Mea Culpa [Mordechai]

[Amalea]

Mordechai
The killer slipped into the sewers, heading ever deeper till at least he arrived at an enclosed area, that he had often frequented in the past. It was secluded, and secure. The perfect place for the coming conversation. She wanted to talk. This was as good a place as any, for the conversation needed. Reaching outwards with his essence, he grasped, then pulled. The woman appeared before him.

Amalea
The red-head needed to talk, but not just to anyone; she knew that. She also was aware that it could be a bloody one with all the blood being split being hers. Still, she had to try. What she hadn't expected was to be pulled to a location unknown to her without warning. She squeaked softly before recognizing the killer. Slowly, she raised her hands to show she was unarmed. "Thank you for agreeing to this. I know I haven't given you much reason to do so." She paused a second, "I have my blades, but intend for them to stay securely in their holsters."

Mordechai
The killer acknowledged her words with a nod, yet spoke none of his own. The universe that revolved around him had been set on end, and fallout was raining everywhere

Mordechai
The titian haired human before him, seemed to be the center of the storm. "Speak"

Amalea
"First, I should apologize for claiming you in the Labyrinth. I shouldn't have assumed that your threat on the Voodoo site was aimed at me despite having been called a siren lover. I'm not, you know. I just see the need for the balance between all the species in the city and it was one we didn't know much about. And kissing the one at the ball was mistletoe-fueled, which is rude to refuse." She shook her head, "But that's not why I'm here...and I suspect you know that."

Mordechai
"You know me. You have fed from me. I have helped you. I have hunted for you, and with you. Have you forgotten all this?" The killer stepped to the side, changing angles as his eyes pored into hers. "Have I ever given warning before action? Action without thought?" Shaking his head he raised a hand before her, watching it as long talons grew slowly from the tips. "If I was after you, your first clue, would be these... growing from your chest." You have seen the clusters of sirens within the city, do they not strike first? Do they not attack without provocation? That is considerate, but to refuse the coerced kiss of one, would be rude....?"

Amalea
"I do. I have. You have, multiple times. And no, it's hard to forget." She knew better than to flinch as he approached, eyes raising to meet his gaze. "I don't know that we've actually been on 'opposite' sides of anything before now, but I suppose you are correct." The talons were unexpected in some respects, but she had been waiting for a weapon, so she wasn't too far off. "I've only seen the sirens once, I think. I went looking for gems and didn't stay. And in the social setting, given the holiday, yes. But I never planned on a second kiss or anything further."

Mordechai
The killer slowly nodded as the talons retracted, "That, all of that.. and none of that.. is why we are here. Is it?"

Amalea
"It's not," she shook her red tresses lightly, "but it needed to be said." She shifted her weight from one leg to the other, wondering if she was going to get through this before ending up a human kebab. Still, she'd soldier forward, "You would have been better off with the key I found I think." It was an idle comment, but honest. "The zombies... the weird mooncalves...are my fault." There, she had said it. There was more, but she wanted to see his reaction first.

Mordechai
Mordechai nods slowly, "And yet you search me out, after you tried to hide your part...Never shoot out a camera, it just gives a good picture of you doing it. You let Ariadne bleed.." No emotion showed on his face. "What do you stand to gain from this? From exposing the world to the terrors of the Spirit Realm? Is this your way to end the few vampires that live here? To watch those that called you friend be mowed down by the military? Death is not always transient.”

Amalea
"I wasn't in my right mind from the time Every died to sometime the following morning. I know it doesn't excuse what was done, but I didn't feel like I was in control." So far, so good, she was in one piece. "Every and Ariadne are both people I consider friends. I couldn't figure out how to end the fight without causing more issues and for that, I am sorry." She shook her head, "Had I been in my right mind, my decision would have been different. As it is, I stand to gain nothing and lose everything. My family and my friends included. Yes, my real, biological family, not just the adopted by the bloodline kind. I don't want vampires to end. Never have." A bitter laugh, "The sad ironic hypocrisy is that I hate humans, despite being one. I'd rather see them wiped out before harming vampires. Or would if they weren't needed for a vampire's survival."

[Mordechai]

Mordechai
"What did she promise you that stayed your hand when that blonde, freyja she was called tried to feed her, to release her, to tear open the rift?" Shaking his head, “Before every was involved, you just stood there, You appeared in awe of her, subservient to a withered lich." His eyes focused as he studied her visage "You ..." A slow shake of his head was all that followed as his mind viewed the shots once more, aimed at Ariadne, but each one seemingly targeted on him.

Amalea
"Nothing. Honestly, at that point, I was a bit more concerned with the bomb that Lllangort was going on about. I know Ariadne to be a capable fighter, but none of us would have survived a bomb. I was ready to shield everyone should it have gone off. Hindsight is always brings a different perspective." She bit her lip lightly, "I was never in awe of her." She looked up at him, "she was able to keep me from her mind and gave me one hell of a headache for it. She was able to compel five of use to come to her at once, but trust me, as much as she could have pancaked me if she moved... I find you far deadlier than she."

Mordechai
"So instead, you did nothing...." Stepping closer once more he looked down at the human from his full height, "But you did to something, you shot the camera, you stopped anyone from seeing what the lich did next. Enlighten me, please?"

Amalea
"I did," she acknowledged quietly. "As I said, I wasn't in my right mind then and didn't feel in control. And again, I know there's no excuse. But I could guess I was sick of surprises, Llangort had disappeared and reappeared a couple times... the banshee appearing... the bomb threat. Was the camera just a camera or something else? I'm not mechanically inclined so I wouldn't have been able to tell. I would have likely left it had I been of sound mind." She shook her head, "As to what happened after that, I had an entire breakdown that I'm sure is likely of no interest to you and made a decision I will end up regretting forever."

Mordechai
"Breakdown? from what I saw, while you did nothing, I saw nothing happen to you either"

Mordechai
"Ariadne bled for you."

Amalea
"It was after I shot the camera," she shook her head. "As such, I expect no one to believe me. Neither about it or not being of sound mind after seeing Every die." She paused for a moment. "I was not aware that her fighting had to do with me, to be honest. I thought it was simply a method of stopping Freyja." She bit her lip, "I owe her an apology, if she will have it."

Mordechai
"She bled to stop the lich. That was for you, for me, for the world. All that is for naught now. Do you not see the writing on the wall, heralding the end of us, of our kind? You no doubt will survive, but to be what? Without Us, You are just another sheep in the herd." Stepping back he shook his head once more "So now it begins, the end. How could the tearing of the rift in any way, be good? How was there any discussion?"

Amalea
"I get it now," she commented quietly, thinking over what was being said. "I see it though I am hopeful that it will not be the beginning of the end. It may be for naught, but the ancient did say that the rift would take continuous effort to keep opening." She sighed, "There is something there if it can be found how it is being accomplished. But I would do everything in my power to ensure the survival of vampires. You are correct, I would be a sheep in the herd without them, but that wouldn't be why I'd want to do so. I'd want to do it for my family, my friends, for a species I've come to love. Even without the power I could wield, I would still help, I did for years before becoming one." Her lip was bit again, "There was little discussion amongst the five and the ancient but time would not allow a community discussion. It will unbelievable, but I would have preferred to let the community decide as a whole."

Mordechai
"I just do not understand. You have never appeared, as fragile as you now claim, You know, you KNOW that death is not a shade that becomes us, yet your mind was ruptured as Every turned to smoke, you would have me believe. With all the time you spent with Doc and Ari, who is Every that she is so important to you, that you would break?"

Amalea
"At the time, we didn't know if the Shadow Realm reached the depths we were, there was that for one. The ancient was writhed away beyond belief, if she had reason to believe the Realm reached her, I would have thought she would have had one of her guards kill her to release her from her prison. She is the first one I've called friend that I've seen die, as well. It is one thing to talk about returning from death, but another to see it." She glanced away a moment, before looking back, "Everyone leaves and never comes back in my experience. Yes, intellectually, I know better. Emotionally though? It was too much, likely compounded by the entire night. Unfortunately, I don't have the same removal from emotions as some of you do."

Amalea
“I also have a secret that I’ve been hiding from everyone. Family included. I’m not as strong or whole as everyone thinks. I haven’t been since I was little; I’ve just gotten very good at hiding it, though I did have a fairly bad episode back after Reyna disappeared and Amara left the city.” She shook her head, “I have depression though it’s never been clinically treated. My mother never allowed it when I was younger and once I moved here, a therapist was out of the question. So I used alternative medicines for it.”

[Amalea]

Mordechai›
The killer slowly shook his head, "You did not appear... unstable... Other than doing nothing to the blonde that tried to rip the rift open herself. You had presence of mind to summon a thrall. I saw that human enter the room. I could not find this room with all my searching, so you must have summoned her for her to find the way." Slowly Mordechai paced, moving around her. "Did you tell anyone that you were so afraid that you were panicking so they could help you? You had enough presence of mind to summon another, so that you did not have to forfeit your own life for this venture."

Amalea
"I know. I have had sixteen years of hiding it, but I don't expect anyone to understand that. Though, I give my word I will get proper treatment for it so it is better managed." She shook her head. "I summoned no one. My thrall is Lita and she works in my office. If it would please you, I can pull up her employee photo on my phone. I am not surprised you could not find the room, I don't think I could again." She watched him quietly for a moment, "I didn't have the presence of mind, but no, I could not speak of it. I wasn't panicking, per se. Though I am unsure what to call it. I was not enthralled but I didn't feel as though I had control... more of like I was watching a movie unfold. Again, I understand that no one is likely to believe that and that it does not change that it was an action of mine."

Mordechai
A frown crossed his stoic countenance as he drew to a halt. His hand slipped from a pocket with a small rectangle that he gave a quick shake to. Slipping the box to his face he drew one solitary coffin nail from it, before offering it to the woman before him. Touching the end with his finger, he inhaled the cigarette bursting to a bright orange glow off the tip of his finger. "I saw the human Amalea, I saw her speak to you. If you did not summon her, how did she get there, and how do you know her?"

Amalea
She shook her head in polite decline of the offer. It wasn't a habit had ever picked up, nor wanted to start. She was honestly surprised that Ariadne hadn't appraised the thrall while they were in the Throne Room; if she had, he wouldn't have been asking. "I believe it was requested of the ancient to summon the thrall to the room. I don't know that any of us could have done it ourselves given how long and maze-like it was. Before that moment, I did not know her. In truth, I still barely know her though I ensured she was attended to once we left. She was in a bad way even before entering the Labyrinth from what the doctor told me."

Mordechai
Mordechai inhaled deeply, letting the smoke plume gently from his nostrils. "So you had no idea where this person came from and you let them waltz right in and feed the lich"

Mordechai
A low rumble grew within his chest.

Amalea
"No," she shook her head, "Her mistress held a key. She was there, in part, to provide protection. Though I'm not sure what protection she would have been able to wrought." She shook her head, "I would have never asked or allowed an innocent human to do so."

Mordechai
"I am to believe, that a vampire... would call a mere human for protection? A human with no skills other than bleeding...for PROTECTION? What vampire could be so ignorant, or weak? It seems it is good that the blonde fool is dead, though I wonder why she would have called a human, after she summoned that creature." Inhaling again the rumble grew deeper, "Those that rely upon me, are endangered now"

Amalea
"I'm telling only what I know or can guess, given she came with weapons. I was told she would listen to me. I'm not trying to avoid your question, but I don't want to throw someone under the bus for a decision I made, whether or not I was of sound mind at the time." She spoke quietly, "But I will answer if you insist. It was my decision to ask the thrall to feed the ancient that landed us in this situation. I cannot deny that. I'm not proud of the decision, but I'm not denying it was made."

Mordechai
An eyebrow quirked, "I have never been called a bus before..." Turning to face her fully his eyes focused on hers as he drew closer, "You have already narrowed it to two people, and someone must pay. Once more you need to make a choice." Slowly the razor sharp claws slipped from his fingers once more. "This a personal affront to me, someone will pay. You say that you were 'incapacitated' that means that one of those two led you. It is your choice now. Does one bleed, or two?"

Amalea
"It's a saying," she supplied quietly, "but no, you are no bus." She stood still not flinching from his approach, though the claws slipping forth gave her pause. She knew he'd be able to tell her heart rate had increased from the simple action. "Neither led me, and I'd prefer neither bleeds, but I don't dare to dictate your actions. I seek to control no one." She sighed lightly, "Every... it belongs to her."

Mordechai
Mordechai nodded slowly. "Little was said, that could be heard. Nothing of the lich, yet all of spoken of her demands. I have heard from others," Ever so slowly so that the human could see each movement Mordechai reached out and gently with ever so much precision drew one razored talon across her plump lower lip. "but I would hear it from your soft lips. What did she offer, and what did she request?"

Amalea
She took a deep breath as he spoke, stilling as the talon slid across her lips. "The ancient only spoke via telepathy, both with images and words. Each of us was allowed a question. From these we learnt that the rift could never be truly closed though if it was vampires would weaken, she believed we knew not what freedom was and thus that is what an open rift would offer us, she wants to be able to work on her work in peace but was willing to allow us to seek her guidance if it was opened, that she only required blood to move - not open the rift, and that continuing to open the rift would require continuous effort." Her head shook slightly, "she offered nothing more than to open the rift in exchange for the blood needed to move. No offers of power or anything were made to me or to my knowledge to the others."

Mordechai
"So there was no force, no threat, no dire reason to feed her instantly.....If you had just walked away, all would have been fine, correct? as according to the lich the rift cannot be sealed?" Once more the talon moved, retracing its path to its starting point. "So soft.... " he whispered.

[Mordechai]

Amalea
"She likened the rift to an urn... you can shatter it and put it together, but it'd never be completely right again," she spoke softly, allowing for the sharp talon on her flesh. "And yes, you are correct. And I will not repeat what I have already said, as I do not believe you think it holds water." His comment puzzled her, but she wasn't going to question him about it; he would tell her if he desired.

Mordechai
Slowly nodding he followed her words as his eyes focused on her lip. "there is no need to repeat, I am simultaneously correlating all of our conversation into data and uploading it to my servers for my review later. You tho, you interest me, your part in this. Knowing what you know, what you did... and seeking out me.”

Amalea
She nodded her understanding; he was thorough. She had known that before asking for this. "You deserved to hear it from me; to be able to question it. You didn't deserve my actions within the Labyrinth, given, as you said, we know each other better than most. I knew I was taking a risk in asking, but it was one I knew I had to take. I didn't come looking for forgiveness. I didn't come looking for anything more than to tell you the truth and own up to my actions." She shook her head lightly, "The only thing I want is my family to be left out of it all. They had no hand in my actions and I do not wish them punished for it."

Mordechai
"Your family? You call others family as well? You have not mentioned them, have you? Do you fear for them, with the beasts that now roam freely through the streets? They are unending." The razored talon bounced lightly with each word out of her mouth. As he spoke in return, it began a third pass , till stopping about one forth of an inch from the end of its trail, bouncing lightly. "So soft, Amalea, I am thinking here," The talon bounced again. "Right here. What do you think?"

Amalea
"Azraeth calls me sister. But I have true family within the city. I have not mentioned it to more than a couple as it was only discovered months ago." Her eyes glanced up at his, "He left it to me to disclose to others if I wish. I think he worried for my safety and now, I worry for his, yes. Even despite his rather justifiable anger with me, I worry for him. Both from whatever may occur within the city and the community." She slowly raised a hand to brush the tears from her eyes, mindful of how it may look to Mordechai. "I have to live with the guilt and knowledge that its my doing." Deep breaths were the answer to those talons running across her lips. She still wasn't sure for what purpose he was questioning, but knew he expected an answer. "I think that it is best to trust your judgement given I know not why you ask."

Mordechai
Mordechai accepted her words with a nod, then there was a flick of motion as the talon drove down, piercing that full plump lip an exact quarter inch from the corner of the scarlet cupids bow that adorned her face. A bead of blood welled up darkening the expression on the killers face, "Poison" he hissed as the scent reached him. his other hand brought forth a shimmering silver dngle from his pocket. "The less you move, the less this will hurt. She bled for you, you will bleed for her." Taking the metal he let the talon retract, and the large but nimble fingers deftly threaded it through the drop od luscious poison and into the newly pierced hole. Using his strength and the skills he had learned with hours spent at his craft, he rolled the bit between his fingers forming the heave metal into a perfect ring as he wove the ends to form an endless circle. Stepping back he observed his work, then nodded. "A ring holds many places, in many lores, in some it is a badge of ownership, placed on debtors, till they repay their debts. YOu have a debt to Ariadne, you left her to face the lich and its supporters, you made the decision on your own todo that, and again to feed the spawn of hell. In that you owe a debt to me, and those who have called you friend."

"Ariadne has earned my respect on many levels, many times, by the selfless way she has defended our race. I once forged a pair of earings for her, one of my greatests works." Reachin out he lightly stroked the pad of his thumb over the ring, smudging the blood that slowly dripped. "This ring, is a scrap of the material used as a base for those badges of honor. You have a reflection, and I bid you see it often. Each time you see a mirror, a window, a puddle, remember what and who you owe. Remember who bled for you, to protect you. See the badge of shame made from the scraps of a badge of honor. Wear it with pride"

Amalea
Amalea hissed slightly as the talon pierced her skin. "Bane," she whispered softly into his mind. "I would remove it if you wished." At his words, she stood as still as possible, curious what he was doing. Though she knew he meant Ari and couldn't fault his actions as he was correct. Eyes watched his movements, slowly processing them as they occurred. A piercing. Not entirely out of place in today's age but she knew it couldn't be that simple. The lore was interesting; some she had known, the majority she had not. There was no fault to be found in his logic as she nodded quietly. He was correct; she owed a huge debt. One she wondered if she could ever repay in full, though she would try her best. "I will see it often though I cannot say that I would wear it with pride." She paused a moment, "You say to some it is a badge of ownership until the debt is repaid. Are you claiming that right?"

Mordechai
"The ring is mine. The debt from it is mine. But when it bleeds, never forget who bled for you.” His lip curled slightly as he stepped back, "I have no more questions, unless you yet have secrets you wish to tell"

Amalea
"I'll take that as a yes on the ownership, but that the debt is to be paid to you and to her. Please correct me if I am wrong. And I would guess you will be the one to decide if or when it can be removed." She replied in quiet confusion. There was a quiet pause before she continued, "The only real secret I have left is my true family." She paused, “The ancient did call me daughter, but I refuse to acknowledge that endearment. She is no family of mine nor do I wish her to be. Never. If I ever become a vampire, I will choose my own sire, though that is some time off."

Mordechai
"Then we are done here. Done until I choose to begin your repayment."

Amalea
She nodded quietly, "I understand. Thank you for at least hearing me out."