Path of the Vampire forum

<Kaspar>

Outside he took a deep breath, while he didn’t force his hold on Vienna his hand hovered close to her, protective without encroaching on her personal space. “Car is this way, come on.” He spoke it quietly, trying to keep his voice pleasant enough in case anyone chose to continue listening, to follow them. There was no need to speak, not until they were long gone and so he stayed silent as they walked the half black to where he’d parked the large black jeep.

<Vienna Torres>

The walk to the jeep seems like an eternity. She sets a brisk pace, her head held high, but it isn’t just the chill of the air that makes her shiver.

“Thanks.” Her voice is subdued, the word ending in a sigh. She realized that she’d put her arms around herself, hugging her midsection. She let them drop back to her side, sticking her hands into her pockets.

<Kaspar>

Without preamble he opened the car, assisting her up into it and shutting the door behind her, Kaspar moving around to seat himself. Once the doors were closed he turned on the engine, cranking up the heat and locking the doors. “No need to thank me.” There was still a quietness to his tone, something gentle there as he reached over to ensure she was buckled in. He knew she could do it herself, but right now he wasn’t taking chances, he wanted them out of there quickly. Buckled up and music on, he was ready to go, steering them out into the night. It was only then that he began to relax, nodding along to some song he only vaguely acknowledge. “Are you alright? I’m sorry, I just wanted to get you out of there. Please, don’t think i’m actually trying to claim you as my pet human or something equally pathetic. You are yours, you don’t have to belong to someone but… Looks like you do.” His brow raised, it was questioning.

<Vienna Torres>

She should have totally bitched at him about helping her buckle in. It wasn’t like she couldn’t do it herself. Instead, she leaned her head back against the headrest, letting the music wash over her. Not the usual type of music she would use as a lifeline, but it would do.

When he spoke, she glanced over at him. At the time, she hadn’t been sure that he hadn’t been trying to claim her. She felt better knowing that he hadn’t, but...all the rest of them, they spoke as if this was a common thing. Humans were just food or pets.

“I had to do it,” Vienna said. She heard the defensiveness in her own tone. “He would have killed me if I hadn’t made a bargain with him.”

She didn’t need to justify herself to him, but she wanted to speak. In the last few days, she hadn’t told anyone, wondering if Trahir Trahison would show up again. “He keeps bodies in his lake. A ghost I spoke to told me about it. He was one of the ones in there - before he died, that ******** tortured him. Crucified him.”

<Kaspar>

“I understand.” He did, he saw the way the guy was, there was no way she could survive him without bargains and deals, but it frustrated Kaspar to no end. His hands tightened on the wheel at her words, knuckles whitening. “I ******* hate vampires sometimes, you know?” A steadying breath hissed out between his teeth, “So many of them think they are above, beyond. They forget what it was to be human, and they destroy senselessly. Cruel, cold, stupid. I have people I care for, people who are important to me and it makes me sick to know there are those out there like him who would destroy them without a thought. No wonder we get hunted, shot. It’s because of monsters like THAT! And he acts as if i’m the threat, the problem. **** him… I wouldn’t…” He looked over at her, gaze moving over her features. “Look, you weren’t at risk of…”

Yeah, awkward, no. He looked back at the road, the studio wasn’t far, he’d go there first mostly for appearances and to ensure she was alright for now, then he’d make sure she got home safe and sound. “What he said… I would not have put you in risk of that. He’s demented, and he doesn’t know me.”

<Vienna Torres>

She’d braced herself for him to roll his eyes and say something annoyingly Kasparish - when he only said that he understood, she flinched as if he’d struck her. That was the comment that brought tears to her eyes. She blinked, because she wasn’t going to cry. She wasn’t.

She turned to look out the window, but at his comment about hating vampires, she shot him a startled look. He talked as if he wasn’t one. Back in there, he’d excelled at playing vampire. But she believed his rage - and she understood it. Shared it.

“Yeah.” One corner of her mouth tugged up reluctantly - not quite a smile and wobbly. She gave him a sidelong glance. “I know I’m not at risk for a chestburster baby. I was there.”

<Kaspar>

He flinched visibly, allowing her to see the reaction, though the words made him laugh. A short, sharp sound, but it was laughter nonetheless. “Chestburster? It’s… That’s not quite how it works, but hey, it isn’t that far off from what i’ve heard. God…” His hand retracted from the wheel, rubbing over his face, “So messed up. Right?” Kas scoffed, “Look a lot of this is new to me too, but unlike many I don’t hold myself entirely above the law’s of man. I have respect for life, and not intending to go out of my way to be a psychopath. Yes, I need blood.” He swallowed hard, rolling his shoulders.
“I don’t need to kill to get it, though. There are willing people out there, and I have friends who can assist. I try to avoid feeding from strangers, less mess, but sometimes it is a necessity. To survive.” He wasn’t like those who gorged themselves endlessly, who just wanted to bathe in it, to rip and tear. He had control, for the most part. “If you are part of this world, you really ought to learn more about it. What is he teaching you?”

<Vienna Torres>

She was sorry when she saw his flinch, but at his next comment, she giggled. Borderline hysterical, which was probably a bad sign - she bit her lip after a moment, stopping herself. Still, he was right: so messed up. Like vampires were actually an allegory for teen pregnancies or something.

She believed him when he said that he respected life. As for the willing people...who would willingly give blood? How much blood did he need? How many vampires were like him? She had so many questions.

At his question, her mouth twisted. “I imagine he’ll tell me how not to break the Masquerade. Which is a stupid name, by the way. He might teach me more if he’s in the mood.” She shrugged.

“I’m supposed to learn from those...um, mystics in the Triads. Apparently, they have some kind of kung fu magic. Or at least, he thinks they do.” She shot Kaspar a questioning look.

<Kaspar>

“The Masquerade is stupid, in general, and it's falling apart. Many people are preparing for the worst, expecting it to buckle. I'm not sure what to think, I'm still learning about it all. You don't just get turned and BAM, knowledge. Some are unlucky, some don't have guidance.” He thought of Adley, rejected, abandoned by his lineage for what he was. The man had to figure it out alone, and had been stunned by a few revelations.

“Triads, huh? Well, I guess you have to figure out your strengths and play to them. Knowledge is power for a lot of vampires, but some are just senseless, blood obsessed things. There are those who have no humanity left. Find your strengths, Vi, and pick your allies.” They pulled up outside the studio, Kas killing the engine.

<Vienna Torres>

When he mentioned that the Masquerade was falling apart, her eyes widened slightly. Then she felt foolish. Of course it was. How many videos of vampires, how many unexplained events were there in just this one town? Those vampires weren’t careful.

People were going to die if it fell apart. But people were already dying. People were always dying - but there were better and worse ways to die.

“If the masq falls apart, I bet all the fangirls are going to fall over you. Real vampire rock star,” she said instead.

She frowned at his next comment. He’d said that once before, already: pick your allies. Was this the way things worked in his world? You found people you could use and then you made use of them, because it was too dangerous to go at it alone as a human. Maybe if you were a vampire, too. She didn’t want to live like that. But she didn’t like the other choices better, either.

“Are you offering?” she asked at last.

<Kaspar>

Her response gave him cause to laugh again, this time far more genuine and relaxed. “Girls do love vampire rock stars, I read it in a book once. Fun fact? Boys do too.” Kas unlocked the car, hopping out and coming around to Vienna’s side, opening the door and offering his hand.

It wasn't a demand, he wouldn't be annoyed if she did not accept assistance but he knew she was shaken and the car wasn't the easiest thing to get in and out of if you weren't either tall or particularly athletic. “I don't know, Vienna. Am I?” They’d had a similar conversation recently, but it was different. It was pushing boundaries, it was letting her know he WAS a threat if he chose it.

Tonight he had sought to protect her, was that not answer enough?

<Vienna Torres>

Absurdly, she felt better. She rolled her eyes. “Yes, everyone will love.” Unclipping her seatbelt, she eyed him. That book wouldn’t happen to be by Anne Rice, would it?

She could have left the Jeep herself, but she took the hand he offered and let him help her down.

"You're being cryptic," she accused him. "Is it a rock star thing or a vampire thing?"

She paused. "I'd make a shitty ally - and I don't want to play those vampire games anyway." She didn't want to think like that, though she had the feeling she didn't have a choice any more.

She wrinkled her nose. “Besides, Grey would kill me if I got you in trouble.”

She hesitated for a moment, but if she didn’t ask, then she wouldn’t know. “How about friends, instead?”

<Kaspar>

“It's a Kaspar thing.” He quipped, helping the woman down, ensuring she was steady on her feet before stepping back to give her space. He considered her, listening to her words. “I don't want to either, I really don't.” It was true, while he was good at games, he wasn't interested in playing people or making them pets.

Claiming them, making it known they were connected to you at times appeared necessity, but otherwise he wasn't going to do as they did.

“Grey… He would, yes.” The soft smile, the scoff of laughter was affectionate. “Come on, let's go inside, I wasn't entirely kidding about work. How would you like to help your friends house hunting? Hm?” The man left the offer hover, walking towards the safety of his studio.

Tonight had gotten interesting.

<Vienna Torres>

She scoffed at his comment about how being universally liked was just a Kaspar thing, though it didn’t have the same force that it would have a day ago.

At his next words, she nodded. There had to be a better way. And if there wasn’t...well, she’d deal with that when it came. And it didn’t mean that everything needed to be quid pro quo, you squash my enemies, I squash yours.

“House hunting? I thought - “ So had Trahir. She burst out laughing, following after him. “What are you looking for, and where? And - “ She tilted her head, watching him like a hawk. “ - you two are moving together?”

She didn’t mind the notion as much as she would have before. Didn’t mind it at all, in fact.

<Kaspar>

The familiar sound of the teeth of locks parting soothed him, opening up the studio door to let her inside. It was empty, but the front light was always on in the evenings. He turned on the remaining lights, gesturing towards the kitchen area. “Feel free to grab yourself a cup of tea or coffee, there is also hot chocolate… OH, and biscuits.” He was distracted, clearly and already heading towards the studio door.

Opening it he went into the main area, heading over to the large piano that sat towards the middle, grabbing a small stack of folders off the top. “Uh, yes, house hunting.” Kaspar called out, flicking through them to re-order, opening one with a little “ah” sound.

Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his glasses, placing them on. It was habitual now, rather than to actually deal with the eye strain that was brought on by hours of reading. “Well… He is wanting a new place, and has decided I should have a say.” He cleared his throat, pulling out a form and placing it on top, strolling back in towards the kitchen.“He mentioned something about wanting a spare room for me to use as a study, or a nursery… I have resigned myself to the fact that he will do it no matter what I say.” His smile was vague, coy.

<Vienna Torres>

More caffeine wouldn't do her any good, and she'd already had coffee. She filled up the water boiler and searched the cabinets.

They'd known each other for what, a few months? And Grey had just been dating Jameson. But then, Grey took people way too seriously.

Hang on, had he just said -

"A nursery?" Her eyebrows rose. She turned, studying his expression. “Like - the kind you put babies in?”

<Kaspar>

“Mmm? Oh, yes, the kind you put babies in.” He grumbled a bit, dropping down onto the couch and laying out some of the printed out copies of real estate listings. “We are going to be having children, didn’t he tell you?” His grin was puckish, and didn’t take long to twist his features as he gave her that tidbit to mull over, to wonder if he meant it.

The blonde rocker rummaged in his pocket, tugging out his phone and tossing it atop the pile of documents. “I don’t need your help looking for places, but I thought it might be an idea to have you check them out. See if they were… You know…” It felt ludicrous to say the word haunted and so he couldn’t quite bring himself to.

When he swiped the phone to life a picture of him and a woman came up as the background. Between them they held a precious little bundle, a baby with white blonde downy hair and eyes that held the same shape as Kaspar’s. In the picture the woman smiled adoringly, and Kaspar’s tongue was curled, flicked out to lick the tip of her nose. There was a world’s worth of love in that photo, clearly a happy day.

<Vienna Torres>

Her eyes widened. He had to be trolling her. There was no way that after two months, they were planning to adopt a kid -

This went beyond "moving fast" and straight into "speeding train" territory.

“Sure,” she said, her eyes trailing to the pile of papers. Those looked like printouts. Who even printed things out these days? “Though I might not be able to t - “

Her eyes fixed upon the phone background. She realized what she was seeing: a picture of a ridiculously cute kid with fuzzy white-blonde hair, held by a woman she didn’t recognize and Kaspar.

“You jerk!” She turned to Kaspar, scowling at him. “You have a kid? Is that your wife? This was never on Wikipedia!”

<Kaspar>

He laughed in a satisfied sort of way, smug even, as he typed in his password with lightning fast fingers and flicked through the phone, tugging it towards him to type out a quick text to let Grey know what he was up to, and who with. He figured the guy might be interested to know they were playing nice.

Not that he let Vienna see what he was typing, that would be too much “sharing is caring” ********.

“Yes… I have a son, and yes, that is Sigrid the woman I call Wife. You clearly didn’t stalk enough, Vi.” He snickered, eyeing her. “It’s quite easy to edit Wikipedia pages, and ensure certain bits of information stay off there. However, the forums make mention of it, and there are a few pictures if you google. Lots of Sig and I, and there was even a few gossip mag articles. Lord help me, those were frustrating. “Did he elope to Canada? Is that his baby? Is Hel headed down the aisle with Canadian model Sigrid? Nik Cherry, proud grandpa gushes over his son’s adorable baby boy who he says was named for him.” Blah, blah, nonsense.”

He scoffed, once more directing her attention to the pages. “Anyway… I have a contract outlining everything. It’s as simple as coming along to his top three favourites, checking them out, seeing if anyone is overly talkative. If not, it is ok.”

<Vienna Torres>

He’d pulled the phone away, so she didn’t have much time to study the woman - Sigrid, he’d said, which sounded like something out of a Norse myth - and the son. She’d known he was married, and he’d mentioned that Sigrid didn’t like her. It had left Vienna with a predisposition to despise the woman, because who the hell was this lady and what right did she have to pass judgment on Vienna?

In the picture, her arms had been wrapped around the baby, tender and protective, her smile filled with love and affection for the two in the picture with her. Sigrid looked like someone who was sure that the three of them belonged together, that they were a family.

The water boiler beeped. She stepped back toward it, giving Kaspar an expressive eyeroll (because seriously, he was way too smug about trolling her there).

“I can be a ghost dowsing rod.” She set a mug down on the counter and added some cocoa. “When are the visits going to be?”

She poured hot water into the mug. “You want some too?”

<Kaspar>

He noted the eyeroll, mimicking it with that some cheeky expression. “No thank you, i’m fine.” His hands made quick work of sorting through, pulling out a couple of pages. “These are looking like good bets. Mmm, not entirely sure. Depends how long it takes Grey to decide? And for our schedules to match up.” His shoulders hitched in a shrug.

“I want him to ensure he considers it thoroughly, take his time. He is good it rushing, isn’t he? Just powering ahead once he makes a decision.” There was a slight touch of concern to the words, Kas considering it.

“I told him to slow down, but i’m not sure if heard me. Oh sure, he HEARD me, but he is good at saying “ok” and not really meaning it. “Be careful”, “Ok”, ********.” It was said affectionately, as if it frustrated him but he accepted it. It was just Grey.

<Vienna Torres>

She nodded as he refused the cocoa. Too bad, though. She’d added way too much water to the boiler.

She picked up a spoon and stirred the hot chocolate. Heading back toward him, she frowned at his words.

“Yeah.” Her eyes dropped to the hot chocolate. “I know what you mean.”

She settled down onto the couch, blowing on the hot chocolate to cool it. “Just text me when you’ve got something scheduled. I can make it as long as it’s after school.”

Unless Trahir started making other demands on her schedule. Between the training he wanted and his general, controlling dickishness, it seemed likely.

Between the talk of househunting and the revelation that Kaspar had a baby, she’d almost managed to forget how she’d ended up here in the first place.

She took a sip of the hot chocolate, barely tasting it. Then, she turned her head, looking at Kaspar. “I don’t want to tell Grey about Trahir.”

<Kaspar>

He made space as she came to sit, allowing her plenty of room and keep his long limbs directed away from her. Safer that way, for everyone involved. As much as it did not bother him, having no intention of… Well, having no intentions, he didn’t want to give her any opportunity to flip her switch again. A thought struck him, that he should probably explain to her how easy it would be for him to calm her if she did, and he had been forced to.

“Wait, are you asking me to keep things from my boyfriend, hm?” He used the word, mostly to get a rise, though it fit if he thought about it. Kaspar rarely liked the term boyfriend or girlfriend, he tended to stick to lover or partner. Both meant simultaneously more and less, they were more loosely interpreted.

<Vienna Torres>

Okay, when he put it like that, it sounded bad. She frowned at him. “He’ll worry.” She ran a hand through her hair. “Or he’ll try to, I don’t know, rescue me, and he’s already - “

That wasn’t the only reason she was asking. Vienna shoved that thought aside.

She shook her head. “There’s no reason the subject needs to come up. I mean, he’s not going to ask you, ‘hey, is Vienna hanging out with scary psycho killer vampires these days?’”

<Kaspar>

He turned on her, brows raised, studying her face. “He’s already... No, no i’m not going to ask. I don’t want to know, do I? God, you two, you will be the end of me I swear it.” He began muttering under his breath, the words a string of German curses.

As he was done, a little sigh escaping, he deigned to answer her. “Oh, well, with you? Ja, it might, Vienna. Seriously, it wouldn’t be the first time.” Gestures to himself, fluttering his lashes.

<Vienna Torres>

Her eyes flicked back to her chocolate as he muttered something under his breath - probably swearing, she thought. She frowned.

“If I got into trouble, there’s no reason he’d expect you to know,” she told him. “And please, you’re not scary.”

She set the cocoa down, leaning back against the couch. “Look. I have this thing with Trahir under control.” Then she winced, because okay, that was too ******* big of a lie even for her. “Okay, maybe not, but telling Grey won’t help and will probably hurt, so as long as he doesn’t ask…”

<Kaspar>

It was his turn to roll his eyes, so often the case when it came to Vienna. “Under control? Believe me, you don’t. That guy is… He’ll snap one day, and you’ll suffer for it. I know that you had to do what you did, but I hope for your sake that guy is taken out before he does.” His shoulders hitched, what else could he say on the matter? He could offer no real assistance other than advising her to be cautious, and to learn how better to use a weapon. “You should train in something he doesn’t know about, too, some secret trick in case. Also, there is an item, a relic that causes vampires difficulty feeding from humans. I suggest you speak to Grey about it, and try to find one.”

Ah yes, Grey. Keeping secrets didn’t set well with him, “I won’t bring it up, but if he asks then i’ll tell him. You’re right, it’s unlikely to come up… And yes, the pain in my *** would run off and get himself killed for it. No doubt.” This brought on a genuine frown, he knew all too well how often Grey acted selflessly, stupidly and put himself in harm’s way. He’d accused him of having a death wish, Grey hadn’t been able to entirely deny it.

“Also… I resent that “not scary” remark. I can be, I just choose to be gorgeous and loveable instead.” He tsked disapprovingly at her, managing to keep a straight face as he gave her his best model pout. Considering he had modelled, it was fairly convincing.

<Vienna Torres>

She gave him a withering scowl. He was patronizing her again, acting like he knew so much more, just because he was older! And a vampire. Still, it was almost a relief, the way they fell into old patterns. She forced herself to focus on her indignation, because the alternative was confronting the chasm of terror that loomed at his words.

Of course she knew that Trahir would snap. Kaspar was a person, but Trahir was...just a killer, something predatory and waiting to bite. She’d have called him rabid if he weren’t so damned cold most of the time. He'd already come close to snapping today - just look at how he'd treated Kaspar, how he'd clawed up his fuckbuddy or girlfriend or wife or whatever the hell Shadis was to him.

She didn't want to think about it. Freezing up wouldn't help her, she told herself, but that wasn’t the real reason. The truth was her mind just skittered away from the truth, from the sheer wrenching terror of knowing that she was only a step away from death and there was nothing she could do about it. Nothing Grey or Kaspar could do about it, either.

She could read that in the way he didn't offer her anything but advice. She was on her own.

She blinked at him, momentarily derailed. "A relic? Like...a saint’s knucklebone or something like that?" she asked.

It probably wasn't what he'd meant, but it was the first thing her mind had leapt to. All those years of boredom in Mass as a kid had stuck.

A deep frown had appeared on Kaspar face as he spoke of Grey - there was a serious note in his voice, a different note than his usual, exasperated sulks. Winding a hand through her hair, Vienna studied him. He really did care about Grey a lot, even after only a few months. Even though they were...different species. Even though they were...mutual predators? Hang on, did they eat each other -

Okay, that was a bit too much speculation.

She gave a disdainful toss of her head. "That is exactly why you're not scary." She smirked at him.

It would have been nice to make fun of him some more, especially since they weren't actually fighting for once, but she had Trahir on the mind. And he wasn't the sort of problem you hid from. No matter how much you wanted to.

"Thanks for...keeping my secrets." Grey would be furious if he found out. They both knew it. But it had to be done.

Her hands had bunched into fists. "Trahir threatened my mom." She stared down at the cocoa and imagined that she could just stab Trahir in the face. If only it was that easy. "I don't want her to - " She shook her head, her mouth setting in a stubborn line. "I have to be careful. If he asks, tell him I don’t want him to interfere. "

Vienna lifted her head, glancing sharply at him. She shoved her own brooding aside. No more angsting. Come on, Kaspar already thought she was a loser teenager.

"What can you tell me about vampires?" She leaned forward, elbows propped on her thighs. "Grey didn't tell me much, and I can't trust anything Trahir says. What are your powers?" A pause. "Do people ever succeed in killing vampires?"


<Kaspar>

“A saint’s… Not quite, but along the same lines. These ones actually have uses. There is one that can cause vampires pain and damage them if they drink from you, Grey has one. He might be able to assist in you finding one, and while i’m not exactly THRILLED with the idea, it would mean you’d be safer and less of a worry for us.” Us, he spoke of himself and Grey, without any real thought on the matter. It had become easier and easier to do so over the past month.

She spoke of her mother with a fierce defensiveness, one that made Kaspar reluctant to push, that and he had no great interest in learning about her mother or having to care. He had only limited capacity to give a damn, especially about people he didn’t know. “I’m sorry to hear that, you see how easy it is to put someone in danger? How easy to get caught up in this nonsense? Does Trahir know of anyone else close to you that might be at risk?” He looked briefly smug, brushing fingertips through his golden mane, “I mean the creep clearly was not my biggest fan, oh no, I bet he would quite happily try to tear my limbs off.” For some reason this seemed to amuse Kaspar more than distress him, he wasn’t about to admit he’d lost a limb or two already since his turning.

As the topic turned back to vampirism and Vienna’s enthusiasm to learn more about it Kaspar grew serious, a slight frown at her questioning their deaths. “Well, i’m not sure i’m super comfortable telling you how to kill me, or all the tricks I have up my sleeve…” He groaned, folding his long legs up onto the couch, getting a bit more comfortable. “However, I will give you some information. For example… My abilities are largely related to intimidation and persuasion. I am a GREAT person to take shopping.” He chuckled to himself, “I can command humans to come together and attack, to riot against a person or to do my bidding. Other vampires, too, can fall under my spell or be inspired by my words and feel stronger. I also am able to sing to people, to lure them, to draw them in.” He cleared his throat, having the good sense to look feign sheepish, “It can sometimes work on impressionable humans if I use a more sing-song tone of voice, too.”

He had, in fact, had to do it to her a few times to soothe her anger. However, he had always ensured to allow her freedom of thought, it was just a way to get her to briefly calm down. There was no time at which he had used it to influence her decisions, especially not… “So murder, huh? Yes, we can “die” in a way, but we become trapped in a place known as the Shadow Realm. If our will is strong, and we find a sort of doorway we can exit it, we can return. Sometimes we keep the wound that killed us, but will eventually recover. You may manage to kill him, Vi, but he might just keep coming back more vengeful than the last time.” He shrugged, “More specific questions?”

<Vienna Torres>

"He looked through my phone contacts," she said. She looked away. "He saw Grey's name in there."

Vienna rolled her eyes at his groan when she asked about vampirism. She was just about to point out that knowing someone's weaknesses didn't mean that she was going to exploit them - did he really have such low expectations for her? But he had started talking, and she let him continue to speak.

Trahir seemed to have similar powers. He'd been able to persuade and command, though of course, she couldn't really imagine Trahir singing, or even saying anything in a voice that didn't practically scream "I'm a psycho killer".

Kaspar hadn't mentioned being able to turn his hands into claws the way Trahir did, but the thought of that was driven from her mind by his next words.

"You must be ******* kidding me," she said. She rose, running her hands through her hair. "You come back from death?"

That was so unfair. Was there really nothing she could do? The relic Kaspar had mentioned sounded like something she wanted, but it didn't sound like it would be anywhere near enough. The worst things that vampires could do weren't as simple as that.

It came a surprise when her phone chimed in her pocket. She reached for it and saw the text.

"My mom’s asking where I am," she said. “I should get home. Can I ask you more question later?"

<Kaspar>

He knew about Grey. And Kaspar had mentioned the name in front of him. “****… Ok, so, now i’m on his list of “to be fucked with”. I’ll have to inform Eva, tell her to keep her sneaky eyes peeled for trouble.” The man groaned, she was speaking about her mother, about getting home but Kas was already moving, already reaching for keys and coat.

“Yes, i’ll make sure you get home, Vienna, I have things to do myself now. Just try to stay low, stay out of trouble and let me know if you get into. You have my number? Make sure you do, we should be able to contact one another in case of an issue. You are to call me if something happens, yes?” He didn’t wait for reply, reaching for the young woman and shuffling her towards the door as he had done the last time they had ended up here speaking.

Another night of him taking her home, waiting to ensure she got inside before rushing over to check on his Wife and son, to check on Grey and ensure the Hive were alright.

Another night of too many responsibilities.