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

[The_gladiator]

Nicholas accepted the painting. She had the expected reaction though he did not want her to draw too many conclusions. “Yes, Gabriel is the child I carried away from that clearing that night, away from that killing field.” His eyes were intense. “No, you are not her. You bare her memories but…you are not she.”

He took a deep breath feeling her aura dampen. “Be careful shielding too hard,” he murmured. When she asked who had put the block was it, he or was its Vladimir he simply nodded, “Yes. If Morgan tried to sense it, she would have sensed vlads work over another. The first time I altered his memory was as I took him away from there.” Nicholas’s tone was emphatic, someone who believed in the rightness of what he had done. “And I would do it again. No child needed to remember that horror.”

 

[SandS13]

"You need to remove his blocks. He needs to know the truth." Imogen whispered. She couldn't help it as she curled her mind into itself and she put up strong walls. She was so conflicted, such a mixture of confusion and so many other emotions that she did what she always did and hid away.

She licked her lips. She felt cold and her arms wrapped around herself. "Catarina sent him with you and Dimitri thinks all his children dead. He does not sense it in Gabriel? Though..." Imogen frowned. "I am not sure Dimitri has spoken to him. Dimitri recognizes Catarina's blood line in the brothers but they were near him and with Isabela..." She was lost in her thoughts.

"We need to keep Dimitri away until Gabriel learns of his past." She looked at Nicholas. "Are you going to tell him or will I need to? I think he needs to know."

The pieces were falling into place, gaps in Catarina's memory filling in.

"Morgan cannot learn of this before Gabriel does. She cannot find out."

 

[The_gladiator]

“That is one thing we can agree on. Morgan does not need to learn of this now.” His eyes looked deep into hers, “You have been her pawn for many years, can Gabriel trust you not to tell her?” He considered her before speaking again. “I believe we should both be there. We should get him to know a few things first, it might prove overwhelming if I just remove the memory blocks. I do not believe he is prepared for that shock.”

He could tell she was linking pieces together. “Are you certain he recognizes the brothers as from her bloodline, or he did prior to the past few days? Why wouldn’t he have hunted them earlier? Did Isabela die because of her bloodline, or as a pawn of Morgan to get to you, or was it both?”

 

[SandS13]

Imogen's hands clenched. "I owe Morgan nothing. I have only worked for her for a short time but it has been shown by my memories that she has been present in my life since childhood. However she has manipulated me and was going to auction me off. I owe her no loyalty. You can trust me, or don't...I cannot force you to believe me."

She frowned. She realized that Nicholas did not know the details of who the brothers and Isabela were or maybe had an inklng but did not understand it all.

"The brothers and Isabela are Catarina's human children, converted...Isabela was killed to find me. I am descended from her bloodline from when she was human...the brothers...they are Catarina's children and Dimitri knows her bloodline. Morgan said she tried to protect Isabela. My understanding is no one knew who the brothers were and they have hidden a long time. I cannot be certain but he hurt Diego and Antonio, I am sure Dimitri must have some idea."

Imogen looked down. "This is going to hurt Gabriel a great deal. To learn his past..."

 

[The_gladiator]

“He may recognize it in them, but he might have also responded to their attacking of him. I was briefed on that by Morgan.” He frowned. “I had put some of the pieces together, and I saw that Antonio looks like Marco, but thank you for clarifying it all for me.” He looked contemplative as he stared at the painting. “I honestly wonder if Gabriel might know more about why Catarina sent the children away. I never really understood her reasons for keeping her daughter but so vehemently wanting the boys to be safe, but not with her.”

His eyes lifted to her. “Yes, much of this will be painful to Gabriel. This is why so much of it has been hidden from him for so long. I still do not know that telling him is the best path to take.”

 

[SandS13]

"He said that Marco would not let Dimitri's sons live. He seemed to care little for the girl."

Imogen stood. "I will not keep this from him. I cannot keep this from him. He will be hurt and he will never trust me again if I do."

She cocked her head. "You are worried about how he will see you once he learns your part in this. I can see it in your aura."

 

[The_gladiator]

Nicholas listened to her words. “That story doesn’t feel right though. Why would Marco not want the daughter dead. Why would someone has killed her years later.” He frowned but finally let it drop for now.

Nicholas looked at her blankly at first but finally nodded, “You are correct. We are close. Vladimir mentored him but he has never been Warm to Gabriel. He taught Gabriel Honor. It was up to me to teach Gabriel laughter. If I know him, he is up there making Byron sing ridiculous songs, just for a laugh. If that humor did not come from me directly it came from the people that I surrounded Gabriel with. He does not need to see the killer I became that night. He does not need to know I hid things from him for so long.” He Hadn’t planned on saying so much, but he found himself unable to lie to her, she would know.

 

[SandS13]

"But he does. It will be the fact that you cared for him, showed him a life with laughter and warmth that he will not hate you for it."

Imogen frowned. "As much as I should be able to help with the question of the children I am afraid I have not delved into all of Catarina's memories. I feared doing so and I shut them back away once more."

She reached out for his hand. "We will have to navigate all of this together."
--------
In the club the warm up was winding down. The crowd was starting to file in. Andrea gestured to Byron. "Come chat before you have to play for real..."

 

[The_gladiator]

Nicholas nodded slowly, “Maybe you’re right.” It was clear that some of his hesitance was to protect Gabriel, but also to protect himself. He wondered if she had the memory already of his failure to save Gabriel’s brother.

“It has to be overwhelming to have all of her memories, I do not blame you for not diving fully into them.” He took her hand giving it a squeeze. “I am sure that they need us in the club for the show. However, before we do. Are there blocks on your own memories still?” he asked, “I may be one of the few powerful enough to undue Morgan’s work if she’s been in your life tampering with you. I may be able to assist you with building a block to keep out Dimitri.”


As the club’s doors were opened a group flowed into the room. Gabriel was watching them move through the door. They moved in a unified group. They moved like a military unit, or an organized gang.

Moving over to Byron he pointed, “Do you know what’s going on out there with that group?” Byron frowned, an expression he wasn’t used to making too often.

“I’m sure it’s nothing. I wanted to talk with Andrea for a moment. Let me know if they pose any trouble.” Byron turned and headed back to Andrea a smile on his face.

Gabriel walked back over to the side of the stage and signaled trying to get someone’s attention. He finally got Daniel to come over.

“What’s up?” he asked Gabriel.

Gabriel jerked his head in the direction of the new group, “Do you know who that group is?”

“Local lion pride,” Daniel said frowning, “They look kind of grim tonight.”

“Do they spell trouble around here usually?”

Daniel shook his head, “Sometimes small fights break out but Marcus usually tries to stop it, or their Rex keeps them in line.”

“But Marcus is still down,” Gabriel said sounding a bit sheepish. Daniel had enough sense not to rub it in but just nodded.

“Keep an eye out, we don’t want any trouble tonight. Do you know where Morgan is? While I’m at it, who’s the woman in the mask that’s talking to Byron?” he asked Daniel before the wolf could walk off.

 

[SandS13]

Daniel looked to Byron. "That is Andrea. Think if Imogen dealt with the darker side of things. Information, seduction, persuasion. She has taken a shine to your bandmate there. She is here because Morgan asked her to, least that is what I was told."

The club floor was filling up with people excited to get a preview of the show that was being advertised for tomorrow. Rumour had spread that the band was doing a 'warm up' gig tonight.

Andrea leaned on the wall as she waited for Byron to return. "So, I know you are playing with the band but why are you really here?" She smiled. "You know it isn't everyday Morgan invites neighbouring covens...packs..what have you to visit..."
-----
"I do not know if there are blocks. Dimitri ripped my mind open. He did not remove he just..." She grimaced. "He was in there and he tore my mind open. It was painful. I am nervous about letting anyone in. How do I know you will not wipe the memories so I cannot tell Gabriel? Isn't letting him in what they want? A line to him, a way to tempt him?" Imogen looked up at Nicholas.

 

[The_gladiator]

Nicholas shrugged. “No pressure my lady. I could only offer you my word as to my intensions. There’s a lot of suspicion going on here, and I really can’t hold it against you. Though to be honest with you if I wished to forcibly mind wipe you, trust me that I could. Byron wasn’t joking earlier.”


Gabriel nodded to Daniel thanking him for his help. He had a bad feeling about her with Byron. He had a bad feeling about the Lions present, and how organized they seemed. Nicholas’s panthers weren’t here yet, and the were wolf pack wasn’t fond of him. Dimitri had said he would send people. Surely, he couldn’t have taken over a group like that. He moved to put the rest of the band on alert.

Byron shrugged, “I just go where I’m told,” he responded to Andrea. “I guess Morgan just likes music, right? Surely all these people can’t be here to see us. Unless someone leaked that Nicholas would be here?” as the Traveler himself, Nicholas gathered attention. Might Morgan have leaked that to the public? Byron wasn’t sure. But for a warmup gig, this crowd was getting large.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen stiffened. "I do not take idly to such comments." She backed away from him. "I would suggest you do not try. I am only just getting used to what I can do but I have some idea..."
----
Andrea's hand was on Byron's arm. "I don't think so. she won't leak that until tomorrow, bigger crowd, bigger profit. Besides, he isn't here and you are set to go on shortly. Must all be here for you and I can't blame them. You are the reason I am here."

The room was definitely filling up. They hadn't expected the turn out but the human serving staff were happy as it meant big tips.

 

[The_gladiator]

Nicholas held his hands up in a gesture of peace. “You should not take it lightly, but also know that I am not threatening you my lady. Should we return back to Gabriel now? The concert should just be starting soon.”

_____

Byron shrugged at Andrea’s compliment, though his smile told her that he appreciated it and was flattered. “I should go join the band now, maybe we can talk more later?” he asked gently stroking his hand over hers before heading back towards the stage.

Gabriel shot Byron a funny look as he returned to the stage but it was growing too loud to talk to him, he would have to give him a warning about her being a tool for Morgan later.

 

[SandS13]

"I would like to spend more time with you later." Andrea purred as Byron got up to leave.

She licked her lips. He was easy to flirt with but not a simpleton by any means. She needed to be strategic. Give him enough to rope him in, present her side - well Morgan's side of things and seal the deal. Her fingers drummed the wall as she considered her options.

The crowd saw the band gathering and erupted into cheers.
-----
Imogen shook her head. "Not yet. I have a question."

She moved to sit on the sofa. Her mind was locked tight now. She had locked away any and everything she could. "How did you know Catarina? What was your relationship to Dimitri and her that she trusted you with her son?" Imogen's eyes were on him. "You are powerful, strong and greatly respected but- I can't remember how she knows you. I know she met you twice, at least as far as I have seen in the memories but...I don't understand why you."

 

[The_gladiator]

Nicholas moved to sit in the chair Gabriel used to paint, turning to face Imogen. “You dig into the past that is best left there. However, the answer on the surface at least is simple, is.” He shrugged, “Vampire society now is ruled by a council known as the Blackstone council. Very few are privileged enough to know who is on the council. I actually suspect that only the members know. Anyway, vampire kind was not always ruled in such a way. We once had a prince. His legend is well known. Humans are fond of making movies about him. You know, Count Dracula.” Here he rolled his eyes at the name. “Katarina appealed to our prince for someone to protect the boys. I was the closest sentinel in the area so he sent me. Nothing too complicated I would say, by far the easiest part of that whole story I suppose.”

 

[SandS13]

"I think given the circumstances and the whole other set of memories I have in my head I am allowed to dig into the past to fill in the gaps." Imogen listened. "But you knew Dimitri. Was he a sentinel?"

She realized she almost nothing about this other man who kept invading her mind and claimed she was his.

 

[The_gladiator]

Nicholas nodded at her right to dig into the past. When she asked if Dimitri were a sentinel he hissed with displeasure and perhaps scorn. “He predates the Sentinels and in part he is affiliated with why they were created. He never went rogue, but by rights he should have been dead far before he ever made his claim on Catarina. He owed his life to the mercy of a sentinel though.”

Nicholas pulled out his cell phone. Swiping through contacts he found a picture and handed Imogen the phone. “Doesn’t he look familiar?” he asked, handing her the painting of Dimitri and Katarina to compare to the photograph. After you see the connection, scroll up and take a look at the name on that particular contact.” Nicholas seemed to not like just giving straight answers, like many old ones he was always a teacher, wanting her to uncover evidence and draw conclusions.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen looked between the phone and the painting. "They are- they both look like each other and Gabriel. They have the same face. Family? All three?" She scrolled up as he her to. "Vladimir? But-"

She looked at Nicholas. "All related then? Vladimir is Dimitri's father? Brother? Uncle? It is hard because I do not know their history and vampires do not age." She handed him back his phone.
---
The crowd was hyped up. Staff were pouring as fast as they could to take care of the crowd. Tension and anticipation was growing as they waited for the band to start.

In the crowd, the lions were spreading out. Any who recognized it would know it was a hunting pattern. They were stalking something or someone...

 

[The_gladiator]

“I did not expect you to know the exact connection,” he explained softly, “Merely recognize the connection. Vladimir was the oldest of 4 brothers.” He explained, “Dimitri is the youngest. Little is known about the true story of what happened between them, but someday I will tell you the legends if you care to hear them.”

The band began to play and the crowd cheered. Gabriel was swept up in the music, it had been many years since he’d performed on stage and almost never with this group. They were all so talented that they swept Gabriel along with their playing. He was able to follow their rhythm section, which was flawless. Axle and Jared having played together with the deadmen for years, but also together in the past. Byron was a flawless singer that never missed a beat, no matter what song was thrown his way.

Gabriel tried to keep his eyes on the Lions, but he was distracted by the need to play. He could only hope they were not there to start trouble.

 

[SandS13]

"Dimitri and Vladimir are brothers..." Imogen stood and began to pace. "Gabriel is Vladimir's nephew. Which Gabriel doesn't know that fact..."

She stopped to look at Nicholas. "If Isabela, the Angeles brothers and I are Catarina's blood and Morgan can sense it, smell it..why didn't she get it from Gabriel? She was in his mind, she has been close to him. Shouldn't she have gotten it from him as well? He is clearly of the same line as Vladimir and Dimitri but it is Catarina's bloodline as well that Dimitri was following and the Morgan was tracking. Morgan knew what the killer was looking for, just not who he was. I don't understand how she missed it..."
-----
The crowd was in utter chaos as they moved to the music. The band was on fire and the lions took the opportunity to move through the crowd. They knew who they were looking for but as of yet none had spotted her. They had specific instructions, find her and kill all in the way.

Dimitri said to find her, no matter the cost and with a gesture from their leader a couple tried to slip backstage.

 

[The_gladiator]

Nicholas listened to her words, her questions. He did not have the answers though. “Are you suggesting that Gabriel is of Vlad and Dimitri’s bloodline, but not of Catarina’s?” he asked looking startled. He wondered if she was only asking that to make it less disturbing for her to want Gabriel. But no, what she said made sense, they were good questions, but they were questions he did not have the answers too. “I fear those are only questions that may be answered in Katarina’s or possibly Gabriel’s memories.” It was clear that Nicholas strongly believed that Gabriel was the son of Dimitri and Katarina. “That could explain how Gabriella was hunted down, but he was not.” He lifted the painting, “But you see this, we were both there, she gave him to me, I can promise you that.”

_______

As two of the lions, the local Rex, Graham and one of his enforcers tried to muscle their way back stage. Daniel’s partner working the sound stepped in their path. “You aren’t allowed back there,” he said. The human tech had no idea how outmatched he truly was until the fist slammed into his stomach. He cried out in pain, his eyes growing as wide as saucers. Graham shoved him back with his free hand. The knife that was hidden in the other hand coming out stained a dark red from the man’s blood.

Daniel had the sense when he saw his companion fall not to charge into a fight, he wasn’t sure if he could win, but he cut the sound system to the band and putting two fingers between his lips he whistled to get someone’s attention.

The two lions were on him in a second, but it did not take long for help to arrive. When the sound cut off, Gabriel and the rest of the band looked around. Hearing the whistle even over the crowd, Gabriel saw the two lions pile onto Daniel. He let off the stage, breaking his guitar across the face of the first lion to step into his path to block him from getting to the fight. Byron, Jared, and Axle were not far behind him. They moved like a military unit with precision and speed.

Gabriel grabbed the flunky lion and hurled him several feet into a wall and reached for the lion rex, Graham, but had to jump back to avoid the knife the man held. This got the knife wielding attacker off of Daniel though. Gabriel and Graham began to circle, fainting and trying to strike one another.

The rest of the band fanned out behind Gabriel as they saw the lion’s allies moving through the crowd towards them. Byron frowned “Where’s Morgan’s people, why aren’t they evacuating the humans?” he asked. He got shrugs from the others.

“I will protect his back,” Daniel said regaining his feet, one hand covering his ribs where the blood welled up between his fingers. You three stop the others.” Daniel pulled a radio off his belt and was shouting into it, trying to get staff to evacuate the humans, all of the innocents, but especially the humans. He wasn’t getting enough of a response. Where had Andrea gone, she could whip the staff into shape, no one would listen to him, he sounded too panicked. And the crowd that could not observe the fight were pissed that the band had abruptly stopped playing and ran off stage.

 

[SandS13]

"I don't know what I am suggesting but I know that Morgan sensed it in me, in Isabela but she said nothing about Gabriel. I do not think she would hold that juicy bit of information to herself. She could have used it as leverage with him."

Imogen looked at the painting. "I know you were both there and I know the memories I have but it doesn't make sense."

She looked at Nicholas. "I give you permission to search Catarina's memories. You can do it. You will know the things you are looking for. Find her memories and search them."
-------
All hell had broken loose. Andrea swore under her breath and ran into the fray. She was at Byron's side. She flashed him a smile as she produced a long, thin dagger and slashed at one of the lion's arms. "The others are reluctant to help." She looked from Daniel to Gabriel.

The Angeles brothers arrived as black wisps that landed in the crowd.

The doors were opened and people tried to leave but it was too messy and no one knew where to go.

"We need to do something before everyone is slaughtered." Andrea ran through the crowd and tried to help organize the bar staff.

 

[The_gladiator]

The Angeles brothers arrived in the crowd and began attacking anyone that looked violent. It looked like Antonio had had some sort of organization at first but it quickly fell apart. The only ones to truly have coordination were the lions. Small units of the defenders did, like the brothers, or the band, but there were easily two dozen lions in the room and hundreds of irritable fans, not all of which were human.

Andrea finally got staff rallied to start funneling people out of the bar, but unfortunately that allowed faster access to the band and brothers by the lions. Before anyone could react two slipped past Byron et al and came in hard at Gabriel’s back who was still engaged with their leader. Daniel stood stoically in their path. He was unarmed and due to his injury was fighting hard not to shift. He knew Morgan’s rules, no shifting when there were humans present. The problem was that the lions were no longer following that rule. They had shifted only their hands though. Like switchblades claws had shot out and Daniel swore. He didn’t have the power to do that, it was all or nothing for him. Still, he did not budge blocking their path to Gabriel.

It was Daniel’s shriek of pain that ended the temporary standoff between Gabriel and his opponent. He spun away to catch the wolf as he fell. Lowering him to the ground, he threw himself forward, a knife in his own hand. The two that had been battling Daniel did not have long to live. Where Graham had had the skill to ward off Gabriel, these two did not. However, without a hinderance Graham was gone, disappearing into the depths of the inner workings of Morgan’s lair. He had had a secondary mission. If he could not accomplish his primary goal, his master wanted him to make contact. He needed to find Morgan.



Nicholas nodded his agreement with her request. However even as he reached for her, a blast of psychic energy hit him. Gabriel was clearly calling for help. He only got brief images through the link to Gabriel, but it was enough to make him grab Imogen’s elbow to steady her, sure she felt the psychic call as well, but also hurry her along. “we are needed.” Was all he would say before he was in her mind, he forced the image of mist into her mind, urging her to picture herself as mist as he let himself dissolve into droplets, and begin racing towards the battle like the brothers had done to enter the fight above. His mind was in hers, helping her hold the image, teaching her without words how to shift forms like this. This was a more advanced form of how Gabriel had stripped them that first night.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen let Nicholas steady her. She had been lowering her guard in preparation for letting Nicholas in and the wave hit her extremely hard. She felt her knees weaken and her heart race. Before she could say anything Nicholas was in her mind and forcing images of mist there. She focused on it and when he let go they were in the club.

She stumbled unsure what had just happened but her eyes fell on Gabriel and Daniel. "No!" She pulled way from Nicholas and ran towards them.

"What happened?"
----
Morgan sensed the change and was on her way out of her office. Unlike the others she walked, wanting to inspect things as she moved quickly towards the club. It was in the hall where she spotted Graham.

"You are on dangerous ground lion..." Morgan snarled. "What business do you have hunting in my home?"

 

[The_gladiator]

I seek an audience with your greatness,” Graham snarled, not so used to kissing ass like that. “My master sends his greetings. He believes that we could do business together. Though if you’re not interested,” he reached for the handle of an emergency exit beside him, “I can just fade away into the night.” He was sure he would have intrigued her, though.

_______

Meanwhile, Nicholas had joined the bouncers in throwing lions, sometimes bodily out of the bar. He also knew he would need to use his abilities on the crowd, many of the attendants would not be permitted to keep their memories.

After killing the attackers Gabriel had returned to Daniel’s side. The rest of the band arrived and fanned out in a semicircle, defending the fallen wolf. By then most of the lions had been knocked unconscious, or fled. Gabriel sought outside himself, taking the risk in the middle of battle to try to save the man who had defended his back. Gabriel recognized what the wolf had done for him.

By the time Imogen reached him he had returned to his body, there was nothing he could do. He could not even be converted to vampire, it was technically impossible to catch both lycanthropy and vampirism, they seemed to cancel each other out. All he could do was hold the man’s hand and tell him a lie. “You’ll be fine Daniel.”

Daniel spat blood and snarled at Gabriel, his voice thick with the wolf, “Don’t lie to me. I’m not strong enough to survive this and we both know it.” Bleary eyes turned up when he heard Imogen’s voice. He smiled. He grasped her arm in his free hand, coated in his own blood. He pulled her close so she could hear his words. “He’ll be good to you…been in his mind—and I think…he’s a worthy mate for you.” His words were halting, thick with pain. “Always loved you, promise me you’ll not forget what I did to protect him, remember me fondly.”

Gabriel leaned over, “I will never forget…you have my word, one of our children will bare your name.” He didn’t know what possessed him to tell Daniel that in that moment, but he knew it would be true, that that was something he could and would keep his word on. It was because of how much he had misjudged the wolf, and his loyalty. A wistful smile came to Daniels lips. He looked into Imogen’s eyes one last time and then the life left them. After a moment of silence Gabriel reached up to gently close Daniel’s eyes.

I am so sorry, he died defending me little one. Forgive me for not being faster.