Black Thursday [Group 20]

[Deirdre (DELETED 5847)]

Deirdre couldn't help the panic she felt, rising like a tidal wave in her mind. Is Nikolae himself safe? As a nearly brand new vampire, her worry was probably unfounded. But she felt it nonetheless. Her sire was something of a father figure to her, and she would not be able to deal with such things if he were harmed by this storm.

The simple fact that he had been able to get in touch with her was, in her opinion, a miracle. A storm like this could cause fantastic destruction. She hoped he was all right, as well as the Temple which she called home.

"Deirdre," she supplied in response to the stream of introductions. "Anyone got any clues where in here to hole up? Mirrors are probably as bad an idea as windows."

Now is not the time to panic, she repeatedly told herself mentally. She didn't have any way to channel her nerves at the present moment. Normally, that would be her phone's place.

[Dominique]

Dominique eyed the faces that responded and with a slide of her hands into the lined pockets of her jacket she gave a final nod. The introductions seemed to be complete. Nothing revealing from the names had her for the moment relieved. The storm couldn't last forever. All she had to do was ride it out with those who seemed just as ready to get out of the gym and on with their interrupted plans as much as she was.

The task at hand appeared to be finding the spot where they would be safe from any further unexpected encounters with falling or flying debris. They were in a gym. She assumed there would be showers, bathrooms and those smaller enclosed spaces that were the recommended cover for things such as tornados. A center room was more ideal as was a lower floor or stairwell. That is, of course, if there was no risk of flooding. Everything was freezing up from what she saw so hopefully that wouldn't be an issue. She left her kayak on the top floor of Vita Bella. She was sure Hello Kitty was likely sleeping it now that she gave it more thought.

"I have a suggestion. We need to find whatever is enclosed and reinforced. Places like stairwells or bathrooms, or a center office with no windows. Hopefully it won't be too long before it dies down. The sun should be coming up soon and that will reveal what we are dealing with." She looked at those around her. If that wasn't their idea of safe places to hole up then she was more than open to suggestions. "I can look around for an emergency radio to see if there is any reports being issued and perhaps an ice pack?"

Dominique was pretty sure the man that called himself Lancaster could likely heal before she ever found one. As for Deidre and Lucia she was willing to bet they had a few abilities not far from her own. Who needed ice when they could think themselves to restored health? That was the interesting part in crossing paths with those who had circulation challenges such as she did. It was a wild guess on her part just what each of them had in their bag of tricks. She heard long ago that certain ones could read minds. Her dark eyes scanned across the space between her and the others. Wonderful. She could only hope none of the strangers she was sharing temporary shelter with were not one of those. As far as she was concerned those mind readers were worse than paparazzi, cops and even those creepy shadows who sat and stared at you without you even knowing they were there. She felt a sudden chill then pulled her hands together so that the jacket was snug around her. She was getting tired, hungry and impatient all at the same time.

[Lancaster]

There were plenty of things that Elliot was capable of. There were plenty of abilities that he had up his sleeve, though most of the time he completely forgot that he had them. Although he knew that he could boost his own blood, unfortunately he could not heal himself – and nor would he have, anyway. Suffering is part and parcel of being human, and perhaps, deep down, Elliot was some kind of closet masochist. More often than not, he was plagued by some kind of guilt. When he suffered, he believed it was only his due.

Unfortunately, whatever else he might have been capable of, there was nothing in his arsenal that could get him out of this gym in one piece. Having been clobbered into unconsciousness by flying debris, Elliot knew it was no use going outside, even if his safe haven was only just down the road. He had places in Lancaster’s that he could stay to be safe, where no one would bother him. He only hoped the building was still standing.

The names registered and were stored away; he repeated them all several times in his head so that he wouldn’t forget them; Deirdre, Lucia, Dominique. Elliot could feel panic radiating from one of them – he could read memories, but he never chose to unless completely necessary. It was a gross breach of someone’s privacy, and Elliot loathed it when others did it to him. People should be allowed to have their secrets. But reading other people’s emotions was something that he couldn’t switch off. Just like he couldn’t control the weather and its effect on his body, nor could he control the buffet of emotions around him.

He refused to let the panic infect him, but he had to laugh at Dominique’s suggestion; his bright eyes settled on each individual again, lingering long enough only to be sure – there were definitely no humans among them.

“The sun? I know that if I were to go out into it, the only thing the sun would reveal is a crispy-fied Lancaster. And I won’t be looking around, because I’ll be dead to the world,” he said. It was hard not to let a little of the panic in. It was all well and good finding somewhere safe for now, but he feared for his own safety once the sun came up and rendered him a dead weight, absolutely useless. Anyone who found him would assume he was dead.

But he pushed himself away from the piece of equipment that he leaned against. He could see the windows bowing beneath the force of the wind – they couldn’t stand there. They could discuss the situation more in depth once they were safe. His head merely throbbed, now, as he weaves his way through the gym to a door near the back – there were toilets. Mens, and Womens. He went into the womens toilets. Why not? The entire company, besides himself, was female.

There were a few lockers. On the far side of the room there were windows, but they were high up in the wall, which was solid brick. To his right, there was a door that led through the shower stalls. It was wet, and cold in there, the heating system long since gone out of service. But there were no windows, and it appeared safe. He went back to hold the door open, waiting for the others to join him.

[Deirdre (DELETED 5847)]

"I don't think it's a good idea for any of us to just sit around and wait for sunrise," Deirdre commented. "There has to be somewhere else we could go. Somewhere more enclosed than this." Digging about in her coat pocket, she pulled out a hairtie, putting her red hair up in a sloppy, messy bun, as she made her way after Lancaster. Silver eyes flickered over everything, studying every little detail of the gym. It was still a very strange thing, to be living and yet dead. She still sometimes expected her heart to start racing, or a spike of adrenaline to tense her muscles. Now it was all in her spirit, whatever remained of it.

The women's restroom. It was funny what could remind someone of the things that no longer functioned. Since arriving in Harper Rock, meeting Nikolae that evening, she hadn't needed to use a toilet. For any reason. Sure, that first night, she probably should have gone to the bathroom rather than spew blood-vomit all over the duvet and possibly her sire's clothes - she hadn't paid much attention to whether it'd landed on him - but she hadn't and now she was a vampire. A soft chuckle escaped her as she found herself a spot in the corner, digging out her phone again only to recall after a single moment that the damn thing was a useless brick right now.

Still, she did have one other thing to entertain herself with - she had simply forgotten it existed for some time. Her hand slid into her very small purse, drawing out a slim paperback book that she'd picked up earlier in the night, before the storm had really gone to blizzard level. It had been a number of years since she'd read anything by this particular author, and she figured she should get back into his unique, unusual, and never boring works. It wasn't really her usual genre, but he also did do proper fantasy, and science fiction wasn't too far from proper fantasy. It just had a giant purple alien dog and a noseless green alien as the main characters rather than a dragon and a young adventurer.

After the first couple pages, though, she looked up. "Anyone here have any way to get in touch with people in other places? Aside from phones - don't really think they'll be working all that well. Cell reception always sucks in a storm like this."

[Dominique]

Dominique was more than ready to find a place to claim with her body until the punch of the storm was over. She was going to need to reserve her energy. The prospect of resting around others who she had never met before was not the most settling thought but what was she going to do? Using what energy she had left to burst into what was left of the darkness to wherever else was a risk not worth taking. Not when it took what it did out of her just to get inside where she was now standing. She had a tome once upon a time. It was rather handy at the time she had possession of it was but she had given that up with a lot more than she cared to spend energy thinking about. The world was pissed off and it had her full attention as well as the three she just crossed paths with.

Dominique’s hands moved slowly to the small of her back under her jacket. Her eyes moved between each face as she stepped casually forward. The brush of her fingers confirmed her weapons were still on her. They progressed around to her hips and jacket pockets. What would be of more help at the moment was not to be found. She was double checking and she was right earlier. No cellphone. From the way things were outside there was likely no service anyways.

Dominique’s hands relaxed and moved to the front of her hips. Each slid into the small pockets so that her thumbs that hooked over the denim were all that was left in view. She had been in unimaginable and defeating situations with far less company and no resources. Seven days and nights of darkness and screams filled with torture left her welcoming anything but that again.This was a cake walk. Her lips relaxed with the self-reminder. Sure all of It was hazardous but if they all stayed in the right place until it passed then they would have no reason to worry.

Lancaster was standing with a door open and Dominique was not going to be the one to make the man hold it open longer than necessary. She eyed the book that came to view in the woman’s hands as she passed her by. Her head cocked slightly to catch a peek at the cover- if it was in the right angle. It wasn’t.

The petite shadow’s steps progressed while she took a look around where she would be likely hanging out until the sun, or whatever of natural light was permitted to break through under the current situation, made its appearance and ended its usual duration of time. Her backside met the tiled wall of the shower area and slowly she let the weight of her own body pull her down to land of the flat surface beneath her feet. Her knees lifted up and she wrapped her arms around her legs so that her colorful fingers weaved and locked in front of her shins. she watched the others quietly with increased curiosity.So far nothing gave her the impression any of them were looking to kill a stranger anymore than she was.

Deidre broke the silence and Dominique’s attention was shifted for the question she asked. She knew her answer. She confirmed she was empty handed. Her dark head shook slowly. She was not about to answer in any amount of detail what she could do or not do. Her fingers splayed to free the way they otherwise held together. She rested her palms down at each side of her on the tile.

“Sorry.” Her eyes stayed on the woman for a few seconds then drifted back to the other two so see what their answers would be if any at all.

[Lancaster]

Elliot couldn’t believe his eyes. He couldn’t believe they were all so bloody calm. Lucia said absolutely nothing and hovered like some kind of timid animal; Dominque was almost as bad, except for her one muttered apology about having no cell phone, and Deirdre was just… why agree that it’s no good to sit around and wait for sunrise, and then sit down to pull out a book to read? It was entirely contradictory, and Elliot had absolutely no curiosity whatsoever in what the book might be. There was no doubt that he stared incredulously at the red-head before shaking his head and wondering whether he was expected to think of everything.

Or maybe they really didn’t care. Maybe none of them were stressed out at all. Maybe they should be reminded what the consequences would be.

”You look as if you’re ready to wait. How the hell can you be reading in a situation like this?” he asked Deirdre, gesturing madly at the book in her hands. ”Worst case scenario: we stay here. Dead to the world. Physically actually looking dead,” he started. He knew from Pi that’s how he ‘slept’; no breath, no warmth to the skin, no heartbeat. He may as well be dead. ”And the storm abates. Rescue workers come around and kick down the door and drag our lifeless bodies out into the sun. If we’re lucky they’ll put us in light-tight body bags, but that’s only if we’re lucky,” he said. He didn’t know what would happen after that. He’d been burnt in the sun before – by accident, or because he wanted to see the sun. He knew that he wouldn’t die. He would combust and turn into ash. But he would burn, severely. Blister. And what would the humans do, then? Cart him off somewhere to be prodded and poked and tested. It wasn’t ideal.

By this time, he was looking at the door; it wasn’t as if there was anything stopping them from leaving. They weren’t trapped in here. He could make a run for it. Couldn’t he? Again, he shook his head.

”I can contact people, but I’m not asking them to come get me. If I’m not going out in that storm there’s no ******* way I’m going to ask them to,” he said. There weren’t too many he knew who could answer him, anyway. The line of communication was mostly one way.

According to Pi’s last telepathic blast, however, she and Skylar were about to go try rescue someone from outside. Maybe Elliot would see how they fared, before he decided to brave the storm.

Don’t do anything reckless. I love you. He sent back—there was no point updating her on his own situation, because nothing was happening.

[Revyia]

Revyia followed along, observing more than participating in the scene around her. Her eyes tracked to the high windows in the first chamber that they were led through, but found none in the second. Her bare feet felt the moisture on the floor, which almost brought a smile to her face. Almost. The sensation of the floor felt similar to some of the places she'd been forced to find shelter in before, though they were probably much safer than this place. Nature really did tend to be the best place for shelter... or would be if it wasn't for the fae. The thought made her shudder, so she shook herself off and leaned against one of the partitions that filled the room.

There was a part of her that wanted to make a plan, rally the troops. It was a small part - a part that had been beaten and picked apart by the Darkness. The reminder made any such thoughts completely flee her mind. Bringing attention to herself could easily lead to someone deciding she needed to be returned from whence she came. That was not acceptable. She would make sure this particular episode did not kill her, but she would do it as quietly as possible.

She wanted to try and assess those she was stranded with, but she doubted her ability to do so. Times were different. People were different. Dangers were different. Besides, she was interrupted by the male, his dialogue causing her eyebrows to raise slightly as she regarded him. His words had merit. While at one point she had had the strength to at least be aware during the daylight hours, such strength had not yet returned to her. It was possibly stripped away for good. Even if she had it, her recent slumber meant she was starved for the very source of power that would help her in any sort of situation. A hungry vampire is rarely an asset.

She was coming to realize that her plan to be quiet may do her a disservice in this particular situation. She had a feeling the male would not be likely to forget his day spent with those he felt were inadequate at dealing with their situation. Her eyes closed as she debated what to say that would not give her identity away. Anything that showed a lack of knowledge was likely to do just that.

Her voice sounded even more like each word was being drug across sandpaper. Her vocal cords protesting what they deemed was overuse, or possibly it was the fiery pain of her hunger. Most likely a combination of the two. "Has anyone an idea on how long this storm shall continue?" Surely there were still those who attempted to predict those things. It may not be reliable, however it was still something to try to plan around.

[Deirdre (DELETED 5847)]

"Let me explain something to you," Deirdre said, seting her book back into her purse and standing back up. "I am only a few months old to this lifestyle. I do not know where my sire is, or if he's okay, and I am trying to prevent a full blown panic. Reading will help me keep my head. Not having something to occupy my mind will drive me absolutely nuts. So, while I understand and fully respect the need to get the **** out of here, I need a few minutes to read so that I can prevent a full freak-out. Do you want a panicked, young vampire on your hands? Or an enraged Nikolae Dragomir?"

During her rant, Deirdre's silver eyes grew wide, wild, and frenzied. Her unnaturally pale cheeks gained some semblance of coloration, in her frantic activity, and her hands began to fidget with her sweater sleeves. Her thumb found a hole in the knitting, a familiar habit, and she began to pace. Her purse lay forgotten on the floor as her pale pink lips recited silent poetry.

Her fear and panic quickly became a palpable thing, as the spirits that hounded her constantly found her again, whispering their pleas for help, or cries for vengeance, or walls of pure sorrow directly into her sensitive ears. Compounded with the howling wind beyond the gymnasium's walls, it was too much for the Necromancer.

"Stop!" she finally sobbed out after several minutes of pacing, putting her hands futilely over her ears and sinking to her knees in the corner, leaned against the wall. "Please...stop."

[Dominique]

Dominique shot her focus to the one who identified himself as Lancaster as soon as his first words pointed to Deidre came out. His hands moved and it appeared to her the book was not the relaxing focal point to him as it was the woman holding it. That was perfectly fine. It was not his book to begin with. If she wanted to read it was her prerogative. He wanted to rant and move his hands then he could as well. It was, however, not doing any good if he directed that rant to another in their group. No one in the room signed up to be cooped up in a gym during the perfect storm anymore than he did.

Yes, there was a world full of humans out there. Dominique was reminded all the time what side of the fence she was now on. No one with a set of fangs in their mouth or missing a pulse that still walked could forget that. Her dark eyes drifted from the book to the woman’s face and she felt for her instantly. Assholes were everywhere. Her hands pressed palms down on the floor and she inched them upward from the flat surface with the slide of her fingertips grouping together. Lancaster was uptight and if he didn’t calm the hell down he would be spreading his less than peachy vibe to the rest of them. That would get no one anywhere.

Deidre was tucking the book away and up on her feet before Dominique lifted from the floor. Not one to steal a woman’s thunder or lightning she kept her backside connected to the floor beneath it. Far be it from her to interrupt the woman sounding off. Dominique was learning more about her as she spoke and it was refreshing. How many were willing to say not only what put them on the edge but also brought them relief or peace? Especially to a room of total strangers brought together randomly by an uncontrollable threat to them. Maybe Lancaster was just as unprepared for this as the rest of them. The difference was he was blasting Deidre as if she owed him some measure of participation in saving his ***. She knew full well that was not the way to get someone to jump to be part of your team of action.

Dominique found her way back on her feet when Deidre slid down with hands over her ears. She looked once to Lucia who seemed to be a quiet observer. She couldn’t really fault the woman who was missing more attire than the rest of them now that she took the time to look her over. She sighed cupping her hands over her knit cap and pressed her splayed fingertips down to create a deep cranial pressure. Books and reading did it for Deidre. Well acupressure had its benefits for Dominique. As for Nikolae Dragomir that she mentioned. That sounded somewhat familiar but she wouldn’t be impressed on any name dropped at this point. Dracula could be Lancaster’s anger management sponsor and she still wouldn’t be any more impressed than she currently was.

“So, that was a big help.” Dominique looked at the man then shook her own head as her hands unlocked from their position on her head and dropped down to palm her face. A brief rub up and down gave her enough relief to let them drop further to her hips.

“We need to be creative then if we are looking to hold off the search party. Here are a few ideas and let me know what you find wrong with them.” Her eyes pinned on each equally in her brief silence. She counted on the feedback. It was constructive if it saved her *** from turning into a colorful blistered chip. “What do they do in cases of catastrophic damage? Search, evacuate and then board up places deemed clear of victims and life until they can be entered safely, right? Why not do that ahead of time? Seal this place up marking it with a big ‘X’ on the walls squared in with the date and ‘Do not enter’. My aunt was in Hurricane Andrew and told me they covered her house with a big ‘X’ on the roof and visible walls in the same way as it was the way to mark a building damaged and not stable for safe entry. Once we do that we tuck into the deepest darkest spot safe enough to hold us and use what is available to conceal us looking as if it was all part of the damage. We ride out the daylight hours?” She paused then continued. “My thought is there is not just this gym that has been beaten up. Everything has.The roads are hazardous for travel. The city is big enough even if they called out for extra help to search and rescue it still will take more than the day hours to get manpower, organized search groups to search every foot of inside space of all the business buildings. They will be answering first calls for help from people about those missing, increased risk due to age or health as well as focusing on places that would have been open as the storm hit. This gym was empty. People aren’t going to be calling for aid from here much less racing to get to it before other more important places. I think the multi-level apartment buildings, hospitals and university will be some of the first structures.”

Dominique went quiet and let what she said sink in. She shrugged. If it was of any use then great. If not then she was not going to sweat it out or lose her mind. She knew there was far worse possible including and beyond what was mentioned as a possible outcome if they failed to cover their presence inside if discovered. People could be monsters if they found one. Then again, the so could the ones that made them if you weren’t careful and wise.

[Lancaster]

Elliot closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He knew that his temper could fly off the handle every now and again. His head ached, but he understood now why the young woman was stressing out so much. The name ‘Nikolae Dragomir’ meant nothing to Elliot, either. Should it? There was a brief indignant spark deep in his chest, as if he wanted to fight back what sounded like a threat. But he could feel Deirdre’s panic, now. It battered against him, easily done in the small space. The stress in the room increased, and it didn’t take Dominque’s reprimand to let him know that he was the cause of it.

He crossed over to where Deirdre leaned against the wall, placing a hand on her shoulder. A thrum of raw energy radiated outward, enveloping the woman in a silent calm; the same energy he used every night on Pi to inspire her. There was another ability that he knew he was capable of, to calm people down—he’d used it on Skylar, who had then proceeded to act as if he were the best bachelor in town. Elliot had learned from that particular mistake, and didn’t try it here.

The touch was a silent apology, as Dominique began to speak; the idea had merit, and Elliot nodded. The idea settled in his mind and percolated, slowly. First, he turned to Lucia and shook his head.

”I didn’t even know it was coming. I’m not sure how long it’s going to last. Maybe we can find a radio,” he said, before he turned back to Dominique. ”It’s a good idea, but there’s one hiccup. I am a business owner. I know the first thing I’m going to do once I get out of here is check my businesses and the buildings they’re housed in. I’ll check that my staff got out safe, and for structural damage, and try to get them back on their feet as soon as possible. There’s a good chance the owner will know what’s been going on with his own business, and he’ll know the setup is a farce. Or she. How do we know they won’t try to get in regardless of the boards and the red cross?” he asked, calmly now. Without judgement or criticism. A legitimate question that he thought they ought to consider before going ahead with the plan.

A familiar and calming voice in his head tells him not to go outside, and Elliot feels dread.

I'm staying in. But the sun's coming up soon, and I don't know what's going to be worse.

At least Pi knows where he is. If he doesn’t show up tomorrow night, she at least knows where to start looking.