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

[The_gladiator]

Morgan slowly came out of the depths of Gabriel’s mind, and her hands unconsciously went from gripping his head to stroking his hair softly. She felt more connected to him for that brief moment, and she did not push him off of her breast immediately. “I warned you it would hurt Sentinel,” she said as she gently took his shoulders and eased him back. She did not tell him she could not remove the block; it was self-evident that was the case.

Shaking Gabriel turned his attention to the others. “Is all well?”

Fernando watched the pain flit across Imogen’s face. Esteban made the connection, “Gabriel’s shield faded,” he said. “Lend her your strength brother,” Fernando hugged her close and did what he could, he was not the psychic she was though.

“You will not keep me out mi amore. Come to me. What, no… betrayal!” and the voice cut off in her mind, she had finally built a shield to keep him out, but something else was occurring.

Esteban stiffened, “My link to Antonio just lit up like a Christmas tree,” Fernando nodded.

“Mine to Diego. Something’s going on.”

Gabriel pushed himself to his feet, clearly still rattled, “They have found him? Tell them to leave him for now. Do you have his location?” He spat questions. “Was he contacting you again little one?” he asked moving to Imogen, gently resting her from Fernando.

 

[SandS13]

"He wants me to come to him. He wants to take me." Her eyes had tears in them as she struggled to keep Dimitri out. "He is quiet now but he is angry."

Imogen looked around. "Tell them to come back now. He is angry. He cannot find them. Please. I didn't mean for him to get in." She was pleading with them all now. Her knees were shaking both with fear and exertion.

 

[The_gladiator]

“They have found him,” Esteban said abruptly to the room.

“Damn fool is going to get himself killed,” Gabriel snarled.


The Angeles brothers streamed into the building, Antonio at their lead, the others flanking him. They could barely see the figure they were looking for until it struck, fist slamming at Antonio. Punching through muscle. Antonio struck back but the shape melted away. Dimitri had hunted in the dark for longer than all three of these infants were alive and when he reappeared, he yanked Diego’s head back, a knife flashed and Diego’s lifeblood was spilling everywhere.

“Diego!” Fernando shouted and headed towards the door, only to be tackled by Gabriel and Esteban. He flailed at them punching and swearing. “He’s dying, I need to go to him. Please,” and his voice was thick with emotion, pain. Gabriel shot a look at the two women, “Someone help us, sooth him.” He could do it, but he was too busy restraining him.

Back in the warehouse Juan-Pablo made his strike for Dimitri, but like smoke, he was gone. Antonio Knelt over his little brother. His own wounds were forgotten as he struggled to assist his brother. “You will not die god dammit.” As if his will alone could keep him with them. Antonio took control of his brother’s mind, slowing all bodily functions, almost trying to put him in stasis. Their people had evolved for the most part away from having to sleep in the earth. Mostly they just rested underground. He needed healing and then he needed mother earth’s embrace if he were to survive. Forgotten was Dimitri. Antonio realized his mistake now, and just hoped it was not too late. “Stay with me brother.” He urged. He lifted him and carried him out of the building, Juan-Pablo protectively hovering around them, looking for any sign of Dimitri.

“I got him, maybe he is going to lick his wounds,” he said to Antonio. Both oblivious to the fact that Dimitri might be following them, so wrapped up in either thinking they’d scared him off, or about their brother’s health to consider the implications of their actions.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen didn't know what compelled her. Maybe it was the way he had taken her hand or the way they had embraced her as one of their own. She ran to Gabriel and Fernando. She put her hands into Fernando's. She closed her eyes and thought peaceful thoughts. She radiated waves of calm.

"We will get him. I promise we will find him and bring him home. Look at me, please." More energy radiated off of her. Her eyes focused on his face. Her hand brushed his cheek in an almost motherly way.

Morgan looked concerned. She swept from the room. She gathered the pack and all her other staff. They were all on high alert looking for the brothers potential arrival. Morgan had healers, she could help but only if it wasn't too late. She could only assume they would come here if they could get away. A strange sensation, fear gripped her gut. Dimitri was threatening their very lives all for the girl. She was tempted to just give him Imogen but then there was the sentinel and their bond. She didn't like any of this. It was out of her control now.

They needed help. It pained her but she was going to need to call in Vladimir and the other sentinels. She didn't want to but she worried it was coming to that very, very quickly.

 

[The_gladiator]

Imogen found the common pathway that all vampires could use. Those that joined in a blood exchange had private pathways, but there was a common path they all could use. Her energy reached Fernando. Another female presence already surrounded Fernando. It seemed to metaphysically bristle at Imogen’s touch.

“Let her in Celina,” Esteban’s words filled everyone close’s mind as he used the common pathway. Using it was dangerous, it meant that anyone could hear, that would include Dimitri. “Little sister only seeks to sooth him.”

Slowly Fernando stilled under her gentle caresses in his mind, the support of a sibling’s love. A rich heavily accented voice filled Imogen’s head. “He has gone to the spirit world; he has locked Diego’s spirit to him. You must hold Fernando to us, be an anchor so he can find his way back.”

Esteban flinched at the words of Celina’s voice, strongly flavored with her Spanish accent. “She is newly turned, just converted little sister, she cannot…”

Celina’s voice cut him off, “She has the power. She will build the bridge you will all use to hold Fernando and Diego’s spirits to this world.” Her voice brooks no argument. The unspoken threat should they fail was undeniable.

Gabriel was finally able to relax his grip as Fernando went completely limp. He could hear Celina as well as the others, so knew what he’d done for his twin. “Damn fool,” Gabriel swore softly, “He’s a father.” He didn’t want to say something that he thought about why would he save such an ass, but he knew it was his brother. What had Antonio done to endanger his brothers.

Gabriel lay his hands-on Imogen’s shoulders rubbing them gently, “Celina believes in you,” he said aloud, “I believe in you,”

“I believe in you,” Esteban reiterated aloud.

Antonio came streaking in to land on the roof, carrying his brother. “Bring him here,” Gabriel ordered through the common channel. Bring Leanna, Mathias, healers. I will work on him.” Sentinels were powerful, and Gabriel was old. It didn’t surprise anyone present that he had some talent for healing himself.

 

[SandS13]

"I do not understand." Imogen kept her attention on Fernando as she spoke aloud to the room. "How am I to do that?" She kept stroking his cheek.

The room was a flurry of activity. Imogen worked to radiated calm to the room. People needed to focus on their tasks. There was no room for panic now.

All three healers were on Morgan's heel as she followed Antonio and Juan-Pablo down to the room. Diego was in Antonio's arms.

 

[The_gladiator]

“Mostly be a calm port in the storm, help all of us stay connected,” Gabriel explained softly. “Your force of will is valuable.”

Esteban came to her and handed her a pair of crystals, “Sometimes this helps anchors to build the healing bridge. Listen and follow my words,” and with that he began the healing chant/song they had sung earlier when she converted, though the words were different, designed to strengthen healing. It started with Esteban’s low rumble. Soon it was picked up by Gabriel, Juan-Pablo, Antonio, Mathias and Kyle, the two male healers, though they seemed to stumble over the words showing how young they truly were.

All of their voices were low, but then came the female notes, the rich contralto of Morgan, the airy Soprano of Leanna. Fernando did not sing, his mind was occupied with holding his brother to him, and if Imogen thought hard enough, she could hear his words of comfort, of kicking his brother in the ass, anything to keep him from crossing fully into the spirit world.

However, the song wasn’t just picked up by the vampires in the room, everyone could hear the Metso soprano of Selina’s voice. But there were others, voices Imogen wouldn’t know, others reaching out from a distance.

Gabriel helped Antonio lay Diego on the bed. The wound was deep, not much keeping his head on but the spine. “You plan to leave your body Sentinel?” Antonio asked softly.

“I do.”

Antonio nodded grimly, “My life for yours sentinel… save him.”

Gabriel sought inside himself and then let his body fall away, he became pure spirit, flowing out and into Diego’s body and mind. He had to repair the wounds from the inside. He felt Morgan’s spirit join him, focusing on the mind, for that seemed to be where her talent lay, helping him to return to his own mind, as Gabriel used his healing light from the inside out, reconnecting tissue, urging cells to regenerate.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen nodded as she took the crystals. "Calm. Bridge. Got it." She calmed her breathing, sitting on the floor at the end of the bed and closed her eyes.

She heard the voices, the song. She didn't know the words but she focused instead on her energy. She let it move out of her to the sound of their voices. It was calm, steady and began to take on the beat of her heart. It filled the room and extended outwards.

 

[The_gladiator]

Imogen’s psychic talents reached out to help join all of them. It wore on for hours. Gabriel and Morgan both returned to their body, and were immediately fed by Antonio and Juan-Pablo, another vampire feeding Leanna when she looked gaunt and exhausted as well.

Neither Gabriel or Morgan lingered long, both shedding their bodies to head into their tasks again. Morgan wasn’t sure how she got roped into helping, but she knew they needed all of the bodies they could get to defend against Dimitri. Gabriel wasn’t overly fond of fighting so hard to save probably his least favorite of the brothers, but fight he did.

Fernando woke and reached for Imogen. “Help me urge his spirit back into his body, Morgan and Gabriel have done all that they can for now. The rest is up to him, and the healing properties of the earth. He sounded tired.

Gabriel and Morgan were both feeding again. Both from the Angeles brothers, who had fed on pack members in the meantime. Gabriel pulled an exhausted Leanna away as well. She too had done much to assist them. It had taken three of them and his healing was not guaranteed. “You must feed,” he urged Leanna,” who nodded before she found a willing host in the hallway. It was now up to Fernando, with Imogen’s help to guide Diego’s spirit back into his body.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen held Fernando's hand. "I will help."

She closed her eyes again. She kept the calm radiating outward but then turned part of her mind on Fernando. She stood in her mind, draped in darkness and starlight. She took Fernando's hand and the both reached out to Diego.

Come back to us. Come back to your family. Her voice in her mind was gentle and coaxing. It radiated warmth and caring. Come back to your body now.

She focused on drawing him to her. Drawing them both to her. Please Diego. Come to us.

 

[The_gladiator]

Fernando was light beside her, a warm light of love for his brother. He held a flickering form, Diego. Slowly they coaxed the form back.

Finally, brown eyes opened and there was life in his gaze again. It was Morgan who offered a wrist to Diego. Her ancient blood was what he would need. Morgan rarely opened a vein for anyone, and tired as she was it was her or Gabriel, and Gabriel needed his strength to defend them. She knew this now.

Finally, Fernando turned to Gabriel, “Put him to sleep, Antonio and I will put him in the ground.” Gabriel nodded, “Take Esteban. Antonio will spend time with Leanna, she needs to see to his wounds.

Slowly the room began to empty of figures as they went to lay Diego in the earth, in hopes that mother earth would finish the healing process and strengthen what they had done.

Gabriel sat on the edge of the bed reaching a tired hand out to Imogen.
Clearly looking tired.

 

[SandS13]

Around her everyone was moving. Feeding, leaving.

For Imogen, it was like time had stopped. She was now deep in her own mind. She could feel the others withdrawing. Not just those in the room but the others who had reached out to help with the healing. So many voices and so few she knew yet they had felt the pull of her mind. Where had they been? Were they close?

No. Many felt far away. How had she done that?

Mi amor.... The voice called to her from somewhere in the shadows. Imogen began to pull her energy back. They cannot keep you from me. I will rid you of your captors and this other.. There was anger there.

It felt as if her mind snapped back to itself. Her heart was racing and in a state of panic she built strong barriers about her mind. She closed off everything except her own thoughts.

A hand touched her. Imogen's eyes flickered up. Gabriel looked exhausted. She shifted to her knees and it was then that her own weariness hit her. She hid it, he did not need hers adding onto his. Standing, she came to him. Her hands pulled his head to her chest as she hugged him to her.

"You need rest." Her fingers moved through his hair.

 

[The_gladiator]

It was interesting how much the way that she held him looked so much like how Morgan had held him for that brief moment before Diego’s attack. Seated on the bed he leaned into her. “Thank you little one,” he said, grateful for the support.

“He was there, I could sense him when we were all connected, lurking on the edges. Does he still speak to you?” Gabriel asked finally taking a deep breath and gathering his strength, looking up at Imogen. He took her hand again, “You have been so strong through all that has happened.” They both knew the next attack could be moments away. But He knew that Dimitri was methodical, he would not strike again this night. Per all the others he would strike again in a couple of days. In fact, his time table had been pushed up by Antonio’s rash attack.

That attack was what Morgan was vilifying Antonio for even as Leanna worked on his wounds, the hunter stripped to his waist. “You endangered my city, not to mention your brother,” he harangued Antonio, who rather than defiant looked somewhat cowed.

“It was rash, I understand that.” He said softly.

“You are lucky he is not dead,” she snarled in his face, almost shouting. Leanna lay a gentle hand on Morgan’s chest, pushing her back. Morgan moved to slap it away but the healer seemed to find fire somewhere in her spirit and actually shoved Morgan back.

“He is injured, you will let me tend to him. Your words, though justified do nothing to help this situation m’lady,” Leanna offered.

 

[SandS13]

Morgan inhaled and stood firm. She allowed the healer her space.

"We may have to call in other sentinels. We need Vladimir here for certain. He needs to remove the blocks in Gabriel's mind." She had forgotten that Antonio had not been here for that part.

"We owe a great deal to our little bird...Her powers are even more than I predicted. I have not decided if this is going to cause more problems or less..." Morgan was speaking more to herself now than to Antonio.

She looked at him. "You and your brothers are given my full protection and use of my home for as long as it takes to find Dimitri. I will strengthen my protections around this place and call more about us. We will need all the reinforcements I can gather."

"Pardon me mistress...what about your auction?" Kiernan, one of her seconds stepped out of the shadows. "They are arriving tomorrow."

Morgan snarled. She had forgotten all about it. Gabriel had taken her most precious item. "I do not know yet." She waved him away.

In the room, Imogen let him take her hand. She nodded. "Yes but I have done what I can to keep him out for now. He took advantage of the opening. He knows of them, of you. He won't stop." Her eyes looked as if she was staring off into the distance, seeing things that weren't there. "He keeps saying I know him but I don't. I have none of her memories. I can't remember parts of my own life. How can I be expected to know hers?"

She smiled down at him sadly. "Bad memory." She pointed to her head. "It is why I keep such detailed notes." Imogen was tired. "What do we do now?"

 

[The_gladiator]

“I don’t believe that your memory is that bad,” Gabriel said softly. “I suspect someone has tampered with your memory, but I do not have the strength to sift through your mind to look for them. I suspect Morgan has kept a great many things from you, some to protect you, others, probably to her benefit.” He gave her hand a squeeze. “There is much to do, planning, finding other assistance. However, I also need to continue to instruct you in your powers. You are learning at a prodigious rate.” His fingers idly stroked her hand. “I suspect that we will need to bring in someone to remove the blocks from my mind. I do not know that Vladimir himself will be able to come. He is busy with his Xavier Problem.” He sighed, “There are others that can come, though.” His voice was tired, but he knew he needed help, they all did.

Antonio bowed his head to Morgan, “Thank you for your hospitality lady Morgan. My brothers and I are grateful. We would like to bring in our families, but I am not sure it is safe to do so. We brought some of our assistants, but others like bonded partners, are still far from here. I know that Celina especially is eager to be reunited with Fernando. If there are sentinels coming to join perhaps, they can escort them in.” He seemed hesitant now second guessing his own judgment.

“Do you really think Vlad himself will come?” Antonio asked, “Doesn’t he have a Xavier problem, still?” Xavier was one of the reasons that the dawning had taken place. A ruthless killer who had decimated human populations to a point where the vampire nation had to come out to humans, to explain the murders, the killings. To prevent humans from widespread witch hunts against the vampire population. “Other sentinels will come, though, if you call,” he said, “Lord knows they like to muck around in other’s business.”

 

[SandS13]

"Do not do anything. Rest." Imogen resisted the urge to utter terms of endearment to him. He called her little one but...

She kept things relative. A bond, while serious was not an invitation to emotional intimacy, at least in Imogen's mind. It was a fairly human tendency. "I welcome your knowledge. I feel like I have no idea what I am doing but acting on instinct instead of knowledge."

Her hands moved through his hair. "Do you need to feed again?" Imogen tilted her neck offering it to him. "You are needed, too important to be left weak."

Morgan sighed. "I do not know if he will but the others will. Bring your families, slowly. To do too much will alert him and he will lash out. We have a day...two at most given his previous trends but I fear he is escalating because she is no longer human and I can no longer hide her."

Her voice was tinged with regret and sadness. "Bring Diego's family first. He needs them and his bond with Diego..his happiness will feed his twins healing." Morgan closed her eyes. "There are difficult times to come."

 

[The_gladiator]

“Your instincts serve you well,” he murmured, beginning to be lulled by her fingers stroking through his hair. What was it about her, that soothed the beast inside him? “I would not make such offers were I you little one,” he whispered against her neck, “You need your strength as much as I do, “but his tongue was already skimming over her pulse, clearly tempted by tasting her, a flavor he was quickly becoming addicted to.

Antonio seemed to be considering as Leanna finished her healing on his wounds. Her tongue sweeping over the scratches on his torso. There was nothing sexual about the act though it could have easily been if he wasn’t so distracted.

“You would rouse Dimitri’s suspicion less if the Sentinels you sent for were Nicholas’s band. You after all own a club. It would be less suspicious if the night fliers or what ever they call themselves these days came to play a show or two for your people, rather than random Ancients suddenly arriving in the City. It won’t fool him, but he might underestimate their power. Also, you have to consider the humans and their suspicion level if you start bringing in a massive influx of strange vampires.” Antonio’s words were surprisingly wise, revealing that when his passions weren’t ruling him, he actually had a canny mind. After all, he had kept his family alive in hiding for centuries. “I do not know who all is in the band still, but Nicholas is an ancient, and Byron is still singing if I recall. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve been to Nicholas’s territory and Live After Death. I recognize they’re settled in that area now, but there is no way that they won’t come to Gabriel’s call.”

“Gabriel paints their album art,” Esteban commented from the corner where he waited watching.

“Didn’t know you were such a fan,” Antonio couldn’t help snarling somewhat snidely. Turning his attention back to Morgan he nodded, “Yes, Celina will be the first I bring in for Fernando and Diego, thank you again.”

 

[SandS13]

"Take from me." Imogen tilted her head, offering herself to him. She had not fed at all since she woke but other than mental exhaustion she didn't feel drained. "I offer freely to you. I would not deny you anything."

Morgan nodded. She had to admit that Antonio's idea was a good one. "I will start with Nicholas. It will bolster our numbers and strength greatly."

She looked at Antonio. "Bring whomever you like. They all have my protection, access to my stock of staff. Whatever you need. This is a new threat, a new fight and none of us are prepared. I had plans..." Her voice trailed off. Morgan shook her head. "It matters not. Plans change and we adapt. It is how we survive."

 

[The_gladiator]

He growled low in his throat as he scraped his teeth along her pulse. He pulled her into his lap so she straddled him, hands sliding up her back. His mouth found its way to her neck again and he shook his head, pushing back further, dipping her back a little, he bared the upper swell of her left breast. He let his tongue trace over her pulse there. “From here is where I will feed,” he whispered. Making it a sensual act not just a practical one. His teeth bit down piercing her breast, reaffirming their connection.

Antonio nodded his thanks to Morgan’s words, “Thank you. May I ask what your plans were?” he asked curiously as Leanna finished. She went to leave but Antonio shackled her wrist in his hand keeping her close. His look suggested that he wanted to explore things with her, but after finished with his audience with Morgan.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen sighed as he pulled her into his lap. She moaned as he moved her blouse away. Her lips parted and then she shook as his teeth pierced her skin. "Gabriel..." Her voice was soft and her hands drew him in closer, welcoming him to her breast and to feed from her. She didn't care that she hadn't fed today, all she wanted was him. Her eyes moved to the ceiling. She couldn't say it though. She would just be there for him.

Morgan shook her head. "I do not know." She left the room.

 

[The_gladiator]

Antonio was irritated at the lack of response from Morgan but thought he would push her later. For now, he turned his attention to Leanna. “Join me,” he said in his best seductive voice. The healer blushed a bit but nodded her agreement with that.

Imogen had fed on Gabriel and been given blood the night before, but it was difficult to remember it was only the previous evening that she was converted. She wouldn't have fed this night. He did not take much. He would have to teach her to hunt, to feed. Though the thought of his feeding for her and only allowing her to feed on him appealed to the predator inside him. Lapping at the pinpricks he let his mouth trail down until he could take her nipple into his mouth. He moaned low around it.

He rolled his eyes up to look into her eyes as his teeth scraped over the sensitive bud of her nipple. He could barely control how much he wanted her in that gaze.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen bit her lower lip as she looked down at Gabriel. Her nails raked along his scalp. "Do you have other hungers you wish satisfied?" The corners of her mouth lifted slightly. She leaned into him a little, encouraging him to continue.

Her body moved, hips pressing forward in his lap.

"I would satisfy all your hungers Gabriel." She whispered it into his ear.

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel growled low with pleasure and anticipation as her breath tickled his ear. His chuckle was low. “Yes, I have many other hungers little one. I should take you to feed first, would not want you to be too weak,” he said.

Even as he spoke, he continued teasing her nipple, clearly being distracted despite his words that made sense. His hands were warm as they slid under the back of her shirt, playing over her bare skin.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen sighed and melted against him. "Just take me...just enjoy me...forget all other things..." Her voice was a soft, a velvet like caress in his ear. She didn't want him to stop.

She moaned. Her hands kept moving in his hair. "Please...let me satisfy you. Let me be with you. Touch me..."

Her lips were pressed to his ear lobed, to his temple. She longed to feel his lips on hers but his tongue was on her nipple causing the most wonderful sensations to move through her body. Her hand moved down his neck and across his shoulders.

 

[The_gladiator]

His teeth scraped over her nipple. He firmly tugged at her shirt, popping buttons as he bared her breasts to his hunger. His hand sliding up to the free breast. He was getting access to her breasts he had hinted at wanting earlier.

Her words spurred him on and his mouth moved to her other breast as he lay her back on the bed, pressing his body atop hers as he continued to tease her, prior to returning to her lips, his passion mounting as he claimed her again. “I want you. Rest assured that’s the truth,” he murmured.