Death Is A Dirty Word

[Micah]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

<Every> She drummed her hand on her thigh lightly, anxiously before she grabbed her bag and headed out of her hut with a sigh escaping past her lips. Boredom wasn’t something that she was accustomed to. She usually found entertainment in the simplest things whether it be by planning an activity, or reorganizing her bookshelf, but lately it had become not enough. And so, as she made her way to the elevator, she wondered if Micah or Vel had anything for her to do errand wise. It kept her occupied and got things done, at least?

When she arrived at the fourth floor, her hand went to cover her eyes as she stepped to the sensors and knocked on the wall just in case. “Micah, Vel? You guys decent?” The last thing she really wanted to see was them doing the horizontal tango and as she crinkled her nose at the thought, she waited for an answer before moving further into the room.


<Micah> He was sitting at the computer browsing through the auctions. Parts hadn’t been easy to come by so he’d been turning to the auctions more and more. Sometimes he found a few good ones mixed in with the lower quality ones but even that was becoming a rare thing. Tonight there wasn’t anything there that he was willing to spend money on so he started looking through weapons. Vel could always break those down.

He looked up at the knock, eyes rolling up to look at the ceiling. “Contrary to popular belief Every we do know how to keep our clothes on.” She wasn’t the only one who asked that when appearing on the top floor. Micah would have to start nipping that **** in the bud.


Velveteen - Since their return from Texas Velveteen was finding it a little hard to get back into the swings of thing. The trip was far too short and though they weren’t there long she found herself craving the heat and there was still so much she wanted to do and see. Her husband had promised they would return soon but that wasn’t going to be soon enough. She couldn’t help but smile when she thought of the place though and the memories they had made during their short time there.

Her hands curled about the cool metal railing as she rode the elevator to the fourth floor and was surprised to see the familiar figure standing just on the landing when the doors slid open, which happened just in time for her to catch what her husband was saying. With a chuckle she stepped up behind the woman and jabbed her playfully in the side. “Don’t believe a word he says. Our clothes are always falling off…you never know where and you never know when.” She was kidding of course and cast a cheeky grin over her shoulder at Eve as she passed and made her way to the man seated at the table. “You shouldn’t tell such fibs, Babe. People might actually believe you.”


<Every> “Hate it when you call me that.” She chimed and then pushed her hair over her shoulder with a frown playing across her lips, “And hey, it’s not as if it’s a bad thing to ask. With my luck, I would end up getting an eyeful.” That, and it didn’t help that Kirill apparently had taken up with being anti-pants in his own apartment. A squeak escaped past her lips as she felt the poke and a grin played across her lips while she lifted her hand in greeting to Vel. “And frankly that’s probably the last thing that any of us want to witness.” She shrugged her shoulder briefly.

Walking in further into the room, she adjusted her bag over her shoulder slightly and shifted her weight, listening to the floorboards underneath her feet. “I’ve got nothing to do for the night and had been wondering if either of you have anything for me to do.” She tucked her hands into the pockets of her jeans, her hazel eyes showing her curiosity as she inclined her head a bit. “I’ve been gathering parts for traps again, and always weapon parts for Vel, but I haven’t been able to sit still for too long these days.”


<Micah> “I know you do. Why do you think I call you that?” He grinned and stuck his tongue out as his wife who had appeared behind his childe. “You’re the one telling tales. If you had your way we’d never be wearing clothes.” Not that he was complaining about that but that wasn’t all they did even if thats what everyone else assumed. He pushed away from the computer, grateful for the distraction. Nothing interesting on there anyways.

“Sorry I ain’t got nothing for you to do. Waiting on some parts to come in so we can get started on Savannah but other than that…..” He shrugged his shoulder, his face a picture of apology. “Sorry Weave.”

[Every]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--
Velveteen - Her grin spread and she bobbed her head. He knew her too well….but it was definitely a good thing. She liked having someone that close even if at times it seemed to be a curse. Too many times he had stopped her before she did something she really wanted to do even if it wasn’t good. He could predict her behaviour in most situations. This only made her love him that much more. Her fingers laced with his and she gave his hand a squeeze before letting go. The bag was slung over her shoulder was dumped onto the table, and ignored for now. “I cannot wait to see that car finished….or started for that matter.”

She hadn’t ignored Eve’s question but was taking a little time to do a mental checklist before shaking her head. “I got nothin either , Eve. Sorry. Just the usual for me. Guns, guns, guns. Whats got you so antsy any-.....” Her mouth abruptly shut as she realised she probably already knew the answer to that one. “It has been really quiet of late. Maybe we should have another fight night soon. Get some sparring practice in or something.”


<Every> “I’ll… figure out something that you don’t like at some point.” She felt her eyebrow twitch with the words, but then again, was her full name that much worse than Weave? The words went past her as she took in the fourth floor of the Eyrie, although she had brought up the subject of them naked to begin with and deserved it. But, as it ended, Every smiled lightly at the sight of the two with a happy expression. “Eh, I’ll figure something out, then.” She sighed, her expression dropping as she rubbed at the back of her neck.

She lifted her head lightly, looking back to Vel when the woman went quiet before continuing. Her hand went to the owl pendant on her necklace and she adjusted it, a small nod being given in agreement. “I can arrange that, I’ve been getting a lot better with a gun since the last time we used live ammo. Though, hand to hand is easier.” She looked pleased at this, having never been a fan of guns when she was turned. After one broke in her hand from the trigger being pulled, who could blame her?


<Micah> He grinned. “She’s gonna be amazin when she’s done. I’ll even let ya drive her baby.” That was said almost graciously as if he was doing her a big favor. That car was special to him true, but Vel meant more to him than any car ever would. “As soon as we get the parts in I promise we’ll get to the garage and get to work.” Eve wasn’t the only one going stir crazy. Micah was itching for something to do, no matter how tedious. Anything was better than just sitting around.

“Sparring? I keep promisin ya we’ll spar. So how bout it Eve? Wanna go a few rounds with me?”


Velveteen - That was one project she was looking forward to and she couldnt help but grin crookedly. It had taken a while for him to let her drive his precious truck, though she couldn’t blame him. It had taken her quite some time to get used to driving on the wrong side of the road. It was hairy. Besides seeing the car finished though it was the time spent doing it that she looked forward to. When he said they would start soon she couldnt help but be a bit excited. She loved to hang around when he worked, watching and making a general nuisance of herself. “I am looking forward to that.” She needn’t say more than that, the suggestive perk of her brow added all he needed to know.

The mention of sparring though perked her interest and she looked around for anything breakable, immediately closing the laptop and setting it on her desk out of harms reach. “Hey...if you are gonna do that here ….if you break it then you have to buy me bigger and better!” She was kidding of course and decided that she could take care of somethings , at her desk out of the way while they played.


<Every> She blinked innocently at Vel as the mention of breaking and buying bigger, looking to Micah afterwards as she thought about the idea of sparring. It had been a while, even in fight nights. “Sure, I can go a few rounds.” Setting her bag down, she removed a scrunchie from around her wrist before pulling her hair back into a ponytail. “Just don’t take it easy on me, alright old man?” A teasing grin crossed her lips as she bounced on the balls over her feet.

To say that she was excited about working on Savannah would be an understatement, as for the past few months, she was happy to get back to the way things were with her sire after the fight that they had. Things were getting better all around and it made her feel better.

[Velveteen]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--
<Micah> “Yes baby. I will buy you bigger and better of anything you want. Maybe. Depends on what you want. I do have my limits and my sugar mama hasn’t paid my allowance this month.” He stood and moved past Vel, smacking her on the *** as he went. The time they’d had away from everyone had done wonders for his overall attitude. He didn’t anger as easily and was actually...smiling. Micah hardly ever smiled unless it was at Vel.

A single eyebrow raised. “You callin me old?” He tsked at her and brought his gun up, firing off a round that hit her in the side. “I’ll show you old lil girl.”


Velveteen - The dark haired vampire chuckled swatting at his hand playfully as she took up refuge at the computer desk. “Your sugar mama needs to get her **** together then doesn’t she? You need to be keeping me in a manner I am accustomed to.” She teased as she eased herself into the plush comfort of the leather chair doing her best to look all posh and failing miserably.

The sudden gunfire made her jump a little unexpectedly. “Hey...just remember...bullets stay on that side of the room. Innocent bystander here!” She waved both hands just to make her position even more obvious before holding up a folder and pretending it was some sort of shield. “Wouldn’t your paintball gun b-.....” She stopped mid sentence and left it that way. **** that mess.


<Every> “My height makes that statement stand correct.” She huffed, not that she minded being called little - once upon a time, she probably would have suggested that it be ‘fun sized’ instead. Removing her rapid fire from her bag, Every stepped back while they talked. “I thought you took your allowance from her the other day.” She smirked, flipping off the safety as she took aim and felt the bullet tear through her side while the gunfire echo around them.

Pulling the trigger, her eyebrow lifted when it jammed and she pursed her lips while she pressed it a few times. When gunfire echoed around them once more in a rapid tap, tap, tap, Every’s confusion mounted as she lifted her head in surprise, her lips forming a ‘o’ in surprise as she took in Micah’s form. His head and then his chest. “M...Micah?” She squeaked out, the gun dropping to the floor with a loud clatter.

<Micah> He started to respond to her but the bullets flew at him hard and fast. Too fast, and too many for him to dodge. He took three to the head, and one to the chest. Several seconds was all it took but it felt like hours had passed. He felt each of the bullets rip through his body. One second he was standing in front of his childe and the next...nothing. He was no longer in the Eyrie. In fact, he was no longer in his body.

He was slightly confused at first, unsure of what had happened to him. But once the shock had worn off it hit him that he was dead. Every had killed him. Micah couldn’t even find it in him to be angry with her. Vel though...oh no. No. She was going to freak. And he could do nothing to help her.

Velveteen - Vel had shifted her focus of attention to the computer screen, having decided to do a little online shopping while sire and childe played Shoot Each Other For Fun. The spray of bullets caused her to flinch and lean closer into the monitor which she used as cover but thought no more of until it struck her that there was a sudden silence. No playful banterings or shots being fired. She looked up curiously and furrowed her brow when she saw only Eve, though the look on the woman’s face cause a ball of dread to unravel itself unexpectedly in the pit of her stomach.

Both hands were placed on the desk as she pushed herself forward and upward slowly, her eyes following Every’s gaze. Micah lay unmoving on the floor as gravity drew blood from the bullet wounds that soaked into his t-shirt and pooled beneath him on the floor boards. Deep lines etched her brow as she looked at Eve accusingly though her voice was little more than a whisper. “What the **** have you done?”

[Every]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

<Every> As she stood there on the tallest floor of the Eyrie, she didn’t quite comprehend what had happened. One minute, Micah was there. He was enjoying himself, and then he was a shell. She’d seen enough killers die while hunting to know that he was gone. Every could hear Vel speaking, her dark brown hair falling over her shoulder as she tried to comprehend what had happened.

Micah dead. Vel was there. It was hard and her lips parted lightly as she tried to speak. “It was an accident, Vel.” She found her voice, a little shaken as she was nervous and staring without seeing her sire, “You know I wouldn’t hurt… I would never…” She felt like she wanted to scream.


Velveteen - It wasn’t computing. She could see it but it made no sense. None. And neither did Eve’s response. “Never what? Wouldn’t what?” Her feet carried her around the desk and towards the woman as she made a conscious effort not to look at her husband lying unmoving on the floor. She did, however, have a gun in her hand, though, if asked, she would have no idea how it got there. Something had snapped. “Unacceptable.” The word rolled from her tongue over and over as she shook her head. “Wouldn’t what?” She asked again. “Unacceptable”

The world seemed to spin on its access and her perception had become completely skewed. From her side of the fence she felt calm, in control, aware of everything around her but on the outside she was a crazy ******* mess as she pushed the muzzle of the gun into Eve’s neck and fired a single round. “UNFUCKINGACCEPTABLE!” She screamed. “ANSWER ME!” She fired again giving Eve no time to answer between questions though in her mind she felt she had waited for ages in silence.


<Every> “I wouldn’t…” The words wouldn’t come as she stood where she did, it wasn’t sinking in. She couldn’t have killed Micah, she wasn’t strong enough. She was a poor shot. “Not that poor, but still.” The thought didn’t reach her brain as she heard Vel’s footsteps and her head lifted slowly to the woman, her expression remaining the same until her hazel eyes locked in on the gun. Slowly, Every raised her palms to show that she wasn’t armed. “I wouldn’t kill Micah on pur-.”

Her words were cut short as she felt the bullet rip through her throat. She grimaced as she dropped to one knee and lifted her hand to her throat. Her blood splashed onto the air and hung there as the second bullet passed through her flesh. More blood splashed, vanishing slowly into the others wake. Every’s hazel eyes narrowed in a mild glare, her expression stating that she clearly couldn’t as she pressed her hand into the wounds.


Velveteen - A look of absolute horror twisted her pale features. “Kill? No.” It was simple as that. Not possible. It wasn’t happening. She fired a couple more times though paid little attention to where she was aiming as she looked back her husband. “This wont take long babe. Just don’t...move. Don’t move.” Not that he as going to but she refused to accept the truth. The truth just wouldn’t do.

Black blood floated from her wounds and dissipated and in another time and place Velveteen would have mesmerized but right now she had other urgent matters to attend to. “For **** sake Eve...spit it out. And quit making those pathetic gurgling noises. It is irritating.” Another bullet was fired and thudded painfully into the shadow’s body. It was if someone else were firing it and perhaps someone else was.

[Velveteen]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--
<Every> If she could talk, there were a lot of things that Every would say as she listened to Velveteen and gave her a flat look. She pointed at her neck as if to say ‘really?’ before wincing at the sound of gunfire echoing around her. She spat a mouthful of the black blood onto the air and rubbed at her neck briefly before reaching down at the ground. She couldn’t talk and Vel had clearly lost her ****. Fantastic. It was one of the few times she would give to be a telepath as she winced as one of the bullets slammed into her groin.

The shadow heard Vel speak to Micah and carefully, she crawled over to her sire and dipped her finger in his blood. Guilt ripped through her like the bullets that were fired at her and very carefully, she spelled out, HE’S DEAD, DIDN’T MEAN TO. Afterwards, she wiped the blood on her jeans and laid on her side, looking up at the woman. A wheezing cough escaped past her lips as she closed her eyes tightly before opening them again.


Velveteen - Velveteen watched the woman crawl closer to the body. She knew it was Eve...somewhere deep down in the dark recesses of her subconscious but right now she couldn’t see that. She saw someone….doing something. She tilted her head curiously and watched, her gun held on the female. The whole thing was surreal and for a moment she wasn’t even sure where she was anymore. The necromancer blinked, aware of eyes on her now as she returned the gaze, what the **** did she want now?

Blood. Everywhere. Made letters on the floor. She could see them but she couldn’t understand them when all of a sudden clarity hit her like a tonne of bricks. She could see what it said but her mind rejected the notion immediately as she pressed the still smoking barrel of her gun to Eve’s head. “No he aint. But you are.” With that she fired one final round into the woman’s skull. “Don’t ever say that again.” She muttered softly to herself as what remained of the shadow turned to a black smoke that expanded and lingered on the air before fading. The toe of her boot was dragged through the blood scrawled message as if simply crossing it out would make it all go away.


<Every> The words confused her, but Every didn’t get to scream out before she felt the bullet. The next time she opened her eyes, she knew where she was immediately. All the times before, she had been there alone. But now, her sire was there. He was there because she had sent him there and as pushed herself up, her first thing to do was to find him. To apologize. “That’s twice now at her hands.” She thought, but the searing pain in her head pushed it away as she stumbled further into the shadows.

Searching. For spirits, for Micah. Her hand went for the necklace she always wore, a golden owl pendant from the blond that had disappeared and she knew it’d be there when she returned. She was dead. Again. She really didn’t look forward to the next week as she passed another wraith and found a lost looking spirit that she took with ease before heading northeast. Or, what she thought was northeast.

[Velveteen]

Velveteen sat the gun on the table and looked down at Micah. “Now that is done. Let’s get you patched up yeah?”

What was real was no longer what the woman saw. Her reality had become a completely fabricated construct of her own mind. Where there was lots of blood, pooled on the floor and splashed up the walls, staining the bullet riddled wood she saw a few smatterings. Where her husband’s face was covered in red and little more than a bloody pulp that barely resembled the man she saw only him, smiling up at her. The only thing really remiss, in her mind, was the large gash in his head. Not life threatening. No way. Just a scratch really.

She knelt down and hoisted his lifeless body upwards after slinging one of his arms around her shoulders. A bloody trail was left across the floorboards and carpets as she dragged him clumsily towards the bedroom. Her husband was much larger than her and his dead weight made it slow going. Limbs were unco-operative as they dangled lifelessy, offering no assistance and the one eye that still remained was wide open and stared unseeingly at whatever happened to be in the direction which his head lolled with each difficult tug and drag. All the while she spoke soothingly and in her mind the conversation was anything but one sided.

“Oh come on. It’s not that bad. You just need some sleep. Maybe trance. Once you’re settled I will bring some blood bags. You will be good as new in no time.” Her smile broadened and she laughed at his reply. “Yeah, yeah, I know. You just liked being spoiled and that’s ok cause it is what I intend on doing. Here...sit there so I can take your boots off.” She waved her hand dismissively and snorted playfully. “Stop thanking me. You would do the exact same thing for me.” She used all her strength then, giving one last heave as she set him on the edge of the bed.

The seven foot something dead killer flopped back onto the bed with all the life of a marionette puppet who just had its strings cut. “I know you are tired, My Love and you can sleep soon. Just let me do this.” Her voice was oddly calm and strangely normal as she carried on the conversation that was absolutely real...to her. One boot was unlaced and tugged free followed shortly by the other before she swept his legs up and shoved them onto the bed. The killer looked far from comfortable. In fact he looked very very dead and the odd angle of his body and twist of limbs were testament to that but to Velveteen he looked perfectly comfortable as she tucked the blankets around him and fluffed the pillows at his back.

“How’s that? Comfy?” She paused and looked at him as if listening and her head bobbed slowly in response. “Oh I know. I’m not happy myself but it’s ok. I took care of it. Now wait here. I will get some blood bags.” She leaned over the edge of the bed and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, completely oblivious to the dark, congealing blood that now clung to her lips or her fingers where they brushed the side of his face tenderly. “I love you too. Now don’t move.” She ordered, giving him a stern look before disappearing from the bedroom.

“Scooooott….Scott!! Where are you?” Her voice echoed lightly about the large hut as the man appeared almost instantly. He had been woken earlier by the sound of gunfire and had since watched the whole scene unfold much to his dismay. Things like this could never be unseen but he knew better than to question her. Especially now. “I am just taking Micah some blood bags. He needs rest and is therefore not to be disturbed. Can you just tidy up that little mess over there please? Thank you.” She gave her thrall a huge thankful smile and made her way back to the bedroom leaving him standing staring at the mayhem she had called a little mess.

Scott had fetched the necessary items and was making a good start when she called from the bedroom again. “Oh and when you are done can you go meet Malachai please? He is waiting to hear from you. I told him you would be a couple of minutes.” The thall’s mouth fell open. There was no way it would be done in a couple of minutes. It looked like some macabre, bloody scene out of a horror movie. A horror movie that had become his life. He sighed and shook his head but knew he could always return to the task after the meeting. He had a feeling that his crazy as **** mistress wasn’t really going to give much of a **** right now anyways….not if what he had already witnessed was to continue.

“You really need to be a bit more careful.” She warned, eyeing her husband as she pierced the plastic that held the life sustaining liquid he so desperately needed right now. “And yes I will be having the same conversation with Eve, don’t you worry.” The opened bag was then pressed to his lips and she squeezed it lightly, giving the appearance that he was in fact drinking from it. Blood dribbled from his slack jaw and down over his chin only to be soaked up by those parts of his shirt that had not yet been saturated. “But we can sort that out later. I told you. you need to rest.” Her brow furrowed, deep lines etching her brow as she tilted her head. “What do you mean you don’t want this? You have to. Stop being so stubborn and drink.” Her fingers closed about the bag and squeezed harder as she tried to force the fluid down his throat only to have it erupt in a red fountain that stained the sheets. “Fine. Be like that. But you are gonna have to sooner or later.”

She wasn’t happy as she stood and looked at him. “I will blood heal if I have to, Micah Andras. You are not going to get out of this.” The remaining untouched bags were gathered up to be returned to the fridge for later. “But get some rest. I will be back in minute.” The necromancer turned to leave the room but stopped part way through the door and looked back over her shoulder. Her expression softened almost immediately and she smiled once more. “I do know. You tell me all the time. Now go to sleep.” The door was pulled shut behind her until the soft metallic click of the lock falling into place was heard.

[Rion]

She re-read the words a thousand times and they never seemed to make sense.

Due to an accident, Micah is dead.
… Every… did it…

They continued to jump out at her from her screen, and her fingers trembled violently. She couldn’t believe it. “How dare that ******* *****,” she seethed. It was just like her, really. In her mind, the scene was playing out already, as if she had been there to witness it herself. She could see Micah, his height causing him to practically loom over the smaller brunette, her face contorted in that sneer that she supposed was to be intimidating – but looked rather amusing to her. She was sure that they were disagreeing over something idiotic, She saw the woman lift her gun – and then she saw red. With a sudden rush of energy, the Necomancer flung from her seat and tossed her computer onto the floor.

“She wouldn’t do th—**** you, yes she would. Who the fu—No, she wouldn’t.” Her mind was working a mile a minute, and before she knew it – she was out the door. The looks that were cast her way were ignored, her fingers continuing their trembling as she shoved them through her hair. Shocks of blue fell into her eyes unheeded, and within seconds, she was breaking out into a run. She could feel the glass and gravel crunch beneath her bare feet, causing her to realize a second too late that she wasn’t dressed. Osiris’s tattered black t-shirt fell to her knees and nearly engulfed the small woman, and she chose to ignore it as she continued to push through the thinning crowd. He was dead, he was dead, he was dead, was all that was repeating in her mind, causing tears to burn her eyes.

Where are you going, Ghoul?

His voice caused her to stumble, her knees hitting the dirt as she gripped the edge of her skull. It was so close, so real – and so very, very cruel. She was one to believe that the dead spoke to her in various ways, but their voices had never been as clear as his was. She practically felt his touch against her shoulder. In a moment of clarity, she realized one thing – if it was tearing her apart to feel his loss, then what the **** was it doing to his soulmate? He was a parental figure to her, but he was Velveteen's heart and soul. It was that thought that caused her to stumble to her feet, her legs trembling beneath the weight of her body. “I’m finding out what happened to you, you sick, twisted ****. You promised me you wouldn’t leave. Not to mention all the ******* promises I'm sure you made her. How could you be so ******* selfish?” Her words were harshly spoken, and she noticed a group of teenagers eye her warily before beginning to pull out their phones. As they lifted it to snap a few pictures, she flicked them off and turned towards Cherrydale.

There was only one place Velveteen would take him to keep him safe.

By the time she reached the ******* tree, she was shaking violently. Without pausing, she began to pound on the door, her skin breaking beneath the strength of her hit. “Velveteen! Velveteen, Micah! Open up!” Her Southern accent was thick with grief, her blue eyes dark and wild as she continued to slam her fist repeatedly against the paneling. He was dead, he was dead, he was dead…

“No, he’s not. Shut the **** up. SHUT UP!”

[Velveteen]

Velveteen hummed softly as she swathed her husband’s head in crisp white bandages. A completely ludicrous and unnecessary action motivated purely by her inability to accept that she was not tending to her husband’s wounds but playing nurse to his lifeless corpse. Besides which, the fact that he was talking to her right now made the possibility seem even more impossible. The humming stopped abruptly and she tsked softly as the image of Eve scrawling in his blood flashed in her minds eye before it was discarded. Leaning back she smiled and brushed his cheek with the back of her hand. “Still as hot ever. I’d still do you.” Her nose wrinkled and she offered him a cheeky grin before breaking out in laughter. “Really? You expecting visitors or something?” She reached over and got his sunglasses from the nightstand and placed him on his face just so. “Better?”

The conversation carried on though there were no responses coming from the recently departed. Whatever replies did come came solely from a mind that had been broken in order to protect itself.

”You are too good to me, Baby. I’m just so….tired.”

“Never.” She quipped as she rearranged the pillows at his back to sit him up more comfortably. “I just….can’t believe Every would say what she said. Well..not say. She couldn’t say much really.” Velveteen chuckled at her own joke before dropping a kiss to the top of his head which lolled to the side at a sickening angle. Her fingers cupped his cheek as she propped it up against the pillows, holding her hands just so , ready to catch it if it feel to the side again. “You will hurt your neck if you keep sitting like that. Now….Are you going to trance? Should I blood heal?”

“Neither. I just really want to sleep.” The smooth tones of his voice soothed her soul and she gave him an understanding nod.

“You can. Soon. But first you nee-----.” Her words was cut short as a ruckus from somewhere outside disturbed the quiet night. Her head tilted curiously on her shoulder and she gave her husband a look of irritation. “Rude ********. I will be right back. Don’t fall asleep.” She held up her finger in warning and went out onto the balcony. Leaning over the side she tried to see who was making the noise but the angle made it impossible. She thought she recognised the voice though and made her way back into the bedroom. “I think Rion is outside. She is screaming to be let in.”

“Then let her in, woman. Summon her up.” He followed up with one of those grins that she could never say no to. The kind of grin that made his eyes dance though she couldn’t see them behind the mirrored lenses. She didn’t have to. She knew his face better than she knew her own. Every expression. Every line. Every fleck in those violet pools that watched over her.

“Ok. If you sure you are up to it?” She bowed her head momentarily and concentrated on the blue haired woman, dragging her through space and time and setting her there at the end of bed. Vel moved away and sat beside Micah. To the sane person’s eye the place was a mess. Tangled sheets stiff with dried blood sat stiffly about a corpse who looked almost comical, propped up against the pillows. Velveteen herself was a mess. She couldn’t see the blood. It no longer registered on her mental radar so the congealed and dried clots that clung to her hair and smeared her face, in her mind, just did not exist. She smiled up at Rion. “To what do we owe this pleasure then?”

[Athena (DELETED 6736)]

Athena didn’t understand what was going on in her family right now. Yes, she knew what was happening, it was said there, in perfectly legible in text on the family CrowNet. Micah and Eve were gone but as she paced and held onto her phone she just couldn’t fathom it. She couldn’t wrap her head around the concept that those vampires were gone. Sure, any other vampires but not them. Not Micah. Not Eve. Her head shook, her hair swaying with the motion as her feet kept her pacing in a circle. What was she going to do? She didn’t know and everything was scattered. Athena didn’t know what to do from here. What was up and what was down?

She started to think. It was a slow process while she was trying to sort through her own emotions, and right now the only thing that she felt was keeping her level was her pacing. Her fingers tightened around her cellphone and she struggled to keep herself from crushing it. How could this happen? What did they mean it was an accident? How did these things come about and how long would they remain dead? So many questions rushed to her mind, her free hand reaching up then to rub roughly at her temple before she ended up rubbing over her face. Pausing then to turn her head and look over Eve’s room. She knew Eve had many places to stay, that this wasn’t her only place but it was somewhere she felt connected to Eve and the thought brought tears to her eyes. With her phone in her hand she stared at the screen as she debated. What was Rion feeling? If she felt like this for Eve how could Rion be feeling about Micah? Athena was struggling to think that force of a man could ever die. How would Rion feel knowing a man she valued close to a father-figure being hurt this way? Velv about her husband? Her eyes closed tightly and she tried to get her own head together. Out of everyone, she knew she had to keep her **** together. She knew that they had more of a reason to be upset than she did. She’d be strong for them. Maybe this time she could focus on other people who weren’t herself.

The thought caused her throat to tighten and she swallowed down hard again. How could she be strong for them? She didn’t know but as she stood on the rug in Eve’s room she slid the pad of her thumb over her phone and began to scroll her contacts first for Rion’s number. It wasn’t often that they would seek each other out. Things were slowly beginning to change between Sire and Childe but right now was everything short of a social call. She called to make sure Rion was okay. She called because she cared. That much was obvious. With Rion not answering after several calls and Athena screaming in the voicemail she began to pace again. What should she do? She didn’t know how to track her siress yet. She thought for a moment to go track her down at home but then it hit her. Rion wouldn’t be at home. Where would she go? She’d go to Velveteen just as she assumed everyone else would. It made perfect sense. But Athena didn’t know where that was and so she was stuck just pacing all over again. The thought came to call Velveteen when her phone buzzed. It was just an email but it reminded her that Rion clearly told her to keep both Micah’s and Velveteen’s number on hand just in case she had any questions. Or for emergencies. This had to count. This had to be an emergency even if there was a possibility that she could get blown off. After all, this wasn’t something easy. This wouldn’t be as simple as your abc’s. She couldn’t deny that if she were living still her heart would be fluttering. That her fear would make her more than nervous. Athena knew this woman wasn’t someone to trifle with. That she was a force all on her own even without Micah there. The woman had to be hurting and that thought alone gave Athena courage. She wanted to be there for her family, for her blood. She wanted nothing more than to love them and be loved. Athena found the woman’s name and with a look of determination she slid her thumb over her number and hit ‘Call’.

“Hello, Velveteen? This is Athena..”

[Rion]

She had lost all awareness. There was no time and no sound. There was simply her, banging her fist repeatedly against the door until her skin was raw. He’s dead. You ******* failed him. You failed me. Do you see a ******* pattern here, you *****? The harsh words were spoken in a familiar voice, one that sent a tremor down her spine and caused her hand to falter in its pounding. She was losing her mother ******* mind. Squinting her eyes closed, she bowed her head forward and held her breath in useless lungs. She felt as if she was going to burst from within. The pain was something she had never dealt with. It rushed through her like an inferno, burning away her sanity and leaving just a shell of who she once was. She had only ever felt this once before, standing beside her mother’s prone figure. Despair choked her as the memory flashed into her mind, and a scream bubbled from deep within.

Clenching her teeth against the maniacal sound, the necromancer moved her fist to hit the door once again – just as it disappeared. She stopped the motion a second before her fist connected with the face of the woman in front of her, and it took her a solid moment to drink in what she was seeing. The older Necromancer looked like complete and utter ****. Her hair was a mess, her pale skin was covered in dried blood and her eyes were bloodshot. However, it wasn’t just the redness of her gaze that caused the doctor to freeze in place. It was the utter insanity that was gleaming in the silver gaze – as well as the fact that she was looking at her with a smile. For only a second, Rion feared for what was lying on the bed. That thin grasp she had on hope snapped, and her heart felt as if it had been ripped straight from her chest by that kind, tender, welcoming smile. “… No.”

It was the only word she could form. Her mind began to race again, and she curled her fist at her side. “No, no, no, no,” she repeated over and over. It was as if she couldn’t compute what was happening. Velveteen would only smile at her if the world was ending. Velveteen would only look at her like that if they had lost the one person that pieced them together. Velveteen would only welcome her if Micah was -- “No!” The word tore from her throat then, her small five foot two stature trembling as she felt her knees give out. Throwing her hand out, she placed it on the edge of the mattress and tried continued to force the pieces of the puzzle together. If she flipped out now, here in the open, in the middle of their bedroom – there was no telling what her other sire might do. They were already on rocky ground, and she knew that even in his death – he’s not ******* dead!! – she had to play her cards right.

How could she when she felt as if the earth had crumbled beneath her feet?

After a moment of shock, she tried to claw her way through the insanity to find just a second of clarity. The world was shaking, and she watched as the older necromancer spun in her vision. Forcing her words out, she leaned the entirety of her weight on the edge of the bed. She refused to look at the person laying on it. She refused to allow her mind to see what was there. To her, the bed was empty in that moment. It was simply her – and Velveteen. Not a mangled corpse wrapped in bloody bedding. Not her sire, with lifeless eyes. “Malachai said…” She couldn’t get the words out, she couldn’t think straight. Tears burned her eyes – tears that she never shed. She couldn’t remember the last time that she had cried in front of anyone, and yet here she was, with tears falling down her pale cheeks and burning her skin. “No. He’s not. He’s ******* not. I won’t allow it. You won’t allow it. I need to see him, Velveteen. I need to see your husband. My sire.” Her words were coming out in short, choked bursts as she forced herself to meet her eyes. She couldn’t say the word. She couldn’t say that she needed to see if he was dead. If it was true. It wasn’t ******* true. It just wasn’t. Suddenly, she did something she never did – she said a word she never said, one she never thought she’d be speaking to the woman in front of her. Keeping their gazes locked, both filled with dread, despair and complete and utter ******* refusal – she took one step closer to begging. “Please.”