Path of the Vampire forum

Being a vampire had its perks. Castalia had accepted the embrace of death with some difficulty at first; it had been hard when she’d realized what happened, she hadn’t understood why her face was reflected as a corpse in mirrors. The hardest part, really, had been that she no longer was fit to be a mother in the condition that Kika had put her in; the constant thirst, the undeniable desire to kill as a fledgling. That, however, was then, and now? Two years had passed from the night her sire had left her on the side of the road after feeding on her. No longer was Castalia angry or upset; the woman had become a successful businesswoman and her relationship with her parents had mended.

Nolan was dead. Her relationship with her children was strained, she’d written letters to them both explaining her decision and while neither understood now, Castalia still watched them from a distance. She made sure that they had more than enough money to survive; their lives had never been rough with their mother on a nurses salary and their father working as a paramedic, but it would always be better for them. She’d make sure of it. She had siblings as a vampire at one point, an only child at birth; they had since disappeared and as she stood looking down at the clubgoers, Castalia missed only Delaney. She’d thought the upbeat woman would like Allure.

It wasn’t an unusual evening.

The music was playing loudly, the sea of bodies moving along with the beat as the smell of alcohol mixed with perfume and cologne, twinged with a hint of b.o. that was easily dismissed when one wasn’t on the dance floor. Removing her phone from her pocket, Castalia sent a text message to her childe and partner, Cedric asking if he needed anything later on before the two would retire to their home. With her usual drink in hand, the allurist returned the device to the pocket of her leather jeans. Over the music, she missed the snippy banter that security had been giving her guests, something that she would give him hell for and have Rhys work the door before replacing him behind the bar.

Looking over to the bar, she could only smile to herself. Success wasn’t new, but she appreciated seeing people enjoy the fruits of her labor. There were the regulars who she’d gotten to know, university students who didn’t want the atmosphere of the sports bar that she’d gone to as a student herself, nor the feeling of her own bar, Envy. There were scantily clad women who liked to go for drinks - often going home with their choice of businessman who played the card of expensive when in reality, they couldn’t afford half the bottle of the scotch they bought to flash around. And, as Castalia preferred to toss out, there were the men who lurked. Who watched and listened, waiting for a girl who was just a little too trusting, a little too full of alcohol to prey on.

It was one of these men who Castalia could spot straight away. Frank was serving him something fruity, the old man not noticing the way something was dropped into the drink while the girl looked away. As Rhys caught it, however, she watched as he knocked the drink off the bar - something she’d ***** at him for later, and she began to make her way down the stairs.

It was the same **** night after night.

Castalia had learned quickly that with the entertainment and alcohol scene came the aspects of lowered inhibitions and stupid decisions. It also brought along the perverted and the cruel, mixing manipulation with pleasure. She'd decided to begin patrolling after the news of an assault had reached her ears, taking place right outside of Allure. Security had been doubled after that, the bartenders trained to spot instances of someone spiking a drink. She supposed it was the flaw lust that brought some of the scum back - the ones who were caught were thrown in jail or dealt with by Castalia. It never ceased to amuse her, the fact that some of them thought they would be able to overpower the smaller woman, unaware of her abilities.

Just as she hadn't missed the mess created from the blonde, Castalia heard someone order a water. She couldn't help but offer a weak smile upon the words. There was good within her establishment tonight, too. "Thank God." She thought as she watched Rhys' expression turn from concentration to one of brief disgust. The janitor was motioned towards and as she paused to lift her glass to her lips, she adjusted her blazer arm slightly. The man who had been putting something into his date's drink slipped his hand against the small of her back, he said something that made her laugh. As a nurse, she'd seen time and time again the after of what was going to be. She'd seen enough tears to last a lifetime, enough hurt to fill two. "I trusted him." She'd heard the words over and over again, "Who could have done this?" There was the far and few male victim, too, she thought as she smiled towards a group of college boys who had become regulars. As a mother? It made her fear for her daughter's future.

It was those victims, too, that had broken her heart.

With each step that drew her closer to the couple, she debated on the way to go about things. Her body weaved gracefully alongside those on the floor, avoiding being bumped or brushed up against. In her pocket, she held a gold letter opener - something light and easy to use, despite being inconspicous to a cop that may potentially stop her on the street. As a business owner, it was plausible for her to keep one on her and forget about it. Before her inability to tolerate human blood, she would have just as easily used her fangs in ambush. But now? Now, it took planning and carefully luring the men - or women, as rare as they were - out to where they wouldn't be seen.

It occurred to her as she was blocked by a younger girl dressed in a pink leopard print skirt that she could always make an area in the basement where screams couldn't be heard... only to dismiss the idea. In the long run, it would be too much trouble. Blood was left behind if not taken care of meticulously, and although Castalia was just that when it came to cleaning, it wouldn't be enough. There were too many risks to be added together. She moved to the couple and slipped her arm against the back of the man's chair before flashing one of her most charming smiles, her fangs concealed. "I don't mean to interupt," Her head inclined as she spoke, "But, I think your friend just lost it a bit on herself."

Castalia drew the girl's attention away from her spilled drink. She didn't know if they were friends. She'd seen them together briefly in the beginning of the evening, but that hadn't meant anything. Her contact colored gray eyes showed concern as she could feel the glare radiating off the man to her side as she played the ultimate cockblock. As expected, the girl sighed, frowning. "I'll just have to take her home. I'm sorry, Rodney." 'Rodney', however, reached to grab her arm. "Oh come on, baby. Just one more drink. I'll buy." Instead of falling for his charm, she pulled away and insisted that she needed to get to her sister. Under the bright lights, she wondered how old both girls were and made a mental note to roll through her cameras later to make sure that the bouncer had been doing his job properly.

Earlier in the week, he'd gotten reamed a new one for letting in underage girls from the University. Wiggling her fingers in the direction of the girl as she went to collect her sibling, Castalia heard movement to her side and glanced over just as the man began to slide off his stool. He smelled of tobacco and cheap scotch - she wouldn't have given him a second glance at the worst point of her separation. "Rodney, was it? Why don't you buy me a drink?" The question fell from her lips as it did every time. That charm was turned up higher as Castalia touched his shoulder. At first, she suspected him to decline, but after his gaze dropped to her chest and back up, she could see the wheels spinning behind his eyes. "What are you drinking?" He smirked. Had she not done this song and dance multiple times, her stomach would have churned and her fist would have broken his nose as she slid up onto the previously occupied seat.

His hand brushed her knee and Castalia tried not to squirm, the touch full of ice.

There was a dance that Castalia had performed through the evenings, one that she knew like it was the back of her hand these days. She'd gone through this with Cedric, with the countless other men whom she had killed. Before she'd stopped feeding off of humans, she'd do it regularly. Her teeth had been one of her favorite weapons, their surprise was always one of the best parts and as the man bought her a drink, she knew it was only a matter of time. There was knife tucked away and up her sleeve, a small one that was easy to access if it was needed.

Her hair fell over her shoulder as she laughed at his bad jokes. Why were the worst of them always awful at telling jokes? It was a question she always wondered before ultimately, he finished off his third drink with her. It was clear that he was scum the way that he snapped his fingers at Rhys. Treated him and the others as if they were there strictly to wait on patreons hand and foot. Even if they were meant to wait on others, she had never liked the I own the world nature that some had.

"Why don't we take this outside?" She asked as his hand slid higher on her thigh. Her hand went to his, her fingers curling against the skin as she had to tell herself not to break the bone into pieces. Yet, at least. It would come soon. The suggestion caused a light to shine in his eyes as he quickly agreed. "So uh, how long have you been coming to this joint?" He asked, his hand sliding away as he stood up off his stool. He offered her his hand and she got down, pressing her knife further up her sleeve while she took his arm instead.

The reference to her business as a joint had her wanting to slit his throat right then and there. A scowl forming across her pretty features as he began to lead her towards the door. "I own Allure." She drawled, running her tongue over the front of her teeth as he made a surprised sound. "You? Own this joint? Wow, aren't you something special. Pretty little thing, owns her own club and booze monkies." As Castalia resisted the urge to recoil as she felt his hand slide down to her backside, she let him lead her towards the alley.

Perfect.

"Can't say I'm anything fancy. This okay, sweetcheeks?"

"Oh, it's wonderful." And it was, just not for his specific reasons as they went further down. There was a dumpster blocking the one that lead to the back of the club. Security would do their rounds later, but they were all vampires. They all knew Castalia, and they all would get a higher check if they didn't cause her any trouble about it.

There had never been a time in Castalia's life where she'd thought she'd become a killer. As a human, she worked in a hospital and made sure her patients had the best care imaginable. There'd always been long shifts, never short ones. She'd given up holiday's with her family to make sure there was someone who cared. Truthfully, her nature as a workaholic had begun there and it was one of the reasons her marriage had fallen apart with Nolan. Friendships had been formed there, and she'd grown over time. There had been some mishaps, too, although she'd never admit there were. One mishap in particular had been a murder she'd witnessed - a young woman she worked with, Othella.

It hadn't been out of fear when Castalia kept quiet.

Perhaps that had been one of the reasons this lifestyle hadn't come too difficult to her, her own murders committed mostly at the men who were cruel, sick. She could remember the questions that the police had asked - the way that the blood had felt on her hands after she'd pretended to save his life. It'd been gone before then. And she hadn't felt a single thing bad towards him, but more for the young girl that she'd examined in the opposite room. The father had gotten off, too, for shooting the teenager. Maybe it was because Castalia was a parent that she'd thought the ******** had deserved to die.

She'd never know.

The man who slipped his hands on her hips, however, would never know anything again as she let the blade slide a bit more down her sleeve. At least, until she heard the whistling. "Baise." She thought, annoyed. Who the hell was interrupting her? It wasn't any of her employees. They knew better. The voice was familiar as she heard the man gasp, Castalia letting out an angry growl as he began to back up before turning. Just as she heard the movement behind her, she confused him. He stumbled back and fell, her hand lifting to catch the wire just before it sank into her throat - instead, it cut into her palm. Blood trickling down her skin as she threw her elbow backwards, trying to hit her attacker.

Trying to hit Othella.

It was a good question, really.

Castalia had wondered it for sometime before she'd began to accept what she'd become. In the early days, there had been religious contradiction. She'd gone to a church to find solace, she'd gotten no answers. It was one of the few things she didn't admit, not now. Demon, monster, creature, the undesirable. A walking corpse. She hadn't been polite to herself, really, either. And after sometime, she'd decided it was easier to accept. To adapt. And so, she'd done just that. She'd taken upon the title of temptress, of a killer. And, she'd become one.

Her mother, after learning of what Castalia had become, had prayed for her soul. If only she really knew what her little girl was up to when it came to the men that disappeared from her club. If she'd known what Castalia had done to the man that had killed Nolan. If she'd only known what Castalia had done to Cedric... There were a lot of if only they knew that Castalia had done that she knew her human family would never forget her for. Gone was the cheerful little girl that they had adopted, replaced by something that killed for enjoyment. She didn't need to feed on their blood, no. It made her ill, there was no substance to it any more.

She killed simply because she could.

And yet, when Castalia saw the sanity slip from behind her friend's eyes, the desire to kill was gone. She didn't want to kill her crazy little friend. The allurist stepped back, out of reach in the same moment she removed the knife from her sleeve. Behind her, the man let out a terrified noise that reminded Castalia of a mixture between a hog squealing and a woman screaming. He scrambled to his feet as she sliced through the wire. Her hand bled deeply as she focused her attention on Othella.

"Ella, stop."