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

[SandS13]

Imogen had no idea what was going on. Gabriel held her so tightly it was as if he feared she would be ripped away out of his arms. This only heightened her fear.

She stiffened as one of the brothers called her a whore.

Then, things were moving too quickly. The sound of the smack, the shuffling of feet. The energy in the room was almost enough to bring Imogen to her knees. There was no blocking it out. It was too intense, too overbearing.

Morgan inhaled. "Enough of this male bravado." She sneered. "Give her here Gabriel." She held her hand out expecting Gabriel to release Imogen. "Now sentinel, she is my property and not yours. You had your guest right. Do not make me lock her away."

She waited a breath before reaching out and yanking Imogen away. Gabriel's grip had been tight. Imogen felt like a rope being pulled, about to break.

Morgan turned Imogen to face the brothers. She pulled the woman's hair away from her face. "Our Imogen here is very special. She is what the killer has be trying to find, why he killed Isabela hoping to learn from her what he could. I do not know who it is or why yet but that is why I have the sentinel."

She caressed Imogen's neck. "Imogen is psychic though her abilities have been kept suppressed. She is a descendant of Catarina's line. She is as powerful as her ancestor if we allow the abilities to be woken fully."

Morgan looked at the brother's. "Do you see it? In her face? Do you see the resemblance to your sister? Can you smell it in her blood?" Morgan leaned in running her nose along Imogen's neck.

"Gabriel knows she is the key but she is so much more." Morgan smiled. She licked her lips. " She is what will draw your sister's killer out. She is able to bear children once turned. She is of a strong blood line." She nodded to the brothers.

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel did not want to let her go, but reluctantly did so, so that Imogen wasn’t hurt. He let his fingers trail over her skin until she was too far away.

He watched Morgan’s show. She in fact confirmed what he had already guessed. He was appalled though to learn of Morgan’s plan to use her as bate for the killer.

The brothers looked at her. “The whore should die,” Antonio snarled, assuming wrongly that she was some sort of half breed born of Gabriella the daughter of Katarina and Dimitri.”

“No, brother.” Fernando spoke. As someone who had shared a womb with Isabela, as the fraternal triplet to he and Diego’s identical twins he could see it. “She is pure human, her face looks just like Isabela’s,” he breathed.

“Descended of her children before she turned.” Diego questioned. Fernando shrugged but seemed to agree with his brother’s guess.

Esteban cleared his throat. “A more important question is just how did you determine who we were,” he asked, a calm head in the storm. “We spent a long time in hiding, how did you track our family to Catarina?” His eyes bore into Morgan. Antonio also looked to Morgan. Their identity was one of the most closely held secrets they had and Morgan had just spilled it, to a sentinel no less.

Gabriel wanted to confront Morgan about using Imogen as bate, but he fell silent as he suddenly was shocked to learn of the Angeles brother’s true identity. He had heard the legends of Catarina and Dimitri and the battle with the humans. As he recalled 6 had survived that long-ago war. It fit, six Angeles Siblings.

“My brother asked you a question,” Juan-Pablo’s voice was low, threatening and he was pressing a knife to the base of Morgan’s spine.

 

[SandS13]

Morgan was not shaken up by the knife at her back. She ran a finger down Imogen's neck. "The sentinel isn't the only one who seeks out knowledge and can piece things together. Let's work backwards, shall we?"

She looked around the room. "Isbela was killed for information. As were the others, others both human and vampire alike who knew something. That something connected them all together. I have know of a killer in our midst for a long time but could never prove anything. Murders around the world, seemingly unconnected and yet...always a thin red thread tied them together."

She stroked Imogen like one would a cat. "I have been watching her since she was very young. I protected her even when she did not know. I could smell it on her, her mother too before her throat was ripped out. Her grandfather before that and so on...I traced the line. Which brings me back to the present. When Isabela was here under my protection I smelt it in her too. I put the pieces together. It does not take a genius, just one willing to have patience."

Imogen was trembling. She had no idea what was going on. Attention seemed to be on Morgan now and she found her knees growing weaker. Powers, suppressed, bloodline, Catarina, throats ripped out...

It was all too much. She closed her eyes and clenched her fists. She was trying not to scream not to lash out. She was nothing compared to them.

The room was rocked with a wave of psychic energy.

Morgan gasped and on reflex let Imogen go. Imogen fell to her knees. Her dress was a circle around her as if she had knelt in a pool of freshly spilled blood.

 

[The_gladiator]

The brothers listened to the story. “So, you’re trying to say my pureblooded sister died to get to this whore?” Antonio snarled. Gabriel clenched his fist wanting to strike him again for calling her that. “Why would a killer kill one fertile female to get at the potential of another,” Antonio asked sounding confused.

“Catarina born again,” Gabriel whispered into the silence after the psychic wave freed Imogen from Morgan’s clutches. He suddenly knew who would have to be the killer. Could it be. Was he still alive? He thought he was dead.

He moved forward to Imogen. “Without being converted she has no defense against all of our power,” he said and shouldered Morgan aside. “Are you alright Little one?” he asked softly.

Juan-Pablo stood knife forgotten after the psychic blast. Antonio and Esteban still stared at Morgan. The twins stared at Imogen as if seeing a ghost. They had been the closest to Isabela.

 

[SandS13]

It felt as if all the air had been sucked from her body. She didn't know what had happened. Her head was pounding.

Morgan was staring down at Imogen and Gabriel. "If that is the truth than there is only one person who could be the killer." Her voice was soft. "She is our best chance at drawing him out. He is already going to be circling, looking for her. There is no telling who he will kill next. I wish to auction her off. As one who can be changed and bear children she will bring in a lot of interest and it will draw him to us." Morgan leaned against the table.

Imogen reached fro Gabriel. He was like the calm in the storm in her head. She pushed her face into his neck. "I don't know what is happening."

Morgan reached down, intending to pull Imogen to her feet. "With all this in mind, I think it best to lock her away until we can set the trap. Unless you wish to question her as her family?" She smirked inwardly knowing it would rile Gabriel up. Her fingers wrapped about Imogen's arm preparing to pull her up.

Imogen tensed against Gabriel.

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel was known to be Methodical, but that did not mean he could not be rash at times, when the passion ruled him. He had to find a way to keep Morgan from doing what she wanted to.

“She is not your property. This is no longer the dark ages,” Gabriel snarled. “You cannot control her if she is a freely bonded partner.” He said. Before Morgan could react to his words, to what they might signify he pulled Imogen closer. One nail lengthened and he sliced his own neck, just above his collar.

His voice was warm in her mind, “Accept me little one, join me. I will keep you safe,” The tones were seductive tempting, promising safety even as the red blood, blood of an ancient welled up. Morgan still held her arm, but it would be too late. Morgan would not be able to stop Imogen from drinking of his rich blood, of accepting him, accepting the start of conversion. Stealing her away after that step had been willingly taken could cause problems for Morgan. Wars had been fought over such affronts.

The brothers were seemingly forgotten, this moment was between Imogen, Gabriel, and tangentially Morgan.

 

[SandS13]

"I have been protecting her since her youth. She is mine." Morgan's nostrils flared. "Bonded?"

It didn't immediately click with her what he was suggesting.

He filled her mind. He was safe. He was strong. He wanted to protect her. Imogen didn't have the will to fight. She just wanted it all to stop. She wanted to be back in his arms, in his bed. She could smell the blood. She wasn't quite understanding what he meant about accepting him but the hand on her head, gently holding her to his neck hinted at it.

Her mouth moved, her tongue lapping at the cut he had made. Imogen began to drink.

 

[The_gladiator]

Morgan snarled, “You cannot… Starting to yank at Imogen. However, there were hands gripping her arms pulling her back.

He didn’t like the sentinel’s move, but Antonio understood the laws of their people, and at a wave the twins were there restraining Morgan. Anyone that wished to take Imogen from Gabriel now would have to formally challenge the sentinel.

Gabriel was aware of all of that, but also oblivious to it as he cradled Imogen to his chest. She drank freely, free of coercion. His blood was rich and flavored with his power. It spread whips and tendrils through her insides. He held her to him, hand in her hair urging her to drink, until he had deemed, she had taken enough to begin the change, to cement her as part of him now. “You are now mine little one,” he whispered in her mind. She would find that she could now answer him, one of the benefits of the exchange. He pulled back from her. Leanna stepped from the shadows and came to Gabriel. She pressed close and closed the wound on Gabriel’s neck. Silently showing her approval of his actions. He stroked a hand across her back briefly signifying he understood her action as she faded away.

He slid Imogen protectively under his shoulder. “I claim Imogen of the Angeles bloodline as my bonded partner. May we be joined until death or mutual agreement divides us.”

Before any of the brothers could speak Leanna spoke up from her place against the wall, “Heard and witnessed,” Gabriel was again struck by the bravery of the healer, she was subject to Morgan, and such defiance could cost her life.

Antonio glared at Morgan and then to Gabriel. “She has no right to claim our bloodline.”

Fernando shook his head, “You cannot deny it brother,”

Finally, Antonio sighed, “Heard and witnessed,” he growled reluctantly. It was unnecessary, someone else of their race had openly acknowledged that they recognized Imogen and Gabriel’s bond, but in the grand scheme of things to have Antonio back the union, even grudgingly, was more powerful than the word of one of Morgan’s underlings.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen was not aware of Morgan. She wasn't aware of anything except the taste of his blood in her mouth. A part of her recoiled. She was drinking his blood. It was moving, spreading in her body like roots. His voice was soothing in her mind.

His. The thought was comforting even as he pulled away. She felt oddly drunk. She looked up at Gabriel. Her tongue moved over her lips. She could still taste his blood there. A pale hand went to her neck. The realization of what she had done hit her.

Morgan snarled. "You cannot claim she did it freely. She has no idea what she has done." She was angry. Worse, there was nothing she could do now. She shook the brothers off of her arms. She stood taller, her power draping over her like a cloak. From the door some of the werewolves appeared summoned by her anger.

Imogen of what? Who? She wished someone would explain it all to her. His blood made it feel like fire was moving through her now. She frowned.

The flash of a memory, white hot searing in her brain.

A figure, dark and ominous as it reached out and ripped her mother's neck open. It bent in and drank. Someone clapped a hand over her mouth and pulled her away.

Her hands gripped Gabriel's suit jacket.

Morgan turned. "Now you will have to come up with a way to draw him out and capture him. He is coming for her. Make no mistake of that." She was beyond furious.

 

[The_gladiator]

“Morgan has a point,” Esteban said softly, “Was that truly willing.”

Gabriel looked down into her eyes, “I know it hurts little one. You chose me though, nothing they say can change that.” He wasn’t sure exactly why he felt the urge to claim her it was more than just to protect her. He gently pulled her away as the brothers closed in on Morgan.

“While the sentinel goes to be with the girl as she converts, Lets return to the fact that you let our sister die,” Juan-Pablo licked the blade of his knife as Antonio spoke. They all were cornering Morgan. “Why would you let her go out if you even remotely suspected that Someone like that monster was around.” Antonio refused to say Dimitri’s name, almost as if the name might summon him.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen looked up at him. Her eyes shone with tears. "Yes, I chose you." Her voice was soft. "I am scared." She felt oddly weak but as his blood moved through her she also felt strangely stronger.

Morgan glared at the brothers. "I fought to keep her here. I tried everything to stop her. I had no desire for her to be out there and not under my protection. I had her followed but he killed them too. I would never willingly let her go. I had hoped to keep her and Imogen here, safe and hidden away from whomever was butchering people."

She forced them back with a blast of her power. She was outnumbered but she was still stronger than they were. From the walls her pack started to move in.

 

[The_gladiator]

“Why did it take so many killings for you to reach out to a sentinel,” Antonio said. “Had you called one in sooner, Isabela might still be alive.”

Gabriel nodded to Imogen, “Go with the healer, she will assist you as your body starts going through the conversion, I will join you shortly,” With that he gently ushered her into the arms of Leanna who had come forward at a look from Gabriel. He had work to do.

“Enough of this,” Gabriel snarled looming over the nearest brother and shoving him back. Diego did not appreciate that and swung at Gabriel, only to have his twin restrain him. Gabriel let his power sweep out to smack into Morgan’s, and light flashed between them briefly. “Do we all forget that we are supposed to be allies here.” Gabriel snarled. “Especially if we are right and Dimitri is coming for my mate, then we will need to be united.” Here he turned to the brothers, “She might be new to you, but she is still of your bloodline, will you not stand to defend her? Isabela is dead. It is terrible and I vow to bring her killer to justice, but she does not need your energy now, the living does, Imogen Does.”

He then looked to Morgan, “I will not use her as bate, but we will need to find a way to get him out into the open. Your wisdom will be valuable, as both mistress of the city and with your age and power. Please, let’s just all calm down here.” He was not used to playing peacemaker, but he was hopeful that it would work.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen didn’t want to leave him. She cling to him until Leanna pulled her away forcefully. She tried to soothe Imogen but the woman’s mind was too chaotic to calm. Flashes of memories, forgotten, hidden or purposely shut away kept searing her brain. Imogen kept shaking her head as if to will them away.

She stumbled and strong arms picked her up. “Lead the way. I have her.” A rough male voice filled her ears but Imogen didn’t open her eyes. Daniel carried her, following Leanna. He was in a great deal of pain but he ignored it.

Morgan looked around, waiting for the brothers to agree with Gabriel. She didn’t want to give in but she had to admit, the sentinel was right. “Alright. Alright. I vow to help, as mistress of the city. As one of old blood. We have a threat before us and you are right, only together can we stop him.”

She waved a hand and dropped her power. “A truce. A vow to work for a common purpose. And a promise that I did all I could to protect your sister. I have had a long life, with almost no regrets but not keeping her safe is one.” It was a rare show of earnestness from Morgan. She had felt she had done all she could. She and isabela had argued, fought over the woman’s wish to leave. In the end Morgan could not stop her.

 

[The_gladiator]

There had still been no answer at why a sentinel wasn’t called sooner, but the brothers slowly subsided as Antonio nodded to Gabriel. “My brothers are at your disposal. We don’t like it, but she is one of us.”

Gabriel nodded to Morgan, “Thank you. I need to tend to Imogen.” Turning he headed after the healer and the werewolf that had carried
Her out.

Leanna took Imogen to Gabriel’s room. “You are feeling your organs reshaping. You are starting the process. You will need more than one exchange to complete the process, your body must rid itself of all the human frailties and imperfections.” She nodded to Daniel. “Thank you for carrying her,” she said softly. “I will take her from here,” she said at the doorway to Gabriel’s room.

 

[SandS13]

“I wish to stay and look after her. He has-“ Daniel looked angry and hurt as he watched pain move across Imogen’s face.

Imogen groaned softly. He handed her to Leanna as the vampire used Imogen’s hand to unlock the door but remained in the doorway as the healer took her inside. He paused looking around before stepping in and closing the door. He was going to stay close. He didn’t trust the vampires. In his mind Imogen had been force into this. There was no way she would choose it.

“Make it stop...I can’t keep them out.” The memories were hurting her head. She wanted her barriers back, wanted her walls that kept the pain away. She couldn’t focus long enough to put them back.

 

[The_gladiator]

He reached out to her with his mind. “I will be there soon,” he whispered in her mind.

He raced down the stairs to join her. He did not like being separated from her in her pain, it called to him.

Leanna stroked her hair back from her face. “He will be here shortly. She knew that Imogen needed more blood, but she did not have the power to compel her to take her own blood.

It did not take long for Gabriel to arrive. He slapped his hand to the door lock and passed through the door. He smiled, glad that Imogen had programed his touch into the door. Then he was there He took her into his arms. “I’m here little one. You’re not alone.”

 

[SandS13]

Daniel bristled as Gabriel swept into the quarters. He didn’t like the vampire, didn’t like what was happening to Imogen.

Imogen curled up on the bed. Her dress was draped around her and Leanna was struck by how it looked like blood. Morgan really did know how to create a certain effect. Hunger pulled at the vampiress despite having fed earlier.

A half sob escaped imogen’s lips as Gabriel put his arms about her. “The memories...make them stop...” She curled into him, clung to him. “I think I love you...”she whispered almost imperceptibly as she lost consciousness.

 

[The_gladiator]

He held her close and rocked her gently. Fingers stroked back her hair. “Leanna, can you donate blood to her to assist the conversion?” he asked, and then he saw her, saw her need. She had given too much to him last night. His eyes swept the room and lit on Daniel just as Imogen lost consciousness. “If you cannot do so, find someone to donate blood to Leanna,” he said firmly. He knew that werewolf blood would have more of a kick than human blood.

Gabriel sent out the call, as much as he didn’t want to, the Angeles bloodline was old and strong, all the men would be able to donate to Imogen, or to him, or to Leanna. He wondered if they would come.

 

[SandS13]

Daniel stepped forward. "If it will help her I will do whatever is needed." His eyes fell on Imogen. He was willing to let the vampires feed on him if it meant helping Imogen.

Imogen's mind was a fog. She couldn't find anything but a single point in the haze. That point was Gabriel. Her mind, her aura reached out to him.

Outside the door all five, though three were reluctant, of the Angeles brothers stood. Esteban banged on the door. He, the most calm of them all had made sure they came to help.

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel nodded to the healer who moved to let them in. All five brothers streamed through the doorway, Esteban leading the reluctant ones, while Fernando went directly to Leanna. He casually tore his wrist when he saw her paleness, having already received silent orders from Gabriel, “I offer my life freely for your healer,” he murmured. Leanna accepted the ancient blood with a nod of appreciation, her slender hands holding his wrist respectfully.

“She needs blood,” Esteban said to Gabriel. The sentinel nodded. “I can sense your possessiveness over her,” he said softly. “I do not think your control would be able to take my or Antonio donating to her.” Gabriel nodded his agreement, the movement emphatic and sharp. “Though it would be valuable were she bonded in a familial sense to us as well.”

Finally, Gabriel spoke, “You may do an exchange with her to form a private pathway once the conversion is complete. I do not trust the predator in me to not attack you were you to feed her.” Esteban nodded and held out his wrist to the sentinel. Before he could accept Antonio approached.

“No, it should be me brother,” Gabriel went on alert. Drinking one of the brother’s blood would mean they would have a greater ability to track and find him, this is why very few would accept the blood of a sentinel. Antonio was the older, the more powerful.

Gabriel shook his head, “Esteban will suffice,” Finally Antonio nodded. Gabriel dipped his head to feed from the brother as he gestured for Daniel to come closer. He didn’t like him, but suddenly he trusted him more to watch his back while he fed, than no one. Also, Daniel would probably be asked to donate to one of the brothers, or more likely for the healer after she donated to Imogen.

Gabriel thanked Esteban and cuddled Imogen close. He touched her mind and felt her turmoil. “You will need to feed again little one. I know this is new, your powers are being heightened by conversion. Soon, your body will begin ridding itself of toxins.” He knew that would be unpleasant, he wished he could shield her from that. He heard the low rumble as all the brothers began one of the healing chants of their people, one meant to strengthen women during childbirth, and or conversion. There was power in the chant, the song. The 5 bass voices were offset by the one clear soprano as Leanna joined the chant even as she sat beside Imogen.

“You will need to compel her,” Leanna said to Gabriel who sighed but nodded. He reached into her mind, helped blur the memory of this as Leanna held her to her chest, where she had opened a vein. Gabriel never let go of her, his hand in her hair, on her back, urging her mentally to accept the gift of the healer’s blood.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen was limp in his arms but her mind was singularly focused on his words. Feed. Why did she need to feed? It was as if her mind was trying to stay human, block what she had done even as the memories and other powers grew stronger.

The hands on her were his she could feel that. A flicker of distress crossed her face as Imogen opened her eyes. She could see the blood, smell it and the woman. She didn’t want her blood. She felt Gabriel in her mind urging we to drink from the healer.

She resisted a little, pushing against the woman. It was weak but showed she was not calm enough yet.

Will I be okay? Her thought reached out to Gabriel.

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel spoke soothing words in her mind. “You’ll be ok little one. Accept her gift,” He could have compelled her, but he was reluctant to take all control away from her, so worked on seducing her.

Leanna slid her arm around Imogen’s waist, but did not hold her head to her breast, it was Gabriel’s hand that did that.

Daniel stepped closer, “She doesn’t want to,” He protested seeing her push at Leanna.

“It’s not about what she wants anymore,” one of the brothers said pulling him back slowly, Gentle but firm, “It’s now about what she needs. She accepted Gabriel and now she needs the strength.”

 

[SandS13]

She isn't you... The thought reached out to him as let Gabriel ease her head forward. She didn't want to fight but she was afraid. She had put her mouth to his skin willingly but now, the healer and a talk of her body changing scared her.

Daniel looked at the vampire who had pulled him back. "What do you mean she accepted Gabriel?"

He had come in the room after Gabriel's declaration and wasn't aware of all that had happened. He simply thought Imogen had been hurt.

 

[The_gladiator]

“I know little one,” His words brushed her mind. “The next feeding will come from me, I promise but I cannot be the only one to feed you, for now.” He had to regain his own strength. “Please do this for me little one. I know that you are scared.”

Fernando blew out a sigh as Daniel spoke. “Imogen accepted Gabriel’s claim to her, accepted to join him forever as his bonded partner.” An almost dreamy look came to his face, “As a werewolf you should know what it is like to find the one you want to be your mate or partner, I would not trade my woman for anything.”

Not knowing what to do, Antonio found himself flipping through the pictures, he glared down at the photos. Esteban laid a hand on his arm, “Control your aura, you will hurt her,” Antonio glared.

“It has to be him, Dimitri,” he breathed.

“Likely so, but she will bring him out of cover. Morgan is wrong, Gabriel’s claim will send him into a rage and he will make mistakes,” Esteban said to the other. As the two spoke, Juan-Pablo and Diego stood guard on the door, Juan-Pablo twirling his knife. Diego just looking like bottled fury, like he wanted something to fuck, or kill.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen gave in and but her mouth to the cut the healer had opened on her skin. She fed from her slowly.

"His partner?" It was as if someone had punched the werewolf in the gut. "He claimed her? I see." He turned and waited for it to be done. He was willing to let them feed off of him if it meant helping her. The wolf had been too close to the surface earlier and he had not even had the chance to apologize or beg her forgiveness. Now, she laid there an there was nothing he could do.