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

[SandS13]

Imogen shivered. She looked at the painting and she could almost hear the voice in her head again. It had happened when she first woke. Now as Gabriel spoke of Catarina and Dimitri she felt it again. She forced a barrier up, forcing it away.

"I thought it was us. You have made him look like you." She came to stand beside him. "That is who they say I am? And Isabela looked like her too. Is she of the Angeles bloodline then?" She didn't know the stories. She only knew what she had been told to this point. "And what happened to them? Dimitri and Catarina?"

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel looked surprised, “You feel he looks like me?” he asked and let his eyes not even glance at the male, surely that couldn’t be. “I have made no alterations to his appearance.”

As he finished the picture of the woman, he turned to face her in the swivel chair he had been painting in. “It makes sense that Isabela would look like her, Katarina was Her mother. Mother to all the Angeles brothers and Isabela, apparently.” He shrugged, “That was not a connection I had made, it was something I only learned last night from Morgan. I had not made the connection that the Angeles family were the surviving children of Katarina.”

As he spoke, he idly stroked a hand over her waist, pulling her closer as if he felt drawn to touch her. Sliding it up under her shirt. “Katarina was killed by Marco, her human husband. The one scorned by her when selected by Dimitri. Dimitri’s claiming of Katarina caused a war that lasted for over 5 years, or so the stories say. Marco decided that if he could not have his wife, then Dimitri couldn’t have her either. Dimitri disappeared not long after that, after Massacring Marco and his two oldest children. It was believed that the other 6 children were also killed by Dimitri, but they apparently survived,” He added, clearly meaning the 5 brothers and the recently killed Isabela.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen moved in, smiling as his hand moved under her shirt. "Catarina had abilities, like mine? She was sensitive? She had children before she was turned, Isabela had children before she was turned. That is the line I come from." She looked to him to see if she had it correct. "The children, the Angeles line are all converted with powers so Isabela could have had children even after. It means Catarina also could have children after. It means I can."

Again she looked to him to make sure she had her facts straight.

"You think I am Catarina...her soul reincarnated?" Imogen frowned. "What does all this have to do with the murders?" Her hand went to his chest. She ran the palm along the muscle under his shirt.

 

[The_gladiator]

He idly stroked his fingers over her skin. “Yes, both of them had children before conversion, yes this is the bloodline you are descended from.” He nodded at her questions, “I am unaware of Isabela having Children, but yes, Katarina had children with Dimitri prior to her death. Just as she had triplets with Marco just prior to her conversion, she
Bore Dimitri triplets. Only one of which was known to have survived. Gabriella was killed in the 1800’s or so.”

He smiled up at her and nodded, “Yes you can bare children, I would be honored to father your children, someday.”

However, that smile faded as she asked her next question, “Morgan and I believe it Is Dimitri killing to get to you, to learn information about who you are, where you are. I have studied the runes, even sent photographic evidence to some of the ancients, I believe they were runes of power meant to compel others to give him information, or sway them to his will. We all can influence others, but I am told these runes when evoked in blood like that would strengthen Dimitri’s already substantial powers.”

 

[SandS13]

Imogen looked down almost shyly as Gabriel said he would be honoured to father her children. She had never wanted children, never saw herself having them but now...She pushed that thought aside.

"So many children..." She frowned. "So many dead now. All that remains of that story, of that line are the brothers." She licked her lips. "And now, me."

Her hand went to his cheek and then she tensed "Wait, what do you mean learn about who I am or where I am?" Her knees went weak. The voice, the voice that had called to her as she woke up, told her to come. The voice she had blocked out with a mental barrier. "Why would I matter?"

She felt cold. A small part of her knew the reason but she did not want to say it out loud. "Does he mean to kill me too? What about the brothers?"

Imogen glanced at the painting and then back to Gabriel. She suddenly backed away from him. "You said that painting, that image is Dimitri?"

She continued to back up until she ran into the wall near the door. Her eyes kept moving between the painting and Gabriel. "Please-" She put her hands up defensively. The voice in her head called for her to come. It somehow pushed past her barrier. It wasn't like when Gabriel was in her head though...

 

[The_gladiator]

“He would not want to kill you; he would want to possess you. From all reports he loved Katarina and according to stories I’ve heard, went insane after her death.” He shrugged.

Suddenly she backed away from him, “Yes, the picture is Dimitri,” He rose and moved towards her, “What’s wrong little one. I know this is a lot,” but it seemed like something worse than it being overwhelming was bothering her. He scooped her into his arms, wanting only to protect her. “Talk to me little one, what are you thinking?”

 

[SandS13]

'You- you are him." She was shaking now. He said Dimitri wanted to possess her just before scooping her up into his arms.

"Let me go, I am not her. I swear. Please- Dimitri, Gabriel...I don't-" She stared at him wide eyed. How had no one else known? Did they not know what Dimitri looked like? Surely the Angeles brothers knew. The man had taken their mother. Had they never met him?

 

[The_gladiator]

He looked surprised, “What are you talking about?” he let her down from his arms but still held her close, hands on her shoulders. He lifted one to brush a lock of hair from her beautiful face. He reached out to touch her mind with his own, “Little one it’s me, what do you mean?” He was unaware of the other in her mind, the one who sounded like him, though darker, with a thicker accent.

He looked to the painting and then back to her. It was like his mind refused to see the similarity. “Are you ok little one?” he asked softly. Why would she call him Dimitri?

 

[SandS13]

"You- " She pointed at the painting. "That is you."

There were two voices in her head now. One was warm and felt safe. The other was the same but not, it was heavier and strange. Imogen clasped her hands to her head and fell to her knees. Her barriers were being pushed at as the other voice sought entry to her mind.

"I am not her. I am not her. I am not her..." She was repeating it over and over again.

 

[The_gladiator]

“I am Gabriel Little one, I am Not Dimitri,” he knelt with her. He reached out with his mind and surrounded her mind with a shield of his own, at last sensing something was trying to intrude on her thoughts.

“Picture the barrier to keep out the thoughts,” he soothed both aloud and in her mind. “No, you aren’t her. You are Imogen,” he said softly. He cupped her cheeks with his hands pulling her in for a kiss trying to distract her mind.

 

[SandS13]

She felt the barrier around her thoughts that he put up to protect her. She kissed him back but there was hesitation there.

"Two of you in there. Two trying to talk to me and you sound...the same but not." Imogen's hands reached up to grab Gabriel's arms. "You look like him." She stared into his eyes. Her tone was so earnest. "I need to speak to the brothers or Morgan. You look like him and he is in here." One hand let him go and pointed to her head.

 

[The_gladiator]

He looked confused, “You truthfully think I look like him?” he asked. He urged her up and lead her towards her bag, “If we are calling in others, I would prefer you dressed. I am quite the jealous man, and I don’t share, unless we decide that is something we wish, but generally my preference is that I would not share you.”

He reached out with his mind, touching Esteban and Fernando, as the two that were close. He then pushed farther, calling for Morgan, he needed her expertise, her age and power. It took only seconds for a knock to sound on the door and seeing she had dressed he let Esteban and Fernando back in.

“She says that He is in her head. I have shielded her but she is vulnerable. She requested to speak to you two and to Morgan. I have sent for Morgan. The brothers looked puzzled yet went on the defensive.

Gabriel turned his attention to Imogen again, “You say he is in your head?” he asked finally, “What is he saying?”

 

[SandS13]

"What?" Imogen couldn't be sure but she thought Gabriel had just casually mentioned an open relationship in the same breath that he said he did not wish to share her. If there wasn't already enough confusion in her mind he had just added more. She waved it away and focused on getting dressed. Dark blue jeans, tight were pulled on. The black blouse was adjusted and tucked in. Fingers were run through her hair and she looked presentable.

Imogen looked at the brothers and then to Gabriel. "He is telling me to come to him."

She pointed to the painting. "Tell them who you painted, Gabriel."

 

[The_gladiator]

“No Bra Little one?” his mind brushed against hers teasing her, “Is that so I can imagine those wonderful breasts in my hand, in my mouth?” Gabriel was still male, and hoped to relax her a bit.

Esteban glanced at Gabriel’s painting. “It’s a worthy replica,” he commented offhand. “The picture is of my mother and the filthy whoreson who kidnapped her. I believe the original even made It into The Louvre. I am told he painted it after my father killed her.” He looked to Imogen as if asking if he’d answered her questions. “I never met Dimitri of course, I was no more than 6 years old when my mother was kidnapped Fernando not barely off the breast.”

 

[SandS13]

Easy now...there are others present. Do you wish to imagine them and then interrupt to carry me off? As she flirted back something angry tried to break through the barrier he had put up in her mind.

Imogen winced. "Dimitri looks like Gabriel. Do you not see it? Am I the only one? It is as if he painted us, which I thought he had until he told me the story."

She took Gabriel's hand and pulled him to the painting. "Look, look at them."

Imogen feared now that she was going mad. Was that something that could happen? Did vampires go crazy? That thought shocked her. It was the first she acknowledged she was no longer human. She had changed. She was a vampire. Imogen tried to push that thought away and focus on the issue at hand.

"He is not him, Dimitri is trying to get in here, past Gabriel's barrier even now. So there are two of them but they look a like. As Isabela and I do, as Catarina and I do."

 

[The_gladiator]

“I will carry you off like a caveman if that be necessary,” Gabriel threatened a playful chuckle in his rumble. Even as he followed her to the painting. “I cannot see it,” he said aloud.

“Esteban strolled over, “Now that’s very interesting,” he said and silently gestured his brother over. Taking a look Fernando nodded his agreement. They could both see it. It was perhaps lucky that Antonio wasn’t present, he might have tried to kill Gabriel on the spot just for looking like him. “You think they are related?” Esteban asked.

Gabriel looked confused, however before he could ask any further questions Morgan swept into the room. “What is so Urgent Gabriel. Good, I see our little flower is up. Is there something wrong?” she asked Imogen. “Gabriel said you requested me.” She stepped closer, running fingers over Imogen’s cheek. “I did not think it possible that you could get more beautiful.”

 

[SandS13]

Imogen was relieved as the brothers said they could see the resemblance.

The moment was interrupted by Morgan's appearance. Imogen found herself uneasy as the vampiress touched her cheek.

She lifted her chin a little. "Gabriel painted this, based on a painting he saw as a child of Dimitri and Catarina. She and I -" Imogen gestured. 'Now, look to Dimitri and Gabriel."

Imogen waited as Morgan's eyes took them both in. Morgan turned to the brothers. "You see this resemblance?"

They nodded. The implications were thick in the air with no one daring to utter suggestions or thoughts just yet.

"And I can hear Dimitri. He is calling me to him. He is trying to get me. Gabriel put a barrier around my mind but he is battering it...." Imogen looked pained.

"I see...." Morgan dragged her fingertip along Imogen jawline. She looked at Esteban and Fernando. "Find your brothers. Bring them here. If he is trying to get to her than he is angry. He has sensed a change. He could not find her before. Her powers were muted, she was kept in the dark and human for a reason. Her powers are going to become stronger and if our theory is true, which it seems it is, he is going to come for her. That means any of her blood are in danger. You must all be here until we can find a way to trap him. He will use you like he did Isabela." She gestured for the brothers to see to their task. Before turning to Imogen. "I would know your mind."

Imogen backed away until she was against Gabriel. "I am not ready for that."

Morgan raised an eyebrow. "Then we tackle another part." Her eyes fell on Gabriel. "This is interesting, don't you think? You and he strike quite a similar figure. In fact I would say uncanny."

She stepped close to Gabriel and closed her eyes. "You are not he." Her eyes opened and stared into Gabriel's. "What is it that you know and are not telling us sentinel?" No one had told her yet that Gabriel did not see the resemblance so Morgan was now assuming that Gabriel knew far more than he had said when he arrived. "You seemed to figure out who she might be quite quickly...that makes one suspicious."

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel still couldn’t believe all of this talk of their similar looks. He just did not see it. This resulted in his glaring at Morgan, “You told me who she was. I merely sensed her power, that you could not hide from one such as me, especially when I entered her mind. She is one of the most gifted true psychics outside of our race I had ever met. I had no clue of the connection to Katarina until you mentioned it at dinner,” Gabriel snapped. “I frankly think you all are crazy. You all believe Dimitri from that picture,” here he waved at it “Looks like me?” He was met with a chorus of nods. His eyes narrowed. He looked at Morgan, an ancient. “Tell me of mental blocks. I understand that we as a race can build barriers to keep one another from our minds, and sometimes our mind can form a block to keep us protected from dangerous memories to our psyche. However, I am aware that some of our kind can place mental blocks on others. A healer might put a block on a child’s mind to protect them from themselves or from others. Tell me, do you know how these are formed, how do we identify if I have a block on my memories, on my perception even?” He suspected this would involve his needing to allow Morgan access to his mind, but that might be the only way.

The brothers meanwhile were reaching out to their siblings, desperately calling them back. They got word that they were occupied, they would return when they could, they were pursuing a lead. Esteban swore in Spanish “They are resisting my call,” he told Fernando.

“We cannot go to them,” Fernando said, “Antonio gave us our orders.”

“Morgan said we should find them,”

“I do not think either of us should be alone,” Fernando offered. Esteban could only nod. Until Antonio relented and returned there was little, they could do.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen looked at the brothers. "I think Morgan is right, they are in danger. I feel him...he is trying to get to me and if he learns they are here he might use them to get to me as he did Isabela. I had no idea, no way to know any of this was happening or so many had died because of me. I do not know any of you but I can feel now there is some connection. I do not wish them to die because of me. Tell them they must come back, there is much danger." As if making a point of it Imogen put a hand to her head. "He will get tired of Gabriel's barrier and it is only a matter of time."

Morgan inhaled. "I did not know she was Catarina reborn. That was you." She wanted to snap at him, to rail against what he had done and how he had ruined her plans. She had been in a position to make herself very well protected and he took that with a swipe of his nail.

In uncharacteristic fashion, Morgan looked uncomfortable at the talk of mental blocks. She still held secrets of her own in this. "I have knowledge of such things and I have put them in place on people myself." She licked her lips. "The stronger the one making the block the more that can be blocked out. It takes greater power to break them." Her eyes shifted quickly to Imogen and back to Gabriel. A slight tell should any notice. "I can look for them in you but you will have to willingly grant me access. I cannot compel you as I might others of lesser power."

 

[The_gladiator]

Both Esteban and Fernando lay a hand on Imogen, “You could not know any of this,” Esteban assured her. “Antonio is strong, he will not be such a victim as our sister,”

“Not with our brothers with him,” Fernando added.

Gabriel looked at Morgan. “It was a logical leap from what you suggested and the power I could sense. It therefore let me guess who it was tracking her.” His glare was hot, he didn’t like the thought of her rooting around in his mind. “I don’t trust you,” he said coldly, “But we both know
You’re the only one here powerful enough to even venture that far into my mind.” He sighed.

He stroked Imogen’s back as he spoke, “However if there is a block, we both know who likely put it there. I doubt even you are strong enough to remove the work of Vladimir himself.” He slowly took a seat on the edge of the couch, so where she stood, they were close to the same height now.

 

[SandS13]

"Who is Vladimir?" Imogen asked as she turned her head to look back towards Gabriel. Her attention was taken from the brothers for the moment. She couldn't deny the sense of strength she felt from them. The way their hands rested on her shoulders made her feel better, somehow more confident.

Morgan smirked. "Vladimir is a sentinel. Mentor to young Gabriel here." Her eyes moved down to look at Gabriel. "This will not be pleasant. You know this? You accept it? You will need to give me access. If you fight me there is nothing I can do to help."

She waited for him to agree before she laid her fingertips at his temples. "If I cannot get through then at least we will know you have blocks put in place by someone else. It may mean sending for Vladimir but that is a problem for a later moment."

Morgan leaned in, whispering in Gabriel's ear. "You know she will truly be the most powerful, most gifted of our kind. You have seen to that by changing her. With training, her abilities in the mind will surpass even the most ancient of us." She hoped that by getting him focused on Imogen his mind might be more willing to let her in.

She straightened up and pressed her fingers a bit harder. "Are you ready sentinel?"

 

[The_gladiator]

“Vladimir’s an annoying son of a bitch,” Esteban told Imogen after Morgan’s less colorful description of who he was.

“Stick up his ass,” Fernando Muttered.

Gabriel shot them a less than friendly look, but did not bother to argue with them. His response wouldn’t sway their opinion. He had much respect for his mentor, but he couldn’t deny that he was a bit cold and very into the rule of their people.

Gabriel turned his attention to Morgan. He gave her only a smile, “She is also much better off in our world.” Was his response. He knew this would be unpleasant, he knew that he did not want to go through with it, but he knew it needed to be done too.

Morgan’s fingertips were cool on his temples as she stepped in closer, her bosom near his face. He looked up at her and their eyes locked, the emerald glow was spreading through her irises as she opened herself to her power. Gabriel’s blue fire answered her call, swelling as well. He took a deep breath and allowed her access into his mind. He pictured his mind like a long dark hallway that Morgan was now walking down, with doors to either side. Some of these doors were locked, clearly places he did not want her to go. As she poked around in some of the open doors, she would see flashes of his childhood, swimming, running, a sweaty romp with a young woman as a young adult, still a fledgling but no longer a child. He had tried to keep her out of that last memory but she pushed and since it was only his pride, he was hiding there he let her in. He could almost sense her embarrassment at pushing to expose something so…. Mundane and the surprise at the lengths he had taken to hide his embarrassment.

He felt her probe deeper. She started trying to force some of the locked doors. He fought back with some of them, the ones he fought her on, the doors glowed blue with his power. Others he let her have access to under duress.

 

[SandS13]

"Stick up his ass? He is a sentinel? Is he Gabriel's father or brother or something?" Imogen asked the brothers. She had never heard anyone mention Vladimir before.

She wandered the hall of his mind. In the end while it gave her indications of who he was, the doors and blocks he put up they were not what she was looking for. She opened a door and found herself watching a young Gabriel as he stared at the painting, the one he had painted. No. Something about it felt odd. She moved about the memory but could not place what felt off. She knew something about this memory was altered. She almost snarled with annoyance.

She closed that door and kept moving.

In the sitting room, Morgan suddenly growled.

Imogen tensed. "What is going on? What is she doing to him?" She looked at the brothers. She actually found herself reaching for Esteban's hand as if, like a child she would find comfort there.

In Gabriel's mind Morgan felt it, the mark of another. The feel of it had brought the growl from her. It was primal - power versus power. This was not a door. No, this was a place where a door had been covered. Gabriel was not even aware it was here. Her hands moved over the place where it should be. She exerted more of her power towards Gabriel forcing his mind to submit more to her. She needed him to recognize her as the stronger, the one in control. It was the only hope she had. This was a strong block and she could not fight it and Gabriel's will.

 

[The_gladiator]

“Definitely or something,” Esteban muttered.

Fernando looked at Gabriel, before he answered Imogen, “There is a strong resemblance, but they both come from old bloodlines rooted in our ancient culture, their bloodlines have never been human.” He was trying to say that often people of an ethnic group had similar traits, without stereotyping or overgeneralizing. “I would say that is all you are seeing in that painting, but you are right it goes beyond ethnic similarity with Gabriel and that painting of Dimitri. I have never Met Vladimir in person so I can’t say how similar he looks.”

“The only one of us in this room who has met the chief Sentinel in person other than Gabriel is Morgan,” Esteban clarified for Imogen.

The entire room tensed when Morgan growled. A low inhuman sound. The sound of something that had predated humankind, a primal noise. It sounded inhumanly low coming from even the rich contralto vocal cords of Morgan.

Esteban took Imogen’s hand and gently handed her touch to Fernando. Fernando laced his fingers with her, but not like a lover would, it had the feel of someone who had long been tied to a sister and understood the need for support. Esteban wanted his hands free, as he slowly circled the two on the couch.

“She is probing his mind Little sister. I can only imagine the struggle of wills going on in there,” Fernando said giving her hand a squeeze. It was clear that Esteban was on alert though who was he poised to defend, Gabriel, or Morgan?

Gabriel wondered why Morgan was trying to force her way through a wall in his mind. There was no information there, it wasn’t a door. Then he understood, if he had a block, it would not show up to him as such. He could feel her fighting him, trying to dissolve his elaborate psionic defenses. Finally, he let them drop.

Morgan hissed with approval as the elaborate hallway dissolved and she was left in a starry black sky, surrounded by thousands of stars, each one a memory. She could have gone digging through them, but Gabriel had done the next best thing to his previous technique, he had allowed the mass chaos in his mind free. It was all there available to her, but rooting around in his mind to find what she wanted for her schemes could literally take a lifetime to find. Gabriel had forced her to only hunt for what it was she sought. It was there before him, a black hole in this night sky analogy. It bent all light that approached it, all memories. It was a black smudge in Gabriel’s consciousness. It stunk of Vladimir, but it stank of Vladimir layered over someone else, as if someone had initially placed a block there, and then the sentinel had come and strengthened the psychic barrier.

Her will became a quasar, a streaming glowing light of her power a bright supernova, trying to overpower the blackhole. However, she felt it sucking in her energy, not giving just absorbing, feeding off her attack.

In the sitting room, Gabriel screamed, he let out a guttural cry of pain as the forces battled in his mind. His hands came up and gripped anything. He ended up with fists full of Morgan’s gown at her slender waist as he gripped her. He slumped forward until his head was pillowed on her breast as he panted with the pain. His slumping broke their eye contact, but her hands still were in place on his head and the strain showed clearly in her outward body language.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen frowned. This Vladimir seemed to be like the boogey man the way they were talking about him. Fernando's fingers intertwined with hers and she felt instantly calmer. She had never had siblings, never had much in the way of family. Their presence was genuinely nice.

Her eyes were on Esteban as he circled the couch.

When Gabriel screamed the only thing that stopped Imogen from moving was Fernando. His grip shifted, taking her by the arm and pulling her in to gently hug her. Her eyes were wide as she watched Gabriel slumped forward.

"Is she killing him?" Her voice was thick with fear.

It was then that she felt it. It was like a lover's caress in her mind. With Gabriel's mind occupied and being thoroughly invaded by Morgan his barrier was gone. Her mind was no longer protected from Dimitri.

Come to me...come...be with me again..mi armor...

Imogen gasped and tensed. She could feel him searching deep in her mind.

Tell me where you are..show me...I will come for you. Nothing will stop me..

"No." She turned and hid against Fernando like a frightened child. She put up a wall and he tore it down. Over and over again. Her barriers were not working.

Do not fight me. You know me. You are mine.

Imogen focused, unsure where the strength was coming from but finding it. She pushed back against his voice. "No..."

Let me show you. Let me in.

NO. The room was rippled with her energy.

Her mind was quiet.