Path of the Vampire forum

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

Nyla Andras: She couldn’t help getting over the fact that Eve just plain did not want to be there. There was nothing she could do about that though; she’d given her the out. “You’re still not staying out here with the door open…” With that, she returned to the bathroom and hefted the Pixie out of the tub so she could start drying her off as best as she could. “Could you bring over one of the sets of clothes?” The clothes Solara brought over were just a baggy black t-shirt and a pair of gray jogging pants. They were easy enough to pull onto the Pixie even as she struggled to hold her in the proper position.

“How about some of the pillows and blankets from the other room? Don’t want to set her down on the cold tile.” Without a word Solara was off again. She came back with a big fluffy purple blanket that was quickly laid down in the dry corner of the room. Nyla laid the Pixie down on it as Solara went back in search of more.

With the girl safely down, Nyla threw on her own set of pajamas – a plain grey set with a tank top and soft cotton khaki style bottoms. There, she was all safely covered.

Every Andras: She watched the woman lightly and then gave a nod of her head, waiting while she moved to stand by the door after she noted the other female had a lack of clothes on, as well. She made a mental note to tell Nyla that stripping their unconscious and ending up in only their underwear as well did not look well at all. Once both were dressed, Every moved into the bathroom and out of the way, clearly slightly concerned with both states of well being. Nyla, mentally, and Zelda, physically. She couldn't help but look a bit animalistic as she canted her head to the side, listening for the red head's heartbeat. "I think she'll be close to being turned... I don't think I hear anything."

Nyla Andras: “That’s good, right?” Solara had brought in some more blankets and pillows and had laid down some towels over the floor in front of the tub where it was wet. Nyla took a seat next to the Pixie with her back against the wall, sitting with her legs crossed underneath of her and her arms curled tight around her middle.

Every Andras: She nodded her head softly, eventually sitting down and crossing her arms over hers knees. "Yeah, she should be fine..." Her eyes moved over Zelda slowly, taking in the girl's features and lightly, she frowned, "You know. If you thought Micah freaking out over the fact you were an allurist is bad... He's going to lay an egg when he finds out she's a ginger."

Nyla Andras: Nyla growled at that. “He can keep his mouth shut. She won’t hear anything like that.” She clenched her jaw and closed her eyes, breathing through her nose as she tried to get herself back under control. Her Pixie wouldn’t be going through anything she had. It would not happen.

Every Andras: "She's unconscious, she won't hear anything right now, and I'd like to see you tell Micah say that." She lifted an eyebrow, clearly not in the mood to hear growling.

Nyla Andras: “Maybe you will at that…” She released another breath and opened her eyes. The tingling along her skin was not getting any better, but so far she’d managed to breathe through it and keep herself from changing. She looked up at Solara, trying to get her mind off of it. “You all set to finish the cleaning? You know where the spare money is if you need more supplies?” Solara nodded her head yes before slinking out of the bathroom and shutting the door behind her.

Nyla frowned at the bottom of the door, seeing the small gap there. “Maybe we should put a towel up against the door…just in case?”

Every Andras: The brunette nodded and collected a towel, moving to do so before she stretched the shadows about the room anyway. She preferred it that way, darker near her. "I'd put her in a comfortable bed before she awakens, it may be easier to take in that way..." She sighed softly, silently wondering what path the ginger would awaken with. For her sake, hopefully not a double strike.

Nyla Andras: “I don’t have a bed…” Nyla murmured, though she did stretch out enough to lift the Pixie’s head up and place one of the pillows underneath before sitting back down. “I’ve just…never gotten one. The room where we sleep doesn’t have a door, either. Nothing to keep the sun out.”

Every Andras: "Then I'll be back tomorrow with air mattresses and something to build a door with." She sighed softly while she raised one knee and watched Nyla quietly.

Nyla Andras: “Are you leaving, then?” She wasn’t exactly sure how she felt about it either way. She was sick of feeling like she was doing everything wrong, but she was also tired of always doing things on her own.

Every Andras: Every shook her head, "Nope, I'll stay here until either she wakes up and takes a gasp of unneeded air or I feel I’m no longer needed" She offered the woman a small smile.

Nyla Andras: “Kay…” Nyla let her eyes drift closed again, listening to the bustling in the other room as Solara worked. “Thank you for coming… I know it hasn’t been fun.”

Every Andras: "Mm, my least favorite part would probably deal with Micah. We've been avoiding each other... I just don't want to see you upset. First turnings aren't easy."

Nyla Andras: She turned her head to look at Evee, the first stirrings of exhaustion tingling within her. “I’ll be fine when I know she’s okay; that I didn’t botch it. Micah said I’d be fine, but I screw up so much.” She let her eyes drift back closed and took in another breath, letting it out slowly. “I’ve just taken everything from her. I need to know I at least gave her everything I could.”

Every Andras: "Eh, you never know." She sighed softly, "Your instincts would probably have kicked in slowly and taken it from there." She watched Nyla lightly, "You should probably lay down."

Nyla Andras: Her head shook. The exhaustion was there, but so was the tingling on her skin. “If I curl up, I may be no use to anyone when she wakes up.”

Every Andras: "You'd probably hear her scream." Every blinked lightly.

Nyla Andras: “It’s not that…” Nyla tilted her head back so it was like she was looking up at the ceiling, though her eyes were closed. Thin fingers trailed down along her arms; along the goose bumps that weren’t there. “If I curl up now… I’ll shift. I know I will. I don’t know if I’ll be able to shift back.”

Every Andras: "Ahh... you should probably stay awake then." She sighed softly, studying the smaller woman quietly, leaning into the wall with a thoughtful sigh, "She should be good though, looks like her side is healing."

Nyla Andras: “Is it?” Nyla frowned as she moved to look towards the pixie, realizing she’d forgotten to spread a blanket over her as well as under her. “Do you want a pillow or blanket, Evee?” Solara had brought almost all of them into the room, so there were plenty to go around. Nyla stretched back out again to reach one of the blankets, freezing as her fingertips connected with the fabric.

“****…” The tingling along her skin became almost unbearably painful as she stretched out, causing a whimper to escape her. Within moments Nyla was no longer herself, but had instead morphed into her other form. The margay was familiar to her, but at least she realized what had happened. It wasn’t always so.

The margay stood on the tile floor, just beside the pixie and turned her head to stare at Every. She hadn’t wanted this to happen, had been fighting it for a while now and had thought she might actually succeed. It would appear that wouldn’t be the case. A small cat like whine escaped her as she looked from Every back to her Pixie, then back to Every again.

Every Andras: Every stared at Nyla with a clearly disbelieving expression, and as she closed her eyes, the brunette had a little moment. "Seriously Nyla?! You shifted now of all times?" She considered getting up and dropkicking the now animal-Nyla across the trailer, however, the animal lover side of her made that impossible. "I'm going to hurt you when you're back to normal!" Before she acted with those words, the brunette got up and pulled Zelda further into the shadowed area before, opened the door and stomped into the living room to a dark corner where the sun couldn't burn her as she took out her cell phone, dialing Micah's number. "She shifted on me. You don't need to come, but she turned into her adorable little cat form that sometimes I wish she'd stay in because that makes it impossible to beat her." She hissed.

Nyla Andras: Logic left her as Every grabbed her Pixie. Instinctually she knew that Pixie was hers and someone else touching her in her vulnerable status was not something the margay was okay with. She hissed, her back arching as her dark coloured eyes, that looked slightly more natural in this form than as a human, glaring at Every as she moved the girl. She didn’t completely lose control and was able to keep herself from pouncing on Evee, but the hissing was not something she could stop.

The minute Every stepped away from her Pixie Nyla was leaping over towards her, careful not to actually land on the girl. Once close enough, the margay moved to sprawl on her Pixie, carefully avoiding the stabbed area as she did so. The girl was hers and she needed to protect her.

Every Andras: The hissing sound caught Every's attention, and automatically the brunette bared her fangs and hissed back, "Oh, keep your hissing to yourself before I drop kick you across the trailer." Every snapped, not caring if it would be heard on her sire's voicemail or not, "I was keeping her away from the sunlight." Ending the phone call and catching the sight of Solara glaring at her for the threat, Every bared her fangs and hissed at her too before slamming the front door shut, going back into the bathroom. She sat down on the side of the tub, however.

Nyla Andras: As the woman made it back into the room the margay didn’t begin to hiss again, though her eyes carefully tracked the woman and her body tensed up. She readjusted her body so that her front paws and head were down by her Pixie’s knees, letting her tail curl up around the girl’s shoulders. She was ready to pounce at a moment’s notice if she needed to.

Every Andras: "Keep it up, you little furball. You'll see exactly where attacking me will get you." To make a point she wasn't afraid of her, Every reached a foot forward to lightly poke at Zelda's foot, "And you should probably get off of her so she doesn't awaken at the sight of a cat *** in her face."

Nyla Andras: The margay was tracking the movements, and a paw lashed out the moment the woman’s foot connected with her Pixie. She didn’t unsheathe her claws, but next time she would. The more intelligent part of her brain was just as annoyed, knowing full well her rear was no where near the girl’s face. Someone needed to teach Every the difference between a tail and an *** obviously. The margay’s tail unconsciously flicked at this, before curling back down peacefully.

Solara, becoming uneasy with what she could hear in the bathroom, made her way in and sat down beside the new girl and Nyla. The margay’s body tensed further at this, but Solara was just as much hers as the girl beneath her was.

Every Andras: Every stood up at the paw connecting with her barefoot and picked Nyla up by the scruff of the neck to she'd be able to look at her at eye level. "Nyla, shift back before I summon a sidhe and have it put you through a wall. Zelda needs you in your human form, because I can guarantee, the girl will not react well to see a wild animal near her compared to seeing three women trying to help her." She narrowed her hazel eyes, "I love you, but I will gladly knock you into the next century if you hiss at me or paw at me again. You need to cool it."

Nyla Andras: The growl that left the margay was in no means friendly and neither were the bared teeth. Solara jumped up, drawing the gun she’d grabbed from the cabinet before making her way into the bathroom. With her free hand she pulled out the cell phone, ready to call Micah if need be. She’d remembered him saying to call if needed. “You need to put her down now. I will shoot and I will call him back here if you can’t keep your hands to your damn self. If she could shift back, she would. You being a bully isn’t going to help that.”

Every Andras: Every growled directly back at her, baring her fangs as she narrowed her eyes, "Solara, I think I know more about vampires than you do. I've seen Micah shift multiple times back and forth directly in front of me, so I know she can. She just has to think on her instincts." And afterwards, she turned her head to give the woman a smirk, "And, put the gun down before I do summon my sire because I know if he sees it pointed at me, he will raise hell regardless of how happy he is with me. I'm not being a bully. I'm being real. Just because she's depressed or upset gives her no right to revert back to this furball form." She put Nyla on the floor and crossed her arms in front of her chest, "Now change back."

Nyla Andras: The minute she was set down Nyla immediately re-took her place, continuing to hiss in Eve’s direction as she did. Solara did not put the gun down, even knowing she wouldn’t pull the trigger. Or rather, she might, but she hadn’t grabbed any ammo and all the guns were kept unloaded. “You all always think you know everything. I’m just the human she enthralled and I don’t know anything? You haven’t done it yourself, you’ve watched someone else. Get off your high horse. Either back off or leave.”

Her thumb was poised on the call button, ready to call Micah if it didn’t work.

Every Andras: Every's arms crossed in front of her chest as she stared at Nyla with an uplifted, neatly trimmed eyebrow and rather dark glare directed at the furball. "I'm not saying you're stupid, however, I think given the fact I know quite a few shifters, that I understand considering I've actually asked." She snapped and then was tempted to draw her gun, but rather than do either, she physically summoned her sire, "I'm sick and tired of people telling me that I'm on a high ******* horse. So. You can deal with Micah for pointing that gun at me. Also," She smiled as she turned on her heel, "Check the ******* safety, and then point it at me or next time; I'll break your wrist." And with that, she went to collect her shoes as she walked past her sire.

Micah Andras: Every's voicemail had him sighing. He knew Nyla had always had trouble shifting and while his childe said he didn't have to come he wouldn't feel right not going back. Wiping the blood off of his blade he stored it and was about to run to Nyla's when he was suddenly yanked off of his feet and pulled through time and space to land with a hard thump on the floor of Nyla's trailer. He watched Every leave then turned to take in the scene before him. Slowly he got to his feet and brushed the dirt off calmly. "Someone wanna tell me what the **** is going on here?"

Nyla Andras: The minute Micah appeared in the trailer the margay’s body immediately relaxed into a more lounging style. She rested her cheek against her Pixie’s knee and stretched out even more, a position that would be very hard to spring up from. Solara likewise dropped the arm holding the gun so it was pointed towards the floor and pocked the unneeded cell phone. Turning the gun around so the handle was facing Micah but the gun itself was still pointed down, Solara held it out to him. Safety was important, even if the damn thing had no bullets in it.

“What’s it look like happened?” Solara cut off the snarkyness before she could continue along that line of thought, knowing it wouldn’t do anything for Nyla right now. She breathed in, and then breathed out again – the action much more important to her than her vampire counterparts. “For starters, your grand-childe still has trouble with her powers; this one particularly.”

Micah Andras: Micah wasn't the slightest bit surprised that the bitchy one spoke up as Nyla couldn't speak for herself. He really didn't understand why Nyla seemed to have so much trouble shifting but now wasn't the time to ponder that. Looking away from his grandchilde he turned his attention to the bitchy one as he had started to refer to her. “Let's get something straight,” he began calmly. He was anything BUT calm. “You ever pull a weapon on my childe again and I will end you.” He snatched the gun from her hand and flipped open the chamber, relieved to find it empty. Did she even know how to use the damn thing?

“So Nyla shifted.” Micah stated the obvious and turned once more to look at Nyla. He made no move to approach her, and his stance was completely relaxed, arms crossed over his chest as he stared at the margay passively. Like he would make her move. “What I don't know is why. Can you explain that much at least?”

Nyla Andras: Her fake-calm mood was quickly deteriorating. “Oh yes, yell at me for pulling an unloaded gun on your childe after she picked up your grand-childe and threatened her. That’s okay? Is Nyla void from protection, or just lower on the food chain?” Motion from the corner of her eye caught her attention, the margay twitching from the tension. “Damnit…” She sighed again, getting her anger back under wraps and shaking her head. “I don’t know why; I didn’t come in until after.” She was still pissed off, but it wasn’t helping anything to keep Nyla tensed up just now.

Micah Andras: “Calm your *** down bitchy.” His temper flared. How dare she insinuate that Nyla didn't deserve the same amount of protection that the rest of his childer deserved? Obviously she hadn't heard the conversation he had had with Nyla about that very thing. How Micah took responsibility for his grandchilde because Jaxton had left her? Family was important to him and it looked like this bitchy thrall needed to be schooled. “I don't know who the **** you think you are but I will only take so much attitude before I snap. And YOU my dear, have pushed me almost to my limit.”

He drew in a breath in an attempt to calm himself. “While Nyla has my protection, you however do not. So if I want to ***** at you, insult you or beat the **** out of you I will. The only thing holding me back?” Micah jerked a thumb over his shoulder at the margay hovering protectively over her Pixie. “Is her. Because she is important to me. I don't give a **** if you like me, but you ever talk to me like that again and I assure you, you will regret it. Do you understand me?”

Nyla Andras: The grin that stole over Solara’s face was very much out of place, but that didn’t matter to her. “I like you just fine. I wouldn’t have hurt your childe anymore than I’d have hurt Nyla. I knew the gun was unloaded and the only thing I was going to shoot was a call to you.” She quirked an eyebrow then before leaning back against the wall, her body completely relaxed. “I will pull a gun on your childe any time she gets physical with Nyla and threatens her; especially when it’s in Her own home. Doesn’t mean I’m going to shoot her or hurt her.”

Micah Andras: “You are in serious need of an attitude adjustment. I don't care a bit about what your reasoning is. Loaded or not if I see you do that **** again I'll give you a whole new reason to worry about threats to Nyla.” He wouldn't, but he was more than a little tired of the way this girl seemed to think that she could continue to be such a complete and utter *****. Bunny had tried that once on him and it was the very last time she ever attempted such a thing. “I suggest if you aren't finished cleaning that you go and do that now. Nyla and her pixie are safe with me. I'll watch over them both until Nyla is comfortable enough to shift back, or until the girl wakes.”

Nyla Andras: The girl just shrugged her shoulders and left, not making any effort at all to detour so she wasn’t walking too close to him as she passed. Truthfully she wasn’t worried. Not about him, anyway. Nyla would likely scream at her later for making things worse but she didn’t care. As far as she was concerned, Nyla had already seen what worse was and none of those who were meant to protect her had been there for that. Solara wasn’t about to let that happen again. If Micah thought she was a *****? Maybe he’d watch a little closer to avoid listening to the bitchy thrall. Maybe Nyla would be safer.

The margay’s eyes tracked the girl as she slipped back out into the kitchen before laying her head back down on the Pixie’s knee. Her muscles had tensed and relaxed so many times in a short little while that she was even more exhausted than she had been before. She couldn’t talk, which was almost always the sticking point in this form. All she could do was relax her muscles as much as she could, a small purr escaping her as she did so.

Micah Andras: All he could do was roll his eyes as the girl left. Good riddance. Dawn was approaching and by this time he was usually in bed with his wife in his arms. But that wasn't going to happen tonight. A quick text to let her know where he was so she didn't worry would have to do so that's what he did. No matter how much he wanted to be there with her, Nyla needed him. So he stayed. Removing his leather jacket he tossed it off to the side and slid down the wall to sit on the floor, one leg pulled up to his chest and the other stretched out in front of him. He looked to the purring margay and shook his head. “You're lucky I'm fond of you Nyla.” He didn't say anything else, just tipped his head back to rest against the wall and closed his eyes. Hopefully the girl would wake soon and Nyla would be Nyla again.

Nyla Andras: After Micah’s words the margay moved, slowly so as to not jostle anything on the woman beneath her. Her paws were quiet, the sound nearly imperceptible against the tile floor. The quiet wasn’t intentional on Nyla’s part, but the margay was used to walking quietly. She didn’t leave her perch long, leaving only long enough to rub her side against the man, the only way she had of showing any sort of appreciation in this form, then returned back to her perch. Even if Solara doubted, Nyla had no doubt that Micah was on her side, even if he didn’t always get her. With him there it was easy for the margay to close her eyes, drifting off into an easy sleep as exhaustion finally won out.

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

Zelda: There are no dreams, to begin with. Just a deadly, heavy darkness—the darkness of death. There aren’t any white lights, though. Only blinding flashes, like lightning, a synesthetic reaction to the pain the body is still subject to. The heart has stopped beating, and all the organs have died; the healing process has begun, the magic of the vampiric blood latching on to every cell, every chromosome, and changing it. Hardening it. Making it immortal. But even in healing, the pain does not subside. The brain remains unconscious, to protect the psyche from the inevitable mental consequences, should it be wakefully subject to the transformation. Somewhere, deep down, Zelda slumbers; she is the consciousness, the soul that has been locked in a deep dark room while the renovations take place.

When finally the body is ready, when finally the renovations are complete, that consciousness is allowed out of its safe, dark room. A booming, aching, stabbing headache takes up residence as Zelda reclaims habitation of her own brain. Brows furrow, and a husky, broken groan reverberates from her throat. Her throat aches and itches, and her teeth feel as if they’ve been torn from the gums. As soon as she makes the slightest movement, she’s sitting up and coughing, as if she’s got something caught in her throat. There’s nothing there. The headache gets worse.

Honeyed, hazel eyes blink once, then twice. The blurred surroundings come to life. There’s a man, sitting on the floor across from her. She knows that she doesn’t recognize him. Then she feels a twitch at her side—she looks down, to see a cat. A ******* enormous cat. A wild animal.

“Oh holy ****,” she croaks, before she’s pushing herself up and away from the animal, finding a wall to slam against. Her breathing is rapid, but something’s wrong. Something’s terribly wrong. There’s a silence that Zelda doesn’t recognize. But the headache is distracting, and that itch in her throat feels as if it’s alive. As if it’s clawing to get out. She can’t concentrate. She can’t focus. Her fingers flutter to her throat—and then she remembers, in flashes, the events of the previous evening. Her eyes widen. A glance to the right assures her that the door is closed—she’s in a bathroom, and she’s willing to bet she’s been locked in there. Again. She’s still victim of some weird, crazy kidnapping. But then she remembers the knife—ohfuck.

She’s lifting her shirt to inspect the damage—but there’s nothing but a vicious pink scar. She whimpers.

Nyla Andras: The moment her Pixie jumps up and moves away the margay is instantly jumping to all fours, her body on high alert as she turns so her back is to the other woman, giving her a better vantage point of the room around her. Her back is arched slightly, an unconscious move from the distressed animal. Dark eyes scanned her surroundings, but all she found was the man and an empty room. The door was still closed and she could hear a soft snoring sound coming from somewhere else.

The margay’s back straightened out as she cocked her head, before turning around and padding back to her Pixie. Nyla was annoyed that she hadn’t shifted back already, but the margay knew what she was doing. The same purring from the night before came through, the rumbling sound louder than before. She moved forward, intent on rubbing along the Pixie’s legs, much as she’d done with Micah before falling asleep.

Micah Andras: Micah recalled the margay brushing against his leg the previous night as he had drifted off to sleep. Words didn't need to tell him that it was Nyla's way of giving her thanks to him for watching out for her and the girl. She hadn't needed to but that she did so showed him that on some level Nyla was still aware of who he was and that she felt safe. He'd fallen asleep easily even though he wasn't at home, but his sleep wasn't deep. After all he was supposed to be watching for signs of trouble.

He came awake fully however, after he heard a slight commotion, the sound of something hitting the wall then the soft purring of the margay. His eyes snapped open and his hand came to rest on the handle of the gun that never left his side. After scanning the room his gaze stopped on the girl and his grandchilde and he let himself relax. He decided that it would probably be better to not get involved unless his assistance was required and so he remained silent and watched.

Zelda: “Oh my god!” Nyla scrambles. The cat, though purring and generally affectionate, is still giving her the heeby jeebies. She’s never seen this room before in her life, and the man in front of her… well, ****. He’s got a gun. A gun! What the hell has she done wrong that she deserves an armed guard?! He looks like a tough son of a *****, but nothing Zelda hasn’t handled before. Though, normally she’s out in a crowd somewhere and her banshee-like screech is enough to make any man run off, deterred.

“Who are you?” She asks, forcing strength into her voice that she doesn’t quite feel. Another blink, and her nostrils flare; she can smell soap. Strawberries. She can smell everything with such clarity, could pick apart the scents, should she wish to. And the detail! She can see every pore on the man’s skin, every light bit of stubble as it protrudes from the skin. She spares a glance at the cat—its eyes are black. Demon cat. She quavers.

She realizes, then, that the clothes she’s wearing are not her own. And she’s in a bathroom. And there’s a strange man sitting across from her. The fear is palpable—but there’s also indignant fury, too. Did he take advantage of her?! Her arms shake. Panic is rising like bile, but she’s got nothing left to throw up.

“Where am I? Please just let me go. I didn’t do anything wrong. I won’t say anything, I swear,” she says, the words rushing from her, the sound of her own voice booming in her ears. She flinches. There’s still something missing. Something vital. And she can’t quite figure out what it is.

Nyla Andras: The margay takes a step back at her Pixie’s words before she moves down onto her belly and wiggles slowly closer. She doesn’t get close enough to touch, keeping herself just a short distance away before stopping her belly crawl and placing her head down on her paws, forcing the purr to continue even if the content feeling she’d had a moment before is gone. Her Pixie made it through the transition, how could she not be happy about that? She was, however, still stuck in this form and her Pixie was obviously still scared. She wasn’t sure how to comfort her like this, or that shifting back would be much help. She was also very nervous, her mind going back to her first meeting with Nyla. The thought brought a whimper to the margay as she moved another inch closer to the girl.

Solara, waking up from her sleep at the noise sighed softly. It was beginning. She’d managed to clean and disinfect practically the entire trailer and had even managed to spray it with enough stuff to almost get rid of the cleaner smell. She doubted it would do much good for the vampires of the household, but there was only so much she could do. Slipping out of her cocoon of pillows and blankets she reached for her cell phone, thinking it best not to actually bring attention to herself. It was Micah’s number that she pulled up and the text was simple. “Blood in the fridge. More in the freezer if you need more. Im toming to TBD. Can be back if needed. Will probably be more trouble than help right now.” She sent the message off and then grabbed the tome, doing it quickly. She would have taken the door like a normal person, but she wasn’t very quiet.

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

Micah Andras: He sighed and rolled his eyes towards the ceiling as he tucked the gun back into the waistband of his jeans. “I'm...” Here he paused. What exactly did Nyla tell this girl? What did she know about this life that she had been brought into? Frustration wasn't even the word for what he was feeling at that moment. This wasn't his area of expertise. He did do emotions but the girl did deserve some sort of explanation. “I'm Nyla's grandsire,” he began in a calm voice. “I don't really know what all she's told you so I don't want to step on her toes and do her job for her. I know it's asking a lot, but I need you to remain calm. I'm not going to hurt you.”

Micah looked to the margay. “Nyla I know you can hear me and I know you are capable of understanding me. Right now, your pixie needs you. So do you think that you can get yourself under control long enough to shift back and give her the answers to the questions I'm sure she has?” His phone buzzed and he moved his hand carefully so neither of them took it as a threat and read the text that had come from the bitchy one. “Solara says there is blood in the fridge.” He directed his words to Nyla and put the phone back into his pocket.

Zelda: Zelda swallows. There’s nothing there to gulp but air. For a few seconds, she closes her eyes. She’s casting back through her memory; she was distracted by the memory of the knife in her gut, and couldn’t see past that singular event. But now she remembers. She remembers the conversation she’d had with the blonde; she remembers how she was given a choice, even though she’s still adamant that there was no choice. She remembers saying it, over and over, that she didn’t want to die. On the surface, she’d though that the blonde was a crazy nut job escaped from some insane asylum, and that whatever Zelda said, she was going to die anyway.

But here she is. Not dead. She freezes as her lips fall open. A sighed “Ooooh,” climbs out of her aching throat. The guy is talking to the cat, now, before and after checking his phone. Zelda shakes her head in disbelief, the whole notion that the blonde is actually the cat a truth that she can’t quite comprehend—and so she ignores it. She turns her attention back to the male, who seems exasperated, if nothing else.

“I didn’t believe her. Christ, I thought she was insane,” she says, though her body relaxed, if only a little. She’s not dead. Always the kind to grasp at the silver linings – this is a very bright silver lining. She’s not dead! Still, her head reels. She doesn’t try to stand, just yet. She stays where she is as she continues to try to lubricate her throat. To soothe the creature inside of it. Her tongue slides over her teeth—and there, where her canines should be are… well, actual ******* canines. Shark mother-fuckers, too. Her lips curl back as she brings a thumb to her teeth. A shudder runs through her whole body.

“So… Jesus. I’m… I’m actually a vampire now? An honest to god… *******… bride of Dracula? Are you Dracula, then? You keeping some kind of harem? What am I supposed to do now? And where’d she go, anyway?” the questions come, thick and fast, because she has to. She has to do something to distract herself from the building horror—has to keep moving forward, to not think about the future or the past. Just the here and now—one small step at a time.

Nyla Andras: She closed her eyes, the whine coming even louder as she tried to focus; tried to shift back. Her muscles tensed as she over focused, the margay’s entire body going completely rigid which only ended in a whimper of pain before she could relax them again. Opening her eyes back up she pads over to Micah, placing her head on his knee as the same frustrated whine came out again. Her tail twitched and she tried again only to have the exact same outcome.

With her head hanging low, the margay padded back over to her Pixie. This time, her objective wasn’t to simply rub against the other woman, but instead she moved to curl up on the floor beside her and place her head on her Pixie’s lap this time. She hadn’t controlled a shift back since Lev, and that time there’d been contact with him. She was trying to think of anything she could to help her complete that feat again.

Micah Andras: “Well...” he started carefully. “I don't imagine you were too pleased being stabbed. Though some of us do enjoy that kind of thing.” This was said with a perfectly straight face and what he said was the truth. But that really wasn't something that she needed to know. “Of course you thought she way crazy and she'll get it too.” Micah scratched the margay briefly on the top of the head and sighed as she left to return to the girls' side. Apparently Nyla was still struggling and he'd give her a few more minutes before he decided to try and help her along with the change back.

The questions came fast and furious and he waited until she was finished before answering. “Why do you women always think I have a harem? I don't think my wife would appreciate that statement too well.” Knowing Vel she'd shoot the first person to seriously accuse him of such a thing. “Yes you are a vampire now, and there is no such thing as Dracula around here. Or Dracula's bride. Have you been reading too much fiction perhaps?” He sighed softly and looked to the ceiling. “As for what you're to do, I hope that you are rational enough to give Nyla a chance to teach you what you need to know and explain herself further.” He pointed to the margay. “That's Nyla, but also something to be explained at another time.”

Zelda: Having realized the wild cat really means her no harm, Zelda absently settles back against the wall as the cat curls its head in her lap. It’s hard not to pet an animal that’s so affectionate, and so Zelda finds herself carefully stroking the cat between the ears. Her eyes don’t leave Micah as he answers all her questions; apparently he’s married. Zelda, in her current state, finds that she doesn’t really care. It wasn’t a serious question—just one thrown out at random, because there were far too many crowding the forefront of her mind.

As soon as he says that the cat is Nyla, however, she freezes yet again. Her hand stops its stroking, and suddenly lifts up and away. No ******* way. No way in hell! She’s only just coming to terms with the fact she’s a goddamned vampire, and now she’s being told that the woman who did to her has the ability to change into a bloody cat?!

“No way. No way! What the… is that… is it normal?!” she half squeals. Is this something she’s going to have to deal with, too? Shifting into some random animal? She’s not sure how kosher she is what that.

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

Nyla Andras: No No. Something was wrong. Her Pixie had been petting her and it had stopped. The margay’s ears flattened at the sound that came out of her. Something had upset her Pixie and there wasn’t anything that the margay could do about it. Through her sleep she’d regained control of her emotions, her margay no longer felt there was a threat to what was hers and now what was hers needed her. Micah had said it earlier, but it wasn’t the same as Nyla feeling it deep in her gut that she was needed.

Knowing what was coming next, the margay took a step back and curled up into a ball. Another whimper escaped her as the process started; it always felt worse when it was forced than when it was allowed to happen naturally. It didn’t take long, though the pain filled whimpers didn’t stop the entire time until the pajama clad Nyla was curled up on the floor, still curled tight into a ball as she waited for the pain to ease.

Micah Andras: Micah looked at her strangely. “Of course it's normal- oh. Right then. You wouldn't know that. I assure you that there are a great many things that out kind is capable of. But like I've already said it’s something that can be touched on at another time.” There was no point in overwhelming her, not now. She most likely needed some time to get used to what she was and throwing out information like shifters would probably send her into overload. Maybe. It wasn't something that he was willing to risk.

A whimper drew his attention and he looked over to see Nyla had shifted back and was Nyla once more. It was then that he knew he was going to have to try and work with her to get her shifting under control. Shifting should be natural and painless, as it was for him. But that wasn't the case for his grandchilde. “Are you alright Nyla?”

Zelda: Zelda’s mouth snapped shut. The guy told her, outright, that it was something that could be brought up at another time. As if her questions weren’t good enough—that the things coming out of her mouth weren’t as pressing as she believes them to be. And while he’s talking, the cat has crawled away from her. Zelda is contemplating snapping at Micah—telling him that he ought to tell her what questions she ought to ask, then, if he’s not willing to answer the ones she already has. The words don’t come, however; Zelda is far too preoccupied by the fact that the cat starts to grow, to shift, and to shed its fur (or does the fur just recede?). It happens too quickly, and Zelda is far too shocked when the blonde woman appears at the end of it. Fully clothed, no less. What kind of ******* voodoo is this

Nyla whimpers, and Micah moves to show concern for her well-being. Zelda licks her lips, her eyes wide and lamp-like. Of course she’s concerned, but at the same time, the concern for the blonde woman is completely eclipsed by the numerous shards of pain that Zelda herself is still subject too.

And it’s only then that she realizes what’s missing. That gentle thrum in her ears—and her heart ought to be pounding, with all the adrenaline that ought to be running through her veins. But there is no heartbeat. There’s no pump of blood. She claws at her chest and wheezes—her head feels like it’s going to split open, and again she coughs, as if coughing will ease the desperate ache in her throat. But still, she doesn’t move. She just sits there, holding her breath, trying to get her body under some kind of control.

Nyla Andras: She’d been about to reply to Micah and tell him she’d be okay. She could explain to him later about why it was so messed up, but right now there were more important things to do. The sounds coming from her Pixie stop the words in her mouth as she practically jumps up and back over beside the girl, completely uncaring about the continued pain her body is in. She wraps her arms around the girl, whether her Pixie wants it or not and begins to murmur to her.

**** but she’d messed up. “It’s okay, just breathe.” It didn’t matter that the motion would be unnecessary, only that the familiar feeling of air moving through the girl’s lungs might help in some part. Her eyes move back to Micah for a moment, the look she gives frantic before returning to what she was doing. “I’m so sorry, but just breathe. We’ll take care of everything. Everything will be okay.” She kept up the litany, afraid to stop just yet.

Micah Andras: To Micah it was almost like watching a ping pong match. Both women were close to freaking the **** out and freak outs and meltdowns weren't something that he could handle. He barely made out Nyla's words as she spoke in an attempt to calm her pixie. Ever so slowly he got to his feet hoping that he wouldn't startle either of them. He wasn't a small man, standing at 7 feet even and knew that he could look pretty intimidating and he hoped that the girl wasn't too startled. Pulling out his phone he located a name from his list of contacts and shot off a quick text. ”Lia. I need you at Nyla's trailer. Please get here as fast as you can.”

Zelda: Zelda isn’t intimidated easily. Though the guy looks tough as nuts, and when he stands he looks as if he could be the son of a giant, this does not strike any kind of fear in Zelda’s heart. Hell, beyond the team, she spends the majority of her time with men. Not because she’s some kind of slut, but because she always did get along with guys better than with girls. She’s a girl who defies any kind of stereotype that society may choose to heap upon her.

The woman, Nyla, who was previously a cat, has shuffled across the floor to accost Zelda with a hug, cooing reassurances in her ear. Zelda is soothed, as much as she can be. She’s determined to make the best of this situation. She’s concluded that she’s not being kept hostage. And the apologies Nyla offers seem to be genuine. She’s telling Zelda everything’s going to be okay. Sure, fine. Doesn’t feel like it though, right now. Still watching the very tall male over Nyla’s shoulder, Zelda licks her lips.

“My head feels like it’s going to split in two and I feel like there’s a rabid squirrel in my throat. I feel like I want to throw up because my heart’s not beating anymore. But … I feel like I’m all shriveled up inside. So ah… hugs are lovely and all but can we… do something about maybe making me feel human again? Yeah?”

Nyla Andras: Nyla understood that feeling, and hearing her Pixie say it made her feel like she had acid in her stomach, slowly eating it’s way out. She wanted to throw it up but didn’t think that would help the woman’s mood any, to watch her start retching up an imaginary acid. She tried to remember back to after she was turned, but it was mostly a blur where she wasn’t sure what was real and what was in her head. A part of her still believed she’d been delusional, even though the logical part of her knew the truth.

The mention of the squirrel in her throat catches Nyla’s attention though and she gives the girl a firm squeeze before letting her go and standing up. “I’ll get something…” She had no idea how she was going to make drinking blood seem less monstrous than it was, but she was sure that would help. “Just don’t forget to keep breathing. Focus on that. Breathing in and out. It helps.” She looked to Micah again for another moment, before opening the bathroom door and heading out into the kitchen area to grab a couple of bags of blood from the fridge.

The sounds of Mudvayne filled her ears, thrumming so loudly that she was sure Cai would have heard the distant hums from where he sat at the altar. She was splayed across the large bed, elbows and breasts supporting her, with a paperback book in one hand. Its coffee-stained pages were folded so many times that the creases had begun to tear at the edges, and there was one spot on the front cover that was completely peeled away to reveal the creme coloured paper beneath. The Face had been read by Lia dozens and dozens of times, and it was still one of her favourites.

The Mystic was startled by the sudden pause in music, taken over by the even louder presence of an incessant beeping. She set the book down and yanked pink buds from her ears with a sigh. "What now?" she muttered beneath her breath, taking the LG phone into her palm so that she could unlock the touch-screen with a skim of her thumb. It wasn't who she expected; in fact, she hadn't expected Micah to speak to her for at least another week. A few days, if she were lucky. Plump mouth twisted into a scowl at the thought of what she might've done to disappoint him, again, she tapped the screen and opened the message.

Quickly, that expression bled into something more serious; something that could easily be depicted as worry, than fear or frustration. Without even taking a moment to grab her hoodie, Lia jumped from the bed she shared with her fiance and tugged on a pair of worn Converse.

Before she went any further, she approached Cai's side and pulled a velvet hood away from his face so she could tenderly press a lingering kiss to his jaw. "Nyla needs me. I'll be back as soon as I can." She grabbed her keys off the table, zig-zagged around their ever-present zombie friend, and then paused near the crypt door. “And don’t get in any trouble, Mister Dupree.”

It didn't take her very long to reach Crown Trailer Park, what with the way she weaved in between every vehicle in her path. Fifteen minutes, tops, and she slowed to a stop just outside of the trailer. The first thing her senses picked up was the fading scent of blood.

Quickly (and without much grace), Lia swung one leg from over her Harley and then approached the door. She didn't bother to knock, not knowing what was waiting for her, but she did place a hand against the butt of her gun where it was hidden beneath the back of her shirt. When the door slowly swung open, Lia was relieved to see that there wasn't blood, or any sign that there was a struggle going on. Daring to venture a little further, Lia turned toward where she heard the distant sound of female voices when she bumped right into the blonde. Taking a quick step back, arms out to steady Nyla by her shoulders, Lia gave her an intense look-over and was relieved to see she hadn't come to any harm that she could see. "What's going on?"

The conversation between Nyla and her Pixie was tuned out. Giving out reassurances just wasn't his thing, and he wasn't going to offer his opinions in a situation where it simply wasn't needed or called for. This was Nyla's thing, not his so Micah did his best to stay out of the way and keep his mouth shut. Not a hard thing for him to do really. Nyla knew that if she needed him to elaborate on anything or if the girl had questions she couldn't answer then all she had to do was ask, and then, and only then would he offer a solution or explanation.

The conversation stopped and Micah noticed his grandchilde leave the bathroom leaving him alone with this Pixie, as Nyla referred to her as. And he got his first good look at her. Ginger. His eyes widened in horror behind the mirrored aviators that had made their way back in place on the bridge of his nose. Nyla had sired a redhead, a ginger, the one hair color that he despised more than he did an allurist. How was he supposed to deal with this? All he could do was just stare at the girl grateful that the sunglasses shielded his eyes from her so she wouldn't be able to tell what he was doing.

Get a grip. She's not your childe she's Nyla's and she can't help the color of hair she was born with. The rambling mental dialogue didn't really do much but it did help him realize that he really couldn't treat the poor girl any different than he did anyone else. And it wasn't like Nyla went out and intentionally targeted the girl just because she knew he disliked redheads. Micah doubted that Nyla knew about that and for that reason alone he managed to get a grip and come to the conclusion that the color of her hair didn't matter. So long as she walked the straight and narrow, was good to Nyla and didn't get into any trouble he didn't much care.

The sound of a motorcycle had him reaching for his gun as the sound grew louder with each passing second and when it came to a stop directly in front of the trailer, he let off the safety. Micah had promised Nyla that she was safe with him here and he took **** like that seriously. At the sound of the voice though he realized that he had had no reason to worry. “Lia.” He spoke her name softly not wanting to scare the girl he was stuck with in the bathroom. He could relax now and let Lia handle all this girly **** – he didn't do emotions and feelings.

The door is open, now. Zelda wonders whether she’d be free to leave, if she wants to. Surprise of all surprises, though, the thought hardly crosses her mind. Maybe Micah’s there to make sure she doesn’t run. Somehow, though, she doesn’t think that’s the case. They all seem to be quite comfortable in the assumed knowledge that Zelda won’t want to run. Although she almost stubbornly wants to prove them wrong, she realises pretty quickly that it would be a bad idea. These people know what’s wrong with her. They did this to her. The smart idea would be to wait for the answers that she requires…

…even then, though, she’s not too sure that she’d run away. Zelda likes to live in the moment. She doesn’t like to think too much about the future, or the consequences of the actions committed in the here and now. And in this moment, she knows, instinctually, that she has to stay. There’s even a notion, deep down, that she actually belongs. Even though she knows none of these people from Adam, there’s something familiar about them. Something she can’t put her finger on.

And so she sits, taking slow, deliberate breaths as Nyla runs off to do something in the kitchen. She’s doing as advised, and though the pain continues to throb in her head, and in her throat—though it continues to feel as if there are ants biting every nerve beneath her hungry skin, she remains motionless. Although she feels as if, even beyond all the pain, she’s got a new power and strength inhabiting her limbs, she doesn’t want to risk standing up. She pulls her knees up to her chest, assuming an upright foetal position. She stares back and Micah, even as she can tell he’s staring at her. Without being able to see his eyes, she’s unsure of his expression; his face looks blank.

Her breathing stops when she hears the motorcycle; her eyes wide as she watches the guy reach, again, for his gun. Are they expecting danger at some point? Is that why he’s so on edge?

”Why so twitchy? Are we okay here? Are you expecting… unwelcome company?” she asks, curious. There’s a hint of fear in her voice, but she’s got control of her nerves—for the moment. Although she feels like she could have a freak out at any second, she’s okay. She’s calm enough, if everyone else keeps calm. She hears another voice in the other room. A voice that she doesn’t recognise, asking what’s going on. She has a sick feeling that she’s the reason for all the tension. Would be far better, if everyone just treats like… hell, she doesn’t even know. She’s not normal anymore, is she? She glances toward the door, though her ears are still cocked for any answer that she might receive from Micah.

Nyla had been so focused on the task at hand that she hadn’t noticed the sound of the approaching motorcycle or even the fact that the door outside had opened. It wasn’t until she actually physically collided with Lia that she let the suppressed warning bells in her brain finally go off. “Lia…” The name left her lips with relief only moments before she all but collapsed against the other woman with a full body shudder, the last bit of tension that had curled through her body vanishing into thin air.

She took a step back at the other woman’s question and then let out a slight squeak, before moving past Lia to get to her fridge. The door pulled open easily enough and Nyla pulled out a big blue Tupperware container. The container itself took up the majority of the bottom shelf, for good reason. The colour of it was solid; not allowing someone to see what was inside simply by looking at the container itself. It was actually fairly heavy, but not heavy enough to deter Nyla as she carried it over to the table, setting it down before pulling the lid off.

Inside of the container lay a multitude of blood packs. Nyla didn’t like leaving them out in the open just in case, but Solara had talked her into making sure she had some at home. This was the compromise they had come to. Solara’s reasoning had been sound, seeing as how she had been the one to nurse Nyla back to health after the attack she’d suffered while in shifted form, but Nyla’s had been equally sound. You just never knew when someone would be in your house, looking in your fridge.

Picking up one of the packs, Nyla’s worry filled dark gaze swung over to Lia. “How do I make this seem like no big deal?” She looked back down at the blood pack in her hand then over to the open bathroom door where her Pixie and Micah still were. “How do I make this not suck for her?” She shook her head, realizing she hadn’t actually answered Lia’s question, and looked back at the other woman.

“I fucked up. Big surprise there, I know.” The words were laced with an acidic sarcasm, making even Nyla wince. “I didn’t know how to fix it, so I… brought… the human back here. I turned her…” Unlike her previous words, the sorrow she packed into those three words was enough to fill the entire room. “Now I need to know how to keep her from hating this.” Her hand shook slightly, so she put the blood pack down on the table to make it seem less obvious. She didn’t want to say anything else; didn’t want to admit her fear that another person she cared for was going to decide this place was too much and just leave her all alone again.

The tension in the room was beyond tangible, so thick that it caused goosebumps to sprout up over her exposed flesh. Lia's fingers loosened from around Nyla's shoulders, allowing the blonde's more petite frame to rest against her. One arm came to wrap around her, while the other hand gently brushed over the silken waves that spilled over Nyla's upper back. They remained that way, embracing, only long enough for Lia to press her lips to the other woman's forehead. Just like that, some of the static in the air dissipated, leaving her relaxed enough to let out a long sigh.

"Micah texted me. I thought something happened," she began to explain as Nyla pulled herself away. It was evident by the look on the blonde's face that something did in fact happen, and now wasn't the time for Lia to speak. It was Lia's time to listen. Moving out of the way to stand by the kitchen table, she quietly watched as Nyla went about what she'd been doing before she walked through the door.

Nyla's following questions did nothing to give Lia the answers she needed; not really. The words only caused more inquiries to form. Who is 'she'? What 'this' are you talking about? But again, she remained silent and let Nyla go on. Sometimes the best thing a friend could do was listen.

Finally, there was a word that made all the pieces fit together. Turned. Slowly, Lia took a deep breath and closed her eyes as all the information began to sink in. Anyone who knew Nyla knew that she would never intentionally turn a human against their will, so the first conclusion Lia came to was: Nyla had accidentally killed a person. And on top of that, she'd saved them by giving them this life. By those facts alone, it occurred to Lia just why Nyla appeared to be so distraught. Of course -- she felt guilty.

Silence hung in the air as Lia took the time to gather all her thoughts. She had plenty of them, but she had to pick the right ones. Consoling people wasn't her biggest forte, and it probably showed. A thought had struck her, though -- one that was louder than all the rest -- and she knew it had to be said. With a soft sigh that was part relief, part fear of saying the wrong things, Lia pushed herself away from the counter and took those few steps to close the distance between her and Nyla. When she was close enough, both her hands came up to cup either side of the blonde's face, tilting it high enough so that their eyes could meet. Wide, hazel orbs shone with pride as she gave the faintest hint of a smile.

"Nyla," she murmured, shaking her head gently. "I know you're overwhelmed right now, but... " She trailed off for a second, one side of her mouth becoming a lopsided grin."You cared enough to bring her back here. You made sure she was safe, and surrounded by people that will care for her." Lia's hands came to rest against the top of Nyla's shoulders again, giving a gentle squeeze of reassurance. "The best sires put their childer before themselves. And that's exactly what you just did."

Micah listened to the quiet conversation going on in the other room. He was unable to make out much but he wasn't really trying; He knew that if anyone could calm Nyla down it would be Lia. Lia was better than he was at all that girly emotional **** that he was closed off from the majority of the time. And he was glad for that. Emotions were a crazy thing. All those feelings that messed with you and had the potential to **** you up for life. No thank you, he'd much rather go without. Sometimes though, he did feel but not nearly to the point that Nyla did and only in regards to those that he called family.

He was pulled from his inner thoughts when he realized that this Pixie was talking to him. “Oh....” He realized that Pestilence was still held tight in his hand. There was no need for it as it was just Lia and she was no threat to any of them. Paranoia had become something that was rather second nature to him as of late and the way he saw it one couldn't be too careful.

The gun was returned to its proper spot and Micah once more found himself studying this girl that Nyla had turned and brought into their family. Ginger. He cringed ever so slightly but just as quickly managed to brush it off. This wasn't something that he should be dwelling on. From what he was able to see this girl was a decent sort. This girl didn't deserve to be on the receiving end of any sort of prejudice just because of something that she couldn't control. “I'm always twitchy. Force of habit you see but I don't have any intention of hurting you. And I'm sorry if I scared you.”

He looked her over and made a sudden decision. “You're probably tired of being in this room.” Micah gestured towards the open bathroom door and to the room that lay beyond. “I don't think Nyla would mind if you left this bathroom and went into the next room. And you're probably starving.” He knew he would be if he was stuck in her position. “Do you want to go see if Nyla's managed to find the stuff Solara said she left?”