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It was going to be a night much like any other. At least this is what Keara thought as she stretched her hands up over her head, as she stood in front of the wardrobe trying to decide what to wear. The wardrobe itself, mainly housed skirts and trousers, though she owned very few of the latter and wore them even more infrequently since beginning a physical relationship with her now husband. Skirts were the preferred option by both parties, not that Keara had ever actually stopped to enquire if this were true on Enver's side, she just assumed as much since they offered him such easy access to her form. A wry smile played on her lips as she realised that he probably hated the vast collection of corsets she owned for not being as amenable in their design as skirts were. As much as she liked to please her husband, sometimes fashion and style had to win out and if it helped to frustrate or tease him a little, she wasn't going to complain. Corsets, real corsets that was, were a two person job to get into, and while Enver was quite good at helping her into them when he had to, he was much more skilled at getting her out of them. Dressing in such a item also provided the added danger that they would end up distracted by the other and then any plans they had for the night would be severely disrupted. Tonight however, they had no real plans, and so she plucked a pleated, tartan skirt from off the rail and crossed the room to retrieve a black corset with lace trim.

The fact that she was getting dressed indicated that they were going out as they had one rule in their cell and that was that if they were staying in, they would be free from the constraints of any clothing. She'd already showered, though that process too was generally hampered by the presence of her beloved. Not that Keara would have it any other way. She adored Enver beyond words and any time she spent away from him, even if she were angry with him, pained her more than she would ever admit. For a shadow she was a little too dependent on his company, but happily so. Having retrieved the items she planned to wear that evening, which also included a pair of black stockings that were ripped and laddered in places and a pair of chunky high heels, she went over to the bed and began the process of dressing herself. The corset was the last article she donned and sweeping her hair to one side to expose the back of it, she then turned herself to ask for assistance.

"Can you me with the lacing help My Love?"

They were yet to discuss where they would go, or what they would do, but then none of that really mattered to Keara so long as they were together. Despite her appearance and her age, she was quite malleable and was happy to try new things. She didn't always enjoy them, but sometimes she found new activities she enjoyed, such as ice skating and lazer tag. Though Enver was not so adept at either. Dancing had long been a passion for her, but she and Enver were much better off dancing at home, than in public. For one they had more room to move about, as nightclubs didn't seem to have the same rules of decorum as the balls from her age and for the other, when in such close proximity to one another, it was better for all involved if there were no witnesses. For no reason whatsoever, and despite the fact that she believed that this night would be like any other, she was rather excited to be going out. She had a good feeling about what the night would bring, but with absolutely no powers of premonition, it didn't mean that she'd be right.

The puppies, that had been sleeping while their parents went about their evening rituals, suddenly came to life when they realised that Keara had put on a pair of shoes, and soon began to work themselves up into a frenzy in the hopes that they would be permitted to go with them. Leeloo took to chasing Gizmo about the room, and the little bundles of fur were all too son underfoot, being that they were anywhere and everywhere all at once. Ignoring the chaos, Keara waited patiently for husband's help, giving him one of her sweetest smiles, the kind only he ever saw.

His ability to lose himself in his own thoughts was something Keara was becoming more familiar with. He'd never struck her as the dreamer type, but then she knew that wasn't what this was. Try as he might to hide his emotions, Enver was an allurist and sometimes they escaped despite himself. She knew what was wrong. It had to be one of two things; he either was thinking of Lorde, who was lost to the shadow realm, or he was thinking of his birth mother who was not long for the mortal coil. In some ways she was able to empathise with both situations. That realm had taken several whom she dearly loved and while she hadn't been around to watch her parents perish of old age, she had felt their loss. Of course she had offered them all immortality. Even though it was against the code to sire recklessly. An entire family of vampires might have been just that, as they could easily explain the loss of a daughter in marriage but to give up all that they knew and travel together would have eventually taken its toll. Ven knew what Keara had done and warned her against it even, but he hadn't turned her in. She was to be his companion and he was going to induct her into the guild, whereupon he hoped she would gain a greater appreciation for the rules of their kind. Keara couldn't see Enver embracing his mother, for as much as she knew he loved her, she didn't think he'd be able to survive an eternity with her. She wasn't certain she could survive eternity with her either, though of course for Enver she would have tried. She didn't feel the woman liked her. Their first meeting had not gone well in as much as Keara had pushed her away from her but she didn't dwell on that fact, as Enver was ultimately to blame for not telling his mother not to touch her in the first place. These thoughts however had no place in the present moment, as she was determined to keep him occupied, as always. Her silly boy had a way of attracting trouble and the best way she knew to keep it from his door, was to keep him distracted. If and when Enver was ready to talk about what was on his mind, Keara would of course be there for him, but until that time came, she wasn't going to push.

"Say that you do as if it news to me," she laughed. "And while staying in quite acceptable option would be, think I do that we this night for other reasons should enjoy."

Having his arms around her was always a heady experience for Keara; though one she almost always welcomed. Having him so close to her brought with it the most amazing thoughts and sensations. In the beginning he'd blamed his power over her as being something supernatural, something linked to his path but she'd never once had those thoughts herself. Enver was a wonderful man and a very thoughtful allurist. She'd met many who would happily abuse their powers but Enver seemed to almost wish to avoid using them. With the exception of his ability to be able to inspire her to greatness, he had hardly ever used his powers upon her and when he did, the effect wasn't always of the sort either of them had expected. She was quite differently effected by him, due to the vast array of emotions that loving him brought with it. To be pacified by another wouldn't bring with it anywhere near the level of desire she felt for him when his power washed over her. A shiver ran down her spine at this thought, giving away the fact that while her words favoured going out, her body favoured staying in.

"Forget not the modesty panel right to set," she reminded him before she realised that this meant his fingertips would have to touch her skin again.

It was at times like this, when going out became the furthest thought from her mind. A small part of her almost yearned for the days when she would have a family member or one of the cleaners assist her with her clothing. There was no danger of her falling back into bed with any of them. In time perhaps this insatiable attraction to her husband would pass, not that this was something that she actually desired, it would just make leaving their cell in a more timely fashion an easier feat to accomplish. When he'd kissed the nape of her neck, she'd already had to fight the urge to turn and capture his lips with her own. The only calming thought being that she could do so before they left the house, when they would be more inclined to actually leave, rather than retreat.

"Thinking I was, that walk we should the road to Honeymead Station. Prefer I do the way that us through the park does take, but thinking I was that we by the market could stop. Like I would for to see the wares that for sale in there these days are."

There was one shop in there in particular that she liked and that was the shop that belonged to Zodiac. The woman stocked all manner of things that were loosely associated with the occult. In fact there was another shop on the opposite side of the market that specialised in a similar field. While she wasn't short on the ingredients she required for any rituals she might have to do, she was short on candles and she did so prefer the use of candles as a light source in their room. This was mainly due to the fact that if she were to have one of her fits, that the outcome would be less severe without the shattering of so much glass about them. Scented candles were her favourites, the kind that carried with them the subtle scents of nature, and that was what she was hoping to purchase from the market. It wasn't a plan for the entire evening, in fact it was barely a plan to fill the next hour, but it was a start.

She successfully muffled a giggle as Enver began to whine about the modesty panel and then promptly decided that it was a necessary evil and set about the task of setting her corset right. She wasn't about to complain about the extra time it would take, as it meant more time with his hands upon her. The suggestion to buy new toys was one Keara could have kicked herself for, as he was right, they probably could do with more things to sink their teeth into. Her eyes wandered to a small box by the dresser that was already overflowing with an assortment of half-chewed toys. They were spoiled rotten and she knew it. They had a box like this in almost every room of the asylum that the puppies regularly frequented. They even had a box in Goth Garb, and Keara rarely had to go there these days. She suspected they had boxes at each of Enver's businesses too. There wasn't much call for her to visit his places, outside of the theatre, so she didn't know for sure. Enver may act all tough and as if he didn't care about the small fuzzies from time to time, but she knew the truth; underneath all the bravado he was just a big softy.

The way in which he was speaking showed his mind was still elsewhere but the moment he took her hand, Keara pushed the thought of calling him on it from her mind. Letting him choose when he wanted to talk about what was on his mind was the best plan, though it was getting to the point that he might need a slight nudge in order to open up. Her fingers tightened around his the second time he took a hold of her hand and she nodded.

"Yes. Leave we should."

The urge to kiss him was still strong, so she rushed through the door and headed for the elevator. It was self inflicted torture to withhold affection from him but she wouldn't have to hold out much longer. The ride in the elevator seemed to take forever but it wasn't long before they were by the front door. The moment before Enver could reach for the handle, as she knew he'd likely open the door for them being that he was the chivalrous sort, she moved to block his path and quickly locked their lips together. She kissed him for as long as she dared, her free hand lovingly caressing his face before her fingers worked their way into his hair. She purred as their lips parted and smiled up at him.

"Now leave we may."

There was the faintest note of bitterness in her tone, as she knew it would probably be some time before she would be able to kiss him properly again. Some time being any time longer than an hour in Keara time. They still tried not to give in to public displays of affection, at least when they were in highly populated areas. They had no issues at all being affectionate when they knew there were no prying eyes upon them. Perhaps that was the real reason they abstained from too much PDA, it made their stolen moments together all that more exciting. They had the odd moment of course where they lost themselves around a group of strangers on a train or something, but those moments were few and far between. Try as she might, there were moments in which she found Enver completely irresistible; so irresistible in fact that she was literally powerless to resist him. He didn't need to use his God-given powers on her, she was under his spell twenty-four seven.

It made her feel better that his tone echoed her own. Though it was sad to think they'd both rather be doing something other than what she had planned, for them. Still, the night was young and if she managed to distract him for a few hours, so much the better. Not that this was the best way to distract but then they couldn't spend the rest of eternity in bed. Once across the thresh hold, he took her hand once more and she was comforted by this; he was her anchor. With him at her side she didn't have to fear falling into bad habits.

The silence as they walked didn't bother her either. Their connection ran so deep that at times they didn't need words. She was just content to be with him. It was widely believed that Shadows were perceived to be loners and she reflected on this as they walked. It was true that she was often happiest alone in the dark, at least before she met Enver, but that didn't mean that the capacity to love or the desire to be loved wasn't somewhere deep inside of them. In her first life, Keara had had a husband, though looking back on it now she wasn't sure the word suited the relationship they had. She'd loved Ven in her own way, Deanna too, but nothing compared to what she felt for the man at her side. He'd awoken something in her she never knew existed. Before he blundered into her life, she'd done her best to keep herself grounded in this reality, to be there for her childer and their childer and so on. But she was fighting her own nature alone and it was all so much more difficult back then. Enver was a gift and she knew it. She treasured him and would continue to do for as long as he would allow it. Longer even perhaps. She couldn't imagine what her world would be without him. He'd given her a gift without even knowing it. He'd made her stronger. She didn't feel the pull of the darkness as she once had. She didn't require time away from him. She was never happier or more content than when he was with her. When they were a part, she felt as if a piece of her was missing. This was not normal shadow behaviour and Ven likely would have questioned it, dismissed it even as being some sort of allurist trick. Keara knew otherwise. She'd found her soul mate.

This was what she was thinking about when he began to speak. His first question stole the smile from her lips, as she immediately believed that he was talking about them and their relationship. Did he want her to change? Had he worked out that she was beneath him in so many ways. Had he met someone else? Was she wrong in assuming that his moods had been linked to his ailing mother and his wayward daughter? When he mentioned Deanna these thoughts began to fade but they didn't disappear completely, they lingered at the edges of her mind. Enver had her confused, she had no idea what it was that he was trying to say and she knew there was more than what he was saying. His train of thought continued to confuse her, that was until she pieced it all together. This was about them. She sighed softy as she realised he wasn't contemplating leaving her.

"Myself mad I would drive if desired I did for the course of my life to change My Love. Too long do we live for our regrets with us to carry." She kept her voice low so that they wouldn't be heard by the people around them and cast her eyes up at him, as they walked, trusting him to lead her. "If desired I did for not with Ven to stay. If left him I had when he Deanna did sire. If accepted my last mission I had not. Here with you now I might not be. How could I my path wish to change when lead me here it did, to you."

Even if she could lie, she wouldn't have lied to him about this. He had to know how she felt about him. About her life. Yes, losing Ven had hurt. Losing her family had hurt. But she had gained so much more than she ever could have imagined. She had a new family now, childer of her own, a lineage and she loved them all. She felt more connected to this life than any she'd previously experienced, mortal and immortal alike.

"Chose my family did not for upon this path to tread. Fearful of it they were. At peace they were when their final breaths they did draw. Unnatural my mother said it was, for longer than our years to live. Always different from them I was though. Felt I did that this my path was. Not that I a choice was given. But born of shadows Ven said I was. This always my destiny was." She smiled at him and pushed herself up onto her tiptoes as she pulled down on his hand to bring his cheek close enough to kiss. "And told you that before have I not? Why I the gift to some do give. Few exceptions to the rule there have been. When returned I did, needed I did for this new world to know. Needed I did for to survive. Chose then I did those that of use to me could be. That perhaps still my main reason is, for my blood precious is. Deserving of it they must be. Peter's story you know. That different was. Regret that though I do not. He ours is. Like I do not when forced I am for too quickly my decision to make, mistakes then made can be if choose you do for one that injured is your gift to give. Like I do for a considered decision to make. When BI into the family I did bring. She from me was running. Needed I did for to decide if she worthy was. As if she was not, well... know you do the lengths to which go I shall for our secret to protect."

Life or death; they were the only real choices in the end. Only some met their end quicker than others; some by natural causes and others at the hands of another. Death was a part of the natural order. In this Keara's family were right. What would the world be if everyone was given the gift of eternal life. Forgetting the obvious feeding issues, the world would stagnate. The old had to give way to the new, that was nature’s way. To leap forward, society sometimes had to fall back. Enver was young though and Keara wasn't sure if he could fully understood this, as it was difficult to explain what she'd seen over the decades. It was the kind of thing most people had to come to on their own.

The kind of wisdom that came with living as long as their kind did was one of the lesser known advantages of being a vampire. Lesser known that was in this day and age as almost all of their number, save a baker's dozen, were less than a few years old. They were however, in some ways, a perfect example of what she'd been trying to get at. New life had brought with it new powers. New discoveries. A new world. She had had to put her old ways behind her to survive and she herself had been reborn a new. Of course she knew this wasn't what Enver wanted to hear, he was looking for an excuse to turn his mother and she knew that now with absolute clarity.

It was strange really, as she'd never felt so connected to her husband as she did in that moment. It had perhaps been building for some months but now it was as if, when he needed her most, she could sense it. She knew he was in emotional pain, she knew the cause and she felt it as it was her own. What she didn't yet realise was that Enver had once again awoken another new power within her. She'd long felt the he was her other half, had long suspected that if soul mates existed, that, that was who he was to her, but it was never clearer to her in that moment. She had known him over a year now and had gotten to know him extremely well in that short amount of time; probably as they spent every possible moment that they could together. Some might believe that their attraction to one another was purely physical but their relationship hadn't started that way, she had fallen for him long before their lips had ever even met. They talked about anything and everything, and over time Enver had come to trust her and began to open up to her more and more. She accepted the good and the bad in him, as he did in her. Their strengths and weaknesses complimented one another. It was through all of this, the depth and breadth of their connection, that this new power had been born.

She sighed to realise he was trying to avoid stating the obvious and pulled him off to one side, out of the way of the late night shoppers that rushed on past, eager to get their things and get home.

"My Love," she said taking his face in his hands and looking into his eyes. Those beautiful, big, brown eyes that she just wanted to get lost in. "Always honest with me you can be. Know I do that we our misunderstandings have. But sometimes know I do your thoughts before said them you have. Wish you do for your mother to turn. Yes? Long have you for her worried. Known I have for a while that Lorde and Emilee in your thoughts have been. Waited I have for you of them to speak and yet very little have you of them spoken. Tell me you must what distresses you so. Feel it from you I can. Feel it I do as if these my own worries were."

The shoppers around them paid them little to no attention. They were so obviously having some kind of private moment and even those that would have stopped to eavesdrop carried on by, as Keara spoke in such soft tones that they would have been hard pressed to have heard any of what was said. She looked into his soul as she held his gaze, her own eyes almost a mirror image of his own emotions. Only her worry was deepened by the fact that she was also concerned for him.