Et Tu Brute? (Amalea)

[Elizabeth]

Elizabeth
Betrayal.

It was a word that tasted as bitter as it sounded in Elizabeth's opinion. And that was exactly how the Telepath woman felt. There were not many humans she allowed to have a glimpse into her private life...her thrall, Louvel given they had a relation of sorts, her great niece twenty or so times removed, and finally, Amalea.

The choice the woman made baffled Elizabeth. Especially, given all things Doc. How could she betray every vampire in the city, including him? Was he not enough to sway her decision in any regard?

It felt like a slap in the face on so many fronts. A strong pill to swallow since the betrayal of her brothers, and mother, when Elizabeth was human. When she still viewed them as family. And in a sense, that was how she viewed Amalea. Family.

Do you have time this evening to meet? Elizabeth reached out into the woman's mind gently, as to not startle her, given a few nights had passed since Elizabeth mentioned wanting to speak with her since Doc had given her the usb drive.

Amalea
There hadn't been a night since the fateful on in early February that her dreams had been peaceful. Her days neither; always dogged by the events and the choice. She'd become a recluse for most purposes, early on, trying to make sense of it all and what had occurred that had led her to that point. It wasn't like her to do something like that which was frightening to the red-head. In time, she could likely, with help, sort that out; getting the help would be the tricky part though.

Preconceived notions thanks to a tiny device had ripped away any semblance of choice that she had felt she had. It was always the plan to own up to what had happened, particularly to Doc and Elizabeth. To not didn't bear thinking about, really; that wasn't who she was. She had preferred to be able to tell it in her own words with her own thoughts and explanations and that device had taken that away. Why bother with what couldn't be seen or heard - the mental words of the ancient, the mental conversations between them, her thoughts and emotions - when you could see all else? She knew the limitations of it; it had ended before her near-collapse into insanity and the choice was made; but the inference was enough. She wanted to try to explain; try to make sense of it all, but wasn't sure if anyone would listen. She couldn't really blame them, but she had hoped.

The mental brush from Elizabeth was not unexpected. In truth, she had been waiting on it ever since the night Doc had told her he had showed Elizabeth the usb and she had offered to answer any questions. She honestly wasn't trying to hide anything; even if her schedule had been full; she would have cleared it for this. I do. Where and when is convenient for you?

Elizabeth
Everyone deserved to explain themselves and their thoughts in Elizabeth's mind. And it seemed that Amalea was more than willing to do that, if given the opportunity, given their brief interactions in the last two weeks or so. But, just because Elizabeth was willing to hear and try to understand one's reasoning, did not guarantee anything, with the blonde haired telepath. Still, Elizabeth was not ready to throw the woman to the wolves either.

When the response message was returned, Elizabeth gave it some thought. Where and when, indeed? The sooner, the better. Tonight, would be best. Still, that left the location. For something as...discreet as this conversation, a private space would be best.

Her mind reached out to Diederik for a brief moment as Elizabeth decided upon a location. Not any of their businesses and not any of Doc's either, given things. And given the nature of the conversation, it would have to be a home, or apartment. Are you familiar with alpha towers? I own the top floor there. I will leave the door unlocked, but there is a camera and sensor at the door. It is just a precaution as I am not there often. I can meet thee there in about an hour?

Amalea
As she waited on the English woman’s reply, she leafed through her closet looking for something other than pajamas to wear. She was fairly sure that Elizabeth would want to meet sooner than later but she had no idea where or precisely when, so having options in mind would be good. A quick shower and change of clothes would be all she would need to be able to head out as soon as she knew.

She didn’t really have many high expectations for the meeting. Or rather, the outcome of it. Elizabeth would at least give her a chance to talk; that she had no doubt. It was the best she could ask for given the circumstances. She wanted to hope for more but knew better than to press her luck. The opportunity to be heard was priceless; if anything else went to her favor, she’d thank her lucky stars later.

I know it. I will be there. She has stayed in the building for a while before she had found out about her legacy apartment so knew it well. Now, though, she quickly showered before tugging on her dark wash jeans and a crimson shirt. Hair wa neatly combed and makeup applied to her arms before she headed to the designated place. Finding the door unlocked as promised, she slipped inside as she called out. “Liz?”

Elizabeth
Tea was a great many of things, to Elizabeth.

Soothing, in most respects and brought about the sense of familiarity to the woman, among other things. So, when her thrall brought the tray of tea and biscuits to the coffee table that Elizabeth sat besides, she smiled appreciatively to him. "Thank you for everything, Diederik. I think it best that you go out for the evening before my visitor comes. Girl talk." She glanced at the tray, seeing the tea pot, different types of tea (herbal, mostly) and the types of biscuits. It was not every day Elizabeth had company, but that did not mean the woman did not know how to be a decent hostess. Especially in her own home.

The sensor alarm went off, making her phone buzz as it rested next to the ornate tea tray. Blue hues traveled to the door that was a distance away, seeing the familiar face of Amalea. "Over here." Elizabeth said as the woman stood, waving Amalea over to the couch, and smaller love seat. "Thank you for coming." Elizabeth knew it was not easy to face up to the things you did-especially when it was viewed negatively by the mass majority. "Please, come sit. Wherever one may be comfortable." With the invitation offered to the woman, Elizabeth sat back in her spot, turning her body as to watch the woman carefully. Was she afraid for her life? Not especially, but Elizabeth was still of the firm belief that something was amiss in everything that had happened, and she was determined to get to the bottom of it.

Amalea
The red-head followed the sound of the familiar voice giving a small wave as she spotted Elizabeth. Amalea had to smile briefly as she took in the sight of the tea service. It was something so normal in her crazy, insane world. It gave the appearance that this was to be a lovely, social afternoon full of discussions of the latest society happenings. Alas, if it was so simple, but she suspected such days would not be in her future for quite some time.

"It is I who should be thanking you," she shook her head lightly as she stepped over to the couch. Settling into the corner, though not quite into a ball, she continued, "I'm sure that at the moment I am not high up on your list of favorite people if you have seen the video Papa said he gave you." She sighed softly knowing she'd already screwed up one relationship. "Where would you like me to start?"

Elizabeth
Where to start?

There were so many places, Elizabeth reasoned internally, as she watched Amalea make her way over. But, the most important one, perhaps the most emotional one was...How could you do this to him?

While the choice was a slap in the face to those Elizabeth believed were close to the woman, it had to sting the most for the man she called Papa just seconds ago. But, Elizabeth couldn't start with emotion. There would be time for that later. Even if emotion was the driving factor for tonight's get together.

"Once upon a time, not that long ago, I made a few unpopular choices. There are ways to overcome those choices, time, being one way, or other methodologies. I have experienced both a few times over." Elizabeth concluded, before glancing to the tea tray. "Before we start, would you care for some tea? I have a lemon flavoured one, ginger, honey, orange something or another, and the standard earl grey. My favourite, of course." Elizabeth stirred at her own tea cup, then flanked it softly against the side, before setting it down. The cup was brought to her lips, the liquid sipped at while eyes rested comfortably on the other woman

Amalea
What she really wanted was to be swallowed whole by the couch she was sat upon and never spit back out. It would certainly make things easier for her though not for those around her. It also went fully against her plan of coming clean and attempting to set things to rights, even if she suspected things would never be whole again. In the end, perhaps it would be best if she left, but that was yet to be seen as there was much to do before coming to any conclusions.

Amalea blinked at Elizabeth's admissions though she wasn't sure if this particular choice was surmountable. "And they ended decently well?" It was something to hope for, at least. A sliver of light in the dark night. "Please. Whichever you would suggest that might have the most calming effect." She wasn't afraid to admit she was nervous to the elder; she was quite sure by now that it showed.

Elizabeth
"You can relax. I am not going to kill you." Elizabeth assured the woman, as she reached for the pot of warm water and poured it into another cup. "Lemon it is." Elizabeth decided before tossing a satchel into the warm water and offering it to Amalea. The tray of various condiments partnered with biscuits slid closer, for easier attainment.

Then, Elizabeth laughed. "If by well, you mean dying for most unpopular choices...then yes." She nodded, sipping at her tea again. "Have you heard from Theodosia since things? Do you, like Ariadne, believe her to be who she claims to be?"

Amalea
"Not too worried about that, honestly," Amalea supplied quietly as she watched the English woman prepare her tea. "Rather that to being hated and outcast for eternity." Accepting the cup, she inhaled the scent deeply, "Thank you." A small bit of honey was added once it had seeped properly. Taking a biscuit, she settled back onto the couch.

"Unfortunately, that's not really an option available in this case," she shook her tresses lightly. "Nor would a trip to the ICU solve anything, I think." As she thought, she nibbled on the edge of the biscuit, "I have not heard from Theodosia since that day, though I do not doubt she will keep her word on being available. I suspect it will have to be us that contacts her, honestly." A sip of her tea allowed her a moment to consider the information presented to her, "I think she spoke true about how she came to be here and deep beneath the city though I do believe details were left out. So yes, I would have to agree with Ari."

Elizabeth
A quick look was given to Amalea while she spoke and prepared her tea. Elizabeth then nodded her head, agreeing about the woman's thoughts on killing her not being the way to fix what had happened. "True, but some of our kind may not care and find...momentary appeasement in attempting to take your life." Elizabeth lifted her shoulders and quirked her lips into a small twist of thought.

"It seems this...Theodosia is a difficult woman to locate. Many have tried. Which means she is very strong-something to perhaps be worried about later on down the road. Or perhaps she has left the city for good. If the rift is expanding, then there is no need, I suppose to remain. Did she give any indication on how large she could make the rift?" Elizabeth had seen the audio, but there had been long periods of silence, which to her, did not always mean silence given her path.

Elizabeth set down her tea cup that was about a quarter of the way filled and placed her hands in her lap. "There has been a great deal of damage that has been done. City wide; though one could argue that there was already damage that could not be repaired...but I have recently come across one of her 'creatures' roaming the streets near redwood. Scared my thrall out of his wits, nearly.Still, some threats were caged...and now they simply are not." Elizabeth laughed hollowly, recalling the time she had brought back a loupgarou to one of her properties and he had walked in at just the right time. The same reaction, more or less. "Personally, and even professionally." Elizabeth finished, her blue hues on Amalea and the tea the woman had prepared herself. "Amalea...is one at all familiar with California Poppies?" Elizabeth asked, almost too casually, a smile fixed upon her face. "It is a beautiful orange flower."

{OOC NOTE: If you want to roll for attempting to figure out the tea water has been laced with California Poppy, that's possible, though would be hidden in with the taste of lemon and honey. The California poppy contains protopine, which has similar (but much milder effects) as morphine, making it a good natural sedative}

Amalea
Amalea shook her head in agreement with Elizabeth's statement, "Unfortunately, I believe you are correct. Even if their efforts would be better spent elsewhere, there will always be some who want blood."

"The path we took to reach her was rather windy and long. I'll be honest and say I don't think I could even begin to retrace my steps so I think it's fair to say she knows how to stay well hidden. She's impossible to appraise. I got the mother of all migraines when I tried and didn't get anything besides she was a vampire, which I had already known." She chased a small nibble of biscuit with a small sip of her tea. "She was incredibly strong even in her weakened state which is why I didn't want to see her killed. While we had no idea if the shadow realm reached her domain, it wasn't worth killing her and releasing a pissed off ancient onto Harper Rock. As to the rift, she didn't say, but she did say it would take continuous effort to keep opening it."

She gave the woman the smallest of smiles, "It's not much, but if it could be figured out what effort is being putting forth or it's power source, it could potentially be stopped." She paused for a moment, taking another small sip of her tea, "As to where she could be found, I would start with her lair deep within the Labyrinth though that would be an impossibility. I supposed she may have to feed sometimes; given the weakened state we found her in, I doubt she has blood replenishing abilities like you guys do."

"There has and I never meant for there to be this level of destruction and mayhem. I do intend to try and repair as much of it as I can. Maybe not physically, I can't do everything; but I can provide funds for those who can." She nodded quietly at the comment about uncaged threats; she knew the elder was likely referring to the zombies that could now be found outside the Quarantine Zone. "I could only wish they were simple to recage without expanding the cage."

Her senses piqued a bit at the casual way that Elizabeth asked her question. It wouldn't be an entirely odd question if it were not for the discussion they were currently engaged in. It was an odd tangent, but perhaps relevant. "I know of poppies, but I'm not sure I am particularly aware of the California variety. Though, if I were to guess, given the topic at hand, particularly if we were in a Harry Potter book, I'd almost hazard it having a truth agent to it."

Elizabeth
"Have you any idea what that power source may be?" Elizabeth asked, though she had heard guesses of such from the group the night they encountered Theodosia. It was a good guess, but that did not mean that it was the correct guess. The hands in Elizabeth's lap moved to grab her tea once again as Amalea explained her desire to correct what more than likely would never be able to be repaired. The masquerade had fallen and then things had progressed negatively with Longslade and the vampire community from there. Elizabeth expected it to be the same scenario, where the masquerade could not be repaired once it had fallen in Harper Rock. Now the zombies were out...it could only mean more zombies would get out or be made...however they were made, now that they were out of the land of the walking dead. The true, walking dead, in her mindset. "It is a noble mindset, but it may take a lot of funds and time." Elizabeth stated, letting Amalea know that her efforts might take years and not weeks or months.

Elizabeth was not familiar with Harry Potter, but she did understand the idea of a truth 'agent.' This caused Elizabeth to laugh and shake her head, before taking another sip of her tea. "Not at all. I saw and heard what was said that night from everyone in the tomb of sorts." Elizabeth's smile and laugh dwindled as her lips pressed into a very thin line. "The truth is...I have some very dire news for you, Amalea. I believe you have been enthralled by Theodosia, for that is the ONLY," Her tone louder, and harsher as she stated that word, "way I believe you would betray your vampire friends and most of all...Charles." Her gaze grew hard and steely as Elizabeth finished her tea off.

"And so, I plan on keeping thee here a while to see if she plans on reaching out to thee once again. Then, the both of us will meet her head on and we will kill her. Together. Then, the rift will stop growing in size, the zombies could be handled and all will be well again with Charles." The tea cup was set down, allowing her hands to expand in a nonchalant mannerism, as if Elizabeth believed this would be entirely possible.

"As I said, I do not plan on killing thee, but the poppies will make thee a little tired given I put two grams in the water we were both just drinking. And since you are human..." Elizabeth's voice trailed off softly, before the woman cast mindblock upon Amalea as she sat there, putting her plan in motion on step at a time.

(mindblock 2)

Amalea
"I do not. She mentioned her experiments. I know Cobb had is, so perhaps there is some common ground there." In reality, it was only her best guess and nothing solid. "She said she wasn't interested in the living nor their destruction. It may mean that humans as a source are out? I haven't heard of any being killed, at least, just reanimating." She sighed quietly, frustrated she couldn't provide more definitive answers. A quiet nod was her initial reply to the woman's comment about time, "I know. Just as Rome wasn't built in a day, I don't think this will be fixed that quickly. But it's something I want, no need, to do. No matter the time or cost. If I was in it just for the short haul, it wouldn't be a real effort."

Her eyes widened slightly at the woman's laugh in response to her comment about truth agents, though the shake of her head was enough to tell the red-head that wasn't the answer. She nodded quietly at the mention of the video; she had known the English woman had seen it after all. It was to be expected that it would be brought up. The harsh tone caught Amalea off-guard causing her to flinch slightly. She deserved it and more though she wasn't sure if she had been enthralled by Theodosia or simply broken mentally as she had believed prior. There were the beginnings of tears in her eyes as she nodded quietly, assuming that the elder had more to say.

The next statement caused the red-head to blink. It sounded so simple that she wished it would work but she knew killing Theodosia wasn't going to be as simple as that; especially given the Shadow Realm. It would be an endless cycle. She opened her mouth to say something, closing it once she realized the woman wasn't done. Her cup was set upon the table before the woman was finished speaking, lest she spill it unintentionally. She knew on some level she should be upset by this turn of events, but couldn't be. It was less than she deserved.

"It doesn't interact with St. John's Wort, does it?" Why it was the first thing her mind thought of was beyond her, but as Elizabeth had said, she was human and she wasn't trying to kill her; she knew herbal remedies could mix funny. An eyebrow raised slightly at the foggy feeling descending upon her brain; it was a bit overkill given she was being drugged, but she supposed it was a precaution. It was starting to kick in, she could feel it, but she still mostly alert, "Don't think she can be killed without returning which would make things worse. Also not sure if it was enthrallment given I've never experienced it." Even in the state she was descending into, she couldn't accept the easy out that had been handed to her. While she hadn't been herself, she hadn't felt like she'd been enthralled, "All I can say was I didn't feel like I was in control, like I was just a outsider looking in." Her nose twitched, "I think the humans call it a type of dissociative disorder, but I'd be lying if I said that's for sure what it was."

[Amalea]

Elizabeth
Cobb.
A name that mustered a flinch from Elizabeth's rather tolerant expression; given all things. She had only broken out of character one other time tonight-when Elizabeth tried to get Amalea to feel the betrayal that Elizabeth suspected, perhaps even knew Charles felt with the tone of her voice a few minutes ago. And out of all this, that was what Elizabeth wanted Amalea to feel the most. It was deserved.

Elizabeth could truthfully care less about eighty or so percent of the vampire community, but when it came to those she cared about and felt a certain way about, she wanted those to know that they had wronged them in some degree. However that may be. "That is an interesting idea. She had to have known that opening the rift would reflect negatively upon the humans and, in a round about way, bring forth the destruction of the species in Harper Rock and wherever the rift may expand. In truth...both of you had to have known that at some point Harper Rock would become a baron wasteland." Elizabeth said pointedly with a lift and roll of her shoulders.

Elizabeth was not a medical doctor, so in truth, the woman did not know how the two mixed. Though, she was able to connect her mind to the internet, so after a quick search of 'protopine effects when used with St. John's Wort' Elizabeth became slightly knowledgeable of how mixing the two could go bad. Still, her facial features did not let on as much. "Well, tonight may be far more interesting than either of us planned it to be." Elizabeth admitted, then stood and placed her tea cup on the tray. "Well, as I said, I do not plan on killing you in respects of seeing you die...but rest assured that if things do go south...you and your new found friend Theodosia can remain such for all of eternity. And the two of you can be happy ruling over the baron waste land you created together. I had not planned to sire anymore, but I suspect Charles, regardless of how disappointed he feels now, would forgive me for letting you be buried seven feet in the ground. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, Amalea." With the cup on the tray, Elizabeth gave Amalea a somewhat cold smile, letting that confession and realization set in to the woman.

Amalea
The red-head had caught the finch at the name of the betrayer. But was it the name or the situation as there seemed to be many parallels between the two? The only difference that she could see off-hand was that none would be stuck in the realm for eons before being released. It was of no real comfort though, given the state of things. The elder and everyone around her had every right to be disappointed and angry with her. It was as Papa had said once she had finally been able to talk to him; she was the girl who had opened Pandora's Box. She could only pray that some variation of 'hope' had been released along with the undead. It was the only potential spot of light in the darkness. Being known as the betrayer of vampire-kind was never on her bucket list.

"She had to, I agree, given she was the only one who knew the mechanics of it all. While we were talking to her, while she was answering questions, I did express concern for the human population, though I must confess I am not their biggest fan despite being one of them. But I would never want to see them wiped out as they are necessary for the survival of vampires and the city needs balance. I did not have the thought that Harper Rock would become a barren wasteland. I supposed I should have known that was possible, but I did not. The fault there likely falls on me for not knowing all of my history."

Amalea nodded tiredly, "You had no way of knowing about it. It's not something I run around talking about." Her head swam slightly as she watched the tea cup find its place on the tray. "I believe you. I do not consider Theodosia a friend. Do not want to consider her a friend." The tears that had formed earlier found their way down her face, "Not disappointed...angry...very angry. I ruined everything...bad daughter." The darkness that had been looming claimed her then, dragging her into the depths of her nightmares.

Elizabeth
Elizabeth could concede that Doc was angry with Amalea as well. In truth, they all were, yet she was not the only one there gunning for the rift to be expanded. Every, whom Elizabeth knew to be Tytonidae given the brief glimpse of the woman at the time they had entered her tower a few meters from where Amalea and Elizabeth were now, proved such a thing. Freyja, she did not know, so could not judge her than anything other than one of two things. The first, being power hungry. Theodosia was an elder, much older than any around currently. And powerful. Or, the second, being ill trained and taught. Elizabeth would focus on her and figure out who her sire was later to determine if she could figure out which of the two the woman was.

"I think a bit of both." Elizabeth took Amalea's thoughts and melded them with her own. Doc would never admit to being either, but it was difficult to not believe he wasn't disappointed with Amalea's choice. They were family, and as 'fucked up' as a family both she and Doc had growing up, Elizabeth still believed for some insane, and perhaps naive belief that family was a group of people you could and should be able to count upon. The only people in the world that would have your back, and Amalea had dropped the ball, along with Freyja and Every in this respect. But, the latter of the two women were not of Doc's blood and so, this would hit him on a more personal level than the others. Though, one could argue that Doc should have Amalea's back at this very timing, but did the woman know just how much of her choice impacted Doc?

"The thing about bad children, Amalea..." Elizabeth was mostly talking to herself now that the woman was sleeping (a quick check of hearing for the breathing sounds ensured that she was still alive and not dead), "Is that they sometimes need a firm hand to set them on the right course again." Elizabeth collected the woman's tea cup that had found a place somewhere on a couch that hadn't had someone sitting upon it since...well, since Doc had spent some time here without believing Elizabeth knew he had been here. "Doc, as much as I adore the man, has not been a parent for very long. I suspect he does not know how to proceed...But, I on the other hand..." Elizabeth grinned gleefully, though it would be wasted given Amalea was not conscious at the moment.

"We will get to the bottom of this together." Elizabeth assured the woman, before the telepath woman approached the woman and shrugged. Amalea was around the same size as she was, so Elizabeth believed she could manage picking her up. Especially since she was sleeping. Elizabeth found her way under one of Amalea's arms and then wrapped her own around the woman's frame. She lifted her and then...dropped her. Right on the ground. "Oh dear." Elizabeth's plans for the evening were seemingly going awry...first the potential of the woman dying due to the mix of herbs and then this. "Well...****." Elizabeth decided a new course of action would be to drag Amalea by her arms from behind to the new location. A shock cage off to a bedroom with two double sized beds, both with purple comforters on a hardwood floor. Once the woman was in, Elizabeth closed the door and went about cleaning up the tea until the woman came to from her sleep induced state.

Elizabeth Another PC Easy Physically demanding Amalea Pick her up Failed

Amalea
Darkness. Always darkness. Deep, inky, impenetrable darkness.

Falling. Down. Down. Hard stop.

Daughter

The Throne Room flared up around the red head though she was no longer alone. Theodosia. A dying Locryn. Herself. She stepped forward, hand outstretched to touch the version of herself before her. Her hand passed straight through, much like a hologram. A memory?

Leave in peace, daughter.

Wrong. Very wrong. Untruth. Never truth. Never. Never.

“NO!”

Run. Faster. Further. Find. Seek. Father.

Dark. Cold. Black ice. So cold. So dark.

An apartment this time; one she was familiar with. Her papa sat upon the couch alone. Another memory? She came around to sit upon the open spot, a hand brushing lightly upon the man without going through. Not a memory. Reality.

You’re the girl who opened Pandora’s Box. You are the girl that have single-handedly condemned us all. You are no daughter of mine, begone.

Falling. Darkness.

“NO!”

Falling. Always falling through the darkness. No end.


Elizabeth

Elizabeth had collected the tea tray and moved to the kitchen. Once in the kitchen, she set an alarm on the stove for an hour and twenty-five minutes. It had taken Amalea about twenty or so minutes to feel the affects of the sedative laced in the water and a few minutes before that, she had mind blocked her. Elizabeth wanted the mindblock to remain on a continual cycle for as long as it took.

If anyone doubted she could manage such a feat, they did not know the woman well enough. Once, when Elizabeth had returned from the realms and had been mildly irritated at another of their kind, she had mindblocked an individual for the entire duration of a day. So, Elizabeth believed that if a day, two, or even three was needed to expose any potential relationship Amalea and Theodosia had, then that would be what it took.

The shock cage, while intended to shock someone, had not been activated. Elizabeth was primarily using it as a cage, given the charge would only last an hour at best. It would be a last resort for Elizabeth, because again, the idea was not to kill Doc's daughter tonight. The idea was to flush out Theodosia, by using Amalea--if there were a connection to the other woman due to being enthralled by her.

Once the tea pot had been washed, along with the cups, Elizabeth wiped the tray off and set it upon the counter-the very counter she and Doc once upon a time dissected a creature from the sunken Cathedral. The thought brought a small twitch to her lips as Elizabeth left the room and went to check on the human blood thief in what was, at one point, a room for her childre. Time had passed since anyone used the room adorned in purple, but it was good to see it back in use. Even if it wasn't conventional.


Amalea
Falling. Inky blackness.

A graveyard full of tombstones though a singular one is the focus. Giles Orion Devadas. A single hand brushes against the hard granite. Reality.

Momentary blackness.

A living room with sunlight pouring in. A woman stands over a young teenager curled into the corner of a couch. A flinch from the older Amalea. Definite Reality.

It’s your fault he’s dead. He only had that job because of you. You ruined my life just like you’ve ruined everything else. I wish you had never been born.

Tumbling. Darkness. Crimson.

A small bedroom with a desk and a bed. Disheveled white sheets stained with dried blood. A blood encrusted knife upon the floor. Reality.

A quick blur.

An infirmary. The same woman from before speaking with a nurse. Curtain drawn around the single occupied bed. Real.

I will not give my permission for transferring her anywhere outside this campus nor will I pay for anything not already provided by the tuition. You said she’ll be fine, so just send her back to class when she is able.

Plummetting. Darkness.

A book that one can tell is a journal spread across the lap of a red-head in her twenties as she sits upon a bed. Reading. Reality.

A shift in scene.

The manager’s office of the Necropolis. Amaranthia. A 24 year old version of herself. Follows through the door to the floor though it is a different night as she watches the younger version serve patrons like an old friend. Reality.

Plunging darkness.

A restaurant. A picture laid upon a table. A pleasing revelation. Reality.

Falling. Always falling. Always dark. Always cold.

A barren wasteland littered with bodies. Many she recognized. Several she did not. Amaranthia. Flynn. Ariadne. Every. Nikolae. Mordechai. Azraeth. Elizabeth. Doc. Each corpse hitting her heart like a ton of bricks.

Standing in the middle, she looked around unaware the bodies around her were rising until they were upon her.

You did this. It is your fault. You killed us all. Betrayer. Foul human. Worthless daughter. You killed us.

They reached for her as she collapsed to the ground in a ball, arms hugging her legs, waiting for the inevitable.

Abruptly, she woke from her drugged sleep curled in the same position as she had left the dream; sat upon the ground hugging her legs. Her shirt soaked with the tears that had fallen throughout and continued even now as she sobbed quietly, unaware of her immediate surroundings.


Elizabeth
Elizabeth had claimed one of the beds in the bedroom, skimming a magazine she had Diederik pick up at the grocery store about a week back. 'Organic Gardening,' which claimed in this issue to known the twenty-five best lilies for someone to own in their gardening. Even going so far as to number them based on how difficult they were to manage and take care of and their durability to general conditions. "Hmmm." Elizabeth said to herself as she creased random pages in the corner based off the reviews of the woman who had headed the article. All in all, twenty-five really became seven to Elizabeth based on certain criteria by the woman.

Elizabeth had heard the movement in the cage, but it was not until she heard the woman crying, quite loudly that Elizabeth glanced above and over the magazine, then tossed it to the end of the bed, where her feet had been resting seconds before. Elizabeth stood, slid her hands over the sides of her clothing, pressing any crinkles out of her skirt and top, before approaching the cage. "If you are afraid for your life...you need not be. As I said, I do not plan to kill thee. In truth, you are potentially too useful. If you are enthralled to Theodosia, she will call thee back or come looking for thee. And that will start my plan." It was not as if Elizabeth did not have, or perhaps had feelings for the woman who was in the cage, regardless of her currently cold nature towards Amalea, but there were bigger fish to fry at the moment and the woman's comfort or fears were at the very bottom of Elizabeth's list of things to care about.

"And, if you are not enthralled by Theodosia; to be determined in a time frame in which I am appeased that such a claim can be made, by the way, then dying would be too good for you, Amalea." Elizabeth said quite candidly, before crouching down to the woman's level in the cage. "Dying would relive thee of any and all consequences from yours, Every's and Freyja's choice." Her blue hues locked onto the woman, revealing not a fraction of an inch of her typical cheery nature. "Though it is tempting to sire you and allow you to watch the destruction of your choices for the rest of eternity, but as I said...I am not interested in siring anyone. Especially now. Humans are fleeing Harper Rock, soon, there will be no blood from humans and I suspect animals either. Vampires will be forced to move and relocate eventually. I could not possibly sire anyone without condemning them to failure-even someone like you." Elizabeth stood then and paced one side of the cage.

"Never mind the global scale of things that this decision has made...what about Charles?" Her arms crossed at Elizabeth's chest as she came to a stop, facing the cage and facing her captive at the moment. "How could you do this to him? Even if you could care less about the humans and the majority of the vampires in the city...him? Of all people? You do not know what you have done in respects to your relationship with him and to him personally." The elder sighed and brought fingers to the side of her temple and rubbed at it. "How could you not think of him before making that choice? Everything he was doing was for vampires and for humans. And more importantly, YOU, Amalea. He believed that things could be repaired and YOU could live the life YOU wanted as a human for as long as YOU wanted to be human. He has been the most selfless he has ever been in regards to YOU. And YOU just tossed that aside for your new friend who would have humans killed by what she is currently doing to the city and who knows where else?" Both hands were now balled at Elizabeth's sides. "What have you to say about that? How could you have not thought of him, as he has you, before making the choice you had?"


Amalea
The sound of footsteps on the floor caused the red-head to raise her head. She blinked lightly as her mind registered the bars surrounding her. Wondering if she was still in a dream, she reached forward to lightly touch them; they were real. Elizabeth was sure through. Amalea didn’t bother probing her connection to her powers, she knew it would be pointless if the elder had gone to these lengths. She shook her head quietly at the English’s woman’s comment about being afraid for her life. “You may be angry with me, but I have no reason not to trust your earlier comment about not killing me.” There was a light sigh at the mention of being enthralled by Theodosia; she was about to reply when Elizabeth continued.

“I am not enthralled by that woman,” she supplied quietly, “Not now, not then. I was not myself when I made that choice. I felt as if I had no control and was just watching a movie, but she was not controlling me. And I realize that most will not accept that as more than mere words, even if that’s what occurred.” She watched the elder for a moment, before commented even quieter, “Dying would also hurt Papa in some way and I do not wish that for him.” She looked down at her legs, “I don’t want him to be the one punished for my mistakes.” She glanced up at Elizabeth as the woman paced, “He may never forgive me, but he doesn’t deserve further hurt.” There was a pause, “I thank you for not wanting to sire me. I understand the idea, though. I really do. Blood thieves live long times, immortal, I think, if not killed.”

The red-head flinched at every question and comment fired at her by the English woman. It was just further nails in the coffin that was her relationship with her father. There was no doubt in her mind that she had broken their family bond with the one action though she had already decided she was going to try to make things right even if it took ages. At least until he told her to get the **** out of her life and stay out of it, if he chose to; she’d be devastated, but would abide by it. She shook on the floor of the cage as she considered Elizabeth’s words. “Aside from beating the dead horse of not feeling in control, I have no good answer for you. Saying I would never hurt him like that willingly would be meaningless because I did hurt him, and you, and even if I believe it unwillingly, it will not be seen that way.” Her voice dropped, “I love him, Liz, and now I’ve lost him. He’s been so good to me ever since the day we met and since finding out we were related. I fucked up… no matter what I know happened… I fucked up and now I’ve lost him… I would not blame you if you flung me out when you were done with me and told me not to come back, either, you know. I never wanted to hurt anyone, most of all him, and now I have.”

Christ, where the hell was her body finding these tears, she wondered as she reached up to wipe them with her sleeve. Her voice was still low, “I know I don’t deserve him after this, but I want to try to repair the damage even if it takes years.”

[Amalea]

Elizabeth
When Amalea claimed she was not enthralled by Theodosia, Elizabeth used her telepathic abilities to confirm this. While the woman could not find anything to agree with Amalea's statement of not being her thrall, the Telepath was not ready to agree with Amalea either. "You may not be, but you may be. Surely, you know of The Crow, yes? The story in which she slipped into my sire's mind from across the lands and ocean to lead her here to Harper Rock? I am under the opinion that the Crow is very old, if not older than Theodosia herself. Given that feat. For I cannot think across oceans to another-so, you will have to forgive me if I am not eager to agree that you are not her thrall. Who knows what a very old and ancient vampire is capable of? As we see, she is able to expand the rift, so perhaps she is somehow hiding her connection to thee." Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders carelessly, implying that it would take some time for her to believe Amalea was not in some way controlled by Theodosia.

The hands at her sides uncurled from their balled positioning, as Elizabeth began pacing. When Amalea mentioned 'loving' Doc, she stopped and then tsk'd at her sharply. A careful finger moved between the bars of the cage, pointing at the woman. "So you say, but did you even, for a fraction of a second, think of him or your relationship before you helped Theodosia? Do not speak about your love for Charles to me. Not tonight, and not any time soon. What did she promise thee? Certainly you did not sell yourself for the prospect of immortality at the side of that charlatan, Amalea. I am positive before this situation, many would have sired thee. So, what is it she offered you?"

The sight of tears made Elizabeth's eyes roll just a little. "Stop crying, Amalea. Your tears will not help thee here, and they certainly will not help with Doc, or any citizen in Harper Rock. Time to buck up and get some thicker skin, for you are going to need it." Elizabeth pulled back the finger that pointed at Amalea in an accusatory manner. "As for your desire of wanting Doc to eventually forgive thee? If he is half as forgiving as I am, I hope you plan on living a very, very long time. For it has been almost four hundred years since my brothers and my mother betrayed me and it still burns in the back of my mind as if it were just last eve." Elizabeth pulled back from the cage as the sound of a beep from the stove in the kitchen went off. "You and I are going to get to know the other very well over the course of the next few evenings. Do not worry, I remember you are human and humans need food and water to survive, and so tomorrow I will send my thrall out shopping. Do let me know if you have any food allergies, because I would not want to deprive you of watching the world around you and I; the one you have started to lay the foundation for when you gave blood to Theodosia turn to ****."

Elizabeth turned her back to the woman, moved to the bed and collected the magazine. Once it was in her hands, she once again cast mindblock on the woman. "I hope for your sake you come to find a way to get Theodosia out of our city, and to stop the rift. Perhaps when those two things are done, Charles will forgive thee and the friendships you have damaged will start to be rebuilt again. And I truly hope you think of something soon, for it is only a matter of time before the humans that you know are nothing more than causalities in this fiasco." Elizabeth moved to the doorway of the bedroom, then slowly turned. "Rest up Amalea. I suspect these next few days will be the last in which you will be able to rest so easy." She closed the door to the bedroom, and moved to the kitchen to set another timer to repeat the cycle of mindblocks over the next few hours.


Amalea
Amalea supposed she could understand the reluctance to take her at her word that she was not enthralled. She didn’t like it, but she could understand it. Looking up at Elizabeth, she nodded slightly as she had heard the tale in whispered conversation in the Necropolis ages ago. The reasoning was sound even if she did not think that the ancient was neither interested in thralls nor as powerful as The Crow currently. “I understand,” she acknowledged quietly.

The sharp tsk hammered at her mind. Her words gnawing at her heart. Elizabeth was pissed; she couldn’t fault her. “I did,” the quiet reply paused as she considered if she wanted to explain. Deciding the woman likely wouldn’t want the details, she instead opted to answer the question about what was promised. “She promised me nothing. The only thing she offered the five of us was to expand the rift. I was offered nothing more than that. Even if she had offered herself as a sire, I would not have accepted.” She bit her lip, “Becoming a vampire is not a goal of mine for sometime yet. I’ve thought about it, of course, I’ve even discussed it with Doc on an occasion or two, but it’s not something that interests me currently or for a while yet, I think. Someday, perhaps. I have a short list of those I would consider as sire, though, as implied, they may not be willing now. The fault for that would be my own.” She looked up at the woman, “I am particular in the qualities of a sire and would not have accepted Theodosia as mine.”

At the rebuke of her tears, she nodded quietly, wiping them away with her sleeve as she took several breaths to steady her emotions. She knew Elizabeth spoke the truth; tears would not sway many, if any, within the city. At this point, all they would do was make her sick from crying too much, which would be less than ideal. Her heart sank as Elizabeth continued on and explained how long she had held on the betrayal of her family. Four hundred years. The number was like a ton of bricks tumbling down upon her for she knew Elizabeth was likely to be the more forgiving of the pair. A millennium, in that case, may not even be long enough. “I can still try with him, right?” Her voice was small and unsure. She knew in her heart that she would try for as long as she could, but there was curiosity as to whether the elder thought it was a worthwhile pursuit or for naught.

“No food allergies,” she replied nearly automatically as her mind worked through the implication of the woman’s words. The cage was to be her home for a while by the sound which made her wish she could take her animal form, but knew that was not in the cards. It was easier to berate a human, of course. That and Elizabeth had no idea that she even had a form, she suspected. She hadn’t even told Doc, yet, as she had wanted it to be a surprise.

She nodded quietly, “Stop Theodosia and the rift should stop as she said it required continuous effort to continue to expand.” However, she currently had no idea how to do so. The ancient seemed to like her privacy so she suspected she had returned to the impossible to find room in the depths of the Labyrinth, but she would consider options. “I will think on potential ideas while here in hopes something will be useful.” She watched quietly as the English woman moved towards the door, intent on leaving her alone. The implication that came with the statement on rest caused her nose to twitch. She could only wonder what the elder had in store for her over her time here.


Amalea
Soon after the door closed behind Elizabeth, the red-head uncurled herself from her ball. Standing, she stretched lightly, trying to work out the kinks that had crept into her muscles over the past couple hours. As she leaned back against the bars, she frowned lightly. Pulling her holstered gun from its hiding spot, she bent over to push it through the bars and as far from the cage as she could without landing it in area one would walk though. Several knives followed suit as she quietly wondered why the elder had left her armed. It didn’t matter, really, she wasn’t going to need them here and now that she remembered she had them, she wasn’t going to abuse what little trust Elizabeth had in her. Her phone joined the small pile after it was shut off for the same reason. A mental note was made to let the English woman know they were there when she next passed though.

She slid down the back, coming to sit on the bottom of the cage, legs out stretched. The realm of Morpheus would not be visited for many hours yet. In truth, the red-head knew not the hour though it mattered not for other things occupied her mind. Many things had been said this evening by the elder for her consideration. She couldn’t even be mad with the woman for holding her in a cage at the moment given the bits she’d been given.

The beginning was a good place to start, she decided, as she got as comfortable as she could. As she thought back to the start of the night, her nose crinkled slightly. Perhaps it was best not to start with Theodosia; she was a problem unto her own. One that would likely be best sorted out when fresh.

Damage. Elizabeth had spoken of damage throughout the city that could not be repaired. It couldn’t have been physical damage to structures or such things as while difficult and expensive to do, they were able to be restored or rebuilt. That was an issue that time and money would be able to fix though a mental note was made to start a fund to help those in need of funding. More likely, the elder meant the attacks for which she had no real solution to end at the moment. A victim’s fund perhaps in the meantime was the best bet. Money wasn’t going to fix the problem, but it would help with the aftermath if just a bit. Her only thought was that stopping Theo would likely stop or at least slow the rise of the zombies. In the meantime, it was a lot of blood on her hands.

Enthralled. The red-head sighed softly as she recalled Elizabeth declaring she was sure she was enthralled by the ancient. She, personally, knew better. Granted that she had no idea what being enthralled felt like, if anything, but she was nearly certain she wasn’t under the ancient’s spell. It would be too easy; too convenient. It wouldn’t matter anyway, when all was said and done. It still had been a choice made by her. It would still fall on her no matter what outside or internal forces were at play.

Wasteland. Despite her nightmare, she had a hard time picturing Harper Rock as a barren wasteland like one would find in a post-apocalyptic game or movie. No government in their right mind would release a nuclear weapon that would be the prime cause for such destruction. No, it was more likely that is would become deserted more than barren which was nearly as bad. Neither was a scenario she wanted to see occur. She would have to consider what she could do to help ensure it did not come to pass.

Papa. She had had no good answer for Elizabeth when she had asked how could she. There was what she believed she knew and what people would accept. No one was going to accept she had had a mental disconnect of any sort; she couldn’t blame them given it sounded weak even to her now. She had hurt him. Hurt Liz. Hurt everyone she cared about whether they acknowledged it or not. In her heart of hearts, she had believed she had lost him even before Elizabeth had told of it being four hundred years since her family had betrayed her. That statement alone made her wonder why the English woman was even willing to talk to her. Wasn’t she no better than them? She had been honest when she told the woman she wouldn’t have blamed her for flinging her out and telling her she never wanted to see her.

Tears. The red-head shook her head lightly at the memory. She knew the English woman was correct; tears were futile. They would not help her at all. She wasn’t naïve to think she’d not cry again due to this, though. What she needed, however, was to move past them and make solid efforts to right wrongs. To provide what help she could to the city. To make whatever small efforts she could with Doc. With Liz. With the others. It would take time, but it needed to be done. She was determined to keep working at it. It wouldn’t be easy, she knew, but the results would be priceless and precious if she could reach them.

Despite her current accommodations, she silently had to thank the elder. Many of the things she had said were painful to hear but no less enlightening. Her mind kept circling back to the thought of four hundred years and its weight of a thousand bricks. The task she was setting herself wasn’t going to be easy nor would it be quick; that simple statement was enough to tell her that far better than most others. It was as she told Elizabeth, though, the eventual end result was worth the time and effort. Even if she had meant Doc at the time, it held true for a great number of other people and things. She allowed herself to drift off to sleep. Perhaps to dream; perhaps to descend into nightmare. Hopefully to find some answers from deep within her subconscious.


Elizabeth
Elizabeth was not overly worried about the fact that she had left Amalea's weapons upon the woman. First, she was in a cage. Secondly, she would be continually mind blocked. If she got out of the cage and they came to blows, Elizabeth had many vampire powers at her dispense and she was quite the fighter. Just ask the Lionelli when they had tried to take a territory our from under her nose. Hopefully, it would not come to that, as Elizabeth did want to try and keep her word about not killing the young woman, but if it came to her life versus Amalea; well....Elizabeth was not quite ready to revisit the realms any time soon. Elizabeth had not stepped inside the room any more that night. Amalea needed some time, without influence, to self-reflect. Tomorrow was a new day.

==Next Night==

The tea tray had been converted into a food tray, more or less. Elizabeth had given Diederik specific instructions on what to get from the grocery store for their 'guest' the night before. It had been some (about four hundred years) time since Elizabeth needed to cook-though she did bake more than she cooked. But, how difficult could breakfast be? She heard what most people ate. In fact, her own thrall had eaten frozen waffles on his way to the university more times than Elizabeth liked, until she put her foot down. Now, Diederik at least knew how to make a variety of eggs thanks to Elizabeth.

So, what was for breakfast? Fried bread, (served with marmalade) scrambled eggs, and a piece of ham. None of which had been laced with any sort of natural sleeping regiment; Elizabeth was past the tricks now. She had Amalea right where she wanted and needed her to be, and so there was no need to keep the woman under any form of influence for the time being. “Good Afternoon.” Elizabeth said upon entering the bedroom where Amalea was located. It was indeed, early afternoon. “I have read most Americans prefer jelly, or jam with their toast, but...they clearly lack any true taste buds.” Elizabeth said with a warm smile, the tray being set upon the floor near the cage. “A plate is difficult to get through the bars, so your eggs had to go in a bowl. Apologies.”

Once the tray was set down, Elizabeth moved to the bed closest to the cage and took a stiff seat at the end of the bed. “You know, I have given this situation some serious thought.” Elizabeth said slowly, worrying more about the city, then the personal strife between Doc and Amalea for the time being. That was between the two of them, and Elizabeth knew that Doc was currently conflicted between what he should do in this scenario. There were only a few options, all of which Elizabeth would mention if he asked it of her. For now, however, Elizabeth felt it best to keep her nose out of his feelings in regards to his own child. “You had mentioned that Theodosia said that if one wished to reach out to her, that she may be available. Why do you not reach out to her? See if she will speak more on the rift and how she is able to do whatever it is she is doing?” Elizabeth asked, wondering if Amalea had tried to reach out to the ancient vampire at all. “See if the decision cannot be stopped. If the choice made then, is absolute, now.” There was a lift of her shoulders, before she continued on. “You had mentioned a few things that I believe you must think about. You said that you did not care much for the human species, and in some respects...I can agree with thee. However, humans do serve their purposes and are useful in some areas that vampires simply...are not. And while it is wonderful that you plan on making Tomkin your permanent residence...who is to say that the rift will not go there? And what we see here, in Harper Rock, may happen there in a few months?” Elizabeth wondered if Amalea had considered the possibility of the rift continually expanding over a period of time. “I am curious, Amalea. You do not like the human race that you are part of, yet you have not yet become a vampire. And you know many. I am assuming there must be some reason you wish to cling to your mortality, even though you are perhaps the closest to a vampire that any human could be. And so, I had to ask myself why? What do humans have or possess that we do not? And the answers are very, very slim. Permanent death. Which, I suspect is not a positive choice and desire with most humans. But, perhaps you are the exception to the rule. And then...children. The ability to conceive and have them. A real sense of family. How does one expect to have children in a city such as this? I am curious of your thoughts in that respect. I have never seen one as reckless, but your choice with Theodosia leads me to believe otherwise. Would you, rather, could you, recklessly, bring up and raise children in an environment like this?”


Amalea
The red-head woke up feeling rested for the first time in weeks. Nightmares hadn’t plagued her sleep which was a welcome change from what had become usual. She cursed softly under her breath as she realized she had no idea what time it was and her phone was several feet away. There was no regret in the decision to put it and her weapons aside, though, just a frustration at the lack of knowledge. Lightly shaking her head, she stretched lightly in her seated position.

The door opening drew her attention as did the aromas coming from the tray that Elizabeth was carrying. Afternoon; it wasn’t a precise time, but it helped. “Afternoon,” she responded quietly quite unsure of things after the previous night. She laughed lightly at the comment on Americans lacking taste; it was true for a good many of them, after all. “A bowl is fine,” she assured the elder as she scooted over towards the tray. “It smells good, thank you.” In truth, she had expected a bowl of cereal at best; this was a pleasant surprise. She manipulated the bowl through the bars, setting it in her lap before acquiring the fork as she wasn’t about to use her fingers. She wasn’t really worried about the food being spiked with anything at this point as the English woman wasn’t looking to kill her and she figured anything else would either knock her out again or cause incredible amounts of pain. Those she could live with.

Amalea nodded quietly at Elizabeth’s comment about giving things some thought as she had a mouthful of food at the time. It was impolite to talk with one’s mouth full, after all. It was the questions about Theodosia that had her setting her fork down before realizing the elder was on a roll. It was safe for her to continue eating at the moment, perhaps part of the woman’s plan, though it didn’t stop her mind from considering all the things the telepath was presenting. She finished up her breakfast around the same time Elizabeth seemed to finish her monologue of questioning. Setting the bowl back on the tray, she thought for a few moments, allowing the silence to fill the room as she did so. “You cook well, thank you. You are correct, as well, the marmalade is far better than any jelly I’ve had.” Her red-tresses inclined slightly towards the pile she’d made the night before. “I hope that’s an alright spot for those? It didn’t feel right keeping them,” she commented quietly.

She leaned back against the cage as she started to address everything the elder had spoken about. “Honestly, I haven’t reached out to Theodosia since everyone seems to believe I’m under her control. It feels like trying to contact her would be confirmation of that belief.” Her red tresses shook lightly, “And if I did, and she replied, would not everyone figure she was just feeding me lies? If she doesn’t reply, then everyone will assume I’m lying about her being willing to talk.” She paused to look up at Elizabeth, “I can try, though, if you believe it will help. I just cannot guarantee any success in getting her to speak.”

“I don’t care for humans, no, not really. It’s hard to explain, honestly. They don’t seem to appreciate the life they have, in a way. It’s limited, but they don’t tend to live it to the fullest.” She shook her head lightly; she’d never tried to explain this to anyone before and was likely doing a terrible job at it. “They tend towards illogical conclusions too often for my tastes. Before the masquerade fell, well before it, honestly, they used to post on this website on how they couldn’t recall the night before and woke up in a different place in the city with an aching neck. And then proceed to immediately jump to vampires are the reason for it, despite there being no reason to as drug dealers and criminal activity was well known at the time.” She blushed lightly, realizing she was rambling, “I don’t want to see them gone, though, they’re needed for survival by vampires and they do have their uses. And really, not all are bad. I just rarely meet those ones.”

There was a soft sigh at the mention of Tomkin, “Tomkin has been my home since it came to being. My business offices are there as well. Though, if I were to be honest, I’m not sure if I would be welcome there by most. I’ve considered that the rift may spread to there though, yes. I can only hope that a way is found to stop it before that can occur…before too much more irreparable damage occurs.”

Silence descended again as the red-head collected her thoughts and emotions. She had had a similar discussion with Doc on her birthday after he had found out Mortll kept telling her she’d make a wonderful vampire. She wasn’t sure at the time that she agreed with the sentiment and, if she was honest, still wasn’t. Hell, it had been just a couple nights after that she had had such a conversation with Mortll. “There used to be a benefit to me being human and working with vampires, championing their causes. I can see both sides of the divide, know how humans think, know how vampires thing. Was useful. I was able to interface with both groups with little issue since I’m human and was accepted by vampires for the most part.” She winced quietly at the thought, “Granted most vampires likely think I’m the devil incarnate at the moment, but I’m not sure, even without that, even without the rift, if it was still useful.”

She tilted her head back to stare at the ceiling for a moment, thoughts running rampant in her head, “I had this discussion once with Papa. I told him I didn’t see much of a difference between a blood thief and a vampire. I had come up with sun, food, and strength, though you are correct, permanent death is another.” Her gaze returned to the English woman, “One of my other concerns, which I didn’t voice to him, was that too many seem to just want a trophy childe. To be able to say they sired the human had resisted all efforts. They don’t appear to care if the move would be suitable for their family; they just see the status it could bring. It's unnerving, unsettling." She shivered lightly at the thought, “I don’t want that. I’d want a sire that cared and they do exist, I know that.”

“Or rather, they did,” she corrected herself quietly. A hand rose to her face, a knuckle gently wiping the wayward tear from her eye before it had a chance to fall. “I doubt many would consider me to be a trophy or even a suitable childe now.” She shook her head lightly, “I wouldn’t really want a sire that was doing it solely as a punishment, honestly. So right now, there’s really not much choice besides staying human, even if I was convinced I would make a good a vampire and be better off as one.”

Was the telepath a mind reader? Or was she just that much of an open book? Though, the red-head supposed, she was likely just making an observation about children since it was another reason to remain human. “I can’t lie, when I was little, I dreamed of that fairy-tale wedding and having children. I gave up on ever finding a partner years ago and with that the desire for children. It wasn’t till I learnt of my true parentage that the desire resurfaced. Not because I specifically wanted a child, per se. But from the knowledge that the line would end with me otherwise; there’s a desire for a legacy.” Her head shook lightly, “With the way the city is, at this very moment? No. If the opening of the rift could be stopped and things begun to be set to rights, possibly. But only if I felt comfortable that it was safe to do so and that I could be a suitable mother.”

She looked at the woman curiously, “Could you honestly see me as a vampire or a mother?” She was genuinely interested in the elder's thoughts on the ideas.

[Elizabeth]

Elizabeth
Elizabeth let Amalea speak without any interruptions, gaining insight on the woman's thought processes on a magnitude of multiple fronts. This allowed Elizabeth to gather her thoughts, while Amalea shed some light on her personal character. On occasion, Elizabeth would not her head, an occasional frown would fall across her features, or a thin pressed line made the shape of her lips. When Amalea asked Elizabeth a question, it was then the woman spoke, her once collected thoughts that had been neatly placed together, now scrambled to answer the question posed of the woman.

"It seems a natural process, in truth. Do you not think? Blood thief, to vampire? I suppose, I imagined that in time, yes, you would be among us." In truth, Elizabeth had thought about it often, and confessed as much. "Before I knew of your kinship to Charles, I had the belief that he was more or less...observing you for the potential within." That was as much truth as Elizabeth would shed about that, for she did not wish to express her jealousies during those weeks, turned months, while watching Charles and Amalea interact together. "As for the idea of having children? Anyone could have them, but to be a mother?" Elizabeth slowly shook her head. "You? Not so much. A genuine mother is self-less if nothing else. Sacrifices for their child, or children. Thinks far ahead of the future, when making their decisions-if they care and love their children. Based off your choices, which you yourself said you know, or knew how both humans and vampires think, yet the choice you made seems to imply you did not care how they think. So can I see you as a mother? Not after recent events." It could be a hard thing for someone to hear, if they wanted children, but it was what Elizabeth believed to be true to the last fibre of her being. If Amalea wanted to be a mother, then she had to make the selfless choice, no matter what was promised to her by anyone or anything. Even an ancient vampire.

"Now, as for your, or rather, our Theodosia problem..." Elizabeth pursed her lips together. "I wonder how far a ritual could go..." She trailed off, with a shrug of her shoulders. There was one ritual she was thinking of specifically, but there were other options rolling through Elizabeth's mind. "You did say that the rift would need a continuous effort, yes? While you may be afraid of an angry ancient vampire...I..am not." Elizabeth said with a roll of her shoulders. "If the effort was abruptly stopped, I wonder if the rift would stop, or decrease in size..." Something Elizabeth would ask Charles on, since he seemed to have a scientific and logical head upon his shoulders.


Amalea
The red-head hadn’t missed the variety of expressions that had graced the elder’s face as she talked. She wasn’t quite sure if they were directed specifically at her or at her words. It didn’t matter though; she had the feeling that she just kept disappointing the telepath the more she spoke. The thought hurt the blood-thief as she didn’t want to be a further failure to anyone. She wasn’t naive enough to think that a few words would solve things; she just wanted to make things better not worse. There was a small sigh of relief as the elder spoke.

She nodded lightly, “It does. It is something I’ve always known was in my future when the time was right. Even before becoming a blood thief… While blood thieves are near immortal, we can still die and get seriously ill, I think. Honestly, I just haven’t seen the time as being right and now I have to wonder if I made an ill-decision in that regard.” She sighed before continuing quietly, “Perhaps it would have been better if he had.” There was a pause as she recalled the timeframe Elizabeth spoke about; that certainly explained some of the woman’s actions and words at the time. “I’m sorry I caused you strife by not telling you about our connection sooner than I had.”

She shook her head quietly, noting Elizabeth hadn’t really answered if she would make a good vampire, just that she had expected the red-head to have become one at some point. “It probably doesn’t matter if I would make a good vampire or not at this point, does it? The likelihood of finding a suitable sire and family is close to nil. I’ve always kept a running list of those I would consider when the time came but I doubt most would want that association with damaged goods.” There was silence for a moment before she sighed quietly, “I can’t even decide if it would be wise to be turned right now. It would solve some issues, but possibly create others.” A quiet shake of the head, “I’m sure there would be those willing to do so as a punishment for my actions, but I think I could only accept that from one person in particular and I don’t believe he would do such a thing.” Her eyes closed a moment as she lost herself in a brief thought that perhaps it would have been for the best. “I honestly don’t know what would be best - stay human or find a sire.”

The elder’s opinion that she was not fit to be a mother stung. In her heart, she knew the woman was right, but that didn’t make it any less painful to hear. The reasoning the telepath gave was rather sound and the red-head couldn’t fault her for her view. Hell, given that argument, Amalea would be inclined to agree that she currently wasn’t cut out to be a suitable mother. It was something to think on, if she truly wanted to have children, that she would need to be more mindful of her actions and reactions. She had time to war with herself over it; the city needed to be stable before she’d even consider it anyway. “Thank you for being honest. It may not be what I wanted to hear but it’s what I needed to be told.”

Her head tilted slightly at the mention of a ritual. In her mind, she went through the ones she knew of trying to figure out which Elizabeth was considering. “Which ritual?” she asked curiously. Her nose crinkled as she thought of one that had possibility if there were enough ritualists to perform it at the same time. She wondered if the telepath had come to the same conclusion and why the blood thief hadn’t considered them before. “That’s what Theodosia said, yes. It would require continuous effort to continue to expand the rift.” She sighed, “I’m not precisely afraid of an angry ancient. I just fear pissing her off would make the situation we’re in worse. That’s not something I would want to risk lightly, especially not by my own decision. I learnt my lesson there. “She didn’t say what would happen if the effort stopped. I’d assume though, it would possibly stop the expansion almost immediately. And perhaps in time it would shrink, if only slightly? Though I have to admit, I’m not sure about that.”


Elizabeth
Elizabeth listened to what Amalea had to say and then lifted a shoulder into a shrug. "I suppose someone would sire thee, even given the situation at hand we face. But, I believe you are correct. That may fix some things in your opinion, but make other problems." Elizabeth saw it being more problematic than helpful or positive in regards to Amalea becoming a vampire. "I do not know how Charles will take to hearing and knowing you are among us now-for many reasons." Elizabeth recalled when Charles had vaguely mentioned the things Amalea wanted and she would not be able to have those things if she were a vampire. "The most it would do is prove that Theodosia may not have a hold upon you, being a vampire now-but even still..." Elizabeth shook her head. In the end, it was Amalea's decision to do what she wanted to do in that respect.

A sigh came from Elizabeth, before she gave her thoughts. "I do not believe you would be a good mother now, but perhaps in a year or so? Who can say, given time and other occurrences that may happen? But, if you ever want to have children-remain human." Elizabeth's voice was firm, and assertive as she briefly thought about the cure and the possibilities it would present someone like her after all this time. But, the risks were too great, as Charles put it. She was far too old a vampire to even consider it, no matter the desire to have a form of 'family,' children included.

Amalea knew less answers compared to the questions Elizabeth had to ask of her. It seemed Theodosia was not very forthcoming with what she wanted to share, or that they had not thought to ask the woman these questions. The Telepath only nodded her head, then returned to the question of the ritual. "The one which makes small areas 'safe,' in a sense." Elizabeth pressed her lips together, before an index finger tapped at her lip. "Or maybe..." The thought was shaken away with her head, deciding to ask Charles about it later. "Imagine districts safe from zombie attacks and the like?" It was unlikely it would work, but if she had an idea, maybe Amalea had her own she could take from Elizabeth, or get inspired by to solve the dilemma they were all facing.


Amalea
“One or two may,” the red-head acknowledged quietly. “But more problems are not what is needed now.” Her head tilted slightly at the telepath’s comment of not knowing how her father would take the news. Curiosity made her want to ask why though she bit her tongue when no reasonings were forthcoming. It was something she was aware she was going to need to learn to curb. There wasn’t anything inherently wrong with being inquisitive, but sometimes it brought more trouble than was needed. “It would prove that, I agree, however, I’m not sure if it would be acceptable proof to most nevermind the other issues it would bring.”

“That is one of my concerns,” Amalea admitted quietly. “I do not want to act with haste and regret it later. Particularly given there are some things one can only do as a human. I do appreciate your candor on the matter of children.” She gave the elder a small, but genuine smile, “I certainly won’t be rushing to bring children into the current city situation, which will give me time to truly consider if such a thing is what would be best.” The blood thief completely understood Elizabeth’s stance both on her suitability as a mother and the fact she needed to stay human if she was even considering the possibility down the line. There was something, though, about the assertive way the elder had made the statement that had the human wondering if perhaps the English woman had wanted children of her own once and had been denied such.

“Eirene’s Will,” the red-head whispered as her mind ran through the implications of what the Telepath was potentially suggesting. “I wonder if the demi-fae would consider a district a small enough area to protect,” she mused out loud. “Somehow I think the Eirene’s I cast the night of the Ball was the exception rather than the rule.” She still wasn’t quite sure how she had managed that feat once she learned how truly expansive the manor’s grounds had been. “If not them, then at least key buildings within the city, perhaps?” Such was well within her abilities to do; she would not have spoke of it otherwise. Lost in thought for a moment, she frowned lightly, “It is unfortunate that that one ritual to bar others from your property couldn’t be reversed and used to contain the zombies in their pen.”


Elizabeth
"Yes, it is a shame." Elizabeth agreed with a singular nod of her head, before pondering other options. Options she dare not say in case, as Charles suspected (and she herself), Amalea were enthralled in some form by Theodosia. Some plans were better left unsaid until the timing was right and the timing was far from right. Slowly, Elizabeth stood from the bed, and ran her fingers over the fabric of her skirt, before looking pointedly at Amalea. "I had planned on keeping thee here for a long time." She approached the cage, but remained a few feet away. "A very long time." Elizabeth emphasized long, by adding to it.

"However..." Elizabeth brought a hand to the side of her cheek and tapped at her chin in thought. "I am of two thoughts. If you remain here, mind blocked, then eventually, Theodosia may come looking for thee. Or she may release her hold upon you and seek another." Elizabeth nodded, deciding that was what she would do. Assume the woman was dead and find another; after investigating matters some. "But, if she calls thee, then you could go to her, if not trapped here, and find your way to her." Elizabeth closed the distance between the two of them, the hand that had been resting against her chin, now slipping into the pocket of her skirt. "I think I like this option better." She pulled a key out from the pocket and unlocked the cage. "A more natural approach. The woman is, after all, centuries old. I suspect she is naturally suspicious, like all elders are." Elizabeth laughed, then put her free hand in the other pocket as she continued. "I will be keeping tabs upon thee often. Many times a day. Until I no longer feel that she has any desire to reach out to thee. Until I am certain you are not her minion." Elizabeth stated, being openly candid with Amalea. "I suggest keeping your distance from Charles in regards to this. These are delicate times." With that, Elizabeth opened the cage and stepped away from it, and offered the woman a smile. "The journey ahead of thee will be rough and you will be tested often. This is not a final goodbye, but this is a good luck wish for the time being. You have much work to do." Elizabeth held open both her arms, and offering of well-being and departure for the woman, should she wish to take it.


Amalea
The red-head nodded silently in agreement to the elder’s comment. It was a shame, but it provided an avenue for ideas to wander down; one could never know when a side path would reveal itself and provide much needed relief. Her head tilted as Elizabeth spoke of keeping her here long term as she approached the cage. “Had?” It wasn’t an accusatory question, but rather a soft-spoken one of genuine curiosity. Something must have occurred or been said that had changed that, but she wasn’t sure what it could possibly be.

Silently, Amalea listened as the English woman explained her thoughts. Inwardly, she sighed at the implication that it was still believed that she was enthralled by Theodosia. While true she’d never had such happen to her in the past, she was fairly certain she was not currently a minion of the ancient one. She certainly didn’t feel any different than normal nor did she feel like she was under the control of another. Nor, in her opinion, would it have made sense for Theo to attempt such a thing. The woman simply didn’t need a thrall when she had her creations and could compel multiple people at once. Nevermind that a vampire enthralling a blood thief seemed to be akin to enthralling another vampire; it simply wasn’t done. It gave her another research project, in any case.

Certainly, she agreed that had Theo had a thrall that disappeared and didn’t answer her, she would likely assume they were dead. However, she wasn’t a thrall and she wasn’t entirely sure how the ancient would react if she didn’t answer a mental poke. If she truly thought of Amalea as her daughter, it was likely that no answer would not sit well and may spark further investigation into the reasoning behind the refusal. The red-head also wasn’t sure that Theo would call them to her side, especially not at this time. Her freedom was still too new, she suspected, though she did agree going to the ancient seemed to be the better option of the two presented. She just needed to find a way to keep the woman properly dead without risk of return before then.

“Can’t really blame them for being suspicious,” Amalea commented softly. If she had lived through what they had, she was sure she’d be quite suspicious and at least a touch paranoid, herself. It was a natural consequence of the events that had occurred. She was a touch surprised that the elder seemed to be so willing to let her go so soon given the extent of the preparations she had gone through to get to this point. Though the door had been unlocked, she remained seated as Elizabeth continued speaking. She supposed she couldn’t fault the English woman for wanting to keep tabs on her given on some level she seemed to care for the human still. She nodded quietly in acceptance of both that and the advice being given in regards to her father. In truth, she had already planned to do so though it was nice to have another opinion that such was the best course of action.

Amalea silently watched as Elizabeth opened the cage and took a step back. It was only as the telepath began speaking again that the human stood up within the cage. She couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips at the sentiments the vampire was expressing. Yes, she was unhappy with her, but it didn’t seem like she wanted her gone from her life completely. Her first couple steps from the cage were a bit shaky given the position she had been but she made the short trip to the elder without incident. Accepting the unspoken offer, she wrapped her arms around the woman, as she whispered a heartfelt, “Thank you.”


Elizabeth
Elizabeth seldom had whims when it came to anything serious (or, really at all), and while Amalea might believe this had been a sudden whim from the woman, it was anything but. Everything had a purpose and the new purpose had shifted as the Telepath spoke with the woman in the cage. Currently, Amalea was useless in so many ways; the first being that Amalea had no real knowledge on the new ancient elder that threatened their very existence. Nor, did she have any real plans on how to get rid of the elder, so now Elizabeth would turn to the person she trusted and imagined would have some ideas; Charles.

It was...surprising that Amalea was open to accepting a hug from Elizabeth, given she had drugged the woman, captured her and put her in a cage for the better part of 24 hours. Would Elizabeth have been so trusting? Absolutely not. Still, Elizabeth was glad for it, given she had one final parting thought to leave with Amalea. As the human spoke a 'thank you,' to Elizabeth, Elizabeth's facade cracked just a bit and her brows furrowed in thought and annoyance. Before Amalea could leave the embrace, her left hand moved to the woman's neck, then the back of her head, almost pinning her to Elizabeth in an embrace that might be considered anything but friendly. Stifling. Awkward. Painful. Would be some of the ways to describe the embrace.

No retort was given in response to the thanks, as the conversation grew a little more threatening, and dark. "I must confess to thee that if you manage to hurt the person in which we both care and love, it will bring me no great pleasure to kill you. I may not be the blood thirsty individual I once was, but that does not mean I will not spill blood if my Charles is hurt any more by your decisions and antics, Amalea. That is my only, and final warning." Elizabeth said coolly as her hand remained at the back of the woman's head, while Elizabeth backed her own head away from the woman. The other hand worked on removing a small tracking device that had been placed on the back of Elizabeth's hand that was holding Amalea's head while the woman was in the cage and Elizabeth had been speaking with her. Elizabeth knew would eventually be found, but would give her at least a days (so she hoped) information on where the woman went, and the first place she desired to go once Amalea had her new found freedom. "Do not make me be the monster I can be." She said as the tracking device was placed on Amalea's shirt, near the woman's shoulder blade. "But will be." Elizabeth suggested as she moved away from Amalea and found her way near the inside of the bedroom door frame. "Good evening, Amalea."


Amalea
The red-head wasn’t most people otherwise she wouldn’t have accepted the unspoken invitation for an embrace. She wasn’t thrilled about the past 24 hours but she had been imparted some good food for thought; this was just a way to thank the elder for those. The hand on her neck was unexpected as was being pinned to Elizabeth. It was slightly surprising how something meant to be friendly, at least on her part, had turned into an awkward, uncomfortable moment.

She frowned at the threat that she knew the vampire was completely serious about. Amalea also knew the woman’s fighting skills were good having heard about her taking out a gang by herself. “I have no intentions of hurting him further,” she stated firmly, yet quietly. It was true; from here her plan was to head home and lay low while taking the small opportunities to help in out around the city. She still planned to train and talk to the few she had in mind but there was nothing in that plan that would cause him further hurt. The initial pain hadn’t been intentional, though she knew few saw it that way. That didn’t erase that it had occurred; it just meant that moving forward she was going to be more mindful of things.

As she watched Elizabeth back away towards the door, a list of places she needed to go and things that needed doing started popping up in her mind. It was a sure sign that her mental state had gone into overdrive but at least it was beneficial compared to last night’s emotional spiral. The short walk to where she had put her weapons was a little less wobbly than her earlier steps thankfully. Short work was made sliding each of the blades into its proper home before she tucked her gun away. Her phone was slipped into her pocket still in its unpowered state as she glanced about to ensure nothing was left behind.

“Good evening, Liz,” she bade the woman as she passed through the doorway of the bedroom. She found her way to the door she had entered through the prior day and let herself out. A brief descent of the elevator paired with a short walk later brought her to the train station. It was here she finally turned her phone on to see how many messages she had missed in the past twenty-four hours. Aside from a voicemail asking her to stop by the office, there was nothing urgent to deal with which set the red-head’s itinerary for her errands.

It was a short ride to the grocery where she picked up a variety of fresh foods as she had planned to do the night before as her fridge was quite barren. After delivery was set, a quick check of her watch indicated she had just enough time to play with the Disciples of Crow that still dwelled in the sewers. It was a short walk from the store and they had something of which she was searching. That it would allow her to release some of her pent up energy and stress was just an added bonus. Twenty-three minutes later, Amalea left the sewers without her sought out prize and headed to the train station. There she boarded the train bound for Tomkin so she could pop into her office to settle some business. Three days later, she finally made it home to crash. The shirt, however, never did; it ended up at a dry cleaners in Wickbridge around the same time Amalea flopped onto the couch in her apartment.

OOC Note: RP for the three days spent at her workplace will be forthcoming as time allows. There was no meeting or contact with Theodosia during that time, though. The shirt was taken to the dry cleaner by her assistant.