Path of the Vampire forum

She wasn't impressed. At all. She'd got into work and been pottering about, doing her thing, totally none the wiser as to what was waiting for her on the computer. After helping to warm up the girls and sorting out a spirit order that had gone horribly wrong, she headed upstairs and collapsed into her chair. She kicked off her shoes and rubbed at her temples, with a bit of a headache starting. One toe kicked the computer and switched it on, before kicking them both up onto the desk and closing her eyes to attempt to relax. There was a dull beat coming from below as things kicked into gear, the doors about to open, and surprisingly it helped to soothe her. The noises coming from the computer told her that it was on and ready to go, so she decided to start her night off by checking her emails.

Without removing her legs from the desk, she leant over and clicked it all on, leaning back to wait for it to pop onto her screen. However, where she was expecting the usual junk mail and marketing bits and pieces, probably a few complaints from the god squad too - because it was about the time since the last batch to mean that a new lot was due. Instead however, she discovered two emails that came totally out of the blue;

From: Vigilant

Subject: VIGILANT ALTAIRE
Message:

To whomever this may concern:

Though I have spent very few nights at Silks, I think my time with
this particular company has come to an end. Thank you for the
opportunity and the job as well as accepting Verbena along with
myself. I regret to inform you that after I send this letter, I will no
long be showing up for work.

Have a pleasant evening,

Vigilant Altaire.

To whom it may concern? Who the **** did he think it concerned? And what did he mean he'd not spent very many nights here. She'd bloody well been paying him to be here regularly. Did that mean he'd not been showing up? Cause if that was the case - she was damn well getting her money back from him one way or another. She hit reply and simply sent him a one word response that said 'Why?'. Then she brought up the next one, guessing what it would say.

From: Verbena

Subject: RE:
Message:

CC, it`s been an amazing opportunity to work for you at Silks. I love the people and I`ve made many friends just in the short period of time I`ve had, but unfortunately, I think it`s time to put in my resignation.

Thank you for the opportunity you gave me.

-Verbena

She could feel her temper rising inside her, because there was no reason in there as to why she was leaving. So again, she was sent the same response as Vigilant had received. 'Why?'

She checked the rota, and spotted that they were both due to be working tonight as someone else was on holiday. She'd tried not to schedule them together after the disaster of the broken window and the customer they'd tried to kill - but sometimes there was no getting around it. She leapt to her feet and ran downstairs, finding Ginger and demanding to know if either of the ******* - literally - siblings were in. Ginger told her they weren't and CC just.... snarled.

They handed in their resignation, but then weren't working out a resignation period. They'd literally just decided not to show. So now, she was down a waitress and a bouncer - which put more strain on the rest of the staff, as well as putting their safety at risk. To say she was pissed was an understatement, and the pair of them had better have a good excuse for all of it. Because the way she felt right now, she was going to run them through with her sword. Consequences be damned, because she ******* deserved more respect and consideration than they'd just given her!

However, she needed to ignore that for now, so headed back upstairs to get changed. She was going to have to bounce and waitress and perform tonight, and god help anyone who pissed her off further tonight.

She read it once and then a second time, shaking her head. The reply had come in the next day, after she'd questioned the why of the matter and she'd still not managed to reply to it. It was ******** was what it was, complete and utter ********. She was so confused by the part where Sara said that she would have to dance if someone paid enough, because they'd already had that conversation and she'd said been told she didn't do that. She was escort only. Someone had obviously been whispering in her ear, poisoning her against the club and the profession. She'd known what she was getting into in the beginning and hadn't seemed to have any issues with it. Yet now, suddenly, she was being all holier than thou.

She typed out a reply a few times, wording it completely differently every time as a ne wave of emotion crashed over the first and took control of her mind. There was anger, then sadness, then confusion, then she was just plain pissed off. She found tears in her eyes at one moment, giving way to boiling rage the next. There were thoughts about her business and how it had suffered last night with the lack of staff and how over worked everyone had been. Morale had dropped and of course not all of the tables had been able to have been bussed, then as the girls were waiting tables, they'd not been able to head upstairs to provide the extras. So when she'd done the accounts at the end of the night, the profits had dropped too -not to mention the complaints she'd heard from the bouncers at the door, from the customers as they'd left. Sara and Roy had screwed up her business by just, not showing up - and you didn't do that. Not only was it not professional, but it was just rude.

Then there were the feelings of betrayal that she felt. She'd thought that her and Sara were friends, more than just boss and employee. She'd really liked the girl and had chatted to her more than she had most of the employee's she had. She wasn't sure if it was because she was an allurist like CC, and so they could relate to one another or what it was. But she definitely felt something for her that went beyond boss and employee, so this just hurt so much more than a normal resignation did. She checked over her emails again and saw that Vigilant hadn't even bothered to reply, and the only thing she thought there was 'Dick'.

She read over her most recent reply and deleted it too, like so many before it. There was such a confusion of emotions and thoughts whirling inside her head that she just didn't know what to reply and say. So there was only one thing to do, she needed to go for a walk to clear her head. Perhaps killing some mooncalves would help to clear her head and let her vent some emotions, so that's what she did. She stood up and pushed her chair back, hearing it topple at the force with which she stood. She didn't care though, she just needed to get out of her office and kill some things. She ran down the stairs and to the door, thinking twice and looking around for Ginger. She spotted her at a table, teaching one of the shoddy new girls she'd picked up how to hold a tray and sway her hips at the same time. It wasn't going well, as the tray clattering to the floor repeatedly attested to.

Ginger spotted CC looking, so got up and walked over to her with an exasperated sigh and look. CC held up her hand as Ginger joined her by the door and shook her head.

"Don't even ******* start on me Ging. I know they're ****, but I needed bodies and needed them asap, you know that. That was the best I could get to start immediately."

Ginger rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"I bet you could have gotten something better than that CC. I mean, seriously. Look at her."

"Yeh Ging, look at her. Look at her body and face. You know the guys will lap that up and want a piece. Just, do your thing and fix her up. I bet you can train her, I've seen you do it with worse things than that one!"

"Yeh yeh yeh. Whatever. Now, where the **** you going at this time of night? You know you're dancing tonight right?"

"Yup. I'll be here. Just need to..... vent."

Ginger looked her up and down and just nodded, not asking any questions because she could see that CC was in a mood and barely holding in a few things she really wanted to say.

"I'll see you when you get back, and this..... will be sorted by then!"

She had turned away and was walking back to the nervous looking girl, pointing at her when she'd said 'this'. CC simply nodded and left the club, using celerity to run through the streets towards the Mausoleum. She managed to stop herself a few minutes from the entrance, just in the wilderness, and then wandered back again, pulling out her blade as she went.

She slipped inside and made her way through the catacombs, driving the mooncalves out of their hiding holes and summarily slaughtering them. She pictured them with Roy's face, and then with Sara's, but she found that that just hurt and confused her more. She walked around a corner and saw a little grouping of them and with a blind rage, roared and charged at them, feeling her fingers extending to claws and her body shifting into something more muscular and disgusting to behold. The next thing she knew, she was standing there panting, surrounded by pieces of the monsters and covered in what passed as their blood. It worried her when she blacked out and embraced the side of her that was Marzanna. It seemed to happen whenever she filled with emotions that she just couldn't cope with and process. And looking back at the trail of death she'd left behind herself - she knew she was having issues again.

She dropped down against the wall and pulled her phone from her bra, dialling Zodiac's number and letting it ring. And ring. And ring. Then, when the answering machine kicked in she hung up and redialled. 5 times she called the woman on both her landlines and mobile, and got no response. She'd not seen her on Friday either, and no-one had seen her or heard from her. This just hurt her and confused her even more, but she wasn't angry anymore - that had all been released and let go of, scared off by Marzanna - she was just filled with an overwhelming sadness and confusion.

Heaving herself up from the ground, she made her way out of the catacombs and into the mausoleum - freezing in place and staring at a figure she saw by the wall. It was Sara, just standing there, doing.... who knew what. She felt all of her emotions bubbling inside of her, completely confused by them all and all that she was feeling as she looked at her. Such a rage and torrent of emotion was inside of her at that moment, that she didn't realise it had spilled out of her and touched Sara. All the confusion over what she was feeling and what had happened was focussed on the other woman and affected her in a way CC didn't mean to, and had no knowledge of doing.

Finally, she managed to drag her eyes away from the woman, unable to form any words to toss at her in passing, or implore her with. Her silence took her from the woman and she congratulated herself at holding her temper, for not attacking her physically or verbally. That was progress for her, and she really was proud of herself for managing it. However, the energy taken to fight all she'd found in the catacombs and then to pull herself from Sara had drained her and she felt bone tired to the core. She slipped herself into a crack in the wall, enjoying the darkness there where not a bit of light seemed to penetrate, and settled down, gently crying at this **** life she'd found herself in. She needed to find some control, some balance, yet every time she thought she was getting there and finding it - something happened that threw her off kilter and back to the beginning again.

She'd lost track of time in her dark little pity party hole, and next thing she knew there were bugs flying and creeping from the walls, covering her from head to toe and biting her. She jumped to her feet and dropped her blade, trying to shake and brush them off. She could feel her blood trickling down her skin from all of the bites, and as she looked up, she saw Sara walking away in silence. She'd done this to her. Totally unprovoked and out of the blue. A snarl rose from CC and she stepped forwards to go after her, but then there was Roy, raising his gun and pulling the trigger. Only to be rewarded with a 'click' and nothing else. The idiot hadn't put any bullets in it and CC couldn't believe she'd ever hired the incompetent *** as a bouncer. Obviously, her girls weren't safe with him around and had anything ever happened, he'd have been as useful as a chocolate fire guard. Another guy turned up, held up his gun and pulled his trigger, this one did go off and she twisted to try and avoid the bullet - however it caught her in the shoulder and made her stumble backwards. This one though said something to her that made her simply stare.

Calix Archer says: "Warning shot. Don`t touch my ******* family."

She'd not ******* touched anyone, so she had no idea what in the hell he was talking about. She could almost believe it was a case of mistaken identity if it hadn't have been for Sara and Roy being there. They knew who she was, and could have cleared it up if needed. She couldn't think on it much more though because another guy showed up and tried to attack her. She dropped to her knees and bent backwards to lie on the ground in the dark as his attack went far over her head. Then, as a woman showed up, she rolled aside and sprung to her feet, leaning forwards so that again her attack missed. She stepped forwards and felt a cloud come over her mind, a piercing headache throbbed and made her miss her step. She was facing the back of her little crack in the wall, so didn't realise there was someone else there behind her. Not until she felt the fingers in her hair, pulling her head backwards before a blade ran across her throat, digging deeply into her flesh.

As soon as it had started, it was gone again and she dropped to her knees with blood running down her body. She was exhausted and drained mentally, and she felt bone tired from all of the blood she'd lost. She rested there for some time, unsure of how long exactly, then got up and went to feed. All the while, her mind trying to work out how the hell she could dance for her clients in such a state. So as she walked the streets and fed as and when she could, her brain whirred and created a whole new concept for her show that night. The business came first, and it had already suffered because of two cunts, she wasn't going to let them **** it up again for a second time..... no, a third. Bitches still hadn't paid her for the room they'd destroyed!

A growl rumbled from her throat and made her cough and choke in pain. She'd find out what in the hell had just happened and why. And then they'd pay. Through the nose. One way or another.

The next day passed without incident as she went about her business as she always did. That was until she sat down at her computer to find another message had been sent to her email box. She pulled it open and scanned it, busting a gut laughing as she read it again.

From: Vigilant

Subject: RE:
Message:

When I find you, you`re going to beg for death.

The man who'd tried to shoot her with no bullets was now threatening her and telling her she'd beg him for death. That was just too funny. She simply ignored it, because it wasn't worth dealing with the drama he would bring to her night. She was doing her best to remain a calm and cool person, holding her emotions in check for the good of herself and those around her. She knew she could fly off the handle FAR too easily with these damnable allurist emotions she seemed to have developed, but she'd been working hard on them and had even tried drugging herself with some of Zo's potions. However the potions had meant that she'd lost her emotions and feelings for Zodiac too. And she wasn't putting up with that. There was no way she was losing that woman for anything or anyone.

The next couple of days were filled with normal activities that consisted of her business and Zo. The most exciting thing that happened was when she went shopping for scarves after the attack from Phoenix. It seemed that her neck was more sensitive than the rest of her and the wound was refusing to heal as fast. hey bugged her, those scarves. Really, she was far too short to wear them and they were designed for the tall and glamourous as opposed to the short and muscular. But she persevered with them because it meant she could still go out in public and do what she needed to do, without being gawked at becuse of the bloody mess that was the side of her neck.

The 18th came and went, just like any other day. There had been nothing special about it in the slightest as she went about her job and ran her errands. She was knackered at the end of the night however and decided that an early night was in order. She headed home, showered and dried off then slipped into bed as she always did - naked. While she sat there, she set up a few new 'toys' she'd bought on the auction house, trapping the bed to high heaven and then snuggling down under the silk sheets and enjoying the feel of them against her skin. It wasn't long before she drifted off to sleep, but it also wasn't long before her night was rudely interrupted again.

The sound of the bear trap snapping made her stir, then the proximity mine exlposion had her sitting upright with the covers around her hips. She was too sleepy and disorientated to tell if either of the gas or poison traps went off, but the shotgun blast and the second bomb going off had her wide awake and out of bed, reaching for her sword and dodging the shrapnel that went flying. She turned back to face the person who'd entered her home uninvited and didn't give a damn she was naked. Being naked was part of her job, so if she were fighting for her life, it was hardly something she'd be fussed about. In fact, being naked probably meant that she had more freedom and ease of movement than she might otherwise have had.

She felt her head filling with cotton wool and let out a groan, someone had used their powers on her to stop her using hers. Then she saw her, the woman who was now bleeding from all the traps she'd set off. CC couldn't help but smirk at her, pleased that her traps had done their job and sent the message that she wasn't going down without a fight. Not for anyone. However, the smirk had meant she'd missed her chance to swing her blade at the unwelcome intruder - and before she knew it her home had vanished and a park had come into sight.

She felt something happen behind her, just brushing past her shoulder and a few mms over the surface. She turned and saw a man standing there, with his scruffy beard and floppy hair. She didn't think much of him and decided he was no threat, that he'd probably just tried to attack her and she grinned and wondered if it was how naked she was that had made his shot or blade fly wide. However she didn't have time to think on it too much because Vigilant was taking aim with his gun - and CC doubted he'd have forgotten to load it again. She ran at him and jumped into the air, folding her blade across her chest and felt the bullet nick the side of her leg. She somersaulted over his head to land behind him and spun, whipping the blade out as she did. A crow of joy escaped her mouth as she saw that her blade had clean sliced right through his leg and amputated it, her mind thinking 'serves you right'.

However, she didn't have time to see what happened to him or how he reacted because another shot rang out through the night air as she'd landed. Once more she felt a bullet skim her leg, ripping the skin but not into the flesh properly, and her head snapped around to see Nix with the smoking gun. She jumped to her feet and tried to drive her blade through the woman, however the two wounds to her leg meant that as she put weight onto it, it shook and buckled, making her fall to the floor and her attack obviously failed. As she lay there, she heard it coming before she saw it and she knew that a swarm had been summoned to attack her.

They descended from the sky and crawled from the ground, bugs from all the trees and bushes aiming directly for her. Her blade lashed out and sliced them as best she could, but the mosquitoes and flys were far too small, their wings dancing them aside with the draft of the blade passing through the air. They covered her, head to toe and bit her or sliced into her with their little claws or teeth or whatever they had. And in the midst of all of this, a blade came down and dug deep into her stomach and ran out to her side, trying to eviscerate her. She gasped and breathed in a bug or two at the same time. She choked and gagged and knew she was exhausted and losing blood far too fast. She was a fighter and she'd already injured two of them badly with her traps and blade - there was no shame in preservation at all.

She dragged herself to her feet and with a dizzy head, legged it away from them, deciding to regroup, find out wtf was going on and then do what needed to be done - whatever that might be.

She got lost as she ran, her hair in her eyes and with no idea as to where she'd been teleported - she only had her sense of preservation to reply on. She found herself in a corner and after stopping, pausing and listening to everything around her she decided that she'd not been followed to.... well, to wherever the hell she was. She knew she couldn't go home as they knew where that was now, and she knew that she needed blood as soon as possible - just in case they did come back and find her. She called out to Leo, using her mental link with him - and after looking through his eyes to see what he was up to, she told him to get off his *** and to come to her. She needed to feed and rather than move from where she was, she decided that food should be made to come to her.

As she waited for him to arrive, she pulled out her phone and got in touch with Pru - reaching out to her to let her know what had happened, as she'd asked to be told a few days before after she'd been contacted by Vigilant. She flipped through to messages and then scanned first over the old ones from the other day, re-reading what had happened.

*texts* I don't know what the **** you got yourself in to, but you've got some guy named Vigilant looking for you and Zo. Best lay low, wherever ya are. I didn't tell him ****, but if they find ya, you'll probably not believe me. Good luck, CC.

*Replies* He and his sister, that he's ******* by the way, quit my club and didn't work their notice period. Now they're claiming I attacked her and he and she as well as three others all tried to gangbang me in the Maus. Phoenix I think was one of them, no idea on the other two. But dipshit there didn't have any bullets in his gun when he tried to get me. So he's sent me threatening emails, telling me he's going to **** me up. But what in the HELL has Zo to do with this?

*Replies* Don't know, but they were adament that Zo probably knows where you're at. I sent them to Scorpia and she gave them the run around. Told Mordie to do the same. So, keep laying low, I guess.

*Replies* You say 'they'?

Well, I'm guessing he's looking for you with those three that gang banged you that one day. I mean, I doubt he's just looking for her by herself, to "talk," or leave a note like he said he was gonna do. Don't know how he thinks any of us are ******* stupid to believe someone just wants to leave notes or talk. I know the thought process of a hunting order, being I used to hunt. So does Scorp and Mordie. Don't worry, we ain't telling anyone ****.

*R* You see Phoenix on the CrowNet? Talking about how stupid it is to just attack someone without talking first? Yet the NIGHT before she ******* did just that!! Spotted one of the other bitches that couldn't touch me earlier. Growled a few things in her ear. Didn't ******* touch her though. Much as I ******* wanted to!

*Replies* I seen it, but didn't know what you all were on about. Anyways, just lay low like you've been doing. Don't gotta worry about Sangue telling them ****. They got a good run around last night.

*R* Yeh, they tried to kill me. But three of them missed, so they ran like bitches and I'm still kicking. Seems that's not good enough for them. My ******* throat is still not healed from the bullet that ripped through it!

That was all there was and she couldn't help but smile a little. She really did like the woman, despite the fact she'd chosen to back DD and picked her over her own childe. Regardless, she needed to let her know what was happening and to maybe see what else she might have found out about what in the hell was going on. So she started up another conversation, hoping the woman was around.

*Texts the woman as she sat there bleeding* They came for me. Teleported me from my home and started on me! Fuckers.

*gets the reply and looks at it. * who is they and were are ya at?

"I dunno, in some cornfield. They are Nix and Verbena and Vigilant and some tattooed guy I didn't recognise. Another guy too and a girl who broke into my place and teleported me out"

Cornfield? ya mean the maze, or whatever? * She sighed. * Not helping me find ya and try and get ya outta there. Look around for something, a land mark or something, CC.

"You know how short I am! I can't see over the ******** stuff." SHe looked around. "Nup. There's corn. Everywhere."

Yuh, well I found ya. So they teleported ya to where before ya ducked in here?

Looks at the woman and can't help but smile at her weakly. She knew Pru had seen her naked a few times, so she was sure the woman wouldn't flinch or bat an eyelid at the fact she was in such a state again. "South East of here. I took a couple of swings at them and then came directly here. It was that park, just north of westwall station."

So, it was Nix, Vigilant and who else, ya said?

Couple of guys I didn't recognise, a girl in my apartment - who I hope got blown to ******* pieces with the traps I had out. And Verbena. My head is POUNDING and it still feels like I have bugs all over me!" She shuddered, remembering the swarm she'd been surrounded by moments before.

Did ya feed at all on the way here? Cause ya look like hell and I dont need ya getting a ******* bounty to get tytonidae to help them kill ya. Seems like these are the only ones attacking ya, consistantly, so they can't do much at the time. You getting a bounty will help them

She nodded her head. "I know. I've got Leo coming over to help. I've fed from him once so far. Just need... maybe six more I think."

six, holy **** woman. Don't ya take care of yourself? Seems like a lot of blood loss for a few hits. *grumps.*

She looked down at herself and the wounds. "I think most will heal overnight. Just this one...." She touched her stomach and flinched. "Will take longer." She frowned at Pru and grumped. "You ever been attacked and surrounded by those bastarding bugs? They suck like three pints from you! Then there's two shots to my leg and my stomach's been opened up!"

*She puts a hand on her and mutters a few words, focusing on what the body is composed of, giving her some strength.* I gotta summon spirits if you need that much. And I can't do that much. And no, I've not, but I'd just shoot all those mother ******* bugs. *cackles.* sit tight, I'll be back. Yeah, summoning spirits ain't as easy as ya think it is, by the ******* way! *grumps and grabs her as she returns, muttering a few of the same words, because she helps her again.*

She sighed and felt the power running into her. "Nothing's ******* easy in this bastarding life!"

Some things are. I don't have too many problems. *Shrugged and frowned.*

She pointed as Leo wandered over. "You need to feed again Pru?"

ha! nah. I'm good. leave the poor ******** alone.

She nodded and waved her hand, sending him off again to relax and recuperate. "So. Yeh. Thanks. Sorry for bothering you. I just.... had no-one else to bug with this ****."

it's cool. Don't worry about it. I mean, ya need blood and the reasoning is stupid...on both ends, but it's whatever. *she shrugged.* So, uh, lemme know if ya can find a resolve from this **** without dying? Be nice for ya to not die. For your friends and ****.

She looked at her quizzically. "My friends? What friends?"

Whoever ya be hanging around with now. *She shrugged, pushed off the wall and looked around. * People ya work with and stuff. I guess.

"They're hardly friends. I mean, look at V 1 and 2. They were employed and I thought she was a friend. Now.... **** knows!"

Welp, ya think ya could just try and talk to them and see why they're trying to turn ya to ash, CC?

"Already have. No response as of yet"

To who? Vigilant, or?

"Vigilant and Verbena"

Maybe try going higher up on the totem pole.

"I have no idea where the pole starts or ends. But I have a feeling it's in someone's ***!"

*laughed and shook her head. * Phoenix is the grand pumba or whatever of that group. Try her.

She pulled out her phone and sent off another email. "Done"

let me know what she says if anything.

Once, I can put down to mistaken identity or PMS or whatever the **** else. Twice is intentional.

So, what the **** is going on and why?

I don't know why. they just started attacking ya for no reason?

Nods and hits send after reading it out to her. "Yup. One of them said I touched one of their family. But I did no such thing. I wanted to smack the everloving **** out of Verbena for what she did to my business. But I resisted and walked on by. Next thing I know, bitches are shooting me!"

So ya never attacked anyone? With a weapon or a power?

"Nope. As I said, wanted to hit her, hand was on my sword and everything. But I thought of Zo and just, didn't. Walked away. And yeh. ******* cried cause I was so confused and hurt over her ******* up my business as she did. Don't make fun!" Glares. "******* allurist ****. I can't control a damn thing when I get like that"

You cry? Eww. I don't think I've cried in a long time. *shrugged* just seems crazy they're attacking ya for no damn reason. does scorp know?

"Yeh yeh. It happens sometimes and it SUCKS. Never happened before I became..... this." She hip bumped the woman and then flinched in pain, deciding that hadn't been the best thing to do. "And who? Scorp? Met her once and that's it. So. No?"

Well wasn't sure if you were in Sangue or not anymore. *she looked down at her hip that was hit by the other woman.* sorry, I thought ya were gonna be a killer, cause you're s ******* fit!

"No, no family. Not since they all went with D instead of C. Been doing it all myself ever since then, just getting on with **** and trying to figure it all out." She shrugged her shoulders and looked uncomfortable. "And yeh, if I'd have known what was what - I'd have put money on being a killer. What with my past and all."

Maybe things would have been different. Oh well. *shugged again. * text me if you need more heals or something. Might swing by and give you a gate later, if I get the energy again.

"Thanks. Appreciated."

She watched as Pru wandered off and then looked around, deciding she needed to find somewhere a little more covered than this. Looking upwards, she could see the moon. And if she could see the moon then when the sun came up she would see it too, or more importantly it would see her and burn her. She began to push her way through the corn to try and find her way out and find somewhere to rest for what remained of the night

She pulled up her phone and began copy pasting emails to Pru, being that the woman asked to be told what was going on as it happened.

From: Vigilant

Subject: RE:
Message:

When I find you, you`re going to beg for death.

From: Vigilant

Subject: RE: Attacks
Message:

Afraid? Having Zodiac curse Verbena and I for you? Run, little girl,
run.

From: Verbena

Subject: RE: Attacks
Message:

You attacked me, CC. You attacked me, over quitting a job. This is what happens when you attack me OR Vigilant.

From: Verbena

Subject: RE: Cut the ****
Message:

CC. I saw you. I watched you. Funny how I had the worst ******* migraine afterward. If you`re that desperate to try and play the victim, you should take another approach. The `I didn`t know` excuse isn`t working with me.

I sent you an email. I notified YOU, a whole thirteen hours before my shift was even scheduled.

If you didn`t want your business to take a hit with a lack of staff, maybe you should start taking your staff into consideration. I asked for ONE thing, CC. ONE THING. One thing that should`ve been a given: Keep my goddamn job description as it was when you hired me.

From: Phoenix

Subject: RE: Attacks
Message:

Please direct your inquiry to Vigilant.

Then she sat in her corner and waited to see if a reply would come in return, puzzling as to why she couldn't access her sent items.

*She looked over those emails, and shrugged her shoulders. * So, uh, when were these all sent? *She shot off a quick message to the woman. *

"The last two, from Nix and Verbena, last night while I slept. The two before that, yesterday. The first one, on the 15th."

What is she talking about attacking her, CC? *goes back to what Verbana said last night.*

"I honestly don't know. I didn't raise a weapon to her, I swear it. All she says is she had a headache after I left. A HEADACHE? And for that they want to kill me? I've had headaches ever since they bloody well quit trying to train up new staff and make the customers happy again!"

Think really ******* hard, CC. You saw her and did ya get mad, or get something when ya saw her when she came in and quit or something? Ya know how these allurist things can be, just because you FEEL some way about something or someone.

"Yeh" Nods her head as she typed. "I told you. When I saw her in the mausoleum I was there to clear my head and kill **** - trying to get rid of how upset and confused I was."

Yuh, but did ya like....wish something bad would happen to her or something? Look! I don't know how those things work with you allurists cause it's like crazy and ****, but I know that sometimes, ya get your feelings tied in to your emotions and then something happens. So, ya saw her and was clearing your head. Ya didn't hit her with a weapon, but do ya think maybe ya used one of your powers? did she seem alright when ya walked past her?

She thought about it, frowning as she did. "I thought.... a lot of things. I mean, she seemed fine - but she says she had a headache afterwards....." Paused and frowned. "I thought I'd done so well not to smack the ever loving crap out of her too! I was.... I was so proud of myself. Now, it looks like I might be a ******* failure again!"

No, you just gotta find your balance, CC. Sounds to me like ya probably did use a power. But was she hurt? Like, ya know shot, or stabbed or something? Bleeding anywhere when ya left her?

"No. Def not. No blood or anything. I'd have noticed that and known something had happened. First I heard all wasn't right was when I just read that email and she said she had a headache after I'd gone. But no, no blood at all there!"

Yeah, don't know much about allurist powers. Sticking clear of all that. no offense, but I seen what it did to Cliff too, so no thanks! But sounds to me like ya used a power of some kind. So, uh, either fess up to it to them and give them some kind of sorry or something, or uh, well...sit tight, is the best i can offer ya. Maybe since they're watching ya, they seen I was helping ya and maybe they'll back off, knowing that. I mean, they kinda kicked your *** a couple times, from what Zo was telling me when she read your memories. So, it's more than time to call it quits over a power that didn't do much of anything to anyone. Oh and have Leo send that ***** some tylenol or some ****. Girls gotta get some tougher skin. Wonder what she'll do if she comes face to face with a paladin!

"Yeh, well, if it was a power then fair dos. She needs an apology. But seriously. I've lost business, lost profits, missed days of work, bled and been given fuzzy heads where I can't use my powers and COVERED in ******* bugs a couple of times that tried to suck me dry. She got a headache. What in the actual ****?"

Yeah, well, remember...she's an Allurist too, CC. S'all I'm gonna say about that. Have Zo look in to her memories and see what ya did, not hard for her to do that. If ya used a power, apologize and see how this **** can end. If it won't, well, maybe it's time I step the **** in. But I want you to TRY by yourself first.

"Yeh, I'll do that. As I said. I never wanted to hurt her and fought SO hard to control myself and keep the sword down. I was so proud and everything - I gloated to Zo about how I'd progressed and ******* evolved cause I wasn't immediately going for the goddamn attack. Now.... well, ****!"

Chill out. Don't need ya getting attack happy again. Just sort **** out and it'll be good. I gotta get going. got **** to do with the bar. Keep me in the loop.

"Will do. I'll send the mail now. And Pru..... thanks."

No problem. Try and lay low a day or two to heal them wounds.

"Most are gone. Just the one in my stomach that's left now"

Those are a ***** to heal. Got one myself from a paladin. One more thing. Don't ya think it's time to come home? Ya know you belong in Sangue, CC.

She stared at the phone and felt a pang. She did want to feel like she belonged and it had felt good to finally think she had people looking out for her. It was something she'd never, ever had before in her life and something she'd never thought she needed. But something about Pru..... "I do?" It was all she could manage, cause anything else would have probably turned mushy in that moment. And she knew how Pru hated mushy.

Well, I mean ****. Outside scorp, youre probably the biggest misfit in town. *She added the silly face to the text and hits send.*

She chuckled softly at that and nodded. "Well, I guess it couldn't hurt right?"

Maybe. It's up to you, but Zo is there, and Scorp's cool. Just work on sorting this ******** first, think on it and we'll talk. ****, gotta go. *Hits send, and goes to deal with a problem with inventory.*

"Ok. Thanks"

She texted Zodiac, asking her to check Verbena's memories and then waited, sprawling in the bed she'd found to crash in for the day. She couldn't be assed getting up but she knew she should probably drag her *** out so that she could stretch out the skin that had healed while she slept. Her fingers ran over her neck and found it had finally healed and then down over her stomach. She could still feel the ragged edges of where the blade had cut into her, crusted over with her dried blood. It wasn't pretty to feel, and looking down it wasn't pretty to look at either. However, when her fingers explored lower she found that where the bullets had caught her leg was all healed too. She smirked to herself, doubting very much that Vigilant's leg would have grown back over night, nor that whoever that random girl had been would be fully healed either. She was definitely better off than both of them.

Her phone went off with a text from Zodiac, telling her that it looked like a confusion had been used on Verbena, and that it had her signature all over it. CC simply stared at the phone and groaned, her head pressing back into the pillow in complete annoyance. She'd thought she'd done so well, resisting the urge to smack the *****. She'd been so proud of herself and had celebrated too, thinking she'd controlled her emotions for once. Instead, it seemed she'd fucked up again. Yes, she might not have drawn her weapon, but she'd still used a power on her and in this community, that was seen as an attack.

Despite all of that, it was still just a confusion. Pru had a point. There was no blood drawn, no lasting effects of major consequences, no monetary loss - nothing. All it was, was a headache and for that - they expected her to die. She thought not somehow. She sent Leo a text with specific instructions on what to get and then pulled up her emails, realising she had another couple since she'd last checked.

From: Verbena

Subject: RE: Goddamn friends...
Message:

...Don`t disrespect their friends. I ASKED YOU to change the advert because I didn`t like what it said. I asked you to change the advert because I`m not going to ******* dance for anyone, or take my clothes off, of do anything more than tending the bar. That is ALL I was hired for.

Goddamn friends, CC, don`t disrespect their friends` wishes.

And get a grip of yourself. We`re Allurists, CC. You know, even more than I do!, exactly what we`re capable of. You know what you did and over...what? Me quitting my job when you didn`t respect my request that I wasn`t and never would be a dancer?

Yeah. Let`s talk about being goddamn friends, CC.

From: Vigilant

Subject: RE: Attacks
Message:

Cinnamon Cherrywhip said:
No, not afraid at all. Irritated - yes. And why would Zodiac curse
you both?

Still not going to tell me why this is even happening?


Reply:
You tell me why she would. And I think you know why this is
happening. Quit playing innocent.

She sighed and then replied to Vigilant first;

As far as I know, that power is not one Zo has. I mean, I don't know all of her powers and stuff, but from the way they seem to happen - that one isn't one she has developed yet. But you know, you could always ask her yourself instead of throwing accusations out there willy nilly. Plus, I've no idea why she would curse you two if you've not done anything to her. Have you done something to her?

And as for playing innocent - there was no playing involved. I had no idea until a few moments ago that I'd used a power on her. Might have been an idea to have ******* TALKED to me before going all Conan the Barbarian and trying to kill me!

Now, I cast confusion on her. You've tried to slice, dice and shoot me multiple times and by multiple people. I'd say you can safely call it quits and have had your pound of flesh. Enough is enough already.

After hitting send she took a breather, being as civil as she'd just been had taken a LOT. Because seriously. It was a headache and he was acting like she'd taken the woman's leg. And that thought made her grin because of the night before. The man would still have had his leg if he'd not started this **** afterall. She then pulled Verbena's mail up and replied to it too;

Verbena,

I showed you no disrespect. I don't know if you forgot or blocked it out or what happened. But at the interview I clearly said that everyone is expected to dance if they are asked to by a client. It is not my fault if you forgot this fact. However, what is disrespectful is quitting your job and not working your notice period.

What is also disrespectful is presuming that my attack on you was intentional. I've just been told this morning what happened - because I had no knowledge of using my powers. It was not intentional in the slightest and I can only think that it was an overflow of what I was feeling, spilling out and focussing on you because you were the route cause of those emotions.

So I am sorry that I cast confusion on you, because I never truely wanted to hurt you. But you of all people should know how our powers work, or don't in some cases. So I hope you see this apology as sincere and honest. Leo should be arriving at your home to drop off a gift as a physical representation of my apology and I hope that we can end this here and now.

CC
x

She read it over and then hit send again, before snuggling under the covers once more.
Leo was just finishing his shift at the club when he got the text from CC containing the instructions she had for him. He'd heard some of what had been going on when he'd been feeding CC the night before and he had to be honest, he didn't feel up to facing V because he wasn't sure how she'd react when she saw him.

We went to the florist and browsed the bouquets for sale, thinking how much was in his account and trying to work out how much he could afford to spend. He knew that CC would refund him what was spent, and her message had said spare no expense - but still. Finally he chose an orange, square vase and had the florist fill it was a pretty display of varying species and shades of flower. Holding it in the crook of his arm, he went to the chemist and picked up some random bottle of migraine relief tablets and slipped them into the centre of the display.

Having picked up what he'd been instructed to, he made his way to V's place and set the vase right by her door. He took up a running position, heels clipping softly on the floor outside her place, and then banged loudly on her door, numerous times, right before legging it as fast as he could away from there. If she was in, the strength of his knock would definitely be heard he thought, as he ran through the city. And if she wasn't in, well, it would be something for her to find when she returned.