painting the night with brush strokes of gray: (Closed thread)

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel frowned at her noises. He pulled her closer. He stroked her hair thinking at first, she was emotional. “It’s ok little one.” He whispered.

“Can you feel my hands-on you Mi Amore?” Dimitri’s voice filled her mind caressing along her throat. Can you feel my hands on your full breasts, showing you how much you mean to me? He claims you like an animal. I would treat you like the delicate treasure you are. He squanders your gifts. Let me in. Let me show you her memories. You will love me then, you will understand. You will understand how long I have waited for your return.” A hint of desperation crept into the seduction, a fervent plea to her.


It was like Dimitri’s hands were stroking her breasts, pinching her nipples, tugging and pulling on them, as if he were embracing her from behind, hands sliding in through the open back of the elegant dress.

As it continued Gabriel grew more worried. “He is in your mind Little one? Resist him. He offers you only lies,” he said pulling her tighter against his chest, continuing to stroke her hair.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen's lips parted. She was too weak to fight him off. She had given too much today and none had offered to feed her. She had used a lot of her energy to call Diego back among other things and had not had blood since the previous night when she turned.

She moaned in Gabriel's arms, her body trembling. A frown, deep and concerned crossed her sleeping face. Her head moved from side to side as if saying no but to what or whom, Gabriel would not be able to tell.

"But I am not her..." Even as she said it, her head went back. Her nipples grew hard under the invisible caresses. "Please...let me go...."

Dimitri laughed, low and sultry in her ear. "Never my starlight, mi amor, my treasure...moya lyubov'" The last sound almost rough to her ears, almost a growl.

"Moya lyubov..." Imogen whispered in her sleep. She was almost limp in Gabriel's arms. Dimitri was doing his best to keep her mind hidden deep within herself. He couldn't bring her to him, not yet it was too close to dawn.

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel went cold as he heard her whispered words. “Moya Lyubov,” he breathed. To hear the Russian gave him chills. He had only heard the words spoken one other time as Vladimir described his Anastasia in passing, his long-lost love. “Dimitri,” he growled aloud. He didn’t know how it had to be him, but somehow, he knew.

In the dream Dimitri was becoming more and more solid as he fed her dreams, as her mind gave shape to his whims and desires. She would be able to feel him pressing to her back. Lips still on her neck as he rolled and pinched her nipples. The longer the dream persisted the more and more tangible the feelings became. Soon the sensation of his hard shaft pressing against her backside would be felt. Just beginning to separate her cheeks, not yet demanding but making her aware of his desire. He imagined himself twisting her nipples, riding that line between pain and pleasure, enough to get her attention, assure her focus was completely on him, not on that Feeble fledgling. He hated that in this dream state he could not taste her. But he would have what he wanted; he had waited so long.

Gabriel shook Imogen, trying to reach for her mentally as he reached for her physically. He couldn’t get through. Dimitri’s barrier held him out. He sensed in the touch the power there, it was clear Dimitri was one of the ancients. An ancient that made him look young, that might even give Morgan or Vlad a run for their money on age. Gabriel got chills. If he fought the barrier too hard, he could kill her. He had to try to rouse her. “Imogen, come to me, please… Resist him,” he urged, still a plea, but growing closer to an order.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen moaned as he pressed against her. He felt good but...not at the same time. And yet, she stood there, naked before him with his arousal pressing against her and she could not help herself.

She heard Gabriel’s voice muffled but there. She looked to where she thought it was coming from.

”Ignore him. He does not value you as I do. My starlight...do not leave me again. Let me have access...take me in...” Dimitri presses against her silently begging her to give in.

Imogen was moaning softly in the bed. She didn’t have the energy to fight, to resist. She was growing weaker the longer he remained her mind and kept her there. She felt as if she was truly trapped in her own thoughts.

Her head lulled to the side.

Quickly before dawn comes...please...” Dimitri’s lips moved along her neck. He tried to move her, bend her forward enough to enter her.

 

[The_gladiator]

She did not give enough did not acquiesce fast enough and Dimitri slid one hand up into her hair, jerking her, bending her forward forcefully. His other hand slid to begin massaging her clit even as he drove inside her, pulling her back up so she was pressed against him again. “See how good it an be when you stop fighting me Mi Amore?” he whispered, fingers sliding back down to her breast as if to make up for his rough treatment of her. “You make me hurt you when you disobey. See how good it is when you do not struggle?” he whispered as his fingers toyed with one nipple and her sensitive clit as he began to rock his hips inside her beginning to fuck her slowly.

Gabriel was growing more desperate. He shook her, “Come back to me little one,” he demanded. “You will wake. You are mine,” he called. He mentally reached out for assistance reaching. Finding Antonio lost in eroticism, he quickly shut that pathway. He flipped through others. Finally, he reached for Morgan. He pushed too hard and got an instant flash of her feeding from the thigh of one of her wolves, before she brutally shut him out.

“What is the meaning of this sentinel,” her voice filled his mind, haughty and irritable.

“It’s Imogen. Dimitri has her. I need your help. Come to me,” he made it an order. Something he knew he would catch hell for later, but for now, this was what he felt was needed.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen cried out as he pulled her hair and then entered her. She felt his fingers move and his words in her ears. She wanted to scream and rail against him, to fight him off but all she could do was moan as her body submitted.

For all his talk of Gabriel claiming her like an animal he was no better in this moment. Yet, she found herself moving with him even as she began shaking her head.

Morgan stormed into the room. “How did this happen? Hmm? After what she was able to do? How great her powers are? She is here, with you. Why are you not in there?” She pointed to Imogen’s head.

Imogen felt herself close to climaxing. She didn’t want it but he was coaxing it out of her. Between the way he moved in her and his fingers touched her...it was as if he knew her body.

Morgan moved onto the bed. She touched Imogen’s cheek. She pulled open her mouth finding her fangs elongated. “When did she feed last and how much? She exerted a lot of power today, a lot of energy. Between Dimitri battering her mind and Diego...”. Her eyes flashed. “When sentinel? I see a woman here...starving and weak. Tell me when she last fed.” She growled out the words.

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel wanted to rail against Morgan’s harsh tone, but her words shamed him. In all the action he had not realized that she had not fed this rising. To top it off, to make it worse he had last fed from her. At her request yes, but she was too inexperienced to know better. He had been so overwhelmed with the healing of Diego, the need to possess her, that he had neglected her.

“Last rising,” Gabriel said in a shaky voice. A voice that trembled with his shame and regret, the realization that he was fallible. Morgan’s slap took him across the face. It packed her magic behind it and it slung him halfway across the room. Gabriel stood up, clearly able to see in the mirror the handprint already forming there. “Be lucky I do not kill you sentinel. You steal her from me, and cannot even care for her properly. My flower, all my plans. Stay over there, and watch me right your wrong. I have just fed; you aren’t strong enough.”

Gabriel wanted to argue, but knew the haunting truth of Morgan’s words. He was forced to watch as Morgan cuddled Imogen into her arms, opening her blouse, urging Imogen’s mouth to the vein in her breast. Morgan lengthened a nail and opened her own skin, the pale flesh parting and the crimson droplets welling up.

Gabriel’s hands tightened into fists as he watched his Imogen even in her sleep recognize the smell of nourishment. He watched Imogen begin to take in the blood, drinking harder at it as the moment went on. The feeling of jealousy blossomed when Imogen woke just enough to seal the slash Morgan had created, and let her fangs sink deep, feeding properly.

Dimitri rocked himself inside her, his expert fingers circling the nub of her clit. “Cum for me mi Amore, Let me into your mind. I will show you, will show you what you forget. Now, cum for me,” he was insistent now, as he manipulated her body to cum.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen cried out, her body succumbing to him. She trembled in his arms but Dimitri held her. He was smiling and moved a hand to her head. “Let me show you...”. Her climax had opened her to him and he tore open a hole in her mind. Imogen screamed and her body buckled. Dimitri scooped her up and held her.

“Remember...remember me and how I love you. I will see you soon.” With a kiss to her forehead he laid her down and let the memories take her. He vanished. Dawn was coming.

In the bed, Imogen fed until Morgan pulled her away. She stroked Imogen’s head, closing her eyes. She looked pained. When she opened them again she stared at Gabriel. “He is gone but not without a price. She is in pain, he has opened the floodgates of the memories. Imogen’s, despite my blocks and worse, Catarina’s.”

Tears fell from Imogen’s closed eyes and she curled up on her side.

Morgan moved off of the bed. “I have a mind to challenge your claim to her.” Morgan growled. “Dawn comes. You must both rest. I suggest forcing her to feed the moment she wakes. I will send one of the pack down to see to her. You can choose another from my stock.”

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel watched as She came apart in Morgan’s arms. Her body clearly rocked by a relentless orgasm. He was unaware that Morgan had that power. What was happening. Surely it had to be Morgan, not Dimitri.

This line of thinking was only exacerbated by Morgan’s words about challenging him for her. Gabriel stiffened, but bit his tongue. Only when Morgan was gone did Gabriel go to Imogen. The beast inside railed that anyone had made her body come apart like that, anyone but him. However, he knew it was not her doing. He pulled her into his arms, cursing Morgan that she just left. If she knew what was going on why didn’t she help her.

He reached for her mind, found Dimitri’s barrier still in place. “She is mine. Let her have the memory. At dawn I will relinquish her to you for now, but in this moment, she is mine,” It was the first time that Gabriel had heard Dimitri, and it sounded muffled he couldn’t quite catch what he sounded like. All he could do is rock Imogen in his arms, and wait for the dawn when Dimitri had agreed to let her go. The term for now frightened him. He would never leave. Gabriel felt helpless. What horror was Imogen being forced to relive?

 

[SandS13]

Imogen was in the centre of a storm. The memories rushed by her like a tornado only stopping to show her them more clearly. Her own, some long locked way by Morgan or suppressed by herself mingled with Catarina's.

Her mother, dying. Dimitri drinking from her slashed open neck. He was trying to find Imogen. He was so close and yet she slipped from his grasp.

Dimitri, above her on a lavish bed as he filled her. His teeth in her shoulder as he climaxed. She knew that night that she had conceived his children.

A young Imogen, her hand in a woman's. It was dark and she was being led to a new home. The red haired woman cooed, telling her it would be alright.

She screamed as the last baby slid from her body. All three were laid in her arms and she looked up to Dimitri who stared lovingly down at his new family.

The alley. A punch to the face. She fell to the ground and the man was kicking her. Then he was gone. When she came to, one eye was swollen and a large dog was standing near by. As she stood it ran off.

She was shoving her son into his arms. She had only met him twice before but knew she could trust him. His eyes were dark, almost black. She told him to protect her son. She was crying.

Imogen was restless in Gabriel's arms. She cried, panted as if running, she struggled and as dawn's first rays started to show in the sky outside she let out a blood curdling scream.

He had stabbed her. She fell to her knees and looked up at her former husband. He raised the blade and swung. She screamed just as the blade severed her head.

Imogen's eyes opened and she looked up at Gabriel. "I couldn't fight him..." Her voice was incredibly quiet.

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel’s hands actually trembled as he wiped tears from Imogen’s face. All he could do was rock her while she was lost to the thrall. He could do nothing to prevent it. He could never remember feeling so helpless, not since a small child. He tried to probe that memory, but it flitted away, just out of his grasp. Lost to the gray of time.

He snapped out of his own thoughts as she spoke. The blood red tears of their people streaked down his cheeks, showing evidence of his own emotions. “I failed you little one. I failed to take care of you. I cannot ask you to forgive me. I will work to regain your trust, though I would never grant it were I you. The tears slid over the vivid handprint on his face, reminder of his failure, and Morgan putting him in his place.

He rocked her kissing away her tears. “I did this to you. I am so sorry,” he whispered against her hair. He seemed shaken to his core. He did not dare ask her what she had seen. He tried to make it known through his touch that he would be there if she wished to talk. He knew he should take control and put her to sleep, but he held off, knowing she might want this moment of comfort. He just hoped she would accept it.

 

[SandS13]

"No...you did not fail me. How did you fail me? I have failed you...I let him...I couldn't stop him from-" She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. "Please...you have done nothing to fail me."

She didn't understand how he could possibly think he had done wrong in this. She was the one who did not fight and get away from Dimitri as he claimed her body and ravaged her mind. She had been too weak.

 

[The_gladiator]

“I did not make sure you had fed. I selfishly took from you to replenish my strength. I left you weak little one, that was the only reason he had access to you. Morgan has threatened to formally challenge my right to have claimed you.” He rocked her.

He brushed away another tear with his thumb, “You did not fail me. Nothing he did to you is your fault. You had not the strength to fight him.” He kissed her forehead. His tone had been harsh when he talked about how he had failed her. He was much gentler when he assured her, she had done nothing wrong.

He cradled her body against him. He could tell she would need to sleep soon, but he held off a few more seconds. Morgan’s ancient blood keeping her awake for a few more precious seconds, seconds he could reassure her, or try.

 

[SandS13]

"Challenge? What does that mean?" Imogen shifted in his arms to wrap her arms about his neck. Her face was not equal to his. "Do not let her take me. I will not go to her. I will not leave you."

Dawn was oppressive. It felt like a weight was dropping onto all of them. An angry Morgan went to her rest. The Angeles brothers, all but Diego who was in the ground took their rest.

Imogen tried to fight it the call of sleep. "Do not leave me."

 

[The_gladiator]

“I will not leave you little one. I will not let Morgan take you from me. I will not lose you to Dimitri. I made an oath to you. I will honor it if it be the last thing I ever do.”

With that he took control of her mind and urged her to sleep the dreamless sleep of their people, not trusting her to find that place on her own. Then, only then did he let himself sleep.

He rose before her once again. He had tried to pursue that memory from childhood, and couldn’t. He had begun to paint to see if it would come out in oils. There was 3 children and two adults. The woman held a girl, the man a boy. There was a third child on the ground between them. Though the painting made it look like the third child was dead abandoned. Gabriel had no idea what it meant. He threw a cover over the easel, not wanting anyone to see his work, to wonder why he had painted something so—disturbing.

He had run Imogen a bath and was sitting on the side of the bed watching her as she stirred to wakefulness. He watched the swells of her breast lift with her first breath and could not hide the pleasure at seeing her awake. He knew he would have to teach her to hunt pray today. He had also summoned Nicholas early upon rising. Nicholas had conveyed that Morgan had also reached out to grant him permission to bring his band and visit her city. Gabriel could not deny that he was pleased at the thought of his old friend joining them in this hell. Nicholas had a way of brightening things, if he couldn’t Byron certainly would with his overly flamboyant ways.

 

[SandS13]

She felt as if she was being pulled to the surface of consciousness. Her eyes slowly opened. Imogen was surprised to find Gabriel sitting there but a smile touched her lips. "Good morning. Evening.."

A knock at the door broke the greeting. Morgan moved in without waiting for them. Daniel was at her back and he stopped dead at the sight of Imogen naked on the bed. He half turned to look away but the image was already burned into his mind. Marcus was behind him and he was smirking as he looked to the bed.

"Good, you are awake. You will feed. I will ensure you are taken care of. We cannot have anymore mistakes." She looked at Gabriel. "Nicholas is coming. We need reinforcements. It is clear that Dimitri will take any and all advantage that we give him."

She moved to the bed. "Imogen, you will not feed from Gabriel today. You both need more than either of you currently have to share."

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel reacted quickly to Morgan’s presence, gently yet rapidly pulling the duvet over Imogen. He glared daggers at Morgan. “You cannot tell me what my bonded partner and I do in the intimacy of lovemaking,” he snarled, “Though I do agree that we both need fresh blood. You cannot dictate that after we have fed that we could not share blood while I am inside her.” That last comment was a tad aimed at Daniel.

“Why would you bring these two. You insult me,” he snarled. Yet he was moving towards the wolves, stalking pray. “Yes, we need reinforcements. Did you Negotiate how many people Nicholas will be bringing? How many of his panthers are coming?” he asked Morgan, almost taunting her about the other animal group that would almost certainly accompany Nicholas in times like these, and how it would be an animal group Morgan had no control over. As well as reminding her how she had not limited the Angeles brother’s presence. Though that had turned out better than expected. “If he’s smart, he’ll bring the whole Lair,” Gabriel commented.

His eyes swung to Daniel, “If you hurt her, I will kill you, or worse, I will let Dimitri do it.” And the words hung in the air, as dire a threat as Gabriel could have made in that moment, reminding all of them that they had bigger problems than these petty power struggles.

 

[SandS13]

Morgan looked unphased. "Need I remind you that you almost let her starve last night? Need I remind you that you are here, in my city? Watch your tone. Sentinel or not this is still my home."

Cool eyes looked him over. "I brought them because they are willing to let you feed off of them. A gracious offer I might add given that werewolves are not the most willing donors."

She licked her lips now. "Nicholas and who he brings is between him and I. As mistress here I do not need to explain my decisions to you. You, sentinel can take Marcus into the other room if you do not wish to watch this."

Morgan reached out to Daniel. "Go to her."

For her part she moved to the bed and climbed up behind Imogen. "Beckon him to you."

Imogen looked to Gabriel. He had promised he would not let Morgan take her. A shaking hand lifted and gestured for Daniel to come to the bed. He was eager and was there, in front of her in a flash.

"No, you need to seduce him, coax him in..." Morgan was whispering in Imogen's ear. Her hands began lowering the blanket from Imogen's body. Her breasts were exposed. Imogen moved her hands to cover them but Daniel reached out to stop her.

"Pull him in. Keep your eyes on his. Your power will mesmerize him. He is willing...there is no question there." They could all smell Daniel's heightened arousal. It radiated off of him. He growled in his chest as he moved closer. His hand instinctively went to Imogen's breast. She tried to pull away but Morgan held her there.

"That's it. Take him in, take his head...Taste his neck...Your tongue will find it..." She pressed Imogen's head down towards Daniel's now bared neck. His face was nuzzling against her. He was breathing heavily, like an animal in heat and ready to mate.

Imogen whimpered softly but the pull of the blood was too strong. She licked his neck. Daniel moaned. Imogen bit down and Daniel clung to her.

Morgan looked up at Gabriel, a smirk on her lips.

 

[The_gladiator]

He watched her teach his Imogen. He watched Morgan teach her to seduce. His eyes swirled with his power. When Daniel dared to touch her breast, Gabriel’s eyes flashed red, the beast rearing its head. Morgan was playing with fire.

There was a sickening snapping noise. When the eyes came up to find out the source of the noise Gabriel was there. He did not interfere with the feeding, but Daniel’s hand was in his. The noise was the methodical snapping of the werewolf’s fingers. The red of the demon shown like firelight against the starry sky of his power. His eyes dared Morgan to say something about it.

Still holding Daniel’s shattered right hand in his he beckoned Marcus to him. The alpha came to him, seeming to fight the entire time. It was a chilling display of Gabriel’s power. To make the wolf come to him despite the disgust on his face for what Gabriel had just done to one of his wolves. When he got to Gabriel, he turned him around arm securing him to him. He tore into Marcus’s neck savagely, he did nothing to soften the pain, to hypnotize his pray. This was as much to punish Marcus for shooting him, as to Punish Morgan for encouraging Daniel to touch his woman like that. He fed at the wolf’s neck. The red light still flickering in the depths of his eyes.

Gabriel fought his instincts. If he killed this scum while feeding, he would become rogue. He could not let that happen; he knew he would be hunted. Even as he fed from Marcus, he was fully aware when Imogen finished her feeding, and closed the wound in Daniel’s neck. With a seemingly casual push, he sent the wolf falling away from Imogen.

The wolf stood up shakily, clutching his broken hand, “You’re killing him,” he cried anger mixing with fear in his voice as his eyes were on Gabriel and Marcus. “We did only what we were told…” he babbled.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen was shaking as she finished feeding.

Morgan growled, "Let him go sentinel. Do not start this fight or I will take her from you."

It was Imogen who moved though. She shifted on the bed and wrapped her arms around Gabriel's chest from behind. Her head was on his back. "Let him go. Do not do this." Her mind reached out to him.

Morgan reached out as if to grab Imogen and pull her back. She knew the motion might spur Gabriel on to stop feeding.

Please Gabriel...my sweet Gabriel.... She closed her eyes and hugged him. My Gabriel...

Daniel looked to Morgan. "We did what you said and this is what we get?" He looked hurt. He knew he had been used and it sickened him. He had never meant to make Imogen uncomfortable and he had no desire to challenge Gabriel. It wasn't that he didn't want her...oh he wanted Imogen but he would never come between mates.

 

[The_gladiator]

The red fire was growing stronger the more he fed. Gabriel was clearly riding the line between sanity and a complete loss of control. Then she was there. The light to his darkness. The shades of gray in his black and white world. The color in his gray world. She cooed to him, encouraged him to come back to her.

Lapping the wound closed, Gabriel let Marcus crumple to the floor. The red slowly fading from his vision. He gestured for Daniel to retrieve his fallen leader. Marcus would recover, but he would be weak for a few days.

Gabriel was pleased that Daniel had accepted the censure in his actions, he was clearly Beta and he recognized Gabriel’s power and, in that moment, the right for Gabriel to defend his mate. Daniel stumbled forward and lifted Marcus in a fireman’s carry. “You may go,” Gabriel said in a strangely calm voice, the heat of his anger having gone ice cold as he put all of his guards and controls back in place. Daniel’s words to Morgan suggesting that the wolves might have only been pawns in Morgan’s games. Pawns or not, Gabriel played to win.

As Daniel stumbled away with Marcus Gabriel turned to face Morgan. “Formally challenge my claim to her and I will meet you in a dueling arena, otherwise you will never play such games again.” He let his hands cover Imogen’s around his chest as he let his cold glance rest on Morgan. “I thank you for the meal, you may leave now, unless you plan to watch me claim my mate.”

“And you think you aren’t an animal,” Morgan sniffed.

“Get out,” Gabriel growled.

 

[SandS13]

Daniel and Marcus left. Morgan sneered but left the room. She did not like being shown up. This had not gone in her favour. It seemed as if Gabriel continued to get the upper hand but Morgan would find a way. This was still her home.

Imogen hugged Gabriel tightly. "I am sorry." She whispered it against his back. "I couldn't stop it."

She felt weak. "Do you still wish to claim me as yours even after this, after last night?"

 

[The_gladiator]

He pulled her into his arms after the others left. He lifted her chin. “I almost went rogue for you little one. Do you not understand what just happened here?” he pressed his forehead to hers, “Encase you do not understand. The short answer is yes, I want you. You did not invite Daniel to grope your breast anymore than you allowed Dimitri to give you an orgasm… It was him wasn’t it, not Morgan.” His hands ran up and down her back as he spoke his eyes meeting hers.

As he spoke, he swept her up and carried her to the bath he had already drawn. He silently lowered her into the water. He knelt on the edge of the tub, but made no attempt to join her. He was fighting to control the beast, the desire to claim her to prove to both of them who she belonged to. His hands stroked through her hair as he watched the water lap at her skin.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen felt a wave of pure relief wash over her. For all his possessiveness, he understood that the things that had happened were not her doing. She felt ashamed that he knew about what Dimitri had done to her but he also seemed to understand.

He carried her, putting her in a still warm bath. She looked up at him. "I do not know what it means...to go rogue. I can sense that the implication is that it would have been drastic." Her hand was placed on his. "I did not invite it and no, I did not invite Dimitri to do what he did to me. I could not fight him off and he seemed to know how just to use that to his advantage."

Imogen shifted in the tub, kneeling now to reach out for him. "I cannot do this, hide and cower or be unsure. I have been attracted to you since you arrived. You knew that though...your touch, your arms..the growl that comes from you when you are aroused and desiring me..." Her hand brushed his cheek. "It is more though. I want to be yours. I want to be with you. I feel connected to you and not just because of our bonding. I do not believe in love but you have upended my beliefs."

She shivered a little. "I want to be your little one forever Gabriel."

 

[The_gladiator]

He listened as she spoke. He had had to ride herd on his emotions to not be jealous, or not more than he was, but he would place blame where it belonged and it did not belong on her slender shoulders.

“Then do not hide and cower little one. I chose you for your strength. I could sense your potential.” He had not really explained what it meant to go rogue, but he could be forgiven for not, with her hand touching his cheek talking about love. “Let yourself feel for me little one. It may be the only thing that will protect you from his insidious pull.”

As she knelt up, she exposed her body to his gaze and he noted her nipples hard in the cold air. He gently urged her back into the water and then reached for the shampoo to begin washing her hair silently. Finally, he spoke, “Forever is a long time little one. I will do all I can to be worthy of your love.”