!! - Letters and Discussions - !!

((Continued from: https://huntersofblood.rpg-board.net/t81-i-need-to-see-her))

The Succubus pulled a key from her pocket and jammed it in the heavy lock of the large Chosen Regent Meeting Room.

The heavy doors opened out onto a long room that was dominated by an old table and equally old chairs that spanned almost the entire length of the room.

The far wall was decorated with a large canvas painting of Giacinto surrounded by animals. African Wild Dog. Crow. Flying Squirrel. Grey Wolf.

She stood at the door, eyes passing over the large room that she hadn't even unlocked since she first decorated the place going on a decade ago, waiting for everyone to arrive and seat themselves.

...Nicio?

The Lycan's lips pulled back from his teeth in a feral growl. Who the Hell was Nicio?!

But he cleared his mind pretty quickly and tried to focus on something else. "You're a Polygamist now, Giacinto? Aleksandr isn't going to like that," he muttered, shaking his head a little.

Aleksandr was a very possessive man. He didn't like sharing his things. And Giacinto was still his.

His eyes passed over the purple haired vampire for a quick moment, waving off the apology dismissively.

Then his silver eyes settled on Sharifa. "Yes, somewhere else would be better to have this discussion." His voice was still dark and gravelly with a growl but it was infinitely less threatening than the growl he had given off moments prior.

He followed after the Elder as she began walking back towards the mansion, never leaving a five feet radius of her.

When she opened the old door, he breezed past her silently and headed straight to the end of the table, sitting in the seat to the right of the head of the table. It was his subtle way of telling the others that he was the most important here besides Giacinto. He deserved their respect.

His eyes settled on the large painting on the wall as he waited for the others to sit down.

Heh... It seems like she hasn't lost all loyalty to us Lycan. His lips curled upwards into a little smirk.

Again Alexander grit his teeth, now was not the time to start a fight with the ever so annoying Shar.

Alexander too, heard the words mate with out ignacio and the same thoughts running through his head were blurted out by jace before anyone could stop him.

he swiftly folowed the two 'elders' to a large room which he had never been in before. as he looked over gia's shoulder he could see why. ah so this is the meeting room...

it truely was a beautiful room and alex was unsure if he should enter.

"my lady Giacinto, is this private or may we join you?"

She chuckled

if we weren't supposed to enter, she would have expressed it earlier. besides, Demon Boy, we're in on all this, and she know's we're all tied in now and gonna wanna know what's happening. did you honestly think Gia would let us in or even an opening for us to get in, if she didn't want us to?

she laughed, and walked into the room, and looked to see the table

Sharifa wasn't unfamiliar with Lycan culture, and smiled a little.

she took a chair opposite the Lycan, next to Gia, and a seat down from Coilean, showing that her was more important than her, which was true.
he was the older one with the important information.

Altair chirruped, congratulating Sharifa on logical and respectful thinking for once, and made himself comfortable on the back of the chair next to Sharifa, directly opposite Coliean, and his golden eyes scanned the place.

however, Sharifa had to be Sharifa, and leaned back in her chair, swinging on the back two legs with her arms folded behind her head and grinning with one foot braced against the table as she waited for the others to take their places, relaxing into an easy grin and keeping the air light and easy, but still somehow serious, around her.

she wasn't a fool. she knew this was a big thing, and should anything break out, she'd be ready to step in and either cool off the situation or defend Gia.

((My post is here: https://huntersofblood.rpg-board.net/t80p30-lying-in-wait#1596 ))

The Succubus cringed a little at the casual comment of Aleksandr's anger but otherwise ignored it, eyes sliding shut.

She waited by the door for a few more minutes before deciding that Jace had disappeared off somewhere and wasn't joining them. Then she turned to the gathering of three in the room, eyes hard.

"No flying off in fits of rage." She pinned Coilean with a stern stare.

"No casual racism." Her eyes turned from Coilean to Alexander and back again.

"And no feet on my table." Sharifa was victim of the glare this time.

"If any of you have a problem with these rules the door is here. Get."

Her eyes moved from the Lycan to the two vampires in turn as she waited for the three to make their decisions and either leave or stay (and get their feet off her frickin' table).

The Lycan sat staring at the painting, eyes not moving as the other two entered the room and spoke.

He could care less about them. This visit was about Giacinto.

He waved his hand dismissively when the Elder spoke, though a cold shiver ran down his spine at the glare. She was well over twice his age and she had had a damned long time to perfect her glare.

"I'll see what I can do. But my promise still stands. I will behave myself unless I'm provoked." His eyes flickered back to the woman and he gave her a small grin. "At least I'm not as easy to provoke as Dubhghal."

His eyes slid back to the painting. "You still hold strong to Lycan, it seems. Crow. Squirrel. Wold Dog. Wolf."

Alexander stared at gia gritting his teeth but soon nodded and took a seat at the far end of the table. not to demean himself but more of a subtle hin that he didnt wish to be near the two already at the table.

"lets get this over with then. i Promise to be civil."

Lycan culture was not a foreign thing to alexander even though he sometimes he had never had to be around it.

Alexander placed his sword down by his side at the chair and looked in shars and \coileans direction.

Altair instantly reached over and bit Sharifa's ear, seeing her inhale to make a comment, and it shut her up quickly.

Sharifa winced and rubber her ear briskly, scowling at Altair before shutting up and removing her feet from the table, uneffected by the glare from her Seke, and instead was balancing an way on the back two legs of the chair, and pouted slightly before going serious again.

she so badly wanted to make a remark on Drago basically putting himself at the level of dirt in the Lycan's eyes, but Sharifa guessed it suited him, so merely silently chuckled and reached over to stroke Altair

apologies, to all older than myself.

she chuckled again

"Your promise better stand. I'm not as lenient as I was fifteen hundred years ago."

Her eyes fluttered closed when the man mentioned his older brother. "That man was insufferable. I'll ask you to not speak of him much. Just the thought of him..." She shook her head.

Her eyes slid up to the painting again. "Yes..." She wouldn't admit to him that she spent every full moon sat on the roof basking in the moonlight as a Wild Dog. Just like she used to do back when she was mated with Aleksandr.

"All right then." She shut the heavy door with a bang and inserted the key again, giving it a deft turn, locking them all in.

When she passed Alexander, she picked up the sword. "No weapons." She carried it to the end of the table and set against the back wall before taking her seat.

"Welcome to the Chosen Regent Meeting Room, children." They were all children to her superior age. Even Aleksandr was centuries younger than her; thus a child in her eyes.

Her eyes turned to Coilean. "Well then, pup, now's your cue."

here she wasn't the nice Elder, bed partner or friend she was usually. She was an old, cruel vampire that wouldn't take shit from anyone. She had a mission to accomplish and she was damned well going to accomplish it.

The Lycan gave a derisive snort, eyes falling on Alexander on the other side of the table.

Shouldn't even be sat on the table. Should be on the floor...

He gave Sharifa a nod, accepting the apology. He liked this woman. It seemed she was fun-loving but it was obvious she knew that important situations required a level head.

That was an admirable quality.

He let out a quiet chuckle. "Dubhghal misses you, y'know. A lot." As much as his twin annoyed the Elder, they were close. Very close. And her leaving had really taken a toll on him.

He smiled a little at her one word answer. She still had allegiances to Lycan. That was good.

The Lycan nodded and bent to open the bag at his feet, pulling the crisp heavy envelope from it and standing from his seat to bow low at her.

"From Aleksandr, M'Lady."

He offered the envelope, still bowing low.

Alexander almost objected to Gia taking hold of his sword but thought better of it, it wasnt like it was out of reach or anything. so he kept his mouth shut and watched and listened. staring at Coilean with suspicious eyes, his thoughts almost exactly then same as what coilean had thought earlier. -that dog is mocking me, he should be on the floor where he belongs. - this was going to be a very testing meeting for alexander so he just closed his eyes and smiled. after winking slightly to the wolf.

then IT spoke and Alexander opened one eye to see a letter in its hand, this peaked his curiosity, slightly.

she couldn't believe what Drago had just done and mentally facepalmed when she saw him wink at the wolf.

that was a purposeful provocation

her expression went as cold as Gia's, eyes half lidded and sharp as razors, and voice even colder and darker, practically speaking shadows and ice

Drago....as amusing as it would be to see you gutted like a fish by Coilean, i would advise you don't do such actions. such stupidity will get you killed. i don't care if you don't like Lycans, but show some respect. this is important, and your childish behavior isn't needed in this room. note that the door is locked, and it would be easy for Coilean to slaughter you without hesitation. and to add further odds against you, you hurt Coilean, Gia will probably attack you as well. you so much as scratch our Elder, and i'll have the perfect reason for killing you myself.

she was still leaning back as she spoke, looking at ease....but more like a predator just waiting for the right moment or excuse to attack.

she took off her scimitars and placed them in the center of the table along with any other weapon she had, just as a more ceremonial thing to show peace to Coilean, and then went back to stroking Altair's feathers with the backs of her fingers as the bird sat on his perch proudly, and giving off an air of age and regality.

the pair together obviously gave off the notion to Drago to not fuck about. you're the youngest here, and the easiest to kill

"...I thought I told you not to talk about him," she muttered with a sigh.

All traces of her light mood dissipated when the wolf bowed to her, offering up the heavy envelope.

She took it from him, sliding her finger under the wax seal and removing the old parchment gently.

Her cyan eyes flickered over the page, reading the chicken scratch slowly, mouthing the words mindlessly, her expression becoming more distraught the more she read. He wanted to come here?

Her eyes snapped up when Sharifa spoke and she growled threateningly. "I highly suggest you quit doing much of anything, Alexander. You're here as a witness to my receiving this letter. That is all. You don't need to speak or even move." Her bad move was increasing rapidly.

She was in the mind frame for cold blooded murder. And provocations would result in murder.

Her eyes returned to the letter after giving a thankful nod to Sharifa for removing her weapons. Aleksandr was definitely at the top of her black list at the moment.

Dark, angry cyan fell on the man, still bowing before her. "I suppose he wishes me to send one of my servants as he sent one of his omega with the returning note?" She was already going over who she should send in her head. Most probably one of the nameless faces she had in the dungeon.

Those servants were disposable. She could care less if they were killed as long as her returning letter got to Aleksandr.

Coilean gave the youngest in the room a dark growl and nearly flew over the table to tear his puny throat out.

It was sheer willpower that kept him rooted where he was in front of the Elder.

A little smirk tugged at his lips when Sharifa admonished the man. Yes, it would be to see the child gutted like a fish. Perhaps he'd do that in the future when he was lazing around the mansion and had nothing better to do...

Well, one thing was for sure. He knew that he liked Sharifa. A lot.

His eyes slid to her then to her bird. His head cocked to the side slightly as he gazed at the bird, his red hair waving and flowing from his shoulder with the movement. That bird interested him. It was...different.

His gaze returned to Giacinto when she spoke directly to him. He looked up at her from his bow through his lashes. "Yes. He wishes you to reply soon. He will send a footman with his response."

He knelt, delving into his bag again to retrieve a sheet of parchment, an envelope, a pot of ink, an old quill pen and a stick of purple sealing wax.

And then from his kneeling position he offered the items to her.

He smiled at Shar and then stared at the bird... something smelt weird about it. something familiar. still HE relaxed into the chair and kept smiling, not directly at the lycan but more at shar and her bird.

his concentration half on her and the other half on the evens unfolding in the room.

His jacket now slung over his left arm, completely covering it as if to hide something.

Altair saw Coilean looking over, and bowed his head low, chirruping as he spread his wings out, and then returned his attention to Sharifa and Drago, keeping an eye on both with that intelligent gaze of his, slightly glaring at Drago

the sickening tainted scent that eminated from Drago was growing stronger, and it was making it hard for her to breath as it burnt her nose and lungs.

discreetly she coughed quietly, covering her mouth for a moment. while doing this, she kept her eyes on Gia so she wouldn't see Drago do anything that might antagonise her

she tried her best to read Gia's lips, but they were moving to fast and only grasped bits of it...however, Altair caught all of it, and told Sharifa in his way, and her lip curled slightly.

she wasn't happy about this....her Elder would be in possible danger, as well as Nico and the rest of the coven. she wasn't comfortable with this in the slightest, but she held her tongue and bit back the growl

unlike Sharifa, Altair was looking at Drago on occasion, and warned her about him and to keep an eye on him at times as his covering of his arm wasn't discreet in the slightest.

still the scent grew stronger, and Sharifa was finding it harder to breath, coughing again around the uncomfortable burning feeling, and she made her chair go back onto all fours as she clenched her fist and tried her best to keep breathing normal and resist the urge to have a coughing fit, biting back the need.

Altair was growing uncomfortable as well and appeared to be frowning, and was worried about Sharifa as her shoulders hunched slightly to keep composed and quiet

The Elder took the proffered items from the Lycan and began writing, glancing up when Sharifa coughed.

"Are you all right?"

She may not be goody-goody nicey-nice Giacinto at the moment, but she still worried for her servants.

Once she had finished writing the letter she leaned back, waiting for the ink to dry.

While she waited, her hand delved into her pocket and returned holding an old silver rig emblazoned with a flower-like design and a calligraphic G.

Her tanned fingers stroked over the purple clay before picking the block up and toyed with it idly, reading over the letter again.

She folded the letter when it had dried and packed it in the envelope then held the wax stick a little above the envelope.

The vampire held her finger a few millimetres from the end of the stick and watched silently as the wax began to drip onto the envelope, sealing it shut.

When enough wax had been dripped, she picked up the silver signet ring and pressed it down onto the wax.

"...It's done." She tossed the ring onto the table and slumped back in her chair, face drawn and tired and shoulders slumped.

Giacinto felt old. She felt weary and helpless. She didnt like that feeling.

He returned the light bow with an inclination of the head and a widening of his eyes. That bird was far more sentient than it should have been. He was already bowing. He had some pride in himself; he wouldn't bow any further than what he already was.

His eyes flickered over Sharifa when she began to cough.

Was she all right?

He wouldn't ask aloud. He couldn't. he couldn't speak or really communicate with anyone but Giacinto until she dismissed him.

"He is waiting eagerly, M'lady."

He found Shar's coughing fit slightly amusing, knowing too well she couldnt speak out about what she was sensing. but ducided not to show it, instead concentration directed at the letter and Gia's seal.

It wasnt long before he was getting bored again while waiting for the ink to dry, but thankfully the wolf spoke soon after.

he listened carefully and smiled, something was going down. -this should be entertaining afterall-

she waved her hand at Gia's question and managed a grin, but her eyes shot towards Drago

she could smell his amusement through the ever thickening scent of the tainted thing inside him.

the scent was definitely burning her nose, throat and lungs now, and she could barely breath, coughing again, trying to keep it discreet

she tried to regulate her breathing, but the smell was getting to much

Altair was full on glaring at Drago as he now flitted over to Sharifa's shoulder, and nuzzled her to comfort her a little as his wings shifted in agitation and frustration of not being able to do anything about how sensitive Sharifa's sense of smell was.

she'd missed entirely the writing of the letter and the sealing, and barely registered Coilean speaking, but something in her snapped, and she was suddenly out her chair, leaping up onto the table as she grabbed a scimitar as she raced across the table and leapt at Drago, pushing him and his chair back as she pinned him down, holding his throat in a tight grasp

who can i restrain myself when something that is such a threat to all here is in our presence with such a sickening scent! it burns....only a Demon has this scent, so the ever weak Drago must have let you out. give me a reason for not killing you now!

her bindings had snapped, and her more feral side was let loose again, eyes glowing a fierce and bright crimson as her hand tightened around Drago's neck and blade poised over his heart

by this point, she couldn't care less about the consequences as long as she could kill the demon she currently had pinned

Altair was shocked at the speed she had moved at and didn't have time to restrain her again before she had already pinned Drago, the demon in him now fully out. as was her feral side. this boy, Drago, was too much of a danger for her to simply ignore it seemed, and her feral side didn't like the idea of anyone that was dangerous being near Gia, or even the Lycan for that matter, as there was a slight fondness as the Lycan appeared to hate Drago as well

"I know he is..." She nearly whimpered, burying her face in her hands, fighting back tears. This was it... Aleksandr would find a way to go against her wishes and come here. When he did her mate was dead.

Ignicio...

Her head snapped up when she felt movement and she looked over the scene with ever narrowing eyes.

Snap

Her bad mood was gone.

She wasn't in a bad mood any more. No...

Now she was positively livid.

She leapt out of her seat with a roar of pure anger, gliding down the table and hauling Sharifa away from Alexander and tossing her back to her chair none-too-lightly. Her aim might have been off just a metre or two. The woman would probably hit the wall and suffer loss of breath and possibly a few broken bones. Worse case, she hit her head and lost consciousness.

"I laid down very simple rules, Sharifa. I expect you to follow them," she whispered in a low growl, looking down at the seated Alexander from her position standing on the table with murderous red eyes.

"And you... I am going to give you ten seconds to explain to me what the fuck is going on before I slaughter you right here. I am not in the mood for your provocations and the trouble they cause."

"I'm being nice right now. Very nice." The empty chairs around her erupted into flames. "Do not do anything stupid, Alexander. It'll mean your death."

He stared up at her sadly. It seemed she was really torn up over the prospect of Aleksandr finding out about her mate. Nicio, was it?

Why was she so attached to someone other than Aleksandr? He was her mate. Not this Nicio character.

He flinched when she let out an inhuman roar and leapt over the table. From what he remember of the short few centuries he knew her, mood swings like that weren't common. And you'd best be running and hiding when she turned on you.

He just knelt with his head down silently, waiting for Giacinto to dismiss him. Even when Sharifa flew by him he didn't move.

Sometimes he hated these damned Lycan rules of honour and all that bullshit. If he wasnt bound by that, he'd have kicked a hole in the wall and ran, tail between his legs. He felt no shame in admitting that. Giacinto could scare anyone when she was in this type of mood.

When silence filled the room he felt about ready to cry. Screaming and roaring was one thing - silence was an entirely different (and far more terrifying) thing. Silence meant she was past seeing red and she was carefully calculating someone's death.

His hands tightened into fists on his thighs as his eyes slid closed. He wanted to get away from here. Far away.

He may have been a big scary werewolf, but the big scary vampire that was much older and infinitely more pissed off than him was much scarier.

Alexander didnt flinch when he saw shar running at him nor did he attempt to push her off him when she pinned him down. he just smiled and ran a finger along he drawn scimitar .

What was surprising though is when Gia inadvertantly threw shar across the roof and mounted him herself. he could see she was angry and decided that she would go through with her threat.

He bit back a smile and put on a more serious yet playful face. his hand now playing with the nearest chair that was set alight, his own flame murging with it.

"im am merely an observer today, i will cause you no harm. now if i smell that bad i would offer to take a shower or even bathe but i dont think shar would agree" he smirked slightly "demon or not, you try to kill me and you kill poor, sweet alexander as well. i must say he did well to keep me contained for so long with all those raw emotions running through him when he smelt our 'guest'."
Alexander shifted so that Gia wasnt completely pinning him down and so he could look around the room.

"now i have kept my promise, i have shed no remarks towards the lycan and i have not openly started a fight. shar speaks of alex being weak for letting me take over for tonight when her herself cannot contol her emotions and feeling."

Sharifa wasn't suprised when Gia threw her across the room, and not even when some ribs cracked and she hit her head hard was she shocked. she would have been dissapointed if Gia hadn't done anything

however, it didn't stop the cry of pain as she hit the wall at an awkward angle

forgiveness......

she winced as she sat up, cradling her ribs. well....at least the pain distracted her sense of smell.

however, she hissed violently, despite the pain, and ignored it when she heard the Demon's comments

at least i'm strong enough to resist any demon being put in me. and how can i simply ignore such a scent of a creature that shouldn't even be in this plain of existance.

she spat blood to the side, and then looked up to Altair, giving him a meaningful look. he shook his head violently and screeched at her, but he knew he couldn't stop her.

he huffed, feather puffing out, but accepted she was going to do what she wanted.

just then, the pair began glowing gold, and energy was drained out of Sharifa, going to Altair, and Sharifa looked like she was in a trance.

Altair used the new energy from Sharifa and the connection, and shifted.

his bones cracked loudly as his limbs turned intp human ones, and his beak turned into a mouth and the feathers reveled dark skin with golden runic tattoos. a pair of wings remained on his back, and when the golden glow died around him, there was a fierce and pissed off look on his face as his aura grew and showed just how powerful he was as some of the swirling designs retreated from coiling around the runes and let loose his full power.

ENOUGH! he roared, wings spreading wide and putting out the fire and clearing the air of any residue magic.

he turned to Gia, and looked at her sternly

you are not in your right mind. i would suggest returning to your seat and calming down, Fledgling.

his tone was cold and unforgiving, age and power saturating each word and making them heavy as he picked up shar, who was still in a trance, and gently placed her in a chair before turning to Drago

and you.....it has been a long time hasn't it. his wings shifted and scowl deepened as his eyes turned molten gold that glowed brightly and fiercly you dare show your presence here, Demon, and insult my mistress? what right do you have to even speak when all you have is your mentality trapped in the mind of another. my mistress's emotions may run wild, but only because of what she is.