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

[SandS13]

Imogen squeezed his balls a little more firmly as she moved her mouth from his cock. Her eyes met his. They spoke of arousal and amusement. “No, not from your mind. I am enjoying touching you as I want…”

She licked her lips lightly before taking him in again. Her head continued their movements, up and down, slowly and deeply on his cock. Her tongue licked and moved, she swallowed around him.

Her hand kept caressing, holding and rolling his testicles. She liked the noises he made. Her hand shifted and her nails raked lightly down his thigh before returning to squeeze him.
---------
“I know you will but Morgan is expecting you to help convince Nicholas that her plan is a good one. And don’t ask me what it is, go take it up with her. She just needs you to agree with her and steer Nicholas to her side of things. I am just here to find out if you can be convinced to do so while my employee does the same for Nicholas.”

Andrea sneered. “Though I am guessing she isn’t so at this point you are a waste of my time.” She turned. “I got shit to take care of.” She would report to Morgan and then...then she would find Lillian and settle things. She could feel her hands balling up and resisted the urge to punch the wall.

Oh she was going to have fun hunting Lillian down. An evil grin formed on her lips.
------
Lillian’s heart was racing. She was trapped. His hand was in her hair. The other was touching her neck.

Fuck.

Lillian closed her eyes. She tensed, going very stiff as her head was tilted more and his mouth moved to her neck. She waited for it. She had no idea how it was going to feel but she was imagining pain and then maybe losing consciousness. She shivered as his tongue and lips began moving over one spot on her neck.

She was angry at herself for getting trapped like this, for letting it get out of hand and for actually finding this erotic. If she wasn’t so scared she might actually have rolled her eyes how much of a cliche she was being.

He let her go and Lillian almost stumbled. Her hand went instinctively to her neck. Her eyes were full of confusion as she stared at him. His tone was sensual and Lillian found herself wondering what his motive was.

She moved to the mirror and saw for the first time how bruised she was. It was a miracle Andrea hadn’t outright crushed her neck given how dark they were already. One spot was back to its pale, unmarked state.

Lillian looked at Nicholas. “What is in it for you? To heal me? Do you think I am going to let you feed on me? Why are you doing this?” She was skeptical, wary. It was what made her good at her job and ever since that night, had allowed her to stay alive. It was also all that was keeping her from giving in and letting him hold her, kiss her as he had. She knew she needed to remain focused though.

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel growled low in his throat. His hands were in Imogen’s hair. He could feel her breasts brushing his thigh as she pleasured him. Her hand working his balls, teasing his inner thigh, always moving always pleasuring him. If this was what was in her mind then he was a lucky man, and he would enjoy every minute of it. “Fuck little one,” he gasped aloud.

The next time she went all the way down he held her there, gently touching her mind, so he knew exactly how long he could hold her there before she grew uncomfortable, letting her pull back slowly at the right moment, growling his satisfaction with that.



Byron didn’t even bother to answer Andrea. She was barking up the wrong tree, and even she knew it as she walked off.



Morgan was filling out paperwork in her office when a knock came at her door. Inhaling she knew it was her huntress. Did she have more news? She did wonder. “Come,” she called out, watching the door open and a glowering Andrea walk in. “What can I do for you?” she asked, “Did you crack Byron that quickly?” she asked as she flipped another page on the report she was skimming through.



Nicholas felt a flair of irritation build inside himself, and consciously dismissed it. All she might have seen was a quick tensing of his shoulders, a stiffening of his posture, before he was relaxed again. “Not everything in life is a business transaction Pequeñita he said in that same seductive tone.” He stepped forward to gently rest his hands on her shoulders, “You need, and I can provide, it is as simple as that.” He said it as if it made perfect sense to him, like it was common place, or as obvious as saying that the earth revolved around the sun. “Now, do you insist on continuing to suffer, or will you allow me to take away your pain?” he asked. He tried to keep the tone that could have suggested she would be foolish to persist in allowing herself to continue to hurt, out of his voice, and thought he was fairly successful. “Also, I only feed off those who are willing. You saw the fans; I do not need to stoop so low as to barter for a blood donation. Maybe when I was a fledgling,” he said his voice filled with his confidence. It wasn’t quite arrogance, just assurance in who he was.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen felt him hold her down and she trusted him completely. She felt him brush her mind. She fought a smile as she continued to slowly enjoy him filling her mouth. She was in no hurry and she would let him decide how he wished to climax.

She repeated the deep push over and over. I like the way you growl...like you are just barely holding back from taking me and showing me I am yours. That you enjoy me so much you barely hold back..
----
Andrea crossed her arms.

"Sadly, no. I have a problem but I will deal with it. I can't promise you that Nicholas and Byron are on your side. Byron will do whatever Nicholas does, he will follow his play and I think the woman I brought in...I will take care of her. It might be best to tell them your plan."

Morgan would be pissed, Andrea knew but it couldn't be helped. All she needed to do now was clean up the mess. That meant taking out Lillian.
-------
Lillian was breathing hard. Her fight or flight had kicked in and she was trying to override it. Nicholas didn't seem like a threat but he was a vampire. His hands were on her shoulders once more. "I-"

How could she explain without telling him, a relative stranger, her past?

"Alright...alright but then I need to go. I need to get as far from her as I can." There was fear in her large brown eyes. "I have no other way to protect myself except to run."

 

[The_gladiator]

As he touched her mind, he could feel her trust, enveloping him, inviting him to take his pleasure, to share with her. “You are mine,” he growled looking down at her, answering aloud her mental thought. “One day you will know it as strongly as I do, you can rest assured of that.” His hands tightened in her hair, a dichotomy of loving and firm, passionate yet sensual.

———

Morgan looked up at Andrea’s summary. “Remind me why I put you on this case, again?” she said frostily, “You have spent several hours of valuable time to tell me exactly what I already knew? Get out of my sight before I give you to Dimitri.” Forgetting in that moment that she had not filled her huntress in on the situation with Dimitri fully, she was sure she knew enough to understand it was a threat.

“You know how much I hate messes, do clean it up for me,” Morgan said dismissing the other woman with a flick of her fingertips.

———

“First, I heal you, then we can talk about this foolish desire to run when you would be safer with me,” he said. It was a decree, like he was used to others following his orders. One arm slid down around her waist pulling her closer. The other cradling the back of her head, tilting it gently to the side to expose her neck to him again.

He worked slowly, methodically, thoroughly. He made sure to leave none of the marks on her pale skin. He couldn’t help his awareness of her, of the intimacy of what they were doing. His fingers were gentle but firm on the back of her head controlling her movements, preventing them, the other hand tracing small circles on her lower back, trying to relax her.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen moaned as Gabriel's hands tightened in her hair. She let her head move up and down, her other hand continued to caress and squeeze his balls. She wanted him to enjoy her however he wanted. He had taken her hard and fast, had fed on her and painted her backside with his seed.

Her eyes lifted to his face as she held the head of his cock between her lips.
-------
Andrea felt her teeth grind together. "Of course."

She left Morgan's office. Give you to Dimitri She wasn't entirely sure what that meant but it was a clear threat and not one Andrea was keen to learn more about. She headed back to the club, intent on finding Nicholas. He could point her to Lillian. She was sure the woman was going to run and was annoyed that she had never pushed feeding from her so that she had that connection.

When he wasn't in the club she began asking around. No one had seen Nicholas for a while. With a huff, Andrea headed into the back and then down. He would be staying down here as one of Morgan's guests. She paused, lifted her nose to see if she could catch his scent.

She caught Lillian's, faint but just enough to follow.
-------
Nicholas pulled her in. His arm was around her, holding her to him. It was intimate and yet...he wasn't groping her. In fact, Lillian was convinced if he was groping her it would be less sensual and intense than this was.

Every movement of his lips and tongue on her skin sent shivers through her body. He was in complete control of her body, her head. He moved her as he wanted to gain access to the bruising on her neck.

Dark red and purple vanished under his ministrations. Her body relaxed. She had been incredibly tense and now he was easing her fears. The rational part of her brain told her this was nuts and she needed to be aware. Unfortunately for Lillian...or perhaps it was fortunate as the woman rarely let herself be held or touched...her rational brain was not the one in control.

Her hands moved unconsciously into his hair. Her nipples grew hard under her shirt and bra. Lillian bit her lip in an effort not to make noise. She knew he could sense it, likely smell the effect he was having on her.

 

[The_gladiator]

He met her gaze and smiled. The image of her, hair tumbling down over his skin, breasts brushing his leg as she pleased him was one, he wanted to remember. He opened his mind to her, letting her know how much the image pleased him. He knew even with his earlier releases she would soon be rewarded with his completion in her mouth. “I want to remember this image always,” he murmured, his hand moving to stroke her cheek. Her tenderness showing in her languid movements on his shaft.



Nicholas worked slowly. He took his time. This was as much sensual gift as practical healing of her. He could feel her relax under his ministrations. He growled low in his throat when her hands twined into his hair. It was tied up behind him with a leather thong, however, there was still enough there for her to touch and feel. He could almost feel her breasts pressing to him. They were just far enough apart that they did not quite touch him, and he wished that weren’t true.

He made it true a moment later when he lifted his head, eyes meeting hers, before his mouth descended to claim hers. His hand tightened against her back pulling her until her curves pressed to him and he kissed her. There was no tongue, nothing so lewd in that moment, just a deep connection with simply his lips.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen closed her eyes, pausing only briefly in her movements to savour the feel of his hand on her cheek. Her actions grew in tempo. Her other hand reached up for his abdomen.

Cum for me Gabriel. Her eyes looked up at him, an almost predatory look in them. She desired to feel him fill her mouth as much as he desired to remember her like this.
------
Lillian was trying so hard to stay aware, stay present. She had to get out of here...She was failing. Her teeth dug into her lip harder as his mouth moved over her skin. Her breathing, so careful and controlled was becoming steadily erratic.

And then he kissed her. It wasn't the sort of sloppy making out kiss of a groupie in a back room. No, he kissed her firmly, his hands moving to pull her body against his. It spoke of the fact that he had no intention of letting her leave this room and for the moment his arms.

Her hands were still in his hair and they moved to his face. Lillian melted against him in an unexpected moment of vulnerability. This was not her. She was careful, calculated. Passionate yes but she was in danger. She never opened up around their kind. He had broken past her professional exterior.

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel took her questing hand into his. Completing the intimate connection to her. This wasn’t merely a blow job, merely oral sex, this was a connection between two lovers.

His breath caught in a gasp as his hips tensed. He was then there filling her mouth, peaking while his eyes drank up the look in hers. It was like a feedback loop; her pleasure fueled his own and vice versa. They Spiraled out of control as he cried out with his release.

-----


Nicholas honored her surrender with the care it deserved. He would not take such a genuine gift so lightly. He kissed her long, slow and deep. His hands were firm but gentle against her back and in her long chestnut hair. Her on hands, so soft cupped his cheeks as she gave in and kissed him back. Their heights were different enough that she had to look up, to press more fully against him to kiss him properly, he had to bend his head to her. However, the feel of her against him was electric. He did not know how to describe the feel of her in his arms. He never meant for the kiss to go on so long, yet drag on it did. When it broke it was to allow her to breathe, and he did not go far, their breaths mingling, just a brush from kissing her again.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen felt the strangest sensation as Gabriel came in her mouth. It was as if his orgasm pulled at her core and she was overwhelmed with feeling towards him. She needed him, wanted him..but not just in a sexual way. Oh, she certainly wanted that. But it was far stronger, far deeper and far more complex.

His blood was in her system but this time it felt different. Tonight, after everything that had gone down, after all the pull of her emotions everywhere and the psychic release...she was open and exposed. It hit her hard.

I love him. The impossibility of it. The sureness of it was shocking. She wondered if this was like what he meant when he spoke of how he knew she was meant for him.

Imogen swallowed every drop of him before pulling her mouth away and crawling up and into his arms. She pressed her face into his neck. Her naked body laid on his.
---------
Lillian wasn't entirely sure when the kiss was broken. Frankly, it was only when it was that she realized that she desperately needed to breathe. His face was so close to hers. Her hands remained on his face.

Her breasts were rising and falling steadily, pushing against him. She was unsure of herself, of the situation. Nicholas had left her unbalanced and that was not something she was, ever.

A fist pounded the door and broke the spell.

"Shit." Lillian whispered.

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel pulled Imogen into his arms. He stroked hands up and down her back. He pressed lips to her forehead. He couldn’t thank her enough for the intimacy. “Sleep little one, you’ve been through so much,” he ordered softly. He rubbed her back gently as he urged her to sleep.

-------

Nicholas held Lillian close. He had just dipped his head to kiss her again, wanting to get lost in that moment, in her again when there was a sharp knock at the door. His touch lingered on her for a moment before he pulled away.

Dark eyes took in Andrea as he opened the door. His gaze was just this side of frosty, combatting her heat. “Can I help you?” he asked, well aware that Lillian had pulled most of his hair out of it’s tie and he looked less than perfect. It did not seem to phase him though.

“Where’s the bitch,” Andrea snarled. Her eyes flashing with her power behind her mask.

“Why, she was well on her way to seducing me, isn’t that what you wanted?” Nicholas’s tone was calm a stark contrast to Andrea’s rage.

“Clearly failing,” she said with a smear as she looked him up and down, noting the fact that his clothes were still relatively put together.

Done with her shit, Nicholas reached out casually and caught Andrea by the throat with one hand, lifting her from the ground. “I don’t hold with the needless harming of humans. It violates the creed,” he said just as calmly, his grip anything but calm. “You realize that torture of a human is a capital offense.”

“you…. aren’t…a sentinel…anymore,” was Andrea’s response. Nicholas frowned as he slowly lowered her to the ground again. She unfortunately had a point.

“That’s technically true,” Nicholas said slowly, “But I think at the end of the day it will be my word against yours, and you’d be dead.”

Andrea pulled herself up to her full height and glared at Nicholas, “You cannot kill me without immunity,” she snarled. That’s about when Andrea stiffened suddenly as she felt a knife prick her back.
“Yes, but I can.” The voice was female, tired, and completely devoid of it’s usual peppy bounce off stage, or the sensual purr of onstage. Even so, it was a voice that Nicholas would know anywhere. He couldn’t see Ehlana behind Andrea. Andrea was far too tall for that, but the voice was a dead giveaway. Who Nicholas could see approaching, was Morgan. She had a knack of showing up at just the wrong moment. Had she waited another few moments Andrea could have already been dead. Ehlana wouldn’t need a lot of info from Nicholas to convict Andrea, especially if she already had a knife against her back.

 

[SandS13]

"I don't want to sleep." Imogen pouted a little. "I want to lay here with you and hear stories of your life. I want to feel your arm around me, your fingers on my back for a little longer. It has been a long day with much happening and I lacked you for a great deal of it..."

Her eyes sought his. "Do not make it so I am without you so quickly after all of that..."

She knew that when the woke Nicholas would want to talk to him. They had things to discuss and they would be hard and uncomfortable. She wanted this time, now with him.
----------
Lillian had stayed where Nicholas had left her. She was trying to compose herself. All the previous sexual energy in the room was gone now as Andrea's voice filled the space. She couldn't see her, Nicholas was blocking the door but she could hear everything.

Andrea was angry but the knife in her back was a clear warning not to do anything. She only knew of one female sentinel. There was only one. Fear actually crept up Andrea's spine.

Morgan's heels clicked on the floor as she approached. "So tell me, a sentinel comes into my place and now has my hunter at knifepoint?"

She took the scene in. She also picked up the smell of the human behind Nicholas.

"What are her crimes?"

Glances were exchanged between Nicholas and Ehlana. The knife pushed a little more firmly into Andrea's back.

"I needlessly harmed a human." Andrea spoke through clenched teeth. She used Nicholas' words in hopes of making this quick.

Morgan inhaled and crossed her arms. "Explain. Was this here? In my club? Was it one of my staff on top of being a human?"

The knife poked, a prompt to answer the question.

"It was my employee. One that is now in Nicholas room. She refused to do as I asked and I...I grabbed her by the neck. I imagine, since she is just human it hurt and maybe bruised her." Andrea was barely holding in her contempt. "It happened here, up in the club."

Morgan glared at Andrea. her hunter had put her in a very bad spot. Is she did nothing she would be weak. She already had Isabela to answer for with the brothers and that still wasn't as smoothed over as she would like. Then there was Imogen. She couldn't let this go.

"I see. You are banished. You are no longer allowed to be in my club, on my streets or in my city." Morgan's power radiated out. "I give you this punishment as I feel it is more fitting of your failure than death."

To most it sounded as if it was just this business with the human but Andrea knew. It was the failure with Byron and the failure to clean up the mess.

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel held her close. How could he argue with her? “I’m not going anywhere,” He whispered softly against the top of her head.

Gabriel suddenly stiffened, there was psychic energy that he could feel. He sat up abruptly as he tried to sort through the impressions he was getting. There was the cold controlled icy heat of Nicholas, the boiling rage of someone whose presence he didn’t know. The contemptuous irritation of Morgan and one other. He did not recognize it at first, the typical presence clouded by something dark something unlike her. “Ehlana,” Gabriel breathed. Why was he feeling her presence, why was she there? He was up and heading for his clothing, forgetting in his attempt to read everything that he had the power to clothe himself with a thought. He was visibly turning into a hunter, a detective right before Imogen’s eyes. "Please wait here little one, I will be back," Gabriel Requested, fully expecting her to obey his orders. Forgetting how new she was to their culture.

------


Nicholas thought it was a nice touch that rather than he having to speak the crimes Andrea had committed, after that one simple exchange of glances with him Ehlana did Ehlana things, and made Andrea confess her own crimes. Nicholas wasn’t sure exactly how she did it. She simply prodded Andrea with her knife, and the weasel spilled her guts. They all listened as Andrea confessed to Morgan. With every word, with each syllable and question Morgan uttered and Andrea responded Nicholas could feel the tight ball of fury that was Ehlana boiling.

Just before Morgan pronounced her sentence everyone that could watched Ehlana draw the knife back, clearly ready to carry out the swift ruthless justice of their people. However, she paused, knife hand cocked back as Morgan spoke. Ehlana frowned but finally nodded, accepting the judgment. She was not obligated to do so, but being so new to this situation she would let things slide, for now. She stepped around Andrea a bit, so that she could fully meet the gaze of Nicholas. Her sky-blue orbs meeting the dark eyes of Nicholas. There was much exchanged with that look. Nicholas took in the bruises, the dirt, something was wrong, but clearly this situation needed resolved before he could ask Ehlana about what had happened, how she was here and the others weren’t. Finally, after a long heartbeat Nicholas nodded his ascent and the knife in Ehlana’s hand vanished.

A pint sized hour glass Ehlana might be, but her grip was strong on Andrea’s wrist as the sentinel swung her around to face Morgan. “She is yours to dispose of, then,” was all Ehlana said shoving her towards Morgan. Her attention turned more fully to Morgan. “Save your political posturing, it doesn’t work on me. I am here for Nicholas, things have happened that he needs to know about, it will be up to him to determine how much he fills you in on.” Her words were a clear dismissal, she had given Morgan her duty, to dispose of Andrea and it was clear that she would not play the games that the rest had been playing for days now, the political waltz, the dance with death. It was also telling however that she said she was there for Nicholas, not to back up Gabriel the only official sentinel that was already in the building. Her words suggested something new had happened.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen was just getting comfortable when Gabriel sat up and then, without a word was dressed and gone. She sat there a moment realizing he had been different in his demeanour, he was after something now. She nodded and stayed in the bed.

The room was quiet and fear knotted in her stomach. Then she felt it...a brush in her mind. It was fear, then more...emotions and no words. No aggressive undertone and she did not think it was Dimitri calling her. Her heart raced. What if Gabriel was trying to call her? What if he was hurt? She remembered Diego and the way his mind had reached out, weak as his life was fading. All it had been was emotions. Imogen panicked.

Her first thought was Dimitri. Imogen scrambled out of the bed. She didn't feel him but that didn't mean he wasn't blocking her. She ran to the sitting room, dug out a pair of jeans and a shirt. She threw both on, forgoing a bra or underwear. She pulled on socks and her suede boots and took off out the door.

She headed to the stairs and ran up, heading the roof. She feared Dimitri was there, he had been trying to get her to go up there before. It wasn't until she had opened the door and stood in the air that her mind reached out for Gabriel. Where are you? I am on the roof? Where is he?

She looked around, hair moving in the wind. No one was up here.
--------
Morgan reined in her anger. She grabbed Andrea by the arm. "Very well." It was all she could manage.

She dragged Andrea and the two vanished.

"You brought this on yourself and there is nothing I can do now." Morgan pulled her to a door at the back of the building. "I suggest you find shelter before the sunrises. You have two hours to be out of my city. Mind yourself..there is a hunter far deadlier than you roaming the streets...." Morgan sneered and shoved Andrea out into the dark.

She slammed the door and then vanished. She appeared by Imogen on the roof. "It is dangerous for you out here. He is too close. Come..." She stroked Imogen's cheek and wrapped her arms about her.

Morgan contemplated what to do with this gift.
-------
Lilliian heard it all. Banishment. She didn't really understand the implications of that but the tone and tension in the air told her it was serious. She wondered if it meant that she could stay in the city....

She decided she would ask Nicholas for an explanation when he came back into the room. She was not prepared though when another followed him in.

Lillian remained quiet and still. She felt like a mouse who was trapped by a cat. She didn't know where to go or what to do. Taking a deep breath she tried to look composed.

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel arrived outside Nicholas’s room, just as he received Imogen’s message. He immediately flashed with rage. You foolish woman, Gabriel couldn’t hide his irritation his fear for her. Why wouldn’t you have stayed in the room like I asked. It is not safe for you; stay there I am on my way. With that sending Gabriel was off. He wished he knew what was going on with Nicholas, but he couldn’t leave his mate alone on the roof, where Dimitri could snatch her.

Gabriel took off towards the roof, turning into mist to move faster. When he arrived there, he saw the roof was empty. He reached out for Imogen, but felt his link to her break. What had happened. His mental shout was full of pain. His emotion was clouding his judgment, making him unable to track to find her. He took deep breaths trying to get ahold of himself. So much was happening at a prestigious rate.

-----

Nicholas stepped back letting Ehlana into the room after him. Once out of the eye of Andrea and Morgan, the redhead fell into Nicholas’s arms. He caught her against his chest. It was not like Ehlana to break down like that. “sssshhhhh,” he whispered stroking her hair. “What has happened.”

At first it looked like Ehlana held him like a lover, but as it became obvious that she was crying, weeping into his chest, it was suddenly less clear. “Darian,” she wept. She had held herself together while confronting Andrea, while backing up Nicholas. Now that the immediate danger had passed and she felt safe in Nicholas’s arms, the emotions came out. The pain rolled off her in psychic waves. “Dimitri,”

By the time she got to the second word Nicholas’s face had gone white. His eyes met Lillian’s over the shorter woman’s head. It wasn’t that he sought her out, it was just an accident and the horror showed clearly on his face. “Are they dead?” Nicholas asked finally, his tone a bit shaken. It was clear that Ehlana’s response had shaken him up. She was not normally like that.

“No, not dead, not yet. Hurt. So much blood. He sent me for help.” Nicholas stroked her back softly.

“He did the right thing. How far from here are they? What happened?” He realized the ridiculousness of that second question.

“You need to come. Bring anyone who can help. Vampire, human. We will need healers, someone to watch over us during the daytime, they can’t be moved far.” As she spoke Nicholas looked at Lillian. He had just met her, but he knew she had a good head on her shoulders, would she help?

 

[SandS13]

Imogen frowned as Morgan appeared beside her. "I don't understand. I felt.."

Gabriel's words flashed in her mind. She was about to answer him, her confusion ripe in her mind when the world went black.

Morgan lifted the unconscious woman. She couldn't give her to Dimitri, not yet...though she contemplated it as she made her way into her private quarters. No, not yet. Imogen was a bargaining chip.

She laid her down in a box. It was a special crypt that Morgan had secretly built in case she was ever gravely injured or needed to hide away from a time. She reached into Imogen's mind and pushed it down. It wouldn't do to have her waking up and calling for Gabriel. No, Morgan needed time to think, time to plan.

She locked the crypt and headed to her office. She had details to take care of quickly. Exit strategies to check in on, assets and the like. Once this started there would be no going back.
------
Lillian felt like a voyeur as the woman entered the room and fell into Nicholas' arms. The way he stroked her hair showed a long relationship between them and for a moment, Lillian considered just leaving.

Then the words dead, hurt hit her ears and she looked at them.

Her eyes locked on Nicholas'. "I can help. You helped me. I can watch over people." She had no idea what she was really agreeing to but it didn't matter. He had healed her bruises, had along with this woman taken care of Andrea. She would repay the favour.

 

[The_gladiator]

Nicholas listened to Lillian’s offer. He simply gave a nod. Ehlana pulled away from his chest. She turned to face Lillian. “I am sorry. I should have introduced myself.” She made no apologies for her tears, or for clinging to Nicholas, just that she had failed to acknowledge Lillian.

“Lillian,” Nicholas said, “This is Ehlana, sentinel and lead singer of the Travelers.”

Ehlana seemed willing to be polite to a point. She took Lillian’s hand and shook it daintily. However, introduction out of the way she turned back to Nicholas, “We have to move. Darian,” here her voice hitched a bit. A flash of something came into her face, was its jealousy, “Fernando’s Selina is with him.” Nicholas knew what that meant. It could not be easy on Ehlana to trust Darian’s care to a stranger.

“Let us go, then,” he said and swept his arm around Lillian as he passed her on the way to the door.

“Gabriel is here, isn’t he?” Ehlana asked as she moved with them towards the door.

“Yes, he is,”

“I’ll call him in.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea…” but it was too late, her call went out on the common psychic pathway, not even her private link to Gabriel. It was a call to arms, a cry for help. There were no words, it was the psychic equivalent of a mayday.

-----

Gabriel was just about calmed down, and was looking for clues as to what could have happened to Imogen, when he received the call. It was a psychic mayday. He recognized Ehlana’s touch in it. He also understood the reality of the situation. Yes, he wanted to find out what happened to his partner, to his new love. However, he could not ignore such a call, honor dictated. It also meant that people’s lives were at stake. Gabriel descended the steps quickly. He reached out for Morgan. Someone has taken Imogen. I suspect it was Dimitri, please if she returns, reach out to me. He didn’t need to explain why he wasn’t continuing to find Imogen himself. Morgan would have felt Ehlana’s psychic call. She was not honor bound to come at the call, but she was old enough to know what it meant…trouble.

------

High above, floating in the night sky, Dimitri felt the psychic call. So, the little one had finally advertised for help. He had watched her flight from the scene of the carnage he and his people had left of their traveling band, he had let her go, figuring she would lure others out of the safety that Morgan’s lands offered them. He had waited and watched, hoping for a chance to capture his starlight, after he had lured her out of her protection. However, that Bitch Morgan had done something to her and carried her back inside. She knew that Imogen was his, why would she have taken his prize from him. He needed to find someone else, needed to find a victim, find someone who would know Morgan, someone with information.

 

[SandS13]

"Nice to meet you Ehlana." She shook the offered hand. Lillian watched the way they interacted. She didn't know who all the players were in this story but it was likely safer for her to not know.

Before she realized what was going on Nicholas was moving her out the door, his arm around her. She didn't fight it, didn't comment. She went and hoped she wasn't doing something stupid by helping them. So far though she had decided that if there was such a thing as a 'good' or 'bad' side of vampires, Nicholas was team good and Morgan was team bad.
------
Yes, I sensed him. I am working on sending people out to find them. I am ordering caution I do not want them to engage him. Go, do your duty sentinel. I will find her.

None of it was a lie. She had sent three of the pack out to see if they could find Imogen's scent. She had found her after all so Morgan didn't feel bad at all.

Calls were coming in, texts, notes...all due to the little energy quake from earlier. Every vampire, lycanthrope and creature that lived in the darker side of life was reaching out to her. They knew her place was the centre and it was her city so they had to come to her. It had been a very, very long time since any had witnessed such a display and they wanted answers. Who, what, why and for what purpose...

Morgan tapped the desk. She held the key to everything but needed to play this just right. With luck she could send Gabriel at Dimitri and they were kill each other. She could then send the sentinels, the brothers away. If she could get them to believe she was dead, perhaps by Andrea's hand.

Ah the hunter, maybe she was a perfect scapegoat. A turncoat who went to Dimitri and in an effort to protect Imogen he sent her with Andrea. She could then hunt her down and have her killed, justifiably. A neat ending...

She sighed there was still too much to work out and she had time. Imogen's mind was suppressed enough that Gabriel wouldn't sense her and unless he was in her room he wouldn't smell her. Time was on her side at the moment.
-----
Andrea had started out on a brisk walk that turned into a run. She didn't have a lot of time to get out of the city and she had already smelt a few of Morgan's pack in the streets. She didn't know what they were looking for or who but she wasn't about to wait around to find out if it was her.

She wasn't expecting him. He stepped out of the shadows in front of her and she swore under her breath. She should have sensed him, the power or smelt him but she was too concerned with fleeing that she hadn't. She hadn't even thought to change into mist to move faster.

Andrea did now though. She sensed he was old, powerful and she was fucked if he got near her.

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel had just fallen in beside Nicholas, Ehlana and Lillian, when they all stiffened in unison. It was almost like a psychic echo of the call Ehlana had put out. “Darian,” Ehlana said aloud, though Gabriel and Nicholas were thinking the same thing. He had sent Ehlana for help, but as dawn approached his situation was growing more desperate and he had put out the mental call.

Byron and Mel came running up next, with other band members and Fernando and Esteban. “Where’s Imogen,” Esteban asked Gabriel.

“Gone, someone took her, I think it was Dimitri.”

“Antonio and Juan-Pablo will stay here to protect Diego and they will help Morgan find her; we promise.”

“What about you?” Gabriel asked.

“Just you try to stop me from going to Selina,” Fernando said sharply. Gabriel nodded.

Let’s move!” Nicholas barked. And everyone listened to him. Though no longer a sentinel, everyone present that was or had been a sentinel had served under him for too long to not instantly obey.

“Trust me,” Nicholas said as he put his arms around Lillian. Byron was already doing the same to Melany. Mel was no stranger to this and wrapped her arms around Byron and closed her eyes. “I won’t let you fall,” Nicholas told her before he lifted from the ground. Gabriel and some of the others turned into Mist, they would fly around the pair with the two humans.

----

Dimitri was ready for Andrea to turn to mist. He threw himself into the air after streaking after her also in the droplet form. He trusted that he could follow her, that his power to hold this form would exceed hers. He was patient, the hunter.

------

“Don’t you fucking die on me,” Selina swore as she worked on Darian. He had over extended himself, trying desperately to save the others, he had fought to heal them all even injured. Selina worried that this had all been her fault. They Travelers were escorting her, protecting her. Now Darian was Dying. Ehlana was Gone, sent away to get help. Selina’s head hurt from being so close to Darian’s psychic mayday. She was a sensitive empath and the level of pain in that call was staggering. Selina was scared the call would bring back Dimitri and his followers. Were they just merely lose ends? She did not dare donate anymore blood to Darian. She felt the pangs of hunger in herself. She felt the brush of Fernando in her mind. She had tried to keep him out. She couldn’t handle him getting killed either. They needed help. She reached out, trying to find someone. She found Fernando as she knew she would, she felt Esteban, and thought she felt others. They were coming, would they get there in time? “Don’t you fucking dye on me,” She repeated desperation filling her tone. She was no healer, but she began to sing the healing song. The cadence rolling off her tone, her rich contralto filling the air. The few remaining members of her household gathered around, joining her in the song.

Carrying Lillian, Nicholas began to sing. Picking up Selina’s song. Only an arm’s length away Byron joined him, the tenor to Nicholas’s baritone. Others began to materialize again around Nicholas and Byron, voices joining as they did, Gabriel, Ehlana, Fernando, Esteban, and even Axle and Jared, though some of the voices like Nicholas, Byron and Ehlana were clearly trained and gifted singers, the power swelled with the addition of the others. Even as the wind whipped around them Mel opened her eyes looking over to Lillian. “They sing the healing song,” she called hoping the other woman could hear her, “One of their brothers is severely injured.” Not sharing the link with Byron that a true mate might, but merely a human servant, Melany did not realize that it was Darian they sang for.

 

[SandS13]

Lillian inhaled and nodded as Nicholas told her to trust him. She didn't know why she did...well she knew she could in some ways, he had healed her but now, such a blanket statement and she had no cause to fully trust him. She had no clue what she was going into but she knew she needed to repay him.

"Fall?"

Her feet were no longer on the ground. Lillian felt herself start to panic. Her arms wrapped around Nicholas' neck tightly. She said nothing for fear of breaking whatever concentration it took to fly.

She was flying. Lillian looked around, fascinated. She was scared shitless but she was also incredibly intrigued.

When he started to sing Lillian could feel the vibrations in her body from his chest. "Yes, Ehlana said that. They sing to heal?" She called back but wasn't sure she could be heard.
-----
Antonio walked into Morgan's office, much to her annoyance.

"And what do I owe the pleasure?" The woman looked up from her work.
-------
Andrea landed on a roof and took off at a run. She hoped to hell that whoever that ancient vampire was that he was gone and she was not who he was looking for. She was about to learn just how wrong she was.

 

[The_gladiator]

It is a part of the process. Nicholas’s words brushed against Lillian’s mind even as aloud he continued the reframe of the verse. They were descending now.

They landed in a circle around the survivors. Selina knelt over the supine form of Darian. Her raven hair was disheveled and her eyes were red with bloody tear tracks coming from them. “He defended me, he tried to save us all,” She babbled as She saw the others. Fernando caught her to his chest, both to comfort her and to move her aside.

Nicholas set Lillian down making sure she was steady before he fell to his knees beside Darian. Gabriel fell to his knees on the other side. They were the greatest healers present. Ehlana took Selina’s place at Darian’s head, lifting it gently into her lap. All three of them seemed to be seeking outside themselves.

It took Nicholas only a few seconds to strip away Darian’s illusions, and show his true wounds. They were ugly. They all had seen worse, but not typically from someone who had then went and continued fighting and healing others. “Your brave fool,” Nicholas murmured.”

As he worked on Darian, Gabriel’s mind reached out for Imogen. He needed her stability, her connection, her empathy. He wished he could reach her. He couldn’t devote his energy to finding her, but he did reach out along their pathway, just as their song called out on the psychic common pathway.

-------

Dimitri was aware of the healing song. He was aware of the sentinel he had badly injured. That one had not been easy to hurt. He had left him alive though. He had to catch this one, to get clues about where Morgan was, what she was up to, what she had done to his starlight. He was patient. Eventually she made a mistake.

Andrea materialized on the roof and Dimitri knew she didn’t have the energy to shift anymore this night. She was trying to go to ground. With only hours until dawn, he didn’t have much time. He had enough time though to make her suffer.

An iron grip locked around Andrea’s wrist, twisting her arm up behind her. Dimitri pulled her against him, her back to his front. He caught her hair in his other hand struck at her neck, drinking. Each gulp weakened her, and replenished his strength. As he drank, he used the link to force into her mind. Who are you, what can you tell me? Dimitri knew she would be useful to him, he just didn’t know how, yet.

------

“You want to tell me what’s going on?” Antonio asked. He didn’t know what Morgan’s angle was, but thought something was going on Morgan seemed too busy for simple business, and she had made no move to go with Nicholas and the others. What could be more important than saving lives?

 

[SandS13]

Lillian's eyes looked around. Nicholas' voice was in her head. It made her feel strange to know he could talk to her like that. They didn't have that sort of connection. She thought only feeding on her would have given him that ability. She found herself wondering what else about vampires and him she was misinformed about. Maybe Andrea had done it on purpose, kept her in the dark on all the true details about vampires.

Now was not the time though. Nicholas put her down and once she was steady moved away. Lillian stood back. She wanted to be out of the way. She wasn't sure what they would need her for but she was willing to do whatever it was.

They were so caring. Lillian watched them focus on the fallen man.
------
Andrea cried out. There was no fighting him off. There was no stopping the flood of thoughts either. He was stronger, older.

Her thoughts told him everything...everything. She tried to fight, tried to mentally push out.

He saw her whole life right up to the moment Morgan shoved her out the door. He saw every deal, every bit of torture, every lover, every death. He saw her fighting the lions, trying to seduce Byron and choking Lillian. Her life was an open book.
-----
Morgan looked up. "I am dealing with the shit storm that little girl caused when Gabriel fucked her brains out on my manager's desk. Everyone knows it came from here. She caused a ripple out that went out of state...out of state. Do you understand how much power that is? And now every coven, pack and person with any power is coming to me to find out what it is that did that."

She cocked her head. "Now...why are you here and not with the sentinels? Why aren't you sitting with your injured brother or out searching for your little sister, who I am certain in Dimitri's plaything now...." Only the last statement was a lie. Everything else she said had been the truth. "Why aren't you out there?"

 

[The_gladiator]

Melany came to Lillian. “Most these people are extremely shaken up. We need to see what we can do to calm them down. Many are household members to the lady Selina,” Melany pointed out the raven-haired beauty, being rocked gently by a grim-faced Fernando. “Darian,” Mel gestured to the fallen man, “And Ehlana,” Pointing to the small woman cradling Darian’s head, “Were escorting her to her life partner,” indicating Fernando “And his family,” gesturing to Esteban who looked to be splinting a fallen woman’s leg. Mel wondered where the rest of the travelers were, but soon had her answer as a sobbing Selina told Fernando of how the other band members were in the ground, right here. Darian had done what he could for them and put them in the ground. This, then was why the party wasn’t moving from here. Why they were in danger. Melany’s expression darkened the more she heard.

“Can you look around, tell me if there are rooms in the farm house or barn with no windows, places the vampires could be safe?” Mel asked Lillian. They were on the very outskirts of a farm, there was the homestead in the distance. It was honestly a wonder that the owners hadn’t come to investigate what was happening on their property. Mel was good at determining talents and sensed Lillian was good with people. “Please don’t go alone. Pick one of these shellshocked people here, give them something to do by going with you.” She ordered before she turned away.

Nicholas and Gabriel worked in unison to heal Darian Ehlana was there with them as well, though she formed the link, held Darian’s spirit to them. It was not a dissimilar role to what Imogen had done during the healing of Diego. “Put him to sleep,” Ehlana ordered Nicholas. “Otherwise he won’t rest.”

“Soon,” Nicholas said, Gabriel echoing him a heartbeat later. The healing song grew, as others joined in the song. As with the healing of Diego, others joined from a distance. Gabriel was startled at the power of some of the voices. Had other sentinel’s heard Ehlana’s call? There were more ancients that he could feel around them than he expected. He really couldn’t look into that right now. He again wished his Imogen was with him. She had been such a power.

It was Gabriel who lost stamina first and staggered away from Darian’s body. Hands caught him strong arms. A wrist was before him. He could smell the strength in Byron’s blood, as he accepted the gift willingly. He took no more than he dared before he returned to working on Darian. His mind again reached out, reaching for his fallen companion, for Imogen, just seeking to make a difference.

Nicholas finally returned to his own body and staggered as he stumbled away from Darian’s body. Esteban was there for him, offering him blood. When he returned to Darian Ehlana spoke, “That is all we can do for him now. He needs to drink and sleep.” Before Nicholas or Gabriel could stop her, she had slashed her own wrist and held it to Darian’s mouth.

“Damned fool,” Gabriel muttered, “She doesn’t have the strength to spare,” He unnecessarily told Nicholas.

Her eyes, green fire met his, “I’d like to see you stop me from feeding him, from laying down my life for him.” Gabriel looked like he wanted to argue, but he knew that was her right, her honor. He simply nodded and then watched as Ehlana fed him until the color drained from her face. Their eyes locked with one another, a contest of wills, Gabriel telling her to stop, Ehlana returning that no she would not.

Finally, it was Nicholas who broke that standoff. He Jerked Ehlana’s wrist away from Darian’s mouth. His tongue sweeping over the wound. His eyes were cold, hard. “He would never forgive me if you died to save his sorry ass.” Was what he said, and somehow that smoothed the tension. They all knew Darian would do unspeakable things to whoever allowed harm to come to Ehlana. Finally, Ehlana nodded and twisted her wrist from Nicholas’s grip. Her fingertips stroking back Darian’s hair. His color was already better. Nicholas gave the command for Darian to sleep, and Gabriel opened the ground.

“We will sleep over he and the others this day.” Gabriel assured Ehlana. She only nodded, slowly getting to her feet, wobbling from her own blood loss. Nicholas caught her against his chest.

“We will protect him, he’ll be ok.” Nicholas murmured to her. As he spoke, he held her to him and tilted his neck, “You are in need,” Before he could finish Ehlana struck. It wasn’t gentle and Nicholas winced. She was partially just that hungry, partially punishing him for not allowing her to give more of herself to Darian.

-------


Dimitri saw it all. He shuttered at some of the things he was learning from her mind. Dimitri was ruthless in achieving his ends, but he still saw himself as a good person. This Andrea was not a good person. He twisted her arm harder, “You are scum,” He snarled in her ear, “What would Morgan have done with My starlight. “He demanded.

------

Antonio lifted a brow as Morgan spoke. Some of that information he had not known, “Right on the manager’s desk? “He asked curiously. He listened to Morgan’s questions roll on, her rant continue. “You lie,” he snapped all of a sudden. He could sense it. His eyes bore into hers, brown fury meeting green eyes. “You do not believe that Dimitri has Imogen. Tell me why would that be?” he stabbed a finger at her, “You have her, don’t you.” He said his mind working through clues conjectures and spitting out something to put Morgan off her guard, so he could judge by her reaction if he was wildly off base or on track.

 

[SandS13]

Lillian didn’t know who this other human was in relation to the vampires but she seemed to have a good head on her shoulders. She was filled in on who they were. Lillian made careful mental note. It was part of what she was good at. Information in and locked for later. Lillian drew mental lines to connect people as Melany pointed them out. Some were family, some band. All worked together.

Her eyes cast down to the ground as she heard it said that some were put in the ground. Melany’s voice drew her attention back up. She nodded. “Of course.”

Lillian went to one of the band members, Axle. She had noted him not just now but before when they had been playing. He agreed to go with her and they walked off towards the farmstead.
-----
Andrea was weak. He had taken a lot from her. “Who?” She hissed at him. She knew she shouldn’t provoke him but frankly she was so angry and terrified that she didn’t care anymore. If he let her go there was no way she was getting out of this city before Morgan’s time limit was up and that was going to mean her death.

No matter how she saw it she was fucked.

“You mean the woman Gabriel is fucking?” She tried to laugh. “If Morgan has her then she could be anywhere. Her city after all right? Safe houses, transports all over the place. Hell, she could be on her way out of state.”

Andrea could feel herself weakening more by the second. “She will have her locked away. She is making a play, trying to get the sentinels and the other one, Nicholas on her side. I don’t know what her plan is but if this woman is so important then Morgan will keep her close.”

She didn’t owe Morgan anything anymore. Her best bet now was to get herself in good with him and hope it got her something.
-------
Morgan actually flinched at Antonio’s sudden exclamation. She frowned. Her eyes narrowed. She licked her lips and carefully considered the man.

You have her, don’t you.

Her eyes widened. Just the smallest bit, the briefest hint that he had struck true.

Morgan leaned back in her chair. “If I did, that would be very bad for me. She is bonded to Gabriel, a sentinel no less. If I did, perhaps it is for her protection. Perhaps it is because Gabriel can focus on Dimitri. If I had her, of course.”

She didn’t know how he had figured it out. Had she given it away somehow? She took a slow, deep breath in and she realized she smelled of the woman. Not a lot but a vampire's keen senses missed very little. Was that it? Had that given her away?
------
Something was making it hard to think. It was dark and she struggled to remember.

Where was she?

Her heart raced.

Who was she?

Her mind rebelled. She clawed at it, the weight in her mind. Panic, fear…

Then a song. But where was it coming from?

She turned her head as if searching for it.

And then the brush of someone...someone seeking...she knew the caress of it...she didn’t know how she knew but it was so familiar and she craved it...it was safe...it was…

Help me….Help me… She focused on that single brush, that voice that sought someone under the song. It was so weak but reached out anyway.
------
Lillian and Axle returned, overhearing Gabriel state that they would sleep over Darian and the others. Her eyes pulled away as Ehlana fed on Nicholas. It was savage in a way. Lillian swallowed and turned to Melany.

“I have secured space in the barn. Dark, no sunlight and the farmers will not trouble you. I- I have no weapon and I think it comes down to you and I to watch over them.” She looked apologetic. “At least until Jacob’s group arrives.” Again, she gave Melany an apologetic look. “I don’t know who that is but I am told by Axle that they will come and stand guard. The farmers have agreed to let us remain for however long it takes.”

Axle came over to Nicholas and Gabriel when Ehlana had finished. “She...I don’t know how she did it but the farmers are letting us stay. I will take everyone to the barn..” He shoved some blankets into Nicholas’ hands. “For her. She is staying out here to watch over you.”

Axle shook his head a little. “She should negotiate all your business contracts. Seriously.”

He moved to start leading people to the barn.

Lillian turned to look at Nicholas before cautiously approaching. “I will take those. They were supposed to be for me. Unless...unless you need them for..” She looked at the ground. She was uncustomarily tongue tied. “I am going to go over there and well...watch. Axle said you had others coming. I was a little worried about trying to watch over two groups.” She reached out for the blankets.

 

[The_gladiator]

Dimitri wrenched her arm harder as Andrea mouthed off. He was a mere fraction from breaking her arm. He wanted to hear it pop, just to make her suffer. However, then she wouldn’t talk, she would scream. That would come in time. He listened to her words, they made sense and he glared at her back. “Locked away where. Do you know her hiding places these safe houses you mentioned,” Dimitri asked, in a tone that suggested she might be wise to have the answer? A tone that promised bad things if she didn’t have answers.

-----

Antonio’s eyes, brown fire boar into Morgan. He missed nothing in that moment, he saw her hesitation her tells. He was definitely onto something. “I think if you had her, you had best make sure that Dimitri doesn’t get his hands on her. That really would go badly for you.” Antonio actually liked the thought of having one up on the Sentinels and he didn’t seem to feel the attachment to Imogen that his brothers did. “Now that I have found you out, what is your plan?” he asked conspiratorially.

------

As Gabriel was done healing Darian and while Ehlana fed from Nicholas Gabriel sunk back into the search for Imogen. He now sent his entire essence into the call. He felt it then, the merest brush of something in return. She lived at least. He felt relief sweep through him, to know at least she was not dead was more valuable than any gold or gems. Little one, are you ok? He sent back, hoping it was true.

------

Melany listened to Lillian’s report. “Good work,” She nodded, “Axle isn’t wrong, someone has to have put a call out to Jake’s lair. If he’s smart, he’ll come in force.” Mel knew she would stay close to wherever Byron rested. She guessed she would leave the group at the barn, but that only left household staff of Selina’s to stay with Lillian until Louis’s people showed up.

Nicholas stumbled a little when Ehlana finished. The fiery woman had walked off when done. She had respectfully closed the wound on his neck, but it was clear she wasn’t happy with Nicholas or Gabriel, but it was really a deflection for how worried she was about Darian. Even as he kept his eyes on her Nicholas listened to Axle’s report. He accepted the blankets wordlessly and simply nodded his consent to Axle’s word that he would lead the others to the barn.

Byron and Esteban helped him as they began to shepherd folks towards the barn. Fernando and Selina hung back for a moment before Gabriel waved them off, they would be fine he assured them in low tones.

Finally, it was only Nicholas, Gabriel and Ehlana left at the edge of the treeline where they stood with Lillian. “Thank you for helping my people,” Nicholas said softly as he placed the blankets in her arms. “These are for you. I will not need them where I will sleep this day.” He sounded resigned to the thought. Though the ground was healing to their kind, unless someone helped to put you to sleep, it was an unpleasant sensation of being buried alive, something that could be psychically damaging.

Gabriel approached Ehlana, Nicholas would have been better to say this to her but he was who was free. “You need to sleep in the barn, you are a true warrior, they need you there just encase.”

She rounded on him; Small hands slammed to his chest with open palmed rage. “I will not be that far from him. I sleep with the two of you. It is not just Darian, it’s the others too…so much pain….” And here she broke down. Gabriel had lost that fleeting contact with Imogen, but he kept his mind open to her just encase she could reach out again. This meant that he didn’t shield well enough from Ehlana and her pain beat at him, her feeling of failure. The others were so hurt and other than extreme blood loss, her wounds were quite minor.

Gabriel trapped her hands against his chest so she couldn’t beat at him anymore. His eyes going starry with his power as he sought to mesmerize Ehlana, to relax her. He wished she would give in, but that wasn’t her way.

 

[SandS13]

“I know a lot of them. I can’t take you...I need to get out of the city. If I get caught I am dead.” Andrea struggled a little, trying to ease the discomfort in her shoulder and arm. “I can tell you but I can’t take you. And if she isn’t there, Morgan has places within the club...deep in the basement, a whole compound under there…”

Her arm hurt. It was going to break, she could feel it.

“Where she is depends on just how important she is..” Andrea tried to glare back but between the pain and the power that radiated off of him she really just looked insolent. “I will show you but you have to do something for me.”

He was powerful and he might be her only protection from Morgan. She hoped for staying alive might be to team up with him. She also wouldn’t mind seeing Morgan knocked down a peg or two...maybe on her knees begging for her life.
------
Morgan’s face was unreadable as Antonio spoke about Dimitri. “If I had her then I might worry more.” Her tone was flat. She didn’t need him reminding her of the potential consequences. She was well aware and far more experienced in such matters than he was. She had been weaving plans, tying threads together and getting her way for longer than most had been alive.

A nail traced the grain of the wood in her desk. The pattern reminded her of water in a stream moving over rocks, washing them smooth. Polished. That was how she liked things. Neat, tidy...right now nothing about this were as she liked them. She was endeavouring to change that.

“My plan? Telling you would automatically no longer make it my plan would it not?”

Her eyes moved over Antonio. She knew he was not like his brothers. He hadn’t embraced Imogen as family, in fact she felt he resented the woman’s existence. She licked her lips.

“Gabriel will go after Dimitri to retrieve her. They will fight and with any luck Dimitri will kill Gabriel and Nicholas, the sentinels and your brothers will kill Dimitri. Then, we will ‘find’ Imogen. She will have no others to turn to. I have protected her from her infancy. I recognized her power...and it is quite extraordinary. More than even I realized. She will be mine to protect, to...control.” A hint of a smile. “I will have no blood on my hands and be nothing but protective guardian to the most powerful female our kind has ever seen. Think of those who would seek to lay with her, the alliances and power.”

Morgan leaned forward. “You are a smart man. We would make a powerful team. As her blood, you could work with me to see her...protected.”

She stood and moved around the desk to where he sat. Morgan leaned against it. She radiated power and lust. Both things she knew appealed to him. “I do not partner with many but like recognizes like…”
-------
Little one…

She pressed her hands forward. They met something hard and cold.

Little one...she knew that...it made her heart skip a beat…

That voice that caressed her, that barest hint of it like breath on the back of the neck...and then gone. She let out a sob.

Help me...please…

A general call. She couldn’t feel the voice anymore but there were others. Strange tendrils and wisps of voices she thought she knew.

My starlight...I hear you.

Faint, dark, caressing the edge of her mind but not like the other. This was tinted with something intense.

Go to sleep, flower.

A woman’s voice and it pushed her back down, drowning her in darkness.

No! No! Please!

It swallowed her.
---------
Around them the other’s were leaving, heading to the barn to rest. Lillian glanced at them as they slowly walked away. She could see the weariness in their posture as they moved. She was just glad she could do a little to help.

Gabriel seemed to have his hands full, literally with Ehlana who was taking her emotions out on him. Lillian felt like a voyeur and turned back to look at Nicholas.

She took the blankets. “I wanted to repay you, for the bruises, for Andrea but also whatever went down seems to have been an attack and I don’t do well with people being attacked.” A hint of anger, unspoken and unexplained.

“I will be there.” She pointed to a nearby tree. Resting but not really. If that makes sense. Axle said you need something to make sure you are not disturbed while you rest, while the others heal. I am not a fighter but I can scream and run.” Lillian straightened up a little, feeling awkward. “I admire what you did here for him. I don’t understand it but I don’t need to to know the emotion behind it.” She bowed her head to him a little. “Rest well, Nicholas.”

Lillian turned and walked towards the tree.