needed. The angel didn’t even see the killing blow coming from Murdoch. One minute he was on top of me, the next he had severed the angel’s jugular. The human paled and slid into a fetal position, hoping he wasn’t next. He would be, just not here. We gathered them both up, then Murdoch placed some calls to make the transfer easier and a portal opened to the council’s dungeons. I knew I’d have to talk to Kar because if I didn’t Murdoch would but it would have to wait. I needed to purge the soul of the angel and the darkness that I’d absorbed from him first.]

[talkstodead]

#7

*Bryan was being held for violating a restraining order and Sarge was doing his damndest to make him sit for as long as he could. I shouldn’t have been as amused by it as I was but the fucker had beaten me more than once, the final time had ended up with me in the hospital for 3 weeks. Bryan’s family had been pissed that I pressed charges and refused to be talked out of it again. It didn’t help when Granny E started to cut everyone off who were supporting Bryan. They’d managed to put her in a home and keep her from making any further changes to her will or anything else. They’d also barred me from seeing her. We still communicated though, or we had…it had been a while. Longer than I realized. I’d gotten so busy with the business that time slipped away. That was normal though, the older we get the faster time seems to go and the next thing you know it’s too late for some things that should have mattered. I was going through our last emails when Marley appeared by the front desk. “She’s lingering. Evelyn. She’s caught in the between. I think she wants to talk but it’s like she’s caught in a web or something. I told her you would come.” I nodded and glanced at the front door. I still had time to kill before I could lock up. Lucky was anal about that. Our hours were clear and someone needed to be available in case a client needed us. Right because most people suddenly had a desperate urge to hire a PI at 3:23 in the afternoon. Most made appointments and those that did wander in usually just came for gossip or to shoot the shit. Gods how I wished Charley was feeling better so she could be doing this instead of me. She needed a raise for the crap she had to put up with if what I was experiencing was any indication. Ohh, part owner, I can make that happen. I jotted down the note and slapped it on Lucky’s desk letting him know it was happening then I gathered all my shit, going as slow as humanly possible to keep me from running out the door. The second the clock clicked over to 5, my key was in the door locking up for the day, crossing my everythings Charley would be back in the office tomorrow. By the time I was in my car, Marley was guiding me to where Granny E was waiting. I was expecting us to arrive at the nursing home where she spent her last few years, where Bryan said she died…he did say that was where she died, right? Either way, what I wasn’t expecting was to be pulling up to some three story house set on the cusp of the rich/poor neighborhood divide.

  The house wasn’t run down in the way that would get it condemned. There were no boards on the windows or doors or anything like that but as I pulled into the drive, it felt off. Like the house was dead inside. Where it should be boarded up or razed to the ground. Even the dilapidated cabin where the mayor’s daughter was taken had a better feeling to it and that’s saying something. The small hairs on the back of my neck stood immediately as I stepped from the car. I carefully stared at the house, taking in the windows and doors, the bushes and trees, nothing was out of place yet everything seemed like it should be. It didn’t help that Marley was silent. She never was yet I noticed the past few miles it was eerily quiet in the car. Even now as she stood beside me there was not a peep. I tried to remember if she’d warned me before we left but nothing came to mind. All I remembered was that Evelyn was trapped in a …fuck me running. I let out a sigh and shook my head. Marley warned me in her own way. She didn’t give specifics because she couldn’t. I was walking into a trap and it was already too late for me to turn around.*

[hizzalot]

SL. 32. Heading for Chicago by @HizzALot

Decently feed and a willing fuck later, I left the Mask. I felt revived in a way that I hadn’t done for years. It had been years since Trevor and I parted ways, on friendly terms, but it had cut deep and the lingering feeling of loss had followed me for a long time. No one’s blood ever tasted right after feeding from Trevor until tonight it still didn’t taste and feel like it had but it was a lot better. Maybe finally that lingering feeling of loss was leaving me, who knew. There was a prickling zing of life oozing through my blood that hadn’t been there before but now it was. I celebrated the small stuff. Hell, I was working myself up thinking about it, getting this euphoric feeling by just feeling blood satisfied for once. As it was maybe I needed another go, another bite, another willing victim but it felt too good to feel that much I kept on walking. I felt high and giddy like a damn high schooler on prom night. It wasn’t until I walked through the club finding and meeting Xhex stone cold gaze across the dancefloor that I realized that I was smiling. I never smiled. Xhex smirked giving me a single nod before looking away like the bitch knew all about my troubles and how someone in her club helped eased them. 

“Fucker.” That shit won’t do. I let Xhex go and pushed through a particularly crowded spot of sweating human bodies grinding together in nonpenetrative sex dance. Soon I was out the door pulling on my leather jacket over my black t-shirt as I walked toward my bike. I was ready for my next stop in Chicago. I’d plan to stay in Caldwell for another night to rest up and feed up on both blood and real food but since the pretty one from the club managed to energize me enough that the rush would keep me going for hours I was going to use the time well and head for Chicago. I wanted all the time I could get to trail Rebecca-Rose before making my move or her skipping town. I had to.

 I was close I could feel it and the past couple of places I’d tracked her to my senses told me I’d just missed her. She was my maker, after all, I could still feel her in spite of the fact that she broke our bond decades ago. A meaningless bond without any touch of care, she had broken it leaving me for dead, or at least that’s what she thought. By black magic and finding the right witch I learned how to pipe into that uncared-for bond. At first, it had taken a lot of energy from me to feel her and to read the traces she left, after a couple of decades of hunting her and learning more about her from research I learned how to feel her with less effort. But every time I did I risked her feeling me and even if I knew from what I learned about her and the bodies that piled up behind her, that I was a dime a dozen, it would take a lot from her to even remember me. I didn’t want to risk her feeling me and actually remembering. My hidden weapon was the fact that she had no idea that I existed or that I was a hybrid. I was going to find her and when I did I was going to kill her and anyone who was with her, slowly. She was going to beg me to die before I let her take her final breath. She was a lousy maker anyway, leaving her children to find for themselves only hours after turning them, in my case I didn’t even get my first drink from her, the only thing saving me was the poison from the rattlesnakes that bit me as I was turning and weeks on my own trying to survive on the blood of rats and squirrels until I met my first vampire who was friendly enough to teach me how to drink from humans without killing them, taught me about glamoring them and staying out daylight even if it turned out that daylight wasn’t an enemy of mine. 

Mounting my bike I kicked the stand up and got her started with a loud roar. I grabbed for my helmet and threw a glance at the Iron Mask again seeing Xhex staring right at me, as our eyes met she unfolded her arms holding up her fingers to her ear like a phone. I started to frown when my phone buzzed in my pocket. Reaching for it I read the message: If you call me you better be fucking dying. A grin spread across my face and I looked back up but found her gone. I didn’t question how she got my number, I knew she was part of the Black Daggers and they had resources however that she offered to back up spoke volumes and I wasn’t going to turn that down. #HeadingForChicago #Hizzy #VenganceWillBeMine

[bloodletterepicness]

Brothers until the END...

I was seething on the inside and it hopefully would work in my favor. I didn’t have the full scope of my powers. The bleeding out was definitely depleting them. And my hostess had set herself up on a satin settee with a drink. She was splitting her attention between watching me and her phone. 

There was no fucking way I was going down like this. I wasn’t about to let a damn stranger come in, play up in my head and then drain me…Nope. My brain refused to accept that conclusion. And I didn’t even want to think about what Devina had planned for my Brothers. Yeah, this wasn’t working for me. But I was limited on what I could do. Movement was obviously restricted but I did what I could without alerting the bitch. I felt as if I was not moving at all but I did manage to shimmy my glove down from my wrist and press the bare spot against the bonds holding me. The pain was instantaneous and I welcomed the burn of the leather and chains against my skin, melting becoming one. Right now it was imperative that I could feel anything. My teeth clamped down as metal liquified and then all hell broke loose. The second that first bond was stripped away, I was free falling, forcing the almost dead weight of my body to flip around and hope like a motherfucker that my feet would support me as I landed. 

‘You have got to be kidding me. I do have other engagements!’

She was shrieking at me as she stood up from her settee and I was still trying to see if I was standing at all.

“For fucks sake…shut the hell up.”

My head was pounding and this Bitch was not just the cause but also making it worse. I rolled my icy eyes and shook my head some. I took the first full breath that I had in hours, straightened my shoulders and slid my glove the rest of the way off as I stood there in leathers, boots and nothing else but savage bite wounds with dried and fresh blood.

“If I’m dying, you’re going with me.”

I was as ready as I was ever going to be with the situation at hand. Life and death, those are the only two guarantees anyone gets. I fought my way through every night of living, and I would battle my way into a bloody death. I wanted…needed to feel my fingers around the petit chords of her throat. It was almost a walking hardon to think about her taking that last breath while her pulse faded ever so weakly against my palm, while she fought for every painful gasp of air that I allowed her to have. I could feel the savage need embedded in my marrow. 

It was an old fashion standoff, the demon bitch in all her satin and lace, with me just a mere seven feet away, barely standing and looking like I was put through a cheese grater…Okay so I guess it wasn’t really something you see in a western, but you get the damn point. 

‘I was enjoying you, Vishous. I don’t know why you had to ruin things.’

And there she was pouting again. 

“Well ya know, I was bored.”

I used every valuable second that Devina ran her mouth to get as stable as my unstable body could manage. She would hit hard and fast, and truth be told, I was fucked, without spit. I knew it. I felt it. Then as if I had been token on some Red Smoke for the past hour, the air in the room stilled, all sounds seized, not even that of my own ragged breathing could be heard by my vamironic ears. Much later I would wonder if I had been tripping on a more halucient type of drug.  Because the shit that took place before me was something out of Jurassic World and Merlin. 

That familiar beastly snarl of Rhages’ filled the void of silence first before my pale eyes saw his massive form charging directly behind the witch. She had no time to react before he tackled her small frame, engulfing her completely. I was still registering what the fuck when Devina shape shifted right fucking there under Rhage, becoming an exact replica of the Beast. If I had any common sense, I would have pissed myself right fucking then and there. The ground shook from the battle that took place. This was some straight prehistoric shit and I was way out of my element, but leaving wasn’t an option. 

It was all a blur as I got knocked out of the way by the entangled duo while they ripped into one another. I slip and slide on deep pools of fresh blood while I get back on my feet, cursing all the while and no sooner do I turn around to face the wrestling match, then one wraps up around the other and slams them both to the ground, knocking me flat on my ass again from the rumbling and shattering of the walls and floors. 

I was grumbling and feeling like a damn mouse being batted around. “Fuck you both…” 

My hand made contact with the floor and I had just pushed myself up, to witness who I now know is Rhage, take a fucktastic bite out of the bitch and then she was gone…as if she had never been there. It happened so suddenly the Beast faceplanted into the pavement, sending another series of vibrations through the foundation. There was a growl right before the damaged scales started to shade back to that of my Brother. Instantly I was beside him, rolling him over and dragging his large upper frame to rest on me.

“I have you…I’m going to give you about sixty seconds to catch your breath and then I have to haul us out of here.”

I looked around skeptically at the nearly broken down walls.

“We won’t have much longer than that before this place falls down around us. But don’t worry, you got us here…” I snorted. “I’ll get us out of here, and then we are going to discuss getting you one of those fucking helmets wrapped in aluminum foil. It might protect your brain.” 

It was easy to joke right now. We both felt like literal shit, but the alternative was way fucking worse. We didn’t technically win this War, but neither did she. What we did manage to do, was survive another battle and to live another night. I’ll fucking take it.

I crouched down, blew out a long breath before wrangling the larger than life body of Rhage, getting him over my shoulder and pushing myself to stand back up. Thank fuck for my Mhis. I sure as fuck would cause a stir walking out in public, even at night wearing only leathers, beat the fuck up, carrying a blond naked giant…Yup that’s my life.

[bloodletterepicness]

Possible Bloody Endings...

I was shaking from how frozen my body felt. Was I laying in a fucking ice bath or what the ever hell? I could hear my teeth chattering. Warmth, I needed some ASAP. At this point I would yank my glove off and set anything on fire, to get some heat flooding back through me. This was a kind of cold that’s painful. My lungs hurt as I took in some air. I had yet to pry my eyes open, I wasn’t even sure if I could. The last thing I remember was working in the Pit, drinking a little, and…It all came flooding back, every fucking second. One name passed my cracked lips. It was the last one that was strangled out of me ‘Rhage’. 

It was time to access the damage and figure out how to get the fuck out of dodge with me still breathing. I could tell right off the bat I was fucked up. My body was telling me the story without using words. I ached from scalp to the bottom of my soul, there were parts that throbbed in ravaging pain and those were the wounds I knew the Beast had locked his teeth onto. The fact that I made it out alive after any fucking kind of altercation with the Beast, is one of those miracle things. 

I was putting off the hardest part. I knew when I faced it, there would be two point five seconds for me to gain control of my shit. Breathing was imperative, even if each lungful caused spasms of pain. My eyes pried open and the world was upside down. More to the point, I was. I was strung up, chains wrapped around my ankles, hooked to a ceiling beam, my arms were strapped to my sides and my blood was drip dropping into buckets…

Well, that explains why I’m so fucking cold, I was being bled me out. 

It was at that moment I heard the clicking sounds of heels walking over the crude concrete floor and then she appeared. A petite female with long brunette locks and dressed as if she was prepared to go to evening at the opera. 

“Apparently I’m underdressed for the occasion.”

That took some effort, but now my adrenaline was kicking in, actually I was really fucking pissed.

‘I had thought about having you dressed in a Tux but then I didn’t think your brother had the capabilities of doing so.’

My nostrils flared and my icy eyes blazed, blaring illumination over the room that was an exact replica of where my forge was located deep in the tunnels of the Manse. How did I not notice that before…Loss of blood might have my brain scattered. I decided to chalk it up to that. This bitch had skills and my head started trying to add this shit up, but I didn’t have to try too hard. 

‘Forgive my rudeness!’

She almost sounded sincere and had I not been strung up like an animal ready for slaughter, I might have bought into it. 

‘I know who you are and yet you have no idea of who I am.’

And right there in a dark dungeon like setting, this vision of an angel, curtsy. I’d laugh if it didn't cause bouts of gasps and coughing. 

‘I am Devina and you are a problem that I must remove, but I decided to play with you first. You lasted much longer than I expected. Most go mad just days in.’

My brows drew down and as if all the doors and windows to every answer I’d been chasing down, were suddenly there before me.

“You fucking bitch…”

My vision started to blur the longer I was stuck in the wrong position and my lifeline was draining out of me but I saw the images playing out on the burnt black brick wall. She laughed as she moved out of the way and motioned to the bloody scenes playing out. The same ones that the Brotherhood had been killing ourselves to put a stop to. 

‘I’m much more than that my dear Vishous. I am capable of things that your mind can not even fathom. But I have given you a small taste.’

Bile built up in my throat and I fought to keep it back as realization of how hard I was played. From the start it had all been this witch’s manipulation. My mind tried to connect it but a wall would slam up in front of me, and now I knew why. 

‘I’m the new big bad around these parts and I am having fun so far. The Brotherhood has been immensely enjoyable for me. Especially the Beast.’

At the mention of my brother I felt that familiar rage wrapping itself around my already hyped adrenaline. You can fuck with me and that was one thing, but fuck with those I care about, and that’s a whole other motherfucking story. She was running her mouth as her home movie played out on the wall, adding in details in a jovial tone, obviously well pleased with herself. 

‘You see it was quite simple really. Once I was able to get inside of Rhage’s mind, that allowed me entrance into the Brotherhood. From there I was free to plant beautifly wicked realities for you all.’

It was more of a headfuck than I realized. The bitch had quite literally fucked with our heads. Altered our realities. The Brotherhood had capabilities to manipulate some memories and I had my own skills with going into dreams, but this was another level. 

“Are you waiting for me to congratulate you? You’ll be waiting awhile. I’m not big on giving others what they want.”

That rewarded me with a snarl, which showed the first hint of the evil that lay beneath the mask she layered herself with.

‘You’ll be giving me exactly what I desire very soon.’

With that statement she came close enough to dip her finger in the pale, getting it stained red and taking her time to suck my blood from her tip. I rolled my eyes at that and would have shrugged if I had the ability to, which I was working really fucking hard to ignore. But It wasn’t a mystery as to what she was referring to, my death. 

“That sucks. I didn’t pencil in dying, on my calendar. We might have to reschedule this.”

‘You taste so special. I knew that you would. It’s a shame really. You and I could have had a blast together but I know that I could not trust you to not try and take me out.’

“Smart woman, because that would happen often. You might do for a blow job but not anything more.”

‘You’re talkative for a man not far from death. Do you know why I wanted to do it this way? I mean of course I could have come up with more savage ways. But to witness the slow descent into death in those oddly fascinating eyes. I’ve dreamt of it and so it must be.’

I almost admired her dedication to seeing a dream through, if it wasn’t my fucking death.

[talkstodead]

#6

*I loathed working the front desk. Loathed it. While I was awesome at the actual investigation side of things, there was a reason Lucky usually let me stay in the back. Unfortunately, he had to run out of town for another case and our usual front desk receptionist, Charley, had a family emergency today leaving me alone. To deal with people. Living people. I hated it. Marley was rambling on about something Geoff had told her that he had heard from some drunken ghost down by the trail head that led to the mines, the phone was ringing off the hook, and Gretchen from the café down the street was trying to fill me in on the latest town gossip. Marley hated Gretchen for some reason so every time Gretchen opened her mouth, Marley increased her own volume. Of course Gretchen didn’t know Marley hated her or that she was filling me in on her own gossip. The joys of the dead. The joys of the living. The bell went off a moment before the door opened and for that split second I had hoped I’d finally get a break from the gossip. When I saw who it was, I longed for the two women to keep going but of course they absolutely shut the hell up and both sat with their jaws damn near to the floor at the man that walked in.

Not that I could blame them for that, he was a damn fine piece of ass, unfortunately he was also a huge ass. One I’d hoped wouldn’t dare show his face anywhere within 500 feet of me, just like the filed piece of paper ordered. I had my hand on the phone before he had made it another foot into the building and narrowed my eyes at him* Get out, Bryan, I am already dialing.

  *Gretchen tried to ask questions and I shook my head as I started dialing the Sheriff’s office. I only hoped it wouldn’t be Sarge that was sent down here or Bryan would be an ink stain on the wall. I had half the numbers dialed when Bryan’s next words had me pausing. “Granny E passed away, Rem. Please 5 minutes that is all I’m asking for.” I held the phone in my hand and narrowed my eyes, shooing a hand at both Marley and Gretchen to shut them up when the questions started.* This better not be a joke because the cops won’t get here in time to save your ass if it is.

  *He tried to take another step into the building and I shook my head, he sighed and shook his head. “Fine. I’m not fucking around, Rem. She’d been slowly getting worse and I got the call about two hours ago. I wanted to be the one to tell you.” Gretchen and Marley both leaned in, one on each side of me now, and whispered at the same time in a very disarming manner, “Why didn’t he call?” It was actually a good question* So, why didn’t you just call me? The paper doesn’t expire until your death, not Granny E’s.

*His brow shot up, “Would you have answered? Would I have even gotten through or is my number blocked?” I rolled my eyes, okay he had a point there. I motioned for him to go on. It took him far longer than it should to get to the point. “I think one of her aides, or someone, was making her sick. A bunch of her stuff has gone missing over the past few months. Little things at first, but her lawyer mentioned a change to the will and some other weird things that have gone on. I need you to investigate. Not for me, but for Granny. She loved you, Rem. She accepted you and she nearly cut me off after…after everything. Please.” I set the phone back in the cradle and gave a slight nod to Marley who popped out of the office. Granny E or Evelyn, had been like a grandmother to me and even after I got out of the hospital we had kept in touch. Her family didn’t know, they had no reason to as far as she was concerned. I should have gone to visit but I didn’t want to risk seeing any of them, especially the man before me now. But if something had happened to her in that home, I damn sure wanted to get to the bottom of it. Bryan must have seen the decision on my face, “You’re going to help, right? When can we…” I shook my head fast and narrowed my eyes at the doorway. I’d let him in as far as I would allow but I didn’t feel safe, I felt like a thousand bees were swarming me and it took all I had not to show him that reaction. I kept my voice as steady as I could. * There is no we, not now not ever again. I will do this for Granny E because she deserves to have answers if something was wrong. I will send you email updates, but you will never show your face here again because I will shoot you and ask questions later. Don’t interfere and do not tell anyone else you came here or that I’m looking into this.

  *I glanced up and saw Sarge walking this way, someone must have called…and then I saw Gretchen running across the sidewalk from the side of the building towards him. Motherfucker. I’d forgotten she was here. I sighed. * If I were you, I’d haul ass before Sarge gets here because he will kill you.

*Bryan’s eyes went wide at that, the first indication that he realized I wasn’t joking. He backed away, “I…I am sorry Rem. For everything. Please know that. Let me know what you find.” He backed out and ducked his head as if Sarge wouldn’t recognize him. Sarge saw him though and ran across the street, stopping right in front of my ex. A smirk formed on my face, especially when the cuffs came out. Sarge must have called for back up because a few minutes later Bryan was in the back of the squad car, Sarge slapping the roof with a few words before he shut the back door and turned his attention to the office. Well dammit. *

[talkstodead]

#5

*Lucky and Sarge followed me, making sure the apartment was locked up before ushering me to Sarge’s big ass truck. I was thankful he at least had one of those fold down steps for me to use. I would be lying if I didn’t say I was nervous. Not because I did anything wrong, but because I hated court rooms. Especially when I knew there were those in town that thought I was a freak, a danger, and all kinds of other things based solely on my appearance. They didn’t know me, they didn’t know anything about me, but people loved to pass their judgements on what they didn’t understand. Before too long, Sarge parked and we all got out, both of them flanking either side as we walked into the courthouse. I was glad they came with but I sure wasn’t going to admit it right now. 

To say the whole trial was a circus would be the understatement of the century. I was called to the stand and had accusations thrown at me left and right. My character was assassinated, my job destroyed, my entire existence questioned, and torn to shreds. I was on the stand for two days, which was only a small portion of the trial but it felt like an eternity. Lucky stayed in the gallery offering his silent support. I hated that we closed the office for this charade but we knew any new clients walking in right now were likely only doing it to be nosey and not necessarily because they needed a private investigator. Joys of living here I suppose. Small enough everyone knows your business and if they don’t they’ll do their best to figure it out, big enough to keep us steadily working, plus we were close enough to the bigger city to keep us entertained.

 Even after my portion of the testimony was over, I had to remain close by in case they needed to call me again. Apparently they had the entire trial to do that and they didn’t want to dismiss me even if they had gotten everything they could from me. I think that was another power play on the defendants part but who was I to argue. I mean I could but I could also be charged with contempt and tossed in jail so I was biting my tongue. A lot. Brit was brought in last, after a complete character assassination on her from her own mother and father as well as whoever they paid off because some of the bullshit coming out in court was fiction at its finest. The prosecution call their own witnesses of course and pretty much unraveled everything the defense witnesses said. There was a lot of he said she said going around though. It was no wonder people thought the US judicial system was a joke with cases like these. The cases closed and the jury was off to deliberate. We weren’t sure how long it would take so planned on dinner and waiting around for a day or so but we’d barely gotten to the restaurant when they came back. Guilty on all charges. The Mayor screamed and yelled how she’d make them all pay, which Sarge took as a direct threat against a Federal employee so he had the pleasure of hauling her ass off to jail. The recall was definitely going to gain steam now. Hopefully this would be the end of it. Brit was going to live with her best friend after this, and now I was free of the nonsense officially, though I knew the rumors would persist. They always did.*

[talkstodead]

#4

*It had been a few weeks since Brit was found but the town was still caught up the drama. Likely because the Mayor had tried to spin it against me. I was dealing with that and Lucky watching my every move, I was surprised he didn’t put a tracer on me at this point. He had been furious as had his dad. I was dragged to the hospital to be checked out once they had heard the full story, then I was lectured and yelled and hugged, then yelled at and lectured again. Hours…it went on for hours! I was practically begging the nurses to knock me out at that point. It hadn’t worked, Sarge overruled everything. Even after I was finally released, Lucky and Sarge drove me home with Lucky insisting on staying over night to make sure I was fine. I loved the guy like a brother, but seriously I wanted to beat him some days. The next day the Mayor had started her campaign against me and it hadn’t died down yet. Even with the evidence, even with Brit waking up and giving very detailed accounts about what happened, they wouldn’t let up. I hoped it would change soon. 

Today was the start of the trial as the defense it done quickly, they felt it would help him be found not-guilty since there wouldn’t be a ton of time for investigations and shit. I don’t know what world they were living in but honestly, I hoped it would be the end of it. Of course as the one who found her and was attacked, I had to go and be part of the damn thing. Which meant dressing up, looking presentable, and being professional. All of which were things I absolutely did not want to do. Lucky and Sarge were both at my door bright and early too. Between them, Geoff and Marley, I was dying for some quiet. Instead I had all of them fighting to be heard. The men all wanted me to dress more masc to not add any fuel to the fire of what the defense was trying to paint me as. Marley was yelling at Geoff since he was the only one who could hear her. It was loud, it was too much, it was also why I was currently locked in my bathroom with the shower and sink both running at full blast as I tried desperately to drown them all out, even for a few minutes. Today was going to be ugly enough I didn’t need the added pressure in my head. I barely managed to zip up my slacks when Marley slid through the door. I groaned and glared at her.* Five minutes, is that too much to ask? 

*She tutted then slid in between me and the mirror, “You know we are only looking out for you, Remington. You should be thankful, many do not have the support system you do.” I rolled my eyes as I pulled on the white silk button down shirt, I worked each button up, then grabbed the blazer from the hanger and put that on as well. I slicked my hair back and down without a word, eyeliner, mascara but otherwise bare faced.* I am an adult though, I can handle myself. I feel like I’m being punished for doing nothing wrong. It’s bullshit. 

* I raised my voice as I opened the door, making sure I could be heard over the two..three men still being loud in my kitchen.* Do you hear me, it’s bullshit. I like you all, but right now you are on my very last damn nerve. I’d rather do this alone if this is what you all call support.  I didn’t do anything wrong. Yes, maybe I should have called first but there wasn’t time. You know that. What I could have used this whole time was someone listening instead of lecturing me every damn moment of the day. I am not going to change who I am or my appearance to fit their narrative. People will either believe the truth or they won’t. We all know they have nothing to go on, nothing to charge me with so stop acting like I’m the guilty party and just fucking either support me or leave. 

*All three men and Marley stood there gaping at me as I stormed past them all to fix myself a mug of chai tea and a bagel before I had to leave. Lucky was the first to break the silence as he walked over and stole half my bagel. “You know we were worried, right? Like you get that, don’t you? He could have killed you, Rem. He was, is, batshit crazy and anything could have happened. So yes, we might have been a little over protective this past month but it’s because we’re so fucking happy you’re alive, and maybe we’re a little pissed you put yourself in that situation. Again. I won’t apologize for caring.” Sarge came over and grabbed his own bagel from the bakery bag, “I won’t either. Lucky’s said it all but you can’t do that to me, Rem. When that call came in, I swear the images I had running in my head…I can’t do that. I’m too fucking old, kid.” He nudged one shoulder and Lucky nudged the other, “Finish up and we’ll drive you to court. I can’t stay for the whole day but I want to show them you’re not alone in this.” Geoff didn’t grab a bagel or give some flowery speech, he just looked me up and down, “You look good, now go show them that spine of steel.” I finished my bagel and my tea, wiping my mouth before pocketing my keys, phone, and wallet.* Let’s get this show on the road, yeah? 

[talkstodead]

#3

*I ducked down behind the chair, hoping against hope the darkness would conceal me, my hand falling to the taser at my side. He was wild eyed, his normally perfect hair looked like he stuck his finger in an electric socket on his way through a carwash, and instead of the three piece he was last photographed in, he was wearing what looked like a mechanics jumper covered in…something I didn’t want to think too closely on. I sunk my teeth into my bottom lip to quiet the noise that threatened to escape as he walked further into the room. He walked closer to Brit, at first I thought I misread the situation that he was here to rescue her, but then he spoke and chills ran through me. “This is all your fault, Brit. You and your slutty little ways. Bringing shame on the family. Now someone else will have to die for your mistakes.” He reached down and stroked her hair, his voice still soft, “Now, where are they? Did they already leave to get help, no, I’m pretty certain I’d have seen them. They must be close, don’t you think, Brit?” He circled her chair and I knew, without a shadow of doubt he knew where I was. “This will actually work out perfectly though, better than I could have planned though. Look at me being the hero. I stumbled on you in this little hovel, your captor caught off guard.” As he spun, the gun suddenly appearing in his hand, pointed in my direction, I fired off my taser, catching him in the throat and then I ran…Or tried. He grabbed my foot and I kicked him, repeatedly until he let go, three steps closer to the door and it flew open with such force it bounced off the wall behind. “HANDS UP! GET ON THE GROUND!” Bootsteps echoed in the bare room as officers filed in, gun at me, guns at him, the only one not being surrounded by weapons was Brit, and that was because someone dropped to their knees in front of her and began checking her vitals. “Bryson Turtle, you are under arrest…” his words were cut off when someone dropped in front of me, offering me a hand, “Are you okay, did he…” One minute I was halfway to my feet, the next I was knocked on my ass as Brit’s dad launched himself at me, screaming that I was the guilty one, I was the kidnapper, I did this. He swung, hand connecting with my cheek before he was knocked free and firmly planted into the ground by the easily 300lb officer. He wasn’t as gentle this time as he was placing him under arrest. The officer that’d been talking to me, Officer Caleb Moneham, nodded towards him then back to me, “911 has the entire call recorded, including his little monologue before we came in. You know the Sarge is still gonna want to have words with you over this, right Remi?” It took me a minute to connect the dots about the call recording and I tried to gloss over the rest of that as I half ran/crawled to the corner to grab my phone. I picked it up and saw the screen still activated with the ongoing phone call. I thanked the operator and hung up before tucking the phone in my pocket. Paramedics had arrived and were loading Brit onto a stretcher, working frantically on her as they did so.* She gonna be okay? If she is, can he really be that mad at me?

*Caleb snorted, “Are you kidding? If Sargent Anderson doesn’t kick your ass, Lucky will. I know you’ve been told not to go running off like this, Remi. Even if you got a hot tip, you’re supposed to check in or bring someone.” I groaned because it was true, I’d been told a number of times. First by Lucky, then the little shit told his dad, the Sarge, on me, and everyone on the police force was then informed. He waved someone over and next thing I knew my face was getting cleaned off with the stench of alcohol filling my nostrils, and tape was applied to the gash on my cheek from the assholes ring. No stitches apparently so yeah for that, but there would be no hiding something happened, even if I could get everyone to swear to secrecy. Just once…once I’d like things to be easy. Dammit* 

[talkstodead]

#2

*Marley sat in the passenger seat of my Soul, directing me through back roads and then what would be barely considered roads. I wanted to go faster than I was, but I also didn’t want to have to buy a new car because I destroyed mine in the process. I should have called Lucky before I took off, he would probably kick my ass later for doing this…again. He hated when I followed the whims of the undead without checking in at least. More than likely it’s because there’d been a few times where the spirits had not played nicely and I nearly joined them. He always forgot that I was now able to defend myself better. Most of the time. The undead could be tricky little assholes. I asked Marley several times if we were close and she would vanish only to reappear seconds later saying just a little further. It felt like a damn eternity before a run down hunting shack came into view, well if one squinted hard enough into the trees, at least. Or if they had a navigator who could move through those trees like they weren’t even there. I turned off onto another narrower dirt path and bumped along until I could shine my lights on the shack. I grabbed my taser and stun gun and hopped out, moving as quietly as I could. Not that it mattered I supposed with the lights, but ya know, a little hesitation was always better than running in to who knows what. I listened carefully for any sounds, someone approaching, someone screaming, any thing, but it was quieter than a tick on a coonhound. Likely just as dangerous too. 

I held my breath as I pushed open the door. There, in the corner was a flicker of movement, a shadow fading and popping back into existence. I glanced around the small ramshackle space and found Brit sitting, bound, to a chair in the darkest recess of the room. Her ghost flickered and I knew time wasn’t on my side. I ran over and dropped to my knees behind the chair, my voice soft as I urged her to hold on. I dialed 911, praying I had enough a signal to make the call go through and placed the phone on the floor, speaker turned just loud enough I could hear it and began to work the knots. A voice answered, cutting in and out and I let out a breath of relief as I tried to relay information. Ambulance needed, missing girl, follow Basic to the dirt path, look for the lights, etc. I almost had one of the knots loosened when I heard it, nanoseconds before her ghost grew frantic when it was there, Marley was yelling, telling me to hurry. My fingers fumbled on the knot, the voice on the line told me not to hang up, they were sending help. There was too much going on, I just managed to get Brit’s left hand freed from the chair when footsteps rushed the doorway. I hoped, though it was fleeting, that they were from paramedics or the police, I should have known better.* 

[talkstodead]

#1

*My door was barely shut before I was unhooking and then tugging my bra off, pulling it through my sleeve. The silicone paddings hit the floor with a soft thud and I almost, almost decided to leave them there. Frustrated and annoyed as I was, I couldn’t do it, those things weren’t cheap. I picked one up and then the other, slapping them on the breakfast bar on my way to my bedroom. The apartment was blissfully silent, what you would expect of one living alone, but I was seldom alone. For now though, I would savor the moment, knowing it wouldn’t last long. I undid the buttons on the knock off Oscar de la Renta jumpsuit I was wearing, just barely managing to get the sleeves off before I heard the first muttered whispers. 

I hated when they acted like I was supposed to be the invisible one in the house. “Looks like another bad date, eh Mar?” The voice was that of the 220 year old ghost of Geoff Ramstein, the hunter who lived on the property and died by tripping over a stone when he was hammered on moonshine. Mar was Marley Jefferson, 103 year old ghost of the lady of the night, who killed herself when her lover failed to return to her after working in the mines. They loved to torture me and refused to give me any answers I would need to help them cross and get the fuck out of my life. Assholes. “Seems like, it was over rather quickly, Geoff. Or maybe he was a one pump chump, is that it Rem?” I refused to answer. Maybe if I pretended they weren’t here, they’d leave. Right. Like that ever happened. 

I ignored them as I removed the jumpsuit and tossed it into the pile that needed to go to the cleaners. I ignored them as I slid the lacy boy shorts down, reaching between my thighs to remove the t-tape holding my cock and balls out of the way. I even managed to ignore them as I removed my makeup. I was refusing to respond, which only made them gossip louder about my failed love life. “Remington needs to find a nice young man to dick her down, or maybe that will let her dick him down.” I choked on my toothpaste but still heard Geoff admonish Marley for being so very crude. Something women didn’t dare do in his day. 

I was used to her bawdiness but it still caught me off guard every once in a while. She’d latched on to me before we moved to this town, hell before I was even sure what was going on. She’d always been there. The strange lady who watched over me when my parents were passed out. I thought she was the neighbor, but one we didn’t speak about since we never talked about those nights. They’d assumed I’d been taking care of myself. Surprised us all when we figured it out. After that, more ghosts started appearing before me, most were gone in a day or two, once we figured out why they were sticking around. Some hung out a little longer because they too had fun giving me shit, but even they grew bored. Not Geoff and Marley, no, they had endless entertainment as evident by the laughter that followed me to the shower. Thankfully they did have a small, minimal, very, very, small amount of respect for privacy and usually left me alone while I was in the small bathroom. It was far too crowded for the three of us. 

The shower took a few minutes of churning and gurgling before it spit out some just over lukewarm water. I really needed to find a new place, but rent was cheap and that’s what I needed while working on building the business. I showered the stench of failure off me and vowed to give up attempting to date for a while, hell I don’t even want to try to be a hookup. I was more than ready to deal with dudes who thought of me as a novelty. I was tired of being some assholes fetish. 

After the shower, I toweled off, followed my skincare routine, pulled on a pair of silken boxers and a tank top, sleeping naked wasn’t an option with ghosts popping in and out of the apartment any time they felt fit, then slid under the covers. I wasn’t tired, not quite. Not that I was going to sleep because as soon as I settled in and reached for my phone, Marley and Geoff sat on the bed. If they were in close proximity, they became solid enough to really make their presence known. I was so lucky. They tugged my covers, Marley speaking for both of them, “We might have found her, Rem. If you get there first, it’ll help get your name out, it’s a big deal. We’ve been listening…” I  sat up quickly, there could only be one her they were talking about. I was tossing the covers back the rest of the way and scrabbling to get dressed as quickly as possible, then I gathered my keys and phone* Where is she? Are you certain it’s her? Is she, will I be the only one that can talk to her?

*The her in question was a 16 year old choir student, Brit Turtle, from the local high school. All american good girl, honor student, class president, oh, and the mayor’s daughter. She’d gone missing after choir practice 2 weeks ago. Her parents swore her boyfriend had to be responsible because he was bad news. The boyfriend, Jason, not only had an air tight alibi but he also had a super compelling argument as to what might have happened. I was the only one who would listen to him, but I was still hoping he was wrong because otherwise shit was going to hit the fan.*