Path of the Vampire forum

Reflections of memory had a way of softening the reality of an event itself. Over time, emotions had cooled and details blurred into softened curves versus sharp angular edges. In his reflections he told himself their last two meetings had gone well. No, perhaps that was an overstatement. There was history to be considered, and the use of the word ‘well’ denoted a meeting of affableness and comfortability. That would be a stretch. If fact the most that really could be said about the last two meetings, is that there was no shedding of blood or bodily damage to either of them. Which, based on their relationship of the previous year, was saying something positive. Loath as he was to ruin a good thing, if one could call it good, he had to address the situation, and with such attention, may bring to and end of the neutral and grudgingly peaceful meetings.

Doc had known for quite some time that Minx been seeing the human Paladin Vern. Had been, but he thought that was over. Minx and the leader of The Order. The Order being a ‘paladin infestation’ that sought to permanently rid the world of all vampires. If it was true, how Minx managed to keep her head attached to her body, being that she was what ‘Vern’ swore an oath to eradicate, he did not know but he was going to have to find out. He needed information, it did not bode well that his spawn colluded with the enemy. He didn’t know if she was still with him. But he needed to find out. He hadn’t thought it was that big of a deal, until the harlot decided to run it’s mouth. It ran it’s mouth, and asked a lot of questions, with no proof. Questions like ‘what if I told you..’ and ‘Would you be surprised if someone said… ‘ inferring and implying.. but stating nothing.

And now the situation was worse as word was coming to him, that there was a reinforcing of The Order taking place. So now it meant it was time for him to find out.. is she was indeed still seeing him, or worse, was she actively ‘helping’ him. The time he had given Minx to sort her priorities may have failed to bring her to a different sort of mindset, therefore, it meant he needed to spell things out to her. And if he was unsuccessful, more drastic measures may have to be taken. He needed to talk to her, seriously. Niceties and politeness were secondary. But he wanted to do it in her home, her territory. He wanted to show her he could get to her. And if he could, others could as well. However, since he decided to bring up the subject he had not been able to locate her.

In normal circumstances, he would have asked someone to track her for him. But this was a family matter.. at least for the time being. If it needed to escalate, he would escalate it. But for now, he needed to find out if the ‘insinuations’ the Harlot made were true. Getting people involved too soon could have an unwelcome result, and that was the last thing he wanted. So Doc wanted to find her himself. Easier said than ******* done. In the past when they met, it was arranged by text and set in a neutral and usually busy location, mostly to ensure he didn’t have a blade shoved into his head, reminiscent of a previous ‘meeting’ they shared. They said their piece and went on their ways. A visit to her old apartment proved useless, someone else was living there now. So after a couple of weeks of canvassing the city he still had no clue where to look.

It was after another fruitless night of searching, Doc broke down and called some of his old employees. The ruthless thug type that helped him abduct people off the streets, when he was still ‘experimenting’ for the government. It had taken a couple of days, but they came through for him. Meeting his contact the preassigned location, the man nodded, as dark haired tattooed girl came out of a building. Doc peeled off a few hundred bills, handed them to the man and dismissed him. Doc crossed the street and slowly closed the distance the girl, who was more than familiar in his eyes. He would follow her, see where she went, when she stopped and waved at someone else. She changed direction, giving him a better view of her face. It wasn’t the dark haired tattooed Minx.. it was her sister, the dark haired tattooed Carmen. ****. There was no point in following her, his hands flexed into fists as his frustration built. Where the **** was she?

It is the little things which you take for granted that can be the difference in success and failure. Being so caught up and being so single minded about a single task at hand, a person can fail to notice the opportunity or the beauty that surrounds them. That was the state that Doc was in. He realized this as he barked and bellowed at his employees, which caused one of them to burst into tears. Without a word he reached into his pocket, pulled out his handkerchief and handed it to her; then he went outside to enjoy a smoke. Yes, he was a doctor, and knew the dangers inherent with smoking and he was sure his mortal staff would be more than happy to remind him when he came back in. But for the moment, he was going to enjoy his ******* cigarette regardless. Taking a long drag, he closed his eyes and leaned against the building, thinking about nothing. And that was when it happened.

The low aggressive rumble of a supercharged muscle car reverberated in the alley. His eyes flew open, his posture straightened. All this time he had spent tracking a ‘girl’… when he should have been tracking the ******* car! He had given it back. It was a one of a kind. There was only one red 1968 supercharged Mustang in Harper Rock. He flicked the half finished cigarette away and called his contact. Within an hour, he had the information he wanted.

The first time he followed the mustang, it headed east out of town. Since he was driving a rather conspicuous automobile himself, he pulled off just before the city limits, she would see the car and recognize it. Then she would be wise to him. Days later when he got the next tip, he was ready, pulling on a painter’s cap, he jumped in the white painter’s van he had used years before as a snatch-and-grab vehicle. People saw but never really stared at work vehicles. Especially dirty work worn white ones. They would glance at them and pass them, or curse them and pass them. Once he had the Mustang in sight, he obeyed all the rules of the road. He kept his speed just a little under the limit and used his signals to indicate his turns. Anyone carefully watching that particular painter’s van would think they knew exactly where they were going, and weren’t in any hurry to get there. But the truth of the matter was, he had no idea where she was going, especially as she headed once more out of the city. Where the **** was she going?

Following her at a respectable distance, falling further and further behind, he watched his Sat Nav to any turn offs up ahead. He couldn't allow himself to fall too far back as the Sat Nav indicated turns. If she turned he need to be close to make sure he made the correct one. However it turned out to be a non-issue when she turned off the highway into a private drive. Doc drove straight on past but making sure to get a good look at the location. It wasn’t a house or a business. It reminded him more of an summer or mountain escape residence on more an estate level. He drove for some miles, pondering what she was doing there.

Doc pulled the van off the road and parked for a while as he pondered the different scenarios. Was that where the Order called home? And if it was, it was a pretty good bet that, that was where she had been heading the other night as well. It could be her place and not the Order’s. But it was considerably bigger than he thought she would need. But when had things been about need? The more he thought, the more questions arose. It was clear, the only way to find out what the place was, was to breach the perimeter and have a look. He started the van and drove to within a half a mile of the turn off. He would make the rest of the journey on foot. Leaving the painter’s cap behind, he struck out for the complex. As he got closer. it turned out to be a wise choice since it appeared that the only way in was the driveway because it was surrounded by water. The only way ..unless you were ‘Vampire Jesus’ as Cat had christened him. He smirked as he walked across the water to the inside of the compound.

There were no sirens or flashing lights alerting the building to the fact that there was a trespasser on the premises, it was a good sign. Had it been the Order’s property, he would have imagined it would have been trapped to the hilt with traps, cameras and motion sensors. He melted into Shadows just in case, closing the distance to building. He scaled the wall to a second floor balcony, where he used his power of uninvited guest to allow entry.

The warm stroke of the tongue dragged upward and was firm enough that it nearly took Dominique's cheek with it. A wet snort expelled from the visiting face and she wrinkled up her nose and squeezed her eyes tightly shut just a little too late. Black strands of hair flipped out and then danced back in place as she continued on with what she was doing. Dominique was not deterred. She continued the path down folding her curvy frame at the hips. HOPE and LESS reached the floor where her bare feet were flat on the wood surface and took a firm hold covering the denim blue polished toenails with the heel of each hand. 

The count down in the back of her mind was soon interrupted with the source of the unexpected face cleansing making another trip into her space. This time her hair was involved and it stuck to her face as the heat of the tongue left a lingering trail of scent that could easily be broken down to three origins. Asparagus, tuna and chili. Her eyes shot open and met a set close to her own hue staring back at her. Upside down it would seem but in fact it was she that was. Her jaw tightened a little as the scent of what should never be combined followed her as her body uncurled at the release of her fingers otherwise toe locking her to the floor. Now she was once again erect and at attention. Not necessarily by her choice either. Vader's breath was wearing the funk of week old jalapeno infested chili, Tuesday night's vegetable from dinner and there was the tuna she couldn't place. When was that last can even opened?

The full grown Bull Terrier was literally wearing a grin as her eyes slowly narrowed. Beside theYoda costume clad canine was the house guest and likely accomplice, Nicodemus. The brindle partner in crime was wearing a cape that couldn't save its *** from the truth settling into the pores on her skin. Her hands fixed at her hips and her eyes drifted between the menacing two.

“I don't have to guess where you two have been.” Her brow shot up quick then went down as she nodded slowly. “Do I?” 

The back of her hand made a half-attempt at erasing the evidence on the side of her face. The garbage canister had been discovered yet again. She was going to start calling the green plastic container Waldo. She did not know what option was left. The dog always found it. Verne certainly didn't. If it wasn't the two in front of her managing to get the refuse compiled of daily leftovers down and out on the floor it was the exotic feline now that she thought about. It was missing as well as Verne. The golden lion of a man was likely fast asleep wherever his body finally settled. This was up to her to handle. She shrugged looking down.

“You are already on probation for the chewing up the belts and shoes. I hope it was worth it.” Dominique moved past the two who were playing it safe and staying put looking at each other. 

The walk through the first floor to the back service door where the enclosed recycling and garbage bins were went quickly. She started skipping steps on the stairs and was nearly jogging as she finally arrived. She felt a little guilty for being harsh to the mischievous pair upstairs until she shoulder slammed the heavy fire door open. When it bounced off the cement exterior wall that sense of regret went out like a flame on the tip of a spent wick. 

The half chewed tin foil wrappers from gas station burritos rested in shreds next to empty Russian brand cigarette packs and their all but consumed filters. She thought he was going to quit but pinched between her inked fingers was the proof. A few pieces of a year old tattoo magazine was still cold and slick with strings of dog saliva. She shook her fingers into the half full canister. The energy drink cans were spared but the small grocery bag of leftovers someone dumped the expired contents of the refrigerator was licked clean and missing the bottom. She sighed and bent down to begin picking up the mess left behind. All they needed was a congregation of raccoon and wilderness friends finishing the job started by two knee high superheros. 

Handful after handful she tossed their rejected items back into the canisters and glanced at the doggy door next to it when she was finally finished. They were grounded. End of story. No treats tonight and no late night run. They may just lose their costumes if they were found chewing up something else before she finally went to bed. Her hand tugged the door back open and as soon as the door clinked shut and she set the locks she used her foot to send the pet access door sealed and locked as well. 

Ten minutes later and three floors up Dominique dried off her hands at kitchen island counter. The master blade next to her hand as she dropped the red and white checkered hand towel caught her eye and it was one of those moments where she was feeling pulled. She swallowed hard while her eyes were content to stay wide open on the gleaming edge of the lethal weapon. Vader barked once then the sounds of paws and nails skating across wood floor echoed in the background. Even then her eyes stayed on the blade. Her hands didn't move but her fingertips twitched. It was going to be a draw as to which one would take hold of it. The bounce of Vader's paws at the back of her rock climbing capri clad legs didn't move her from her frozen state. Nicodemus whimpered then bolted off and out of the corner of her eye she watched Vader follow in fast pursuit. 

A chill set in to the very core of the young woman's body as her fingers walked methodically across the tiled surface bridging the small space between her and the blade. A series of barks echoed from the second floor and her grip tightened taking the weapon into her left hand. The pull was increasing. She felt it as she stepped back slowly from the counter. The return of the duo sliding across the flooring was a relief when she turned on her heels. With a pointed finger towards the kennel Nicodemus was dropped off with they hopped in and shifted around to look up with concerned stares as the door was fastened shut. She pressed a finger to her lips then disappeared literally in the first two steps she took towards the stairwell. Each flight down she prepared herself for finding nothing because that is what she wanted. Nothing there. 

The space she called home and shared with those she loved was supposed to be impenetrable. Secluded, far out in the wilderness and safe for those to come and go as they pleased. For the first time she felt that had been challenged and she would not have it. Uninvited it certainly was and whatever the hell it was it was leaving. The closer she got to the the door of the second floor the more she felt the invading presence was less foreign to her than it should be for an intruder. Would he dare? It couldn't be.

Dominique tapped the door open then killed the lights on the control panel that governed the spacious work out room, her crafting area and Verne's in house tattoo shop. this was unacceptable. Her eyes moved around in search of what was there. Vampire. She could sense it more than ever since she was carrying the same sentence. She could feel it. Her eyes narrowed, her jaw tightened and her mind raced with question only the presence could answer. Why? Why here? Her hand tightened around the master blade and she continued slowly through the floor. Whoever was there was able to hide its physical presence just as well as she was. What the **** was he doing in her home?

"You would be wise to get the **** out of here now." She growled. There was no sense in being timid in her own god damned house.

Doc coalesced from out of the shadows, holding a rather large Serval. No, not holding, cuddling. The feline appeared to be quite content as it was half draped and half cradled. The two of them in tandem looked at Dominique as though she were the interloper. “Hello Dominique.” He used her formal name, not the name he had christened her. “Interesting home you have.”

His steps were slow and ambling, as though he were having a nice evening stroll about the workout room. “Rather large for only you..” He slides a sideways look at her, “and your animals..” He scratched the feline under its chin. “I like this one.. not so much the others.” his tone was somewhat disparaging of the canines. “What is her name?” Doc’s overall demeanor was that of someone being quite congenial and polite.

He stared at Dominique, those deep endless pools of deep chocolate staring back. He almost become lost in those eyes once upon a time, and the temptation to get lost in them now was still quite strong. It was a relief to have the Serval to distract him. And as if on cue, the feline took her head and butted his own, as his caressing of her had waned. He couldn’t help but to allow a crooked grin at the cat’s actions and rewarded her with renewed affection, as his gaze was forcibly broken from Dominique. He couldn’t allow compassion .. or whatever the hell, that pull of emotion from her was, to keep him from finding out the truth.

As if something else sensed, that he was at war with himself over this very issue, when he felt a strengthening of his will. He turned his smile from the cat back to Dominique, his left brow was raised ever so slightly. The smile was cold, his eyes reflected no warmth or caring. It was the polite smile you gave someone when you knew something they did not. The type of smile that would make one wary if they were smart. He would gain nothing from her by being polite and courteous. He had gone that route once already, it had not worked. History warned him it would not work again.

His mind went back to the first time he had met Dominique. She was just as bold and unrelenting in her beliefs as he was in his. He had admired that in her. That tenacious spirit that would never say ‘die’. And yet, here they were once more, standing opposite from one another, her with her righteous indignation, and he with his dogmatic approach as to the way it needed it to be. If she chose not to comply and see the truth of the matter, they would forever be at odds. Forever at odds and it would be his own doing. Yet knowing now what he knew now, he would be hard pressed to have it any other way, if he were given the chance to do it over. He had learned far too much about himself, the ways of the city and paladins for him to pass that up for a do over. He knew there was never to be a shot at the ‘do-over’ and he was glad, because he enjoyed every ******* minute of their contentious battles.

Doc’s mind was set. He would do what he needed to. But how he would do it, still remained the question. Dominique had her weaknesses, as he had his. He would need to use them. her weaknesses, against her, in order to gain the upper hand on her. But not to break her. Never did he want to break that spirit. She would be forever lost if her spirit was broken. He didn’t want that. He wanted her spirit intact, he just wanted her not to be helping a ******* paladin.

Doc glanced around the workout room, it was large and spacious and had far too many workout accessories for for one person. Two treadmills? Only if there were multiple people working out at once. He had not inspected the upstairs, but he had seen mens attire and accoutrements in various places he had been able to poke about it. Enough to know that a man did live here. Fine, except those male accoutrements reeked of human scent which gave credence to the fact she was living with a human. However, that didn’t mean the male -was- a paladin, it could just meant she liked playing with her food. There was also a tattoo station, and he knew she loved her ink. Maybe she was shacking up with the artist for free ink?

From the photos scattered about the workout area, he knew what the human looked like now. He resembled Lions, in fact he did a double take when first glanced at the photo. Doc let the Serval jump down as he moved over toward the photo on the wall and studied it. It looked like a lot like Lionsheart, but it was not him. Though it might be amusing the tell Rina about it later. There was a smile on his face as he looked back at Dominique, as he waited for her answer about the feline’s name.

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


Dominique: Dominique. Yes, she most certainly was. All five inches over the five feet she was standing there. The sound of his voice calling her to attention was entirely different than hearing it anywhere else. Of course it would be different. He was standing in her private home holding her cat as if he was dropping by to deliver her mail she left behind or he was making the rounds with the weekend parental check in visit. The weapon in her grip felt odd as she gave it the brief thought. His tone was was firm but certainly not in her face. He entered like he had at her apartment and just strolled right on in. Her eyes never left his as he caressed her cat. Her jaw twitched each time his fingers touched her as if he knew how she wanted to be scratched. Her place was large. Rather spacious for one.She could own the southern half of the city and it really was none of his damn business and he knew it. Something was up. She stepped slowly towards the spot where he was standing.She wasn't sure what it was but his radar was likely flying off the charts as she watched him closely. The man who took everything then gave back what he could suddenly was resorting to breaking and entering and was rather comfortable standing before her uninvited. Trust. He talked about that when he handed over the keys to her car. So what did he call her finding him holding her cat on the second floor of her home? The serval hopped down and a relief set in as she caught a glimpse of Hello Kitty heading towards the back stairwell. "What are you doing here?" The blade spun slowly in her fingers. She could feel that pull. It likely was there from the very beginning. A lost cat, a less than satisfying bowl of chili and warnings from should have always been a stranger. But that changed. So much changed and even now it was again. "Forgot how to text?" She was no longer afraid. He showed her what could happen. How bad it could all get. Was there something he left out?

Doc:Dominique had ignored his question about the feline’s name, the smile he had been wearing took on an amused affect. It was amusement and admiration, because she was trying to take control of the situation. She had been surprised to find him in her home, and that was what he wanted. He wanted her unsettled, so that she was on guard. So that those little antenna’s of hers were pinging at a high rate of speed. He wanted her to remember how it was when she was on edge. When she was strung out on those nauseating energy drinks. He wanted those memories to reassert themselves. To have those memories to live in her current consciousness. He wanted her to realize if not ‘now’, perhaps later, that ‘those memories’ could once again be a way of life. Her life. Her sister’s life. Her lover’s life.

Doc glanced at his sleeve and flicked an invisible dust mote off of it, before once more looking at her. The smile gone, replaced by a passive emotionless expression. A subtle, yet telling action, that said he was in no way intimidated by her forthright question. He then looked past her to the photo on the wall of the blonde male Lions’ look alike. She chose to ignore his question, so he chose to ignore hers. He said nothing for a moment, the whole while as he stared at that photograph. It was an action that clearly should have warned her, he was memorising that male’s features. Doc already had a name, now he had a face for the that name. If she failed to see past her ‘love’, he would see to it, that many others had that name and description. And just in case, she missed the obvious, He canted his head slightly, and said softly, “Distinctive appearance on that young man, do you not agree?”

Dominique: It was hard to not watch him like everything else in the world was sucked out like a vacuum. How could he do that by standing there? Her jaw tightened more and her eyes narrowed. He was there at her last breath. He took it. He also made no apologies for it. He never would. As much as she didn't know about him she knew one thing was certain. He would do it again and again and again. Not just to her...to anyone. The chill of that thought setting in as her eyes found his gave her foot about to step forward reason to pull back. Her eyes watched his hands briefly. Those fingers cut deep. Moving her focus to his chest. Did a heart ever beat there? His head. His eyes were cold, distant but brilliant. She was not sure if it was madness or finely tuned awareness beyond anything she had the ability yet to grasp. Was there any conscious to what was around him that still had hope? Any limits...weaknesses? Nothing that he wouldn’t take? She found nothing so far that would deter him. He approached as smooth as the summer night breeze and as hard and blunt as a eighteen wheeler loaded down and forgetting speed limits, warnings or what was in it’s path.

Dominique: Dominique tried hard but that pull was something she couldn’t shake. She woke with it and she knew since the New Year it continued despite what she did to shake it. Then again would she if she could? Her thoughts were sliced with the man speaking again and this time her eyes shot wide and the layers of her skin were on alert. There was the purpose of his visit. She was prepared to grab him by the collar if he said anymore than he just did. A few topics were off limits. She would not allow him to take anymore. She would fight him if she had to but he took all the paladins he was going to get.

“Care to take this outside?” She couldn’t look at the image of Verne without feeling a splintering of all that was good left in her.

Doc:He watched the subtle changes of emotion play on her face. She had been staunchly resolved to stand her ground and enforce that play for dominance. But then her body language changed ever so slightly, from dominance to defence, once he made the comment about the male. She wasn’t giving in, yet her mindset had gone from annoyed arrogance to wary uncertainty. That was what he wanted. Now she would be thinking in multiple scenarios. She would see that there were too many variables for her to be able to control easily. Already she is trying to mitigate the damage by moving the conversation from inside to outside. That wasn’t going to happen. “No thank you, I am quite comfortable. It is very comfortable here.” He enunciated the words slowly, so their meaning would sink in on their own. It was very comfortable. What would make it uncomfortable? What indeed.

Dominique: “You spoke of trust.” She glared at his response. Was this part of the sentence he carried out? She had to lose everything? “What was I supposed to trust?”

Doc:“Trust that you knew ‘who’ and ‘what’ you are.” He sighed, “It is becoming apparent, that you do not.”

Doc was comfortable. There was no surprise in that. He was so comfortable in her place in the past he swiped her grandmother’s rosary and took it as his own as well as everything else she had left to her name. If anyone had boundary issues the vampiric race did. The world was their banquet table. Now there she stood part of the same who dwell at night. She was far more like him than she was human anymore. She struggled to hold on but how long would it take before she lost touch of what she clung to?

Dominique: “I know damn well what I am. You forget...I am here so you could show me just what it was I was fighting. Right? I get all that. Trust me...I know what I am. However, you didn’t count on some of it ...what was there when you delivered the coup de grâce would hang on. Not all of it would be so easily severed with a final heartbeat.” She slid the masterblade behind her back between the waistband of her pants and her skin.
“What the **** do you want from me? I leave you and yours alone. I stay under this fang radar and you don’t get asked to do a damn thing so what is it?”

Doc:Doc listened to her ‘poor pitiful me’ tirade. ******* females, always having to drag the ******* past up, in every ******* conversation. He didn’t envy the Blonde male at that precise moment. If she decided to stick long term with her blood doll, she would beat him down with her anger. She could hide that anger now, but as time went on, it would ooze out like acid from a dissolving container, and it would contaminate everything it touched. In reality, she would probably kill him herself in a fit of rage. But she would never see that. He allowed her to rail on, without comment. Females needed to spew.

Dominique: “If you are here because of the company I keep, where my time is spent well I have news for you…” Her eyes stilled on his. “I don’t walk into your home and poke around about who is your sheets. “Blow the ***** up, yes. Sniff around your sheets, no.”

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

Doc:“In point of fact, that is precisely why I am. I leave you alone until such time as your actions are being brought to me.. in graphic detail.. about you aiding and abetting the Paladins. Now if this isn’t true.. so be it. But if it is.. you need to have some home truths laid out for you.”

Dominique: So that was it. Verne, The Order and she did not even want to allow Kenlie to pass through her mind and stay. Who knows what powers he had. Some were mind readers. The more she thought the more he could find out, harm or take. She needed to stay calm and not allow any weaknesses to be handed over to him.

Doc:Her silence, told him she was willing to at least hear him out. He needed no second bidding, he took the opening. “Vampires that aid and abet Paladins are pariahs. They are hated. Truly despised. And when they ‘hide’ themselves.. that anger becomes exacerbated. It grows. Once that label is placed on them, they have a target on their back forever. The least little infraction, they are put down. And if they cannot be found?” He paused to smile pleasantly at her, “They kill those that are near and dear to the pariah. The spouses, the children.. the .. siblings.” Another pause, and a sigh, “They are not pretty deaths. The victims are castigated, reviled and made to wish for death. These loved ones, dying so the pariah can hide attack free, when it’s all over, the pariah.. goes into hiding for a while. Only to re-emerge thinking all is over and done with. But it isn’t. They are hunted again, and anyone remotely close them pays the price of being associated with them.”

Doc:He took a final pause, “You think that you ‘love’ him. That you can keep him safe. That as long as you don’t get caught, you two can be happy. Wake the **** up little girl. You’re a vampire. And more importantly, you are MY vampire. Do you not think long term at all? Do you not realize, the allowances he has to make for you. You live in the dark. He will never be able to have a life in the sun. You will never bear him a child. He will continue to age, while your beauty stays pristine. He will begin to have diseases and maladies, and you will still be pristine. You will always be stronger than him. You will be the one to protect him. You will emasculate him by your mere presence and he will begin to resent you. Then.. the ultimate will happen. He will want to be like you. And what will you do then? Or worse, he will be turn on you.. and you will kill him. It is inevitable. And then what will you have? You will be a pariah, hated by your own and by humans. And then there is your sister. Yes. How will she fare, when a targeted group of vampire assassins close in on her? I created you. If need be, I will destroy you.” He absently played with a ring on his hand. “You need make your choice, before I leave.”

Dominique: Dominique knew all of this...not that he would believe her if she were to reiterate everything she just said. She loved Verne. Whether he knew what that was or not she cared less; and just as he was too. Flaws and all. But what she cared enough about and never wanted to change, was his heart...the beat, the warmth and the promise it held. She was endangering all and with his final words mentioning Kenlie, she knew he would not allow either of them or any other paladin peace if she did not take heed in each last warning he gave. Was she strong enough to do just that? Put others before her even if it meant the unthinkable? The darkness just grew that much more within her. Coldness unlike she had ever known set in. If she fought the truth she would be gone quick. He and those he surrounded himself with would see to it. Then they would be plucked slowly from the ground they stood on.

“I have. I get it.” Her face hurt at each joint of her jaw as it tightened more than ever before. She would not give him the satisfaction of what he said meant within. He got what he came for, what would give him his peace and those she loved their own. “You can find your way out now. You made your point.”

Doc:“Oh.. “ He makes ‘ah ha’ sarcastic face “You get it. I made my point.” He dropped the sarcastic face and replaced it with a grim one. “I know you ‘get it’.” he said it slowly, “I need your decision.” Her mulish look told him, he would have press the matter home, much harder. “Do you know where I was, before I came here? I received a call. Someone saying I should meet them. I did. They acknowledged me, and then they pointed across the street. Do you know what I saw?” His tone was patronizing, “I saw your sister. Living her life at University. But she is actively being watched. I know it. And now you do as well. So, decision.”

Dominique: “So there is a few who don’t have anything better to do than watch others and report because that is all they can contribute. It is harder to live than to watch.” She moved towards the window he likely entered.

Doc:He laughed harshly. “Kid.. more than a few.. and they revel in it. They are just waiting for me to drop the hammer. Decision.”

Dominique: “You ever touch them and I will never allow you or yours rest. I won’t allow them to be hurt.” She wanted to bring something pain, to tear it apart for all that she was feeling at that moment. However, It would only cause more. “You have to ask my decision then you have underestimated just how much I am willing to endure and do to protect those I love. I feel for you if you never had a chance to do the same.” She pulled open the window and turned to face him and stepped to the side. “Have a nice night.”

Doc:He crossed his arms, he wasn’t moving, at least not until he received an answer. “All I have heard is indignation. You love them.. blah blah blah.. fine. And for the record, if your answer is one I don’t agree with, you can count on me being there to put them and yourself down. I would be disappointed, but it’s my job to protect the many at the price of sacrificing the few. Now. Are you staying with the Paladin. Or not?” He linked his hands together in a patient, ‘I can wait here all night’ type of gesture.

Dominique: “Aren’t you the Yertle the turtle.” Her tone was less than impressed. She was not a happy camper. In fact she was a blink away from wanting to set his whole mother ******* world on fire but that too was just not a wise move with him standing in her home. Her refuge.

Doc:Doc had to smirk at the Yertle the Turtle reference, ‘oh marvelous me.. for I am the ruler of all that I see’. “I am far from a ruler. And the fact that you made that reference, would would disappoint me even more, if I have to put you down.”

Dominique: “You have that whole messiah and god complex going on then. I hope it works out for you. Last I checked there was a world full of humans who won’t be too pleased to know we are filing our fangs in the necks of those within reach.” She had nothing to bite with and cared less but he was obviously not leaving until she announced something. “I respect those involved and don’t have any intention of telling you a god damned thing until I speak with them. Surely you can understand that. If not then you can start with meeting me outside on the ground. This ultimatum ******** I get. But don’t try prodding me like some of the cattle into a corner. I bite back and won’t be forced to bow, kneel or kiss your *** at the expense of those I care about. Relationships that I have deserve a hell of a lot more respect than that.”

Doc:“I am sorry you feel that way.” He didn’t mean her little spiteful rant. “Since you refuse to give me an answer, then I can only take that to mean you want time to alert your Paladin cohorts. You should probably tell your sister goodbye.” He pulled a tome, and opened it. He looked at her before he read it. “Your name will be synonymous with Pratts. Pity. You had such promise.” He tomed. He would have the van collected later. He called Velveteen.

Dominique: For as much as the man who left her standing there knew he seemed to be pretty numb to who she really was. On the outside she was cold, ready to take him on...on the inside she had said a few goodbyes that she didn’t feel he had a right to hear or witness. She slammed the window shut and went to lock it. Her fingers froze and her eyes shut. Nothing good would ever come from any other decision than the one she had already made. She knew what she had to do. She just didn’t feel like she owed him anything more than he already got from this visit. He was so smart he could figure it out. Until then…she would begin the steps.