The Dark Before the Dawn (Closed for Gladiator)

[The_gladiator]

It didn’t take too long for Nicholas to get his reason for why the Lions were present. The second dancer on the main stage was Michelle, the Lion’s Regina, or mate to their Rex, their king. She wasn’t a regular here, and he must have missed the memo that she was guesting here tonight. He swore under his breath. Someone in scheduling had screwed up with this set up. Having Dora, one of his regular dancers who was a lioness, dance could have been the explanation, but that probably wouldn’t start a fight. Having panthers ogle the Lion’s queen could start a war even faster than Helena could. Someone could be in pretty big trouble for the scheduling mistake. If it was that idiot Marcus he’d kill him himself.

He continued to keep an eye on Rory, sharing a look or a smile with her on occasion.

Rory couldn’t know that Bobby was one of the panther Lair’s submissive members. He had probably fucked, well rather, been fucked by Helena, there was no way someone as weak as Bobby would be in charge of that arrangement. He had probably done it for free too as Helena had every right to demand he service her, although most likely she had just simply seduced him. If you needed to have big displays of your power you often weren’t as powerful as you thought. On a normal day Helena would probably not have let someone like Bobby feel her breasts so easily, but it must have pleased her to get under the new girl’s skin. Payback for her trying to steal Nicholas, perhaps.

“Just ignore her.” A small voice said as a small woman slipped into the break room behind Rory. “I’m the only other one she doesn’t like here either, well besides Michelle, but she’s not a regular here.” At the name Michelle she gestured towards the main stage. This new woman had brown hair, cut short; she made even Rory look tall. “Dora.” She said sticking out a hand to Rory. She passed a look over Rory, “You’ll do well here I think.” She gave herself a look; she was not well endowed so curiously did not look the part of a dancer. “I’m a contortionist and acrobat.” She explained as if to answer a question she must get a lot, concerning her body, even if Rory had or hadn’t planned to ask.

 

[isolemnlyswear89]

Rory turned when the other girl started speaking. She smiled at the girl's words.

"Well I'm glad I'm not the ONLY one she doesnt like" Rory said, laughing.

She glanced at the considerable amount of money she had made so far that night and smiled to herself. It felt good to be having such a successful night. The band was playing wonderfully, the music was easy to move to, and already she had several requests for lap dances, despite Helena's obvious attempts to steal her money.

Rory rested another couple minutes, took another swig of water, and headed back out, thanking Dora for the quick chat. She saw the lady, Michelle, on the main stage, and several men watching her intently.

One of those man whistled and reached up as if to touch Michelle. Before he even had the chance, another man from another group was out of his chair and almost snarling at the first. The altercation was a mere three or four feet away from Rory and she froze at the viciousness she was witnessing.

Immediately bouncers were called as the two men got closer to obvious physical violence, their friends closing in on all sides, jostling anybody in their path, Rory included.

 

[The_gladiator]

Nicholas just hated it when he was right sometimes. It didn’t take long for someone to start something. He should have guessed that one of the panthers would start it. The Lions were quicker to violence, but he hadn’t seen a lot of the Lair leadership on the panther’s side of the room. No one with a cooler head to restrain the rabble and keep one of them from doing something dumb, like reaching out to grab Michelle. Yep, that pretty much ranked up there as gloriously dumb. He snarled to himself, it appeared like the most dominant Panther in the room was Helena, and he highly doubted she would lift a finger to control her people, some alpha she would make.

“Hey boss you seeing this?” Byron asked Nicholas with an eye on the crowd as one of the lions objected to the panther’s action.

“Yeah…” he abruptly stopped playing the song he was playing and played a different riff, one that sounded strange on guitar especially in that moment, but it was a cue to the staff. It was just ironic that the song was pink panther. It was Nicholas’s cue to get the plain old humans out of the bar, before some idiot lost it and shifted. Experienced staff like Melany appeared almost from nowhere heading the human customers out.

Nicholas watched Mel grab Rory hooking her arm through hers. He hoped she would get her out; he wanted to break the realities of their world to her a little easier. However Melany was leading her to the next table of humans. “Can you get them outside?” Melany asked Rory, “This could get very ugly, very fast.”

Nicholas leapt off the stage, followed by Byron, Axle, and the other band members, vampires all. Nicholas could see that the panthers had the number, however, with his Regina dancing, the lion’s Rex was there, and his group was far more organized. Not for the first time Nicholas was glad they had a strict no weapons policy in the club. Not that teeth and claws weren’t weapons, but he hoped it could get broken up before that happened. The bouncers were trying to hold them back and clearly getting their asses kicked. For the moment the fight was stalled as the new goal of both parties seemed to be to pound on the bouncers. They could do that, as long as they didn’t shift before the humans were out. That’s all he needed another call to the cops.

He formed the point of a flying wedge, the others fanning out behind them as he cut into the throng, knifing towards the lion’s Rex. Not because his group were inherently more to blame, or because he cared more for the panthers, but the lions respected strength more than the panthers. If he kicked Gerald’s ass, and kicked it hard enough, the lions at least might back down.

 

[isolemnlyswear89]

Before Rory knew what to do, Mel was upon her and asking her to escort the nearest table outside. Rory quickly gestured to them, smiling invitingly, even though inside she was a bit startled. She knew fights would happen at a place like this. It was inevitable. But this... this was... beyond what she had suspected. The bouncers were being pummeled and she briefly wondered if someone should call the police... but she figured someone had it handled.

She watched as the band got off stage and basically marched into the middle of the melee. Her heart caught in her throat at the idea of Nicholas or Byron being injured, but before she could see what was happening the doors shut, blocking their view from outside.

Most of the patrons gave up and left, piling into cars and rolling out. Melany came from behind the building and approached Rory, patting her hand in a motherly way.

"No worries, dear. This happens often" she said smiling. "The boys will straighten it out quickly".

Rory eyed the door skeptically. "This place has secrets" she said, voicing the thought that had been plaguing her since last night, eyeing Mel, hoping for a clue to what was happening.

 

[The_gladiator]

Mel considered her with eyes that seemed far too old for her face. “Don’t we all sugar?” she asked fingertips playing lightly across Rory’s cheek, and the bruises concealed behind the makeup. “Trust Nicholas and Byron.” She seemed to try to think how to explain it. “Think of it like a gang war,” she said trying to explain the reason for the fight, “Not really like that, but still. Just be glad there’s a strict no weapons policy.” It appeared as if she wanted to go back into the bar, but seemed reluctant to do so, probably fearing that She would follow her in.

Just then there was a squawk from her belt. Yanking up a radio Melany responded, “Mel, go ahead. Its Marcus, is everyone out?”

“Yes, everyone not involved in the fight. What’s going on in there?” she asked clearly itching to go back in.

“Looks like Nicholas is trying to get to Gerald.” Mel worried her lip with her teeth. “Byron and Axle are keeping the others off of him the rest of the band seem to be trying to rescue the bouncers.” Mel tapped at her thigh as she listened to the relayed explanation.

“Any weapons?” Mel asked seeming to hesitate on how to ask if any had shifted with Rory right there.

“None yet, but someone might pull one soon.” For once Marcus didn’t sound like a haughty bastard; he frankly sounded a little scared, which was a stark contrast to Melany’s calm.

“Best call Louis.” Mel advised. “Maybe he can get ahold of his people. Lord knows Helena won’t.”

Nicholas hit the crowd like a bowling ball, and the men fell back like tenpins. He tried not to permanently injure anyone but otherwise was none too gentle as he smashed towards Gerald. When the two met, the crowd threatened to shove Nicholas back, but Byron and Axle, the beer keg of a drummer were there to hold them back. It didn’t take long for the men to stop to watch the dominance fight at least the ones who were able to see what was happening. A circle around them began to form. Nicholas hit him hard and low trying to end the fight quickly. But he fell back too quickly, executing a throw of the taller man. Gerald kicked Nicholas as he fell, the kick missing as Nicholas arched his back. Much of the fight that ensued was too fast for the human eye to follow; very few blows actually landed so quickly were their countermoves. It almost resembled a dance so darkly elegant was it.

 

[isolemnlyswear89]

Rory heard the information being relayed across the walkie talkie device, and her eyes grew worried. Why was Nicholas the one heading the fight? What the hell were the bouncers for? If Nicholas was so good at breaking up fights, why wasn't HE a bouncer?

So many questions burned in her mind. Mel hadn't been any help. Just telling her to trust them. A gang's war. On her first night. And the man that she was extremely attracted to you was right in the middle of it. Just her luck.

And Marcus... that was almost the most worrisome thing of all. For somebody so callous, and such a prick, he seemed genuinely worried about this. Was he afraid somebody was going to get shot? Stabbed? Was this that serious?

She could still hear shouting, as well as intermittent crashes from inside of the club. It sounded like a real war, not just a gang war as Mel had called it.

An especially loud crash followed by several shouts was heard, and Rory laid her hand upon Mels arm instinctively, worry written all over her face.

The radio on Mel's hip squawked again.

"Louis is here" Marcus relayed.

 

[The_gladiator]

Melany watched Rory’s face, “Don worry Sugar.” She said softly.

With the squawk of the radio Mell straightened, “Marcus calling it in meant one of their perimeter guards had spotted him. “I’ll go get him.”

“Tell him to hurry, the Money I’m gonna have to shell out to fix this place is rapidly increasing.” And some of Marcus’s typical demeanor returned. “Gerald?” she snapped, Keeping Rory in toe as she headed towards a sleek sports car that had pulled up to the curb.

“Nicholas has him down, his people look to be backing off that just leaves Louis’s bunch.”

“Detective Jacob Louis, or retired detective Jacob Louis, since he’d been outed as a shapeshifter boiled out of his car. He was all long lean muscle, and he most definitely wasn’t unarmed, his black shoulder rig standing out against the white shirt of his suit. Clearly he had lost the jacket on the way. “What’s this about, I was out to dinner.”

Melany cut him off. “You need to control your people.” She almost snarled in his face. “One of them grabbed Michelle and Gerald’s people started a war.” The frown on His face grew at her every word, already beginning to pick up his pace. “None of my leadership was here?”

“Just Helena.”

Fucking useless whore.” He growled, clearly not fond of Helena either.

Melany opened her mouth as if to tell him to watch his mouth, but closed it as Louis stepped again towards the door. Then she did speak, “Don be thinkin’ you’re takin’ that gun in there Sugar. I don care if you do have a badge.” He looked like he wanted to argue but realizing there wasn’t time drew the gun and handed it over.

Melany and Rory were treated to a sight of the fight as the door opened. There was a lot of chaos except for the circle where two figures moved quickly attacking one another. Melany pulled off her radio off her belt again, “Marcus you fuck I thought you told me Gerald was down.” She said, eyes trained on the battle, clearly looking for Byron, she had already found Nicholas.

“He got back up.” Was the reply.

“Louis is on his way in.”

Nicholas had been standing over Gerald, glaring down several of his lieutenants. “Enough.” Was all he said and some of them began to back off. That was when he failed to see Gerald sweep his legs out from under him and the battle was back on. Finally Nicholas caught the other’s arm in a joint lock, holding it behind his back. “Yield.” He snarled. Gerald, apparently possessed of more guts than brains leaned into the lock, his arm snapping with a sickening pop as he tried to squirm free. However with one arm, the fight did not last much longer. Nicholas connected a kick with the man’s broken arm, and then caught the table leg someone threw at his head, and used the end of it to knock Gerald upside the head and finally the man went down, hopefully this time to stay down.

Nicholas looked around surveying the carnage. Most of the fighting was dying down, Jake having calmed his people down, managing to not get drawn into the fight himself. The alpha was even now dressing down Bobby, the idiot who had started it all.

“Looks like we might be able to go in,” Melany said turning to Rory having forgotten for a moment that she was there. “I think Byron’s hurt.” He said softly worry in her tone.

 

[isolemnlyswear89]

Rory watched wide-eyed as the two men circled around each other inside of the building. She was still far enough out that she couldn't see very well, but she could see that the men were moving lightning-quick, striking out at each other with unbelievably fast blows that were powerful enough to knock anybody else flat on their back. How they weren't killing each other with those blows was beyond Rory's comprehension.

The man with the gun who had just arrived was talking to somebody, there was still lots of shouting going on. Finally, Rory watched with her heart in her throat as Nicholas struck out at the man he was fighting, sending him to the ground in a crumpled heap.

Melany suggested that the fight was over and they could go back in. Rory felt frozen to the spot with the shock and fear. There were still so many men in there, how were they to know that they weren't going to start fighting again? She was terrified that Nicholas would be hurt next time. But she was also anxious to see about Byron, to see if he was okay or if he was seriously injured.

It was that thought that finally kicked her into gear, propelling her forward so that she trailed in Melany's wake. The other girl immediately headed off to where Byron must be, leaving Rory behind. Rory stood by the doorway, her eyes darting around anxiously, her skin pale and clammy with fear. Nicholas was having a heated discussion with another man, and Rory couldn't keep her eyes off of him.

Their eyes connected and Rory didn't move, unsure of what to do or say at that moment in time.

 

[The_gladiator]

Nicholas was arguing with Gerald’s second, who looked like he wanted to pick up where he left off, but was restraining himself. Nicholas was asking him in no uncertain terms to leave. His eyes met Rory’s over the heads of the crowd and he couldn’t help smiling a little at seeing her. So she hadn’t fled. He had to admit he was happy to see that. Nicholas was trying to get Michael to pay for the damages, but the other man wasn’t having any of that. Seeing Marcus’s approach, Nicholas was only too happy to turn that over to him. This would free him up to see how everyone else was.

It didn’t take him long to find what he was looking for. He moved swiftly to Byron’s side, the man lay on the ground, Axle and Mell standing over him protectively. Mell then knelt down to inspect him. He arrived quickly and also knelt. “He’s been stabbed m’lord,” she pointed to the knife in his stomach. He swore softly. The blade was silver, of course, and there was a soft sizzle as it continued to damage him, and would do so until it was removed. Nicholas yanked the blade clear. Who had knifed his lieutenant like that? He tossed the blade aside inspecting the wound. He was losing blood rather rapidly. He needed blood, Nicholas’s to heal him, and Mel or someone else’s to replenish what he had lost and rebuild his strength.

Sensing what he needed Axle moved to stand hiding Nicholas from view. He would have offered blood himself, but Nicholas was far older, his ancient blood would do Byron more good than his own. Melany was crying silent tears for him, but her hands were steady as she gently opened Byron’s mouth, knowing what Nicholas needed.

Fangs lengthened and Nicholas tore into his own wrist, the blood flowing into Byron’s mouth. He had passed out from the blood loss. Mel’s expert fingers worked massaging his throat, urging him to swallow. Reflexes kicked in and he began to swallow. Nicholas was aware when Byron Woke, the sucking at his wrist became more instant as the warrior accepted the influx of fresh blood, the ancient blood already going to work. He pulled back after a long moment, his tongue respectfully closing the wound.

By the time that Rory arrived the process was complete and she found Nicholas holding a towel to the wound, while the wound closed. “He needs my blood,” Mel said softly. Suddenly her eyes flicked up seeing Rory.

“He’ll be ok,” Nicholas assured Mel. The woman nodded wiping at tears as her makeup ran in streaks with the tears and the rubbing. Axle and the rest of the band surrounded them and Lifted Byron and were beginning to carry him out. He already had ahold of Mel’s hand. It wasn’t long before he struck and began to feed; Nicholas wanted him out of the room with so many witnesses before that happened.

As they carried Byron away Jake walked up. “Louis,” Nicholas said by way of greeting.

“He gonna be OK? One of your lieutenants, isn’t he?”

“My second, yes.” Nicholas said, not knowing how to get Louis to shut up, he didn’t want Rory to know all of this. He flicked his gaze towards her trying to give the other man a signal. He misinterpreted the look, thinking he wanted to introduce himself to her.

“Detective, err... former detective Jacob Louis at your service Ma’am. I run a group of hotels and casinos now that I retired.” Pausing before saying the word retired, offering Rory a hand. He studiously tried to keep his gaze on her face, though his eyes kept flicking down to her barely covered breasts.

“Find out whose knife this is.” Nicholas said handing him the blade, “I know you still have contacts on the force.”

“You want the police involved?”

“I didn’t say that, just that you could probably find out about the knife.” Louis frowned but took it and turned away.

Nicholas stood then and went to Rory, eyes running over her from head to toe, “Were you hurt at all?” he asked his tone sounding concerned about her. His hands twitching as if he wanted to touch everywhere he was looking, though for once such a scan was not sexual.

 

[isolemnlyswear89]

Rory hung back on the sidelines, unsure of where she should be or what she should be doing. She was still a newcomer here... an outsider... no matter how welcoming her new coworkers were. She fluttered nervously, pacing slowly.

She watched as Marcus took over the argument with the man, and Nicholas turned and went straight to Byron. Her worry for the man who had taken her under his wing eventually overrode her hesitancy and she wandered quietly over to see how he was.

She arrived just in time to hear Mel mention Byron needing her blood. Rory's eyes widened. Did she mean a blood transfusion? Was it that bad?

The band stood and helped carry Byron out and Rory was plagued with the question of why they didnt call paramedics. Didn't Byron need a hospital?

Then the man named Louis approached. He called Byron Nicholas's lieutenant and Rory's eyebrows furrowed. She politely introduced herself to Louis but her eyes kept straying back to Nicholas. What the fuck was going on here?

She noticed Louis couldn't keep his eyes off of her and realized she should probably go change. Just as the thought occurred to her, Louis left, leaving her with Nicholas.

He asked if she was hurt and she shook her head.

"Are you ok?" She asked softly, laying her hand once again upon his chest as if she couldn't resist the urge to touch him.

Her eyes gazed around.

"What the hell is going on here?" She finally asked. It was obvious that things weren't adding up in her mind and she had many questions.

 

[The_gladiator]

A million questions were written in her eyes. So much confusion. She started though with a question as to his health. Her hand lay on his chest, where his heartbeat was slow and steady. “There are some injuries, yes.” He said finally. Somehow not wanting to lie to her about that. “Nothing like Byron’s though.”

“Did Mel not explain to you?” he asked, by way of trying to learn what she already knew. She was his newest staff, and someone he felt drawn to. As the leader he should have been doing a dozen other things other than talking to her, but talking to her he was. “Mel is a universal donor.” He said, thankful that the woman’s human blood type was indeed O Negative, that would be an awkward lie to get caught in and one that could cost another human their life, so instead it became a convenient truth he could use.

“Let’s get you changed and we will talk. I want a better look at those bruises.” He said as if there hadn’t been the equivalent of a gang war in the bar, as if nothing had happened. However he was unaware of where they had taken Byron, and as he lead her into one of the changing rooms, He saw Mell. She was lying down facing them on her side, where she had obviously lay down to make things easier on Byron. The singer’s strong arms were recovered enough to be holding her close, hands cupping each of her full breasts. His arms and his blonde head were all that were visible of Byron. The concern was what he was doing, clearly feeding at the woman’s neck, her pretty eyes fluttering closed with the pain/pleasure of it. Normally, if someone walked in like that, Byron would notice, would close the wound but when he made no move to stop it was clear that he was still pretty injured and not fully aware. Melany reached a hand up to tug Byron’s hair down to try to conceal what they were doing.

Nicholas stepped in front of Rory, trying to block her view. “I did not realize the room was occupied.” He said softly stepping into her gently urging her to take steps back so he could close the door again. He silently cursed and wondered how much she had seen.

 

[isolemnlyswear89]

Rory closed her eyes briefly when Nicholas mentioned wanting to look at her bruises better. She didn't want him looking too closely... she was afraid he would grow angry again. Why he had such a strong reaction, though, she didn't understand. She felt like he was just trying to distract her from the Mel thing, which she wasn't fully buying his excuse of her being a universal donor. She didn't understand why they didn't call a medic.

She followed along behind Nicholas, lost in her own thoughts, until they entered the private room. What she saw made her blood run cold. Byron was... for lack of a better way to say it... sucking the blood out of Mel's neck. Rory was frozen, her eyes wide, her skin going ghostly white. She had heard, of course, about vampires. That they were real. They weren't just storybook creatures anymore. But she had never, to her knowledge, been faced with one. It was the only conclusion she could come too.

And Mel... Mel looked like she was in a mixture of pain and pleasure, so intense was the expression on her face. Nicholas quickly moved, as if to cover up what was happening in the room. He gently pushed Rory out and closed the door. Rory was all too happy to back away.

She back over to a chair in the hallway and sat down, in disbelief.

"WHAT... was that?" she finally found the words to say. Her eyes hardened as she looked at Nicholas, practically daring him to lie to her. She knew what she had seen, she just needed him t confirm it. And she didn't know what she would do with the information.

"Please tell me the truth, Nicholas" she said, more softly.

 

[The_gladiator]

Nicholas stepped closer when Rory sat down. The shock was clearly written across her face. He stepped up, invading her personal space a bit, tilting her head up with his fingertips under her chin, his eyes so dark, searching her face. He was prepared to erase the memory for her, but he wasn’t sure that was necessary, yet. “The truth can be a dangerous thing Lady Rory.” He said softly, surprisingly gentle, his tone for once matching his touch. “The truth is I don’t know if you can handle the truth.” Here he chuckled a bit, an image of Jack Nicholson jumping into his head his own words reminding him of that tidbit of pop culture.

He studied her, making very good very solid eye contact, though not yet trying to mesmerize her with his eyes. “There are ways to make sure you don’t remember any of tonight,” he said softly, “You can go back to your life with what’s his name—Curt—and you won’t remember any of this.” He was offering her a way out, seeing the fear and surprise in her eyes. He wished she wouldn’t take it, though he was prepared to do what was necessary if she wanted out.

 

[isolemnlyswear89]

Rory felt Nicholas's gentle fingertips on her face and looked up into his eyes. Her confusion was still evident.

" I don't want to forget " she said firmly, " I just want to know the truth. Is it a dangerous thing? To be around somebody who... Well somebody like that? "

She kind of laughed sarcastically when he mentioned her life with Curt, rolling her eyes.

"Of course I don't want to go back to Curt," she said vehemently, fire flashing in her eyes. "Why would anybody want to go back to that? If I thought there was a way out, I would have taken it by now. Do you think I like getting the shit beat out of me anytime he feels like being angry? Being told I'm a lazy slut? Curt isn't the type of person who would just give up. He thinks he owns me. And in a way he does. He will never willingly let me leave. And I couldn't even if I wanted to. I have nothing. No money, no place to go, nobody to turn to. That's why I got this job in the first place. Being a stripper would never be my first choice of a job. But, dancing is what I'm good at, and this is the easiest way to make money off of it. So what I really need to know is, am I in danger here?"

She was embarrassed to feel tears form behind her eyelids. She wasn't the type of person to cry. They weren't tears of sadness, they were tears of frustration and anger. She wasn't angry at Nicholas, just at the entire situation. Not to mention she didn't like feeling confused and lost. She quickly averted her eyes and blinked them away, hoping Nicholas hadn't even seen them.

 

[The_gladiator]

Notice he did though, his other hand coming up; thumb gently wiping away her tears. “He can disappear.” He said matter of factly, as if such a thing was normal. As if he had not just suggested that someone could off her boyfriend. “Prick like him would deserve what he got.” He realized in the back of his mind that after all she had seen tonight, hearing him speak of killing, even a bastard like Curt, was probably not the best way to be comforting.

Therefore, he steered the conversation to another aspect of her mini rant. “So take another job here.” He offered softly, “You could bartend, could serve, do you sing? There are many Traveler songs we cannot perform because we do not have Ehlana.” He shrugged, he was not into forcing individuals to do work they did not enjoy. Most of his dancers loved to perform and this was the best way they could do it. "Though, for what its worth you're one of the best dancer's here."

“As to Byron, did he seem like a threat to you? Did he seem dangerous to you? I would turn it back on you; you seem like a better judge of character than that, then again you are with Curt, so maybe I am reading you wrong?” His voice had been exceedingly gentle throughout the conversation, a stark contrast to her emotions. However, no matter the reason, that last sentence came out a little biting. It was probably because of the unintentional prejudice she had shown. He very well could not tell her that Byron wasn’t dangerous, he was, quite dangerous, but he needed her to think, to come to her senses and judge for herself, how had the singer, how had everyone treated her so far?

 

[isolemnlyswear89]

Rory's brow furrowed when Nicholas said Curt could disappear and her mind went to Byron... did he mean?.... surely not... but then again afrer what she had witnessed tonight she couldn't be sure. Nicholas asked if she had felt in danger at any point and she slowly shook her head.

"No" she said softly. "I'm sorry... its just... such a shock. I never expected... THAT". She eyed him critically. Louis had sais earlier that Byron was Nicholas's "lieutenant". Did that mean that Nicholas was a... vampire... too? She was afraid to ask.

Did it matter?

Her heart screamed no.

"I'm sorry" she said softly. "I didn't mean to be rude. Byron has been nothing but friendly and helpful. Of course he isnt dangerous.. but.. him and Mel... what was... is Mel ok?" Her eyes were worried as she asked him.

She noticed her hands were trembling now, probably an after effect of the shock of everything she had witnessed. She was also cold, her nipples beading against the barely the bra as she shivered slightly. She didnt know whether the cold was from a lack of clothes or the shock.

 

[The_gladiator]

“Be careful my lady not to put blinders on. Byron is one of the most dangerous individuals I know, I asked you to look on how he has treated you, and was he dangerous to you?” He wanted her to recognize the realities of what was going on there. He knew some of her other questions, about him, but he was not in the habit of volunteering information.

“Mel has offered her life for his so that he may heal. When one is injured as he was, anything less than complete willingness to sacrifice herself could affect his health and instinct to pursue pray. It is her love and willingness to die for him that will keep him sane, and her safe. She offers him the gift of her life’s blood willingly.” He paused realizing how dark and possibly fear inducing that sounded. “Mel is Byron’s human servant,” he explained after a pause, “She has been with him for hundreds of years now, he would no sooner intentionally hurt her as cut off his own arm. However it is her willingness to give her life that calms the predator.” He raked a hand through his hair, not sure he was explaining it well.

He saw her trembling and gathered her tiny hands into his own, before pulling her into his warmth. A warmth he only maintained through blood donations from people like her. Even now he eyed her pulse trying not to let the waves of hunger beat too strongly at him. Feeding at this time would not help calm her nerves at all.

 

[isolemnlyswear89]

Rory listened intently as Nicholas explained the relationship between Mel and Byron. Hundreds of years? Mel was hundreds of years old? It had been obvious outside how worried she had been of Byron. Rory had felt just as worried about Nicholas.

He reached out and pulled her to him and she couldn't help but burrow into the warmth he offered. He was so strong, a rock in this shaky moment. And he smelled delicious. After several moments she had calmed down a bit and gazed up at him.

"So Byron and Mel will both be ok?" She asked quietly. At his affirmation, she nodded.

"And to answer your inquiry about why I didn't get a different job.... Marcus said they were only hiring dancers... and if you remember... i barely got that job... thanks only to you" she said softly.

 

[The_gladiator]

At her follow up question to see if Byron and Mel would both be ok, he nodded slowly. “So far as I know.” He said softly, “He was injured, it was silver, but it wasn’t life threatening that I saw, and she will be a bit under the weather for a few days.” He left out that his blood had done wonders to Byron. He had not needed to enter Byron’s mind to start the healing process, it was clear that Byron had done that himself.

He snorted at mention of Marcus, “It is technically what we were looking for, but I’ll see what I can do.” He thought of offering her one of the manager positions but he couldn’t do that yet. Even if he had a good feeling about her, he did not know her very well yet; his team would not trust a newcomer that easily.

Moments later Mel opened the door, she looked a little shaky. “Is everythin ok out here?” she asked eyes sweeping over the two, where Nicholas held her protectively.

“Nicholas nodded. And Byron?”

“I will be fine.” He came a reply from the singer, as he came to the door blonde hair disheveled, which he knew probably bothered the foppish man more than the knife wound. “Is Rory alright?” Byron asked, “Furthermore, are you?”

“I will be fine,” Nicholas said, he looked down at Rory, “Lady Rory has just had a lot of shocks at once.”

“Get her some sugar, helps for shock.” Mel said, “I need some Juice myself, do you want me to take her?” Nicholas again looked down at Rory curious if she would go with Mel, or if she wished to stay with him.

 

[isolemnlyswear89]

Rory looked up as the door opened abd Mel and Byron came out slowly. She felt an overwhelming sense of relief that they were both ok. Mel had somehow become someone Rory cared about, in such a short period of time. Rory glanced around at the three people That she was in the room with. Somehow, all three of them had stolen a place in her heart already. Something about their fears protectiveness, their open arms, and their total acceptance of people, drew her in.

Mel asked if Rory wanted to come with her, and Rory was torn. On one hand she wanted to go with Mel, to really see that she was truly okay. On the other, she didn't want to be torn from Nicholas's arms quite yet. She was enjoying being in them too much. She looked up into Nicholas's eyes.

"Will i see you again before i go home?" She asked softly, making up her mind to go with Mel.

 

[The_gladiator]

Nicholas couldn’t help his smile as she asked if she would see him again. “Yes, of course. I still need to see if I can help with the bruises. And I of course will drive you home later.” He stroked a hand through her long hair. “Go change and get something to steady you, I will see you later.”

When they were gone he turned to face Byron, “Who knifed you?” He asked in a low voice. Byron shrugged, “It was someone in Gerald’s group but not one of his lions I knew.” Nicholas knew Byron was excellent with names and faces, so that did not bode well. As he spoke Byron was walking forward wrist extended to Nicholas. “You need to feed, take what I freely offer brother,”

Nicholas shook his head, “Your body will require it more than I.”

“Yes but I also fed from my human servant, you have not fed since just after rising. Unless you planned to feed on the woman.” They both knew who he meant.

Nicholas shrugged slightly, “I had of course considered it. Her taste is addicting to say the least.” Byron snorted.

“Are you so sure about her finding out about us?” Nicholas nodded,

“She was a bit hesitant but did not flee and seemed that she would handle it.”

Byron nodded. As they continued to speak Axle appeared in the room and without fanfare went to Nicholas and tore open his wrist. Nicholas eyed the crimson drops for a few seconds and then bent his head willingly. It would help work to neutralize the bruises and cracked bones given to him by Gerald. “Then I should heal her bruises, since she knows I am a vampire,” Byron said sounding completely reasonable. Nicholas could not believe the flash of raw jealousy that flashed through him. Axle winced as Nicholas’s grip on his forearm tightened.

“Easy Boss,” he said softly. Byron too had caught the action and lifted an eyebrow. “You will out yourself to her?” Axle asked as Nicholas sealed the wound.

“I hoped to fog her mind.” He said somewhat lamely. He imagined Byron’s blonde hair mixing with Rory’s red as he lapped at her delicate skin to heal her. He shot him a glare that if it could kill.

“Easy boss,” Byron said lifting his hands, “I was just trying to help since you seemed intent on playing all cloak and dagger with her.” Nicholas just sighed and nodded, he had some decisions to make regarding the young woman. “When do we get to kill the son of a bitch boyfriend?” Byron asked off hand.

“If I get my way, soon.” Nicholas said.


Meanwhile, Mel led Rory into a changing room where she could put on her own clothes. They next traveled back into the kitchens, where she soon produced juice and crackers as well as some cheese for herself and Gave Rory a chocolate bar to start with.

 

[isolemnlyswear89]

Rory followed along behind Mel, into the room where her clothes were being kept. She quickly changed back into them, feeling better already now that she had her own clothes back on. Mel was looking a little shaky and Rory eyed her cautiously.

Mel took her into the kitchen and they both sat down to eat something. Rory was quiet for a while, then she looked up at Mel and decided to ask.

"You.... youre ok?" She said quietly, her eyes shining with concern. "And Byron... he will be ok too? Nicholas said that, um, everything would be ok...."

She hesitated.

"How does it work? The whole situation between you and Byron... Nicholas kind of explained it. But I think he was hesitant to give me any details. He's not sure if I can handle it."

Mel smiled over at Rory and reached out to pat her hand.

"What me and Byron got going on... It would be hard for anybody else to understand. Anybody who has never experienced it wouldn't quite be able to comprehend it. Basically, I keep him alive... And in turn, he keeps me alive. I love that man like no other, and he loves me just as much. And that's all that really matters in the grand scheme of life, right sugar?" Mel said, her eyes going dreamy as she spoke of Byron.

"And Nicholas?" Rory asked, her voice a mere whisper.

Mel smiled again. "Hunny... everybody has secrets." Her eyes traveled to the bruises that were beginning to shine through again, clear as day.

"Nicholas is a good man... one of the best".

Rory could tell that she would get no more information from Mel. But in her heart... she felt as if she knew thr truth. She finished eating the candy bar and then stood.

"Where do you think I can find Nicholas?"

 

[The_gladiator]

Mel was unsure how to explain to Rory how it all worked. How she was Byron’s chief blood donor, his daytime protector when they had lived in rougher times, and Byron held the key to her immortality. It was all those things but so much more, so she just tried to explain it away as they kept each other alive and how much they loved one another. Mel knew she was not Byron’s one and only, that man was not wired that way, but she could also never doubt her place in his life. She gave Rory’s a hand a squeeze. “Knowing him, he’ll be in the main part of the club picking up. With luck some of those that started the fight will stick around to clean it up, though I won’t hold my breath.” Some of her color was returning, “He always takes a bit more than I am used to when he’s hurt like that, though I’ve certainly seen him recover from far worse. It also helped that I was not his first feeding after the injury, he had far stronger blood than I’ll ever have first.” Then she seemed to realize she said too much and just smiled, “But that’s neither here nor there. Marcus has probably initiated what he calls hazard pay,” she said changing the subject, “He pays double when people stay late to pick up the damages these little skirmishes leaves. That bastard hates spending money, but I think he hates hard work worse, so he’d rather pay others to do it for him.” Giving her another pat she shewed Rory off to presumably help out and find Nicholas in the process.

“Nicholas was meanwhile busy arguing with Louis. “I know my people started it,” Jake said sounding exasperated, as if he had already said this a dozen times already, “That doesn’t mean the Lair has the money to pay for it. Gerald’s people are just as responsible. Furthermore I’m not sure why Marcus seems to think you’ll have a better time convincing me, it’s not happening.”

“Because I’m scarier than he is,” Nicholas replied dryly.

“Won’t argue with that,” Jake muttered.

“One reason was at least Gerald was there to control his people. You had no leaders present.”

“Oh, fat lot of good that did, that just meant they were more methodical about pounding on your bouncers, great personnel management.” You could have cut the sarcasm with a knife. “I’m done.” With that he walked off.

“I didn’t say we were done.” Nicholas growled.

“Glad I didn’t ask your permission, then.” Jake said giving Nicholas a rude gesture as he walked away. Nicholas blew out a sigh. It was moments like this that he was reminded that he was not a people person, and furthermore, that life was easier when he killed people for a living. That and played music. He went back to stacking broken tables and chairs to be hauled out, and lining up the tables that were still whole. A task that some of Louis’s people were helping with. Even if the panther wouldn’t pay for it, at least his people were helping. He wondered idly where Helena was and what Jake planned to do about her. What a night it had been so far.

 

[isolemnlyswear89]

Rory found her way back out to the main part of the nightclub. She realized, suddenly, that she was absolutely exhausted. Must have been the letdown from all of the adrenaline from the night. Yet the idea of getting paid extra to help clean up was too enticing. So, she shuffled her way out, and looked around.

Several of the men from the fight we're helping clean up, just as Mel had predicted. Nicholas was stacking tables across the room. Several other employees were doing the same thing all around the room, cleaning up the mess from the melee. Rory joined in with a couple of bartenders, cleaning up spills and some broken bottles.

Little, by little, the room began to take shape again. Eventually there wasn't much left to clean up. Rory stifled a massive yawn as she wiped down the top of the bar one more time, making it officially clean. A lot of the other people had already left, heading home into the night. Not only was the money enticing, but Rory was dragging out having to leave as long as humanly possible. She did not want to go home and have to deal with what was waiting there. Just the thought was enough to make her shudder.

Her ankle was beginning to ache again and if she were being honest, the knot on the back of her head was pounding and her neck was stiff. She sat the dirty rag down, stretched and reach a hand to rub the back of her head where the knot was.

 

[The_gladiator]

Strong fingers were there massaging the back of her neck, replacing hers, soothing and massaging tired muscles. The touch seemed to hesitate when they found the knot on the back of her head. “You have an injury here as well.” Nicholas rumbled, confirming what she was probably already aware of, that it was he who was touching her. “No wonder you look in such pain.”

Nicholas turned her to face him his hand lifting her chin, the other using a wipe obtained presumably from Byron, or Abe, or someone who knew about such things to gently begin removing her makeup. They were now the only two left in the bar and he had decided it was as good a time as any to get a look at her injuries. “You’re even prettier without all this paint on your face.” He said softly. Which wasn’t too surprising if she had known he hailed from a time before makeup was a thing. He traced the bruises on her face, fingertips going down to her throat, tracing the smudges there. “Well with all you learned, that explains to you how it was so easy for Abe to disguise these marks as a vampire attack. Not that any vampire leaves a mark like this, unless he did so on purpose. The wound heals cleanly, unless the vampire is marking the person he bit as his.” He slid his hand down to rest for a second on her left breast, “Although marks of possession are most often left here, not on the neck where they can so easily be seen. Most vampires do not need to be so—public—about their possession, most just recognize someone as claimed. He did not know why he was talking so much to her, telling her this, probably because he did not want her to pull away, did not want her to stop him from touching her, and if she was busy listening she would not push him away. This close he could smell her, both her blood, and her scent. He wanted to pull her to him and bury his lips against her throat, to erase the marks of the other man, make sure it was only him she thought of.