Shattered Nights-Romance

[Dark_Vampress]

A soft breeze blew through the New Orleans street, accenting the silver moonlight reflecting off the cobblestones.
It was warm, summer, and the nights were more than pleasant. It was a dream come true.
Kristina slowly pulled her chair to face the french doors of her small flat, pulled wide open.
The large chair enveloped the fragile girl, her arms fair and pale against the crimson velvet, the white nightgown she wears blowing slightly. Black, silken hair tumbles down her shoulders, and back, framing an elegant neck.
The music of a harpsichord can be heard, carried on the wind, swaying among the spanish moss in the willows.
This place is what she always wanted.. or so she thought.

Even here she couldnt hide from them.. from her past. Of course it had taken them a while to find her.. but they had either way. They werent going to give up.. and now she needs help.
Vulnerable, but unknowing, the only one of them brave enough to venture after her watches her now, waiting for the moment she closes her eyes, and slips off to sleep.. forgetting to close her doors..


ooc: atachment is the one who is following her, pm me for details

[Azin]

The old convent had long fallen into disrepair, its mortered gray stones loose and cracked, the ivy grown bold and all-encompassing. Nearly four decades had passed since the Sisters of the Holy Blood had passed from existance. Broken away from the Church, they had had no true religious backing, and were eventually driven from the city by more traditional faiths. The sprawling complex of granite buildings and parapets had been a part of New Orleans for so long that no one had the heart to tear it down.
But the convent had found a new use. Through "fortunate" dealings, the deed had found its way into the hands of the brotherhood. Or into the hands of the brotherhood's future master, to be exact.
The red glow of a hot pipe briefly illuminated the angular face of
Deacon Medina. The thin nose and olive complexion suggested Meditereanian descent, but eyes of bleached gray hinted otherwise. His lean stature, long raven hued hair, and the smoothe hairlessness of his soft skin would lead one to think him a young man of barely twenty years, at first glance. But in his shadowed, haunted eyes reflected a much longer life.
Deacon stood before the narrow window on the upper floor of the convent's eastern tower, peering through the dusty curtains out into the warm night. Beyond gently swaying trees he could see the woman, the object of his burning desire. She had the elegence, the force of character that would make her a great queen. His queen. The simple, thin nightgown flowed around her like a regal aura.
A black gloved hand gripped the hilt of the sword more tightly as the ache in his heart grew stronger. The blade was not the light rapier of a gentleman so commonly worn today. The sword was much broader and heavier, a weapon of war from ages long past, the symbol of their society since its conception. The same sword that was once carried by Steffan, Kristina's brother and previous master of the brotherhood. The same sword that struck Steffan down, guided by Deacon's own hand.
He had lived in the shadow of greatness for too long. Now was his time to shine, to take the power that should have been his from the start. But the tragic and "unexplainable" murder of their beloved leader cast the brotherhood into a chaos of claims and arguments. If Deacon was to sit on the throne, he would need Kristina at his side as a sign that he was most truly deserving.
The pipe had grown cold, but Deacon continued to chew on the stem as he stood at the window, watching throughout the night.

[DarkestWinter]

Charity pressed herself against the wall of the building. She heard the voices of the Brotherhood. No way would she get out of this...
Her black hair fell around her shoulders, falling in graceful curls to her back. Her green eyes shone with fear and determination. She simply HAD to find out if they knew where Kristina was. She'd lost her.
Charity had been tracking down Kristina for ages. She hadn't known that the man she had called father for fifteen years wasn't really her father, and that she had a half brother and sister.
A leather gloved hand closed around her neck...

[Azin]

From his place at the window Deacon saw the shadow slip over the convent's low outer wall. On the far side of the complex, in a building once used as a dining hall, the dozen or so of Deacon's supporters in the brotherhood were gathered. They had no idea why they were here in New Orleans, or that the rogue Kristina was nearby. The shadow circled around out of sight, moving ever closer to the dining hall...

Deacon crouched beneath an overgrown rose bush. He had seen this girl before, several times during his long search for Kristina. Only now did he truly take notice of her, and of the fact that she was either following him, or also seeking the woman.
The girl stood with her back to the wall, just below an unshuttered window. The voices of the brothers could be plainly heard, but they seemed to be speaking about nothing of consequence. With a lunge of his strong legs, Deacon leapt from his hiding place and grabbed the girl with a leather gloved hand. Holding her against the wall, he put his face only inches from hers, speaking in a low, threatening whisper, "Who are you? Why are you here?"

[DarkestWinter]

Charity’s head turned to face him, green eyes looking deep into his face with a startling continuity. She knew who this was, and she knew not to trust him.
“Deacon,” she smiled, voice confident for the position she was in, “how pleasant to see you.” Her hand shifted to her dagger, which was in a holder in a belt around her waist. She pulled it out, without him noticing, and jabbed it into his side, not enough to break the flesh, but enough to tear his clothing and make him feel it.
She pushed him round and back, using the threat of her dagger to manipulate him into doing so. She pushed him back against the wall, and then took a step backwards.
“I am Charity,” she told him, “I need not tell you more.” Then she turned to walk away.

[Azin]

Smiling broadly, Deacon allowed himself to be pushed around and back. He kept his hands spead wide, not once attempting to fight back. This woman was more than she appeared on the surface, possibly even a danger to him or the brotherhood. How exciting...
"Please excuse my rudeness, lady Charity. I did not mean to offend." Something about her had caught his attention. A similarity? No, a resemblance! As she was about to reach the outer wall, he took a gamble, hoping for a revealing responce. "I know where she is."

[DarkestWinter]

She stopped for a moment in her tracks, thinking. Did he mean Kristina, or someone else? Her green eyes looked at the ground for a while, before she turned to look at him. She started to walk towards her, her steps full of confidence, silent and dominating at the same time.
She stopped in front of him, eyes fixed on his face. Her knife was still out, in her hand, which was hanging by her side. Her other hand was on her hip, standing casually, shorter than Deacon yet intimidating.
“You know where who is?” she asked, her voice suddenly kinder, curious.

[Azin]

Holding up a finger admonishingly, he shook his head, "Ahh, my dear, not so easily said. How is it that I can trust you?" Deacon scratched his chin in a mockery of contemplation. His eyes widened after a few seconds, and he smiled at his own cleverness. With deliberate slowness he unbuckled his sword belt, allowing the weapon to fall to the ground. He was barefoot, and wearing loose pants and a thin red robe, as if just awakened from slumber. His lightly muscled chest was bare, and if he was hiding any other weapons, they weren't easily accessable.
Stepping away, he gestured at the open door of the tower. "Trust can be found in a compromise. I am unnarmed, and you are not. Follow me to the top of the tower, and I will show you what you seek. Fair enough, no?" There was a slyness to his voice, and mischief in his pale eyes, but he did not show any signs of malice, just amusement. Boldly, he turned his back on the armed Charity and walked calmly through the tower door and up the spiraling stairs.

[DarkestWinter]

Charity turned her head, watching Deacon. Her green eyes laughed in his face, yet her voice was serious, “You are not unarmed, Deacon. Tell me the truth. The Great Deacon never goes unarmed.”
Her black hair fell over her green eyes. She was dressed in black pants, a black shirt, and a black leather jacket. She was slim, not as small and delicate as Kristina. A lot more casual too, but that came from where she was brought up.
She brushed her hair behind her ears, and walked over to him. “I will trust you, however.”

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina woke, suddenly, as a hand pressed to her arm.
She turned her head, and looked slightly up at the tall figure. Flik.
She smiled a little bit, and then took his hand, as he helped her out of the large chair.
The wind had grown colder.. bitter. She slowly went to close the french doors, but stopped as she caught a glimpse of her loved spanish moss. So much time now for the things she loved.. to garden and be herself again.. before the brotherhood.
An image flashed in her mind.. quickly, but then she shook her head. It was the face of Deacon. Not once had she gone without seeing his face in her mindseye at least once a day. How she despised him! She would slit the rat stem to stern first chance she got.. if she wasnt so intimadated by him! She had never... never been easily intimidated.. but there was something about the stature that made her bite her tongue and hold back smart remarks..
She felt the anger rise up out of her, and then turned her face to the smiling Flik.
Flik seemed jostled, and he was only half dressed. He stayed in the flat next door, he had appointed himself as sort of a bodyguard to her.. just to help her avoid the brotherhood. It had been his choice in the first place to come to New Orleans.
"Maiena.. the brotherhood wakes.. i feel it.."
he gave a childish smile, and she shook her head. He had used her nickname.. Maiena. Maiena was the name her brother had given her to share between just him and her.. Maiena had been a siren from the sea.. in an old childrens tale. Only her, her brother.. and Flik would know that name for her.
"Go to bed Flik.."
she laughed softly, melodic, floating through the air in soft waves. She had never been able to disguise that laugh..

Kristin had waited until Flik finally went back to his flat, before she flung the french doors wide again, and stepped out onto the balcony of her room, overlooking a swaying willow tree, full of spanish moss. How she loved it.. and the smells here.. always fresh and new.. but old and comforting at the same time.. wiping away the memories of death in her mind.
The nightgown whipped to the side in the constant wind, along with her silken black hair, azure blue, but tinted with green, her eyes slowly gazed downward at the tree.. admiring it while she could.. before another gust of wind caused her to cross her arms over her chest, against the cold of it.. turning to go back inside..

[Azin]

Leading the way up the dark and narrow stairs, Deacon continued to smile with infuriating calmness. In all actuality, he was unarmed at the moment, but over the last few month's he had learned something very useful about that sword. He could never be without the weapon, no matter how much distance seperated it from him.
"In a way you are correct. A true warrior is never unarmed, unless you actually cut off his arms. I learned to fight without a weapon long before I picked up my first blade."
Stopping at the top step, he held the door open for Charity. Inside, the half-circle room was lit by various candles places on tall stands around a single grand canopied bed. How the sisters had managed to get such a monsterous thing up here, no one would ever know. Dust filmed everything a muted gray, from the once regal bedspread to the golden curtains of the narrow windows. The whole area stank of fungus and rot, but the sweet scent of pipesmoke could still be barely detected.
"I never understood this tower. Why would nuns need such a grand suite, especially considering the austerity of the rest of the compound." As he spoke he circled the room, throwing open the curtains as he walked. Stopping at the last window, he leaned out and drew in a deep breath of fragrant air. Beyond the trees he could see Kristina as she stepped out onto the balcony. The silver moonlight melted away the night dress, shining through the material like it was nothing more than a fine mist. Deacon's breath caught, his heart pounding in his chest, "How sweet..."
Forcing himself away from the window, he gestured for Charity to take a look, "The view from this window is quite amazing. You MUST see it for yourself."

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina had stopped, her profile just inside one door that remained open. Lifting her head, she gave a glance in the direction of the imposing tower on the skyline.
It was the moment that Deacon stepped back from the window.. so she didnt see much more than a blur of a face. She shuddered, getting the feelings at the base of her spine that something was wrong.. terribly wrong..
Her arms still crossed protectively over her chest, she watched blatantly as pale face of a girl came into view..
She felt her heart leap into her throat. The girl was looking right at her! Kristina's almost unnaturally tinted eyes met with the girl in the tower. .. she looked.. . she looked like her mother!
It was preposterous! Her mother was dead! She had seen her mother briefly, before her brother had taken her from home while they were still young.. taken her to the brotherhood.
Kristina swallowed back the tears in her throat, and then ducked inside. For some reason.. this girl was watching her.
It took her a few seconds, but before there was any chance to think, she had changed into more manageable black cargo pants and black top, before ducking out of her flat, and heading for the tower. Surely the girl wouldnt think she was gone.. not with such speed.. and she would find out.. now that her interests were sparked to thier highest..

She had gotten in to the old coven easily.. the doors soft and nearly rotten, easily manipulated to do what she wished with minimun sound.
She let out an almost breathless sigh as she looked at the corridors.. staircases.. so many. Which way!
The black of her clothing, and hair helped to hide her, though her fare, lightly tanned skin did little but illuminate her..

[DarkestWinter]

Charity walked over to the window, her steps still confident, yet they showed she was curious. Fear did not come from her. She knew how to control that. Fear did not help against enemies; it was an enemy’s friend.
She looked out the window, and her green eyes opened wide when she saw…Kristina. On the balcony. She turned to Deacon, and saw that glint in his eye when he looked at Kristina. Her eyes grew wild, “You like her, don’t you,” she said calmly. She turned back to see Kristina was looking straight at her, then saw her run off the balcony.
She turned, and ran out the room, down the stairs, to the main door. There she found Kristina, dressed in black. She stopped still in the middle of the corridor.

[Azin]

The door slammed open with a thunderous boom, nearly flying off the hinges. Charity disapeared from sight before Deacon could say anything to stop her. He took time to change his clothing, exchanging his sleeping clothes for his standard three-piece suit. He strapped on his sword belt, unconscious to the power that brought it back to him, and proceded down the stairs. Deacon had no fear that he would not be able to find either of the women again. If he knew Kristina at all, she would be drawn to the curiousity of Charity like a moth to flame.
Stopping in the shadow of the stairway, he watched as the women confronted each other. The desire to go to Kristina was powerful, but he had to see how this played out, first. He had sought only one, and now found two. Somehow this could work to his advantage, Deacon was sure of it.

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina's mouth dropped open. There was the girl.. the woman. She seemed young though.. it couldnt be possible she be her mother.. no .
Kristina extended a hand slightly, her eyes wide with dumbstruck awe at the resemblance of her mother.. no .. NO! wait!!! Her father!!!!
Kristina nearly toppled to the floor, but her grace wouldnt allow such a thing.
A few sweeping strides, her body swaying like a willow in the breeze, she was face to face with the girl.
"I know you... "

she watched.. just to see if the girl would back or not.. her own bold curiosity burning like a raging forest fire..

[DarkestWinter]

Charity looked at Kristina, studying the face in front of her with deep green eyes. She saw features she'd seen on an old photo of her father, taken long before he had left. She’d studied it many times, trying to know the man who had left her and her mother a few weeks after she had been born.
This had to be Kristina. Her half-sister.
"I am Charity," she whispered to the girl in front of her, "Am I right in saying you are Kristina?"

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina's mind was set ablaze searching for a charity.. charity... no.. she didnt
"The one and only.. "
she seemed to lighten slightly, the feeling of danger in the room slowly subsiding, and both her hands slid forward, away from concealed daggers.
"Charity.. "
Kristina politely, very elegantly, extended a hand to her.
"Its nice.. to.. meet you.."
she smiled a little bit.
"you seem so familiar.."
she let the question hang.. awaiting an answer as to why.

[DarkestWinter]

Charity seemed taken back by Kristina’s hand for a moment, then took her hand, and shook it. “I take it I am right,” she whispered.
“My father, your father, abandoned me and my mother a few weeks after I was born. My mother died a few months later; suicide. She could not cope with my father leaving her for another woman. They tracked down our father but he was unwilling to take me on, so I went to a adopted family. I only discovered a few years back I was adopted, and had a younger half-sister and -brother. I’ve been tracking you down ever since.
“I tracked down our brother in the Brotherhood, but he was dead by then. I thought maybe the Brotherhood knew where you were, and I was right.”
She glanced warily at Deacon. She had been whispering so he didn’t hear. She wished he would just disappear, leave her and Kristina alone. She had finally found her again, and he was hanging around!

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina's eyes lit up with confusion, thier unaturally tinted orbs drifting to look at the dirty tiles of the floor, as she listened to how her father had been unfaithful.. and had left bonds broken.. yes.. that sounded like him.
She lifted her eyes, at the first mention of her brother, as Charity breezed past his death like a normal conversation piece.
She felt her throat tighten, and a lump rise.. causing her to swallow hard.. thinking of her brother.. the brotherhood they had shared together.
Obvious, almost physical hurt shown on her face, and she looked away from Charity, also away from the direction that Deacon was resting in, so that she wouldnt be able to see if he had walked right past her.
She glanced at one of the dirty stained glass windows.. and then sighed, a few hot tears rolling down her face. How she missed her brother.. so strong.. able to protect her from everyone.. even that rat Deacon..
she felt a shudder rise up her spine.. as she imagined her brother there to comfort her, comfort her from his own death.. how prepostorous! How could such a thing come to be?! Unfortunately.. the dead didnt come back to comfort those they had left behind.. no.. they must wait until they can be together again..
Kristina let a shudder rise up her spine again, unbridled, and visibly shaken..

[DarkestWinter]

Charity saw the pain in the mentioning of her half brother. She bit her tongue. Obviously Kristina and him had been close. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, “I didn’t mean to sound disrespectful to Steffan. I just…never knew him,” her eyes fell from Kristina’s face to the ground, “I didn’t meet half the people I want to have met. My mother, my father, my brother.”
She picked at her fingernails nervously. How could she have been so unthinking? The first few words she had said to her sister caused her pain. She contrasted Kristina to herself. Kristina was so delicate, graceful, and slim. Where as Charity had been tomboyish as a child, and was casual, strong; a clodhopping dinosaur compared to Kristina.

[Azin]

The shadows of the tower doorway shifted, half revealing the well dressed man. "I can barely contain the tears." Deacon stepped from the darkness, tall and lean in all black. A slight smile touched his lips, as if he had planned this reunion of sisters himself. "This is the most touching thing I have ever..." He placed a clenched fist to his chest, apparently overcome with emotion.
Quickly Deacon's mood changed from emotional to almost predatory. His pale eyes turned on Kristina, boring into her like daggers. On his hip proudly hung the ornate sword of the brotherhood. He bowed low, never taking his gaze away from her. "My sweetest Kristina. I have ached everyday since you have abondoned us. We have been so concerned for you." The smile twisted, an almost obscene pouting, as if he would love nothing more than to sink his teeth into her smoothe skin.

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina had jumped to attention, whirling around, her whole body tensed, muscles coiled, like something ready to pounce or run.
She watched him with emotion-driven, almost wild eyes, but the remark in her throat caught as he spoke to her.
There had always been something about his stature, the way he played himself, that made her want to run, and back away, other than confront him. Intimidation.
Her eyes fell to the sword, before locking up on his again, tilting her head in a simple guesture, enough to let him know she didnt trust him, and had no interest in what he was saying.
Still at the ready, she lowered herself to a crouch on the floor, seemingly becoming ever ready for anything he may pull.. but in all truth her knees had become weakened with emotion, and she could barely hold herself aloft.. let alone run from these two.. not now.
She crouched there, helpless to anything, but still giving off the air and look that she was dangerously awaiting to make her move.. perhaps her own intimidation would serve well.. but as always she would hold her tongue...

[Azin]

Slowly standing upright, Deacon continued to hold Kristina's gaze with his own. He could see the nervousness, the vulnerabilty, in her eyes. The feeling of power he held over this girl thrilled him, as it always had. Before Steffan's death she wasn't quite as timid around Deacon, just quiet and subdued. But now she was all but paralyzed by his presence. Deacon always believed this was because of how strongly SHE felt for HIM, a love that she was afraid to admit and could never reveal. Her position in the brotherhood as the only female ever allowed into the ranks had always been contested by the brothers. The poor diplomacy of confessing her desire for a ranking member could have been enough to have her cast out all together.
At least, this is how Deacon saw it. The idea that she despised him never crossed his mind.
"It has been too long, my dear. The time for you to return to the brotherhood has come." He held an inviting hand out for her to take, "You know there is no other choice. We cannot let you run wild. Do not deny your destiny."

[DarkestWinter]

Charity looked to Deacon in disgust. She knew his ‘play acting’ well enough, she knew how he felt for Kristina. She’d watched him enough to know him. She’d watched him so much without him knowing.
She sensed Kristina movements, eyes never leaving Deacon’s face. She saw the glint in his eyes, the dreamy way he watched her, following her every step with loving, hopeful joy. Disgust flowed through her. She hated how this man loved her sister.
She tore her eyes away from him and looked at her sister. She saw what Deacons hopeful eyes did not see; pure disgust and hatred for him. She saw the fear. She’d seen that fear many times before. A desire to protect the younger lady went through her.
“Deacon,” she said, eyes turning to him, “do not take one more step. Get away from her. NOW,” her voice thundered, anger raging in her eyes, “you have no place in her life. If she does not want a place in the Brotherhood, she need not stay. Do you hear me?” Charity’s hand moved to her knife defensively.

[Azin]

One thin eyebrow rose, as if Charity's outburst was nothing more than the rantings of a child. With deliberate slowness Deacon pushed his jacket to the side, placing his left hand on the sword hilt. His infuriating smile slipped back into place, "You do not undertsand this, Charity. Your dear sister was... no, IS a member of the brotherhood... for life! There is no leaving. What I ask of her now is for her own safety, for if she does not return I will be unable to prevent my brothers from having her killed."
Still facing Charity, he glanced over at Kristina, "You know this. Your life is forfit. You must retake your place among the brotherhood."
Outside the voices of the other brothers could be heard. Apparently they had tired of their games and decided to ask their leaders permission to go out on the town. This was New Orleans, after all.
Deacon reached out for Kristina again, this time with urgency in his eyes, "You are a fighter, Kristina. You value your life too much, as you have proven with this pointless chase you've put me through over the last few years. The brothers have commands to kill you on sight. If I cannot convince them that you are WITH me when they come through that door, than I will not be able to stop them." He spoke hurridly, his normal calm composure lost. If Kristina and Charity didn't know better, they'd think he was actually concerned.
The wooden stairs outside the door began to creak as the first of the brothers began to climb them.

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina glanced at the door as she heard the noises, and then slowly stood up.
She barely thought, but the simple calculations told her to use this man to her advantage and make sure she made it out of this room alive with her sister as well.
"you protect me... you protect my sister.. "
she immediately, almost as if she wanted to, jumped to Deacon's side, and wrapped an arm around his waist, putting on the best fake smile anyone could muster in such situations.
A light laughter came from her, as she looked at Charity, trying to get to pick up on the act, and play along as if they had been conversing.. but she hated even touching the rat of a man that stood by her side... as with everything, sacrifices must be made.

[DarkestWinter]

Charity wrinkled her nose. All the time she'd been silent she'd been thinking of a plan. She could see through Kristina’s acting easily.
She grabbed Kristina’s wrist, “come on,” she whispered, “I’d rather not be found snooping around this place,” she ran up the stairs, to the room where she’d seen Kristina on the balcony. She smiled at Kristina, “Deacons spy hole,”
She walked over to the window, and looked around the shadows. Then she pulled out the knife, and started moving it so it caught the light. She grinned as a grappling hook smashed the window. She motioned to her sister, tying the end of the rope to the bed, “start to climb down the rope,” she told Kristina, pushing her to the window.

[Dark_Vampress]

er.. @.@



Kristina flipped her hand quickly as Charity grabbed her wrist, and caught hers instead, now holding her.
"Charity.. I know the brothers.. and if we run.. they will chase us all night.. just trust me on this .."
her voice lowered to a hiss, before she pulled Charity closer, and then slid away from Deacon, holding Charity's hand in hers softly, before the door almost burst from its hinges.
The brothers came in, slowly making room for one another, thier eyes like a pack of rodents, spying and watching.
Kristina turned and flashed a perly smile at Deacon, and then just continued to slowly, and calmly walk with Charity..
The girls had confused the brothers, and the fact that Deacon hadnt made any sudden moves were holding them at bay.
The moment the two girls reached the shadows of the stairwell, Kristina let her grip go from Charity, and then darted up with her.

A soft curse escaped Kristina's lips, as she saw the view of her balcony.. and even the chair she had been resting in.
She blinked a few times , remembering seeing Charity from this very window..
She could hear now, that the brothers had gone into a frenzy, and thier voices were rising up the stairwell.
She sighed, before she wrapped her hands in a shread of material hastily torn from a rotting sheet, and then took the rope in her slender hands. Almost like a dancer, she jumped over the side, her feet softly hitting stone, as she repelled down the side of the tower as quickly as possible.
Once she'd gotten a good hundred feet between her and the window, she looked up for Charity.
"Come on.."

[DarkestWinter]

She followed Kristina down the side of the tower, not too gracefully but without falling. Halfway down, she let out an owl-hoot, and team after team, each team comprising of ten females, came rushing out the shadows. “You expected me to come on my own,” she grinned to Kristina, as she dropped to the ground.
One female, the leader, stepped forward, “Charity,” said the tall, brown haired slender female, “you called?”
“Hey Eileen,” said Charity, kissing the girl who had stepped forward, “yeah, I have my sister with me, and the Brotherhood will be after us in a minute,”
“Oh Charity, since when did we not expect you to get into trouble,” laughed Eileen.
Charity turned to Kristina, “come, you’ll be safe now,” and she led the group away from the Brotherhoods headquarters, holding hands with Eileen.

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina looked around at all the girls.. and for a moment she felt safe.. before another thought came to mind.. a sisterhood.
The last thing she wanted was to get involved in another group.. no.. she just wanted to be alone.. and live.. just live.
Kristina began to follow slowly, hanging back, as if she were lost in thought.. before glancing back at her flat.. that apartment that had been paradise..
She ducked out of the girls ranks, and then tracked along the side of the moving group, until she could reach charity.
"Charity.. there is something that I need from my home.. if you wouldnt mind.. tell me where i can find you.. and I'll meet you there.."
she glanced back and forth.. and then waited for an answer.. just as she heard yelling voices.. the brothers. They wouldnt look in her flat.. no.. they would know that she is too smart to go back there.. precisely why she would..

[Azin]

From the top of the tower came a thunderous crash. The shouts of anger changed to screams of pain and violence. The firelight flickering in the windows flared brighter, and a massive cloud of black smoke poured out into the night. Shrieking in terror, one of the brothers fell from the window and crashed to to the ground beside the women.
Above, Deacon's voice boomed out, commanding his followers to through down their weapons, but was answered with only more screams of agony.
The women circled around the convent, exiting the compound through the rear gate. As Kristina and Charity were passing through, the convent door burst open. Dark, billowing smoke rolled out, tinted red from the fire raging within. Deacon stumbled out coughing, bloody sword in hand. Overbalanced, he tumbled down the warped wooden stairs, landing half sprawled along the bottom steps. Multiple wounds marked his body and his suit jacket was nearly soaked through with his own blood.

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina had just prepared to break off from the girls, as Deacon's body rolled down the stairs and lay at the bottom.
A sudden fear, and shocking pain gripped Kristina's mind, her first thoughts being that he was dead.
A subtile movement from the man proved otherwise, and Kristina was the first over to him.. she had always had a weakness for the injured.. ever since her brother..
She pulled her arms under Deacon's, and drug him farther from the burning building, out onto the cool grass.. always crisp and fresh .. the climate made things grow.
She laid him out, and then began to peel back his shreaded shirt.. and all the while the face of her brother clouded her eyes when she looked at Deacon..
"C'mon.. you're going to be alright.. hang in there ... C'MON!.. "
she shook him softly, trying to get a response..

[Azin]

With his shirt torn open, Kristina could see the two deep wounds cut into Deacon’s olive-tanned skin. One was in his back, dangerously close to his left kidney. The other pierced completely through the same side shoulder, shattering the shoulder blade into jagged bits of exposed bone. Blood poured from each laceration with alarming speed.
Inside the burning building one of the remaining brothers screeched in agony as he was burned alive. For some unknown reason, Deacon had fought and killed men, protecting Kristina from their wrath. These men who were most loyal and trusted of the new leader of the brotherhood now all lay dead by that same leader’s own sword.
Deacon wheezed faintly as he unconsciously tried to push himself up. One bloody hand grabbed Kristina’s arm for supports. He looked up at her, his pale eyes dull and feverish, the flames flickering in his irises, “More brothers are near… leave me… Maiena .” Weakly he pushed her away, falling back to the ground with a hiss of pain.

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina took in a gasping breath through her teeth. The smell of the smoke was rising in the air, and she knew that the convent was old.. it would collapse..
Gritting her teeth, she closed her eyes for a moment.. Maiena..... he knew it.
Grabbing the bottom hem of her shirt, she tore away the material, and then balled it up, stuffing it in the shoulder wound, before removing the leather strap on her thigh and tying it tightly down to deacons shoulder.
She gave a glance around, her small form almost like that of a cat, watching for the mice to come running out.. run from the flames.
She shook her head, and then pulled Deacon's good arm around her neck, hoisting the man as best she could..
She began to half carry, and half drag Deacon away.. she wasnt giving up.. and the whole time the blurred vision of her brother kept overpowering her thoughts of Deacon.. she wasnt helping Deacon.. no... but she was.. gah so confusing.

Finally, the petite woman had managed to pull deacon into the street.. and to the stoop of a building.. there was a lantern here..
Kristina was still breathing the smell of smoke.. and people had began to come from thier homes to gawk at the burning relic..
Someone laid a hand on Kristina's shoulder.. just as she saw them pulling Deacon into the building. . she fought to follow.


Kristina woke, in a soft chair.. mmm so soft.. she nestled her cheek against the rest.. perhaps she had just fallen asleep.. just drempt... ..
she opened her eyes, only to see Deacon's form, laid out in bed.. one of his arms bandaged tightly.. someone had pulled the covers up to his chest, his bare shoulders showing off his blood loss.. even his olive skin seemed paler..
She gave a sigh, and straightened up, her shirt torn to expose most, if not all of her midsection, just enough left for modesty.. her hair tossed and lined with ash.. yes.. now she looked worse than Deacon..

[DarkestWinter]

Charity walked into the room Kristina and Deacon were in, carrying spare clothes for Kristina. “Hey,” she smiled; handing Kristina robes that matched the ones she was wearing. “Sorry, there’s only the uniform of the Fighting Daisies around here,” she explained, “theres a shower through there if you want one. If your hungry, breakfasts starting down at the mess hall. You can join me and Eileen, if you like, or I can have someone bring some stuff up,” she motioned towards Deacon, “he fought to save you, you saved him, I wasn’t going to let the Brotherhood stuff things up for him after that.”

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina rubbed her head softly, and then looked at the change of clothing. She gave a simple nod to Charity, and then pulled herself to her feet..
She stood, like a newborn fawn, wobbling at first, before she gained her natural balance. Taking a long look at Deacon, she finally made her way off to the bathroom..
Taking a quick bath, she emerged wrapped tight in a towel, her hair piled on top of her head in wet curls. Quickly grabbing her change of clothes, she dissapeared again.
Upon entering the second time, she was dressed again in black, and her damp hair fell around her face, framing it in elegant curves.. she looked more like herself again.
Sighing, she made her way back over to Deacon's bedside.. this man had saved her.. why?.. .. and then she had saved him because she didnt have the answers.. she needed to know.. and only he could tell her.
Reaching one slender hand over across the mans face, she brushed a bit of his hair back in a modest attempt to wake him..

[DarkestWinter]

When Kristina disappeared to the bathroom, she stole a quick glance at Deacon, then turned and walked out the room. She moved down the stone stairway, hearing the voices of the ladies downstairs as they laughed and clattered their way around breakfast.
She walked over to where Eileen was sitting, kissed her briefly on the lips, and slid over the bench beside her, sitting next to the leader of the Daisies.
“Morning, dear,” she smiled, picking up a piece of toast.
“Morning,” grinned Eileen, spraying pieces of toast all over the place. The table collapsed into laughter at Charity’s face, as she was splattered by small crumbs of Eileen’s breakfast. “How’s Kristina?” she asked, face going red.
“Kristina’s fine,” replied Charity amidst the chuckles, “it looks like she got a good nights sleep after all that,”
“That’s good,” Charity looked around the girls, happily eating before the days training began. They were all so comfortable around here. She wondered if the Brotherhood was the same. She may have watched Deacon a lot, but she’d never actually watched a Brotherhood breakfast.
“I’ll take up something for Deacon a bit later,” she told Eileen, before they launched into a totally different subject.

[Azin]

Cold. He was so cold. A chill so deep he was beyond shivering, beyond feeling anything else but the cold. A light touch, a soft feather, brushed his forehead. The touch was warm and damp and burned with its contact. The burning was good, far better than the emptiness of being frozen.
Deacon could smell woman, fresh and clean, the scent of soap rich on the steamy air. Even freshly bathed, she still carried the scent of perfume, as faint as rose, as if it were a natural for her to smell so. When he finally opened his pale eyes, he was not surprised to see Kristina above him. Even in sleep he could feel her nearby, making his weak pulse quicken and his heart beat painfully.
She was an angel leaning over him, her pale skin all but glowed with its own light from beneath the dark hair that hung around her face. Deacon slowly brought one hand up to meet hers, lightly squeezing the tips of her fingers. He could feel her heat flowing into his body, chasing away the chill caused by a lack of blood. Or maybe he was just delirious...
He tried to speak, to say her name, but not even a whisper passed his lips. His throat was sore from choking on smoke, and his breathing was shallow and wheezing.
Tears rolled down the sides of his face, soaking into the pillow. He wanted to say so much to her. He needed to explain what truely happened to her brother. This burden on his soul was too much. If only Kristina knew...
In a nearby room, locked in a standing wardrobe, the sword gleamed with a cold light, as pale as the moon. The gleam was reflected in Deacon's fevered eyes, which suddenly turned dark and emotionless. The same arrogant smile slipped back onto his lips as the tears ceased to flow. His hand held tighter to Kristina's, and he pulled her forward, looking for all the world as if her were about to devour the young woman.
Downstairs they could hear the laughter of several women.

[DarkestWinter]

Charity finished her porridge with gusto, and then kissed Eileen before getting up. “I’ll take something up for Kristina and Deacon now,” she smiled, “be back in a while!” Eileen smiled.
“Hurry back, love,” she replied.
Charity slid a few pieces of toast and two bowls of porridge onto a tray, and then, balancing the tray carefully, made her way up the stairs, into the room.

She backed into the room, being careful to not spill the tray. Then she walked over the room, and set the tray down on a table. “I see your awake,” she smiled at Deacon, pouring out a cup of water and offering it to him.

[Azin]

Deacon switched his gaze from Kristina to Charity. He smiled more broadly at the sight of this woman bringing him breakfast in bed. Servitude fit her so well. Yes, he would have to keep her around.
Pushing himself into a sitting position, he accepted the water and sipped it carefully. The wound in his shoulder and side barely bothered him now. He had learned how to bypass such pains. Deacon nodded his thanks and made a gesture towards his mouth, indicating that he was currently unable to speak. He still had this nagging feeling that he had wanted to say something a moment ago, something very important, but he couldn't remember what that might have been. Occasionally his eyes would glance back at Kristina, hunger burning in his eyes.

[DarkestWinter]

Charity laughed, “Yes, we all know you won’t be able to speak for the next few days, you just gotta keep drinking this water here,” she handed a bowl of porridge to Kristina with a spoon, and then pushes the tray across Deacons lap, “you also gotta stay in bed, but don’t worry, soon you’ll be down eating with the girls. But I gotta warn you not to touch any of them, most of them have been seriously harassed and abused in the past by men, you lucky Eileen is letting you say here under the protection of the Daisies.”

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina seemed confused, and scuttled back off the bed, returning to her chair..
The cold feel of the man's skin had unnerved her, and she tossed a blanket to the bed beside him.. though she didnt think it would help..
She had a switch of mindset.. for a moment deacon seemed almost... almost human
she brought her blue green eyes to see his, and assured herself that he was still that same.. heartless rat.. it showed in his eyes.. it wasnt what she saw a few moments ago.. was it?
She sighed, letting her gaze drift across the room.. to the wardrobe, to the sword..
Shuddering heavily, as if something was breathing down the back of her neck, she began to fidget and squirm..
Tearing her eyes off the obsidian sword, she nearly yelped, as she could imagine icy fingers on the back of her neck.. her brothers...
Turning with a shocked sound, she found nothing but empty space behind her..
Her small frame was shaking as Charity sat food out for her as well, but all she could manage to do was pull her knees to her chest and rest her chin on them.. occasionally glancing at Deacon

[Azin]

Deacon ate in forced silence. Being unable to speak was turture to him. How could he mock and taunt and manipulate the women around him without words? And worse, without his own voice drowning out his thoughts, he was unable to shut out the insistant feeling that something was terribly wrong with him.
Unconsciously, he continuously flexed his right hand, uncomfortable without having the sword at hand. He could tell Kristina was disturbed as well. Her constant shifting and troubled eyes gave so much away. She wasn't afraid, he thought, she was never really afraid. Concerned for her safety, yes, and unsure of these women who housed them.
A moment passed when they locked eyes. At first he didn't notice, lost in the tropical sea-green of her irises. With a start he looked away.
What the hell was wrong with him? He saught to find her for so long, with the exception of nothing else. He needed her to gain full power in the brotherhood, the sister of the great Steffan. But now he had her, and he turned on his own brothers, and now hid among women. He didn't even have the satisfaction of being a prisoner. Apparently he was free to do as he pleased, within reason.
Sudden pain pierced his right wrist. He winced briefly, then calmed. The cold eyes returned, and he almost snarled with hatred. Both Kristina and Charity felt a chill pass through the room, and a faint groan whispered from the wardrobe.

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina could have lost her wits right there.. she had seen Deacon's shift.. she had seen him go from being almost human again.. back to the coldness.. the cold eyes of a rat.
Shifting again, she got to her feet, looking down at Deacon.. it was time for answers.. she wasnt running this time.. she was going to find out what would be so important, or so dangerous, that the whole room filled with an uncuttable tension.
"What is going on Deacon... "
her voice lowered to a threatening tone, her eyes dancing over him before seeming to be automatically pulled to the door frame of the room the wardrobe was in.
Letting her eyes drift back to deacon with a questioning silence, she took a step toward the door of the room, able to almost feel the floor shudder under her light steps.. there was something damn important in there.. but she got the distinct feeling it didnt want her near it.. the original bloodline from which it was forged..

[Azin]

The tray of food fell to the floor with a crash. Throwing off the blankets, Deacon tried to climb out of bed, but only fell to the floor, naked and shivering. He snarled at her, unable to get any real words out. He was hoping that the emotion of the snarl alone would deter her, direct her away from the wardrobe.
Kristina could not be allowed to touch the sword. Deacon knew that he must stop he, despite how weak he was, despite that his fall had just reopened the wound in his side and blood was already beginning to drip to the floor. He had to keep her way from the blade.
But part of him hesitated. Some small, trapped voice in his mind crying out for release. SHE MUST KNOW...
Abruptly the shuttered window slammed open, flooding the room with the bright light of the morning sun. Two men dropped onto the sill from the roof above, each masked in black and wearing the white sword badge of the brotherhood.
Deacon hissed and fell back, blocking the light with his arms. He tried to scream for Kristina to run, but the blackness overtook him as he passed out, unable to block the pain any longer.

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina nearly toppled from the rush of events, but in seconds she was on top of Deacon. She had hoisted him up with her, and scuttled back against the bed, hugging the unconcious man to her.. he had information that she still needed.
She watched as the two men were approaching, but were distracted as the Daisies appeared from the stairs.. there was too much noise, thankfully.. it had alerted them.
Kristina, during the distraction, hauled Deacon with her, pulling him under the bed, flatening her body so that she could move with him. Thankfully the two of them fit without problem, giving the daises room to work.
Kristina crossed her arm over Deacon's stomach, and held tight to the wound on his side. This man was NOT going to bleed to death.. not as long as she could help it.
Grabbing one of the fallen blankets, she pulled it over deacon, and then shreaded a part of it, wrapping his side as tightly as she possibly could, before crawling up, and on top of him, letting herself rest down against his chest for warmth.. the cold skin had startled her again, and she hugged herself down against him as she felt the bed straining over her back, someone had been thrown onto it.. and the sounds of fighting were more than evident.. though the bed offered great protection.. for now.. just praying to god that it didnt break..

[DarkestWinter]

Charity commanded a few of the Daisies to make sure that Kristina and Deacon didn’t get hurt. They stood beside the bed that Kristina and Deacon were under, swords drawn, ready for anything.

Charity then pulled out her sword, moving over to where Eileen was standing, at the head of the Daisies. Eileen smiled weakly at her, and then spoke, “You have moved onto The Fighting Daisies Territory, Brotherhood, I demand you GET OUT or SUFFER THE CONSIQUENCES!” she boomed, commanding, confident.

[Azin]

The lead brother, an extremely large, pale skinned man, charged into the Daisies, swinging his sword wildly. The other leapt nimbly out the second story window, quickly dissapearing from view. The large man cried out for Deacon to stay down, that he would save him.
Under the bed, Deacon's body was as cold as a corpse. He was so weak that he barely had enough strength to shiver with the chill. He managed to open his eyes for a moment, his face only inches from Kristina's. "You must ecscape... more will be..." his voice trailed off as the darkness once again overtook him.

[Dark_Vampress]

"gah!"
she glanced back and forth, once Deacon's head had rolled back again.. she had to do something.. the man had lost so much blood.. but she couldnt let him die.
Slowly, she began to pull him from under the bed with her, moving under the protection of one of the daisies, and into one of the rooms... the room with the wardrobe, slamming the door behind her and then letting deacon rest on the floor while she struggled to move things in front of the door. It was good this room only had one window, which was locked.
Kneeling down beside Deacon, Kristina sighed, and then removed one of her daggers.. she had to work fast..
Slicing into the veins of her wrist, she bit her lip and held back tears, slicing Deacon's as well, before binding them together, tightly, creating a seal so that her blood would be shared through his veins.. now all they needed was time.. the daisies had to hold out a little longer..

[DarkestWinter]

The Daises fought viciously and well, forcing the brothers back against a wall. And all the time at the head of the group was Eileen and Charity, fighting amongst the girls. Charity forced the man who appeared to be the leader back, against the wall, her sword across his throat, him helpless.
“Call them off. I’ll let you go once they are all out the building,” she hissed, “this is the Fighting Daisies Territory. You have no right to be here. Call them off and you won’t die,” her green eyes flashed at him, her knee hovering close to his sensitive area (you know where I mean).

[Azin]

The brother's smiled broadly behind his mask. Not only did he show no fear of the Daisy's threat, he actually seemed excited. It wasn't every day he faced of so physically against a group of such admirable women. But the wideness of his eyes, the exagerated breathing, hinted at something closer to madness.
He winked, then stepped forward, knocking Charity back. The blade slashed easily through his throat. He fell, blood gurgling in his mouth with macabre laughter.

Slowly Deacon's olive color returned. His rasping faded to a slight wheeze, and warmth returned to his corpse-like body. Kristina, however, was now feeling his previous pain. The chill crawled through her veins. But worse was the coldness that creapt into her mind and heart. A calculating, emotionless veil dulled her indominable sympathetic passion. She felt no fear, no anger, no joy, or loss, or shame and regret. She felt no conscience. She was the rat.
With a snarl Deacon threw her away from him, breaking the contact and ending the coldness, "No! You can't..." He froze, unsure of what to say next.

[DarkestWinter]

Eileen caught Charity before she hit the ground, and they held each other for a moment as the blood seeped over the floor, and the mans body lay on the ground. The other Daisies kept the men in their confined space against the wall.
With one movement of Eileen’s head, two Daisies per man stepped forward, took the brothers weapons from them, and frog marched the men down to the door, shoving them roughly out. Eileen looked over the men in the courtyard, and you could really see why she was the leader, and why Charity loved her so much. She was commanding, feminine, beautiful and stern, yet friendly and fun to be around.
“I demand you get of Fighting Daisy soil, and never return. If you do, be ready to be slaughtered mercilessly. You have not faced all my Daisies yet,” then she turned, and gave the signal for the gates to be opened, so the Brothers could get out.

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina lay writhing on the floor. . she wanted it out of her..
her chest rose, as her back arched, and she heaved, trying to release the strain of what she had let herself take on.. so unknowingly..
Blinking slightly. .. she felt a little bit of warmth crawl back into her veins... but what she had felt while connected to deacon.. connected to him in such a way.. that would never leave her mind..
As her numbed senses flooded back to her, her body twisted about on the floor.. such a small woman, but obviously had great power, in her struggles to hold her tongue against the pain, fear.. against everything rushing back.
Her face had flushed with cold blood.. and she could feel the weak of sickness rising in her stomach.
Shivering, finally.. she had began to calm down, curling in a ball on her side.. utterly unable to make her stiffened joints move.. not even under her will..

[Azin]

Deacon weekly pulled himself up and retrieved the sword from the wardrobe. By simply holding the weapon he seemed to grown stronger, stand taller and straighter. He slipped back into the previous room and dressed, putting on only his pants and boots. He looked down at the body of the brother lying in a large pool of sticky blood. Without seeing the face, Deacon could recognize Clive by his size. Clive had been his lieutenant before Steffan's death, after which the big man had become the leader of those few who opposed Deacon's rise. Obviosly clive and his men had been sent to either kill or capture Deacon. "I must remember to thank Charity. Her Daisies just saved me the trouble of having to kill him myself."
He returned to Kristina, who still lay on the floor, shivering in shock. Deacon knew all too well how she felt. His first encounter with the cold had left him paralyzed for weeks while it worked its way through his mind, overpowering his spirit. Easily lifting the girl, he carried her back to the previous room. Using the rope the brothers had used to reach the window, he carefully climbed to the ground.
Looking back at the Daisies' house as he carried Kristina away, Deacon felt a moment of frustration. He would rather be leaving with BOTH the sisters, to prevent anyone from using Charity against him at a later time. But then he smiled reassuringly and walked away. "She had searched this long to find her sister," he gave Kristina a comforting squeeze, "she can find her again."

[DarkestWinter]

Charity watched the Brothers leave, going off home to lick their wounds. She felt a small moment of satisfaction that their group had beaten off these men. Then she turned, and walked in, the door swinging shut behind her.
She just missed Deacon carrying Kristina away.

All of a sudden, the thought of Deacon and Kristina flooded into her mind. She’d forgotten about them both in the heat of battle. She raced up the stairs, flew across the room, and then noticed.
The window was open. The door was open. Kristina and Deacon were not here. Panic flooded through her, and she grasped the rope, hurling herself out the window and down to the ground, and without any thought of the Daisies or Eileen, raced down the street to find them.

[Azin]

Deacon always felt to be over-prepared was to be only barely prepared. Which is why, no matter where he may be stationed, he would always have several fall back locations. Once he got his bearings after leaving the Daisies' house, he headed for the closest of these emergency hide-outs. This one was a small cellar beneath a wine shoppe owned by an ally of the brotherhood. He knew that Charity would no be far behind, and with the extra burden of carrying Kristina, he was unable to even attempt to cover his tracks. And the few people he passed on the way would be more than eager to talk of the half naked wounded man wearing a long sword and carrying a catatonic woman.
He placed Kristina in the cellar, grabbed a new shirt, pipe, and long coat, and closed the hatch. Hopefully she wouldn't be able to wander off until after he returned. Walking back out to the street, he satat a bench beside a large maple tree. With a sigh of contentment he lit the pipe and puffed away, awaiting Charity's arrival.
As he sat, his hand stroked the pommel of the sword. Normally holding the weapon comforted him, made him feel that all the wrong he had done was for the greater good. But now he felt disgusted, both with the sword and himself. Kristina's pure blood now flowed through his veins, weakening the coldness that kept such regrets and pain at bay. "Why did I do this?" He looked down at the blade, concentrating his mind on trying to recall exactly what he did to obtain it. "Steffan's blood is on my hands, and I don't even remember why." Looking up, he saw Charity down the street, coming towards him.

[DarkestWinter]

Charity caught the sight of his back as she ran down the street, and quickened her run, gaining on him. She saw him disappear inside the cellar of a building, and slid into a corner, using the hiding techniques she had learned with the Daisies.
He walked out with a pipe, redressed. She knew that the pipe was meant for her. She had to reveal herself, for Kristina’s sake. She’d seen the disgust in Kristina’s eyes, and the love in Deacons. Who knows what he would do, ill and alone, to the poor girl.
She walked out of her hiding place, towards Deacon. She felt his eyes fix on her, and something inside her wanted to shudder and run. She controlled herself, walking forward, showing no signs of fear. Steffan had protected Kristina, now she was under the vow to do the same.
“My, my, my, Deacon, I think I can trust you with the way you protect her, and then you kidnap her. Shows your just the evil snake I though you were,” she spat, confident, calm. She tossed her black hair back, and stopped a few meters from him, eyes fixed challengingly on him.

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina had woke in the dark..
This place didnt smell fresh.. it was bad.. and she wasnt supposed to be there.
The blood of grapes.. she recognized the smell.. of fermenting.. that sharp, pungent smell that always told of wine.
Squirming around, she couldnt command her arms or legs to work as she wanted them to.
A soft whine came from her delicate form.. it seemed she had been dropped.. broken.. and wouldnt work properly anymore.
It was hard to even breathe.. to expand her lungs to thier fullest. .
if such thing would paralyze a man like deacon.. what would it do to such a woman like kristina?.. it would damn near kill her..
The cold of the cellar had set into her bones.. and her movement had slowed.. almost stopped.. the only signs of her struggle, the soft scraping of her boots.. though she lay sprawled on the ground..

[Azin]

Deacon smiled slightly, reclining on the bench. Through his dark haired he looked up at her, his diamond eyes judging her. He carefully considered his words, something quite uncharacteristic for the normally golden tongued charmer. "Snakes. Yes, you are right, we were once snakes." He stood slowly, careful of his wounds. "The symbol of the brotherhood at its conception several centuries ago was a twin snakes coiled about a sword. Since then the serpent has been taken from the crest, but not from the society. Yes, you should fear the snakes, but do not fear me." Turning back towards the winery, he proceeded back to the cellar.
He continues to speak, whether or not Charity followed him, "My brothers will be coming for us. It won't take them long to establish that I had a hand in preventing them from capturing Kristina. My position in the ranks is forfeit. The snakes will be coming for me as well as her. I came here only because it was obvious your house was already compromised." Stopping at the cellar hatch, he paused, building the courage needed to ask what he was about to ask. "I know you don't trust me, but you found it in your heart to aid me once. We, your sister and I, are going to need your help if we are to survive. if we are going to take down the brotherhood." Opening the hatch, he stepped down out of the bright sunlight and into the musty darkness.

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina could feel the fresh air.. but it didnt feel much like she was breathing it.
Her face had grown pale, from the lack of air, her lungs barely expanding propperly.
She was shivering, but only slightly, which caused her to cease all movement as she could hear Deacon's footsteps.. though all she knew really was that someone was coming...
The helplessness washed over her, as she gave a feeble pull, trying her best to curl up a little bit.. though not even realizing that she was lying on her back.
Though her half opened eyes stared at the ceiling, until now she couldnt see anything. As the door had opened, it stirred up a bit of dust, causing the ray of light pouring in to be clouded over, though still enough to cause Kristina's eyes to water badly, making it seem that she had been, or still was crying. There was nothing really that she could do.. just wait for whoever was coming down..

[DarkestWinter]

Charity followed Deacon, stepping behind him. She did not trust him with Kristina. She had a right too, she saw the look in his eyes when he looked at Kristina, and she did not like it.
“I will send along some of the most faithful Daisies, if you like, so there is more than two against so many if they attack, and the rest can be easily alerted,” she spoke into the musty darkness, waiting for her eyes to adjust to it.
She moved quickly to Kristina when she saw her, “what has happened to her?” she asked, her voice, almost scared, and demanding, “did you do this to her?” her eye flashed up to Deacon, angered.

[Azin]

Deacon knelt beside Kristina, careful not to touch Charity. The cellar was small and crowded with shelves and crates, the floor stained with wine. He lightly touched his fingers to her chest, "She gave her blood to save me. She gave too much." He knew that this excuse wouldn't explain Kristina's near paralysis, but that was all the answer he could give. "She will recover soon. She is strong, stronger than I..."
For a moment Deacon seemed lost in thoughts, haunted by memoties of his past. He seemed so changed from the previous night. His hair had lost its depth and luster, his olive skin faded from a healthy tan to a sickly pastyness. He seemed worn and beaten, a life long soldier who is just tired of fighting. But his pale eyes still burned with life and anger and passion, especially when he looked down at Kristina. Charity could hear the leather on the sword's grip grind as Deacon tightened his grip.
"I have been poisoned for so long, I no longer feel the effects. My blood has mingled with hers, but she will resist. Its not in her nature to give up." He wrapped his coat arround Kristina, then sat back to wait. He looked at Charity almost as if he was awaiting her judgement of him, whether she would accept or condemn.

[DarkestWinter]

Charity’s eyes shifted from Kristina to Deacon. Her eyes burned with disgust and dislike. She didn’t understand. “Will she get better?” she asked, “if she doesn’t, I’ll never forgive you. I’ll make your life hell,” she stood up, and ran her hand through her black hair, then sighed.
“I’m going to go back to the Daisies. I bring back a few of the best fighters, okay? You can stay under Daisy protection,” she turned, and walked out, “stay in here. Look after Kristina.”
She made her way back into the light, and walked down the familiar streets toward the Daisies Territory. Unusually, she wasn’t mad at Deacon. She was scared instead, not of him, but the ‘poison’ he’d talked about. It was in Kristina. Sure, she didn’t know Kristina very well, but Kristina was her half sister. Her only family.

[Azin]

Deacon sat with Kristina, speaking calmly and reasuringly. "It will pass soon. You only tasted a small portion of the darkness that effects me, and your will is stronger than mine... always has been. You will be fine." His voice trailed off and silence settled over them. With Kristina unable to move, he took the opportunity to hold her close and tight. If she could feel comforted by him now, than maybe when she wouldn't be so resistant to his affectionS. The sword lay near the stairs, well out of reach.
"We will wait for the... the Dasies, whatever they are. They can help us." He tilted her head back so that he could look into her eyes. Already her body was beginning to warm, to loose some of the stiffness. "You understand that the brotherhood will never stop hunting us, as I never gave up hope on you. I do not want US to live OUR lives hiding and running. The only way is to destroy the brotherhood, and I know how. But you must trust me."
Above them the floor creaked, and the sound of heeled boots passed by. The steps crossed the winery towards the back door, than stopped. After a moment of silence the cellar hatch opened, flooding the room with light. Shading his eyes, Deacon rose to his feet. Standing straight, he appeared as himself again; strong and intent, confident and clever. Whoever was coming, he was prepared to face them, to protect his beloved.
The sillouette of a woman blocked the sun. The woman stepped down into the cellar holding a lit candle, and closed the hatch behind her. She was tall and thin, and had to duck her head to clear the low threshold. Her bearing was regal, her shoulders back and her chin held high. A long braid of dark auburn ran down her back, ending past her waste with a light blue ribbon. Her clothes were of high fashion, with a tight bustier, velvet gown, and silk shawl, all of dark navy. She was in her mid-twenties, but there was a youthful roundness to her face that lead most to believe her to be only a teen. Eyes of brilliant blue, like ice reflecting the winter noon sun, looked down and him, and she smiled.
Deacon relaxed, and bowed low, laughing, "Mademoiselle Isabella deLawshe', I was wondering when you would join us."

[Sylverwolf]

Isabella could feel his presence close by, so very close that she could almost smell HIS scent. She closed her eyes to try to find where exactly he was, it felt as if he were right next to her. Then it dawned on her he must be in the cellar. Deacon and Isabella had already arranged it as a safe place for him if needed. Now she was worried if he was in the cellar then there was trouble brewing. She tried to sense what the problem was but couldn't, all she could tell was that IT was reaching a boiling point, and rapidly.
Deciding to go down and make sure he was in one piece, she quietly snuck away from her workers. Isabella lifted the cellar hatch and gracefully decended the stairs. She was elated to see him and smiled , then she spotted someone else. " My Deacon, I felt your presense and had to know if you were alright. But then I know that you always come out in one piece, don't you? What kind of trouble do you have nipping at your heels this time my sweet?" she inquired.

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina gave a soft whine. She had seen Deacon in earnest.. and now.. god.. she understood everything about him.. why.. how .. he had been a snake.. but now .. having tasted the plague that he was inflicted with.. she couldnt help but let her heart go out to him.
Her eyes rolled back into her skull as the light blinded her.. though the warm, damp darkness of her eyelids were welcome.
For a moment, one would think her dead, before she forced, litrally, to cause herself to sit upright. Her eyes rolling back, only able to see the light..
She felt deacon's boot.. right beside the hand on the arm propping her up. She slid closer, and let her light frame lean against his calf slightly..
Her head resting against his knee, she seemed almost like a scared child, her eyes trying despirately to focus in on the person.. the shadow standing in the light.. who was it..
Kristina couldnt bring her vocals to form words, so she settled for her silence.. though having the feeling of being a scared, lost puppy.. with only her once hated Deacon to protect her.. the one she never trusted.. she had no choice now..

[DarkestWinter]

Charity sat and explained it all to Eileen, who nodded, “yes, you may take some fighters. I would come too, if I did not need to be here,” Charity slid forward, and hugged Eileen, then kissed her.
“I knew you’d understand,” she smiled, before standing up, and walking away to fetch some of the Daisies.

She walked back to the cellar, using the hardly-used back roads and the Fighting Daisies style of going unnoticed, a group of five girls following her, all armed and ready for anything. She walked down into the darkness, smiling to see Kristina sitting up, and then looking towards Isabella. She was unsure of this person, having never seen her before, but Deacon was sitting casually. So she continued down the stairs, signaling to the Daises that all was safe.

[Azin]

Deacon felt Kristina stir beside him, felt her grasp at his leg for protection. This warmed him throughout, made him feel, for a moment, as if his life was exactly where it should be... with her. He shook these thoughts off with a smile, and stepped forward, taking Isabella's free hand and placing it to his face. "Oh my lady, how I have missed you. If I had known you were overseeing this winery, I would have sought you out before now. How long has it been since Paris? Three, four years?" He bowed low, kissing her hand as a knight kisses the hand of a queen.
"I hope your family is well." Suddenly he turned from Isabella, the thought of family reminding him once again of Kristina. He helped her to her feet, glad to see that she was already regaining use of her body. "Kristina, this is Isabella deLawshe', an old friend from France, whose family owns the winery above us. Isabella, I would like you to meet Kristina, whom I have known since she was a child."
At this point Charity appeared behind Isabella, moving with unconscious stealth. "And this is the maiden Charity, half sister to Kristina, who we have just met last evening. I do hate to impose, 'Bella, but this cellar is becoming a bit confining. Might we proceded to someplace a little more..." he ran a finger through the layers of dust on a nearby crate, "... more civilized?"

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina wobbled slightly, and clutched Deacon's arm, her eyes slowly focusing on another shadow.
She could almost tell it was charity.
Finally able to see the colour of the lady's dress, and able to hear Deacon speaking of Paris.. France..
Kristina and Steffan had lived in France for a summer..
She let her dark, watery eyes watch almost every move deacon made.. after a few moments, this slowly stopped, until she was absorbed in the coversation again.
Clearing her throat softly, her voice seemed tiny.. but all the more delicate and femanine, as she adressed the lady before them, her accent almost as smooth as the words, though slightly awkward, since she hadnt gained full confidence in her voice.
"..bonne madame de soir..."

[Sylverwolf]

"Ahhh MON CHARITÉ, quite a nasty little girl you have with you. She who need help should watch her tounge." was the only acknowledgement that Isabella gave the girl, who was desperatly trying to look stronger than she obviously was feeling. "Oui you and I could always go somewhere more personnel, but alas that is not exactly what you had in mind at the moment. So I suppose I will accomidate your little friends as well."
Isabella started up the stairs to the suites she had built into the second floor. They were little in comparison to her home but very luxurious to most. Deakon should be more then comfortable in them if she remembered his tastes properly

[Dark_Vampress]

ooc: er.. that means goodevening madam.. o.O..

Kristin narrowed her eyes in confusion.. had this lady really been to paris?..
She shook her head softly, a look of defeat. She didnt have the mind to understand..
wobbling slightly, she thought she heard the lady mention something about her and deacon going some place personal.. no wonder he enjoyed paris..
For a moment, kristin froze in memory..
her .. and her brother.. and yes deacon.. they had all taken a trip to Corseca.. right after Rome.. Steffan had wanted to see the world.
She smiled a little bit, the smile of a lost child, in memory of her home.

[Sylverwolf]

As Isabella reached the top of the stairs, holding the hatch for the rest to follow, she considered what Krisina had said. After feeling the confusion, despair and loss running threw the girls mind it was entirely possible that she had intended to say good evening madame instead of calling her a lady of the night. So having reached that decision she also decided not to hold the girls mistake against her.
'Bella, a pet name that only Deacon would know from their time together, called up many memories of their time together. In a flash, the dream that she had just after Deacon had left, flooded back to her as if she had just now had it. Not really a dream as normal people dream, more of a vision of things to come. But no one knew of this, not even Deacon, for to tell of the dream could alter the future. She had long awaited for Deacon to reappear in her life as she had known from the day he left that he would.
"I am sorry Kristina, forgive me for snapping at you. But I think you may have twisted your wording alittle. You must becarefull not many women would stand for being called what you called me, as I'm sure you would not either,huh?" Isabella said to Kristina in a silky, rich voice that almost purred.

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina sighed softly, and then nodded, finally letting go of Deacon.
"Entirely my mistake.. please.. forgive me.."
her tone was slightly cutting, but un-intentional, as she half limped forward.
Just inside the door, she let herself slide down the wall, into a sitting position, momentarily out of the sights of everyone.
She could tell that Isabella had some intent on having Deacon here.. but why did it bother her?.. because she felt closer to deacon now..
For a moment, Kristina felt a rush of hot blood to her cheeks, causing her to almost yelp in surprise.. when she tried to remember why she had gone to such lengths to save deacon, something seemed to block her mind.. almost as if someone had covered her eyes.. causing her to blush and feel ashamed for forgetting..
Curling up slightly, she remained solitary and motionless.. she didnt really want to move.. and the sudden jolt of want to stay with deacon made her feel even more embarassed with herself. She really had no other choice.. but how could she tell a man that she had hated for so long that she needed his help?.. it wasnt like her.. not at all..
and besides.. the climb up the stairs had all but caused her to lose her legs..

[Sylverwolf]

Seeing Kristina slide down the length of the wall out of the corner of her eye, Isabella wanted to get the frail girl into a bed where she desperately needed to be. Gentlygrasping Kristina's elbow to help her back to her feet, Isabella kindly offered the softness of a warm bed to recover in. Isabella could Feel Deacons uneasiness about the condition of this girl, as well as his obsession of her with an intensity that struck a cord of fear in her not for herself but for him, she already knew how things would turn out between them.
Kristina was eminating feelings of confusion so stongly that it was almost confusing to be in close proximity of her. But there was something not yet recognized in her heart as well. Was it shame or was it a feeling of understanding... Isabella couldn't pin point either way, but maybe that was because Kristina wasn't sure herself.
"Come we will forget our misunderstanding, it never happened and all is well. There is a bedroom just upstairs on the second floor. I will help you up and get you settled in so you can rest and regain your strength again."
"Deacon, my sweet, would you take the candle and lead the way?" Isabella knew that it he had been familiar with the layout of the building, else he wouldn't have chose this as a hide out.

[Azin]

Isabella stood, tall and regal, holding Kristina's arm. The sight of these two women standing together was a shock to Deacon. He had never in his life considered seeing them in the same room at the same time, let alone one helping the other. Isabella was his past, and Kristina was his future. This was all very strange.
Leading the way up to the bedroom, his mind wandered to when he last saw Isabella. The night he departed Paris in autumn three years ago. He had stayed at her family's estate for a few days, during which he had attended to some brotherhood business with her father. They had often worked together; the deLawshe' family used the brotherhood's connections to expand its power, and financed the brotherhood's various projects as payment. But during that last meeting, when Deacon told monsieur deLawshe' that their business relationship was at an end, Deacon had barely escaped with his life. Only Isabella, with whom he had grown... 'close' to over the years, had saved him from her father's wrath. Of course, he never spoke of this to Steffan or Kristina after meeting up with again in Corseca.
At the top of the stairs he stepped aside, allowing the two women to pass. Deacon smiled reasuringly to Kristina, and nodded his unspoken thanks to Isabella. He was not looking forward to having to explain one to the other.

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina was all but dragged into the room, her feet refusing to work properly, all because Isabella's pace was a bit too fast for her.. though still caring.
Kristina was grateful to be helped to a bed.. though her thoughts went back to deacon immediately. The misunderstanding wasnt the reason she felt ashamed.. she felt ashamed because she was finding herself a hypocrate.
With a sigh, she straightened herself out, though she found no warmth in the chilled sheets and blankets, even if they were made for it. Her small body generally didnt produce much heat on its own.
Bathe, and eat in the morning.. but now.. it was time to rest. Perhaps even she could find a suitable change of clothes..
Kristina slid an arm sideways over the bed she had been placed in..
almost 3/4 of it was empty.. because she was such a small girl.. and used to conserving space.
Suddenly, her mind shot back to Flik.. oh poor Flik.. he must be worried sick over her..

[Sylverwolf]

After Isabella helped Kristina into the much oversized bed she turned and exited the room to find a servant, whom would retreave some food and clean clothes for the ill girl. Isabella was only gone for a matter of minutes, apon returning to the room she noticed that Kristina was already fast asleep with one arm stretched out on the bed, almost as if reaching for someone.
Turning to Deacon she whispered " How I have missed you, my Deacon. Come we will go and get some refreshments for you as well. You look famished. Maybe a hot bath will clear your head some, and then we will talk of these things.", waving her slender arm towards the bed.
Charity you are more then welcome to a bed of your own or you may stay here with Kristina if you like but I guarantee her safety. Isabella then whistled, so very low it was almost unheard. "My pet will protect her, even from you if need be." Just then a wolf appeared almost out of thin air she was so silent on her feet. "Deacon, you remember Silver... don't you? She was just a pup when we last saw you. She has grown quite a bit since then."

[DarkestWinter]

Charity followed them up the stairs silently, followed by the Daisies, who were still using the Daisies hiding methods. When Isabella spoke to her, she replied with a calm, confident, polite voice. “Ms, I would rather stay here with Kristina. I have brought some of the Fighting Daisies,” she motioned to the five girls behind her, “I would like Deacon and Kristina to remain under the protection of them. We do have most of the Brotherhood after us, after all, and I do not wish for them to get hurt.”

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina stirred weakly, her delicate fingers gripping the sheets, still seeming to reach for someone that wasnt there, her actions making it as if she were slowly realizing it.. though it was only a fever dream..


Kristina couldnt feel her body.. only the thin coldness of the air.. slightly damp, making it that much more chilled.
A soft wind had broken.. oh so much like the wind she had enjoyed that night in New Orleans.. was she still in New Orleans?
Her memories played before her on the blank of her mind, the spanish moss.. the willow tree outside her balcony.. her balcony.. and her wonderful little flat..
Something was missing..
suddenly, her thoughts turned to the tower.. the convent.. deacon's peeping window..
Gritting her teeth, she whined softly, though no sound came from it.. she wanted it to end.. but it just kept droning on.. she couldnt wake herself from it..

[Sylverwolf]

Smiling at Charity's protectiveness, Isabella nodded her consent and agreement. "Mais naturellement, ce sera parfait. I am well aware of what the Confrérie is capable of but you have nothing to fear here." was her reply.
Returning her attention to the man that comanded attention with his mere presence, "Devons-nous aller alors nous accrocher vers le haut aux vieilles
périodes, des mes perdues ?"
Not waiting his reply she started out of the room, stoping only to gently caress Silver, and giving the very large wolf a gently command "protégez-et observez-les." Silver nodded her head as if in understanding she walked over to the door and sat down facing the bed

[Azin]

Deacon left Charity behind to watch over Kristina. He only hoped that it wasn’t HIM that she was protecting Kristina from. Taking advantage of a bath and razor, he was quickly back to his old, stunning self. Dressed in a new suit (he didn’t even bother to ask Isabella why she had several men’s suits tucked into the back of her closet), he simply FELT better, stronger, more capable. He had always relied on his charm, wit, and presence over force, and he knew that he looked damned good right now. The suit was his armor, his tongue a sword, and the sword his master…
With a vicious shake of his head he chased off such negative thoughts. The darkness was already reclaiming him, forcing down the control that Kristina’s blood gave him. Nodding to the near invisible Daisies, he rejoined Charity and Kristina in the bedroom. He wasn’t sure where Isabella had gone off to, but he was sure she would turn up soon. She always did.
Kristina was doing better. Sleep would help her regain her strength. Fighting the poison was worse that just letting it pass on its own; a tired body was more easily controlled. “She will need food when she awakens. Hot… soup, and tea.” He was talking just to hear his own voice. When he looked over at Charity, he almost flashed her his charming smile. But than he rethought the move, and just ran his fingers through his thick, damp hair. He doubted his charms would work on this woman.

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina woke earlier than she should have, the dream having forced her eyes open.
A cold sweat had broken, thin over her skin, though her fever hadnt gone.
Whining, she sat up. She felt more like herself.. but drained.. and weaker.
Her slender form was shaking.. but she couldnt tell if she were shivering, or not.
Opening her large blue-green eyes, they seemed clearer than usual.. the blue and green seeming almost icy.. but this often happened when she was sick, or when she would first wake up.. a rather beautiful accent to her waking form if one were lucky enough to catch it before they dulled again.
Lying back down slowly, she had seen Deacon, dozed off in the chair at the foot of her bed, Charity resting on the other side. Poor thing.. she must have fallen over asleep while sitting there.. though the faint forms of the daisies still graced the shadows of the rooms.. alert and awake..
Kristina glanced over, noticing a large animal in the doorway..
Blinking a few times, she gave another whine, her throat dry, so much that she couldnt speak..

[DarkestWinter]

Charity awoke from her half-slumber at Kristina’s whine. She shook her head, sending off the last remnants of sleep, and poured a glass of water from a jug on the bedside table. She pushed it into Kristina’s hand gently, “here, drink this,” she whispered, “have a good sleep?”
Her eyes flickered around the room. Deacon, once more his former self, was sleeping opposite her. Oddly enough, she was beginning to trust him a little bit. She hoped he would continue earning her trust. The wolf sat at the door, staring at her with his large eyes. She smiled at him gently; she had always had a slight fear around large dogs. She shook the fear off; it was bad to show signs of weakness around anyone.

[Sylverwolf]

Isabella left the room and headed to the kitchen, knowing that Deacon could find what ever he wanted with out her hovering over him. He would come to her when he was ready to talk, until then she would let him rest and recover from the recent chain of events. She went about getting things prepared for her guests, hot tea, soup, a variable selection of sandwiches, and a big juicy steak for Silver. Isabella had some of the servants help carry the heavily laddened trays up to the room.
As she entered the bedroom she noticed Kristina barely sitting up in the bed sipping a glass of water, Charity sitting in a chair next to the bed, Deacon, looking dashing as always, was dozing in a chair opposite Charity, and the Daisies standing along the edges of the room, all eyeing poor Silver as if she were about to attack them any monent.
Gently setting the slightly undercooked steak on the floor, she whispered something to the wolf. Silver made a sound that could only be comprehended as a laugh, then turning her attention to the steak and began to daintily nibble at the piece of meat. The servants were laying the food about on the table. " Mes amis, you are already awake. I didn't expect you to rest for such a short amount of time." Isabella was carefull to speak quitely so not to awaken Deacon. She referred to them as friends, even though she did not know them at all, she did not sence any illintent from them. Turning to the table, Isabella poured Kristina a cup of hot tea and handed it to her.

[Azin]

At the sound of Isabella's voice Deacon came awake. He smiled sleepily, memories of some half dream still dancing through his head. Standing and stretching, he stepped over to Silver. The wolf eyed him warily, then went back to her meat, apparently unimpressed.
Deacon slipped out of the room, touching Isabella's arm along the way, signaling for her to follow him. When they were out in the hallway, and the door was closed behind them, he pulled her close and gave her a healthy hug. "I thank you, milady. You have been most gracious." He stepped back, looking her in the eyes. Deacon was lean and tall, and it was unnusual for him not to have to look down on a woman. This was one of many characteristics, both physical and in personality, that had attracted him to Isabella in the first place. "I never had a chance to thank you for saving me from your father. At the time, just escaping with my life was top priority."
"Much has happened since then. The leader of the brotherhood, Steffan, is dead, and I am the rightful successor. But those with any amount of power are fighting for the position, making claims of their own. If the brotherhood is to survive, I must convince Kristina, Steffan's sister, to come back with me, to prove that her brother intended for me to carry the sword." He dropped his hand down to the hilt, shaking his head in dispair. "But she blames the brothers for his death. I am leading her to believe that I am trying to protect her, and that I want to bring down the brotherhood in order to keep her safe. But this ruse will only hold her trust for so long. I know that you... SEE and FEEL things in ways that others cannot, although I do not know exactly how. I need your help if I am to convince Kristina to stand by me."

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina sipped at the tea for a few long moments, before setting it aside.
Lifting her eyes to Charity, who sat on the side of her bed, she smiled.
"Thank you for staying by me.. all this time..
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Do you think we can trust deacon to keep us safe?.."
alot had gone through her head, but her mind was slowly reverting back to its old self, and Decon-the-rat had re-entered his rightful place, though a bit more respected.
Slowly, dispite the solomn whispers of the daisies that she should stay put, Kristina swung her legs out of bed, and stood up slowly.
She seemed like a child, learning to walk again, the first few steps awkward and unsure, before she smiled, on her feet once more.
Soft, black hair fell past forward over her shoulders as she turned her attention down to the great silver wolf that lay, eating its meat.
She smiled at it, and then brushed her hair out of her face, coming around the side of the bed, just because she could.. and it felt good to be moving again.. she had always had alot of energy, it was good to expend some of it now.
Soft, but utterly cold shudders slowly passed through her body, until thier intensity left, and became almost non-existant, as her blood began to flow more properly with the activity.
Turning once more, she made her way to the window.
The expension of energy was leaving her a little shakey and unsure, but she still wanted to be up.
Slowly, she pulled herself to sit in the sill, as she had so many nights in her New Orleans home.. perching there, her balance surprisingly on edge for someone who had just been paralyzed.

[Sylverwolf]

The fear of Silver in Charity was plain as day by the uneasiness in her bearing. The fact that Silver also picked up on that fear was not a promising thing for Charity, for even though she had been promised protection, if illintent was in her mind then Silver would act accordingly out of nothing more than instinct.
Isabella noticed Sliver's reaction, or rather lack there of, to Deacon and was contimplating it when he stroked her arm to follow him. Now on alert to Deacon, she Felt the deception and truth of what he said both at the same time. The assault of conflicting feelings baffled her to be suspicious of Deacon's true intent and she did NOT like the sensation. Isabella decided to play along but to remain Watchfull of him.
"My love, you know that I will always assist you in anything. Later we will go some where and be alone, but first let us take care of Kristina. I also am not too sure of this Charity, how much do you know about her and can we trust her?"

[DarkestWinter]

She didn’t move forward to help her sister. She knew that Kristina’s determination would stop her from accepting help, and make her succeed in what she was attempting. She wanted to protect Kristina, but she knew when too far was.
“I don’t know if we can trust Deacon. I want answers, however, which is why I’m protecting him. Plus he’s intent on protecting you, so I can’t just let him die,” she looked down, “he loves you, I see it in his eyes when he looks at you. If he touches you when you don’t want him too, I’ll kill him, I’ll get the Daisies to hunt him down, whatever.”

[Azin]

"Charity's loyalty lies with her sister. As long as we have Kristina's confidence, Charity will follow blindly." Deacon's smile lacked anything remotely close to warmth. He was proud of himself. There was just enogh truth in his deception to keep everyone calm, even Isabella with her preternatural senses. At first he was concerned about her abilities, and if he would be able to manipulate her into helping with Kristina. But the sword gave him confidence.
Embracing Isabella gently, he kissed each cheak, "I will always be indeabted to you, madamoiselle."
Reentering the room, Deacon saw that Kristina was up and about. He was amazed that she had recovered THIS quickly, even though he knew that it wouldn't take her long. His smile brightened slightly, almost genuinly. "You're up. I'm glad. I wasn't concerned, mind you, but it is reassuring notheless." He dropped onto the now vacant bed, reclining without concern to his expensive suit, "So... does anyone have any suggestions as to what we are to do now? The brotherhood won't be far behind, and will be meuch better equipped to face us." His eyes were locked on Charity, as if she were the leader of their little rebellion.

[Sylverwolf]

Isabella followed Deacon into the room, Kristina was sitting on the window seat. "You have all of my resources at your disposal. Which are considerably extensive compaired to what I had when we last saw one another." Turning her attention to the girl in the window seat, "Kristina, I would be greatly insulted if you do not eat something. You need to regain your strength. I fear Deacon is correct about the Brotherhood. I do not think they will allow much time for recooperation. On the other hand, they know nothing about my presence in the tangle, and will hopefully be unprepared."
Taking a seat in the chair closest to the window, Isabella studied Charity out of the corner of her eye. She wasn't as convinced as Deacon about the girl. Just then Silver decided to walk over and climb into Isabella's lap like an oversized puppy, though still watchfull of the room's other occupants. "Silver, you really are TOO big for this." was all Isabella could breathlessly laugh out. Complying with her master's wishes, a none to happy Silver gently returned to the floor to curl around Isabella's feet. Silver's antics seemed to brighten the room if only for a monent or two.

[DarkestWinter]

Charity smiled at the actions of the dog, amused, but still felt a bit wary of her. She tried not to show her fear, but she knew she wasn’t that great an actress. She moved across the room, kicking up her feet and looking at the ceiling thoughtfully.
“I thank you, Isabella. I do not think it will be necessary to move for a while, I would rather make sure Kristina is fully better before leaving,” her eyes turned to Deacon, to make it clear she was not just talking to Isabella, but the whole room. “I doubt the brotherhood knows we’re here yet, we’ll be okay for a few more days.”

[Azin]

Deacon, still reclined on the bed, scratched his chin thoughfully. "I suppose you are right. For now my... THE brothers will be concentrating on a simple man-hunt, but soon they will dig into my past, and the deLawshe' name will surface. Three days, after that, we must be on our way. Out of the city, at least."
He yawned, stretching languidly, like a contented cat. The sword sat across his lap, sheathed and peace-strapped. Occasionally Deacon would run a lazy finger along the details of the ivory hilt. And sometimes he would hold it in a grip so tight his knuckles turned white. Yet when he spoke, his voice was chillingly calm, "The real question is, what do we do then, after we leave?"

[DarkestWinter]

“Well, we’ll need to know where we’re going, how we’re going, where to stay, route, so forth, so on. If we don’t know where we’re going and how to get there, there really is no point in going.” She shook her head, “they already know we have the alliance of the Daisies, which means we can’t travel in too large a group, and those that travel with us will have to be disguised,” he eyes turned to the Daisies in the shadows, whose fighting robes were a dull blackish color. That would stick out a mile. “It also means we can’t travel with the amount of security I’d like…” she shook her head, and turned to Deacon, waiting for a response from him.

[Dark_Vampress]

Kristina teetered slightly as she was spoken to, but otherwise remained unmoving.
Lifting dark eyes slightly, she peered through the silken tresses of her black hair, almost seeming indifferent to who was speaking to her, though she seemed to pay a half-glance in decon's direction.
Gently, and gingerly, she extended a slender, pale hand to push the pane of the window, causing it to creak quietly as it slid forward and swung slowly open. It was an old hinge, obviously, but it slid open none-the-less.
Dropping one leg out the window, Kristina hugged the other quietly, all but ignoring Isabella.
Chancing another glance at deacon, she could feel something sinister.. something not right.. but she could also feel the want to move over and let him take what he wanted, it wasnt worth the fight.
Shaking her head in a slight sign that she had something wrong on her mind, she teetered again, but this time with intent.
Her eyes locked on Deacon, she let what little weight she had shift sideways slightly, to put her on the edge, to the point where she would merely need be disturbed in the slightest to tumble from the window.
A woman of this frame and size would most surely not survive the fall.
A moment of complete honesty seemed to seep into the air, as in earnest Kristina gazed at Deacon, waiting, with sensors alert, to detect the slightest hint of care from deacon about her and not himself, as she had been all along.



OOC:
I'm sure you've no doubt noticed my absense here?
I apologize, but this just means that the thread must go slower. I have friends with computers, though i dont have one anymore, and i can get an rp in occassionally, so dont give up okay? That just means that we need to try and put more into the story, it will go on for a while... and if it happens that i'm a little later than usual, well, just save it and we'll pick up on the last post, if indeed everyone would like. I enjoy this thread, the only one i still have, and i truely hope that everyone hasnt given up on it.
IF anyone would like another refreshing, to be let in on my idea for the thread, and how i'd like for it to go, please PM me.
I do have plans, but they dont have to be followed directly, just in general perhaps, unless things take a change.