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

[The_gladiator]

“Oh, great those pricks are here too?” Byron rolled his eyes at mention of the brothers.

“One to talk buddy, one to talk,” Axle muttered.

“Why are they here?” Byron asked.

Nicholas glared at his compatriots for their ill-timed humor. However, their reactions hid his own reaction to Morgan’s words. “Yes, I know the story, though Gabriella died much later. I investigated that murder. Lots of dead ends,” he said frowning. His face looked seriously, “You believe Dimitri is alive and after Katarina’s heir?” He wanted to ask her why she’d brought in a retired Sentinel. However, she had asked for the travelers, sentinels all, and Gabriel was already present. This story made it all make sense.

Gabriel waited for her to finish getting ready. “Of course, we will get more of your things, though as you said it’s low priority at this time.” He took her hand and tucked it into the crook of his elbow.

Opening the door, he was surprised to see Fernando and Esteban leaning on either side of the door. He lifted an eyebrow. He had been a body guard enough to recognize the role they were playing. “What’s going on here?” he asked softly, “Has something new happened?”

 

[SandS13]

Morgan hid her annoyance behind an expression of disinterest.

"Yes, Gabriella died much later. I do not believe it, I know it. Not just her heir, her soul returned. The woman shares Catarina's memories. Dimitri saw to that."

She leaned forward, fingers steepled and she looked over her hands at them. "The Angeles brothers are here because in Dimitri's quest to find the woman, now vampire that I was protecting and hiding he killed their sister, Isabela. You can imagine their fury. They have since tried to hunt them on their own and it has not gone well. We almost lost Diego. If it was not for our power, Gabriel, myself and a healer along with my protected one he would be dead like his sister."

She licked her lips. "The woman Dimitri seeks is a powerful psychic. I have watched over her since her birth, I have hidden her away and kept the full extent of her abilities hidden from her. She was in my employ and was to help Gabriel find the killer. Gabriel worked out who the killer was, that she was Catarina reborn and then took it upon himself to convert her." There was anger and bitterness behind Morgan's words. "She is now working with him and just learning of her powers. She is more powerful thank any I have seen in my lifetime. Dimitri has found her, he mentally attacked her last night, ripped open her mind and all the suppressed memories as well as Catarina's are now laid open for her. He will be coming for her. He will not stop until he has her and he will kill all who stand in his way. He is a man obsessed and has been trying for centuries to find her. Now that he has he will let nothing get between them."
---
"Nicholas has arrived." Esteban stated.

"How is Diego?" Imogen was very concerned about him.

The brothers began walking with the pair.

 

[The_gladiator]

Nicholas listened to Morgan’s responses. He at first looked concerned, and then slid
into the blank face that all sentinels used to varying degrees of success. As a fierce protector he could understand the brother’s pain. However, he didn’t speak or interrupt her.

Byron wasn’t quite as good at blank and silent. “They’ve got some stones to go after him themselves.”

“Foolish,” Nicholas said just the one word as he continued to listen to Morgan’s synopsis of the events. “I trust Gabriel’s judgment.” He added in counterpoint to Morgan’s anger and bitterness. He nodded at her description of Dimitri. “Did you know him of old Morgan?” he asked curiously, knowing the woman was old enough. What is your part in all of this, why as a former Celtic vampiress, if rumors are to be believed, are you involved with Spanish legends?” Vampire society transcended any human connections, yet the curiousness of the situation was still enough that Nicholas thought to ask. His asking had less to do with culture and more to do with geography.


“Good,” was Gabriel’s response to Esteban’s information about Nicholas. “He is a powerful ally.”

“We’ve never met,” Esteban replied.

“Most people like Nicholas. If not, they generally love, or find Byron quite irritating.”

“I consider myself warned.” Esteban replied.

Fernando on the other hand addressed Imogen. Gabriel knew it would be days still before Diego rose fully, so hadn’t been as concerned about the twin. “My brother sleeps in the ground. He rose long enough to feed off of me and Antonio, before Antonio put him back to sleep and into the ground.”

 

[SandS13]

"Yes, they are bent on revenge. Brotherly duty and all that..." Morgan commented but her eyes were on Nicholas.

"I had occasion to meet Dimitri but we did not move in the same circles. We older ones tend to keep to ourselves..." Her eyes stared at him, unblinking. "You knew Dimitri did you not? I had heard you did socialize and even lived in the same area for a time. That may prove useful to us in this fight."

She lowered her hands. "As for my interest it was in the girl. She is psychic and I had hoped to benefit from her ability to be converted and bear children. Allies can be made. I had hoped to benefit from her powers...as I said they are very strong. I have protected her, cultivated and contained her until the moment was right. Gabriel has...sped things up and taken away some of my plans but that is no matter. I have others. I also sought to see the killer brought to justice. After all he was killing in my city. Humans and vampires. He took out three trying to get to her."
----
Imogen nodded. "I am glad to hear he has been up." Her shoulders seemed to relax as if she had been holding in a great deal of worry over it.

"Antonio will meet us in Morgan's office. He is seeing to a few things, including bringing family here. Morgan has granted us protection. We know that he will stop at nothing to get Imogen. I fear he also still hopes to wipe all of our line from the earth. We are the last of her human children, the last of Marco's line. He would wipe that away as his line was wiped away." Esteban told them as they all walked to Morgan's office.

Imogen stopped outside the door. "There is a great deal of power being exerted in that room." She frowned as she closed her eyes. Her breathing slowed. It was a few moments before she opened them again. She looked up at Gabriel and smiled.

Fernando opened the door and the quartet entered.

"All we are missing is Antonio and Juan Pablo and we can discuss our next steps." Morgan said as she looked up. "I have brought Nicholas and the others up to speed but I imagine there are greetings to be done first." She waved a hand. She knew Gabriel would want to greet the others before any business was going to occur. It took a great deal for her not to summon Imogen to her. She did not like losing her.

 

[The_gladiator]

Nicholas listened to Morgan’s response. It made sense. It was like knowing that the president of a distant country existed, not necessarily that they would know one another. “Yes, I know him.” He blew out a sigh, “I will offer freely what ever information that I can.” He said firmly. He was presented with the reason he had walked away from the life of the sentinel. He had hunted too many old friends, those who had gone rogue, drunk on their power and ambition.

Byron, much more subdued than normal lay a hand on Nicholas’s shoulder. It took all he had not to shrug him off, though he knew he meant well. “Very… practical,” Nicholas added when Morgan discussed her involvement in Imogen’s life. Just like a master vampire, treating people like chess pieces. The really old ones at least as old as he were known to do such, and couldn’t say that he hadn’t done so to better things for himself or those around him, especially ones around him. “I look forward to discussing with Gabriel.” Nicholas added.

Gabriel nodded to Esteban, “Nicholas texted that the travelers were coming in, has Antonio thought to reach out to request them to escort your family in?” Esteban shook his head but indicated that he would mention it to his older brother.

Gabriel nodded at Imogen’s comment, “Best put shields up, there are a lot of personalities, and yes there is a lot of power represented here. They entered the room. Gabriel did not really listen to Morgan his eyes on Nicholas his old friend. The two met in the center of the room, clasping forearms with the former sentinel. “You have grown,” Nicholas commented wryly. “You look more and more like your mentor Vlad as time passes.”

“I will take that as a compliment, he taught me all that I know minus what I learned from you.” Nicholas smiled.

As Gabriel moved on to offer the same greeting to Byron, Nicholas moved on to Imogen. “You must be Nicholas’s new companion,” he said with a slight smile, tipping his hand inadvertently to Morgan that Gabriel had also reached out to update Nicholas. He bowed over her hand kissing it softly. He swept his eyes up from her hand into her face and paused, “Give you brown eyes and dark hair, and you would be her.” He breathed. So low that with the other conversations taking place in the room, Imogen was probably the one who would have heard it, or even lip read it.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen stood by as Gabriel moved in to greet his friend. As he moved on she was greeted by Nicholas.

He was took her hand. Imogen was about to introduce herself when he lifted his eyes to her face. She paled. The memory came back like a snap of an elastic.

Take him. Please, take him. It's too late for-" She sobbed as she handed him the boy.

Catarina looked at Nicholas. "You must protect him."

Imogen faltered. Her knees gave out. "You." She breathed out the word as quietly as his words had been. Her hand gripped his, her other reaching out to grab his arm as she stabilized herself on him. "You were there."

Morgan was suddenly there, beside Nicholas. "What is it? Is Dimitri in your mind?" Her voice was low and had a dangerous tone to it. She had seen the change in Imogen's body.

 

[The_gladiator]

Nicholas caught Imogen under her elbow steadying her as her knees grew weak. As she spoke it triggered the memory in himself.

He met with her in a clearing, in the woods near her city. She had always been fond of nature, or so she had said once to him. They had only met a few other times, times she had urged him to take her children, to protect them. Dimitri, the man she dearly loved, was growing unstable. He was so consumed with protecting Katarina, and getting at their enemies Katarina no longer trusted him to protect her triplets. Identical twin boys, and a lovely girl. Nicholas could recall that she had also mentioned that Marco was less of a threat to her daughter. Based on that she would not allow him to take all three children. She just wanted the boys gone. She had appealed to the prince of their people, and Nicholas was sent to meet with her.

That third meeting was the one that the children were brought to. He remembered the feel of the boys as he scooped them up, remembered holding each out to kiss their sister and mother goodbye. He remembered the attackers, so many. Vampires rarely scarred, but Nicholas bore scars on his back from that day, as he desperately used his own body to shelter the boys. Unable to even fight back he could only work on defense as they were surrounded. The blood as one of the boys was ripped away from him. The screams that had ended so abruptly, yet Katarina’s screams that had continued.

He had taken the boy as she asked, while she wept over the other, rocking the daughter, Gabriella in her arms.

Nicholas took a deep breath and steadied himself. He did not want to remember the part he had skipped over, where he had handed Katarina back her one remaining son, and switched from defense to offense, became a killing machine. He only wished that he had been strong enough to commit such atrocities before the one boy was killed.

Nicholas cleared his throat and before Morgan got to them, he nodded almost imperceptibly. “Yes, I was there,” he said softly. Nicholas protectively swept Imogen under his arm. Not the way Gabriel did, but more like a brother. He answered for Morgan, “You said it yourself Morgan.” His voice was smooth, not displaying any of the tension either he or Imogen was feeling. “I knew Dimitri. Imogen here was triggered by seeing me, my guess is with the memories you mentioned.”

Nicholas gave Imogen a squeeze and stepped back and away as strong arms slid around Imogen, coming to rest at her waist. Even without looking back, her heightened senses would tell her this was Gabriel. “Are you alright Little one?” his voice in her mind was intimate, gently brushing the walls of her mind.

 

[SandS13]

His confirmation did not make Imogen's reaction any better. Nicholas immediately had her, an arm around her and holding her steady. A protector. His aura radiated it. She was shaking now but grateful as he deflected Morgan's inquiries.

"As long as he is not using her to spy on us..." Morgan eyes Imogen like a cat eyeing a mouse.

She relaxed into Gabriel as his arms came around her.

No but I will be. Nicholas was there. He was there with Catarina when the children..

Her hands went to his, pulling his arms tightly around her body. It as if I am seeing a ghost of a life I only know in my mind.

Morgan was watching Imogen carefully. "We should all sit and discuss a plan. Once Antonio arrives that is." She started to move away but stopped. "Perhaps it best if Imogen waits in the other room. I think if she knows our plans there is a chance that Dimitri can learn them. I do not want plans spoiled or at risk because we are not taking every precaution. Come, I will give you access to my private chamber. It is the most secure place here." She crooked a finger, beckoning Imogen to her.

"Surely we all agree that keeping her safe is in all of our best interests." Morgan was testing the room like a snake's tongue tastes the air.

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel was troubled by Imogen’s words, “We will have to ask him about it,” he whispered in her mind. He gave her a squeeze.

“I don’t like excluding her,” Gabriel said, “She has valuable information about him, how to find him.” Gabriel retorted, “She might not know it but with Katarina’s memories she has 5 years with him she can draw on.” As he said it aloud, he was struck by the shock of how long Dimitri had really had with Katarina before tragedy had struck. “I find it insulting that you would assume that she would not know that he was in her mind.” Gabriel said. Partially because he believed it but also to give Morgan some pushback.

“I don’t think any one of us should be alone,” Esteban said softly. “Juan-Pablo is with Antonio even and he is much harder to kill than Imogen.” Gabriel stiffened at first but then readily accepted Esteban’s help, for it wasn’t an insult.

“I am the new person here,” Nicholas said, “But it seems if both Gabriel and Esteban make decent points.” Nicholas turned his back on Morgan and offered a warrior’s greeting to Esteban. Esteban looked surprised but returned the greeting. “It is good to meet you.” Nicholas then turned his attention to Fernando. “Darian and Ehlana have both confirmed that they will be coming here. I understand that Your bonded partner is not here. Are you hoping to bring her here?”

“We were,” Fernando said, “Antonio was trying to arrange escort now.” Fernando looked almost star struck for a moment, “Are you saying the Travelers are offering to escort my wife here?”

“Nicholas nodded, they have not yet offered but I can make a call,”

“By Call he means with his Jedi mind powers,” Byron commented unnecessarily.

“You are a powerful telepath to reach them that far away?” Esteban asked curiously. Nicholas shrugged modestly.

“Yes, he is. I’ve even seen him wipe the minds of an entire bar of humans.”

“Not sure why that’s relevant right now Byron.”

“Oh, it’s not, it’s just freakin scary, boss.”

Nicholas reached out mentally, his eyes closing. “It is done, they will meet her at her home. She’s on the estate in south America still?” Fernando could only nod. “Good.

It was only a moment before Antonio stepped into the room. “What’s this about a group of sentinels going to escort our families here?” he asked, clearly having been summoned by one of his brothers. He was followed by the ever-silent Juan-Pablo.

Nicholas turned to regard Antonio. He blanched, he had never met the Angeles brothers in person before, and Antonio was the spitting image of his father Marco, though Nicholas had not known the brother’s identity. Morgan had conveniently left out that piece of information. Nicholas turned slowly to face Morgan. “He’s the spitting image of Marco. I believe I’ve not been given all the details.” His voice was accusatory, Morgan had told him he was up to speed.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen turned to look at Antonio as Nicholas stated he looked like Marco. She had never really looked at him before. She instantly backed away, hiding against and half behind Gabriel.

Morgan looked annoyed. "Escort procured. Imogen remains...And you can ask the Angeles Brothers the details." She was clearly frustrated. She moved as if desiring to grab Imogen's arm but swiftly passed and went back to her desk. It was still her home, her city.

She waved a hand to them as if indicating they should discuss.

Imogen was still staring at Antonio. A chill ran down her spine as she relived the moment he cut Catarina's head from her body.

You see...they are not looking out for you. Those that betrayed you keep you close. The words licked at the edges of her mind. Imogen looked up to Gabriel wondering if he too had heard them since he had been speaking to her as well.

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel had slipped from her mind for the moment but he was aware of her stiffening beside him. “Are you ok?” he asked her aloud, bending to almost whisper in her ear.

Antonio looked at Nicholas, “Yes I am his son, but I offer no ill will towards Imogen. She is after all descended from my sister. We have welcomed her into our family.”

Nicholas looked to Morgan, “Wasn’t the plan to have the deadman perform a concert and see if it brings in Dimitri.”

Gabriel frowned, “We’re back to using Imogen as bate,”

“Yes, but with many more allies now,” Antonio said, seemingly taking Morgan’s side. “I think even if he’s listening, he won’t be able to resist. With how easily he took down Diego he thinks he’s miles above us.” Antonio continued.

“That’s because he is,” Nicholas said flatly his eyes sweeping around the room, “None of us can forget that. The only one I know that could match his skill one on one is Vladimir. That’s why there’s so many of us. We will have to work together.”

 

[SandS13]

"He is telling me you are keeping me close..that you betrayed me and will again..." Imogen looked to everyone in the room as she whispered to Gabriel.

"Leave them. Come to me..I cannot come to you yet. There are too many. If you come to me I will protect you from them mi amor. You know I will.

She tried to stifle him but not push him out completely.

"She is bait. It is what I have said from the beginning. If you had not been so hasty Gabriel in converting her we would have more ground. He would not know her mind then. We will have to work around it and as Antonio has said there are more of us. I have wards up, barriers. He cannot come here without breaking them. Her mind, her...she is our weak point." She pointed to Imogen.

"I am not weak. Even now he speaks to me. Tells me to come to him. He ripped open my mind and yet I stand here. I am not weak." Her power radiated off of her almost suppressing all the others without her realizing it.

 

[The_gladiator]

“As the strongest psychic in the room beside her, she speaks the truth,” Nicholas said, “She might have him in her mind for he is very powerful, but she is anything but weak.”

Gabriel nodded, “My converting her gave her the weapons to protect herself rather than the kidnapping her blind.” He finally blew out a sigh, “Fine, she is bating, we will tempt him to come, I will be with her, the band will be present on stage,”

“My brothers and I are known to be the life of the party,” Antonio said with a slightly self-deprecating tone, but it was true, they did have a reputation.

“If you will be present, you will follow orders,” Nicholas said firmly. “There are three people in this room worthy to give orders.”

Gabriel did the math looking around, “Morgan, myself and you?” he asked Nicholas.

“Yes, but you will run point on the operation. Morgan will coordinate her people and the facility, I will.”

“Wait and watch in the shadows,” Byron interjected, earning a grim smile from Nicholas.

Gabriel let his touch brush Imogen’s mind. “Even if he heard everything which I believe you’ve kept him from seeing your thoughts about present events, knowing those details will not hurt us.” He spoke aloud for everyone’s benefit, letting Morgan know he still believed in Imogen.

 

[SandS13]

"Converting her the way you did was wrong but I will not argue the validity of you claim here..." Morgan quipped.

"He is here but he has not heard." Imogen pointed to her head. "I will let him know what we need him to know. I will not be caught as I was last night."

"No, you will not. I will see that you are properly fed and cared for." Morgan looked at Gabriel, eyes hard.

Imogen looked at Byron. "We have not been introduced." She moved to him, hand extended. She was trying to stop the argument that would break out between Gabriel and Morgan.

 

[The_gladiator]

Nicholas lifted an eyebrow at Morgan’s words. Gabriel shot him a don’t ask look. Gabriel looked ready to lite into Morgan. However, Imogen broke that tension, with a little of Byron’s help.

Seizing the opportunity Byron swept forward, bowing low over her hand, kissing it. “I would be Byron, Sugar. It is a pleasure to meet you.” The accent that he sometimes appropriated from his southern bell human servant was back. “Don’t tell me you’ve bedded My Gabriel, and I’ve been unsuccessful for all these years?” he said as if they were old friends and he wanted to gossip with her.

With the distraction the Angeles brothers faded into the distance, as did Axle murmuring to Nicholas that he would go find Jared their bassist and start setting up on stage.

 

[SandS13]

"A pleasure, Byron." Imogen smiled broadly. "I was warned about you. Something about a rock and flirting.."

She glanced at Gabriel. "Your Gabriel. I apologize for inserting myself. It would seem I had something you did not..I cannot say for sure what it was." She looked back at Byron. "Though I am a bit surprised. He warned me you would try to flirt with me." Imogen laughed lightly.

Morgan was at her desk, hands clutching the edge. She wanted to yell at Gabriel. She wanted to take Imogen away and hide her until they were ready to execute the plan. She was angry that in the end Imogen was going to be the bait and she still lost out on the rest of what she wanted. She the sentinel hadn't interfered things would be far more in her favour.

 

[The_gladiator]

“I believe what you have that Byron lacks is manners,” Nicholas said with a smirk.

“Here I was gonna say tits,” Byron said with a wink, somewhat proving Gabriel’s point. “Oh, honey I would flirt with you if I didn’t know that Gabriel could kick my ass. You’re beautiful, but so is my smile, I’d hate to lose a tooth or three.”

“Just you remember that.” Came Gabriel’s muttered response. His eyes had been fixed on Morgan. He could tell she was itching for a fight and he was partially inclined to give her one. Sensing this Nicholas further served to break the tension. “Come, let’s go set up. Gabriel, are you performing with us tonight?”

“No, I will dance with Imogen.” He smiled down at her, “Do you dance my lady?” It was tough for him not to call her little one in front of all these people, but Morgan was already trying to pick a fight.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen laughed softly and blushed at the comments.

"Wait? Perform?" She looked up at Gabriel. "You told me you helped, did album covers. Perform?"

She moved to stand in front of him. "I don't dance..especially if it means you will be performing."

Around her she could sense everyone's aura's. The tension and the anger. "I want to learn all about this side of you. Let's go help them." Imogen pulled at Gabriel's hand to lead him out of the room.

"You are mine mi amor. I am coming for you. I will find a way through and they will not stop me."

Imogen pushed him away which she knew angered Dimitri more.

 

[The_gladiator]

“I don’t perform,” Gabriel muttered.

“Doesn’t mean you can’t.” Byron sang out.

“But the role of brooding guitar player is already filled,” Gabriel retorted.

“Damned right, that puts you up front with Byron.” This comment from Nicholas.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Gabriel retorted. He turned to Imogen even as they flowed out of the room leaving Morgan for now. “I do primarily work on album art and promotions but that doesn’t mean that I haven’t played with them.”

“Sister, he plays guitar, keys and I’ve even seen him play the bongos in a drum solo.” Byron said.

“Doesn’t mean I’m any good at any of them.”

“Brother, you performed with the Travelers. That name means something to even the humans,” Byron looked at Imogen, “Doesn’t it?” The legend of the travelers was widely known and only now after the dawning were people making the connections that they were vampires in the group, before no one could ever prove if the members changed or stayed the same throughout the decades. They always recorded under various names, never as the travelers.

“I only performed with them because I think Ehlana begged Nicholas and the others to take Pity on me.”

Nicholas spoke up, “That might be somewhat true, but Darian wouldn’t have let me allow you to play with us on and off so many times if you weren’t talented.”

Gabriel finally shrugged, “Fine, I will perform, but only because it seems like Imogen wants me to.” He frowned down at her, “You will need to be close. I wanted my entire attention on you,” his frown deepened, “Are you sure this is wise?”

“Let me in Mi Amore, I want to come to you, protect you.”

Once out in the hallway a woman fell into step with them, she smiled at Imogen, “are these men treating you well sugar? Just you tell me and mark my words I’ll give em what for.” She looked young, though somehow looked motherly despite that, it was something in her attitude.

“She’s not joking,” Gabriel said giving Imogen’s hand a squeeze. “Melany is the person who has the dubious honor of running Byron’s life for him.”

“Well of course I do, the good lord knows that he doesn’t.”

“I resemble that remark,” was Byron’s good-natured retort.

 

[SandS13]

As they left Morgan was working on a new plan. Getting Dimitri here would be easy. The moment he felt he could slip past her defensive measures he would. His target was simple. He would take Imogen. Once he had her she was sure he would take her far away. Or...he might lock her up and seek vengeance. In her mind it was a toss up between the two. Now that she had seen Imogen's power Morgan had decided she needed her here, with her. Before she had been content with selling her in exchange for powerful allies. Now, if she could harness that power Morgan would be protected without help.

Her nails tapped the desk as she worked out all the possibilities in her mind.

"Guitar, bongos?" Imogen was staring at Gabriel as if he had grown another head. "I had no idea..."

She looked to the woman, a nod of her head. "Nice to meet you Melany. My name is Imogen."

They made it to the main part of the club. Morgan's crew were working with Nicholas' to get things set up. Imogen shifted smoothly into her familiar role and walked off for a moment to look after a couple of things with one of the pack.

"So-care to explain Morgan's comment on how you 'claimed' Imogen? I wasn't sure at first what her relationship to you was...I saw the mark. Have you really found room in that heart for another?" Nicholas asked Gabriel. "Other than Byron that is." A smirk appeared.

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel smiled down at Imogen, “You did only meet me a few days ago little one,” he said his words brushing sensually over her mind. Aloud he simply laughed.

Gabriel turned to Nicholas, “You know as well as me what that mark is about. Also, stop deflecting, we all know it’s you Byron really wants.”

“Damned strait,” Was Byron’s rejoinder as he passed faking grabbing Nicholas’s butt. Nicholas didn’t deem to even react.

“Do you think it wise to have marked her so…publicly? Every born vampire in this establishment knows what it means.”

“Good then they’ll respect it.”

“It’s a fledgling move Gabriel. It’s like thumbing your nose at Every male here they will want what they can’t have.”

“Now you get it, though it’s more thumbing my nose at Morgan.”

“I need not tell you how powerful that one is, be careful.” Gabriel finally nodded soberly. “She is yours. You have bonded yourself to Katarina’s heir?”

“I care for her…” Nicholas’s look was hard, “It was also an act of desperation.” Nicholas nodded again believing that. He could tell Gabriel was growing to care for her but recognized that he had made an instant decision. Their males often knew their mates in instants like that.

“Be careful,” Nicholas reiterated before heading off to find his bandmates and begin setting up equipment.

Morgan drummed her fingers on her desk, the painted nails clicking on the oak top. Finally, she made a call. “Send Andrea to me.” A plan was percolating in her mind. One stop in that path was gaining influence over Nicholas or Byron. Nicholas was a harder nut to crack but more valuable. Byron would be easy to get to, the man was a man whore, and Andrea would certainly be up to seducing him, though the human servant would be a problem, possibly deflecting Byron from any potential partners on this mission, she would prefer that Nicholas be the one Andrea distracted, but she thought the woman most knew only as the huntress would be up to the challenge. In most vampire communities there was typically a vampire or were animal that did the bidding of the leader. Every area needed a doer of evil deeds. Most areas didn’t have enough rogue activity to justify a sentinel or the werewolf equivalent living close, but that did not mean that local master’s weren’t expected to police their own territories. The huntress was that for Morgan. Morgan could not be seen as associating with such things as violence or seduction of competitors or corporate espionage. No, she used Andrea for that. She waited for the woman to arrive confident she would be very useful in this situation. Where Imogen had helped Morgan with the human world connections, Andrea was Morgan’s pawn in the supernatural world. Need to seduce a recalcitrant pack alpha, a job for the huntress, need to torture information from someone, well she had been known to do such as well.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen moved around the club helping to prep for the sound check and other things that needed doing. For a moment she almost forgot she was a vampire now and not the human woman who always did this job.

Everyone seemed busy so when she was done all she could do Imogen slipped off and up the back stairs. She decided now was as good a time as any to sort things out in her apartment. She passed the closed doors of the pack. Some would be sleeping, some working downstairs.

One door opened, eyes watching her but Daniel didn't leave his apartment. He saw her go into her place and close the door. Only then did he close his door. He stayed near the door wanting to know when she left.

Imogen headed to her bedroom and began laying out some clothes. She crossed from the room past her living room to what was considered a kitchen. She checked the fridge, ensuring that there was nothing in there that could spoil. She knew there wouldn't be, she almost never ate here and she never cooked.

As she walked back to her room she paused to look at a few books. She had very little in the way of possessions, a habit from her time on the streets.

I see you...I cannot come to you....look at me mi amor...my starlight..."

Imogen froze. She turned to look at the window. Far off, too far for human eyes but not too far for her she could see his form on a rooftop.

Come to the roof. You can come to me...I will teach you. They neglect your powers, they wish to keep you caged...I would not do so....

Imogen felt goosebumps form on her arms. He might not cage her but he wished to possess her with such single minded determination that it was the same thing. She shifted and in her mind he hissed.

He marked you! He marked my starlight! He will pay! A flash in her mind, too fast for her to shield it. Imogen cried out and buckled to her knees. It was as if an explosion had gone off in her mind.

"I got you..." Daniel scooped her up, being careful of his broken hand. "What did they do to you Gen?" He placed her on the couch and stroked her hair.

She couldn't open her eyes. It was as if she was blind.

You have hurt me. You do not care about me at all.... Her mind reached out to Dimitri

I do...I am sorry mi amor...It was rash...I did not pull away and my anger.. Deep, heavy regret filled her mind. I will not let him have you.

"Get Gabriel. The tall, broody looking one - yeah, yeah...figure it out." Daniel was on his phone, calling down to the club. His other hand continued to stroke her hair, fingers brushed her cheek.

 

[The_gladiator]

Daniel had made a call to one of the few people around here that was as reliable as Imogen herself. Andrea. Lord knows Marcus couldn’t get anything done, and he was frankly too pissed at Morgan to call her.

The huntress slid out of the shadows and approached the stage, where Gabriel and Nicholas stood together watching setup. “Which of you tall and brooding folks is Gabriel.” She asked smoothly.

“That would be me.” Gabriel eyed the newcomer, somewhat suspiciously, “Who wants to know.”

“Daniel says Imogen is hurt and you are to go to her.” With that she faded away, she had been summoned by Morgan after all.

Gabriel gaped after her with a stunned expression and then started running. Nicholas followed, they had soon swept up Byron, Axle and Jared along the way. They moved towards—they didn’t know where they were going. Nicholas grabbed the nearest dancer. “You know who Imogen is? Good, take us to her apartment.”

 

[SandS13]

The dancer led them to the stairs that led to the apartments but stopped. "I don't go up there. Not allowed. She is on the sixth floor, last one from the top."

Daniel was sitting at Imogen's side. She was trying to sit up. "I think you should wait."

"I know I am fine."

"I don't think that is true."

Imogen grumbled. She could see now but she was seeing spots. "It is nothing."

I am not nothing. Come to the roof. Come to me and I will show you how sorry I am.

Imogen frowned. If I come to you, will you kill the others?

There was silence.

I will not if you will seek vengence.

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel nodded his thanks to the dancer and began to sprint up the stairs. Every single companion of his stayed right with him. It would take them only moments to climb that high.

I need only kill the one. Dimitri’s voice finally answered her inquiry. Please Mi Amore, I will be good to you, I promise I will send people for you. You’ll see. If you won’t come to the roof, I will find you another way.

Gabriel burst through the door and snarled when he saw Daniel. “What did you do to her pup, I thought I already taught you a lesson,” Gabriel snapped his eyes moving to Imogen looking for injuries as the others fanned out in the room looking for threats.

“We’re being watched,” Jared spoke from the window. “I can see him,” the normally silent bass player spoke in a heavily accented rumble. Nicholas joined him and frowned.

“If I only had my sniper rifle,” he muttered. That has to be Dimitri, just watching us.”