Blood Moon.... (Open, PM me if you want to be plot)

[Cinnamon Cherrywhip]

When she calmed down from the shock of seeing herself as she was now, her mind began to work again piece by piece - though it was hard to keep the rage at bay. Her face was no longer the only thing that had swelled and now her arms and legs, torso and *** were all swelling too. Her muscles were growing all over her body so while her face looked like the elephant man, her body looked like she'd been in the gym and on steroids. It didn't take long until her clothes all ripped at the seams and fell to the ground around her.

"******* hell! I loved that damn bra!"

It was the oddest thing to moan about in a situation like that, but it was the only thing that she could understand, so her brain clung to the mundane as if it were a life jacket. There were two people she could think to turn to in all of this - one she knew where they lived and worked, the other she didn't. Therefore logic said she would head to Zodiac's to see if there were help to be found there.

She let herself down into the sewers and then headed in the direction of Zo's at top speed. There were hunters down there who shot and sliced at her as she passed. However, she refused to stop for them, her own sword in hand trying to fend them off as she flew by. She felt a sword draw a line down her bare back and let out a yelp of pain, and even though she could feel her blood dribbling down her back and into her bum crack - but still she ran onwards.

She found the manhole she was looking for and all but exploded out of it - apparently, she was stronger than she had been, or perhaps that was just adrenaline. She didn't know and she didn't care. Her head cast around to get her bearings and then headed off for Zo's. She didn't bother knocking on the door, she just let herself in and stormed around looking for Zo - leaving the door open.

"Zo! ZODIAC! What in the ****?!"

She was still convinced this was some sort of ritual or power, and she knew that Zo knew all about that mumbo jumbo ****!

"LOOK what they've done to me and LOOK!"

She stormed to the window and opened the curtains, pointing up at the moon.

"Fuckers have turned the moon red and everything! ****'s gone crazy out there and....."

She shivered then as the blood congealed on her back and she dropped to the floor with a grunt.

"Ow!"

[Elizabeth Constance]

Robert had finally worked with Lizzie enough that she could hide the craziness from others unless they knew what to look for or she slipped out of her lucid moments. It had been nearly a week and a half since she had been back and she knew that he had told the family of her return but she was still on edge, still unable to trust with the slight fear that came with her paranoia. Her paranoia on the other hand had grown worse. She placed decoys around in homes and places that she frequented to throw her attacks off her trail. Always well prepared and because of that, she felt that she could leave the West home for the first time since being home from the Realm of Shadows.

Lizzie had gone for a walk through the park first before she made her way to the Modern Art Gallery. It didn't surprise her that her first outting would end up taking her to work. Like Robert...she was very much a workaholic and this only proved that all the more. It had been a calm evening which meant that she could get a lot of work done. Molly had come in with a few cups of tea to help relax Lizzie and keep the edge down while Molly did a few things around the gallery before going back to her Law studies. The investors had even been nice in their emails which made her wonder if they even knew how fragile she had become.

All of the humans that worked the night shift to the twenty four hour gallery knew what Lizzie was but knew that she wasn't anything like the others that had attacked their families and taken loved ones from them. She gave them knowledge and showed them how to protect themselves while being nothing but kind and loving to them all. If vampire kind could have their 'Good Witch Glinda' it would be Lizzie. She wanted nothing but them to be safe as she counted them her friends and some even family as she had gotten close to them; even given them gifts for weddings, new babies, birthdays, holidays or send them her condolances and flowers in their time of grief. The children at the orphage had even become her world and Robert knew that if he would allow her to adopt, she would bring them all home which was why he had supported her when she wanted to get Harper Rock Orphanage so she could be more proactive in their care to give them the very best.

Aaliyah had come bursting into the office. A slight fear in her eyes as she looked to both Molly and Lizzie. She was a Muslim girl who fancied art and worked well with the other employees and Lizzie. She was sweet and knowledgeable which was a great asset to the gallery. Never did Lizzie question her beliefs because she wore a hijab to work as that was for Aaliyah's own choice and it was always respected though Lizzie would have been glad to have more people help with Solace.

"Elizabeth...the moon...it's a blood moon."

"Those are quite common, Aaliyah. Most call them Harvest Moons though."

"No...this looks like blood. It is a crimson red."

"What?"

Lizzie looked between Aaliyah and Molly while she started to feel weak. She wasn't sure why but thought that her powers were acting up and feared the return of the voices as she tried to remain calm as if there was nothing wrong. She hadn't paid attention to her skin tone that was now becoming an ash color as if death warmed over her. It was when her fang retracted that concern filled her. Lizzie fed from a blood bag which meant there was no need for her fang unless there was a dire emergency and Molly needed to step in as a willing donor. Lizzie had bewitched the woman but Molly had become family and Lizzie had granted her as much freedom as possible while employing her as her personal assistant instead of a slave to the vampire community under her control.

"Elizabeth...this is worse than I thought. I will call my family to send over the males. They are strong and can help you. I will also explain why I don't have my hijab on. You have cared for us. We will help you."

Molly nodded her head in agreement when Aaliyah stepped forward and unwrapped the scarf from her head and replacing it on Lizzie just as she had worn, hiding her now brunett locks under the scarf but leaving enough slack in the front that Lizzie could pull the front up to cover her mouth once she left the gallery. It didn't take long for Aaliyah to get the scarf perfect but that was due to the years of practice. Nodding her head respectfully as she quickly left the room to get assistance for Lizzie to get her somewhere safe. The gallery was far too open for her to stay at even if she went upstairs to the residence above.

A few moments later her phone chimed to life and Lizzie jumped as she still didn't understand what was going on. Frowning as she looked at it and noticed it was Robert, she quickly checked the message. He was being affected too and yet she still didn't know what was going on but he might. He had always been connected to magick more than she was with rituals and having Mystic abilities. She looked up at Molly.

"I need to get out of here and to Robert. I want you to be safe."

"Then I will come with you. I have never felt safer unless I was with you and Robert or in the panic room."

Nodding her head as she stood up and got ready to leave the office. Today was apparently a bad day to finally get out of the house. Though now her thoughts moved to if this is what the days would be like...would she ever get the chance to leave again. She shook her head as she didn't want to think negatively but it was becoming more difficult especially after Muga had tried to keep her for his own selfish greed in the Realm of Shadows. It was hard to stay positive and trust anyone. She sighed softly as she shut her computer down and stepped out of the office. Aaliyah was up ahead talking with the thick body building type males that her family had sent over to escort Lizzie home with a new hijab on her head that was sent over by the woman's father. A smile on the woman's face as she walked over to Lizzie.

"They say that there are changes in your kind all over the city. Some are getting attacked by humans but for what reason is beyond us right now. They are willing to take the risk to get you to safety. You have shown us nothing but kindness and now it is time that we return the favor. Without you and your husband's help...many of us might not have been able to survive an attack much less know that one was about to happen. We have you both to thank for that."

"I do not wish any of you harm, Aaliyah. Please know this..."

"We do but it's because of that care and compassion that we want to do this. You are not like the others. You are a good person. You need to believe that. Come now. You must hurry before it gets any worse."

Lizzie nodded and grabbed her brief case and phone. She tried to send a telepathic message to Robert to let him know that she would be there shortly but for whatever reason she was blocked from the connection they shared. She frowned all the more as she stepped into the circle of men with Molly as they surrounded her, concealing her from sight as much as possible.

She was frightened and thought that the only being that could do this was Muga. His soldiers of Darkness were everywhere and in many forms. He was taking his claim and who was to say that he wouldn't take her in return. Hugging to the back of the male that towered in front of her as they moved quickly towards Honeymead to get her to West Tower, she watched as some of her kind screamed out in pain as they were attacked and slaughtered while others were shoved into white vans that were void of windows before driving off to God only knows where.

She tried everything...to cast a shield, send telepathic messages to everyone, even change into cheetah form to give her a headstart and escape the madness to hide. She was good at hiding except when Tytonidae was looking for her but even then...she tripped them up once but that only lasted for a week and a half. Her only concern now was to get to Robert but not sure as to how much help she would be with no defensive powers. She hated it...Robert and her were always a team. His path lead him to other paths that held offensive abilities where she had nothing but defensive. She could cast shield bubbles or confuse people, very minor abilities where Robert could summon monsters or use shadows to attack. She would fail him by not being able to be the shield to his sword.

Molly could see the turmoil on Lizzie's face as they moved through the city. They were surrounded by a huge entourage which helped when Lizzie had become a target of attack. A few would stay to defend while the others rushed her along. It was giving her no time to process but her mind had no problem thinking and causing more concern, fear, and paranoia as they moved. Molly was trying to being reassuring even as she had felt the release of the hold Lizzie always had on her and never would the woman walk away. Bewitched or not...she had memories of not being a slave but a friend so she would continue to do so at this time even though her thoughts were fuzzy from the mental veil that had been placed on her a year ago that lead her to working for Lizzie.

Finally they had reached West Tower and yet they were down about five men. Lizzie frowned and looked up at the one next to her that had looked down to make sure she was still okay as there were a few close calls. Her looked was very apologetic as her eyes met his. He nodded his head in understanding as they bustled her into the lobby. A few bodies scattered the floor and either the attackers had come and gone or they were doing a sweep. Neither she was sure on and with her abilities out of commission...she couldn't check the minds of those in the building. She was rushed into the elevator and her floor was pressed by the guy behind her who she now turned and clung to his back for when they stepped out on the desired floor.

When the bell chimed, she jumped only for a firm hand to rest on her shoulder to try and calm her. They stepped off the elevator and moved the short distance to her door. The hallway was quiet and almost eerie. They took her house keys from her and unlocked the door for her.

"A few of us will stay here and watch over you and your husband while the rest will check everything out before heading back to the gallery and protecting everyone there. We will do our best, Ma'am."

"Thank you for all that you have done and I am sorry for any loss that you may receive tonight."

"We understood the risks. Please be safe."

Nodding her head quickly as she took Molly's hand and entered her home while they closed the door behind her. Her eyes looked around the main room and kitchen on the first floor before moving to another room. Still no Robert. Her feet carried her to the second floor and as she made her way down the hallway, she noticed her decoy had vanished and he was in front of the window. In an instant, she closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around him as she hugged to his back while Molly followed in after Lizzie with little treats for Noah and Kaleidoscope.

"You are safe! Aaliyah's family had given me an escort home to try and keep me safe. What is going on? Are we safe here? Do we need to make it to the panic room?"

[Ivy]

Ivy rolled off the bed, since turning she wasn't able to drink so why was her head pounding? Why did her brain feel like it was constantly exploding inside her skull, like she'd worked her way through a hundred bottles of vodka on an empty stomach. Running a hand through her hair she felt off, the once soft locks felt like straw, matted from sleep but dried out and wispy. Her phone was lit up like a christmas tree with texts across the board, Robert, Tia, Random phone companies and emails. She didn't bother reading the messages, she knew Tia was out and was probably coming back from another trip into the foul smelling sewers. Robert was probably trying to scold her for something she may or may not have done.

Then she felt it, the stabbing pains, the burning hunger and the dizziness.. All the warning signs of her failing to maintain civilised mentality. Falling forward she reached out and grabbed at the wall, through a tiny gap in the curtains she saw it, the orange glow in the sky but it was too dark to be sunset, no that was something different, something she'd never seen before. Panic set in as she knew she'd need her sire if the Russian were to even survive the descent into clawing madness. First the pains and the headaches, now this? She was definitely hallucinating.

Still sore from the beating she'd received from her sister not less than a day ago, she fumbled to grab her phone but her hands cramped up and she grit her fangs in pain, knocking the phone to the floor. She wouldn't move to reach it, she tried but the sight of her arms and hands only fueled her fear, the flesh was tightening, to an untrained eye at first glance the vampire would have looked anorexic, if not for the black lines that marred her skin, the blood in her veins making them light up like coal on paper.. She still had blood in her system, why was she losing it again? She was fed, why was she so hungry? She only had one answer in her head, screaming at her like Robert would have done; the Paladins were to blame, she'd sided with them, given them what they wanted and now.. now she was expendable.

Stay focused.. Stay moving.. Stay alive. The mantra was repeated in her head, over and over until it too drove her mad, scrambling from her room she tripped on a shoe and landed face first in the living room carpet, hauling herself up she grabbed the apartment phone, someone would know what to do, someone had to! But who to call first? Verne? Robert? Lizzie? No.. the last pair were still mad at her and Verne.. well if this was Paladin work, she'd certainly not get a straight answer out of him. Screw it, she needed her sire, she needed to know what was happening, if it were truly real or another feral trick. She dialed Robert, it rang once.. twice.. a third, then voice mail. Cursing in Russian before leaving the man a rather distressed message.

''Papa.. I not know what happening.. Need you.. Please I.. I afraid''

She hated that word, fear was a choice, it wasn't real, a trick of the mind and she had succumbed to it. Letting it consume her like a wild fire as she dropped the phone and sat waiting, placing the couch between her and the door incase someone.. or something nasty decided now was a good time to raid her home.

[Zodiac]

They had settled into their work nicely. Every so often Jennifer asked her about something she had found in the texts. It took the mystic a moment to gather her paitence. She knew her grandmother's handwriting was sometimes hard to read-even for her. She had almost finished skimming through one of the volumes when she heard the front door to the shop slam open.

"Oh hell, I should have locked it," Jennifer stood up and was ready to go and see when they heard.

"Zo! ZODIAC! What in the ****?!"

Zodiac looked up just in time to see the normally petite dancer charge into her parlor. She blinked in shock. The voice said CC but the look was more women's pro bodybuiler or female pro wrestler. What had happened to her?

"LOOK what they've done to me and LOOK!"

Zodiac jumped from her chair and dove for the shadows of the room as CC yanked the curtain wide open.

]"Fuckers have turned the moon red and everything! ****'s gone crazy out there and....."

"I know! Close the curtains!" she shouted with her mind. Jennifer approached the woman carefully after she dropped to the floor and pulled the blackout drapes back into place.

"Zo? Who is this?"

"Cinnamon Cherrywhip." she replied softly. "I think,"

"The dancer?" Jennifer did a double take. Zodiac knew Jennifer went out with her friends to various clubs, so the idea they had drifted into Silks one evening did not surprise her.

"Yeah, I know. Now she looks like 'Ah-nold's kid sister." She moved back into the room and knelt down next to what was once CC. Her fingers checked the girl's throat and head for clues. She had never seen anything like this before. Plus, Jennifer was still quite normal. Was this a paladin plot in motion? Something custom made for their kind alone? And if so, why did they do something to make vampires muscle bound beasts? It made no sense at all to her.

"What happened to her, Zo?" Jennifer joined the girl finally.

"Like I know?" she snapped at her friend. Again, the anger ready to jump out of her like a shark at the first fish it saw. She bit her tongue and counted to ten before answering her again. "Go find something she can cover herself with and let her rest while we keep looking. This has to be magicks in play."

Zodiac got up and took a seat and tried to focus again on the texts she was reading through. Every moment it seemed a bit harder to focus and be rational about things. "And CC? Leave the flipping curtains closed!" she snapped with an edge in her mental voice.

[Asia Rae]

The night was coming to an end at the store which Asia was more than grateful for. She still needed to do the books and make the deposit before she could head home to her husband and work on the details of the record store that she was about to open. Her and John had taken to having their businesses and they were flourishing which was what they hoped for when they both opened Grosseto's together. It was in John's name though she had fronted him the money for it but it had become their baby and joy. Now he had his second business and she had Epic Emo which was doing well. Neither of them could ask for anything more other than to get some time off to spend with each other and finally take that trip that John had promised her.

The thought of a vacation brought a smile to her lips as she instantly had fun and lustful thoughts about her husband. There was so much they could do and see while being away. They hadn't thought of a location yet because as much as they wanted to go...there was too much stuff that they needed to do with the stores and restaurant while also helping with the family. Getting time away was only really a dream thought her thoughts did entertain her quite often.

She heard the bell on the door alerting her that someone had entered and she frowned. Her employee forgot to lock the door before they left for the night. Walking out to the front she smiled at the man that had entered as she quickly sent off a text to her husband. 'John, I'm running a little late. Sophie forgot to lock the door and I have a customer. He doesn't look like he fits in with what I sell but maybe he is buying a gift. If you want, stop by and we can walk home together.' She pressed send and slipped the phone into her pocket. She had begun to feel weak and strange but thought it was because she hadn't fed yet. Quickly she focused on her body and blood to call upon her abilities of necromancy to fill her body of the blood that was clearly lacking but no comfort came to the shadow. Looking down at her hands that looked like rigormortis had been cast upon her. She tried to act as if nothing was wrong until she saw the frightening grin on the mans face as he pulled out a hidden blade.

Stopping in her tracks, she growled and pulled her gun. There was no way that she was going to go down without a fight. Dodging the blade that was being swung at her, she noticed her movements were slower as if she hadn't fed all week. This was disconcerning but she tried to stay focused as she moved to dodge another attack only for the blade to slice into her left arm. She cried out in pain as she stumbled and shot her gun only to end up aiming the ceiling in mid-stumble. That mistake could cost her. Again the blade came down and cut into her left arm again, taking it clean off.

"****!!!"

She wished John was with her, he was stronger than her and that was because he was a killer by trait and path. She was glad that she had the money in the safe already as she tried to think of a way to get away. Shooting at the man before her, she caught him in the heart and watched him fall as she ran passed him. Pushing through the door, she rushed out into the mall and noticed the chaos. Definately the wrong place at the wrong time. She sighed as she dodged another attack while shooting at a few while trying to miss the others of her kind as now was not time to go around and messing with other vampire...sadly they were being forced to work together...if others would open their eyes and see it that way as well.

Her adreneline was rushing through her that she hadn't noticed that her arm hadn't stopped bleeding from where it was severed which only caused more mess than needed. She had made a dash for the mall entrance only for a blade to cut into her leg. Crying out in pain again, she nearly collapsed but hit the wall. She groaned as she watched her attackers move in on her as she prayed for her husband. Either him or Wolf was all she wanted right now while she hoped that her sire was safe.

[Robert Pratt]

Robert had been watching and listening to what was going on outside through the darkened glass that was fitted to their home in West. He heard the door go - finally - and then footsteps, but they were footsteps he recognised and so he untensed. They always skipped over one of the steps on the stairs that creaked when you came up, and it was a good way to tell if it was her or him coming or going and not stressing too much. He'd been about to turn around when her arms snaked around him and hugged him from behind - and he couldn't help but tense at her touch.

His eyes glanced down to her hands and while they looked a bit paler than they usually were - they weren't like his. He was in fact so repulsed by his own, that he didn't want to touch her with them. In fact, he dreaded her seeing his face because he was sure it would be horrific. As she held him and questioned him, he suddenly got a wave of concern coming over him. It was a little like the feeling he'd had before the transformation had happened, but this time it was more immediate and more personal. His face scrunched in concentration as he tried to work out what was wrong when it hit him square in the face.

Madison.

She was in trouble and something was wrong. They weren't at the stage yet where he would text her as he had Ivy, and so he hadn't. But now, now he wasn't sure if he was just being paranoid or if there really was something wrong, but he needed to check and see. Consequences and yellings be damned. His hand fished in his pocket to find his phone, pulling it out and dialling the number he knew off by heart.

"You've reached Madison Helbourne, please leave your name and number and I will get back to you as soon as possible."

Nope. He wasn't accepting that. He hung up, and called her again.

"You've reached Madison Helbourne, please leave your name and number and I will get back to you as soon as possible."

10 times he tried her, once every minute - and he didn't give a damn if she was ignoring him or if she'd be irritated when she checked her phone and saw all the missed calls from him. He left it another 10 minutes and once again tried calling her another ten times, finally leaving her a message on the 10th time, having flinched every time he heard the name Hellbourne.

"Madison, Robert.

I'm not sure what's going on in the city tonight but please, be safe. If you need any help or somewhere to lay low - call me. Get in touch. Just.... I'm worried about you. Please, reach out. Let me know you're ok!"

He hung up and thought for a minute, before sending her an email with exactly the same words written down, just with a small mention that he'd called her and got no answer.

When he hung up he realised he had a missed call from an unknown number, but a voicemail had been left. Quickly he pressed the button to listen to the voicemail, mumbling an apology to Lizzie as he did. She wasn't a sire by blood, but he knew that she would understand.

"Sorry Lizzie - just trying to get in touch with childre."

He listened to the message and sighed - Ivy. He wondered what she'd done to her mobile and why she'd not picked up his message he'd sent her. However now wasn't the time for worrying about someone elses mobile phone - now he just needed to make sure she was safe so again he sent out a text message to both her mobile and the number she'd just called him from.

"Ivy, Robert. Come to the West Towers Home. Run here. Don't stop for anything or anyone. Bring Tia too if you can. I don't know what's happening - but I want you both safe, regardless of current tensions. Run. Hurry!"

Finally, he took the plunge and turned around looking at Lizzie and trying to remember her questions so that he could answer them one by one.

"I don't think the panic room will help us here, we are as safe here as we are anywhere - as for what's going on. I don't know. However watching the streets - I think the Paladin's are rising. There are a lot of tattoos down there in the attackers. I met with some of The Order the other night, they wanted information on rituals - though right after the meeting the man I was meeting with, his face was wiped from my memory. And now, now there's this. I think it's an uprising - and no-one is safe. However, we're together and hopefully Ivy will be here with Tia soon too."

[Alex]

Business as usual. A smile graced her face as she moved about the casino floor, as it always did. She was the consumate Host, concentrating on the whales, but seemingly being everywhere at once. She'd been a casino host in Vegas while alive, working her way for fifteen years from nothing to the best, and since she'd been back in Harper's Rock, she hadn't slowed down. If anything, her vampiric powers had her going even further! She didn't have to sleep as much and when she did, she usually just stayed in her office. Her bewitched human, Arimil, kept her fed so she didn't have to even leave to find a meal.

Her hips swung as she moved from room to room, hoping that she might have a whale hiding somewhere, someone she could milk out of their cash. She had quite the clientele base from her time in Vegas and she'd acquired a few more and enticed her regulars to make the voyage up to Canada, but she'd felt off her game since she'd been killed last month. She'd had two lined up for that week and had tried to get her bounty down in time, but it hadn't worked. She was still kind of pissed at Micah for not poking his head in. She'd thought of him as a father-type figure and he'd been one of the ones that had summoned her from her home, well her office, and proceeded to pound her into the Shadow Realm. She hadn't intended to get seen feeding, but nobody's perfect, right?

Giving herself a shake, she sighed and kept moving through the casino. Even in her own personal frustration, she kept her smile in place. It was one of her cardinal rules and something she repeated over and over again to the staff. Check your own problems at the door. If a client wanted to deal with problems of every day life, they'd be home dealing with them. Smile and help them spend their cash.

A random thought popped into her head, from her teenage days. When she was a kid she'd been a huge nerd. Hell, despite her appearance, she really was still. She'd loved science fiction, especially Star Trek. Since she'd started working in the casino industry her mind kept slipping to the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition. In this moment Rule 39 sprang into her thoughts, Praise is cheap. Heap it generously on all customers.

"I really have to write down and adapt those," she murmurred to herself even as she slipped into her office.

"Hungry?" asked the warm smiling face of a young woman sitting in Alex's private office. Hastily she added, "Remember rule 33," she teased with a wink even as she tipped her head to the side, offering her throat.

A soft chuckle slipped from Alex as she moved closer, quoting the rule aloud, "It never hurts to suck up to the boss." No sooner had she reached the human than her fangs were in Arimil's throat. Not much was taken, just a pint, just enough to sate her for the evening, but it helped that she had this human to help her. Arimil would not only feed her, but she'd run errands and steal for her. Typically after she'd fed she'd send the girl out into the city to grift and pick as many pockets as she could, adding to her own bank account. With no whales for Alex though, not to mention this off feeling, she thought it best to keep her pet human around the casino. "Thanks sweetness, now why don't you hang about, help keep an eye on things around here and help Gary out. It's a slow night and I want to stretch my legs," she said with a warm smile as she tweaked the girl's cheek.

The two walked out of the office's secret entrance together then parted ways, Arimil heading to find Garrett, Alex's casino host assistant, and Alex herself, heading out into the night. When she stepped outside she paused and just stretched. It'd been a while since she'd done something other than work, well unless you counted the week she was stuck in the blasted Shadow Realm. Without knowing why, she randomly turned left and began to walk. She still wore her typical sexy dress, something that would be alluring to a human, get his hopes up that perhaps if he won big he might have a chance with the gorgeous woman. She was used to heels, having worn them pretty much every day since she became a host. Granted she wasn't in her four or five inch heels, but the three inchers still did their trick. Quickly she swung by the apartment and grabbed a long sexy looking trench coat, something that would not only look good but would conceal both her semi-automatic gun and her katana.

Heading into the city, she moved with the grace of an allurist, an almost glow about her despite the feeling of unease. She was always on, always had to appear happy in case she could rope someone else into the casino, into lightening their pockets.

The longer she walked, the more everything just felt wrong. For a moment she thought it was just because she was out and about and it was in the city she'd grown up in, but no, that wasn't it. Since she rarely used her powers she thought she'd test them out and so she tried to send an inspire to her boss, the only one she really had any contact with anymore, other than clients and co-workers. She assumed it worked, but she had this random wish to check in, to see how he was. She liked him more than she liked most in the town, hell most in the world. He was good to her, a fair boss and he recognized her talents. She also loved to flirt with him. She didn't anticipate anything coming of it. From what she understood, he was happy with someone, but having a friend, someone to look up to and be there if needed, that was priceless. It was just happenstance that they got on so well. Okay, maybe she did have a bit of a crush on him, but she didn't expect anything to ever come of it so it was no big deal.

Deciding to check and see if Chad was home, she headed that way, moving easily through town, though the feeling of unease just kept getting worse and worse. It was just as she pulled the door open that she noticed a change in the night, that the air felt electrified and her cell phone made a weird noise. She paused and pulled it out of her bra where she kept it, but instead of a missed incoming call the blasted thing wouldn't even come on.

Rolling her eyes and sighing, she shoved it back away. It was as her hand was on the doorknob that she noticed the moon with it's red tint to it. "What the-" she mumbled even as she let herself inside. "Chad?" she called out, moving further inside. "Chad? Do you know what's up with the moon?" That was about when her whole being started to feel weird. She faltered in her step and almost tripped against the wall. Her face felt all weird and her whole body felt like it was swollen. Her shoes hurt, the dress was tight, even the jacket was tight and hard to move in. She gave her head a shake, her brow furrowed, confused and disoriented. All she knew was that she had to find Chad. He was an ancient, he should know what was going on, right?

[Sara cox]

Tap tap tap, her pen bounced off the desk repeatedly as she eyed the computer screen, so many missing people, so little time, then of course she'd seen one of the monsters outside the fenced off area. They'd escaped? No they'd be the first port of call, that'd be news worthy; local police force ignores zombie outbreak? She'd be out of a job faster than anyone could scream infection. Of course Sara had been given the graveyard shift, though for some reason it was more active than the daytime shifts so.. perhaps that title was wrongly given here.

''Man.. Might as well have stayed in England, this place is dead.''

She looked round, not realising just how accurate her phrasing was. The only call outs she'd had lately were for more missing people or gang related incidents. She had no leads on the people being taken, and the nut cases roaming the sewers were of little help, spouting about vampires and demanding money.. Biggest scam she'd ever seen! Just as she settled down to enjoy the silence, all hell broke out, officers moving from office to office, never staying longer than a few seconds and then out came the office occupants. All gathering round one side of the room, the debrief area. What the hell was going on? She got off her chair and went out to check.

''What is that? Another outbreak?''

''No, look at it! That ain't no zombie''

''Call everyone, get everyone who isn't on rotation in here, we need to keep everyone calm out there.''

Sara frowned and peered over the crowd of shoulders, comments passed back and forth as the city cameras were brought up on screen, fights had broken out across the city, monsters left right and center, had the fences broken? For once she wished she'd kept her trap shut, she'd complained about it being too quiet, now this! She'd seen riots before back home, seen the destructive power a group of frightened angry people had, this was no different.

Then came the calls, the phones rang every night with new missing names, people being stabbed or mugged, even the odd call of someone complaining they'd woken up somewhere they didn't fall asleep. Vagrants and the like. But this was different, a sea of ringing phones and each officer in the building knew why, people would be afraid of what was on the streets and the police would be the first they'd turn to. Especially after the news that the army were rolling into town next year. The phones went unanswered and they all turned to one man, the chief constable for answers.

''Riot squads, get ready to go. Anyone who had patrol tonight, you're still on. I need volunteers to guard the Quarantine area, everyone else you're on the street, keep people safe, if that means you need to arrest a few people. Do it.''

With that said, everyone went about their business, riot gear being pulled from cabinets, shotguns filled with rubber bullets, pistols filled with real ammo. They knew that a rubber bullet wouldn't stop a zombie, or even one of the other monsters and a ballistic riot shield would only serve to annoy them. Sara's biggest concern was the sewer dwellers, the folks who ran round naked with swords. If they joined the fray then it would be one hell of a long night. Only three people were remaining in the corner, the three dumb ***, or potentially brave volunteers who'd take fence duty, the most hated shift ever. The sounds that came from the quarantine, the shadows in the corner of your eyes? It gave several officers nightmares but Sara wasn't deterred, she had a job and that was protecting the people of this town. She failed to protect her girlfriend and now she was gone, dead, the british woman wasn't about to let an entire town follow suit because she was too scared to stand up and be counted with the rest.

''I'll do it.. I'll volunteer to take the fence.''

[Cinnamon Cherrywhip]

She could hear the woman there speaking, but she couldn't hear Zo's replies as they seemed directed at the woman and the woman only. She watched them both carefully, wondering why on earth Zo had hidden in the corner when the curtains were opened and why the woman had closed them again. The woman asked if she were a dancer, she presumed, and so nodded her head to let her know that was indeed what she did. Zo came over and knelt beside her, Zos fingers dancing over CC's skin as if she were checking her over, though with not a word to her.

Zo got up again and walked over to a seat, and next thing she knew her head was full of an angry voice that was snapping at her. She got her bare feet underneath her and curled her fingers into fists as she glared at Zo in anger and annoyance. She stalked over and put her hands on the woman's texts, swiping them to the floor and growling.

"Who the **** do you think you are to talk to me like that?!"

She stood there, naked, head bent, hands on the table, glaring with absolute anger at the smaller woman who sat there. Her fingers dug into the table, pulling little splinters out with her nails as her grip tightened. She felt the pain in her back from where the blade had sliced her, this position not reallydoing much for her - however worse still, the position had re-opened the wound and made it bleed again.

The pain brought her back to her senses ever so slightly and she drew back from the desk and the glaring and moved to sit on the floor beside Zo, caressing her leg silently and gently in a complete flip of her personality.

[Ivy]

"Ivy, Robert. Come to the West Towers Home. Run here. Don't stop for anything or anyone. Bring Tia too if you can. I don't know what's happening - but I want you both safe, regardless of current tensions. Run. Hurry!"

The message played twice on her apartment phone, Tiamat... Her beloved childe was out there and she didn't know where but so many times had Robert compared her to being a mini Ivy that maybe there was a scrap of Soviet in the woman, an ounce of self preservation. Ivy looked round the apartment, she'd gathered a small armoury but it meant nothing if she were too weak to even lift a weapon! The recoil on her rifle alone would break her wrist.

Run, that was what he said. Run and don't stop, move like Freya herself was on her heels, then it clicked, her faith; the one thing that never abandoned her no matter how bad things got she always had her angel and now... Now someone else needed it more than her. Moving back into her room and yanked open the bedside drawer, pulling out the brass necklace she treasured so much and wrapped it around her skeletal fingers, muttering in Russian as she prayed.

"I know you are listening.. So please hear me, I don't know what's happening and I'm afraid, fear you don't accept so I beg you send your angel to my little bear, keep her soul safe and I will owe you more than I can offer."

She curled the necklace around her knuckles and gently kissed it before dropping it back into its box and locking it away. Hearing the commotion outside she stood back up and decided that now would be a fantastic time to leave but with her powers gone she'd be hoofing it across town to West and that didn't bother her at all, if she died then she knew that the Paladins truly were the enemy. She took the long way to West, moving fast through the wilderness, skirting the edges of the city before she had to run for it.

Taking a gulp as she darted from street to street, sticking to shadows and hugging the wall until a shot rang out and she fell through the tower door, a large hole in her shoulder from the bullet tearing through it, she swore loudly but rode the elevator up. Once reaching the floor she pushed all the buttons to make it harder to follow her before slipping through into her sire's apartment, one hand on her shoulder, the other dragging along the wall guiding her through the rooms to find the right one. Stopping at the bottom of the stairs, too exhausted to keep going she just sat at the bottom, eyes on the door as she waited, waiting to see if she'd been followed, waiting to see if her angel would guide her childe home safely.