Blood Moon -- Closed thread

[The_gladiator]

Blood Moon
By IntensityRising and The Gladiator

The sun was setting, a wash of crimson like a stain of blood across the sky. But maybe the sunset only looked like blood because of Jacob’s dark thoughts. Dark thoughts indeed, that of the fourth Murder he’d investigated this week. He could still smell the blood and death. Vamp kills all of them. Clearly put under the spell of a vampire, willingly submitted themselves to what they thought were pleasure and then murdered for their naïve trust. It was these murders that brought Detective Jacob Louis to Blood Moon.

Blood Moon was one of the most well-known vampire clubs. More importantly though, Blood Moon was owned by the local vampires who’s public name was Morgan, whether that was her true name was anyone’s guess, but that was the name that Jake had and the one he would use when inquiring to speak to her upon his arrival.

To Jake, walking through the red doors of the club felt like waltzing into the lair of the enemy. As alpha of the local werepanthers Jake had every right to be there and in fact had been there many times on lair business and as part of the many attempts at inter species cooperation, all of which had been failures for the most part. The problem was that this time Jake wasn’t here as the panther alpha, but on behalf of the human police. Most preternatural creatures had normal day jobs. So, perhaps Jakes was a bit abnormal in that he was a police detective, well, sometimes. It was all complicated and a long story. He was officially retired from police work and officially running his now deceased father’s business concerns, but he still got called in. He still had a badge, and since his father had been outed as a shape shifter all the local police thought Jake would be the best individual to investigate. A part of him honestly didn’t mind, it beat buying yet another black jack table for one of his many casinos or listening to why he had to hire a new bartender this week.

Aside from the current circumstances it also felt weird for Jake to be entering Blood Moon, merely for the fact that it was competition for his businesses and he felt like he should be taking notes on the competition.

Tall and lean at 6’0” Jake slid through the crowd like the cat he….well like the cat he was. He waved at the barkeep and when the fellow, a brawny muscled vampire who couldn’t be 10 years dead, he still almost looked alive walked over. “What do ya want?” he asked his words running together. Was this guy drunk? “I’d like to have an audience with Morgan if I could.” He replied trying to stay polite.

“Well she doesn’t want to talk to you.” The bar tender promptly responded.

Jake gritted his teeth was this ass hole seriously going to be that way? He snarled under his breath. What was it about this guy that got under his skin like that? Was it just that He was so on edge today? It was probably all the murders. “Tell her that Jacob Louis, Alpha of the panthers is here to see her.” Jake growled. He had opted for the title that would probably gain him more respect here, as leader of one of the smaller yet still strong animal groups in the area. He figured that title held more weight here than Detective Jacob Louis of the non-human crime scene investigation team NCSI. The bar tender’s eyes widened a bit, the fool probably realizing that he should have recognized the Alpha Panther. Jake drummed his fingers on the bar, his green eyes sweeping the room, trying to ignore the provocatively dressed dancers and waitresses, the rough looking bikers which were more than likely part of the local werewolf pack and the loud giggling bunch of tourists who probably had no idea how real the stories they’d heard about this place really were. He watched everything and nothing, missed nothing.

 

[Intensityrising]

http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130502045259/legendofthecryptids/images/5/57/Fickle_Vampiress.png

Morgan had been around for nearly 3500 years. Longer than some of the most ancient of humankind's civilizations, longer than some civilizations long forgotten in the sands of time. There were many different eras of humanity she had seen, from the forming of entire new lands, to empires taking over the globe, or trying too at least. The problem with humans is that they never knew when enough was enough. Thus the key to Morgan's long life. Unlike some of her other vampiric brethren she always found herself a small spot to call home.

This most recent era was her favorite so far. Humans have long since come to realize that the creatures in the dark they thought figments of their sad little minds, were very much real dangers. But when in other ages they would have simply hunted down vampire, lycan, and goblin alike, in this modern age they did something far more foolish. They gave them rights, treating them with fear, yet respect and priviliage. It was the strangest thing that she had ever seen.

But she loved the freedom it allowed her. To be able to wander amongst her food supply out in the open, hunting right before their eyes and yet given permission to do so, even encouraged to feed on them, it was a glorious gift. Unlike her brethren she didn't bite off more than she could drink. While some vampires tried to build entire empires amongst this new America, she settled for owning the hottest night spot in the most popular city in the country. If she could live like this for the next 1000 years she would be content.

However being out in the open didn't come free. Morgan had to deal with the human laws and authorities on more than one occasion, especially when some supernatural creature got a little to killy-killy-murder-maim-killy in her club. She had to prove she had no part in it and all the politics involved with keeping out of trouble.

Morgan hated trouble. Always gave her a headache.

Speaking of trouble it seemed tonight she would have some in the form of Jacob Louis, an ambitious little shapeshifter who thought he was hot shit because he led a little pack of panthers. Morgan thought it was a shame really, Jake would have made such a wonderful vampire servant had he not already been infect with lycanthropy when she first met him. Or had he not been a cop, the fallout of killing a cop even to make him immortal would have been a migraine to say the least.

Morgan knew Jake was in the club even before the bartender called up to her office. "Yes I know. Good boy. I'll be down shortly."

She moved like liquid darkness down through the club. Melting through people as if she were little more than a breeze, until she appeared behind Jake. "I already told you I don't sell kitty litter here." Her voice was like wine, smooth, sweet, yet easy to find oneself drunk on.

 

[The_gladiator]

Jake had not heard her approach, but should he have been surprised? He turned gracefully to face her one hand reflexively reaching towards his shoulder holster under his suit jacket before he caught himself and forced his hands to his sides. His eyes had slid to the more vibrant reflective green of his cat, a sign that the man was on edge, even she knew his control was much better than that. “He snorted at her words. “Oh darn, then I guess I will just have to shit on your floor then. I sure hope you pay that idiot of a barkeep well.”

He let his eyes trail over her and the black-haired beauty was even more attractive than he remembered. Did she practice seduction? He felt rather inadequate standing next to her in his business suit which he’d worn all day. Jake let his eyes meet hers again displaying a pair of balls that he hadn’t always shown in her presence, but today he had human law behind him, he knew she couldn’t touch him.

However, was that really true? He was protected for this visit; however with the loss of Daniella his mate, he had lost some of his protection from her. His teeth clenched when he remembered the death of his wife and mate, the one thing that had brought him back into active duty on the police force.

He cleared his throat, “Good evening Lady Morgan.” He said trying to salvage the situation which had already started off badly, “I was wondering if we could talk…” he paused before adding the final word, “Privately?” Fairly sure that being alone with this woman was a mistake but knowing he had no choice.

 

[Intensityrising]

Morgan always thought it was cute when shapeshifters tried to flex their animal muscles. It was hard not to giggle at them, especially the young ones who thought their super powers were hot shit. Some Lycans did get pretty powerful, and the average vampire would probably at very least have a challenge if faced against a strong alpha that wanted their head. But a vampire as old as Morgan....There wasn't a Lycan on the planet that could give her reason to do anything more than laugh n amusement.

Of course she had hidden her power well over the last 3000 years. Only using her full potential when absolutely necessary. Often enough Morgan even bowed to lesser vampires and other creatures in order to manipulate her position and get what she wanted without flexing her muscle. Frankly she feared having to use her real power, as someone like her would be feared. Normally fear was good, it kept the brats in line, but too much fear and people tended to plot against you, teaming up to take you down.

The vampire council had once tried to recruit her, but she lowered her powers and convinced them that she wasn't worthy of a council spot. The truth was that if she took them on one-on-one, there wasn't a single member she couldn't obliterate. However if they ever learned her true strength, they would unite and crush her for fear of what she could do.

As such Morgan flexed enough power to keep the local Lycans and other master vampires in line. All she wanted was her club and to rule it with a fist of fear and seduction. Not too much to ask now-a-days was it?

The Panther King, or alpha or pard leader, whatever he called himself quipped back at her joke. She smirked shallowly, barely a dimple in her cheek from it. Her face gave Jake pause and he quickly showed her the proper respect, and that, made her smile.

"Private?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "Why you didn't want to be alone with me last time you paid me a visit. What's made you so brave, Officer Louis." She mocked his human title. "Dont be surprised, I can smell the oil on your gun and taste the metal of the badge in your wallet."

She sighed, "I am only to happy to help the police in any way I can. Please follow me, we can talk in my office."

Without waited for Jake to respond she melted her way back through the crowd, leading Jake to the stairs that would lead directly up to the manager's office, a small windowed room that she used for public business and club related things. Underground was where her real den lay, but Jake didn't need to know about that. At least not yet, perhaps if he angered her enough.

She opened the door, and flowed through the room. She didn't seem to walk through the room, instead she became a blur that moved almost instantly from the door, to the luxurious leather chair behind her big wooden desk. She kicked her feet up onto the wood and smirked, "Have a seat, tell me what's on your mind."

 

[The_gladiator]

“It’s detective.” He growled under his breath as she walked away but she had done that to purposefully belittle him. She knew his title, just as she knew he was armed. He couldn’t be sure she didn’t know exactly why he was here and everything about his entire family history. She was powerful.

He had been a human psychic before he was infected with lycanthropy, and he could read power levels. She was probably one of the best shielders he had ever met so to be honest he could not read her true power levels. All he could ever read was the muscles she flexed visibly, and even those were formidable. Most master vampires did not even make him hesitate, she did, it was just a gut feeling but he had always tried to follow such feelings.

He followed her up to her office without saying anything. She casually sat at her desk and placed her feet up on her desk. “I’m here to discuss these with you.” He said briskly slapping an envelope on the desktop in front of her. There were photos of each victim therein. The first of which would be unmistakably that of Daniella, Jake’s wife. “I need to know if you have any information about these killings. I ask you as both a police officer, but also.” And here he paused, “As a Lair leader who does not want to call in the sentinels to solve a case on my turf. The sentinels were the right hand of the Blackstone vampire counsel; they were vampire kind’s answer to the need for police. Vigilantes, one men armies, they tended to be judge jury and executioner all in one, and when they came to town people died. This last was obviously the shape shifter’s pride talking that he did not want some hot shot coming in to usurp his case. Just like how human local cops hated the feds, so most preternatural leaders hated the sentinels, because hot shots and upstarts they were not, they were beyond ancient with Vladimir their leader being one of the oldest vampires known. “I’m surprised the sentinels aren’t here already to be honest with killings like these.” He sat down and began to lay out the photos as he explained, “It’s like the perpetrator is a vampire wanting to drink from them, they show signs of being mesmerized and bitten, but they aren’t fully drained before something happens, something changes and this person goes into a rage and kills the victim by ripping it apart. We are only assuming this is the order of events because what vampire is going to try to drink from a body which has been this badly mutilated?” he asked. Jake was pretty sure he wasn’t cleared to show her the photos but hell, she could probably have ripped them from his mind, so did it really matter in the end? Regulations just couldn’t keep up with powers like hers. “So, tell me what you know.” He ended leaning back in his seat across from her, leaving the pictures spread out before her like a macabre collage.

 

[Intensityrising]

Morgan casually took the envelop and let the photos fall into her other hand. She glanced up at him, seeing only the first photo, the photo of Jake's ex-wife. She thumbed through the photos and then put them back into the envelop. She slid the package back toward Jake and leaned back in her seat again. Quickly she tried to process what could have done those killings, surely it could have been a vampire, however with the savagery the vampire would most likely have to be young.

Then again it could be a Lycan trying to frame vampires for serial killings. It was hard to tell without seeing the bodies first hand. "Detective Louis, I think you should watch your tongue. Using the Sentinels in an attempt to threaten me is a very unwise thing to do." She gave him a hard look, "You don't strike me as unwise."

She was suddenly standing, leaning actually, against the side of her desk. "As it stands I cannot help you. Pictures tell me very little. I can give you ideas, but without seeing a fresh body there is no extra insight I can offer. If this is a vampire it is probably a very young vampire, perhaps nearly feral without the guidance of a master. Talk to Jean-Lebeau, he is the Master of the City. He will know if any new vampires have entered the city. Otherwise it might be a Lycan trying to pin in on the vampires."

Morgan moved closer to Jake and looked into his eyes, "You tell me Detective, what do the scenes smell like? Are you not using those wonderful senses to help catching us big bad monsters." She smirked, "Kind of ironic don't you think? A monster, trying to catch monsters, for the humans."

Her hand came up and adjusted Jake's collar. "Again, unless you can take me to a freshly killed body, not a lot of insight I can give you. At least nothing you haven't already guessed yourself."

She leaned in and let out a breath across his neck. "Anything else, Detective." She poured her power into her voice, letting him feel the pleasure she could provide him with a taste of blood. Promising pleasure of her body, a thought she knew Jake had never been interested in sampling before. Such a faithful married man, shame he had no one to be faithful to anymore.

 

[The_gladiator]

He accepted the pictures back silently. “I don’t recall threatening you M’lady. I was stating facts; I probably should have reported this case already is all.” He leaned back in his seat listening to her words and considering. When she mentioned Jean-Lebeau he snorted. “You’re kidding me, right?” he asked raising an eyebrow. “You’re telling me that you aren’t the master of the city?” He had been to meetings of leaders of the city before, he was always under the impression that even though Jean-lebeau had represented vampires that She was the true master.

He let his green eyes meet her blue ones not flinching from her gaze. “What I smell is a rat.” He said in a low voice, “I have it on good authority that you have at least twice the power of Jean-Lebeau, and my guess from what I know of both of you is on a bad day.” He was not sure if he had given too much away with that statement, had he revealed more about himself than he should? No, probably not, he had not said that he was the one who knew this just that he had learned it. He did not ask the obvious question, why would a vampiress of her abilities swear loyalty to someone like Jean-Lebeau. The answer of course was probably obvious, he was her stalking horse, at least that was his guess.

He cleared his throat, “As for the crime scene I smell vampire, so there is vampire involved. However I do not deny that other creatures couldn’t be involved. I came to you for information because I know that Daniella had come to Blood Moon to serve as one of your donors that evening.” His gaze hardened, “I know you would not feed on her, however, one of your people did this is why I feel like someone in your organization, not Jean-Lebeau’s organization was involved.” He couldn’t have put more contempt into the master of the city’s name had he tried. Jake was like a dog with a bone, ignoring her comment about the monsters as well as her apparent nearness. He did find himself considering whether he could get her to a crime scene, which was completely against regulations, but perhaps more immediately useful than asking for help from a sentinel. Once the sentinels got involved, it would no longer be his case and they both knew it.

 

[Intensityrising]

Morgan backed away and jumped onto the edge of her desk to sit atop of it. She leaned back on her elbows to allow him to lay his eyes along her seductive body. Sex was a tool, either for power or to keep enemies off guard it was the best of all her weapons although far from the most powerful in her arsenal.

"Jake my poor poor little kitty." She purebred sweetly, yet ironically. "I truly enjoyed your wife, she was a delight in both her presence here and as a snack." She licked her lips. "I was very much displeased to hear of what had happened to her. Believe me when I saw I dug my pretty little nails into the throat of all my people, what few I actually rule over, and the guilty party wasn't amongst my flock."

"As for power, Jean-Lebeau is indeed master in this city. However he and I have an agreement which allows me to have my little realm that is this club and all who work for me within. Outside though....that domain in his." She looked at Jake and knew from the look in his eyes that he didnt believe her claims of humility.

She sighed and slipped off the desk. "I agree that this murdering is bad for business, so in the interest of us both I will come with you to speak to Jean-Lebeau. Perhaps he may know of a vampire trying to move in on this territory or perhaps know someone with a....beef with him."

She moved around Jake and opened her office door. "Wait for me in your car detective. I must change for the occasion, a girl has to look good for the Master of the City after all."

 

[The_gladiator]

Jake watched her lounge on her desk. Once again his eyes traveled her body almost as if drawn to her, like he had down in the bar. He shook his head almost as if to clear it before he lifted his gaze back to hers and clenched his jaw. He had to admit though her words had taken him by surprise. He figured that since Daniella forbid her husband to be shared, in any way that Morgan had to dislike her. Of course decreeing that such a strong Lycan could not serve as a blood donor meant she had to serve more often, but that had seemingly never fazed Daniella. Had Jake overestimated the desire Morgan had for him? Maybe it was wrong and maybe it had not bothered her that she could not have him and was content with his wife. That couldn’t be true; she had always made a fuss at Daniella when Jake was present that she wouldn’t share her husband. Jake shrugged; he was quickly coming to realize that nothing was what it seemed with Morgan.

He decided that her agreement to come with him to speak with Jean-lebeau was probably as much concession as he was likely to get from her and as much as he expected if not what he hoped for. He gave a short nod to her words about meeting him in his car and retraced his steps through the club below. He received quite a few glares as he walked through the place, most saw him as a traitor, not loyal to the monsters. He was not, and in fact his infection with Lycanthropy had been one of the reasons he had eventually left the police force, at least for the most part. Running the businesses was just a convenient excuse. He had been infected when he was young, but as he moved through the police ranks it became more difficult to hide that he was just better, stronger, faster, solved more cases, and because he wasn’t even registered with the humans as a psychic he had no explanation for his abilities. Being a lycanthrope was certainly not illegal, but it was still frowned upon to be one in certain careers.

Jake stepped outside and immediately felt calmer; the night air was cool and calming to his cat’s need to be free of all the hustle and bustle of the club. The sun had set and a half moon was rising into the sky, he hadn’t realized he’d been inside that long; it had just seemed like a few moments. “Time flies when you’re having fun.” He muttered sarcastically.

He moved to his car, a Jeep. He leaned against the side of it and waited for her arrival, glancing at his watch occasionally, hoping she would not make him wait too long.

 

[Intensityrising]

Morgan licked her lips trying to get the taste of Jake's blood from her mouth. Of course she had never fed on him, but his blood was stronger than any creature she ever met. His blood gave him an aura she could literally taste on her lips. It was often maddening to be near him as she had to fight to resist just taking him. She could take him if she wanted, of that there was no doubt. But if she did so, the level of her true power would be revealed and it would cause her far more trouble than the momentary delight that tasting Jake would bring.

She changed into a very form fitting blood red dress. Strapless it revealed the tops of her breasts the the perfect skin of her shoulders. The dress fit so well it looked as if it had been painted onto her body rather than the shimmering silk that made it up. As she stepped from her club a servant of hers followed her and opened the passenger door of Jake's car. She slid j not the seat as if she owned it and glanced toward the Panther in the seat beside her.

"Shall we?" She suggested.

Jean-Lebeau had a mansion built on the edge of town, as if he were a makeshift mayor rather than the master he was supposed to be. The building was large and stood out like a sore thumb as if he was putting up a sign for challengers to come try to kill him. Jean-Lebeau was strong but he was nowhere near a top ranking vampire even in this country and he was but a peon compared to vampires in Europe.

She already scoffed at the building. Jean-Lebeau was asking for trouble and she wouldn't come to his aid if he was attacked despite the rule that said she should. No reason to prevent a fool from meeting his comeuppance.

"Ugh I forgot how ugly his house is. Jean-Lebeau is such a jackass." She muttered. "If you prove he did it can I help you cut his balls off?" She asked Jake.

 

[The_gladiator]

As she moved out of the club, followed by one of her servants, Jake moved quickly to slide behind the wheel. This meant he was waiting as she slid into the seat like she owned the car and he was just her driver. He caught a glimpse of what she was wearing out of the corner of his eye, and was fairly certain that he was glad he couldn’t get a good look at it, for he might end up staring. She was beautiful, there was no way around that, and she knew it and used it clearly to her advantage.

Jake put the vehicle in gear and began to drive, one hand on the wheel, the other on the gear shift, Jake had always preferred driving manual. He had to admit that she was right his house was ugly. “He could have at least built it in the old neighborhood where a throwback to antebellum or even Victorian or what the hell ever look he was going for would look natural. But who puts a house like this in a warehouse district? Its location only reinforced Jakes belief that the real power in the city was Morgan and Jean-Labeau was her stalking horse.

He snorted a laugh at her comments, “I actually am only an occasional executioner.” He corrected her, “But honestly I’m sure you wouldn’t need my help to be rid of him. We both know vampire kind is perfectly capable of policing themselves.” He shot a look at her, “Even if more often than not they do not.”

He pulled into the long driveway and pulled the Jeep to a stop. “So how do we play this? Do I go in as a detective or Lair alpha?” He probably should have just made the decision on his own, however why would a police officer need a vampire as back up, however if she went in as a master vampire and he as a Pack alpha he could be seen as backing her. Either that or they could go in as independent parties who just happened to want the same goal, which was the case but would probably not make sense to the master of the city. He asked her for her opinion because yes this was his show, but he realized that Jean-Lebeau would respect her more than him. As he waited for her response he leaned in front of her, opening the glove box to pull out an extra clip, tucking it into his pocket, just encase.

 

[Intensityrising]

Morgan turned to look at Jake with a smile. "We are here as police. So we act the part. Bring the photos and question him outright, do not give him a chance to invent a story. Hit him with questions as if you were using your fist." She opened the door and slipped out of the vehicle. She waited for Jake before they walked up to the front of the mansion door.

Caprice, a bald ninth year old human answers the door. "Can I help you?" His voice was but a whisper but Caprice could not make any further sound.

Morgan smiled, "Hello Caprice. Be a dear and summon Jean-Lebeau."

Caprice paled at the sight of her. If he could get anymore pale than he normally was. He was clearly shocked to see Morgan and that made him fearful as if he knew something other people did not. Morgan pushed past him entering into the main foyer of the house. Jean-Lebeau had left out ancient items of violent fashion. Suits of armor, sword and shield, torture devices, all made the entrance of the building unwelcoming. Morgan sneered feeling disgusted at the lack of any kind of class. Perhaps it was time for the city to have a new master, Jean-Lebeau was starting to bother her and they hadn't spoken in years.

Jean-Lebeau appeared at the top of the balcony which overlooked the foyer. "Well isn't this a surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure my dear sweet Morgan." There was fear in his voice, masked by overwhelming friendliness.

Morgan glanced at Jake as if to give him control of the conversation.

 

[The_gladiator]

Jake nodded his agreement with her decision. “This doesn’t mean I’m deputizing you though.” He muttered, which meant if she killed someone she could be prosecuted for murder.

He kept in step with her, something that shouldn’t have been difficult for him, he was much taller and had longer legs, but she didn’t just move with grace but speed. Jake said nothing through the exchange with the elderly butler. An eyebrow rose at the suits of armor, and various torture devices set out on display. “Well, I can see why we always met at Blood Moon.” He commented under his breath, most certain that Morgan would hear him.

Jake slid seamlessly into the gap left him by Morgan. “I am detective Jacob Louis, and I would like to ask you a few questions.”

The master of the city’s eyes widened. Was he acting surprised, or was he that unable to control his expressions. He seemed to collect himself and adjusted his jacket. “But of course officer, but why is “she” here?” he asked and “she” was emphasized with contempt and yes, fear.

“She accompanied me both to show me the way and because 3 heads are better than 2 in solving a mystery don’t you think?” he responded trying to smooth the situation.

“Whatever you’re here about I did not do it.” He responded. Goodness, was this guy guilty much?

Jake patted his hands in the air, “No one said you did anything we just have some questions for you.” Jean-Lebeau finally nodded and gestured a servant to lead them up the stairs and into a conference room. As they entered, the master sat down at the head of a conference table and seemed to be regaining his arrogant mask he wore like a glove. “So, what is it I can help you two with?” Without a word Jake slapped down photo after photo. “Can you tell us anything about these? Lady Morgan seemed to believe you might know something to help my case.

Jean-Lebeau pulled back from the photos with an expression of horror which was obviously concocted, “And what makes you think I would know anything about these?” he asked. “Furthermore why would she implicate me in such…crimes?”

 

[Intensityrising]

Morgan did not like the words coming out of his mouth. Jean-Lebeau knew something, she could smell it on the air. Jean-Lebeau was trying to act like the Master he pretended to be. She saw knowledge slip across his eyes as the pictures slid before him. That knowledge vanished behind a mask of denial quickly but she caught it.

Morgan moved around behind Jean-Lebeau, who tensed very clearly at having her so near him in a vulnerable position. She reached over his shoulder to the table, letting her breast mash into the side of his head as she did so. Her hand brushed through the pictures and grabbed the photo of Jake's wife. She held the picture in front of his face.

"This one was mine, Jean-Lebeau. Look at her. Someone did this to one of mine. The others I could care less about but her....you knew the rules, you agreed to our terms and this happens on you watch." She said softly.

Jean-Lebeau glanced away at Jake trying to avoid the picture.

"LOOK AT HER!!!!" Morgan roared. She grabbed the master by the back of his head and smashed his face into the table, shattering his face. Blood exploded from his mouth and nose, the thick wood of the table was crushed and splintered from the force. A thickness lay across the air, filling the room with terror. All of which came from Morgan.

"You failed me and you fail her!" Morgan hissed.

Jean-Lebeau's face was already healing but he looked far less scary covered in blood. "Morgan I didnt know this was happening, it isn't someone local. I have completely control over my people and they know you and your people are off-limits. Listen I dont like you coming in here trying to undermine me, I am the Master of the...." he gagged, completely cut off as Morgan ripping him out of the chair and threw him through the wall behind her. This sent Jean-Lebeau out into the foyer, over the railing and causing him to crash on the first floor by the front door.

"I AM THE MASTER HERE! YOU ARE BUT A PUPPET." She roared, levitating as she moved through the hole in the wall floating her way down to where Jean-Lebeau struggled to stand. "Do not lie to me again Jean-Lebeau. I know you know what is happening here and I want an answer. NOW!"

 

[The_gladiator]

Jake’s eyes stayed on Jean-Lebeau, although he was aware of Morgan’s movement from beside him to behind their host. She pressed close to him, her seductive body used now like an instrument of barely contained violence and intimidation. It worked; clearly Jake had read things right for the fear on Jean-Lebeau’s face said that she was powerful indeed. Jake winced in sympathy as she pounded his head into the table. He cleared his throat but had no time to say anything. He kept his thoughts that she was taking her bad cop role a little too seriously to himself. Jean-Lebeau looked to Jake as if he really would play good cop and save him. Jake’s face hardened as the master’s eyes would not look at the photo of his wife. He still bristled at Daniella being called Morgan’s, however she apparently meant something to Morgan, or else was a convenient excuse to go psycho on his ass and…well throw him through a wall.

Jake watched her levitate out of the room and Jake followed, picking his way through the wreckage. When he got to the balcony he leapt down, landing with the grace of a cat. He approached Jean-Lebeau who was trying to get up but not having much luck as Morgan was there atop him, holding him down. Jake had drawn his gun and was unconsciously backing up his partner, sweeping the room for other threats. He might not have chosen her as his partner, but training won out.

Jean-Lebeau was coughing up blood. Glaring up at Morgan he spat the blood into her face. His brown eyes almost bugging out as he tried to get enough air, however the fall had clearly broken his neck, it was healing for sure but even a master vampire took time to heal such wounds. “I was about to share what I knew with you.” He said trying to defend himself his voice coming out as a ragged gasp. “The threat isn’t local.” He reiterated. “There are at least two masters in the city. I believe one is the killer, something about finding blood, special blood. The other is…” he trailed off coughing up more blood. Jake could see now that a long splinter of the wooden railing had imbedded itself in Jean-Lebeau’s chest. Jake waited for Him to continue, wondering who the other master was. However for the moment it looked as if he was going to say no more, whether he couldn’t because of his injuries or because he was dying Jake did not know. He couldn’t find out either because there was the sound of running footsteps as his guards ran into the room. Jean-Lebeau was Morgan’s problem; it looked like he would have his hands full with these newcomers. “Police business, please stay back.” Jake barked.

 

[Intensityrising]

Morgan glared with full fury at Jean-Lebeau, hearing the words about another master in town on a hunt. Her rage built and built as she willed Jean-Lebeau to die. Her gaze literally willing him to end his several hundred year life. To simply give up. She had lost someone important to her, although she hadn't realized how much Daniella meant to her until she was gone, Morgan had the closest thing to a friendship with the panther that she had had with anyone in hundreds of years. Now that she was gone she wanted to know why and who so she could rip them apart slowly.

But this was not the answer she expected nor wanted to here. This was worst case scenario.

The special blood. It could only mean that fucking fable again. There was a tale believed by a long lived vampire that said that there was a bloodline out there that at the merest sip could multiply a vampire's power ten fold. This vampire when mad with his own fable sometime around 200AD. However every few decades he would appear, murdering and hunting for this so called bloodline. Morgan never wanted to deal with such a mad man. A powerful vampire in his own right, his psychological fucking brain made him even dangerous to her.

As guards flooded the room she rose to her feet slowly and kicked Jean-Lebeau's body out toward the guards."Clean up this mess. Dont make the same mistake of crossing me." She warned.

The guards lost their fight quickly, as they wisely chose to live rather than deal with a clearly enraged and much more powerful enemy.

"Come Detective." She said opening the door and storming.

 

[The_gladiator]

Clearly Jean-Lebeau was not going to make it. There was clearly a new master of the city and the guards wisely wanted nothing to do with the whole thing. The leader saluted Jake and bowed to Morgan.

Jake followed Morgan, what other choice did he have. He wondered if he should now try to arrest Morgan, hadn’t she technically committed murder just now, even if the prick deserved to die. Jake caught up to Morgan and caught at her shoulder trying to slow her, “Where are you going?” he dared to ask; “Don’t you think we should talk about what just happened? And did you stop to think who the other master he mentioned was? I mean the first one was bad enough but it might have been helpful to know who the other master was, or do you already know?” Jake was probably not wise talking to her like this especially after what he had seen but he needed some answers. Perhaps suggesting that she shouldn’t have killed their resource wasn’t wise but seriously?

A sharp clearing of the throat cut Jake off in mid-sentence. “I have some of your answers panther.” A deep voice said from behind him. Jake let go of Morgan and whirled back to face Jean-Lebeau’s estate gun in hand again. “Put up your hardware cat, your bullets mean nothing to me.” The accented voice said somewhat contemptuously. The figure approached slowly waving a hand dismissively towards Jake. “I have no quarrel with you detective. I just had a few words to share with the new master of the city.

In case Morgan had not already recognized the voice as the figure came into the light of the moon some of his features were visible. Long black hair tied back from his face, high cheekbones and eyes black as night. Jake quickly identified the man as a vampire. He dared not try to read this newcomer with his psychic abilities for fear of tipping the stranger off to his own power, but he did not need to for power bled from him in waves. He was so old it made His teeth hurt. Son of a bitch who was this guy?

The vampire moved passed Jake, casually stepping around him to confront Morgan. “I admit… I do not find often that I come to a territory and see that my duties have already been carried out for me. Especially by a master vampire who is supposed to be less powerful than the one she killed.” Jake scratched his head what was this guy talking about? But then he got it. Do his work for him? Was this one of the sentinels?

The newcomer leaned closer to Morgan, eyes taking in her appearance, his eyes meeting hers for the first time, that’s when a flicker of recognition flickered across his face and he gave her a bow of respect, one given to someone he respected perhaps even an equal. “Madam Le Fay I presume?” the vampire half stated half asked, hazarding a guess to this woman’s true identity which would explain much.

This had to be Vladimir Jake thought to himself, clearly no other sentinel could feel this bloody old, and he physically resembled the descriptions he had heard of him. Jake was suddenly caught by Vladimir’s words. Madam Le Fay? What the hell was this guy talking about? “But her name is Morgan…” Jake said and then trailed off and closed his mouth for it had fallen open. Morgan…. Madam Le Fay… This guy wasn’t seriously suggesting that a bar owner in their city was the Morgan le Fay of legend, you know, brother to King Arthur and all that? Jake not for the first time realized he might be in over his head.

 

[Intensityrising]

Morgan was about to snap at Jake, his hand on her shoulder on the verge of setting her off again. Yet she retrained herself, forcing her heart to calm her heart rate and still her churning rage. Undoubtedly Jake wanted to know what set Morgan off like that back there, aside from how much of a prick Jean-Lebeau was. Jake didn't know this, but his wife was a long long descendant of Morgan's bloodline. A long removed member of the La Fey family.

When Morgan first met Danielle she had only seen food. But when Morgan got a sniff of her blood, she knew that this woman was family. A small part of her long dead family that had survived countless generations. Instantly Morgan became attached, though she had kept the reason why a deep secret.

She opened her mouth to tell Jake. He deserved to know who his wife really was, but she was cut short by a much more disturbing visitor. The voice that called form the shadows rang all to familiar to her. A long time gone from her life, but it was a Sentinel and she didn't ever want to deal with them.

She sighed and turned toward the vampire stepping from the shadows. "Vladimir, I honored to have a Sentinel in my lands." She lied, but offered the formal greeting anyway. "To what do I owe this grace?"

Vladimir scoffed and dismissed her greeting, "Oh please Morgan, you and I both know that you are not happy to see me. You and I both know that if you wanted you could banish me from your city with a mere whim. But....." He smiled slow and steady, "We both know your little secret powers and you dont want to call that kind of attention to yourself. So let's cut the chatter and you tell me where Claudius is."

Morgan grabbed Vladimir by the collar and lifted him into the air. "CLaudius is here? Why am I learning of this now? You people know what kind of monster that thing is and you didn't tell me."

Vladimir was clam and cool, grabbed her wrists and pushing her arms down to lower his feet back to the stone. "You know how hard he is to track, believe me La Fey, if I had known where he was heading before he was already here I would have told you."

Morgan let him go and shook her head, "Goddamn it Vlad."

"All I can do now is leave you with the warning. Find him and kill him if you can Morgan. Of all the places he could have gone, your territory is his worst choice, if anyone can stop him it is you."

* * * *

3500 years ago.

Life was good for Morgan La Fey, her brother was king, her husband the greatest soldier in the kingdom's army. Everything a woman could ever hope for was hers. Even the child starting to kick in her belly was a reason to be happy.

That was until the invasion. The Roman's had been after their kingdom for a long time, trying to take them over under the pretense of peace. Her brother had none of it and it cost them everything. Sometimes Morgan could still feel the heat of the flames that slaughtered everyone she ever knew, and loved.

She could remember the big men in armor who burst into her chambers, beating her stomach until she purged her unborn child. Then they raped her, beat her until she was sure the darkness was coming to make the pain go away.

That was when the shadow appeared beside her body. The fingers of a man brushed her hair from her face and whispered to her, "Drink from me and gain the power to take your vengeance over all those who have done you harm."

When she awoke Morgan was a demon of death, ripping through the country until every Roman in her country was nothing but a bloody stain on the grassland.

* * * *

Morgan staggered to the passenger side of Jake's car and said, "Take me back to Blood Moon. I must....think." There was none of the usual fire to her voice.

 

[The_gladiator]

Vladimir seriously considered starting a fight with Morgan for her actions grabbing him. However, a beautiful woman grabbing him was certainly the least of his concerns. He simply pressed on her arms forcing her to lower him as he spoke calmly resolutely. The sentinels went where they wanted, did what they wanted, so one might ask why was Vlad not staying to take care of Claudius himself? Because of whom she was. Discovering that such a powerful creature not only still existed let alone was running this insignificant city gave him pause. It was also a source of relief to him. It meant that someone other than himself could hunt Claudius. “I would stay to hunt him with you, but as you know, my first duty is and always will be to hunt Xavier.” He so casually mentioned someone who was far from casual. Xavier was the killer who was almost single handedly responsible for vampire kind needing to go public about their existence. Vlad had tangled with the mastermind while making a routine killing of a vampire serial killer, stumbling onto a turf war which had certainly not ended well. “Therefore, Claudius is your problem for now. I was also here to remove that fool Jean-Lebeau from his position, but you seem to have done that for me.” He let a slight curve come to his lip, a sort of half smile. “You know how to reach me.” And with that he melted into the night.

Jake just stood there mouth open like he were catching flies. Just what the hell had he stumbled into? Legends come to life, the existence of some kind of super criminal that this Vlad character was just leaving them to deal with. He wanted answers and wanted them soon. Morgan looked rattled as she leaned against the Jeep. Jake approached her slowly and unlocked the car, opening her door for her and offering her a hand up into the truck. She could have bench pressed the truck, with probably just her mind, but nevertheless Jake had seen her servant offer her a hand up so as not to look undignified in her dress. Hell only knew why Jake offered her such a courtesy. It felt strange to touch her, like he should feel wrong, like grasping hold of evil, she had always been so harsh to him. But somehow knowing his wife had supposedly meant something to her softened Jake’s opinion of her. And her hand in his was just that a hand, one with surprisingly soft skin and a delicate beauty. Jake shook his head, what the hell was wrong with him.

When Jake was in the Jeep himself and started the engine he finally spoke, “So, uh… do you plan on telling me what any of that was about?” Green eyes flicked to look at her and then back to the road where he continued to drive in silence, waiting to see what her response would be.

 

[Intensityrising]

Moran sat still in the Jeep, she didn't breath, she didn't blink, she simply stared out the windshield. Claudius, Xavier, two of the biggest threats to vampire kind, and now she was left to deal with one of them all because she couldn't control her temper. Damn it, if she had simply toying with Jean-Lebeau like she had planned, she wouldn't have had to use some of her strength and Vladimir would be hunting this fucker not her.

"1500 years ago, Claudius was a master man of science and study. He was a preacher, and a vampire, though nobody knew the demon he truly was. He had a basement under the church where he conducted his experiments, it was also where he learned and got his first sample of what later became known as blood type omega." He glanced over at Jake. "Humans have several different blood types, based on the shape of their blood cells, A, B, O, positive, negative and so on. Blood type of that nature means nothing to a vampire, but Claudius learned of another type and named it omega. He found this blood type from a squire boy in his church, and he drink the boy dry. Claudius before was a vampire of little power, not even enough to become a master amongst us. After he killed this boy, he instantly became one of the most powerful vampire ever."

She hung her head, "Unlike most vampires who rose to such power naturally, Claudius when insane with it. He murdered everyone who went to his church, and became obsessed with finding more Omega blood."

"To the council's knowledge Omega blood is a fairy-tale. They believe that Claudius' powers must have simply awakened upon feeding from such a pure human like the little boy. They weren't there to see the transformation Claudius underwent, I was."

"I had already risen to become fairly powerful back then, but what I saw when Claudius erupted through the town, a vampire made of mist and death, I knew that something had happened. He became able to turn his body into a gaseous mist and avoid all harm, an ability alone that would have the council worried. When I went to them to tell them about it, Vladimir was put in charge of hunting him. Yet Claudius vanished, like the mist that he seemed to become."

"Evidently Vladimir has been more aware of Claudius' presence that we were led to believe. 1500 year later and here we are, a vampire who is truly a monster left up to be to deal with."

Morgan laughed, "Well at least it has been a long time since I've been scared. Maybe Claudius will make me use my full power to bring him down, then I will be put on the council's hit list." She shrugged, "I guess 3500 years is a long enough life."

She glanced over at Jake and said, "Can we drive now?"

 

[The_gladiator]

Jake listened to her story. “I know why Vlad is going after Xavier; his killing sprees are why you all came out to the humans, but this Claudius sounds just as nasty. Let me get this straight, one of the strongest vampires in existence, a man who is the visible face of the Blackstone, left this Claudius up to you because he thinks you’re strong enough to handle him?” Then he remembered what she’d just said, “35 hundred years?” he obediently drove the car as he tried to digest everything.

Jake had mentioned Vladimir being the visible face of the counsel because he was, most did not know the identities of the council members, for all most knew Vladimir could even be the head of the counsel, although he denied this was the case, however Vladimir was well known to both the vampire and human communities, the vampires looked at him as the boogie man, and humans saw him as the chief diplomat that helped to introduce their society to humans.

“So, uh, just how powerful are you, and was he serious about calling you who he called you?” Most modern vampires unless newly dead did not have last names, the ancient ones didn’t need them. Some took on such for the humans but he hadn’t called her simply Morgan. He liked history as much as the next guy and who didn’t enjoy a tale of King Arthur. Then again Le Fay wasn’t exactly a last name, was it a title, a descriptor, either way was he looking at a legend. “Does the isle of Avalon really exist?” he couldn’t resist asking. Yes, even with so much going on and having so much to digest, he focused on something so trivial.

 

[Intensityrising]

Morgan scoffed and looked at him with a smile. The man was hung up on her name, thinking her some historical deity or person of legend. "History has a bad habit of becoming fairy tale Jake. I was born in a castle in what you now consider England. My brother was king then, however Julius Ceasar the first wanted our lands for the great Roman empire. When my brother refused they burned our castle to the ground. The child in my belly was beaten out of me before I was raped and left for dead. Then a vampire found me."

She paused and shook her head. "I never saw his face or got his name. And I dont think I ever met the vampire who made me ever again. All I know is I woke up powerful and full of rage and vengeance. I murdered the army that came to my lands to the last man. I bathed in their blood and their fear. If I could do it again I would in an instant."

"As for how powerful I am. I dont know how to quantify it to you. If I could give you a guess lets say....over 9000." She glanced at him with a smile. "Scared of me detective?"

 

[The_gladiator]

He listened to her words, “To true, about history.” He commented. “But isn’t there a timing issue there? Rome did not date over 3 thousand years ago… Or perhaps is it like most things in history, accuracy decreases with time?” Jake then realized he was coming across as insensitive, he laid a hand on her arm for a second, she was warm to the touch, a sure sign she had fed on someone tonight. He tried to ignore that thought and gave her arm a gentle squeeze. “Forgive me, sometimes I focus on the small details and ignore the big picture. No one should have to go through the things it sounds like you’ve been through.”

Jake pulled his hand back to shift back into first as they came to a red light. “It would be an unwise person who does not fear the dark.” He replied to her final question.

 

[Intensityrising]

"Rome is older than people assume. Humans do not have good records of the events prior to Christ. As such dates are a best guess for you people.....though I suppose you are no more human than I am." She glanced at the hand on her arm and he pulled it away. He was warm, like most werepeople and she missed the warmth of other body against hers. She hadn't let herself be with anyone like that in a long time, the warmth of sex was different than the warmth of blood.Though she used sex toknock people off guard she did not have sex often.

"I am darkness to you?" She teased, pretending to be hurt.

Then she firmed up her face. "Jake you need to do me a favor. You have to find a way to get the human police off this case. They stand no chance against Claudius and looking into what he is doing will only lead them to their death." She sighed, "As much as I dont want to, I will have to stop him once and for all."

 

[The_gladiator]

Jake snorted at her earlier comment, a reference that finally clicked with him. Had she just referenced a Television show? Surely she did not have a sense of humor? He nodded at her comments on history, all true.

Jake bit his lip as she asked him to get the police to drop their involvement in the case. This was one of those moments he hated it was where his loyalties were divided, and one of the reasons he had tried to remove himself from the force. The law was battling with his knowledge that she was right, police, good men and women would die. “I know I should tell you to shove it and bring in swat or something, but goddammit you’re right.” He shrugged, about to say something he knew could lose him his job were a human to hear it, “We can just lie and say we solved the case, that is what you’re suggesting, right?” he half asked half stated, “Fortunately your little…” he paused looking for the right word, “Tantrum with Jean-Lebeau is a perfect excuse. We can say that he was the murderer and the sentinel executed him.” Pinning it on the sentinel would absolve Morgan of any possible murder charges from killing the master of the city, for humans had agreed that vampires were permitted to carry out their own justice as they saw fit, within limits. “That way his death might actually accomplish something other than ridding the world of an idiot.” He said a slight note of irritation at her killing of the master evident in his words.